Where we last left our contestants, they were standing at the edge of a towering one-thousand-foot cliff, peering down with wide, anxious eyes. Below them shimmered the surface of a vast, seemingly peaceful lake, but nestled in its depths were the ominous shadows of danger—and the targets they were meant to hit.
"Okay, today's challenge is three-fold. Your first task is to jump off this one-thousand-foot high cliff, into the lake."
"ARE YOU LOCO???!!!"
"Don't worry, Ronnie. This is a piece of cake."
The surfer girl immediately regretted her casual reassurance as Chris continued with his signature, twisted grin.
"If you look down, you'll see two target areas. The wider part represents the section of the lake that we've—hahaha—stocked with psychotic, man-eating sharks. Inside that area is a smaller safe zone. That's your actual target. Which we're pretty sure is shark-free."
The campers leaned over the edge, their eyes scanning the water below. Two concentric circles were visible on the lake's surface. The larger outer ring teemed with movement—dark fins slicing the water as sharks swam in hungry anticipation. The sight drew a collective gulp from the group.
"Ex-cuse me?"
Leshawna's voice rang out in disbelief, but Chris, unfazed, ignored the completely valid concern.
"For each member of your team who jumps—and actually survives—there will be a crate of supplies waiting down below. Inside each crate are materials you'll need for the second part of the challenge: building a hot tub. The team with the best one gets to have a wicked hot tub party tonight. The losers will be sending someone home."
The air around them grew heavier with tension. it was still their first day on the island—and already the stakes were sky-high, quite literally.
"Killer Bass, you're up first."
"So, who's going?" someone muttered.
Eva stepped forward, her usual stoic glare aimed ahead while the rest of the Killer Bass tried to blend in with the background, hoping to be invisible.
"Ladies first," Duncan said with a smirk, flashing a smug glance at Courtney. She narrowed her eyes, clearly unamused by the delinquent's taunt.
No one was eager to be the first jumper, but then, from the group, a slim, pale teen with white hair stepped forward. His orange swim trunks contrasted with his black tank top, and though his face was composed, the hesitation in his stride was impossible to miss.
———-.
LINCOLN – CONFESSIONAL
Lincoln sat in front of the camera, his hands covering his face. "I was so scared, but I need to prove myself to my team." He lowered his hands, looking directly at the lens. "Without Ronnie Anne, I don't really have any friends on my side right now, so… i gotta prove myself."
—————-
"This is officially the dumbest thing I've ever done in my life."
Back at the cliff, Lincoln cautiously stepped closer to the edge, preparing to jump—until Ronnie Anne rushed forward and grabbed his arm, halting him mid-step.
"WHOA! Link, are you sure you even wanna jump at all?"
"Hey!" Heather shouted, annoyed. "He's on the wrong team, so ponytail, get your butt back over here now!"
Ronnie Anne whipped around, locking eyes with the queen bee. The two girls glared at each other, tension crackling in the air—until Owen, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood.
"Don't worry, guys. Shows like this use interns to make sure the stunts are survivable… right?"
He looked to Chris for confirmation. The host gave a shrug, grinning like a kid caught with matches.
"Welllll~ Chef made it… soooo that counts, right?"
"I'm going to die at a very young age," Lincoln muttered, deadpan. His dark humor didn't ease Ronnie Anne's nerves; in fact, it seemed to make her even more anxious.
"Don't worry, you two."
Bridgette stepped up beside them, placing a calming hand on Ronnie Anne's shoulder. The surfer girl met Lincoln's eyes with a confident nod.
"You got this, Link. Once you're in the safe zone, I'm right behind you."
Her words seemed to anchor him. Lincoln took a deep breath, then nodded.
"Yeah, you're right, Bridgette. I'm gonna be fine," he said to Ronnie Anne, trying to reassure her one last time.
He backed up several steps, took a running start, and launched himself into the air.
"CANNNNOOONNNNBALLLLLLLL!!!!!"
His shout echoed down the cliff as the remaining Killer Bass and Ronnie Anne peered over the edge, holding their breath.
Lincoln hit the water with a tremendous splash. For a moment, there was only silence—then he surfaced, thrashing and glancing around to check his landing spot.
"WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!! I MADE IT!!!!"
He had landed perfectly in the safe zone. Chef, waiting in the "boat of losers," waved from nearby. The rest of the Bass team broke into cheers, except for Ronnie Anne, who clutched her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.
Bridgette gave her a quick pat. "Told you he'd be fine. Welp—I'm next."
Without hesitation, she dove off the cliff in a graceful arc, slicing through the air with arms outstretched. She landed cleanly in the safe zone, surfacing with a loud whoop as Chef pulled up beside her and Lincoln.
"THAT WAS CRAZY!!" she shouted, still buzzing with adrenaline.
Lincoln reached out and helped her into the boat, both grinning from ear to ear.
Back on the ledge, Tyler was practically vibrating with excitement.
"She did it! Yeah! Yeah! I'm next!"
The hyper athlete sprinted forward and leapt.
"Cowabunga! Hoo-hoo!"
Tyler was loving every second—right up until he collided painfully with one of the floating buoys in the water.
"Ohh…" he groaned weakly, the air knocked out of him.
"Ooh…" Lincoln winced. "Oh man, that hurt to watch," Bridgette added as they watched him slowly slide off the buoy into the lake.
The two helped Tyler into the boat, just as more contestants took the leap.
"Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!"
"Look out below!"
"…"
Geoff, Eva, and Duncan jumped in quick succession—Duncan folding his arms like he couldn't care less about the height. All three landed without incident.
But not everyone was handling the challenge well.
"Uh uh, no way, man. I'm not jumpin'."
DJ stood trembling, his knees wobbling as he backed away from the edge. The cliff's height stirred up long-buried trauma from his childhood.
"Scared of heights?"
"Yeah… ever since I was a kid."
Chris nodded slowly, feigning sympathy. "That's okay, big guy. Unfortunately, that also makes you a chicken. So, you'll have to wear this for the rest of the day."
He plopped a yellow chicken hat onto DJ's head with theatrical flair.
"Aw man, for real?"
"Bawk-bawk-bawk! That means the chicken's path down is that-a-way. Next?"
Shoulders slumped in defeat, DJ walked to the nearby escalator, head hung low.
Ezekiel, without a word, stepped forward—and jumped.
"Yee-haw!"
Ezekiel launched himself into the air, hollering with glee—right up until his shoulder clipped the mountainside, sending him into a chaotic, spinning freefall like a rogue pinwheel before he finally crashed into the lake below.
Lincoln, Bridgette, Geoff, Eva, and Duncan all erupted in cheers for the homeschooled boy's wild (if clumsy) descent.
The next Bass to step up was Harold.
"Yes!"
The ginger nerd pumped his fists, clearly psyched to make the jump. He was aiming for something epic, maybe even legendary. As he dove, his long limbs flailed with enthusiasm—until disaster struck.
Harold hit the water awkwardly, his legs splayed wide—and landed crotch-first.
