Chapter Text
So, Geoff was serious about his 'japarty'.
Noah and I stood awkwardly outside the cabins as music thundered from the inside– how Geoff smuggled a boombox into camp is beyond me.
Everyone else was congregating inside, so, being just us, the rest of the camp looked practically deserted– like an abandoned temple, or something. Like the one in Zelda! Hell yeah.
I sucked in air through my teeth and fiddled on my feet as the silence stretched out longer and longer. From the looks of things, Noah was still processing earlier today, his fingers tapping his chin.
Or calculating, maybe?
Yeah, calculating sounded more accurate.
Noah was still calculating.
"Ha... what's that... noggin up to?" I remarked, tapping my head.
Noah blinked. "...What?"
"Uhm... what are you pondering? Can see some real... gears... turning..! Y'know..? Ha... Don't pop something from... thinking too hard!"
I proceeded to slow-mo punch Noah in the shoulder as my initial burning confidence dwindled down into a little flame.
Noah just stared at me. No particular expression, just... looking. At me.
Until he finally spoke.
"We can't dive into the deep end."
I tilted my head. "What?"
"I mean, I can't accidentally kiss your ear, scream, avoid you all day, get called to the dock by Chris and then start dating you. It's far too obvious."
I scratched my face. "Yeah, true... ...but then how the hell do we fake a relationship?"
Noah snapped his finger, then pointed at me. "Simple– we don't fake one."
...What?
I looked straight at my imaginary audience. Then back to Noah. "I'm sorry?"
He cleared his throat, fist over mouth. "Hypothetically, we don't have to date yet if we're not at the dating stage. We merely pretend we start to... y'know...fancy... each other– gives us time to bond, postpone the actual relationship, and ultimately have a better end result."
...Ohhhh. Phew.
You know, if Noah had glasses, he'd so have pushed them up. I'm surprised he doesn't– he seems like the type.
I nodded. "Yup. Sounds good to me." I shifted my weight on the grass, accidentally crushing a daisy. "So, uh... what now?"
The seagull squawks were particularly prominent in that moment.
"I... don't know? Well, I do know, I just... don't."
I nodded slowly. "Cool. Makes sense."
Noah scratched the back of his head.
"Well, a good start would maybe be... going inside?"
I nodded quickly. "Yep. Yeah, totally. Let's uh... do that."
I looked at Noah. Noah looked at me.
"Wait, why are we even here agai–?"
BAM– the cabin door flew open, and we were met with Duncan's face– a huge grin, eyes wide. "YO, TWERPS! THIS PARTY IS BANGIN', MAN! YOU SHOULD JOIN!" he declared as he slumped against the doorframe.
"...Well, we were stood outside the door..." Noah mumbled privately. I snorted.
The breeze blew a touch, and I actually noticed Duncan's expression.
"You good, Duncan? You look a little..."
"A little what, brah?!"
I gulped. "Well, aren't you– you know... tired from the Awake-a-Thon?"
"HELL TO THE N-O! THAT WAS JUST A WARMUP, MAN! TONIGHT IS THE TIME FOR CELEBRATION!"
Noah rolled his eyes. "Ah, yes. Happy three weeks to joy, body odour and betrayal." He placed a hand on his heart.
"Hell yeah, man! Whoop WHOOOOOOP!"
And with that, Duncan ran off into the loving arms of clubbing.
"Is he... drunk?" I muttered to Noah.
"...Not yet."
Noah POV:
Somehow, twenty sweaty teenagers had all managed to cram into one tiny cabin– and it seems that Cody and I were the last to arrive. As I looked to my left, I realised that this 'little' rendezvous would contain the hormonal miracle commonly known as 'making out'– a truly fascinating spectacle. Lindsay and Tyler had already succumbed to said act, much to the irritation of Heather. Who was standing alone, squeezing her half-empty plastic cup.
I'm not stupid– many people know that. However, what many people don't know is how Heather has a 'secret' alliance with Lindsay and Beth to secure a place in the final three.
But, in all honesty, they should really learn to speak quieter.
Social norms would expect me to acknowledge Heather as 'wicked' or 'evil', but what many people also don't realise are the closely knitted links of 'evil' and genius.
Heather is evil. But Heather is playing the game. Heather is subtly genius. So, she earns my respect. And that's not easy.
Regardless, it begged the question: Why was Heather standing alone at a party full of people? Why, it's the same reason inspectors rush to every crime scene they can– to scrutinise each and every suspect.
Her eyebrows were furrowed, and my best guess is that she was deciding her next elimination, or... whatever. Why should I care?
