A Few Hours After The Elimination

"Al is taking Heather's elimination kind of hard." Owen whispered over to Noah as he worriedly glanced at Alejandro. The Latino was currently sulking in the corner of the economy-class part of the ship. He was hugging his legs as he stared out at nothing, it was as if his whole world had come crashing down on him.

Noah eyed the scene with suspicion. He pursed his lips together and folded his arms across his chest. His brows furrowed as he became deep in thought, an act that Owen noticed,

"Great Gatsby's Ghost! My little buddy is also taking this hard! It's okay! You'll see her again!" Owen practically cried as he pulled the pensive Noah into a bone crushing hug. The Bookworm let out a squeak of pain as he was forcefully dragged away from his thoughts.

"LetGoLetGoLetGoLetGo!" Noah hissed out in an ever increasing intensity as he slapped the side of Owen, desperately trying to get him to let go. Thankfully, the big guy got the message and put the Bookworm down. Noah glared up at Owen causing the big guy to glance away with a feeling of guilt.

Noah let out a soft sigh, unable to truly be mad at his friend,"Owen, you have known me for three seasons now. Have I ever once got broken up or glossy-eyed over a girl?"

"No . . . You don't really show much of an interest in anything except maybe your books." Owen answered as he slumped his shoulders,"But you just looked so sad right there! You sure you didn't feel anything for Heather? Is that why you asked me to vote her out? Because you were catching feels for her?"

"NO!" The Bookworm quickly snapped, resisting the urge to yell at his friend. The very notion of him being attracted to Heather was so sickening that he wanted to throw up. He did not like Heather and was happy that she was gone,"Owen, I'm going to have to ask you to turn on the autocorrect in that brain of yours."

The big guy let out a giggle as he patted Noah on the head. He was simply happy to see that his friend was okay. He then let out a soft frown as his eyes landed on Alejandro once more,"Al's usually so happy and confident . . . I didn't know that he'd get all so sad if we voted out Heather."

"Me neither," Noah muttered, still trying to decide whether or not Alejandro's mood was the real deal or some sort of weird trick. He then gave Owen a pat on the back,"Why don't you go and cheer up, Alejandro. Give him one of your world famous bear hugs . . . go ahead and make it nice and tight, I'm sure he'll need to feel secure."

With that Noah got up and began to leave the room. He paused as he heard Alejandro scream out,'AIEEEEEEEEEE!' followed by what he could only assume was curses in Spanish. A soft chuckle escaped the Bookworm's throat as he finally left the room.


Confessional

Noah: "I thought for sure that I was going to get taken out right when I got back . . . But it seems that I'm still in this . . . I definitely have to thank Owen for sticking with me and being a good friend." A soft chuckle escaped his throat,"Look at me, talking about friendship? I'm supposed to ignore things like that and focus on winning, but hey . . . I guess it's nice to have friends. Even Cody, we haven't talked much but we always got along. Guess it's because we're both part of the 'nerd' sphere, so it's only natural." He rolled his eyes as he uttered out 'nerd', he wasn't one for titles or monikers such as that,"In any case we now outnumber Alejandro when it comes to voting power, and even if he wins immunity we can just vote out Courtney or Duncan and take away even more of his strength. I know that it's too early to say this, but I feel like I've already beaten Alejandro."


Outside the Confessional

The Bookworm exited the restroom with a bit of a smug smirk on his face. Perhaps he was letting this win get to his head, but he honestly could not see any way that he could lose in this position. He knew for a fact that Owen and Cody wouldn't turn on him, and Sierra was too obsessed with Cody to go against his wishes. They had trust and the numbers advantage, all four of them getting to the final four was practically guaranteed.

His eyes went wide as he saw something sailing straight towards him. With swiftness, that he didn't even know he had, he threw himself to the ground. The object flew above his head and crashed into the ground behind him. He heard a baritone groan and realized that the object wasn't an object but a person.

