A/N: Here we have one of the first huge changes in this alternate timeline. For the better I think.
The ride to our next destination was painful. After being in first class, economy looked even worse than it otherwise would have. I promise I will never complain about normal economy class again.
Team victory was subdued on the ride over. It seemed none of them had really wanted Harold to leave. Something had convinced the geek to forfeit. The logical part of my brain said they were stupid. This was a reality show, if they were going to win they would have to make sacrifices. My emphatic side agreed with them. Losing a team member must be hard if they weren't unlikable.
On the trip over I read mostly, occasionally sneaking glances at Noah and considering whether to strike up a conversation. As per usual, my neurosis prevented me from doing so. Eventually Alejandro began a conversation with me and I had a good time talking to him. Why couldn't Noah be like that?
Alejandro and I were just debating whether H.P. Lovecraft was enjoyable as literature, he seemed put off by the existential dread whilst I enjoyed examining it, when Chris entered the area.
"Aaaand how is everyone back here?" Chris asked as he stepped in through the curtain. "That is what I would ask if I cared. Coming through, make way," The host said, in spite of the fact no one was in his way.
"Where are you taking us next?" Lashawna asked. "Can it please be some place where there's no pinball of any kind?"
"Or Pandas." DJ noted.
"Or candied fishtails." Noah added irately.
"Or being sucked out of the plane." I added.
"Our next destination is everything you've just asked for," Chris announced.
A short while afterwards we hit turbulence. Lashawna bumped into the ceiling while Bridgette prayed. Our team managed to buckle ourselves in quickly save Noah whose restraints broke. I wrapped my arms around him in an attempt to ground him.
Eventually the plane stopped and DJ opened the door. He halted causing a chain reaction that culminated in a pile of bodies. I noted it was snow and was thankful I had tied my jacket around my waist. It was only happenstance, but perhaps it would be best to do it as a precaution.
Later we were all lined up in front of yet another finish flag. I was okay, still a bit cold, but everyone else was freezing save Chris who was wearing a thick jacket. He then told everyone he'd ordered jackets, but I knew Chris too well to fall for it. Sure enough he snatched the other's hopes away as quickly as he'd raised them.
"M-maybe we should huddle for warmth?" Courtney suggested. Immediately Cody moved to cuddle Gwen. Which was presumptuous of him, but Gwen seemed to have it in hand. As if to prove me right, the goth pushed him away, and Sierra hugged him instead. Izzy, Lashawna, and Lindsay all cuddled Alejandro. Noah tried to cuddle Bridgette but she rebuffed him. Then Owen tried to cuddle with him and I ran over hurriedly.
"Owen you're asphyxiating him!" I told him. He looked at me blankly. "You're cutting off his airflow!" Still no reaction. "He can't breathe!" This he understood immediately letting go of Noah. He gave me a grateful look.
Chris drank a hot chocolate in front of us, just his usual vindictiveness. Owen asked if he was going to finish it unaware that Chris would rather pour it onto the ground then let us have it. Then Sierra started being creepy again."Of course he is. It's Chris' favorite drink."
"Wrong," the host corrected, "my-"
"Second only to tomato juice," Sierra cut him off.
"That's not on the fan site- How'd you-" Chris stammered looking concerned.
"I went to your high school and interviewed all your old teachers for the unauthorized biography I'm writing. They said-" Chris covered her mouth much to my relief. I didn't want to think about everything Sierra probably knew about him.
Our objective was straightforward. First we were to leap from ice floe to ice floe in order to cross a river. Once we reached the opposite shore, first to arrive would be pulling one of three sleds. After that they would wait until the second member was across and begin down a marked path, picking up the remaining team member at way points. First team to bring all members across would win.
As I said, the challenge was straightforward. That doesn't mean easy. Compared to the challenges I helped set up, this one was far more dangerous. I guess Chris thought the waning ratings of TDA were due to the challenges.
After Chris explained the challenge I noticed Gwen talking to Bridgette, curious, but not wanting to be intrusive, I stepped just within earshot. "Bridgette I'm going with you." Gwen was saying.
"Wouldn't it be faster if we split up?" The blonde asked.
"Yes, but I don't care. Alejandro's been flirting with you. He knows you have a boyfriend and based on your reaction to Noah, I'm assuming you know too." Gwen told her.
