It Had to be You

Chapter Sixteen: no im not dead

Through great effort Max and Preston found their way back to camp. Preston threatened him with the hairbrush the entire way because of course he did but Max managed to evade his grasp for the duration of the trip. Finally both boys broke through the bush-line into the clearing. Max glanced around, looking to see if any adults, specifically Quartermaster, were nearby. Not seeing anything, he put his finger over his mouth to shush Preston and headed towards the dining hall.

They padded over to the window that led into the kitchen, taking care to avoid making much noise just in case someone was nearby. Max knelt down, and turned back towards Preston who was looking confused behind him.

"Get on my shoulders," Max hissed at the other boy, "And then you can unlatch the window and climb through."

Preston looked nervous. "Are you sure you can lift me? No offense but you're a little..." He trailed off but Max got the picture.

"Dude you are just as much of a twig, trust me I fucking got this."

Preston still looked apprehensive but he tentatively placed a foot on Max's shoulder. Seeing that Max didn't collapse under the weight he climbed all the way up and started to unlatch the window. After a minute Max felt the weight leave his shoulders and looked up to see Preston sitting on the window.

"Here," Preston said, reaching down a hand to pull up Max.

Max grinned. "Aw but Preston, are you sure you can lift me?" He dragged out the u in sure, enjoying the annoyed look that flashed on Preston's face.

"Shut your fuck and get up here dude." Preston groaned.

Max obliged and both boys clambered into the kitchen.

"Alright let's get this yogurt." Max said, heading over to the fridge. "What kind do you want? I think there's like peach and cherry?"

"I don't care," Preston said, already going to grab spoons. "Maybe cherry?"

"Cherry it is," Max said, grabbing two cherry yogurts from the fridge. Seeing that Preston had grabbed the spoons he headed over to the table in the middle of the kitchen. It was made for cooking sure, but Max decided it was probably safer to just eat here rather than risk getting caught. Throwing the yogurt on the table, Max hopped up to sit on the metal counter as well. Seeing Max, Preston did the same.

"Here," Max said, pushing the yogurt towards Preston. Preston grabbed it and handed Max a spoon in turn.

Max started in on his yogurt before continuing, "How fast do you think this shitty camp will run out of yogurt?"

Preston suppressed a grin. "I would guess like a week. You know how fast Space Kid scarfs this stuff down."

Max groaned. "He's like a really shitty and hyper black hole."

Preston full on grinned now. "I think you could describe most people here as shitty and hyper."

Max grinned back. "Speak for yourself fucker I may be shitty but I am in no way hyper."

"You wish." Preston gave Max a friendly shove, which caused Max to nearly fall off the table.

"Hey!" Max grabbed desperately at his yogurt to keep him from knocking it over. "Watch the yogurt! I am not wasting this shit."

Preston had the decency to look at least a little abashed. "Sorry. But anyway, how was your year? Did you do anything cool? Have any more improbable adventures or is that just a camp thing?"

Max thought back to the months of living with his father. Scavenging for food in the cupboards. Hoping his father never followed through on his threats to remove the door to his room. The drinking. The spot in the closet he spent more time in than his actual room after his dad did indeed tear his door from its hinges in a particularly violent rage. The first hospital visit that ended with him back in his dads clutches. The second hospital visit that finally freed him. The trial that might as well have been a blur for all he remembered. And then David. Realizing he had probably taken too long to respond he looked back up at Preston.