"We're here!" Dad called, waking me up. After sleeping for hours, it was painful to get up and walk around.
"Where are the others?" I asked.
"Maxwell, Sabrina, and Tarot? They're driving up in a separate car." Mom explained.
I stumbled, my balance off from sitting down for five hours. "I gotcha," Peanut said, catching me in his arms.
"Tha-thanks," I mumbled, my fur blushing red and tail poofing up.
"What's wrong, honey?" Mom cooed, hugging me.
"I- uh… I'm just…. Sad you'll be leaving, that's all," I stammered.
"Well, I'm sure you'll have tons of fun. Just remember," Dad warned, "I don't want you and that Maxwell alone with each other!"
"But Dad," I whined, "You let Peanut and Tarot alone all the time!"
"Well, I don't trust that Maxwell tom of yours. Stay away from him!"
"Honey, what your father's trying to say is that he loves you and doesn't want you getting into trouble," Mom soothed me. "Now, you two go have fun. See you Sunday."
We turned and faced the campsite. For Peanut, it was a week of fun. For me, a week of torture, trying even harder than normal to hide that I liked Peanut.
Don't get me wrong, I love Maxie too. But, while Max tries to be "in charge" and manly and is all bluster, Peanut is genuinely sweet an innocent.
Why do I have to make this choice- a choice between normality and satisfaction, or secrets and love?