"Wah!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
His shriek echoed through the valley, a sound so shrill it sent flocks of birds fleeing from the treetops. Even the sharks lurking below seemed to wince in shared, sympathetic agony.
"Ow!" Harold moaned as he slowly sank beneath the surface, cradling his pride—and other things.
On the beach, the remaining Bass winced.
"That was brutal."
"Seriously."
Lincoln and Geoff exchanged a look of pained sympathy as the moment seared itself into collective memory.
Even Chris, ever the sadistic showman, blinked at the screen, uncharacteristically disturbed.
"Ohhh… hate to see that happen," he muttered with a smirk that couldn't quite mask his secondhand cringe.
He was quickly distracted as Courtney approached him with purpose.
"Excuse me, Chris. I have a medical condition."
Chris raised an eyebrow, trying to recall if she'd mentioned that during casting.
"What condition?"
"A condition that prevents me from jumping off cliffs."
Chris rolled his eyes so hard they practically circled his skull.
"You can chicken out if you want, but it might end up costing your team the win... and then they'll hate you."
"It's a calculated risk. I've seen the other team—I don't think ten of them will jump."
Chris grinned, grabbing the infamous yellow chicken hat.
"All right, here's your chicken hat."
Courtney scowled as the fuzzy humiliation was placed on her head and walked toward the escalator without another word.
Chris checked his clipboard and scanned the area.
"So let's tally up the results… hold on. That's nine jumpers and two chickens. We're missing one."
His gaze shifted to the cliffside, where the final Bass camper stood—arms wrapped tightly around her Gopher friend.
"I'm not jumping without Katie!"
"We have to be on the same team, Chris! Please!"
"Please! Can we? Can we, can we, Chris? Can we, can we, can we?!"
The girls' combined whining was grating enough to make a shark plug its ears. Before Chris could lose what little patience he had, Ronnie Anne stepped in.
"If she really needs to switch teams, I can swap with her."
Chris's face twisted in irritation.
"Not happening, chica."
Ronnie Anne narrowed her eyes at the host, clearly ready to pop off—until Izzy chimed in from out of nowhere.
"I'll switch places with her!"
Chris groaned, rubbing his temples.
"Fine. You're both on Killer Bass now. Izzy, you're on the Screaming Gophers."
"Yes!!"
The girls hugged and immediately bolted toward their new team. Ronnie Anne gave Chris a look that screamed what the hell?
"That means you're up, girls!"
"We're coming, Killer Bass!"
They leapt together, screaming joyfully before splashing down safely in the lake.
Chris scribbled a final note onto his clipboard.
"Okay, that's ten jumpers and two chickens. Screaming Gophers, if you can beat that, we'll throw in a pull-cart to haul your crates."
"Okay, hold up!"
Ronnie Anne's voice snapped Chris's attention back to her as she stalked up, hands on her hips.
"Why'd you let her switch teams, but not me?"
Chris grinned like a fox in a henhouse.
"Missing your boyfriend, Ronalda~?"
Her face went bright red.
"HE IS NOT MY BOYFRIEND!!"
Lindsay scratched her head confused by the Hispanic girl.
"Really? I mean, you two have great chemistry."
Lindsay, clueless as ever, chimed in but Ronnie Anne's glare was enough to silence the blonde.
Chris raised a hand, playing mediator in his own chaotic way.
"Look, it was a prerequisite this season to split up lifelong friends on different teams, Sadie and Katie share one brain and—worse—their whining could shatter glass. You and Lincoln? You're close, but not surgically attached."
Ronnie Anne cracked her knuckles, and Chris instinctively took a step back.
"Whoa there, girl."
Leshawna stepped in to cool things down.
"Look, these shows always break up the teams eventually. When that happens, you and Snowball can squad up with the rest of your crew. Cool?"
Ronnie Anne stared at her for a beat. Seeing the sincerity in Leshawna's expression, she sighed and backed off. The two walked back to the Gophers just as Trent stepped up.
"Okay, guys, who's up first?"
Nobody volunteered. The silence was thick.
"I'm sorry, there is no way I'm doing this."
Heather's voice rang out, loud and unapologetic.
"Why not?" Gwen asked, raising a brow.
"Hello? National TV? I'll get my hair wet."
Ronnie Anne groaned.
"Would you rather have wet hair, or be voted off? Because if we lose, you're gone."
Heather snapped around with venom in her voice.
"Don't you say a word, you big-butt traitor! You just want to be with your albino boyfriend!"
Ronnie Anne stepped right into her face.
"Okay, first—don't talk about my body, you walking stick bug. Second, Lincoln is not an albino. And third—HE IS NOT MY BOYFRIEND!!"
Their eyes locked in a battle of wills, tension rising—until Chris intervened.
"As much as I love this, and I do, we need to keep the show moving. Jumping or not?"
Ronnie Anne inhaled deeply, then turned to the cliff.
"I'll jump—mainly to get away from this bruja flaca."
With a fierce run and zero hesitation, she launched herself off the edge, twisting midair into a clean, flawless dive.
"WOOOOOOOO!!!! THAT WAS EPIC!!!"
Cheers erupted from the Gophers above.
"Girl, you are wild and crazy!!" Leshawna shouted after her as Chris marked down the first jumper for the Gophers.
"Who's next?"
"I'm still not jumping," Heather huffed.
"You're kidding, right?" Gwen was already beyond annoyed.
"If she's not doing it, I'm not doing it!" Lindsay echoed, arms crossed.
Leshawna wasn't having it.
"Oh, you're doing it!"
"Says who?!"
"Says me! Ronnie did it, so you can too! And like she said if you cost us this challenge, you're gone, you spoiled little daddy's girl!"
"Back off, ghetto-glamour, too-tight-pants-wearing rap star wannabe!"
"Mall-shopping, ponytail-wearing, teen-girl-reading, peaking-in-high-school prom queen!"
Everyone stepped back, fully expecting a fight.
"Well, at least I'm popular."
That did it.
Leshawna grabbed Heather by the waist and yeeted her right off the cliff.
"AHHHHHHH—!!"
She resurfaced, coughing and sputtering.
"Leshawna! You are so dead!"
Ronnie Anne pulled her onto the boat, smirking.
"What happened to 'not getting your hair wet,' hmm?"
"Don't talk to me, Grande-Butt! Leshawna can't believe you threw me!"
"Hey, I tossed you into the safe zone, didn't I now I just gotta hope I can hit it."
Leshawna followed up with her own flawless dive.
Lindsay stood at the edge, trembling.
"I thought this was going to be a talent contest…"
"Hahaha! Yeah! No."
After Chris answered she finally jumped, arms and legs flailing wildly.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Gwen and Cody followed suit, all three of them shrieking all the way down.
"WHOOOOHOOO!"
And then Izzy jumped—arms wide, laughing maniacally all the way.
Justin leapt next but overshot the safe zone.
"Paddle! Paddle!"
