Alright all! I am back and sorry about the delay. I was starting to get a bit of writer's block so I took a break until I felt passionate and inspired to write for this fic again to ensure I get out chapters that I am proud of. But I am happy to be back with a new chapter for you guys! :) Noah, Emma, and Kitty just got to Emma's parents house to spend Christmas at… and let's just say that this visit won't be as 'calm' as Noah's assuming it's going to be in more ways than one. You'll see what I mean soon enough. ;) Hope you all enjoy it!

(Noah's POV)

We finally got to Emma's parent's house and I went to the back of Kitty's car to get our stuff out of the trunk as I heard Emma say, sounding frustrated, "Kit… what is that doing out here?"

I stuck my head around the corner and saw Emma giving Kitty a look as she pointed at what looked like a toboggan leaning against the side of the house.

Kitty just rolled her eyes and said, "Emma, what? I found it in the back of the shed and I've been going sledding with Jade, Owen, and Will for the past couple weeks at the hill. You know, enjoying the snow?"

All I saw was Emma let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose before saying, "Just please tell me you haven't gone down the hill blindfolded again?"

Kitty exasperated and rolled her eyes again as she responded, "Seriously? How many times are we going to go over something that happened once a decade ago when we were kids? C'mon Em, you seriously need to get your head out of your books for a change and come with us. Just let loose and let yourself have a little fun. It's Christmas! Bring Noah along next time we go out, we'll have fun!"

Kitty was now looking over at me as I walked over with our suitcases, as I started, "Yeah… not a chance. I've had quite enough of anything with a 'sledding connotation' since Owen and I did that bobsled challenge in Jamaica. That and the whole reason I like winter is because no one bothers me to go outside when all I want to do is stay in and read."

Kitty gave me a look before slowly giving it to Emma with some side-eye as she commented while crossing her arms, "And why does that sound like someone else I know?"

Emma just rolled her eyes and shoved her on the arm before she smirked at me and then grabbed her suitcase from me before holding my now free hand with the other and we all started walking up to the house. We started walking up to the house and I slowly started feeling my gut twisting for some reason.

What the?...

But, Emma pulled me out of it as she asked, "Guessing mom and dad are still at the office?"

Kitty looked back and responded casually, "Oh yeah, they've been getting home really late for the past couple weeks with everyone trying to get things out of the way before New Year's."

I looked out of the corner of my eye and quirked up an eyebrow when I saw Emma almost look... relieved?

Okay, seriously, what's going on here?

I was going to ask her what was up as we walked into the house, until she immediately froze up as I heard her phone go off.

"Oh, FINALLY!" Emma immediately called out and she threw her suitcase aside and started to dig her phone out of her purse.

Emma looked like she got her phone and explained offhandedly, "That should be my academic advisor about if I made the cut for that internship."

Kitty put her hands on her hips as she teased, "Em, does the phrase 'winter break' mean anything to you?"

Emma got her phone ready to answer and responded, "This is Law school, Kit. 'Break' does not mean anything until I graduate."

Then I was totally caught off guard when Emma leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek before answering her phone, "Hello?… Yes, this is Emma Park."

Then she just took off in a sprint upstairs before getting into a room (maybe her's?) and then shut the door behind her before I could even blink.

Which I would've kept thinking about if I didn't get hung up about her kissing me on the cheek a second ago.

Yeah, we made out in my room last night but… whoa.

I smirked and put my hand on her cheek for a second until I heard Kitty remark, "I really gotta hand it to you, Noah. I haven't seen Emma this happy in a long time. Seriously, I know a lot happened during the race but you seriously helped me get my big sister back and I appreciate that. We haven't been this close since we were kids so… seriously, thanks for helping give Emma a push to trust people again. So... if there's anything you want to know to score some extra points with my sister, just let me know?"

She gave me a playful smirk and wink at the end as I took all 'that' in.

Hmm… good to know.

I didn't really know what else to say since I couldn't think of anything I wanted to know about Emma off the top of my head since I already knew her birthday and then… yeah, I didn't really know what to say to the 'Emma spiel' since I'm not really into 'feelings stuff' still.

Well, unless it's with Emma but even then.

But Kitty?… Yeah, gonna pass.

So I just responded, keeping it short and sweet, "Uh, thanks, Kitty. Sounds good."

We stood there is silence so awkward I thought my 'highlight reel' (which might as well be a 'gag reel' based on what they choose to include in it) that they usually show of me from reality TV on those stupid gossip shows my sisters are obsessed with was going to start playing.

I mean, what do I even say to her?

Kitty and I never really even talked to each other or were even alone ever since Emma or Owen were always around.

Ugh, and I'm really trying to ignore the whole 'Owen thing' since he's still crushing on Kitty right now harder than Eva beating the crap out of a punching bag.

But, I wanted to stay here until Emma got back so… I guess I could talk to Kitty about something I found out yesterday from Emma. I crossed my arms before starting, "So… Emma said you used to play Kosmic Kaos?"

Kitty immediately broke out in a huge smile that made me go wide eyes for a second as she replied enthusiastically, "Oh yeah! WOW! I haven't been on 'Double K' in FOREVER! It's seriously been like almost 4 years I think at this point. It was SO fun and I got SO into it. I actually won a lot of tournaments on the Canadian and International servers with my alliance before I had to… step back. But, I knew I had to since I kinda went a little 'out of control' during the last team tournament I was in."

Wait… alliance? Tournaments? WON?!

