Knock, knock.
Cynthia opened her door to find Weston standing there.
"Oh hey Cynthia, you're staying at this hotel?" Weston asked. "That's so cool, me too. Did you here about this new romantic comedy Kiss Kiss Slap coming out? We should-"
Cynthia slammed the door in Weston's face.
Kalino and Frannie sat with their arms crossed in the confessional.
"Hey what gives?" Frannie asked.
"Yeah," Kalino said. "We hardly got any focus last time."
"We were totally doing important plot related things last chapter," Frannie pouted.
The scene changed to a flashback of one of the days before the Invaders challenge. A huge mall, the Tysons Corner Center, was shown.
"WEEEEEEE!" Frannie and Kalino shouted in unison as the slowly rode up an escalator in the mall. "WEEEEEEEEEE!"
A toddler holding his mother's hand turned around. He rolled his eyes. "Losers."
"What'd you say?" Kalino said. Kalino grabbed the toddler, which Frannie proceeded to punt the small child away.
The mother turned around. "Excuse me, did you just dropkick my son?"
"Heck yeah we did," Frannie replied. "What are you gonna do about it?"
/
A few seconds later, Frannie and Kalino landed on their butts as they were literally kicked out of the mall.
Whelp looks like its time for Plan Q," Frannie stated, putting on a fake mustache and monocle.
"Way ahead of you," Kalino said, wearing a powdered wig as he started to strip.
Kalino and Frannie laughed and high-fived.
"We punked ya," Kalino laughed.
"We totally weren't doing anything plot important," Frannie giggled.
Kalino and Frannie were still laughing at table in the cafeteria.
"You know Fran the Man," Kalino said. "I've been thinking and well…I have an important question to ask you."
Frannie froze. "Yes, Kalino."
"Franne, would you do me the honor," Kalino said. "Of joining my alliance?"
Frannie sniffled. "Of course I would! Wait…you have your another alliance?"
"Well," Kalino whispered, "I've formed a secret one with a couple of dudes; I'd have told you earlier if it wasn't so secret. I know our old alliance is kind of done with Diamonique gone, but we can fuse our alliances like a Dragon Ball Z character and go Super Sayian on this thing."
"Ooh I love it when you make nineties anime references," Frannie swooned. "Okay, let's do it!"
"Sweetness," Kalino said. "Now, the reason its so secret is because Pascal from the Fireworks is on. So we can't tell anybody about this alliance. Especially anybody."
"No problem," Frannie replied. "I'm great at keeping secrets, like my dad's horrible backne problem. Anyone else in our alliance?"
"Bethany was," Kalino stated. "And finally Vance."
Frannie looked over to see Vance picking a piece of chicken from his gap tooth and farting at the same time.
"Vance?" Frannie asked. "Not to be mean but Vance-"
"-has a personality akin to a piece of toilet paper with a suspicious yellow liquid, some raisins and a large chest hair on it?" Kalino asked. "True, but that makes Vance, and his muscles, useful for the future."
"Huh," Frannie said. "I didn't think of it like that. In that case, sounds like we've got a good plan. Thanks Kalino."
"You know Kalino seems like a goofball," Frannie said. "He is! Which is great, but he's also a really sweet, trustworthy guy. Plus, he always has an open shirt showing off his pecs. I think I might…nah, I shouldn't say that…too cheesy..."
At a separate table, The Fizzled Fireworks sat eating breakfast. Except for Zipporah, who was writing poetry in a dark corner.
"Hey everyone," Lita said. "I want to apologize for my meltdown the other day."
"There's nothing to apologize for," Griswold said. "If anything, we should apologize for not voting her off sooner."
"Let's just put behind us and forget it ever happened," Seraphina said. "Or Tessa ever existed. Especially that last part."
"I'm not someone to cry usually," Lita said. "Or at least in front of other people. But my family…is very personal to me. I just don't like to talk about them…"
"You know I think Frannie's stopped stalking me," Ignacio stated. "Maybe I've gotten uglier or something."
"I wouldn't say that sugar," Lita teased as Ignacio blushed. "I believe she found herself a boytoy. Hopefully, she isn't the only one."
Lita motioned to down the table where Ness and Pascal were talking.
