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Max couldn't sleep. This wasn't unusual for him- but tonight felt especially restless. The thought of the end of summer drawing near made him unbearably uneasy..
Especially when it came to his parents. He tossed and turned, eventually sitting himself up in his cot, rubbing a hand over his face. He didn't want to leave this place- it felt more like home than anywhere ever has. He had his people, he had an outlet for his frustrations, he had—
The thought drew a shudder from him. David. sure, he's a pushover, but he looks after him in a way his parents didn't seem capable of. Why did he want to cry? Before Max could stop himself, he sniffled, quickly blinking away the tears welling in his eyes. That was loud.. What if Neil heard?
"..Max?" The curly-haired boy mumbled, already sat up and looking at his friend in the darkness of their shared tent. The smaller boy could tell he had that stupid worried look on his face— the one he never gave anyone other than poor old Max.
Shit.
"Not now, Neil." Max seethed, his voice wavering from the sudden emotions swirling in his head, begging to spill over.
"Are you crying?"
"Psh- what? Oh fuck off, as if. You know I'd never do something stupid like that."
"I can see your eyes, Max.."
That drew a long silence between the two boys. Max shifted uncomfortably, for once aware of how vulnerable he had become. Why did he let himself get into this situation?
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"Do you at least.. want some company?" Neil offered sheepishly. He was never really good at the whole.. Comfort your friends thing, but its clear enough he was trying his best. It was enough to pull a defeated chuckle from the smaller boy.
"Jesus, you suck at this."
"I know- I know! I'm trying my best here, okay??" Neil squeaked in defense, and the two soon fell into a quiet fit of laughter. It was.. Comforting. Suddenly Max didn't feel as overwhelmed by the impending doom of a summer soon to end.
After a good minute of contemplation, settled by a short silence, the smaller boy spoke up again, his tone carrying something more solemn.
"..I was just.. Thinking about camp."
"Like how?.."
"Like.. I don't want it to end. I don't-" Max cuts himself off for a moment before shaking his head. too late to stop himself now. "I don't want to lose you."
Neil went quiet, taken aback by the vulnerability coming from his normally reserved friend. He took a second to think before responding, an awkward smile pulling at the corners of his lips.
"Well I'm not going anywhere, man. We can keep in touch, right?"
"..Yeah. I guess you're right." Max agreed with a relieved sigh he didn't know he was holding. Another silence passed, and they looked at each other, unsure what to say next. With a hesitant look, Neil piped in.
"You.. Want a hug or something?"
"God, no!" Max quickly objected, faking an exaggerated shudder in opposition to such a terrible, totally not nice-and-reassuring offer.
"Okay- okay! I'm just not entirely sure what else to do here!"
In all honesty, neither did Max. He just spilled his guts to his friend and now the poor guy feels put on the spot. How could he save this soon-to-spiral scenario?
"I mean— if it makes you feel better, then knock yourself out." What have you done, you blabbering idiot.
Neil soon stood and approached Max, now standing in front of him with his hands hung in front of his chest like they always did. It reminded Max of a raptor, which he was sure would draw a complaint from his friend. The taller boy slowly.. Unbearably slowly pulled his friend into a hug, the action feeling nothing short of stiff and gauche. Despite that… Max didn't mind. His short arms soon rested around Neil in return, and god forbid he admit it, he felt more tears well in his eyes. There was a word for this feeling he was getting, but he'd rather die than let it formulate in his head.
The hug was abruptly cut short as Max pulled back, rubbing his face with his sleeve.
"That was horrible." He commented, drawing a chuckle from Neil.
"Never again?"
"Never again." Max agreed, flopping back onto his cot with a heavy sigh.
"You.. Think you can go back to sleep?" Neil questioned, taking a seat beside him.
"Probably not. You wanna plan the devastation of the activity David made for tomorrow?"
The taller boy pondered, and before they knew it, they spent the rest of the night rambling about their impish ideas, lost in the moment of company that was a steady distraction from Max's worries. He decided that night he never wanted to part from his friend. He wasn't sure if it meant anything more, but for once, he wasn't opposed to the thought.
That's sissy stuff, who is he kidding.