The Summer Everything Changed

by bentellsitlikeitis

Makarov runs a summer camp that specializes in helping troubled youth or youth struggling with mental health. Zeref, Natsu, Gray, and more find themselves at Makarov's camp for the summer. This summer will make them stronger or break them. New friends are made while the kids face their biggest struggles. Modern AU no magic. WARNING Variety of mental health issues exist in story.

1. Chapter 1

He stood out among the bright t-shirts and shorts adorned by the other bodies present. He stood awkwardly off to the side in his black t-shirt and black skinny jeans. He pushed some of his black hair out of his face taking in the surrounding area. Zeref groaned inwardly at the exuberant youth bouncing around without a care in the world. They would smile with a shout and a wave when they recognized a face from last summer. These kids probably choose to spend their summer break socializing through group activities and summer camp challenges. Zeref however hasn't been giving a choice. The school counselor had suggested summer camp as a way to help Zeref "get along" with kids his own age and become more socially tolerable. In fact, both boys could benefit from the experience. His father Igneel jumped at the chance to let some other poor sap be responsible for the Dragneel boys. At 14 and 15 the boys didn't require 24-hour care but both boys were so intense in different ways. It was hard for Igneel to understand and deal with the emotional stuff. He just wasn't good with talking about feelings or dealing with the highs and lows. He was a single dad and between Natsu's unlimited supply of energy and Zeref avoiding the world outside his bedroom he felt overwhelmed. This was Igneel's attempt to try do something helpful for the boys as well as himself.

Zeref looked at his brother grinning from ear to ear. Natsu was excited, he loved the idea of a summer spent playing sports and being outside not contained by 4 walls. Zeref could tell by the way Natsu was fidgeting and bouncing on the balls of his feet that in the rush to pack he'd missed taking his ADHD meds this morning. The younger brother ran a hand through his pink hair. They had both gotten grounded for that pink hair but it was worth the look on Igneel's face when he had seen the messy mop of bright pink on the younger Dragneel. Natsu started fidgeting with the hem of his 21 pilots t-shirt but soon moved onto checking all the pockets on his cargo shorts. Standing still was not an option for the hyperactive fourteen-year-old.

"Looks like the check in table has cleared up," noted the pink haired boy. "We should probably head down there."

They had been waiting slightly up the hill away from the rest of the incoming campers for almost an hour. When they had first arrived there had been so many people swarmed at the check in table. Natsu had been ready to rocket himself down the hill into the mass but Zeref found it hard to move at all. He saw it coming and knew exactly what was going to happen but He had no power to stop it. He couldn't concentrate on making his feet work while it felt like someone had set 200 pounds of bricks on his chest. The invisible weight made it hard to breath which in turn made his head swim. Zeref swore he could hear his heart suddenly pound at a breakneck speed. There were so many people. Why could they all breath fine he felt like he couldn't suck in enough oxygen. He couldn't take a full deep breath with the weight on his chest so he began sucking in fast shallow breaths. He also knew the only would lead to hyperventilation but the mind can lose all rationality during a panic attack. He was on the verge of tears, dying, or passing out he wasn't sure when he felt someone place their hands on his shoulders. The hands rubbed up and down from the shoulder to the elbow in a soothing motion so Zeref concentrated on that instead of his impending doom. When his breath evened out he glanced up at the younger brother he knew would be standing in front of him.

"Ya know Zeref let's let that table clear out some before we head down. We will just end up waiting in some line and you know I can't stand that."

It had been almost an hour and Zeref knew it had to have been killing Natsu to stand up here waiting. Waiting not in some line but waiting for his brother.

"You are probably right Natsu. We can't wait up here forever."

Zeref forced movement from his legs and followed his brother down the slope. He worried he'd have to go the entire summer with the weight on his chest. It was exhausting to pretend like it wasn't there while the entire time it was pulling him down. He wanted to enjoy himself, be able to hang out with others maybe even date. That's what his father didn't understand. He did want that. He wanted it more than anything. Zeref didn't hide in his room because he hated people. In his room he was safe, he could breath and think. His body and brain functioned as one in his safe place. He wanted what any 15-year-old boy wanted. But it didn't matter how much he wanted it because his brain is taken hostage by some unseen irrational force that he can't control. It's frustrating and overwhelming and sometimes completely paralyzing. How did his dad expect him to fight an enemy that he can't see or understand? He was in an ocean with cement shoes trying to back stroke. That's what this summer was going to feel like.