Duncan and the rest of the guys felt that their trip to the five star resort was well deserved. Thank god for Owen being on their team, because no one else could have knocked back all those blended cockroach shots. The five guys boarded the cruise ship excitedly, ready to head off to their destination.
"Yeah!" Owen cheered. "Team guy!"
"Team guy!" the other guys shouted back. Well, all the other guys excluding Geoff.
"Geoff?" DJ approached the blonde. Geoff was unusually melancholy as he stared out the window of the ship. "What's wrong, brother?"
"Nothing," Geoff sighed. "I just miss Bridgette."
"You saw her five minutes ago," Duncan pointed out, rolling his eyes. After all, he missed Courtney but you didn't see him moping about it.
"Come on, dude," Trent coaxed, "we're about to have an awesome weekend at a five star resort. You gotta lighten up!"
"Yeah, you're right," Geoff instantly brightened. "Bridge will still be there when we get back! So let's party!" Duncan was amazed at how easily Geoff's mood changed.
When they arrived at the resort, the boys could barely contain their glee at the palace that greeted them. They stepped off the ship and onto a dock where two women were waiting to meet them.
"Hi, welcome to Palm Hotel Retreat!" one of the girls said cheerfully. "I'm Amber and this is Greta and we'll be your hosts this weekend."
"Hiiii," Owen drawled, eyeing Amber appreciatively. Duncan chuckled at Owen's lack of subtlety. The man was practically drooling.
"Follow us and we'll take you to your rooms!" Greta smiled. The two ladies picked up the boys luggage and led them to the penthouse of the resort.
"There's five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a minibar, an entertainment room, and a living room," Greta listed.
"Here are your schedules for the weekend," Amber handed each of the boys a pamphlet which listed the various spa treatments they'd be receiving. "Don't worry, there's plenty of free time for you boys," Amber laughed.
"And if you need anything, don't hesitate to call us!" Greta winked at DJ who blushed deeply.
"Alright, you boys relax for the rest of the evening and we'll see you tomorrow morning!" Amber said brightly. The two girls then left the boys on their own in the penthouse.
"Whoa," Owen said dreamily as they left.
"Put your tongue back in your mouth, you big oaf," Duncan sniggered.
"Yeah, but did you see her?" Owen replied.
"Maybe she's your soulmate!" Geoff laughed. Owen quickly looked down his shirt.
"Nope, still blank," Owen sighed.
"Me too," DJ agreed.
"Guys, I think he was joking," Trent grinned, causing all the boys to burst into laughter.
"Do you think there's alcohol in here?" Duncan asked, walking over to the mini bar. He opened to fridge door only to be disappointed.
"Like they're going to leave alcohol here for a bunch of sixteen year olds," Trent pointed out.
"Well, where do you think we can get some?" Duncan asked.
"You don't suppose Amber and Greta would bring us some?" Owen suggested.
"Doubt it," Geoff sighed.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to steal it!" Duncan cracked his knuckles. His time had finally come.
The alcohol heist went off without a hitch, and the boys brought their hooch back to the penthouse.
"Guys, what if someone finds out?" DJ whispered as they reached their room.
"Pfft, what are they gonna do, send me back to juvie?" Duncan scoffed. He looked at the label of a bottle he was holding to check what it was. "Schnapps," he mused. "Well, I've never had that before." He opened the bottle and took a swig. The boys all headed for the massive leather lounge suite that sat in the centre of the room, facing an enormous television screen.
"I've never had any of this before," DJ admitted eyeing a bottle of vodka cautiously. He took a sip out of the bottle before his eyes bulged out of his head. "Ohh, that's nasty!"
"Me either," Trent agreed. He had a bottle of scotch in has hand. "I like it though."
"I've only had beer before," Geoff told them.
"Me too," Owen nodded.
"You guys are weak," Duncan snickered.
"What did you go to juvie for anyway, Duncan?" Trent asked. Duncan raised an eyebrow at him.
"That's for me to know and you to never find out," he said mysteriously. It was really none of the guys business.
"Aw, come on Duncan!" Geoff pleaded. "It's just us guys. Why won't you tell us?"
"Yeah, come on, Duncan!" Owen agreed. Duncan sighed. He supposed it didn't really matter if they knew in the end.
"Fiiine," he groaned. "It's not very exciting though. I just got caught stealing one too many times. Plus they'd caught me vandalising a few times as well," Duncan shrugged.
"But why were you stealing in the first place?" DJ wondered. "Is your family poor?"
"No, I just felt like it, okay?" Duncan snapped.
"Okay, sorry I asked," DJ said. Duncan felt a little bad for snapping at DJ, but not bad enough to apologise.
Two bottles down, the boys were totally smashed and were beginning to tear the penthouse apart. DJ and Geoff had had a game of foosball until DJ passed out on the table. The other four boys carried him to his bed, only knocking his head against the wall three times on the way there. They threw DJ on the bed, and Owen promptly fell asleep next to him.
