"Yo," Chris said, leaping in front of the camera. He looked very much as he usually did, except this time, instead of a well-fitting, long-sleeve shirt, he wore a tight, navy t-shirt, that clung to his torso, and helped to emphasise his physique, and show off his shark tooth necklace. "Chris McLean here, about to write television history." He stepped back, and the camera panned out to reveal he was standing on a creaky old dock in front of an underwhelmingly bland island. It cut to shots of the camp, the island and its wildlife as Chris began his voiceover, "I have gathered 22 teens, and over the course of a summer, where they'd usually be partying, meeting friends, and relaxing - though that might be unlikely for a few of them," he laughed, "I will be setting them against each other in physically draining challenges and mentally draining conditions, all the while they'll be competing against each other and voting each other off one by one, until, eventually, when their summers are all over and wasted, one of them will be crowned as the winner, and will win $100,000, and insane bragging rights over everyone else."

The camera cut back to Chris on the dock, "So, why don't we meet them?"

"Okay, cut!" came a voice from behind the camera, and Chris breathed out heavily. Several interns rushed onto the dock, and pampered him, applying extra make-up and hair gel and one brought a lint roller, and began hurriedly rolling it all over Chris' shirt. Chef Hatchet also wandered toward him, a newspaper under one arm. The interns paid him no notice.

"This better work, Chef." Chris sighed, "I cannot take another year on the ice dancing circuit."

"I hear ya." Chef nodded.

Chris nodded too, "Good thing I can always fall back on reality TV. The gift that keeps on giving, and refuses to die." They both laughed at this, and the producers motioned that they were ready to continue. Chris gazed off into the distance and caught a glimpse of the first of twenty two yachts that would bring his teenage victims to him. "Okay, Chef, get back to the kitchen. I've got a show to host." Chef shrugged, and nodded appreciatively, walking back to the island at his own pace. "Our first contestant!" Chris announced, as the boat pulled up to the rickety pier.

On the boat stood a tan girl, with defined, pretty features, but an indifferent expression. She wore a black, long-sleeve v-neck shirt, and a red skirt. She had jet black, wavy hair that descended to her shoulders. She flicked a strand away from her face with a jerk of her neck, and folded her arms. "Here comes Bella." Chris called, as she walked down the gangplank onto the dock, "How was the trip?"

"Well," she began, trying to find her footing on the rotten wood, "I actually have some minor- Woah!" she yelped, as she tripped over, and landed face first on the wood, "Ugh…"

"Yeah, you'll get used to it." Chris smiled, genuinely, and offered her a hand to help her up. Bella looked up at him, and huffed, standing up herself and brushing herself off. "Alright then." Chris said, offended, "Hopefully the other contestants have some class… Or at least manners." Bella shrugged.

The next boat arrived, carrying a well-dressed, Chinese boy, wearing a long-sleeved, navy striped polo top, and khakis. His hair was cut short and somewhat spiky, and he wore stylish, black glasses, not too thick but also clearly not too expensive. "Meet Clive!" Chris announced, turning to Bella, who seemed entirely unbothered.

Clive stepped off the boat waving, and when he realised there were only two people on the dock, he stopped, "Hey Chris."

"Hi, Clive. Say hello to Bella," Chris motioned to her, and Bella rolled her eyes and waved, "She's fun."

"I can tell…" Clive muttered, sharing a smirk with the host, before walking over to stand next to her, as she made a show of not looking at him.

The next boat arrived swiftly, and a short, slightly overweight, square-headed boy wearing a grey t-shirt and jeans sat on the guardrail, smiling, and pretending like he was going to fall off. Chris' eyes widened, "Hey! Elijah! Don't do that! Don't fall!"

Elijah raised an eyebrow, "I'm not gonna!" And with that, he hopped back onto the boat, and headed toward the host, "What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is you getting injured? You know? Insurance isn't cheap you know." Chris looked at him angrily, "Plus, we're booked for like 25 episodes, and if you get injured, and drop out, we've got like one extra episode left?"

"Oh… And?"

"Go stand with them."

