On the run (Camp Camp Maxneil, Dadvid)

Chapter three: confessions

He let me stay in his room, on a makeshift bed. (a mattress, a few blankets, and a few pillows, ultimately better than the bed I had at my 'parents' home.) his dad said he'd go to IKEA and buy me an actual bed, or maybe bunk beds if Neil was okay with that, for me to sleep on. They explained the house rules, no running, no jumping on the beds, be asleep by midnight, no roughhousing, etcetera. Pretty standard rules that I only heard in family movies or books.

Neil gave me a tour of the house, which actually had a spare bedroom, but I admitted I didn't want to sleep in a room alone. He said he had two older brothers, like I first suspected from those family pictures in the living room, but they were away for the winter vacation at their friends' or something. He also filled me in on stuff I'd missed at camp. Nikki and Ered were now a couple, not all that surprising. Harrison left camp after being adopted into foster care, lucky bastard. David and Gwen are dating, Gwen's new writing job is going well, and she visits on her days off, David got a teaching job during the school year at Neil's school. And everything else was pretty much the same.

Speaking of school, Neil's dad had to ask what school I was enrolled in, because sooner or later they'd notice me being gone when break is over, and that'd mean contacting my 'parents.' I told them I wasn't even enrolled in school; I was 'homeschooled' all my life, or at least that's what my 'parents' told cops and other adults. That set a sigh of relief to Neil's dad, it meant I didn't have to leave their house a lot and I wouldn't be spotted by any adult who would possibly recognize a missing kid.

A few days had passed, I was sort of getting used to being here with Neil, it was nice. Nikki even visited a few times, and I had to deal with her crying saying she missed me. Neil's dad got me new furniture, first letting me write down specific things I wanted since I wasn't able to go with, but I told him I would be fine with anything he gave me, nothing at all would be fine too. I didn't need material possessions, I just wanted to be here.

''Do you want something to eat?'' Neil asked, pulling a box of cereal out of the cupboard. We were sitting in the kitchen alone together, because he was working on a school project thing, and I offered to help. ''nah,'' I replied. I was hungry, but I learnt my whole life to never eat more than 2 meals a day, and I already ate an apple and some cheezits. ''if you say so.'' Neil poured himself some cereal and milk, grabbed a spoon and sat back down next to me. I felt my cheeks get a bit warm, I knew I liked him... I wasn't in denial, but I didn't know if he would like me back or even fucking support me. I never once asked about his sexuality or anything like that, and all I've seen is him liking girls. Maybe he'd like me if I told him I was trans? That means I'm technically a girl, right?

''You good, Maxie?'' I heard him say. Did he call me Maxie? ''y-yeah, I'm fine.'' He placed his hand on mine and looked at me. God fuck, I'm gonna explode. ''h-hey, Neil... can I ask something?'' he nodded. ''u-uh... this is completely random, but... do you like boys?'' I muttered just loud enough so he could hear. He thought for a few seconds before humming. ''I mean...'' he started.

''I wouldn't have a problem being with a boy,'' he said. ''I never thought about it before, but I guess yeah.'' Oh, thank fuck. ''why do you ask?'' I sighed. ''uhh...'' do I tell him? I need to, right? He'd accept me...

''because... I like you.''

My breath hitched and I closed my eyes. My heart was racing, and I wasn't even sure why. I heard a small whisper gasp. ''Max...'' he whispered. I opened my eyes and saw him looking at me with a small blush on his face. ''I... think I like you too?'' he said. It sounded more like a question, but it didn't matter. I felt my eyes water up. ''M-Max, you okay?'' he placed his hand on my shoulder. Tears were rolling down my cheeks. ''I-I don't know...'' I whispered. 'I-I-I'm happy... but confused.. and I-I don't know...'' he pulled me in for a hug. I didn't know what I was feeling. This was all weird and I'm not used to feeling so happy or even just decent. Having good things happen was never something I thought I'd have, yet they're all happening right now. My crush likes me back, I think, I'm free from my 'parents', I'm being appreciated and loved, I don't understand.

We stayed in a hug for a few minutes while I continued sobbing, it was just like when I first told him about my 'parents.' I loved hugging him, being near him, anything with him involved made my heart flutter. We separated when his dad walked in the kitchen and asked if I was okay, I said yes, and we went back up to Neil's room after we finished that project thing he was working on.

When he sat down on his bed, he pulled me near him and immediately pressed his lips against my cheek. My eyes widened and my mouth turned into a stupid smile. I giggled stupidly. God, why was I fucking like this?

''you're so cute.'' He softly whispered. I laid my head on his chest and giggled more as he ran his fingers through my black curly hair and rested his other hand on my back. It felt nice, I felt calm and safe. I never wanted to leave this moment.