Chapter Text
Tapping your foot on the gravel lot, you wait. Sure it was hours before the bus came to pick you up, but your parents had shoved you out of the door with your bag.
"Go on, sweetheart," Mother had crooned, "Don't want to be late now, do we?"
"But I wanna say goodbye to--"
"We said go." Father chimed in, brows furrowed.
So you nodded, lowering your eyes away from them, turning, and walking down the driveway.
The nearest bus stop wasn't too far, lucky for you, but that didn't mean anything when the bus wasn't supposed to arrive until 3 pm and it was still 11 am. At least the gravel was loose and you could draw in it.
Luckily, getting lost in gravel drawings and humming the odd song was enough to pass the time. A yellow, rickety bus dragged itself puffing before you, doors swinging open to reveal a nasty-looking old man.
"Bus's 'ere."
Gritting your teeth, you nodded, scuffing your foot so your latest drawing disappeared. Heaving your bag onto your back you stepped aboard the bus, looking around at the only other person. He was a young boy, a blue hoodie covering his face. Turning to the bus driver, a confused noise left your throat,
"Is this bus going to... Childcare Camp? Where is everyone?"
The old man only grunted, shutting the door, "Everyone is where they need to be."
Nodding, you took a seat, away from the young boy, not wanting to disturb him. Laying your head on the window you slowly watched as suburban neighborhoods turned into an old-timey town, most likely a tourist attraction. Said town then diverged into a beaten forest path. For a moment, you lifted your head, wondering if a kidnapper had picked you up.
But everything was alright, as, by the time your anxiety almost bubbled into words, the bus halted. A signpost outside read 'Camp Campbell' the letters for 'bell' having fallen off.
Grabbing your bag, the old man swung open the doors again to let you off the bus, "Kids are 'ere."
You and the blue-hooded boy, glance at each other, him rolling his eyes as you take the lead off the bus.
There, right underneath the sign, stood two adults with matching green shirts.
"Good morning Campers! You two are our first arrives of the year!" The taller ginger man grinned wide, wildly waving his hands around.
The woman by his side groaned something about already regretting her life decisions.
Clearing your throat, you spoke, "So... Is this Childcare Camp? I was signed up for it, but I didn't think actual kids could join..." You side-eyed the smaller boy at your side who only glared back.
"Of course, silly!" the ginger laughed, "Here at Camp Campbell, we have a variety of camps at our disposal! Such as our Childcare Camp! Here!"
The tall man smiled as he pushed a shirt into your arms. Unfolding it, you could tell it was the same shirt that the counselors were wearing, pine tree and all. Looking at the man with squinted eyes, he only laughed.
"Well, you see! For your camp, you'll be considered a counselor in training! Neat, right! You'll be helping me and Gwen here with the campers activities!"
"Yeah... Neat." You groan, putting the green shirt over your button-up. At least it was a nice color. And technically you were still working with children... Whatever.
"Okay... well, I'm (Y/n)..." You stick out your hand, which the man eagerly takes up and shakes.
"Well, I'm David! And as you know, this is my faithful co-councler, Gwen! Say hi, Gwen!"
Gwen only rolled her eyes, "I'm going back to the cabin."
"Oh Gwen!" David laughed. You only cringed back a little as he continued, "And you!"
Turning to see the boy, you chuckled as you saw his face. His eyes were wide as he stared at David, a grimace starting to form on his face, "Fuck no, leave me out of your dumb ass introductions!"
David gasps, "Language! Regardless, you must be Max, yes? It's wonderful to meet you!"
"And it's a pain to meet you," Max grumbled out. Sticking his hands in his pockets, he rolled his eyes and David continued to talk about camp and a possible tour.
You were enthusiastic and ready to do what was needed. Camp was surely going to be a wonderful experience!
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Camp was, so far, a horrible experience.
Max was by far one of the worst parts. On his first day alone he proved unable to be alone, having tried to sneak a Columbian firework into camp. Luckily, it had been quickly confiscated, much to his dismay.
