Behind Castle Walls (LarryStylinson AU)

Chapter One

This is a bittersweet day for Harry. 

It's the first day of his last year at Robin's summer camp, Camp Pines, and although he's feeling a bit solemn at that, he's excited to move on. It is his dad's camp after all, and he'll probably be recruited as a counsilor in the summer when he's looking for a job, so he doubt he'll be missing it too much. But this is his last year as a camp goer (attendee? recruit? scout?), and he plans on making the best of it. 

As of right now, he's on one of the porches of a cabin trying to look over the heads for three familiar faces. Harry tries to keep in touch with the boys, he really does, but it's just hard. With all of the school work, and getting ready for Uni, he barely has time for his friends back home-- let alone the ones he mainly contacts via text message. 

He's just about to text Niall when he feels a ball bounce off his head. 

"What the fuck?" He looks up to see Niall grinning from ear to ear, and Harry can't keep himself from doing the same as he grumbles Niall's name along with a string of curses. Niall reaches around to give him a tight hug with one of his signiture cackles, and Harry can only roll his eyes in amusement. "Was that really necessary?"

Niall just picks up the wiffle ball and bounces it off his head again. "Absolutely." And with that, gathers his bags, wraps his arm around Harry's shoulders, and walks up to the check-in tables.

The ages of camp recruits range from years fourteen to eighteen, so being that this is their last year, they have seniority over the others. This means they get the nicer, bigger cabins, and they only get one roommate. Living with the boys is great and all, but it'll be nice to have some space this year. Besides, the boys already planned out the split, even though it went without saying that Zayn and Liam would be together. It's not that all of the boys aren't close, it's just that, it was clear from the very beginning they had something special. Something Harry, Niall, or anyone else couldn't really touch, and to be quite honest, Harry was jealous. Zayn and Liam are always in their own little world, and maybe it's just a summer love for them, but the connection is always instant. Harry hopes he can find someone like that one day. 

"Mate, the traffic comin' up here was ridiculous. This place is basically in the middle of nowhere, but I was about ready to start walkin' my arse up here." Niall rants as he takes out his identification. He only has a couple of duffle bags, being that Niall has never been a guy of many needs. Harry is convinced he could just live out of a backpack and be completely content. 

"Yeah, we have a lot more people attending this summer. It'll be a really good year for the business." 

It's not Robin's only job, seeing that it's only open for the summer, but the extra cash doesn't hurt. Harry's college of choice isn't exactly cheap, and he doesn't fancy paying off student loans for the rest of his life. 

"Yeah, I'm sure," Niall says as he flashes his driver's license to Zoey, a new worker this year. Usually, the staff knows the boys who've attended all these years, but many "retired" last year. Zoey's a younger staff worker, not much older than the boys themselves, and Harry rolls his eyes when he sees Niall making eyes at her already. Relentless. "This is gunna be a great year, especially with the new cabins. Picture it mate, a year we won't be hearin' Zayn and Liam going at it like animals when they think everyone's sleeping. Disgustin'." But Niall's fond smile contradicts his words, and Harry can relate. 

"Okay, you're good to go," Zoey cuts in, "The bunker list is hanging on that cabin right over there--but Harry? Your dad wants to see you." 

"Okay, thank you." He waves her goodbye before he pats Niall once, "You check the list to see what number cabin we're in. I'll see you in a few."