A/N: Wow these are easy and fun to write! Okay time for part two of Egypt. This chapter had less changes overall.
When I returned from my confessional I noted the presence of three circular rugs on the sand. Upon each stood our prizes and each presumably matched the respecting team's insignia. I heard Harold complain about VIctory's rug being yellow and then Lashawna informinaing it was gold. Afterwards Izzy and Sierra struck up a conversation, something about couples, but I wasn't paying attention.
I was too busy trying to think of the best way to talk to Noah. I knew we were both biblophiles so I figured we could talk about books. Then I started to second guess myself. Did I know what genre of book Noah would like? There were so many it could be, mystery, horror, fantasy, adventure, romance… maybe not that last one. Even if I should stumble onto the right genre, what sub genre did he like?
"Penny for your thoughts Quill?" Alejandro asked.
I sighed. "I'm trying to figure out what to talk about with Noah. We both like books but what's his favorite genre? Does he like mainstream books or niche? Does he prefer paperback or hardcover? What characters-" Alejandro placed a finger on my mouth to stop me. I realized I was rambling.
"You're overthinking it. If you want to know these things why do you not ask him?" He questioned.
"Noah's pretty secretive, I don't wanna pry." I admitted.
"Quill if he rebukes your advances he has poor taste." He drew closer to me. "I would never turn down the friendship of a lovely lady like you."
I was sure my face was as red as a ripened strawberry. I was saved from my embarrassment by Chris explaining our challenge. He said we'd be in a camel race to the nile. When inquired about other camels he responded that there were none. It was a camel race, not a camels race. I admit to being disappointed but not surprised. I had worked with Chris for over a year, so I knew what he was like.
Team Warriors was climbing on their camel. Ezekiel had grabbed onto one of its front legs. Izzy sat at the neck, followed by Heather, Duncan and Courtney. Cody had the misfortune of sitting under the camel's derriere.
Meanwhile Alejandro had decided to give us a pep talk. "We need no camel! We have each other, and we are unstoppable! We have the will, and the strength, and together we will triumph!"
"Yeah!" Owen said
"Yeah!" Tyler repeated.
"I-If you say so.." I trailed.
"All right!" Noah responded, rubbing his hands together. I did a double take at this. Noah was hardly ever that excited. So either Alejandro was just that good at encouragement or he was trying to avoid being voted out first.
We began to clamber onto the goat. While I waited for my turn to get on, Alejandro was arranging us, I noticed Harold waving the stick his team had gained as a prize. He nearly poked someone's eye out causing DJ to take it from his possession. Unfortunately as he threw the stick away he hit a bird. Knowing how much DJ loved animals I winced.
Eventually it was my turn and I began to wonder if Alejandro was doing this right. Noah and Tyler sat on the goat. Sierra sat on Noah's shoulders and Owen sat on Tyler which had to be crushing the poor guy. I climb into my spot, placing my feet on Noah and Tyler's shoulders and standing to place my hands on Owen and Sierra's shoulders. We were still wobbly.
"This is so cool Alehandout! Or Alekazam, " Owen laughed. I was a little offended on Alejandro's behalf but I couldn't really blame Owen for not being able to pronounce a forgin name. "Eh, I'm just gonna call you Al! Woo go Al!" Alejandro was frowning.
"Yeah this is gonna work." Noah snarked.
"It could but you'd need to be good at doing complex math in your head. You'd also need to be good at estimating everyone's weight." I explained.
"Have faith Noah. Belief in us." Alejandro told him before leaping on top of the pile. Instantly we balanced. Noah's eyes were wide with surprise, matching my own face I guess.
"We're perfectly balanced!" Tyler exclaimed.
"Okay color me impressed." Noah admitted.
"Indeed. That was an excellent estimation." I gasped.
Chris pointed towards the Nile calling it big and blueish, and saying we couldn't miss it. "Or I guess you can, but then you'll die. Prob'ly get killed by the local scarab beetles. It's mating season and they get all...killy...when they're in heat."
Lashawna approached Chris, which I could have told her was a big mistake. "I am glad there aren't any out here. Those things are nasty!"
"I'll tell them you said so." With that Chef knocked over a large vase that had been next to the two. Immediately a swarm of scarab beetles crawled towards us. They crawled onto an intern Chris was standing on and began to devour him. I wasn't really surprised. Chris always treated us like we were expendable.
Lindsay attempted to use the stick to fly while everyone else panicked. Then a familiar bell went off. It was time to sing. We began to sing a song about scarabs mating in an attempt to get them to leave us be. I joined in during the chorus. Though I admit to singing the male part.
"It's lovin' time!" The boys and I sang.
"Lovin' time Lovin' time!" The girls added.
"Scarab mating season!" We all sang. After that the refrain repeated.
Then Ezekiel killed the harmony and we all had to run off. Some time later we were heading through the desert, Team Warriors was ahead of us. I still thought we had a chance though. They didn't seem to get along well.
