Knox

Maddox brought my suitcase to the foot of my bed, leaning the guitar against the wall. He watched me carefully as he walked past me in order to sit on his bed tensely. I could only glare at my things, my blood boiling the longer I stared at them.

My suitcase was completely gutted and every time I looked at it, I got madder. I wanted my fucking stash and Mary ruined everything. My clothes hung out of the case in absolute chaos, mixed in random with the lining of the suitcase. They would be wrinkled if I didn’t get up soon and put them away. I still didn’t move from the bed. 

“So,” Kayson said, looking around the room randomly, picking up on the awkwardness in the room. “You play guitar?” I wanted to strangle him. 

“Leave him alone,” Maddox scoffed. 

“I’m not allowed to ask questions now?”

“Not when he’s clearly uncomfortable,” Maddox seethed, a harsh glare on his face. Kayson rolled his eyes, focusing back on me.

“Are you uncomfortable?” His green eyes felt like they were prying into my soul as he held up his hand, looking for any dirt that could be stuck under the nails, not at all caring about whether or not I was okay with this conversation. 

“I don’t want to talk about this right now,” I sighed, rubbing a hand down my face. The lack of sleep was wearing on me and I wanted nothing more than to pass out for a while.

“Do you sing too,” Kayson asked, still not caring.

“Dude,” Maddox sighed. 

“I’m curious,” Kayson defended weakly. “A random dude shows up, is clearly a druggy, and gets dropped off with a guitar and I can’t ask questions? That doesn’t seem fair.”

“How long have you been here,” I asked with a small glare of my own. I’m a household fucking name. How do they not know who I am?

“A year,” he shrugged. There was no excuse for him to not know. To be honest, though, I was almost glad they didn’t know. I didn’t need them spreading shit around this stupid camp. Sure, I would have to deal with their allegations after we all left camp and they started talking to the press for quick cash but we could probably pay them to sign a NDA.

Eventually, I would have to deal with the whole fucking camp knowing who I was so I guess. I was glad no one knew for now. This camp was going to be a fucking mess when I finally got to leave.

I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the disemboweled suitcase on the floor. 

“Do you want me to put that away for you,” Maddox asked from his bed. His voice was gentle and I could tell without looking that there was a smile on his face.

“I can handle putting my clothes away,” I scoffed. 

“Can you,” Kayson challenged. “The evidence thus far has not led to that outcome.” I was quickly starting to understand why Maddox seemed to hate him so much. I groaned, falling backward against the bed, forcing the pillow over my head, and shutting my eyes.

“Is this a temper tantrum,” Kayson asked. “Because that was the weakest tantrum I’ve ever seen.”

“Go suck a jock jerk’s dick,” Maddox seethed.

“Can’t,” Kayson said easily, the bed creaking as he leaned against the headboard, what sounded like a bored expression on his face. “My normal distraction got a girlfriend so I’m out of options.”

“I will personally go find a half-decent dick for you if it means you go away for half an hour.”

“Sadly, our new roommate having a mental breakdown is much more interesting.” Maddox threw something in the general direction of Kayson, causing him the laugh.

“Your aim sucks,” Kayson laughed and I gave up on trying to sleep here.

I stood up from the bed and went for the door before anyone could stop me. The door slammed behind me and I couldn’t find it in myself to give a fuck. 

Only an hour had passed but in the hour the main yard came to life. People ran around screaming, some were already pushing canoes into the lake, and others were getting a game of basketball together. 

I decided I hated the main yard. It was too busy, too chaotic. My head pounded and whether that was from annoyance, lack of sleep, lack of food, or a side effect from whatever drug Mary gave me I didn’t know.

I hadn’t had a plan when I came out here. All I knew was that I wanted to get away from whatever fight my roommates were about to start but now that I was out here, part of me wanted to give up and go back.

I kept walking.

The more I saw, the more I saw the appeal of a summer camp to normal people. Everyone seemed to be having fun playing sports or reading under trees by themselves. If I were going to be here longer than a few months, I might have asked to join in on the baseball game happening in a random clearing but I shook my head from that thought. They were short a player but if they were already used to it and I joined, I would throw things off and it would feel weird to them to go back to the old way when I left. 

Still, it almost felt like a normal camp until you got a glimpse of a security guard or the barbwire fence.

It felt weird, being out here in a crowd of people, without anyone running up to me begging for pictures or autographs. Back home I could barely go to the gas station without causing a mob. It felt nice to be left alone but still very weird. 

I only made it a few steps towards the baseball game before someone was calling my name. I sighed and plastered the best smile I could muster before turning around. That smile dropped the second I saw who it was.

“I was hoping to talk to you today,” Andrew said as he jogged a bit closer before leaning over, putting his hands on his knees as he took several deep breaths. “God that was a lot of running. Your roommates said you left when I came to see you so I’ve been running around trying to find you.”

“Sorry,” I answered instinctively. “I didn’t know I was supposed to stay there all day.”

“You don’t,” he said quickly. “I’m glad you left actually. We’re just so used to people not leaving their cabin unless their roommates drag them out. It’s refreshing to see someone break that tradition.” I didn’t know what to say so I said nothing and looked back at the game. “Mary told me what happened this morning,” he said slowly, as if he trying to gauge my reaction to it. In a matter of seconds that anger I managed to forget was rushing through my veins again. “I was hoping to talk to you about it.”

“I don’t have anything to say,” I said matter of factly. “And I don’t need therapy so you can save your time.”

“Therapy is a condition of your time here. Everyone goes to therapy, no way to get out of it.” I fought back a groan.

“I could get my mom to sign something saying she doesn’t consent to it.”

“When you came to camp your parents signed guardianship over to Mary so I doubt your guardian would agree to that,” Andrew said with a small smile that made me want to punch him in the face. “We don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to but I would like to have our session sometime today and since we’re already together, might as well get it out of the way.” I ground my teeth as I bit back every insult I could think of. 

“Fine,” I seethed, certain this was about to be the longest hour of my life.