Chapter 9: Support

Two days for the finals. The final countdown.

For those two days I spent since I was out with Alby, Newt and Minho on the Scorch, I isolated myself and focused on doing the last of my studying and revising.

I didn't talk to anyone nor did I see someone other than my family. I didn't even text my friends, not even Thomas or Minho. Not even Newt.

Well, I did text Newt once. But it was a day I was craving his presence so much, and it was really brief. This was all we said to each other.

I just hoped I passed the finals, because I was making such a sacrifice. I missed them so much. Especially Newt and Thomas. Well, Minho too, let's not lie. Those three were such lovable shanks.

The memories of that day in the Scorch still brought a smile to my face every time. Newt and I fooling around, Minho 'flirting' with me, Alby teasing us. And before that, Thomas and Teresa being adorable, Chuck being his usual lovable childish self. It was such a great day.

So because of that I was feeling more energized to study, but it still was a pain in the butt.

I was bored out of my life while I read my notes over and over again, sitting in my desk and trying to concentrate while Chuck played videogames loudly in the room next to mine. From time to time, he would shout a little 'shuck' or 'klunk' when he lost.

I managed to hold on for another hour, not moving from my desk.

Just as I was thinking about my friends again, Chuck knocked on my door and poked his head through it.

"Y/N, Thomas and Minho are downstairs" He quickly informed me before rushing down to greet Thomas.

I frowned, surprised by the fact that they came by to see me. Not only were they preparing for the exams too, but Thomas never came by when my parents were home, and less bring Minho with him. Still, I was really excited to see them again.

So I jogged down the stairs and saw them slowly coming in.

"What happened?!" I exclaimed, watching how mom and Chuck watched Minho holding Thomas with an arm over his shoulders as he helped him sit in the couch.

Minho dropped Thomas' arm and then stared at him with an angry expression on his face.

"Are you okay, honey?" My mom worried, placing a hand on Thomas' shoulder.

Since we had been friends for so long, mom knew Thomas and how of a good friend he was to me.

"Yeah, I'll be fine" He replied, but his voice was full of pain.

I bit my lip in apprehension watching him.

"I'll handle this, mom" She nodded and just left saying that we could call her if we needed anything.

"What happened?" I repeated, staring at Minho in concern as Thomas winced and let out a hitched breath.

"The stupid shank overdid himself during our training" The Asian sounded mad, but the concern was visible in his dark eyes as he looked down to his friend.

I knew the pressure for their physical exams was really high, so I could see why Thomas did it.

"You have to be more careful, guys" I worriedly told them, exasperated as I softly punched Minho in the chest.

He didn't even notice I hit him, his eyes were focused on Thomas still.

"How did it happen?"

"He just began running like crazy and he must have pulled a muscle or something" Minho shook his head angrily. "Crazy son of a shuck"

"Be. More. Careful!" I scolded them both again. I punched Minho once more, stronger this time.

He just rolled his eyes at me, but Thomas looked at me and nodded in response. That injury would teach him not to be so reckless and stupid.

I had forgotten Chuck was there watching the whole thing until he pipped up and revealed his presence.

"Is Thomas okay?"

"Yeah. But bring some ice, Chuckie, please" I sweetly told him, patting his head.

My brother reticently left the room, taking a few worried glances to Thomas as he did.

I did too, hating to see Thomas in pain and not really being able to help him.

Soon, he was back with the ice and handed it to me.

Since Thomas was clutching his left leg around his knee, I was about to place the little bag of ice there but Minho snatched it away from my hands.

"Shuck face..." Minho mumbled as he harshly put the ice over Thomas' leg.

He hissed in pain when the cold met his skin.

I grinned to myself when I realized how worried Minho truly was. We all were, but Minho had a peculiar way of showing so. Or better even, hiding so.

They had become so close, Thomas and Minho.

He noticed my grin and probably figured what I was thinking. Luckily, Thomas didn't.

But Minho wanted to diverse my attention off him.

"Have you talked to Newt?" He asked me, plopping down next to Thomas in the couch. "We don't know from him"

Thomas' face had relaxed and the horrible expression of sheer pain and suffering had faded away into a more serene one. Then he glared at me anticipating my answer.