Cody leaned over to me. "What do you think she's doing?" he asked, nodding towards Heather.
I shrugged. "Dunno."
Cody shrugged too. "Oh, well. I'm gonna go get a drink. Want one?"
"And require my liver pumped after one glass of Geoff's 'mystery fluid'? I'll pass."
"Suit yourself."
Cody wandered off– leaving me, myself, and I. And I was curious about our 'Queen Bee'.
Now, despite my overwhelming intelligence, social interactions aren't my... strongest suit– comes with the whole 'intellectual' package, you see. Sure, I've met Heather, but I haven't met Heather. I wonder if–
"What are you looking at, dweeb?" Heather demanded, leaning against the wall.
Well, that's saved me a conversation starter. I inspected my nails before replying.
"That tone suggests that you think I'm intrigued by you– meaning I'd have to care about you. Frankly, I don't."
She scoffed, but smirked straight after. "Wow, finally someone's honest."
I shrugged, strolling over to her.
"Meh. It's better than the obvious false face of some people here." I said, staring directly at Duncan.
"Oh, don't even get me started on that dingbat."
I smirked. "Try me."
Cody POV:
Geez, Noah wasn't wrong about the punch. That drink had enough of a kick to kill a horse! Makes me– Wait. How the hell did Geoff sneak that into..? I... probably don't want to know.
Duncan looked very... unsober? ...I don't know, drunk wasn't quite the right word. Yet.
As was Geoff.
And Owen.
And Tyler.
And Gwen.
And– wait, Gwen?
Seriously?
Damn, didn't peg her as the drinker type.
It's okay, I'm chill with that. Chill as an ice cube. So chill. Which is exactly why I wandered over to her.
I leaned on my elbow against the wall beside her. "Hey, Gwen, how's it–" My elbow slipped, causing me to tumble to the floor with a very ungraceful 'clunk'. "...hanging?"
Gwen's head snapped forward. "Huh?"
"...Down...here." I croaked.
"Oh. Hey, Cody."
She– uh... veeeery reluctantly... offered me a hand up, which I accepted without hesitation. I dusted myself off and scratched the back of my head. "So, heh– how's it going?" I pulled a smirk, planting my elbow back onto the wall.
Gwen sighed softly into her cup. "Perfect. Man, this stuff should be illegal!"
I blinked. "Well, uh... it is...? We're sixt..."
Uh, Cody?
"Yup, yeah, you're so right. Underage drinking should so be illegal."
My mental facepalm had enough force to change the weather.
Gwen smiled shortly before having another sip. "Yeah..."
"So, what do you think of... uh..."
Think, Cody, think.
"...pinecones?"
What.
Gwen's eyebrows furrowed, probably to fumble for an answer to the most random question ever. Nice going, Codester.
"Uhh, they're... cool, I guess? Fun to draw, I suppose."
She likes pinecones!
"Totally!"
"Yup..."
...
...
I trilled my lips. "So, uh... you... come here often?"
"Do I come to the... guys cabin often–? Uh, no, I wouldn't say I do..?"
"Whaat..? You don't? That's surprising....haha..."
Her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes snapping up from her drink.
I tilted my head. "What?"
"...Nothing." She looked away, tugging down her top.
The silence that followed bloomed like a weed in a garden. Weird.
Then Gwen finally spoke. "Do you have... no one else to talk to?"
She swished her drink around in the half-full cup. "Liiikeee... it's kind of... y'know...?" She shrugged, gently grimacing.
Oh, okay.
"I– pfffft. Yeah! Of course I do! I have, uh..."
I scanned the room– before my eyes settled on Noah.
Who was... talking to Heather?
Whatever. Noah. Obviously.
"I have Noah to talk to."
Gwen chuckled, taking another sip of her drink. "Yeah, and we all know how that went down."
I inhaled.
...
"Hah! Never gets old. Yeah. But that wasn–"
"Maybe try... venturing out a bit? What, you've got me and Noah. And there's only... y'know..."
She grumbled, staring into her drink.
"...so much Cody you can handle."
I paused, thinking for something, anything, to say.
"Well–"
Gwen sighed. "Look, Cody, I'm gonna go talk to... anyone else."
"...O-oh! Yeah, cool. You do that. See ya round. Heh."
"See ya."
Killed it.
Noah POV:
"So... we both agree that she's a lying little wannabe?"
I shrugged. "Well, I– I wouldn't say exactly that...but yeah. I don't really like her. She's just very..." I waved my hand about, searching for words.
