Chapter Text
June 2004
The day Evan Buckley met Eddie Diaz, it was a bright and sunny day. Not a cloud in the sky. Brown met blue and his whole life changed.
It was his first day of summer camp in Texas. Even the heat and humidity couldn’t stop the feeling of freedom Evan felt. A whole month away from his ghosts for parents and a house that felt like an abandoned prison. A whole month away from thinking of Maddie leaving him for Doug and Boston. He felt more energetic than ever before in his life.
This was his chance to live, to breathe, to have fun, all without the looming threat of leaving afterwards to go to a house that wasn’t a home.
His parents arranged for him to be brought to the summer camp via paid car, not bothering to drop him off themselves, not that he cared, he’d rather be alone than stuck in a car with them. He opened the car door when he arrived and took a big breath. He didn’t know how this place was going to change everything—change his life—change him. There was a wild energy at the entrance to the camp that thrummed at Evan’s skin. Kids were gathered into groups chatting away, older kids and adults dressed in bright yellow t-shirts with clipboards in their hands, and parents hugging their kids goodbye. Evan couldn’t help but smile at the sight. Nothing was going to bring his mood down right now.
As he stood there, he gripped his paperwork in his hands and made his way to the table where a bunch of kids were lined up. He was placed in a group with some guy named Mikey, who looked like a surfer dude from California in all of those movies his sister and her friends watched. He was struck by the urge to ask him about the ocean, but he refrained.
Mikey told him to go stand by his group near a collection of trees and that he would be there once the rest of the campers were there. Evan listened, gripping the straps of his backpack tightly and saw a group of kids huddled together just as Mikey said.
He started to make his way over, a smile overtaking his face as he was just about to reach them. However, Evan had not expected to get his foot stuck on a piece of uneven ground. This was it. He hadn’t been at camp for even an hour and was about to make a fool of himself.
Instead of crashing into the ground, he fell onto something a little softer—a boy.
Evan immediately started to apologize profusely, mad at himself for already making a fool. It would be just like school all over again, except now he'd be stuck with them for the whole summer and he'd probably already made enemy number one out of the boy he landed on.
He scrambled to get up. "I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"
The boy with floppy brown hair groaned, his eyes squeezed shut. "I'm okay. Just unexpected, that's all."
Buck reached down to help him up but another boy got there first.
"I'm really sorry again," Evan said again as the boy stood. The boy waved him off, brushing off the grass.
"Seriously dude, it's fine. You okay?"
Evan nodded quickly. "I'm good."
The boy gave him a smile and any negative thoughts he had were gone.
“Edmundo’s my name,” the boy introduced, extending out his hands. “But I hate being called that—I’m Eddie,” Eddie wrinkled his nose at his full name but a smile bloomed on his face.
Evan felt his own lips tug in response and extended his hand right back at the boy. “I’m Evan.”
This summer was going to be fun.
June 2019
The summer was going to be different, Buck was determined to make sure of that, no more heartbreaks or letdowns like last year.
The outcome of the previous summer at Camp Rescue Rangers wasn't going to dip into his love of summer camp and everything that came with it. The happiness, energy, connections, and making a difference with kids—it was amazing.
The friends he made last year returning only made the appeal even greater.
Until last year, he thought he'd never step foot into a summer camp again—especially not as an employee, but Los Angeles brought his love for it back to him.
He never thought he could recreate and experience the joy and excitement that came with summer camps, not until he met Bobby. When he was little, he was known to have a knack for getting into trouble. As he grew up, that streak never really went away, which was exactly what led him to Bobby.
The memories flood back to him—the man appearing at the all right moments to save Buck’s life. Pulling him away from a speeding car running a red light, saving him from choking at a restaurant, opening the elevator doors before it fell, calling 9-1-1 when he had an allergic reaction to shellfish.
Bobby was always in his life at the right time and it made Buck ultimately decide to take it as a sign that they're meant to be in each other’s lives.
