If Only You Understood

Everything shone brightly behind his closed lids and a pained groan rumbled in his chest. Everything hurt.

A tingling numbness spanned across his still body and he sucked in a breath through his teeth without opening his eyes. Feeling his chest expand easily, easily, was so...so shockingly wonderful that he giggled.

Giggled.

Like a teenage girl. Like a child being praised. Like a person in love.
He could breathe.

Holy hell, he could breathe.

There was no pressure on his chest. No blockage filling his lungs. And no horrid coughing that followed his actions. Just simple, all-natural airflow. And it was beyond amazing. Beyond astounding. It was remarkable.
He couldn't remember the last time his chest felt so clear.

It was a relief.

But having a clear mind never lasts long.
Within seconds of his new spectacular discovery, dread had begun settling uncomfortably in his stomach (that had instantly snapped to life when he regained consciousness and sent pangs of hunger through his aching limbs) and he climbed to his legs. Movements slow, cautious and aware, he stumbled along on quaking legs that felt as if they would give out any minute.
Thankfully, luck, or whatever it may be, was on his side. He regained his balance quickly, though using his legs felt like a toddler learning to walk for the first time, and he followed the distant chatter that drifted in the calm breeze.

The landscape was unfamiliar, filled with sloping hills and lush grass. For a second fear shot through his veins. The Maze. But those thoughts were silenced almost as soon as they came to life, cut off by a stampede of sounds.

A distinct sound.

Laughter.
Tommy's laughter.
And Minho's, and Brenda's, and Jorge's and Gally's.

And warmth overtook that tingling sensation.

Hearing his laugh caused a smile to spread across his previously frowning features. That laugh sent a wave of reassurance over Newt, as if he'd never had the flare. Never attacked Thomas. Never lost his mind.
It was as if everything was right with the world for a moment, no matter how brief.

Within seconds he was bounding across the grassy slope, despite the jolts of pain with every step on his injured leg, and his shoes slid on the long grass that bent beneath his weight.
He was standing still, words so quiet that the only indication he was even speaking was the way his lips moved to form words.

Thomas didn't see him at first, too caught up in his hushed conversation to take note of the boy who stood just above ten feet away, dark eyes trained on him.
But when he finally noticed it made all the waiting worth it.

Every blink, every breath, every second, didn't matter anymore as their eyes fully connected.

At first it was but a glance, knowing someone was looking at him, but unsure who. His eyes scanned the clusters of people and completely skipped over the blond.
The blond.

Newt.

Sure, it was naïve to see any person with blond hair and automatically assume it was his best friend, but he couldn't stop himself. And he was glad that he directed his focus back to that blond.
Because this time, it was the one he'd been searching for.

They were silent, eyes locked in an unspoken challenge. Who would break the silence first?
Tension was building and those around them noticed Thomas's lack of attention. And where his gaze was resting.
The joy, mingled with concern as well, was evident on their faces, but no one made a move to talk. They too felt the power held in those boys who remained still, barely even breathing.
And for some reason it seemed to fit when that silence swept over the makeshift camp and all eyes were too concentrated on either one of the teens that they too almost forgot to breathe.

"Bloody hell Tommy, you just gonna stand there and gape at me with your shuck face? 'Ts like you never even missed me." Though his lips tugged downward into a stern frown, his eyes told another story. One of amusement. Yet upon closer inspection they also held traces of a sadness.
A heart-wrenching sadness that Thomas felt his breath hitch at.

Before a rational thought even crossed his mind he was marching over to a stone-still Newt who had his thin arms crossed against his chest.
Then he was pushing his arms away and drawing the quaking, eyes now glossy with unshed tears, to his chest and snaking his arms about his back.

A cold nose nestled into the crook of his neck and he heard the ragged breathing of his best friend beside his ear. But he didn't say a word, instead drawing light shapes on the small of his back. The watching eyes had turned away now, enveloped into their previous chit-chat to give them a fraction of privacy.

Newt clung to his shirt, hands balled into fists as he grasped the thin fabric in case his legs buckled due to how aggressively his body seemed to tremble in place. Hot tears slipped down the gentle curve of his cheeks and landed in a growing spot of dark material on Thomas's shirt. Yet he still remained quiet, aside from the small soothing words that slipped from his mouth every now and again to remind his friend that everything was okay now.
After a long while Newt spoke once more.

"I'm not your shucking girlfriend Thomas, you don't have to take care of me like this. It'll just embarrass you." He murmured softly, bringing up a hand to wipe away at the tears while the other loosened its grip on his shirt.

"Shut up Newt." The dark-haired boy muttered fondly, patting his back before stepping away. "Girlfriend or not I'd still comfort you. Just because you were used to being strong doesn't mean you aren't allowed to be weak."

"Don't go all cheesy on me Tommy, 's not like you at all. Now, let's go see Minho. And demand that Frypan make me his stew, never thought I'd miss that klunk so much." Slinging an arm across his friend's shoulders, he yanked the boy close so their sides bumped with each step.

An easy smile slipped onto Newt's face as he dragged Thomas around camp, greeting old friends and sharing laughs.
All the while Thomas could only stare, too caught up in the jumble of his thoughts to pay attention to anything aside from his lively best friend.

For once it seemed that everything would be okay.

(End of Chapter One)