"Actually no" I mumbled, holding back a pout.

I decided to go back up and check on my phone to see if the Chocolate Boy had texted or called me. But he hadn't.

I nervously drummed my fingers against the desk as I stared at the phone, then at my friends and then back at my phone.

I couldn't take it anymore. I picked up the phone and dialed Newt's number.

"Hello?" His husky voice soon replied.

"Hi, Newt!" I smiled to myself. "Where are you?"

"Home" It was such a dry answer. I felt like something was off about him.

"Do you feel like hanging out today?"

Newt sighed slowly. Truth is he sounded tired.

"I'm not in the mood, love" His British accent was really thick that day. "I'm sorry"

"Are you okay?" I was concerned as his voice told me there was something wrong.

"Yeah, I'm fine" However, his voice cracked as he spoke.

Minho and Thomas heard me talking and threw me strange glances.

"Do you want me to go to your place and stay there with-?"

"I bloody said no, Y/N!" He cut me abruptly.

Before I could say anything else, he had hung up.

I stared at my phone screen, dumbfounded.

Something was definitely bothering him. He was always so sweet to me!

I wanted to go to his place and cheer him up. In fact, that was exactly what I was going to do!

But first I had to make sure Thomas got better and that it wasn't anything serious. So I stayed with Minho and him –and Chuck, since my little brother insisted on staying with us- and passed the time.

My friends seemed as worried about Newt as I was when I told them our little chat. But I assured them I'd keep them updated on Newt when I visited him.

Forgetting about the blond for the moment, I introduced Minho to my brother because I realized he hadn't seen him in person before. They didn't talk much, but at least they seemed to like each other. And at least Minho didn't behave like his usual sarcastic self.

When a few hours later the both of them left, Thomas even being able to walk on his own although with a bit of a limp, I left on my way to Newt's place.

*

Remembering the first time I was in Newt's and Alby's apartment, I knocked on the door with a smile on my face.

Someone's muffled footsteps were heard from the inside. And then, Newt opened the door.

I dedicated a big and sweet smile at him.

"Hi"

"What are you doing here?" Newt leaned in the door frame as he huffed impatiently yet surprised. His bony fingers nervously drummed against the wood absently.

"I..." My cheerful mood decayed when I sensed how irritated he seemed to be. "You seemed to be down so I came here to cheer you up"

Newt was scowling, something I never thought I'd see.

Still, I took my chances and walked inside the house hoping his awful bad mood passed.

"Y/N, this is not a good time"

I left the bag I had carried all the way from home on the table in front of the couch. Like the time we were there watching Nowhere Boy, Psychology notes and books were scattered around the whole surface.

"I brought ice cream" I tried to keep the happy go lucky tone to my voice. "Chocolate ice cream"

I heard Newt closing the door and approaching me from behind.

"Love, please, I said I don't want to-"

"You know what's better than chocolate?" I turned around, holding the tub of ice cream, and smiled at him as I waved it before his face. "Chocolate ice cream!"

"Y/N" He was getting angry and his accent was getting stronger. "Will you please-"

"Aw, come on, Salamander Boy!"

"Get out" He told me, his fair skin turned red in anger.

"But Newt..." I frowned, shocked by that side of him. He was always so kind; I would have never pictured him bursting out like that.

"I said get out!" He pushed me out of the house and slammed the door shut behind me.

I didn't move; I was too distraught with what had just happened. Did he just throw me out?

When I finally let myself completely trust him and get lost in the things I felt for him, he did that? He was just going to push me away from him?

I felt the urge to cry, but I swallowed my tears and didn't allow myself to.

Before I could take a step or even turn around, I heard the door opening again and someone colliding with me in a bear hug.

"I'm so sorry, Y/N" Newt was hugging me from behind, wrapping his arms around my torso and affectionately squeezing me. He sobbed as he rested his chin in my shoulder. "I'm so bloody sorry"

Newt nuzzled his face in my shoulder blade and I stood there, still in shock.

"It's okay..." I finally said, my voice sounding more high-pitched than I intended.

