Chapter 5: Never too late for Christmas.

After the complete failure of the movie plan, representing in a scary Cody, and Dawn trying to console him. It´s time to connect to Skype, know the reason behind the mysterious e-mail. Everything could happen when they talked about Total Drama. Dawn hadn't a choice but to slap Cody to calm him down.

"You deserve it, now let's solve the mystery" the geek open his alternative Skype account to log in, a way to prevent someone from hacking the computer and tracking his real IP.

"Have you been harassed because of the show?" asks the moonchild.

"Sometimes, most of the time, they were just teenagers looking for a selfie with me. But one time, three women try to harass me, without leaving me no choice but to call the police," Cody responds, applying for internet connection, most of the people are cool, but always are fanboys who took it at the next level.

"In my case it was rare, some organizations looked for me to participate in their campaigns, but is not my way to defend Mother Earth, along with some fans, who asked me for a photo," Dawn said, seeing in the monitor what Cody is doing.

"It's funny, according to the popularity rank for the fourth season, you are the most popular among the girls, beating Zoey and Dakota. Cody opened a separate window, showing the Total Drama Series Fan polls. "On the other hand, you are even in eight places in all the season's polls."

"I will never understand people who like to see those programs," Cody nodded to Dawn's comment. His popularity raises up after being third in world tour season, being in the top fifteen in all-season rank. Many fans were kind, expressing he deserved to win, others just called him a manipulative bastard, or lucky for having Sierra as support almost all the time.

"What is that green light?" Dawn asked, seeing a green light that was turned on and off on the computer.

"We just join the group...whoa, when they said we all meet, it wasn't a joke" seeing so many names, connected, Cody writes in the blank button both names, took the microphone to speak.

"It is a while, everybody, how is life treating you?" Cody asked, casually.

"Good to know that you are still alive, wait a minute. Is Dawn with you? Oh, I understand, you are so desperate to find a girl?" both heard Noah's voice, sarcastic as ever, Cody gave her the microphone to talk to, to prove the truth.

"Greetings to all of you, Cody and I live in the same town, will understand that I am not so attached to the internet and such things, so Cody was very kind to allow me to be present with you in this way" talk to a microphone on this way is still new for the moonchild.

"Dawn! It's great to hear from you, should answer the message I sent," Zoey said.

"Her cell phone is a Nokia brick, plus, didn't receive a signal where she lives," Cody replied, responded to Zoey´s doubt.

"Ok, ok, the nerd and the freak are under the same roof, just tell me why I'm here?" Heather interrupted with her usual attitude. Then, a message apart from an anonymous recipient, giving a specific date, three months away, then the chat is fell, with just a message on the screen.

"Total Drama RG?" Cody is trying so uselessly to lift the system.

"I wonder if it is a new season," Dawn analyzed the context, a very unusual way to announce a new season.

"Anyway, according to this, they will send people for us, knowing the producers, they'll hunt us down to be there."

"Keep the mind calm Cody. We have time to think things over...I need to go, it is late, and my friends would be scared if I don't come back at the dawn of the moon" Dawn stand-up, and once ordered everything, set out to leave, but felt something on her shoulders, a coat.

"It is cold outside, even more in the forest. This will prevent you from catching a cold," the naturalist cling her grip on the sweater, accepting the coat.

"Thanks, Cody, is so sweet of you."

"Don't mention it. It is the least a gentleman should do," Cody smiled.

"Yes, you're my scary knight."

"Hey!" Dawn laughed, Cody sigh defeated, so Dawn hugs him.

"I thank you for allowing me to have fun today, Cody" the geek corresponded the hug, with a little smile.

"No, thanks to you, for your friendship" they remain in the same position a few seconds before separating, the girl dedicated him one last smile before retiring. Cody closed the door with a happy smile, although his plan failed, at least he has fun with her, turned off the TV and went to sleep, both teenagers thinking about each other, but also in the mystery of the message of Total Drama.

A few weeks pass, in which they continued to see to meet each other, of course, both had things to look after.

Dawn with her precious forest. And Cody with his projects of animation and programming. The geek hears a foster house was looking for voluntaries for the late Christmas event. An accident avoids the celebration on the exact date since his Christmas was a crap, locked in his room, avoiding his father. Dawn said she pass Christmas with her animal friends, but this could be a great opportunity she experiences the holiday with humans.

Cody comments on the option to do voluntarily for the foster kids, Dawn accepts, seeing an excellent way to be with kids. It´s her first time volunteering for a human cause, always do it to take care of animals, or help mother nature.

"Are you sure we're qualified people for this?" Dawn wonder, who wore her classic clothes, plus a white sweater and a yellow scarf, meanwhile Cody wore the same clothes of the night they met.

