Sam and max stories

Winning love

(art by @Coffee_Iguana (thanks!)) 

It is sometime in the 1980s and young, impressionable preteen Sam and Max are hanging out at their annual state fair. Their parents had let them be on their own as long as they stayed together. Max had been enjoying going around, riding rides, and eating a near limitless supply of corn dogs, and Sam was just happy to see his friend having fun.

"Ooh!" Something had caught Max's eye at the dart throwing game booth. He grabbed Sam's hand, making him blush. "Sammy, look!" Sam looked. The top prize for winning the game was a large plushie of Cthulhu. "Wow, how, uh, unordinary!" Sam said, Looking at the thing. He was a little creeped out by it, but Max was totally enamored. "Think I could win it?" He asked sam. "Sure Maxie, go for it!" Sam answered with a supportive smile.

Max walks up and asks for the darts, and the worker gives him three. He throws the dart at the first target, and misses. "Try again." He throws a dart at the second one, and misses. "Last one." Max focuses, throws the final dart.... and misses.
"Darn!" Max says. "Sorry kiddo, maybe next time." Max sighs.

Sam puts a hand on his shoulder. "Try again! I bet you'll win this time!" Max nods. Okay. He asks for the darts again, but misses all three a second time.
After 4 more tries and missing all 12 times, Max gives up. He whines and his ears droop down. "I guess I Can't win..." he sadly stands to the side, trying not to cry. Sam looks at him sadly.

Sam thinks, then looks at the worker. "Can I have a turn?" the worker nods and he's given the darts. He looks at the first target, aims, and throws. He hits it right in the center. "Hey, good shot! Can you get the other two?" Max watches in awe as Sam throws the second dart and hits the target. "Just one to go." Sam concentrates and throws the last dart, hitting a bullseye. "Congrats kid!" The worker smiled, taking the Cthulhu doll and handing it to sam. "Thanks!" Sam said.

Max got so jealous. He growls and turns, starting to walk away from sam. Sam walks over with the doll. "Maxie..?" Max keeps looking away. "What..?" Sam pushes the doll towards him. "F-for you!" Max looks at him. "What?" Sam hands him the doll. "I-it's for you..." Max's eyes sparkle. "R-really?!" Sam nods. "Y-you were so sad when you didn't get it... So I wanted to get it for you." Max squeals in delight and hugs the doll. "Thank you!" He hugs sam. Sam blushes. "Y-you're welcome!" Max stands on his tiptoes, giving Sam a kiss on the cheek. "Mwah!" Sam turned even redder. Max hugs the doll again. "You're the best friend I ever had Sam!" Sam smiles a little. "You too, little buddy!"