"Cool, hey guys!" Elijah said, joyfully trotting over to Bella and Clive. Clive high-fived him, and Bella continued ignoring them.

"What's her problem?" Elijah whispered to Clive. He shrugged.

"Next up," Chris announced, "Lorelei!" Sure enough, a curvy, dark-haired, pale-skinned girl stood on the boat, glaring out across the dock. Chris looked back worriedly at the three contestants already present. None of them seemed overly concerned, and he turned back. She was wearing a white cotton blouse and jean shorts, and had her hands on the rail, leaning over, peering at her peers on the pier. As she drew closer, she seemed to catch herself, and started smiling at them. As she stepped off, she called out to them, "Hey guys. Ooh, love your outfit girl."

Bella seemed to perk up, "Um, thanks?"

"No problem, girl." Lorelei laughed.

"Hey, girl!" Elijah offered, as she walked past.

"Ugh, as if," she replied.

"Wow, thy conceitedness knows no bounds, your highness!" he said, somewhat offended, before mockingly bowing. Clive almost burst out laughing, and had to turn away.

Lorelei glared daggers into Clive's back, "Yeah… Whatever." she ended the conversation, with a flick of her long, black hair,

"Next up," Chris announced, "It's… Louise!"

"Oh my God! Hi Chris!" came the shrill cry from the short, Asian girl on the boat, who was presumably Louise. She squealed, and shook in her uggs. She was also wearing a white knit jumper and skinny jeans, and was holding her hands right beneath her chin, jumping around and grinning wildly. As the boat arrived she practically tumbled down the gangplank onto the dock, landing directly in front of Chris. "Oh my God, Chris, I loved you on Ice Dancing with the Semi Famous. I voted for you every week! It's a shame that olympic curler beat you. And that sculptor. And that-"

"Okay, Louise, I don't need to be reminded of who beat me and where I came," Chris chuckled nervously, "for one, it was so rigged, and two, you've got other people to meet."

"Oh, duh," she lightly slapped herself on the forehead, and giggled, "Hey fellow campers."

"Hey Louise!" Clive waved. Elijah smiled, yet the other two girls paid no attention, Lorelei filing her nails, and Bella just continuing to be aloof.

"Looks like I found the fun crowd," Louise beamed, skipping over to Clive and Elijah. She pointed to Clive's face, "Cool glasses… How blind are you?"

"Well, I'm not blind, I just kinda need them to see better…" Clive explained, as Louise slowly removed them from his face and put them on.

"Whoa… So much more than kinda need them I see…" she marvelled. Clive blushed.

The next camper to arrive was a very tall blonde boy, with medium length hair that flew behind him as he faced over the railing, smiling, content. As the boat pulled to a stop he gradually slipped out of this trance, and grinned at the people on the dock. He was wearing a red tank top and brown cargo shorts, with seemingly military boots on his feet. He leaped over the rail with a 'Hup!' and landed safely on the dock, before striking a superman pose, hands on hips. "Welcome Ivan!" Chris announced.

"Hello competitors!" Ivan said, in a hearty Eastern European accent, "I am looking forward to competition and playing against you."

"Hey, dude," Elijah said, "I am looking forward to losing to you."

"Then we are in agreement, yes?" Ivan beamed.

"I wouldn't mind losing to him," Lorelei gawked. Bella looked up, and her eyes widened. She nodded along in agreement.

"Excuse me," came an indignant voice from the boat.

"Did your boat have two people Ivan?" Chris asked, "That's not supposed to happen…"

"Not when I checked," Ivan replied, "but it was lazy check."

"No, I arrived when you were all busy staring at Rasputin over there," a short, raven-haired girl stepped out onto the boat. She was wearing a white t-shirt with a faded flower decal that was too big and so hung over one shoulder, denim short shorts and wedges.

"I dislike that sentiment," Ivan said, almost tearfully.

"Boo hoo," she snapped, "you've got enough attention."

"Yeah, and you clearly deserve all our attention don't you." Elijah said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

She merely smiled, "I guess I do. Ruby here, remember it."

"Not likely, Sapphire," Elijah snorted.

