.* ﾟ

G    A    M    E         O    F
S    U     R     V     I     V     A     L

· 。ﾟ

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞,
'𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈'𝐦 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫
𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

 
chapter twenty-two
old lovers

.·:*¨༺ ★ ༻¨*:·.

     STEPPING OUT OF THE vehicle, Rosie and the group took a notice of the small setup the Right Arm had. It wasn't as big as what the gladers expected. It was way smaller. She expected more especially because of what Malakai and Jessie had told her. There were suppose to be dozens of people. This wasn't as much as what they had described.

      "They've been planning this for over a year now." Harriet told the group making sure everyone was counted for before leading the way. "This is all for us."

      Sonya glanced behind herself to talk to the group as she followed Harriet, "you guys are lucky you found us when you did. We're moving out at first light. Where's Vince?"

An older man pointed towards the right, "somewhere over there, I think."

The name Vince echoed in Rosie's ears as a speck of hope formed in her chest. She glanced to Newt in hopes he thought the same of seeing her own brother but Newt didn't pay attention to her. A hand rubbed her upper back making Rosie turn to see who it was. Frypan gave her a sympathetic smile already knowing what she was thinking about.

      "Who's Vince?" Thomas asked asking the question everyone wanted answers for.

      "He's the one who decides if you get to stay." Harriet answered

      "I thought the Right Arm was suppose to be an army." Minho spoke up wanting clarification in who the Right Arm was.

      "Yeah, we were." A man grabbed the group's attention before motioning with his hands, "this is all that's left of us. Lot of good people died getting us this far. Who are they?"

      Harriet replied, "they're inmunes. Caught 'em coming up the mountain."

      "Did you check them?" Vince asked

      The girl shook her head lightly before pointing to Aris, "I know this guy, Aris. I trust him."

     The man rubs the side of his cheek before responding, "well, I don't. Check 'em."

As if on cue, Brenda struggles to breath correctly grabbing the attention of one of the soldiers. "Hey boss—"

"Brenda!" Jorge exclaims as Brenda falls down on the ground panting and struggling to breath. "Brenda!" Jorge falls to his knees holding her in his arms as he tells her, "talk to me."

"I'm sorry." Brenda struggled to say, "I'm sorry."

"What's going on with her?" Vince asked kneeling down on his feet.

Jorge shook his head not knowing, "I don't know. Brenda—"

Vince skimmed around before taking a price of the bandage on her leg. The man lift up the bandage revealing the bite of a crank. "Oh shit! Crank! We got a crank!" Vince yells pulling out his gun.

"No!" Jorge yells as soldiers pull him away from Brenda and out of his embrace.

"Wait! Wait! No! Please! Stop!" Thomas exclaims rushing to get in front of Brenda to cover her from the aim of the gun.

"Step back!" Vince exclaims to the group as everyone including the gladers take steps back.

Thomas shakes his head as he tried to fix the situation. "Listen! Okay, this just happened! Okay? She's not dangerous yet!"

"You shouldn't have brought her here!" Vince yells at Thomas who nods sincerely.

"I know—"

"We let cranks here now, Safe Haven doesn't last a week! Step back!" Vince commands not leaving his sight off Brenda.

Thomas nodded, "I know, I understand. Just listen to me please. Please, okay? I told her you can help! There's gotta be something you can do!"

A long silence passed before Vince nodded before replying, "yeah there is." For the split second Thomas relaxed before tensing up when Vince continued, "I can put her out of her misery."

"No! No!" Jorge yelled

Before thinking the plan through, Samadhi tried to grab the gun before feeling it being pulled out of the back of her pants and the sound of safety switch off. Rosie pointed the gun at the man so called Vince.

"You try and put her out of her misery—I'll put a bullet through your fucking head." Rosie warned somehow unafraid of the several guns that were now pointed at her.

"Rosie!" A few voices exclaimed from behind her but the girl couldn't figure out who's voice belonged to whose as she focused on the man in front of her.

A little groan left Mara's lips as she murmured, "for fucks sakes, Rosie."

     Rosie tilted her head to the side asking Vince, "you gonna put it down?"

