Max

David was too pissed of with his parents to comment on my language. When the last of his siblings arrived, the real fighting started.

I mean, David didn't have a boyfriend with him. Just me. His uh... His sort of kid, I guess.

But the others had people with them. Eliza was engaged to a lady who seemed nice enough. Zander had a boyfriend that he goes to college with.

So I was just sitting in the corner, trying to not cause problems. I didn't sign up for this. This is what I just left.

The fighting isn't stopping, though, and Rachel was obviously upset because it's her birthday and this was a bunch of bullshit, right? She was sitting by me, we were talking about how dumb all of the fighting was.

But they didn't want her associating with me. Much less talking to me.

Her dad, David's dad, slapped her, and what happened after that will never really process.

David grabbed his dad by his wrist and then he was on the ground. He didn't hurt him, he just stopped him.

Like, I know David and Gwen needed to know some stuff in case we got into fights at camp and whatever else. Basic shit. That was...

"I said don't touch her." David's tone became a lot more serious than I've ever heard, but I saw something. Why he would ever do that. To his dad. "She did nothing wrong. She can talk to her nephew if she pleases, he'll tell her if he doesn't want to talk. It's your daughters birthday, grow up a little bit, and be decent for a change."

They've done it to him before.

But I mean, nobody expected that. David's a twig.

It was silent. A still moment that made the decision that I was going to camp. I got in a fight with my mom and that was that. She sent the paperwork in, not even half filled out.

"Be decent?" David's father questioned, offended. "We let you into our house with a child you never told us about!"

"Well maybe you would've known about it if you cared." David spat back at him. "But you don't, because all we to you guys is a disappointment. It doesn't matter what we do, we'll never be good enough. But Max wanted to meet you, and Alex wanted me to come. So here I am. But it's her special day, so lay off."

After that, they sort of let up. They didn't say anything to me, but I was fine with that. Stuck close to David, wanting to go home.

Which I'm pretty sure he figured out after a good twenty minutes. He gave Rachel a present, just some artsy stuff or whatever. She gave us some cake, wished us well, and left.

She seemed nice.

Getting in the car, I buckled in and David got in, buckled, and sat there for a second, his hands on the wheel.

Sighing, he started the car and put it in reverse. Would probably never come back here again.

"What was that about?" I feel like it was a fair question for him. David's never aggressive. But he didn't seem to show much remorse for his parents.

"Hm?" He asked, looking in the review mirror for a second, being I was in the back.

"In the house." I pointed out. "with your parents and your dad and... That. You're never aggressive."

David debated for a second before pulling over and turning around to face me. Which made me a little nervous, to be honest. Fucking weird.

He started off with a slightly frustrated sigh.

"Look, Max, there are some things that don't..." David started off before killing that idea. "You're right, I'm not, and I try to be as less aggressive as possible. But sometimes, things happen. He slapped Rachel, and that isn't okay. I knew he wouldn't stop unless I stopped him. That's not a normal thing out of me, I promise. My parents tend to bring out the worst of me. Just like yours did when they were brought up over the summer. Okay?"

Nodding my head, I didn't really want to ask further. I've kind of pried a lot today. Maybe more than I needed.

But shit happens, it's too late now.

We got home around an hour later and he made dinner, which was nice. Cake was dessert, obviously. After that, I went upstairs to put some clothes and whatever away when he got a call.

David

The number looked familiar, I wasn't sure why.

"Hello?" I said, answering the phone as I finished putting the plates on the dishwasher. I love Camp Campbell, but it's nice being back home.

"Hi!" A man a little older than I said on the other end. "is this David? Like the one that runs Camp Campbell?"

"Yes, it is." I confirmed for him. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Nothing too big, just a question from the kids." He explained to me, and I had a feeling I knew what it was. "They were worried about their friend, Max, being they never got to see his parents show up. They were just wondering if he made it home."

"Of course!" I remarked, closing the dishwasher. "Yes, Max did get home. I do have an address, if they want to see him."

"That'd be amazing!" Neil's dad told me, so I gave him the address and the home number before he thanked me and hung up. They live about 5 miles away, apparently. Just moved in, so Nikki and Neil live together.

As you could expect, twenty minutes later, they called the home number for Max.

Max

I've lived here for a day, and I was already getting calls. I don't like that shit at all.

Luckily, it was Neil and Nikki. I would gone fucking crazy if it was someone from my parents town. It'd be creepy.

I fucking... I came here yesterday.

"Hey, fuckers, what's up?" I asked, taking the phone. Which resulted in David whispering 'language', me rolling my eyes, and going upstairs.

"Max!" They exclaimed, sounding excited.

"So, good news." Nikki told me as I laid on my bed.

"Hm?"

"We live five miles away from you!" Neil broke the news to me, and I panicked. "My dad's been going batshit crazy about meeting your parents, and since we live so close, were leaving in a few minutes!"

"We're bringing cookies!" Nikki added.

Which means I had ten minutes, tops, to get ready for this.

So I got dressed into something not completely ruined, and ran downstairs to warn David. He was rearranging his wall, the photo of his family no longer up. It was currently leaning against the wall, on the floor.

Neither of us were expecting this. We weren't exactly ready, either.

I was sitting on the couch when he answered the door, nervous.

I fucking hate this. I'm going to have to explain my whole damn life to them and it's a bunch of bullshit, but I live with David now, so.

"Nikki, Neil!" David exclaimed when he answered the door. "Nikki and Neil's parents! Come on in!"

"David?" Neil questioned, because he knew it wasn't right. "What are you doing here?"

"Yeah, what about Max's parents?" Nikki agreed. "Is Max even here?"

I've never wanted to disappear like I did right now.

David invited their parents into the kitchen for a cup of tea or coffee. Leaving Nikki and Neil in the living room, with me.

"Max, what's going on?" Neil asked, getting stupidly worried and nervous like he always does. It gets annoying but it's who he is and I... Fuck. "Why is David here?"

I shrugged.

"Probably because it's his house."

"Then why are you here?" He reworded the question, making me hate this even more. The questions. "Like, where are your parents? They showed up yesterday."

There was a pause.

"Your parents did show up yesterday," Nikki questioned. "Right?"

I sighed.

"No," I told them. "They didn't."

"Did they get the day mixed up? My mom did that once and thought it was the next week." Nikki remarked, and I shook my head.

"Nope." I reasoned with my two friends. My only friends. "No mix up, no wrong address. They're uh... They're in jail. I didn't really have anywhere else to go, so... Shit sort of happens and I guess David is like, my dad now. Ered's dad's approved it so."

I shrugged.

"I guess I'm here."

"Woah." Nikki remarked.

"Yeah," Neil agreed, sitting down next to me. "That's intense. Are you okay, man? Do you know how long they'll be gone?"

I shrugged.

"For life."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, they fucking deserved it." But not that they're actually gone and in prison, I could say it. "they were shitty people and even shittier parents. It was only a matter of time."

"Max, that's not..." Neil started off and I just really didn't want this to be happening right now. It's been a long day and I've done a lot and I just want to take a nap. "are you sure? That's really messed up, Max."

"No shit."

"I'm just... Sorry." Neil apologized again.

"Don't be."

"What else am I supposed to do?"

"Not talk about it." I insisted. "that's what."