~~~Author's Notes~~~

It has been a really long time since I've updated and I'm so so sorry, but I'm now back from vacation. I had a great time but did not really get a chance to write, so that is the reason for my delayed update.

But anyway I want to quickly thank y'all for all of the sweet messages and comments I've been receiving lately! I love you guys so much and I never want to disappoint.

So yah, this chapter is certainly not my favorite, and I'm sorry if it seems 'flat.' It's not really inappropriate, because I've read some of those 1D fanfics!!¡¡ But it could definitely be considered Pg-13, take that warning as you will. And I suck at writing chapters like this so it's more like 'use your imagination.' It's only as dirty or as innocent as your mind interprets it.

SO ENJOY!!!

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~~~Brianne's Pov~~~

"How was the meeting?" I asked Newt as he sauntered into his room. I'd only woken up about half an hour ago and had just decided to wait in here until Newt came back from the Council meeting I'd known he was having. And hey, he was gonna need the support. This was his first official day as Second-in-Command, because he'd previously been too injured to take on the tasks that came with the job, but thankfully now that he was able to walk without wanting to buckle over in pain, he could work again.

He smiled, "I think it went well. Everyone seemed excited for me."

"Of course, they're excited for you. This is a big deal!" I laughed, adjusting my pillow so I could sit up taller.

I know this is weird, I'm sleeping with Newt. But we're doing this in the most innocent way possible, we barely touch each other. I'm only here to help him as his nurse, and help him emotionally if need be. I'm just still a bit scared that he'll do something reckless without someone by his side.

That's all that's going on. I mean, maybe there's a bit of kissing. But that's not the only reason why I'm here.

"I don't know. I just get scared that maybe everyone will lose faith in me."

"They won't," I reassured.

"You almost did," Newt mumbled to himself. I gave him a confused look, "I didn't mean that. I was just referring to when I'd been knocked out. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," I smiled, hiding my initial hurt, "So about the meeting?"

"It was good, it just consisted of Alby introducing me as his helper, ya' know, telling everyone to recognize my new position."

"I see," I said, nodding my head.

"But Alby's different."

"What? How?" I asked.

"He used to be so nice and gentle and caring, ya' know. He used to be Alby."

"And now?"

"He's just turning out to be a lot like how Nick was," Newt answered, hopping on one foot across the room over to his desk.

"That's odd," I laughed at Newt, leaning my head against the bed's head post, "You're so weird."

"What are you laughing at?" Newt asked, laughing along.

"I don't know, I'm just laughing at you. Sometimes the way you do things is so weird. Like there are a plethora of other ways for you to get to your desk. You're just a little weirdo," I smiled.

He wiggled his eyebrows while pulling his dirty T-shirt over his head, "Oh please, love, we all know you like it."

"Is that so, you think you have me all figured out, yah?"

"No, I know I have nothing shucking figured out, but I might as well pretend for once." He smirked, running his hands through his hair. For the first time ever, I let my eyes wander down his exposed skin. Not for nursing purposes, but just to look. And may I say, he is absolutely beautiful. A couple scars were scattered across his perfect complexion, but the defined muscles of his abs, distracted me from the cuts. I felt my face blush as he noticed me staring, "Bloody shuck, you can't look at me like that when it's only half past nine in the morning."

I was taken back by his words. I chewed on my lip nervously, hiding my red face from him with my hands. I laughed lightly, "Whatever I'll just save my love for someone else."

"You couldn't stay away from me even if you tried," Newt winked, an underlying sarcasm laced in his words, "Don't get too excited though, I'm not in that kind of a mood." I heard his footsteps move across the room, "I still think it's so odd, you attempt to die and get a whole room to yourself. I mean this isn't all that buggin awful. I should have done it a long time ago."

"Jokes like that aren't funny, Newt." I said looking up at him. He had his arms open around him as though he were presenting something to me.

"I know it isn't, but now we have a place all to ourselves." He winked and then crossed his arms over his bare chest, "Which is not bad at'all."

I inhaled deeply, "Oh, joy. A place where you can act crazy and seductive without people knowing?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Precisely," He jumped onto the foot of the bed, rolling up to where I was sitting.

I was startled by his random movement, "Gosh, don't hurt yourself. You're still in recovery, Newt."

He laughed lying on his back, "Hey, that hurt a heck of a lot less than walking all the way over to you. Oh wait, I can't even bloody walk anymore. It hurt less than me limping over to you. There that's correct."