At first, the older man was stubborn, refusing to let anybody in, and trying to act as if he was fine being on his own.
It wasn’t until Buck’s big accident that Bobby finally relented and soon the man was taking him out to lunch when he got out of the hospital, inviting him over to his apartment to teach him how to cook, and going to a Bruce Springsteen concert with him.
It was through him that Buck learned about Camp Rescue Rangers. It turned out Bobby was one of the main cooks (or chef as Bobby prefers to be called) for the summer camp and during the off-season he was a volunteer firefighter.
Buck remembered rambling to Bobby about how much he loved summer camp growing up before he even knew the man worked at one. The conversation quickly turned into the man asking him if he wants a job at one.
Bobby told him he was friends with the owners of the summer camp and knew there were openings for camp counselors. Bobby told Buck that he thought it would be something right up his alley and Buck agreed instantly. He loves kids.
Secretly, he remembered hoping that maybe Bobby wanted to work with Buck too. Bobby had become one of the most important people in his life, and he hoped Bobby felt the same way too.
In the winter of that year, he applied for a camp counselor position and then a few weeks later he got the job. His inner child was practically leaping from excitement at the thought of being at a summer camp again. A home away from home is what most of the campers say, but the camps always felt more like a home than Hershey ever did.
Last summer was one full of laughter, smiles, friendships, and romance. Romance that works out for some (aka Bobby and Athena) and not for others (aka himself). Said romance clouded his experience and he's determined to not let that happen this year.
Besides, this year he wasn’t coming alone. His sister, Maddie, who he hasn't seen in years, thanks to her horrible husband, Doug (a story for another time), was also going to work at the camp as a nurse. To say that Buck was thrilled was an understatement—his sister, his friends, his pseudo-dad what could go wrong?
Buck drives up the familiar crunchy gravel driveway, tapping his fingers in anticipation. Maddie is right next to him in the passenger seat looking out her window and he can't help but smile at her presence.
He still can't believe he was able to convince her to come with him—he was sure she would say no.
The driveway and parking lot are busy with other employees making their way to the main entrance or trying to park. It’s orientation day at the camp and the energy level is at an all time high. The welcome sign, repainted from last year, displays the camp name with pointed signs near it directing everyone in the right direction.
Buck can’t help the large smile overtaking his face at the sight of the one place he could really call home. This camp like most others ran throughout the summer with different sessions to offer. Most campers choose the six week experience as a sleep-away, but the camp also offers day time only or a three week experience for new campers. It’s a huge camp, a lot bigger than the one he went to as a kid. There are different age groups and they have more than enough counselors to watch over them. Counselors are divided into teams of two each with up to eight kids assigned to them to supervise.
Since the camp welcomes everyone, each group is assigned one man and woman for a counselor. Last year, he was paired with an older camp counselor as a mentor, Abby, whom he fell in love with.
Buck actually felt like for once he was doing something right in a relationship, but then her mother died and after the funeral, the woman completely ghosted him, flying off to Europe for God knows what.
Buck flinches internally at the memory—just another person in his life deciding he isn’t worth it. His parents, his sister when she left with Doug, his first love, and now Abby. He’s at the point in his life where he’s starting to accept that love isn’t in the cards for him. It didn’t work as a teenager and it doesn't work now, so maybe it was high time he accepted it.
He shakes his head, clearing the thoughts from his mind.
This summer will be better, he thinks to himself with conviction. He’s going to have a new partner, there will be no sign of Abby, and maybe some new faces to meet.
Orientation day—start of a new beginning.
Pulling into an open spot, he quickly turns off the ignition, he opens the trunk and grabs both his and Maddie’s bag before she even has the chance. Buck smiles brightly at her as she makes a face at him as if to say; I don't need your help. Together, they walk across the gravel driveway as they make their way to what everyone calls "The Office".
The office is a grand, multiple story log cabin placed at the top of the hill overlooking the cabins and the different areas below.
