The Second Chance part 12
I could tell you that Newt and Thomas had a carefree summer. I could tell you they spent all their days laughing together, enjoying the nice weather. But it wouldn't be the truth. At least, not entirely. The weather was indeed warm and sunny. The boys did spend all the time they could together. But it wasn't entirely carefree. Not like other summers. Newt and Thomas both had jobs. Thomas did cross country with Minho. And Newt prepared for college. Their time was limited, but they were neighbors after all, which meant one always knew when the other was home. Every day they made sure to do something together. Go outside, hang out with friends, play video games, they even went on a few dates. All the while the notion of summer ending hung in the back of their minds. They knew the day was going to come sometime, and it was coming now.
Newt’s parents and Thomas accompanied him as he walked down the hallway of his dorm building. Newt pulled out the key he had been given and unlocked the wooden door, baron except for the shiny plaque that said ‘250’. The door swung open with a light push and Newt entered the room he was to spend his next few years living in. There were two beds, one on either side of the room with a small window in between. Newt found the light switch on the wall and flipped it, allowing himself to see the makeshift living space in all of its glory. He went to the window and gazed out to see the small green hill he had just climbed. Standing below it was a spectacular sign that read
Welcome to Glade University
Thomas appeared behind Newt and he put a hand on his shoulder. “Well, how you feeling? It's still not too late to back out!” The brunet joked.
“Ha, you bloody wish Tommy,” Newt laughed rather quietly and he turned from the window.
“So, how can we help you unpack Newt?” His dad asked as he set a box full of Newt’s belongings on one of the beds.
An hour latter Newt’s dorm was properly set up. Everything he could possibly need minus the stuff his roommate would be bringing. Newt had emailed his roommate, Aris, throughout the summer and he seemed really nice. He came from a family of three sisters and no brothers, so he seemed pretty excited to get out of there and live in the dorms. Aris was coming the day after him because he lived much farther away than Newt did to the campus. The Brit would have to survive one night by himself in this strange room.
Eventually the time had come for his family to go, and Newt to stay. The blond gave his parents a huge hug and they left the room. He had been expecting a bigger show of emotions from them, especially his mom, but none came. He knew that it would all sink in later in the night and his mom would be calling to check on him every hour. For now he was just glad she hadn't started crying, then everyone would be crying. It was very hard for Newt to leave his family, but the college was only a few hours from home and he would be able to visit on weekends. Sonya had made other plans for the day at her volunteering association, and she was unable to get out of it. They had said their short goodbyes earlier that morning.
With his parents out of the room that left Newt and Thomas alone. They stood in silence for a long minute before the younger boy spoke.
“Well. I guess… I- I should probably go.” He turned towards the door and Newt almost let him walk out it, but he stopped him.
“Thomas wait!” Newt felt his eyes sting with the sudden urge to cry but he fought back the tears. Pulling the boy into a strong hug to hide his reddening face. Five months ago if someone had told Newt he would be standing here with Thomas holding him, he would have said they were crazy. Said there was no way Thomas would feel that way towards him. But here he was, and they were closer than he ever would have dreamed possible. The Brit swallowed hard and his throat clenched up. He squeezed his eyes shut and turned his mouth to Thomas’s ear.
“Tom… Tommy,” Newt struggled to let the words out. The strongest words he could ever tell someone. The words he had been thinking and denying all summer. “Tommy I love you.” He felt Thomas’s body tens up. There was a heavy silence and Newt started to panic. Why had he said that, he didn't really believe Thomas was going to say it back did he? Thomas would never say anything like this that he didn't mean. However the quite only lasted a moment as Thomas snapped out of his shock and his body relaxed.
“Newt. Angel, I love you too. Don't forget that.” Thomas pulled out of the embrace and looked Newt in the eye. The blond could see Thomas was trying hard to hold back his emotions just as much as himself.
“I won't... Look at us,” he laughed. “It's not like we’ll never talk to each other again. I'll make sure to visit as often as I can, that way you can never forget me. No matter how hard you try” He gave Thomas a small smile.
“I could never forget someone who’s been in my life since I was one,” Thomas placed a gentle kiss on Newt’s forehead and he walked out of the room without another word. With no one left in his dorm, and the door securely shut, Newt sagged onto his new bed. Hopping the walls were more sound proof than they seemed, the Brit gave his body the freedom it so desired, and let out a shaky sob. The tears streamed freely down his hot face. Newt was now alone, and single.
•••
That evening Thomas walked into his room. He sat on the end of his bed and looked in the direction of his window. On a normal night he would see Newt walking around his room, straightening up or getting ready for bed. On a normal night he would lean out of his window and have a conversation, say goodnight. But of course Thomas didn't see Newt in his bedroom. He saw only a dark room, baron of Newt’s possessions.
Thomas pulled himself to his feet and walked to the window. The younger boy had taken advantage of Newt’s constant presence in his life, ever since he could remember Newt had been right next door, right next window. It felt as if a part of himself had been ripped from his body. Even before they were dating Thomas knew this was going to be hard. He grabbed the curtain that hung on either side of the glass and he pulled the ends together for the first time since he could remember. The brunet didn't want to look into an empty room every time he was here. Thomas’s face suddenly felt warm and he ran a hand through his hair. He got mad, why did this have to happen? Especially when things were so good. But the feeling vanished as quickly as it had arrived, he had no right to keep Newt from his futcher. The anger was replaced with a deep sadness. Thomas took a deep breath to calm himself and squeezed his eyes shut. He refused to let himself cry.
•••
The next afternoon Newt was standing in front of his dresser, placing his clothes from a large suitcase into the draws when the lock clicked on the door. In walked a skinny boy with messy black hair. He gave Newt a strong friendly smile and entered the room fully.
“Hey, I'm Aris.”