Til The Stars Don't Shine

Chapter 5

"Newt?"

He looked up.

"Yes, Tina?"

"Can we talk?"

Newt paused.

"Sure."

"Come with me."

Tina led him to her room & they both sat on the bed.

"You didn't come to dinner," Tina touched his arm.

"I wasn't hungry."

He was still very distant.

"Are you okay Newt? You haven't said much since Achilles was here."

Newt sighed & rubbed the back of his neck.

"This is very hard for me to say out loud, Tina."

"Please, Newt. What's wrong?"

"I admire you a lot, you know that right?"

"Well, I do now," Tina smiled & looked down bashfully.

"You're one of the highlights of my life. And seeing you being so happy & in love..."

Tina looked up at Newt.

He bit his lip.

"I might lose you."

"I'll always be here with you, Newt."

"That's not what I meant."

Tina tilted her head.

"You & Tolliver will get even closer. Eventually, you'll go to him about everything & he'll be the one to console you if you feel down. I'll lose those moments with you."

"Believe me, Achilles & I won't be getting much closer. He thinks this is serious, but it's all very lighthearted to me. My life won't be affected if he leaves me."

Newt nodded slowly.

"But, Newt," Tina grabbed his hand. "If you leave me, I will fall apart & no one will be there to put me back together."

Newt blushed & looked down at their joined hands.

Tina quickly pulled away & giggled nervously.

"Um, that-that's all. Bye," she smiled at Newt, got up & left the room.

"Tina?"

"Yes?" She reappeared.

"This is your room. I'm the one who's supposed to leave."

"Oh. I-I mean, yeah."

Newt got up & passed Tina in the doorway.

He paused & stared at her.

Newt's fingers traced Tina's cheekbone as he swept her hair behind her ear.

And then he was gone.

Tina touched the place his fingers were.

Achilles was never gentle like that.

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An owl arrived the next day.

"Tina, it's for you," Newt declared.

"Who's it from?" Tina called back from her room.

Newt flipped the letter over & his heart sank.

"It-It's from Tolliver," Newt's voice trembled slightly. "I'll leave it on the table for you."

Tina hurried into the sitting room as fast as possible, but Newt was already gone.