"No it's not" He urgently turned me around and his gaze fixed in my eyes. "I'm having a bad day and got mad at myself. I just threw it on you, I'm sorry"

I looked back at him with concern.

Before I was able to talk, I heavily gulped down.

"What happened?"

Newt licked his lips, took the ice cream –that I still clutched against my chest, leaving it cold –with one hand and put his other hand in my back, bringing me back inside.

He didn't answer.

We quietly sat on the couch and he left the ice cream on the table, over many notes scribbled messily.

We sat there in silence for a while. None of us wanted to talk or move.

But I looked at him when I heard him sniffing. His eyes kept wandering around the room, not really stopping anywhere. And he averted his gaze from me.

"Newt..." I whispered, placing a hand on his arm.

He shrunk away from my touch.

Since he had avoided my question, I asked again. He wouldn't talk otherwise, probably.

"Newt, did something happen? Is Alby okay? Is-"

"Nothing happened" Newt simply mumbled with a heavy sigh, he looked so discouraged. "I'm just so bloody fed up"

"Why?" I insisted, reaching out to take his hand and squeezing it fondly.

Newt put the ice cream over the table and passed a hand through his disheveled blond hair.

"Because I feel so bloody stupid, Y/N" He replied angrily, holding my hand tighter and leaning back against the seat. "Sometimes I think I'm not worth anything"

"Why would you say that?!"

"All my classmates are so bloody intelligent and getting perfect grades and I'm just..." Newt heaved another sigh, this one shakily.

"Oh, Newt..." I whispered, rushing to find some comforting words to say to him.

I wanted to tell him that he was so special in my eyes. From my point of view, he was just perfect. He had an intelligence and calm aura surrounding him. And he was so selfless, kind and caring. Besides, with me he behaved so warmly, every caress so sweet. So when I was with him it made me feel loved and special. It reminded me of the good things in my life.

Still, my stupid brain wouldn't let me express myself to tell him all that.

"What do you see in me?" He whispered to himself, staring down to the floor as he frowned in defeat.

The sadness in his big brown eyes and those words made me snap.

I was so determined and so frustrated with him that I pushed my shyness away.

"Newt" I sternly said, causing him to look at me in spite of himself. "You are one of the most caring, kind and smartest people I know"

He looked away from me and absently tapped the front of the sneakers he was wearing repeatedly against the leg of the table.

"I mean it" I assured, slightly shoving him with my shoulder.

The blond slowly looked up at me with a puppy face. He looked so insecure and vulnerable.

I just threw my arms around his torso and I heard him grinning whilst he hugged me back.

"And you better not think like that ever again, Newtie, because then I'll get actually mad at you" To reinforce my statement, I looked up at him sternly as I squeezed him fondly.

"Something tells me I don't want to see you mad" His distraught expression softened and slowly became into a more relaxed one.

"That's right" I smirked at his words.

"Thanks, love, it truly means a lot" The way he glared at me then flustered me.

The affection I felt for him doubled and I found myself hugging his lean torso tight and craning my neck to leave a heartfelt kiss on his cheek.

I looked up at him as I, still wrapping my arms around him, rested my chin on his collarbone.

That glare filled with love and affection was still present in his eyes, accompanied by a tender lopsided smile.

"You were there for me when I thought..." I sighed, trying to forget about my dark moments. I stared at him, sending a reassuring smile in his direction. "I just want to be here for you too"

Newt laughed a bit.

"Great, I'm all bloody inspired" Thankfully it seemed that all he needed was to hear it from someone special for him, because he cheered up slowly.

Obviously, he was still a bit off and taciturn, but at least his eyes weren't watery anymore.

He sighed and stood up, soon after going back with two spoons. He handed me one and quietly sat down next to me.

Newt put a blanket over the both of us and positioned himself so we couldn't be any closer, scooting next to me.

And he opened the tub of ice cream, beginning to take a spoonful of it without a word.

I did the same as he turned the TV on and left the first thing that was on. Game of Thrones.

We spent hours like that. Not moving. Not talking. Just leaning against each other and sharing our warmth under the blanket while we enjoyed the chocolate ice cream. And it felt just right.

*

Newt's softs snores sounded behind me as his arms unconsciously squeezed me in his sleep. I could do nothing but smile.

