A/N: This top-heavy blonde has earned the spot as my all time favorite contestant on the show. Why? 'Cause in my opinion, she has everything a good character needs. Motivation, flaws, development, the whole deal. This won't follow the show's events in chronological order, but they will all happen in the TDI timeline. TDA and onwards will be disregarded.


xoxox PROLOGUE xoxox


"The first impression is always crucial. If you don't establish yourself early in the game, no one will ever take you seriously as a competitor."

These were the words Paula kept repeating to her younger sister, from the moment they filled out the audition sheet to the second Lindsay left on that shabby, old tugboat. The whole family, as well as the cheerleading squad, had all been there to see their little girl off. A few of them had gotten teary-eyed, but the softness in Lindsay's eyes put their worries to rest.

Ten minutes later, those same eyes started to water. Lindsay brushed her arm against her face, careful not to smear the mascara. It still did. At first she thought it was the salty lake water that was making her cry. But after another wipe on her now sticky arms, she gurgled out a laugh and realized how stupid that sounded. Duh! Water can't make you cry! Water is what comes out!

Unfortunately, that meant that Lindsay must've been crying over her family. She wasn't used to being alone for extended periods of time, and now that 10 -wait- 11 minutes had gone by, it was quite unsettling. At home, there was always someone to confide in. Daddy's travel agent, her school guidance counselor, and even Carmelita Sanchez when she was especially desperate. But here, out in the open water, with no one to talk to (except the driver, who she hadn't seen since she'd gotten on. Was the boat automatic?), she felt vulnerable.

She thought about Paula's words again, and how proud she had been that her baby sister was going to be on national TV. The past couple of weeks had been nothing but shopping for bikinis, fake tanner, and other 'camp necessities'. But as much fun Lindsay had spending (wasting, mommy said) her birthday money, she could tell her big sis was worried about her. Whenever Paula expressed her concerns, Lindsay would always answer with a comforting smile that she was a big girl and that she could take care of herself.

Oh, why couldn't she keep her mouth shut, like she always did?

After quickly checking herself in a flower-shaped pocket mirror - No smudges, no loose strands of hair...all good! - Lindsay gazed over the ship's deck and sniffed the air around her. The smell of rotting fish and buzzing blackflies were making her a little sick, but she ignored it and tried to remain positive. She thought back to all the luxuries that were promised in the brochure, the most appealing of which were the seaweed mud wraps imported from Japan. The subsequent burst of giggles were impossible for Lindsay to resist. She rested a cheek in one of her dainty hands as she contemplated how gorgeous she would be after eight weeks of non-stop pampering. Her lips started to curl. Paula would have loved this!

Fifteen minutes.

The blaring sound of the ship's horn snapped Lindsay out of her fantasy. The island was now in sight. She surveyed the area, eagerly looking for the hot tub that was supposed to be sanctioned outside the hotel they were staying at. But there was no hot tub or hotel to be found. All she could make out were two pint-sized cabins and a dining hall that looked like something out of a Hallmark postcard.

Ooh, it must be a themed resort!

As the tugboat came to a gradual stop, the sight of four teenagers and a handsome looking man (Chip, is it?) caught her attention. The short girl in a poorly constructed ponytail waved at her, to which she waved back with a pleasant smile. It was nice to be around other people again. Twenty minutes of solitude would have probably killed her.

The camera crew suddenly shifted their focus on her, leaving the handsome man to straighten out his cashmere suit. As she was used to having cameras around her, Lindsay knew this meant she was supposed to step off the boat and introduce herself. She reached for her bubblegum pink suitcase and carefully rolled it down to the dock. The others were now in full view, and besides the scary looking pale girl (she desperately needed some conditioner), they all looked like pretty nice people. She was just about to say 'Hi' when Chip suddenly spoke up.

"Everyone, this is Lindsay!"

She felt the cameras zoom in on her, and for the first time all day, Lindsay let herself take it all in. How could this possibly get any better? A five-star resort, new friends to share it with, and a handsome guy to show her around. This was going to be, like, the best summer ever!

Twenty-five times in eight weeks. That's how long it took Lindsay to learn that looks can be deceiving.

xoxox


Coming up next...Omar and soda pop.