AUTHOR'S NOTES

This is the last chapter before the actual challenge starts. I've changed my mind about starting the bigger chapters from Episode 4. Like why not just start right now?

So on Tuesday June 18, I'm releasing a big chapter which contains the majority of the challenge (but not the entire challenge because there's one part near the end of the challenge which is SO good I feel it needs its own chapter. It is literally one of the best chapters of the entire season).

Basically, we will have bigger chapters uploaded twice a week!

Chapter 19: This or That

8:49 am

The Orangutans and Panthers were catching up with each other over breakfast. This morning, they were playing This or That. Everyone was playing at a table except for Chase and Zee who seemed to be minding their own business. They were huddled in a corner with shifty eyes and making dramatic gestures. They were looking very jumpy as if afraid things would pop out at any split second. There was the occasional head nod or head shake and nobody knew or cared what they were up to since the main attraction was with the bigger group.

Emma shuffled the cards and gave them a quick mix before reading the questions out loud. "Good thing we still have some cards and board games so we can actually hang out," Emma said cheerfully as she gave the cards another riffle shuffle.

"I guess this is how kids used to hang out at summer camps before technology," Julia commented in a bored voice as she leaned on her hand with her head. "Soooo boring." She gave an exaggerated yawn and stretch and continued playing with her breakfast (today it was green chicken protein shakes) and looked rather unamused. She kept flicking her eyebrows at the corner where Chase and Zee were as if they were actively annoying her simply by keeping to themselves. She felt like they were coming up with plans to sabotage her alliance but then… surely they would've let Ripper join them?

No, they can't be. Not only are they not nearly that cunning, they're also not smart enough to pull betrayal like that Julia reassured herself. Julia would be lying if she said she wasn't worried about the 'Trout Trio' banding together and picking her alliance off but so far they hadn't seemed to have made any moves. Still…she would prefer to keep a close eye on them. Especially Zee. The dumber they are, the less predictable they are. She had been so focused on Chase and Zee she hadn't noticed that Ripper had drunk her shake and that she was absent-mindedly stirring an empty glass.

"Fine, go ahead and eat my entire breakfast Nikocado," Julia scowled.

Emma drew the first card.

"So Millie would you rather a) eat 200 lemons or b) wrestle your best friend's grandpa?" Emma asked in a curious tone. She leaned forwards with both hands on her chin and dramatically stared. Everyone looked at Millie waiting for a reply.

Millie giggled nervously at all of the abrupt attention. "Well, I…" she began but her answer was cut short when Ripper squeezed through between Millie and Priya and burst out loudly, "Millie and me are smart. Gramps is going down! B!"

"Ripper! That was Millie's question," Emma said annoyed as she slammed down the first card. "Don't you know how to play this game?"

"Besides, it's not like that was the correct answer. I'm sure Millie would've picked A," Bowie chimed in confidently. "Yes, she's a little sleezy but she's not going to pick a fight with old people. Even that is too beneath – "

"Wow Ripper how'd you know?" Millie interjected, staring at Ripper amazed.

Wayne and Raj howled with laughter and glanced at Bowie who looked appalled.

"I stand corrected," Bowie growled. "Turns out I don't know you guys as well as I thought I did… I guess Priya's grandpa is toast."

Priya snorted and took a cheerful sip from her protein shake.

"It's just a joke," Priya said as she licked the green stain on the side of her mouth. "She wouldn't actually beat up my grandpa!"

"Don't be so sure about that…" Damien chortled. Priya giggled and beamed.

Emma shuffled the cards once more and continued.

"OK, Caleb your turn. Would you rather a) eat pudding from an angry gorilla's armpit or b) jump from a plane with a parachute packed by your ex?"

All the girls immediately gave Caleb a quirky look. Caleb was used to getting many stares from women (and men) as well as constant comments on his broad shoulders and wide lats but even this moment was a little uncomfortable for him.

