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"Hey kiddo.." My camp counselor David sat next to me on the couch in his camp office. "They're not coming back. Are they?" I asked the question stupidly which I sadly already knew the answer to. David sighed tears slightly forming in his eyes. I never expected someone as happy and clueless as David would ever seem to be, or look so sad. "Max.." he placed a hand on my shoulder giving it a light squeeze which was strangely comforting but I'd never admit it. Especially not to him. "Sometimes..people do bad things. But that doesn't mean that you should have to feel bad for others terrible actions." David smiles warmly at me and took his hand off my shoulder. "David?" I shuffled my feet on the floor nervously. "Yeah kiddo?" He said making two cups of coffee since I never liked anything else like hot chocolate or tea. Personally I always thought it was sad that David sorta knew me better than my parents. "It's just a summer camp.." I sighed. "They'll come back eventually right? They've got to.." I said feeling the tears forming in my eyes threatening to spill over which I quickly wiped away so David wouldn't see. If there's anything I do, it'll never be to show someone like him see me cry. David handed me the warm cup the sensation making my hands feel warm and my body heat up despite it being colder than Antarctica outside. "No kiddo..they're not. Police are trying to find them but in the meantime they suggested you stay with me.." he said taking a sip of coffee. I shook my head. "But David the camp begins in two days! Where will I stay!?" I shouted feeling my hands shake and feel the anxiety take over my body. "You'll stay in a tent. Unless you want to sleep in here with Gwen and I?" I sighed feeling grateful for David. "Okay. Thanks David." I said smiling slightly. "Was that a smile? Or a smirk Maximus?" He said using one of his stupid David nicknames. "No!" I shouted my face heated probably as red as a strawberry. "Well it's going on the chart," he said pulling out a marker and making my "smile/smirk" chart a dash in the smile section. I rolled my eyes but let it happen. "Who's my tent buddy?" I ask since David always gave every camper that requested it a camp and tent buddy. He knew I didn't like to sleep alone. I often had problems sleeping by waking up alone and getting scared. "Hmm..looks like it's Neil." I hadn't heard that name in so long it made my ears jolt as if a bolt of lightning had just been struck through my ears. I was 15. I hadn't seen Neil, or Nikki in almost five years. I give David a tight hug letting it last for a little bit since I think we both needed it that day due to the stress that was put on us both by my parents (if you could even call them that). David had a soft smile on his face as he looked at me. "That..." I whispered crossing my arms over my chest and looking away from him. "Never. Happened." I said sternly. He only grinned, one of his eye blinding ones and ruffles by hair making me smack his hand away. "Okay Max." He put his hands over his mouth as if making a motion that represented pulling a zipper. "Hey, to sleep kiddo." He said sternly which I knew was only a joke. I nodded and walked to my tent holding my stuffed bear Mr. Honeynuts. Childish I know but every person has some sort of stuffed animal. I crawled under the blanket throwing the covers over my head and resting against the pillow my stuffed bear huddled against my arm and relaxed my muscles letting sleep take over my body.

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⏰ Last updated: Sep 22, 2023 ⏰

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