He was in an odd mood. He wasn't entirely kidding and carefree, but he wasn't serious either, so I had to be careful where I let this conversation go.

"I happen to like your limp, if that makes you feel better," I smiled as I said the words. It wasn't going to make anything better, but I wanted to keep the aurora light.

"Why thank you, and yes that does make me feel better. Only a shucking little, but still better."

Silence engulfed the room. I eventually let my hand lightly touch Newt's arm. His twinkling eyes held contact with mine.

"I want you to feel better, Newt. I want you to be happy or as close to happy as you could get in this darn place." I leaned in closer to him, flicking my eyes nervously down to his lips.

"It's impossible to be 100% happy. We should know," Newt said as sadness engulfed his features.

"I have a theory."

"Which is?" He raised an eyebrow.

"That to be happy you only need to forget the things which make you sad and pursue the select things which cause you joy."

"Yah, well I have a theory too. When you throw klunk up, that klunk's gonna come down," He laughed.

"I'm serious, like what I'd told you about taking that job as Second-in-Command. You love that so far, don't you?"

"Yah, it's great," He answered.

"You have to constantly be pursuing things that you love. I think that's what everything is all about: love and happiness. You have to do some things for yourself and taking that job was one of them."

"I like your theory, Medjack," Newt winked, sitting up so that he was face to face with me.

"I like it too," I whispered, my breath hitching in my throat.

"You little stick, I thought I told you not to seduce me this early in the morning."

"I-I didn't even do anything," I laughed, blushing. Like I would know how to seduce a guy? Yah, right.

Newt chuckled, "You didn't have to. It's just you, looking at me, when we're this close; that's enough."

I bit my lip lightly, "Sorry?" Followed by a laugh.

"I give up, just kiss me," Newt pressed his lips against mine and I was immediately glad that I'd brush my teeth this morning. I brought my hand up to his head, keeping the distance small between us. I moved, trying to get more comfortable, but Newt took my movement as the perfect opportunity for him to pull me onto his lap. My knees pressed down next to Newt's hips, as I felt his arms wrap around my back. I let one of my hands rest on his bare chest, trying to relax my anxious body. This was hot.

Okay, I lied before, I was sleeping in Newt's bed so that I wouldn't miss out on opportunities like this.

I pulled back to catch my breath for a second, before leaning in again. This time taking things more slowly. I made each kiss full of meaning and passion. Newt quickly adjusted his actions to the new pace I'd presented. This was quite empowering actually, being able to have full control over this situation.

It was nice for once. And hey, Victoria hadn't been lying, whoever was on top did have the more control.

Victoria. It'd been two weeks since we'd spoken to each other and my heart has yet to stop aching. I missed our stupid little friendship. I should really apologize, even though this was her fault, for starting unnecessary drama.

I pushed lightly on Newt's shoulders, wanting him to lie back. Where was I going with this? I have no idea, I'm just going with it. Whatever feels right. But things won't go much farther than this.

Newt took my hint, and lied back, both of us readjusting to the new positioning.

Now what?

I suddenly felt insecure about my actions. Almost regretful. I felt extremely nervous and when I broke away from our kiss to take in how Newt was feeling, he seemed so relaxed.

What am I doing?

I lifted my leg, about to push myself off of him, when Newt stopped me by wrapping his hand around my ankle.

"Done that quickly?" He laughed, making me feel even dumber.

My face turned a dark red, "I-um, sorry," I pulled my leg from his grasp, moving so that I was sitting next to him instead of on top of him.

"Hey, you okay? What's wrong?" Newt asked, sitting up with me, probably noticing my shift in emotion.

"It's nothing," I shied away from his touch as his arm reached out for me.

"You seem upset," Newt furrowed his eyebrows, "We were just passionately making out while you straddled me like thirty seconds ago, and now you won't even let me touch your arm?"

"That's it, that's what's wrong."

"What?" Newt asked confused.

"I just feel stupid. I don't know what I'm doing. And I'm sure that you've done this all already and here I am making a fool of myself."

Newt stared at me for a few seconds before laughing.

"What? I'm so serious," I said. Roles were reversed. I was insecure and Newt was confident.

"I know you are. It's just funny, that you think I'm some kind of sexual expert. I'm not."

