Hi everyone! Wow my second story! To be honest I thought it would be another Total Drama-Fairytale Theatre story (although i don't think I could ever top 'Jockerella' lol), but I've had this idea for a story for like a year and I've put off writing it because it's a lot of angst and truthfully I didn't think I was a good enough writer to pull it off, but regardless I wanted to contribute to the Jacsée content on here and I think of a lot fans will like it (in the way people enjoyed 'the book thief' or 'Titanic' I guess). Enjoy!

- TwilightzoneGoddess

Chapter 1

Jacques awoke in a cold sweat, the tightness in his chest that he had been feeling recently was the first thing to greet him. The second was the sight of the next bed over where Josée had slept, neatly pressed sheets adorned the mattress. Jacques frowned at this sight, Josée normally made her bed immediately after getting up, however her sheets this morning were folded tightly, and yet inferior to how her bed usually looked. Even a few days prior when they were still in the race, her bedsheets were pristine, signifying that she was in an excited and optimistic mood. Jacques could tell form her current sheets, that she was feeling defeated (and angry) and decided to take her frustration out on her sheets.

It was a defeating feeling, not just physically, but emotionally. Their elimination wasn't his fault, it's not like he had super speed he could use to get them to the Chill Zone before the cadets; still, he was taunted by the thoughts that he let her down once again. He dreaded that his long-time partner and best friend would take this second significant loss as a sign that they weren't meant to be, and decide she no longer wanted to be his partner. This thought brought on a sudden attack of nausea and dizziness that he didn't expect emotions could conjure so physically. In hopes of subduing these symptoms so he wouldn't be stuck in bed all day, he took a couple Aspirin that were next to him on the nightstand. They worked somewhat; he still felt awful, but at least he could stand.

Jacques made his way to the bathroom where Josée was primping, stopping halfway through the doorframe and leaned on it, not only because it made it easier to stand, but he though it made him seem chill and collected, and possibly make Josée a little calmer by extension. Unfortunately, this stance only succeeded in keeping Jacques upright, as she seemingly didn't notice him and kept straightening her hair with a despondent look on her visage.

"Bonjour." He broke the silence. "How did you sleep."

Josée replied to him, but didn't turn to face him or cease what she was doing.

"Comme çi, comme ça (so-so)." Jacques would've guessed she slept terribly, considering how she made her bed in such a passive-aggressive fashion. "I'm almost finished with my hair if you, je ne sais….want to go and do something?" She piped up. "Since ze cast isn't due to fly back to Toronto for another day, we have time to explore the city, for fun zis time." Jacques didn't know what to say, it was unlike Josée to suggest to do something "for fun," but they did have time for it and there was no competition to train for or a plane to catch, so he gave her the benefit of the doubt. Even though being out and about didn't sound very invigorating for him at the moment, he didn't want to dissapoint Josée more than he already had. Plus, her and illness always had a tumultuous relationship; when she was eight and got her appendix taken out, she still showed up for practice the next day! And whenever Jacques was sick with anything, she told him to man up and that the best remedy for his ailment was gold!

They finished getting dressed and made their way down to the lobby. Jacques just didn't have the energy to do his hair like he normally did, which Josée noticed, but she didn't want to say anything; one thing that her time on the Ridonculous Race made her realize is maybe she bullies Jacques in a way that is hurtful rather than helpful. So despite it being difficult and frankly against her nature, she's started trying to ease up on him. They soon found themselves in the hotel's restaurant, which had been booked out and made private for the cast of RR, as to make a sort of 'send-off breakfast.' Each table was reserved for a specific team, they quickly found theirs, as they were the only team not seated yet. Jacques helped Josée with hr seat, as he was taught a gentleman should do for a lady, but then was extra quick to sit down himself, hoping that all he needed was to get some food in him.

Don was going from table to table, saying hi to the contestants and conversing with them about their experiences on the show. Eventually he walked up to the Ice Dancers' table, but one could tell from his expression that he had to, not because he was actually looking forward to a conversation with them.

"Hi guys, so glad you could make it this morning." He feigned excitement. He turned to Jacques and was taken aback by his appearance. "Hey man the goth's table is over there." Neither he nor Josée were impressed by this remark, despite it being accurate as Jacques was now as white as Ennui. Don spoke again; "I knew you guys were serious about first-place, but I didn't realize it was the source of your life-force! Anyway order whatever you like, this breakfast is complimentary from the network. Afterwards there are some activities planned for the cast to do until we all have to fly out tomorrow, but (please) feel free to skip them." He soon finished then went on his way, his visit to them noticeably shorter than with the rest of the cast, Josée thought.

"Don't listen to that ostie de colon (idiot) Jacques! We deserved to win as well as anyone in this room, even more so! And you look fine" She tried to comfort Jacques, a weird flip to their dynamic as usually it was him comforting her for whatever reason, but Jacques tended to be more sensitive of his appearance than the average man, and he was quite paler than usual. Besides, she couldn't let him focus on a silly comment from Don, not when she had much more important matters to discuss with him.

"Jacques, here is actually something très important zat I must tell you; and I fear if I do not tell you now, I never will."

Jacques felt like he had been hit by car, and his heart began pounding, so much so that it was painful inside his chest. All at once he felt an intense rush of nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath all at once. He didn't know what else to do than to escape this conversation and where he knew it was headed, his partner took note of the extreme panic in his face.

"A-are you okay, Jacques?" He didn't answer, as he stood all he could muster was "je dois y aller (I must go)" not even bothering to say so in English, his brain didn't have the capacity to translate now. He tried his best to get out as fast he could, but it felt like his body was working against him. As he stumbled past the next table which seated the Surfer Bros, they seemed just as concerned as Josée did.

"Woah dude, you don't look so good" Geoff stated, followed by Brody agreeing. "Yeah you look, like, dead." At this point Josée caught up with him in an attempt to find what was going on with her partner. Jacques clutched on to her for support, as now he could no longer stand up right; his heart beat was now radiating in his ears like an alarm. He couldn't bear whatever was happening to him anymore, his chest like someone was trying to squeeze the blood from it how his maman used to make orange juice. His chest and head kept pounding, louder, louder, until silence, then a thud, then a scream.