Day 4: Afternoon

Newt POV

After managing to convince Gally and the others to round up everyone for a Glade meeting, Newt snatched Thomas before he could escape with Chuck.

"Mind if I borrow him for a while, Chuck?" He asked the kid with a tight smile. Pulling Thomas by the arm, Newt didn't wait for the boy's response. He didn't see Chuck's knowing smile as he watched them saunter away.

Newt led Thomas outside, taking him to a secluded area where they won't be interrupted. Thomas followed behind him obediently. Looking over his shoulder at him, Newt could tell that he was a bit nervous. After making sure there was no around, Newt halted. Thomas ran into his back before he could turn around and face him. In other circumstances Newt would have found that funny, except he was not in the mood for laughing right now. What he wanted was to make a point to him right now.

"Ow."

"Idiot." Newt rolled his eyes.

Thomas rubbed his jaw and frowned at him. "I thought we were going to have a meeting? Why ..."

"We are. But first I need to tell you something. "

"You want to yell at me for going in the maze, am I right? Look...Newt, I- "

"No, you look. I told you repeatedly, you are not allowed to- "

"I wasn't thinking at that time! I just saw Alby and I just ...I don't know!"

"Obviously you weren't thinking, you arse! Of all the...argh! And because of your idiocy, you almost got yourself killed!"

"But I didn't die, did I? So why are you -"

"That's not the point! You broke the rules! You saw Gally's face when you got back, did you not? You think he'll let this slip? Everyone in the Glade are already suspicious of you, and now on top of that, you do this! Dammit, Tommy, I can't keep siding with you before they start questioning me as well!"

"Then don't! I didn't ask you!"

"You think I want to? But I have no choice!"

"What the hell do you mean? I never asked you- "

"Because we're bloody friends, you damn idiot!" Newt huffed angrily and peered at the brown haired boy who had frozen. Thomas watched him silently, and Newt found himself shifting uncomfortably under his scrutinizing gaze.

"What?" He finally spat.

"Make me a runner."

Newt blinked. "WHAT?"

"I said, make me a runner, Newt." Thomas repeated slowly, enunciating each word with care. "That way, I'm not breaking any rule and you don't have to worry about-"

"No." Newt immediately shook his head. He was not letting him go out there again. Not after the stunt he pulled. Making him a runner would solve some things, like the whole issue of allowing him in the maze, but the Glade won't like it. He has been here for what, four days? Making him a runner after such short amount of time was too risky. There was a lot of faults with this decision. First, he had no experience. One stay overnight hardly is good enough for him to run in the maze from sunrise to sundown every day. As a previous runner himself, Newt could confirm that. Second, he didn't want Gally to take this the wrong way. After Alby's condition, Newt suspected that the boy was already on his edge. His constant blaming on Thomas was sure to spark something eventually. And didn't want to test that. Not now.

"Why not? You know how much I want to become a runner!" Thomas complained. He took a step toward Newt, eyes pleading.

Newt avoided his gaze and tried to focus on the looming maze walls in the distance. If he thought he'd take pity on him and cave easily, he was in for a surprise.

"I know I broke rules, but think about it. After one day in the maze, I was able to kill a grievor. W- Well, somehow managed to." Thomas said uncertainly. "Although I don't really know how I did it, to be honest. I'm still shocked about it actually." He shrugged innocently.

Instead of looking proud, he looked like a guilty child who just got caught stealing from the cookie jar. Newt felt a smile creep up his lips, but he held it back. His modesty was alluring.

"A-Anyway! Remember how I told you that this maze was just like a game? And how the grievors were just like a obstacles to our goal?" He continued.

Newt nodded once. How could he forget? It was their first memory as new found friends. He remembered how after the day, he kept replaying their conversations and how he found himself enjoying his company.

"Maybe the only reason you guys haven't found a way out the maze is because of your refusal to change your ways. If you sit around, and run around the maze, you're not going anywhere. Three years you guys have been doing this and haven't found a way out!"

Newt rubbed his left arm and said coolly, "You do realize that you're implying that we fight the grievors?"

"And what if I am?"

Newt scowled. "You're bloody suicidal, you know that?"

"Oh come on, Newt!"

"No you come on, Tommy! This is crazy! You're telling me that you want us to face these monsters and risk our lives? The whole point of this is to avoid them when you go out to the maze. Find a way out the maze, not engage in some bloody grievor hunting activity!"

"Grievor hunting activity?" Thomas grinned.

Newt ignored his teasing smile, although it was hard to. "Oh shut up, you know what I mean!"

Thomas shook his head, becoming serious."Have you once considered where the grievors come from? Where they go during the day? Where they live? Have you?" Thomas fired.

Newt pursed his lips. "That doesn't really matter. What matters is that- "

"This is why you guys are never going to find a way out! Because you all are so staunch on following the bloody rules!"

Newt gawked in annoyance. He was starting to realize this argument was going nowhere. He had originally planned on yelling at him a bit and then scaring him from going into the maze again. And instead? He was lecturing him and trying to convince him to let him go out again...and...and fight grievors! Was he daft? Although deep inside, Newt didn't want to admit it, that he was right. At this rate, the way things were, there was no way in hell they'll ever leave the Glade. Maybe accepting change wasn't so bad... Newt frowned.

And then with an afterthought, he smirked, "Bloody rules?"

Thomas blanched. "Further proof that I have been hanging around you for too long, so shut up."

Newt laughed. And then sighed deeply.

"Come on, Newt." Thomas whispered softly, stepping closer. His persuasive chocolate brown eyes were planted on him, Newt almost shivered by their intensity.

"Let me become a runner. I want to, no, I need to go back out there."

Frustrated, Newt shot him an exasperated look. "Why do you need to back out there? Do you think you'll find a way out for us?"

"Maybe."

Newt glared at him. He wasn't impressed with his confidence.

"And you're telling me your not afraid of being killed?" Newt questioned bitterly.

"If I do get killed, it wouldn't matter. I would die at least knowing I died trying to fight for a way out." Thomas replied swiftly without hesitation, full of determination.

Newt locked his jaw and stared at his feet. Gritting his teeth, he replied quietly, "It would matter to me."

Thomas raised a brow. "What? What did you say?"

Newt felt his cheeks heat up and replied quickly, stumbling over the words. "I said, it would matter to me."

"What?"

"I SAID IT WOULD MATTER TO ME IF YOU DIED, YOU ARSE!"

Thomas eyes widened and Newt felt his face getting hotter. "You're a git, you know that Tommy?" Newt whined. Scowling, he started to walk back. He didn't want Thomas to see him blushing, because he knew he was (why did he find himself becoming embarrassed around him more and more?). It was ridiculous! Newt just hoped that Thomas would think his reaction was because he was done with their conversation. Also, he just realized that their conversation (or argument), lasted way longer than necessary. He just hoped it wasn't too long enough that Gally was pissed.

"W-What? What do you mean?" Thomas stuttered, catching up to him. "Wait, why am I git? What did I do?"

Newt inwardly groaned. "Nothing. It's nothing."

Newt didn't look at him as he walked back. He increased his pace. "We need to head back, we're late for the meeting." He tried to sound business like. Thomas nodded, and didn't say anything. Newt snuck a glance at him and felt himself blush deeper.

Thomas's face was just as red as his face was.