Chapter Text
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David: Gooooooooooood Morning, Camp Campbell Campers!! Alright kiddos, as I'm sure you're all aware, your parents will be here later on today to pick you up and bring you back home. So, let's make this the best last day of Summer Camp ever! We'll get to run through all your favorite camp activities today, and at the end of the day, have a huge bonfire to celebrate all the great times we've had here at Camp Campbell. Doesn't that sound like the best time ever?
The overwhelming lack of enthusiasm hung heavy in the mess-hall of half-awake campers, eating their less-than-nutritional farewell breakfast meal of dry flapjacks, gross scrambled eggs, mostly-burnt toast, and powdery orange juice. At least none of the food was too questionable for Camp Campbell's standards, but even the most innocent of campers knew this was just to get through the left-over food supplies so nothing would need to be wasted come summer's end. After all, his co-counciler Gwen sure wasn't gonna eat the shit they had to provide on a daily basis for these kids, and David was a surprisingly strict diet-follower, not that his skinny body needed the slimming down.
Gwen: David, can you please shut the fuck up? It's like...9 in the morning, and I'm not ready for this high-energy bullshit so early.
Gwen, always the defeatist at his side, held her head in one hand and mug of coffee in the other, not able to nurse her own headache and suffocate the sleep inside her with her standard brew of choice; spiced drip coffee with 2 sugars and whatever shitty creamer they had on hand. She had her bottle of anxiety medication at the counselor's eating table and some generic trashy magazine at the ready to dull her mind with as she did every morning.
David: Come on Gwen, we've got to take hold of the day we're given and make the most of our final hours with all the amazingly talented campers here! Besides, it's good to start your day off early and full of joy! Nothing wrong with putting some pep in your step.
All David could hear in response was the dull groan of his favorite grumpy camper from the other side of the mess hall, hoodie-covered head buried into the paint-chipped wooden table he sat in. Once again to David's disappointment, Max continued to do everything in his power to avoid the QuarterMaster’s cooking, and had only a coffee to drink. As much as David was not a real fanatic of the QM's cooking himself, he was never able to understand how a growing-boy like Max would be able to function without a proper meal to fuel his mind for the day.
Max: David, go to hell. Nobody cares about your shitty activities, all anybody wants to do is get this final fucking day over with and not die of boredom or health hazards before we leave. Well, most of us anyway..
Max stabbed his favorite plastic knife, sharpened meticulous over the many lengthy summers here at Camp Campbell, into the soft, easily pierced wood of the table; which spooked his equally tired-pal Neil with the sudden shake to the rickety table. His other summer pal Nikki was more than excited to have the extra jolt to wake her tense body and mind up, doubling the speed of consumption on the pile of mashed paste she often turned her meals into.
David: Good Morning Max! First off, please, though it is the final day of camp, I must strongly advise you to keep your language more appropriate.
Max: Yeah, in your dreams, asshole.
David: Secondly, while I'm sure everybody here is more than excited to return home, we should be looking on this as a joyful time! A time to make our final camp-memories and bond with one-another for the last time until next summer rolls around and you all come back for yet another summer of fun at Camp Campbell!
Neil: Yeah right, the second I get out of this hell hole, I'll off myself before I ever willingly set foot in this joke of a camp again. Be thankful I'm too young to sue this hot-dumpster fire of a camp. Science Camp my ass...
Max: Don't you fucking dare leave me to rot at this shitty camp, Neil! I'm not putting up with this place for another summer without somebody equally as miserable as me to suffer here too, and Nikki sure as hell isn't gonna bother to use what few brain-cells she has in her head to even try to pretend like she hates this garbage camp. I'm pretty sure she's beyond the concept of unhappiness.
Their younger friend didn't even hear them over shoveling the pile of slop into her waiting gullet, a disgustingly sweet grin on her face the whole time.
Neil: Look man, I don't wanna spend any time here longer than I have to. I'm a man of science and I need to be properly air-conditioned and left alone in the cold metallic room filled with the comforting whirr of computers! And this place? This is the last place on Earth I'd wanna return to on purpose.
