"Really?!" Harriet yelled, making Thomas roar with laughter. It was so great to finally catch up with this gal. Sure they dated for a little time a while back but they ended things on good terms. It was a mistake going to that date. Thomas was just glad that Harriet was cool and they remained close friends. The girl was funny and easy to be around with and that's what Thomas liked about her. He was so taken in with the conversation that he did not notice the irritated blonde beside him.
"Yeah! Teresa's good and I've made some new friends too!" Thomas enthusiastically said, "You've got to meet Gally and Alby! Alby's a senior but he's cool!"
Harriet nodded and held Thomas' arms again. He never really minded those gesture. Harriet was a touchy type of person and Thomas was not judgmental, well, not so much.
The two friends were talking for almost 30 mins now and while Thomas held Newt's hands and kept him close, the blonde never really had a chance to talk which made him even more irritated, to Thomas' obliviousness.
"I have to run but it was so nice catching up with you, Thomas." Harriet smiled at the brunette and turned to Newt, "And it was so nice meeting you... um." Her faced scrunched up and Thomas really wanted to laugh at that.
"Newt. It's Newt." He heard the blonde said sourly.
"Yes! Newt! Of course!" Harriet gestured, disbelieving herself, "I really gotta go. Bye you guys." She finally said and walked away from the two guys, waving at them. Thomas waved back as he stared at her walking off.
"Like what you see, Thomas?" Thomas turned to Newt and immediately the smile on his face vanished. Newt was looking at him weirdly, like a smug look but it was a little condescending. And the nickname was gone too.
"What?" Thomas asked again, feeling a little confused. Newt shook his head untangled their hands from each other. Thomas stared down and he felt a cold sensation without Newt's hand to warm them up.
"Nothing. Sorry." Newt's smile was back again but it was a sad type of smile, "Let's just go, Tommy." Newt shrugged and walked on, leaving Thomas confused and a little rattled.
The drive back home was silent. Newt was just staring outside, not really paying attention. Thomas glanced at Newt a couple of times. Normally, Newt was a chatty-kathy when they where on a drive alone. The blonde would talk or sing, depending on his mood and by the silence that lingered around them, Thomas knew that something was wrong.
What was it though? The date was going so well! They had a lovely lunch, they went to the park, they ate ice cream and they kissed! And then Thomas remembered Newt said something unfinished because Harriet came.
"Hey, Newt." Thomas called, which earned a lazy hum and a smile from the blonde. "What were you going to say before Harriet interrupted you?"
Thomas looked at Newt for a brief while and noticed the alarmed look on his face. Newt looked down and fiddled with his sweater. "It was nothing, Tommy." He whispered.
"No, I want to know." Thomas pushed on. Whatever it was, it might be the reason why the blonde was acting strangely.
"N-No, it's irrelevant now." Newt scoffed and gave Thomas a kiss on the cheek, "Everything's fine." Newt smiled at him and continued looking out the window.
'Strange.' Thomas thought. He lets go of the topic and continued driving in silence. He was still figuring out what went wrong really. Everything was so perfect! Maybe it was Harriet? But the girl was polite and friendly! Maybe Newt was a little pissed because she forgot his name.
"Hey, Tommy?" Thomas turned to Newt, breaking his thoughts. "Would you take me to Teresa's house?"
Thomas lets out a confused sound. Newt wanted to go to Teresa's? After the date?
"Why?" Thomas asked, a little hurt from the request that Newt made.
"I just want to talk to her." Newt lamely said. What is up with Newt?
"You can talk to me, you know." Thomas smiled at him but Newt clearly was not having it.
"Not with this." Newt whispered, "Just, please? I-I really need to."
Thomas thought long and hard, he really wanted to cuddle with Newt in the couch and watch cartoons for the rest of the day but clearly the blonde had other plans. "Sure." He finally said.
Thomas took a turn that would lead to Teresa's. When they got there, Newt hurriedly got out the car and slowly stalked towards the front door.
"Hey, Newt!" Thomas called. Newt turned to him and Thomas gave him a kissy face. He always liked doing that to Newt because the blonde thought it was cute.
"Bye, Tommy." Newt bit his lip and turned back the front door.
Thomas was shocked and surprised. Newt liked kissing him and Thomas definitely want to kiss Newt! He watched the blonde knock on the door and Teresa opening it. She let Newt in and gave Thomas a "What's going on" look.
Thomas just shrugged. She shook her head in disbelief and entered the house. Before Thomas can drive off, he felt his phone vibrate.
From Teresa: What happened? I though the date went well!
To Teresa: It did! I don't know what happened!
From Teresa: Okay, I'll see if I can get him to talk. Just go home and don't worry. He'll be safe with me.
To Teresa: Thanks, T. You're the best.
