Before I begin this chapter, I better explain the reasoning behind the first few paragraphs of it. For some reason, a good number of my favorite characters in different series (so it can't just be coincidence) seem to have the possibility of having insecurity issues when you get down to the nitty gritty, so to speak. I don't know what it is about these characters that make them jump out at me, but for some reason I seem to be drawn to them. And yes, I do mention two notable ones in the second paragraph, and they are owned by Christy Hui and DC Comics, respectively.

-X-

Façade: Through the Eyes of the Codemeister

Chapter Nine: Insert Trent Joke Here – I mean, The Talent Show

What is it about our insecurities that make us try to be something we're not? That's an interesting question, isn't it? Now, I'm not saying everyone is a hypocrite or living a double life, but I think it's safe to say that it happens more often than we expect.

But sometimes we could be living in a façade of sorts and not even know it. I sure as hell didn't. But looking back, it was so freaking obvious. I wasn't really cool, but at the time I actually believed I was (or, at least I tried so hard to believe that I was that I actually accepted it as a fact), and I believed others thought so too, especially when I tried to be cool. But the thing that separates me from all the Jack Spicers and Garfield Logans of the world is the fact that… well… I wasn't very good at hiding the truth.

That didn't stop me, though.

So there I was, walking up to the girl of my dreams in the hopes that I was also the boy of hers. Pfft! What was I thinking? Of course I was! I'm in every girl's dreams. They can't get enough of me. "Whatcha got there?" I asked. "A journal?"

"Beat it."

Not exactly the response I was hoping for, but I kept smiling as I sat next to her on the stump. "Oh, I get it. Yeah, it's private, huh? I'm down with that. It's cool, bra," I said, trying to sweet talk her into a conversation, but my curiosity got the better of me, and I found myself peeking over her shoulder at what she was writing, hoping that she was writing something about me.

She moved the book away from where I could see it. "What part of 'beat it' don't you understand?" Obviously, she was being shy. Perhaps there was something… dirty in that diary, involving me. Maybe a little lemon story she's writing about the two of us? Maybe there's an even darker side to her that I didn't know about…

Of course, thinking about that possible… "darker side" brought out mine, and I found myself leaning toward her, inhaling through my nose, taking in the sweet scent of her hair…

Not a second after I did the deed, I was starting to regret it. She stood up and glared at me. "What are you? Some kind of freak?"

Oh, crap… I blew it, didn't I?

Do you really need to ask, Hotshot?

Now's not the time…

I rubbed my arm, ashamed at myself. "Y-you smell… really pretty…"

"Freaked out" didn't begin to describe how Gwen looked at me. "It's just… soap…"

I watched as she began to walk away, and I cursed at myself under my breath. So much for not blowing it…

But, maybe there's some way I can make up for it…

I got up and followed her. It didn't take her long to notice. "Cody… Go away…" she said, her voice still sounding awkward. Not that I expected her to forget about me… sniffing her so soon.

"Look, sorry about… that…" I began.

She sighed. "Save it, Cody. You're not sorry. Guys like you never are."

...What?! What did she mean by that? "No, really… I don't know what came over me… Here, let me make it up to you… how about a picnic sometime?"

She didn't answer – she just kept walking.

I continued to follow. "So…is that a yes?"

She was still silent.

"…Gwen?"

She stopped and turned. "Cody. Shut. Up."

I frowned, but only for a second. She just said 'shut up.' That didn't mean I couldn't hang around with her, right?

Boy, you sure know how to find a loop-hole, Cody.

Why, thank you, imaginary Noah voice.

When we made it back to camp, we noticed something… different.

There was a hole in the ground.

"I won't even ask," Gwen said as she stepped over the hole. Still following her, I did a small hop over the hole and followed her to the cabin. I was going to make it up to her somehow… maybe I should be a little more chivalrous. Maybe she'll appreciate that.

"Here, let me get it," I said as I rushed past her and opened the door for her.

"Look!" I heard from a few meters away. "The first hook-up of the season."

I turned to Gwen hopefully as she turned to her addresser, Heather. "Oh, yeah. We were going at it big time." She grabbed the doorknob on her side. "I need to swim just to cool off." I beamed with confidence, if only for a second, as the sudden slamming of the cabin door startled me. Turning toward the door, I found that "darker side" rising again as I stepped toward the cabin door and peered through the window.

Okay, so it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, since Gwen had been wearing her two-piece bathing suit under her clothes, but I still felt like I was going to melt when I saw her strip.

It didn't take long before I found myself with a door slammed open in my face. "Agh!"

"Gwen! Wait up!" I heard as I shut the door (mostly just to get it out of my face). I watched as Trent ran up to her. "I'll come with you."

"Sure! …I mean, whatever…"

I sighed, feeling ignored and confused. Why did she ignore me whenever I wanted to hang out with her, but whenever Trent wanted to, she always agreed? I was so confused that I didn't even catch what Heather said to Lindsay as I walked to the boys' side of the cabin. I didn't care, either. I was pretty sure it didn't concern me anyway.

-X-

"Hey, Cody!" I heard as I entered the cabin. "What's up, man?"

I smiled again. Only Owen could make a guy forget about his troubles so quickly. "Hey, big guy."

"Hey, you wanna go swimming?"

My eyes widened, along with my smile. "Sure, buddy!" Gwen said she was swimming too, right? This is perfect!

Owen and I changed into our swimming trunks and left the cabin.

"…Lindsay? What are you doing?"