Not to mention, that once most of the other campers arrived, he constantly tried to run away. Of course, you could tell it was mostly because of David. The man was a ball of pure happiness, and Max hated that, trying to crush his spirit. You wouldn't lie though, David was overbearing sometimes...
Sadly, you quickly realized after the majority of campers arrived that you were going to be the only teenager at camp. David and Gwen were clearly in their mid-twenties and the campers were ten to eleven(excluding Ered, who was fourteen and did not care about you). That itself was odd, but being sixteen among children and adults felt off. Of course, you still tried to make the most of it.
Max only ever appreciated something when it was chaotic, so you indulged him in the safest way possible... that also aligned with your schedule.
"Pst."
Turning your eyes from your dishes you see the boy peeking over the half wall leading to the kitchen. He's clearly on his tiptoes.
Setting down your sponge, you lean over the wall, "Hm?"
"There are new campers coming, and I need your help stealing the bus." He stares dead into your soul.
"That seems pretty unsafe-" but before you could finish, David appeared before you two.
"(Y/n)! Max! Common! Come greet the new campers with me!"
Max only scoffed, giving you a pointed look and you groaned. Oh boy.
So standing in front of the Camp Campbell sign, you wait for the bus. David bounced on his toes, grin growing by the second.
"Can you believe it!? We're getting not one, not three, but two new campers!" He gushed as the bus came into view.
"Yeah... Tell again why all the campers keep arriving at different times?" As you turn to look at David, you notice the bus rapidly approaching.
As your life flashes before your eyes, you grab Max and take a step back right as the bus runs David over, "Holy Shit!"
"Kid's are 'ere." Quarter Master, the one driving, says as the doors swing open.
Leaving Max, you rush to David, "Dude, are you okay!?"
Luckily he only groans once before popping up again, "Better then ever! Especially now that out new campers are here!"
"Oh thank god."
As you check David over and return to the doors of the bus again, the Quarter Master and two kids step out. Looking at the clipboard David had handed you, the girl was obviously Nikki, and the boy, Neil. You gave a smile, ready to introduce yourself when David beat you to it.
"Hello new campers! Nikki and Neil I presume!" He stuck his hand out to Nikki and the greenette grinned back before biting into his hand.
As David screamed, you took over, "Eh... So I'm (Y/n)... And that's David. He's your head counselor here!"
"Um..." Neil cleared his throat, "This is Science Camp, right? I mean no one here looks very... Science-y."
"Hey, yeah!" Nikki let go of David's hand, looking around, "I thought this was Adventure Camp! But you all... Well! Look at you!"
"Yeah..." Max chimed in with a smirk, "This place isn't what you thought. Trust me, its much more shitty."
"Language, Max!" David gave a half-hearted glare as he shook his bit hand before continuing, "Here at Camp Campbell, we pride ourselves on have a myriad of actives for all kinds of kids!"
As you listened, you felt a tug on your arm. You followed it onto the bus.
"Ehh-"
"Common campers!" David cut Neil off with a grin. Turning around to see you on the bus watching Max. The Quarter Master, walking up to the bus, starts to glare.
The boy was draped helplessly over the seat, trying to reach the pedals with his hands.
"Max," You pointed to Quarter Master, who came aboard and picked him up.
Q.M. stared at the boy, pulling him away and throwing him off the bus. You quickly followed.
"Not today kid. Only one drive this 'ere bus is me."
"Thank you, Quarter Master," David sighs, "Common Max! Your staying with me for the rest of the day! Or, at least until the bus leaves again..."
You give the boy an apologetic smile, he only glares at David.
Quarter Master exchanges a few small words with David before leaving the area. David waves wearily after him, turning toward you again, "Now that that's out of the way, the tour can really begin!"
Being ushered to the mess hall you zoned out at David's explanation of the camp flag. Instead, you wonder how to make Max's newest chaotic plan as safe as possible. After all, he was gonna do it regardless, so you might as well try and help.
