Well this episode was one of my favorite Jock episodes. (Probably because it has so much that could probably be twisted into Jock) And the hand-holding scene where Jo actually shows she has a heart. And then it grew three sizes that night…! No, not really… But, um… I prefer the Runaway Model episode. That has the absolute best scenes that could turn into Jock. I saw that episode on YouTube and I was staring at the screen like "Why are they not in love?" To be frank, I was suspicious of them when I first saw the opening video… When Jo ran after Brick, I was all like "Oh-ho!" And I sat forward, grinning from ear to ear excitedly. Then I found out the opening was just teasing me and I sat back and muttered angrily for a good twenty minutes or so…

Brick-House- Chapter Four- Finders Creepers

Every day I had continued racing with Brick around the island, and every time I caught him running while I was training I would drop everything and chase after him so that I could beat him back to the steps on the beach. It was admittedly a lot of fun racing with Brick and such. I would never say it aloud, but Brick was probably the only thing keeping me sane. That, and the million dollars…

It had been a long day so far- running 5k and then another 5k in the afternoon because Brick said he had run 8k in the morning. I still needed to best him at everything- that was my second biggest goal here on this island. The biggest was to win. I had refused to sit with Brick for brains on the steps of our cabin anymore; after the little episode while watching meteors, I didn't want any more touching that wasn't harmful, apprehensive, or for my own purposes of manipulation.

Sitting in the confessional, I was pondering things to myself. It was the only place I could have any real privacy- Brick would constantly be right by my side anywhere that wasn't here or the girls' side of our cabin, and in there I'd have to deal with Spray-head or Pigtails… No thank you.

Rubbing my chin, I muttered, "The challenge has gotta be tonight… Or tomorrow… Chris has given us three days of peace and quiet… And the cameramen haven't been stalking us at all today… Mmm…" Looking up at the camera, I quickly said, "You'd think we'd have had a fear-related challenge by now…"

After that, I got up and walked out. It may have been private, but it was still an outhouse- and it smelled terrible. I walked out to the cabin and I got another piece of paper and began drawing a picture of Chris. I'd draw Jarhead later- right now I was waiting for Chris to inflict some sort of torture upon us.

"Hey, that's really good," I heard a soft voice say. Looking up, I scowled when I found Zoey leaning forward and watching me draw. "I didn't know you could draw like that, Jo…"

"Yeah, well, I didn't exactly tell you, did I?" I snarled darkly. She looked a little confused, but she didn't move away. I groaned and returned to drawing. Once it was finished I licked my finger and rubbed it against the end of the marker; Dawn let me keep the black one.

"Hey, can you draw one for me?" Zoey asked. I flipped my head up to glare at her so hard it could've killed someone as cold-blooded as myself. She jumped backwards, squeaking with terror.

I continued my death glare and I spat, "I'm not your friend, Pigtails..! Stop acting like we're buddy-buddy!" She shivered and I stormed off to tape the picture to my punching bag. Once it was secure, I decided to beat the living daylights out of it. I stopped when I heard someone saying that it was time to eat. From the sound of it, it was Brick. I rolled my eyes and slowly walked out of the woods. He smiled when he saw me and I scowled at him- he knew where my punching bag was, why not just come and get me?

Then again, I sort of preferred not having him breathe down my neck while I trained… He was just always right where I was. No matter where I went…! I followed him too, but that was because I wanted to be sure that whenever there was a chance for me to be better than him that I was there. He followed me for no reason. Was he really that competitive that he had to be right there at all times?

Every time I thought on it, it would feel like there was an itching at the back of my mind. I always dismissed the idea- it was stupid. I mean, Brick having feelings for me was just plain ridiculous! We were rivals! Besides, if Dawn wasn't his type, how on Earth was I? I felt like I was nervously laughing in my head. Instantly I smacked myself, shouting, "Stop thinking like that you dolt!"

Brick stared at me in shock when I did that. I wasn't embarrassed- I didn't care if he was afraid of me. I didn't care if he was my friend. This was a competition. All I cared about was winning the million dollars. I remembered Heather's quote from the first season of this stupid show- "We're not here to make friends". I agreed whole-heartedly. Friends just got in the way. Or they got weird like Brick had… That was just bizarre that night- first leaning closer to me, then putting his arm around me? What could possibly possess him into thinking I would be okay with that?