"Positive, they are not going to ask us to change diapers, we will only distribute the food, entertain the kids, it´s simple," Cody responds, looking at his maps app to know if he goes on the right way. Google maps can be a troll sometimes.

"Well, I believe in you," once they arrived at the reception of the foster house. Dawn almost slipped on the wet floor, Cody quickly grabbed her hand to avoid her falling, while the receptionist, flipping her chair, not knowing what happened.

"Good morning, you must be Cody Anderson and Dawn Forest, right?" the woman asked, kindly enjoying seeing teenagers in love.

"Yes," answered both teenagers, moving from the awkward position, walking in front of the desk.

"Great, thanks for being here in this late Christmas event, the kids will be happy to play with both of you, it is rare people of your age are interested in these events, more couples."

"We are not dating, only friends," Dawn said, hiding her blush.

"Then why are they holding hands?" asked the receptionist as she raised an eyebrow, as a sign of suspicion. She is right. For some strange reason, they still holding hands, both looked at the floor ashamed and let go of each other hands, blushing, listening to the laugh of the receptionist behind her desk.

"I apologize for bothering you, it was impossible, just sign here and put these T-shirts," the ex-contestants signed and entered the orphanage room, where the craziest and most memorable late Christmas of their lives was going to take place.

They saw that they were in the cafeteria of the place, where other volunteers were dedicated to preparing everything for this day, decorate the site, the food, among other things.

"You must be Cody and Dawn, a pleasure to meet both of you" a young man came up with a friendly smile. This man is the leader. Both teenagers nodded, returning the greeting.

"Before anything, let me say both of you are famous by some children here, so for sure they are aggressive at the begging oh, sorry, my name is Carter," said the guy is now known as Carter.

"I must mention I worry these young souls see such a horrible and malignant show in which Cody and myself participate," Dawn commented, another evidence local TV program cared more about money than the mental well-being of kids.

"Don't worry, with the first three seasons we had no problems, but from the season where Dawn participant, we put it on PG-13 until they get the censored version, God, Chris Mclean is crazy. I wouldn't have endured there a week."

"Listen, not to be rude, but we don't like to remember things from the show, I hope you understand," Cody said, diverting the look to the side, demonstrating his discomfort.

"Oh, my apologies, I get carried away. Anyway, for now entertained the kids until dinner is ready, and if you see a brat cross the line, don't hesitate to communicate to us to give coal to him or her. Once again, thank you for offering to help. I know it´s a strange event, but it means a lot to these kids".

"It's nothing, a pleasure, isn't it, Dawn?" the naturalist nodded with a smile. Once Carter went to help with the food, the friends walk to the door that led to the kid´s dorms. Dawn noticed Cody sighed, getting ready.

"Relax. They are young souls, maybe we support a few blows or milestones of hair, but we will support each other" Dawn gave him a slight blow in the back to encourage him, noting to Cody that he wasn't alone in this.

"Thanks, Dawn. I needed it," both opened the door, seeing a long hallway of bunks. Other volunteers were taking care of the little ones. Maybe this is not so bad.

"Oh my god! Warren said the truth, Cody and Dawn from Total Drama Series are here!" screams a girl of no more than eleven years old. Some ran director to them like stampeding buffaloes, while a few, not knowing who they were, chose to follow in what they were doing or look for another volunteer to hang on.

"Dudes! Calm down! Let them breathe," said a teenager of around fourteen years old, by how others obeyed it. It was clear that he was the one who organized the kids.

"But Warren. They are famous!" the same girl responds with joy.

"And also, human, Karen, you need to breathe and personal space, they also need it, please" resigned, like the others, they gave them some space, which both former participants of the show appreciated.

"Thanks, Warren. Although somehow we are accustomed," Cody said, verifying his clothes were intact.

"Nah, someone has to teach manners to the brats," Warren replied.

"Warren! Warren! Can I ask something to them?! can I?!"

"Me too! Please, Warren!"

"Ok, ok, calm down rabbits" Warren looks at both, with an expression of tiredness "you can see that has questions of the show and other stuff, do you mind?"

"I think It's a good idea, Cody?"

"I'm with Dawn, form a circle, and ask in order," Cody also agrees. In a second, all stakeholders were ready.

"Cody, how did you do to throw those shots in the Dodgeball challenge?"

"Easy, when you know physics and aerodynamics, more an excellent precision, piece of cake" Cody see that the child didn't understand anything, he sighs "is a technique, from how you grab the ball, to the way the spears, is like playing with a baseball, only bigger."

"Dawn, why do you like to meditate so much?"

"Simple, it's a way to connect with myself, besides mother earth, help me to avoid stress and other ills."

"Ok, Thank you."

"Hey, Codester. Noco is really canon?"