Vince glanced down to his weapon as he motioned to her hand, "I think you should put the gun down little girl. Any of them could shoot you before you could even—"

Rosie pressed on the trigger aiming a few feet away from his feet. "Try me."

The blonde boy moved through his friends before taking a hold of Rosie's shoulder. "That's enough don't you think?" Newt asked gaining her attention. "Why don't you ever think before doing these things, Rosie?"

The girl opened her mouth to bite back but was stopped by a woman who was approaching the group. "Vince! That's enough! Let him go!" The woman pointed at Jorge urging them to let go of him. "Let him go!"

Vince kept his gun pointed at Brenda as he replied to her, "she's infected Doc. There's nothing we can do for her."

"No, but he can." The woman stated looking straight at Thomas. Rosie turned to see her looking at Thomas, "hello, Thomas."

"What?" Vince asked looking back and forth the woman and Thomas.

"You know me?" Thomas asked

The woman nodded muttering, "interesting. Makes sense they put you in the maze." The woman kneeled down to check on Brenda. Rosie pointed the gun at the woman making sure she wasn't going to harm Brenda. The doctor looked up to see Rosie with the gun pointed at her. A small smile formed on her lips as she reassured her, "I'm not going to hurt her. I promise."

Rosie glanced over to Jessie who nodded before Rosie put the gun down still worried. "Okay."

"Though I must admit, I was worried they killed you after what you did." The doctor explained continuing the conversation with Thomas as she checked Brenda's pulse.

"What I did?" Thomas asked

The doctor checked Brenda's fever before taking a second to respond to Thomas. "The first time we spoke you said you couldn't take it anymore. Watching your friends die one by one. The last time we spoke, you gave me the coordinates of every wicked compound, trial, and lab."

"He was our source." Vince realized.

"We couldn't have pulled all of this without him." She stated sighing before ordering, "take her to the tent. Get these guys some warm clothes. Be careful!"

The gladers looked at one another in slight surprise that this all started with Thomas. He was the one who started the army. "It's the least we can do. Thomas, c'mon, I need to get some blood from you." The doctor stopped walking before turning around to point at Rosie, "I almost forgot. I'll come get you in a bit Rosie. I'll get that bicep checked out. Vince you might want to inform JS, that she's here and so is Jessie."

The girls turned to look at each other in confusion. "How do you know us?" Jessie asked.

"Malakai." The woman explained, "he's been in contact with us for a few days now. We've been expecting you two girls for some time now. I'll explain everything more in detail later. Right now I'm going to assist your friend."

The sound of car engines getting closer grabbed the attention of the group making them turn to where the cars were coming from. "Those guys were the ones shooting at y'all about a few hours ago." Sonya pointed to the people getting out of the now parked cars. "C'mon follow me, we need to get you guys some new clothes."

    The group followed suit heading inside a tent with baskets with different types of clothes. The majority being jackets and shoes. There was a bit of talk between Sonya and Aris but the majority of the gladers had remained quiet.

"Okay, everything is mixed up in piles so you'll have to dig through to find some jackets that fit." Sonya explained before pointing to two separate curtains, "you guys can change behind the curtains and you guys can come out once you've found things and changed. I'll be right outside waiting."

Rosie started to dig through the piles of clothes and trying to figure out what she was going to do with Mara and Newt. Her eyes glanced towards Newt who had his eyebrows furrowed in concentration before pulling out a cream jacket. Her gaze moved to Mara who was in the midst of tying her shoes before looking up and making eye-contact with her.

     Minho looked between the two girls taking a notice their quick avoidance with each other. The boy frowned making a quick assumption of what was happening between them. Rosie muttered a quiet curse word before picking a brown jacket and taking off the one she had on.

     "This is it, right?" Frypan asked to the group, "we're safe now, right?"

     Minho shrugged his shoulders, "I hope so."

     "All I know is that I'm not going back there." Jessie commented as she took her jacket off. "They'll have to drag me by the hair to do that."

      "I won't let anything happen to you," Minho replied handing her a pair of mittens. "I got you."