I walked into the mess hall and sat next to Brick like always. Mike and Zoey sat across from us as they always did, and Cameron sat to my left like he always did. We had a routine and assigned seats here on the Mutant Maggots, unlike the Rats, who sat willy nilly everyday… Occasionally we would switch tables, but not often. Anne Maria always just sat near Mike and Zoey, but not always in the same spot…

Somehow I kept forgetting Anne Maria. Even though she was obnoxious and irritating I still lost track that she was there. Heck, I lost track that any of the rest of them were there…! A lot of times they all just seemed like dead weight…

After we all ate, I challenged Brick to a race around the beach to the steps. He accepted gladly an on the count of three we sprinted. I won as usual and once I reached the steps I jumped up and down and cheered for myself in my head. Brick gasped for air, but once he had caught his breath he smiled at me- he was surprisingly a good sport. Unlike me… I hated losing… I never did, but on the extremely off-chance that I ever did, I resented it.

At the end of the day, the teams went to go and sleep, when suddenly a blaring horn went off. I ran back outside to see what was going on. Everyone else quickly gathered, Brick somehow managing to place himself right beside me again, and yet the horn continued. Dakota, the new intern, was standing there, holding it above her head. One she stopped, Chris said something to her about her internship here, and she shouted "WHAT" in response. Her ears were dead.

Chris began explaining our challenge. He said we had a scavenger hunt to do, and when he first announced we'd be doing our challenge now, Brick spazzed. He whimpered, "What? Now? When it's all d-d-dark?" I rolled my eyes at him and returned my attention to Chris.

"Watch out for booby-traps, I really went to town with 'em!" he was saying.

Mike, I think, asked nervously, "What does the giant Spider represent?"

"Oh yeah," Chris said with a nonchalant smile, "there's some kind of giant mutated spider running loose on the island…"

Cameron spazzed an asked, "Where? Where?" I groaned inwardly- God, were all the men here such wimps? I'd definitely have to find to whip these noodles into shape…

Chris had said something and then the horn went off again, and we took that as our cue to get moving. We ran, and unfortunately ended up at the first clue area after the Rats. Scowling, I knew instantly we needed to follow their clue and get the first reward before they did.

When someone said something to me, I said, "Follow me, I have a plan…"

Once we stopped, I think it was Cameron who asked me what my plan was- to be honest; I wasn't keeping track of who was talking to me anymore. I turned and said, "We follow the Rats and their clue to the first reward!" Glancing around, I said, "Into that bush!" And we all piled into the thorny red bush. It hurt, but I didn't care.

"A knot and a nest. Your clue lives with a pest. Follow Polaris to travel northwest…" I heard Dawn muttering as her team walked.

"They're getting away! C'mon!" I whispered after they were gone. It was difficult to get out, more so than getting in. I heard Brick whimpering something, and the next thing any of us knew we were running along still trapped inside the bush. Slowly but surely the plant fell apart, and we each ended up falling out of it. I wasn't really sure what to think when I felt a hand on my left thigh and another under my neck. Brick apparently had caught me as the bush disintegrated and was holding me bridal style. I blinked a few times and looked at him like he had three heads- my eyes widened further when I saw him looking at me and blushing. Immediately I jumped out of his grasp with terror.

I landed on my face on the ground, and I heard Brick ask me if I was okay. Instantly I turned myself around to scoot away across the ground- pushing myself as fast as I could with my legs and hands until I backed into a tree. Sitting on the ground, looking up at him, I was so terrified of what was going on. Brick had been touching me again! But instead of being angry like last time, this time I was… scared… I was actually afraid of something.

He walked over to me, whispering, "Jo, what's wrong?"

I slapped his hand away and I stammered, "I-I thought y-you were Cameron, that's all…!" I had to lie. Brick looked confused, raising the left side of his unibrow as he looked at me. "J-just help String Bean!" I ordered, still stuttering. Brick saluted and ran over to the skinniest member of the group.

