The chapter you've all been waiting for?

Amazingly, Courtney had thought that after she witnessed Duncan's display with the rabbit, that he would treat her differently. But instead of them being friends like she'd hoped would happen, he was back to just ignoring her completely again. Well, she could live with that. It made her decision about whether or not to act on her feelings that much easier. He was such a child! She didn't need that kind of juvenile behaviour in her life.

Plus, if she was being honest with herself, she'd kind of been avoiding him too. It was too much for her to know that they were both aware that they were soulmates. She knew if she spent time with him it would only be a matter of time before one of them acted on it, and she could not deal with that right now. She still wanted to win this competition after all, and Duncan had distracted her enough already.

They'd now been on the island for over a month and it was time for their eleventh challenge. To Courtney's surprise, it wasn't Chris's voice that came through the speakers that morning, but Chef Hatchet's. This could not be good news.

They all raced down to the dock as Chef had instructed them to do, where they stood in line. Apparently, however, they weren't standing straight enough and their heads and legs weren't in the correct position but Chef quickly put them in their place. He was decked out in military gear and Courtney knew this was not going to be an easy challenge.

After explaining the rules to them (or rather, shouting the rules at them through a megaphone), Chef led them down to the beach where the first challenge was set up.

"Listen up! Each team must hold a canoe over their heads. I catch you taking your hands off the canoe and you will be eliminated!" Chef threatened. "And no one eats lunch until someone drops out," he chuckled maliciously. Courtney did not like the sound of that. She glanced at the person next to her to see if anyone else was as worried about it as she was, only to find it was Duncan, who was obviously thinking the same as she was. They both looked away hurriedly.

"Canoes up!" Chef ordered. Both teams quickly got into position and lifted the canoes above their heads.

They stood like that for hours; Courtney could feel her arms starting to ache as lunch time passed and they were still standing there, Chef and Chris making the task more difficult by sitting on top of the canoes. There was some commotion going on with Harold behind her, and he briefly took his hands off the canoe. Luckily Chef didn't see it.

Soon the aching in her limbs faded into a hollow numbness and she felt like she could keep going all night, even with Chef's boring war stories. She was thankful that she didn't have to, however, when Lindsay dropped her arms and walked over to the dock to ring the bell to signify her departure from the challenge.

Both teams gratefully threw their canoes to the ground and made their way to the mess hall for dinner.

"Alright, maggots!" Chef shouted. Did that guy even have a quiet voice? "Open your ears! You've got ten minutes to eat before night training begins! So get to it!" Everyone complained at Chef's announcement. Night training? Was there no end to this torture?

"Um, excuse me? Master Chief? Where's the food?" Gwen asked, voicing what Courtney herself was thinking.

"You're looking at it," Chef said in cruel amusement, gesturing to the trash cans that lined the wall. A few campers walked up to the bins and looked inside cautiously, but there was no way Courtney was even going to think about going near those bins.

"Oh, I am not eating this!" Heather declared, tossing her tray aside.

"Ugh, me neither!" Courtney agreed.

"Don't care for today's specials, princess?" Duncan asked with a smirk. Courtney looked at him in surprise. This was the first time he'd spoken to her since the last challenge. And he was making fun of her for not wanting to eat garbage? Like he was going to eat it!

"I am going to be running for office one day!" she snapped. "And no one is going to pull up a file of me eating garbage!" she screwed up her nose in disgust. She looked to Duncan but he had apparently gone back to ignoring her because his attention was focused on Harold now.

"Hey, Harold?" he said softly. "We felt really bad about the whole underwear fishing incident thing," he said apologetically. "So, here. We found you some apple juice," he handed Harold a glass of what appeared to be apple juice, but Courtney couldn't help but feel Duncan was up to something (as usual).

"Thanks!" Harold took the glass appreciatively. He took a sip but immediately spat it out. "That's not juice!" he spluttered.

"Oh… oh my mistake, dude," Duncan laughed as Geoff snickered beside him. "We must have confused it with the kitchen grease!"

"You guys are so immature!" Courtney huffed. Couldn't they leave Harold alone for five seconds? Honestly, it was pathetic. Although her reason for butting in may have been less about Harold and more about being annoyed that Duncan wasn't paying any attention to her. "I hope you're proud of yourselves!" Duncan just sniggered at her. It was infuriating!

