As I entered the cabins, I couldn't help but feel like I had stepped onto the set of a horror movie. The decor was not only unsettling, but it seemed determined to haunt my nightmares. Everywhere I looked, I was confronted with Deal Breakers Merch and relentless advertising, right down to the water bottles in the fridge. The walls were adorned with the heads of animals, adding to the overall chilling atmosphere. The wooden panels and the random deer head mounted above the sofa created a disturbing contrast.

The run-down cabin felt like an oven, with no relief in sight from the stifling heat. The old air conditioning unit hanging out of the back window appeared to be struggling, sputtering out the last wisps of cool air it could muster.

The cozy kitchen was equipped with a quaint table adorned with four sturdy wooden chairs. In the center of the table, a glass vase displayed artificial daisies, adding a touch of cheerful ambiance. A welcoming living room boasted a comforting fireplace, while a spacious full bathroom featured both a shower and a tub, accompanied by two elegant sinks. The adjacent bedroom was complemented by a charming small porch at its front entrance. The house was delightful in layout, though it would be even more charming without the presence of taxidermied animal heads and a rather dated plaid sofa.

As I stood there, I couldn't help but wonder where I could hide them. Perhaps under the bed, or maybe I'd take them into the woods after dark. But then, a heartbreaking image of a baby deer finding its mother's head flashed through my mind, and I recoiled at the thought.

A hard knock at the door behind me startled me, shaking me from my thoughts about redecorating. "Coming!" I called out toward the door.

When I opened the door I was met with Chase's figure towering over me. "Hiya, sis." His blue eyes were bright and a mischievous grin played on his perfect lips. I was standing there looking at him like a deer in headlights. All my decor thoughts had vanished and replaced with a tight ache in my stomach.

"May I come in?" He asked, pointing behind me.

I just stepped aside, nodding. "Of course."

"Nice, this is cozy. All of us 'Deal Breakers' are sharing cabin eleven, it's bigger than it looks," he said before flopping onto the couch. "Where's champ?"

I sat across from him, my chest felt tight again. "Pete's in the shower, getting ready for tonight."

"Right," Chased pursed his lips. His eyes felt like they were going to burn a hole through me. "I've missed you, Lala."

That sentence had my heart burst with nostalgia, a breath escaped me. I had missed hearing him call me that. "Missed you too. We both did."

Chase just nodded, no emotion on his face. We stood there quietly, just staring at the other one, the silence felt like a thick smoke that filled the room and the space between us. Both of us gagged internally, so many things to say but no air in the room to speak. I'm not sure how long it lasted, but it ended when Peter stepped out in his jeans and t-shirt, towel-drying his hair.

"Chase, hey bud!" He said enthusiastically.

"Hey champ, you ready for tonight?" He sounded mischievous and it worried me, like he knew something we didn't.

"Yeah, I mean, I know Layla like the back of my hand."

Chases snorted, "I bet you do."

Peter tensed, pulling the towel from his head. "What does that mean?" I could tell by the way Peter's shoulders tensed that he was ready to have a bickering battle right there, but I wasn't.

"Chase," I said to change the subject. "I heard you saying you're in it to win it, you don't mean that do you?"

Peter spoke first, "Nah, he knows how much we need this." He threw his towel on an empty armchair, walking over over to sit by me.

Chase didn't say anything for a minute, he just observed our worried faces. "I'd be crazy not to walk away from this with that much money!"

My heart sank, so I had ten couples and my best friend to compete against. "You can't be serious."

"No, I am." He nodded, not a drop of emotion on his face, his blue eyes stone cold.

"But, you're planning to split it with us?" Peter asked, confused.

"If you read the contract," Chase rolled his eyes. "You'd know legally if they find out the DBs gift money, property, or any asset over a thousand dollars, they can take the money back. So, no splitting."

I looked at him in shock, did he plan to try and take this money from us? Like the other nine couples weren't enough but we also had to worry about him too. I glanced up at Peter who was fuming, "I know you're not serious. Chase, you'd literally be stealing from us."

Chase snorted, "Don't get me confused with yourself here, Pete. I'm doing what I signed up to do, you can't blame this all on me."

I couldn't get words out of my mouth. This wasn't the same Chase who used to have sleepovers at my house, he was here to compete against us.

"Fine," I spat, rage boiling over. "Fine, whatever it doesn't matter. What did we expect we haven't seen you in four years, I can't expect much." I didn't mean for my words to come out so acidic, or for my eyes to narrow on him, but I was so hurt by his intentions.

Chase looked shocked that I'd said that. "Well then, good luck tonight." He stood up, clapped his hands together, and left through the front door like a magician exiting stage left.

"Layla," Peter started but I raised a hand to silence him. Something I rarely did.

