strings // newtmas au

keep yourself warm

    "...darlin, darlin, if we go on can it (can it be) the way it was when we met, did you forget all about them golden nights? If i go home with you by my side can it be the way it was my heart is true, boy it's just you I'm thinkin of, can it be the way it was?"

    Thomas rubbed his eyes hard as the song ended. His chest ached. He turned off the radio and drove the rest of the way home in silence.

___

    The social media attack started a little later, a few days after the release of the cover song. The fans went crazy on Thomas. They realized he was off the tour and pieced two and two together and by two or two meaning that Thomas was a cheater. It got so bad that Thomas had to deactivate his instagram. Teresa and Newt posted a video of them explaining that it was just a stupid kiss cam and Newt and Thomas just did it because they were playing along. Teresa said her and Thomas weren't even officially dating at that point so it wasn't a big deal, she said she knew about it beforehand. Teresa said they broke up due to other reasons which somehow made it worse. Newt said it was just a stupid kiss and that hurt Thomas more than Newt screaming at him had.

    He got a text from Teresa that day too. She said sorry that social media was getting so bad. Thomas just sent her a ":)". He felt bad about that and then added "sorry I yelled at you." He bit his lip and sent another text saying "also sorry I didn't say goodbye."

    It was a few hours before Teresa texted him back. Her message said, "It's okay, I understand. Breakups suck. It was a real pleasure meeting you Thomas Edison, I love you my boyfriend :), here if you need anything." 

    That almost sent Thomas into tears again so he put his phone down and went for a run. He was running a lot then, usually in the mornings. He felt that it helped him with the sadness, when he was running he wasn't thinking of Newt, he wasn't thinking of the boy he so desperately didn't want to be on his mind but at the same time wanted to be in his arms.

    Thomas didn't talk to Rose for a while either. He just needed some space, he needed to process the whirlwind of events that was happening to him. He wanted it all to stop, but it didn't, it wouldn't.

    Minho started snapping him again. At first it was just stupid streaks pictures. Then randomly the drummer sent a picture of Newt sitting on the couch, looking at something on his phone. The caption said "he's being emo about you again."

    Thomas chatted him back saying "please don't". Minho didn't snap him again.

    WICKED came back from tour on a Tuesday. Thomas knew that because he saw Teresa's snapchat story. Newt was back in town, Newt was close to him, he could go to his house, he could see him, talk to him. Thomas almost laughed at himself. Like he'd go talk to a boy in person that he hadn't even texted in weeks.

    It'd almost been a month, a month without any contact from Newt. Thomas still had all the pictures on his phone, he couldn't bring himself to delete them. Maybe he was holding onto to hope that they'd be okay. Maybe he really really wanted them to be okay but with each passing day that seemed less and less likely.

    Thomas scrunched his face in confusion when a text from Lizzy came up on his screen. It said "wanna meet for coffee in 5? My treat, you could probably use it."

    Thomas texted back, "not if you're going to yell at me."

    The response was almost immediate, it said "hug you maybe, but no yelling...please :( all because my brother's an idiot doesn't mean that I am."

   Thomas finally reluctantly agreed before grabbing his keys to head to the cafe. When he got there Lizzy was sitting at a table, she'd already ordered him something.