The second my right sandal hits the wood of the resort dock, I'm bombarded by all the other eliminated contestants.

"I really thought you'd be in the finale!" Bridgette cries.

Sadie and Katie instantly throw their arms around my thin torso, looks of disappointment on their faces. If I were my friend, I'd be disappointed too. I fully step onto the dock. Geoff gives me a pat on the back.

"You did good dude. You made it far. You just couldn't outdo my boy DJ."

Duncan loosely throws his left arm around Geoff's shoulder and pounds his chest like a gorilla with his right. "Guy alliance to the END!" He chants.

I roll my eyes. "The girls alliance will never be defeated. Prepare for Eva to WIN, LOSERS!"

"Yeah! Like, prePARE!" Katie adds. Sadie puts her hands on her hips confidently and Bridgette does a hair flip.

Squad GOALS. If only Tom were here I'd have all my besties. Although, I'm not sure if Tom would like the girls. He's super rude to literally anyone who isn't planning on being a lawyer or doctor. Bridgette wants to be a veterinarian, I wonder if that's good enough for Tom? I'm shaken back into reality by Geoff's trash talk.

"The boys alliance is superior, bro. No needed explanation. DJ's already got the win and the finale hasn't even started."

I scoff. "If you think DJ can beat EVA, you've got another thing coming!"

Duncan's mohawk blows in the wind as he chuckles.

"Something funny?" I take a jokingly intimidating step towards him.

"Nothing, just that Eva is DONE FOR!" He pumps both fists up and down. "Whoooo! Go guys!"

Geoff joins in on my ex's stupid cheer, filling the air with praises and cheers about the Ex Killer Bass Boys. I share a look with my girl friends and I can tell that we're all embarrassed for them.

"Hey, Courtney." Gwen spits my name with the venom of a poisonous snake. I scrunch my face into a disgusted glare and don't even give her the satisfaction of a reply. Bridgette sighs.

"What?! She was the one being a b*tch!"

I'm always quick to defend myself. Tom and I are constantly on guard due to our inconsiderate classmates. Just because we're bossy doesn't mean they get to point it out!

Bridgette shakes her head.

"Why don't we show Courtney where she's staying?" Geoff suggests.

Oh right, we get our own rooms here! I'll miss the fun times the girls and I always in our cabin, but I'm ready for a nice bed and my own space. "Please! Lead the way."

As we make our way towards the hotel, I notice that the atmosphere here is way calmer than the one on Wawanakwa Island. I never got the chance to realize the serenity in this place after TDI because I was too busy trying to get Harold back for rigging the votes! That scrawny little jerk shouldn't have messed with me!

We pass by Izzy, who is standing at a big black grill roasting hot dogs. She probably shouldn't be allowed near anything involving fire, but oh well. If the place burns down at least Gwen will burn down with it. I give Izzy a polite wave because I'm such a nice person. She smiles and makes monkey calls. What a weirdo!

We reach and enter the big hotel that I'll be staying in and step into an average silver elevator. I was hoping for a gold one, but I've learned from this show that not everywhere can meet my high standards. At least I'm off Wawanakwa. Geoff presses the up button on the elevator. I wait expectantly for the ding and rush into the long hallway when the doors open.

"You excited to not sleep on a lousy bunk?" Duncan asks.

"Excited is an understatement! Do you know what the Wawanakwa beds have done to my once perfect spine?!"

"Enlighten me."

"Well, for one-"

"You can choose any room you want that's not taken," Geoff says, rudely interrupting me.

"I know!" I glare.

"Just letting you know, dude." Geoff is a good friend, even though our alliances are at war. For now, our friendships can thrive, but when we watch the finale live, I'll be cheering for Eva so loud the boys' eardrums break.

"See you guys later!" I twist the knob to my room and wave to my friends. I'll spend plenty of time with them later but for now I'm glad to be alone in my nice hotel room. I throw myself onto the pink bed that sits in the corner, letting out a breath of satisfaction. Memory foam. This day couldn't get any better! I sink into the foam.

Duncan and I were so casual today, like we've been friends forever. I'm glad. Fighting is fun but when it actually involves hurt feelings, it sucks. My hand traces back and forth on the soft, violet sheets of the bed. I would've preferred green, the color of money, but purple will do. The air in the room doesn't smell like the woods. I've grown to love the smell of the woods, but the perfumey scent in here isn't bad either. I close my eyes and let myself just breathe for the first time since the season started. Anticipation is still zig zagging through my body but the pressure's off. My thoughts get less and less clear and before I know it...

There's a soft round of knocks on my door. I sit up, instantly getting a headache from being vertical.

"Just a minute!" I rub my eyes and slide out of bed. I straighten out my slightly messy hair in the mirror before opening the door to see Bridgette. She gasps at my tired appearance.

"Oh no, did I wake you up?!"