"Uhh…" Caleb began but his retort was once again interrupted by an excited Ripper who swooped in and belched through a mouthful of foaming green shake, "Guys like me and Caleb leave behind a lot of angry ex-girlfriends. A!" He gave a gigantic burp to accompany this statement. The girls all jumped back revolted at this brutish behaviour.

"Right.. because you two are totally similar," Julia whispered sarcastically to Nichelle who giggled at this remark.

"AGAIN RIPPER?!" Emma gave a deep frustrated exhale through her nose.

"Uh, I'd actually go B," Caleb replied, now laughing at Ripper's expression which looked like he had been hit by a truck.

"Wow really? That's a lot of trust for an ex!" Priya marvelled. Before Priya knew it, she found herself talking too much for no reason at all. "Hey, you haven't had many exes have you? I mean I'm not saying I've had many boyfriends either but – " Priya fiddled through her hair and adjusted her hair clip with a cheeky grin. Oh gosh. Had he noticed?

"I've had zero exes myself," Damien chimed in. "Never even had a girlfriend. No time for relationship drama. But I'm always open to having one!" he gave Priya a slight nudge and a thumbs-up. Priya giggled.

Damien confessional: *beams with pride* Right now this game is the perfect way for me to drop subtle hints to Priya that I'm kind of into her. I hope she feels the same!

Priya confessional: Damien is such a great friend. He always makes me laugh. It's so easy to talk to him because I'm not into him but when I'm around Caleb I get so nervous! I don't even know why I asked him how many exes he's had. Now he'll know I'm into him for sure!

As Emma continued with the next question to Axel, Bowie took his focus off the game temporarily and stared at Zee and Chase who were still hunched over and disengaged from the game.

"What's up with those two?" Bowie mouthed to Raj as he pointed to Zee and Chase. "It's not like them to be so secretive. Especially Chase. Shouldn't he be the loud guy in the center of all things?"

"Maybe he's switching strategies. Going lowkey. Chase is a pretty smart guy," Raj reasoned to Bowie as he took a gigantic slurp from his shake. He clapped his hand on Bowie's shoulder affectionately.

"Right…I forgot…he's a genius" Bowie replied sarcastically. Raj did not pick up on the sarcasm and nodded happily. Out of nowhere, Wayne popped in between Bowie and Raj and gave his input. "So that we don't pay attention to him and pick him off!" he dramatically gasped. "Genius idea! Rajie we should go stealth mode too!" Wayne knocked on his own head three times.

"Definitely bro. I packed a ninja costume in my hockey bag in case we needed to go stealth mode!" Raj enthusiastically said as he pretended to unsheathe a samurai blade from his back.

"NO way! ME too bro!" Wayne did the same and soon the two engaged in an imaginary duel between Bowie who had face palmed. Sometimes, it was so hard for him to keep up with these two. Julia who was barely paying attention to the game lifted her eyebrows at Bowie's conversation.

Julia confessional: Bowie does have a good point. Zee and Chase alone in the corner? Without Ripper? *snorts* Puh-lease. Those two are up to something. And I'm going to find out what.

Julia got up from the table and proceeded to walk swiftly towards the corner where Zee and Chase were still frantically hissing.

"Julia, where are you going? I was just about to give you a question!" Emma called, waving her card voluptuously back and forth through the air.

"Can't, I'm busy," Julia called back over her shoulder. "You guys keep playing." As she made her way from one side of the cabin to the other, as she got closer to Zee and Chase she could barely make out some words exchanged between them.

"One more time bro, don't be so obvious. We can't mess things up for our boy!" Chase said hastily slurping his smoothie. Zee squirted some ketchup packets into his chicken protein shake and waved Chase off with a carefree hand. "Gotchu, gotchu. I won't tell anyone," he said.

Finally, Julia strolled over and sat down in front of the pair.

"Tell anyone what?" she asked dreamily as she clasped both hands in front of her and leaned forwards as if she were inviting herself to the conversation.