She grimaced, then proceeded onto the dock. She scanned the group, and made eye contact with Bella, giving her a look that seemed to say Boys, ugh, am I right? Bella nodded slightly, and cracked a slight smile. Ruby walked over to stand by her.

"Here's someone else that deserves attention… Maybe…" Chris finally spoke up, "The next contestant to arrive is Oswald!"

"What kind of name is Oswald?" Elijah whispered to Clive.

"What's up guys!" shouted an excitable young African-American boy, leaning over the rail.

"C'mon, guys, what's with you guys, the rail, and potential lawsuits?" Chris complained.

"Oswald in the house!" he continued, oblivious, two fists in the air. When the boat stopped, he slid down the gangplank and stood grinning broadly, enticing smiles from many of the other contestants too. He wore a grey unzipped hoodie over a black t-shirt with jeans and sneakers. "How's it going, Chris?"

"Erm, yeah, Oswald. Good. Meet your fellow competitors, learn some names, mingle."

"Don't need to tell me twice," he smiled, strutting over, and greeting Clive, Louise and Elijah, while haphazardly waving in the directions of Bella, Lorelei, and Ruby, who seemed rather nonplussed.

"Jeez, tough crowd from the girls," Chris told the camera

"What am I then?" Louise complained, happening to overhear.

"Um... Our next arrival is Edwin." Chris avoided the question with practiced ease, as one would expect from a veteran TV host. Louise threw up her hands, and turned back to the guys, who nodded along, and shrugged.

A pale white boy with similarly white hair enthusiastically leapt off the boat, and smiled so wide, it seemed as if it would rip his face apart. His outfit was all white too, a white, long-sleeve dress shirt, white trousers and white trainers. "Wow… Chris… Hey…" he started hyperventilating, and falling over, before starting, and composing himself, "Um… Sweet island."

"Thanks Edwin," Chris smiled, "I made it myself."

Edwin was silent for a beat, before he realised it was all a joke, "Oh… haha!" he laughed, genuinely, "I get it. Nice one," he congratulated Chris before bounding over to join the ever-growing group of contestants. "You're a tall guy…" he said in wonder to Ivan.

"I have been told that," he replied, with a certain pride in his height.

"Neat accent too."

"Thanks."

"Hey everyone else, I need names." Edwin turned to the rest of the group.

"Hi!" Louise burst in front of the others, "I'm Louise, this is Elijah, Oswald, and Clive. You've met Ivan, and," she gestured to the three girls standing away from the rest of the group, of whom only Ruby seemed to be listening in to the conversation, "those are Ruby, Lorelei and… I forget, what's your name?"

"Bella…" Bella said, looking down her nose at them.

"Or, I have a better word also beginning with b…" Louise said, turning back to Edwin.

"Hey! We're marketing this as a kids' show? Please?" Chris quickly interrupted, saving the show's PG rating.

"Oh, alright," Louise sighed, but as she locked eyes with Edwin, they both burst into a fit of giggles.

"Ahem… Next up, Ophelia," Chris turned back to the camera, as a pasty white girl, with a shock of black hair with a blue streak down the fringe stepped off the boat wearing large, clunky boots that made a banging sound with every step she took, catching everyone else's attention. They all seemed to stare at her, as if they'd seen nothing like her before. She was also wearing a black corset and a black skirt, lined with teal, over black fishnet stockings. She folded her arms, her hands covered with fingerless, elbow-length black gloves, and some studded bracelets. She also wore a black choker which featured a large metal stud in the shape of a diamond on the front of her neck. She wore far too much black eyeshadow - to the extent that her piercing blue eyes were barely visible - and black lipstick.

"Woah…" Oswald muttered.

"What you looking at?" she snapped, "Huh?"

"Are you saying you don't want people looking at you? Dressed like that?" Elijah asked.

"Are you saying you want me to shove my fist down your throat?" she growled.

"... No…" Elijah answered meekly.

"Alright." Ophelia huffed, walking over to the group, then stopping a good few feet away, and dangling her legs over the dock, staring down into the water.

"... Neat," Oswald murmured.

