Alright everyone! Just a little mental preparation for this chapter. The majority of this chapter is going to be from Emma's perspective as a viewer of another episode of Total Drama. Also, let's say there will be some added interactions in this chapter to make things a bit more interesting. Anyway, hope you all enjoy!

(Emma's POV)

I was trying to run to my living room after I got so sucked into a research paper until I realized the show was starting in less than 5 minutes.

Sure, I could always just watch it when it's up on streaming the following morning, but… I don't care?

I'm still in a near constant state of paranoia, but watching Noah every week right now is one of the few things that keeps me sane.

Especially since last week… I felt my paranoia suddenly get replaced by guilt again.

When the 2nd episode premiered last week, it opened on Noah's team and immediately on Noah putting up one of the pictures I gave him next to his bunk.

And not going to lie that I was extremely touched by it and it practically brought me to the point of having a Noah-daze for the first time in months since the race.

Well… until Alejandro walked in and he and Noah got into it a little.

Pretty much to the point where Alejandro actually dragged me into it and started pretty much trying to verbally pick at Noah and get in his head by bringing up our temporary break until Noah actually defended us, kind of.

Well, more he managed to get right back at Alejandro with a pretty good comeback like he usually does.

Sure, we talked about that whole situation with our break during the race and Noah told me to forget about it and that he didn't care, but that still doesn't mean I don't feel guilty sometimes.

Very guilty.

Even though after it happened, Noah was clearly broken but that didn't mean I also wasn't in my own way.

Even though it ripped me apart to do it internally and I knew I needed to slow things down, but I also knew my initial way of going at it was the worst thing I could've done looking back on it.

It wasn't Noah's fault that I just turn into a total borderline obsessive mess when it comes to relationships.

Ugh, I should have just told him initially I just wanted us to wait until after the race was over to date like I did when I apologized to him to get him out of his funk… and also because I spent that whole challenge in Alberta having my own guilt driven breakdown over seeing him like that and I just couldn't take it anymore.

But, Alejandro just had to bring that back up and Noah was actually kind of defending us in his own smart ass way.

I'll admit it… I was touched.

But, other than that, Noah's team has actually been doing okay. They won last week's challenge. Barely, but they still won. Especially considering it was a challenge that actually required teamwork in an extreme relay race and considering the kinds of people on Noah's team… it was kind of a shocker.

I was brought back when I heard Chris start talking on the TV, but he was just going over the recap of the last episode and I just tuned most of it out since it was mostly about the other team.

(Intro ends and opens on the old mining camp cabin bunk houses. The camp was dark and it was the night after the most recent elimination. The camera panned around the camp until it settled on the latrine slightly off in the distance as Noah walked out with a towel over his shoulder, having just washed up before bunking down for the night. He yawned and looked like he was about to make the walk back when he stopped as he heard a slight 'thump' behind him. He looked over his shoulder, quirking up an eyebrow in inquisition at what he heard. Though he looked like he was about to turn and keep heading back to the cabin until he kept hearing noises from behind the building.)

Noah: (Sighing but still maintaining his usual deadpan facial expression before saying to himself.) "Guessing I'm probably going to regret doing this; but hey, at this point… why not?"

(Noah carefully moved toward the back of the building where he kept hearing the noises get slightly louder until he craned his neck around the corner and immediately went wide eyed and froze up at what he was seeing. Alejandro and Heather were behind the latrine building making out, both of whom were being completely all over each other. Heather had her arms wrapped around his neck as she had her back up against the wall of the building with Alejandro standing in front of her with his hands resting on her waist. But it wasn't even a second as Alejandro slowly slid his hands down to her thighs before slowly smoothing them back up until his hands were starting to inch their way up her shorts. Noah; however, finally snapped himself back around the corner and pressed himself against the wall. His expression was a cocktail of both disgust and completely disturbed about walking in on the last two people he'd ever want to see making out aside from anyone in his family.)

Noah: (Maintaining the disgusted and disturbed energy about him at the moment. Before returning to his usual deadpan and also borderline annoyed expression and then started talking to himself in a sarcastic tone quiet enough for only him to hear.) "Well, that's definitely not going to be lining the insides of my nightmares tonight."

I couldn't stop myself from laughing even though I had to try and cut myself off since I didn't want to miss a second of what was happening.

