Chapter Text
Summer break had ended, and the campers at Camp Campbell were now at their homes, getting ready for school and sleeping earlier than before.
Yet their minds still went back to the camp… But it was just school. Nothing new would happen, right?
— In the meantime with Max —
Max sat on the edge of his bed, he glanced at the photos he had of the camp, laying down on his bed, the numbers 9:30 PM flashed on the clock that sat on the cabinet that was next to his bed.
School started tomorrow. Not a big of a deal, it was just the same boring school he’s been going to for the last years, but something felt wrong, and it annoyed him that he didn’t know what.
Maybe it was just the normal sound of his parents arguing outside in the living room, but he was used to that now, or at least he thought he was. Then what else would it even be?
— With Neil.. —
The scientist let out a sigh as he laid the side of his head down on his desk, school started tomorrow.
Not that it was boring to him, or that he was one of those people who thought school wasn’t necessary. It’s just, it wouldn’t feel the same, if he was being honest to himself, it wouldn’t feel the same without some people.
…
What was he even saying!? He only knew those idiots for a few months, and they already screwed up his brain! Yeah, they were his friends, but why would it even matter whether or not they were there!? It didn’t even matter, he was just tired.
Whatever, school was starting and he couldn’t change it either way.
— Nikki’s room —
The girl let out the 22nd sigh of the night, what was she sighing about? That was an unknown reason.
Just like the two boys, she didn’t know why she felt like this, she was completely fine before, but now?
She smushed her face into her pillow and kicked her legs, she was so done with this empty feeling!! That stupid feeling had left a lump in her stomach since camp had ended.
Oh, she knew what she was missing. She had missed to others. She giggled a bit at the fact she knew if her two main friends at the camp felt like this they would just be in denial, how silly.
— At the Moore’s Household —
Harrison stared at his phone as he laid on his bed in a dark room, he was too lazy to get up, he was also too lazy to get food. Tomorrow school started, and he hated it, if they actually taught necessary things then maybe he would think it was actually useful.
The sound of his parents chatter was heard from outside the room, ever since he made his brother disappear they refused to give him any sort of affection, cursing him off as some sort of demon. Not that they were wrong, it was his fault he messed up.
Other than that usual feeling of guilt, he felt like something else was missing, what could it be though? He did everything he’d usually do, practice magic without his parents knowing, text some friends in the neighborhood.
Yet something still managed to feel off, and it irked him that he didn’t know what, he shook off the feeling, he was acting like Neil right now. But what was even missing?
— Preston Goodplay —
He shut off his computer, finishing his binging of musicals. Preston Goodplay let out a yawn and fell down onto his bed, his grandmother was already asleep, so he was the only one awake in his house.
The faint light from his phone alerted him, and he went to check it immediately, to no one’s surprise it was just someone from his theater club planning something, usually he’d respond with excitement, but his mind went blank.
It was like he wanted a message from someone else, not his theater club, but a different friend group, but that wasn’t right.. He only had one friend group.
His mind confused him, and he just tried his best to shake it off, Preston turned off his phone and sent it on his cabinet, maybe he was just not in the right mindset today.
— Nerris’ Imagination —
The sorcerer’s mother brushed knots out of their hair, Nerris sat there calmly while reading a book about their usual interests, fantasy.
“School is starting tomorrow,” Their mother started, while giving them a soft smile. “Are you excited?”
Nerris hesitated, as if there was a lump in their throat, “Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be fun like always!” They piped up.
“That’s good,” Her mother said, “You always have seemed to have fun anywhere.”
“Oh,” Nerris laughed dryly, “I guess so..!”
…
But they couldn’t just spit out the whole truth, they wished to see those familiar faces again, but it would be awkward to say you miss some kids you only knew for a bit, no?
Nerris had warmed up to those kids a lot, and unlike some campers, had no denial to the fact they did miss the others, and was quick to accept it and mourn in the loss of their friends, maybe soon they’d see them again. Maybe sooner than expected.
— Space Kid’s despair? —
“Haha, you’ve always been eager to start new school years haven’t you, Neil?” SK’s older sister chuckled, patting his head.
SK beamed, “Yeah!!” He told her.
“Hm,” She hummed warmly, “That’s good.” She sighed then flicked off the light in her brother’s room. “Good night then.”
“G’night!”
…
The astronaut laid in bed, his blanket covering everything, he was still wide awake, not from excitement. He heard his mom and dad arguing again, but there was nothing he could do, and his older siblings were trying their best to calm them down.
SK carried a lot of things on his mind, but one thing stayed at the top, the thing that kept bugging him ever since camp had ended. Whether or not the campers were gonna see each other again.
He had hoped it was a yes, truthfully it was one of the best summers he had ever had, he finally got a break from his parents arguing, and made new friends.
Would the summer ending seriously prevent them from talking? That would mean their bonds weren’t that strong after all wouldn’t it?
SK couldn’t get it off his mind, and it made him sulk in despair at the thought of it.
— Dreams —
Dolph tried to finish up the last sketches of his drawing when he heard footsteps, the artist quickly shoved the drawings under his school notebook.
His father peeked through the door, “School is starting tomorrow, son.” In response, Dolph just nodded, “Is everything prepared?” His son nodded again, “Alright, go get some sleep then.”
…
Dolph waited until his father left the room until he took ahold of his drawings and put it into his bag, damn did he miss not having to worry about his dad judging him when he was at camp.
He let out a sigh as he sat on his bed and turned off the light. What was even the point of thinking about camp anymore, it’s not like the others would even see each other again.
Was it bad to dream about it though?
The artist shook off the thought, he only knew those people for a bit, why is he acting like they’re his family or something.
He was just scared for the new school year. That was it, he was scared, like he always was. Dolph just hoped it would be a better school year this time.
— Wavering Confidence —
The Miller’s household was calm, like always, Ered was in her room watching on her phone, trying her best to distract herself with the fact she’s now in high school and she’s nowhere near prepared.
One of her dads knocked on the door, “Meredith?” He called out.
“Yes, dad?” She asked, looking towards him.
He glanced at his daughter then checked the clock, “School is tomorrow, you should get some rest.”
“Yeah, I know.”
…
The lights were shut off in her room now, and she laid on her side as she stared at the phone, her fingers resting over Dolph and Nurf’s contact numbers, hesitant to click on it.
She ended up closing the app and turning off her phone, covering her face with her hands and letting out a groan, “Ughh.. Ered what happened to you? You were supposed to be the cool kid.” She murmured to herself.
The cool kid couldn’t either get her mind off of those 9 idiots.
— Tiredness —
Nurf sat down on his bed, his mother fast asleep in the other room, he let out a grumble of annoyance at the sound of his mother snoring.
He looked down at his unfinished summer schoolwork on the desk that was in his room, he was going to get in so much trouble, then he glanced at his phone.
Nurf didn’t do the school work because he was busy at camp, busy bothering those other kids. Was it worth it getting into trouble for them?
Nah. No it wasn’t, what was he even thinking? That was weird as hell. Whatever, the start of school was just bothering him.
Was it?
But then his mind drifted back to his other thought, was it worth it?
…
NO. What the hell was wrong with him!? He flopped his head down onto the pillow, those idiots screwed him up bad.
He just needed to forget about them.
—