The next night most of the Fizzled Fireworks celebrated their latest win in Seraphina, Lita, and Ness' room.
"Woo!" Pascal cheered, wobbling and holding a soda. "The fireworks blast off to victory again."
Pascal toppled over onto Ness, who no longer wore her brace.
"It's all thanks to this superstar!" Pascal hiccuped.
Ness blushed deep red and hyperventilated. "We…we all tried our best."
"Yeah, but you won!" Pascal said.
"Thanks Pascal," she giggled, "it means a lot. Especially since you're so hot…a musician."
"Duh," Pascal replied as he slid to the floor.
Lita and Seraphina prepared more snacks.
"Hasn't he only had one cherry cola?" Lita asked.
"He hasn't even finished it," Seraphina replied, walking off.
Griswold walked in. "Alright, mini pizza bagels are done!"
"Thanks sugar," Lita replied. "You know, you didn't have to help with the snacks."
"It was my idea to throw a party," Griswold replied.
"And we offered to host us in our room," Lita countered.
"It just didn't seem like the right thing to do," Griswold stated.
"I appreciate it," Lita replied and smiled.
"Hehehe," Griswold snorted, before he blushed and dashed off.
"I'm awful with girls," Griswold admitted. "No one was ever interested in me when I was a shorter…so I've never learned how to flirt. I've tried Internet searching it, but the advice has been…use cheesy one-liners, write poetry, wiggling my eyebrows, even making dolphin calls! Is that how you flirt, with dolphin calls and everyone just knows that but me?"
Seraphina walked back over. "Looks like we have another meeting in your room."
"It's your room too dear," Lita replied. "I'm sorry, just say the word and we can wrap this up."
"No I was just…making an observation," Seraphina said. "Thanks though."
Lita smiled. "Of course. By the way, where did you get that shawl? It's so cute."
"Eh, I kind of have the fashion sense of a sixth grader," Seraphina stated. "But um…thanks. It was from my great, great grandmother. I um…like your scarf."
"Thanks girl," Lita replied. "It was actually a gift from my last ex."
"I've never really had female friends," Seraphina admitted. "Or friends in general; I just didn't want any. I don't know any kind of 'girl code' or anything, so I'm kind of worried I'm offending Lita or Nesss. They're actually really nice. Lita can be like a mom. Not mine, but one whose maternal."
Riley crushed a soda can against her head. "Hey Easton, where's your other half?"
"Weston?" Easton asked. "Oh…he doesn't know about this."
"Oh crap," Riley replied. "I didn't even think to tell him, I thought you would have."
"This was just between us Fireworks," Easton replied. "It didn't seem right to invite him."
"Dude, no one has a problem with it," Riley replied.
"It's not just that," Easton admitted. "Weston…he's got to fend for himself. I mean, how would it look to his team if all he does is tag along with the other team? He'd be voted out."
Riley nodded. "That's true."
"Hey man," Griswold said, "I'm sensing…some other issues here. Do you want to talk about it?"
Easton blushed. "It's not a really big thing…"
"This is a judgment free zone," Griswold stated.
"I love my bro," Easton stated. "I just...I need some time apart from him. Only a little. I joined this show because I wanted to see more outside of my hometown. I want new experiences…but when Weston heard he had to join me."
Easton sighed. "Weston is just…dependent. And he can be...thick-headed. He doesn't think things through. It becomes my responsibility to take care of him. I don't really mind…but it feels like my parents treat him more special than me because he's always getting into jams."
Lita nodded.
"Its hard to put into words," Easton went on. "It's like I have to make sacrifices for him and well…"
"He gets more love than you," Lita finished.
"Yeah," Easton said.
He was silent for a moment. "Am I a horrible person for feeling that way?"
"I don't know," Lita replied. "I understand though…my little brother…well it's not important. But I understand you."
"I have little sisters," Griswold stated. "It's not the same thing as twin, but I think everyone feels that way around their siblings sometimes."
Easton nodded. "I don't know…I still love Weston. Yet when you're a twin everyone acts like you're just clones. Weston and me are similar, but we're different. I want a separate identity. Truth is, I've already been offered a scholarship for my math major."
"That's superb," Ignacio stated. "You must be quite adroit."