(Noah looked like he was about to finally go back to the cabin, and also reevaluate why he thought even trying to see what was going on was even remotely good idea since he just had a look about him like he either wanted to puke in disgust or pour bleach directly into his head after that. He rolled his eyes and shuddered slightly until he stopped at what he heard next. Back around the corner, Heather put Alejandro at an arm's length, having her usual annoyed look about her as she gave him a glare.)

Heather: "Hey handsy, I thought you asked me to come here to talk strategy? Not change the subject to feeling me up."

Alejandro: (All he did was regard her with a quirked up eyebrow and knowing smirk as he responded smoothly, seeing through Heather's typical response when they were out in a more public setting.) "Oh Heather... there's no need to be like that when we're alone, mi amor. You know I can't help myself when it's just us, and I know I'm not alone in that between us. Actually, if you're calling me 'handsy', then who was the one who initiated that act when we rounded the corner behind here?"

Heather: (Clearly fighting a slightly embarrassed and flustered blush, she managed to conceal it under her usual stubbornness as she gave him a shove and then followed it with the cold shoulder before responding in flustered annoyance.) "Yeah, right? You wish."

Alejandro: (He still wasn't even remotely phased at her responses that he was so used to after knowing and being with Heather this long. Holding a smirk, he went up behind Heather and put his hands on her sides again and put his lips close to her left ear and started speaking in a slow yet flirtatious and almost seductive tone.) "Come now Heather, I thought we agreed we were both past fighting each other like this? Particularly since we are on the same team now in more ways than one, future Mrs. Alejandro Burromuerto."

(Heather's eyes went wide in shock as the camera took the opportunity to snag a look at Noah's reaction as he continued to listen in to the situation, showing his expression to continue to contort in a mixture of conflicted and confused thoughts as he looked like he was trying to process what he just heard Alejandro admit as he continued to keep himself braced against the wall on the adjacent side of the building. Well, until the camera went back to show a still wide eyed Heather until she turned around to face Alejandro again before jabbing him in the chest with her left index finger.)

Heather: (Now narrowing her eyes and talking through her teeth slightly in frustration at her fiancé.) "Will you stop it?! Do you want to announce that any louder for any idiot that can hear?! I thought we agreed to keep our mouths shut about it until this season was over? Or do you want to give anyone leverage to use against us? The more people know about you, the more they can use it against you. Or have you forgotten that basic rule since your ego seems to take over more of your big fat head everytime we discuss anything?"

Alejandro: (Not even remotely phased by her shallow insults that had no weight to them now since he knew the real truth of her feelings for him.) "Well, do you see anyone else around? And even with cameras watching, that won't affect the game for us since even before now the only ones that knew of us were our families. Besides, this wasn't the same attitude I saw from you when you mutually agreed to the idea."

Heather: (Although clearly frustrated and flustered at the truth of his words. She still looked determined to dig in her heels and maintain her self control as she crossed her arms and directed.) "Even though our families knowing about us doesn't help the cause with why it's pointless to discuss this right now? Or do I need to bring up how your mom feels about 'the idea'? You know, considering at this point she still definitely hates me."

Alejandro: (Looking clearly like he was trying to skirt the issue.) "Mother doesn't hate you. She just doesn't… understand. She just needs time to warm up to everything."

Heather: (Heather continued to cross her arms as she raised an eyebrow at him.) "Oh really? Then your mom passive aggressively introducing me as the 'young woman my son decided to marry' to your cousins at that family party before we left rather than calling me 'your fiancé' was not a sign that she hates me? Yeah, like she doesn't know I understood that despite her saying it in Spanish..."

Alejandro: (Looking frustrated for a split second, knowing deep down Heather wasn't wrong, straightened up and sighed.) "I'm assuming that means you'd rather discuss strategy now?"

Heather: (Smirking at getting her way to herself before turning to face Alejandro again.) "I thought you'd never ask."

(The camera showed Noah again, who was still pressed against the wall listening in and mouthed 'FINALLY!' to himself after looking like he had just experienced a degree of mental torture after forcing himself to listen to that entire conversation just to get to this point.)

Alejandro: "Very well then. Should we lose the next challenge, we need to talk about who to cut from the team."

Heather: "Agreed. Moon child definitely needs to go."

Alejandro: "Dawn? I mean, granted she's a little… odd, but she seems relatively harmless at this point. I'd say we should aim for Scott or Noah. Besides it's logical to eliminate them to even the odds more in your favor of the ratio on the team."

