I think there would be a rest day between last challenge and the next one. Week 3 is about to begin! Thanks for reviewing, OmniIBIBUltraInstinctGodzilla and lordgemini.

We had another rest day, probably because the second week was over. And after six eliminations, I was still here. That did feel like something to celebrate – okay, I'd only been to half of them, but our team was down to eight people and I was still one of them. That meant I was still useful and/or likeable enough that my team was still happy to spend a few more days with me.

"Well, why not?" Bridgette said when I told her this. We were sitting on the dock together, dangling our feet in the lake and talking. I mean, I'd always wanted to be friends with her since we started doing yoga together and we'd hung out a few times, but this was the first time she'd seemed really invested in our friendship being something that would last. "You're smart, you're kind, you're good at challenges, you're a team player…" She shrugged. "You haven't given me a reason to vote you off yet."

"Likewise," I said, laughing. "You just said everything you are. Sure you weren't describing yourself?"

Bridgette laughed, too. "Maybe that's why I'm still here, if that's what you think of me. But that's what I was saying before – you're witty when you speak up. But you don't do it that often."

I frowned a little. "I don't want anyone to think I'm laughing at them," I explained. "I feel like if I hurt someone, they'd hurt me back a thousand times worse. I know what it felt like and if it happens again…"

Bridgette looked sympathetic. "That's where your fear of being ostracized comes from, huh?"

I looked up at her. "Mmm."

"We're not going to hate you just because you can be a bit snarky, you know," Bridgette said in a casual tone, like what she was saying was totally everyday. "Maybe Courtney can get a bit defensive, but the guys don't mind. I don't mind. And I haven't really spoken to Katie, but you seem pretty tight with her, so does she mind?"

"Not really," I admitted with a shrug. "She's the same – we gossip, and you should hear some of the things she says. I'd like to be more straight up, but I don't like arguing. It's almost as bad as being an outcast – it makes me panic."

"It's not like I'd make you argue," Bridgette smiled. "But if you try being more open, it might help you get over your fear of saying the wrong thing. You can't do any worse than Harold, if it makes you feel any better. And I don't hate him for it, either – he just can't seem to help saying the wrong thing."
I giggled. "I kind of said a few rough things to him the other week," I confided, "Like when I was asking him if he's one of those irritating guys who thinks it's hot when girls like other girls, and if he wants to know more about…" I trailed off, realizing where this was going.

Bridgette, to her credit, just smiled. "I sort of guessed," she admitted. "I was just waiting for you to say something."

I frowned. "You knew? How come?"

"I didn't know for sure," Bridgette explained, "But I've seen you looking over at some of the girls on the other team. You looked sort of…wistful. I wasn't going to say anything, but when you mentioned that, I just knew where you were going. So Harold knows?"

I shrugged. "I was going to tell you if it came up. I guess it did. I only told Harold because he told me a secret he had. And it kind of slipped out with Katie." I didn't want to admit I'd told Katie before Bridgette because that would have made it sound like I didn't trust her.

Bridgette paused. "No one else?"

I shrugged. "What's to tell? I like girls. I don't want to find out if there's anyone homophobic on this island."

"You should at least tell DJ," Bridgette suggested. "You two have been hanging out ever since the show started. And considering how sensitive he is, I'm willing to bet he wouldn't make a big deal out of it, either."

I smiled. "Maybe I will. But enough about me and my love life that hasn't had anything happen yet. What about yours?"

Bridgette shrugged. "I don't know. Nothing's happened to me either."

I just smiled again. "So you don't know any guys who clearly like you and keep screwing up whenever they talk to you?"

"Oh," Bridgette said, "Yeah. You mean Geoff. I sort of thought that might be what was going on. That's not the only time he's said something weird, though. I was starting to wonder if he was doing it on purpose. It's just happened too many times."

"I know I haven't really talked to him," I said, "But he seems intelligent enough when he talks to the team as a group, or during the challenges. It's probably just you – he might just be nervous and that makes him tongue-tied. So…are you going to do anything about it?"

Bridgette looked thoughtful. "I think I'll just wait for now. But I'll keep in mind that he's not trying to insult me. We haven't known each other for that long, so I don't want to start anything yet."

That was fair enough. And as Bridgette had suggested, I came out to DJ on the very same day, and his reaction was almost the same as her, except he hadn't guessed. "So," he said, grinning, "If your next girlfriend has a cute friend who's into nature and beaches, can you slip her my number?"

That was all I needed to hear to know that I wasn't getting judged or hated. And for the moment, no one else needed to know.

However, I noticed Katie seemed a bit down during the whole day. She didn't want to hang out on the beach with me, even to admire the guys swimming (Trent had some serious abs – Geoff did too, but those were on show whether he was in swim trunks or not since he never buttoned his shirt). She just sat in the cabin all day. I was a bit worried about her, but I left her alone for the time being. She could talk when she wanted to.

That is, the day the next challenge started.

Okay, so the canoe trip is in the next chapter. It was going to be in this one, but it got too long. I know it's weird, shy Peyton having four friends and only one of them asking tactless questions, but you know DJ and Bridgette. I know Peyton didn't hang out with Harold much yet, but there's still time. As for Katie…well, I'll address that in the next chapter.

On a side note, tomorrow is my moving out day! I'm finally leaving home - break out the confetti and mocktails because I can't stand anything stronger cause it's a MAJOR step for me.