Max: Don't fuck me over like this Neil, I mean it!
Gwen: I swear to God if you little shits don't SHUT UP I'll personally shove each of you into a dumpster and burn this fucking place to the ground!
Max simply flipped her the bird, and if David wasn't there she's SO be ready to flip him the bird back. Gwen instead held her head in her hands and groaned.
Gwen: I'm so fucking ready for camp to be over.
David: That's the spirit, Gwen!~
~
With their morning salutations (and arguments) out of the way as usual, David simply returned to his breakfast table, smile never wavering as he began to do his 5th check on today's activities like he did every morning. His smart-phone was already booted up to a new Farmer's Almanac audio track he'd been itching to get to all summer, David finally quieted down for the day, to the relief of many campers already too exhausted by his unending-positivity. Once he finally had some peace and quiet, Max decided to just nap through the rest of the morning, but not before nursing his bad mood with the only relief he could be afforded in this awful camp: black coffee. It filled him with heat which his ice-cold attitude and skinny body desperately needed, and made even him just a bit more bearable in the morning.
If there was one thing Max would ever admit about this terrible camp he was forced into coming back to year after year, it’s that at least the coffee wasn't shitty. Granted, he shouldn't even have access to coffee since it's technically Gwen's personal stash of coffee grounds he also uses, but he's not above blackmailing her to get it. Serves her right for faking serious sickness everytime she's on her period just so she can do nothing but lounge around in her personal cabin, watch trash tv, and gorge herself on chocolate. Good thing she's such an audible whine-ass, otherwise he'd never have gotten the idea to steal a heating-pad from the stuck-up Den-Mother of the nearby Flower-Scouts troop. She probably didn't need it anyway at her age, Max reasoned, and it was for a good cause. Now he gets half of her coffee stash every summer because she's always too emotionally tired to care as long as he doesn't run her out before summer's over.
After his short and shitty nap, predictably devoid of any happy dreams as usual, Max woke up to the sound of David excitedly going over the plans aloud for the final camp day. Max couldn't care less, and just wanted to return to the awful discomfort of sleep, but he couldn't even get that in this shitty camp with David's overly-saccharine sounding voice booming over the mess hall. At least when this was all over, he'd be rid of David for the rest of this year and most of next year. He couldn't wait. Not that going home was his idea of a grand time either, but at least at home things were quiet. Maybe in a few years when he gets taller he'll be able to actually strangle David and can just live out his life as a hermit in the woods.
Yeah right, Max wouldn't last a day without coffee.
~ Many Hours Later ~
After a decent dinner, they finally got the bonfire lit up. It was even taller than David, and that's saying something. Everybody stared in amazement at just how cool it was. Sure, it wasn't actually that interesting, but it just felt really cool to be a part of. The roaring heat made everybody feel super comfy, and it lit up the campsite around them. Everybody was winding down on wooden log-halfs turned to seats, chatting about the day they had. Even Max had trouble denying just how much they actually got to do in one day. Most days, it was just them focusing on one or no kid's camp in particular, maybe two kid's camps on a smooth-day. David really went all out today though in his planning, and they practically visited everybody's camp in some shape or form.
After breakfast, Nerris held a cosplay contest with help from Preston in making the costumes, and got Gwen and David to help her by being judges. Later, Ered and Dolph teamed up to teach the campers how to not only ride a skateboard in style, but how to decal one to make it unique to them and their skating style. Once they took a break to eat lunch, Harrison and (surprisingly enough) Neil took to the stage to show off a bunch of Magical and Scientific tricks in tandem, which nobody expected, but everybody liked their odd dynamic and comedic back and forth. Once that was done, Nikki went against Nurf in an over-the-top wrestling match, and it was pretty fun to watch.