"Nothing," Chase answered a little too quickly, avoiding Julia's eyes. He went back to working on his protein shake, hoping Julia would just leave if he drank long enough.

"Sup Julia? Lucky we won last challenge eh?" Zee enquired, clearly acting more friendly than Chase would have liked as he elbowed Zee in the ribs and gave him an urgent look as if to say 'Stop talking to her.'

Julia drummed her fingernails along the table rhythmically, ready to bother them with more questions now that Zee had initiated. She was going to squeeze it out of them… eventually. She just needed to talk… She put on a fake concerned voice.

"Hey guys, why aren't you playing this or that with us? It's honestly getting a little boring without you two!" She squinted her eyes and stared into their irises as hard as she could. Chase and Zee shifted uncomfortably.

"Oh… uh… not a big fan of that game," Chase said casually, waving Julia off. "Besides, I think it's best if I give Emma some space. Don't wanna get too close to the fire-breathing dragon… Ouch." Chase gave a shudder and pointed to his seat, reinforcing the idea that he was going to stay put in his spot and that nothing Julia said would change his mind.

Julia dropped her fake voice and went back to her usual aggressive self. She scoffed and raised a doubtful eyebrow. "Nice try but since when have you ever cared about Emma's feelings? What are you two really up to?"

Chase massaged his chest with an open palm as if he had just been stung by Julia's words. "Up to? What?! W – W – DO we look suspicious?" He spat out some shake.

"Are you serious?" Julia's forehead wrinkled in disbelief. "Uh… yeah. It's not like you guys, especially you Chase, to not join social gatherings."

Chase didn't respond and stared hardly at the sky outside.

"Don't worry about it," Zee said nonchalantly. "It's not like we're trying to help our boy Ripper get the girl of his drea – "

At these words, Chase squeezed Zee's lips shut and the two exchanged frightened looks. Zee having realized what he had just said stared down horrified. Julia however, barely registered these words because all of a sudden the table where the others were playing this or that erupted with an –

"OHHHHH AYYYYYY!" Everyone was laughing at the thought of Damien wanting to camp in a graveyard for a month over going without toilet paper for a week.

"THAT IS SO GROSS!" Nichelle cackled.

"I can WASH my butt!" Damien retorted red-faced.

"Sorry what?" Julia yelled over the noise, bringing a hand to her ear and gesturing Chase and Zee to repeat themselves so she could hear better.

"Nothing!" Chase sharply replied. "Mind your own business Julia. Keep your abnormally pointy noise out of this if you know what's good for you." He waggled a finger at her just for fun.

Julia looked at him in disgust. "My nose is NOT pointy!" she fired back.

"Looks like a triangle to me," Zee calmly said to a visibly angry Julia who was twitching her eye violently. Always a danger sign. Zee clearly failed to notice this as he continued as if nothing had happened. "Triangles are pretty pointy! Like pizza slices. Only I'm guessing your nose can't be eaten…"

"Mmmm, pizza," Chase licked his lips hungrily. He could really go for a slice of pepperoni right now.

Julia crossed her arms and scoffed. "Weirdos. Why are we talking about my nose?"

Chase stood up and knocked over his shake in the process. "I don't know but this conversation is done. Come on Zee, let's get out of here and scheme somewhere else brother!"

Julia gasped dramatically for five seconds and pointed an accusing finger at them.

"OH-HO! So you're scheming eh? Well, I'LL FIND OUT WHAT YOU'RE UP TO!" she yelled to the backs of Zee and Chase who had headed for the door holding each other in fits of laughter.

Zee gave her a thumbs-up before shutting the door.

The door was not shut for long though because at that moment, Emily walked in, energetic and refreshed.

"EMILY!" Emma waved at their favourite burgundy-haired camp counsellor. "We're playing This or That. Wanna join us? You could get the next question!"

Emily quickly grabbed a shake from the counter and yelled back.

"Yeah. I'll come and play. Why not?" She walked over with her usual elegant walk, her armpit-length hair swaying side to side with each stride. She took the seat next to Axel and started drinking her shake so fast it looked like it was simply vanishing into her mouth.

