It Had to be You

Chapter Fourteen: Dodgeball

When David had said the group was going to play dodgeball, for a minute Mac thought he was joking. Surely, surely, David could not think that this group of hyperactive violent children trying to pound each other with rubber balls could be a good plan, but evidently he did because Max was now standing on the lawn, ball in hand, ready to concuss some of his fellow children.

This was going to be an unmitigated disaster.

Obviously, this was clear to everyone except for David, as Gwen had claimed that she felt ill and had slunk off, probably to read one of those stupid romance novels she always went on about. Max had been tempted to do the same. He had seen the look in Nurf's eyes when he heard that dodgeball was their "team building activity" for the morning. It hadn't been pretty. However, when Neil tried to escape using the same excuse Gwen had, it became clear that David was taking no shit from the campers today. If by taking no shit you meant claiming some good old fashioned exercise would get that blood pumping and Neil feeling better in no time. So Max had kept his mouth shut.

It was times like this that made Max wonder how naive David really was. David clearly couldn't understand that this group of chaotic demons couldn't handle dodgeball even remotely. He even seemed to think that playing was a good idea. However, Max was almost certain that behind the forced cheerfulness and platitudes, David knew what he was doing when he forced Neil to participate. If David had thought a student was sick, he would have never made them play.

How could someone be so perceptive and yet so utterly useless? It's probably just a David rhing' Max concedes, and then turns his attention to not dying in a horrible dodgeball accident.

As expected, Nurf has decided that dodgeball is his excuse to absolutely wreck everyone in his way. Max looks over a Nikki and scowls. If she hadn't picked him first, he might have been on Nurf's team and avoided this onslaught. Nikki can't see him though. She's to busy avoiding the hurricane of red rubber being hurled at her to notice anything Max is doing.

Actually, now that he thinks about it, everyone is too busy to notice what Max is doing. His team, David, even Nurf's own team is too busy avoiding the torrent of balls he just can't seem to run out of to notice anything else.

This game of dodgeball might not be so bad afterall.

Carefully edging his way around people and dodgeballs alike, Max works his way to the edge of the field. Glancing quickly back at the battleground to make sure no one is watching, he slinks into the forest without so much as the crack of a twig.

Max was free to go anywhere he wanted, as long as he didn't go back toward the camp, as he wasn't 100% sure where Gwen had gotten herself off to. The risk of her seeing him anywhere in that area was too high. But as long as Max stayed in the forest, he could enjoy some precious moments of quiet.

As Max disappeared between the trees, another boy stood up, brushing off his puffy pants and following after quietly. No need to scare off Max yet. It was Max's own fault Max hadn't seen his beautifully dramatic elimination from the game. And honestly? Preston didn't want to take the chance of David making him join back in. Max had the right idea.

Maybe he could even bond with his new tent mate.

Maybe.

This chapter is rather short, but the next part will be out soon and it will be significantly longer and include some very nice Max and Preston chit chatting. Thanks so much for sticking with me and every comment and like I get fuels my determination to write more! I love you all!