Chapter Text
“Sweet everybody’s ok.”
“Yep, Everyone’s fine. You guys were SO stupid to be worried!
“But it was reassuring to see SOME were concerned.”
“You were watching everything? Wow…that’s awkward.”
“Like an eel dipped in grease.”
“Where I’m from that’s a compliment! Tough neighborhood!”
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“Looks like my time’s up, Chubby Buddy,” Noah sighed, resigned to an impending departure. Rather than allowing Owen to offer false hope, he continued, “I might as well do my final confessional. Maybe I can expose Alejandro to the audience, at least.”
Owen waved him off sadly as Noah made his way to the confessional. Approaching the door, he was greeted by an odd smacking noise. Inside, he found two surprises: the confessional’s lock was broken, and Gwen and Duncan were making out. Slowly retreating to avoid detection - Noah couldn’t risk Duncan’s reaction if he was discovered.
Running to the dining hall, Noah contemplated the situation. No way would Courtney be cool with Gwen and Duncan kissing. Seeing as the plane is still intact, and he can’t hear any screaming, it’s safe to say that she has no idea.
Noah grappled with the dilemma of what to do with this newfound knowledge. “What should I do with this info?” he muttered, conflicted. “I don’t owe Courtney anything… but Duncan isn’t exactly my favorite person.”
Frustration mounting, Noah banged his head on the table. “If I were Alejandro, I’d use this to my advantage and manipulate Duncan,” he muttered. “But I’m not like him. Plus my family would never forgive me if I stand back and let Courtney get hurt like this.”
Standing up suddenly he knows what to do, he has to tell Courtney before he leaves.
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Courtney was on cloud nine, Duncan was back, she had won her team the challenge along with Gwen. Speaking of Gwen, she had easily worked her way up to being Courtney’s best friend. She never really had friends, until she went to camp Wananawkwa. Ordinarily Gwen wouldn’t have been the type of friend that she sought out, but these last couple of weeks had shown her how great a friend the goth could be. She was pumped, she’s got her boyfriend, her best friend, and is in first class - literally nothing could bring her down!
"Um, Courtney, can we talk?" Noah's voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned to see him standing there, having approached her unnoticed.
Heather chimed in at that, sarcastically suggesting, "Are you going to plead with Courtney to save you from elimination, Noah?"
Noah brushed off the comment, his expression serious. "No that’s not it, I’ve already accepted that I’m out of here. I just need to tell Courtney something in private" he explained. Heather interjected, insisting, "We're a team. If you're telling Courtney something, we all deserve to know." Noah turned to Courtney, looking her in the eyes. He spoke with unexpected seriousness, "Trust me, Courtney. You need to hear this, and I won't give Miss Queen Bee or Stalkerlicious any ammunition against you."
She had never heard her sarcastic cast mate sound so serious, looking around at her team, minus Gwen, she decided that whatever Noah had to say must be important. “OK let’s step outside.”
She hears Heather shout out to her, “You can’t just leave with him he’s on the enemy team!”
Walking out of first class and following Noah to somewhere Heather and Sierra could’t overhear. Courtney gulps, she really hopes this isn’t a love confession, she didn’t want to have to turn the guy down, and honestly, she had no idea Noah even liked girls like that.
Suddenly, Noah halted, turning to her. He seemed to struggle for words, his gaze fixed on her for a moment before he finally spoke. “I have eight older sisters,” he began.
Huh, she had no idea he had so many sisters, also this was becoming the 4th weirdest way she had ever been asked out. “That’s quite a family,” she remarked.
He continued, “If anyone hurt them, I’d want to know. I might not be the strongest, but I can even the odds. You catch my drift?”
No, she, really didn’t know where exactly this conversation was going instead she said “Yes, of course I know.” After all you never let your opponent catch you off guard.
Noah nodded, seeming satisfied with her response, and went on, “I’m not one for beating around the bush. I saw Duncan and Gwen kissing in the confessional.”
The revelation hit her like a punch to the gut. Stunned, she stammered, “What did you just say?”
Noah repeated, more hesitantly, “I saw Duncan and Gwen kissing. I thought you should know privately before Chris, or someone else throws it in your face during aa challenge.”
Disbelief and hurt coursed through her. She clenched his shirt, shoving him against the wall. “You’re lying! This is just a tactic to throw me off!”
Noah, irritated by her rough treatment, retorted, “Courtney, I’m on the brink of elimination. I couldn’t care less about your game.” His tone softened as he added, “I gain nothing from telling you. Believe me or not, it’s your call.” Carefully pulling himself from Courtney’s grip “But be cautious; this plane’s full of eels.”