"Duncan?" Noah blinked as he glanced over the person behind. Surely enough, it was the delinquent rolling there on the floor in pain.

"She's crazy!" Duncan growled out as he leapt to his feet. He then huffed and stomped away, moving towards the economy class with Owen and Alejandro.

The Bookworm simply shook his head and continued onward. As he walked down the hall he spotted Courtney who was looking especially angry. In an instant, Noah knew what had occurred. Duncan likely tried to talk to Courtney, possibly even make amends and was met with violence instead.

He briefly recalled the promise that he made to Gwen . . . but did he really want to relay that message now? Especially since Courtney looked as if she was going to murder someone if anyone else bothered her.

"What? Do you want to take the express exit as well?" Courtney huffed out, her eyes narrowing as she noted that Noah was watching her.

"Threatening to throw me out, because that's how we solve problems in civilized society." Noah drawled out, rolling his eyes at the C.I.T. Courtney practically growled as she gripped the Bookworm's collar and pulled him up, off of his own feet.

"I'm not exactly feeling 'civilized' right now! So how about you shut your trap before I shut it for you." She had clenched her fist, making her intentions clear if he continued to talk. This situation reminded Noah of Duncan, after all the delinquent did the exact same to him when they first met on the island.

"Aren't councilors supposed to be patient or did you skip out on that part of the training, Miss C.I.T?" Noah struck back with a blasé stare. He was not one to back down when it comes to the likes of bullies.

Courtney simply pushed him away and marched off, not wanting to deal with him. The Bookworm simply dusted himself off as he watched her walk off. He let out a soft sigh as he realized that he had most likely made an enemy with Courtney and all because of his own pride.

"Pride cometh before my fall." He muttered to himself as he continued on into first class. He was met with the sight of a forlorn Cody, face in hand, all the while Sierra was breathing down her neck.

"Hey, Stalkerlicious. I heard that there was a gilded Chris hidden somewhere in the hull." The Bookworm stated as he lazily jutted his thumb towards the direction of the hull. In an instant, Sierra leapt from her position and for once abandoned Cody. She was a girl on a mission and she would find that gilded Chris if it was the last thing she did. Not that there was one, after all Noah was lying just to give his friend a moment of reprieve.

"Thanks man." Cody let out a sigh of relief as he collapsed against his chair,"I just don't understand why she's so . . . sooo . . . "

"So crazy? Utterly insane? Lacking marbles?" Noah supplied as he sat down beside his friend, finally getting to relax in a proper seat.

"No . . . I mean so into me? Like, why me? I was barely in the first season . . . but here she is obsessed with me? What did I do to get her attention? I just don't understand it, it's not like I'm anything special! Shouldn't she be interested in Owen? I mean he won the first season! Or even Duncan or Justin or anyone else!"

"Maybe she's just into losers?" Cody glared at Noah in response to that little jab,"In all seriousness, that chick is wack like Caligula crazy type of wack. Honestly, you probably didn't have to do anything to get her attention. You just ticked all of the right boxes in that deranged mind of hers, if it wasn't you then it would probably be another person that fits your general description that she goes goo goo over. My advice, get a restraining order as soon as possible."

" . . . Yeah."


Economy Class

"There there, Al, just let it all out. Don't keep it all in, it's good to cry." Owen was speaking in an almost sing-song voice as he continued to crush Alejandro with a bear hug. Alejandro surely had tears in his eyes, but it wasn't because of the fact that Heather was eliminated. It was because of the immense pain he was feeling due to Owen's ridiculous strength.

"Somehow . . . You continuously calling me Al, hurts me more than the bones breaking." Alejandro grunted out as he swore that his spine had been broken in half. He promised himself that he was going to get Owen back for this, that there was no future for the lovable lad. Any thoughts of winning went to the wayside for Alejandro, for he was completely and totally focused on revenge.

A laugh echoed throughout the room. Owen paused momentarily from his hugging of Alejandro and glanced back to find Duncan there, doubling over in laughter. The delinquent then noted the desperate look that Alejandro was giving him and decided to intervene.