     The boy felt himself being engulfed into a hug by the girl. Little tingles spread throughout his body as she spoke to him, "thank you, for everything."

     Frypan grinned with the rest of the group who had little smiles on their lips as they watched the pair awkwardly let go of each other. "Anyways," Mara spoke up as she stood up from the chair she was sitting on, "what's going to happen now?"

     The gladers looked at one another not knowing what to say. "I guess we just hope that they'll take us somewhere far from Wicked." Newt responded.

    "I don't think me and Celia will be sticking around to see that." Jac admitted with her arms crossed while Celia looked through the pile of clothes.

     "Why?" Rosie asked.

     Jac shrugged her shoulders, "Celia and I don't have anything here. Plus, we're not the ones running away from Wicked."

     Celia nodded as she tried to explain more, "as much as I liked meeting all of you, we don't think that we fit in all of this. We're just going to go back on the road and see where that leads us."

     "We'll leave tomorrow morning," Jac added, "so you guys can have a bit more time to hang with us." Aris rose his hand up nervously, "yeah?"

     "You don't have to answer this if you don't want to but I was wondering if you two were friends or lesbians?" Aris asked

     Frypan immediately slapped the back of Aris' head reminding him of the times he do it to Jimmy back inside the glade. "You don't ask that!" The boy reprimanded him.

A little chuckle left Jac and a quiet snort left Celia's lips. "Of course." Celia answered.

Aris rubbed the back of his head before raising his eyebrow up in confusion, "what?"

"We're friends." Jac responded

"Oh." Aris replied.

"With very exclusive benefits," Celia added onto Jac's response.

Still confused Aris asks, "what do you mean? I don't get it."

"Oh god." Teresa muttered as Aris couldn't comprehend what the benefits part meant.

Jac came up behind Aris as she moved close to his ear before exaggerating the term, "we're lovers."

The boy felt tingles run down his body as he was attracted to the older girl but he finally understood that Jac was playing in her own team. "Oh." Aris replied a bit upset from the outcome and causing a bit of laughter from the rest of the group.

"Are you sure, it's her? Where is she?" A voice outside of the tent was heard from the inside grabbing Rosie and rest of the groups attention and ending the laughter.

"She's inside," another voice spoke this one sounding like Sonya's, "um, just don't get your hopes up. She might not recognize you, you know? She didn't recognize Doc."

Rosie and Jessie glanced at each other wondering if they were talking about either of them. A bit of rustling came from the entrance with a rush set of footsteps. Opening the curtains to enter the tent, the girl's heart felt it drop when she turned to see who it was. Her eyes had widened once he saw him standing there out of breath. He had disheveled hair and a dirty face with a gun hanged to his back as if he had been at war.

"Rosie?" The gladers looked away from the random man that entered the tent and saying her name towards Rosie who was in shock.

Rosie could feel her nerves consume her once she dropped the jacket back on the table. The girl spoke the name of the person she thought she'd never see again, "Jeremy?"

     Minho's lips parted in shock once he heard that name leave Rosie's lips. Teresa raised her eyebrow up knowing of the boy named Jeremy. That was the famous name that was carved in the knife Rosie had been carrying. Newt glanced between the pair confused as to who this guy was.

"You remember me?" The boy asked in hopes that the girl remembered everything about him. Everything the two went through together. Everything the two loved about each other.

Her eyes had turned watery as some sort of belonging formed in her chest when she nodded. Rosie sprinted to him throwing her arms around his neck burying her face in his neck. Jeremy immediately wrapped his arms around her lower back wanting to cry from the big relief he felt of finally having her in his arms again. Rosie could feel the tears slip down her face and land on Jeremy's jacket. Jeremy could feel her heartbeat against his chest beating fast as one hand caressed the back of her head. Their hug was tight and warm and lasted for a very long time. Neither dared to let go.

"Are you okay?" Jeremy asked softly through the hug. He didn't want to let go of her. He wanted to recover all of the months they lost.

      He could feel her nod on his shoulder, "yeah, I'm okay."

The biggest sigh of relief left his lips as he held her tighter if that was even possible. The boy lifted her off the ground for some sparing seconds before putting her back down. She was lighter. Jeremy could already imagine what she had to go through to get to where she is now.