Easton blushed. "Yeah, thanks. I haven't told Weston yet; going means we'll be apart and he doesn't really have plans for the future. I'm worried he won't be able to hold his own."
I had no idea," Riley stated.
"Please don't tell him what I said," Easton asked.
"My lips are sealed," Riley replied as the others nodded.
"For what its worth I think you're right about some time apart," Griswold said.
Griswold held out his hand. Easton forced a smile and they high-fived.
Easton was hyper-ventilating. "I've never felt comfortable telling anyone that. My teammates are just so accepting of me. I feel so bad saying that stuff...but so relieved. I might pass-out."
The next morning, Kalino strolled through the cafeteria. He was reading a newspaper.
"Horoscopes," Kalino stated. "You will have great accomplishments today."
Kalino looked up to see Frannie, who had made a frowning face out of her eggs and bacon.
"Fran the Wooman," Kalino stated. "How you holding up?"
Frannie sobbed and face planted into her breakfast.
"I'll take that as bad," Kalino said.
Frannie lifted her head. "I'm just so upset that Diamonique is gone. I can't even think of a joke."
"Here's a joke," Kalino said. "What does a clown tell during breakfast times?"
"What?" Frannie asked.
"Yolks," Kalino joked, as he rubbed some eggs off Frannie's face.
"Thanks for trying," Frannie stated. "I just don't understand why Diamonique went home."
"Yeahhhh," Kalino stated. "It's a real mystery. I don't understand…but I've been talking to the others and I don't think they'll vote you off."
"Really?" Frannie asked. "I hope so. At least I know I can trust you Kalino."
Kalino shrugged. "I'm just a trustworthy guy mannnnnnnn."
/
Later, Aiden dragged his feel slowly to his room. Hayden frowned as he entered.
"Hey," Aiden whispered.
"So, are we going to talk?" Hayden asked. "Or are you going to keep avoiding me? I know you've been sleeping in other hotel rooms instead of here."
Aiden looked down. "You didn't ever check me out did you?"
"You don't check out every girl do you?" Hayden asked.
Aiden blushed. "No."
"I have a boyfriend," Hayden added. "I'm just...uggh! I'm so ticked off right now."
"I'm sorry," Aiden replied. "I don't a lot about gay people. I really haven't been around any-"
"-It's not that you're uncomfortable," Hayden interrupted. "I try to follow Carl Rogers' belief of unconditional positive regard; respecting and accepting others as who they are. I'm happy to answer questions and be honest."
Aiden sat down next to him. "I don't think you hate different people Aiden. You're not someone who hates.
"Then…what?" Aiden asked.
"The way you acted," Hayden shot back. "We were pals until you find out I'm gay. Now I'm suddenly a different person?"
"You never mentioned it," Aiden replied.
"What, am I just suppose to state my sexuality to everyone I meet?" Hayden asked. "I've never hid it, but I don't make a big deal about it. It shouldn't be a big deal."
Aiden hugged Hayden. Hayden sighed, but hugged his roommate.
"I'm sorry," Aiden said."I should have considered how you feel. Can we, can we still be buds?"
Hayden chuckled and gave Aiden a noogie. "Yeah, we're still buds. But I'm not the only one you need to say sorry to. I'm worried about Melissa."
Aiden nodded. "I know. I am too. I want to talk to her...but I don't know what to say yet."
"I'll help you if you need it," Hayden replied.
"Thanks," Aiden said. "I might…but I also want it to come from me."
Hayden slapped him on the back and the two shared a smile.
"I've tried talking to Melissa since the Awake-a-thon," Aiden admitted. "When I saw her run away crying...how could do that to her? She's the most swell gal I've ever met."
Weston walked through the lobby, where a TV on a cart was placed.
"Weston…"
Weston froze and turned to the TV, which showed Easton talking in front of his team.
"Weston is just…dependent… he's thick-headed," Easton 'said'. "He doesn't think things through...it becomes my responsibility to take care of him. ...He's always getting into jams. Truth is, I've already been offered a scholarship for my math major… going means we'll be apart and he doesn't really have plans for the future."
Weston stared at the TV, which turned to static.