Heather: (Rolling her eyes and crossing her arms again.) "A little odd? Do you have to share a room with Creeptastic Cathy every night?! When she's not talking to animals out the window, she's always sitting on her bed looking at me when I wake up and then tells me disturbing things about myself that she has no way of knowing. And don't even get me started on this morning."

*Rolling footage from earlier that morning.*

(Heather was waking up and her eyes slowly opened until her eyes went wide when she saw Dawn already awake and dressed sitting in a semi-meditative pose on her bed and looking at Heather. Despite this not being the first time this happened, it still didn't mean that it didn't creep Heather out as she sat up but retained her usual attitude.)

Heather: (Narrowing her eyes and raising an eyebrow before directing in defensiveness at Dawn.) "Can I help you?"

Dawn: (Retaining her usual even, neutral, and soft spoken demeanor as she remained in her position.) "The way you act and lash out is due to a lack of attention in your childhood from your parents playing favoritism with your younger siblings."

(Heather remained silent and looked at Dawn wide eyed as uncomfortable silence consumed the entire room.)

*Flashback clip ended and returned to the present moment with Alejandro and Heather.*

Alejandro: (Looking like he was debating, decided to go at things from a different angle.) "Well then, let's discuss what we do at least agree on with our team and run through our options. Particularly, I think we can agree that Owen and Brick are both a non-threat. As much as I find Owen annoying, he's not remotely a threat at this point. And Brick… well, he's placid enough to follow any orders given to him so if anything he's an asset for us to keep around."

(Heather nodded her head in agreement and looked like she was about to say something until they heard creaking until what sounded a loud crack and a crash was heard around the corner from them. The two exchanged looks and then looked around the corner just in time to see a wall on the latrine had given way to rot as well as something else when they saw a familiar pair of sneakers sticking out from the wall.)

Noah: (Laying on the floor of the men's side of the latrine and covered in rotted boards from the wall he fell through and was also groaning in slight pain.) "Ugh, why am I always the one getting…"

(Noah started tossing boards off himself until he looked up only to see boots and a pair of wedge sandals he knew all too well as he kept looking up to see both Alejandro and Heather with their arms crossed and eyes narrowed at him.)

Noah: (Though still having his usual deadpan facial expression, expressed his internal feeling out loud on reflex at obviously being caught.) "Well... #$%&."

(It was an intense and also awkward standoff between the three as Alejandro and Heather kept staring down Noah. Even though it was obviously understood that Noah was sure he was caught just as much as Alejandro and Heather knew that Noah was listening in on them.)

Alejandro: (His expression slowly forming into a sly smirk as his eyes continued to narrow at Noah like a snake about to strike at its prey as he spoke to Heather.) "Well, well… it looks like the decision on who to eliminate next has become quite easy, hasn't it?"

(Noah, although internally clearly freaking out over being caught like this, kept his even outward demeanor as he tried to think of what to do. The wheels clearly turning in his head until it looked like a thought struck him. He stood up and crossed his arms back at them.)

Noah: (Quirking up an eyebrow) "Sure about that? I beg to differ. If anything at this point, you're stuck with keeping me around if you want to stay."

Heather: (Stepping forward with an annoyed expression as she gripped the collar of Noah's shirt and narrowed her eyes at him.) "What are you talking about, you sarcastic little dweeb?"

Noah: (With his current plan in mind, maintained an unimpressed and matter of fact expression.) "I'm saying that I know things now that you guys can't risk getting out. Because I'm sure Brick and Scott especially would love to know what I just heard. And particularly I'm guessing you'd especially be ecstatic if I mention what I know about you two to anyone. Had I known, maybe I would've got a greeting card, but I assume they don't make a card for an engagement between two oily snakes."

Alejandro: (He put his hands on his sides in a power stance and continued to give Noah both a confused and annoyed look, particularly at Noah's last sarcastic remark.) "I'm not following your logic, amigo. Considering that everything you just said should only ensure that we have you taken out sooner rather than later. Does it not?"

Noah: (Still having his shirt collar held by an annoyed and angry Heather, yet still maintained his usual expression.) "You just answered your own question, Al. Think about it. The moment you guys have me booted, I'll spill everything to everyone on the team. And I'm not going to use hints this time, señor eel. The moment I'm eliminated, I tell everyone everything I heard and you'll be stuck with whatever happens afterwards. My guess being that neither of you will last long in the game after. Right, am I not?"

