Chapter Text
The gladers have been in the safe haven for almost half a year now, the anniversary of their arrival being just next week.
Thomas sits down next to Teresa, his girlfriend.
"Hey, Tom!"
They'd been dating for just a couple months, but it felt like an eternity.
"Hey, Teresa."
The brunette says flatly.
It had been fine before, but Thomas was just getting tired of this. Ever since the week after Teresa and Thomas got together, Newt had been more dry, and was just working alone.
He- no. We used to be inseparable. Why has it all crashed down now?
He missed Newt dearly, he hadn't even made new friends.
Thomas wouldn't like to admit it, but he had been watching and memorising Newt's schedule.
Yes, he loves Teresa, but Newt just stopped talking to him period. There must be some reason.
He would always sit alone at breakfast, or just skip it completely.
Then, he would work his butt off, and half the time he was sent to the infirmary for being too harsh on his leg.
At lunch, he would sit with Minho. But Thomas was usually with Minho, so he would just stay quiet and eat as fast as possible. Otherwise, alone he was.
Then, he would take what Thomas assumed was a nap in his room, secluded and away from everyone else's.
After, he got back to working.
And after a long day, dinner. He would usually sit with Sonya or Minho, or by himself.
He would then help with duties— he got upgraded to second in command with the younger group of people. He would always skip the section Thomas was in, though. It was driving him crazy!
"Tom, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, T. Just tired.." she suggests a nap, and he gracefully falls right on his ass as he tries to stand.
"Fuck. Help me, will you?"
Teresa chuckles as she pulls Tom up, carefully guiding him to his room.
Newt passes by them while Thomas is trying not to fall down again, and he swears he can sense the blond's chest tighten and his eyebrows furrowing as they pass. Teresa mutters a "what's up with him?" And Thomas ignores her.
I've had enough with this torture!
Thomas thinks as his figure slams into the comfy bed, Teresa shuts the door quietly.
I will confront him. I need him back in my life..
Thomas groans as his eyelids shut and become more heavy, the blackness overtaking his fragile head.
he wakes to a start, finding newt standing infront of him.
"newt! you took forever to come back to me, love."
love? where has this nickname come from?
"it's your fault, shuck-face."
"what? what's my fault?"
"that I'm not talking to ya."
"what?"
"you're so bloody stupid.."
Thomas awakens with a start, sweating in his sleep.
Just a dream.
Just a dream.
The next week is torture, Thomas kept trying to talk to Newt, but got ignored every time.
He decides to corner him at the party being thrown for their semi-annual long stay, so lots of stupid waiting.
Teresa kept telling him that she had something to say, but always stopped after.
It pissed Thomas off so much, why couldn't she just spit it out? Why couldn't the blonde he was missing so much just come to him?
"Tom.. I have something to say."
"What?"
"Uhm.. Nevermind."
This had happened about 13 times by now, and the party was tommorow.
"Fine. What is it? You've said this so much, T."
"I'll tell you at the party."
Thomas's skin was itching.
Ugh, this stupid party was going to be a disaster.
The week went as always,
Wake up.
Look for Newt.
Spot him.
Breakfast.
Work.
Teresa.
Work.
Look for Newt.
Lunch.
Work.
More Teresa.
Work.
Dinner.
Teresa.
Fall asleep.
Over and over, over and over.
It was starting to drive him insane.
Finally, he put his best but comfortable clothes on, slipping a pair of shoes Newt had given him on as good luck.
Teresa gently pokes her head through Thomas's door, making sure he can't see her extravagant dress.
"Be prepared."
She says, coldly. Weird, but Teresa has always been weird.
"Good luck on your speech, babe!" She says, snickering oddly.
Good luck, babe. How convincing.
"oh, also, can I talk a little during your speech? It won't affect it much."
Thomas shrugs, mumbling a "ask the person organizing it."
She skips off happily.
The so called "party" is just at the bonfire, decorated with a banner titling "six for the safe", signifying our six months.
A large tent like thing has been dropped over, leaving a small hole for the bonfire's smoke to escape from. Everyone is wearing some of the best attire they have— turquoise dresses, pink sparkly poofy skirts, even some cowboy boots.
Thomas had been asked to prepare a speech to say at the event, him being one of the main helpers to escape the Maze.
Upbeat music crowds the place, and loads of people are leaning against the rocks working as walls. This had been the perfect hideout, a small hole in the "roof", working for a fire's ashes and smoke to work through, but only a small passage leading to it. It could fit two people standing side by side, so it was mostly easy to get through.
Thomas sighs, he had been waiting by the entrance for Teresa for almost ten mintues, and almost decided to give up.
But, the familiar brunette burst through the door, holding Brenda's hand.
It didn't seem romantic, and they parted ways quickly as she walked over.
