We heard some noise "What was that?" I asked Alex
"I don't know, whose there?"
We looked around I went at behind the tree and looked around then I saw a paper scrambled and thrown in the bush I picked it up and fixed it to read it
"Here I am
Your secret admirer (Oceans)"
I slowly looked up and around if I could see who threw the letter here but nothing Alex stood behind me
"Hey did you see anything?"
I quickly putted the letter in my pocket and turned to him "No…" he tried to kiss me again but I stopped him "Sorry but I'm not feeling very well so I think I'm just gonna call it the night I'll see you tomorrow"
"Yeah sure" Alex whispered as I walk away I looked back at the tree as I was about to get in the cabin I heard students yelling and shouting it sounded like it was coming from the bonfire side I quickly closed the door and rushed to the bonfire side than I saw students shouting and others trying to stop two students who are fighting
Lian came running "Ty where have you been its Nick come"
I pushed through the crowed than I saw Nick fighting with some other boy from another school some of his team-mates were trying to stop him but in vain
"Nick" students from our school yelling "Stop it Nick"
"Nick!" I called out to him
"Jake stop it"
I rushed in the fight trying to stop Nick some guys pulled him off and others held Jake off from the other side yet the two were still pushing to go to each other
"Nick" I stood in front of him he had this angry and sad face he looked at me "What are you doing, since when do you fight" He just looked at me
Then looked at Jake "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" and turned and walked away I rushed behind him I held his shoulder and for the first time in our friendship he brushed my hand away
"Nick, Nicholas" seeing him walking away like that I got so confused "Nick where are you going Nick?" I yelled out to him but he just walked away
Lian and Kim came to me I looked at them "Do you guys know what happened?"
"Jake accidently bumped into Nick and he just went off on him just like that" Kim whispered
"I wonder what got him so angry I've never seen Nick like that before" Lian said
I looked around "I'll go look for him I'll see you guys tomorrow"
"Maybe we should come with you"
"No its okay you guys go on"
"Okay" they walked away heading to the cabins and I walked around the camp looking for Nick I went to the lake he was not there, to the game field, canteen and finally I rushed to our cabin hoping to find him but sill he was nowhere to seen I waited for him in our cabin thinking he will show up as it was already late at night but then I dozed off and fell asleep waiting for him
The next morning I woke up so early around 6am when I turned to the other side there he was still sleeping, because he returned to the cabin very late last night I didn't bother him I just went out I walked around the camp then went to the lake and sat down on the lake bench lost in thoughts then Alex showed up
"I am shocked that you up so early what are you doing here all alone?" I looked up at him and smiled a little.
"Hey I just needed some alone time and not to disturb Nick his still sleeping after last night I thought I should let him rest a bit, what are you doing here?"
"You should know by now that I'm an early bird, by the way your friend really know how to throw a punch hey"
"Of cause he plays football what did you expect and for you being an early bird I'm not surprised at all, no wonder you woke us up at 5am" both laugh a little feeling shy towards each other.
"I'm sorry about last night" he looked at me of because I made a shy face like a teenage girl
"It's okay no need to apologies I understand and I'm sorry for hurrying to leave so how long have you came out?"
"I haven't" I stare at him being surprised he shy smiles playing with his fingers "I'm still adjusting first before opening up about my sexuality"
I smirk at him "Yeah I understand I have been in your shoes when the time is right you will know it which is why I need to come clean with you about something"
"There is someone else?" he whispered looking at me I look back at him then stare at the lake throwing the rocks on the water.
"I wish I can say yes it's complicated" I turn to look at him "I mean don't get me wrong you are a nice guy whether you out or not but I've always wanted the love like my parents have the affection, kissing every moment they are together, the feeling my dad have after kissing my mom feeling a bit drowsy that take him few seconds to return to his senses I'm sorry with you I just didn't feel it"
He smiled and threw the rock in the water "its okay I know what you talking about and any guy would be lucky to have you beside him" he stood to leave he looked down on me "Hey?"
I looked up at him "I hope that you find that person and works out" he whispered then he left leaving me staring at the lake then I realized I haven't seen Nick since last night and he was down I threw the rock in the lake then went to look for Nick probably still in the cabin.
***
As I passed through the office I saw Nick loading his bags in the car I wondered what was going on I rushed to him
"Nick what's going on… are you leaving?"
"Yeah I have to attend University exhibition"
"What University exhibition how come you didn't tell me about it?"
"I just saw the email last night"
I noticed him looking behind me when I turned back I saw Alex with his friends I looked at him again but he was already the car door he turned and looked at me with emotional teary eyes
"You told me so" he got inside the car and it drove off
I just stood there watching the car drives away I felt confused and numb from my head to toes wondering what a hell just happened trying to put the pieces together but I couldn't I swear my head was deep swimming with fishes and there was no one to hook it up from the water.