Leshawna, Gwen, and Cody waved him over, but the sharks closed in fast—until Justin turned around.
The sharks stopped.
Heavenly music played.
He smiled.
They… swooned.
He was carried to shore on the backs of the sharks.
The other contestants stared in disbelief.
Ronnie Anne blinked.
"What is happening?"
"Justin's~ handsome face charmed the sharks," Lindsay said dreamily.
"…No seriously,
—————
Ronnie Anne – CONFESSIONAL
"I seriously want an answer for that, Justin is not that handsome or cute… and no I'm not blind, I just think there are more… handsome boys out there… someone cute and sweet with the biggest heart ever… yeah there is…. I meant… like… SHUT UP!!!" Ronnie Anne punches the camera, causing the screen to burst into static.
————
High up on the cliff, Beth stood frozen, her entire body trembling as she stared at the open air in front of her. Fear had taken hold of her like a vice, and it was clear she couldn't go through with the jump.
"I… I can't do it. I'm too scared," she stammered, voice quaking.
Chris, wasting no time, popped the dreaded chicken hat onto Beth's head with a smirk. Beth, defeated, turned to head toward the escalator.
"I'm sorry!"
"Bawk, bawk, bawk!" Leshawna and Cody immediately jumped on the opportunity to roast Beth for backing out.
"That is like, so lame… right?" Lindsay asked with a disgusted tone. "Fully lame," Heather agreed.as she stared up with her arms crossed and exuding smugness, nodded along. She found it pathetic how Beth backed out so close to clinching the challenge.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ronnie Anne interjected, crossing her arms. "You had to be thrown off the damn cliff. Stick bug."
Heather shot her a venomous glare.
"Mind your business, thunder thighs. Go make out with your guppie boyfriend."
"Not my boyfriend, you bruja de disco rayado."
————
The last two Gophers remaining were Trent and Owen. Trent approached the cliff with a confident grin, exchanging a solid high-five with Owen before stepping forward.
"Let's do this!"
He leapt with arms stretched high, soaring through the air before landing perfectly in the safe zone.
"Yeah! Woo!"
Now, everything came down to one last person. Owen.
"Okay, campers!" Chris announced from below, his voice still booming through the megaphone. "There's only one person left! You guys need this jump for the win!" He turned to Owen, still using the megaphone. "No pressure, dude."
At first, Owen looked relieved—until Chris added with a grin: "Okay, there's pressure!"
Owen's nerves returned in full force as the rest of the Gophers began chanting.
"Go, Owen, you can do it, Owen! Go, Owen!"
Lindsay, Leshawna, Cody, Gwen, and Izzy shouted encouraging words, trying to hype him up while Heather, as usual, barked orders instead of support.
——-
Owen – CONFESSIONAL
"Oh, I was pretty darn nervous. See, the thing is, I'm not that strong a swimmer."
Geoff – CONFESSIONAL
"I'm looking at this guy and thinking, 'There's no way he's gonna make it.'"
Gwen – CONFESSIONAL
"I actually thought, 'If he jumps this, he's gonna die.'"
Ronnie Anne – CONFESSIONAL
"I fully thought if he jump he'd end up in traction, the dude's belly flop would be like an atomic blast—it would probably cause the island to become like Fallout minus the deathclaws… god I hope so."
—
Chris, trying to sound motivating, offered a final nudge. "Take a good run at it, buddy. You can do this!"
Owen nodded, backing up a few feet to give himself a running start.
"I'm going to die now. I'm going to freaking die now."
All eyes were glued to him from below. The campers watched, breath held, as the outcome of the challenge now rested on Owen's massive shoulders.
"Come on, big guy!" Leshawna shouted.
Fueled by her encouragement, Owen took off running—and leapt.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
He screamed all the way down. The sheer velocity of his fall was terrifying. Chris's eyes widened. In the water, Trent and Noah looked up in alarm, bracing for impact. On shore, the other campers backed away instinctively.
"OOOOOOHHHHHH, CCCCRRRAAAPPPPP!!!!!!"
—
SPLAAAAAAAASSSSSHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The sound echoed like thunder. The resulting shockwave from Owen's legendary belly flop sent a 30-foot wall of water crashing in every direction. Campers were thrown back like bowling pins, sharks were launched into the trees, and even the boat was knocked clean out of the water. Chef Hatchet stared in stunned disbelief.
"That was the most epic belly flop in human history," Lincoln had gasped. "…No argument here."
Ronnie Anne was blown away by how epic Owen's drop had been, both figuratively and literally.
Lincoln reached down and helped Ronnie Anne up as everyone tried to recover from the watery chaos.
"Yes! Yeah! Oh yeah, who's the man?" Owen resurfaced triumphantly, arms raised. He had landed in the safe zone.
"Wooooohoooo!!!" "Yes!" Beth and Leshawna cheered.
Chris raised the megaphone again. "The winners! The Screaming Gophers!"
Cheers erupted from the victorious team.
"That was awesome, dude! What's wrong?" Trent asked.
"I, uh, think I lost my bathing suit."
A collective groan rose from the campers, their expressions a mix of horror and nausea.
———————
Later, in the makeshift changing tents Chris had set up, the campers were drying off and getting out of their swimsuits.
"That was easily the craziest thing I've ever done," Bridgette said, adjusting her clothes. "Oh totally," Ronnie Anne agreed. "I've seen surfers get bit by sharks, but I've never jumped from something that high up before."
The two girls leaned near the crates their teams would soon haul.
"If this is the first day here," Bridgette said, nervous, "I'm honestly worried about what's next."
"Don't think like that," Ronnie Anne replied. "Focus on today's problem, not tomorrow's. Plus, there's still the hundred grand. Always remember—that's why we're putting up with Chris."
Bridgette smiled at her friend's advice just as Lincoln walked over.
"Hey Ronnie, hey Bridgette. How are you girls holding up after… all that?"
Ronnie Anne gave a so-so hand gesture while Bridgette smirked.
"We're fine, Lincoln. Don't worry."
He fist-bumped Bridgette, then Ronnie Anne noticed the rest of the teams arriving.
"This is where we part ways… and Link… I wanted to say… that was pretty brave of you to step up and go first." Her cheeks flushed pink.
"Oh… it was no big deal," Lincoln said, scratching his neck. "Someone needed to be first… and I'm glad you made it safe."
Ronnie Anne's blush deepened. She gave a small wave before walking away to her team and tugging her crate.
Lincoln watched her go, smiling softly to himself. Just being here with her meant the world to him… as friends, of course… yeah… just friends.
"You like her, don't you?"
Lincoln jumped. He had completely forgotten Bridgette was standing nearby—and had seen everything.
"No I don't… I-I m-mean I like her… as a friend… but not… like in that… way… I mean in a… romantic sense… Ya know."
Bridgette smirked.
"I know, Lincoln."
Lincoln didn't say another word. He stiffly walked back to his crate like a malfunctioning robot, while Bridgette's smirk grew wider.