"Yeah. It's fine though. I'm already the maximum beauty, so I don't need beauty sleep," I boast.

Bridgette chuckles and playfully rolls her eyes. "If you're not too tired, do you wanna come to the Ex Killer Bass party? Basically we're all gonna chill in Duncan's room with a crapton of food and soda. It'll be a nice way to enjoy ourselves before the finale."

"Ooh, sounds fun!" Duncan's room. When he got back from Playa Des Losers in season one, I spent a lot of time in his hotel room. Memories start to flood my brain.

I plug them up.

"Great!" Bridgette smiles. "There's no concrete time for the party, so we can head over now if you want!"

"Yeah, let's go!"

We walk down the faded red carpet of the hallway in silence then I press the 'down' button for the elevator, which comes to our service quickly. We step into the tight space with gray, dreary walls.

"What level is he on?"

"The second."

I push my thumb on the 'level 2' button. It's cold. The friendly ding doesn't satisfy me when we reach the second floor and the elevator doors open.

"So, are you ready for Eva to crush DJ?" Thanks for the distraction, Bridge. Distraction from what? I'm not sure. I think what I'm feeling may be anxiety, but why?

I shut up my thoughts with a cheerful, "I can't wait!"

"Me either! I also hope they kiss in the end, after Eva wins. Wouldn't that be so sweet?!"

Duncan and I kissed after he won TDA. It was, as Bridgette said, so sweet.

Move over invasive thoughts, I'm all positive today! I fake a grin. "Yeah, it'd be super sweet!"

Screw Bridgette for being such a good friend. Like Eva, she's started to catch on to when I'm feeling down. She puts a hand on my back and gives me a look of concern, asking without speaking if I'm okay. I pretend I don't hear her gesture and widen my fake smile. My thoughts shift from relationships to friendships. Namely, my most important friendship.

Tom never asks if I'm okay.

On a cold, stormy night in October, Tom and I had studied till ten o clock at our school library. Afterwards, we got into his silver Mercedes and started driving home.

It had been a hard day at school. Some idiot jerkface jock had brought up my relationship with Duncan and said that I was a bossy loser and had deserved being cheated on. I had yelled at the jock and berated him, as I usually did to haters.

As Tom turned out of the school parking lot, all I could think about was what the bully had said. I'd already known that I deserved what Duncan and Gwen did to me, so him confirming it stung like a wasp to the butt. I started crying, right there in the car. I cried the entire ride home, and Tom pretended he didn't notice. I was sitting right next to him. I even cried louder just fishing for his support, but he never gave it.

As Bridgette and I make our way across the Playa, the bright and energetic colors of our surroundings seem to mock my slowly beating heart.

"Courtney, are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine!" I snap. Bridgette blinks. "Um... sorry."

Great, so this is who I've become. I mentally complain about my best friend and abuse my other friends.

A rushed deep breath does nothing to make me feel better.

We arrive at the hotel room after the rest of the awkward and quiet walk. My tight shoulders loosen a bit. It feels nice.

Duncan looks up from where he's sitting. "Glad you ladies could make it. You deserve something fun before you watch your little alliance bestie get destroyed by our boy," Duncan says, his smirk somehow bigger than usual. I snap right back into my fierce self at the feeling of excited and giddy anger.

I match his smug expression. "Your 'boy' isn't going to be destroying anything but his pride when Eva crushes him!"

Bridgette and I sit down, joining the awkward circle Duncan, Geoff, Sadie and Katie have formed. They each have a can of soda in their hands. Duncan's is Coke. I grab a Pepsi.

"This is a pretty lame party, dudes." Geoff takes a glug of his Sprite. "Maybe we should invite everyone else!"

"No!" I quickly protest. There will be no Gwen or her sidekick/bestie Leshawna up in here!

"Alright, chill bro! Let's turn on some music." Geoff turns on a big black speaker. The radio begins playing some upbeat pop song about how wonderful women are (we know!) and everyone starts swaying to the music. Geoff's disappointed face shows that he's noticed everyone's tired energy. He stands up, then does the most insanely dramatic dab anyone could possibly do. I smack my face into my hands. I've already suffered enough dabbing from the freshies at my high school! Bridgette clearly agrees;

"I thought this place was my safe space from cringey children!"

Duncan gets up and performs a series of quick, tiny dabs. I know for a fact he's doing that just to annoy us women. Or at least Bridgette and I. Sadie and Katie don't seem to mind the display of pure cringiness; they giggle and sway harder to the music. I stand up and wrap my arms around Duncan tightly in attempt to stop his dabbing, only to notice seconds later that our bodies are VERY snugly pressed up against each other. The punk looks at me in surprise, and I unlatch my arms fast as Sonic.

"Geez, Princess here can't keep her hands off me!" Duncan jokes, but I make it clear that I don't find it funny with a cross of the arms and a glare.