They really got Gwen excited to watch those two kids beat the shit out of each-other in ridiculous ways, and though that had made David squirm in worry for his camper's safety, he was glad they were all getting along in their own ways. He'd thought long and hard about who to help who with what and was glad to see it was working out quite well so far. The only campers he'd been stuck on how to represent via activities were Max, who he'd found out while making his list had no assigned camp to him on his enrollment forums (which he needs to talk to Max about later), and Space Kid since space was such an unknown concept for David to be creative with.
~
Space Kid: Hey, look everybody! The stars are all coming out tonight! Haha, you can't get such a clear view of Cepeheus and Cygnus back home in the city! They're in the middle of the sky during August right now, so you know what's around them based on who’s in the middle. Wow, Cassiopeia is so clear tonight too, right over near Cepeheus! And look below Cygnus, you can see Aquila and Capricornus! Then to the east there's Aquarius and north of that Pisces and Pegasus . . .
Well, that solved itself quite nicely. Everybody looked up, some eating s'mores or drinking hot-chocolate, while Space Kid explained what the different constellations were and some general space-history. David looked around while everybody was busy looking up, a satisfied looking-smile on his face. Everybody was finally having fun, everybody had a smile on their face. Even Gwen was finally having a good time since everybody was too relaxed to make her life hell on Earth. She'd probably start singing in a bit with David on his guitar like they often did to close out Camp every year. It was, embarrassingly enough for Gwen, her favorite part of working at Camp Campbell.
And then David's eyes fell curiously on Max, who'd been mostly reserved the whole day minus breakfast that morning. David noticed that he wasn't looking up at the sky. He wasn't sitting by anybody either. Max was just on his own little log, holding onto a deep-blue backpack which fittingly matched his favorite hoodie in color. He looked...sad. Even a little lonely. David knew Max didn't like being treated like a kid, but he was one, and he was very clearly not that happy right now. He wasn't angry though either, which is usually how he was all of camp. His go-to pals of Nikki and Neil were off by other campers, either looking up at the sky, staring at the bonfire and eating, or just chatting with others. They were most likely trying to exchange contact information with others since it would be nearly a whole year before they might meet again at camp, possibly longer.
~
David couldn't stand to see Max like this, so he quietly got up and went over to sit by him. He looked a bit startled at first by the sudden movement and presence of somebody, but once he saw it was just David, he relaxed. Well, relaxed as best as Max could be, anyway.
David: Heya Max. Mind if I sit by you tonight?
He gave off his signature happy-smile to Max, which was met, strangely, by not very much of anything.
Max: Whatever. You'll just do whatever you want anyway.
David felt a little sting of hurt from that distant comment as he did, indeed, sit down anyway. Max didn't look up to reply to him, he just stared down into the blue fabric of his backpack and waited, practically silently. Whenever Max insulted him usually, it was fiery and passionate and, to David's eyes, clearly his way of connecting with others. But this was just....empty. Distant. Like being given the cold shoulder, but this seemed more vulnerable than that. That wasn't the Max David knew, and that worried him a bit. Maybe Max was just sad to be leaving camp? As much as David would be, embarrassingly enough, happy to know Max would miss Camp Campbell, he knew that was not a very likely case.
Well, the boy was all alone right now. He'd not been interacting much with his two closest friends all day, not after their little scuffle this morning, though they seemed on decent enough terms. But they had been pretty busy doing other things today and performing their own camp-activities with others, and with such a jam-packed day of fun times, Max hadn't had much time to really bond with them, or really, any campers today. Maybe he just felt excluded? He didn't have any kind of camp signed up for him at all, only the bare minimum filled out on his camper enrollment forms as well, but that was probably just some signing-up errors. Perhaps his parents were rushed in signing Max up this year. Regardless, David didn't wanna stick him in with something he didn't care about, but he couldn't decide what to include him in at this point. He doubted now would be a good time to awkwardly make Max try to bond with Space Kid over space stuff, so he was out of ideas on that front.
David: Max...you mind if I ask you some questions?
Max: Whatever.