It's usually reserved for the owners, medical staff, or some other events they rent out the cabin to, but on orientation day it’s reserved for every member of the staff.
"You ready for this?" Buck asks. Full of energy, practically bouncing on his feet as they walk, making Maddie snort in amusement.
"Yes, Buck, I'm ready for this," she pacifies, looking at him teasingly. "Super ready for a calm five weeks with hopefully no injuries more than a splinter."
It’s Buck's turn to snort this time. "Oh Mads, you have no idea the kind of trouble these kids can get into. There was this kid last year—"
"You better not be talking about William," a voice cuts him off, tone accusatory. Buck turns to find his friend, Hen, one of the camp counselors he befriended last year, approaching them. "I don't want any reminder of that kid. I don't need any bad omens for this summer's kids."
Buck just laughs putting his hands up placatingly in the air before stretching his arms toward her to reach for a hug which she happily gives him.
When she pulls back, she locks her sight on Maddie. "And you must be the famous Maddie?"
Maddie's lip quirks up into a bright smile. "That's me. I guess Buck has been talking about me?"
"Indeed he has. Then again, I'm not sure he ever shuts up really," a new voice comes in, unmistakably Chimney. The man stands behind them with a wry grin and gum snapping in his mouth.
Buck rolls his eyes at him. "Bring enough gum to last you the whole summer?"
Chimney snaps his gum in response, the corner of his mouth rising.
"Buck, be nice. Who is this?" Maddie asks, but something about her face is off—almost intrigued…but it can't be…?
"This is Chimney," Buck introduces, his lips pursing. "Howard Han is his actual name though."
"Chimney?" Maddie's eyebrows raise in surprise.
"It's a long story," Hen cackles, a smirk on her face. "I'll have to tell you about it at some point this summer."
Maddie nods with a bright smile. "I look forward to it."
"So you're a nurse this summer?" Chimney questions, looking far more intrigued waiting for Maddie's answers than Buck's stories about her.
Buck's eyebrows raise as the two start walking together toward the building by themselves. He turns to Hen who shrugs at him as if to say what can you do?
"So you ready for this year?" Buck inquires as they start following them.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Hen sighs. "Last year was a rough one with William."
Hen and Chimney have been both camp counselors for a few years here and Buck officially met them when he joined the team last year.
They’d taken him under their wing and Buck had been immensely grateful. They quickly became his friends in the first week, especially after the disaster of William Potts wreaking havoc through the camp.
Then, in the off-season, he met up with them numerous times to get drinks, have barbecues, do karaoke, or have game nights. He met Hen’s wife, Karen, who was so smart it wasn’t even funny, and Chimney’s now ex-girlfriend Tatiana.
"I heard there's a record number of kids this year," Buck comments and Hen hums thoughtfully.
"I've heard that too. At least we'll have more help this year—you hear May is a counselor?"
Buck nods, a smile pulling at his lips. "Yeah, I did. Athena called the other day and asked if I would be her co-counselor during the day."
He remembers being nervous getting a call from Athena, almost letting it go to voicemail until Maddie made him answer it. When he answered, she told him that she was hoping he would be okay with partnering him and May as day counselors as they got along and thought they would work well together.
Buck, having only known Athena less than a year, feels grateful that she thought he would be a good support and partner for her daughter.
Hen smiles big. "Oh that's so great!"
Buck agrees, he thought so too. And speaking of partners, he’s also a little nervous about working with another new camp counselor, Ravi Panikkar, in their group's shared cabin. Athena and Bobby both like pairing veteran counselors with newbies to help show them the ropes. They'll be in separate groups during the day, but at night the boys in Buck’s and Ravi’s group will be sharing a cabin.
As the thoughts flow through his mind, he looks up at “The Office”, with its sweeping ceilings and a stone chimney reaching into the sky. It’s one of Buck’s favorite buildings on the campground.
