Camp Camp AU: Max's Sister

Part 2: Max's Talent

  As the campers began the first activity, Max and Marianna began skipping rocks at the river.

"So, what's your activity?" Marianna asked.

"Don't have one. Mom and Dad never wrote anything down." Max sighed, "Not like I can do anything anyway."

Marianna plopped a rock on Max's head, staring at him with that "you're kidding" expression as if to be funny. Max sighed, shrugging his shoulders. Marianna knew her little brother better than anyone, she knew Max was just as talent as any kid.

"Maxwell Sanchez III isn't talented?" Marianna laughed, "Oh please, that's doesn't sound like the little violinist that played at my Carnegie." 

"Mari, you know that doesn't count. That was a family trip, and you made me bring that violin with me." Max laughed, "And don't call me that here, people don't know my whole name."

"Right, sticking to Max. I understand . . ." Marianna smiled, ruffling his hair.

"Umm excuse me?" A voice called.

The Sanchez siblings turned around, Marianna glad to find it was only David. As Marianna greeted the red headed counselor, she tried to hide her laughter as he blushed dark red. Max wasn't sure why David was acting weirder than usual, but he didn't like it.

"Um . . . s-since Max doesn't have a talent listed . . . I-I was wondering if . . . if maybe you knew what Max's talent was." David said.

"Max's talent? Which one?" Marianna laughed.

"Her laugh is like the sound of angels harmonizing over a rainbow . . . it's so, so . . . beautiful." David thought, smiling like an idiot.

"Well, if I had to choose what Max was really good at . . . it'd probably be the violin." Marianna smiled, ruffling his hair. 

David, not listening, nodded his head. Max and Marianna began talk amongst each other . . . mostly Max trying to say that he didn't bring his violin to camp, but Marianna knew that was a lie.

"Maxwell . . . you're gonna have to try a bit harder to lie to me." Marianna sighed, "You always bring that thing everywhere with you."

"Well not this time . . . I told you, I didn't want to come here in the first place." Max snapped.

Marianna folded her arms and glared down at Max, she knew when her brother was lying. She hated it when Max lied, it pissed her off beyond anything.

"So if I were to go back to your tent and search your stuff, you're telling me I wouldn't find it?" Marianna asked, looking down at the small boy.

Max tried to stand his ground, but it was a lot harder to face someone he actually cared about and lie to them rather than telling some idiot a simple lie. Marianna could read him like a book, so of course she knew he was lying. She knew Max would never forget his coping mechanism, his stress reliever . . . his precious violin. Finally, Max resigned and pointed in the direction of the mess hall. Together, Max, Marianna, and David uncovered Max's hiding place for the one thing he valued in Camp Campbell. It was hidden in the attic of the Mess Hall.

"Max? Why would you hide it up there?" Marianna asked.

"That's because everyone here is out to get me. If they found out about my violin . . . I might end up losing it." Max replied.

"Aww Max, no one here has anything to gain from seeing you miserable." David said, "We all gain from supporting each other in whatever we succeed in."

"Really?" Max asked.

"Camp Campbell's main goal is to teach our campers to express themselves while supporting each other in their own individuality, we want to help each other be better . . . not shoot each other down." David explained, "So if you wanna play the violin, you play your heart out and show everyone just how great you are."

"Wow! Truer words have never been said, good job David." Marianna smiled, patting his shoulder.

"Don't thank me . . . its clear that you have a serious influence on Max. You know more about him than I do." David blushed.

"Yeah, in fact, Marianna was the one that got me interested in the violin." Max confessed.