We had ended up spooning in the couch and I guess he was really tired, because he soon dozed off.

Then someone knocked on the door, and I looked over my shoulder to make sure the noise hadn't woken Newt up. It hadn't.

Careful not to wake him when I wriggled away from his grip, I stood up.

I glanced at him as I headed for the door. He looked so adorable.

I wondered who was at the door, though. Maybe it was Alby. Maybe he forgot the keys.

Slowly, I opened the door and was surprised to see Minho.

"How's Newt?" Was the first thing he said when he saw me.

"He's fine, he fell asleep" I kept my voice low as Minho tried to look behind me, standing on his tiptoes to have a better view. Even if he was a lot taller than me.

"Thomas and I were worried, we were waiting for you shank to tell us if he was okay" Minho looked down and for once I found him adorable.

It was so sweet that they worried about Newt. They didn't even know each other for that long, but they soon became friends and they cared as much for him as I did.

"Sorry about that, I lost track of time" I had assured them that I would tell them how he was as soon as I could. It was the only way they'd let me go alone to see Newt.

"So what's gotten into the lover boy?" Minho whispered, obviously restless.

"He's just stressed, I guess" I shrugged, but I looked at him in concern.

Newt had been eating his mind, and I didn't know for how long before that day.

Truth was I noticed him being quieter, but I really thought he wanted to let me study and that he was trying not to bother me. That sounded like Newt.

But he was just facing his own stuff. Like everyone else, even if I had been too blind to notice.

He wasn't stupid, his degree had to be very hard and complex. And besides, he had his own insecurities just like we all do.

Minho sighed and looked at him again.

"How come Thomas didn't come too?" I knew how pig-headed Thomas was, and that a sore leg wouldn't stop him from coming to check on his friend.

"That shuck face wanted to come really bad" Minho smirked, and it relieved me to see his laid back attitude again. "Almost had to hurt his other leg to keep him put"

I giggled when I pictured a pouty and sulky Thomas putting up with Minho's bad mood. And eventually having to tolerate Chuck going on with his usual chatter.

"Just tell the lover boy to call us when he wakes up, will you, Y/N?" Minho nudged me and winked an eye at me. Still, I could sense his concern beneath the surface.

"Sure"

"Take care of him now"

"I will"

Minho then turned around and walked away slowly, like he didn't really want to leave Newt. But he knew I would look after him, and that was the only thing keeping him from barging in and staying with Newt.

I closed the door as silently as I could and smiled a little.

It was so heartwarming that they wanted to come see him when they knew he was troubled. They wanted to support him, and so did I.

The same way Minho supported Thomas when he injured his leg -in his own strange way-, the three of us supported Newt. We would be there for him no matter what, because that's what friends do.

As I occupied again my place next to Newt in the couch, this time facing him, I fondly stared at him.

He opened his eyes sleepily and smiled at me in a way that gave me the urge so pinch his cheeks as he looked too shuck cute.

I couldn't resist so I placed a delicate peck on his lips. That widened his smile.

"Thank you for being my friend" Newt closed his eyes happily and held me against him. "All of you"

Then he fell back asleep, so I gave him another kiss and snuggled closer to him. It was getting late and I'd have to go soon. So I might as well enjoy the coziness of the moment for as long as I could.

My mind raced with thoughts as I felt slightly drowsy.

I had often wondered how somebody can love someone that's as broken as I am. Or at least how I felt that day where everything seemed so black around me. But my family loved me, my friends loved me. All of them, especially Thomas, Newt and Minho.

And Newt, he had been the one that opened my eyes that day.

If someone loves you enough, they don't care how broken you are. Because all they can think about is they want to be there to gather up your pieces and be your glue. In fact, they will try even harder to be there to show their support and try to make it better.

True friends show themselves during your darkest times.

Newt had showed me that when I had seen him so blue and discouraged.

Everyone's got problems. Everyone's got a breaking point. Of course, every case is different and pain is relative. But that's what friends are for, to support us during those times we can't even stand ourselves and help us through them.

But we all hurt at some point, sometimes even break. You just have to find someone who will be there to fix you.