Reality TV was magical.
To see people you could relate to in weird, game-y situations was one thing. Being able to imagine yourself in those positions, the type of strategies you'd use, how you would solve any of the team drama that came up, it all made for great television. It was like a second life, you live through the people on the screen.
But Total Drama was different. Total Drama was about people even more like me (and so many others). A bunch of teens of incredibly varied backgrounds, so there'd always be one you could identify with, or even project on. Experience their lowest lows and highest highs like you were them, it was like a fishtank with the most relatable fish possible all made just for you!
We used to read the cast bios as they came out during our free period. There was the goth girl that Debora really gel'd with, the rich kid 'Queen Bee' that Stacey adored the moment she saw a clip of her audition tape, Dave really loved the party animal's Q&A section.
But, for me, there was one who stood out, a short little nobody. He had standard clothes, standard hair, was a bit smaller than average but not too small for a high schooler, he didn't exactly fit in with everything like any other kid his age, but there was one thing that I connected with immediately.
He was an only child, just like me. He had a fairly distant relationship with his parents, just like me. In the first few episodes he focused more on pushing his other friends forward, like trying to hook Trent up with Gwen… even if it ended poorly. Cheering on Courtney, even if she was a bit mean. I was put out when he hooked up with Beth, but the fact that he wasn't pining for someone so attractive, it made him all the more relatable!
And then the episode where Gwen and Heather came back aired. The studio had apparently decided last minute to hide clips of what he was doing, imagining the reveal would shock people into posting about the show everywhere, and they were right. When it turned out he had been a manipulative, conniving weasel, audiences were all over it. That episode increased the show's average ratings from 12% to 20%, a fifth of their potential audience all watching, a groundbreaking moment for the producers.
It was all inescapable. Watching someone I thought I loved and could relate to so implicitly, tear down everything in one constant stream of hatred hurt. I never knew him, I never met him, and even if I ran blogs about him he was still so distant… but, it all hurt the same. Because, deep down I had loved him, and he had betrayed that love. I had connected to him, and he made me wonder if I could end up as bad as him one day. I longed to meet him, and he managed to drive a stake into my heart from basically a world away.
I know, with all my heart, that one phrase rings true. I hate Cody Emmett Jameson Anderson.
The bus rattled harshly as they approached their destination: The 'Total Drama Jet' as Chris had dubbed it, where they would battle it out for a million dollars. It was honestly exciting to be around so many people that she had fantasized about meeting, it was hard to contain her excitement. Sure, that new guy was here too, but he was irrelevant compared to Heather's newest hair extensions, or whatever book Noah was reading today.
It was a fangirl's heaven.
"Uh, hey, newgirl?" Heather's voice piped up from in front of her, and Sierra realized she had ended up getting a bit too close to her neck. "I don't mind the creepy heavy breathing, but could you not do it on my neck? Thank you."
Sierra giggled and backed off. Typical Heather, even when blatantly trying to form alliances she lets her annoyance slip through. It was so awesome to be the victim of her verbal abuse! Sure, everyone had been whispering about how crazy she was, but could anyone blame her? Here she was! On a bus! Surrounded by people she'd only ever dreamed of meeting!
"Attention everyone! We have arrived, please step out in an orderly fashion! Or don't, producers don't care too much!" That was one of the interns (Specifically Joshua K., one of Sierra's past unwilling informants on the state of the show back during the break period. A bit of e-stalking and spam emails never hurt anyone, right?), letting them now they were here. They were finally here , for the next season of Total Drama!
The groups went out in a completely random order, like with Heather dashing to the front, Duncan forming a group with Courtney and Gwen, the new guy closely following some of the female competitors, Noah making sure he was outside of Harold's vision- it was all how she had imagined it!
"And introducing Total Drama superfan!" Chris finally announced as Sierra bounced down the steps of the bus, landing on the runway below. "Si~erra!" Sierra, of course, did what came naturally to her.
She freaked out.
"Oh~, Oh my God, Oh my God!" She cried taking in the various groupings people had gathered in. "It's so exciting to be here, I've been following this show since before it even started ! Chris!" She dashed over to the host and started shaking him rapidly. "Chris! Chris! Chris! This is so amazing! It's so great being on a show you host, I've been following you ever since I was a kid!" She squealed as the host softly pushed her away, said host clearly torn between smug pride at the worship, and annoyance at the fangirling.
