David clung to his stomach, sweat rolling down the sides of his face. He squeezed his eyes together as tight as possible, barely holding on to his breath. The wheezing was calming down, but he didn't know for how long. Any moment the pain would reach his nervous system and he would shut down. The feeling of agony crawled up his spine, and before everything turned into a flurry of pain he took a good look at the figure in front of him. With a cry for help, the room went completely dark.

David let out an exasperated sigh as he lept awake.

He glanced over at the crooked clock hanging by a string on the wall. 5:00 in the morning, and he was already woken by nightmares. David rubbed the sleep from his eyes, grabbing the bright orange bottle of pills sat on his bed stand. He unscrewed the childproof cap and went to pour them into his hand. To his surprise nothing came out as he realized the bottle was empty. Frustrated he threw it onto his bed, searching silently in the dark for his shirt. It took him a minute to find it amongst the mess of pictures scattered across his floor.

He pulled on the light green tee and made his way over to the entrance to the cabin. Before leaving he glanced at his co-counselor Gwen, opening the creaky door as quietly as possible. Her soft snores didn't halt as she remained in slumber. David shut the door, taking a deep breath to let the cold night air into his lungs. He could faintly smell campfires in the distance, and it warmed his heart. He couldn't enjoy it for long as the headache returned twice as hard.

He spoke aloud to himself, "I need my medication. Guess I'll have to go into town for my next dose. I sure hope I make it back before the campers wake up."

"You're going into town?"

David jumped at the voice, searching the darkness.

He scanned the area and let out a chuckle when he found the body that held the voice, "Max, you scared me. Speaking of, shouldn't you be in bed mister?"

Max rolled his eyes, "And shouldn't you remain on camp grounds at all times, seeing as your the authority here?"

David looked away, sweat starting to build, "Technically I'm not on duty seeing as festivities have not started for the day. I won't be long. They'll never even know I left!"

Max crossed his arms, "What the hell kind of medication do you need anyway?"

"Language. And that is personal information I do not have to share with you. Now, it's high time you return to your tent or I'll take away your dessert privileges for a week."

"Yeah I can miss out on dried chocolate pudding for a week, this seems more interesting."

David stared at him, his eyes beginning to glow, "Interesting... does that mean you want to come with me?"

Max shrugged, "Fuck it. Why not?"

David shook his head, "I wish you wouldn't speak like that. It's a habit you don't want to carry into the future."

Max clapped his hand up and down as if to mimic David talking, "Yeah yeah, don't make me regret taking a thirty minute drive with you to the general store."

The car rumbled as the engine barely managed to keep the car in motion. David's eyes had bags under them, and he tried hard not to fall asleep. Max balanced his coffee mug on the arm rest in the middle, gazing out the window from the back seat. David cringed at the coffee, trying not to say anything about the health issues with drinking it at such a young age.

For a few minutes they drove in silence. Max's lips parted as if e wanted to say something, but they quickly shut themselves up with a solemn look. David shifted uncomfortably.

He started to talk, but Max interrupted, "Don't ruin this David."

David nodded, "Right. Just... if there's something bothering you... I'm here."

Max glared at him, "Have you finally lost it? What makes you think I'm upset? Well more than usual I guess."

David sighed, "You've been distant since Parent's Day. I didn't want to mention it but-"

"I'm gonna have to cut you off there. This is none of your business. Didn't you learn anything from that situation with the Quartermaster? Stay out of it. Don't try to mess with family, this doesn't concern you. Why don't you just turn on the radio and we can forget this ever happened?"

David pouted, tuning the station and sitting in silence the rest of the trip.

"Thank you! I'm sorry for the short notice, I didn't realize I was out of medication. You've been a real help."

The lady behind the desk smiled, "Of course. I'm just glad it wasn't another camper that needed urgent assistance. I'm always here David, my doors are open. Except on Sundays and from seven to twelve. I have that time off. But any other time, totally free."

David smiled back, "Thank you."

He made his way back to the car, smiling at Max as he got in. He buckled his seatbelt, opening the plastic bag in his hands and pulling out a small box. He handed it to Max. Max's confused look for him excited for his real reaction.

Max took it, reading the cover for a moment before reacting, "Why the hell would I need a sewing kit?"

"I noticed the eye on your teddy bear was missing. It just so happens I was the best in sewing camp when I was your age. I can help you fix him right up!"

"Why? Why would you want to help me?"

"I care about you Max. I know you don't see it now, but I hope that you will. I want to help you because I want you to be happy."

"Whatever. Let's get back to the camp before they find this suspicious," he held the case close to his heart, hiding his smile with his puffy sleeve.

David drove away from the store, nothing but the newly found rain occupying the space. He glanced at his pills, anxiously waiting to take them.

He let out a long yawn, his eyes slowly starting to shut. The foggy window went blurry as his head tilted into a sleepy haze, his grip loosening from the wheel and his foot rising off the gas. He let out a deep breath as he drifted away from the shackles of the world into his own cloud of ambitions and beliefs.

Max's screams brought him out of his trance, "Dude! Watch out!"

David snapped awake, the vehicle swerving.

Max pointed forward, "You're gonna hit that man! Stop you idiot!"

David yelled back, "There's too much momentum, we'll crash at this rate!"

"Do something!"

David spun the wheel, the car twisting on its side and scraping the fence on the side of the road. The sound of the metal clashing practically made his eardrums bleed, but he tried his best to stop the car. It slid on its side, slowly approaching a slope. In an instant it hung off the side of the road, inches from falling into a pit.

David grabbed Max, maneuvering him out from the car window. He threw his sewing kit to the floor first, following it in a roll. The gravel scrapped his elbow, but there was no times to apply a bandaid.

Max tugged at the door as David tried to wedge it open. The car rocked back and forth, David barely able to hold on. He was hyperventilating, practically having an asthma attack. It wouldn't budge. It wouldn't open. Would he be trapped here forever? Was he going to go down with the car? Was this the end?

Finally the door opened with a painful snap as David fell out of it.

The car began to slide down the slope, David swiftly grabbing his pills from the cup holder moments before the car landed at the bottom of the cliff.

Max stared at the wreckage, heaving, "Shit, what now?"

Quiet footsteps approached the two as a familiar voice called out, "Need some help there friends?"

Max and David turned around, wide eyed. Max shifted behind David, and David just stared in awe.

The familiar blonde hair, the piercing blue eyes, the same toothy grin.

In a moment of panic Max blurted, "Ah, fuck."