Staggering to my feet, I caught my breath and shouted that we needed to catch the Rats and get our reward. My team really knew I was the leader now- none of them argued and they followed me quickly. We caught Scott and Sam standing underneath a tree, and Sam quickly said, laughing nervously, "Maybe we should look for the reward way over there with the rest of our teammates! …Cuz it's not just the two of us…!"

I frowned- so they had lost Lightning and Dawn, huh? That made them that much weaker… Somebody pointed out team colors, saying that must be where the clue was. I quickly stopped them and said, "Probably a trap. We should send our most expendable player…"

I had walked forward, and Brick quickly said, "No one's expendable…!"

I stormed back to him, glaring into his black eyes and I saw instant terror and fear in them, along with Mike's, Cameron's, Anne Maria's, and Zoey's. They feared me- as they rightly should. I snapped at him, "Do you wanna play nice? Or do you wanna win?" And I proceeded to grab hold of Cameron's sweater and I threw him straight into the hole in the tree. It was a perfect bulls-eye.

He groaned with pain at first, but then he quickly shouted, "A key!" And then he started screaming about a giant arachnid and he fell flat on his face. Mike congratulated him and bent to get the key. When he stood back up he started asking where Zoey went. Then he started screaming for her and running around in circles.

Rolling my eyes at this pathetic show of affection, I simply said, "Aaand we call off the search and forge ahead…!"

I had begun walking when I heard Brick's voice. "That's against the cadet code! Never leave a soldier behind!"

Scowling, I turned back around. What was with him tonight? Standing up to me like this…! I was tempted to slap him silly, but at the same time I was tempted to shove him into a tree and start smothering him. "Look, we didn't leave her. She left us," I spat, "that means she's AWOL." I used terms I knew would influence our military boy, and I told him we had to keep going. Everyone else followed me, but unfortunately Mike kept shouting for her the entire time.

We reached a point where I saw flashes of light, and I grinned when I saw Sam on the ground, charred from explosions. As my team ran past he and Scott, I shouted, "Thanks for clearing the way!" Mike shouted for Zoey again and I growled deep in my throat- this is why I hate romantically involved people! They never shut up when one of them is gone…!

Upon stopping at a gate, Chris's voice over a speaker welcomed us to the Wawanakwa pet cemetery. "We're first String-bean!" I said, placing my hand on Cameron's shoulder and smiling. Immediately I shoved him, ordering, "Go get the clue…!"

He stumbled over to a small coffin and said something about three sixes being evil. I ordered everyone to fan out and search. "Y-you mean, like, by ourselves…?" Brick asked with a stutter of fear. I frowned at him and rolled my eyes before quickly walking off.

I was wandering around, scanning headstones and such, when I suddenly heard a crash, coupled with a scream, and then I distinctly heard Brick shouting for help. My heart immediately began racing- I sprinted to the grave that the shouting was coming from and I heard Brick screaming, "Too dark! Too dark!"

"Brick, take my hand!" I shouted to him, lowering my hand down into the grave to him. I was so afraid he was hurt- I prayed that he wasn't injured. But feeling the warm, rough skin I recognized from our thumb war, I knew Brick was at least able to reach for me. A feeling of relief flooded over me as I pulled him up from the grave and back up with me. He stumbled slightly once he was on the ground, but other than that he appeared to be unharmed.

"So dark…! So dark..!" he was mumbling, clutching his head in terror. I scowled- I didn't like seeing Brick like this: afraid, helpless, just not like himself.

I grabbed hold of his shirt, and began slapping him across the face, shouting in desperation, "Pull! Yourself! Together!"

He stood, blinking with his now bruised face, and I smiled when he stood up straight. Immediately I blinked and thought to myself- what in the world is the matter with me? I had already seen the stain in his blue shorts, but I needed something to get him to leave. I had to think this through- why had I been so worried?

I looked down at his pants, made a grossed out face, and I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Anne Maria and Cameron were also looking. When had they gotten there? AGH! Was I really that focused on saving Brick that I didn't even see them?

Brick quickly lied, "Uh, it was wet down there and I landed on my crotch!" I didn't believe it for a second. "I gotta go dry off…!"