You zoned back in right as David flung open the doors to see Gwen tied up and yelling at Nerf. What concerned you even more was Space Kid who was attached to the ceiling fan and spinning at rapid speeds.
As David ran and turned the fan off, stopping everyone in their tracks, you caught Space Kid as he fell, holding him close as he thanked you for not letting him fall. You smiled and let him down.
Still ignoring David's voice, you went and untied Gwen, who was now also yelling and talking. God you were starting to get a headache.
After checking all the campers and circling back around to David, you wearily watched Neil complain.
You caught David taking out some '1st Day Camper' Pins and snatched them away. With a glare at the older man, you carefully strapped the pins onto Neil and Nikki's shirts, still ignoring the man's words. On your first day, he'd pricked those pins straight into your skin, and you'd barely stopped him before pricking Max as well.
When you zoned back in, it was just in time to see David pull out his guitar.
"No music!" You and Gwen yelled. Normally you'd be fine with it, but this headache was getting worse.
The man deflated but nodded, "Gwen, how about the orientation video, made by the one and only Cameron Campbell himself!? Everyone else, head to your activities!"
All the campers shuffled out whilst complaining, Max almost grabbing your arm to drag you out as well before David caught him. You only shrugged at the boy as he glared.
Sniffling, David swished back to talking highly of a man, who... God that was him, wasn't it?
Descending from an attic ladder, an older man crawled down. Decidedly not wanting to be in pajamas, he retreated before coming down again, right as David said, "If only he were here now..."
Grabbing David around the shoulder, the man announced, "Im here now!"
Glaring at the man and ignoring him, you looked at the kids. Neil looked ready to have an aneurysm and Nikki was having the time of her life, albeit looking lost.
"Hey Mr. Brawny man? This is Adventure Camp, right? My mom said it was, unless she lied again!"
You frown at Nikki's statement for a moment as who you presumed to be Campbell responds, "Worry not, little green-haired girl! Your two... Three? I swear I'm not paying three... Counselors will tell you everything you need to know!" After a moment of staring in your direction, the man shrugged.
Right at that moment there was a noise outside and Campbell perked up, "And that will happen right now! Outside!"
Ushered outside, you were proud to see the campers doing their activities. You had only met most of them recently, but they sure were enthusiastic!
As Gwen started introducing each camp, Max dragged two very nicely made knit dolls out from a bush, "(Y/n)!" He whisper-yelled, "Let's book it."
Nodding you ran after him, "Those dolls were nice, Max!"
However, before he could remark, David jumped in front of you two.
"Knitting Camp rubbed off a little, huh?"
"You are the bane of my existence." Squirming, Max ended up where you'd started, you following suit.
Now with the group, you saw Neil, fully in an outrage as he held up a poorly made wooden beaker. You winced as he yelled at David, "What the HELL is this!?"
"Why, Neil! It's Science Camp! Don't you love it!?"
"No! I hate it! I wanted a sterile lab! Good equipment! Air conditioning!!"
"Sorry kid," you whispered, "I was the same way. Supposed to be in Childcare Camp... Now I'm a 'counselor-in-training'." You threw air quotes around with a roll of your eyes. Max gave you a nod of approval.
"No!" Neil threw up his hands, "I signed up for Science Camp! Not- not this! Not Science Camp and more!"
"Well," you handed him your pamphlet for Childcare Camp, "technically we all signed up for the... 'and more'."
Squinting and checking his own pamphlet, Neil screeched. You pat his back as Campbell started ranting about the 'Best Summer Camp Ever!' or something.
That of course was before gunshots started ringing out. Screaming, you grabbed Nikki and Neil, who were closest to you, and ducked, eyes squeezed closed.
A minute passed and the shots finally ended. Peeling your eyes open, you saw Campbell was gone. Letting go of the kids under your arms, you see they are okay and wipe your brow before surveying the camp.
