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Nick’s hands were on Ziggy’s waist as they kissed; Nick’s mind was fogged with a million different scenario’s of how this could play out; he knew this wasn’t allowed on any level, he was a counsellor, and she was a camper, and he knew that he was not meant to like the way the weird girl from Shadyside felt against his skin. He felt her hands squeeze his biceps lightly, his worries faded, and he was utterly entranced by Ziggy Berman. Their perfect moment was cut short by the piercing screams of teenage girls; they both tensed as they realised it was most likely Shelia’s friends finding her in the outhouse covered in bugs. The pair went deathly silent before Nick noticed Ziggy’s smirk, and they burst out laughing. Nick placed his hand on Ziggy’s cheek and just drank in the sparkle in her eyes; he had never felt so comfortable and safe.
After the kiss, Ziggy and Nick became inseparable, they were often seen around camp, side by side laughing or talking. Despite whatever they were doing being against camp rules, there was only a year between them, and people seemed to be more thrown off by the fact that Nick Goode, future king of Sunnyvale, was with Ziggy Berman, helpless Shadysider, in the first place; but they didn’t care. They couldn’t remember the last time they were this happy and free, so the whispers and the looks just didn’t matter to them.
For a while, they just looked like friends, kids messing around, if you will, and Nick was okay with that. He was just happy to be a part of Ziggy’s life in whatever capacity she let him. However, this changed when one of Shelia’s friends went up to Nick in the mess hall, she had placed her hand on his arm, and despite Nick being completely disinterested, the limit for Ziggy was when she touched his hair. Her stomach dropped, she knew she shouldn’t be jealous, but she still found herself walking up to Nick.
“Hey Nick, can I show you something?” she blurted loudly, unsure about what she was going to do when he turns around; he looked at her, and his face shifted from deadpan to a brightness that she has grown accustomed to, and Ziggy felt her once hard eyes soften, and her heart may have skipped a beat.
“What’s up, Zig?” her heart fluttered at the nickname, it sounded so pure, and his voice was full of admiration like she was the only one in his world. The next thing she knew was she was kissing him, in front of everyone. She thought it would feel wrong like she was insincere, but when he deepened the kiss and wrapped his arms around her waist, she felt safe. When they broke apart, she could feel eyes boring into them, and Ziggy panicked, remembering Cindy was most likely watching them, and what if Nick didn’t want to be public with her, a million thoughts raced through her mind, but when she locked eyes with Nick his smile was so broad, and he placed his hand on her face and stroked her cheek, so she relaxed. It was short-lived, Cindy was behind them, and Ziggy could feel the daggers she was shooting at Nick. She turned around with his arms still wrapped around her waist.
“What the fuck, Goode? My sister? Really” Cindy roared at Nick; Ziggy rolled her eyes but was stunned by Cindy swearing. She hasn’t heard her sister swear in years. Ziggy smiled to herself as Nick interlocked their hands and stepped slightly in front of her as if he could protect her from the world. Ziggy obviously has people who care about her, but being shown affection from someone who has chosen to get to know her made her feel weightless; she couldn’t describe it. Tommy came up to Cindy and gripped her upper arm, “let’s go, Cind, come on”, he whispered softly as he briefly smiled at the pair. Cindy did back away, but Ziggy knew this wouldn’t be the last time they would talk about this. Nick kept her hand in his and gently pulled her out of the mess hall.
They stayed holding hands as they walked to a quieter area; Nick could feel Ziggy’s anger build as they walked, “Who the fuck does she think she is? She literally called me a monster a week ago, and now she’s acting like my mom or something”, Ziggy complained whilst kicking a rock, “Like seriously she has no right to act like she cares, she just treats me like a child and then gets shitty when I act like one” she sighed, she walked over to Nick who was leaning against a tree, she placed her face in his chest and took a deep breath. Nick didn’t know what to say; he and Will never really spoke to each other; it’s not like they had the same friend group, and honestly, neither of them cared enough to check up on each other. So Nick just stroked Ziggy’s hair because he knew no words would remedy the situation.
A few days went by before Cindy managed to corner Ziggy in her cabin, “Hey Ziggy, can we talk? Please?” Cindy sounded almost embarrassed, and Ziggy just sighed; Ziggy thought back to after she had calmed down the other day and she and Nick were sat down against the tree, she was leant against his chest, and their legs were splayed out in front of them, Ziggy was playing with Nick’s hands before he began to talk about his relationship with Will.