"Well, yes but I'm totally not into him." Gwen raised an eyebrow at this. "Okay, but I would never-"
"I know you wouldn't do it on purpose." Gwen said. "But on the off chance it did happen, I don't want you to go through what I did last season."
"Yeah, I admit I might have judged you too harshly, I just liked you with Trent." Bridgette apologized. "Alright let's go together."
I hadn't really thought about that. Alejandro was naturally flirty so I just assumed he meant nothing by it. Maybe I should say something. Before I could do anything, the challenge began.
As I jumped from ice floe to ice floe, I noted Izzy jumping across with ease. Shortly after I spotted Noah planting face first into an ice floe. I winced, then Owen went to help him, inadvertently catapulting him head first into the snow. I wanted to go help him but I was already halfway across. By the time I reached him he'd have freed himself, and I'd have lost precious time.
I was so distracted by this inner fight that I lost my balance. Just as I was about to fall into the river, a firm tan hand gripped mine. Alejandro helped me get my bearings. "T-thanks." I managed to stutter. I knew I was blushing.
"Anything for you." He told me, flashing his perfect smile. Together we finished crossing the river and began making our way to the nearest way point. On the way I decided to bring up my concerns.
"Alejandro you know Bridgette has a boyfriend right?" I asked him.
"Yes, why?" He replied.
"You've been flirting with her."
"I have? I was only trying to be nice. I assure you any flirting on my part was unintentional." He told me. So it was force of habit.
"I see, could you try to be more careful?"
"I'll try, if you see me slip into flirtation let me know. I will stop." He said, his eyes shining with sincerity.
Pleased with this compromise, we began to talk of less serious matters. Such as whether Romeo and Juliet was a tragedy or a tragic love story. At least he acknowledged it was a tragedy. Still we argued over whether their feelings were genuine affection or just infatuation. Alejandro believed it was the former. I supposed when women were all smitten with you it was easy to get confused. Eventually we reached the way point and got on the sled.
When we went to pick up Owen he was slumped against the pole, clearly out of energy. "What's the matter big O?" Izzy asked him.
Owen stepped onto the sled. "I haven't eaten in hours. I wish we were in Russia right now. They're building the world's largest cake."
"Oh what flavor?" the ginger exclaimed.
"Who cares it's cake!"
At this point Noah looked annoyed and I kind of agreed with him. "Okay Tyler time to get moving." He told the jock.
"I am moving!" Tyler replied, He did look like he was running, but we weren't going anywhere.
"No you're miming."
"It's my court shoes! They're no good on ice! If the contest was pulling a sled across a volleyball court, we would have already won!"
"A low friction environment would make moving difficult in athletic shoes." I frowned. Just then Team warriors passed us. Heather was whipping Courtney
Slowly we made out way down the track. Eventually we made it an ice bridge. That was when Owen's digestive track decided to act up. "Dude get moving already!" As Owen pleaded he began to move, the way one does when they feel immense bladder pressure. "I need to hit a john or another river fast!"
Unfortunately the blonde's weight and movement caused the ice bridge beneath us to crack. We slid into the void but Tyler somehow managed to hold onto the cliff. Everyone climbed up the rope attached to the sled, moving over the jock as we climbed out. "I apologize for the inconvenience!" I said as I did so.
After that Tyler used his amazing up body strength to pull the sled out of gorge. The momentum caused us to fly across the ice. We all got on the sled quickly. Poor Tyler dragged behind us. We were headed down the final mountain and great speed, with the other two teams just ahead of us.
"Owen lean forward!" Noah called, realizing his plan I joined in.
"Use your weight!" I cheered. The blonde did so and we passed the finish line just behind Team Victory. Of course Chris pointed out they didn't have all their members. As it turned out walking was slower than sledding, thus Bridgette and Gwen had yet to arrive.
We got first class again, but I was curious. So I snuck back to see who had been voted off. DJ was gone. I smiled, maybe his animal curse would go away now. I turned to go back to first class when I ran into Alejandro. "O-oh Alejandro, I didn't see you there."
"Forgive me Quill, I didn't mean to scare you. I was just wondering if you wished to join me on the massage chairs?" he asked,
"U-um...sure I guess." It wasn't like Noah would talk to me anyway.
A/N: I really do think Bridgette would have been too late regardless. I had DJ get voted off, because honestly the best thing for him is to get away from his animal curse.