Rhonda awkwardly ran up to the TV. "Oh no, how did this TV I didn't leave in this exact place get here? I hope it didn't not on purpose accidentally show certain footage that was totally not edited together. Weston, did you see anything?"
Weston looked down, before running off in tears.
Rhonda grimaced but wheeled the TV away. She returned to the monitoring room where Jenny and Toby sat.
"Guys, I feel a little guilty," Rhonda said. "I think we may have hurt Weston's feelings. How were the ratings for last episode?"
"Alright," Toby said on his smart phone. "A lot of people have been watching it online and talking about it."
Rhonda smiled. "Yay!"
"Mostly about Aiden," Toby added.
Rhonda frowned. "At least the plan worked."
"The plan didn't work!" Jenny shouted. "It actually hurt Hayden's feelings, and I like him more than most of the people here. Present company included."
"It was your idea," Rhonda replied. "What are they saying Toby?"
"Some people really dislike Aiden now," Toby stated. "Some agree with him. A few people have even sent death threats to his family, according to his stepmother's social media."
Rhonda sighed and slumped into her chair. "I…I didn't mean for that to happen."
/
The next day, the teams gathered in the lobby.
"It's that time again," Rhonda announced, "challenge time! To celebrate the upcoming game, we'll be doing sport themed challenges!"
"Aw man!" Griswold cheered. "This is going to be sweet!"
"What game is coming up?" Xidorn asked.
"You know," Rhonda said, "the…sport that people watch."
"Another attempt at a tie-in for cheap cash," Zipporah stated. "What a surprise."
"Anyway," Rhonda said, "for this challenge you'll compete in up to five different sports. We've taken the liberty of totally randomly selecting who does what. You'll be in pairs of two, except for the last challenge which will have three people. "
"We don't have as many members as the Fireworks," Xidorn pointed out.
"You shouldn't have sucked so much," Jenny teased.
"Two people will go again for your team," Rhonda explained. "Now, we'll need a change of scenery for the first sport…"
/
The contestants moved to a new hotel and entered a dome that contained an artificial beach.
"Welcome to the Paradise Beach Hotel," Rhonda announced, "One of the several hotels run and owned by our home company. I thought about hosting the show here, but the Pentagon seemed like a better fit."
"That's the first smart thing you've said," Zipporah said. "Who wrote it for you?"
"Our first challenge is for the sport of water skiing! One person will steer a speedboat through a course of buoys, while the other will water ski and collect flags. Then you'll reach a dock, switch roles and continue down the course. Whoever collects the most flags wins.
"For the Molting Eagles, Vance will drive first and Hayden will ski."
"You think you can handle it bud?" Hayden asked.
"Don't call me bud," Vance replied. "And of course I can, water skiing is just like rodeo."
"In a completely different way," Hayden added.
"On the Fizzled Fireworks," Rhonda continued, "Riley will drive and Zipporah will ski."
"We're the dream team!" Riley wooed as she tried to chest bump Zipporah but knocked her to the ground.
"More like a nightmare," Zipporah sighed. "And not the good kind."
In a few minutes, the pairs went off.
"Try not to get distracted staring at me," Vance yelled.
"Just because I'm gay doesn't mean I'm attracted to every guy," Hayden replied.
"I know that," Vance said. "Everyone's just attracted to me. I'm not every guy; I'm a champion."
Vance then ran into a buoy.
"Aw yeah," Riley cheered. "This ocean breeze is amazing. Are you feelin it Z?"
Zipporah flopped about like a dead fish. "I'm feeling it."
Vance crashed into another buoy. "I tell you Hayden, your driving is catawampus!"
"Right, it's my fault," Hayden replied. "You're just protecting your own feelings-"
"Cut out your doctor talk!" Vance shouted. "I've collected a few durn flags after all!"
"Only because you crashed into all of those!" Hayden shot back.
"NO HANDS!" Riley screamed as her boat drove past the Eagle's.
"AHHHH!" Zipporah screamed.
Hayden parked into the dock and switched roles with Vance.
"You think you can steer this thing?" Hayden asked.
"You do know who you're talking to right?" Vance asked.
Vance backed the boat into the dock, causing it to sink.
"I do," Hayden replied.
