Please review, they make my day ^_^ Thanks for all the reviews so far, you guys are so awesome!
BTW, I didn't mention last chapter, but Josh is from my favorite video game ObsCure. I just decided to throw him in here for a few chapters to entertain Cameron.
Also, sorry for the delay, very VERY busy...

Cameron: *reading the note above* So let me get this straight... you decided it would be a swell idea to warp Josh out of your favorite video game and into the commentary?
Euregatto: ...Yes.
Cameron: He needs to go back to the game.
Josh: Ashley will wonder where I went...
Cameron: Can't you just get Jo or Brick or even Lightning up here instead? At least make our guest relevant to the story!
Euregatto: Jo refused, she also wouldn't let Brick participate, and I'm not asking Lightning; I couldn't find Zoey or Mike either so...
Cameron: *sigh* This is why you shouldn't be allowed to add a commentary...
Euregatto: Are you kidding? Everyone loves commentaries!
Josh: I can tell this argument is going to escalate, so let's move on with the story.


Chapter 6: Dinner Date Disasters


There were two things the Lightning did. Not. do under any circumstances unless he was charming a lady – 1) dance, although he had to admit he did have some impressive moves, and 2) eat out at fancy restaurants. He was convinced that both of those activities were borderline sha-lame and that real didn't dance. I mean, have you seen his muscles lately? He was single handedly capable of taking his team all the way to the finals! Perfection such as himself was not to be wasted on dancing.

However, the coach had insisted they celebrate with dinner in the hotel's restaurant… And whatever the coach said, went.

Oh, yeah, there was a third thing Lightning refused to do – 3) dress up. Suits were uncomfortable, especially this one, although it did define his shoulder tone very well. And the tie had this neat silver and blue pattern on it, even though he did prefer purple and white, his team colors-

…And this was why he never liked to do anything outside of throwing a football. Because then he would become a brainwashed member of society… Wait, what if he really was brainwashed? He wouldn't know! How could he tell? What if he was the only one still with a conscious? Would the system try to kill him and this would turn into a scene from those action movies his brother liked to watch all the time?

He forgot all about his worries when his table was presented with several plates of steak.

"Protein!" He exclaimed, claiming one for himself. "Now that's what Lightning likes!" Brainwashed or not, meat was meat and such a beautiful cut would not go a single moment without being savored. By savored he meant wolfed down. But at least it was going to a wonderful place for a just cause.

Lightning wasn't sure what, within that next moment, caused him to glance up so suddenly from his plate of Heaven, but he did. And sure enough, there was Jo in his line of sight, her gaze focused on Pipsqueak who was mentioning something about a reserved table. She looked especially… pretty this evening. That was a weird accomplishment for someone like Jo who Lightning had mistaken for a boy for the longest while.

Irking Jo on agitated her, much to Lightning's personal amusement, and her boiling point rose quicker when he mistook her for a male. However, he had accepted the harsh reality of his mistake on the Island… but that brought about a surge of emotions Lightning couldn't comprehend.

He figured it had something to do with the fact that he had a thing for athletic girls. Back in his home town he had dated four girls, two of whom weren't into sports so they couldn't stand listening to him ramble about his victories and trophies. One girl played soccer, although she wasn't too fond of Lightning's boisterous attitude. And then there was his last girlfriend who ran Cross Country and attended his games. She tried to turn him into a vegetarian though, and he simply wouldn't have it. Come on, Lightning needed his protein if he wanted to look good!

Speaking of looking good, this steak was awfully unappealing tonight…

Jo was exactly the girl he had always wanted to meet – she was strong, athletic, even mentioned once that she enjoyed watching football with her family. Her eyes were purple, too, like a really nice shade of violet. The same as his team colors! And when she wasn't wearing her typical outfit you could indulge in her figure. If Jo tried to act like less of a man she could easily pull off to be the most sought out girl in the area.

Lightning sighed under his breath, wedging a bite of meat between his lips.