Trent, Duncan and Geoff snickered as they left the room, trying to be quiet but failing miserably. Luckily, DJ and Owen were totally dead to the world. The three guys who were still awake went back to the lounge suite and sprawled out, the energy they'd had from the alcohol suddenly leaving them.
"I don't feel so good," Trent groaned.
"I miss Bridgette," Geoff sighed. "It hurts."
"I miss Gwen," Trent agreed. "This soulmate thing sucks."
"I miss Courtney," Duncan admitted. It must have been the alcohol forcing him to say things he'd normally keep to himself. He knew she wasn't his soulmate, but he couldn't help but feel robbed. He should've had much longer with her.
"Sorry dude," Geoff said quietly.
"Why are you sorry? Did you vote for her?" Duncan accused.
"No, man! I told you, I voted Harold. We all did," Geoff assured him.
"Then what the fuck happened?" Duncan asked, frustrated. He'd been over it and over it in his head and he couldn't figure it out. Everyone claimed they'd voted Harold, yet Courtney was the one who'd been eliminated. As far as he could see, there were only two possible explanations.
"I dunno, man," Geoff shrugged.
"Either Chris rigged the votes or someone on the island did," Duncan muttered.
"Probably someone from the other team," Geoff said, looking at Trent.
"Don't look at me! Why would I want Courtney gone?" Trent defended.
"She was our best player, you know she was," Duncan scowled. "Other than me of course." Geoff snorted and Duncan glared at him.
"It was probably Heather. She's the only one who would stoop so low as to mess with the votes," Trent said knowingly, finishing his sentence with a yawn.
"You're right, that bitch. It probably was her. She is going down," Duncan vowed. "Will you guys help me?" he turned to Geoff and Trent, but the two of them were already asleep. Duncan sighed before wandering off to his own room, his head spinning from the alcohol.
It seemed liked ages since Harold had arrived on Playa des Losers, and they had no news from Camp Wawanakwa for some time. It was causing Courtney to go a little crazy. That, plus the fact that while Courtney had done her best to contact her lawyers, she wasn't having much luck. They weren't allowed to have any technology at the resort and snail mail wasn't exactly working out for her. She couldn't be totally sure that her letters were even being sent by the interns she gave them to. Chris was probably doing everything in his power to keep himself from getting involved in a lawsuit. But as soon as she got off this island nothing would come between her and her mission to sue Chris for all he was worth.
She was also having little luck locating Harold. She spent a good part of everyday searching for him so that she could wring his neck, but the little worm was apparently skilled at hide and seek. She was sure someone was helping him, bringing him food and whatnot, but she hadn't yet worked out who it was.
A week after Harold's arrival on Playa des Losers, they had a surprise visit from Chris. He stepped off a boat grinning evilly as per usual. Courtney was sure he had something perverse planned for the remaining contenders at Camp Wawanakwa. Courtney was almost glad she didn't have to be a part of it. Almost, but not quite. She still wanted back on that island.
"Greetings, losers!" Chris said cheerily as he surveyed the group surrounding the pool. Everyone was there except for Harold who was still avoiding Courtney, and Eva who was at her mandatory anger management class. No one seemed particularly pleased to see Chris.
"What are you doing here?" Courtney sniffed suspiciously.
"I just thought I'd come and see how my favourite failures are!" Chris chuckled. Courtney rolled her eyes. She really did hate Chris.
"No one wants you here," Noah told him flatly.
"I don't care," Chris grinned. "I'm not here for you. Izzy!" he said cheerfully, spotting the redhead swimming in the pool. "You got a moment?"
"Sure, Chris! You got the RCMP off my back, I owe you!" she giggled, springing out of the pool.
"And have you seen Eva?" Chris asked.
"She's at anger management," Izzy told him.
"Alright, well let's go and find her," Chris said and Izzy followed him into the hotel.
"What do you think he's up to?" Courtney asked Noah.
"I don't know and I don't care," Noah responded without looking up from his book. Courtney pursed her lips. She was tempted to follow Chris and Izzy and eavesdrop on their conversation to find out what was going on. It didn't seem like anyone else around her was particularly bothered by Chris's appearance and his sudden interest in Eva and Izzy, the two craziest ex-contestants.
She stood up and was about to go after them when Chris and Izzy reappeared, followed by Eva. Eva and Izzy were carrying their bags and Courtney felt an uneasiness settle inside her.
"Wait, Chris, I have to say goodbye to my boyfriend!" Izzy said suddenly. She ran over to Justin and kissed him full on the mouth.
"I'm sorry, but this just isn't going to work out. You understand right?" Izzy said.
"Sure," Justin nodded, hardly even paying attention as he worked on his tan. Izzy ran back to walk with Eva behind Chris.
