Right, let's keep moving. Thanks for reviewing, Nicky Haugh, DannyPhantom619, prfh, abbey290901, SuperKitty4789 and Derick Lindsey.

I was right. At first, Bart didn't believe I'd seen Duncan, but as I pointed out "He quit the show. He's probably having fun being out of Canada while he can. I don't think he's supposed to leave the country because of his criminal record, but...whatever."

But he was totally envious. Duncan was still his total role model. As he'd actually said "I want to be just as cool as him."

Then the day came that everyone else arrived in Springfield. Of course, most of the group only came around at the end of the challenge, but around midday, I found Chris on the doorstep of the house. "So, where is everyone?" I asked.

"I left them to start the challenge." Chris said casually. "Told them what to do and everything. I've got a GPS that keeps track of them, and Chef's keeping an eye on them all."

I paused. "I know Harold's gone." I said finally. "And Zeke. And Duncan. Is anyone else gone?"

"Just Bridgette." Chris answered. "She took the time to make out with a pole in the Yukon and her team lost."

I frowned. Why would Bridgette kiss a flagpole? Had she tried to kiss someone else, or accidentally stuck her tongue out of her mouth for some reason? She was still with Geoff, so I couldn't think she'd try to kiss someone or something. Bridgette was not the cheating type.

Anyway, that was sad. I would've liked to see my surfer friend again. At least Gwen would be around.

The first person to sneak into the house from the treehouse was Izzy. Her team probably chose her because of her acrobatic skills, and Dad ended up getting a black eye when he tried to get the beer back from her. Izzy escaped unharmed, and even won the challenge for her team.

Next, Leshawna climbed in through the window, struggling a little with her weight, but I didn't say anything. She evaded Dad pretty easily.

Sierra, for some reason, did the challenge too, but had a harder time. She got in just after Leshawna, and Dad noticed her first, probably because of her hair. But by the time either of them were out, Team Chris is Really Really Really Really Hot was already assembled in the driveway, and Chris announced them as the winners, and the challenge as...a reward challenge. Team Amazon had lost, but they wouldn't lose a team member.

Finally, I invited everyone in for the hour Chris had said he'd let me hang out. My family was just as excited as I was, too. Dad recognized Owen immediately and struck up a conversation with him involving pork chops and doughnut dreams (something they have in common). Mom started swapping cooking tips with DJ. Lisa started asking Lindsay questions, and when all she got was lots of blank expressions and misunderstandings, began talking to Courtney about successes (she'd discovered something about Courtney publishing a book for teens about succeeding and wanted to know more). As for Bart, he asked Izzy questions, obviously trying to get her to start babbling.

And me? Well, I talked to almost everyone. I sought out Gwen first. "Hey, tough luck." I said sympathetically. "Stuck on a team with Heather again? And Courtney?"

Gwen shrugged. "Yeah. I know, it sucks. But Courtney's okay – after all, she hates Heather too." We both laughed. "Cody's okay too, he can be quite sweet, but he's making no secret of the fact that he still has a crush on me. And he's also scared of Sierra, who won't leave him alone!"

"What's Sierra like, apart from that?" I asked.

Gwen glanced around, and then said in a low voice "Kind of like Izzy, but not as random crazy. More like fangirl-crazy. She was really excited about coming here-"

At that moment, said fangirl swooped down. "Stephanie, I was SO excited about getting to meet you!" she squealed. "You were so totally cool in the first two seasons-"

"Yeah, thanks." I cut her off. "But this social goth has to go and be social with everyone else, too. I've seen your vlogs, and labels for us. Nice meeting you, Sierra."

After I sought out some of my other friends, I instantly discovered that Alejandro had already had an effect on a lot of them. Mainly the girls. Make that mainly the girls on Team Victory – Gwen and Sierra weren't interested, Courtney was missing Duncan and had no interest in other guys, and Heather was downright hostile.

Leshawna in particular was completely smitten. "He's so nice to everyone," she said, "And when I nearly got sucked out of the plane, he saved me. Also," she added with a grin, "Heather can't stand him, so that's a bonus."

I only really understood why people were so easily charmed after I actually talked to Alejandro. "Hi." I smiled shyly at him. "You're Alejandro, right? The new guy on this season?"

He smiled charmingly at me. "Stephanie, isn't it? It is a pleasure to meet such a strong competitor. And if I may say, a muy beautiful senorita." I wasn't really too surprised when he slipped Spanish in – one of his confessionals was completely made up of Spanish and bleeps – he wasn't too pleased with his team. But his accent was very light – almost impossible to detect when he was actually speaking in English.

I felt myself blushing. "I never got to the finals." I murmured. "But thanks. So, what's it like, being the newbie? Is it kind of scary, going into a game where everyone else knows each other?"

"It is a little indimidating, but everyone on the cast is very welcoming. And it is more of an honour than anything to play against veterans." He paused, and said in a gentle, soft tone "I am disappointed that I haven't had the pleasure of meeting the other veterans, though. It would have been wonderful if you were able to join the cast."

I couldn't help smiling, and an idea popped into my head. "Maybe Chris would let me join if I sucked up to him enough! I'll ask him now."

I found Chris in the kitchen, looking bored. No one in the house was really talking to him.

"Chris," I said sweetly. "What say you bring another Total Drama veteran with you on the World Tour? I'd just love to have another chance to be famous. Don't I boost ratings?"

I saw the wheels start to turn in Chris' head. "You were good for ratings...and most of the TDA reviews talked about you..." He grinned and thrust a contract at me. "Sign and be back here in twenty minutes!"

I quickly signed, then told Mom that I was going. She instantly stormed off to tell Chris off for letting me in the middle of the semester, but it was too late. I was already packing clothes, my sketchbook, and my iPod and portable power source. Long flights could get really boring, and I was sure we were going to take the scenic route across the globe, going back and forth.

"I'm not pleased with you at the moment, Stephanie." Mom told me. "But listen, stay safe, and good luck." She gave me a hug, and then I said goodbye to the rest of my family, before leaving. I wouldn't get letters, but every time a team won immunity and got to sit in First Class, we'd get whatever emails or care packages that had been sent to us via Chris.

After we got on the plane, I had to be assigned to a team. Chris grinned and said "Stephanie, I hadn't decided on a reward for the challenge. So I think that I'll use you – as a numbers advantage over the other teams! So welcome to Team Chris Is Really Really Really Amazingly Hot!"

I smiled around at my new team, surveying each of them. I was starting to regret talking to Alejandro by this time – it was what he said that convinced me to join. Still, it was nice to be in First Class with the winning team.

Izzy was pleased to see me again, and gave me a big hug. I actually got a half-smile from the usually emotionless Noah. Owen gave me another hug, and I greeted Tyler by challenging him to a game of ping-pong (there was a table in First Class), which I won easily.

As for Alejandro? He gave me a charming smile and told me in a low voice "On the first two seasons, you were one of my favourites. I know we'll fare well with you on our team."

So I decided to do World Tour! I was just writing the scene with Alejandro, then it struck me that Stephanie could be on the tour! I'm going to see if I can mix things up, though. The eliminations will be canon, but outside of challenges and eliminations, there will be differences. And yes, there probably will be some one-sided Alesteph/Stephandro, so don't comment on it.