On the run (Camp Camp Maxneil, Dadvid)

Chapter five: A new life

Before I knew it, I was shoved into the back of David's car, before giving Neil a kiss and saying goodbye to his brothers and dad, his dad gave me an old iPhone to use if I wanted to contact them, it had Neil's number, his dad's, and David's.

The drive to wherever the fuck David lived was long and boring. His car speaker had a Bluetooth feature, so he let me pick some music off of Spotify on the way over. It felt weird, being in the same car that he used back at Camp, with the counsellor that gave me hell every summer since I was 5. The guy I almost called dad on accident a few times, so fucking weird.

After I think two hours of David asking how I've been and me trying my best to explain without breaking down into tears, we arrived at a small two-story house that looked surprisingly large for someone I assumed lived in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. With the salary he probably makes from teaching and camp counselling, I didn't think he could afford anything like this.

''I'll grab your stuff, Max.'' he said, opening the car door and leading me to the front door. The living room was nice, it had a bunch of camp and forest themed stuff, but it looked comfy and cozy, the dining room was kind of small, but I expected it since he lived alone, the kitchen was the same, but I realized he had a bunch of cookbooks, he showed me around a bit and said he already had a spare bedroom made up for me. The walls were painted a pale blue, with a bunk bed type looking bed with a desk underneath, a dresser with a few extra hoodies, and a bookshelf. It looked... nice. Its like a bedroom I would have designed myself if I had that chance.

''I know it's not much,'' David said as he placed my backpack and a few other things on the floor near the bed. ''but I wanted to wait until you got here so I could ask if you wanted anything extra!'' he smiled and ruffled my hair. I felt like everything was going so fast, one moment I'm living with my boyfriend's dad, next moment I'm miles away living with DAVID. But... maybe this won't be so bad.

''gooooood morning, kiddo!'' David knocked on my bedroom door, way too early in the morning. ''fuck off, David...'' I mumbled, pulling the blankets over my head. He opened the door and picked up a few dirty clothing off the floor, while holding a small laundry basket. ''c'mon, Kiddo, get dressed! Gwen's visiting today, and I need you to be on your best behaviour!'' he said. Great, Gwen is coming by. What a pill.

I got dressed in my normal hoodie, avoiding putting an ace bandage around my chest because it's been a bit tight lately, jeans, and a red t-shirt underneath my hoodie. I walked downstairs to see David frantically cleaning every little spot around the house. When he noticed me he turned around immediately. ''oh, Max! you're finally dressed! I have something important to ask you, by the way.'' I tilted my head. ''what is it, dipshit?'' he sighed at my language but soon stepped closer. ''how would you feel about... living here permanently?'' he asked. Permanently? What was he talking about?

''not possible, dumbass. I wouldn't be able to go outside at all. cops, remember?'' he laughed a bit. ''oh, I wasn't talking about you just staying here. I meant like... adoption?'' my eyes widened, like they've done a lot these past few months. ''how the hell would you do that?'' I asked. ''legal law says that if the parents of a child being abused are taken into jail, and the kid has no other relatives, a family friend may have the opportunity to apply for the role of custody after an inspection of the house!'' I was confused. ''but... my 'parents' aren't in jail, dumbass.'' He rolled his eyes playfully. ''well...'' he said.

''last night after you went to bed, I made a small call to the sleepy peak general and told them about what's been going on, with the backup of Neil's dad to prove it. they went to your parent's house and did an inspection, and said it wasn't safe for a child. They also found out you weren't enrolled in school, which meant they broke a law for 12 years, and they got taken into custody.'' I didn't realize it, but I was already crying. Tears pouring from my eyes like a waterfall. He pulled me into a hug, just like Neil did, and I sobbed in silence. Was... I really done? With my 'parents'? like... for real?

David let me relax for a few more hours before Gwen came by, he told her about our situation and we had some nice take-out Chinese food together, they let me in on the secret that they're dating, and have been since camp, and I texted Neil everything.

My life went by so fast after that. David adopted me, he bought me something called a binder to hide my chest, we moved closer to Emerald Ridge so I could visit Neil more often, Gwen moved in with us, I got enrolled in school finally, met up with the rest of the camp there too, and I felt... happy.

I think I'm gonna like this.