The campers looked fine, though you looked extra closely at Space Kid and Max, who were closest to the gunfire. Otherwise, the worst that was happening was Gwen, who was having what looked like some sort of anxiety attack. You frowned for her, about to help when someone tugged your arm.
Flinging around, you were forced to crouch into a group huddle, "Neil, (Y/n), do we want to get out of here or what!? Look, Quarter Master is on his way to the bus now! It's our only goddamn ticket out of here!"
Looking at Max, you almost thought about trying to talk him down, but the thought of losing the very, very little trust you had with him seemed like a bad idea. Thus you nodded. Right on queue as Neil also agreed.
"You guys escaping?" Right before booking it, Nikki stopped you, "I can make a distraction!"
"What?" You asked, God, now there were three of them! "Why help?"
"Im an agent of chaos?" She shrugged, raising her voice, "David! How about we here that song you keep going on about!?"
"Well!" The man grinned, ignoring Gwen writhing on the floor, "Who could say no to a request like that!?"
As the man started singing, Max once again pulled out nicely knitted dolls of the four of you. You almost asked him how he had Nikki and Neil dolls when he started running. You followed. Yeah, this headache was the worst.
As they ran, they could hear David and Gwen calling after them, and the odd quip as they passed the Quarter Master, "Go! Go!"
"There!" Max yelled, pointing at the bus.
"We aren't gonna make it!" Neil screeched back.
David called something from behind as everything came to a head.
The adults were right on their tail as you grabbed Nikki by her overalls. At the same time, she yanked her '1st Day Camper' pin off, chucking it at David. You threw Nikki onto the bus right as David and Gwen fell over because of the pin.
Cheering due to adrenaline you hopped on the bus last, shutting the doors.
With the most actual driving experience, you took the driver's seat, turned the vehicle on, and pumped the gas. Max called cheerfully out the window, taunting the counselors.
Yes, you had the bus straight and good. What none of you expected was the gunshots from earlier having busted a wheel. The bus shrieked and started falling apart, swerving and hitting a tree.
Half an hour later, David had gotten a ticket from the police, having taken a heavier fine instead of letting the police take you into juvenile custody. You thanked him for it later, of course.
"God!" Max whined, "We were so close!"
"Well, it would have been better if the bus was in better condition..." Neil sighed, trailing off.
"To be fair," Gwen glared at the four of you, before her gaze softened, "you got further than I thought you would... helps that one of you has their permit." She goes back to glaring again. Yeah, you're doing a lot of chores for that stunt, aren't you?
"Well, I've always wanted to drive a bus... So everything worked out for me!" Nikki cheered.
Waving off the officer, David sighed, and turned to you all, "Well! I hope you all learned something today!" Even with his stern voice not being very stern, you still felt a little ashamed. Well, until Max spoke up.
"No, David. I hope you learned something." His voice was taunting and rude as he grinned at David, "Before today, you only had one bastard to deal with, one and a half on a good day. But now?" He laughed, tugging yourself, Neil, and Nikki close, "Well, now there's four of us."
Turning away, Max started walking, "Common, guys, I'll show you where our tent is!"
As you went, you could hear Gwen complain before David chimed in, "Well, look on the bright side, Max has not one, not three, but two new friends!"
Looking behind yourself, you saw David smile and wink at you. You could only muster a small smile back. Maybe this summer wouldn't be too bad after all.
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Bonus:
"(Y/n)! It's okay! You can stop! Please stop?"
"David!" You looked at him with big eyes, "I told you I'm sorry! I wasn't supposed to crash the bus! But I did anyway! Let me do this!"
"But..." Even Gwen looked concerned, "You've been cleaning the cabin for hours..."
"That's nothing! I still have to make dinner!"
"No!" They both shouted.
Pausing you looked at them, "You... Are you sure?"
Gwen sighed, placing a hand on your shoulder, "What you did was wrong, but we can talk about why you did it later. For now, you need to rest, okay?"
Slowly, you nodded, not understanding, but agreeing anyway. You wouldn't want them to be mad after all.
End.