"I'm fine!" Newt snapped for what felt like the millionth time that day

"Newt, if your fine, then why did you try to stab Zart in the head?" Alby folded his arms

Net groaned "You guys do know I'd never actually stab someone in the head right? It did work as a threat, and that was what I was going for!"

"Newt, why won't you just tell me what's wrong?" Newt folded his arms and turned away from Alby "Please, Newt. I want to help." Alby pleaded

"I don't want your help. I don't need your help." Newt spat

"Well you need some help. Whether from me, or the med-jacks or any other Glader, I don't care. But you need to talk to someone. "

"I don't want to talk to anyone. I want to die. That's all I bloody want. No one will let me have that, so I guess I'm content,"

Alby's eyes would have killed Newt if looks could kill. "Newt. How many times have I told you not to talk like that in front of me? Your being irrational-"

"I'm not being irrational. It's my decision what I do with my body; you can't make me do anything I don't want to do," Newt folded his arms

"Your right. It's your choice," Alby decided to back off, in hopes of a more positive response from Newt. Instead Newt stood up and tried to limp away.

Alby grabbed his arm "Newt. I'm sorry for being a jerk. I don't know how many times I've said that. I'm sorry for snapping, for being impatient and everything else I've done. I know this isn't easy for you and I hadn't made it any easier. Please Newt, forgive me. I'm sick of pretending that there isn't a problem, sick of pretending that you don't need help. I'm sick of being mad at you, and you ignoring me. Just...please."

Newt glared at Alby for a little while longer before collapsing in his arms and crying.

"I'm sorry." Newt said softly "I haven't been any better,"

"I know." Alby smiled sadly "Thats why I should have tried to help you," he paused for a moment "Which is what I'm trying to do now. You really need help, Newt. You should talk to someone,"

Newt pulled away from Alby "Maybe I should, but I don't want to. I accept your apology, but I'm not going to talk to anyone," he took a shaky breath, grabbing Alby's arm for support as he sat down. "I'm sorry, Alby. I know I need help, everyone keeps telling me that. You can't force anyone. Especially when their not ready,"

Alby's looked softened and he had a faint smile on his face.

"What?" Newt asked a small smile tugging at his lips.

"You know, when we first came into The Glade, I couldn't stand you," Alby laughed

"What?" Newt said, frowning

"You were so...bossy, and foreword. You took charge. I wanted to be in charge. I was so happy when Nick declared himself leader. I don't know how much more of you I could've taken,"

"It's not like I was in love with you either. You were the same way." Newt huffed "Is this supposed to make me feel better or something? Cause it's not. And it doesn't have anything to do with my leg or having me talk things out."

"You've always been so damn stubborn!" Alby laughed "You forced me to love you, Newt. I wasn't 'ready' and I 'didn't want to' but I do, and I don't regret it,"

Newt glared up at him "So now your comparing our relationship to me talking with someone? Yeah, I love you too," he muttered

"C'mon, Newt!" Alby pleaded "You don't have to talk, but at least let someone talk to you. It doesn't even have to be about... The Incident... You've just been shutting everyone out."

"Fine." Newt agreed "Under two conditions,"

Alby raised his thick black eyebrow. "Your doing this for yourself, Newt. It has nothing to do with me,"

"I'm doing this for YOU, you slinthead," Newt muttered

Alby smirked "Fine. What do you want?"

"I'm not going to be talking at all. I'll listen to the klunk that they have to say to me. I don't want to hear it, but your forcing me to,"

Alby shrugged "I just said that, but whatever. What else,"

"You owe me now. I mean, big. You owe me everything you have." Newt pursed his lips

"So you've said, now get the point,"

"You, me. Behind the Homestead. Late tomorrow evening. Rendezvous. Liaison. Whatever you want to call it," Newt said as seductively as he could.

Alby grinned evilly " Did you really have to ask?"

"Eh. I thought it might be polite," Newt shrugged

"Your too polite. If we weren't stuck in this hellhole, you'd be some rich, snobby,aristocrat, married to this wealthy woman , living in a mansion bigger than The Glade. You'd spend all your time sipping your tea from your baroque mug, and counting your money,"

"I would not!" Newt said looking mortified. Alby began to laugh uncontrollably

Newt continued to glare at him, but Alby grabbed him in his arms and covered his face in kisses. "Love you, Newt,"

"You are an ass," Newt pointed out, still sulking.

"I know, but I'm yours," Alby said still clinging tightly to Newt

"True. Very true," a hint of a smile began to tug at his pale pink lips

"Are we good?" Alby asked, his face buried in Newts fluffy blonde hair. It smelled like plants and mud and Newt.

"We're good," Newt confirmed, pressing a kiss to Alby's lips.

"Good" Alby smiled lying down and closing his eyes.

Newt smiled a genuine smile for the first time since it happened, and curled up in Alby's string arms. They fell asleep like that and none of the other Gladers dared to bother them.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I just realized something... I'm awful at writing romance! Thanks to everyone who has favorited/ followed and reviewed thus far, I really appreciate it! I'm almost done...just have a few more chapters to go. Let me know anything I could change, improve on, or ideas!