"Okay, look," he said pointedly, "I know you like me! He knows you like me, everyone knows it!" he said, getting up in her face. Her heart pounded and she couldn't tell if she wanted to kick him or kiss him. Did everyone know it? The thought was agonising. "So here's a tip," Duncan continued. "If you wanna kiss me, I might let you," he smirked. Nope, she definitely wanted to kick him.

"And to think I actually thought you were nice!" she yelled.

"Shh!" Duncan hushed her, his smug façade suddenly falling. "Me? Nice?" he said with a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, right!"

"Why'd you think that?" Geoff asked her.

"Never mind, I was wrong," she huffed. "He's just as gross and annoying as he wants you to believe. Enjoy your garbage!" she spat before stalking off. Why was it that every time she thought she could actually see herself with Duncan, he had to go and act like a total asshole? She wondered if it was the jerk part of him was an act, or whether the whole nice thing with Bunny the other day was the act. Some kind of ploy to get her to admit she liked him. Well guess what, Duncan? Courtney thought, you're not as hot as you think you are, and I'll never let anyone know that I might actually like you a tiny bit.

The night training, as it turned out, began with dancing. Duncan wondered how this was remotely related to army training. This whole challenge was a total waste of time, honestly. The only good thing so far was picking on Harold and finally ignoring Courtney so long that she snapped. Well, he had made one comment to prod her. His plan was to annoy her so much that she'd forget about the whole "being nice" thing.

Except that now he'd decided he was done playing games with her. If they were soulmates, so be it. He'd deal with it. If not, they could at least have some fun until one of them got eliminated. He'd had enough pretending he wasn't into her, while simultaneously trying to win her over. It was exhausting. He knew she liked him. That much was obvious. So now he just had to get her to admit it. And okay, maybe he was still playing the game a little. But she made it so easy to provoke her, how could he help it?

He'd somehow managed to zone out but continue doing the monotonous dance moves. But now he'd had enough. He stopped dancing and walked over to the stereo to switch off the music.

"Duncan! What are you doing?" Courtney scolded him lightly. Was it his imagination or was their actually concern for him in her voice?

"One of us drops out, we're done for the day," Duncan explained, turning to Chef.

"We're done when I say we're done!" Chef growled. "Now drop and give me twenty." Okay, well that plan backfired slightly. At least he didn't have to dance anymore.

The campers gathered in the mess hall again where Chef instructed them to write a three hundred word essay about how much they loved him. While three hundred words wasn't a lot, Courtney struggled to think of even one thing she liked about Chef.

The thing that I really love the most about our own Chef Hatchet, also known as Master Chief Hatchet, is that he is always takes the time and effort out of his busy schedule to lovingly prepare countless meals throughout the day for the hungry campers whom reside on this island at the present time.

She continued in this fashion, making up lies and adding in unnecessary words wherever possible to try and draw out the three hundred words. At 3am a buzzer sounded and Chef Hatchet collected the finished essays. He picked up Duncan's essay and began reading it aloud.

"I love Master Chief Hatchet because he is very very very very very very very very very very very very very…" Chef trailed off. "This is just one sentence with five pages of verys in between!" he shouted at Duncan. Okay, one; Duncan must have huge handwriting if he took up five pages for just three hundred words. And two; why hadn't Courtney thought to do that herself? It was actually a smart idea.

"It's three hundred words exactly! You can count them if you want," Duncan informed Chef smugly.

Duncan looked over at Courtney to see her scowling at him. What was it this time? He'd done the challenge, hadn't he? He watched as Chef Hatchet slipped over in Owen's drool and snickered to himself.

"You two slackers are out!" Chef yelled at a sleeping Trent and DJ. "The rest of you get to bed, and report to the playing field at 0500 hours!" he ordered.

"Uhh, missed a spot there, General," Duncan said to Chef, handing over a handkerchief. Winding up Chef was even more fun than picking on Harold, and definitely on par with antagonising Courtney.

"Boy!" Chef shrieked, his voice cracking in anger. "Do you want to run fifty laps around this camp right now?" he threatened. Duncan was about to come out with a brilliantly witty retort (after all, two hours sleep was hardly worth it anyway), but Courtney grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him away from Chef.