"Owen, how about you lay off Alejandro." He suggested as he leaned against the rotund contestant.

"But I'm trying to cheer up Al! He got so gloomy when Heather went away."

"I don't think turning his spine into dust is going to help him out. Look, Owen, what he needs is time. That's what helped me when Courtney got eliminated back on the island."

"Yeah . . . I guess it was the same for me when Izzy got eliminated . . . and when she got eliminated again . . . and when she got eliminated again." Owen let out a soft sigh as he released Alejandro from his grasp. He then gave the Latino a pat on the head,"Hope you feel better soon, Al."

Alejandro slapped away Owen's hand and stormed off. His face was completely red with rage, but still managed to control himself from going too off the handle.

Duncan waited until Alejandro was out of earshot in order to talk with Owen,"Who did you vote for?" He questioned, folding his arms across his chest.

"Well . . . Noah wanted to vote Al, saying something about how Al was an Eel covered in grease."

"Because he's dirty?"

"I don't remember . . . I think it's because he's tasty?" Owen muttered out, his brows furrowing together as he tried to recall the exact reasoning. Duncan simply raised up one side of his unibrow, not exactly believing that line of reasoning.

"Yeah, but you couldn't vote out Alejandro. Dude got immunity." The Delinquent pointed out as he leaned against one of the chairs.

"Yeah, and I'm happy he did. Al's a good pal, heh, that rhymed. Since we couldn't vote for Al, Noah told me to vote for Heather instead."

"Has that dork been telling you who to vote for this entire time?" Duncan continued to question Owen, trying to figure out just how much pull that Noah had on the lovable oaf.

"Noah's smart, like real smart. He knows better than me on who to vote . . . and I don't like voting someone off. You all are my friends, I don't want to see anyone go. It's easier to just listen to Noah, but I also listened to Al when Noah was gone." Owen twiddled with his own thumbs as he stared down. He knew it was part of the game to vote someone off, but his heart was never truly in it whenever he voted.

"Owen, buddy. Can't you see that the Bookworm's usin' you." Duncan nudged Owen with his elbow, making sure to have his attention. The lovable oaf's eyes went wide for a split second before he shook his head, refusing to believe that.

"Noah's my friend, my little buddy. Yeah he can be a bit mean, but he wouldn't use me." He retorted, his voice having a hint of resolution in it. He truly believed in his friend and refused to take in such slander.

"You sure 'bout that, 'cause I can see it as plain as day. He's just using you to get farther in this competition. He's telling you to get rid of Alejandro, a friend of yours. He's trying to get you isolated so that you'll depend on him. Trust me, I've seen it happen in juvie a hundred times." Duncan stated this nonchalantly as if this was a clear fact that everyone should know. He was back to leaning against the seat, busy looking at the dirt under his nails.

"I'm sure." There was more confidence in Owen's voice. Even though he was easily swayed and gullible, he refused to believe that Noah was simply using him. "He's my best friend."


Confessional

Duncan: "Best friend? Him and Bookworm? When did that happen? How did that happen!? Did he read a book about food to Owen or something!?" Duncan's hands went to his head as he let out a groan,"Great, just great. Now I gotta focus on splitting them up instead of getting rid of Alejandro."


In The Hull

Alejandro had to get away from everyone, he had just lost the only woman he truly had a crush on and on top of that he had Owen try to destroy him in a bear hug all the while repeating 'Al'. He was angry, he was tired and he needed just a moment to recompose and think. He needed just a bit of time to figure everything out.

He plopped himself down on top of a crate, his head resting on his fist a facsimile of the Thinker statue. Everything had been going perfectly for him. He was in control of the votes, everyone was his ally, there was virtually no threat to his power. Then Noah had to go and throw a wrench into everything.

But the question on Alejandro's mind was how?