"Here comes Indira!" Chris yelled over to the group, breaking the lull of silence that had broken out. The girl who stepped out onto the bow of the boat was tall and tan, with long, curly, brown hair that cascaded to her shoulder, and a large grin beneath an equally large nose. She wore a white shirt with faded flowers on it that was maybe a size too small, exposing her midriff, jeans that stopped halfway down her calves, and black high tops. She strode purposely down the gangplank, before tripping and falling flat on her face at the bottom. She got up and looked around sheepishly, to the group of campers staring at her, "Oops," she smiled, before hopping right back up, "Hey Chris, nice floor you got."

"Thanks, it's vintage."

"Of course." Indira smiled, bounding off to join the others. She stopped behind Ophelia, and just looked down over her, leaning over her head. Ophelia looked back, and jumped. Straight off the dock. "Oops," Indira muttered, shocked, looking over the edge.

"Are you kidding me?" Ophelia screeched when she resurfaced, "Seriously? What was that?"
"I said oops…" Indira said, even quieter than before, reaching out a helping hand. Ophelia reluctantly took it, and Indira hauled her up. Ophelia reached dry pier, and Indira stepped back, as she stood, dripping and fuming.

"Hey if you're lucky, she'll evaporate all the water off of her being that angry. You can practically see the smoke." Clive observed. Ophelia whipped round to him, and fumed even more.

"You better hope so," she threatened, before sitting back on the edge and ignoring them all again. Elijah, Clive, Oswald and Ruby all gave Indira high-fives, while nervously watching Ophelia's back.

"Oh? The boat? What could it possibly bring us now?" Chris asked rhetorically, with more than a hint of sarcasm. What, or rather, who it was bringing was a fairly tall boy with short brown hair, gelled upwards at the front. He wore a blue and white checkered shirt, with the long sleeves rolled up to the elbows, with ripped green trousers and solid walking boots.

"Morning," he called out from the bow, waving lazily from his position, arms folded, leaning on the rail.

"Morning!" Edwin called back. Others waved, most seemed either engaged in their own conversations, and some just didn't care, and were waiting for everyone else to arrive.

"Tough crowd," he said, stepping off, "Hey Chris," he nodded to the host.

"Gabriel, dude, welcome. Make yourself at home."

"Oh you don't want me to do that, my home's a mess."

"You know what I meant."

"I did, yeah, thanks." he smirked, and walked over to the group, standing next to Bella, who shuffled away slightly, "Hi?" he tried.

"No." she replied.

"Cool, you do you."

"Excuse me?"

"I said, you do you?"

She looked confused for a second, before rolling her eyes, "Sure, I'll do me. You won't like it though."

"Cool." he shrugged. She turned and looked at him angrily.

"12 down, 10 to go!" Chris announced, "Who will be the next to board this dock? And will it take the weight? Time to find out… Here they come."

The next boat was just arriving, with a hispanic girl riding on the front. She was obviously posing hard, and was wearing a white lace crop top and denim shorts that one would probably consider only just enough, with strappy sandals that crept up her ankle, "Hello boys!" she called out blowing kisses while leaning as far over the edge as she could.

"Hello Ysabel!" Chris answered, "Come on down to the dock."

"With pleasure," she said, biting her lip and scanning the crowd. She walked down the plank, hips swaying, and approached Ivan, "And a special hello to you champ." she smiled, seductively.

"Hello to you too lady," he smiled, mostly oblivious, as many of the other boys could barely stop themselves drooling. The rest of the girls raised an eyebrow, looking at each other in disbelief.

"Hey, if the strategy works," Ruby shrugged, while sharing a look with Lorelei.

"This isn't a strategy sweetie," Ysabel purred, turning, "I'm just here for a good time, you get me? I'm not playing games."

"Uh, yes you are," Gabriel interrupted, unfazed, leaning casually against a convenient wooden pole, "we're all here to play the game."

"Now, now boy," she pouted, "is that really a good attitude to have?" she walked up to him, slinging her arms over his shoulders, and leaning backwards. He seemed to have no trouble holding her weight up.

He shrugged, "We'll see."

Ysabel frowned and stood up properly, before turning with an indignant, "Hm." before moving back to the crowd of boys that had formed a semicircle around her.