Ness giggled. "You tell the best stories Pascal, tell me again about you solved the puzzle and saved your team."
"Gladly," Pascal replied. "Well Amanda Picklestein came up and-"
Lita sighed happily. "Its beautiful thing when people can find happiness in love."
"Yeah," Griswold sighed, staring at Lita.
Lita dropped a cheese fry into her bra and reached down to remove it. Ignacio stared before blushing and looking away. "Yeah…"
Seraphina stared at Xidorn. "Yeah."
"I think I might really like Lita," Griswold said. "I think. How do you know when you like someone? Like, really like them? Do I even have a chance? Girls never really seem to like me when I was small…I still feel small now…why is so hard for me? Ugh…"
"Lita is a rather pretty girl," Ignacio admitted. "Not that I'm thinking about that or anything. I'm still not over my breakup with my ex Carla. Still…Lita is…never mind! Ididn'tsayanything!"
And now a poem by a poet not on the Hollywood paycheck," Zipporah stated.
"The puppies in the shelter died,
And not a single person cried.
A million children starved and dead,
And not a single tear was shed.
An album is delayed a day,
A million tears people pay."
Zipporah motioned dropping a mike. "Thanks government politicians!"
Knock, knock.
Cynthia opened the door to see Weston standing there.
"What?!" Weston exclaimed. "Funny running into you here Cynthia. So there's this Italian place here, even though we aren't in Italy so maybe its not Italian but-"
Cynthia slammed the door in Weston's face.
"I began to worry what the impacts of this show could be on young, still growing children," Hayden stated. "I decided to do some observations on my teammates. I started simple with some projective tests; not always accurate but something to gauge them. My results were…"
"…Let's do some word association Kalino," Hayden said. "Just say the first word that comes to your mind; family."
"sasserginormachoochongy," Kalino replied.
"A real word," Hayden replied. "Toxic."
"Mannnnnnnnnnnnnnn…."
/
"…Now tell me what you see," Hayden said as he held up an inkblot to Weston.
"Hmm," Weston murmured. "I see…a piece of paper."
"Yes, but what on the paper?" Hayden asked.
"Ooh," Weston replied. "Hmm, it looks like…an inkblot!"
Hayden face-palmed…
/
…Just say the first word that comes to mind," Hayden said, "bear."
"Bear!" Frannie shouted.
"A different word," Hayden said. "Let's try again; sad."
"Bear!" Frannie shouted.
Hayden groaned.
"It was a different word," Frannie pointed out.
Hayden shook his head. "That-"
"-Bear!" Frannie yelled...
/
…Hayden held up an inkblot.
"Hmm," Melissa said. "Ooh, I see a double rainbow in the sky, raining tasty yet dentally hygienic candy to all the children of the world, who join hand in hand to sing."
Hayden looked down to see he had turned the inkblot backwards, onto a blank page...
/
"…Now say the first word that comes to mind," Hayden said to Aiden, "Beauty."
"Yosemite National Park," Aiden replied.
"Hate," Hayden said.
"Taxes," Aiden replied.
"Handsome," Hayden said.
"George Washington's jawline," Aiden replied…
/
"…The first word that comes to mind," Hayden said. "Stars."
"Space Wars VI," Xidorn replied.
"Is that a movie?" Hayden asked.
Xidorn gasped. "You aren't familiar with the Space Wars series? It's one of the best sci-fi series ever! It started in the 1970s as a TV-show, Space Explorers."
"Xidorn I don't really-"
"-which in its third season was later retconned to be in the same continuity as Moon Family, the 1950s sitcom…"
/
"…Say the first word that comes to mind," Hayden stated. "Ugly."
"Your mama!" Vance replied, laughing until he knocked himself over in chair…
/
"..nnnnnnnnnnn…what was the question?" Kalino asked.
Hayden sighed and grabbed his temple…
/
"…Tell me the first word that comes to mind," Hayden said. "Happy."
"Murder," Cynthia replied.
Hayden gulped. "Uhh, friends."
"Murder," Cynthia replied.
"Murder," Hayden stated.
"Soon," Cynthia said…
"…Inconclusive," Hayden stated. "Very inconclusive."
Knock, Knock.