How did the snarky Bookworm do so much? He knew that Owen would listen to anything that Noah had to say, on top of that the Bookworm had been deep in conversation with Cody. Yet, three votes were not nearly enough to take Heather out of the game. There was more at play that he had not yet realized.

"FOUND IT!" Sierra suddenly leapt out from a crate, holding a gilded Chris close to her. She was humming out a victory song as she closed her eyes and simply basked in the moment.

Alejandro blinked as he saw her,"Ah, Sierra. It is a pleasure to see you. May I ask you something, just who exactly did you vote for?"

The crazed fangirl jumped slightly as she noted that Alejandro was there, staring. She held the statue closer to her body, almost afraid that Alejandro would steal it from her,"If you must know, I voted for Heather!" She then leapt out of the box. Her grin came to full force,"Can you believe that Cody asked me to vote her out? He doesn't talk to me much, I think it's because he's shy!"

The Latino blinked as he processed this information. A frown appeared upon his face for a fraction of a second as he finally came to understand his folly. He had thought that he could sick Sierra on Noah, that the suggestion of Noah attempting to steal her man would cause her to vote him out. Yet, he had forgotten that Cody had the penultimate influence upon her. The boy could tell Sierra to do anything and she would do it, no matter how outrageous.

A cruel grin emerged upon his lips. All he had to do to regain control of this game was to make Sierra desperate, to make her mistake that little alliance of Noah and Cody's as an actual relationship.

"I recall something from my watching of Total Drama, weren't Noah and Cody close? I do believe that I remember Noah kissing Cody."

"That didn't mean anything!" Sierra's voice was quicker than usual as she felt she had to defend her man,"N-Noah is just cuddly when he's asleep! I called his parents and everyone of his siblings to verify that! They were asleep! Nothing more!"

Alejandro was careful to not grin. He maintained a concerned face as he looked at her,"But then why did they sleep so close to one another? It is not as if one of them slept and walked over to the other . . . Do you also not find it suspicious that ever since Noah came back, that he and Cody have been talking? They had not done that the entire season." Of course the main reasoning behind this was that Noah and Cody were on separate teams, but hopefully Sierra would not make this realization.

The crazed fan girl gasped,"B-but . . . Noah isn't Cody's type! Cody likes people that are funny, that d-don't look down on his interests, will notice him a-and are breathing!"

Alejandro simply raised up a single brow as he stared at her. It seemed that Cody's qualifications for love interests were rather broad,"It seems that Noah fits every criteria. He tells jokes, he is what one would call a geek, he has noticed Cody and is still breathing."

It felt as if her whole world was crashing down. She had managed to bribe, cheat and lie her way onto the Total Drama World Tour. She had finally been united with the lover of her life, Cody. She was the happiest girl alive because he was there and he was with her . . . but reality was cruel. Noah had returned and stolen her man, stolen what was rightfully hers.

"Where is he?" She growled out.

"I believe I spotted him speaking with Cody in first class." Sierra began to march out, planning on getting rid of Noah. She was suddenly halted as Alejandro grabbed her arm,"Hold up, you can't go after him just yet."

"Why not?" She barked out, turning her ire towards the Latino.

Alejandro's eyes momentarily went wide as he felt fear run down his spine,"What I mean to say is that you shouldn't strike now. It is not opportune . . . besides, don't you want to make Noah feel pain for stealing your man?"

"I'm listening."

The Spaniard let out a fierce grin as he began to divulge his plan to Sierra.


Alright, I know this chapter was different than the other two. Basically, the plan is to have shorter more character focused chapters between each challenge chapter. That way we get more character interactions, motivations and strategies. It won't always be like this, since some of these will be the Aftermath Specials.

We got Noah getting overconfident, Alejandro plotting with Sierra, Duncan and Courtney's relationship becoming more strained. There's a lot to look forward to.

Read and review, tell me what you like and what you don't like. Give any predictions you have for the future, from the final two to whose getting out next episode.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter ^u^