"WOOOOOO!" Riley shouted as her boat crashed into Vance's.
/
A few minutes later, the four teens washed up on the shore.
Griswold ran forward. "Are you okay Riley?"
"Wow Brono Somebrody," Riley said. "That was an amazing wipeout!"
"I'm fine by the way," Zipporah stated.
"Does anyone actually have any flags left?" Rhonda asked.
Vance smiled, revealing a flag caught between the gap of his missing tooth.
"I guess the Eagles win," Rhonda stated. "Now for the next challenge, it'll be Easton and Griswold against Melissa and Weston in a game of beach volleyball! First pair to score three points wins."
"Randomly selected," Easton said, "yeah right!"
In a few seconds, the pairs were in front of the net.
"Hey good luck bro," Easton said.
Weston glared. "I guess you'll have to take care of me in this too, huh?"
"What?" Easton asked.
Melissa sighed and looked over at Aiden who stared at her.
"I admit that what Aiden said really hurt my feelings," Melissa stated. "Maybe I'm just being selfish, but that is my religion. I'm trying to not let it get me down. I need to stay positive for my team; when I'm doing a challenge I need to have a tummy full of sunshine tickles…but instead my stomach is churning in crying clouds."
Toby blew a whistle; Griswold served the ball and it swung over the net.
Weston ran forward and bounced the ball. Easton ran up and knocked it back over. Weston tried to hit it, but it landed on the sand.
"Give me some bro!" Griswold stated as he and Easton fist pumped.
Weston threw the volleyball at Easton's head.
"Your serve," Weston stated.
Easton handed the ball to Griswold, who served it. It smacked Weston in the face and bounced back over the fence.
"Weston sure can take a lot of pain," Hayden stated.
Cynthia nodded.
Easton shot it over the net, but Melissa bounced it back. Griswold hit it back strong and scored point.
Great job Griswold!" Lita cheered.
"That's what I'm talking about Griz Bear!" Riley shouted.
Griswold giggled and blushed. He didn't even notice Weston throw the volleyball at him, which landed in Griswold's pompadour.
The younger twin sighed. He took off his shirt, revealing noticeable scars on his body.
"I've got a couple of scars here and there," Weston admitted. "They're from climbing trees, jumping off cliffs, playing in briar patches. Stuff like that. Maybe Easton's right, maybe I do just do crazy things without thinking."
Griswold served it, Melissa hit it, Easton hit it, then Weston jumped and slammed back over and scored a point.
Melissa and Weston high-fived, then Weston blew a raspberry at his brother.
"Do you have a problem?" Easton asked.
"I'm not the one with the problem," Weston replied.
"What?" Easton asked. "Man, you're acting really dumb!"
"Isn't that how I always act?" Weston said.
"Are you keeping something from me?" Easton asked.
"Like you are?" Weston replied. "I heard; about the scholarship."
Easton's eyes grew wide. "Weston, I-"
"-Didn't think I should know," Weston interrupted. "I heard it, I heard everything else you said about me. If you don't really want to have a brother then fine; you're no longer my brother."
Weston jumped up spiked the ball, but Easton shot it back over and scored a point.
"The Fireworks score a victory!" Rhonda announced.
Nobody cheered, as the twins glared at each other.
/
The scene changed to inside an ice rink.
"Our next challenge will be the Canadian sport of choice," Rhonda stated. "Hockey! One member will serve as a goalie while the other will have to hit the puck in the goal! First team to score two points wins! For the Eagles, Frannie and Xidorn; Xidorn will be goalie. For the Fireworks, Tessa will try to score while the goalie will be…um…uh…"
Rhonda pulled out a piece of paper. "Jasper?"
Some guy sighed and stepped forward.
"I thought his name was Jeffrey," Griswold whispered.
"I thought our other teammate was Julie," Seraphina admitted.
"Wait, is he on our team?" Pascal asked. "Did he just debut?"
/
The four got in their positions on the rink.
Tessa skated out and performed a perfect figure eight.
Aiden cowered nervously from the sidelines.
"My best friend is an ice skater at the Olympics," Tessa stated. "She's my only friend; everyone else is quick to judge me or look down on me. I'm thinking I might try to do ice skating in the future."