Whoa, guess Emma wasn't exaggerating that Kitty was a pretty good gamer.

Although… if she was THAT good then I would have probably run into her on the servers and in the tournaments.

My alliance have been reigning national champions for a solid decade on the Canadian servers and placed at least in the top 3 every year on the international champions.

But… she said she 'won' a lot.

Did we?... No.

I quirked up an eyebrow before asking, trying to make sure I wasn't losing my mind, "Uh, what was your screen name when you played?"

Kitty smiled and scrunched her eyes before almost snorting out a laugh as she said, "Well, sure. But, just don't judge me since I came up with it when I was 13 and thought I was being cool when I picked it since my character was an elven mage. My screen name was Cinderhella243."

My neck whipped around almost like I was a freaking owl as my eyes went wide and my stomach dropped and managed to get out, "Um… 'Cinder-who now'?"

I got out, almost like I was trying to make sure I wasn't having an existential crisis. But, it looked like she wasn't even on the same 'plane' in this conversation as me as she just let out a laugh before responding, "I know, I know, 'Cinderhella' and 3 random numbers? If that doesn't scream '13 year old who thinks she's being cool', I don't know what does?! Uh… Noah? Are you okay?"

I felt like I was in an actual state of catatonic shock as I felt my blood run cold at the 'realization' I came to.

Kitty used to be the lead raid organizer in my gaming alliance.

3 and a half years ago

{(No POV)}

All the season 3 Total Drama contestants were boarded on the bus taking them to the international airport in Toronto for the new season to start.

Despite the 'two new faces' on the bus, many of the contestants were either sitting with their friends and chatting, looking out the window, or catching some z's before going ahead with filming their introduction once they reached the airport.

In Noah's case, he was sleeping in his usual 'relaxed' position with his arms crossed as he snoozed with Owen sitting next him and having a 'mid-afternoon snack'.

Or at least Noah was asleep until a clipboard and pen were thrown at him as a perturbed Chef Hatchet called out, "Wake up, kid! You still need to finish your interview like Chris wanted!"

Noah gave Chef an annoyed glare before saying, "Well… It's nice to 'want something'. And maybe you need your eyes checked since I did fill out that stupid 'questionnaire'."

Chef glared and pushed the clipboard back to Noah before directing, "No, you left one of 'em blank."

Noah looked back back and rolled his eyes before saying, "Uh, maybe because I don't care about dating or even want to date anyone. So again… gonna pass on filling that out."

Chef looked like he was hitting his limit with Noah as he got right in Noah's face and jabbed him in the chest with his finger before saying, almost sounding as if he practically 'threatening' Noah at this point, "Look kid, you better 'fill that out' like Chris told ya or I'll 'throw you out' of this bus and out of the competition."

Noah stopped.

Not because he felt 'scared' by Chef's threat; but mostly because he wasn't about to throw away a chance at winning a million dollars to finally get his dad off his back.

After giving it some thought and also wanting everyone around him to stop looking at him, Noah rolled his eyes and clicked the pen before sighing in an annoyed fashion, "Ugh... Alright, fine. I'll fill out the damn prompt. Anything else? Want me to dig out my tux and dress shoes and tap dance for you while I'm at it?"

Chef decided to just not respond to save his patience from being tested further by Noah.

Noah, despite still thinking it was all completely stupid, decided to go with the only person he could think of and just jotted down the most direct response he could to the question on the sheet on who and what his 'dream date' would be:

'Cinderhella243 in my Underground Alliance. Never met her in person or seen her but man can she organize an onslaught.'

Oh the awkward, hysterical drama! Lol. Okay, I know this seems like a bizarre direction I went in here, but… let me explain. Now, going WAY back in time to Noah's contestant profile for TDI, it was mentioned Noah was a BIG and very talented gamer and was a member of a gaming alliance. Then we get to his TDWT profile that Noah also happened to be 'forced into finishing' by Chef in this chapter. Noah answered a 'particular prompt' in a very interesting way to me and you all can look it up if you want to see the entire thing. But Noah answered that if he was going to go out with anyone, it was going to be a girl in his gaming alliance who goes by 'Cinderhella243' who he had never met or seen but admitted he would date her because he respected her skills as a gamer. Which is cute if you don't think of it from Noah's perspective of he would do it if he had a gun put to his head and was forced to pick someone to date, but that's Noah for you since he's not the 'crushes' type! Haha. XD Well, until he met Emma. ;) Speaking of, then we get to Kitty. In the episode "Dude Buggies", it was revealed that Kitty used to be a big time gamer (practically to the point of unhealthy obsession) and ended up with Kitty most likely giving up the hobby after she was 'pwned online and smashed the console and the living room'. And thus a head cannon was formed for me! Lol. And I thought it would have been a funny sequence to create if Noah were to realize he and Kitty actually knew each other long before they met on the race and just didn't realize they used to game with each other. And now Noah has no idea how to explain the whole 'realization' to Kitty since it never occurred to her that her and Noah used to be on the same team in 'Kosmic Kaos' (which I picture to be like a 'World of Warcraft' or 'League of Legends' type game in the TD universe). And now Noah is panicking since he literally and unintentionally revealed in public writing that he (unknowingly) said he wanted to go out on a date with his future girlfriend's sister, because that's just Noah's luck with constantly getting himself in painfully awkward situations. And it's just good for the plot!... And the comedy! Lol. XD Anyway, thank you all so much for reading and hope you are all staying safe and well out there!

Stay classy!

Dexter1995