It Had to be You

Chapter Four: A Reunion

Neil slid down into the seat next to Max. "So how was your year?" Neil asked, "You never gave us your number, otherwise we would have added you to the group chat."

Max had forgotten about that. He would have given them his phone number, but when his phone went off it made a lot of noise. He hadn't wanted that every time some one texted. So he had pretended to forget it. Max wasn't sure he had fooled anyone though. They had seen him with a phone after all.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Here." Max recited his number, and scribbled it onto a napkin. Now that he lived with Davod, his phone making noise wouldn't be a problem. He hoped.

"Thanks!" Neil said, "I'll add you when we get back. Although, it's not much to look forward to. It's a lot of space facts usually." Neil turned and gave Space Kid a pointed glare. Space Kid shrugged, and Neil turned back around. "Well, it's good to have you back! I have so many ideas to drive David mad!"

"Maybe we shouldn't mess with Da-" Max cut himself off before he finished that sentence. David wasn't going to punish him. He had nothing to worry about. Why would he care about David? He shook his head. "Never mind."

Neil looked surprised. "Since when do you care about David?" Neil said.

"I don't. Forget about it." Max said.

"Okay?" Neil said, a little confused, but he pulled himself back together quickly.

"So what are we supposed to be doing?" Max asked. There was no way that this was not supposed to be some kind of activity that everyone was ignoring.

"Oh, some kind of icebreaker. One of those, go in a circle and say your name and an animal that had the same letter." Neil said, offhandedly. "Neil the Newt. You know."

Max smirked. "For some reason, the only animal coming to mind is a manatee. Or a mongoose. Neither of those are exactly appealing."

"Actually, a mongoose sounds pretty appropriate. Small, weaselly, and bites? Perfect for you." Neil retorted.

"Oh, fuck off, that sounds more like Nikki. Anyway, you're one to talk, mister slimy red creature that literally lives under a rock!" Neil was smiling, holding in a laugh. After a second, Max realized he was as well. At the same time, they both burst out laughing, their giggles filling up the room.

"I missed you," Neil admitted after a second, almost as an afterthought. A thought never meant to be shared or spoken aloud, but that slipped out anyway. An: I should clarify. There are NO SHIPS IN THIS BOOK. Maybe if I get to other summers there will be but right now, nothing so don't expect anything.

"I missed you too," Max responded, quiet. "It was lonely without my chaos partner."

Nikki jumped in then, pulling Max and Neil into a unwilling hug. "Chaos partners forever!" She said, letting them both go after a second. Max and Neil both sprung away quickly, neither of them hug people. "Aw come on you guys!" Nikki said. "No hugs?"

"No hugs!" Neil and Max said, at the same time. Nikki pouted, but then brightened up again quickly. She wasn't the pouting type as much as Max and Neil weren't the hug type.

"So what have you been doing, Max?" Nikki practically shouted. "I can't believe that you came this year! I'm so happy! You seemed like you weren't going to come back, you hated it. It's really weird actually. Like super weird. Are you okay?" Nikki looked at Max with concern for a second, but shook it off again. "I'm just so glad you're back! We can go on adventures! And prank David! And Gwen! And we could run around with the Platypus! We just can't get kicked. Do you think anyone has ever gotten kicked? I don't think anyone has gotten kicked. But what's a Platypus doing here anyway? I think they live in Australia. Maybe it escaped from a z-"

Max clapped his hand over Nikki's mouth. "Could a kid ever get a moment of peace around here? I fucking missed you guys, but shut the fuck up Nikki. Please. I have conceded that I am spending my summer in this fucking hellhole of a camp, but I will not concede to some sappy bullshit!"

"Aw Maaaaaax," Nikki said, "Neil, he said he missed us!"

Neil looked at Nikki oddly. "That was what you got from that speech?"

The doors to the dining hall opened, and David and Gwen walked back in. "Well everyone! Did you all have a great time with those totally lit fam icebreakers?!" Max face palmed at David's attempt at slang.

"That was probably the worst fucking thing I've ever heard, David." Max walked over to the front of the room again, followed by Nikki and Neil.

"Max!" David retorted. "Language! I was just trying to use some of the on fleek slang of your generation."

"Well you failed. Horribly." Max shoved past David, walking out back into the camp, "Well what are we doing? Swimming? A shitty hike?"

David hid a smile, and followed him out.

An: Sorry this took so long! I've been working over the summer, and underestimated how tiring small children would be. I'll try to get another part out soon!