Anyone else SO EXCITED for tomorrow's episode? And the new season of Ninjago airs in TWO DAYS! This going to be a long two days, but a great ending for me comes after! :D
Also, this is random, but yesterday, this weird guy came to school to give us the cliché talk about not giving up on your dreams, and he reminded me a LOT of David. And looked like an older version of Max. And he said that he used to NOT CARE ABOUT LIFE! Weird or what? Is there hope for Max yet? Will the fandom's dreams come true? (BTW, if this gives you a clue as to what school I go to, please don't put your suspicions down in the reviews) :)
Guest: Thank you so much for reviewing, I hope to see more of it! Three chapters, not quite in a row, as I am currently writing four stories at once, so not really in a row, but I'm not going to abandon this story on you guys :)
Blue Feather Pegasus: No, but I'm likely to draw some inspiration from it. I've already figured out how Jasper dies in this fic, which shall be revealed later (and is pretty gruesome, in my opinion), but I want to see the actual show's opinion too. :)
BHMSZero: Yes, gold star for you, only it's a tad more complex than that when it comes to the reasons and motives of Jasper. I hope so too, even though he had about ten minutes of screen time, everyone seems to love Daniel's character and we saw barely anything of Jen, so it would be good for a sequel to cult camp.
NightshadeLG: To quote Harrison from episode 15 'yes, was that not obvious?' Not trying to be mean, sorry :)
Thanks guys, these reviews mean a lot to me and help the story continue :)
"OK guys, last calling for auditions at Preston's new play, this afternoon." David read off his clipboard. "And today, we have art camp, magic camp, Harrison's magic camp, and science camp."
"Oh yeah!" Neil grinned. "I hope Space Kid doesn't mind being part of a demonstration."
Nikki shrugged. She had only been here a few days and still wasn't too sure of everyone's name yet. She knew Max, Neil and Preston, and Ered as well, and Space Kid, everyone knew Space Kid. The others she had nicknamed in her head: ginger, mini Nazi (for some reason), top hat, elf. She'd learn soon enough.
"What sort of stuff do you do in science camp, Neil?" She asked, feigning interest in science. When she had started science at middle school, she had been so excited, explosions, rockets, making crystals... She had soon discovered it was all written work and boring watching glasses of water and powder start to bubble. She just hoped Neil had something cool in store.
"Oh I have very special plans..." Neil rubbed his hands together, looking around at the mess hall, wondering what to use. Max sighed and rolled his eyes, drumming his fingers on the table. He seemed annoyed. Probably that he wouldn't get the chance to sneak off to go rowing. Nikki still didn't know what he had been doing, but she was determined to find out!
"You OK Max?" She asked in a sing song voice. He jumped slightly.
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" Nikki shrugged. Max was weird and she didn't really know him enough to class him as a friend, but maybe later down the line? There was the whole summer ahead of them. She took a deep breath of that sweet, nature air, oh yeah, this summer was going to be GREAT!
"Done with your breakfast yet Nikki?" The blonde girl councillor asked, and Nikki nodded as she collected her plate. The only bad thing about this camp was the food.
"Well, out we go kids." David called. "We'll do art camp first, excited Dolph?"
If it had been Nikki's camp, she would have been ecstatic, but Dolph only shrugged.
"Well I sure am!" David said with his usual grin. "I can't wait to buckle down with a paintbrush with you. It's going to be great!"
"Yeah, we can do forest still life, if you like?" Dolph offered, and David's eyes genuinely lit up at the prospect.
At art camp, Nikki sat with Max with Neil on the other side, explaining something to Space Kid, who looked excited. The rest of the kids looked bored, or were on phones under the table, or just chatting. Daniel realised this and swooped down on Ered.
"I'll take that." He said in a matter of fact way, snatching her phone. Ered scrabbled for it, but the device was out of her hands before she could even open her mouth.
"Hey, that's theft!" She snapped angrily.
"How would you feel if Dolph spent his time texting... Graham when you were doing your camp?"
"Firstly I would be very creeped out that Dolph had my dad's number. Second, he doesn't even have a phone. Third-"
"Daniel, cool it!" Jen snapped at him. "Ered, just turn you phone off and keep it in your pocket, OK?"
Ered gave a nod and took her mobile back off Daniel with a scowl. Daniel gave the same face to Jen and she returned it ungraciously.
"We'll talk about this later." Jen muttered in his ear, and the attention was turned back to the shortest camper, who was stood on a chair in order to be seen.
"OK." Dolph said in a nervous tone, he didn't really like public speaking. "As of David's request, everyone spread out and try to put your own interpretation of the forest onto your paper. It can be as big or as little as you want, yeah, so, any questions?" Nikki jumped around in her seat, hand in the air. "Nikki?"
"How come you get canvass and we don't?" She asked, gesturing to the crumpled paper pile that was weighed down by a rock on the edge of the table which the campers were supposed to be using.
"Because these things are expensive and you can't really paint over your mistakes on them without it looking rubbish. Often, I do a piece several times on paper before-"
"No one cares!" Max called out. Dolph frowned a little, but made a gesture towards the clearing of the forest.