Cynthia opened the door to see Weston standing there.
"Hey," Weston said. "Listen, sorry I've been bugging you. I thought it'd be cool if we hung out; I've got some watermelons and a jackhammer if you want to smash them or…"
Cynthia slammed the door in Weston's face…
…as she pulled him away by the arm.
/
In the library, Xidorn was reading Helga Potter and the Sorcerer's Schnitzel when a series of bookshelves fell over. Xidorn turned to see Vance muttering swears and kicking pages.
"Everything okay Vance?" Xidorn asked.
"These durn books have darned dilled my pickle," Vance replied. "Tried to find one on how to track animals but they don't got no pictures in 'em."
"You could try reading them," Xidorn suggested.
"Are you saying I don't know how to read?" Vance asked. "Cause I do! Only poor people are illit…itlight…can't read."
Xidorn raised an eyebrow. "No one said you didn't. I thought you said you tracked animals all the time back on the farm."
"Uhh…well I do," Vance replied. "But it's different in the city. I wouldn't understand a city slacker to understand."
"I'd be happy to help you if you need it Vance," Xidorn said.
"Really?" Vance asked.
"We are teammates," Xidorn admitted. "I also like the library standing up."
"Thanks but no thanks," Vance replied. "I ride…alone."
Vance struck a pose and froze in place. No one moved for a couple of minutes until Xidorn coughed and left.
/
Outside, Cynthia smashed watermelons as Weston watched.
"You're really beautiful when you're maiming stuff," Weston swooned.
"Thanks," Cynthia replied as she smashed another watermelon. "This is was a fun thing for us to do."
Weston giggled and fell back on the wall.
"Why aren't you hanging out with your brother?" Cynthia asked.
"Oh," Weston said. "Its kind of a long story, you don't want hear it."
"I asked," Cynthia stated.
"Basically he doesn't want me as a brother," Weston replied. "He thinks I'm a burden and an idiot…which I might be."
"You are what you believe you are," Cynthia stated.
"True," Weston said. "I came here to be closer with him, but now I know what he really thinks of me. I know I shouldn't be so upset. I'm no better. I've always been secretly jealous of him. I feel like everyone knew he was the older twin, the smarter twin; it's not Weston, but Easton and Weston in that order. I feel like everyone thinks I'm not as good as him and I feel like I need him to be…something. I still loved him though…"
"You should think about your future," Cynthia said.
"Yeah," Weston sighed.
"You seem to be doing fine right now," Cynthia stated.
"I am, aren't I?" Weston asked.
"You two needed some time apart," Cynthia said. "And still do."
"I think you're right," Weston said. "You know you're a really good listener Cynthia."
"I get that a lot," Cynthia replied.
/
Later that night, Pascal was pulling up rugs. "If it's not in the plants, the flash drive could be in the floorboards…"
"Pascal…again?"
Pascal turned to see Seraphina standing behind him.
"Uh…oh my goodness!" Pascal stated. "Seraphina, you look great for two in the morning! Still can't sleep, huh?"
"Yeah," Seraphina replied. "And you lost your contacts again…under a rug?"
"Uh…yup," Pascal replied. "I was cleaning the carpet earlier."
"You were cleaning the carpet in a hotel?" Seraphina asked. "Where there are maids?"
"It's um…part of a new dancing routine," Pascal stated. "You know how music videos have nothing to with the song but you gotta do something…anyway, you ready for the next challenge?"
"As long as it doesn't involve aliens," Seraphina stated. "At least I got Xidorn an autograph from that Invader."
"A shame you got locked in that warehouse," Pascal stated. "Maybe if you weren't trapped you wouldn't have gotten captured."
Seraphina frowned. "I wasn't trapped, I was released… I never told anybody about getting locked in."
"I overheard the interns mention it," Pascal replied, as he stood up and turned. "Anyhow, I found my contacts. Have the sweetest of dreams tonight Seraphina…"
"…while you can," Pascal stated. "Because you won't be sleeping here much longer. As soon as I have an excuse to vote you off, I will! You'll slip up and I'll be ready…"
"Pascal?" Seraphina said. "Yeah no, **** that guy to the ninth circle of heck, he's the worst. I knew from the first moment I saw him he was fake! He's a two-faced rat, plain and simple. Sooner or later, he'll screw himself over. I just don't know if I have time to wait for that…"
The next day, Melissa was baking in the kitchen as some of her teammates ate her treats. Another ding went off in the kitchen. Melissa pulled out chocolate cakes.