"Just kidding!" He quickly says, clearly afraid of losing my friendship. If I were me, I wouldn't want to lose myself either. Or would I? It's not like I'm a good girlfriend, or even friend come to think of it.

Duncan puts an unsure arm around my shoulders. "Are you okay? I'm sorry."

I laugh. "Oh I'm fine! I was just lost in a thought. You're good." Oh God, have Duncan and I become those awkward exes who don't know how to act around each other? No. I refuse to let that happen! I throw my arms around Duncan's neck and sway to the beat of the song. He is shocked again, but then smiles and places his hands on my torso.

I wait to feel a rush of adrenaline from his touch. It doesn't come, which is confusing.

But it's okay.

~

As the final lyric of 'Rolex' plays, I'm feeling my exhaustion. Fortunately, Bridgette reads my mind and suggests,

"It's getting late. Maybe we should wrap up, get dinner and hit the hay."

Duncan scrunches his eyebrows up in disgust. "Gross, you sound like Scott!"

"Hey!" Is my immediate reaction. "I actually kinda liked him!"

Duncan looks down. "Right. Sorry," he mutters. I don't feel bad for the damn punk. If he hadn't cheated on me, we'd still be together, and Scott never would have never entered the picture.

"Anyways, I agree with Bridgey. I'm tired! Let's go get dinner," I say.

"Alright! I'm always up for some nice hot dogs, dudes!" Geoff cheers, pumping his fist.

"NO! I want Sushi! I don't like hot dogs!"

"Stop like, whining, Court," Sadie giggles.

"I am not whining!" I laugh and gently hit Sadie over and over. She retaliates by grabbing my ankle and jerking it up, causing me to fall and land on my butt.

"Ah! You idiot!" I yell, then smirk and pull her down on top of me. For a second, I think her weight has crushed and killed me. But when she rolls off, I'm still alive.

Duncan takes a final swig of his coke then tosses it in a small trash can to his left. "Damn, the girls sure are getting comfortable!"

I roll my eyes. "Can it, perv!"

"Sorry sweetheart."

"Shut up!" I swiftly stand up. "Don't get too comfortable! Our friendship is still dependent on how nice you are to me!"

"Dang dude, that sounds doesn't sound like too good of a friendship to me," Geoff comments.

"Our business is none of yours!" I flip my hair and blow the surfer dude a sarcastic kiss. He screams like a five year old girl and ducks.

"Dude! I can't have kisses landing on me, I have a girlfriend!"

Bridgette laughs. "Geoff, I'm pretty sure I know that you and Courtney have no feelings for each other."

"Actually," I contradict, "I do have feelings for him. Feelings of rage! Prepare for the boys alliance to slowly and painfully go down and hit the ground so hard your noses bleed!" With that, I whirl towards the door and float out of it, the other three girls in tow.

"You're like, relentless!" Katie giggles.

"You know it! Now let's go get some Sushi."

~

"Aaaaaugh!" I groan. "I had too much Sushi!"

Despite the boys being annoying as hell, all the former Killer Bass members (besides the irrelevant ones Tyler and Harold) are sitting together at a nice picnic table. We've finished our food and none of us are looking too hot. After eating bad food for as long as we did, it's hard not to devour anything in our sights.

"Dude, Courtney, don't even complain about eating too much! I had like, ten pieces of pizza and four hot dogs!" Geoff whines.

"Well I had eight pieces of Sush-" I'm interrupted by the feeling of barf coming up my throat. My eyes widen and I cover my mouth and rush over to the trash can, where I release a waterfall of barf that the fish from my Sushi swim down. Good for them! They've been re birthed! Duncan sighs dreamily. I cough a few times then wipe my mouth and look at him with judgement all over my face.

"Barf makes me think of our first kiss," he beams, his eyes twinkling.

"Disgusting. Kind of sweet, but disgusting," I say.

He gazes at me. "Nothing involving you could ever be disgusting."

"Really? Because in kindergarten, I ate a rollie pollie then coughed it back up."

"Awe! That is so cute! I hope the pollie survived," Bridgette gushes. I will never understand that girl, even though she's one of my best friends.

"I'm ready to sleep. In my nice, not uncomfortable bed," I announce. "Goodnight everyone! And boys, I hope you're ready for little DJ to be DEMOLISHED by Eva tomorrow in the finale!"

I always get the last word. I bolt off so they can't respond but Duncan calls after me,

"Don't get your hopes up Princess! You'll only be disappointed!"

Ugh, again with that stupid nickname? The reason I've always hated it is the way it's made my heart pound but...

My heart feels normal.

I inhale the crisp scent of night as I slow my running down to a walk. I have no idea what will go down tomorrow.

But any which way, I know I'll go home happy.

The finale is the next chapter!! Yay! I know I said this chapter would be the finale, but it seemed to make more sense to have this separate, sorry. Thank you so much for all the outstanding patience and support, I love you guys!!!! Your support means the world! <3