"No thanks!" she interrupted. "He's going straight to bed. Aren't you?" she hissed. Duncan thought he'd probably like to go to bed if she came with him, and was about to tell her so but she kept talking. "What are you trying to do? Get eliminated?" she cried, coming after him until he stopped moving and she nearly crashed into his chest.

"I didn't know you cared," Duncan drawled, leaning in close. Mmm, she smelt really good.

"I don't," Courtney asserted, refusing to back off. "I just don't want to lose this challenge." They were so close now he could feel her body heat and he wondered if she was as tempted to kiss him as he was to kiss her. But he had decided she had to be the one to initiate it. He'd been perfectly clear with her, he'd made the offer. If he had a move now he'd look like a jerk. It was all up to her.

"So stop being such a screw up and do what you're told for once! Okay?" Courtney commanded before storming out of the dining hall.

"She wants me," he told Geoff with a grin, holding out his fist.

"No doubt," Geoff agreed, meeting Duncan's knuckles with his own.

Courtney managed to doze off for twenty minutes before they had to meet at the playing field. She groaned as she slipped out of bed, feeling worse than before she'd slept. Bridgette continued to sleep and Courtney decided she wouldn't bother waking her. There were still four Bass and four Gophers left, Bridgette could sit this one out.

Chef continued the training for the whole day, not letting them have any breaks except to go to the bathroom, and an hour break after "dinner" (which was just some kind of grey sludge). Courtney had another nap in this small time slot then quickly made her way down to where Chef had set up an obstacle course.

Geoff and Duncan were already there when she got there. Duncan was winding up Chef again, and Courtney glared at him.

"If you lose this for us, I'm gonna make you so miserable," she hissed. She was extremely tired and it was making her even angrier than usual. Duncan just smirked at her.

"Go, maggots, go!" Chef yelled. Just as they took off, Harold raced down from the cabins and managed to join the race, but was promptly eliminated when he swallowed a face full of mud.

Courtney hated this obstacle course. She was covered in mud, her limbs were aching and she was exhausted. But she couldn't give up. She could see Duncan just up ahead and she groaned inwardly as he came face to face with Chef. Please don't let him say anything stupid, she thought. No such luck, of course.

"You just bought yourself twenty more push ups!" Chef yelled at Duncan.

"Thank you," Duncan laughed sarcastically before kissing Chef on the nose. Courtney groaned aloud this time. What was Duncan thinking? He'd really done it this time. She watched as Chef turned visibly red, the veins in his neck and forehead bulging out.

"I think you may have pushed him over the edge, bro!" Geoff whispered to Duncan. Everyone else had stopped to watch the altercation.

"I think you're right," Duncan said, looking worried.

"One night, solitary confinement. In the boathouse," Chef said calmly. Courtney looked at Duncan anxiously. Great, he'd really done it this time. Now he'd have to spend a night alone in that horrible fish cabin.

"Big deal! How scary can it be?" he shrugged.

As Chef dragged Duncan to the boathouse for his day and night of solitude, the remaining campers trudged back to the mess hall for dinner.

Courtney and Geoff, the only two remaining on their team, sat together on the Bass table, prodding their gruel with their spoons. Courtney's mind drifted to Duncan as she absentmindedly played with her food. She wondered if he was okay out there alone. He hadn't had anything to eat, and who knew what horrors lay in the boathouse. Should she bring him something? Make sure he was okay? She didn't want him to starve after all. And even though he was acting like a total idiot by winding up Chef, he was still participating in the challenge and they needed him.

"I'm going to check on him," she finally decided, standing up. Maybe she was overtired. This was probably a bad decision. Alone with Duncan in the boathouse? Yeah that was smart for a girl who was doing her very best to keep her hands off him at all times.

"You like him," Geoff teased.

"I do not like him!" Courtney denied. And she would keep on denying it for as long as she was able.

"Yes you do," Geoff argued light-heartedly.

"Not only do I not like him, I can't stand him!" she declared. "He's rude, he's rebellious and he's totally annoying!" she listed. Too bad none of those things were enough to make her hate him. But Geoff didn't need to know that. "I'm gonna go check on him," she finished.

As it turned out, the boathouse was a lot creepier than Duncan originally suspected. Plus it was really uncomfortable. He couldn't believe he had to spend the whole night in this shithole. He sat down on a crate, feeling sorry for himself.