He finds Maddie staring in awe of the building as they approach the pair before turning to Buck with a nervous expression. He gives her an encouraging smile before looking back at the cabin. The front door has a home-made sign taped that reads: staff sign in this way.
“So, my email says I have to go to the office on the second floor,” Maddie comments, looking down at her phone.
“Oh yeah, that’s where the medical staff go,” Buck realizes, “Camp counselors are on the first floor, we meet on the deck outside but the stairs should be on the right when we go in.”
“On the right. Got it,” Maddie says, putting her phone away and rubbing her hands together. Buck could tell she’s nervous, so he waves Chimney and Hen on, and stops her in her tracks. She glances up at him, eyes wide in trepidation.
“Hey, Maddie, you’re gonna do great. It’s a fresh start, you get to live how you want now. You’re gonna love it here. And the other nurse, Carla, she’s great. I promise.” Buck swears, holding up his pinky.
Maddie’s face transforms, her lips curving into a smile, before she lifts her own pinky connecting it with his. “Almost forgot about that.”
“Well, it's a good thing I'm here to help you remember,” Buck grins at her and she returns the smile before facing the building again with a sigh.
Together, they walk up the steps and into the building.
Maddie finds the stairs to the right, just as Buck said. She looks a lot less nervous this time when she glances back at him.“Looks like this is where I leave you little bro,” she comments, wrapping him in a hug.
Oh how Buck missed this feeling, missed his sister all these years. Maddie slowly lets him go and lets out a sigh before she smiles and starts to walk away. “I’ll see you soon!”
Buck watches her go until she disappears, he sighs happily. This summer will be great. His friends are here, his sister is back in his life, and he’s in a place he loves. He’s looking forward to this summer and he feels like nothing can ruin his mood. He walks on, heading for the back doors onto the deck where other staff are gathered.
Sign in is relatively easy. The girls running the desk have them write their names, give them name tags, and send them on their merry way with thick folders about the kids they will be seeing in less than two days.
Buck skims through his list of kids as he walks to the other side of the deck to grab a seat. This year it seems, Buck's group has a total of eight kids, four of them assigned to him for the overnight cabin and the other four are with May.
He only has information on his campers he'll have during the day with May and then he'll have to touch base with Ravi later about the kiddos they'll be sharing in the cabin.
Buck reads through the names: Russell Sanchez, Dustin Pullman, Harper and Avery Prescott, Emily Mayfield, Lulu Pine, Christopher Diaz, and Diesel Wilson.
He grins wide at the name Diesel, aka Denny, Hen and Karen's son, and a super great kid. Looking up from his folder, he searches for Hen and Chim and sees them sitting in some of the chairs to his left.
Buck plops down on the seat in excitement, he interrupts whatever they were talking about. "Hen! Guess what?"
Chimney jumps a mile high, but Hen seems to not have been bothered by it at all. "What?" she asks evenly.
"Denny's in my group!" Buck exclaims, his hands flailing with energy.
"Oh man. I wanted Denny in my group," Chimney complains.
"We're literally paired together you idiot, Athena wouldn't let him in the same group as me," Hen rolls her eyes playfully and Chimney mocks offense. "I'm glad he's with you Buck and with someone familiar at least, but you and May and whoever your cabin mate is better keep an eye on him capiche?"
Buck nods seriously. "Capiche."
At the mention of her, Buck starts looking around for May and some guy named Ravi, but he isn’t seeing either of them.
As they wait, they exchange kid names as they go through their assigned groups. Some of the names are new, some familiar from the previous years.
Microphone feedback goes off ten minutes later and Buck looks to find Bobby at center stage. "Hello counselors! Happy summer!"
Every year, the camp director does a big pep talk and group announcements before they get to go to their respective cabins to organize themselves. This year is special though because Bobby is running it.
Bobby, who was the cook the past few camp seasons, is now their director for the summer. Buck hopes against hope that the new chef has good food too. If not, Bobby will not be hearing the end of it.
"My name is Bobby and I'm your Camp Director for this summer," Bobby announces into the microphone, a wide grin on his face.