     The boys looked over at Newt in curiosity as to how he was feeling from that interaction that displayed in front of them. Newt tilted his head trying to play it cool and believe that this was an innocent reunion but the way the pair held each other made him doubt. It made him doubt because that was the way he used to hold her.

"God, I've missed you, Adams." Jeremy spoke once they let go of each other—well let go of the hug, his fingers still held on loosely to her wrist. The boy thought if he'd let go, she would disappear like last time. His hands went up to her cheeks caressing them as hers went up to his arms to hold on to him.

      Rosie shook her head wanting to cry as she spoke to him, "I thought I was never going to see you again."

      Jeremy shook his head as a single tear fell down his cheek as he replied, "I'm here. I won't lose you again." Their foreheads touched each others as Rosie nodded forgetting about the gladers around them.

     The girl pulled away with a small smile still not being able to believe that Jeremy was right in front her. He was here. Alive and well.

      Rosie forgot about Newt.

      She forgot about Mara.

      The only person on her mind was Jeremy.

     "Jessie!" Jeremy exclaimed once he moved his eyes from Rosie and spotting the curly headed girl.

"Hi." Jessie replied quietly

A slight doubt crept up on Jeremy as Jessie's greeting wasn't the same as it used to be. "Uh, do you remember me?" He asked.

The curly headed girl bit the side of her cheek as she wanted to stay strong but memories of the boy came flooding in. "I do, Jay."

A sigh of relief left his lips dropping Rosie's hand and heading to the girl. "Good, that means I could do this." The boy walked over to her without asking for permission before lifting her up and twirling her in a circle. A little smile showed up on Jessie's face as she felt herself in the air it reminded her of what her life used to be. Before she could realize, she was already placed down on the ground, "how's my favorite girl?"

Minho clicked his tongue shuffling his feet in some sort of annoyance as he saw the big smile on Jessie's lips when Jeremy called her his favorite girl. "I've been better," Jessie admitted.

"Well, I hope seeing the Doc may help." Jeremy responded motioning with his hand towards outside of the tent, "I can go get her if you'd like or maybe I can take you—"

     "I can take her." Minho butted in taking steps closer to Jessie who turned her head to look over at him. His left hand had moved to rest on Jessie's lower back as if he was letting Jeremy know Jessie was off limits.

     Jeremy raised his left eyebrow up in curiosity before shifting his eyes to Jessie for confirmation if she was fine with Minho. The girl gave Jeremy a slight nod making Jeremy lower his eyebrow. "Do you even know where Doc is?" Jeremy questioned Minho.

      "No," Minho replied shortly, "but I'm certain we can figure it out."

    Jeremy cleared his throat nodding and turning around to speak to Rosie but stopped when he witnessed the pair in front of him interact. Newt had walked over to stand next to Rosie. He initiated the same thing Minho did but instead of the lower back he went for her hand. Newt intertwined his fingers with Rosie's for a split second before she untangled them dropping his hand.

      Newt tensed after the display of rejection in front of the unknown man he didn't know. Rosie didn't seem to bother rejecting Newt's display of affection as she wiped her hand on her pants. The two were about to speak to each other but we're interrupted by someone else who walked inside the tent.

     "I had to make sure it wasn't a lie!" A girl that looked quite similar to Jeremy barged inside the tent. "My sister-in-law is finally here!"

      Rosie turned around to spot a girl her age, "Maya? Oh my god! Maya!"

      Frypan and Minho turned their heads in confusion towards Newt after hearing the girl's comment. The two girls rushed to each other embracing into a tight hug. Rosie smiled as Maya was one of her best friends during the time she was undercover in Wicked. "Jesus Christ, Rosie! You've gotten skinnier! You need food in your system, sweetie!"

      "Maya?" A voice behind Rosie grabbed Maya's attention as she looked behind her.

      "Jessie!?" Maya exclaimed as she hadn't gotten the message that Jessie had also arrived. "Oh my gosh! Sweet, you're alive!" Maya pulled Jessie into a hug. The girl had started to cry as the last time she heard from Jessie was back inside WICKED's laboratory when Jessie was bleeding out. "Are, are you okay? What? How?"

