Newt Imagines (The Maze Runner)

Monopoly at Midnight

Thomas is convinced that he should not have been sent to jail, Gally threatens that he should be there for longer, Alby groans and tells Thomas that one turn will be a sufficient punishment for his board game crimes. In between getting absolutely robbed over egregious rents on the various brightly colored squares, Newt passes his time in another, somehow better way. The loud, raucous complaints of various friends as the game progresses serves as a brilliant cover-up for the conversation Newt wants to be having instead.

Y/N chose to sit by Newt, something he's very happy about, again for a reason he can't entirely describe. They use the threats of mortal violence ricocheting between friends to muffle their quiet exchanges. Newt is always filled with this ridiculous need to sound as cool and funny as possible around her, so he's grateful Minho can't overhear Newt's attempt at suave conversation. He has a feeling that the other boy would find it incredibly humorous, and likely point this out at great volume.

As the night wears on, Newt's attempted control over his own words grows less and less strict. They have been at Monopoly for hours and they're still no closer to winning the game than when they started. Minho insisted that even losers must remain around the board game table, likely to make sure no one would try to sacrifice themselves in the hopes of escape, so they're all still packed just as tightly around the game board.

However, the late hour and the mind numbing brain drain of trying to remember all the rules has Newt's attention span shrinking by the second. Y/N looks like she's about ten seconds from falling asleep, and Newt ends up playing most of her turns for her. She's leaned up against his shoulder now, eyelids continually flickering shut as she fights the urge to pass into unconsciousness.

In the beginning, Y/N would tell Newt what she wanted to do, but he's long since been able to guess at what she wants that she doesn't even have to say a word. They're of one mind, the two of them. It is impossible to tell where she ends and he begins, if there was ever such a difference in the first place.

As if reading his mind, Y/N yawns and whispers something to Newt, her words scarcely audible over Frypan declaring his hatred of another railroad square. "I'm glad you're here, you know."

Newt chuckles. "Why, so you have someone to suffer with you?"

"No," Y/N says amidst a quiet laugh, "I just like spending time with you. Guess it's 'cause of the whole crush thing, but still. You're fun."

After this pronouncement has been given, Y/N tucks her head back against Newt's shoulder, looking to all the world as if she's just commented on the weather or something normal. By contrast, Newt feels as if he's never been more awake in his life. He knows what Y/N said, even if she might not be aware of it herself. She said that she liked being with him because of the 'crush thing,' but that sounds like– that sounds like–

She likes him. She might even love him. Newt's brain might fall to pieces over the force of such a revelation. Isn't that how he feels, though? Like he doesn't want to spend time with anyone other than her? The fact that he hadn't even realized it until now is insane to him. It makes perfect sense the longer he thinks about it. Of course he loves her. How could he not? Isn't this what love is, wanting to be with someone for the rest of your life?

The rest of the game night passes in a haze. Newt isn't entirely sure who won, although he's certain that whoever it was will take great pains to remind them until the next game night. Newt lost whatever advantage he had in the game the second Y/N accidentally confessed her feelings. He just couldn't think about something as elementary as Monopoly when someone like Y/N told him that she liked him. How could anyone focus on a board game during such conditions?

Newt feels like he's walking on eggshells when he approaches Y/N at school the next Monday. She didn't text him over the weekend to indicate that anything unusual had happened. In all honesty, Newt's not even sure that she was awake enough to know what she said. Newt knows, though, and that makes all the difference.

Newt stops by Y/N's locker, wondering how he's going to bring this up. Y/N saves him the trouble, flashing him a casual grin as she opens her combination lock.

"Hey, Newt. Sleep well this weekend? I was exhausted after Friday. I assumed I'd have to pull an all-nighter at some point, but I didn't think it would be over Monopoly."

Newt forces a chuckle. "Yeah, yeah. Hey, about Friday. There's something I wanted to talk about."

Y/N's brow furrows. "What do you mean? I think I fell asleep once we passed into the three a.m. range, sorry about that."

Newt shakes his head. "No, it wasn't about that. It was, well, when you were falling asleep, you told me something."

Judging by the way Y/N's face falls, she might have been aware of it after all. "I thought that was just a dream," she whispers, "Guess not."

"Yeah," Newt says.

Y/N winces. "Look, I'm really sorry about that. It wasn't supposed to happen at all. Can we just pretend I was asleep and didn't know what I was saying? Please?"

"I don't want to pretend, though," Newt whispers, "I want it to be real."

Y/N seems to freeze in place. "What?"

That's as good as any to continue, so Newt does just that. "I like you too," he says, "really, I do. More than I thought I could."

Y/N stares at him a second longer, then breaks into a slow smile. "If this is what comes of Minho's game nights, I'm not entirely sure I mind them anymore."

Newt laughs. "Is that your way of saying that you'd like to go out with me sometime?"

"It most certainly is," Y/N assures him.

Maybe Newt is still reeling from the high of staying up so late, because he swears he can feel his heart do a loop in his chest. Either way, he couldn't be happier. He's got his girl, and that's all that matters right now.