(Alejandro was clearly looking infuriated at Noah almost mocking him at the end of his last statement, almost remembering part of the reason why he can't stand him. Heather; however, seemed to be on the same page but approaching the situation differently.)

Heather: (Making Alejandro and Noah go wide eyed for a moment as Heather actually lifted Noah off the ground by his shirt with both her hands.) "Listen you little twerp. If you think that you can just…"

Noah: (Putting his hands up to cut Heather off in defense.) "Hey, easy queen bee, I think we can come to some sort of an agreement over this where all of us can get what we want here."

I leaned forward and tilted my head, trying to figure out what he was even trying to do right now?

(Alejandro and Heather exchanged looks before Alejandro gave Heather a nod. Heather narrowed her eyes at Noah before letting him go and taking a few steps back until she was back next to Alejandro and crossing her arms, but still giving Noah a complete death glare. Even though Alejandro wasn't too far off from Heather at this point either as they both steaded their gaze at Noah intently.)

Noah: (Straightening out his shirts for a second before looking back at Alejandro and Heather, looking like he was preparing to make an important business proposition.) "Look, I'll promise to keep everything I heard here underwraps and not mention anything to anyone. But... I have a few conditions."

Alejandro: (Exchanging a quick glance with Heather before looking back at Noah, who was still standing his ground with his deadpan yet steady expression, with a skeptical gaze.) "What do you have in mind then?"

*{Confessional: Noah}*

Noah: "Okay, look, I know this isn't the kind of thing I usually do. Sure, blackmailing 'El Diablo' and 'The Mistress of Evil'?… yeah, that's not a problem for me after the times both of them screwed me over in the past. It's just going to make this very tedious and difficult. But… dude, I am so done with losing. That's right. Don't think I don't see all the blogs and the posts and the memes about me constantly being the running gag on this stupid show of not even being able to ever make it to a merge much less win anything. But, that stops now. At this point, that million is going to be mine if I have anything to do with it. Especially since..."

(Noah paused and looked like he was trying to collect himself until he let out a sigh and his expression almost taking on a serious and intense look to it.)

Noah: "Yeah, I want to win this just to finally get out of that stupid rutt but, I also just really want to do this for something else... My girlfriend Emma got totally screwed out of her chance at winning the million during the race just because of a total fluke with her sister's oxygen tank getting caught and being forced to ditch it in the final four. So from here on out; if I win, I'm going to take half of the million and give it to my girlfriend to help her pay for law school. And you can quote me on that."

*{End Confessional}*

(The show cut off there and went to commercial.)

Almost immediately, I felt my whole body go into a state of almost catatonic shock as my mouth fell open slightly at what I just saw.

The TV remote fell out of my hands on the floor and I made absolutely no effort to get it as my brain just kept processing.

I was practically so out of it for almost a full minute until I finally noticed my phone practically having convulsions on the coffee table at the amount of texts I was getting.

Eventually I got enough of a grip over myself to pick up my phone. I saw seven new texts from Kitty and I didn't even need to open them to obviously know what they were saying after what just happened.

I almost jumped as I was going to slip into the vortex that was my thought process right now until I realized Kitty was calling me.

Mindlessly, I picked up the call and barely got out a 'hey' as Kitty started, "Em, are you watching Total Drama? Did you see what Noah just… Emma?" I heard Kitty try to get my attention a few more times since I remained unresponsive as I kept trying to process this.

Noah wants to win… and give me half the money to help me pay for law school?

Eventually I got enough mental capacity to say, "I'll call you back, sis."

I hung up without waiting for a response as I continued to wrap my head around everything I just took in.

Okay, I know that was kind of a lot all in one chapter, but this chapter was really only a set up for more to come in the story. But… looks like Noah unintentionally found a way to help him get ahead in the competition, even if at Alejandro and Heather's expense. Oh, how the tables have turned on our favorite dastardly duo. Lol. XD And it also looks like Noah just gave Emma quite a bit to process as well. What will possibly happen next? Find out next time! Thanks for reading as always and constructive feedback is always appreciated. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and hope you are all continuing to stay safe and healthy out there. :)

Stay Classy everyone!

Dexter1995