AN: Time for a very fun competition! This one will take a whole lot of willpower and endurance…hint hint…but anyways, here it is!

                                                                                                                                               

Mush

            I seriously didn't want to know. I just didn't. There was a block of ice the size of a car in the backyard, and nothing else. I hated to think what we'd have to do with that.

            "Hello house guests."

            "Hi Sarah."

            "Todays competition is just as simple as the last one. Each of you is going to put one hand on the ice, and whoever lasts the longest without removing their hand wins head of household. However, you may switch hands, so long as you always have one hand on the block of ice."

            Yikes. Putting my hand on solid ice…and then holding it there…yikes.

            I looked around and saw that everyone else was just as bewildered and apprehensive as I was about this- it wasn't going to be easy.

            "Also, if the winner manages to go past thirty minutes, then you will have normal food for the week. Are you all ready to begin?"

            We stepped up to the ice, and Sarah gave the cue. I placed my hand on the ice, and a series of chills flew through my body. I mean…ice is really cold!

            "Oh, man…this isn't gonna work long." Skittery muttered. My hand was already aching, and I was tempted to switch hands already…but I had to wait as long as I could.

            Another three minutes past- Sarah was informing us as each minute passed- and my hand was throbbing with pain. I was almost afraid of getting frostbite. The sun was beginning to set, and the warm air was slowly becoming chilled.

            "Hey guys…if I freeze to death…you can split what I would've won." Racetrack joked, switching hands and shivering. We all laughed weakly, but I had trouble laughing at anything in this situation.

            Another minute. Then another. I switched at six minutes, and before I knew it, it had been fifteen minutes. Both my hands were killing me, but my left hand was finally beginning to go numb. Which wouldn't usually be good, but in this situation, it helped.

            Dutchy finally leaped back and took his hand off the ice, shaking his head insistently.

            "Sorry, Specs. Sorry. Just can't do this."

            Specs smiled and nodded. "It's okay, Dutchy. Go get warmed up."

            Dutchy ran to the house, and I switched hands again, gritting my teeth against the bright flashes of pain that seemed to be affecting my vision now too. I moaned and shut my eyes tightly, and then I realized that I wasn't so cold anymore. In fact, I was beginning to warm up…

            Oh, great. I must've been going into shock or something.

            "Mush…Mush, are you okay?"

            I thought I heard Blink, but I couldn't quite be sure.  And I heard other voices too. Talking. I heard my name a few times, but it was all clouding over.

Skittery

            "He don't look so good." Race said. I stared at Mush beside me, but his eyes were glazed over, unfocused. He wasn't taking so well to this direct contact with ice. And he was the 'beefed-up country boy'. That's what surprised me.

            I saw Blink fighting with himself, trying to decide whether or not to drag Mush into the house and throw away his chance to win or to stay until Mush passed out. He was about to give in, I could tell.

            But that wouldn't be fair. That was expected of him- everyone expected him to give up and go to Mush's aide. I really don't know why, but I saw that as extremely unfair.

            So what did I do? I did something insane, of course. Before Blink could make his move I pulled my hand off the ice and grabbed Mush's shoulders.

            "Mush, I think you need to get inside."

            "I…don't think…"

            I looked up at Blink, and Blink nodded. I grabbed Mush's hand and pulled it off the ice, and then I helped him to his feet.

            "You're going inside. That's final."

            With that, I led him inside and filled a bowl with hot water, making him sit down and put his hands in it. I then did the same thing for myself, since my hands felt like they were about to fall off.

            Dutchy was just going out as we were going in, and I could tell by the look on his face that he was upset.   I grabbed his shoulder and stopped him momentarily.

            "It's okay, Dutchy. You did what you had to."

            He smiled, a genuine smile. "Thanks."

Blink

            I couldn't believe Skittery had done that. He knew I was going to give up and take care of Mush, and he didn't even give me the opportunity.

            One thing was for sure; Mush had been right all along. And if I won this, Skittery was safe in my book.

            The next person to leave was Race, yanking his hand back and cursing. He said something about this 'not being worth all the fucking trouble' before he turned on his heels and headed for the house.

            Dutchy was talking to us, trying to keep our minds off the pain, but it just wasn't working. It was so cold, it was hot. I mean, like fire. And by now it was only Spot, Specs, and me.

            Specs finally threw in the towel, and Dutchy dragged him inside for some PB+J warmed up in the microwave. Soup would've been better, but the thirty minute mark hadn't passed, and therefore we were still for the moment on PB+J.

            Spot gave up at twenty five minutes. And now I was sticking it out alone for normal food. I was switching hands just about every thirty seconds now, trying to keep my mind clear of thoughts like 'how much would it cost to have my hands reattached when they fall off.'

            Mush came out at 28 minutes, only two minutes to go. He sat beside me and made small conversation, which became more encouragement-based when it was down to one minute.

            Just one minute. Just one more friggin' minute, Blink.

            I wasn't gonna make it. There was no way. Pain was shooting up my arms, I was shivering almost to the point of seizures, and my teeth were chattering so loud that I thought the whole state would hear.

            But the guys were counting on me. Every time I looked up at Mush, I couldn't imagine giving up.

            And I did it. I lasted the whole damn thirty minutes.

            I practically threw myself away from the ice, landing on my back and immediately getting tackled by Mush. He kissed me hard and then yanked me off the ground and took me inside, where a bowl of steaming water was sitting on the table for me.

            I'd never look at ice again. I was going to throw all my stuff- and Mush- into a suitcase and head for Florida as soon as this was over. Yes, Mush in a suitcase. Don't have to pay for his seat on the plane that way.

            I'm just kidding…maybe.

                                                                                                                                               

AN: Hehe. Mush in a suitcase. They need to sell those at Disney World…yum. Yeah…anyways, next chapter is going to be nominations and a look inside the guys' heads once more. Hope you guys liked this chapter! Oh, and yes, I have tried to leave my hand in ice for that long. And yes, it hurts like hell. And yes, I only lasted fourteen minutes. Blink is Super-Blink now, at least in my book.

Hehe…Super Blink and his sidekick, Mush. That could be a comic book……