"Ooh goody I've been hankering for chocolate cakes," Vance said.
"These are for another charity," Melissa stated. "I'm helping a orphanage of deaf children form a chorus for a fundraiser. That way they can accomplish two dreams; becoming a singer and becoming a member of a family."
"Durn," Vance sighed.
"I'll help you pack up Melissa," Aiden said. "We wouldn't want to be late."
"What do you do to make your sweets so…uh, sweet?" Xidorn asked. "Do you have a secret formula?"
"Oh, I don't like to keep secrets," Melissa replied. "Sharing is caring after all. I don't know if I have a trick…I usually just think of my favorite things and sing about them; I could sing about them right now."
"Well," Hayden said, "you don't have to-"
"-La, la, la, la, la," Melissa sang. "Ohhhhh….
l like puppies and baby cats,
and their bellies' warmness,
raising awareness about fruit bats,
and a joyful chorus!
Oh I love our beautiful universe,
I could sing about it verse after verse!"
"Please don't," Vance said.
Melissa twirled and jumped onto the counter.
"Oh, I like each sneezing panda bear
the sound of bluebirds' notes,
when a kids learns to share
and riding in row boats!
I like giving old people sponge baths,
Making friendship bracelets,
hiking down nature's paths
and giving tips to each waitress!
Oh I love our beautiful universe,
I could sing about it verse after verse!
I like flowers, colors and the sun,
I like smiles, animals and children having fun!
Yes I think of all this and more when I bake,
But there is one secret ingredient in every pastry and cake,
To everything else my ingredient is above!
My secret ingredient is always…"
"Drugs?" Vance suggested.
"Love," Melissa sang in a crescendo.
Hayden nudged Aiden, who clapped for her along with Cynthia. Weston and Kalino simultaneously sighed as they looked at Cynthia and Frannie respectively.
"Well, we better get going to the fundraiser," Melissa stated. "We'll be back for the challenge tonight. Ooh, let me grab the dolls I bought them. Be right back Aiden."
"So," Hayden whispered. "How are you and Melissa? Still okay?"
"Just peachy," Aiden replied. "She's actually been teaching me about the Quran. It's pretty interesting; I don't understand or believe everything in it. There are a lot of differences but there are similarities."
"When are you going to ask?" Hayden said.
"Ask what?" Aiden said.
"You know," Hayden whispered. "Ask her out!"
"Out where?" Aiden said. "Why would I want her out?"
"On a date!" Hayden shouted.
Aiden blushed redder than his shirt. "Ohh...can I do that?"
"You like her don't you?" Hayden asked.
"I think I do," Aiden admitted. "I mean Melissa is the most amazing person I've ever met in the whole world."
"That qualifies as liking someone," Cynthia stated.
I'm just saying you should ask her," Hayden said.
"I finally found them!" Melissa shouted. "Would you get the cakes Aiden?"
"Gladly," Aiden replied.
/
At the same time, Riley and Griswold were playing foosball in the game room.
"When did we get this game room?" Griswold asked.
"Someone found a secret switch to it in the wolf's head mounted on the wall," Riley replied. "Right next to the wax figurine who keeps changing poses. Listen dude, we got to have some real talk right now."
"Dude is it my breath?" Griswold asked.
"Nah smells minty fresh from here son," Riley said. "It's about you and Lita."
At that, the Griswold accidentally shot the foosball off the table, bounced it against the wall and landed it into his pompadour.
"Is it that obvious?" Griswold asked.
Riley nodded. "For real, as obvious as chili on cheese. Except maybe to Lita. So, you going to go for it?"
"I don't know man," the lineman replied. "I'm not sure I actually have a chance with her. I mean she's out of this world."
"Whoa there astbronaut," Riley stated. "The only thing that will stop you is not having confidence, you feel me? You're a beast man! You have a chance."