       Tears were also leaving Jessie's eyes as she hugged Maya tightly. "They wanted me for the trials." Jessie responded.

     Maya shook her head in disbelief holding on to one of Jessie's and Rosie's hands, "of course they did. You know what? That doesn't matter anymore. You two are here now and that's what matters." The girl pulled the two into a group hug.

     "This feels like old times." Jessie muttered embraced by the two girls.

      "We're just missing Eirene." Maya commented pulling away from the hug.

     Rosie rubbed her arms as she asked, "is she here?"

     Maya rubbed the side of her jaw as she shook her head. "No. We haven't seen her since the last time we saw you."

      "We figured she was in one of the trials but there's been no information about her." Jeremy explained before adding a dash of hope, "but there also wasn't any information about Jessie either."

     "Jeremy hasn't stopped looking for you since he heard you were put in the trials." Maya added in, "We've been through different compounds searching for you. I just—I can't believe you two are here. We're back together."

     Rosie smiled feeling warm inside. The siblings in front of her had huge smiles and relief written across their faces. Jeremy moved closer to Rosie whispering to her as he took a hold of her hand, "I've got a surprise for you."

     Rosie's eyes lit up looking up at him in curiosity, "really? What is it?"

     Jeremy opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a person clearing their throat. The pair turned to the group of gladers standing in the background waiting for information. Minho shuffled his feet being the one who cleared his throat.

"Oh, right," Rosie mumbled pulling Jeremy with her to get closer to the rest of the group. "Guys this is Jeremy and Maya. They were pretty much my family before the trials. All of us including Jess were a part of the resistance."

The group waved awkwardly before Jeremy spoke up. "Sorry for not introducing myself earlier. I was caught up with Rosie and Jess."

"The names Minho." Minho greeted shaking Jeremy's hand almost trying to tower over him even though they were the same height.

A slight smirk appeared on Jeremy as he could notice the tension that radiated off the boys, especially Minho. "I'm Frypan." The boy greeted him and shook his hand.

"Newt." Newt informed shaking Jeremy's hand.

Jeremy moved to the next person and admired the girl in front of him. A little smile curved on his lips as the first thought was she was too beautiful to be real. "You are?" He asked.

The girl gave him a quick annoyed look before replying back as she shook his hand, "Samadhi."

The rest finished introducing themselves as Maya and Jeremy tried their best to remember everyone's names. Sonya entered the tent looking for one of the girls, "Doc's ready for you, Rosie."

"I can take you to her if you want." Jeremy suggested to Rosie as he moved towards her.

      "Yeah," Rosie replied glancing to the group of friends, "I'll be back." Jeremy lead the way out of the tent as Rosie followed suit. "How long has it been?"

     The boy glanced down to look at her as he let out a long sigh, "almost a year I think." Jeremy responded looking ahead. "I started to lose hope halfway through the year. I was almost close to giving up, Rosie."

     "I would have understood if you did." Rosie replied to sooth Jeremy's comment.

      Jeremy shook his head, "I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself if I ever gave up on you. Luckily though, something happened that specific day that brought my hope back."

     "What was it?" Rosie asked as the girl took a notice of a long tent and Jeremy stopping.

     The boy smiled bringing his hands up to Rosie's cheeks as he took her in. She was here. The girl he's been in search for is finally here. "I'll tell you later, right now you have to go see the doc."

     "Whose the guy anyway?" Newt asked the gladers once Maya and Sonya exited as he sat down.

     Minho and Jess glanced at each other and the boy tried to stop her but was too late when she spoke. "Newt," Jessie opened her mouth rubbing the side of her arm as Newt looked towards her, "Jeremy's someone really important to Rosie."

      Newt furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as he nodded, "okay? Who is he though? He acted too entitled to hug Rosie like that."

      "Newt," Jessie spoke hesitating to tell the boy but decided to actually tell him, "Jeremy was Rosie's boyfriend before the trials."

