Chapter Text
Avery sat down beside the now doomscrolling Derek, rummaging through his bag for the Advil he remembered packing. He sticks out his tongue, eventually finding the pill bottle. He places it down on the corner of the bed. Derek snorts playfully, rolling his eyes.
“That was hard to watch, Avery. How do you suck that badly at packing?” Derek asks sarcastically.
“If you continue this I'm making you swallow the Advil dry,” Avery retorts, putting on his best pouty face. He crosses his arms and makes a “hmph” sound.
“Really now?” Derek responds, daring him to. Avery snickers, his evident facade falling, now full on laughing. And Derek follows suit. Though, he isn't doubling over like the blonde-haired one is. He watches as Avery chokes while giggling, making the situation funnier. Avery's laugh always helped him get into a better mood.
“Okay, Mr. Nonchalant, I'm gonna get you some water so you don't have to raw dog these,” Avery says, the best he can while his high lows. He gets off the bed and leaves the room, passing by a few of his classmates in the medium-sized cabin. At the water station, he grabs a paper cup that’ll probably get soggy after thirty minutes and fills it.
“I'll probably get thirty too, might as well get two,” he considers to himself. He grabs a second one and gives the same treatment.
—-—-—-—-
“Deeerrrkkkkk!!!” Avery sings as he enters the space again, now with drinks. He shuts the door with his foot. He places the newly acquired fluid on the bedside table and sits on the first bed out of the bunk. Where'd he put the painkillers again? Derek points to the corner of the bed without being asked.
“Thanks,” Avery says. He's always liked how Derek knows what he's doing without having to articulate it. Derek clicks his tongue, giving Avery finger guns.
“Oh, how's your migraine doing now? I know it's only been like, six to seven minutes, but one can still ask,” the pyjama panted one says. He knows it's immature, he just doesn't care. How do you open a childproof cap??? Derek lowers his weapons and sighs at the wonderful comedy he's been signed up for. He chuckles a bit, the joke is so bad that it makes him laugh again.
“It's, better-ish now. I could still go for those pills though. Also, your jokes are awful.” He critiques.
“Hey, hey hey. You still giggled! That's a win on my part.” Avery finally gets the safety lock off. Wait, he didn't read the label before freeing the drugs.
“One for kids twelve to sixteen, and two for those seventeen plus. It's an estimate and the younger ones can take at most two, but the majority take one.” Derek rambles, memorizing this from the way too many times he's taken painkillers since then. Avery pulls out two red, cylinder-shaped pills and hands them to Derek, who gladly clutches them in his hands. Snatching a flimsy cup from the small table near him, Derek takes the medication.
—-—-—-—-
An unknown person knocks on each door of the cabin, announcing that the swimming event will be happening in fifteen minutes. Never opening the doors for privacy. At the door of Avery and Derek, they repeat the same thing. The shorter one lets out a hum and puts down his book. He glances over to his duffel bag, opens it, and grabs his swimming attire. Thank Wifies that he didn't have to search the seven seas for said clothing.
“I'm gonna go change, you should probably too. Unless you want to get your clothes weeetttttttt!” Avery draws out the word, already at the door about to leave. He waves at Derek and closes the door behind him.
—-—-—-—-
At the public change rooms, Avery sees himself in the not-so-wonderful mirror. Out of anywhere, did they have to put one in the stall? Off with his shirt, and his binded chest shows. He’s sick in the head, isn't he? He puts on his swimming shirt. Gone with his jeans, the reflection displays a woman. Should he even be allowed to be in this bathroom, a boy's bathroom? God dammit, get yourself together Avery. What'd Derek think of him? What would his childhood friends think? He's no man. He will always be a woman deep down, no amount of testosterone or protein can change that. He takes a breather, that's a future him issue. In, out. He walks out of the stall, his previous wear in his hands. Back to the cabin he goes.
…
“I’m back!” Avery exclaims as he opens the door. He tosses his now laundry onto the top bunk, his bunk. Glancing over to Derek, Avery sees he's already changed into swimming clothes. Not today, satan!
“Welcome back, Aves,” Derek replies. He puts down his phone on the small table that's already cluttered. “You ready to go? If you need a minute I can wait,” he says.
“Nahhh, I'm prepared, mostly, Lemme just get some sunscreen,” Avery responds. He skims through his bag for what feels like the tenth time today, and finds the bottle. Shoved into his pocket, Avery zips his bag back up and opens the door for Derek. “See, I can be a gentleman!” Derek chuckles,
“Mmm, alright.”
They trudge out of the cabin and spot someone wearing multiple pins on their camping instructor-looking outfit. Most stereotypical wear for this job, Avery judges. Leaning against an oversized rock, they have a clipboard in hand, probably doing a headcount.
“Ah, you two must be the final sixteen and seventeen for this cabin. I'll count you in!” the woman hums, scribbling something down on the clipped paper.