About Us and Our Future
"Max?" Nikki's voice suddenly rang in Max's ears. Max was taking a nap when Nikki came into his tent. He half-expected Nikki to drag him off to some sort of weird adventure that would probably result in danger and bodily harm. Max didn't really mind, as he enjoyed Nikki's company. He enjoyed it quite a lot, but he would never tell anyone that.
"What's up Nikki?" Max asked while wiping the sleep from his eyes. When he turned to Nikki, he didn't see her usually adventurous vigor and face swallowing grin. Instead, he saw a blank face with a hint of despair in her eyes. It confused and frightened Max knowing that there was something that apparently got under Nikki's skin enough to break her usual demeanor. "What's the matter?"
"It's nothing Max. I was…just wondering. Do you ever think about the future?" Nikki asked. Max was taken aback by the question. Nikki wasn't the type of person to ask questions like this. She usually preferred to live in the moment, and not think about the future.
"I really try not to," Max said simply, never really caring about what the future held for him.
"Oh…it's just that I was thinking…I know we had fun all summer with our adventures in this camp, but it's coming to an end as we speak? We'll probably never see each other again after this," Nikki said sadly with her voice breaking by the end. Max noticed that tears were forming in her eyes.
"Nikki…" Max said, trying to get her to stop, but she paid him no mind and continued talking.
"I mean, we only have a week or two left of camp, and what happens then? Will we never see the friends we made here again…?"
"Nikki…"
"…Will I forget about all the awesome stuff that we did…?"
"Nikki!"
"…Will I forget about you…?
"Nikki!"
"…Will…you…forget about me?" Nikki was finally silenced by a deep hug from Max, who was also crying.
"NIKKI, SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Max screamed before breathing deeply to try and calm himself down while using one arm to wipe the tears off of his face, keeping a tight grip on Nikki. "Don't you ever say anything like that! Don't act like all of this was meaningless! Life sucks and most people are assholes but…it sucks a lot less when you're here with me," Max said, getting quieter as he reached the end of his sentence.
"Max…I…," Nikki stammered, becoming unusually speechless at Max's sudden confession. However, even if she didn't temporarily lose her ability to speak, Max wouldn't have let her, as he continued.
"Goddammit Nikki, I like you OK!? I…I like you a lot, and I never want this to end, not now, not ever!" Max continued, with the tears returning in his eyes. He let go of Nikki to wipe these newly formed tears, but Max didn't see that Nikki was also crying with her usual giant smile returning.
"Aw Max!" Nikki cried out happily, before pouncing Max with a hug that was even deeper than the one that Max gave her. Max returned the hug and kissed her on the cheek. Nikki pulled her head back in shock for a few seconds, before smiling and giving Max a kiss on the cheek back. They stayed in each other's arms for a few minutes before Max turned Nikki's face towards his.
"Nikki, would you mind not telling anyone about this?" Max asked apprehensively, hoping that she would not take it the wrong way.
"About what?" Nikki asked with a faux confusion in her voice. Max smiled at her and nuzzled her neck.
"Exactly."