"Yah, but this just isn't me. I'm not Amelia, I want to take things slow. "

"I know you're not, and trust me I'm so over that immature 'only interested in the appearance crap'. I want you, the you you truly are."

"But- I just feel bad-"

"But nothing, I love you and I would never do what I just did with anyone else. And by the way, I don't want to do anything dirty with you. Or anyone for that matter."

"I love you," I whispered, pushing away the random tears gathering in my eyes.

Newt leaned in to kiss my forehead, "I love you more."

"I-" I started.

"I love you most- don't even try," He laughed, hugging me.

Almost immediately following this, the door to Newt's room opened. Newt and I both whipped around to see who it was. It was Chuck. He entered through the door out of breath, with his hands on his hips, "Guys- Oh? Did I ruin something?" He asked, taking in our appearances. We wouldn't have looked that bad, if Newt had had a shirt on.

I opened my mouth to make a joke, but quickly stopped when I realized that Chuck hadn't really been joking when he asked us that.

"No, what's up?" Newt asked, standing and walking over to put a clean shirt on.

"The glade wants the two of you outside now," Chuck spoke without much emotion in his voice.

"Why?" I asked, sliding off of Newt's bed.

"Did something happen?" Newt asked, pulling a shirt over his head.

"Not yet," Chuck answered, sadly, "If I were the two of you, I'd smoothen out your hair, people already think badly of you."

I exchanged a quick look with Newt, who tilted his head towards Chuck as he began leaving the room, signaling for me to follow his lead. I followed suit, walking out of the room, closing the door behind me.

As we walked down the homestead steps, I ran my fingers through my hair, smoothing it out.

Why were we needed by the glade?

And why did people think badly of Newt and I? What had we done?

I walked up close to Newt, and whispered in his ear, "You know what this is about?"

He responded quietly, taking my hand in his, "Nothing was said about it in the meeting."

"Okay," I sighed, squeezing his hand.

In the distance, I could see that the Council hall was packed with Gladers, so many, that some could barely fit in the building, and had resorted to looking through the windows.

Chuck cleared a path through the teens for us as we arrived at the meeting which seemed to be for us. Everyone stared as we passed by, but their looks didn't phase me like they would have a month ago. Things were different, I didn't want to feel afraid.

The room fell silent as we made it to the front of the crowd. Two chairs had been arranged on one side of the open space.

Two prosecuting chairs? Newt and I were being put on trial? I thought that that whole 'everyone hating me' thing was over?

"What's this about, Alby?" Newt asked, letting go of my hand.

"You'll see," Victoria answered, as she stood next to Alby and the rest of the Keepers.

"What's she doing here?" Newt asked another question.

"Newt, Brianne, have a seat please," Alby said coldly.

"Fine, but I just don't get why we're having a second meeting, when an hour ago everything in the first meeting was perfectly fine," Newt put his hands out in front of him, as he spun around and sat in one of the chairs. I followed his actions and sat down in the other.

"The meeting has begun. Everyone remain silent unless spoken to, not spoken about; spoken to," Alby cleared his throat, "It has been brought to my attention that the two of you have been spreading lies throughout our glade, whether true or false, we have our first witness," Alby took a seat.

Lying? About what?

Victoria stood, god forbid, "They are both liars, but more so Brianne." She shot me a cold look. Oh hun.

"Wait, hold up! Lying isn't something that is considered a crime with punishment in our Glade. I mean, if it is then we should have all been banished by now," Newt spoke, trying to clear my name.

"For a coward you sure have a mouth."

"Whats that supposed to mean?"

"Ladies and gentlemen, like I said before, we have a coward," Victoria yelled, pointing at Newt, "And," She moved over to me, "a liar."

"What am I even supposedly lying about?" I asked.

"You know, it's what you've lied to everyone about!"

"Victoria, you sound crazy," I said, trying to stay calm.

"You're crazy! Lying to all of us about Newt!"

"What-"

"You know what!"

"We need to sort through this rationally, I mean, this is all out of control-" Newt started, his hand wrapping around my forearm.

"No, what's out of control is you!" Victoria said, walking towards us.

"I still don't understand- what's going on?" I asked, loudly, standing up.

"Victoria please explain to everyone, what you explained to me," Alby commanded, standing also.

"I'll tell you what's happened," Victoria stared at me, smirking, "Newt tried to kill himself." I heard Newt take a sharp breath behind me, his grip on my arm tightening.