"Annoying? Weird? Gross? Embarrassing?" Heather suggested, listing the words on her fingers one by one.
"...No... she's just very... her, I suppose? I don't know if that... actually makes sense."
Heather tilted her head and shrugged, slouching against the wall. "Whatever floats your boat, I guess."
I shrugged. "I guess."
Heather sighed and cleared her throat. "Y'know, you're not just the short twink I thought you were."
Really.
I blinked. "...Too kind."
She paused. "Well, you are–"
There we go.
"–but you also seem observant... and... refreshingly honest. I respect that."
"Thanks."
She stepped closer, her tall frame towering over me.
"Don't think this gets you on my 'nice list', though. If you piss me off, I won't forgive you easily."
I placed a hand on my hip, looking up at her. "You do realise I'm not going to put in effort to please you, right? If I piss you off, just accept that."
Heather stood tall, flipping her hair to the side. "Why should I?"
"Because I don't like you, I respect you. It's a huge line between the two, not a thin one. I'm not going to worship the ground you walk on for a pat on the back and a gold star."
She blinked slowly, folding her arms. "...Fair enough."
She slouched against the wall, inspecting her nails. I soon followed suit.
"And if I fail?"
"What?"
"What if I don't piss you off? What happens then?"
Heather looked up, leaning back and clenching her jaw. "Well, I suppose you're safe."
"Safe?"
"I won't have any reason to eliminate you."
I looked away. "...Fair."
She proceeded to push herself off the wall, exiting without a word– once again, leaving me alone.
"Hey, Noah!"
Not for long.
The familiar blue-eyed dork briskly walked towards me, accidentally bumping into Leshawna on the way.
"Whoops, sorry Leshawna!"
She turned around, flashing a smile. "Don't worry, sugar!"
I think the plastic cup in Cody's hand explained that incident...
"Is that your second drink?" I inquired.
"What was that all about?" he asked, nodding towards where Heather previously stood.
I guess I'll never know.
"That?" I scratched my nose. "Oh, that was Heather telling me not to piss her off or else she'll eliminate me or... some shit."
Suddenly, Cody detonated his drink like a fucking water fountain. Right onto me.
"Dude–!" I stuck my arms out, observing the massive wet patch blooming on my vest.
He wiped his mouth as he bounded back a step. "Sorry! Man, that's– Heather? Why on earth would you get tangled with her?"
I shrugged. "I dunno. She started talking to me, so I talked back."
I looked down at my vest again. "Ugh..."
Cody winced, tensing his shoulders. "Sorry..."
"Whatever. It's..." I pulled the vest over my head, taking it off and discarding it. "It's fine."
"But seriously my guy, that's messed up. Why would she say that?"
"Well, it's..." I shrugged, looking across the cabin before reshifting my focus. "...strategy, y'know? You can't get mad at someone for playing the game they're supposed to play."
Cody flailed his hands about. "Well, yeah, but it's–"
"Evil? Wicked?"
"Yes! Exactly that!"
I picked a speck of dust from my shoulder. "Yeah. Thought you might say that."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Cody shrugged and sipped some more of his drink. "All right, then."
I tilted my head, examining Cody.
"So, how did things go with your dream girl?"
"Gwen?"
"No, Lindsay."
...
...
I sighed, rubbing the temples of my forehead. "Yes, Gwen. I saw you two talking."
"Ohhh. Yeah, I think it went pretty well. I learned that she's into pinecones, so that's cool."
"Oooh, groundbreaking."
"She did basically tell me to make some friends before walking off, but I think she's just playing hard-to-get.
"...Yep. Very hard-to-get." I cleared my throat. "Uh, Cody?"
"Hm?"
I lowered my voice for just us to hear. "You do know you'll have to give up the whole... Gwen thing for us, right?"
Cody's shoulders dropped slightly, something flickering in his eyes. "Well, yeah."
He nursed what was left of his drink, taking a deep sigh after finishing. "Obviously."
I drew a breath to speak, before I was discourteously interrupted by the ear-shattering wail of Owen's voice.
"WHO'S UP FOR TRUTH OR DARE?!?!"
I sighed. "Great."
Cody POV:
"You know, Noah, we don't have to play this..." I mumbled as we dropped ourselves to the circle in the middle of the room with a soft thud.
"We don't have to. However, Total Drama's 'up-and-coming power couple' do." Noah replied, glancing around the room.
Judging by the looks of things, everyone was joining except for Heather and DJ– DJ was birdwatching, whilst Heather was... somewhere, I dunno.
To my left was Noah, his head resting on his palm. Meanwhile, to my right was Gwen, rummaging through her badge-adorned bag frantically.