Good. I needed time to think on this. As soon as he was behind a tree, I began arguing mentally. It was just Brick! And he shouldn't matter…! He's a military cadet! He can take care of himself! I didn't care about him! I was just worried about the penalties Chris warned us about for losing another player…! Yeah! That was it…!

Suddenly Brick's scream pierced the air. My breath hitched in my throat- no! I ran as fast as I could around that tree, but I was already too late. Brick was nowhere to be found. I swallowed and then inwardly I screamed at myself- there I was going again! It was just Brick1 He was obviously just not good enough at this game to keep himself safe! Stop freaking out over him! Stop it Jo! Stop!

"Good riddance," I said, hiding my emotions with a blank face and hiding the quiver in my voice with my usual cold tones, "Two words. Dead. Weight."

Anne Maria immediately turned on me and she spat, "Hey, Brick may not be attractive in any way," Not attractive in any way? Why was that important? Who cares how attractive Brick is? I certainly don't! Was she implying that I found Brick attractive? Because I don't! "But he is still a puhson..." she finished.

I hid my sigh of relief- she wasn't implying anything, thank goodness… After our argument, I began searching around some more by myself. I glanced around constantly- hoping that Brick was just pulling some sort of elaborate prank. I skidded to a stop. "What's the matter with me?" I whispered, placing my hand on my forehead, "Breathe, Jo, breathe… Brick's not important. Winning…. Winning is what's important… Let's just focus on that… Winning…"

I heard Anne Maria shouting something about six, so I hurried back with my team. Mike was apparently now Vito, which made very little sense to me, but whatever… Our reward was apparently flashlights… Lame…

We began walking until we reached a cave. Chris announced that our last clue was inside. Suddenly I heard a question beside me, "Where's Anne Maria and Mike?" It was Cameron.

Rolling my eyes, I replied, "Who cares?" I walked into the cave by myself- none of them mattered to me. Why would I care if they got eaten? I found a skeleton in intern clothes- identical to Chris's clothes, except the shirt was red.

Grinning, I commented, "It's so hard to find good help these days…" I took the paper from its pocket and read aloud, "By hook or by crook, the end is near if you look…" Groaning, I griped, "Who wrote these? William Shakespeare-?"

Suddenly I was thrown to the ground, and then suddenly my arms and legs were bound to me and my eyes were covered. "Hey! How dare you!" I shouted, trying to struggle out of my binds. It felt sticky… And then I was hauled into the air. I shouted, "No!" But there wasn't much I could do. I tried to get free the entire time I was being lifted through the air, and then all of a sudden I was thrown into something, slightly upside-down, and I hung there.

"Jo! You're okay!" I knew that voice…

"Brick!" I quickly shouted, joy welling up all the way to my neck. I swore my face was glowing I was so happy. "I wondered what happened to you! We couldn't find you at the cemetery!" I said, practically giggling.

"Yeah, well, I kinda got stuck here," he replied, "Just like the others.

"Hm?" I asked.

I heard a soft voice that was high-pitched- Dawn- say, "Greetings Jo… Your aura is looking exceptionally pink this evening…" For some reason I could feel her grinning.

"Hi Jo," I heard Zoey say, "How's Mike?"

"Eh, he was freaking out about you until he lost his shirt," I replied, shrugging my shoulders inside the webs. Zoey sounded sad at that- or I felt her sorrow. Without my sight I was relying on a lot of gambling…

"Lightning wants to get down!" I heard the muscle-bound-idiot shout with fear. If I could roll my eyes, I would.

"Really? Because I wanna stay up here all night…!" I snarled sarcastically.

Zoey quickly said, "Guys, don't fight! We're stuck here until someone gets us down…!"

"Whatever…" I scoffed. And so we all hung there, waiting. After a while I heard hissing, shouting, and then I felt the web bounce with a new member being thrown into the group.

"Who's landed in it now? Tan-job? Game-junkie? Freckle face?" I asked, "C'mon, don't leave me hangin'!" Seeing as how I had webs over my eyes, I needed an answer…

"It's just me, String-Bean," I heard my weak reply.

