This shit was the fucking worst.
Was something all the campers at Camp Campbell thought for the past week. From noticing how well Gwen and David were running the camp a week prior to suddenly both of them being either disinterested, distracted or negligent to the camp activities they were looking forward to. Just the other day, Gwen took Harrison to D&D camp and David took Nerris to teach her card tricks. The entire activity neither noticed who they had taken care of that day, and honestly, neither cared all that much.
Max remained in the background while most of these accidents took place in front of him and for the rest of the campers. He couldn't help but feel that this was all his fault. After all, he was the one that put the seed of doubt in Gwen's head when he cornered her that night. Now he wished he'd kept his nose out of their business. He decided to confide in Niel and Nikki about this.
"You what?!" Niel shouted. "You're responsible for this? The camp was barely functioning before they hooked up and you fucked it up for them?!" Niel shook Max by the collar of his hoodie. Nikki was more aggressive in her approach.
"Max! Why did you ruin it for them?! Didn't they take you to eat pizza a month ago?! Why would you do this to them?!" She tackled him to the ground.
"Look! I didn't think that messing with them would lead to this! I just thought that if they knew that I caught them, that I could blackmail them into extra desserts or some shit! I didn't mean to break them up!" He thought about it. "Although, now that I think about it, they weren't even in a relationship to begin with so..."
"Rah!" Nikki grabbed a nearby rock and looked like she was about to smash Max's head in.
"Alright! I fucked up! I'm sorry! I'll try to fix it! I swear!" He held his hands up.
"Well, you better!" Niel pointed to Max. "Because I am not going to bunk with Space Kid for Astrology camp again!" He frowned menacingly at Max.
"Alright, alright." Max said. "Look, I don't think it'll be easy, so I think I'm going to need your help on this." He said.
"Why should we help you fix this mess you made?" Nikki asked.
"Because it concerns you guys too! And this way if we work together then we'll get this over with quickly." Max reasoned.
Gwen was laying on her bed, taking a break from work. She had been feeling horny as hell ever since she and David ended their situation, she had already gotten used to getting off at least the night prior, but because they shared a cabin and the rest of the day was for work, she had little time for herself. She decided to get this itch scratched, and knew that David was a no-go. Pulling out her phone, she logged into Tinder to see who she could find that would satisfy her. Or at least distract her temporarily from her fucked up predicament.
Elsewhere, David was filing expense reports from the Camper's purchases at the Quartermaster's store in the Mess Hall, he wanted to avoid seeing or interacting with Gwen as much as he could during the day. It would have been too soon of an interaction. He noticed that most of the camper's parents had sent them a larger than usual allowance, most having around fifty or seventy dollars in their personal accounts. He sighed as he looked out the window, and noticed how upset his and Gwen's predicament was affecting them.
David thought about it, and knew he had the power to invite neighboring camps for a get-together. He figured socializing with another camp for a couple hours would help them all out. He remembered the Lake Lilac Dance, but it seemed safer to invite just one other camp. He figured he'd go back on his no sweets rule and invite the Flower Scouts to come and sell some of their cookies to the Campbell campers. He set the reports down and made the call to Garden Mother Penelope Priss to set the party up and arrival time.
Gwen had continued swiping left for most of the guys and gals on tinder.
"Too muscle bound. Too tall. Too busty. Too blonde. Too brunette. Too bearded. Too short. Too macho. To bitchy-lookin." She was getting more and more annoyed with every upcoming person on the screen. Gwen wasn't aware of what she was doing, but she was actually using David as a point of reference for what she was hoping to find. A skinny, average heighted, red-headed, and cheerful guy.
"Hellooo~ Joshua." She smiled softly as she came across someone that sort of resembled David, with a few minor differences here and there. She checked out his profile.
-Enjoys the outdoors.
-Great with kids.
-Optimist.
"Heh, he seems like he's worth giving a shot to." She said to herself and swiped right. Instantly, they matched and from there she and him got to chatting. She got to the point quickly about meeting up later that night after work and sent him her the location of Camp Campbell. Hopefully he'd just pick her up and take her back to his place to bone. She looked at the top of her phone and noticed her break was almost. She texted Joshua that she'd see him later that night and got up. Leaving her phone charging on the stand.
Walking outside, she saw David walk out of the mess hall and call for the camper's attention. Quartermaster blew a whistle that got their attention better than he did. David cleared his throat and put on his smile on as he addressed the campers.
"Alrighty campers, have I got some news for you!" He said excitedly, genuinely wanting them to have a good time later that night.
"What's happening?" Harrison asked from the crowd of campers.
"Well, it seems as though a lot of you have been particularly good to your parents, so much so that your allowances are higher than average." David said.