—————
Bridgette – CONFESSIONAL
"Lincoln is so in love with Ronnie Anne it's honestly the cutest thing ever. Wonder if I could help them a little bit."
The Screaming Gophers had no trouble moving their crates. With carts to help, the job was so easy they broke into song.
"Forty-nine bottles of pop on the wall, forty-nine bottles of pop…"
Meanwhile, over with the Killer Bass, things were not going as smoothly. Most of them were clearly struggling—Duncan was kicking crates forward, DJ had to flip his box to move it, and others looked completely worn down.
"Ow! I think I just got a splinter!" Courtney yelped, pulling her hand back.
Eva stomped over and hoisted Courtney's crate with one arm like it weighed nothing.
"Shut up, and pick up your crate… chicken."
The message was loud and clear—Eva wasn't here to baby anyone.
"Hey! I'm the only one with C.I.T. camping experience here. You need me!" Courtney argued.
Eva and DJ exchanged skeptical glances. Neither looked particularly convinced.
Tyler was doing okay… until he abruptly stopped and dropped his crate.
"Ugh, I gotta take a whiz."
"Hurry up, we're already behind," Eva snapped.
"Oh, I have to go too." "You do? Oh my gosh, me too!" Katie and Sadie abandoned their crates and skipped into the woods.
"Those two are weirdly synchronized," Lincoln muttered. "For real," Harold agreed.
Courtney kept trying to push her crate when a fly buzzed past her ear—and straight into her eye.
"Ow! I think something just bit me!"
Her eye began swelling instantly. Lincoln ran over.
"Courtney! Are you okay?"
"Does it look like I'm okay!!??" she snapped.
"Whoa, easy, Courtney. I can fix this, no problem. I'll be a minute—I saw what we needed on the way back. Just chill."
Lincoln darted off and returned with leaves and a long vine. He crouched beside her, inspecting the puffiness.
"What bit your eye was most likely a black fly," he explained which Courtney's good eye widened with concern. "It's not gonna cause any permanent damage. It'll just sting and puff up for a while."
That seemed to calm her down. Lincoln got to work, tearing a small leaf into pieces, placing them in a larger one, and then carefully applying the bundle over her eye. He secured it with the vine, forming a makeshift cooling patch.
It wasn't fancy—but it worked.
"How does your eye feel, Courtney?"
Courtney feels her eye through the leaves and it feels a thousand times better already.
"It feels… better, like a lot better. Thanks, Link."
"No prob."
Bridgette and Harold walked up and admired Lincoln's handwork.
"Pretty cool, Lincoln… wait is that…"
"Holy basil. Used to treat inflammation of the eyes. I wrapped the smaller leaves into a larger one and boom—instant cooling patch."
Lincoln answers Bridgette's question as Harold admires Lincoln's handiwork.
"Awesome, you got mad skillz, Lincoln."
Courtney shoved the ginger back as he got way too close for comfort.
"Where'd you learn to do stuff like this?"
"I'm a big fan of Rip Hardcore and have read all his books cover to cover, like, five times. Plus I've done wilderness survival training and managed to spend a week out in the woods by myself."
The Bass all look surprised—seems like they've got a good secret weapon for challenges now.
"Awesome, I got some skills too from the Muskrat Boys. I can build a hang glider out of an old tarp and sticks."
Lincoln nods his head, impressed by Harold's skill. Harold's eyes pop open just remembering something.
"Oh hey, I wanted to ask you—back in the lodge when Ronnie Anne snapped at Chef, were the two of you speaking Spanish?"
Harold's question made the rest of the Bass turn, curious now as well.
"Yeah, me and Ronnie Anne are fluent in Spanish. Most of her family is bilingual—Spanish and English. We decided to learn to speak it together. Para que podamos compartir otro pasatiempo juntos."
The sudden Spanish impresses most of the Bass. Duncan decides to make himself known.
"Cool, you and your girlfriend can speak a different language. Can you teach some? Like, how do you say 'I don't know, Piggy, the graffiti was there when I got here'? Got any tips?"
Lincoln stares blankly at the punk before answering.
"Yeah—don't break the law."
Lincoln's joke gets most of the Bass to chuckle. Even Duncan cracks a smirk.
"Man, Link, you got tons of useful skills."
"Believe me, Harold—I need to. My home is crazy, so having enough tricks and skills helps me deal."
"What's happening at home?"
Geoff decided to enter the conversation, overhearing and slightly worried something bad might be going on.
"Oh no, my home life is fine. It's just… I have a lot of sisters. So it can get hectic sometimes. But they're my family, and I love them."
"How many sisters do you have?"
"Ten."
Lincoln's answer to DJ's question causes the Bass to freeze in place, not believing the boy.
Lincoln knew this would happen. He took out his wallet and a row of photos came out, each one showing him with a different girl.
"This is Lori at her golf championship, this is Leni at a fashion show, this is Luna at her band's 'The Moon Goats' concert, this is Luan performing at a comedy club, this is Lynn winning her 8th straight football championship game, this is Lucy at her morticians club, this is Lana at a mutton busting game, this is Lola winning at the 'Lil' Miss Mean and Cute' pageant finals, this is Lisa receiving a Nobel Prize, and this is Lily planting flowers. They're all my biological sisters. None of us were adopted and we all have the same parents."
The Bass are stupefied at the news. Even Eva and Courtney are looking over the photos, each featuring Lincoln.
"Wow dude… you're serious."
"Man, I have four brothers, but dude—I've never seen a family this big."
"For real, how you this sane, dude?"
Bridgette, Geoff, and DJ all gave their opinions on the amount of sisters the Loud boy has.
"Hey, my last name isn't Loud for nothing."
Lincoln folds the photos back into his wallet.
"Me and Ronnie Anne both deal with large families. It was one of the things we bonded over."
"How many siblings does she have?"
Bridgette was rubbing her head at the mental image of having that many girls in one house.
"Oh, she only has a brother. But she lives with him, her mom, her grandparents, aunt and uncle, and four cousins."
———-
CHRIS – CONFESSIONAL
"Okay, I thought that dude was kidding about the sister thing. Man, Mr. and Mrs. Loud—I want to say, you guys have more drive than these teenagers ever will! HAHAHA! Oh man, bringing Link and Ronnie was the smart call. Who knows—with the way they look at each other, you might have some grandkids pretty soon. HAHAHA!"
"...should happen to fall, twenty-eight bottles of pop on the wall!" The gophers continued their cheerful chorus as they marched through the woods, their voices echoing through the trees. Spirits were high after a long trek, but their journey was finally reaching its end.
Beth squinted ahead and pointed excitedly. "Hey, look! There are the campgrounds!"
The gophers picked up their pace, carts rattling behind them as they pushed through the last stretch.
"That was pretty easy." "I'm pleasantly surprised!"
Owen and Cody slapped hands in triumph, proud to be the first team to arrive.
"Where are the Bass?"
While most of the Gophers relaxed, one team member stayed alert. Ronnie Anne scanned the horizon, clearly more concerned than the others.