"Begin!" Rhonda announced.
"Go Frannie!" Kalino cheered as he ate a banana.
"For Diamonique!" Frannie screamed as she swung.
The puck moved a millimeter. Tessa then twirled through, stole the puck and made a winning goal.
"****!" Frannie cursed.
Tessa started to slide the puck. Frannie sped forward, but Tessa danced around her.
"Puck this," Frannie shouted, as she back flipped in front of Tessa and stole the puck. She skated to the goal and slammed it in, but Jackson blocked it.
"Guess you could say I'm on thin ice," Frannie joked.
"The ice isn't that thin," Juan replied. Frannie pouted.
Tessa started to skate back over. Frannie slammed the puck and made a goal.
"That was for the Canadians!" Frannie cheered.
Frannie returned to her side. She swiped the puck and headed for the Firework's goal.
Tessa skated at her. Kalino yawned as he threw a banana peel on the ice, which caused Tessa to slip and fall. Frannie slammed the puck and made another goal.
"And with that the Eagles have reclaimed the lead!" Rhonda announced.
Tessa growled and snapped her hockey stick.
"I guess you could say she needs to…chill," Frannie joked.
"Haha," Kalino laughed. "Good one mannnnn."
"I don't get it," Kalino admitted.
The scene changed to what seemed like an old opera house.
"This is the Pentagram's theatre," Rhonda stated. "Where Ness and Ignacio will perform for the Fireworks, while the Eagles will again have Xidorn and Vance."
"It's like the Phantom of the Opera will come and kidnap me right now," Zipporah sighed before frowning. "What mainstream, strength obsessed, self-esteem ruining event that your kind call entertainment are you going to have here?"
"This sport will be," Rhonda said, "interpretive dance!"
"What?" Vance asked. "Dancing ain't no sport!"
"Wikipedia said it was," Rhonda replied. "And interpretive dancing is dancing. So, you and your partner will have to perform an on the spot routine to our panel of judges; Jenny and Toby. They'll pick the winners of the challenge. For questioning me, Eagles can go first."
A spotlight shone on Vance and Xidorn as everyone else stepped away.
"Bust a move!" Rhonda yelled, as classical music plays.
Both teens blushed and tried to move about. Vance eventually settled on doing the monkey while Xidorn tried to do the sprinkler.
In the audience, the teams watched and cringed.
Aiden moved over to Melissa. Cynthia, who sat next to her, pulled out a knife.
"I just want to talk," Aiden said. "Can we talk alone, Melissa?"
"Okay," Melissa replied.
Melissa and Aiden snuck over to a corner. Cynthia didn't lower her knife.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry," Aiden admitted.
"Thank you," Melissa said but turned away.
"I mean it," Aiden said, "I know my comments were out of line. I admit I do have a problem with Muslims. My dad and stepmom are soldiers. They met while stationed in the Middle East. Myy mom was in the Middle East too; she was a medic before…she was killed by terrorist attack when I was just a toddler."
"Oh," Melissa replied. "I had no idea Aiden…I'm so sorry."
Aiden wiped a tear away. "No, you don't have anything to be sorry about. That doesn't excuse my actions. I just wanted to try and explain where maybe some of my reaction came from."
Melissa sighed. "I understand. I know there are awful people out there who do things in the name of being a Muslim. But not a single person represents a whole; the Christians who protested those soldiers' funerals don't represent every Christian after all. I'm just…hurt you'd think I could be someone like that."
I know," Aiden said, "I didn't really, but I was confused. I have some biases, but I know they can't all be right; you're proof they're wrong. I want to move past this, I want to be more aware, I want us to be friends again…and more than anything I don't want you to feel bad. Golly, you're the sweetest person I've ever met; you shouldn't feel bad."
Melissa hugged Aiden. "I'd love to be friends again."
Aiden hugged her back and started to tear up. "Thank you."
Meanwhile on stage Vance switched it up to doing the chicken dance, while Xidorn pantomimed throwing chicken feed. Vance tripped and tried to play it off, as he scooted his butt across the stage like a dog. The music cut off as Xidorn and Vance sighed in relief.
"Judges?" Rhonda asked.