David: Okay....well uh, I saw on your enrollment paperwork that you were never signed up for any specific kind of camp. So, I wanted to know what you'd originally came to Camp Campbell for, so that next year, we can really be prepared for you to have lots of fun next year at camp!
Though it lacked a bit of his usual creativity, Max finally started responding.
Max: Ugh, you idiot. I didn't come to Camp for anything. I wasn't signed up for anything, because it doesn't matter. I got sent here because it was more convenient than watching me all summer.
David: Come now Max, surely you can't expect me to believe you didn't get signed up for Camp without anything in mind. There must have been something your parents wanted to have you learn in coming to Camp Campbell.
Max: Yeah, it’s that nobody gives a shit what we do here, when all camp really is is an excuse to not have to deal with your own kid....
David felt a bit uncomfortable with how easily dismissive Max is about all this. Surely he wasn't being serious. That would be just...very unlike what a parent should ever be. Though, in a way, David felt he wasn't kidding around. Sure, David too felt like camp wasn't great when he first came here as a child, and he was a smidge cross with his mother over a few overlapping matters, but he quickly knew what it meant to have fun at camp and how rewarding it felt to hold Camp Campbell pride in his heart and soul. Why couldn't he get Max to feel that way either?
David: Well, what do you want to be able to do at camp, then? What kind of camp suits your tastes best, Max?
Max: This is stupid... I don't care about what I'd wanna do here, because I don't wanna be here at all, David. You don't care either, this is all just you doing your "Camp Campbell Councilor duty" so you and your shitty boss don't get sued for being a fucking joke of a camp.
David: Max! That's quite the horribly inaccurate information you're carrying around with you. Sure, certain ways we might...run this camp compared to others might seem a bit...legally vague, but I pride myself on caring about every last single camper here. I only want you all to have a fun summer camp experience you can look back on and smile about. I care very much, Max.
Max: . . . Yeah sure, whatever..
David could feel Max starting to shut him out again, and he wanted to keep his heart open, make sure Max didn't shut himself away from the help he needed again. David wanted to leave a strong impact on this child. It was already his third returning year to Camp Campbell, yet David couldn't recall a single happy memory of Camp that involved Max in it. Well, to David, any memory of his campers was more than enough to be considered happy, but Max was always an elusive figure at the camp. He'd really only ever seen Max try once for anyone or anything, ever, and that was this year during the Order of the Sparrow bonfire. He was so shocked at how much effort he'd put into helping design those "Indian" clothes, and organizing the bonfire with all the campers. Not even Gwen would care enough to rally the campers into cheering up David like that, but Max really tried to pick him up when he was at his own worst.
While David stewed on how to help Max see what he meant, he noticed Max fumbling with his backpack, rummaging around with stuff inside. He slyly pulled out his favorite teddy-bear and just looked it over. It was filthy, sagged, had holes with stuffing sticking out in clumps and cut-into marks everywhere, but was still quite fat with fluffy stuffing. He ran his thumb over a spot on its face, where one of its button eyes had gone missing. The original connecting threads still stuck out effortlessly from the "eye-socket" of the brown bear, and its ever-happy smile sewn into the lower half of his face contrasted heavily to it's poor shape. He looked at the sad little bear in the boy’s hand, and wished he could find a way to make Max happier today. And then, it came to him. He could. And he would.
~
Max couldn't wait to leave Camp Campbell. It was a shitty camp shitty parents sent their shitty kids to, just so they didn't have to deal with them. Even the shitty brochure knew why he was sent here. David could try to sell it six ways from Sunday and it wouldn't make any difference. Max knew. It was just a waste of time to care about anybody, or anything. Caring just got you hurt in the end. It always did. But David would never let the issue be. If he did, well, he wouldn't be David now would he? No, David was a total opposite of Max. He cared too much, too often. And it often hurt him for it, but he would never stopped. Not once. But . . .
. . . Why?
