It Had to be You

Chapter Twelve: Nerris

Everyone was headed toward the dining hall. Most people were dressed but Max could see Nikki and Spacekid were still wearing their pajamas as they walked in a sleep deprived haze for breakfast.

Suddenly Max felt someone jump on him and wrap their arms around his shoulders. He felt his whole body recoil at the unanticipated touch, but managed to stay standing.

"Sorry!" Nerris pulled herself off Max, hopping forward to walk next to Max "I just thought you could use a hug."

"Yeah, it's fine, don't fucking worry about it." Max grumbled.

Nerris grinned, showing off her brace covered teeth. "Are you excited for breakfast, I'm starving!"

Max nodded. Nerris looked discouraged for a moment at his response before she shook it off and continued speaking.

"I'm just so excited to be back at camp! I'm going to miss my parents, of course, but it's always nice to be here in nature! With dragons! I asked Mr Campbell if there was dragons, like it said on the flier, and he said yes. It's too bad I haven't seen one though. Honestly, I know it was probably just a scam but it'd still be soooooo cool!"

Max flinched again at the mention of Nerris's parents, but managed to stay composed. "That was definitely another one of Mr Campbell's shitty fucking scams. Have you even met the dude? He couldn't tell the truth if his life depended on it. And it has! Multiple times!"

"Oh well. It'd still be cool." Nerris sighed and dragged her foot across the dirt, making a little divot in the earth. "I think what I'm going to miss most is electronics. Think of all the podcast episodes I'm going to miss! The YouTube videos! I'm going to be so behind!"

Max frowned. "Why don't you just sneak your phone in here, like every other asshole in this camp does? Or steal David's?"

Nerris laughed. "Not everyone can be as much as a delinquent as you Max! Honestly, for the first few weeks, I was terrified of you! But then I actually talked to you a bit and figured out that despite your edgy nihilist persona, you're actually pretty cool. I mean, you've listened to most of my rants about The Adventure Zone and that deserves a fricken medal."

Max blushed a bit, not used to being praised by anyone other than David. "Yeah, whatever." He mumbled.

"I mean it! You may act disinterested, but I think you're just kidding yourself." She winked at Max. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. So what do you think breakfast is?"

Max's response was almost instantaneous. "As long as it's not mush, I will eat whatever." He shuddered the the memory.

"Well it's only like, the second day, so I don't think we have enough leftovers here to make mush anyway. You're probably safe." That was true. Mush was usually a conglomerate of the previous few nights dinners in one unholy mess.

"Maybe bacon then." He said. "I haven't had bacon in forever."

"Yes! Oh my god, bacon sounds amazing!" Nerris looked like she might start drooling any moment. "My mom just went vegan so I haven't been able to eat meat in weeks! I have been craving camp food the whole time. Can you believe it? Craving camp food?"

This made Max laugh a little, although he tried to hide it by turning away. He was pretty sure Nerris caught him though, with the way she was smiling at him.

"Well, let's go find out!" She ran across the clearing, hopping up the steps of the dining hall and bounding inside.

Max walked slowly after her, and stepped inside as well.

An: Just some quick Nerris fluff because I was bored and midterms are over. If any of you have any requests for chapter ideas or certain characters, I make no promises but I will try my best to fit them in. Shout out to @max_the_savage_boi I think for commenting like three minutes before I posted this. I really hope you don't catch up before you read this beats us hat would be amusing.