"It was an interesting take on the Star Wars prequels," Jenny replied.
"I thought their dance was about the Cuban Missile Crisis," Toby said.
"It sounds like it'll be hard to beat," Rhonda stated. "Ness and Ignacio you're up."
Ness and Ignacio awkwardly took the stage. The music started and the two started imitating ballet as they moved across the stage. Ness twirled, only for her boot to fly off. Her shoe flew into the air, knocking into the old stage lights (which clearly weren't up to standard).
Ness gulped as she looked up. Toby coughed and Ness blushed as she started to hop on one foot and dance again. Ignacio imitated a mime, trapping himself in a box.
Griswold covered his eyes. "I can't look."
Suddenly, a stage light fell and conked Ness on the head.
"Err…derp," Ness giggled as she fell about. "Hehehe."
"Oh god, Ness is on fire," Riley stated.
"She's doing that good?" Griswold asked.
"No, she's literally on fire," Easton yelled as Griswold put his hands down.
The stage light had burst into flames, and had spread to Ness' jacket. She didn't react, stumbling and staggering while giggling.
Ignacio ran backstage and grabbed an extinguisher. He held it out but Ness stumbled against him, causing the model to accidentally shot it off.
The extinguisher bounced from wall to wall. It ricocheted into Rhonda's forehead, knocking her out before flying into the rest of the stage lights. They fell, exploding and bursting into flames.
As it was still firing, the extinguisher knocked down a hook holding a sand bag. The sandbag fell on Ness' foot…while the extinguisher rammed into the jinx, knocking her off stage. Ignacio tried to help Ness, distracting him from the hook. Naturally, it snared Ignacio's pants and shirt.
As Ignacio moved forward, the hook ripped off his clothes. Ignacio blushed and froze, stark naked on the burning stage.
"Now that's what I call hot," Frannie joked while drooling.
"EW GROSS, NAKED PEOPLE!" Jenny screamed as she ran away. Toby meanwhile fainted.
"So, did we win or…" Pascal asked.
/
Later, the teams were at a roller skating rink.
"Well that wasn't a total disaster," Rhonda stated. "Ultimately, the judges decided to crown the Fireworks the winners."
"Only because you ended up hurting Rhonda," Jenny added.
"Since we conveniently tied," Rhonda stated, "we go to the final challenge! The three competitors yet to compete, step forward!"
Lita, Seraphina and Pascal walked up for the Fizzled Fireworks. Aiden, Cynthia and Kalino come forward for the Molting Eagles.
"This challenge will be a roller derby challenge!" Rhonda announced.
"What's roller derby?" Lita asked.
"It's basically roller skating with punching," Rhonda replied. "For this challenge, you have to race around the course. First skater to circle all the way around wins it for their team. You are allowed to push, punch and other such violence to stay ahead. You might have to…"
/
The competitors got on their gear and made their way to the starting line.
"Can you guys skate?" Pascal asked.
Seraphina tripped and face-planted. "No."
Jenny, Toby and Rhonda sat in announcer's booth. "On your mark, get set, get ready…go!"
The group skated off; Aiden struggled while Kalino slowly inched along.
"Now let's add some obstacles," Rhonda giggled as she pressed a button.
The gates opened and large roller skating thugs charged out at the contestants.
"Eep!" Aiden squealed as he ran backwards as the thugs chased him.
"Eep!" the thugs exclaimed running the other way.
Cynthia skated after them.
A thug sneaked behind Lita…and got a punch to the face.
"Wee!" Pascal exclaimed as he lead some thugs in twirling around.
"Wee," Seraphina stated as some thugs tossed her around.
"Leave her alone punks!" Lita yelled as she grabbed Seraphina. A thug tried to grab her, only to get an uppercut to the chin.
"I like this sport," Lita admitted as she noticed the blood on her knuckles.
"You're tough Lita," Seraphina said.
"Trust me, you have to be in my neighborhood," Lita said as she put Seraphina down. "Hey, where are you creeps going? I'm not done making you cry!"
"This is getting intense," Rhonda said. "And it's the climax of the challenge…quick, play the edgiest music we have the rights to!"
Toby nodded and played a track.