"Shoulda kept my big mouth shut," he muttered to himself. How was he supposed to break down Courtney's defences while he was shut in here? At least Chef hadn't kicked out of the challenge though, and come tomorrow he would not rest until she'd admitted how much she liked him.

Duncan looked at the dirty ground and wondered where the best place to sleep would be. He picked up a broom and began sweeping a large section of the dock so it was clean enough to lie down on. He had nothing better to do after all.

He looked up when he heard the squeaky hinges on the door, alerting him to the presence of someone.

"Hello?" called a familiar voice. "Duncan?" The light from a torch settled on his face and he blinked into it.

"Princess!" he said happily, throwing the broom away. He had to say, he really hadn't expected her to show up here. Things were about to get very interesting.

"I wish you'd stop calling me that," Courtney huffed. Really? She'd come all the way out to the boathouse and she was still going to act like she was above him? Well, two could play at that game. Besides, he knew she secretly loved the nickname. He'd grown rather fond of it himself. What started off as a way to piss her off had somehow turned into his own little term of endearment. And it still pissed her off, which was an added bonus.

"So, come to claim that kiss?" Duncan asked cheekily.

"Even pigs deserve a meal," Courtney shoved a bowl of gruel at him. Ah, she'd come under the pretence of giving him food. Smart. Duncan peered at the gruel. He was so not eating that.

"Hmm… no thanks," he declined. "I'll stick with the bait," he joked. Courtney gave a small laugh as she dusted off a crate and sat down.

"Yeah, well that's all Chef would serve us after our pathetic performance on the obstacle course," she smiled. Duncan grabbed a bucket and sat down next to her, throwing away the gruel in the process. Duncan stared at her a moment, still trying to figure out exactly why she was there. She'd spent so long trying to pretend she didn't like him, and now she was smiling and chatting with him like there had never been any animosity between them.

"Why do you egg Chef on like that? You know you're going to get in trouble," Courtney said. And now she was concerned for his welfare? Duncan could not figure her out.

"Why are you so uptight all the time?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I am not uptight!" Courtney said defensively, standing up.

"You always follow the rules!" Duncan scoffed.

"Well, you always have to break them!" Courtney pointed out.

"Only the ones I want to," Duncan winked suggestively. Not that there was a rule against making out in the boathouse, but he was sure it was frowned upon.

"Okay," Courtney conceded, turning away from him. "So, maybe I do follow the rules. I guess that makes me a big uptight loser in your books, right?" she asked uncertainly. Duncan grinned, knowing he was finally breaking down her walls. She'd never admitted to caring what he thought about her before, but she suddenly seemed so vulnerable.

"Maybe," he shrugged.

"Ugh!" she groaned in frustration.

"So then why do you follow them?" Duncan asked her.

"Because not following them gets you thrown into a fish cabin!" she retorted, brandishing a dead fish at him. Okay that much was true. He didn't exactly like it in the fish cabin. But she'd followed him out here, and he was pretty sure Chef wouldn't like it if he found out. He took a step towards her, looking at her like she was something he wanted to devour. And honestly, he really did.

"But I'm in the fish cabin with you, aren't I?" he said huskily, leaning in so he could clearly see the freckles on her nose. He watched her smile slightly at his words, a slight blush tinging her face. As far as he was concerned that was as good as a confession. "Feel like ditching this crap for some peanut butter and jam?" he asked. He felt like he was finally getting somewhere with her.

"Are you kidding?" Courtney said excitedly. "All I've had for two days is this gruel!" She seemed to remember herself then and her face fell. "But Chef will never give it to us," she sighed.

"See, now that's the problem with your thinking!" Duncan told her. "The trick is to not ask for it," he smirked wickedly.

"Do you have some on you?" Courtney laughed hesitantly.

"No," Duncan replied. She still wasn't getting it. "But I happen to know where to find it. It will involve breaking quite a few rules though," he warned. "Are you in?" Somehow he felt a vibe from her that she'd do anything tonight. And he was cautiously saying all the right things to get her to agree with him, without her realising she'd been coerced. He didn't doubt that she'd have fun once she finally let loose. It was just getting her to drop her guard that was the hard part. And now it seemed like he'd finally done it. She deliberated for a moment, but Duncan knew what her answer would be.

"Let's do it!" she grinned. Duncan high fived her.

"Well alright then," Duncan said approvingly.