     The group all looked at one another as Newt let out a quiet scoff realizing that was the reason why she didn't want to hold his hand. "Oooh!!" Frypan exclaimed, "well that's not awkward at all!"

      Rosie had sat down on a chair and took her long sleeve shirt off leaving her with a sports bra on. Jeremy stood at a good distance looking down and noticing the bruises and cuts she had around her upper body. He wondered what the girl faced during the time they were apart.

     Mary smiled as she sat down in front of Rosie. "How have you been feeling?" Dr. Mary asked as she unwrapped the bandage to check how the infection was doing.

      Jeremy bit the bottom of his lip as he saw the purple color surrounding a small section of her arm. It was very prominent and the infection had tried to grow but whatever Malakai had created had stopped its growth.

      "Like the world is out to get me." Rosie replied letting the doctor squeeze and inspect the infection. "I'm just tired. This is driving me crazy. I feel like I lose control sometimes."

     She nodded and spoke, "understandable. What is surprising to me is how strong you're fighting the infection, Rosalie. I haven't seen any case like yours."  

      "What does that mean?" Rosie asked

     Mary shrugged her shoulders, "It means, I don't know if you'll either be cured or you'll eventually turn into a crank."

     Rosie looked up towards Jeremy who had a blank expression on his face. He had this really good poker face that used to drive Rosie insane because she never knew how he felt at times. He rarely ever showed concern and always seemed like had it together. The only time Rosie had seen him cry was the last time they saw each other when his eyes were red and puffy and didn't know where his sister was.

      "But for now, I'll just give you this serum. I used on Brenda." Mary explained as she prepared the serum. "It carries Thomas' blood and a few other ingredients."

      "Yeah, that's fine." Rosie mumbled

      Dr. Cooper injected the serum into her body and wrapping her bicep with a new bandage. "You tell me if you're feeling strange okay?"

      "Will do."

     "There's things I want to talk to you about but I'll let you and your friends have some rest for the day." Mary stated standing up from the chair before patting her right shoulder, "you're safe now, Rosie."

     Mary threw away the gloves she wore before walking out and letting the two by themselves. Jeremy placed his gun against a metal box before sitting down in front of Rosie who gave him a small smile. The boy grabbed a hold of Rosie's hands and bringing them up to his lips before pulling them away quickly after.

     "I thought about a million ways I would react when I'd see you again." Jeremy spoke up breaking the silence looking down at their hands. "What I would say, how I would hug you, how I would kiss you—" the boy paused looking at her as Rosie's heart started to beat faster than usual.

      It reminded her of how it used to be in a relationship with him. She was always giddy and nervous around the boy. Jeremy excited her and made her feel safe at the same time. He looked different though. Jeremy's facial features had matured and he looked restless unlike a year ago where he looked almost angelic.

     "I really want to kiss you, Rosalie." Jeremy admitted as he rubbed her hand with one of his thumbs. "I want to recover the months we were apart. I want to help you remember what we once had. But I can't help but notice that there's someone else."

      "Jeremy—"

      He shook his head cutting her off, "I'd fight for you if that's what you want from me. I won't give up on what we once had. Tell me that you want me to fight for you and I'll do it."

      Rosie was conflicted. She didn't know what to say because in all honesty she didn't know what she wanted. There wasn't one person nor two but three people who want her. She had to pick.

      "If things were different, I would have told you in a heartbeat that I wanted you to fight for me." Rosie replied moving her hands away from his hold. "But at this moment, I don't know what I want. What we had, I can barely remember—"

     Rosie stopped mid sentence as someone barged in taking a notice of Rosie with her shirt off and Jeremy sitting in front of her. Newt stood in the entrance looking back and forth between the pair.

     "Newt—"

"I think we need to talk." Newt interrupted Rosie mid sentence. Rosie looked over at the boy with his arms crossed waiting impatiently.

Frowning, Rosie shook her head, "I think you can wait. I'm talking to Jeremy right now."

Newt shook his head again, "now, Rosie."

Clearing her throat, Rosie stood up from the chair embarrassed by Newt's attitude as she grabbed her shirt and put it back on. "I'll be back." Rosie muttered being acknowledged by Jeremy before following the boy outside and into an empty tent. "Could you have been anymore embarrassing?" Rosie questioned the boy who paced back and forth.