Bobby is met with claps and wolf whistles, Buck hopes he’s the loudest.
“Thank you everyone. I appreciate the support,” Bobby says. “I’m hoping we’re going to have a great summer! We’ve got our highest record of kids this year and we’ve got a great staff here to support them. I am confident in all of you and your ability to keep things running smoothly.” There are a few mumbles in the crowd about the highest record of kids.
“I’m here to go over the rules and instructions for the summer. As some of you may have noticed, none of our newbies are here right now—they had a separate orientation this year so if they had any extra questions they could ask. Athena and I thought it would be better this year to try it separately so we could get in and out of here faster.” Bobby explains, gesturing around the crowd.
That explained May and Ravi’s absence.
“Now let's get started and then I'll let you guys go to your cabins."
About an hour later, they are all grabbing their bags and heading down the pathway to where the cabins are located.
They stop for a moment in front of a group of counselors to confirm plans for later. Buck stands in front of Chimney and Hen, his back toward the group.
”Now that is a beautiful man,” Chimney comments, looking over Buck's shoulder. Buck watches as Hen does the same, stretching her neck to the side to see who Chimney is looking at.
“Where’s the lie? And I like girls,” Hen says and Buck immediately turns around to see a man who is talking to one of the other counselors.
Even all these years later, Buck would recognize him anywhere.
Eddie Diaz.
He's grown up nice, but Buck can still see the parts of the teen he met in 2004. The same tall fluffy hair, the crooked smile tugging at the corner of his lips, and those big brown eyes that still twinkle in sunlight.
Immediately, his anger returns. It’s the Eddie, the one who decided he wasn’t worth it, wasn’t worthy of being his friend anymore, wasn't worth a response, wasn’t worthy of his love—right in front of him.
Of course in that moment, Eddie looks toward the trio, his gaze locks on Buck, eyes wide. Buck doesn’t give him the satisfaction of looking anymore, immediately whipping his head back toward Hen and Chim.
His anger must be written all over his face because they both narrow their eyes at him and start glancing back and forth at each other as if silently communicating.
Buck tries to wipe his face of emotion, but it doesn't seem to work. He just can't shake the anger that comes with seeing the boy who stomped all over his heart some ten years ago.
“You alright, Buck?” Hen asks, her voice worried. Buck immediately shakes his head, waving off her concern.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Buck responds, his words clipped.
“Oh yeah, you seem totally fine,” Chimney quips, before patting Buck on the shoulder and striding past him, presumably toward Eddie. “Come on, Buckley, let's be welcoming and say hi to the newbies.”
Buck doesn’t even turn to watch him go. Instead, he stands frozen as Hen looks at him, in a way he knows that she senses something is up.
She raised her eyebrow, “You sure you’re okay Buck? You look like you saw a ghost.”
I have.
He takes a deep breath. “I’m okay, Hen. Just realized I have a lot to do to set up my cabin,” Buck lies, he wants to be honest, but he’s tired and doesn't feel like explaining his failed first love right now.
Hen narrows her eyes, “If you say so…”
“I say so,” Buck says, trying to appear confident. It doesn’t seem to have worked based on the skepticism on Hen’s face, but eventually she nods before squeezing his shoulder and walking off just as Chimney did moments ago.
Buck can’t help but turn his head again, except this time Eddie isn’t looking at him—but at his friends. He’s holding out his hand, exchanging smiles, and introducing himself. Looking as perfect as ever, like Buck’s absence from his life means nothing.
Buck feels something get caught in his throat, he immediately looks away and closes his eyes tightly. Taking a few deep breaths Buck forces himself to think of the positives; Maddie is here, his friends are still here, May is his group partner, the kids will be here soon, and Bobby is now in charge of running the program.
It helps him slow his breaths, but he still feels wired—like his skin is vibrating. So he adjusts his large duffel bag on his shoulder before making the climb up to his cabin.