Chapter 18

When Newt found Julia she had already been asleep or so he thought. In truth when he put his arm around her she did everything not to let a shiver run down her spine like it always did when he touched her. Somehow being in his arms always made it easier to fall asleep and she didn't have any nightmares. But a not so delicate poke was enough to wake her up.

"Minho?" She whispered looking up, the arm around her tightened.

"Can we talk… You know, about Nicole?" The name made Julia frown.

"I… I don't think that's a good idea." For a second he looked disappointed, then confused.

"Why?" He asked. She pointed Newt's arm with my head lightly.

"I don't think he's letting me go anytime soon." She tried to smile, but she was never a good liar.

"Julia…" He sighed. "At least tell me why you reacted the way you did. Please."

"I wish I could…" She wanted it to sound as if she had no idea why, but… She brushed him off and he knew that. He walked away scratching his head. Before she closed her eyes to fall asleep again she noticed Thomas staring at her.

"Newt" Thomas shook him. "Newt, wake up."

"Tommy?" His eyes barely opened. "What is it?" He yawned. "Is it Winston?" He arose in a second.

"Ymm… not really."

"Can't it wait until the morning?" Newt was ready to go back to sleep.

"It has to be done before she wakes up." He said looking down at the, unfamiliar to him, girl in Newt's arms.

"What does Julia have to do with it?" He asked concerned. Thomas looked lost for a while carefully looking for words he was going to use.

"Just please go with me." He stood up ready to walk away, but when Newt stayed in place he asked again. "Please."

Newt sighed, but nodded. He slowly removed his arms from around Julia, but when he was leaving he turned around a few times just as if he was making sure she was still there safe and sound. Because every time he didn't he was bloody hell scared that she wasn't.

"What is it Tommy?" Newt asked curiously, yet he still was tired and anxious. On the other hand Thomas looked uncomfortable as he continued fidgeting and walking in small circles. "Shank, Tommy, either talk or let me go back to sleep."

"How well do you know her?" Thomas asked almost immediately. Newt stared at him for few long seconds rethinking the question he just heard.

"Bloody hell, well enough, why?"

"I don't trust her. I heard her talking to Minho while you were asleep and I heard-"

"Tommy wait!" Newt stopped him, anger clear in his voice. "What exactly are you suggesting?"

Thomas knew that every word he now was going to use must have been chosen wisely. He saw the way Newt acted around Julia. His feelings were clear and it looked like so was hers, yet Thomas had doubts. He knew talking to Minho would be no use now. After all that girl had something his friend wanted.

Maybe it wasn't the best idea to have this conversation with Newt, but who else could Thomas ask? It was Newt he always believed, trusted and had his back.

"Julia knows something and she doesn't want to share it. She and Minho-"

"Julia and Minho?" Newt whispered, interrupting Tommy.

"Yeah, I heard them talking-"

"Tommy, I know they had a talk." Newt said. "Julia… She kinda freaked out about it."

They stayed quiet for a while. "And you still don't think she's hiding something?" Thomas broke the silence, but earned a groan in return.

"No, Tommy. Bloody hell, why are you so onto her?"

"Because something is off about her! She appears out of nowhere, she freaks out when she's asked questions. Doesn't any of this sound weird to you?"

"Alright, maybe a little but she's allowed to have her secrets after everything that happened to her." When Thomas still looked unconvinced Newt continued. "Listen, she's been gone for a very long time and WCKD have done stuff to her that I'm not gonna make her talk about."

"And what if it's relevant and would change the way you look at her?"

"Nothing, and Tommy I mean nothing, would change the way I look at her."

Thomas took a moment to let the words sink in. Newt took his side when no one else did, so maybe it was his turn to trust Newt's instinct.

"You really love her, don't you?"

"I bloody do." Thomas let his head fall down. He was about to take his leave when Newt spoke up again. "I know how long enough to know that she would never lie or betray me. When we first mate in the Glade…" And so Newt told him how Julia first arrived in the box, how she said his name and kissed him and then fainted. He told her how she wanted to be a runner but ended up as a cook. And Thomas started seeing why Newt felt the way he did. The way Newt talked about her made Thomas smile. He told Thomas how they got together and how there was trouble with David and how even Gally liked her. And then he went on, they both took their sit near the fire, but made sure not to wake anyone as Newt told him how maze's doors stopped moving when Julia touched them with her hand covered in blood.

"Wait what?!" Thomas squealed. "She did what?"

"Listen, neither Julia or me can explain it. Probably WCKD messed something up." Instead of calming Thomas this actually made him more suspicious. But he knew better than to ask Newt, worrying he could get angry at him once again.

He also decided it was time to stop the talk there. He had a lot to rethink already and he didn't need any more stories to worry about. He knew one thing, his best friend was too blinded to see the truth that he was going to find out and expose about Julia. He regretted that he would have to hurt Newt in the process, but he'd anything to save him.