AN: Sorry, missed a whole bunch of days again. We're having auditions for the Fall Play here, and the guy running it is really…compulsive…so the auditions are about three and a half hours long three days in a row. It's crazy, dude. Anyway…Here's chapter 41…head of household competition! It's the last one, and the winner is guaranteed a spot in the final two!

Oh, and I'm stealing another game from Big Brother…strictly cause I don't feel good, haven't felt good, and I thought it looked fun…

Also in this chapter…the final eviction. Yes, people, it's almost over. Three more chapters after this- the final episode, the epilogue, and the outtakes, and it's over. *tear*

                                                                                                                                               

Racetrack

            It was like the first obstacle course all over again, only longer. They had lily pads floating in the pool, and just beyond that were posts with bungee cords pulled and twisted between them. After that came the all familiar barbed wire- only the ground under it was muddy and slick. Then a long pipe just big enough to fit through, and after that, two large gates that had handles on the bottom to lift. And at the end was the button to stop the timer.

            But there had to be a catch. There was always a catch.

            "Hello, houseguests."

            All three of us mumbled hello to Davey, all of us busy concentrating on the course in front of us.

            "I'm sure you all can figure out that the course in front of you is the head of household competition. However, consider it your 'escape from Alcatraz'. Because you are going to have a ball and chain snapped on one leg."

            So that was the catch. It was almost as bad as being handcuffed to someone else.

            "And remember," Davey continued, "If you win this competition, you are not only guaranteed a spot in the final two, but you also decide who is evicted. You decide who you go up against for the $25,000. Skitts, you're first."

            Yeah, like we needed to be reminded. I was perfectly aware of the fact that $25,000 rode on this.

            I shot a look at Mush as Skittery got ready to go, and I sighed again. I thought for sure that with Blink gone, that kid would be lost. But that smile was still on his face, just as much the cheerful, naïve country boy as he had ever been.

            Skittery snapped on the ball and chain, and the time started. It had to be a whole lot harder than it looked, because that ball seemed to weigh an awful lot. Skittery finished with a time of one minute and fifty eight seconds, and it quickly got to my turn.

            I snapped on the ball and chain, and it ended up being even worse than I thought. It dragged on the ground, practically tearing up a layer of grass with it. I heard the buzzer that signaled the start of time, and I plunged into the pool.

            If that pool had been any deeper, the ball would've dragged me to the bottom and drowned me. As it was, the water was freezing, and I could barely get the stupid thing to move.

            I pulled myself out of the pool and lifted the stupid weight into my hands, working my way clumsily through the bungee cords. Then came the mud. Now, believe me, I'm all for getting down and dirty once in a while…but that was a bit much. Especially with the added obstacle of the weight.

            I got to the pipe and slid in, pushing my way through and getting to the security gates in what felt like pretty good time. But I knew I was close.

            I was right. I finished with 1 minute and 42 seconds. Better than Skittery…but was it good enough?

            I knew what I would do if I won. Mush had to go. Then that $25,000 was basically mine.

Mush

            I knew that if I lost, I was out of the game. With Race in the lead, I wouldn't have a chance. And so far, I wasn't doing good at all.

            I had gotten hung up on the bungee cords, and I knew I was behind. There was no question. Maybe I should just give it up to Race now; I would get to see Blink sooner that way.

            Blink. He was probably watching right now, on the edge of his seat. God, I missed him so much…but I had to think of him, too.

            And he wouldn't want me to give up. Not now, not when I was so close. I remembered what he told me to do seconds before he walked out that door.

            You're gonna win this. For me.

            And I was.

            With a burst of energy I pushed myself to the last ounce of my strength, leaping forward and sliding all the way under the barbed wire. I was back on my feet in less than a second, my brain no longer in control as I worked to catch up. I executed the same maneuver at the pipe, jumping in and sliding through in one move.

            By the time I got through the gates and slammed my hand down on the button, I no longer cared about my time. I was so exhausted that I didn't even take the time to get the chain off my foot before I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

            "Mush…congratulations. You are the new head of household."

            That was all I needed to hear.

            I could just see Blink falling off his chair in relief right now…

Skittery

            No alliances would do us any good now. We could offer Mush all the deals in the world and it wouldn't get us anywhere at all. All Race and I could do was wait.

            I had the feeling that I was leaving. Mush had a better chance of winning against Race, though Race would deny it until his dying day. He thinks he's God's greatest gift to this green earth. Sure, he can be a pretty nice guy at times, but he's just plain egotistical.

            "Hey Skitts."

            I looked over the top of my magazine and saw Ace standing there, a huge grin on his face.

            "What did you do this time?"

            "Nothing."

            "Why do I doubt that?"

            "Beats me."

            He sat down on the couch beside me- no, practically fell on the couch, and I just sighed as he bounced up and down compulsively, unable to sit still.

            "Coffee again?" I asked.

            "Maybe. Want some?"

            "No thanks."

            "Aw, come on. You want some. I'll go get it."

            With that he leaped off the couch and ran for the kitchen, leaving me alone in the room again, hearing faint conversation from Toby's room- Grace had caught him unprepared. At least she wasn't bugging me.

            I suddenly heard the sound of breaking glass from the kitchen, a sound that was actually pretty familiar for me. I threw my magazine on the table and walked calmly to the kitchen, where Mush and Ace were laughing hysterically over a broken glass on the floor.

            "…I don't see anything the least bit funny about this." I said, giving them a few seconds to recover.

            "It was…his fault!" Ace gasped, pointed at Mush. Mush gave him that wide-eyed innocent-as-a-baby-deer look, and Ace started laughing all over again.

            "I'm not even going to ask…" I muttered, turning around and walking back out.

The Final Eviction

Race

            It was time for the final eviction. Whoever Mush decided to evict right now would be the last to leave, and the two remaining would stay for one more week before the others came back to vote for one or the other.

            I hated the fact that I had no clue who Mush would pick. I never knew with that kid. Blink leaving hadn't really changed him a bit.

            "Hi guys. It's come to that time." Mush said. I looked around the small circle of people, noting Skittery's indifference and Ace's normal stupid smile. Sometimes I couldn't stand that kid.

            Mush took a deep breath, taking out the 'box of safety', which once again had only one key in it. The other person would be leaving.

            "It's my responsibility, in this position, to pick the person who I'm going to go up against in the finals. This decision has to be both personal and for the game in order to be made correctly." Mush said. "I believe I made the right decision."

            He reached down, slowly pulling the key out of the box, and I held my breath.

            "The last person evicted from the house will be…Racetrack."

            I nodded, biting my lip and looking down at the floor.

            But, hey…I'd done my best. I couldn't do more than my best.

            Maybe it wouldn't be so bad…walking out of the Big Brother house.

                                                                                                                                               

AN: Next chapter is the big one, people. All the house guests will come back to the house to vote for either Mush or Skittery to win the $25,000 dollars.

I still don't have enough outtakes. But I'm not gonna complain any further right now, cause I figure you guys are getting sick of it by now. Hey, if you feel the need, send them. I'd love it if you did.

You know what's really creepy? I have a really bad headache, and I just looked out my window, and the moon is like…blood red. No kidding. So I'm officially creeped out right now, and I'm going to have my Ace!Muse skip off to the kitchen and get me some drugs. While humming Jingle Bell Rock. And wish me luck on the auditions- I'm gonna need it, cause this director plays favorites and I'm not one of his favorites!

Oh, and I came up with a wonderful description of Mush in this chapter. Innocent-as-a-baby-deer. I love that. *Sighs dreamily*