Thomas leaned in slightly, Teresa usually liked to give him a peck on the cheek or something. But she didn't.
Probably dosen't wanna mess up her lipstick.
He smiles at her, but she turns.
"Okay, remember the important thing I was going to tell you?"
God. Finally.
"Yeah?"
"I'll tell you during the speech. But, I also wanna try something new with our relationship.."
She mutters, and Thomas almost turns pale.
But he doesn't really care, does he?
"How about an open one? I wanna try some things."
An open relationship? He hates those. Worst thing ever.
"Uh.. I don't- I don't know, T. I'll decide in a bit."
She snarls slightly, then goes off to dance with Brenda, Sonya, and Harriet.
What's her deal? Thomas groans slightly, and just find a table, reviewing his speech.
It was just simple, but he might add a few tweaks to it.
Then, he sees Newt standing awkwardly in a corner as one of the other Safe Haven residents flirts with him. He just laughs a little, then backs away.
Thomas feels a surge of something in his stomach. He can't describe it.
Jealously? No, no. Why would he be jealous?
Then, a familiar face comes along, smiling brightly.
"Hey, Thomas! Effie told me to tell you to go to the backroom pronto, and that you'd know what it was."
Thomas nods, and the Asian talks a little.
"Thanks, Min. Anything exciting going on with you?"
"No. I've been trying to talk to Newt, but all I gotten are girls. He keeps ignoring me!"
typical. I don't want it to be.
The brunet walks to the small secluded "room," pretty much just a small opening in the cave. Effie, a woman who was bribed by WICKED to be an escort but left, is wearing a bright pink wig.
"Hello Thomas darling! Let's get this show on the road!"
She hands me a microphone, and my little paper he wrote with Thomas's speech.
"Just a flick of the switch, and it turns on!"
She shows the brunet how the mic turns on, and he thanks her.
"Thanks, Effie. How much longer until I have to go on?"
Thomas's palms are damp from sweat, and he wipes them on the small handkerchief Newt gifted him.
Thomas smiles at the memory, and Effie continues talking.
"Well, you have seven minutes, alors, start walking at a slow pace of you would like to make it! "
He nods his head, and starts his small journey.
"May the odds be in your favour, darrrrrrling!"
She rolls the r, and Thomas laughs a little.
Seven.. Six.. Five.. Four.. Three.. Two.. One.
Thirty seconds.
Behind stage.
Turn the mic on.
Make sure my pack works.
Wipe the sweat off my hands.
Walk up!
A loud applause sounds from the audience, and Thomas flicks the mic off so it dosent echo through the mic.
Dont let it echo, echo, echo.
Then, he starts talking.
Luckily, the brunet does Infact remember to turn the mic back on.
One odd in my favour.
"Everybody welcome the one and only, Thomas "Tommy" Edison!"
Only Newt calls me Tommy. Why is that in the Introduction?
Thomas's eyes scan the crowd for Newt, but to no avail.
"Hi everybody. Thank.. thank you so much for welcoming me here. And please don't mind if I stutter or mess up— I am a victim to stage fright."
Chuckles.
Applause.
"I was asked to present a speech at this lovely party, so here I am. I'm here to thank some people."
Some eyes grow watery, and Thomas smiles brightly.
"I wanna thank Effie, for helping me write this speech, and overcoming my heavy stage fright."
Effie smiles at the mention, and Thomas turns back towards the crowd.
"Uhm, I wanna thank Brenda and Jorge for helping us in the scorch. They were a key to our survival, and are very good friends."
"Back in the past year or so, we were trapped in every corner we went. Thank you all for welcoming us and making a space we can breathe properly in."
The crowd cheers and fades, all in mere seconds.
"Thanks to my friend, Minho, for helping me feel like I had a purpose by helping me become a runner."
Minho claps the louder for that one. Typical.
"And.. bringing attention back to my- our, friend Brenda, I need to give her even more attention."
"Thank you, thank you so much for saving my best friend. He had the flare, and almost died in my arms. Thank you for bringing that cure."
Thomas scans the crowd, and finally spots Newt. The brunet dosent look away, just stared into those beautiful eyes of his.
"I can't live without him. And I probably wouldn't be in the right mental state to do anything if he wasn't here."
The eyes, The look.
Thomas finally understands what that look is, and he has never felt better.
The look of love.
"and thank you all for being here to support us."
The brunet hears someone dashing to the stage, and he turns.
Teresa.
"Hey! Thank god I made it."
Teresa snatches the microphone from Thomas, and he just stands there.
"Hey, hey everyone. I have a special announcement."
"I'm.. I'm a lesbian. So Thomas, say bye to our relationship."
Thomas just kinda stands there, dumbfounded.
His heart shatters into a million pieces.