"Eh, I have a bad habit of talking to girls I'm attracted to," Griswald admitted. "I start saying gibberish and muttering and stuttering and-"
Riley grabbed Griswald's face and looked him straight in the eyes. "Bro… confidence. I think she likes you; she has no reason not to, you're the coolest guy here! You aren't going to feel any better saying nothing!"
"You're right," Griswald stated. "Thanks Riley, you're freaking awesome."
"Duh," Riley laughed. "Now get the ball out of your poof so I can beat you again."
"I've seen my brothers go through a lot of broken hearts," Riley stated. "So I know a thing or two about romance, not to mention having been in relationships myself. I'm there when a bro needs a push in the right direction."
"Another poem by another artist lost in the muddled mess that is the nature of reality," Zipporah stated.
"Dear world,
Is it you?
Or is it them?
Who is the origin of sin?
Me?
I blame my loser parents."
Later, the contestants gathered inside the cafeteria for the next challenge.
"Welcome contestants," Rhonda said. "Today's challenge was going to take place outside but…"
Rhonda turned on a television, where a reporter was on the streets in front of burning buildings.
"Authorities are encouraging all citizens of Washington D.C., to stay inside and avoid this incident. Reports suggest that this fire was the result of a car crash caused by a loose horse that has been reeking havoc all acr-"
A thrown chair destroyed the screen. Everyone looked to Vance, who hid behind Melissa.
"In any case," Rhonda stated. "Today's new challenge will be showcasing the diversity found in the states of the United States…"
In a puff of smoke two tables appeared. Each table had covered silver trays, with a red table cloth for the left table and a blue table cloth for the right table.
"I hope you're hungry," Rhonda giggled, "because we've prepared a feast for all of you! Jenny, Toby, what is on the menu tonight?"
Jenny and Toby popped up wearing chef hats.
"I'm glad you asked," Jenny replied. "We have fried alligator on a stick, Californian chocolate covered scorpions, cornmeal pudding, Alaskan reindeer hotdogs, New Jersey tomato pie, Texan deep fried rattlesnakes, ghost pepper buffalo wings, smoked black bear, deep fried butter, aussie cheese fries, pickled pigs feet, and rocky mountain oysters…"
"I love shellfish," Ness whispered. "I'll eat those."
"Do you love deep fried gonads?" Zipporah asked. "Because that's what rocky mountain oysters are."
"Specifically bull gonads," Jenny stated. "And an old favorite…a single strand of black licorice!"
The contestants gasp in horror.
"Have you no mercy or kindness in your soul?" Hayden asked.
"She doesn't," Toby clarified.
"First to finish their entire feast wins," Rhonda stated. "Anyone who throws up is out of the challenge. Now, get chowing!"
The contestants all stared to grab food. Melissa eyed the feast nervously.
"I knew with my weak stomach I wouldn't be able to contribute much," Melissa sighed. "But I had to help anyway I could. I felt so awful thinking any of my teammates would have to eat it, so…"
Melissa grabbed the black licorice and held it in the air above her.
"No!" Aiden gasped.
"Melissa you've got so much to live for!" Hayden stated.
"Melissa please don't," Aiden said, "I never even told you that I think I…"
Melissa forced the licorice down. "Huh, what did you-"
Melissa gagged and ran away to the trashcan where she started to vomit. The other Eagles saluted her for her sacrifice before continuing to feast.
Frannie coughed violently as she tried to eat a ghost pepper wing. "And I thought I was hot stuff. How can anyone eat these things?"
/
At the Fireworks table, Riley licked her fingers. "I feel like wings should be classified as soul food. Need any help with that smoked bear Gris Bear?"
"Maybe," Griswold replied. "This kind of feels like cannibalism."
Zipporah nibbled on a chocolate scorpion. "A beautiful, poisonous creature turned into a sweet treat; an epitome of everything wrong with the world."
/
Back at the Eagles table, Cynthia began to eat the rocky mountain oysters. Weston joined in. Weston struggled while Cynthia didn't even react.
"This isn't what I had in mind when I said I wanted dinner with Cynthia," Weston said.
Vance dipped the fried butter stick into the cornmeal pudding and swallowed it whole.
"Psh this ain't nothing," Vance said trying not to gag. "I eat country and fair food like this all the-"
Vance threw up over his white pants and dashed off, muttering about having had a big breakfast.