"You okay?" I asked, facing Gwen.
"I'm fine," she instantly replied, not even sparing a glance at me.
She proceeded to fiercely empty the contents of the bag onto the floor. "Fuck!" She clutched at her hair.
I noticed an Elton John pin.
"Woahh, you listen to–?"
Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my left side. My head snapped towards Noah, who had elbowed me in my rib.
"Dude!"
"Dude!" He gestured his head towards Gwen.
I rolled my eyes, turning back to her. "You listen to Elton John?"
No response.
"I said you–"
"Yes, I listen to Elton fucking John," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Cool! So do I! What's your fav–"
"Candle in the Wind."
"Niiiice. Nice. I'm more of a Honky Cat guy."
Noah cleared his throat beside me.
"So, do you listen to him much?"
"Occasionally," she replied immediately, still searching through the bag.
"Oh, cool. Cool. I listen to him quite a lot, actually."
I twiddled my fingers. "So, what–"
"Oh my god, I didn't respond the first time for a goddamn reason, Cody! Take my advice and leave me the fuck alone!" She immediately whirled back to her bag, collected everything and stomped out.
...I was not expecting that.
Trent hurried after her.
Owen chortled. "What's up with her?"
Sadie shrugged. "Probably on her period or something." Katie and Sadie giggled together.
Owen blinked, his smile fading. "What's a period?"
Noah coughed pointedly, very obviously directing it at me. "Hard-to-get?"
I rolled my eyes in defeat. "Yeah, yeah, congrats, you were right."
He shrugged. "That tends to happen."
I sighed. "I was just asking about Elton John."
Noah cleared his throat, squinting his eyes. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Cody, but Gwen seemed rather... irritated. I don't think she was exactly in the mood for... small talk."
"I love Elton John, dude. I've got a poster of him on my bedroom wall."
"Anyway, you can't pursue her anymore, remember?"
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I just... hope she's okay."
"She'll be fine."
A familiar booming voice usurped the circle– Duncan fiercely pointed at Geoff. "GEOFF. TRUTH. OR. DARE?"
Geoff tilted his hat back, pausing for a few seconds. "Dare! Gotta live life on the edge, brah!"
After a few rounds including Geoff chugging the whole bowl of punch, Owen doing a terrible impression of Lindsay, and Courtney choosing truth every time, Noah laid down on the floor.
I tilted my head. "Why are you... on the floor?"
Noah sighed. "I foolishly forgot that we aren't popular."
"...What's that got to do with it?"
"Take a look around."
So I did. I looked around, and he sure had a point– everyone had been given a truth or dare apart from me, Noah, and Harold.
"Well, I guess we aren't that interactive? I mean, everyone's had a drink but you, for starters."
Noah chuckled. "I'd like to keep it that way, thanks. I don't drink."
"We're all sixteen, Noah, I don't think any of us exactly have a habit of it." I paused. "Well, maybe apart from Duncan."
"A drink wouldn't make me suddenly likeable..."
"Well, it sure would loosen you up a bit." I looked towards the punch bowl Geoff had inhaled. "It's not like there's any left, though."
Noah shrugged. "I'm just praying for Geoff's liver."
Suddenly– "NOAH. Truth or dare?" Izzy thundered.
Noah abruptly sat up. He rolled his eyes, nestling his chin in his palm again. "Ugh. Truth, obviously."
Izzy rubbed her chin, squinting her eyes at him. "Why did you KISS Cody?"
...It's like that's all we're known for.
Noah threw his head back. "That's old news, Izzy." He sighed. "I told you, we were both asleep."
Izzy leaned forward. "Hmmm...." She crossed her arms. "Not good enough."
"Wha–?"
"Not good enough! Why?"
"What?"
"Why?!"
"Why what?!"
"Why were you both asleep?!"
"...Because we were tired?"
"Why?"
"Because we were talking?"
"Why?"
"I don't know!"
"Yes you do!"
"No I don't!"
"Yes you–"
"Oh my god, FINE!" Noah scratched his nose, looking at the floor. "Owen fell asleep– probably tired from eating so much. I was bored and I wanted someone to talk to. And Cody seemed... sane. And approachable. So I... approached him?"
Izzy nodded triumphantly. "Better." She drummed the floor. "Your go!"
"I think I've answered enough questions to pass it onto someone else."
"Ugh. Boring."
"I'll live."
The chaos of Truth or Dare zoomed in the background as I turned to face Noah, tilting my head. "Sane and approachable, huh?"