Edwin turned to Gabriel as Ysabel walked past him, "Lucky." He merely raised an eyebrow in response.

The next boat arrived then, and another girl stepped out. This one was a short, Indian girl, with hair tied back into one large braid down her back. She wore a pink halter top and a knee-length denim skirt, accompanied with basic black heels. "Hey guys!" she waved.

"Sabrina, welcome," Chris greeted her as she descended, "how was it? Good trip?"

"Sure, but there was nowhere near enough time to finish the film. How will I ever know what happens to the Titanic?"

"Joking, trying too hard to be funny? You'll fit right in here!" Chris told her.

"Ouch…" Sabrina said, "Must be why they chose you to host."

"Alright, get over there," Chris grumbled.

"Seems I may have struck a nerve," she muttered, to generally anyone as she passed them, heading to the back of the pack.

"Don't worry about him," Elijah said, "he didn't appreciate mine either." Louise and Oswald also nodded along.

"Ironic." she replied.

"If we're done," Chris shouted to the group at the back, "It's time to meet the newest guy, Nate." A short, white boy with a yellow t-shirt depicting a flame jumped over the gangplank and onto the dock, stumbling, and only just avoiding falling off the edge.

"Whoa…" he smiled, "I was sure that was gonna be easy."

"You were wrong," Chris smiled, "but sadly for the cameras and the show, not wrong enough."

"I get it," Nate laughed a forced, fake laugh, "I see what you're going for Chris."

"And when you're done buttering me up, you can meet the other contestants."
"Jeez, just saying I found that funny, dog." he mumbled. He strutted his way into the crowd, though they paid him little notice.

Sabrina pretended to shield her eyes, "Argh, I'm going blind."

"Huh?" Nate asked.

"Your… Shirt..." she managed, feigning pain, "It's… Too bright!"

"Want me to take it off?" he grinned.

She immediately stood bolt upright, "Oh God, no. Are you serious?"

Nate just kept grinning, "Uh, yeah? Duh?" he said, in a manner that at least suggested he was being serious.

A boat pulled in yet again, and now, an Asian boy stood at the prow, with short, spiky black hair, and a basic red shirt and jeans combo on. He smiled warmly out at the group, and waved. He calmly strolled off the boat, and walked up to Chris, reaching out to shake his hand, "Pleasure, Chris. Ajay."

"Yeah, I know Ajay."

"Oh, I'm sure you did, but they didn't." he smiled out at the other teens, who all rolled their eyes.

"Well, well played, Ajay. Go and make friends." Chris smiled, still shaking his hand.

"Don't need to tell me twice," he smiled, letting go of Chris' hand, and heading away.

"You're my favourite!" Chris called after him. A clamour picked up among the groups, voicing their dissent.

"I, for one, feel personally attacked," Sabrina said, clutching her chest.

"Now that I'm tearing them apart slowly but surely," Chris said to the camera, but making sure he was loud enough for everyone to hear, "it's about time we get to the last six arrivals, and then set out the camp rules."

The 17th arrival, or sixth last, was a chubby, white boy with a shaggy mop of greasy brown hair. He smiled innocently, as if unaware of his destination, and where he'd been, like the only thing in this world was this whimsical boat ride. A few moments after the boat had stopped, he shook himself out of the trance. He wore a dark blue t-shirt with a picture of a lightning bolt on it, and dirty green shorts, with white trainers stained with brown. "Hey." he mumbled as he disembarked, waving halfheartedly to the group.

"This is Ronald." Chris explained.

"I am Ronald." Ronald echoed.

"What, did he win a contest to appear on TV?" Gabriel said snarkily, leaning in to Bella so only she could hear.

"We all did, numbskull." she explained, exasperated.

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah, but that doesn't make it clever. Or funny."

"Glad to figure out where you stand."

"Excuse me."

"I'm beginning to think you don't appreciate my jokes, or me talking to you."

"Wow, there is a brain in there."

"Ugh, how cliche," he smiled, turning away from her. She fumed silently at the back of his head.