"More for me than," Kalino stated, throwing the fries into the cornmeal pudding and ate it with his hands.
/
At the Fireworks, Lita finished the aussie fries and gasped as she saw Ness take the black licorice.
"Ness honey, don't do it!" Lita screamed. "Don't be a hero, there has to be another way!"
Ness shrugged and swallowed the licorice.
The Fireworks clapped while Lita placed her hand against the Jinx's forehead. "No fever…your stomach feeling okay? Is there any swelling anywhere?"
"Am I the only person who likes black licorice?" Ness asked. "Seriously, its pretty tasty."
Kalino finished off the ghost pepper wings for Frannie, who tried her best to eat a reindeer hotdog.
"I'm sorry Santa," Frannie stated. "Please don't give me coal."
/
Meanwhile, Seraphina shrugged as she ate her reindeer hotdog. "Meh, I'm Jewish anyway."
"That meat isn't kosher though, right?" Griswold asked.
"I'm not very good at being Jewish," Seraphina added.
"So…whose eating the uh 'oysters'?" Pascal asked.
Ness gulped. "I did say I'd try them earlier…so why not?"
Ness grabbed one of several and inched it towards her mouth.
"You're not eating those family jewels alone!" Griswold stated as he put one in his mouth. "Mmm…not bad actually."
Ness nodded and she chewed hers. "Could use a little sauce though."
/
At the Eagles, Xidorn had almost eaten the chocolate scorpions while Hayden finished the smoked black bear.
"I've actually hunted black bear before," Hayden said. "Deer too. My little sister Bambi actually bagged her first buck last deer season…"
Weston and Cynthia both reached for the last rocky mountain oyster. Weston blushed as their hands touched and drew back. Leaning over, Weston nudged it to her with his face.
Cynthia raised an eyebrow.
"Um…err…do you…I can…" Weston muttered before jolting up, accidentally knocking a fork into his arm. "Filho da ****!"
"You alright there Weston?" Xidorn asked with mouth full of scorpion.
Weston pulled out the fork. "Yes, just startled more then anything. This wild fork appeared out of nowhere!"
Xidorn eyes grew wide. "You sure? The bleeding suggests otherwise."
Weston turned around to see blood spewing out of his arm.
"It's like a fountain of blood," Cynthia said as she ran her hands through it.
"Oh yeah, I tend to bleed a lot," Weston admitted. "But it really tingles more than anything."
/
"It looks like both teams are almost done," Rhonda announced. "Who will win the challenge? Who will scarf and who will barf? Who will-"
"-Done," Kalino interrupted, having chugged the whole jar of pickled pigs feet.
Rhonda stared. "Well. In that case, it looks like…The Molting Eagles win. Congrats I guess. See you at elimination Fireworks."
The Eagles cheered while the Fireworks sighed.
"These are addicting," Riley stated, eating a chocolate scorpion.
"You do know the challenge is over?" Griswold asked.
"Yeah," Riley replied, eating another scorpion. "It's rude to let food go to waste though. You want one?"
Griswold's stomach moaned. "I'll pass, I think I had too many gonads…"
"We did it Melissa!" Aiden cheered.
Melissa held thumbs up as she continued to retch.
"It was seeing Melissa throwing up in that trashcan when I realized I loved her," Aiden stated. "I knew what I had to do."
That night, Melissa was sweeping the kitchen when Aiden walked in.
"You still feeling fine?" Aiden asked. "That poison isn't having any more effect on you, is it?"
"I'm feeling like sunshine," Melissa said. "Thanks for checking on me though."
"You were really something," Aiden said, "making that sacrifice for the team. A real hero."
"I wouldn't go that far," Melissa said.
"I would," Aiden said. "I'd tell everyone what a hero you are Melissa; a person like you comes around only once in a lifetime. I'm glad I meet you."
"I was thinking the same about you," Melissa admitted. "Anyways, I should-"
"-I really like you," Aiden said.
Melissa dropped her broom. "Really?"
"Yes," Aiden replied. "Do you want to...go on a date?"
"Yes. Yes! I'd love to!"
Melissa glomped Aiden who joined in laughing, holding her up and turning her around.
