Author's Note: I'll put the votes for each couple to the right of their names, and an "X" for them being voted off on the left.
X-Izzy and Owen-3
X-Heather and Justin-42
X-Lindsay and Tyler-0
X-LeShawna and Harold-4
X-Beth and Cody-4
X-Eva and Ezekiel-0
-Bridgette and Geoff-59
-Gwen and Trent-113
-Courtney and Duncan-158
X-Sadie and DJ-2
-Katie and Noah-68
Geoff, Duncan, Noah, and Trent stare at the new arrivals. Their girlfriends nudge them, and they finally extend their hands for a handshake. Everybody shakes hands except Duncan and Josh.
"Duncan!" Courtney hisses. He extends his hand.
"I'm Duncan," Duncan says. Josh chuckles and shakes Duncan's hand.
"Hello, Duncan, I'm Josh," Josh says slowly. Duncan pulls his hand back quickly.
"I'm not retarded," Duncan snaps. He bites his tongue to avoid punching Josh as the new guy assesses Duncan's outfit and mohawk. Duncan stops biting his tongue once he tastes blood.
"Chef will take Geoff, Duncan, Trent, and Noah into the broadcast room, where they will stay for two days. Of course we will feed you. Meanwhile, girls, please show your ex around Camp Wawanakwa," Chris says. The girls and their exes disappear.
"So you're trapping us in the broadcast room?" Trent asks. Chris chuckles.
"Yeah, pretty much. We're going to see if you're girl's ex starts flirting with her, and if she flirts back--"
"Katie's ex, Marco, is gay," Noah states.
"What?"
"You couldn't tell with all the squealing and jumping around and giggling that he was gay?" Noah asks. Chris sighs.
"How do you know?" Chris asks.
"Katie and I talk about everything. She told me how she and Marco used to date, but then he found out he was gay, and they broke up," Noah informs him. Chris nods, surprised.
"Well, alright," Chris continues, "I guess I won't need you, then. Go and hang out with Katie and Marco." Noah walks off.
"Anyway, follow me to the broadcasting room," Chris says. But Geoff, Trent, and Duncan stay where they are. Chris calls Chef.
"Good, you're awake!" Chris exclaims. The guys groan, elbows sore. Apparently Chef had used some old military trick to squeeze an opponent's pressure point on their elbow, thus making them pass out. Geoff tries to take a hand to rub his sore elbow, but he finds his hands stuck on a metal desk.
Each boy's hands were palm-down on the desk, and a thick metal band was wrapped around their wrists. Their torsos were also tied to a wooden chair, and each boy had a small TV in front of them, now covered in static. Headphones were sitting on the desk, plugged into the TV.
"Here is where you will spend the next two days, watching your girlfriend and her ex. If her ex pulls any tricks, you will be able to do nothing," Chris says smugly. "Good luck!"
Chris leaves the broadcasting room, closing the solid metal door behind him. The metal bands around the guys' hands snapped off, and they tore out of the ropes. Once they were untied, their TV's all flashed on at once. They slip on their headphones, and watch their girlfriends in action.
The boys are starting to feel pretty confident when all that goes on between their girlfriends and her exes is talking. But then the TV's turn all static-y and Chef walks in with food. He dumps the supper bowls on the desk and walks out. The TV's stay static-y all the while Trent, Geoff, and Duncan are eating.
Meanwhile, Chris hunts down the ex-couples one by one. Once he gets to Josh and Courtney, he slows down and stops running. "Courtney, may I borrow Josh?" Chris asks. Courtney nods, staring after Chris, wondering why he was being so polite.
Chris drags Josh out of Courtney's hearing range. "Listen, Courtney and Duncan kinda had a bad breakup, so… go easy on her," Chris whispers. Josh's eyes light up.
"Really?"
"Oh yeah," Chris says, "Just don't mention the breakup or it may get ugly. Duncan got pretty harsh, and Courtney might get… well, you know." Chris shrugs and Josh nods enthusiastically.
"Oh, yeah, Chris, don't worry. I won't say anything to make Courtney unhappy," Josh exclaims. Chris nods, pats Josh's back, and walks away. Now it's time to sit back and watch the drama unfold, he thinks.
The static on their TV screens finally clears. Geoff slides his headphones on and stares, transfixed, at the TV screen. Luke and Bridgette were walking on the beach.
"Some beach, huh, Bridge?" Luke asks sarcastically, kicking a soda can. Bridgette sighs.
"Yeah, it's definitely not like the beaches in Cali," Bridgette agrees, looking in disgust at a pile of stinking trash.
"I hear ya. Me and the guys can't wait for you to come back home," Luke says. But then he realizes his mistake and rushes, "Well, we want you to win, but, you know, we miss you." Bridgette smiles.
"I know, I've missed you guys too. I really want to win TDC, but I also kindof want to go back and just surf everyday, all day, like I was before this contest began… you know?" she asks.
"Yeah," Luke says, nodding.
But then Bridgette trips over a ripped-up car tire. Geoff flinches as Luke catches her in his arms. Bridgette blushes and brushes herself off using one hand. Luke keeps hold of her other hand.
"I'm… pretty clumsy," Bridgette excuses herself.
"I know, I've known you since Pre-K," Luke says. They laugh.
Finally, Bridgette looks down at her hand in Luke's.
That's more like it
, Geoff thinks, Bridgette will pull away and explain she has a boyfriend…But she doesn't.
Bridgette looks down at her hand, intertwined with Luke's. Suddenly, tons of memories flood her head. Surfing on the beach, eating snow cones, going to the city fair, all those date-movies, and… Luke, with his tan skin and deep dimples. She blushes, and smiles a little, remembering her first kiss. Of course, it was with Luke, and it was on the beach. Actually, it was on their surfboards, floating in the ocean.
All of a sudden, Luke bends down and kisses Bridgette.
Geoff chokes on his spit, and starts coughing, staring wide-eyed at the TV screen.
Bridgette, caught up in the memory of her first kiss, kisses him back. Luke's hands were on the small of her back, and as Bridgette reaches up to run her fingers through his hair.
The static on Geoff's TV returns. Geoff rips the headphones from his ears as the sound of static fills his head. He stands up fast, knocking his chair to the ground. Geoff's hands were balled up into fists, and his fingernails were cutting into his palm.
Bridgette snaps back. She pulls away from Luke as if she'd been shocked.
"What?" Luke asks. Bridgette just shakes her head, wide-eyed, and runs for her cabin. Luke chases after her.
She pounds up the wooden steps and Luke grabs her wrist. "Bridge. What's wrong?" he asks softly. She shakes her head, tears filling her eyes. Bridgette rips her arm from his hand and she stumbles into her cabin. She turns around and faces him from through the screen door.
"I have a boyfriend," Bridgette says quietly.
"But Chris said--" Luke tries, but Bridgette slams the door in his face.
(Author's Note: I'll probably announce whether Bridgette and Geoff or Noah and Katie are eliminated during the next chapter. So hurry up and place your votes since I'm already halfway done with the next chappie!)