Ronald slowly lumbered down the dock, sort of greeting the contenders, in his own way. He smiled at Gabriel as he passed, and Gabriel smiled and nodded back. "Two face." Bella coughed.

Gabriel's eye twitched, but in the end, he paid no attention.

Ronald stopped next to the gang that had already formed out of Louise, Oswald, Elijah, Clive and Edwin, with Ivan kind of watching the conversation from the outside. "Hi, I'm Ronald." he said.

"Cool," Louise smiled, "welcome, dude."

"Neat," Ronald grinned.

"Now we're down to the final five arrivals," Chris called out, as another boat arrived, "and here is one of them: Lisa."

Lisa was a short girl, sporting hair held back in a ponytail that trailed down her back. She wore denim overalls over a yellow long-sleeve top. She also had a pair of thick glasses on and what many would call 'too much lipstick'. "Hey!" She called out from the boat, waving enthusiastically over the railing. She daintily stepped down the gangplank, and stood next to Chris, waiting for him to say something, gazing at the other contestants, who stared back, from their various positions: Ophelia sitting on the dock, the 'gang' in a cluster, Lorelei and Ruby stood on one side, Gabriel and Bella leaning on a pole on the other side, and Indira, Sabrina, Nate, Ajay and Ysabel interspersed between, Ysabel enjoying the attention she was receiving from Nate, and the other three milling around, listening in to conversations and occasionally slipping a word in edgeways.

"So, Chris," Lisa mumbled, growing tired of waiting, "are you gonna introduce me?"

"Um, I did? When you arrived?"

"Oh, silly me," she smiled, shuffling over, and sitting down, legs crossed, somewhat in the middle of the deck.

Gabriel looked down at her, then at Bella, who mouthed Talk to her maybe?

No, you do it! He mouthed back.

Make me. She retorted. He sighed, and looked down, touching her back lightly with his boot.

"Hey, what's your name?"

Lisa's face lit up, and she shot up, almost pressing herself against Gabriel, "Hi! I'm Lisa, what's your name?"

The sudden burst of energy caught her by surprise, "I'm Gabriel. Have you met Bella?"

Bella did a surprised double take, glaring at Gabriel for a second, before looking at Lisa and smiling, "Hi, Lisa, I'm Bella."

"You two are so cool, standing together, all aloof and mysterious." Lisa laughed.

"Oh, no she so ain't cool," Gabriel smiled, before Bella could get a word in.

"Oh, she's just basking in your shadow?"

"Hey, no-"

"Oh, I know, is it that obvious?" Gabriel grinned, shooting a smug sideways glance at Bella, before engaging Lisa in a conversation all of their own. Bella stood fuming even more.

The next boat then arrived, with a muscular guy, wearing a light blue tank top which said Push it and flapping, loose, white shorts. His hair was cut into a faux hawk, and he wore a pair of sunglasses. He stood, bouncing slightly on his heels, as if he was getting pumped for a race, or a sports game.

"This, is Lucas!" Chris announced, as he raced down the gangplank.

"Sup." he nodded.

"Sup with you," Ysabel half-smiled. Lucas began strutting towards her. Bella gagged as he strode past, and many other just stared in bemusement. The two met and Ysabel pushed Nate to the side, who knocked into Ivan, who fell backwards, surprised as he hadn't noticed the arrival, into Louise, who stumbled back into Ruby, who subsequently fell into the lake.

"Sorry!" Louise said, quickly. Everyone rushed to the water's edge save Ophelia, Gabriel and Bella. Ysabel glanced at Lucas and smirked, as he smirked back, though a little disappointed they had been interrupted.

"No way, we got two in the lake already?" Chris doubled over laughing, "Are you serious, this is great!"

Ruby clambered out of the water, "I beg to differ, McLean!"

"When we get the ratings numbers in, you'll agree." He smiled, "I'm gonna be back on top, and dragging you lot with me, for better or worse."

"Neat…" Elijah said, "I always wanted someone to use me to get famous."

Chris caught himself, "Hey, this isn't what this is about, guys. It's about the bonds you guys form. And don't form for that matter."

