Max followed David, Jasper, and Daniel into the woods. He expected Nikki and Neil to follow so he didn't look back. He was also trying to hide the stupid smile on his face.

He had no clue as to why he was smiling, he just felt like smiling when around Neil. Max found it really stupid and annoying. You know, cause he's Max.

Nikki ran ahead of Max and began climbing various trees, not listening when Jasper told her multiple times to "get down from there and stay on the trails."

Neil caught up to Max and walked beside him. He didn't say anything, but instead continuously glanced over at the small pessimistic child.

"Hiking sucks. We could be enjoying our day doing nothing! But no, now we have to walk around through the forest and be bombarded by mosquitoes!" Max complained.

Neil nodded, "ya. I was really looking forward to having the day dedicated to us doing nothing." He was holding the straps of his backpack and squeezing them, hoping he hadn't said anything wrong.

Max nodded and shoved his hands into his hoodie pocket.

David suddenly stopped Daniel and Jasper, causing the rest of the campers to have to stop. He brought a finger to his lips, motioning for everyone to be quiet and then pointed into the woods.

Jasper followed David's finger and gasped as he saw a deer. "Wow." He whispered.

Daniel looked at the deer and smiled. He didn't really care, but it was a nice looking deer.

Suddenly, Nikki dropped from a tree and landed on the deer. She let out some sort of war cry, "RAAAAAH!!"

David screamed as Nikki half rode - half killed (?) the deer as it panicked and ran around the woods.

Jasper looked in disbelief and shock while Daniel continued to smile and watched the show. He seemed to be thinking about something.

Neil stared at Nikki and Max smiled. "I bet you she kills it." He says, elbowing Neil.

Neil looked down at Max, "what will we do with a dead deer?"

Max just shrugged.

They heard laughing come from behind them and saw one of the new campers smiling and laughing.

They ignored them and watched as the deer ran into a tree and must have passed out. Jasper ran over to it and grabbed Nikki. "Ok, so, you are not leaving mine or David's sight. Or Daniel's." He said, carrying Nikki over to the other counselors.

"Aaawwwwww, but I was having fuuuun!" Nikki groaned.

Jasper just shrugged and continued walking down the trail as if nothing ever happened.

The campers followed the counselors. Nikki tried to get away from them, but Jasper had her hand in a death grip. And, Everytime she tried to run, Daniel would give her the I-will-murder-you-if-you-try-to-pull-that-bullshit-again kind of look.

Max and Neil walked towards the end of the group and chatted about random things.

It was mostly Neil who said everything as he went on about how stupid the school system is and how they are trying to make him stupider. Max barely listened and found himself staring at Neil, smiling at how passionate he is about the things he talks about.

"What do you think Max?" Neil asked, snapping Max out of his daze.

"Whut...?"

"What do you think about the school lunches?" Neil said slowly, as if Max wouldn't understand.

"Oh, yeah, they suck. I don't see why I have to pay so much for crappy food." Max replied.

"Yeah.." Neil let out an exasperated sigh.

"Hey guys!" Nikki said, running up to the two boys.

"Uh, hey Nikki. What are you doing?" Neil asked.

"Well, I was talking to the new camper. Their name is Sam and their pretty cool! I like them! Welp, I'mma probably be sharing a tent with either them or Ered. See ya!" Nikki said before running back to the new camper.

Max and Neil waved to Nikki as she pointed to them. The new camper with a purple hoodie looked at them.

"You know what confuses me? The fact that no one seems to know this new camper's gender! Are they a boy? A girl? Neither? Somehow both?? It's frustrating to say the least!" Max ranted. Neil nodded his head.

"I think they're non-binary. Meaning they don't go by male or female pronouns." Neil explained.

Max rolled his eyes. "Then what pronouns do they use? They/them? Wait, no, never mind, don't answer that."

Neil laughed a bit.

"Alright guys, we're here!" Jasper called from the front of the hiking group.

The campers looked around.

They were in a big clearing with a small river going to the lake and a huge oak that looks to be as old as time. It also looks like it's been struck by lightning more than once.

Nikki immediately began climbing the oak, with Sam and the other new kid watching.

"Nikki, that's dangerous. Please come down." Daniel said, looking up at Nikki.

"Never!!" She yelled. She then proceeded to drop unhatched bird eggs on top of Daniel's head.

The egg yolks we're all bloody and gross and shit.

Daniel wiped the bloody yolk from his face. "Well, that didn't feel good. Now, Nikki, I'm going to count to three. And, well, let's just say that you don't want to know what will happen when I reach three." He said, turning his neck.

"C'mon, let's go burn some ants with a magnifying glass." Max said, pulling Neil by the arm to a giant ant pile.

"But, what about Nikki?" He asked, looking back as Daniel slowly began to count.

"She'll survive. She always does. Now come on." Max said.

Neil hesitated a bit but followed Max. He took out his magnifying glass and handed it to the smaller boy.

Max burned as many ants as he could, watching as they wriggle around. He smiled evilly.

Neil melted as he saw they smile.

Even if it's evil, it's still worth something to Neil.

"Hey Neil, go get a stick so I can break into the pile and find the queen." Max ordered.

Neil did as told and found a long stick.

"Perfect! Give it here and watch this." Max took the stick and began churning the loose dirt, causing millions of ants to appear.

Neil stared wide eyes and stepped back, not wanting to be attacked by the ants.

The ants quickly began to climb the stick, but Max continued to move around the dirt.

"Uh, Max, maybe you should drop the stick now..."

"Not yet, I almost see the - ow! Fuck!" Max dropped the stick and tried to get the ants off of his hand. There were at least ten.

Sighing, Neil digged in his bag and grabbed his pepper spray. His mom gave it to him just in case.

He sprayed Max's hand and ordered him to stick it in the river.

Cursing and swearing under his breath, Max made his way to the water and stuck his hand in. "This is stupid..."

Neil walked behind him, smirking.

"And don't you dare say -"

"I told you so."

Max groaned. He looked back at Neil but quickly looked away when he saw Neil smirking.

Max would never admit it, but he was smiling. A lot. And blushing a little.