"Worried 'bout your boo?" Leshawna's teasing grin made Ronnie Anne's cheeks flush with heat. "He's not my boo, Leshawna."
"Girl, you can't fool me. You care for that little snowball, huh?"
Ronnie Anne gave a nonchalant shrug, trying to play it cool. "He's been my best friend for five years. Yeah, I care about him."
"Girl, some of the best relationships come from friendships. Most of my friends do or have dated one another. He seems like he likes you more than a friend. I say go for it. Don't work, don't work—you can still be friends."
Ronnie Anne mulled over Leshawna's advice, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. Still unsure, the tough, tomboyish girl turned and walked off, running a hand through her thick hair as she wrestled with her thoughts.
————
LESHAWNA – CONFESSIONAL
"Ronnie Anne is definitely someone I already like, but man, that girl couldn't be honest with herself to save her life. That girl definitely has a thing for snowball—or my name is Ivana—and it's not."
————
Meanwhile, the Killer Bass were still on the trail, dragging behind due to an unscheduled pit stop.
Katie and Sadie finally returned from the woods, jogging up behind their team. "All better?"
"Yep," Katie replied to Eva's question with a relieved smile as they rejoined the others and resumed pushing their crate.
But as the camera panned down to their backsides, a faint red glow began to appear.
"Ooh, something's itching me. Are you itchy too?"
"Totally itchy. Really bad…"
Katie and Sadie exchanged confused looks, squirming as the discomfort grew. Their cheerful attitudes quickly gave way to restless irritation.
————-
Back at the campgrounds, the Gophers hadn't made much progress. They were currently attempting to pry open their crates... with their teeth.
"Remember, Gophers! You can only use your teeth to open the crates," Chris announced proudly. He turned to the camera, grinning. "I came up with that one."
Resident wildcard Izzy was already on the job, gripping a rope with her teeth as she tugged ferociously. "Hey! I think I got it open!"
With a final yank, the crate popped—but not without cost. "Ow, ow! Rope burn on my tongue!"
Izzy opened her mouth, revealing a bright red burn mark streaked across her tongue.
Ronnie Anne recoiled slightly, raising an eyebrow. "That's gonna be a weird insurance claim."
—————-
The Bass were picking up speed, trying to make up for lost time. But Katie and Sadie were falling behind, now visibly glowing red from behind and fidgeting uncomfortably.
"Ooh, it's really itching now."
"Mine feels like it's burning."
"Okay, I have to scratch!"
The two friends finally gave in, frantically scratching at their behinds when Chris pulled up on an ATV.
"You guys are way behind the other team. Like, wayyyy behind. What's the problem?"
"Their butts are itchy," someone offered bluntly.
Chris blinked, then turned to Courtney, raising an eyebrow at the makeshift eyepatch covering one eye. "What's with the eyewear?" "She got bit in the eye by a black fly," Courtney explained. "I MacGyver'd that cooling patch to help with the swelling. The twins over there... I don't know what's wrong."
Lincoln and Bridgette approached, eyeing Katie and Sadie, who were still furiously scratching. Bridgette knelt slightly, using a gentle tone. "Did you guys squat down when you peed in the woods?"
Katie nodded. "Yeah." "Did you happen to notice what kind of plants you were squatting over?"
Sadie tried to recall. "They were kind of oval-shaped and green... and all over the place."
Bridgette and Lincoln exchanged knowing looks. "Were they low to the ground? About this big?" Bridgette gestured.
Katie and Sadie nod their heads.
Lincoln started snickering. "What?"
Bridgette held back a laugh. "You guys squatted on poison ivy."
Katie and Sadie's eyes widened in horror. "What do we do?!" "Oh no!"
Without thinking, they both dropped to the sand and began dragging their butts along the ground like dogs.
"HAHAHAHA! No way, that's awesome! HAHAHAHA!!!"
"Somebody help us!"
Lincoln stepped forward. "Relax, Sadie. You girls just need to soak in water. Once the burning subsides, the medical tent should have Aloe Vera. If not, I can make you some."
"Where do we soak in water around here?" Katie asked, desperate.
Lincoln simply pointed to the giant lake right next to them.
Both girls went wide-eyed again. In their panic, they had completely forgotten it was there.
They quickly began unbuckling their shorts—until— "WHOA! ARE YOU TWO NUTS???" Lincoln shouted.
The girls froze. The rest of the male Bass immediately turned away, shielding their eyes—except one.
Katie and Sadie yelped and dashed down the beach to find privacy.
"They've gone down the beach, Link. You can open your eyes—same for the rest of you boys," Bridgette announced.
All eyes turned to Ezekiel, who was still looking down, disappointed. "Awww, that was gonna be a good show, eh?"
Everyone turned to him with a mix of disgust and awkward disbelief.
The Screaming Gophers had finally finished unpacking the crates and were starting to sort through their supplies.
"Hey, check it out! I got wood!" Owen announced proudly, holding up a stack of planks like they were gold.
Cody chuckled. "Giggity."
The two boys shared a victorious high-five as Trent dug through his own crate.
"I've got some tools here," Trent noted, pulling out a toolkit. "And what looks like a pool liner."
Nearby, Leshawna and Ronnie Anne were busy pulling out nails and pipes, setting them aside in an organized pile. That's when Heather strutted up with a suspiciously sweet smile.
"Hey, Leshawna, I just wanted to say—I didn't mean that stuff about you being a ghetto rap star wannabe. And I loveyour earrings. They're so pretty!"
Leshawna and Ronnie Anne exchanged wide-eyed glances, surprised by Heather's sudden 180 in attitude.
"Straight up?" Leshawna asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I'm sorry about pushing you over the cliff and all."
"No worries, I needed a push," Heather said with a laugh. She turned to Ronnie Anne. "And Ronnie Anne, sorry about the thunder thighs comment. I love your legs. You do yoga?"
Ronnie Anne shifted uncomfortably. Heather's sudden kindness was almost unsettling.
"No, I do swim a lot and work out. But no yoga."
"That's so cool! Hope you'll share your fitness secrets. I just wanted to come over and clear the air. Truce?"
Leshawna smiled, clearly appreciating the gesture. Ronnie Anne, though unsure, gave a small nod.
"Yeah, yeah. You got it."
"Sure, Heather," Ronnie Anne added. "We all need to work as a team, so… sure."
Pleased with herself, Heather walked off, Lindsay following closely behind. Once they were far enough away, Lindsay leaned in curiously.
"Did you mean all that stuff you said to LaFonda and Donnie Ran back there?"
Heather scoffed. "Leshawna? Ronnie Anne? HA! No. They are both going down. And P.S.? Those are the ugliest earrings I've seen in my life. And why would I want to look like a bloated pig?"
Lindsay blinked, visibly confused. "Oh… So if you hate them, why were you being nice to them?"
Heather rolled her eyes. "You ever seen one of these shows before? Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."
Lindsay hesitated, hopeful. "Oh… I'm your friend, right?"