"Yeah, go stand with the others. Away from me." Chris decided on, waving her off, and Sierra did what he asked. Chris turned back to the camera crew and continued the introductions. "That's the first sixteen of them, and what a crazy group they are huh? But, we still have two more competitors that need to be introduced!" He spread his arms out and gestured over to a small pop up makeup tent that was also on the runway. Thankfully, they'd rented this place out so it wasn't too much of a hazard (Chef's piloting skills would decide that).
"Introducing our final two competitors. One's a complete newbie, while the other is darkly familiar to some of you!" A lot of the people around Sierra groaned or gained dark expressions, and Sierra couldn't blame them. She could feel her face wrinkling in displeasure at what was to come, something she had dreaded for the month between getting put on the show and now. "It's fan-favorite Cody, and his caretaker, Dawn!"
And here he co- wait. Caretaker?
Everyone around Sierra, no matter how pissed they were at the mere mention of the traitorous, backstabbing little liar couldn't help but guffaw at what was presented to them. As what walked out of the tent (or rather, wheeled out) was something completely unexpected. Insane, even for this show's standards.
"Huh, so that's what he meant." Duncan mumbled out, not too weirded out by the situation.
Cody was here alright, and certainly with his caretaker. A small, blonde girl was pushing him forward, which he would obviously need since he was currently wheelchair bound.
Cody. Was in a wheelchair.
"Chris, this is insane!" Gwen finally shouted, getting over her initial shock. "Is he even conscious?" It was a good question. Cody's head was dipped forward, eyes half closed and mouth loosely hung open- honestly, he looked dead all things considered.
"Don't worry about him!" Chris laughed, a bit of his patented malice slipping through. "He's just a little under the weather is all. Can't move or speak, and we're not sure how he is on the thinking front, but he is perfectly conscious!" He walked over to Cody and Dawn, wrapping an arm around Cody's shoulders. "Isn't that right Dawn?"
"Yes, Cody is, technically, conscious." Dawn intoned, her voice flat, almost as if she was really regretting certain decisions. "We decided to join this season for several reasons, both personal and… contractual. We hope you'll appreciate our presence!"
Nobody said anything, everyone still too focused on the state Cody was in.
"This show is freaking nuts man…" Duncan moaned, hand over his face. "Bet they'll keep some of us around even if we're dead."
"Don't care, still voting for him." Noah sneered, still upset about their last notable interaction. Could you blame him though?
"Well, at least I don't have to worry about that little snake." Heather mumbled, though a keen listener could hear some remorse coming off her voice. It was pretty surprising to see her feel bad for someone.
"Stringbean…" LeShawna was in complete shock at what she was seeing. Sure, people got really injured on this show before, but Cody was mauled over a year ago. Noah had managed to recover from his mauling in a couple of weeks, so just how did Cody end up like this?
"It's sad to see our amigo in this state, even if he did play underhandedly." Alejandro was the complete opposite of Heather. Showing remorse on the outside, but you could feel the relief in his voice at the state of Cody.
Sierra's reaction was different from everyone else's though. Instead of gawking or mumbling out some side comments, she strode forward towards the wheelchair bound boy. When she finally reached him, she could get a good view of his state. Eyelids drooped down, mouth hung open with a bit of drool dangling… he looked like he'd be more fit for a nursing home than an intense reality show.
That didn't matter for Sierra though. With all of her pent up fury, all of her anger at how her heart was broken so long ago… she raised her hand up and slapped him across the cheek, the sound of flesh hitting flesh resounding through the environment.
Despite the out of left field strike, only the people actually affected by it seemed to have more apathetic reactions. Dawn just stared, listlessly, at the scene, while Cody slowly brought his head back up (it seemed he could still function somewhat ). Sierra's fury turned to confusion, and then agony as Cody's eyes slowly drifted up and gazed at her with… mirth. A weird form of joy in them, his lips curving ever so slightly.
Sierra turned around sharply, ignoring Chris' demands that she "Never do that again!"
She felt sick to her stomach seeing that.