Hey, back with another chapter! This probably won't be as interesting, but next chapter... Phoar! This is just the setting up for that! :)

Guest: It was a spur of the moment idea, and Nurf does seem the sort to listen to calmer rap music than Eminem or some sh*t like that. And better than you probably wouldn't have gone on about killing children, but yes, I'm pleased someone picked that up. Thanks.

And on with the story

For a moment, everyone froze in place, staring at Nerris.

"Missing?" David exclaimed. "What do you mean by missing?"

"I mean he's not in his tent, he's not around the activities field or here or the usual places or..." Nerris seemed really panicked.

"OK, calm down!" Jen took her hand. "We'll find Harrison, OK? Look at me, it' going to be OK." She smiled and Nerris managed to collect herself a little and smiled back.

"Yeah, because if we don't, we are in deep shit." Gwen muttered to David, who ignored her.

"Alright kids, when was the last time we saw him? He wasn't at the party last night?"

"No, no, he was." Nurf seemed the only one to remember the events of the previous night. "Oh yeah, Dolph passed out so he and Preston took him back to his tent."

"Vhat?"

"You're a blackout drunk, you won't remember."

"OK, so he's not in his tent?" David asked Nerris.

"No, only Preston in there."

"Then we should ask Preston."

After managing to rouse a more-grumpy-than-usual Preston, he muttered something about himself going back to the tent and Harrison going for a late night walk. He pointed towards the woods before going back to sleep.

Even now the councillors were getting slightly worried. You could see it on their faces. Nerris was trying to hold herself together, but she was even more panicked than ever.

"OK, OK." Daniel held up his hand, taking charge of the situation. "I want us in groups of three and fan out across the woods. We'll find your boyfriend, kid."

Max wasn't sure how he ended up in a group with Neil and Nerris, while Nikki went with Nurf and Dolph. But he was also too worried to care... WORRIED?! Who was he? Normally Max would have scorned and gone back to the mess hall to get rid of the growling hunger in his stomach created by a night's heavy drinking and a morning's crushing hangover. He would have been sure Harrison was just lost somewhere, or practising magic in a daze of still being drunk. But now...

With Jasper out to get them. And Max had probably made him angry by confronting him about Quartermaster. He wouldn't... take it out on Harrison, would he?

Max really hoped not, or else another thing would be all his fault.

The three of them stumbled through the woods, still tired, but Nerris with determination, Neil with boredom and Max with a lot going round and round in his mind. Nerris stepped over a tree root. Both boys tripped and fell flat on their faces. They took the opportunity to fall a little behind.

"You don't think something's... happened to him, do you?" Max whispered to Neil as they got to their feet.

"Who cares?" Neil muttered bitterly. "To be honest, I thought you'd be the least worried out of everyone here."

"Seems we've swapped. But with Jasper and everything-"

"Please, no. Let's just find that idiot magician kid and get this shit over with." Neil seemed very tense and nervous, even more than Max was. Max frowned, but the pair of them picked up the pace and ran after Nerris.

...

Space Kid sat down on the forest floor, taking a rest. Gwen and Ered went on further into the forest without him, not even noticing how he fell behind. But the young astronaut was tired from all this walking, and even though he was worried about Harrison, he was sure the older boy would be fine.

Looking around to see that he was alone, Space Kid removed his helmet so he could breath more clearly. The forest looked nice when it wasn't concealed by glass. Not like the city where he lived with mummy and daddy and his big brothers. This was why he loved Space Camp. It was space, all his friends were here and it was in such a beautiful yet foreign landscape. Kind of like an alien planet. As if the bus stop was the last he would see of Earth, and the bus was his rocket ship.

He left his rocket ship in the tent. Aww man, he could have had some great games here. The search for Harrison had completely disappeared from Space Kid's mind as he began to wander around the woods, looking at the different creatures, pretending they were aliens.

It didn't take long for him to realise that he had completely lost track of his group and was now as lost as Harrison was.

"Hmm, what was it David said about the sun?" Space Kid muttered. "That is always rises in the East, that's it! And the sun is currently to the West, because it's afternoon! But which way is camp..."

Space Kid sat and pondered for a little while before he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He quickly put on his helmet again and turned.

"Alien species, I know it is!" He muttered, and crawled into the bushes so he could observe.

He saw a pair of white trainers, very fashionable, and some white boots, covered in mud and grass stains. And voices as well.

"- suicide case! Not murder, not something that couldn't be helped-"

"Don't you DARE bring that into this!"

Daniel and Jen. Arguing, but what about. Space Kid stayed still and quiet to listen.

"You know what?" The female rounded on her co-worker. "You keep going on at me for being distracted from our task! But you're no better. All you do is mope about and drink Kool Aid!"

"You know why I have to drink Kool Aid!"

"I get by fine!"

