A/N: A guest reviewer commented that he or she was disturbed that the two main characters were still 10...but still wanted a second chapter anyway. Well, that's the point; it's about juvenile mental health, family break-up, child sexuality, and most importantly, young love, much like the titular 2012 film this story is based on. However, I try to be sincere about it and deliver the concept with subtlety. I apologize in advance if this doesn't necessarily pan out like it should.
Also, sorry if most of the characters are OOC here. And I don't own the following song. AND the third chapter onwards will get...a little crazy. So...
Enjoy! If you can...
Max and Nikki ran towards the forest the moment the campers dozed off. Taking their usual spot by the cliffside, they took their respective seats on a laid-out blanket and gazed up at the stars. So far so good, they managed to evade the campers and camp counselors, keeping their secret relationship as such. However, they had to take extensive measures and not grow overconfident in their success of not getting caught. In the meantime, though, they might as well indulge in their sweet time together. Case in point…
"Can you sing?"
Max frowned in confusion at Nikki's out-of-the-blue question. "Come again?"
"Can you sing?" Nikki repeated the question...before adding, "A song?"
"... Why?"
"No reason."
"If I say yes, are you going to ask me next to sing you something?"
"... Probably."
He thought it over for a moment before sighing in relent. Standing up and walking over to a tree hole, he pulled out a carefully wrapped guitar and walked back to their spot while Nikki looked on. "Then it's probably a good thing that I hid this."
"Is that David's...?"
"Oh, yeah. I definitely wouldn't want to wake up to him singing the incredibly long-and-catchy theme song."
"Pfft. I would."
"... Right. Of course you would."
Carefully unwrapping the guitar, Max set the wrapping paper aside, pulled a pile of more paper, and made the correct chord shapes as he played what was scribed on said paper:
I know I stand in line until you think you have the time to spend an evening with me
And if we go someplace to dance I know that there's a chance you won't be leaving with me
Max nudged Nikki to join along, and join along she did.
Then afterwards we drop into a quiet little place and have a drink or two
And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like "I love you..."
The both of them harmonized with each other as they got into the groove.
I can see it in your eyes you still despise the same old lies you heard the night before
And though it's just a line to you for me it's true and never seemed so right before
I practice every day to find some clever lines to say to make the meaning come true
But then I think I'll wait until the evening gets late and I'm alone with you
The time is right, your perfume fills my head, the stars get red and oh the night's so blue
And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like "I love you..."
All of a sudden, as if someone left the background music on, something of a full-fledged orchestra joined along with Max and Nikki. Both glanced at each other in confusion before simultaneously shrugging it off and continuing on.
I practice every day to find some clever lines to say to make the meaning come true
But then I think I'll wait until the evening gets late and I'm alone with you
The time is right, your perfume fills my head, the stars get red and oh the night's so blue
And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like "I love you..."
I love you
I love you
I love you
I...love...you...
Max and Nikki gazed into each other's eyes as they gave a softer kiss than the ones from before. This one was more of a light peck which lasted a split second or so, but much longer than it took for David to wake up and investigate the noise from outside.
. . .
Wait, what?
"Hello, is anybody out here?"
Of course, there was always that one time where they didn't exactly adhere to that one rule of not getting caught. Case in point...
The both of them gasped in shock before turning to find a silhouette of David emerging from the cabin. Moving quickly, they removed any evidence of their little encounter tonight and sped off before their happy-go-lucky camp counselor stumbled upon their spot. Hiding behind the trees and quietly navigating their way through them back to their respective tents, they waited until the coast was clear to talk one more conversation before their already broken curfew ended.
"God, that was close. Sorry about that, Nikki."
"No, it's okay. I...actually enjoyed the song."
"It's not actually mine."
"... Yeah, I figured. Gosh, we need to be more careful when we sneak out like this."
"I couldn't agree more. So... I'll see you next Friday? Or any other time we get another chance at seeing each other again?"
"Sure, Max."
Both planted one more kiss on each other's cheeks before going their separate ways.
The next Friday, Max and Nikki respectively woke up more sweatier than usual. Groggily getting out of bed and placing their hands on their sticky skin, they met up with the other campers (who were none worse for wear) just as David and Gwen exited the counselor's cabin carrying a very big fan.
"It was cold one night, now it's hot the next day."
"I blame global warming."
"Okay, kids," David panted as he set down the fan with Gwen, who opened the instruction book for it, "Since the monthly 100° heat wave is back with a vengeance, Gwen and I decided to let you swim in the lake while we work on the fan and eventually...order ice cream."
The campers cheered in approval as they went off to change into their swimsuits and prepare for a cool dip in the pond. Max and Nikki, on the other hand, halfheartedly dreaded the news. Neither one of them had seen the other in a swimsuit before, and were generally ill-prepared to do so. Although, the former actually had limited experience in terms of nudity, given that he "accidentally" stumbled upon his parents in the aftermath of smoking-hot...intercourse. He shuddered at the traumatizing memory, recalling every second of it with disastrous results on his mental psyche. Then he remembered Nikki, the completely naïve and innocent cinnamon roll that just so happened to be his unofficial girlfriend.