“Y’know, me and Will are like strangers who just co-exist with each other, even as kids we never played together or even fought; I remember when I was about 7, and Will was 5 or 6, and I had accidentally broken his favourite toy, and I am not exaggerating when I say he loved this toy right, he had been asking for it for about two years before my mom finally caved for Christmas. He had only had it for a week before I was messing around in the playroom and stepped right on it.” Ziggy’s eyes widened as she looked up at Nick, “I thought he was gonna kill me or trash my room because even at that age, he was huge and aggressive, but when he walked in, he just looked me dead in the eye with no emotion - nothing. He walked out of the room and went to his, and that was it. He cares so little about me he never even had the energy to get mad when I fuck up” Ziggy was speechless; she knew Nick and Will were distant, but so were her and Cindy, but they still fought like there was no tomorrow.
As she recalled that conversation with Nick, she had felt lucky to have Cindy; she did care about Ziggy even if it was overbearing and frustrating at times, so she nods her head at her older sister.
Cindy didn’t know what to say; she half expected ZIggy to just roll her eyes and bowl out of the room like she had done hundreds of times before, “I guess I just want to know how you and Nick happened and if you are ok and safe?” Cindy finally asked; she wasn’t sure if she was ready for the answer, petrified her younger sister had been forced into something, but when she looked at Ziggy, she seemed happy; she had an aura surrounding her that was light.
Ziggy pondered for a few seconds, genuinely asking herself the same questions; ‘how did me and Nick start?’ Then, ‘am I happy?’, after a pregnant pause, Ziggy finally answered, “It was after that day when Shelia burned me; I was so angry and when I was planning my revenge, and Nick came and found me. After the prank, we went back to the science and nature cabin, and we were just talking; we; I found out we had a lot in common, we like the same books and music, and we kissed. So we’ve just been hanging out, I guess” Ziggy felt a warmth spread through her body as she recalled the day of the prank; she had never felt so alive. “As for the second question, I am safe and really happy. I really like him”, ziggy felt relief after she finally admitted that she did, in fact, like Nick Goode a lot. It was not like she had been trying to hide it but actually saying it out loud felt so good. Cindy thought about all the information she was just given. She had never seen her sister so genuinely happy. She didn’t know what to say, so she wrapped her arms around Ziggy because Ziggy was finally happy, and that’s all Cindy wanted.
The next few weeks flew by; there was now only two weeks left before school starts and about a week of camp left; the air was colder and had a crispness they were both thankful for. The trees were beginning to change colours, and most kids had already gone home, making the camp mostly quiet. Nick and Ziggy were sprawled out on a blanket on the grass reading; they were side by side, and nick could barely focus on the words in front of him; every nerve in his body ignited. Finally, after reading the same paragraph about 15 times, Nick dropped his book on his other side and sat up, “I don’t want this to end”, he blurted out, his voice high and shaky; Ziggy looked up at him quizzically, “What makes you think this will end?” she replies quickly, her own book abandoned now. Nick sighed and then shrugged, “I don’t know, we go to different schools, live in different towns.” he says, his voice small and sad. Ziggy almosts laughs before realising he is serious, “Nick, we aren’t children. You can drive, I can get a bus. We live about 15 minutes away from each other we aren’t moving to different ends of the world” her tone was jokey, but she was serious, this would work if they made it. Nick smiled at her, “I know that Zig, but I just worry ok because I really like you and this, and I don’t wanna fuck it up”, this time Ziggy did laugh; it wasn’t critical it was full of heart, “Nick Goode you are the biggest sap I have ever met, not that I am complaining” she leans closer to him before kissing him, right before their lips meet she says “I really like you too” and before he can process what she had said her lips were on his and his mind goes blank. Nick thought he would be used to the feeling of kissing Ziggy, but it winds him every time; she was like breathing after being underwater; she was the only thing that mattered. Nick pulled away, and Ziggy whined, “Zig, this is crazy, but we can be something y’know. Something great. We can start a book club or something, Judy Bloom maybe? Or go to New York, Let’s just get away from here at some point”, Nick’s eyes were full of excitement and Ziggy was taken aback. Still, before she could reply, Nick carried on, “So, what do you say? Let’s run away together, baby. Me and you?” if it wasn’t for the absolutely insane proposal of running away with Nick Goode, Ziggy would’ve had a snarky reply at how cliche this all was. Still, she couldn’t find it in her, she began to imagine a life with nick. She knew it wouldn’t happen overnight, but before her brain could catch up, her heart spoke for her, “Me and you”, she says in confirmation, “till the end of time” Nick grins and leans in and captures Ziggy in another kiss.