Okay... I don't know whether it is a habit for me to write chapters when I really should be studying for my exam the next day... But really, I'm sorry for taking a long time. I found many many more new stories to read and yeah... My reading priotities always comes first. The Things We Do should be updated next week... Keyword: should. But yeah, I'll try my best.

Days passed since Newt had visibly crushed Minho and Thomas' hopes and stomped it into the ground. They knew he didn't do it on purpose. But how could you fight someone who clearly has the solid evidence to prove that he hadn't met them before?

Minho had tried to salvage what hope he had left and clung to it. Thomas wished he could do the same. Jeff, Clint and Newt respected that, especially Newt. He had answered Jeff's questions with such honesty to satisfy Minho that it made Thomas want to cry. In the end, they had come to a conclusion.

Newt was still Newt, but not the Newt they know. He was a different Newt, not the Newt that had spent two whole years in the Glade with Minho. And Minho reluctantly accepted that.

Right now, the Immunes were having their weekly bonfire. They still held that bonfire to celebrate all the good things that had happened that week, or happened to them at all. Everyone was happily celebrating; even Gally was having a good time, now that the Gladers have started to trust him little by little.

Everyone was happy, except Minho. Minho was the only one not joining in on the fun. This was strange in itself, since Minho always wanted to be at the centre, laughing and cracking jokes, being the sassy person he is. But now he was sitting far away from the fun, leaning against a huge log and facing away from the party.

He didn't feel like partying that night. There were too many things on his mind. And most of them were trying to find loopholes in Newt's answers. There were none.

Twigs snapped behind him and Minho was instantly alerted of the person's presence. His hand unconsciously reached for a stick, ready to poke the person's eyes out if he does anything to harm him. The person must have felt the tension and stopped in his tracks.

"Slim it, shank. It's only me." Gally.

Minho loosened his grip on the stick, but he didn't drop it. Who knows what that shuck-face is up to now. Gally jumped over the log and landed beside Minho. He sat down beside him and an awkward silence followed.

"So, uh…" Gally started. "How's Newt?"

Minho thought that was a very bad conversation starter. Sure, he may not know about Newt yet, but it was still a very bad conversation starter.

"He's doing fine."

"But?" Gally prompted, which made Minho stare at him in confusion.

"But?" Minho repeated Gally's question. Gally rolled his eyes in annoyance, as if the answer to that question was as obvious as a splash of black paint onto a white paper.

"But he's not Newt, is he?"

Minho froze, his mind suddenly blanked out. "What – what do you mean? He is Newt."

"Just not the Newt you know."

"Well, yeah..." Where was Gally going with this, talking so nonchalantly without a care in the world.

"So why are you still here?"

Blink once. Twice.

"Come again?" The words had flowed out of his mouth without him realising it. Gally wasn't the only one who was surprised.

"Since when were you polite?" Gally asked disbelievingly.

Minho snorted. "Oh please. I was already polite from the very moment I was brought into this shucking world. I just never bothered to waste it on you shuck faces."

Gally rolled his eyes again. "Like I'd believe that klunk."

A much more comfortable silence surrounded them this time and laughter from the party could be heard as it faded slowly into the background. Minho started fiddling with the stick he was still holding and ended up breaking it, along with the silence.

"What did you mean by 'why am I still here?'"

"Exactly what I said, shank."

"Then explain what you said, slinthead," Minho snapped.

"Are you really that stupid? Anyone with a halfbrain can understand what I meant," Gally snapped back and Minho flinched a little at the sudden rudeness. "You and I know that this Newt twin thing is just fake, but still, the best friend you had is gone, replaced by this person who wears his skin, so why are you still here?"

When all Minho did was glanced at Minho in confusion, Gally groaned in frustration. He didn't know how someone could be this oblivious. He'd say stupid, but Minho wouldn't be in the Glade if he were stupid.

"Look here. You and Newt had met under dire circumstances and went through all of the Maze's challenges together. You, Newt and Alby. You shanks were always there for each other. When one of you breaks down, which was usually you or Alby, Newt was always there. The only time you guys saw Newt break down was when he broke his leg. Then Alby died and you two had to go through your sufferings with each other and that slinthead Thomas.

And then Newt had to be a Crank. If I'm right, he kept all his worries and problems inside of him, and that's probably why the Flare spread faster. It was probably hard not to lose control of yourself and your best friend isn't there for you."