From Teresa: I know. You don't have to say it. ;)
Thomas laughed at the last text. He looked at the house again and drove off and got back to his house. He called for his mom but there was no reply, It was empty. Thomas sighed and placed his keys on the bowl. He really wanted to talk to his mom. He turned to the table near the door and saw a small note.
"I need to go to the grocery. Be back at 7 with Chuck. -Mom."
Thomas sighed again in frustration. Great, he had 4 hours of absolutely nothing to do. He plopped to the couch and turned on the television and settled on a rerun on some show he was familiar with.
Thomas really wanted to know why Newt suddenly acted like that. Was the date not that good? He was so sure that Newt seemed to be having fun! The blonde was smiling and laughing all day, both with him and at him! God, Thomas wanted to roll around in frustration. This was their first date for Christ's sake and it had gone horribly wrong! Well, he really had no idea if it had been at that level to Newt but for Thomas it was disaster. Newt was acting strange to him and if that does not scream 'bad date' then he doesn't know what is.
Maybe everything will return back to normal if he just drive back to Teresa's and just apologize to Newt for whatever he did. Thomas groaned and rolled over. That would not work! He would just look like an insensitive prick! Ugh!
He groaned loudly and rolled to a much comfortable position. He was imagining being with Newt right now. All cuddled up on the couch, giving lazy kisses to one another and smiling that stupid smile that made his heart warm. Then, moments later, the darkness overtook him.
Thomas woke up to a slightly different lighting. The television was still on and it was playing a commercial about some body spray. He then noticed that it was his phone, vibrating like crazy, that woke him. He took it and saw that Teresa was calling him.
Thomas: Hello?
Thomas answered sleepily.
Teresa: YOU MET HARRIET WHILE YOU WERE ON A DATE AND TALKED TO HER FOR 30 MINUTES?!
Thomas had to take his phone away from his ear because Teresa was screaming on the other line.
Thomas: What?
Teresa: Thomas, that is not okay.
Thomas: What is?
Teresa: Talk to your ex while going on a different date, you fucking twit!
Thomas: She was not my ex! We only dat-
Teresa: BIGGER PICTURE, TOM!
Thomas: GEEZ! Stop screaming!
Teresa: You do not even realize your mistake, do you?
Thomas: N-No?
Teresa: NEWT GOT JEALOUS, YOU DOOF!
Then, Thomas' brain started going a million miles per second. Of course! That was Newt answered her sourly! He was so stupid! Why hadn't he realized that sooner!
Teresa: Yeah. Just absorb all of the information.
Thomas: Teresa - shit. I have to talk to him.
Teresa: He can't.
Thomas: You can't keep him away from me!
Teresa: Relax! Geez! He's asleep. I let him sleep after he cried -
Thomas: HE CRIED?! SHIT!
Teresa: OW! Now I know what it feels like to be screamed at your ear.
Thomas: Teresa!
Teresa: He's fine! He said he'll talk to you in the morning.
Thomas: In the morning? He's not coming home?
Teresa: You already think you have a home with him?
Thomas bit his lip. Did he mean that? Sure he loved Newt but, does he really have a home with the blonde? Thomas wanted to. He really does but he knew Newt needed more time. Needed more reassurance that Thomas would never break his heart and he never will but recently maybe that was not the case. Maybe he needed to-
Teresa: Don't fry your brain. I think it's cute.
Thomas: T, I need to see him.
Teresa: Look, Tom. He's not really in good shape right now. He told me things and maybe it's good that you get some time apart.
Thomas: No. I can't. I have to go there.
Teresa: Trust me, please. He's confused and scared.
Thomas: Of what?
Teresa: Of this. Of Minho. Of you. Of another commitment. It's difficult for him. I know I said that you should not give Newt too much time to decide because it will wear you out but I get it now and I applaud you for sticking this long but tonight... Tonight would be better if you can get your thoughts straightened out. Both of you.
Thomas wanted to decline. He wanted to see Newt and apologize to him for his stupidity. He wanted to have Newt here and sleep in the same bed and be able to wake up newt to his angel. He wanted Newt. But maybe Teresa was also right. Maybe they needed to spend some time apart, to really straighten things out. Decide what they truly wanted. Thomas was sure he wanted Newt. Yeah, maybe it's good.
Thomas: Okay.
Teresa: Good. I gotta go okay. My parents are arriving and I have to wake up Newt.
Thomas: Take care of him.
Teresa: Won't harm a hair on him.
Thomas: Thank you. Bye, T.
Teresa: Bye, Tom.
Thomas ended the call and sighed. God, how can he be so stupid! Why didn't the word "jealousy" came to him after noticing Newt's odd behavior? Maybe because to Thomas, talking to Harriet was only a friendly thing, but to Newt, all he knew was they dated a while back then. He wiped his face with his palm and sighed loudly again. He was exhausted. Emotionally.