"Aw sweet! I'm gonna buy a spaceship with my money!" Space Kid said with delight.
"I'm gonna get a new pair of dice!" Nerris jumped high in the air.
"I'm gonna get clothes that actually fit me!" Nerf punched the air.
"Now hold your horses kids, I thought that this would be a fun opportunity for you guys to interact with a neighboring, non-violent, camp. As well as get sweets instead too. So I invited the Flower Scouts and they're coming tonight." David smiled and swung his arm in exaggeration. "I hope you all put on your Sunday Best, because this little get-together will be taking place in the mess hall." He cheered.
"Woah! That's actually a good idea David!" Said Preston. "I can finally get in contact with that blonde girl that kills it at theater!" Preston shouted every last word in his sentences.
"I gotta hand it to you David, this was a cool move." Ered swished her hair, liking the idea of getting cookies.
"What about those of us that may not have gotten money from our parents?" Asked Dolph.
"That's no worries, just come to me and I'll cover your cookie tab. No more than three boxes each though." David clarified, not wanting to end in financial debt.
"Awesome!" Most of the campers yelled happily. Gwen, however, was looking at David with a bit of a glare.
"David, are you serious?" She asked, rather offended by this action. "I had plans tonight." She revealed, much to his dislike. His smile didn't fade, but he did appear concerned for her.
"Oh...I'm sorry Gwen, but I'd really prefer it if you stayed and help with setting it up." He said, refusing to do this alone with Quartermaster. Even if he was nice, he decided to put his foot down on her helping him. "I can offer overtime." David cushioned the blow. Gwen sighed.
"Fine." Was all she said, walking away from him. He walked after her.
"Wait, maybe if you told me, I could understand why you could skip out on this event. I know I did make this decision without you." He admitted.
"Yeah, that was a bit shitty, but...I know you didn't set out to do it on purpose." She rubbed her shoulder. It felt...nice, talking to him about work again. He got the same feeling.
"So, what did you have planned for tonight?" He dropped the million dollar question. She physically cringed at the having to answer.
"Oh...it was...for a date." She avoided eye contact. David's smile completely fell.
"Oh...I'm..." He tried to deliver this next news without making it sound personal, petty, or jealous. "That's *ahem* not a good enough reason to miss out on this." He cleared his throat. Gwen sighed at him. The feeling of niceness in interaction between the two of them gone.
"Fine, fuck it. I'll help out with this." She walked toward the mess hall to help prepare. It would be a couple hours to set everything up for the arrival of the Flower Scouts, and by then it'd be dark, perfect for them to make a couple sales and party with the campers. He sighed and went ahead to help set the preparations.
After David, Gwen and Quartermaster had finished setting up the table, chairs, speakers, and personal refreshments, they wen ahead to remind the campers. All of which were getting ready and well dressed for the upcoming party that would be starting shortly. After informing the campers, the three of them went off to get ready themselves, with David opting to get dressed away from Gwen. Meanwhile, the triple entente was discussing strategy on reuniting Gwen and David.
"So we just get the mood started with music and get them all alone for them to start talking." Max relayed the plan.
"And me and Niel will keep on leaving compliments about how good they look together. Tempting them to take each other back." Nikki repeated.
"And we spike their drinks with that pill that makes people feel good, right?" Niel suggested.
"What?! No, Niel! What the fuck? We told you no drugs!" Max scolded.
"Alright. Then I'll just make sure that Quartermaster hits all the right songs then." He reminded himself.
"Alright everyone be quiet, they're here." Max demanded as David and Gwen walked in. Away from one another.
And in what a shock it was for every other camper as their counselors were dressed not only casually, but looking fresh AF. In Nikki's words. David, for his attire, was wearing tight blue jean pants, a green flannel button that clung to his body tightly, lumberjack boots, and his signature yellow bandanna around his neck. Gwen, on the other hand, wore tight velvet pants, a purple blouse with a black faux fur jacket over it, letting her hair down for the night.
"Holy shit...they actually look kinda good." Niel gawked.
"Great, this should be easy, there's no way they can resist each other looking like that." Max said.
"I don't know guys...Flower Scouts are here." Nikki pointed outside the window, where an RV had parked and out walked the Sasha, Erin, and Tabii with one eye. All wearing more formal and elite versions of their usual uniforms with Miss Priss close behind wearing a pink shift dress that accentuated her hips.
"Fuck...it had to be them." Max said.
The Garden Mother made her way over to both counselors. Going directly to David, as she knew he was the new owner of Camp Campbell. She took in his form, this wasn't the first time she'd met him. In fact, she remembered him being one of Campbell's more peachy campers back in the day.
"Oh Davey, it's been far too long." She said sultrily.