Vince huffed, finishing off the remnants of his drink. "I've been slightly unwell, that's all. Lincoln suggested bed rest so that's what I've been doing, if you must know."
Thomas went to reply, but halted when he noticed Brenda entering, as he instead smiled the biggest smile, I think I've ever seen him muster.
"Hey guys," The girl said, smiling at us all as she took a seat next to Thomas. "Oh, Y/n, Lincoln is looking for you – said you claimed you'd be back at your room by now."
I rolled my eyes, trying not to throw up as I watched Brenda and Thomas share a kiss.
"I plan on getting back to my room later, he'll just have to wait." I said, closing the book before me.
Brenda nodded slightly, not seeming convinced. "He just seemed concerned, was all."
He was always fucking concerned.
"He's a big boy, he can navigate being alone for a few hours." I replied, rubbing my fingers under my eyes to wake myself up.
Thomas had on that same irritating smile. "Trouble in paradise?" The boy asked, already completely aware of the answer, but still nevertheless asking anyway.
Brenda lightly smacked his arm as a warning.
"Watch it, Tom." I hissed at the boy, gladly accepting the glass of whiskey Vince was offering. I always had a little soft spot for whiskey.
It felt comforting, in a way.
Vince lowered himself down onto a chair, the act alone seeming difficult.
"Alright, sorry." Tom replied, raising his hands in defense. "Seriously though, I'm still not sure how to feel about Lincoln calling you darling. It feels strange for some reason."
I chewed on my lip. "You're preaching to the choir with that one."
"Tell me about it – it's been ages and yet I still feel myself internally cringing." Vince exclaimed, taking another sip from his newly poured glass. I did the same.
Smooth but with a kick.
Brenda chuckled slightly. "If Vince is picking up on that then there is definitely something wrong."
I felt like punching all of them was the best cause of action. Maybe not tonight, though.
"Continue dissecting whatever you want, I'm going to bed." I said, standing up and slamming my now empty class onto the table.
I don't even remember finishing it.
"Lucky you, darling." Tom joked, and while it was funny, the idea of homicide became more endearing.
When the knife flew past the boy's head, I relished in the fact that he squealed.
I hadn't done that for a long time, and I definitely forgot how good it felt.
Thomas looked stunned. "I was joking, Y/n!" The boy yelled, checking his head for any injuries.
If I had wanted to harm him, he would know about it.
Before turning out of the door, I looked back at the three of them and laughed. "I know."
--
I could feel his pulse slow, and shatter beneath my fingertips.
His fleeting tears – the ones that barely remained as they trickled down his cheeks. I wasn't there to catch them, but I witnessed them fall.
I was a second too late.
"Please don't leave me." I sobbed, grabbing at his chest, shaking him awake.
I buried myself in his shirt, desperate to hold onto the boy I knew.
But he didn't wake, and the boy I had been grasping at just moments before – the shirt I had been crying into, began to disperse.
It was like he disintegrated into the air, leaving no piece of him behind.
It was only me that remained. And that made me cry harder.
"Newt! Newt! Please don't leave me!"
My screams didn't even echo, as if no noise had left my mouth.
I scrambled to my feet, completely overcome by hysterics and wracked with grief. And yet, I continued to scream. I yelled out into the air around me, searching for the blonde boy who was with me only a few moments ago.
But then so cruelly ripped away.
I wailed and sobbed into the night, until I could no longer hear myself.
I didn't understand why at first – it made no sense. I opened my mouth to cry out, to yell for him, but I made no sound.
I was submerged underwater.
Newt was gone, and I was drowning.
I thrashed and struggled, desperate to reach the surface of the water, but I couldn't. The current wasn't strong, and there was only darkness around, and yet I was losing.
My lungs were on fire, my throat was beginning to constrict from the lack of oxygen, and I thought that dying this way could be peaceful.
But only if I were to let it.
The screams and cries continued, my eyes were beginning to burn and I knew my arms and legs wanted to give up. But I still fought, battling my way to the gap between water and land.
I could feel it – the darkness of death lingering around the corner, ready to take another victim hostage, and then never let them go.
My internal organs felt like they were shutting down, and my brain was finally getting ready to give up.
Because giving in was always easier – but then I caught a glimpse of blonde, and I felt as if my body had just woken up.
I ignored the burning sensation in my organs, and the shocking pains that struck through my body, because he was here.
So, I began screaming for him again.
I would reach out for him, desperate to feel him, to know he was there.
"Newt! Newt?"
I yelled out his name, struggling against all barricades that were separating us. My fingertips stretching out to him – so close.
But yet, so far.
Because suddenly, I was no longer under water, and I could hear someone else yelling now.
I joined in, yelling for him again, crying and sobbing into what I thought to be Newt.
It felt like him, his skin, his clothes, his hair.
But my head was no longer submerged in confusion, and I could hear my surroundings clearer.
"Y/n! You're okay! Darling, you're safe!"
Spluttering, I realised I could breathe again, and that I was comfortably nesting in somebody's chest. It can't be him – it's not- there's no way-
"Darling, you're okay, it was just a bad dream."
I didn't need to open my eyes to know it was Lincoln, and not him.
It was never him.
"Y/n, can you open your eyes for me?"
I was still in his arms, if I kept my eyes shut for long enough, it could still be him. It might not be real; he could really be here-
"Shh, shh, it's okay. I'm here."
I hated crying into a chest that wasn't his.
-
A/N: happy monday all.
updates should be slightly quicker over the next couple of weeks, and i am very excited to show you all new chapters.
thank you for being here <3
three: perplexus
Start from the beginning