"No! Sorry, is a false assumption of the fans, we are just friends, the kiss on season 1, and the hug on the bus are weird coincidences" the answer doesn't please most girls, but they accepted.

"NoCo?" Dawn looked at her friend with a raised eyebrow, without understanding anything. Cody swallowed saliva. She still didn't know the things the Total Drama fandom do.

"It is the name of the ship the fans give us Noah and me as a fictitious couple, is something that fans love to do, to form couples among all of us," Cody explained, god, when Dawn found out about her biggest ship.

"People love to form couples among us? What an unusual way to express their fanaticism".

"Hey, Dawn, is it true Dott was canon in season 4?" asked another curious child.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand the question," Cody looked at Dawn with a little fear to explain.

"He means...if you and Scott had...some loving interest."

"Excuse me?!" as the geek predicted, Dawn's expression was of surprise and shock. Why would the fans ´ship´ her with someone like Scott?!

"Yeah, in some scenes show you are interested in Scott, don't deny it" Dawn had to use all her experience in meditation to show no anger, took the necessary seconds.

"Sorry, but no. Although I showed some interest in Scott´s aura, in the end, I discovered it was a black and rotten aura, an evil manipulator son..." everyone's eyes on her, even Cody. Dawn choose to breathe again "no, I could never be with Scott, even as a friend, my apologies, but is true,"

"I told you, Nataly, that ship is faker than Dave x Sky" reproach another girl, while starting a fight for a fictitious ship. Dawn slowly approached Cody.

"Just out of curiosity, who else do I be...shipped?" Dawn whispers to Cody.

"Let me think, with Noah, Brick, DJ, and Ella," Cody answered the same way" I'm ship with Gwen, Dave, Bridgette, and Courtney. Courtney! What do we have in common?!"

"I don't know why all of you fight. We have the ultimate proof CoDawn is canon in front of us" the battle of words stopped with a child's comment. There is no need for an explanation to know what the ship name for Cody and Dawn ship.

"You're right, Diego, just looking at them that close, it´s obvious they are a couple" the 'couple' separated quickly, visibly embarrassed.

"N-no guys, we're just friends, seriously!" Cody and Dawn said at the same time, they looked at each other strangely, and then spoke again.

"We both only have a friendship bond" again. They knew this answer didn't help at all.

"I don't know about it, but right now, I join Diego on this"

"I ship them."

"Why don't we go outside and play with Mother Earth!?"

"Yes! I want to learn how to talk to the birds!" the girls followed Dawn outside, containing the uncomfortable questions.

"Sorry for making this uncomfortable. These brats like to talk about romance," Warren apologizes to the geek for the weird moment.

"No man, I was already accustomed, for Dawn, sure take her by surprise. She still doesn't know much about what the fandom is capable of," Cody said, watching Dawn attract some birds, capturing the attention of the excited girls. Warren noticed that smile on Cody's face.

"Warren, now that the girls are gone, can we play Super Smash Bros?"

"Sure, Ron. Do you want to join us, Cody? Or are you afraid of being kicked in the butt by some kids?" Warren asked with a defiant look, Cody answered with the same look.

"You are on, but nobody uses Little Mac, the character is broken with that K.O punch" the next few hours were entertaining. Both Cody and Dawn have an excellent rare to the children. Whether through nature or video games, in the food, couldn't avoid a food war, being Cody who accidentally hit Dawn with an apple pie, when Cody thought he screw up, the girl responded in the same way, knew they'd have to clean it later, but it was worth it.

"Thanks, Dawn" after the war, the moonchild offered him a wet towel to wipe his face from the pieces of cake.

"Hey guys, do you know that another Christmas tradition I like?" they all looked at crankcase, with a mocking smile, just looking up, there was that thing. A mistletoe, on top of them.

"Uh," Cody is speechless. They had been playing well, now what?

"Well" quickly, and before the shame invaded, Dawn kissed Cody on the cheek, visibly ashamed and with a blush in her cheeks, which Cody found cute.

"It is not fair! it supposes to be on the lips!"

"Tradition dictates that I must kiss whoever accompanies me under the mistletoe, not where I must kiss him," Dawn explained, with a smile. For the kiss or for ruining the children's plan?

"Diego is right, better luck next time."

"Fine, a kiss is a kiss. Also, Dawn looks very pretty when she smiles."

"Ahh, you're adorable, I also have for you," Dawn caught Diego in a hug and began to give kisses on the cheek, taking the laughter of the child.

Warren looked at Cody, who is still lost in his thoughts, but smiling. Sure, this late Christmas was one of the best in Cody's life. He expected them to remember to send the invitation for the wedding to all, for sure today took an important step to be something else. Diego had become a cupid.

"That's why I never get bored of this place."