My first Camp Camp fanfiction! Yay!
Based off the Counselor-Max AU.
Here's the roster of Camp Campbell for this story!
Campers:
Nerris, Harrison, Preston, Nurf, Ered, Dolph, Space Kid, Jaspar, Gwen, and David.
Counselors:
Max, Neil, and Tabii.
Also:
Quartermaster and Cameron Campbell.
Yes, Tabii is still the same age as Max, Neil, and Nikki. However, I made her a counselor because I thought it would be funny if she was a part of Camp Campbell. Sasha and Erin are Garden Mothers, while Snake is a Wood Scout leader. Pikeman is still Pikeman, though, and he'll still have a crush on Gwen. Nikki is absent for a reason, but let's just say this Camp Campbell is a lot better off in the cash department. Daniel will appear later, also as a camper.
On with the story!
Ah, Camp Campbell. Truly the jewel of Lake Lilac and the only camp around the lake that wasn't part of another organization. It wasn't militaristic, like the Wood Scouts, or a vacation resort, like the Flower Scouts. It was just a camp. Everybody knew that. It was also the camp that was first to see the sunrise each morning, as was the case today. However, our story begins after sunrise, when the head counselor and one of the campers was waiting outside for more campers to arrive.
"Why are you out here?" David asked Max.
"It's my job to welcome all new campers to Camp Campbell," Max sighed. "Such is the life of head counselor. At least I get paid more than Tabii and Neil."
"Tabii doesn't do much work."
"You'd be surprised how much she actually does around here. I think she's the only one of us who can actually cook something that doesn't taste like complete shit."
"The Quartermaster can cook."
"Mashed potatoes." Max gave David a look. "Why the hell are you out here, anyway? Shouldn't you be at Music Camp?"
"I couldn't find the stupid guitar."
"Aw, fuck. I bet you Nurf took it."
"I think I have to agree."
"Now I have to try and find the damn thing on my break."
The bus pulled up, driven by the Quartermaster. He opened the door and two kids got out—a girl with brown hair and a boy with blonde hair.
"You must be Gwen and Jaspar," Max stated. "Welcome to Camp Campbell."
"Is this Psychology Camp?" Gwen asked.
"This is Camp Campbell. Hate to break it to you, but it's Psychology Camp and More. We offer everything."
"Is it too late to get back on the bus?"
"I asked that my first day when I was a camper. It always is."
"Well, golly!" Jaspar piped up. "This is going to be fun!"
"Oh, God, one of those. Well, kids, we'd better get to the mess hall so you can meet your other counselors. But first, the tour."
Max took the three of them on the 'grand tour' of Camp Campbell before they went into the mess hall. It really lived up to its name, given the mess going on inside.
"Motherfucker!" Neil yelled at the kids. "Nurf, let Space Kid off the ceiling fan!"
"I will achieve space flight!" Space Kid screamed. Max, with a deadpan expression, hit the 'off' switch for the ceiling fan and Space Kid fell to the ground.
"You need to finish your rocket before you achieve space flight, Space Kid," he stated. "And besides, it's more likely you'll snap your neck on the ceiling fan."
"Okay, Max." Space Kid nodded.
"Now, let's get to your afternoon activities." Tabii took the kids outside while Neil blew off a disc. "And let's show the new kids the movie before Campbell gets here."
"But Maxwell, I'm already here!" announced a burly man with graying hair.
"Goddammit." Max pinched the bridge of his nose. "Hello, Mr. Campbell."
"Hello! And hello to you, too, Neil!" Campbell slapped Neil on the back, making the slight man drop the disc. It shattered upon impact.
"Goddammit," Neil groaned.
"Great. Now we actually have to do the whole stupid spiel," Max grumbled.
Outside, Gwen and Jaspar watched their fellow campers go about their activities, not really paying attention to what Neil was saying about the camp. Gwen's gaze followed Max as he picked up the biggest kid—Nurf—and demanded that he return a guitar.
"I don't have it," Nurf mocked.
"Cut the shit, Nurf. You're the only guy at camp who would even touch the damn thing besides me and David. Now give it back or no dessert for the rest of the week."
"Fine." Nurf went over to 'Behavioral Correction Camp' and pulled out a guitar. Max took it from him and handed it to David.
"There. You have the damn guitar back."
"You're doing a marvelous job, Maximillian!" complimented Mr. Campbell.
"It's just Max, sir," Max muttered.
Suddenly, a black SUV drove up. FBI agents got out and started shooting at Mr. Campbell, who escaped in a helicopter. Gwen made her way over to Psychology Camp while Jaspar stood by himself. Tabii approached him.
"Hey, kid, what camp are you signed up for?" she asked.
"I'm signed up for Camp Camp."
"Camp Camp?"
"You know—the outdoor experience!"
"Oh! Uh… okay! Just find something to do, then!"
"Hey, Max!" David called. "I wrote a song about the camp!"
"Oh, dear God," Max muttered.
David, despite hating Camp Campbell itself, idolized Max. Nobody knew why, least of all Max himself. He didn't see himself as a good role model for the kids—after all, he'd graduated high school and college with honors and with a degree in business administration (and a minor in music) but was stuck at the camp, clearly showing what those fancy pieces of paper had done for him. Neil was the same way, but was working at the camp as a way to beef up his resume. Tabii was a cosmetologist working at the camp for extra cash.
None of them were good role models, really.
"Let's hear it, then," Max sighed, sitting on the extra stool at Music Camp. David grinned and strummed his guitar.
"There's a place I know that's tucked away!
"A place where you and I can stay!
"Where we can go to run and play
"And have adventures every day!
"I know it sounds hard to believe
"But guys and gals, it's true.
"Camp Campbell is the place for me and you!"
Max raised an eyebrow.
"That the first song you've ever written?" he asked David.
"Yep!"
"Not bad for a first try. It's a good campfire jam, at the very least." David's eyes lit up at the half-praise.
"Thanks, Max!" He moved to hug the counselor, then backed off, remembering Max's rule on personal space.
"It's no problem, David." He ruffled the boy's hair and David grew a massive grin on his face.
That night, Max headed off to bed in the counselor's cabin. Tabii and Neil were already in their respective beds, asleep. Max had done a last check to make sure none of the kids were up and about, double-checking that they hadn't replaced themselves with knitted dummies like he had at Camp Campbell as a camper.
Since nobody else was awake, he dug into his pillow and pulled out a battered, patched-up teddy bear, which he cuddled under his arm.
"Good night," he mumbled.
Chapter one wraps up on a high note. At least for Max.
Like I said, Nikki will be showing up later when the camp needs a new counselor. However, Tabii will be staying on as well.
So long and thanks for all the fish!