As she grappled with his words, Chris's voice blared over the intercom, announcing the elimination process was starting. Begrudgingly, Noah starts walking towards the confessional, “Well I’ll be seeing you.” He stops to look at her again, “If you can keep an eye on Owen for me, I’d be pretty grateful.”
With nothing else to say, she nods her head in agreement, watching him retreat.
Finally, alone, Courtney slides down to the ground, she has no idea how to process this information. How could they? Duncan has been back for all of an hour and he’s already getting with Gwen. And Gwen! She is her friend, how could she?
Courtney doesn’t know if she should scream or cry or maybe throw up. She doesn’t even have anyone to talk to. Duncan and Gwen are out - those traitors. Heather is a no go, and Sierra would just blab to her blog. She hasn’t really connected to anyone on Team Chris…. except Noah just now, but that doesn’t help her like he said he’s about to get voted out.
A thought hits her, she’s not about to lose the one honest person on the plane. Standing back up she knows what to do.
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“And with three votes against him Noah! It’s time to say tallyho, pip-pip, cheerio, tot aloo.”
“Ugh, if I jump will you stop.”
As he is strapping into his parachute, the door to the elimination room slams open.
“STOP!”
“Courtney what are you doing here? The show’s only half an hour we don’t have time for your dramatics.”
“Actually, Chris unless you want to face my lawyers again, you’ll make time.”
Thinking for a second “Alright passengers, pay attention. Courtney has the floor, take it away Court!”
“Noah can’t be eliminated; it wouldn’t be fair, and it would open the show up to another lawsuit.”
Narrowing his eyes Alejandro hisses out, “Really on what grounds. I’m afraid we all voted fair and square.”
“I was getting to that, if you can give me a moment.” She huffs out “As I was saying, the only reason Team Chris is even up for elimination is because Chris changed the rules after the challenge was completed. I’m sure my team of highly trained lawyers, could easily work out a lawsuit. That is if you want Noah.”
“Um – yeah that sounds great Courtney I would love their number.”
Knowing exactly where this was going Chris decides to stop it before more contestants get the idea, they can sue him. “Fine you win! Noah, leave the parachute and go back to your team in Economy!” thinking for a second “And someone get an intern to install a lock on the door!”
Leaving the stunned boys and a smug Courtney behind, Chris stomps away.
“Little Buddy!”
Courtney watches on as Owen pulls Noah into a bone crushing hug. She was not envious of Noah at that moment.
“What the heck Princess!”
Turning to face her traitorous Ex-boyfriend, she can’t keep the smirk off her face. “Can I help you, Duncan?” she says with false innocence.
“Yeah, why are you sticking your nose into my team’s elimination!”
Taking great pleasure in his anger, “Well Duncan you know how I feel about CHEATING, and I couldn’t stand if someone was CHEATED on – er- cheated out of a fair elimination.” Narrowing her eyes “What if it was me, you wouldn’t let me to be CHEATED again would you Duncan.”
“No, of course not! Um- I’m glad the nerd is sticking around.” Duncan meekly chokes out.
“Good, I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
++++++Confessional Duncan++++++++++
“Why would she save that nerd, it makes no sense?”
“Wait you don’t think she’s into him, do you?!”
“HAHA who am I kidding she must feel bad after Harold gave her the boot on season 1. I don’t know why I’m so paranoid it’s not like she knows I kissed Gwen…right…. Right?”
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“Wow, Courtney I’m really at a loss for words, but thank you.”
“It’s no problem, Noah, now that I know that Duncan is a two-timer and Gwen is a traitor, I need all the friends I can get. Plus, I’ve always wanted a GBF!”
“I want to be offended, but you saved my butt, so I’ll take it.”
“Good, and one more thing about that THING you told me about earlier let’s keep that between us, I’m still processing how I want to deal with it.”
“Consider my lips are sealed. Seriously thank you again.”
As they part ways, both fail to realize that their conversation wasn’t as private as they assumed.
++++++++Alejandro Confessional++++++++
“Mierda!”
“Why is he still here! And why is Courtney of all people protecting him!”
“What could Noah have possibly said to her, why would she want to keep another opponent here?”
A thought hit him, as he smirks into the camera, “No matter, I’m sure after some careful observation I can figure out what Noah holds over Courtney…then I’ll be the one at an advantage.”
+++++++++++Noah Confessional++++++
“Wow, so I’m still here. I know I’m shocked too.”
“I think I just became friends with Courtney, I didn’t see that coming, but she’s the fiercest person here if anyone can help expose eels it’s her. Now I just have make sure my team isn’t up for any more eliminations…. Ugh, this means I need to work even harder, or I’m out”
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