"I don't want to hear it, let's get ready and regroup for the trivia tonight." I walked into the bedroom, it was my turn to shower and hopefully work out the feelings in my stomach.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

We were in what felt like a football stadium just on a much smaller scale, the building had stadium lights and a huge stage but no seats for a live audience. The wall behind us was plastered with the Deal Breakers logo and question marks. All the couples were lined up on the stage, each family member on the left side of them. I was sandwiched between Peter and Chase, who hadn't spoken since the cabins Everyone was holding a paddle and erasable marker attached to the top. I did not some of them were holding red paddles while others had blue ones. I looked over and Denver and Rachel were having a heated talk but they were expert whisperers.

"Everyone ready!" Oscar shouted, Todd walked onto the stage and I took a deep breath. This is it. The first round,

"Hi, I'm your host Todd Thomas, and this is Deal Breakers. Tonight we have our first round, how well do you know your partner?" Todd gestures toward all of us before continuing.

"There are ten questions for our lovely teams to answer, but their Deal Breakers will be answering as well. If their partner gets it wrong, a point goes to the DB If they both get it right, both get a point. The team with the highest score wins, granting them immunity for tomorrow's match! Teams with the three lowest scores will be eliminated. Deal Breakers get ready, this is your chance to win some cash!"

The feeling in my stomach was back, I felt like there was a frog in my throat as the stadium lights beamed down on us. Todd took his seat behind the podium in the middle of teams.

"Question one, this is for blue: If your partner was stuck on an island and could only bring one book to read, what would it be?"

I was holding a red paddle, I think I was supposed to put my answer down and Pete had to guess. This is an easy one, we've had this talk before, I've loved the same book since elementary school. I scribbled down my answer and waited for the music to stop.

"Ok everyone," Todd walked down the line. "We'll be revealing one by one."

Denver and Rachel got the point, they even high-fived. James didn't get it.

Charlie and Lizzie didn't get it, but their Amanda did.

Kevin and Kelly did get it, but their DB did as well.

Finally, it was our turn, I glanced over at Chase's paddle wondering if he'd remember, if he would get a point as well.

"Layla, show us your answer," Todd said with his weatherman smile.

Harry Potter and the goblet of fire.

"Peter, show us your answer."

I looked at Peter, his eyes said it all.

"War and peace," Todd sucked air in through his teeth. "Moving on to Chase," he gestured to a satisfied looking Chase. A smirk playing on his lips while his fingers drummed on his leg.

He flipped his paddle over and it mirrored my answer. "Looks like your DB gets the point!" Todd moved down the line.

Lindsey and Rochelle were in synch with each other, while the others failed behind them.

I glanced at Chase who was looking at me, I wasn't surprised he knew the answer. I was just surprised Peter didn't. I nudged him, giving him a disappointed look. He shook his head, already feeling down. No point in rubbing it in.

"Second question, Red," Todd announced. "What is your partner's least favorite food?"

Easy. Peter hates and I mean hates with his whole heart, anything with curry. His stomach can't tolerate spice. I glanced at Chase, he wasn't looking at me, he was jotting down his answer.

Peter was smiling wide, confident in my answer. I was too, I knew I'd get this one. When Todd walked over and asked us to all flip, I was right and so was Chase. Not surprising, I remembered this one time Chase and I wanted to try this Indian restaurant and Peter had came along, we told him he wouldn't like it and he ended up having the runs the entire night. I held in a giggles as I remembered Peter running to the toilet over and over again, their mother Grace scolding him for not using air freshener in the bathroom.

"Does your partner have a birthmark and where?"

I do, it's on my lower back, left side and it kind of looks like a star, though this one I wasn't sure if Peter would get. I don't remember ever showing him or talking about it but he's seen my body enough to have seen. Should I just put no, knowing he probably doesn't know about it? Would that be the way to help us succeed, to lie?

"Good job, Charlie," Todd said. "Lizzie no birthmarks, your man knows you."

I gulped down spit as Todd came toward us. The camera all of a sudden felt bigger and more in my face than before. I didn't like this questions, it was intimate and though I love Peter, he doesn't always pay attention to small details like that.

"Peter, let's see what ya got for us?"

Peter flipped his over his paddle.

Yes.
On her back.

I was actually shocked to see he'd noticed it. I tried to contain my smile but my lips curled upward, it was a moment where I felt seen by him, sometimes I felt a little invisible.

That's my guy.

"Nice, now how about you Chase?" Todd asked with that same smile glued on his face. Chase's eyes were dark, he didn't smile when he flipped over his paddle.

Yes.
Lower left back.
Shaped like a star.

My mouth went dry, I barely expected Peter to know about it, I never thought for a second Chase might remember. Todd didn't say anything but his face said it all, he looked at the three of us and smiled wide. "Well, that's a point for everyone."

Chase and I exchanged a glance, he raised a brow at me. My stomach fluttered and I looked away.

Crap, why is this happening? I thought, feeling a mixture between nervous and embarrassed.  Again the lights felt like they'd gotten brighter, a single bead of sweat trailed from my four head down to my neck and I longed to get up and leave this room again. I forced a weak smile on my face, glancing at Peter, he wasn't smiling.