Nikki herself couldn't care less. She was just happy to cool off for once.
While the rest of the campers stripped down to nothing but their swimsuits, Max struggled to do the same. He was clearly hesitant to what was essentially get naked, even if your private parts were covered by swim trunks, bikinis, and anything else in-between. Little did he know, Nikki was sharing the same dilemma in spite of her enthusiasm. Eventually, after a few moments of mental doubts, beat-'em-ups, they both exited their respective tents wearing their respective swimsuits. Max was wearing a pair of plain navy blue swim trunks along with his red shoes. Nikki was wearing a rose red fixed triangle wireless but padded bikini top and skirted bottom along with her turquoise shoes, the sight of which made his heart race and his body stiffen. He was quite used to seeing her in only the mustard yellow shirt beneath the ruby red overalls rolled up to her knees and nothing more. Still, it was a lovely view. Ugh, curse my dirty, cynical mind...
"Hey, Nikki."
"Hi, Max."
"Ready to swim?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Hell, no."
Nikki giggled as she and Max walked side-by-side to meet up with the campers, who had already got a head start. David and Gwen had placed the fan to where they (and the rest of them) could feel the breeze while waiting on the ice cream. On the way towards the pier, the two broke away and headed toward their usual spot by the cliffside, giggling madly like the little kids they still are.
"What are we doing now, Max?"
"A bad idea, that's what."
They stopped and stood there for a moment's notice, overlooking what was to them a view to a kill. Glancing at each other before down at the lake, they continued doing this for another moment before Nikki broke Max's silence.
"So... We're jumping off this cliff?"
"Yep."
"Without adult supervision?"
"Yep."
"And we're going to look cool while doing it?"
"Hell, yes."
. . .
"Are we going to get hurt while doing it?"
"Hells, yes."
. . .
"Count me in."
"I was hoping you would say that."
A few steps backward were taken before the couple ran and jumped off the cliff hand-in-hand. Whooping all the way down caught the attention of many a Camp Campbell camper and the two weary counselors, who stood up and gaped in shock as their hearts immediately stopped. Their fear ultimately subsided into that of comfort upon seeing them take the correct diving position, much to their surprise and subsequent delight. Still though...
They eventually resurfaced and whooped some more, jumping in momentary fright as the rest of the campers joined them. Swimming towards the unbeknownst-to-them loving couple, they congratulated them and tried their best to give them some space, considering they had just jumped off a 15-story cliff. David and Gwen helped them out as the ice cream truck finally arrived.
"You two..." Gwen shook her head as she chuckled, "...are crazy. So crazy."
"Well, it's our expertise," Max shrugged as Nikki lightly giggled again behind him. That's when David noticed something happening between them, if only for a brief moment. It was as if...a spark had been ignited. He knew better than to get involved in the campers' business, so he decided to wait until later and ask Max what exactly was happening between him and Nikki. Of course, his mind trailed off to more urgent matters when he glanced over to Gwen...and the campers. And the ice cream man.
Later that night, Max and Nikki snuck out again to the cliffside, this time donning their previously dry swimsuits beneath their signature clothing. Again giggling madly like the two little kids they were, they slowed down to a stop and glanced down again.
"It feels a lot more taller than before."
"Sometimes, the darkness does wonders for you."
"I sure hope so."
Max and Nikki then stripped to their swimsuits again, their giggles increasing tenfold. Jumping off the cliffside again while whooping quietly again, it was during this time that Ered snuck out again for a hefty dose of gossipy blackmail. So imagine her surprise when she found a pair of kids swimming in the dark of the night without the counselors' knowledge. Her caution had to dialed up to eleven when recording the lovey-dovey couple, which involving literally hanging by a thread that was a poorly-grown branch.
CLICK...
Ered silently gasped at the sound of...whatever that was, the moment the branch snapped and removing her only method of support. After a tense moment of daring to lose her balance, she quickly regained it and sped back to her cabin. This time, it was Gwen in place of David, who heard a large splash from the lake right in the middle of watching trash TV. With just her luck, she hoped it was another sea creature from the black lagoon...and not a sexy human in disguise. Armed with a baseball bat and flashlight, she carefully observed her surroundings lest something attack her out of thin air. Approaching the cliffside, she slowly glanced down and found...nothing. Absolutely nothing.
The moment Gwen headed back was the moment Max and Nikki released deep breaths held behind their hand-clamped mouths.
"God, that was close."
"Yeah. We really need to be careful when we sneak out like this."
Carefully navigating their way to the showers, the couple took a couple of respective quick ones before retreating back to their respective tents.
"So...next Friday?"
"Sure."
And so, entering their respective tents, both children slipped into the warm comfort of their bed and closed their eyes...
Waiting for the next Friday to arrive...
Patiently waiting...
A/N: Call it filler, call it foreshadowing, call it a blend of both. Even so, I will say this again: I do not own the song "Somethin' Stupid"; Carson and Gaile do!