"Why couldn't you just tell him that we're together?" Newt asked ignoring her question.

Rosie scratched the back of her head before shrugging her shoulders, "uh, I don't know. I wasn't really thinking."

The boy ran his fingers through his dirty hair, "Rosie get it in your thick skull that he still wants you. That guy has been looking for you the whole time we were together."

"What do you want me to say?" Rosie asked

"Did you know he existed?" Newt questions her, "in your dreams, did he ever come up? Because, I assume he has based on the very friendly greeting you both had."

Annoyance radiated off Rosie as she shook her head, "I wasn't sure."

Newt was beyond annoyed. He was mad, no he was angry. "What do you mean you weren't sure? All of your damn dreams are real, Rosie! Why didn't you ever tell me about him!?"

Rosie yelled back as her annoyance started to form into anger. "Because I thought he left me! It was that or he died! I never thought he was searching for me this whole time. Okay?"

He shook his head pissed off, "you knew the whole time we've been together, Rosie. You knew that someone outside of those fucking four walls has been in love with you this whole damn time and you decided to ignore all of that?"

      "Ander convinced me that Jeremy wasn't real! Or that he had probably moved on!" Rosie pleaded as she rubbed her neck. "I didn't know how long it took to be put in the trials, Newt. I just assumed Jeremy forgot about me. Can't you just give me a break?"

     "No." Newt muttered running his fingers through his messy hair, "you might as well go back with him if our whole relationship was based on a lie."

      The girl's eyes widen in frustration as she threw her hands up in anger, "what fucking lie, Newt?!"

      "That you gave me your heart!" Newt raised his voice realizing people near the tent could clearly hear them arguing. "I never had it! Your heart has always belonged to him! That's why you've been so different since we got out! You remembered him! Do you even love me?"

      "Of course I do!" Rosie answered, "I wouldn't be with you if I didn't."

      Newt stayed quiet for a few seconds before asking, "do you love him?"

      This time Rosie went silent. But she stayed silent. She didn't know what to say or how to respond to that question without hurting Newt's feelings. She opened her mouth to speak but closed it not being able to utter a word.

     "It's not a hard question, Rosie." Newt explained, "it's just a yes or no question."

      Nibbling on her bottom lip, Rosie shook her head replying back, "I don't know how I feel about him. But that doesn't mean I don't love you, Newt."

     Newt had his arms crossed and his left leg tapping the ground. "I think we should take a break."

      The girl nodded turning to walk out, "good idea. We'll talk about this later when we're less heated—"

      "No." Newt interrupted her, "I meant a break from us. A break as a couple."

      Rosie spun around in shock as she asked for clarity, "you're breaking up with me?"

     The boy now had only one arm crossed and the other holding the arm as he shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know what I'm doing. I just know that I'm hurting, okay? My heart physically hurts from all of this."

     The girl shook her head stabbing her pointer finger at his chest, "you can't just decide to break us apart and call it a fucking day, Newt—"

     "There is no us! There never was! Not when the foundation of our relationship is based on you trying to use me as a replacement. A fucking placeholder until you either reunite with him or find someone better!" Newt yelled causing Rosie to back away from him.

     "Don't you dare say those things!" Rosie yelled back, "you're worth more than just a placeholder."

      The boy rocked himself with his feet back and forth as he shook his head looking worn out. "I can't do this anymore." Newt admitted as he hurt her feelings unintentionally, "not with you."

      "What can I say to make you change your mind? I don't know what I'm doing wrong!" Rosie stated, "I'm telling you everything I know and feel! I'm being completely honest—"

     Newt rubbed his cheek stopping her when he heard her saw she was being completely honest. "Oh, really?" Newt asked.

      "Yes!"

      "Then why haven't you told me, Mara, kissed you?" Newt questioned her. "Hm?"

     "I—"

     "Don't play games with me Rosie. Don't ever think you're capable of that." Newt reminded.

