the group made their way through the airport, not many words being shared between them, for reasons they didn't understand. but no one decided to bring it up, they just suffered through the awkward silence. they'd talk every now and then but it was only if they were checking in bags or communicating for someone to hand them a bag to get searched and so forth. there was also chris trying to break the awkward silence with a bad joke, but you already know that didn't work.
because max wasn't actually leaving the state, he couldn't go through check in and security with them. he had to walk on his own and meet them at the gate. this made max and nick feel so much worse about their separation. they didn't know how they'd be able to handle the long distance relationship, if they couldn't even handle separation in an airport.
max thought of every possibility there was under the sun, what could he do about nick and him? he could always move to boston, or maybe nick moves to LA, or maybe they try long distance? he even thought of breaking it off with nick, because he thought the pain would be too great if they had to attempt long distance.
he made it to their gate and sat down in one of the leather chairs. he texted nick saying he was at the gate.
max <3
i'm at the gate :)
nick :)
ok
we'll be there soon
max <3
i miss you so much already
nick :)
don't talk like that
max <3
why?
nick :)
cause you'll make me start sobbing in the middle of the airport
max <3
right- sorry
nick :)
but i'm gonna miss you too
so so much
max <3
we'll make it work right?
nick :)
it's not like we have much of a choice
max <3
i think we can make it work
nick :)
i think we can too <3
max sat around for a couple minutes before he heard his name be called. he turned around and saw the group walking towards him. he smiled instantly, standing up to go meet them.
he said hi to everyone as they walked past him to sit down at the chairs, but nick simply stood in front of him. he slowly grabbed a couple of nicks fingers and held them tightly.
he looked up at nick and smiled sadly at him, nick doing the same. still holding his hand, max guided nick to sit down with the rest of the group.
chris and vincent were sat on the floor playing some game on their phones. audrey and matt were sat next to each other, what a shock, and kennedy and art were sitting opposite them, talking quietly.
nick sat where max once was, max then stood between his legs. the two didn't look each other in the eyes, only looking at their hands as they slightly swung between them.
"we're gonna make it work right?" max asked.
"of course we will. i have a bunch of online friends which i don't see all the time and we're still super close, even after 2 years." nick states.
"i know, but this is different. i don't know how i'm gonna go without being able to hug you every day. or comfort you when your sad. or kiss you gently to help you wake up from a nap. it just feels like it's not possible." max sighs.
"hey, look at me." nick says softly, making max look up at him slowly. "we're going to be ok. and it's not like we won't visit. like i'm certain we'll come back here for work and other things."
"and i'll come visit the whole gang in boston." max said peeking up slightly.
"yeah of course! see we have nothing to worry about." but even nick felt scared. he was doing everything in his power to not let the tears fall. he simply sniffled his way through the whole conversation.
"flight number 5504 to boston massachusetts, please make your way to gate 6."
"that's us guys." vincent says standing up and pocketing his phone.
max and nick felt their hearts sink to the souls of their feet. they looked at each other instantly, the reality of the situation suddenly hitting them like a ton of bricks. they looked at each other, holding their obvious loving look for as long as they could.
"cmon nick. we gotta go." matt said placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, taking nick out of his trance.
nick cleared his throat before picking up his backpack which sat on the floor.
"we're going to board now. we'll let you have a moment, but don't be too long." matt said sweetly before walking over to where the others had started to line up.
nick grabbed the backpack tightly, the only thing keeping him from breaking down.
his eyes grew red and strained as he tried not to cry.
"hey, hey. it's gonna be ok." max cupped nicks face gently, making a single tear fall from nicks glossy eyes.
max looked over nicks face one more time, taking in every feature. not daring to skip a single thing. the way his eyes sloped down at the ends. the gentle pink colour of his lips, the cute crookedness of his nose. he looked over his lover one last time, not knowing when he'd see him in the flesh again.
"i love you." max whispered as he looked at nick in awe.
nick couldn't hold the tears now, with no restrain he pulled max into the biggest hug he could offer, crying quietly into his shoulder. max hugged him back, his head resting sadly in the crook of his neck.
"i love you too." nick said in between soft tears. he pulled away slowly, wiping the tears from his face.
nick looked around quickly before pulling max into one last kiss. it was sweet and quick, but he couldn't go without kissing him one last time.
"i'll see you soon?" nick said stepping back and starting to walk over to his friends.
"i will." max said as a single tear fell.
as he watched nick and his friends disappear into the tunnel, he turned around and started to make his way back to his car. and he started to think.
think about everythings that's happened in the last 3 weeks. he met his best friends, he reconnected with his best friends, and he found the love of his life. it was the happiest he'd been in so long. he couldn't think of another time when he was happier. not when he was on his own, his only friends being the people he was put on shift with. he couldn't help but dread going home.
he turned around one last time at the tunnel which his friends had walked down not even a minute ago.
that's when he had an idea.
he made a promise, didn't he?
AHHHHHHHHHHHH
ITS ALMOST OVER😭😭
Id say maximum 5 more chapters but it probably won't be that many.
but thank you guys so much for all the support and love on this book, it means so much and i love you all for it <333