"What just happened" talking to myself then Lian and Kim comes
"Did Nick just leave right now?" I was just confused I didn't know what to think
"What a hell just happened?" Lian and Kim look at me with concerned face
"Ty are you okay?" I took out my phone and called Nick it went straight to voicemail
"His phone is off" I turned and left Lian and Kim standing there confused I got in the cabin feeling confused about Nick's suddenly leaving I keep on thinking what really made him leave. Then I remembered telling him "Don't believe me than Nicholas you will see it for yourself nothing good comes out in camps and when that time comes I want you say you told me so." I sat down on my bed confused
The next two days left for camp it felt like two decades walking around the camp same image comes to my mind which is Nick leaving I mean I even tried the other activities without creating any fuzz getting up at 5am, time and again I tried to call nick but his phone went straight to voicemail
"Hey this Nick McDowell I'm not available but you know what to do" I'm sitting on the bench "Nick please call me when you get this bye."
Kim came and sat next me "Still no word from Nick?" I shook my head
"No and I don't even know why his ignoring my calls, did he say anything to you?"
"No… I'm sorry but Ty maybe he truly had to attend University exhibition like he said"
"No it's something else Kim I know Nick"
It was a good thing is was the last day of camp as I need to find out what truly happened with Nick.
The following day our buses where the first to come to pick us up we were busy loading our bags then Kim comes to me
"Tyler" Kim said
"Hey"
"I just wanted to say it was such a great pleasure to know you" making giggle laugh
"Me too when you guys heading back?"
"Maybe a bit later today" then Kim gives me a tight hug "I had the best week with you guy's thank you"
"Don't tell anyone so did I" I whispered in her ear
"Your secret is safe with me" then Lian comes complaining "Hey I want a hug too" she hug me and Kim and then there were three we broke the hug as it was time to leave.
"Have a safe journey back" Kim said
"Same to you I'll call you later" Lian said
"Let's quickly take a picture" Kim took the picture of the three of us "Okay bye." I whispered waving at Kim
"Send it me that picture" Lian said getting on the bus following me we took our seats Lian sat in front of me and Kim kept on waving at us from outside and the bus started moving and drove away.
When we were on the way I could only think about Nick trying to think what made him leave all of the sudden what was the real reason behind it then Lian came and sat next me I took my earphones off
"Missing your best friend?"
"More off worried about him I just wish I knew what made him leave all of the sudden what happened to him"
"Wait did you two had a fight the night?"
"No"
"Wasn't he with you the night he got into the fight?"
I looked at her being confused "At the canteen?"
"No after that" I was confused
I looked at Lian confused "What are you talking about the last time I saw Nick that day was when we were together at the canteen with you and Kim."
"No after at night when we were at the bonfire Nick came looking for you so I showed him the directions which you went so he went after you, didn't he find you?"
I shook my head "No" then everything came back to me like a flood of memories I took out the letter I found on the bush from my pocket I looked at it, then it's when I realized. "It was him" Putted my hand on my forehead. "Oh Nick"
Amy came "Hey guys"
"Hey Amy" Lian replied where else me I was still feeling confused as what a hell was going on.
"Hmm Lian can I speak to Ty if you don't mind" I looked at her then at Lian who was staring at me I signed her to tell her it's okay she stood up and returned to her seat and Amy sat next me "Are you okay you seem a bit lost?"
"Yeah I'm fine I'm just worried about Nick"
She sighed "Actually that's what I wanted to speak to you about"
I smirked at her "You like Nick don't you?" she made shy smile playing with her fingers "Why don't you just tell him?"
"I did but he rejected me that day back at school he said he already has a crush on someone else"
"About that he didn't happen to tell you who that someone was did he?"
She made soft laugh "No"
"Right his very secretive about this crush of his"
"I think it's you" Amy whispered immediately she said that everything stopped for a second but her words kept on repeating in my mind over and over again finally I looked at her with frowned face
"Amy I know Nick and I our closeness can be wired sometimes but trust me he doesn't like me the way you are thinking we are just close best friends that's all"
She sighed again "You are really clueless about this hey, yes you two are best friends since you were young but the way Nick looks at you trust me it's not the look for just a best friend he looks at you with affection, when you walk away his eyes walks away with you, when you smile he smiles, when you are happy his happy Ty what do you think why you haven't met this mysterious crush before, does he speak about this crush often like any other guy would be having a crush on someone I bet not."
I stared at her "What are you trying say, that Nick has feelings for me as in like romantic way?"
"Tyler pay attention to his previous behaviour and recent once you will get the answer for that question good luck" then she stood up and went back to her seat leaving me more confused than I was already was, suddenly my mind drifted back to our memories together from the past and the recent once
"Wait could it be that Nick is actually the secret admirer that is sending me letters all this time?" I wondered "No it can't be I know Nick's hand writing" I putted my head on the window feeling confused.