Silence. Dead silence. Nobody said anything. Or more like nobody had to. The weight of the words said enough.

I took this time to look around at the gladers, most of them seemed shocked and a few looked at us like we were crazy. But no one seemed skeptical, which really made me mad.

"And she's been covering for him!"

Alby looked at Newt, "Is any of that true?"

"I don't know what she's talking about," Newt mumbled.

Minho pushed to the front of the crowd, "Alby, this is ridiculous, none of this is our business."

"If there's a problem in our glade we need to sort it out. Minho, do you have any information to support the case?"

I stared at Minho, praying, that he would immediately deny it.

"I know nothing." Minho said, shaking his head. I'm shocked at what Minho just did, I mean, he's basically going against his girlfriend.

"Victoria, why are you trying to start something?" I asked.

"You told me, about that coward trying to kill himself. You told me. Why are you still lying?" Victoria asked, coming closer to me.

"I'm not lying-"

"You're nothing but a lying slut!" Victoria yelled.

Newt jumped up from his seat, and pushed past me, "What did you just say-"

"Stop!" Minho said grabbing Newt's arm.

"You all heard me! Why do you think Brianne spends so much time in the homestead? Do you really believe she's taking care of the sick? She's always with Newt. Little whore." Victoria spat.

"Alby you need to stop this," Minho said, still holding Newt's arm.

"Where do you all think Brianne just was? She was sleeping in Newt's bed. I sleep across the hall, I hear them all of the time. It's pathetic really. The slut and the suicidal fre-"

I lunged forward, punching Victoria in the face, "You don't know anything about us!"

I felt Minho move to pull me back away from punching the girl again.

"I hate you, always have!" I screamed, as Minho dragged me away from the argument.

"Calm down," He whispered as we pushed through the crowd of Gladers, "You don't need to prove yourself to her." I struggled against him.

"You don't understand!"

"I understand that you'll be banished if you fight her," Minho said roughly.

"She just told everyone." I gasped, choking on the dense air, "I need to see Newt or he'll hate me."

"He's fine, they're probably taking him back to the homestead."

"No! I need to see him!" I pushed against Minho.

He spun me around to face him. We were far away from the meeting house now, "Brianne, calm down. You need to stop. Alby is taking care of everything."

"Everyone knows Minho!" I yelled, my lungs desperately searching for air to pump into my lungs.

"Nobody believed her," He hissed, "And if they did, who cares. That case was absolute klunk anyway."

"I care! Newt doesn't need anyone to know!" My hands flew up to my throat, "That was between us."

"Wait, that was real?" Minho asked, putting a hand on my back.

"Not all of it, but Newt tried to kill himself and now everyone knows," I cried.

"Wait what?- when!?"

"Out in the maze."

"Oh my god," Minho breathed, looking around, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Because Newt didn't want everyone to know- Thats the whole problem here."

"But how'd Victoria find out?"

"I told her," I sobbed.

"So you told Victoria but not me? Why wouldn't Newt trust me?"

"At the time I didn't even want to tell Victoria, but I was sad and I thought I could have trusted her. She's just angry at me," I bent over, gasping for air.

"Breathe, Brianne!"

I fumbled over to a tree, leaning against it. I breathed heavily in and out, tears falling from my eyes,

"You're buggin' panicking, Brianne. We need to finish talking!"

I had to leave.

"Newt tried to kill himself in the maze?"

I had to run away.

"Brianne!"

The pressure of the situation felt like it was boxing me in.

"You have to talk to me!"

And by that point I was already running.

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~~~Author's Notes~~~

Really quickly: I'd just like to mention that I've found a playlist on 8tracks that goes great with To Love. For anyone who's interested, (by the way 8 tracks is free) if you look up the user KalynNicholson, she posted a playlist titled Disconnect and it's soooooo good. I really think everyone should check it out. It might not be your music taste, but I still recommend it. (I'd describe the songs as having a chill and laid back kind of vibe.)

ANYWAY ILY GUYS AND I HOPE YOUR SUMMER VACATION IS GOING GREAT! *if you aren't on vacation yet, then I hope your school year is ending perfectly!* I WILL TALK TO YOU in the next update, which I'm pretty sure will start a new part of my fanfic! *wiggles eyebrows* BYEEE!!!