She knew she was being crazy. But from the moment she stepped into the boathouse, something else took hold of her. It was probably the lack of food and sleep, but she found herself easily convinced by Duncan's case. And he was flirting with her, and she was blushing and she really wanted to kiss him.

She didn't of course, but she did go along with his plan to steal food right from under Chef's nose. They disguised themselves as bushes, and then snuck into the craft services tent, while Chef was too busy telling his boring war stories again.

"If we get caught, we are so dead," Courtney whispered as Duncan filled a bag with all the best food. She didn't feel scared though. In fact, a part of her wanted to get caught. She wasn't sure what she'd do then, she just knew she was tired of always being the one who followed all the rules. And Duncan finally saw her as something more than just a girl her could tease.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Duncan whispered. She laughed, somewhat wickedly. She didn't know what had gotten into her, but she was loving it.

"Heck yes! This is the most fun I've had here yet!" she exclaimed. She pulled the dead fish from the bag and put it into the fridge. "A little present, courtesy of the Killer Bass," she said smugly. Duncan laughed quietly.

"Now you're learning," he complimented, putting his arm around her. Courtney did her best not to tremble under his touch. They closed the fridge and snuck out of the tent, running back to the cabins.

"Woohoo!" Courtney cheered as she ran. She felt fearless and carefree, something she didn't think she'd ever felt before. Her blood rushing through her veins, her head spinning. She had no idea breaking the rules would be this much fun. She'd definitely have to do it again sometime. Especially if Duncan was going to be there.

"Hey guys!" Duncan yelled as they reached the cabin. "We brought you a surprise!"

"Aren't you supposed to be in solitary confinement?" Harold asked.

"Shut up, nerd. Here, have a cookie," he shoved a biscuit into Harold's hands as the room flooded with all the other campers.

"Where did you get all this?" Owen admired, grabbing a jar of jam.

"We stole it from Chef," Courtney said proudly.

"You stole from Chef?" Bridgette asked Courtney disbelievingly. "I never thought I'd see the day."

They all ate and chatted and laughed, everyone's spirits seem to lift at the arrival of some real food. Courtney was half expecting Chef to walk in at any moment and bust them, but eventually her fears drifted away and she was able to relax and enjoy herself. She enjoyed herself so much that she ate a little too much.

"I think you've had enough," Bridgette laughed.

"No, just one more," Courtney laughed hysterically, shoving more food into her face. She immediately regretted it, however, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach. She let out an embarrassing burp and groaned at her stomach ache. "Yeah, that one was a mistake," she admitted. She quickly ran outside, feeling like she was going to vomit. She threw herself over the railing on the steps out the front of the cabin and chucked her guts up. This was so not how she had wanted the night to end. But then, even with the throwing up, she was still having more fun that she could ever remember having.

"So the princess has a dark side," Duncan drawled as he came out to join her on the porch.

"Okay, that was so gross," she said, embarrassed. "But it was like, once I did something bad it was so much fun I just wanted more!" Duncan actually looked impressed, instead of grossed out as he wiped her face clean.

"Well, you could always give me that kiss. That'd be pretty bad," he suggested. She knew he didn't think she'd do it.

"You're still not my type," she scoffed, ruffling his Mohawk. Hmm, his hair felt really nice.

"Fine, enjoy a peanut butter-less life," he said, as if he couldn't care less.

"Thanks," she smirked. "Enjoy prison."

"I will," he said. God, he was so dumb. She loved it. Her heart pounded as she turned to him, grabbing his face in her hands. She knew she had to do this now, while she still had the courage. She leant in, closing her eyes, and pressed her lips to his. He was surprised at first and it took him a second to relax into the kiss, but once he did, she couldn't believe she'd waited so long to do it. She could feel her heart thumping erratically and she knew, like somehow she'd always known deep down, that he was the one. She pulled away then, before it went any further. She didn't want to take it too far tonight. Plus she wanted to see the lines on her chest.

She gave him a look that promised more to come as she left him and walked into her own cabin. He could barely keep the look of astonishment off his face as he watched her walk away.

"Attention remaining boot camper groups!" Chef's voice came through the speakers. "The next evolution of your training begins tomorrow morning, at 0700 hours. And if I catch the sucker that took my dessert, your butt is mine!"

