Complete and utter excitement was just one way to explain how Maverick Shirou felt as the bus grew ever nearer to the camp he was going to spend the summer at. Not only was it the chance to get away from his busy summers at home, which weren't ever short of awesome anyway, but he was finally going to spend the entire summer with his brother. That also meant there was no parents to tell them it was time for one or the other to 'get their things together it's time to go home'. Nope, he was actually going to spend a happy summer with his baby brother, just the two of them... and a gazillion other teenagers he'd never met before. It was a summer of dreams and endless possibilites...

That was until Mav looked over at Maddox in the seat beside him. The smaller boy had been brooding ever since they got off the plane and onto the bus that was going to take them to Camp Riverside. Mav had a feeling that Max wasn't going to enjoy the summer as much as he was, and really only agreed to go because he knew he couldn't handle an entire summer alone. Ah well, the fresh air would do his little brother some good.

The bus turned the corner and the large looming sign hanging on two poles stated 'Welcome to Camp Riverside', and Mav felt even more excited. The bus full of kids let out a happy cheer when they saw the cabins, and Mav joined in, nudging his brother in the side to do the same. But naturally, Max only receded into his little corner even more. Mav ignored him for the time being, paying too much attention else where. When the bus finally pulled to a stop in front of a large cabin, probably the cafeteria, Mav stood along with most the other kids, and swung his backpack over his back. Being at the end of the bus, he'd have to wait for everyone else to exit first.

So, Maverick turned to his ten month younger brother and happily exclaimed: "We're here! Com'on let's go!"

Mav was about to begin walking toward the front of the bus, that was until he noticed the Max wasn't following him. He turned back toward his little brother. Did he just say 'no'? And was he... huffing? Maybe it wasn't a huff, but it was pretty darn close to one. Mav frowned before flopping back down on the seat besides his brother. Getting off the bus could wait until Max was ready to actually get off too. Besides, Mav knew he wouldn't have any fun that summer if he knew that Max was doing nothing more than sitting on his computer, most likely getting into trouble hacking into something he shouldn't be. Naw, Max was going to have real fun this summer, whether he realized it yet or not.

Mav gave his little brother a small smile before poking him in the side. "Come on. This'll be fun, I promise." Maverick knew perfectly well that Max would never believe that, because there was nothing there at the camp he would consider even remotely fun. So, Mav knew he had to go at a different approach. One that his brother couldn't resist even if he tried.

"I'll give you a coookie." He told Max, letting the vowel hand in the air. He had a bag of cookies in his backpack, even though he knew that outside food wasn't allowed at camp. But hey, everyone brought something they shouldn't. Max had probably brought his PSP, he'd just better be willing to give it up for the next three months, just like all the rest of his electronics he had to leave at home. With another thought, Mav wasn't too sure just the thought of a simple cookie would make it through his brothers head. So, he bent forward to whisper into Max's ear, just so only he could hear. "They're double chocolate fudge, grandma's secret recipe."

No one in their right mind could turn down grandma's secret recipe cookies. No one.

Maverick rolled his eyes at Max's over exaggeration of what the summer was going to be like. What a drama queen -- err, king. Really now, things wouldn't get that bad, and who knew maybe Max would learn a few things, make some friends that don't go by 'wallIz29', 'hankrulzz', or 'deadpuppies99' (whoops, that was his own). He might even get himself a girlfriend. Mav stopped his thoughts there. The thought of his little brother doing anything but exchanging emoticons with a girl just seemed... awkward, and he tried not to laugh at the thought. Besides, Max should just be happy that he was getting to spend the summer with Mav. He should know that Max would do anything for him, anything except go home that was.

"Fine. But I get on right now, and a couple more later, whenever I want them."

The little con artist. Maverick was going to be out of cookies by the end of the day just trying to get Max off the bus and into their cabin. He was definitely calling home and asking their mom to send him a giant box of cookies just to bribe his brother with. Maverick frowned as if he were contemplating it over, but Max probably already knew the cookies were his.

With a slightly over exaggerated sigh, Mav swung his bag off his shoulders and onto his lap. He looked around the bus, there were only a few other lingering and getting their own things, but none of them were paying any attention to the two brothers. Maverick really didn't want to hand over any more cookies as 'quiet money'. "Fine. One now. Two when we get to the cabin and all your things are unpacked. And you have to promise me you'll give camp a try for at least a week. If you don't like it by Friday, we'll call dad and you can go home. But I'm staying." No way in hell was he going back home to spend the summer with basketball and surf coaches. He wanted a summer schedule that didn't involve, well, scheduling.

He unzipped his bag and pulled out a Gladware container full of extremely dark coloured cookies. "One," he reminded his brother. "And if anyone asks, you didn't get it from me." He pulled up the corner of the lid just high enough for his brother to grab one, but not so high that other people could see what the contents of the container were.

Mav gave a role of his eyes as Max began to whine again, and this time for more cookies. If the whining ever ended... there would be silence, and Mav would believe he had gone deaf. So, basically he had gotten used to the non-stop whining from his little brother, and it had become a part of his life. But what he hadn't fully expected was for Max to steal two cookies. Though he should have seen that too. Max never played fair.

Mav quickly snapped the lid shut before Max had the chance to have another go at the cookies. "I said one," he stated with a slight hiss. Once the lid was secure again, Maverick brought his hand up and gave Max a swift smack upside the head. It wasn't a hard hit, but definitely enough for Max to feel it.

Maverick then proceeded to put the box into his bag and zipped it up again. He made a mental note to hide the box as soon as they got into the cabin. "Come on you little cheat. Let's go sign in so we can get our cabin."

He stood again, and put his bag back on his shoulders. He reached down and over, wrapping one of his hands around Max's wrist and pulled him to his feet before reaching down and picking up Max's bag for him. Everyone else was off the bus all ready, they were the last two to get off, and probably sign in. Hopefully no one stole their bags, or picked them up by mistake. Maverick pushed Max in front of him, and kept one of his hands on his lower back to keep him moving down the aisle with out (hopefully) causing too much trouble. That was when he began to wonder where the heck Max had put the second cookie. He stopped briefly before frowning. "You didn't stick that cookie... down your pants did you?"