Just as Chris was beginning to lose control, the next boat arrived, carrying a beautiful young girl, with her light brown hair flowing in the wind behind her. She wore a flowing dress covered with a floral pattern, and sandals on her feet. She smiled sweetly and waved down at the group. She stepped gracefully down onto the dock, and only smiled the more as she arrived, "Wow."

"This is Lee," Chris told the others.

"Hi," she chimed.

"Hello," Gabriel muttered. Bella elbowed him, "Ouch."

"Hey," Lee said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear as she approached him.

"I'm Gabriel." he smiled.

"Lee."

"I know."

"Of course," she giggled.

"Get a room." Bella grumbled.

"Jealous?" he remarked.

"Shut up, loser."

"Cool."

The penultimate boat arrived, carrying the penultimate contestant. He was a short boy wearing a backwards baseball cap, a plain white t-shirt and jean shorts. Overall, his look looked as if he was trying really hard to seem as casual as possible, ironically. "Hey, guys. Josh." he said, pointing two thumbs at himself.

"Hey Josh," Chris smiled, "now get off the boat so we can bring the last contestant in and start this contest!"

"Don't mind if I do," he laughed, scanning the crowd. Departing the boat, he walked directly to Bella, "Hey. Josh."

"Neat line," she said, "so simple yet so enticing."

"Really?"

"No, jog on."

He sniffed indignantly, and jogged on. Gabriel laughed at her, "Ooh, the one chance you had for love on this island, gone. Like a candle in the wind."

"Trust me, I'll have plenty of chances."

"Have you talked to anyone besides me since arriving?"

"I… That's not…"

"Cool."

Josh continued into the group, stopping by Lorelei, "Hey. Josh."

"Oh, are you? That's so cool."

"Really?"

Lorelei only shook her head. Josh crossed his arms, and stood in silence. He looked over at Sabrina, "Hey."

"I don't think so."

"Here it is!" Chris shouted, "The final boat! Who is the last contestant?"

The final contestant, as it happened, was a girl called Sascia. She was a small, lithe girl with curly hair that cascaded down to her shoulders. She wore a simple white dress and sensible black shoes. Smiling she descended, and became the final contestant to reach the docks, "Hope I'm not too late," she laughed.

"Close enough," Chris shrugged, looking at his watch, "but, the important thing, is that you are all here. All twenty-two contestants on TV's newest, hottest reality show! Total! Drama! Island!"

"Neat." Sabrina said.

"Now, to commemorate your arriving, how about a group photo on the end of the dock?"

With a little grumbling, the group shuffled over to the end. Edwin, Oswald and Louise crouched or sat at the front, and Elijah, Sabrina, Ronald and Indira stood behind them. Ruby, Lorelei, Ophelia, Gabriel and Bella filtered around the edges and refused to stray any closer to the middle. Ysabel, surrounded by Lucas, Josh and Nate, posed flirtatiously to the left, and Lisa, Ajay, Sascia and Lee stood on the right, leaving Ivan standing, arms stretched, behind the whole group. Chris took the photo, and waited just a few seconds. "We got a problem, Chris?" Ajay asked.

"No, no problem… Just… Kinda hoping the deck would break and you'd all fall in."

"Was me falling in not enough for you?" Ruby inquired, icily.

"Not quite. Ah, well, the deck's still holding so whatever. Follow me to the campgrounds and I'll explain it all."

The campgrounds was made up of an unlit campfire with eleven stumps set in two rows in front of it. The first eleven to arrive quickly took their seats, leaving the rest to stand. Chris strode out to the other side of the campfire and addressed them. "Here is the general campgrounds. Behind you, as you saw as you came in, are the cabins, one for one team, split into boys and girls rooms, and an identical one for the other team."

"Are the boys, girls splits compulsory?" Josh asked, trying to smile cheekily.

"Yes." Chris said sternly. Josh laughed sheepishly and shrunk into himself, as twenty-one pairs of eyes were suddenly upon him, judging him mercilessly. "If I can continue, your two teams, which have already been chosen, will compete against each other in our specially designed challenges, and after these challenges, one team will lose. The losing team will vote out one player, and they will be forced to leave the island. And will be unable to return. Ever." Some of the campers began to nervously look around at each other. "Before we reveal the teams, there is just one more thing to mention," Chris said. And, by the power of television magic, he was then in the woods, standing next to an outhouse.