Why was he thinking like that? I mean, it's JO. They hated each other – well, Lightning didn't hate anyone since his Mama taught him from an early age that hate was a strong word, but Jo certainly made it clear that he resided on her bad side forever and for always – since getting teamed up together back on Total Drama. And until her elimination he was convinced that she had been as guy as a guy could get. Finding out she was a female… that ignited a spark or two.

Lightning realized that he wasn't very interested in his steak anymore.

"Lightning's gonna go rock the dance floor!" He declared to his team. They ignored him, too busy stuffing their faces to acknowledge his statement. Lightning returned the same level of care with a scowl and moved somewhere else just as the announcer on stage started up with a sudden exclamation about… well, Lightning didn't care, he was just focused on finding Jo.

He was certain now – Jo was everything he had ever wanted, and he was going to make her his.

His coach shouted something at him and he faced the elder man. "Yeah Coach?" A person bumped into from behind, but he paid them no mind. He was too enveloped in trying to figure out what the coach was saying. Something about finishing his steak? Then, the spotlight fell on him. The only time he could recall having the light shine solely on him was when he won last year's championship. Ha… good times. "Sha-huh? Why's the light on Lightning? Did he win somethin'?"

"Yeah, you earned yourself a dance with me."

Lightning whirled around, a bleak smile spreading across his expression. "Jo!"

He was going to make Jo his… and what better place to start than with a dance?


Lightning grabbed me by my wrists and towed me over to the dance floor. His sudden surge of willingness was something to be concerned about – high-and-mighty Lightning was actually eager to dance… with me none-the-less. I figured he would run off to his teammates screaming bloody murder (alas I was thoroughly disappointed).

I glanced at Brick was a pleading gaze, almost like I was begging for a full-blown rescue, mouthing HELP ME.

Lightning whipped me out into the center circle, taking my hand in his and placing the other firmly on my waist. "Fancy meeting you under these conditions. Lightning didn't take you to be the party gal."

My glare narrowed incredulously. "Oh, so now I'm a girl again?"

"Well of course. Lightning thinks you're a beautiful one at that. Sha-smooth!" I rolled my eyes towards the ceiling as the song from the stage started up. Lightning lead me in a type of figure-eight patterned dance that involved too many steps for me to count and too much movement for my still-tense muscles to handle. He smirked at me broadly, one eyebrow peaking in synch with the corner of the adjacent lip to form his trademark smug expression. "Lightning likes your eyes."

I finally sighed, "Are you drunk?"

"Lightning's drunk with love!"

The scariest part of that statement was that he didn't smell like alcohol – only oranges. Why the hell did Lightning smell like a fruit? My least favorite kind, at that. I was expecting him to reek of grass stains and half a bottle of cheap cologne… but oranges? That was a break through. Regardless, fruit or not, there was another important matter that I needed to dwell on… LIGHTNING JUST ADMITTED HE WAS IN LOVE WITH ME.

Where was this coming from all of sudden? This guy must've been dropped on his head one too many times. Unless, of course, his parents found it more amusing to chuck him down the steps… No, Lightning was an idiot but he wasn't a complete idiot. He knew full-well I despised his very existence with an intensity fueled by the sun. This was just some kind of sick joke!

Suddenly the announcer's voice echoed into the room, "SWITCH PARTNERS!"

I was tossed in a semi-circle and found myself latching onto Mike so I wouldn't trip like a clumsy Lindsay clone. He pulled me upright and dragged me along with the tempo. "Oh, uh, hey there Jo! Enjoying yourself?"

I straightened to avoid looking like such an awful dancer even my form was off. "Everything's just dandy, Mike."

"I can tell there's something wrong – you didn't call me Pointy."

Wow, some people just didn't miss a beat. "Lightning said he was in love with me."

"And that's where I question my own sanity." Mike slowed the movements much to my muscles' appeasement. He cast a stare over my shoulder to Lightning who was now swinging (less exuberantly might I add) with the third couple's wife. "He has to be joking."