Lindsay, who was standing in front of the girls' door, turned toward us and smiled. "Hey, Corey! Hey, Owen!" she shouted waving at us. "I'm just… standing here… in front of the door…"

"Um… okay," I said, shrugging it off. It wasn't any of my business anyway.

As Owen and I walked away, I could've sworn I heard Lindsay sighing with relief. But I figured it was just my imagination.

We ran toward the docks, and sure enough: Gwen and Trent were there. Alright… don't screw it up, Codemeister…

"Canonbaaaaaaaaaall!!" I heard beside me, and I suddenly forgot my mission. Why strain myself in order to impress her when I can do it by having fun? So, I found myself joining Owen with my own Cannonball.

Unfortunately, the combined force of my and Owen's (mostly Owen's) Cannonballs had splashed Gwen heavily with water. Lots of water.

Needless to say… she was pissed off.

She stormed off as Owen and I surfaced, and Trent looked over us with a stern look. "Nice going, guys."

Owen turned to me. "Yeah. Nice going."

What? It was your idea!

Cody, remember who you're dealing with: a bunch of idiots.

I hate to say it, but I agreed with my inner Noah this time.

-X-

I went straight back to the cabin soon after that. As I did, I found Heather and Lindsay leaving their cabin. "Hey, Corey!" Lindsay greeted.

"Hey, Lindsay!" I greeted back. Heather scoffed, and I assumed it was because I didn't greet her right away. "Hey, Heather."

"Whatever, dweeb," she mumbled as she walked past me. I looked at her with raised eyebrows. What was that all about?

I turned to Lindsay. At least she wasn't like that. "Say… have you seen Gwen?"

She nodded. "Yep! She's in the cabin."

"Okay, cool," I said, and I went up to the door, but I stopped myself. She was pretty peeved before… maybe talking to her wouldn't be such a good idea. And besides… I was still in my swimming trunks. I needed to change out of them anyway.

"Meh, I can always talk to her later…Yeah! I'll talk to her after the talent show." I smiled again. By then, she was sure to have been over it.

-X-

Hours later, I found myself sitting next to Owen on the bleachers in front of the stage. I would've sat next to Gwen, but I didn't want to risk it, in case she was still in a bad mood. I figured the talent show would brighten her mood a little bit, and maybe I could try and chat with her once that happened.

"Welcome to the very first Camp Wawanakwa talent contest," Chris began as he took the stage, "where six campers will showcase their mad skills and desperately try not to humiliate themselves. First up for the Screaming Gophers is Justin!"

Alright, now I'm not exactly sure what I had witnessed (and I don't think anyone really did), but somehow we all were thinking the same thing: it was pretty damn good.

Though some of the girls (and Owen) may have added "and hot" to that last part.

Chris came back on the stage, clapping. "Okay, I don't know what that was, but daaaaaaaang! You've got some moves, dude!"

Alright, so we were off to a good start. But I was curious with what some of the Bass talents were. Hey, what can I say? It's not like I hate them – I don't – they're just my opponents.

DJ was next. Now, I can't really think of any specific name for what he was doing, but I know I've seen it before somewhere. Unfortunately (well… for the Bass – it was fortunate for us), he tripped on the ribbon, and his recovery wasn't very well executed.

So, after "round one" we were in the lead (though really, it is only the most talented camper who wins, not team), and I hoped it would stay that way.

The second wave began as Chris announced our next performer. "Next on deck, Trent. Take it away, my bro."

Trent sat on a stool in the middle of the stage with his guitar. "This one goes out to someone special at camp." Then, he began to sing. It wasn't a bad song, but I couldn't exactly… enjoy it, as from my spot on the bleachers I could practically see the love of my life melt for another dude's words.

Cody, just enjoy the damn song. Don't get emo on me, geek boy.

Well, when imaginary Noah voice is right, he's right.

Besides, look on the bright side: Gwen's definitely in a good mood now! And that's exactly what I was hoping for.

"…I'd stick around… for just one kiss…"

We clapped for the musician, who was soon joined by Chris. "Nice work! I'm liking your style, dude. And so does Grand Master Chef!" Trent waved at us before Chris pushed him off-stage. "Okay, quit hogging my light, buddy."

The television host turned to us and announced the next contestant: Bridgette.

It took a few seconds, but suddenly we saw Bridgette coming out from backstage, walking on her hands.

Hey, that's pretty cool.

But right away it seemed like she was having problems, and she burped. Owen and I smirked at each other – a combination of the thoughts "she's going down fast" and "hey… girls burping… that's pretty hot." And despite what some girls may think, sometimes we guys like it when girls act a little… "uncivilized." Because hey… when are we?

Unfortunately, the "she's going down fast" part was the only one of the two thoughts that we were thinking when that burped turned into… well… vomit.

Lots and lots of vomit.

Seriously, how did all that puke even fit in her stomach?

In fact, it began to sound like a war-zone, really.

"I'm hit! I'm hit!"

"AAAaaaaaaaagh!!! Bleeeeeeeeegh!"

"Hey! Puke on your own boyfriend!"

And that was about when the "war-zone" feeling ended.

Chris began to walk on stage once more, carefully trying not to step in any vomit. "Clean up in aisles three, four, five, and six! In the meantime, we'll take a short break to hose the joint down."

As soon as he said that, Chef Hatchet appeared out of seemingly nowhere with a high-powered garden hose. After spraying the stage, he pointed it at the bleachers.

Oh, boy…

But hey, at least it can't get any worse… right?

…

…Right?