"Oh yeah," Heather smirked. "For now."
Meanwhile, the Killer Bass had finally made it to the campgrounds, dragging their crates behind them and collapsing in exhaustion.
"Finally!" Harold groaned, cracking his back.
"Hey, what's up guys?" Trent greeted, waving from the Gophers' side.
"hey arent you missing a couple white girls?" leshawna was the first to notice the missing teammates of the the killer bass.
most of the Bass weren't in the mood to converse. but Courtney appeared behind them, responding to Leshawna.
"They're just getting a drink," she said, referring to the still-missing Katie and Sadie.
"To Ezekiel," Leshawna added dryly, "Yeah, if they drink with their butts."
Harold burst out laughing. "Hahaha, ha! That's funny!"
Ezekiel laughed along, not really getting the joke. Leshawna's eyes scanned Courtney's face and caught sight of her new accessory.
"Ooh, what happened to your eye, girl?"
"I got bit by a bug and my eye swelled up," Courtney explained. "But Lincoln here made this cooling patch for me. Thanks again, Link."
Ronnie Anne, now hauling boards for the hot tub, walked by and grinned.
"Man, Link—all that wilderness survival training you did is starting to pay off, huh?"
Lincoln puffed up a bit, rubbing his knuckles on his shirt smugly. "Better believe it, Ronnie. I am a master of the outdoors."
Ronnie Anne rolled her eyes and gave his arm a playful punch. "Don't get a big head, lame-o. Don't forget I'm here—and I'm gonna be the one holding that giant check at the end of this show."
The Bass laughed at the exchange, but their laughter quickly died when they caught sight of the Gophers' progress on their hot tub.
"Crap, we need to book it," Lincoln said, ripping the top off one of their crates.
Before he could get too far, Geoff clapped a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, dude. It's not too late. We can do this!"
Geoff's shout rallied the rest of the team, most of whom cheered—except for Ezekiel, who was busy picking his nose.
"Eww..." Bridgette grimaced.
"That is so disgusting," Courtney added, equally repulsed.
Trying to push past the gross-out moment, Courtney stepped up. "Okay, look guys. We have a hot tub to complete, and we need a project manager. Since I've actually been a C.I.T. before, I'm electing myself. Any objections?"
"Aye aye, captain chicken," Duncan quipped.
Bridgette, DJ, Eva, and Tyler chuckled at his jab, but Courtney ignored him.
"Open the crates! Bridgette, go find those itchy girls—we need all the help we can get."
Hours Later...
Both teams had finished constructing their hot tubs. The Gophers, having had a head start, managed to build a near-perfect structure, detailed and sturdy.
"This… is an awesome hot tub!" Chris announced.
Beth, Leshawna, Noah, and Trent threw their arms in the air.
"Oh yeah!"
"Nice!"
Owen, now relaxing inside the tub, popped up with a grin and held his arms up in celebration.
Chris made his way over to the Bass's hot tub—or what passed for one. It was a mess. Splintered wood, busted pipes, and a torn liner made the whole thing look like it was built during a hurricane.
Chris touched the edge of it—and it immediately collapsed.
Gasps rang out from most of the Bass. Some looked shocked. Others... not so much.
"Well, I think we have a winner here," Chris announced with mock surprise.
"The Screaming Gophers!"
Cheers erupted from the Gophers. Their first challenge win came with bragging rights—and a luxury hot tub.
"You're safe from elimination," Chris grinned, "and you get to rock this awesome hot tub for the rest of the summer. Bonus!"
Beth, Leshawna, Noah, and Trent cheered the loudest, joined by the rest of their team.
"Alright! Oh yeah! Woohoo!"
Chris turned back to the losing team. "Killer Bass, what can I say? Sucks to be you right now. I'll see your sorry butts at the bonfire tonight."
The Bass deflated in defeat.
——-
Lincoln — CONFESSIONAL
Lincoln sat in the confessional, head in hands. "First day and first challenge… and we lost. Ughhh, I was hoping to win."
He sighed and looked up. "But hey, silver lining—I didn't cost us the challenge, and I've proven I'm useful. So... elimination shouldn't be in my future… I hope."
———
"We won! We all get to stay here for another three days!" Lindsay screamed out in delight, her voice echoing through the campgrounds. Heather and Beth immediately surrounded her, cheering excitedly. "Yay, woohoo!"
Their trio of celebration was suddenly joined by a fourth. Owen emerged from the hot tub, still missing his swimsuit after the cliff challenge, his usual carefree attitude unbothered by his current state. "Woo! Haha! Yes! ~We get to stay-ay, we get to stay-ay, we are so awesome, we won the contest!" he sang as he danced in place, utterly unbothered.
Lindsay tried to keep a bright smile despite the growing awkwardness, but Beth and Heather were visibly revolted, inching away from Owen. Meanwhile, one gopher wasn't joining in on the excitement. Ronnie Anne stood back, her arms crossed, her expression serious as she glanced toward Lincoln. He sat away from the rest of the bass, clearly downcast and lost in thought.
That was until she felt a hand land gently on her shoulder. She turned her head to find Leshawna standing beside her, her energy warm and comforting. "He'll be fine, girl. So get your suit on and get your butt in that tub, 'cause tonight we gonna partay!!!"
Ronnie Anne gave a grateful smile to leshawna until both girls saw the still naked Owen dancing in celebration. grinning like it was the best day of his life.
"….Leshawna, I'm not getting in the hot tub 'til we drain out the water and clean the insides."
"…Smart idea."
—————-
Dinner time rolled around, and both teams gathered in the main lodge, poking at the unappetizing meal prepared by Chef. The Gophers buzzed with energy, still giddy from their victory, while the Bass sat in a gloomy silence, the reality of their loss settling in—they'd have to vote someone off tonight.
"So, uh, what do we do now?" Katie's voice broke the silence, her innocent question enough to spark conversation among the table.
"We have to figure out who we're gonna vote off," Courtney said, her tone pragmatic as she began weighing the options.
"Well, I think it should be Princess or the Brickhouse here," Duncan offered without hesitation, shooting a glance toward Courtney and DJ. His blunt suggestion drew shocked reactions from both.
"What? Why?" DJ asked, visibly taken aback.
"Because, unless I'm mistaken, you two are the only ones here wearing chicken hats. And if we ever have to lift a truck, I like our odds with the big guy."
DJ couldn't help but smile slightly at the backhanded compliment. Courtney, however, looked uneasy—Duncan was making some solid points.
"You guys need me! I'm the only one—"
"We know, who used to be a real C.I.T. So who would you pick?" Duncan interjected with a smirk.
"We need to be smart here. The ones we really can't lose are me, Bridgette, Lincoln, and Eva. So… what about him?" Courtney pointed discreetly toward Tyler.
From the distance, Lindsay's voice rang out. "No! …I mean, no salt. There's no salt on the table, bummer…"
With Lindsay's odd interruption awkwardly ignored, Courtney and Duncan resumed.