"I don't think he is," I inquired, "and he isn't drunk."

"That's terrifying. Did you tell him off?"

"Dude, I'm still too stunned to think straight." I spun under Mike's arm in synch with the music when he made the gesture, returning to my original position two turns later. "Anyway, when I was on a team with Lightning we learned a few things about each other – what Jockstrap wants Jockstrap gets and he will take down everyone in his path if he has to. If he really isn't into me and this is just to coax me into kicking his face in the dirt then that'd be a relief… but…"

"If it's not we have a problem," Mike supplied, glancing at Lightning again.

"SWITCH PARTNERS!"

I wound up in the arms of a weird stranger I said next to nothing too him. He wasn't the greatest dancer on the face of the planet, either, so I was in the lead for once, but my glare remained peeled on Lightning who was making small talk with Zoey. The next time the announcer had us rotate I was back with Lightning.

He allowed a smirk to return to his features. "Back in Lightning's arms already?"

"I will floor you," I hissed into his ear.

The song reached the peak of its climax – Lightning twirled me around and dipped me like the end to a Tango, leaving the tips of my hair to brush against the floor like spider legs. He raised his eyebrow again. "Lightning looks forward to it."

With that the song faded into oblivion. He let me stand upright again, snapping me out of my daze – but when I finally gathered enough wits to punch him in the face he had slipped off into the crowd, sliding into the darkness of the restaurant. Brick approached me with a slightly blank look across his face. "Hey, Jo, sorry, Cameron forgot something in the hotel room so I went with him to get it. Missed the dance, but did you have fun?"

He missed the dance… which meant he didn't see me with Lightning. Great, how was I going to explain this?

"Uh… tons. Give me a sec." I stormed up to Mike and Zoey shambling back towards the table and snagged them by their collars. "Borrowing you two for a minute."

Zoey smiled. "OK! …Wait, what for-?"

I towed them out of the restaurant, away from the bustling crowds and out to the lobby. It was vacant of any visitors at this hour and only consisted of other partiers. We perched on the empty sofa; I swung one leg over the other and crossed my arms. Oh, wonderful now I was even sitting like a woman too. My brothers were going to have an actual little sister for the first time in ten years! They were sure going to get a kick out of this.

"What's wrong?" Zoey questioned, "Is it about Lightning? Mike told me he was being creepy."

"He must've suffered a concussion from too much Football!" I snapped, throwing my hands in the air. "Jockstrap has it through his thick skull that I'm his one true love!"

Mike frowned. "And you want us to do something about it?"

I leaned by head back onto the rest and rapped my fingers on my upper lip. Great, my hand smells like oranges now. "Yeah, if you see Fizzle wandering around here divert him away from me. If he tries to make a single romantic comment I'm going to eat my own heart out!"

Mike stood, brushing lint from his pants. "I should probably inform Brick and Cam about this."

I wafted my hand at him. "Whatever. I need a few minutes to cool down."

Zoey pat my knee reassuringly and took Mike's arm, allowing him to guide her back toward the restaurant. I was content with sitting in the lobby waiting for the night to pass me by as it tended to always do. Yes, just me, and this sofa. And the silence around my stilling form. It was relaxing; easing on my strained muscles –

"Jo?"

For the love of – who could it be NOW?

At first I didn't realize that the exclamation was directed at me. But then it dawned on me – I recognized that voice; it was candidly surprised with a tipped accent, but none the less familiar. I knew that tone better than the back of my own hand. I could also detect cherries, burnt extensions and hair spray lingering in the air like a faint musk after a rainstorm. I picked my head up to get a better look at the figure hovering over me now.

"Anne-Maria? What are you doing here?"

"My aunt manages this hotel!" She informed me, her smile lingering. "What's goin' on? You look like less of a man with that attire. After the last fashion fiasco on that stupid Island I figured you would've quit style for life."

I rolled my eyes. "Says the girl without style period."

"Ay, you wanna go? 'Cause I'm ready for ya Blondie!"