"Wow," I muttered, "You lasted longer than I expected…" After a little bit longer I heard the shouting of Anne Maria and then I heard Sam and then I heard Mike shouting Zoey's name. I groaned to myself. Suddenly I heard Cameron screaming and then lots of pounding and more of Cameron shouting. I really wished I could see…

I heard a feminine voice laughing, and then the web caved in a spot below me and I heard Brick screaming. Out of the side I heard Mike asking, "Why do these ropes feel so sticky?" in a Russian female voice. Svetlana…!

"Don't worry! I'm coming to save you!" I heard Brick shout.

"No! Go get the clue!" I shouted to him.

"But, my code…!" he shouted, sounding weaker, "I need to save you…!"

Immediately I spat, "No, you need to win! Somebody has to!"

"But my code…!" he began.

Getting annoyed with his sudden backbone, I shouted, "Cut and run soldier! That's an order!"

I heard a familiar, "sir, yes, sir" and then more screaming from Cameron as the cave began collapsing. I'm not sure who got us all out of the web, but once we were freed, I saw that the giant spider was actually Izzy in disguise. It was really really weird…

We walked back around and out of the cave and Chris met up with us, along with Brick and Sam and Scott. Chris told us, "The Rats won. Maggots, the campfire ceremony, if you will…"

We all walked back to the fire pit and as we walked, Brick was yelling at me. "If I had just saved you like I wanted to in the first place, we would've won!"

"Maybe you should've been a better player!" I spat.

"I should've just followed my own code! I never should've listened to you…!" he snarled, stomping ahead of me. I stopped for a brief moment- for some reason hearing that cut deep: I liked having Brick do whatever I said… He was so angry at me…

Slowly my sad frown transformed into a scowl of rage. "Fine…!" I shouted at him, my voice breaking the lens of a camera near me. I wanted to cry, but I didn't understand why I wanted to, and that made me not.

We all sat on the stumps, Brick sitting next to me, but neither one of us looking at each other. We were glaring in opposite directions. Chris laughed and said, "This tension is so delish, I could kiss someone! Not you Mike, we all know where those lips have been…" A brief pause and Chris teased, "But maybe Brick and Jo would like to kiss and make up?"

I glared harder, keeping my reddening face hidden with anger. Why that statement made my face feel hot, I don't know. Maybe just the idea of kissing Brick when we were so angry at each other.

"Didn't think so," Chris said.

Suddenly movement to my left made me turn my head. I felt sad when I saw Brick standing. "I volunteer for elimination. I did not follow my own code… I don't deserve to be here…" he said, looking down shamefully.

"Yeah, no kidding Sir Leaks-a-lot," I scoffed.

Brick instantly turned on me. Getting right in my face, he said, "So I'm afraid of the dark…! That's what night vision goggles are for!" He scanned my eyes and then shouted, "You would never make it on my squadron…!"

I yawned and grinned to myself. This felt so right- yelling at him. Brick and I were always fighting. It was natural.

"Hold on, Brick," Chris said, "Today's eliminated Maggot is tomorrow's new Rat…!"

My eyes widened- no way…! Chris wasn't doing this…! "I'm not taking the hurl of shame?" Brick asked, glancing at all of us.

"Nope!' Chris announced, "From now on, you're a member of the Toxic Rats!"

Everyone gasped, but then realized it wasn't that big of a deal. I glared to my right at the ground. Pure, unadulterated rage was boiling in my stomach. It made me feel as though I was going to puke lava. I hated everything right now. I hated everyone. I hated Chris. I really really hated Chris.

I didn't even listen to the rest of what everyone said. Once Chris dismissed us I sprinted to my punching bag and I began tearing into the drawing of Chris. My nails dug at the paper and the fabric as I punched and clawed at his face. I screamed and ripped at the orange fabric with my knuckles. I was so angry at Chris. This wasn't fair! Brick's still here! And now he's on the other team! No! No no no! This can't be happening!

"NO!" I snarled, punching a hole straight into the punching bag. Sand began pouring out and I fell to the ground, hugging my knees and hiding my face against the fabric of my sweatpants. I gripped my knees tightly, my knuckles going white with force. Chris would pay for this! I'd kill him! If it's the last thing I ever do, I'll kill him!