Minho glared at the ground. He didn't need Gally to point it out to him. He had been thinking about that all along. It practically haunted his thoughts. He didn't need Gally to throw it to his face.

"But now with this being a new Newt, you have a chance. The Newt now doesn't know about the horrors of the Maze and you should be glad. Your best friend wouldn't have to know how he had tried to kill himself and wouldn't have nightmares about it. You could start over with him. You can be there for him this time. You can be the friend you've always wanted to be for Newt. This new Newt is an opportunity to make things right."

Minho was now staring at Gally with a mixed expression. He hadn't known that Gally could be so deep, so understanding. And it weirded him out. Sure, he felt a little respect for the shank, but he was still creeped out.

"And so this brings us back to my question: why are you still here?" Sulking and brooding when you could be out there fixing the matter? Minho had finally understood what Gally meant.

Minho brought his gaze back down to the broken stick in his hands as he searched his mind for anything to say. What Gally had said was true, though he didn't really expect this revelation from the shuck face himself. He could start all over again. He could be there for Newt this time. He could be Newt's best friend. Gally's question which had sent his brain going in circles, was full of meaning. Why was he still here?

He glanced back at Gally from the corner of his eye. Gally was apparently waiting for an answer. Minho sighed.

"I don't know. Part of me still wants the old Newt back, I guess. I was afraid that this Newt wouldn't be the same as the Newt I know. It hurts, seeing an imposter wearing your best friend's skin. You know him, but at the same time, you don't know him at all. Even then, seeing him all well and not a Crank is like seeing all of the promises made and failed to keep, fulfilled by someone else. Not by me, the one who had promised him that everything was going to be alright.

But another part of me is glad that this happened. What if, that Newt is still the same old Newt? I still have my chance, just like you said. But what if I make the same mistakes as I did before? What if I couldn't keep the same promises I made with Newt? I just don't know, shuck, it's all messed up."

Minho buried his head in his arms and Gally looked away. Minho deserved to have his vulnerable moment kept private. He wasn't that much of a douchebag. Besides, their vulnerable moments can only be shared with the person they choose to share with.

Minho lifted his head. "Didn't know you could go deep."

Gally rolled his eyes. Inside, he was glad for the change in topic. It was getting too sentimental for his taste. "I can go deep. I just don't want to be the shucking counsellor for you shanks."

Minho snorted. "Even if you did become the counsellor, no one will go to you. They prefer talking to Newt about their troubles."

Gally punched Minho's arm in anger. He huffed angrily when all Minho did was laugh. They stayed silent for a while before Minho whispered a small "thanks".

Gally raised a brow. "Don't thank me. I didn't do it for you. Newt had helped me a lot in the past and I appreciate that. I just regret the fact that I never got to thank him. Especially when he had been much more tolerable than you slintheads." And that you and I both know that the doppelganger klunk was an attempt to satisfy both sides.

Minho tried to punch Gally, but he avoided it and stood up. "Well, I have to get back to the party, or else they'll get suspicious."

Gally jogged back to the party and drunken cheers could be heard welcoming him. Minho looked up at the clear, night sky. The full moon was shining brightly that night with stars surrounding it as they were the moon's only companions. A slight breeze blew in the air, and Minho breathed in, revelling in the scent of nature and peace.

A distant sound of twigs breaking echoed through the air and Minho turned towards the sound. A figure limped through the darkness, hand brushing against the trees as he went. Minho is no fool. He knew who it was right away. The limp gave away his identity. The question was: what was he doing up in the middle of the night with his backpack?

"Newt," Minho called out to him. Newt turned his attention to Minho. Minho didn't know whether it was a trick of the moonlight or not but he could've sworn he saw Newt's face lit up in joy and relief. Minho didn't know why Newt would be so happy to see him.

Newt bounded over as fast as he could with that limp of his towards Minho and sat beside him. Minho sneaked a glance at Newt. Newt's face was now devoid of any expressions and Minho wondered whether he had really seen that joyful expression.

"What are you doing up so late?" Minho questioned.

"Can't sleep," Newt muttered, no trace of fatigue could be heard in his voice. "It's either the party going on down there or I slept too much. So I decided to explore this place."

Minho laughed. "Med jacks allowed you to?"

