Nikki and Neil stood there hidden behind the brush. Max's voice was, wonderful. It was fluid and so full of emotion unlike the character himself. It was like a siren luring you away at sea. They just wish it didn't have to be such a bad time to have heard it.

"N-now, now campers I know that this was a Huge surprise but we can't overreact." David said urgently.

"Overreact? Overreact! He can play the violin David! He probably knows some more instruments! I finally have a use for him in my plays!" Preston said, starstruck. He could finally stop using tape recorders or relying on the crappy wifi they had here at Camp.

"David! I can't find Max or Nikki or Neil!" Gwen came running up out of breath. She'd scoured over the entire camp looking for the three troublemakers.

"What! Where do you think they could be!"

A branch snapped and Max looked up, eyes wide and wet as Nikki and Neil approached him from behind the bushes. He sniffed and tried to hastily wipe away the tears that still cascaded down his face to no avail. Max glared at the ground, refusing to meet their eyes as they sat next to him.

"W-what do you want." He cursed himself for stuttering. What was wrong with him.

"Max. Wh-"

"Max! Nikki! Neil! There you are! Do you have any idea how worried I was? Gwen was searching the entire camp for you! Come on, let's get you back." David interrupted. Thankfully David hadn't noticed the wet eyes or the tear marks on Max's crestfallen face. The boy was exhausted, having a mental breakdown is definitely not fun.

By the time they got back to camp Gwen had already put everyone to sleep in their tents. Wordlessly, the trio walked into theirs, neither of them saying a word about what had happened.

"I'm worried about them Gwen. That's not really a normal reaction, he ran into the woods!" David paced around the cabin that they shared, worry as clear as day on his face. Gwen sighed and put a hand on his shoulder, effectively stopping him in his pacing, "David, walking around isn't going to help you or Max. We can handle this in the morning, otherwise go easy on the kid and make sure none of the campers get to him. Especially Preston, he's going to want to talk to Max about performing in his plays."

Both counselors shuddered. David nodded and sat down on his bed, "I know Gwen, just, I'm worried, really worried." Gwen nodded and sat beside him as well, "I am too David, but we really should deal with this in the morning."

"You're right."

The sun was well over Lake Lilac and Camp Campbell was in absolute chaos. Nurf was throwing tomatoes at the others again, Harrison managed to make Neil appear on top of the councillor's cabin, Nikki bit Preston to prevent him from stealing the hotspot from the Flower Scouts they stole, and Gwen and David were trying desperately to stop the others from screaming and knocking things over. Except for Ered, who was lounging by the bathrooms.

Max was gone. Well not really gone, he was just out for a walk in the woods. Wow, never thought that 'Max' and 'walk in the woods' would ever be in a sentence together. But he really needed to think. Last night was, stressful, to put it lightly. Nikki and Neil and the entire camp knew his secret.

God, what was he thinking! He shouldn't have done that, sing in the woods! God, what kind of fucking cliche was he! Max growled and kicked over a few stones in his path. He took a breath and stopped walking, he shouldn't even be out here anyways, it was too early and he hadn't even had his coffee.

Making up his mind, Max decided to go back and get his much needed caffeine for the day. He wasn't exactly prepared for the surprise attack when he entered the Mess Hall.

"MAX!"

With a surprised yelp and a stumble backwards, Max caught the green haired bundle of energy he called his friend.

"Nikki what the fuck!" Irritation and confusion laced his outburst. He looked to Neil for help.

But Neil only stood behind her and started to rant, "Do you even know what time it is! We didn't know where you were! You didn't talk to us about what happened! You didn't even tell us 'Oh hey Nikki, Neil, I'm just gonna go away for a bit but don't worry!'" Here he took a breath and joined Nikki in hugging him, "Don't you ever do that again!"

Max stared at them in shock and smiled, "Wow Neil, with that lecture I really think that you'd make a good mom."

Unlike his.

Max felt a pang go through his chest at the intrusive thought. He can't think like that now. But Max couldn't help it, he's been looking at all these types of families that fit the quota, his family never did.

Slowly he snaked his arms around his friends, returning the hug. He pretended not to notice the looks of surprise and worry that crossed their faces when he did so. They settled deeper into the hug.

They departed. Max silently wished it was longer, but he knew it was just that, a wish. Neil cleared his throat, "So, you want to tell us what happened last night?" Max nodded, "Yeah, let's just go somewhere where David or anyone else can't find us, I don't wanna deal with his bullshit today."

Max led his friends deep into the woods and located His spot. It was a small clearing with a bunch of crevices and dips, perfect to hide in if something happened, and thousands of flowers and towering trees. The only few animals that came by here weren't predators so they didn't have to worry about that. It was perfect.

Nikki and Neil stared in awe, it was so peaceful and quiet. So unlike Max. They focused quickly back on him and sat down on two rocks covered in moss when he gestured them to.

The silence between them stretched on until Nikki couldn't take it anymore, "You have a really nice voice Max." The broken quiet surprised him as well as the compliment, "Thanks? Yeah- what was it you guys wanted to talk about."

Max internally winced. He really didn't want to talk about this with his friends, but he knew he was only prolonging the inevitable, and by the looks of it, Neil and Nikki knew that too.

"Jurs- what happened last night Max? You just ran off the stage and we found you crying and singing in the woods." Neil asked. Nikki nodded but didn't add anything, seeming content to just find out what was bothering her friend.

Max sighed and glared down at his shoes from where he sat on the moss covered log. He had wanted to avoid this for as long as possible. Typical, the universe just loved to fuck him over didn't it.

"Well, I guess you already knew this but my parents are, asses. For better term." They nodded and Max took a deep breath, "Guess I should explain that huh. I'll sum it up in a few words. They don't care. They never did, too bad I only just spotted it a few months ago."

Only when he started beating me black and blue. Max thought ruefully.

"My dad isn't always," He hesitated, "kind, when he comes home from work. That explains why I always wore this damned hoodie huh."

Nikki's and Neil's eyes widened at the new information but made no sign to stop him. Max closed his eyes as the burning and aching sensation settled deep in his gut. "Mom was better, but she was also worse. She didn't do anything, she didn't give a shit if I lived or died from those beatings. All she cared about was if she had enough money to go out with friends or buy a new outfit for work. It was always work." He laughed dryly, "When I said they don't care, I really meant they don't care."

"Me playing the violin, singing, all those other instruments. Those were just things they made me do to keep me busy. Never cared if I got all A's but beat me if I got anything close to a C. Didn't care if I was pushed down the stairs or bullied, but yelled and screamed if I was in a fight. All they truly cared about was their reputation. I hate them."

Tears blurred Max's vision as he relayed all this information to the two friends that sat in front of him, mouths slightly agape and expression disbelieving. Max wiped the tears away before they could fall, "I-I'm going to take a walk, don't wait for me."