"Just grab your paper and go." He said with a sigh, grabbing his own good brushes from home and leaving the others with the crappy provisions of the camp.
"Well this is gonna be fun." Neil said sarcastically. "Honestly, art camp is the WORST!"
"You say that about every camp." Max told him. "You even said that about Space Camp!"
"Space Camp sucked."
"All we did was watch Space Kid fool around in his rocket while eating popcorn. It really wasn't as bad as some of the other stuff we're forced through."
"Like this?"
Max laughed a little and 'accidentally' gave Dolph a small push as he passed. The young artist fell into the side of the table, catching it on his forearm and giving a sharp gasp of pain.
"Max, that wasn't very nice." David scalded with a frown. "Apologise."
"Suck a dick." Max marched off. David gave a sigh and turned his attention to Dolph, who was blinking very fast and rubbing his arm with a pained expression.
"Are you alright?" He asked, putting a hand on the kid's shoulder.
"I'm fine!" He snapped quickly. "Just bruised my arm recently, that's all."
"Let me take a look." David reached for his sleeve, but Dolph tucked it behind his back.
"I'm OK. My dad looked at it for me, come on, I'm going to get a good painting spot." Dolph grabbed his things and hurried off. David looked after him for a second, then shook his head. Dolph was fine. It was all fine, wasn't it?
...
Jen gave Daniel a little shove as the two entered the councillor's cabin. He scowled at her.
"What?"
"Don't you fucking 'what' me, you know what!" Jen snapped. Daniel put a finger to his lips and quickly checked the windows were shut and that there was no one in the other room, then turned back to Jen, who had her arms crossed across her chest.
"I don't get what you're mad at!" Daniel protested, but Jen rolled her eyes.
"All week you've been like this, all grumpy and lashing out at those lovely kids-"
Daniel laughed. "Lovely kids? Did you see what that little shit did to-"
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!" Jen snapped, making Daniel jump a little, because Jen had never been this fierce with him before. She sighed, but her eyes were still narrowed. "Ever since our second year here was announced by high command, you've been all snappy and moody, and I don't really care for it!"
"Oh there's a lot of things we don't care for but still get!" Daniel was losing his temper too now, but his cheeks remained unflushed. As did Jen's. A small, devious smile came to her face.
"Oh I see what this is about." She gave a small nod. "You don't like it that I've found someone, do you? Well tough on you, Edgar!" Daniel flinched at this name.
"Don't say that so loud!" He hissed. "And how dare you-"
"How dare you! I'm happy with Gwen, the happiest I have ever been, and if you can't handle the fact I can get of my arse and-"
"That's not what we're meant to be doing!" Daniel hissed, looking embarrassed. "You know what high command said! We need to do our jobs, not give in to our indulges-"
"Indulges? INDULGES!"
"No, that's not, I-"
"So it's the gay part that has you troubled, is it?" Jen's anger had morphed into hatred.
"No, I would never-"
"You've changed Daniel. You used to be my friend, but now you're-"
"Life isn't easy on me either, princess!" Daniel lost his temper entirely. "Maybe if your head came down to earth too, you'd notice that!"
Daniel turned on his heel and marched out of the door, almost bumping into Max, who was stood on the other side.
"Oh, Max, erm, what are you doing here." Daniel looked around for other kids, or eavsdroppers, or maybe even high command themself.
"Just needed to ask David something." Max muttered. "You and Jen, err-"
"Oh that, haha, that was just a little dispute, all fine kiddo. Back over to the activities field now, and-"
"Can't, Harrison's summoned a white tiger and it's running rampage."
Daniel looked shocked and Max laughed. "Just kidding. Have fun with your girlfriend." He smirked and jogged off, but it wasn't in the direction of the activities field, more towards the pier. He just hoped the boy hadn't heard too much. Suddenly, Gwen came jogging up out of the woods, looking stressed.
"What is it?" Daniel asked. Gwen looked over her shoulder.
"Have you seen any of the kids?" She asked nervously.
"Um, no. Why?"
"They've disappeared."
...
Max didn't know why he was going back to Spooky Island so soon. Maybe to give Jasper a chance to explain, a second chance? But who were the other ghosts then? Were they even real, or just his imagination? Or a hologram, WHAT WAS GOING ON!
Max was also unaware that he was being followed. As he got into his boat, Nikki peered down from the tree.
"He's going guys." Nikki called. "All clear!"
"Come on, this is an invasion of privacy." Neil came from behind the tree. "Who cares why Max likes rowing?"
"He went yesterday too." Nikki insisted.
"Yeah, he was constantly sneaking off all of last year." Nerris rolled her eyes. "Like Neil said, who cares?"
"Oh come on, don't tell me that you guys aren't even the SLIGHTEST bit curious?" Nikki insisted. "If you're not, go back to Neil's stupid nerd camp."
"Hey!"
No one moved though. Nikki grinned triumphantly. "Great. Come on, we'll wait a little until he docks, then we'll row out. Adventure camp just turned interesting!"