Here's Chapter 2. Updates are likely to be sporadic and unpredictable, but I'll try to minimize the time in-between chapters as much as possible. I like the appraisal I got for the first chapter, so thank you, everyone. Once again, I do not own Camp Camp, its characters, or its story; it's all Rooster Teeth(love you guys, thank you for providing me entertainment). I feel like I should say, with this being my first fanfiction, it's more than likely going to fall apart at some point, either in flow or in quality, but until then, I hope you enjoy it.
David had been looking for Harrison for roughly 20 minutes; first checking around his magic stage, and then other areas of the camp he frequented. He had had no luck thus far though, and he didn't really know where to look next. David was starting to get worried and decided to ask the only person who might know more about where Harrison may have gone.
David began making his way back to the mess hall, before seeing Preston sitting at his theatre stage with a thoughtful, and slightly melancholic expression; David ran over, unwilling to dilly daddle when Harrison was still missing.
"Preston! Do you have any idea where Harrison may have run off too? I've looked everywhere I can think, and I'm really starting to worry."
Preston seemed to snap out of his thoughts when David began talking, and after a moment of confused silence, spoke.
"Ummm, well, there is a secluded part of the forest he likes to go to sometimes in order to practice some of his magic in private. I believe he also said he goes there to think, so, he might be there."
"Do you know where it is?"
Preston pointed in a direction off into the forest, and, once being given a decent idea of what to look for, David turned to begin running.
"Hey, David!" Preston called before David could get too far.
David did a quick side turn. "Yes, Preston? Quickly please, I really need to find Harrison."
Preston stood for a moment, and then said, "I know that what Harrison did was bad, but Nerris said something way out of line. Besides that, I don't think Harrison really intended for it to escalate that far; don't be too hard on him, please, he's probably beating himself up about it right now."
With a second to reflect, and a quick nod, David ran off into the woods.
David didn't know what to do. Harrison and Nerris had been in tons of arguments before, and while he didn't like it, it was usually harmless. This time though, it was more than a simply disagreement, or a minor scuffle. Nerris could have been seriously hurt, and it was apparently because she said something that was enough for Harrison to actually retaliate. That was a first; Harrison never started the fights.
It was all confusing and worrying, and David knew he'd have to put in some extra work to get them to get along. He'd been focused on other things, namely Max and keeping the camp running without Campbell, but it was clear that this would have to be his next priority. Getting Nerris and Harrison to become friends was at the very forefront of his mind, but, he had no idea how he was going to achieve that.
They had different opinions, different personalities, different interests, and were all around just different. All of that added onto the fact that they seemed to despise each other, made a recipe for failure. David was nothing if not persistent though, so, he'd give it the old college try.
Coming upon a small clearing in the trees, David saw what he was looking for. A single ace of diamonds, neatly pierced onto a low tree branch. Not horribly noticable, but once you knew what to look for, it wasn't too hard to find. That meant he was in the right place according to Preston.
Looking around, David almost thought he had once again hit the proverbial wall with his searching, but he heard the soft sound of muffled sobbing a bit beyond the treeline of the clearing. Walking over he found Harrison sitting against a tree crying into his hands, completely oblivious to the fact that David was no more than seven feet from him.
"Are you okay, Harrison?" Said David softly.
Back with Preston, right around the time David went into the forest.
Preston had been sitting on that stage thinking for a while before David showed up, and after David left he went right back to it.
It was clear that this dual friendship he had with the two magic rivals couldn't go on in its current form. He loved them both dearly, like siblings. They both had a love and passion for magic(albeit with their own definitions), which was matched only by Preston's love and passion for performance and theatre. It was why he enjoyed being friends with the both of them so much, and why he tried so hard to get them to become friends themselves.
Preston didn't want to admit it, but he might have to stop being friends with one of them. He couldn't handle the constant friction and strife, the way he'd have to choose who to hang out with for the day because they couldn't stand being in the same room as each other without Nerris insulting Harrison, and it spiraling into another quarrel.
When Preston was hanging out with Nerris, he enjoyed the way she acted out her campaigns, and the way she put so much thought into their stories; there was almost no limit to her imagination. When Preston was hanging out with Harrison, he enjoyed his immense showmanship, and impeccable flair; he had a gift for drawing crowds and keeping them interested.
Which is why it hurt so much that they couldn't seem to get along; they couldn't combine their talents and passion to create something beautiful.
Preston thought it was going okay; sure they'd fight and argue a lot, but he was sure they'd work it out eventually. Then, this morning happened.
It was the usual argument, "my magic is better than your magic, blah blah blah." Then, Nerris brought up Harrison's parents.
Being the go-between best friend for the two of them, Preston knew things about the two that they hadn't told others, and certainly hadn't told each other. Harrison's parents were a big taboo topic, and even if they weren't, it was just a dick move in general to insinuate that someone's parents didn't like them.
Nerris had crossed a line, one that should've been obvious, but for some reason Nerris never seemed to care about. Nerris at every turn insulted Harrison for whatever flavour of the day it was, and every day Harrison would sit and take it, occasionally throwing back some half-baked comebacks, but usually just sitting there with an upset, or hurt look on his face.
Preston made a decision; it was a gamble, but it might just work out.
And with that, Preston got up to go and talk to Nerris.
Personally, I don't feel as secure with this chapter as I felt with the first one. Sure, the story progressed, but I felt like it was weak in some spots. Mainly the end bit with Preston, as I couldn't find a way for that to not seem like a bit of a cop out. Then again, this is my first story, and I don't really know how to write Preston. We'll see how it goes. Also, sorry this chapter is a bit shorter.
In the next chapter, we see what Harrison was thinking about when he was running, we see Nerris again, and we have a small conversation between David and Harrison.
