Neil sat on the bus, gazing out the window as cars and houses flew by, camp was over. He was on his way home, he felt incomplete, his best friends were gone. Well, not 'gone gone' but he was most likely not going to see them for a while.
He didn't even know whose house he was going to, his Mum's or Dad's. But that wasn't the problem, that wasn't what had him so confused and lost right now. It was what happened earlier, while everyone was packing. He couldn't get it out of his mind.
"Neil? Are you listening? This is very important! This will help you become a level 3 wizard!" Neil broke out of his thoughts, forgetting that he was even in a conversation with Nerris. To be fair, She had started the chatter. He was more than happy to sit in his thoughts.
"Sorry Nerris, I blanked out for a bit." He smiled sheepishly, there were only four kids left on the bus. Nerris, Ered, Dolph, and Himself.
"Ugh, whatever." She groaned, rolling her eyes and turned back towards Ered and Dolph, hoping to join their conversation. Leaning over the back of the chair to do so.
"Neil, Are you ok? I know having to say goodbye to all of our friends is hard, but I'm positive you will see them all next year! I know Nikki's definitely coming back next year!" David said enthusiastically like always.
"That's the thing David, I know I'll see Nikki, I mean we go to the same school, and her Mum's really into my Dad." He cringed and shuttered at the final thought. "But that's beside the point. I might never see Max again! Something's wrong David! You should have seen him this morning!" Neil wanted so badly to go see Max, he didn't seem ok when the bus pulled away.
"Neil, what are you talking about?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Earlier that day~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Max, aren't you going to start packing? We're leaving in fifteen minutes." Neil asked, zipping up his own bag. Max stared at Neil momentarily before he reached under his bed and pulled out a small black duffel bag. He then grabbed Mr. Honeynuts out giving Neil a stare as if to say 'Don't you say a damn word'. He placed him gently into the bag before he continued to pack. He picked up his nope mug, his BB gun that David gave him on the day it snowed, a group picture of the campers, the bottom of the staff that David gave him when they had from the 'Order of the Sparrow' bullshit and finally his spare blue hoodie. He then zipped up the bag, placing it down at his feet and turned to Neil.
"Done."
"That's it? That's all you have?" Neil was in disbelief. He couldn't stop staring at the seemingly empty bag.
"Yep. What about it?" Max raised an eyebrow as he shrugged.
"I just... that's so little!"
"So? I pack light. Why the fuck do you care?" Max was getting defensive and Neil knew it.
"I… Never mind, just curious." Neil by now knew when to drop the subject. "So… Ready to head home?" He asked.
"Meh." That was the only response he got from Max as he looked down and kicked at the ground.
"Max, are you okay?"
"Jesus Christ. What's with all the stupid fucking questions?" What's got him so frustrated? Neil thought to himself.
"Alrighty, campers! Unless you want to stay here till next year we better get moving, off to the town!" David said increasing the already high tension in the tent. Nevertheless, the two young campers quietly trailed after him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Present time~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Neil, I'm sure Max is perfectly fine, you probably just miss him, that's all. I'm sure everything is gonna be alright." David is still trying to find the good in the situation.
"Yeah, you're probably right. Thanks, David." Neil said, trying to dismiss the conversation.
"No problemo." David smiled and stood up to return to the front of the bus, sitting next to Gwen.
'Something's clearly wrong with Max.' Neil thought to himself but he had one other question running through his mind.
Will everything be alright?