"Hey, at least he jumped off the cliff, chicken wing!" Duncan taunted.
"Shut up!" Courtney snapped.
"Okay, let's just chill out. This is getting way too heavy," Geoff interjected, trying to cool down the rising tension.
"What did you mean you can't lose me?" Lincoln asked quietly, his curiosity piqued. Bridgette and Eva also leaned in slightly, interested in Courtney's reasoning.
"Lincoln, you were the first one to jump, and your wilderness training makes you valuable to this team," Courtney said, pointing to the eyepatch still on her face as a subtle reminder. Lincoln's face lit up with pride—he was needed.
"Same with Bridgette being the only surfer. If there's a water challenge, she'll help us win it. And Eva is obviously our strongest player. So you three are too valuable to the rest of us."
"Good to know I'm useful."
"Same, chicken tender." Bridgette and Eva smiled, though it was hard to ignore how Courtney made them sound more like assets than teammates.
"I've had enough prison food for one day. I'm gonna go have a nap," Duncan muttered as he stretched and rose from the table.
"You can't do that—we haven't decided who's going yet!" Courtney protested, but Duncan didn't slow down. He walked out, leaving the group in silence.
"Well, I just don't get why we lost, eh? They're the ones that have seven girls!" Every head at the table turned to Ezekiel. Katie and Sadie nearly dropped their spoons, stunned by what they just heard.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bridgette's voice had an edge to it now—she was no longer the sweet, forgiving girl.
Eva didn't hold back. "Yeah, homeschool. Enlighten us!"
"Well, guys are much stronger and better at sports than girls are!"
Whether Ezekiel was clueless or just plain stupid was up for debate, but what was certain: he had said the wrong thing.
"Oh, snap! He did not just say that!"
Geoff slapped a hand to his forehead, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"Dude, what the hell!?"
Lincoln shouted out, his face twisting in fury as Ezekiel kept going. what lincoln and the bass don't know is that the sudden shout got all eyes turned on to bass table.
"My dad told me to look out for the girls here, eh, and help 'em in case they can't keep up."
Eva didn't hesitate. In a flash, she had Ezekiel lifted by the collar, one-handed, holding him several inches off the floor.
"Still think we need your help keeping up?"
"Ugh… not really…"
"That was the first intelligent thing you've said all day. What is your damage, dude?!" Lincoln was on his feet now, stepping beside Eva at the end of the table, glaring down at Ezekiel.
"Okay, guys. Let's give him a break. I mean, at least he doesn't think that guys are smarter than girls."
Geoff stepped in, trying to cool things off, However—
"But they are."
The room fell into horrified silence once again because ezekiel decided to speak again. Every camper—Gopher and Bass—was united in shared disgust.
"Dude, I knew there was something wrong with you. After the creepy comment earlier, now this? There is something wrong with you."
Ezekiel stood firm, brushing himself off like he hadn't just insulted half the lodge.
"Can you prove me wrong?"
Lincoln's eyes burned with rage.
"You need a reason, redneck? Okay—my friend Ronnie Anne over there has been on honor roll since she was eleven. Her and my friend Sid Chang? Sid's a robotics expert who's won college-level science fairs. And my little sister? She's got an IQ in the 300s, so much that she's already being recognized by Ivy League schools as a genius!"
The Gophers had really started paying attention now, many of the girls glaring at Ezekiel with contempt.
"Hey Ronnie, is all that true?"
"Every word, big guy. Every. Word."
Ronnie Anne answered Owen's questions but she didn't even look away from Ezekiel, her scowl sharp enough to cut glass.
And then he said the line that sealed his fate.
"That bombshell is honor roll, huh? My dad said girls that pretty work on their backs and not on their feet."
The silence that followed was absolute. Even the air seemed to freeze.
TWACK!!!
Lincoln's fist collided with Ezekiel's cheek, the sound sharp and brutal. The boy went flying.
The Bass table erupted as DJ and Geoff rushed to restrain Lincoln.
"SAY THAT AGAIN, YOU INBRED FREAK OF NATURE!!!"
"Link! Chill, man! I understand why, but still!"
"Geoff, dude, let's get him outside. Just breathe, Lincoln." Together, they dragged the furious boy out of the lodge. Ronnie Anne stood up and followed.
Everyone remained stunned. No one had ever expect mild mannered Lincoln to just snap like that.
Courtney clapped her hands together, drawing attention. "So we all know who to vote for, right?"
The Bass exchanged glances. Heads nodded.
"Good. Glad to be on the same page for once."
CRACK.
The doors slammed open. Ronnie Anne stormed back into the lodge, her expression dark. She strode straight to the Bass table.
"Omph!"
Ezekiel groaned as Ronnie Anne drove a hard kick straight into his gut, folding him over.
"I got that one for free. Anyone else agree?"
The girls of the Bass table all nodded—some with smiles, others with grim approval. In that moment all the girls there held respect for her decision.
Night had fallen over Camp Wawanakwa, casting shadows across the quiet landscape. A low fog drifted lazily across the ground as the Killer Bass gathered at the fire pit, twelve wooden stumps arranged in a circle—though tonight, one of those stumps would be left empty by the end of the ceremony.
The atmosphere was tense. Every camper sat in uneasy silence, all eyes periodically drifting to Ezekiel, whose cheek was still swollen and bruised from the brutal punch he'd received earlier. His hoodie looked more rumpled than usual, the air around him thick with discomfort. Duncan returned to the group, casually dropping down on the log behind the homeschooled boy, smirking as he leaned forward.
"Dude, you've got a lot to learn about the real world," Duncan muttered with a chuckle. "I can't believe I missed the punch of the century. Didn't know grandpa had it in 'em."
The laughter faded as Chris McLean stepped onto the scene, carrying a gleaming silver tray with exactly eleven marshmallows on it. His presence shifted the energy immediately.
"Killer Bass," he announced with a dramatic flair, "at camp, marshmallows represent a tasty treat you enjoy roasting by the fire. But at this camp, marshmallows represent life."
He gave the tray a theatrical tilt.
"You've all cast your votes. The decision has been made. There are only eleven marshmallows on this plate. When I call your name, come up and claim your marshmallow. The camper who does not receive a marshmallow tonight must immediately return to the Dock of Shame to catch the Boat of Losers. That means you're out of the contest… and you can't come back. Ever."
The campers stiffened. The tension thickened like molasses, everyone understanding how serious this moment had become.
"The first marshmallow goes to… Geoff."
"Tyler."
"Woohoo! Yeah! Place at the table!" Tyler shouted, fist-pumping.
"Katie. Bridgette. DJ. Harold."
"Yes!" Harold grinned as he snatched his marshmallow.
"Sadie."
"Oh yay!"
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Katie and Sadie hugged tightly, nearly crying with relief.
"Duncan."
The troublemaker caught his marshmallow mid-air and popped it into his mouth with a smirk.
"Courtney."
The C.I.T. caught hers with both hands like it was a prized medal, gripping it tight.
