Chapter Text
The trees gently swayed along an unspoken rhythm as the lake mimicked the dancing pine needles, spinning and swirling leaves in the murky water. The new dock gently creaked with the wind, and the weight of a troubled child. Even though the fresh dock didn’t recognize him yet, the environment around knew his name.
Fucking hell. He was in too deep, wasn’t he?
—————— an hour earlier ——————
Max was running, hair having fallen out of his man-bun, booking it for the counselors cabin. He bursts in.
“DAVID! GWEN!! ONE OF YOU- HOLY SHIT!!-“
The two immediately spring to life, looking at Max like he just confessed to murder.
“Max?! What is it, are you okay?” David yelped, so concerned that he didn’t even scold his son for his language.
“Yeah, jesus christ Max- did someone die??”
“YEAH. ME. INSIDE. IM FREAKING THE FUCK OUT!” Max exclaimed, clutching his hair.
Gwen and David share a glance for a moment. David goes up to Max, shutting the door, and gently lays a hand on Max’s shoulder. He guides Max’s hands out of his hair and to his sides.
“Max? You okay..?” David says, concern growing.
“I’m so fucking confused David- well, uh. I think this is more of a Gwen question?”
Gwen seemed surprised. “Uh.. okay. Does David need to leave the room?”
Max considered for a moment, before shaking his head.
Gwen nodded as Max sat down in a spinny chair.
“How, uh.. fucking christ this is stupid-“
“Language.”
“Whatever. How uhm.. do you know if.. ifuhavacruhonsomon…”
Both counselors blinked in confusion.
“Uh, what?? I couldn’t hear jack diddly squat.” Gwen said bluntly.
“Ugh!- How do you know if you have a goddamn- crush, okay?!” Max turned away from the two, face red.
Realization hits Gwen like a bullet train, as David’s eyes practically turn into stars.
“Oh, kiddo.. don’t be embarrassed.” Gwen pinched her nosebridge before rolling her eyes affectionately.
“How do I explain this.. well, typically your heartbeat quickens around them, you sweat, you enjoy the thought of holding hands or kissing them, you think about them all the ti.. oh you’re fucked BIG time, huh?”
Gwens face turned into a smirk as she watched Max slowly get hit with the reality of his situation.
“SH-SHUT UP!!” Max snapped, spinning the chair away from the two.
“Oh, Max! This is just adorable! I hope you know you can always come to me and Gw-“
“You are PUSHING IT, CAMP MAN!!!” Max accusingly points a finger at David who raises his hands in surrender.
“Now, MY question is, who?” Gwen smirks, arms crossed.
“Like hell I’d tell you! You’d blackmail the shit out of me!” Max glared at Gwen (who only smiled wider)
“Hmmm, lemme think.. Nikki?”
“Fuck no! She’s basically my sister!”
“Huh.. okay. That flower scouts ginger girl?”
“You’re fucking funny.”
“Shit, uhh.. Ered??”
“Oh GOD no, she’s too old for me, that’d be weird.”
David tentatively piped up.
“Neil?”
Max went red with a combo of fury and embarrassment.
“Wait- NEIL??” Gwen said, astonished.
“..So what.” Max said, tone slightly nervous.
Gwen immediately backed down a bit. “Hey, I don’t care that you like dudes. My first kiss was a girl.”
Max and David looked at Gwen with surprise.
“What?”
“…You’ve actually kissed someone before?”
“Wh- HEY!!” Gwen hissed.
“Max, Gwen just shared something personal. Be nice.” David gently scolded, but with an unmistakable glimmer in his eyes.
“..Yeah yeah.” Max hissed despite his small smile.
“So back to Neil-“ Gwen snickered.
“NOPE! Nevermind!” Max throws his hands up, defensively rising to his feet and walking to the door.
As the door to the counselors cabin slammed with a shut, David and Gwen look at each-other with pure glee, David letting out a squeal that would make the Quartermaster lose the rest of his hearing.
—————— later at the dock ——————
Max stared at the open skies, and groaned. This wasn’t helping. First off- Boys. Max was gay. THAT was new. And even then, he didn’t think he’d be gay for NEIL of all people???? God, what even was his type? Did he even.. like..? Ugh- ..What does it matter.
