Team Amazon: Cody, Sierra, Gwen, Heather, Courtney

Team Chris Is Really Really Really Hot: Alejandro, Noah, Izzy, Owen

Team Victory: Lindsay, Leshawna, DJ, [Y/N]

~

When you wake up the next morning, Lindsay is sitting across from you. Her hair is frumpled, her arms are folded, and she stares out the window at the blue beyond.

"Morning, Lindsay," you say, stretching your arms. Sleeping in a reclining chair isn't as comfortable as an actual bed, but it sure beats the conditions in second class. You speak again. "It's a great day to be a winner, right?"

Lindsay glances at you, and you notice the palpable sadness in her blue eyes. "I guess."

Oh. You remember what Cody told you last night. Team Chris Is Really Really Really Hot had lost the challenge, and Tyler had paid the price.

"I'm sorry Tyler's gone," you say. You've only known Cody for a few days, but you know you'd be just as devastated if he got voted off.

"I finally remembered his name, too," Lindsay says.

You're itching to cheer her up. Not just because Lindsay would perform better in the challenge if she was happy, but also because you genuinely care about her. Lindsay (along with DJ and Leshawna) took you in; cheering her up is the least you can do in return.

"Do you want to paint your nails?" you suggest, knowing Lindsay likely packed a vault of nail polishes for the trip. "It might cheer you up."

Lindsay nods, slowly at first, but a smile returns to her face. "Sure. The snow totally froze my cuticles yesterday. Let me get my stuff!"

She rummages through her backpack and finds several polish colors. "What do you want?" she asks you.

You look through the options and finally pick up a bright spring green. "I'll go with this one."

"So cute," Lindsay says, her troubles over Tyler already forgotten. "I'm gonna go with pink. That's my favorite."

You guys spend the next half hour painting your nails. Lindsay is an expert. Even when the plane rattles under turbulence, she doesn't smear her work. Yours is less perfect, but it isn't terrible, either.

Eventually, DJ and Leshawna sit down in the empty seats, Leshawna beside you and DJ beside Lindsay.

"Where were you guys?" you ask.

"Breakfast bar," Leshawna says, pointing at the end of the first-class cabin. "Grabbed some bagels."

"I asked the stewardess to bring us some orange juice," DJ says. "Is that cool?"

You nod; orange juice is fine by you. Lindsay agrees as well.

"How're you feeling, Linds?" DJ asks, patting her shoulder.

"Better," she admits. "I still wish Tyler hadn't gone home."

"The odds were stacked against him," you say. "Owen is too tight with Noah and Izzy."

Leshawna shoots you a look. "Really?"

Lindsay's eyes are wide. Please don't cry, you think. Maybe you should have saved that comment for the confessional.

"Sorry, Lindsay," you apologize. "But I know he's cheering you on from wherever he is."

"Probably that wacky Aftermath studio," Leshawna comments.

The stewardess arrives with four orange juices. You take a sip of orange juice. Blegh. It's disgusting! You almost spit it out right then and there.

The others have similar thoughts.

"Ugh, this is at least a week old," Leshawna complains.

DJ sets his glass aside, a frown on his face. "Well, y'know, at least it's better than the junk Chris serves in second class."

Everyone laughs together. You glance around; the cabin feels so big for just the four of you.

"I'm gonna go visit second class," you say, going to stand up.

Leshawna yanks you back down. "No way, girl. Do you want Sierra to tear you to shreds?"

It's true, Sierra is terrifying, but it's been, like, nine hours since you've seen Cody, and you miss him. "Gwen said she'd protect me," you say, recalling your conversation with her the first time you met everyone.

"Tyler would've protected me, but now he's gone," Lindsay says. It's not really relevant to the conversation, but you cut her some slack. DJ puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.

You guys spend a while talking. About an hour later, the intercom roars to life.

"Brace for landing!" Chris announces. "We've arrived at our next destination, the Amazon! But the runway's a little short."

"Germany to South America in one night?" Leshawna says in disbelief. "This plane's gotta be going at supersonic speed."

"Gosh, I hope none of the Amazons said this might be lucky for them. That'd be disastrous!" Chris laughs before hanging up.

You frown. Did Cody say something? Did any of his teammates say anything? It would be horrendous if Cody got voted out today. But the rest of his team...

~

"I mean, if Team Amazon loses, they can send Sierra packing. That way, Cody and I can officially be together. And if Team Chris loses, they can send Alejandro packing. If my team loses... I don't want to think about it."

~

Your team leaves first class to meet up with the other teams in the dining section. Owen and Izzy look excited, as usual. Noah and Alejandro are apathetic. Well, apathetic might not be the right word for Alejandro. He's just good at masking his true emotions.

Gwen, Heather, and Courtney look moody as usual. Those girls need to loosen up. Finally, your gaze lands on the cutest guy in the world: Cody.

The challenge hasn't started yet, so you figure it'll be fine if you mingle with the other team. You leave Team Victory and slide up next to Cody.

"Hey, cutie," you say.

"Y/N!" Cody beams at you. He slips his hand into yours and then notices your nail polish. "Hey! Is this new?"

"Yep." You wiggle your fingers to show off the color.

"It's pretty," Cody admits. "Usually I hate the color green, but it looks good on you."

"Awww." You blush at the compliment. "Next time, I'll paint them blue. That way they'll match your eyes."

Cody chuckles and squeezes your hand.

You're confused, though. Where is Sierra? Usually, she'd be breathing down your back if you even looked in Cody's direction.

He seems to sense your thoughts (how romantic!). "Sierra's still in the confessional," he explains. "I think that's where she writes her Chris fanfiction."

"She writes Chris fanfiction?" you gasp. That's... you don't even want to imagine it.

"At least it's not about me."

Suddenly, the plane hits the ground. Everyone screams in terror. Cody jumps into your arms.

"What's happening?" Owen yells.

"We're landing, nitwit!" Heather shouts back.

The plane pretty much crashes at the end of the runaway, but you are all unharmed. Sierra finally enters the dining room. Her gaze lands on you immediately, and she glares at you like a vicious animal.

"Everyone out!" Chris yells over the loudspeaker.

Thank you, Chris, you say as you let go of Cody's hand and hurry to join Team Victory again. Without that distraction, Sierra probably would've mauled you.