     Rosie shook her head as she wanted to disappear. She never wanted for this to happen. "I'm not playing games. I just—I never told you because I didn't know how. I didn't think it was important enough. It didn't mean anything! I swear! How did you find out?"

      Newt let out a quick laugh, "does that even matter? You know what? I'm just tired. I'm tired of being lied to. I am so tired of loving you the way I do."

      The girl closed her eyes feeling the pain in her chest as she shook her head, "don't do this Newt. Okay? I'm trying my best. I'm figuring myself out."

     "Then you better sort yourself out first then find me." Newt replied turning to leave the tent.

     "Stop! Don't walk away! You're the one always fighting for us and now you want to give up?" Rosie exclaimed.

     "Yes! Exactly! I'm always the one fighting for us! You never have! This is the first time you are! And you're only fighting because it's convenient!" Newt shouted getting angrier and wanting to break something.

     "Don't you dare pretend like this didn't mean anything to me! You were there! I was there! I've loved you for months! I chose you! Out of all of those guys back in the glade, I chose you!" Rosie explained herself.

     To Newt it was as the words went in one ear and out the other. "You might as well go back to Jeremy because I'm done with you."

     Out of anger and despite, Rosie bit back with poisonous words, "go to hell, Newt! At least Jeremy wouldn't give someone a gun to kill themself!"

     Silence filled the air as Newt went silent. His eyes turned watery thinking about Winston. "I, I fucked up alright? You don't think every time I close my eyes I don't see his face haunting me? I wish it could take it all back but I can't. I did what I thought was right at the time."

     Rosie nodded in guilt, "I know I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that—"

"I don't need your apology. I let you down, I know that. But, at this moment, you and I should separate. For a little while at least." Newt stated

     "Why?" Rosie questioned

     "Because I can't take it anymore, Rosie! You're becoming a totally different person and I can't keep up! It's just too damn hard trying to figure you out and it's difficult to be with someone who is emotionally unavailable. You're just too much for me to handle." Newt let out finally getting those thoughts off his chest.

     It hurt. It hurt her knowing that maybe Newt was right, she was too much. The girl grabbed a hold of her jacket from the table side, "I didn't realize I was such an inconvenience to you. You win."

      "Oh, get over yourself, Rosie!" 

      Rosie turned around to yell at him, "me? You! Get over yourself Newt! Why don't you think for one second and actually tell me how you really feel! You're pinning all of this on me when you're exactly the same!"

     "What madness are you talkin' bout now?"

      The girl threw her arms up in the air, "you don't think I see?"

      "See what?"

     "Thomas." Rosie let's out. "You like Thomas."

      Newt's eyes widen as if he'd been caught. His reaction was enough for Rosie to make sure even though Newt denied it. "You're insane." He spoke.

     "No, I'm not. Maybe you should think about who you really have feelings for because I don't think you actually like me." Rosie muttered.

     "I love you, Rosie. We've done things together that I wouldn't do with—"

     "Maybe you do love me and maybe you actually don't. We're close because we've been through stuff together which made us bond but if we didn't have that then I don't think we would have happened." Rosie explained

     Newt protested, "I'm not gay, Rosie."

     "I'm not saying you are! I don't know if you are. All I know is that I've been trying to hold on to the idea of us actually being in love but I'm hanging on a single thread here Newt." Rosie confessed rubbing her arms up and down as she watched him wanting to say something but didn't have any words. "I don't hate you, Newt. I'd support you with whatever you're feeling. But you're right, we shouldn't be together anymore."

      "Rosie!" Newt called out as Rosie grabbed her jacket and walked out. 

WELCOME BACK TO TALKING W THE AUTHOR WHO TOOK FOREVER TO PROVIDE YALL WITH A CHAPTER !!!

— sorry about that 😅

— I've been procrastinating to the max if y'all haven't noticed

— anywaysss I'll do my best to update quicker especially since the book is almost finished

— let's move on to the questions!!!!

— did you guys like the chapter?

— what about Jeremy and Maya ?

— thoughts on jac and Celia thinking about leaving

— minho being lowkey possessive over Jess ...

— what about newt and rosie??

— what are your guys predictions on how the ending of this book will play out?