He glared into open water, his mind only responding with his.. issue. The water looked like his eyes. The dock like his hair. Trees tall like him… he’d probably enjoy sampling a couple iron formations along the shore.. Fuck- what was he thinking?? Iron formations?? It’s not like he actually listens to the nerds ramblings..
He let out a long groan, two hands slowly pulling down his face as he lets himself fall onto his back, muttering to himself.
“This is fucking hopeless.”
The dock creaked under him, his hair matching the dance of the branches above. It was silence for a moment, before a nasally, annoyingly familiar tone spoke.
“Max! There you are, I figured I’d find you here.”
*shhhhhhhhhiit. im cooked.* Max thought.
Neil walked and talked as he approached the other. “I was worried, dude! You just ran out of the tent with no notice! I checked here first, then the counselors cabin.. Gwen was acting weirder than usual when I mentioned you.”
Max stayed silent, mentally noting to put a whole ant colony in Gwen’s coffee tomorrow. ..neil went looking for him?
“So I checked here again, and.. I’d ask what you’re doing here if I didn’t know you come here to think.” Neil smiles as he takes a seat next to Max, who blushes slightly.
“So I guess a better question would be..”
Neil fiddled with his matching glove, looking up at Max with gentle concern.
“What’s on your mind, man?”
Max has the most homosexual panic you have ever seen in your life, before pulling himself together, taking a breath before beginning.
“Uh… fuck, it’s really complicated.”
“Max. Look who you’re talking to. I’m the resident Nikki translator.”
Max snickers at that, rolling his eyes, sitting up.
“Ugh- how do I even begin this..” Max looks at anything BUT Neil, to no avail, because literally everything here- the first safe space he’s ever known- reminds him of the boy to his left.
“You.. you’ve, ugh- liked people before, right?”
The gears turned in Neil’s head for a moment before he gasped with a smirk.
“Does the cynical rebel Max have a, dare I SAY, a cruuuush?” Neil snickered, teasing.
“Ugh- go away! And I told you not to bring up that corny bullshit I used to spout-“
“Oh I’m just having fuuun.” Neil smirks, punching Max’s shoulder gently.
“Ow, fuckface.” Max laughs.
A moment of silence as they both look at the stars.
“..Yes, by the way.”
“Huh?”
“Your question, Max. Yes, I’ve liked people before. Erin, for about a week, uh.. t-the others aren’t important-“
“Oh, no, now you GOTTA spill.” Max smirked.
“No way. You first.”
“Hell no.”
“Then we’ll never know, will we?” Neil crossed his arms in feigned defensiveness.
“If you like dudes, I won’t judge-“ Max began with a smirk.
“Okay, nobody said THAT.”
“Your face says otherwise, dork.”
“..You.. you really wouldn’t?” Neil says after a pause, uncharacteristically nervous, which sent a pang of hope through Max’s heart.
“Neil. I’m an asshole, but im not homophobic.” Max says bluntly.
“..Uhm, well.. I’m pretty sure I’m pansexual.” Neil admits.
“…Good for you, dude.” If Max had a tail, it would be going even faster than his heart.
The two sit there awkwardly, before Neil sits up with a; “Sssooooo, uh.. about your crush?”
Max shoots upwards, stiffening. Ah, fuck. Here it comes, his closest friendship crashing down in a pit of flames because he can’t keep his stupid heart off his stupid fucking sleeve.
“What about him?” Max says with a bit more edge than he intended.
“Hey, you don’t gotta tell me! Just curious! It’s clearly got you in a fit.” Neil raises his hands in surrender. “I just want you to know I’m.. here. I guess.” He rubs his arm nervously.
Silence.
“Welp, I’m tired. Goodnight.” Max stands suddenly, rushing off to his tent.
Neil watches him go for a moment, deciding not to follow. He understands why Max comes here to think, it’s a really nice spot. Oh, fuck yes, iron formations! He’d have to sample those later for potential materials.
But.. huh. Max got.. really weird about his cru-
wait.
waitwaitwaitwait.
Max said him.
What about him.
Max likes a boy.
Huh.
When Max is out of earshot, he whispers to the lake;
“I hope you like me.”