Breathe || Max X Reader - Camp Camp

XXX

Word Count: 1,087
Y/N's POV

     "Well, well, well!", Preston chirped, popping his head into my tent.
     "Please leave me alone.", I muttered. I covered my eyes with one arm and used the other to pull the sheets up to my nose.
     I felt Preston's weight once he sat near the foot of my bed. "You can't just stay in your tent forever. You know that the camp activity is starting soon, don't you?", he prompted.
     My whole body cringed at the thought of another activity. "Oh my gosh!", I groaned. I threw my arm off of my eyes and turned to face the wall of the tent. The old springs below my mattress exploded in their symphony of annoying noises. "Preston, please just go! I don't want to talk right now."
     I clenched my teeth. It hurt to have to reject my own best friend, but I couldn't talk to him. I hated everything around me so much, and Preston just wasn't an exception today. "You know," he started, laying a gentle hand on my thigh. "I always noticed something kind of weird about you. You're always so calm, and you make it so believable, but it's almost never real, is it?"
     I rolled my eyes. "So what?", I sassed. "You can act too, it's not really that special. Now can you leave?"
     Preston removed his hand. It took a second for me to realize that I missed the warmth of somebody touching me. Maybe that's what the blanket is for. "No, I'm not done yet.", he teased, clasping his hands together. The sudden noise or Preston's hands had taken me by surprise. I jolted up. Too ashamed to lay back down and reject Preston once more, I turned toward him. I covered half of my face with the blanket and curled up into a fetal position. "I also think it's pretty crazy how smart you are." Preston looked to me with a warm smile. As he scooted closer to me, his hair bounced. He latched onto my blanket with two fingers, and pulled it down to show my full face. I didn't resist.
     His fingers slowly found their way to mine, and took one of my hands. Then he took to the other, and he clasped them together, enclosing them both with his hands. It made me miss the explosive feeling I felt when Max would touch me. When he touched me, it was more than just warmth, it was security, and it was tense and relaxed at the same time, it was so many things and everything felt so tingly and I couldn't help but feel my cheeks light on fire and the whole world just sort of slowed down.
    Preston didn't slow my world down. I still knew that Max was gone. He couldn't make me forget that. "Y/N, I know this isn't easy.", the boy started. His little pink nose twitched. His attitude had changed. He was serious now. "But I just have to say, you can do this. I don't know how, but you can get Max back. And I'd support it. Harrison and I would support you no matter what you did, because we care about you so much. You know, this summer is almost over, and, I just, got so close with you. It feels like I know you better than you know yourself. And, I'm telling you, right now..." Preston squeezed my hands harder. Our noses were only inches away from each other. Anybody could've spotted the determination in that boy's eyes from a mile away. "You're gonna' get him back.", he swore.
     I ripped my hands away from his and used both of them to cover my mouth. I hadn't even realized that the tears in my eyes were clouding my vision. "I don't think so...", I choked out. Through prolonged breaths, I watched little droplets fall from my face to the bed.
Preston lifted my chin. "Hey, don't worry.", he whispered softly. "You're going to be fine." The muscles in my stomach tensed as flinched forward. It had been so long since someone had told me that. Preston quickly reached over to a trash can. "Are you going to be sick?"
"N-No.", I muttered. I felt so hot. I wasn't sweating, but I felt like I was roasting. "Don't go."
Preston let out a short laugh. "I didn't plan on it.", he teased. "Just relax for a little while. I promise we're gonna' get him back. Okay?"
I uncovered my mouth and wiped a small bit of drool away. "I hope.", I mouthed. Preston smiled. It was almost scary how well that boy knew me. Throughout the summer, I had shared everything with him. My dreams, my secrets, I told Preston more than I had told Max.
"Just take some time and think about everything.", Preston advised. He moved a lock of hair behind my ears. I couldn't bring myself to smile, but it made me feel a lot better knowing that I had somebody like Preston. "I'm going to go hang out with Harrison for a little. Just come by whenever you're feeling like it."
An immediate wave a distress washed over me. "I-I'm so sorry! Please don't leave me alone!", I begged.
Preston's smile transitioned into a frown. "Well, I guess I can stay if you want.", he negotiated. I was afraid to be alone. I couldn't help but think of all the bad things that could've happened if he would've left me alone.

     But he didn't. Preston stayed with me for hours that day. We skipped the camp activity, too. And he didn't ever bother to ask to leave. He just stayed with me while I laid down and tried to calm down. And I owed him the world for that, because I needed it so bad.
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A/N - I have got some really exciting news! I've finally took the time to revamp the ugly temporary cover for this much better permanent cover!

Now, while this might not be your personal favorite cover, it's so much cleaner! It's easier to read the title and there is no visual clutter! If you want to see the old cover one last time, here it is!

On a different note, I'd like to thank each and every one of you for your continuous support as we near the end of this story! I hope you enjoy these last few chapters. As always, I love you all and hope you have a great day! ☁️