"So. What's my question?" Emily said curiously.

"OK, here's a good one," Emma brazenly said. "Emily, would you rather A) be dirt-poor but celebrated as a great poet or B) a filthy rich lawyer who puts criminals back on the street?"

Bowie clapped his hands together. "OOO... here's where we test her moral compass."

Bowie confessional: *confidently grins* She's picking B

Ripper once again interjected before Emily had given her answer. He knew exactly what to say.

"Poetry is for NERDS. And Emily is NOT A NERD. She's actually cool so… yeah. B!"

Emma threw down the cards in frustration. "OK, you're just going to keep answering everyone's questions before they do so you might as well play this game by yourself!" she said exasperated.

Emily took a long sip before lowering her glass. "I'm actually super… into poetry," she said slowly.

"WHAT?!" everyone said together.

"WHAT?!" Ripper said slightly later than everyone else. He turned tomato red and looked as if he wanted to take back his words.

"Yeah...in general I'm super into the arts. I'm an art major…" Emily continued, glaring at Ripper. "And you're not allowed to make fun of me or else!" she hissed at the others.

"W – well… uh… a – actually… er… never mind I take that back!" Ripper desperately said. "You're not a nerd, you're cool, like me, you cool, we cool, we is, ARE – "

Ripper turned scarlet.

Ripper confessional: *slaps forehead* CRUD! I'M BLOWING IT! I gotta show Emily I'm the coolest dude ever. Ohohoho… *snaps fingers* I got it!

"I'm actually into poetry myself, it's pretty cool if I do say so," Ripper lied. Heads turned at these words.

"Yeah right," Nichelle guffawed. "What's your favourite poem then?"

Ripper clutched his necklace tightly clearly not comfortable with being put on the spot like this. It was like giving a book report on a book he didn't read and as usual those answers were always winged.

"Er… Green eggs and ham?" Ripper said quirkily, listing the only poem he had ever finished in his life. "And you know what? The cat in the hat isn't so bad either…" he added for some extra flavour to make his answer sound more interesting. (He had never gotten around to actually finishing that one as it was quite challenging).

Everyone laughed but Ripper only had eyes for Emily who was laughing silently into her hands. Ripper's chest puffed out proudly at his swift recovery.

Ripper confessional: *punches fist into palm* BOOM! Turned my mistake into a comeback! Take notes VIRGINS, that's how you do it!

Suddenly the 'challenge horn' blared over the loudspeakers which caused a sleeping rooster to jump out of its nest. Suddenly, Chris' magnified voice reached their ears. "Challenge time. Bring your swimsuits and meet me at the theater!" he said heartily.

Everyone got up and left in groups of twos or threes. Priya, however, stayed behind to remind Millie of her mission. She nudged Millie to Wayne's direction. "Go for it! Now's your chance!" Priya winked.

"Oh… okay!" Millie looked back startled. Already? Perhaps this was the biggest difference between her and Priya. Whereas Priya seemed to waste no time in making alliances, Millie spent more time contemplating about the exact right words to say so that people would like her instead of taking action. After all, she did not want to screw up.

Bowie, Raj and Wayne were about to leave last, having waited for Raj to finish tying his shoes. Millie took a deep breath, staring at Wayne apprehensively.

Millie confessional: I can't waste any time. If I want to get on Wayne's good side I have to start now.

"Hey Wayne! Hoot! Hoot!" Millie waved energetically at the blonde hockey himbo.

Wayne and Raj looked at Millie astonished. Even Bowie was taken aback. Millie's heart sank. Oh no she thought sadly. He hates me already. Why did I say that? Had she already messed up? Was she not allowed to speak their lingo? Was she not cool enough to hoot with the other kids?

Wayne confessional: *blinks astonished* Did Millie just hoot? Wow, I didn't know she was like that… That's AWESOME! *smiles widely*

"Hoot! Hoot!" Wayne called back as he returned a friendly wave. Millie smiled.

