Part 4
I've got a good tribe. Everyone works, does their part. Lucinda can't really do much physically, though. I think she'll be the first to go, or possibly Ali. Though I might want to keep her around. Both she and Maddie have a thing for Casey, and I can see that working to my benefit in the future. I can play them off each other.
My game plan? Play it slow in the beginning. Let everyone think I'm their friend- then crush them all.
~Molly, News Anchor
Luke gets back from Exile Island feeling both completely drained and utterly alive. He's glad to be back at camp where a fire is roaring and Ali appears to be cooking some type of fish. His mouth fills with saliva the moment he smells it. He and Reid hadn't been able to get a fire going without flint, and the two of them had spent a miserable night being eaten alive by bugs.
But at least we came up with a sound strategy for this thing. Luke tries to think positively. The plan is for Reid return to his camp and Luke to his, and for the two of them to start asking about family members and such. The goal is to figure out who knows who, and to break them apart. Because having a sure-thing in this game is a major advantage. From watching previous seasons, Luke knows that Survivor and sure things are polar opposites.
They also decided that it's vital to keep everyone else from finding out about the idol and information for as long as possible. Easier said than done, Luke thinks.
The second he sits down at the fire Maddie asks, "So, did you find it?" She doesn't have to specify, Luke knows exactly what she's talking about. Apparently, so does everyone else, because as soon as the words are spoken all eyes are on Luke.
Luke hunches his shoulders and tries to appear sincere. "No," he says morosely. "It was awful. The first clue only lead to another clue, and after that it was impossible to find the second clue."
"Do you think Reid found it?" Noah asks. He looks at Luke worriedly, and a twinge of guilt flutters through Luke's heart.
Luke forcefully pushes the feeling away, "No. We kept each other in sight the whole time." He drops and shakes his head. "Let me tell you, I hope that jackass is voted off first. Besides never leaving me alone, the only time he opened his mouth to speak was to tell me how smart and wonderful he was. I wanted to kill him."
Brian nods. "He does appear to be a bit conceited."
"That's stating it mildly," Luke replies. He rubs his temples and looks hopefully at Ali. She smiles and hands him a stick with a slab of cooked fish. It burns his tongue at the first bite, but he's so hungry he ignores the hurt. "It was possibly the worst night of my life," Luke says after the whole piece is gone. A charcoal aftertaste swirls in his mouth and he looks around until he spots a water canteen.
Brian lightly cuffs his shoulder and chuckles. "Well, you're back with us, and none of us are going home today." The older man's words send a round a smiles around the group.
"I think we should celebrate by trying to search for more food while our energy is up," Molly says.
Luke's still hurting from yesterday's challenge and his stomach isn't satisfied with his little fish. His energy is in no way up. Better get used to it, he told himself.
"Boy, that sounds fun," Ali says with a little laugh, but she's already standing and wiping her hands on her tiny shorts.
Maddie reaches forward and adds a piece of wood to the fire. "We need more wood too," she says. She follows Ali's lead and stands. A sliver of her tanned, flat stomach flashes as she stretches her arms above her head. Luke can't help but notice the way both Casey and Noah's eyes are glued to that little bit of flesh.
"I'll go and gather some wood," Luke says.
Noah's gaze wavers from Maddie's stomach and darts to him. "I'll go with Luke," he says after a long second.
Casey gives Noah a big-toothed grin. "I guess that means I'm hunting." He flexes his arm to make his muscles bulge.
"Yeah, because you're such a manly hunter," Ali says. Casey gives her a wounded look, but shows the feeling's not real by the upward quirk of his mouth.
Brian chuckles and says, "Let the man have his fantasies."
"Fantasies?" Casey bellyaches while getting to his feet. He wanders to where the machete and fishing gear are lying on the ground. "Who caught all those fish yesterday?"
"I believe that was me," Molly says, and everyone laughs.
I really lucked out. Luke thinks as his tribe members continue to joke around. He imagines Reid snarky attitude and Henry's loud mouth. I bet they're fighting constantly.
Once everyone's duties for the day are hashed out, Luke takes another swig from the water canteen before leaving it at the camp and trots toward the thickening trees. The transformation from beach to jungle happens quickly, and it only takes a few strides past the initial ring of trees before the camp is out of sight. He can still hear Ali and Casey trading barbs, but the actual words don't make it through the jungle.
"Hey, wait up!" Noah calls out. Luke turns and waits for the other man to catch up. Noah's cameraman follows silently behind him. When Noah reaches Luke's side he shakes his head and says, "Casey is such a character."
"Yeah," Luke says with a grin. "He is, but I really like him."
Noah nods. "Yeah, he's a good guy. And I get the feeling that what you see is what you get." They start walking and Luke spots a perfect piece of firewood just a little further ahead. "Not that that's a bad thing. Sometimes uncomplicated is really great."
Luke reaches down and picks up the log. "I know what you mean. I don't know too many uncomplicated people."
Noah kicks a dead tree stump, and when it breaks in half he reaches down to take a manageable piece. "I know. Man, you should have met my ex-girlfriend." He shakes his head as if the memory of the girl still brings back crazy memories. "Now that was one complicated girl. I could never figure her out."
The mention of the ex-girlfriend leaves Luke feeling slightly uncomfortable, like his skin is too tight. Now's a perfect time to bring up being gay, Luke tells himself. It's never an easy topic for him. It's not that he's ashamed of being gay. No, he got over that a long time ago. But he's never quite sure how people will react to his sexuality, and he does have to live exclusively with these people for the next month or so. However, Noah doesn't strike him as the prejudice type. So, Luke opens his mouth and says, "I feel you. My ex-boyfriend, Kevin, he was so afraid of people finding out that he was gay that whenever we would go out we'd pretend we were best friends instead of boyfriends."
