smiling critters

chapter 13 - visitors

Neil took one of the tissues from the box on his bedside table and blew his nose. He hated crying, but he tried not to focus on that and instead focused on the fact he was just moments away from seeing his friends for the first time in like a month and a half. He tossed the tissue in the trash as Camila and Bobby came in. Bobby almost immediately went up to him and held his head in her arms and started sobbing her eyes out.

“Neeiil! I missed you so muuhuhuch! I- i’m sorry for not helping you when i could! And i’m sorry for telling you how pretty your voice iiiisss!” she sobbed, getting his hair dirty. He didn’t know how, but bobby had a knack for making her emotions rub off on people, and that was making him want to start crying all over again, but he shoved it down.

“It’s ok, you’re fine. Don’t apologize, you didn’t do anything wrong,” he comforted as he patted her fluffy princess-curled hair. She sniffled and pulled away.

“Are you sure? I knew you were suffering and still didn’t tell anyone,” she got hysterical again as she went back in for another hug.

“I’m sure, I'd rather you guys be happy than busy yourselves worrying about me,” he smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek, which she ended up returning at least 10 times across his whole face, making him smile. Once Bobby stepped away to blow her nose, Camila came up and gave him a hug.

“I’m so glad you’re ok, nini. We were all super worried about you. Why didn’t you tell anyone what you were going through, we could’ve helped!” she told him, mostly pulling away except a hand, which was petting by his ear.

“I didn’t want you guys to worry, that’s all. But I guess that kinda backfired,” he chuckled.

“Yea, ya think? Thanks for not dying, I was starting to doubt how strong you are,” she hugged him again before Bobby joined in.

“I can’t get over your voice, nini! It’s so pretty!” she squealed. Georgia popped her head in and asked if they were done, they said yes and the next two were let in. kai and penny.

“Hey, nini! You gave us a pretty good scare, dawg. How ya holdin’ up?” Kai smiled as he waltzed in with Penny, who looked a little done with him.

“I’m doing good, I hope the scare didn’t give you gray feathers,” Neil joked back. Penny went up to him and grabbed his paw.

“Neil, I am so so so happy you’re alright,” she breathed, gripping his paw harder and harder.

“Thanks, I'm sorry for worrying you,” he smiled and grabbed her hand back. She gave him a hug before letting Kai have a turn to be handsy with him.

“Good to see ya still kickin’, my man!” Kai grinned and gave Neil a warm tight hug, which he gladly returned.

“Yea, good to see you didn’t skip out on me.”

“You kidding? You’re one of my guys, if I dipped on this, that's breaking bro code.”

“Good to know.”

“Ok, Bobby wasn’t kidding about your voice. like dayum, keep talking and the rizzler might give you some extra pookie points.”

Kai knew Neil found it funny when he called himself the rizzler, so he used that to see him smile, and it worked because Neil started cracking up before lightly shoving him.

“Shut up.”

“No.”

“Ya’ll gonna stop acting like those two gay kids from moral orel?” Penny asked.

“Hey, kissing the homies goodnight ain’t gay!”
They spent a little while longer before they were traded out for Hollie and bryson. That meeting started similar to the first, with Hollie springing in and wrapping Neil in a tight hug.