"Come on, come camel faster!" Courtney tried to coerce the beast.
"That's not how you talk to a camel!" Heather argued. "Freakin move it!"
"That's so much better." Duncan snarked.
"Guys keep it down! I'm trying to tell him a fairy tale." Izzy said, this was followed by a series of inane grunts and the word princess.
Of course Heather couldn't help but trash talk. "We're gonna go win the race now. See ya!" she said, blowing a raspberry.
"Eat sand losers!" Courtney joined in.
Alejandro had a comeback of his own though. "Such witty remarks from such fiercely intelligent women! I am both humbled and intrigued."
Duncan glared back at him. "Flirt with my girl again and I'll beat you."
"What a shame it is that you should give yourself to someone so controlling, who doesn't let you be yourself." He told the delinquent.
"But that- she doesn't-, whatever!" Duncan stumbled.
Honestly I didn't have a problem with this tactic. After all Alejandro wasn't treating Courtney any differently than any other girl. Also someone needed to point out how controlling Courtney was, from what Noah had told me.
Apparently Alejandro had seen the Nile as he called down that he was changing our route. A short time later we arrived at the world's longest waterway. "There's the finish line!" Tyler exclaimed. '
"Yeah on the other side!" Noah groaned.
Chris said something but none of us could hear him. Owen asked him to speak up, but we still didn't get it. Eventually Chris pulled out a huge megaphone and explained our challenge. "I said welcome to the third and final Egyptian challenge!" The force was enough to shake me. "Basket cases! Each team must weave a basket of river reeds. Including your reward from last challenge, aka goat face over there."
"Hey!" Tyler exclaimed.
"I believe he meant the goat." Alejandro said Tyler quickly calmed.
"Then you're gonna use the basket together with those oars to row yourself across the finish line. First team across flies first class to our next destination."
Sierra seemed ecstatic. "This is perfect!"
"What, the fact that we're hosed?" Noah snarked.
"I'm a fourth generation basket weaver!" she replied.
"How does that help exactly? Unless you were taught by someone from the previous generation you still won't know how to weave." I pointed out.
"Don't worry about that!" she exclaimed. "We're gonna need a lot of reeds." She remarked. She began to pick some and I shrugged. May as well help out.
Some time later team Warriors arrived. Sierra and Izzy started chatting and the next thing I knew they had decided to swap teams. Alejandro was clearly upset with this as was I. For a different reason from him. I didn't want that fangirl anywhere near Cody.
"Where's Chris he won't allow this!" Alejandro said.
Chris approached on a boat. Sierra hugged his legs. "Today is the best day of my life so I really hope you let us swap. Of course you'll make the best decision cause you're the best decider ever!" Chris let her swap.
Everyone complained when Sierra wove together a boat for the Warriors. Though Alejandro was great at getting our spirits back up. "Don't give up, we still have a shot!"
"Al's right!" Owen exclaimed. "Thanks Al." I noticed him shudder. Team Victory finally arrived. Heather asked Izzy if she could get the camel to move. Noah stopped her thankfully.
Eventually we finished the boat Alejandro was going to hold the goat but I asked if I could since he'd be better at rowing. He entrusted the goat with me. We began to row off. Heather complained. "This is so unfair! If it wasn't for that stupid swap we'd be halfway across the Nile by now!"
"If it wasn't for the swap you wouldn't have a boat!" I retorted.
"We're gonna win fair and square, but to make sure you believe that, talk to the camel." Alejandro told Izzy.
I couldn't believe that. Seriously? She talked to the camel . Once we were all on the Nile Chris gave us a reprise. We all sang about not wanting to be eaten by crocodiles and how we had to row to get away from them. Luckily I was right about Alejandro being good at rowing so we reached the bank just ahead of the Warriors. I took the opportunity. "Til team Chris wins!"
"Congrats! You're alive, and as long as you all brought your rewards to the finish line, there will be no elimination tonight!" Chris told us. No one had lost their prize so we all got to stay.
In first class I sighed in thought. "I'm all for fair play but seriously? If I hadn't carried the goat so Alejandro could row, we'd have lost because of him"
"Yeah I had problems with that too." I blinked as I realized I'd said my thoughts out loud and Noah had heard me.
"D-don't get me w-wrong. I still l-like him, but he can be too nice, you know?"
"Whatever. I'm just glad I'm not the only sane one on this team." He told me.
I smiled. "Coming from you, that's a compliment."
A/N So a few notes. First off no one went home because no one lost their prize . DJ still has his animal curse. I don't want Quill to be a fix all, since she wasn't involved in the event, nothing changed. Sure Gwen was there, but I figure she was too late to warn DJ.
Finally team Chris wins. I think they should have won canonically. They were ahead the entire challenge, and started rowing before team Amazon but team Amazon wins? Just more proof of the writer's bias for that team. I couldn't just have them win though, so I had Quill carry the goat, which left Alejandro free to row. The guy is really strong so it makes sense to me. That said if you think I went too far, let me know.