David

I opened Max's file to show that his activity... Was empty.

"I told you," Max insisted, his eyes glazed over due to the tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. "They didn't care. Just make something up so we can get this over with."

"Max, I..." Guilt and pity gaped inside of me as I reached for the ten year old, who walked to the corner, crying. My voice went down to a whisper. "I didn't know."

"Hey, Niel," I overheard Nikki talking to Niel at breakfast after being served my own food and sitting down next to Gwen. It was a nice day outside, perhaps we could go on a hike or do that obstacle course! That won't take long to set up and after yesterday, the kids would love it. "What do you think David and Gwen did yesterday?"

"What are you talking about?" Niel asked his friend, taking a bite of his pancake. Max hadn't made his way to breakfast yet, which was worrying to put it simply. But who knows, he could've just slept in. After all, he must've been exhausted after yesterday's events. "They were backstage making sure nobody killed each other back there."

"No, silly." Nikki responded and rolled her eyes, putting her silverware down. "Max, Gwen, and David were supposed to do Max's activity? Remember? They ditched."

"Oh, yeah!" Niel recalled and looked around. "Speaking of, where the fuck did Max go? I haven't seen him since the show yesterday."

"-to David!" Gwen remarked, earning my attention and rolling my eyes. "Oh my God, dude. You can't be like this all day. These kids rely on you to be annoying as shit."

"Of course!" I agreed to what she was telling me and ignored the conversation between Niel and Nikki. "Don't worry about me, Gwen. But have you seen Max, today? I want to make sure he's fine after... You know..."

"The show?" My fellow co-counselor finished off for me. "No, I haven't seen him since he went to bed. He's probably fine. Don't get your panties in a twist over him sleeping in, David. You can give a shit about him when he wakes up. He'll have to come out eventually, with Nikki and Niel and all."

The room fell silent as everyone continued to eat their breakfast. Gwen looked worried, although not as worried as I was. Max was a troublemaker, sure. And he was a negative kid, okay. But maybe if we did something he wanted to do, he would have fun! We haven't had a day for Max yet.

Once I finished my meal, most campers we're done and I called for them to gather outside. It was supposed to be sunny and 75° today. Perfect for an obstacle course.

"Alright, Camp Campbell Campers," I started off, as peppy as I could be. "So today we'll be doing—"

"Where's Max?"

I glanced over at Nikki, who now has brought attention to the situation at hand with Max.

"Yeah," Nerf remarked. "I mean, what the fuck? First he got to skip out on yesterday's show and now he's sleeping in?"

"Now, now, kids." I tried to call them down because this was something to be dealt with on a not public setting. I'm sure Max would be very angry if we told them something like this. I would be, too. "Just relax. He didn't get up for breakfast, so we can wake him up on the way to our fun activity! Now why don't all of you follow Gwen and I'll meet up with you guys in a little bit with Max."

The kids followed Gwen to the obstacle course to set up while I made my way towards the tents. Max was all the way down, next to Niel's tent. I thought I heard him, so I figured it was safe to assume he was in there.

"Max?" I asked, glancing in at the partially opened door. Which wasn't the safest considering we are around wildlife.

He was laying down still. Facing away from me. But something gave me the feeling that he was awake and simply ignoring me.

"Rise and shine." I commented as he tried to pass off as still sleeping. "I know you're awake, Max."

"Fuck off, David."

"Now, come on, Max." I was trying to help him out, I really was. Sitting down in the tent, I figured this was doing to take some time to get him out of his cabin. "Can't you try just a little bit to not be so negative today?"

"Can you back off?"

I sighed as he curled up a bit, hugging his teddy hair. Mr. Honeynuts.

He was hurting, and because he was hurting he was closing out other people. Acting like he was tough and like he doesn't care about anything just for the sake of nobody finding out that he's in pain. That this boy needs help.

And I will do whatever it takes to make sure he gets help.

Because nobody, not even the most negative, troubled 10 year olds, deserves to feel like that.

"Max..." He was holding back the tears in his eyes, which wasn't going to help any. "I... I'm sorry. I'm sorry you're hurting and that you feel like you can't open up to other people. That you feel like you can't let on that you're in pain. But you can, Max. That's what Gwen and myself are here for. For whenever any of you have a problem, a question, or just feel like talking."

"Yeah," I almost thought Max and I would have another heart to heart moment. "I can until everyone finds out and makes fun of me just like they did with Mr. Honeynuts. Because that's all they do, David. Nobody cares about me. Okay? They never fucking will because there's no fucking reason to. You don't actually care. You're just paid to act like you do."