Chapter Text
I'd never admit it, but getting on the stupid fucking bus was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.
I played it off for David like I wasn't terrified. The bastard got me to like camp, what do you expect?
Fuck that, I'm not gonna think about it anymore, I'm not, I'm not-
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey! Max! Did you get my mom's number?"
Nikki's voice pulls me from the bullshit I let myself get lost in. And I look down at my shitty handwriting, different numbers scribbled down, messy and barely legible, fuck I could hardly make out some of this, and I wrote it!
"No, I didn't!" I snap, "I can't hear you over Preston's fuckin’ screaming. Tell me again."
It's not hard to find a reasonable excuse, especially when you're on a bus full of fucking morons. Morons I don't mind, actually.
"Okokok, it's 438-77-"
I try to keep pace with her voice, jotting down each number, but taking down someone's phone number has gotta be one of the nine circles of hell. You always hear the wrong number then have to go back and rewrite it and double-check, and still somewhere along the way you get it fucked up.
But in the end, we get to a number that the three of us have verification of. I fold up the paper and stuff it in my hoodie pocket. My attention turns to Neil looking out the window.
"We're almost there," he muttered, he sounded as nervous as I feel.
"What, something got your panties in a twist nerd?" I question like I don't relate heavily to my own insult.
He musters an annoyed scowl, "Jesus Christ Max, be a bit more empathetic for God's sake! I'm gonna miss you guys!!! And the camp, and Gwen, David... This was the coolest summer of my life."
I roll my eyes, and before I get the chance to say anything, Nikki jumps in.
"I feel ya Neil... I mean, I got my first-ever period at camp!!! Like what's more special than that!!"
"Gross, Nikki. But,-" I sigh, "I, unfortunately, get what you guys mean."
"Unfortunately?" Neil questioned, a dumbass smirk on his face.
"Fine, surprisingly."
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rest of the bus ride wasn't long enough, and before I knew it the bus came to a squeaky stop. A sudden hush fell over everyone as the door opened.
“Parents are here.”
The quartermaster's announcement meant that this was the end. Filing out one by one, my stomach dropped more getting off than it ever did getting on.
As I forced myself out the door, my eyes searched through the small crowd of parents.
Okay, there were Nerris’ parents, fuckin nerds- Harrison’s weirdly traumatized parents, check… Ered and her dads, obviously-
Everyone’s parents were there. Everyone’s except… Mine.
I took a deep breath and sat on some dumb bench to wait, they would be here eventually. And hopefully, soon, they had to be.
Nikki and Neil found their way onto the bench too. And the three of us sat watching as everyone reunited with their parents, waving goodbyes to one another before going their separate ways.
As every other camper got picked up, the same anxiety fell on the three of us.
Nikki was the first to speak, “... Do you think they forgot us?”
“No, don’t be dramatic… They’re, probably on their way.” Neil tries to rationalize, but it doesn’t soothe anything for anyone.
Though their fears ended up being short-lived because about 20 minutes later, a car pulls up to the bus stop, and the windows roll down to reveal Nikki’s mom and Neil’s dad.
A laugh erupted from my chest as Neil's face contorted in horror as he yelled, “DAD!?” while Nikki’s eyes lit up with pure dumbass delight as she cried, “MOM!?”
The laugh let go of a shit ton of pressure built-up ‘cause of my own worry.
“GOOD GOD-” I manage to force out through my laughter, “H-Have fun with that you two!-” I wave them off.
But as my laughter died down I realized they were still there and uncertainty written on my friends’ faces.
“Your parents will be here soon, right Max?” Nikki questioned.
“Yeah, I don’t.. Really wanna get in that car for a lot of reasons but, I really don’t if your parents aren’t gonna come pick you u-”
Neil couldn’t finish his sentence before I interjected, “Yes they’ll fucking be here. C’mon, you two they’re not assholes.”
I tried to give a half-assed smile and before I knew it Nikki was smothering me in a hug, and Neil half-heartedly joined in.
I mean there isn’t much I could do besides accept it, to be honest, I was afraid Nikk would kill me if I didn’t.
“*Sniff* You better call, okay?” Nikki pathetically muttered, closing my eyes I sighed, “Yeah, yeah… I will I promise.”
Before I knew it, they were waving, climbing into the car, then driving away.
Then I was alone.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hours passed, and there wasn’t a sign of my dumbass fucking parents.
The sun had begun to set forever ago and I’ve counted the sections of concrete at least a thousand times, fun fact, got a different number each time.
I let out a pissed-off breath from my nose, trying to ignore the gnawing hunger that panged through my stomach.
Camp only fed us breakfast, our parents were supposed to pick us up before noon, of course, that was a fucking bust.
I glanced around at the long road that extended far past my view in both directions.
Dead, completely and utterly fucking dead. Not even wildlife passing through.
With the sun being set, the only reason I can kind of make out the road is from the street light placed at the bus stop.
It's bright and obnoxious as fuck but, at least I can see.
Somewhere along the lines, I had taken out Mr. Honeynuts and he had remained securely in my arms since then.
It's not like there's anyone around to judge me anyways.
I closed my eyes, I’m tired of looking at the same damn thing all fuckin’ day. Yet I find myself starting to doze off.
I make the dumbass decision to let it happen, with no thought that I’ll get kidnapped or mugged.
It made sense, I mean if I’m asleep, time will pass by quicker. Plus this is just so much easier.
I didn’t enjoy it long before the sound of slamming screeching breaks jolt me awake.