Newt shrugged nonchalantly. "Not sure. I sneaked out the window, but I'm pretty sure they're too busy partying to notice. Why are you guys partying anyway?"

"To celebrate stuff that are worthy of being celebrated for," Minho answered sarcastically, making the corners of Newt's mouth twitch a little. "But seriously, we used to do this to cheer people up, to renew their hope. We still do this though, it became tradition to us."

Newt smiled a little. "That's nice. Whose idea was it?"

Minho seemed a little sad when Newt had asked this. "Yours."

Newt turned to Minho in surprise. He dropped his gaze to the ground and an awkward silence followed his answer. Newt felt bad. He knew how much the Asian guy had missed his friend. He knew how much the Asian guy must've hurt when he accepted the fact that he was not the person he once knew.

But he was curious. He was curious on how much impact the other Newt had made on Minho's life, how much the other Newt had influenced him. At first glance, Minho looked tough. He looked like the kind of person that would pave his own way, with or without friends, and no one can tell him what to do. But clearly the other Newt had created a path into his heart and made room for others to take up residence, if Minho accepted them.

And if Newt was right, the other Newt didn't just stop at Minho. He was pretty sure he had helped the others before, if their expressions were anything to go by. That made him curious. He wanted to know what the other Newt had been like and there was no one better to ask than Minho. The problem was, he didn't want to hurt Minho.

Still, he really wanted to know. Maybe… Maybe Minho would allow him to be selfish. Maybe the other Newt would allow him to be selfish.

Maybe he would allow himself to be selfish. Just for one night.

"Minho," Newt mumbled.

"Hmm?" Minho hummed, sounding a little distracted.

"What was the other Newt like?" He ignored the way Minho had tensed up at the question. "There was clearly something about him that would make all of you react like that. So I was curious. I… I want to know what he was like."

Minho sat gaping at Newt in surprise. Newt's tone held some hesitance and guilt when he had asked. But why was Newt hesitant to ask him? Why would Newt be guilty? He thought of the times when they were still in the Glade. Newt would never pry into other's business unless he knew they needed it. And when he did pry, the greenie would be feeling better and Newt would be worse than ever.

That was probably why he decided to jump.

No. He shouldn't be thinking of that now. He had a chance to start over. He had a chance to make things right. Like Gally said, this was an opportunity he needed to take. And he'll lose everything if he doesn't grab that opportunity before it slipped past him.

So Minho told him. Minho told Newt about how he was liked by everyone. How he was always trying to be nice no matter what happened. How everyone had agreed when Alby elected Newt to be his second-in-command because Alby was too scary. How he was the Glue that kept everyone together.

He didn't tell Newt about the Glade. He avoided any mention of the Maze. He never mentioned Newt's suicide attempt. He avoided everything that is related to WICKED. He didn't want Newt to know of WICKED's horrors. He didn't want Newt to be traumatized. He promised himself that he would protect Newt this time, no matter what he says.

And Newt seems to be okay with that. He was satisfied with what little answers Minho could give. He knew he wouldn't get all the answers in one night. And he was fine with that. He didn't mind if Newt talked all night and not tell him anything at all. It felt nice to be trusted by someone he just met. For the first time in months, he felt safe.

If the drunken Med jacks had seen them, they didn't say anything about it the next day. If anyone had returned from the party and seen them sleeping next to each other behind that log, they didn't say or do anything either. Maybe Thomas did, because they didn't know who put the blankets over them. But to be honest, Minho and Newt didn't care.

Because for the first time, they felt complete. The missing piece to the broken puzzle was found. It felt nice. Something that they haven't felt in months. And they want to keep it that way as long as they could.

Minho decided he liked starting over. Sure, they had to start with being strangers. But slowly, they'll work their way up, creating new memories, happy ones this time without the Maze and the Grievers, and they'll become friends. Friends that could trust each other completely. Minho knew that one day, they'll become more than friends. They'll be best friends. No…

They'll be brothers.

And somehow, Minho knew that Newt wouldn't mind that at all.

So, yeah. It's a angsty chapter with the plot not really moving... But I wanted to have lots of feels in this story. And if anybody things they're being OOC or there are plotholes or stuff, don't worry about that. Everything happens for a reason. And it'll all be explained in the sequel.

Yes, there will be a sequel. Review?