Chris now held up the final marshmallow.
"Campers, this is the final marshmallow of the evening."
Lincoln and Ezekiel both sat frozen, fear written across their faces. Lincoln clenched his fists as Chris spoke, his mind racing.
"Lincoln, you were a team player. You were brave enough to volunteer first for the thousand-foot dive and helped a teammate who was injured…" Lincoln smiled a little, hope flickering in his eyes. But it vanished as fast as it came. "…but you made history for being the first competitor to physically attack another player. And dude—I fully understand why. Still though… pretty good right hook."
Lincoln folded his arms, his face stern. He didn't regret a thing.
—
Lincoln – CONFESSIONAL
"And I'd do it again in a heartbeat. No one, and I mean no one, is ever gonna call Ronnie Anne… that and not get their jaw cracked."
—
Ronnie Anne – CONFESSIONAL
Ronnie Anne blinked, stunned by her own reaction. "That was hot." She stared off into space for a second, clearly caught in her own thoughts.
—
"Ezekiel," Chris turned to him, "I gave you clear as day advice, and you ignored it. You made creepy comments about two of your teammates and insulted a competitor—which, by the way, is the kinda thing that would get you fired on the spot anywhere else."
Ezekiel scratched his head, still not understanding. "Was it really that bad?"
""""""YES""""""!!!!"
Every female Bass shouted in perfect, furious unison.
Ezekiel slumped in his seat, finally getting the message.
"So it all comes down to this," Chris said dramatically. "Who is staying… and who is leaving?"
Lincoln's heart was thundering. Sweat ran down his neck. Across from him, Ezekiel's collar was soaked from the stress.
"The final marshmallow goes to…
…
…
…
…Lincoln."
Chris tossed the treat toward the white-haired boy. Lincoln caught it with a triumphant smile, his relief washing over him like a wave. Ezekiel looked down at the ground, his face unreadable.
"Can't say I'm shocked," Chris said. "Sexist comments aside—I saw you picking your nose, dude. Not cool. Dock of Shame is that way, bro."
"But what about him? He punched me in the face, ay?" Ezekiel tried to protest.
Chris rolled his eyes. "After you said his girlfriend was a whore. And FYI—your contract waives any liability for pain or suffering caused by either the competition or your competitors. So you're crap outta luck."
Ezekiel stayed silent this time. As he walked toward the dock, the female Bass all watched with smug satisfaction. Lincoln flashed a single middle finger at him, making sure his message was crystal clear as Ezekiel stepped onto the Boat of Losers.
"Chris: The rest of you, enjoy your marshmallows. You're all safe… for tonight."
The campers bit into their marshmallows—some with smiles, others deep in thought. They had survived the night… but who knew what tomorrow would bring?
—
Gwen – CONFESSIONAL
"Yep, this camp pretty much still sucks. But now that I'm here? I guess I might as well actually try to win." The goth girl allowed herself a faint smile, proud of their team's victory today.
—
Back at the Gopher cabins, the party was still going strong. Loud music thumped through the walls, and the newly built hot tub was already bubbling with activity.
"To the Screaming Gophers!"
Cody yelled as he, Heather, Justin, Lindsay, and Trent soaked in the warm water, drinks in hand.
"The Screaming Gophers!"
"Go Gophers, go Gophers!"
Leshawna cheered, dancing as Owen and Noah joined in.
"""Go Gophers!"""
Lindsay clapped to the rhythm as ronnie anne leaned on the railing of the cabin holding a bottle of soda, both girls cheer as their voices rise in harmony with the others.
"""""Go Gophers, go Gophers, go Gophers! Go! Go! Go Gophers!"""""
Meanwhile, the Bass silently filed into their cabin, heads lowered. The sting of their first loss still fresh in their minds.
Courtney paused at the doorway, her jaw set. She turned to the confessional camera with conviction in her eyes.
"Are you recording this? Good. They can enjoy their little party all they want. But I am gonna win this competition—and no one is gonna stop me."
—
Later, after the celebration had faded and the camp had settled into a hush, a quiet stillness blanketed the grounds. Fireflies floated lazily under a star-dotted sky, casting soft glows across the sleeping camp.
"Man, what a day."
Lincoln sat alone on the steps of the Bass cabin, dressed in a white tank top and orange basketball shorts, his white hair slightly tousled. He stared up at the stars, deep in thought. The events of the day—the dive, the fight, the elimination—spun through his mind in loops.
"Lincoln, what are you doing up still?"
He turned and spotted a familiar figure approaching from the bathroom trail. Ronnie Anne, still drying her hands, held a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste in one hand. She was wearing a black tank top and purple training shorts that hugged her figure, ending just above her knees.
"Oh hey, Ronnie Anne. What are you doing up?"
She raised the items in her hand. "Just finished brushing my teeth. But dude, why are you just sitting here?"
Lincoln gave a half-shrug. "Just trying to take in today. A lot of crazy stuff happened."
"Amen to that. Not every day you jump into shark-infested water—or see your friend punch a deserving redneck in the cheek."
Lincoln's cheeks went a little red at that comment.
"Yeahhhhh… never really expected to do that on the first day."
"I didn't expect you to do it any day. Look, Lincoln… I appreciate you defending me, but don't get yourself eliminated for me."
She sat down beside him on the wooden steps, brushing her shoulder against his.
"Look, Lincoln. I don't want to see you go. We're here together, and we're going all the way to the finale together, remember?"
Lincoln nodded slowly. That had always been the plan—ride this thing to the end.
"I know, Ronnie Anne… it's just—I hate when people talk about you like that. You remember Chandler from Royal Woods?"
Ronnie Anne rolled her eyes. "Hard to forget a guy that ugly. Why bring him up?"
"Last year, he started a rumor you and him hooked up… and I kinda… kicked him in the groin so hard, he had to wear a cast and walk with crutches."
Ronnie Anne stared at him, mouth agape—then clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle her laugh.
"Ha… heheheh… Ohhh man… never in a million years would I be with him."
"I know. That's why I made him come clean. Ronnie Anne… you're one of the most important people in the world to me. I can't stand it when jerks like Ezekiel or Chandler say stuff like that."
Her cheeks flushed a little, something fluttering in her chest. She was caught off guard by how direct he was being. And strangely… it was kind of thrilling.
But then a thought struck her.
"Wait… how'd you know Chandler was lying?"
Lincoln stood, stretching his arms as he let out a loud yawn.
"Oh, easy. A guy that stupid could never be with a girl as beautiful as you."
With that, he got off the steps and went into the cabin, giving her a casual wave. "Ahhh, well, I'm gonna turn in. Night, Ronnie."
He disappeared inside, leaving Ronnie Anne sitting in stunned silence.
Her heart thumped once in her chest. Then again. A slow smile spread across her face as she stood up and walked toward the Gopher cabin. Lincoln's words echoed in her mind…
"…a girl as beautiful as you."
So this ends the first episode of Total. Drama Island!!