"Jo," I nearly screamed at the sound of the soft voice out of the silence. I looked up and saw Dawn standing there.

Swallowing, I instantly spat, "Go away…!"

She remained right where she was. "Are you ready to talk to me about Brick?" she asked gently.

I threw my hands out toward her, shouting, "Why do you want to talk about Brick with me so bad? Are you that in love with him? Well then fine! He's on your team now! Talk with Zoey about him!"

Dawn knelt before me and she whispered, "You know why I want to talk to you about Brick, Jo. You don't want to admit it, but I know you know…" My eyes widened in horror. Don't say it. Don't say it. I mentally pleaded her not to say it. The one thought that had been that nagging itch in the back of my head. No…!

"Jo, Brick likes you," Dawn said softly.

I screamed and buried my face in my knees, sobbing uncontrollably for no reason. Why was I crying? Why did I care? What was the matter with me?

"No!" I sobbed, "No, he can't! He likes you! He has to!"

Dawn smiled at me and said gently, "Jo, I know that boys don't usually like you… You always see them go for the pretty girl wearing the short shorts and the make-up. It's all you've dealt with. Every time you like a guy, usually he's athletic like you; he's not even given you a second thought… And now that you've met Brick, you don't want to accept the fact that he's in love with you… You don't want to set yourself up for getting your heart broken again… That's why you always have to win and be so athletically better than anyone else- it gets the guys you like to notice you. Even if they won't go out with you…" I was staring at her wide-eyed as tears flowed from my eyes, and she smiled comfortingly.

"He really does like you," she said, "And you and I both know that you've been pushing the idea that he does away because you secretly feel the same way about him…" I swallowed and scanned her face- how did she know all of this? How? I had even convinced myself that it wasn't true! Every time I had thought about Brick I had told myself it was just because we were rivals…! Even when those thoughts became more… "You've been so afraid that Brick's going to hurt you that you don't even want to give him a chance…"

I looked away and then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at Dawn and she said softly, "Believe me Jo; Brick would never do anything to hurt you… You're all he thinks about…"

My brow furrowed and I quickly spat, "Yeah well not after tonight…! I wouldn't be surprised if after tonight he never talked to me again…!"

"Jo," Dawn whispered, "You and I both know you don't believe that…"

"WELL HOW DO YOU KNOW?" I shouted at her, sobbing as I did, "How do you know he doesn't? How do you know he's not just like everyone else? HOW?"

"It's all over his aura," she replied, "He was raised to be a gentleman. He never wants to hurt a girl, even one as tough as you. Brick's a sweet guy Jo, I can see it…" I frowned and looked at the grass. "And I can see that you would be sweet too if you just had someone to make you that way…" she said.

After a small pause, she said, "I know you saved him tonight…"

I stared up at her in shock. "How did you…?"

"It's your aura," she replied, "You're entire being is focusing on that moment when you grabbed his hand… You thought his hand was warm and rough, but you liked it… You were so worried about him…" She giggled happily- apparently she was proud of me for being worried about Brick.

I looked away and sat there. She stood up and I looked back at her. Smiling, Dawn said, "Trust me Jo. Just wait until tomorrow my friend… I can promise you things will be right back to normal…" And she waved at me before walking away on her fairy feet.

Sitting under my punching bag, I frowned and thought and waited. I wasn't sure… I smiled softly- maybe Dawn was right… And then a softer smile came to my face- Dawn had called me friend. I never had a friend who was a girl before… Not since I was six… She was my first official friend in years… Well, even if things with Brick didn't turn out, at least I could take comfort in that…..There was no way I had a crush on Brick though- crushes are for girly girls. I'm not girly. I don't have a crush… Well… Maybe I liked him…a little… But that was it!

Oh Jo. So strong even when you're in such a weakened state… Yay for Dawn! I dunno why I chose her as the friend, I just felt that Dawn was willing to accept everybody and see the good in them. The next chapter is going to have a scene of Jock in it that I noticed the first time I watched the episode. I saw it and I was like "Why is Jo smiling?" And my mind began thinking up all sorts of incredible scenarios.

I think I got Chris's message wrong… Oh well…