"Chris," she said, falling in to step with him as he led Izzy and Eva back to the boat he'd arrived on. "What's going on?"
"Eva and Izzy are re-entering the competition," Chris informed her. Courtney blinked at him. Surely she'd heard him wrong.
"I think I misheard you," Courtney smiled sweetly, although inside she was ready to snap. "I thought you said Eva and Izzy were re-entering the competition."
"No, you heard right!" Chris grinned. He grabbed Izzy and Eva's bags and threw them onto the boat. "All aboard!" he called. Izzy and Eva clambered onto the boat. "Oh, Izzy, I have a great idea for your entrance… you'll have to come up with some kind of-," Chris was saying.
"But you said, no one can come back ever!" Courtney interrupted, seething. This was totally unfair. If anyone was going to re-enter the competition it should be her! Everyone hated Eva! She'd never last. And Izzy was a criminal! Okay, well so was a certain guy Courtney liked, but that was beside the point!
"Yeah, I lied," Chris said flatly, not even looking at Courtney.
"It should be me going back!" she shrieked. "I was unfairly eliminated, Harold switched the votes!"
"I don't care," Chris told her. "These two are going to boost ratings! They're crazy!" he hopped onto the boat after them.
"I can be just as crazy as them!" Courtney whined desperately.
"No one's denying that," Chris chuckled. "But I make the rules, and I say Eva and Izzy are coming back! So, see ya!" he smirked as the boat took off.
"You are going to regret this Chris McLean!" Courtney screeched after him. "Once I get ahold of my lawyers, there is nothing in the world that will stop me from ruining you!" she yelled. She didn't know if Chris could even hear her, but it made her feel a little better anyway. Well, for about a minute. She still had some anger issues she needed to work out.
"WHERE is Harold?" she yelled, startling everyone by the pool. "I am going to kill that skinny little freak!"
Everyone (except Harold) waited anxiously by the dock that night, waiting to see who would be eliminated. No one knew whether to be shocked or not when it turned out to be Eva.
"Eva, what happened?" Beth asked.
"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT ASKING ABOUT ELIMINATIONS?" Eva screamed at her.
"Right, sorry," Beth gulped.
"But if you MUST know, I got backstabbed again!" she growled before shoving past the crowd and walking inside.
"Well, that was short-lived," said Noah.
"I would've lasted much longer," Courtney muttered.
"You keep telling yourself that, honey," Noah looked at her pityingly. Courtney scowled at him and marched inside.
As Duncan made his way back to his cabin, he couldn't be unhappy that Eva had been eliminated, even if he had voted for Heather. Eva was psycho after all. Although after seeing all the voting confessionals he realised he could have teamed up with Eva to get rid of Heather.
He was annoyed that Eva and Izzy had come back when it could have been Courtney. Hadn't Chris figured out yet that her elimination had been rigged by Heather? He felt someone shove his shoulder and the devil herself appeared beside him.
"Just so you know, it wasn't my fault your little girlfriend got eliminated," she said snarkily.
"Yeah, right, who else would have done it?" Duncan scowled.
"I know you punks love your little conspiracy theories, but did you ever think maybe your team just voted her off?" Heather suggested. Duncan stared at her. "Believe me, I have more important things to think about than who gets eliminated from the other team. But if it helps you sleep at night, think what you like. But if you vote for me again, you have my word that you'll regret it," Heather warned.
"Yeah, right, whatever," Duncan snorted.
"Goodnight, Duncan," Heather smirked and walked into the girls cabin, leaving Duncan alone in the dark, questioning whether or not he could trust the guys he thought were his friends. Then he scolded himself for listening to Heather at all. All she did was manipulate people. He sighed and walked into the cabin, only to find Geoff and Bridgette making out of Geoff's bed.
"Oh, hey dude," Geoff said, looking up, embarrassed. It only took one look at the pair to know that they were soulmates. Geoff's wave shaped marks were now a brilliant shade of aqua and Duncan definitely saw a green that matched her eyes adorning Bridgette's chest before he politely looked away. He heard the zipper of Bridgette's hoodie and he figured it was safe to look again.
"Sorry to intrude," Duncan smirked.
"I should go," Bridgette said, standing up from Geoff's bed. "Thanks again for taking those leeches for me today," she smiled bashfully before leaving the cabin.
"So, that was what? A thank you kiss?" Duncan snickered.
"Shut up, dude," Geoff grinned, throwing a pillow at Duncan.
"I'm happy for you, man," Duncan said genuinely. He was happy for Geoff, he really was. And yet there was a small jealous tug at his heartstrings that he quickly shook off as the rest of the guys walked into the cabin. They immediately noticed Geoff's chest and began congratulating him. Duncan joined in weakly before claiming he had a headache and needed to go to sleep.