"No you don't! You know, I can't wait until higher command comes to check on our progress and sees you like this! You'll be expelled immediately, and you know what happens then!" Daniel's scowl turned into worry. "Jen, I'm trying to keep you safe!"

"No you're not!" Jen snapped. "You're just doing what you love for your own selfish reasons, as usual!"

Daniel clenched his fists, as if he was trying really hard not to slap her.

Space Kid wanted to listen some more, this was interesting (although confusing) stuff, but he felt something crawl on his shoulder. He turned his head very slowly to see...

A squirrel. Wearing an eyepatch. Teeth poised.

NOT ANOTHER RABIES SHOT!

Space Kid gave a yell and shot out of the bushes, landing at Daniel's feet. The adults gasped.

"Oh, Space Kid. What are you doing?" Jen picked him up and set him on his feet.

"Lost... from group... and space... squirrel..." Space Kid took a deep breath. Daniel and Jen looked at each other.

"Well, let's keep looking for Harrison, shall we?"

...

"For fuck's sake, if Harrison is back at camp, I will kill him!" Neil snapped, kicking a nearby tree trunk. "We have been searching for at least three hours now!"

"Can't give up." Nerris said stiffly. It was clear she was getting annoyed by her boyfriend's ex boyfriend's presence. Max sighed.

"Neil, talk to me a bit." He commanded. Neil scowled and dropped back to talk to Max.

"What?" The taller boy snapped.

"Are you OK? You've been sort of... angry and snappy all afternoon. I don't remember you being like this since... since-"

"End of last summer." Neil said in a low voice. "I was happy, thought I finally had a match, a guy to show my parents, try to explain to them how I was, using someone's help. But no, I was just a tool, a distraction, used when the situation required it!" Neil sat on the forest floor. Max motioned for Nerris to stop walking.

"I thought it was about us, but no, it's all Harrison, Harrison, Harrison!" Neil snarled. "Even at the time, everyone making 'big budget movies' from all the Nerris and Harrison drama, no one cares about the nerd on the sidelines. Not even you Max!"

Max gasped as Neil's feeling came pouring out into the open after so long. Max wasn't good at emotional support.

"Neil-"

"Save it." Neil stood up. "I'm going back to camp. Go find your precious top hat boy."

"Neil, wait-"

But Neil was already running away, back towards the direction of camp. Nerris came towards Max.

"Where's he going?"

"Back to camp. He's got a headache."

"I do too." Nerris frowned.

"Well Neil doesn't care as much as you do." Max muttered stiffly, his usual cruel demeanour returning.

Max expected Nerris to roll her eyes, but she didn't. She picked out a tree stump and sat down on it.

"Yeah, who cares anyway? Not you, not really anyone but me? Preston wouldn't even get out of bed for his 'best friend'." Nerris made the air quotes. "Who cares about Harrison Dilaurentis?"

Nerris put her head in her hands. It was a pitiful sight, and Max felt uncomfortable seeing her this way. He sighed and sat down next to her.

"Nerris, Harrison's going to be fine. He'll just have wandered off and gotten lost somewhere Or Jasper kidnapped him. Either way, he's OK." Max said, trying to sound like he believed this himself.

"But what if he isn't?" Nerris said through her hands. "What if a bear got him, or Jasper-"

"Jasper killed the Quartermaster just yesterday, and I doubt he's on a serial killer streak."

Despite herself, Nerris laughed.

"What was he like, you know, last year? Before... before all this."

Max gave a long sigh. "Sort of mysterious, but in a good way. He was a little insecure, I think, but funny and a good listener, and interesting..." Max realised these were things he had never really noticed about Jasper before. But they rolled off his tongue now like he had spent ages rehearsing. "And he was one of my few friends, which counted for something."

Nerris gave a little shrug. "He sounds a lot like Harrison actually. And Preston."

"Maybe you should date Jasper."

"Maybe YOU should date Jasper."

Max laughed at this. "No thanks. I don't date guys. Dead or alive."

It felt strange to be laughing at a time like this. But Nerris took a deep breath and stood.

"Max, thanks. I never thought such a cynical asshole would be able to cheer me up."

"No problem. That'll be seventy five dollars."

Nerris laughed again. "Come on. Let's find Harrison and drag him back to camp so Neil can kill him."

Max stood and they were about to set off again, when they heard a rustling in the bushes. Max stiffened instantly.

"Who's there?"

"Harrison?" Nerris asked nervously.

"Nein. Just me." Dolph scrambled out of the bush, covered in leaves. The pair relaxed.

"Where's your group?"

Dolph shrugged. He looked spooked. Really spooked.

"Nerris, I, erm, I found Harrison."

"Really?!" Nerris gasped. "Where, take me to him!" She demanded. Dolph pointed to the direction and they set off. But something didn't quite sit right with Max.

Even though the search was over and they could go back to camp, finally, and get back to more fun activities, Dolph wasn't smiling. He didn't look relieved in the slightest.