"Dude, that sucks," Noah says sympathetically.
There's no hint of him being uncomfortable with Luke's sudden revelation, and Luke, being his mother's son, can't leave it at that. "So, you're not like, shocked, at me being gay?"
Noah picks up another piece of wood. He's got several large pieces tucked under his arm and the newest piece gets eased right at the top of the pile. "Not really. I kind of suspected."
"Oh," Luke says. "It doesn't bother you?" His eyes narrow and Noah gets a small set of winkles right between his eyes. They're kind of endearing.
"Why would it bother me?"
Luke shrugs and looks away. "It's bothered other people before."
"Luke." Noah's voice is deep and commanding. Luke stops walking and twists around to look at his companion. "You helped me when I fell. You're my closest ally here." He puts his free hand on Luke's shoulder. "It doesn't bother me."
The touch is as sweet as the relief that eases Luke's tension. He raises his eyes to meet Noah's. "Thanks."
Noah squeezes his shoulder, and then slides his hand off to readjust his hold on the wood. "We're going to need to drop this off soon." Luke's own load is getting heavy and nods his agreement.
"Let's go do it now and come back out for more." He turns back towards camp.
"Hey," Noah's soft voice stops him. "Can I ask you something?"
He's going to ask something about me being gay. It won't be the first time a curious straight boy has questioned Luke about being on the other end of the spectrum. Will immediately comes to mind. Luke's not particular fond of being the token gay boy, and sure he doesn't know everything. But talking about it is better than ignoring it. "Shoot."
"You really didn't find the idol?"
The question takes Luke by surprise. Noah's eyes are quietly begging for him to tell the truth, and the look eats at Luke's soul. He almost tells the truth. Noah's my ally. We're going to take each other to the top. I can tell him. Then Reid's face floats across his mind. He thinks about their agreement. It's not just my fate if I tell him.
"No, I didn't find it. Hopefully next time," He looks Noah in the eyes as he lies.
"Do you promise to tell me if you do?" The question rips him.
Luke turns his back towards his friend and reaches down to pick up another log. "I promise."
###
It was an easy choice. She wasn't part of my alliance. I told myself before I began this game that I would find people to ally with, and I would stick with my alliance to the end. I realize that Henry and Reid aren't the most likable people in my tribe, but I've always liked bees better than butterflies.
Katie, Radio Host
Their second reward challenge begins later that afternoon. As they wait for the Bangka tribe to make their way to the mat, Luke is dying to find out who was voted off first. He's not the only one. The attention of the whole Riau tribe is on the people who are weaving their way across the giant cleared field.
"Raui getting their first look at the new Bangka tribe. Lucy, voted out first," Jeff Probst announces.
It wasn't Reid. Relief washes through Luke. He tries to catch the neurosurgeon's eyes, but the man doesn't even look in his direction. Annoyance zings through Luke's nerves. I mean, I know we can't pretend to be friendly- not that we are friends- but the man can at least look at me.
"Wow, I can't believe they voted her off first," Casey says. Shock is clearly evident in his voice.
"It's not all about the pretty girls," Brian says.
"I know," Casey snaps back and for the first time he actually sounds irritated.
"No need to get upset." Brian raises his hands in defence. "I was just stating a fact."
"I know, Brian," Casey says back.
"Boys, boys," Lucinda chides. "Save the aggression for the competition."
Casey huffs but turns his attention back the Survivor host. Brian spreads out his fingers and gives his hands a little pulse. He seems tense.
What's his problem? Luke thinks. Brian might have nailed Casey's disbelief right on the head, but it didn't really explain why the man was snappy to begin with. We all know Casey is a horn dog. It's part of what makes him endearing. Besides, why does Brian care what Casey thinks of the girls. Then a thought wiggled into Luke's brain, He'd care if one of the girls was his daughter. Maybe even Lucy. He gives Brian a sideways glance, but the man doesn't really seem upset. Just annoyed with Casey.
Luke puts the idea aside with a promise to himself to continue it further after the challenge.
Probst finishes explaining what they have to do- a puzzle challenge that ends in mud wrestling. "Do you want to know what you're playing for?"
"Tell us Jeff!" Vienna shouts from her place on the yellow mat. Her Swedish accent curves the words and Jeff comes out more like "Jevv."
He tugs the potato-sack blanket off the lumpy pile sitting on the floor. "Morning amenities. Coffee, sugar, creamer." He points to the items as he says their names. Luke's eyes follow Probst's finger. There are other things too: spoons, mugs, a bottle of orange juice and a bag of bagels. But Luke's eyes are glued to the extra-large can of coffee. Dark roast. We have to win.
It's been four days- four very long days- since Luke's had a cup of coffee. His temples throb in sympathy. He'd kill for that coffee.
"We have to win," Luke tells his tribemates.
"Yeah," Noah replies back. He's making moon eyes at the coffee can too.
The challenge begins, and the whole time Luke's thinking, coffee, coffee, coffee.
Dusty pins down Brian in the mud.
"Bangka tribe wins reward!" Probst yells.
Fuck, Luke thinks and slams his hand into the ground. Mud splashes up and hits his face.
"Damn it!" Maddie says next to him.
The Survivor host hands the goods over to the happy looking Bangka tribe and says, "Raui tribe, I've got nothing for you. Head back to your camp. I'll see everyone tomorrow for the immunity challenge."
The mood is morose as they head back to camp.
"Losing sucks," Casey says.
"That my dear, it does," Lucinda replies. "Let's not do it again."