The big day has finally come around and let me tell you something, I was not ready for it.
I watch as the rest of my team loses on the scaring simulator. They are putting up a really good fight, and they have all done way better than I have expected them to, but it wasn't enough for the victory.
I look at Mike from time to time, and he still looks broken, like he has given up on all the hope.
When my turn comes I feel bad, because I know what I have to do. I walk into the room, crawl over the floor and lay under the fake-child's bad.
I try my best to hide the control board with my body as I adjust the difficulty for Mike's round from hard to easy.
I know the cheating is something he wouldn't approve of. But he worked so hard for this and I don't want to see him be hurt anymore. It's my fault that he is in this situation anyway. I am the one who was jealous.
I do my best to scare the fake-child, and, luckily, I tie our score.
I walk out and my team runs towards me, all enthusiastic. But my eyes focus only on Mike.
I separate him so we could talk.
"Look, Mike, forget what I said last night", I tell him, "you worked harder than any of us for this, you can do it, just let it come from inside". He nods, his eye still filled with insecurity. "And know that whatever happens in the next few minutes isn't that important, wheater we are back in the scarer program or not, we'll figure it out together, like a team".
He smiles at me. "Thanks, Sully", he says before he walks to the start line.
Inside the simulator, he is so focused. He scares the fake-child and the scare-meter goes to the limit. We won. Crowd screams, Mike runs out of the room all happy, and I stand there, hating on myself for lying to him. But I didn't want him to be hurt by the truth again.