Raj laughed to the ceiling as he and Bowie left Wayne and Millie alone.

"That was an awesome hoot Millie!" Raj called back to Millie. This lifted her spirits even further and made her more motivated to talk to Wayne. If Raj had approved of her hoot, maybe they could get along just fine!

Millie glanced at the window behind Wayne, where she saw Priya with a wide grin, giving a thumbs-up. "You got this girl!" Priya mouthed before turning away. Millie chuckled.

Millie had to continue the conversation now that she had ended up in this position. Her brain scrambled to think of something interesting on the spot so she thought of just talking about the This or That game they had played earlier. That was easy enough.

"Sooo.." she began awkwardly trying to recall his answer. "I'm surprised with your This or That answer. You'd rather be a puck than a professional hockey star?"

Wayne laughed. Casuals probably didn't understand but that was okay!

"It's not just any old puck. It's the legendary puck that got the Oilers the cup!"

Millie had no idea who or what the Oilers were. She thought it sounded more like a car company than a professional hockey team. "Yeah… that's awesome!" she gave a thumbs-up, pretending to know what Wayne was talking about. "Can't wait to buy one of your jerseys when you go pro!"

Wayne swelled happily at these words. He didn't know Millie was this fun to talk to.

"COOL!" he chuckled. "Time to represent me in the stands Millie! Maybe you can watch me hit a buzzer beater… or lift the Stanley Cup trophy baby!"

Millie nodded a little too vigorously.

"OH yeah, I LOOK FORWARD TO IT!" Now that Millie had shown an interest in Wayne's life, Wayne felt he should do the same. After all, he did not just want to talk about himself all day. That would be extremely selfish of him! Wayne opened the door for Millie as the two set off for their cabins.

As they headed towards their cabins for their swimsuits, Wayne asked Millie kindly,

"What do you want to be by the way? Y'know when you grow up? Like everyone knows Rajie and I want to be professional hockey players but we don't know anything about what you want to be…"

Millie hesitated. Should she really tell this much about her personal life to someone she had just started talking to two minutes ago? She had never told anyone (except Priya) the answer to Wayne's question. But as Priya said, she would have to open up to make more friends.

"Oh I… I just want to…" she faltered because she felt slightly embarrassed. "I want to work with special needs students. Y'know?"

Fully expecting Wayne to make fun of her, a red-faced Millie stared at the ground, concentrating hard on the little pebbles and dirt. But then –

"Wow… that's pretty cool Millie!" Wayne said in genuine admiration. Millie looked up relieved. "You really think so?" she smiled, grateful that Wayne was so understanding. Perhaps she had judged him too harshly. All of a sudden she realised Wayne was not the arrogant, mean jock she had made him out to be in her head. He was actually… nice.

"Yeah, that's awesome! Helping those who often get judged by others," Wayne winked.

Wayne and Millie parted ways temporarily as they each went to their side of the Panthers' cabin and grabbed their swimsuits. When Millie came back out, Wayne was waiting for her. The walk to the amphitheatre seemed to pass in no time at all, as Wayne and Millie talked and laughed about whatever came to their minds.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

1. Yup, these questions are from 'Choosin' for a bruisin' which is one of my least favorite episodes ever. Instead of the questions taking up a whole challenge, I felt it would be a nice activity for the campers to do in their leisure time. For those wondering about the Wayne question, I know I didn't write actually write it out here in the chapter but that's mainly because I couldn't figure out the hockey player's name they said in canon.

2. Sorry for the Pramien bait. Why the switch up? Think of it like this. These are everyday teenagers. Priya had a one-day type of crush on Damien and then she just got over it. She's really into Caleb (you can go back to Chapter 1 and see for yourself)

3. If you noticed, I basically just took everything Axel was and transferred it to Emily (with the whole poetry thing) but don't worry. Axel will still have her moments.

4. Enjoy the Millie-Wayne interaction :)