Alone in her cabin, Courtney lay down on her bunk, her heart still beating erratically. She tried to calm her breathing before she stripped off her sweater and blouse and gazed down at the lines on her chest. They were now florescent green, glowing in the dark, and she grinned at them idiotically as she flopped her head back down on her pillow, feeling giddy. She had found her soulmate. And somehow nothing else really mattered anymore, because she was totally and ecstatically happy for the first time in… well in forever.

The door burst open and Courtney quickly covered her bra-clad chest with her top, but it was only Bridgette.

"You alright?" Bridgette asked. Courtney nodded. She sat up and slowly pulled her top away to show Bridgette the lines. Bridgette gasped and then she squealed before running and jumping onto Courtney's bunk. "Duncan?" she asked, her eyes flashing. Courtney nodded, unable to keep the smile off her face any longer.

"I can't believe it!" Bridgette breathed. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," Courtney replied.

At 6:55 the next morning, Courtney didn't even bother trying to appear cool as she ran out of her cabin to find Duncan. He was with Geoff, but Courtney didn't really care. What was the point in trying to play coy anymore? They were soulmates and they both knew it. Why hide it?

She skipped up behind him and planted a kiss on his cheek. He turned to her in surprise.

"Courtney?" he said in bewilderment, almost as if last night had never happened. Had something changed? Or was he just surprised she was so eager?

"What?" she shrugged. "I'm tired of pretending I don't like you. Can we just forget everything else and enjoy our time together while we're on this island? I have to admit, you make it hell of a lot more bearable," Courtney confessed. Duncan's face broke into a grin.

"I'm glad you feel that way," he said, as Geoff pretended he wasn't listening to the whole thing. Duncan grabbed Courtney's hand and kissed her gently. "Now let's go kick some Gopher butt," he proclaimed. The three of them made their way to a huge tree where Chef and the three Gophers left in were waiting.

"Alright," Chef yelled into his megaphone. Didn't he know that the point of having a megaphone was so that he didn't have to yell? "Y'all will hang from this tree until there is only one person left. The last person wins the challenge for their team and the other team will have to vote someone off. You hear me?" Chef announced. They all nodded and Courtney, Duncan, Geoff, Gwen, Owen and Heather climbed the tree.

It wasn't long till all the blood rushed to Duncan's head and he fell to the ground.

"Duncan!" Courtney cried, hoping he was okay. Bridgette rushed to his side.

"It's okay! He's alright!" she assured Courtney. A minute later Heather decided she was done and dropped out of the tree gracefully, until Owen fell on top of her. Courtney somehow found this hysterically funny, and she couldn't stop laughing.

"Stop laughing this instant!" Chef ordered.

"I'm sorry!" Courtney continued giggling. "I can't help it!" She laughed so hard she fell out of the tree, landing on her hands and knees.

"I expected more out of you, soldier," Chef told her disappointedly. Courtney cleared her throat, feeling a sudden surge of rebelliousness coming on.

"Master Chief?" she said. "I just have one thing to say to you."

"And what might that be?" Chef asked seriously.

"You really need to take a chill pill," Courtney informed him, before erupting into a fresh round of hysterical laughter. She walked back over to Duncan who was laughing appreciatively.

"Yeah!" he nodded. "That's what I'm talking about!" They high fived before slipping each others arms around one another. It felt so right, Courtney felt like an idiot for letting herself believe he was no good for her for so long.

"Okay, Geoffy! It's all up to you!" Courtney called. Of course, thirty seconds later, Geoff was a pile on the ground and Gwen had won the challenge for the Gophers. And Courtney couldn't really bring herself to care.

Courtney lay beneath the stars, on the grass with Duncan beside her. His fingers twirled around her hair as he gazed into her eyes.

"I never thought I could be so lucky," he said quietly.

"Shut up and kiss me," Courtney whispered. Duncan didn't hesitate as he lowered his mouth to hers. He hovered above her, his chest pressed against hers, one hand gripping her thigh. He lowered his kisses to her neck she hummed satisfactorily. The hand on her thigh travelled upwards, grazing her ass to rest underneath her top on her waist.

"Duncan," she rasped.

"Mmm?" Duncan replied between kisses.

"We should stop," she told him. "We'll be late for the campfire ceremony."