Noah rolled his eyes. "Ugh, shut up. I just needed to get Izzy off my back."
"You know, that might be the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
He looked away. "Don't get used to it."
I nodded. "Mhm. Okay, I won't. I'll just continue being sane and approachable."
"You do that."
"I will."
Noah POV:
It appears that Cody's best strategy to this game was violently staring at the chosen person until he got selected. Unfortunately for him, it hadn't worked– by the end of the game, he hadn't been picked once.
Makes me think I should've chosen him when it was my go just to satisfy him.
But I didn't, because that's stupid.
Geoff, Owen and Duncan were positively sloshed, all three of them passed out on the floor.
I nudged Cody. "Good thing this is the Screaming Gophers cabin, eh?"
He tilted his head. "Why?"
"Because no-one would be able to carry him back." I nodded to the whale-sized human spread out on the cabin floor.
Cody snorted, shoving me lightly. "Noah, that's so mean."
I pointed at him accusingly. "Don't even start that, you know I'm right."
"Yeah, yeah, like always."
"Correct."
Those who hadn't already left started filing out of the cabin one by one (after some struggle surrounding Duncan and Geoff), leaving me, Cody, Justin, and a very dazed Owen.
I turned to Cody. "So, how many drinks did you have in the end?"
He looked side to side. "Where's Trent?"
I really need to stop expecting an answer to that question.
I shrugged. "Probably still with Gwen."
I could see Cody's brain catch up with my words, his eyes widening significantly. "Crap, I forgot about Gwen..."
First time for everything.
"I'm sure she's fine."
The cabin door flung open, and in came our missing roommate.
"Speak of the devil," I muttered to Cody.
"Hey Trent!" Cody waved to him, smiling courteously.
"Oh, hey, Codes." Trent waved lightly back.
I stretched out my arms and exaggerated a yawn, assuring it was extra loud.
"Well, dunno about you, but I'm gonna crash. Y'know, torturous "challenge" tomorrow and everything."
Trent scratched his head. "Already? Man, it's only–" The gusto in his voice faded. "–3:52am..."
"Yeah, yeah, just can't wait to–"
I stopped.
My bed.
My FUCKING bed.
Destroyed.
"What the–... my bed!" I frantically gestured to my obliterated bedframe.
Obliterated by a fatass named Owen– who apparently momentarily awoke just to ruin my night.
Cody looked over. "Oh, damn."
Trent tilted his head. "Uhh... maybe just take Owen's bed?"
Cody's eyes lit up. "Yeah! His bed is below mine!"
I rolled my eyes. "Thank god it's not on top, you'd be dead by now."
I pulled out my bag from under my once-bed and scoured it for my pajamas, toothbrush, and toothpaste.
"I'll be back." I headed out the door towards the communal bathroom.
Cody POV:
I watched Noah head out the door.
Trent laughed. "You really like him, huh?"
My head snapped towards him. "What?"
"You two get along really well. It's nice to see you both being friends."
I released a breath I hadn't even realised I'd been holding. "Oh. Yeah."
Gwen's words echoed like a snoozed alarm.
There's only... so much Cody you can handle.
I cleared my throat. "That's... good, right?"
Trent blinked. "Yeah, man. Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"
I glanced to the side. "Just wondering."
I tapped my fingers together. "Did I... really upset Gwen earlier?"
Trent sighed. "...A bit, yeah. But it wasn't completely your fault, man. She was irritated, still tired from the Awake-a-Thon and had a few drinks. I think you were just... the last straw."
I smiled weakly, despite not being completely satisfied with his answer. "Okay, man. Whatever you say."
I looked down at the floor, and spotted Noah's discarded vest from earlier. I walked on over and picked it up.
"I'm pretty sure this is, like, the second vest of his that I've ruined."
Trent laughed. "What did you do, man?"
"Oh, I spat out my drink on him. And the other time, he gave it to me to lay on because the ground was wet. During the, uh... Awake-a-Thon."
The Awake-a-Thon.
Despite the overwhelming embarrassment of the morning, the night of it was... peaceful. I got to actually relax and let loose for once. And Noah was... really fun to talk to.
I placed the vest down on a chair carefully. Might as well, considering I'd ruined it twice.
The cabin door opened, and Noah walked back in, dressed for bed.
I opened my mouth to speak.
"Sorry Cody, I'm too tired to talk to you."
I closed my mouth. "Right, got it."
I should honestly probably head to bed too.
"Night, Noah."
Noah climbed into bed. "Goodnight, Cody."
I smiled to myself.
All in all, today was... a good day.