"Mmmbop, ba dubi dop, ba do bop…"
"Is this Mmmbop by Hanson?" Melissa asked. "I love them!"
"I said edgy!" Rhonda stated.
"This is the edgiest song we could afford," Toby replied.
Rhonda slumped to the floor, got in the fetal position and began to cry.
The thugs skated back into the gates and slammed them shut. Cynthia had the lead, with Pascal, Lita and Seraphina together in the back.
"I have a plan to win," Pascal stated.
"Will it work?" Seraphina asked.
"I saw it on a children's television show," Pascal replied. "That means it's full proof!"
Seraphina face palmed.
"We'll form a chain," Pascal explained. "In the middle will be the lightest skater; as we skate around the corner, that person will be flung forward and propelled by our inertia to finish line."
"Does that even make sense?" Seraphina asked.
"It doesn't not make sense," Pascal replied.
"We're out of options," Lita stated. "Everybody chain up!"
"Well whose going to be in the middle?" Seraphina asked.
Lita and Pascal looked at Seraphina, before grabbing one of her arms.
"I had to ask," Seraphina sighed, as Lita and Pascal threw her.
Seraphina screamed but soared past Cynthia.
"Wow," Seraphina said, "I'm actual-"
"-Hey there."
"Oof!"
Seraphina tripped over Kalino laying on the floor, and fell on her face. Cynthia skated past her and completed a lap.
"For once the Eagles actually win!" Rhonda announced from the booth. "We'll see you tonight Fireworks."
"I knew I wasn't going to win," Kalino admitted. "So if you can't beat them, have them join you in losing. I waited at the finish line, took a power nap and helped win the challenge. My horoscope was on point today."
In the Pentagram, Pascal knocked on room 666.
Tessa opened the door and glared. "What do you want?"
Hey, hey, hey!" Pascal said as he forced his way into the room. "You did awesome sauce at the challenge today and it made me think, we should form an alliance!"
"Save it," Tessa replied. "I wouldn't want to form an alliance with an egotistical, know it all celebrity."
"No irony there," Pascal said.
"Huh?" Tessa asked.
"I was just saying that's too bad," Pascal replied. "It's your choice though. I guess when Lita or Seraphina suggest voting you off today I won't convince them otherwise."
Tessa sighed. "They'd all follow them, wouldn't they?"
"Not if I don't change their minds," Pascal teased.
"Fine," Tessa groaned, "I'll form an alliance with you…but you backstab me and you'll regret it."
"I was wondering," Pascal said, "I can't count on that whole Good Guys alliance, so who is going to be my goat now? And then I heard Tessa baaing. I mean, nobody likes her! She'd be the ideal candidate to take to the final two! All I have to do is keep her from being voted off and that can't be hard, right? ...Right?"
"I don't trust Pascal," Tessa said. "He's just another popular creep who thinks he can use me to help him get ahead. Which is why the first chance I get, I'll send him home."
"Alright then," Tessa said, "who are you going to vote off?"
Pascal smirked. "Well…"
/
Later, in another room...
"Justin?" Griswold asked. "Whose that?"
"I think he means Jojo," Riley said. "You know he has brown hair and…brown hair."
"Why would we send home Jamal instead of Tessa?" Seraphina asked.
"Well Tessa is more useful in challenges than Johnny," Pascal answered. "I mean, Tessa won her trial and the first challenge, stayed awake long in the sleeping challenge and was a great skater this time. At the moment, its in the team's best interests to keep a power player than a nobody."
"Tessa isn't really into having a team," Seraphina stated.
"Do you remember Jeremy being a big part of the team?" Pascal asked.
"Pascal does bring up a good point," Easton admitted.
"Tessa has been nothing but horrible to all of us," Lita reminded.
"Maybe if we give her time she'll change," Pascal said.
"She's had plenty of time," Seraphina replied.
"I don't want to keep Tessa," Griswold admitted. "But she is useful in challenges and I'd like to win more…if she promises to be a better team player."
"I think I can get her to promise that," Pascal replied.
"He did stuff in challenges," Lita defended. "I think.."
"Let's take some time and think about this," Griswold said. "Pascal, you can talk to Tessa. We'll meet up again and make a final decision."