"You're right. It's all good, we have nothing but time," he said, lifting his head. He smiled at her and she smiled back. "Harold's gone tonight, and we'll win the next challenge, no doubt. And we must be getting close to the merge." Duncan assured her. Courtney nodded.

"Come on," she said and they reluctantly got up and made their way to the campfire.

"I only have five marshmallows on my plate," Chris declared. "And these marshmallows represent the campers that will continue to be campers… here," he said dramatically. Courtney rolled her eyes and shared a look with Duncan. He grinned back at her.

"You've all cast your ballots in the confession can," Chris continued. "If I do not call your name, you must immediately go down to the dock of shame, catch the boat of losers, and go home. And you can't come back. Ever." He finished. Yeah, yeah, Courtney thought to herself. They'd heard it all before. Could he just get on with it so they could get rid of Harold and enjoy the rest of their night? She shot a look of pure evil at Harold. He was so going down.

"Duncan. DJ. Bridgette. Geoff. Campers. This. Is the final marshmallow. Of the night." Chris announced. Courtney watched Harold, confident in her own survival in this competition. Which was why it was such a shock to hear the word "Harold" out of Chris's mouth.

Courtney gasped in shock. Was this some elaborate ploy to get her out of the competition?

"What?" she shrieked. All her earlier happiness evaporated and all she felt was pure rage. She had been made to look like a fool, and she would not stand for it. "You guys voted for Harold over me?" she accused. But she looked at the faces of her teammates and they looked as devastated as she was.

"Yes, yes, it's always a shock," Chris said flatly.

"This is impossible!" Courtney cried. "I demand a recount!"

"Aw, seriously dude, I know for a fact there were three of us who didn't vote her off!" Duncan told Chris, standing up for her. Chris just clicked his fingers and Chef came barging through. Chris and Chef grabbed Courtney by the arms and dragged her down to the dock.

"I do not concede!" Courtney screamed. "I do not concede!"

"Aw man this sucks," she heard Duncan curse.

"I was your only hope! I was a counsellor in training!" she was saying anything now, trying to find some reason for Chris to let her stay. This couldn't be happening. "Let go of me!" she snapped at Chris and Chef, and they happily obliged, throwing her onto the boat of losers.

"You are going to hear from my attorney," she warned them from the deck of the boat.

"Courtney, wait!" she heard Duncan call. She stood up, her pulse quickening. She smiled at him as the boat drew away from the dock. "I made this for you!" he called, tossing her something.

"Duncan!" she cried, catching the gift in her hands. She looked down to see a wooden carving of a skull. "Okay, this is really weird and creepy… but… I love it!" She hugged the skull to her chest. "I'll never forget you!" she called back to him. How could she when she had these green lines marking her chest, reminding her that her other half was still on this island without her. She waved goodbye, but knew she had to see him again someday when the competition was over. You don't just meet your soulmate and then forget it ever happened.

Duncan trudged back to his cabin where Geoff and DJ were waiting.

"You okay, man?" DJ asked. Duncan shrugged.

"It's probably for the best," he sighed, collapsing onto his bunk.

"What do you mean?" Geoff asked. "Don't you want to be with her?"

"Of course I do," Duncan scoffed. "But… I didn't tell you guys," he sighed again.

"Tell us what?" DJ asked suspiciously. Duncan's mouth formed into tight line as he pulled his shirt over his head.

"Oh," Geoff stated dumbly. "We thought…" he trailed off.

"Yeah, me too," Duncan said flatly, looking down at the still black lines on his chest. "But we aren't soulmates. She said she just wanted to enjoy our time together, and I was happy to… but you know if we're destined to be with other people then I guess it's probably better this way."

"I thought you didn't believe in all that stuff anyway," DJ pointed out.

"Maybe I don't," Duncan shrugged. It didn't make any sense. When she'd kissed him it felt so right... and yet the universe was somehow telling him it wasn't. He wasn't sure if he believed in soulmates or not, and he wasn't in the mood to figure it out. "Whatever. It's over now. It was fun while it lasted."

"Who do you think you soulmate is then?" Geoff asked.

"I have no fucking idea," Duncan said. And he didn't really want to know either. He lay back on his bed and closed his eyes. He hoped maybe he could dream about something that would take him away from this god forsaken island, but he could only dream of Courtney.

I'M SO SORRY.

Please don't hate me for this but it would have been a boring story if there was no drama.

Next chapter in a month!