It wasn't long after their conversation and Max had stuffed his stuffed animal away again that David got up and handed his guitar to Gwen, who looked quite confused. He knew she couldn't play, all she knew how to really do was sing a little. And in her own opinion, it wasn't great singing either, much to David's disapproval every time she said so. David was up to something odd, and she wasn't too hesitant to let him go without good reason.
Gwen: David? What's up, aren't you gonna stick around for campfire songs? That's like, your favorite part of all this every year.
David couldn't lie about that, he did enjoy a good song here and there on his guitar, and he rarely had everybody in a good enough mood to let him play. But, it would have to be skipped out on this year. Max needed help right now, and that was more than worthwhile to pass up the chance.
David: Well yes, normally I do enjoy campfire-side songs! But eheh, I'm a bit tuckered out from all the fun we had today, so I think I'm gonna take a short walk around the campus tonight to relax before the parents start to show up. But uh, let's have Ered play a bit though; you'd been meaning to try out my guitar anyway, hadn't you Ered?
Ered looked over to him, not sure what David really meant. She could play a decent bit, sure, but she wasn't exactly looking to get in some practice at the moment. David didn't usually propose she do things like this, but she could tell he had somewhere important to be. He had that nervous smile and those fidgety hands he had every time he lied or stretched the truth. She had a pretty decent last day at camp though thanks to all his planning, so she'd give him a break and play along for now.
Ered: Yeah, Gwen, let's show these kids the cool kind of campfire songs. I can play a mean tune or two, so lemme at it.
Gwen still felt a bit off about all this, but decided to drop it for now. Whatever David was doing couldn't end up being that bad if it’s on the last day. At least, she hoped so. And if Ered wasn't against this like she was for many things at camp for not being "cool enough", then that was at least enough proof to quite her anxiety to rest.
Gwen: ...Alright then. Hey you little shits, song time. You all know the rules, nothing dirty or super long, no song repeats, everybody gets 1 request. Yes, I'm talking about you, Nurf! I uh, guess you take this then, Ered.
Ered took the guitar and gave it a gentle test-strum. It sounded pretty decent for being such an old piece, nicely polished wood and strong strings. She could jam to this, even if she preferred electric.
Ered: Wicked. ~ Anybody got a cool request?
Nikki shot up from her sitting position on the ground against her log by Nurf and Nerris, and raised her hand so high you'd think she'd ripped one arm off so she could hold it with the other one. Knowing her, she would if she could.
Nikki: Ooooh, oh oh ohhhh!!! Pick me, pick me!!
Gwen sighed. And the madness began.
Gwen: *sigh* Yes, Nikki?
Nikki: We should play my Mama's favorite, Sweet Caroline! I love that song, and its sounds so cool when everybody gets to sing along!!
Ered: Now that's a cool suggestion if I've ever heard one, Nikki.~ Know the lyrics, Gwen?
Gwen half-nodded and half shook her head no. She'd heard the song before a few times, but didn't know all the lyrics by heart. Nikki, on cue, ran up and got right by Gwen, ready to sing her heart out. Nikki mostly wanted to just impress Ered, but she also just really liked singing along to Sweet Caroline. Who wouldn't?
As David got up to leave before the call of a sing-along stole him away from his mission at hand, he stopped to get Max's attention.
David: Hey, Max, why don't you take a walk with me? I'm sure you must be baking in your hoodie by the bonfire, so let's go someplace cooler.
Max's first thought was to just tell David to fuck off, since the last thing Max wanted to do when hot was take a stupid nature walk and get even warmer. But, the thought of sitting here willingly by Nikki as she blared out song lyrics loudly for the rest of the night was no better really, almost worse. So he just rolled his eyes, pulled his backpack over his shoulders and trudged behind David.
With the warmth of the bonfire now behind them, they walked for a while. Max was barely paying attention, but soon felt the glow of electric lighting nearby. He only needed a moment to see where they had ended up. It seems their destination wasn't, however, a lap around Camp Campbell, but instead to David's personal cabin he shared with Gwen.
What the fuck was David up to now?
~