/
Soon after, Seraphina, Lita and Ness chilled in the hall.
"I've already made up mind," Lita stated. "I'm voting for Tessa."
"Look," Seraphina stated, "I don't want to…but I think we need to agree with the others in who to vote off, even if it isn't Tessa."
"What?" Lita asked. "I thought you disliked her more than I do?"
"Oh, I despise her," Seraphina said. "She should be going home. But if we go against the entire team at our first elimination ceremony, it'll cause a divide."
"That would mean voting off…um Jasper?" Lita asked. "He doesn't deserve that."
"I'm not saying he does," Seraphina said. "But we're close as a team now, if we go against it we'll get in trouble. It's him, or us."
"I have to agree with Seraphina," Ness admitted. "If Tessa doesn't improve, we can vote her off next."
Lita sighed. "Fine."
However...
/
Lita knocked on a door.
Jimmy answered the door. "Oh I'm sorry, Ignacio isn't in."
"I'm not here to speak to him," Lita said. "It's Jasper, right?"
"Yes," Jasper replied. "Yes, it is."
"I just wanted to tell you…" Lita said.
/
That night, the Fizzled Fireworks were in the Internet café.
"This is technically not your first elimination ceremony Fireworks," Rhonda said. "You all have voted once already, so before we begin does anyone have anything they'd like to say?"
Julio stood up. "Look, I've heard rumors that I'm going home. I just wanted to say to all of you that I-"
"Really? No one has anything to say?" Rhonda asked. "Then, let's get to the vote!"
Jasper sighed.
The votes were cast. Toby handed Rhonda tray of coffee cups.
"I have ten coffee cups," Rhonda said. "The one of you who doesn't receive a coffee will be eliminated tonight and never comeback. EVER. The first coffee cup goes to…Ness."
Ness tried to catch her coffee, but accidentally dropped it on the floor.
"Ignacio…Pascal…Seraphina…"
The three caught their cups.
"Easton…Riley…Griswold…"
The three bros raised their cups at being safe.
"Lita…and Zipporah."
Zipporah swatted her coffee away.
"And the last coffee cup goes to…"
"-Oh cut the crap," Tessa stated. "We all know how this is going to end."
"Spoil the fun," Rhonda whined, tossing Tessa her cup. "Sorry…uh…Jocast …but you're going home."
Jasper nodded and exited through the Revolving Doors of Shame.
/
The Fizzled Fireworks petered out quickly, leaving Jenny, Toby and Rhonda alone in the café.
"You know I feel bad for that guy," Rhonda stated.
"What for?" Jenny asked.
"I guess because we never really gave him a chance. We never gave him any focus, even though he is on the show."
"So?" Jenny replied.
"Why cast someone if you don't plan on using them?" Rhonda asked. "It just seems unfair and maybe even...a bit pointless honestly."
"Somebody has to be the early out," Jenny replied. "Might as well make them unimportant. Maybe someday someone will notice him."
Lita sat in the voting booth with her legs crossed. "Everyone else is going to vote Jasper. Tessa did come down and promise to be nicer…she didn't apologize of course. She barely talked to us. She's not the one who deserves a second chance; Jasper does. So I'm voting Tessa. My team won't be the wiser about it, so no biggie. It just doesn't feel right voting off that poor boy."
Author's Note
Can you tell what storyline I feel has aged the worst in four years? It was cringey re-reading a lot of Aiden's scenes here, I hope they were alright for everyone else.
The challenge itself was fun, some fun pairings were had. A quick note about something; during the hockey challenge, Aiden shivers. On the wiki this story originates from, we have character pages where we have bios. Total Drama fans remember the classic episode Phobia Factor, right? Well, as part of the character pages we list everyone's fears. Aiden's fear is figure skaters. So that's why he was nervous. If you're interested in seeing those hit up Total Drama Fanfiction Wiki.
Man, these eliminations have been sadder than I remember. Sorry everybody. I hope the joke about Jasper's name translated well. On the wiki I strikethrough the wrong name and then say Jasper.
Next time is I chapter I remember fondly. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reading!
Appendix: Elimination History
Bethany (Eagles)- 22nd
Diamonique (Eagles)- 21st
Casper (Fireworks)- 20th