"I really like you too," Melissa replied.
"Huh," Aiden said. "That was easier than I thought it would be. Why doesn't everyone do that?"
At the same time the Fireworks gathered at the Haunted Internet Café Ceremony.
"Whelp, that's three strikes against you Fireworks," Rhonda stated. "And somebody's out!"
Seriously though," Jenny said. "You guys have been sucking lately."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Seraphina sighed.
"I have eight cups of jalapeno coconut flavored coffee," Rhonda said. "This stuff expired a few days ago, but somebody bought it, so we're using it! The first cup goes to Riley."
Riley, still eating chocolate scorpions, caught her cup and dunked a scorpion inside. "Meh, not bad."
"The next cups go to Easton…Lita and…Pascal."
The three caught their cups, with Pascal pouring his out in a near plant, which immediately shriveled up and died.
"Ness, Seraphina and Griswold."
The three caught their cups.
"And the last coffee cup goes to…"
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
"…Ignacio. Zipporah, you're done."
"What!" Zipporah yelled. "Why the hell did you vote me off? I didn't do anything!"
"That's kind of why," Ignacio said.
"I did the challenges," Zipporah retorted.
"Yeah but everyone else tries in them too," Lita replied. "Its more because...well..."
"Because of your attitude," Griswold clarified. "You're always making negative or sarcastic comments. It brings everybody down and we need positive attitudes to stay winning."
"To be honest I didn't think you wanted to be here," Ness admitted. "You always act like you don't. You complain about the show."
"We want to," Griswold said. "We like being part of a team. You don't. You never come to meetings, or parties or even eat with us. You act like you don't like us or this team."
"I don't think I've even had a conversation with you," Easton said.
"I don't actually know your name," Pascal admitted. "I think its like Estrella or Lana or something."
"Sorry Z," Riley spoke up, looking away. "It was a tough call and I didn't want to vote out a pal…but I'm not positive we're pals."
Zipporah sighed. "Whatever. I totally don't care, I mean this show is super mainstream so I guess its good I'm leaving and stuff."
"Then leave already!" Jenny yelled.
Zipporah stomped out the Revolving Doors of Shame.
The Fireworks started to leave. Lita stood up but felt an arm on her shoulder. She turned to see it was Griswold.
"Uh…uh…uh…eeek! eeek! eeek!"
"Are you making dolphin calls?" Lita asked.
"Can Gris Bear talk to you in private for a sec?" Riley translated as she walked away.
"Sure Griswold," Lita replied. "What's up honey?"
Griswold gulped as he noticed Lita and him were the only ones in the room. "Um well…you…your..."
/
Zipporah boarded the Public Transportation of Losers and sulked her way to the back and slumped in the last seat.
"Who cares I was voted out?" Zipporah whispered. "I don't. It's not like I was enjoying the hotel or having a good time or anything. I wasn't."
Zipporah shuffled in her seat and looked out of the window. "I mean, I guess could've tried to make friends while I was there. Maybe that would've been nice. Whatever…"
The bus doors closed as the bus drove away to parts unknown in the world…
Author's Note
First off, an apology that it took a few weeks between this and last chapter. Life got hectic. During this pandemic it feels like I'm living months in weeks. Right now I feel like it's been a year since I updated this. I hope to get back a more regular updating schedule or at least more frequently. On another note, I've graduated college!
As for the chapter itself. This is actually the shortest Genesis chapter in the story. We'll be hitting longer chapters soon, but I hope no feels short changed by this one. I admit I feel like not a lot is happening, but it is the start of several new stories for a lot of characters. The challenge is a bit short, but honestly? I liked this chapter more than I remembered. It was mostly comedy, but that's refreshing right now.
It's also a swan song for Zipporah. She was never meant to compete long in this fic, but she proved to be fun to write for. My understanding is that she was rather popular with readers for an earlier boot too. She definitely got some extra scenes just because she was leaving.
If you have any thoughts on anything so far, please feel free to comment. Till next chapter.
Appendix: Elimination History
Bethany (Eagles)- 22nd
Diamonique (Eagles)- 21st
Casper (Fireworks)- 20th
Tessa (Fireworks)- 19th
Zipporah (Fireworks)- 18th