I paused – my nightmare hit me again, rebounding off the walls of my mind. Anne-Maria cackled. "What a loser! She's so ugly! Under all the make-up there's just a soft little girl who will never get a real boyfriend! She's useless so she's instantly not worth the time or effort we've put into her." I couldn't judge for sure if that was truly how Anne-Maria felt, but… well, that was a while ago. The show was over and we were no longer competing for money or fame or glory.

"Anne-Maria," I started, swinging to my feet, "I'm with some of the others inside. Would you like to come to dinner?"

She squinted like I was nothing more than a blurred object in her line of sight. "I've got to be hallucinatin'. Are you really Jo? 'Cause the jock-ette I know ain't nice enough to spontaneously ask me to join her for dinner!"

"It's either yes or no."

Anne-Maria checked her phone. From my angle I could see that she had fourteen missed calls and another twenty missed text messages; she ignored them, though, much to my immediate surprise. I was more stunned over the fact that she could actually bypass those distractions without a care in the world. She seemed to have… a lot of friends. "Yeah, I've got time before my shift."

I titled my head. "Shift?"

"I work evenin' hours for my aunt in exchange for stayin' in a room for free." She whipped out her hair spray and blasted her weave with enough water-proof solution to deplete ocean levels. I wafted the cloud from my face. "Been helpin' out more too with the whole show goin' on soon. Y'know, the contest!" She exchanged the can for a flyer that had been stuffed into her back pocket. "My job's gonna be to work back stage during the performance so everythin' goes accordin' to plan."

I nodded slightly. "Uh-huh… Well, I'm entering. That's why I'm here."

"I'm not surprised. Anyway, what do you say to that dinner now? I'm in the mood for the salad special!" She rambled on as we walked back towards the restaurant. "This month it comes with this home-made Hawaiian-themed dressin' and orange slices. I simply love oranges!"

I was abruptly reminded of Lightning.

And just when I thought that this trip was already teetering on the verge of self-destruction…

I escorted Anne-Maria over to our table and pulled up an additional chair so she could settle herself between me and Mike. "I found Anne-Maria!" I declared, much to her own amusement. I sat next to Cameron, giving myself an angle across from Brick and Zoey.

"It's a Maggot reunion!" Zoey announced. I hadn't noticed it at first – but she was right. We were all the original Mutant Maggots, sitting together as we had done during the first week of Total Drama prior to the collapsing framework of the group (I mostly blamed myself for pushing them too hard… and constantly volunteering because my ego was the size of Texas).

…OK, if this wasn't some extreme case of karma I didn't know what was!

Anne-Maria dipped right into conversing with Mike and Zoey about her time following the Island and I took the opportunity to duck my face into a menu. I wasn't interested in eating right now. Cameron leaned towards me, "Are you alright? Mike told us about the Lightning issue."

"I'm fine," I deluded, "It's just a typical boy phase." Brick's lips pressed into a thin line, an expression I recognized as him thinking about what to say without wording it wrong. I forced a smile after a failed attempt that only came out as a twitch. "It's OK Brickhouse, the situation doesn't bother me. Lightning won't stop my conquest to achieving number one! It'll all clear up when he gives himself another concussion."

Brick exhaled a sigh of relief. "As long as you're happy."

I set my menu down and scanned the table. Happy, huh? Maybe my brother had been right along – maybe I didn't have to be so lonely at the top… Brick liked me; I now had a solid circle of friends for the first time in my life…

However…

There was still that promise I had made to my mother. What if I had to give all this up to win the gold? What if I had to break them all to achieve my goals? What if I was forced to render them useless so I could climb one more step up the ladder? These were things I once wouldn't have a problem with – screw everyone else, it was all about me. Because I could only ever care for me. There was once a time when I would pride myself in crushing them like ants.

Not anymore. Now, even after such a short time together, I don't think I could accept living with myself if I didn't have them.

The realization that I had allowed myself to become so soft, though… that was what scared me the most.