Camp Camp GC Fic

After Nikki's Funeral Plans

1 month later

Nikki's funeral was long and devastating. It was held at a small, wooden chapel right upstate of the city. Nikki's entire extended family showed up, some who she never even knew. Dolph and Ered even flew out to attend; David reached out for the first time in years and they both asked if they could come to the funeral. All of her friends sat on one side of the church, and her family on the other. Nobody seemed to come out of their state of shock. Who could imagine losing a friend before they even turned 18? 

Neither Neil or Max were allowed to speak at the funeral. The reason was a whole lot of bullshit. 

"Only family will be speaking at the funeral," Candy argued.

Neil scoffed. "Candy, she's my step sister. Remember? You were married to my dad?"

Candy remained silent.

"I honestly can't believe you right now. I can't speak at my fucking best friend's funeral. I'm sorry you lost your daughter so young. But Nikki would've wanted both me and Max to speak." Neil's voice was broken. He could barely say her name. He just wanted to respect Nikki's short life.

Hearing her name hit Max like a bullet. Max knew that this wouldn't be what Nikki would want for a remembrance of her death. He burst into tears and ran out of the room.

Neil sighed and turned back to Candy. "Look, please. If you can't give me this, give it to Max. You've seen how broken he is. He can't speak. He doesn't joke anymore. Everything he does reminds him of her. I mean, come on. They were together for four years. They had a life planned, and I heard every single detail. All Max cared about was having Nikki at his side. Please. I'm begging you."

Candy began to cry. "I'm sorry, Neil. Only family will speak at Nicolette's funeral."

"I'm so sorry for your loss."

So, Max and Neil sat silently in the front row. Barely hearing the people who barely knew her talk about her. They sat, staring at the floor the whole time. Neil cried the whole time, but Max choked back his tears. He tried so hard to show he was strong. But hearing the wails of his girlfriend's mother was so hard for him. She never seemed to show her love for Nikki, but at this moment Max realized that she meant a lot to everyone, not just him. That's when he got an idea.

The funeral ended, and Max got in the back seat of the car with David and Gwen in the driver and passenger seat. Max finally let it all out when he got into the car. Full sobbing, he let go. For some reason, the funeral made her death official in his mind. It wasn't just some break up for a month, then they'd see each other again. He knew that he would never see the love of his life again. Gwen comforted him and David was just sobbing as he drove. She was basically another family member. Their family hadn't been the same since she died.

Max pulled out his phone and opened the Camp Campbell group chat. He began typing.

Max: hi guys. this afternoon, everyone is invited to my apartment for a real funeral for nik. we can kind of just talk about her for a few hours.

Neil: Max, that's a really good idea. I'll be there

Preston: me too max.

Nerris: i can be there by 2

Max: ok, let's do 2 and you guys can leave whenever.

Harrison: I will be there.

Max: thank you guys.

2 pm

 Max sat on the couch, waiting for his friends to start showing up. There were four large pizza boxes and hella deserts for them to eat while remembering. In true Nikki fashion. 

The first person to arrive was Neil. He showed up with a photo album in hand. Max never knew Neil kept a photo album.

Then, Preston, Nerris and Harrison arrived together. Max welcomed them in and they all just sat on the couch, waiting for someone to say something.

Oddly, Nerris was the first one to speak up. "It's quiet without her."

Harrison chuckled, "Yeah, she'd start talking about something random to break the silence."

"Do you guys remember when we went into town during the first week we ever met? She was the only person who fucking said a word all day," Neil said. Everyone chuckled, reminiscing. He smiled, then let out a silent sob. Preston grabbed his hand.

Preston spoke up. "There was just something about her that was so... I can't think of the word."

"Hot?" Max cracked out the joke, and everyone laughed out loud.

Preston rolled his eyes. "Yes, that. But something about her energy was just so positive. Made everyone want to be her friend."

"Yeah! She's always been so open and friendly to any person. She just wanted to be friends with every person she meets," Nerris said. 

Max sighed. "You know, I've been trying to cope with this by thinking about ways she was bad,  or what I didn't like about her to make it just a little better. But there's nothing I'd complain about. I've never had a single bad thing to say about her." Max paused. "And I wish I hadn't seen it happen."

"Me too," Neil said. "I brought some photos. From the time we were 10 to now. I don't think theres any gaps in this photo album." Max snatched it and everyone gathered around to look.

The first photo was the day she and Neil arrived at Camp Campbell. Max looked miserable, yet somehow less miserable than any other photo taken before that one. He met his peeps. 

The second photo was a photo of all the campers, Gwen, David, and the QM in front of the campfire.

"I remember this day!" Harrison exclaimed. "We were kind of being racist. With the whole...  Indian thing."

Max laughed through his sobbing. "Oh my fucking god, the fucking Order of the Sparrow. How could I forget?"

Suddenly, David slid in. "Are you guys talking about camp?"

"Yeah, this is Nikki's party. How could we not?" Neil smiled and stared at the photo.

David chuckled and sat down on the couch.

For the next few hours, they sat on the couch, eating pizza and snacks, talking about their friend. They let out their feelings, they cried, laughed, and had a good time. 

And all was well. They continued on after that, never forgetting their friend.