"This," he gestured to the outhouse, "is your confessional."

"No," Ruby said, "that's a toilet."

"It is both!" Chris said, smiling. Many of the others cringed, or gagged.

"Nice," Elijah said, sarcastically.

"You will be able to vent your personal feelings about your fellow competitors or the show in here, completely privately. I'm gonna give you ten minutes to use it, if you want, then you must be back at the campfire."

Gabriel immediately started walking away. "Hey, where are you going?" Bella called after him.

"I want a stump-seat this time!" he replied, "Plus, if I've got something to say, I think I'll just say it."

Many of the other contestants also began to disperse, without much to say, really.

Confessional

Bella: You know who I don't like? Gabriel. He's so frustrating, and I've barely been here a few hours. I better not be on the same team as him.

Elijah: Yeah, this outhouse situation? Little smart, little gross. I'm probably still gonna use it loads though.

Ophelia: This bites.

End

Back at the campfire, Chris was flanked by Chef Hatchet, carrying two rugs. "This," Chris began, "is my good friend, Chef Hatchet. He will be your cook for your time here, and will be taking challenges from time to time, if I can't or just don't want to." Chris and Chef shared a laugh, "Anyway, he's my partner in crime and is here to help me introduce the teams. First: Bella, Edwin, Gabriel, Ajay, Indira, Lisa, Louise, Ruby, Nate, Sascia and Clive. You guys are the Screaming Gophers!"

Chef tossed the green rug Indira's way, and she caught it with an "Oof." She unfurled it and revealed a minimalist decal of what must've been a gopher in a fighting stance.

Confessional

Bella: Great.

End

"Decent name, I'll take it," Gabriel shrugged, looking around at his teammates, as they all gathered around Indira and the rug, "what's up team?"

Nate looked around him, "I can deal with this."

Louise elbowed Edwin, "At least we're on the same team, eh?"

"Oh, yeah," Edwin grinned, "it's just a shame we don't have Oswald or Elijah."

"Aw, thanks!" Elijah said, forming a heart with his hands.

Gabriel pretended to gag. "For once, I agree." Bella said.

"For once? You've known me for an hour. That's really not much to go on."

"I'm sure we won't get on."

"It'll be your fault, but sure."

Lisa walked up to Indira, "Hey, guess we're teammates."

"Yeah, guess so," she grinned, "I'm Indira. Don't think we were formally introduced."

"Lisa." Lisa smiled, "We're gonna crush the others."

"Sure, we are," Indira laughed, genuinely.

"Now, everyone else already knows who they are, but just for the audience's sake, Ivan, Lee, Lorelei, Lucas, Elijah, Ophelia, Oswald, Ronald, Ysabel, Sabrina and Josh are… The Killer Bass!"

Chef tossed the red rug to Ivan, who caught it one-handed, "Da." he said, unfurling it, revealing a similarly minimalistic decal but this time of a rather angry looking fish.

"Cool. Fish. Badass." Elijah said.

"Better than a gopher," Oswald shrugged.

"Well, I think we look like a great team, isn't that right?" Lorelei said, smiling. No one replied.

"Thank God, we're on the same team, right Josh?" Ysabel said.

"Oh, uh, yeah. I wouldn't want to have to face you."

"Or would you?" she said, seductively.

"Um…" he squeaked.

"Now that you're all acquainted," Chris said, interrupting both teams' chatter, "I think it's about time for your first challenge. In a half hour, meet me on top of the cliff. And, you may wanna wear your swimsuits!" he added.

-A/N-

Hey, author here. Just testing the waters with this story here (Never written new characters or a TD competition yet - at least not well). Just gauging the interest, seeing if people would be interested in seeing more of this etc. Hope I didn't spend too much time on certain characters. Tell me your favourites, your least favourites, who you want to see go far, not so far, or even win? Not many people see this anyway, so I don't know why I bother but? This is why we try. Why we persevere. Yeet. Out.