Chapter 5
After the rafting trip the summer seemed to fly by for Nikki. After being assured by Cameron, many times, that Amber was no longer a threat, she let herself open up to him. They had grown extremely close in a short period of time and could seldom be seen apart from each other. Today was no different. While their camper's were enjoying swimming period the counselors were relaxing by the sweet shop. Bradin, Stephanie, Nikki, and Cameron were sitting to one side of the building nursing dripping ice cream cones.
"I didn't realize you lived that close to me," Cameron said to Stephanie as she wiped some excess ice cream off of Bradin's chin. The two started dating around the same time he and Nikki had.
"Yeah, we've known each other for years but never knew we only lived a half hour away...strange isn't it?" She replied. He nodded and squeezed Nikki's hand.
"Well, maybe since Brade has some added incentive to come visit California, I'll be seeing you all around?" He looked across the table at his friend, waiting for an answer.
"Oh, I'm sure we could find our way out there once in a while," he laughed, "besides, I wouldn't want Nikki here to skin me alive..."
"I can't believe there's only a week left of camp," Nikki sighed, "when I first got here it seemed like an awfully long time...but now..."
"Time flies when you're having fun," Stephanie quoted.
"Who said that originally?" Bradin cocked his head.
"Does it really matter?" Cameron asked.
"Well, no..." he replied.
"Then why ask?" Stephanie questioned. "There are some things that we are better off not knowing."
"I'm not sure that applies to random quotes..." Bradin persisted.
"Brother," Nikki patted him on the back, "will you ever learn?" The group laughed.
"So what is everyone doing after camp?" Cameron asked.
"Me and Nikki are going back to Kansas, to school," Bradin replied. "That'll be loads of fun."
"I've got to go back to school too," Stephanie added.
Cameron nodded. He did also. Nikki sighed. She didn't know what she was going to do without Cameron when she went home. She had grown so accustomed to his being around all the time...always ready to talk or listen...or...kiss. She would definitely miss that. It would be nice to go home though; to see her parents again. She hadn't been on the best terms with them when she'd left. They'd really been pushing for the summer job which she didn't want. They said that she needed to start acting like an adult and go out and help pay for her college tuition. She hadn't liked that. It wasn't that she minded helping out, she just didn't like being told what to do.
"Oh boy, here comes trouble," Nikki looked up. Amber was walking there way. She hadn't really associated with them since the rafting trip. It made camp even more enjoyable. Nikki groaned inwardly as Amber came right up to her.
"Hi guys," she said, looking around at the group. "Nikki, I just in the main office...and they asked me to give this to you." She handed Nikki a letter postmarked in Kansas. They'd also like to see you and Bradin when you guys have time." She looked around again. "I'm sorry...really...for everything." And with that she was gone.
"I've got to go pick up the activity lists for tonight anyway," Bradin said, "I'll go see what's going on." He stood up and stretched his arms above his head, "You want to come with me Steph?"
"Sure," she followed him down the trail.
"I love it when they leave us alone," Nikki scooted closer to Cameron, leaning against his shoulder.
"MmmHmm..." he replied. He noticed the unopened letter still in his girlfriend's hands. "Nik, aren't you going to open it?"
"I might as well," she replied, "Can I use your knife?" He nodded and reached into his back pocket and pulled it out.
"Thanks," she sliced it open. Cameron watched her face go pale as she read down the page. This couldn't be good. She slowly lay the letter down, setting her drink on top of it so it wouldn't blow away.
"Nik?" He questioned. She threw her arms around his neck, buried her face in his chest, and started to sob. "Hey, it's okay..." Cameron rubbed her back in reassurance. "What is it baby?" Nikki only cried all the harder. Letting her go with one arm, he reached for the letter, pulling it out from under her pop can. Nikki and Cameron, this is your Great Aunt Elsie. I know you two are away working at Camp Timberwood right now and probably having a wonderful time. So, it is with a heavy heart that I bring myself to write this to you. Two days ago, your parents and younger brother were in a car accident. Both of your parents were gone by the time the ambulance arrived. Your brother was taken to the hospital but left us as they were operating on him. The funeral will be tomorrow. I'm so sorry... I know that you cannot be here but these things need to be done... Cameron stopped reading. What could he say to that? He tightened his grip on her, not wanting to let her go.
"Cameron..." he heard her speak in between sobs.
"Yeah Nik?"
"Don't leave me..." she pleaded, looking up at him with tear stained eyes.
"Never..." he brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead.
"Mr. Pierce?" Bradin opened the door to the main office, "Amber said you wanted to see Nikki and me?" Stephanie followed him in.
"Yes," Pierce looked at him overtop his glasses, "have a seat Bradin." He pointed to the bench across from his desk. "I just wanted to give you my condolences on your loss...I'm very sorry..."
"I'm not fallowing you sir," Bradin replied.
"Didn't you get the letter I sent with Amber?" He asked.
"Yeah, I left it with Nikki..."
"So you haven't read it yet? Oh my..." he put his glasses down on the desk and brushed his hair back. "Bradin, your Great Aunt Elsie called this morning, right after the mail arrived. She wanted to know if the letter I gave to you had arrived yet. She seemed very distraught, so I asked her what was wrong."
"Aunt Elsie does tend to get worked up," Bradin said, shifting in his seat.
"Bradin, she told me that your parents and younger brother were in a car accident." Stephanie squeezed Bradin's hand. He paused, "They're gone, Bradin." He watched the young mans face turn to disbelief. "That's what was in the letter..."
"Oh man... Nikki's got it...she's by herself...no wait...Cameron's with her...I've got to go!" Bradin was up and out of the building before Pierce or Stephanie could get a word in. He ran down the trail to the sweet shop as fast as he could, hoping Nikki hadn't opened the letter. His fears were confirmed as the building came into view. Nikki and Cameron still sat where he had left them but now Nikki was shaking and quivering in his arms as he tried to comfort her.
"Bradin, the letter..." Cameron began.
"I know, Pierce told me," He sat down next to his sister, who was now in Cameron's lap. "Nikki, I'm here now...it's gonna be alright..." She released one arm from around Cameron and wrapped it around Bradin's neck.
"What are we going to do?" She sniffed.
"I don't know yet...I don't know," Bradin replied. Cameron's mind was spinning. How could this happen to Nikki, to Bradin. It wasn't fair. What made it even worse was the fact that there wasn't a thing he could do about it. The only thing he could do was offer comfort. So there he sat, a bench next to the sweet shop, an arm around each friend, trying to ease their pain.
I promise to update sooner this time and hopefully make some chapters longer...exams are killing me!
