Cameras are off

**

"And then he ate the whole thing!" Gwen laughed, telling Trent about the time her little brother pigged out on cake the first wedding he ever went to. "I'm surprised he's still so scrawny after that."

"Wow," Trent chuckled, shaking his head. "I can't wait to meet him."

"Yeah, but fair warning: he's a little-" the goth cut herself off when she saw Duncan and Courtney walk into the cafeteria. Once they got their breakfast, the punk sat across from Trent while his girlfriend sat across from Gwen.

"Good morning!" The C.I.T. flashed a smile.

"Uh..." Gwen glanced at Trent, unsure. He only shrugged. "Courtney...about last night, I'm s-"

"It's alright!" She interrupted quickly, placing her napkin on her lap. "I'm over it. Let's just...start fresh, alright?"

Curious, Duncan raised an eyebrow. "Not over what?"

"Nothing! It's no big deal, just girl stuff!"

"Well in that case, I don't want hear it," he took a bite out of his donut.

What are they talking about? Trent thought to himself. That's when he remembered what José told him during the challenge yesterday. "I heard that...she and Duncan...kinda hooked up last night." His eyes widened. No way. He wasn't gonna believe it. Unless Courtney and Gwen got into a fight last night over him and they're just trying to over it up by changing the subject! Oh no! That explains why Courtney ran off crying after the scavenger hunt!!

"Uh...dude?" Duncan's voice brought him out of his thoughts. Trent blinked and shook his head, realizing he was staring right at the delinquent.

"Oh! Uh...sorry..." he chuckled nervously. "I'm just really tired, man."

He heard Gwen snort a little. "Awe, you two should kiss." Courtney laughed along with her.

"Whatever," Duncan rolled his eyes, putting an arm around the brunette. "Elvis was the one giving me goofily eyes."

"No!" Trent yelled. A few other campers turned from their tables to look at him. "It's not like that, I promise! I like Gwen, and-"

"Trent." His girlfriend placed a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down," she giggled. "It was just a joke."

"Pffft...I knew that."

"Anyways," the goth turned back to them. "I think once we leave this place, we should all go see the new horror movie that's supposed to come out in a few months."

"Um...no!" Courtney said. "I hate those movies!"

Duncan smirked. "Come on, Princess. I'll hold you tight on the extra scary parts."

"Knowing you, you'd probably play some stupid prank on me later!"

"I can't believe you think so lowly of me," he chuckled, turning towards Gwen. "Is it that movie with the zombies?"

"That's the one!" The goth smiled. "Are you up for it, Trent?"

"I don't know...horror movies aren't really my thing."

"Come on!" She nudged him in the arm. When he didn't respond, she shook her head. "Looks like it'll just be Duncan and I since we're the only ones who can take it."

"Fine." Courtney crossed her arms. "Then Trent and I can do do something."

What?!! Trent panicked. Gwen basically invited Duncan to go see a movie with her and Courtney seems ok with it?! Ok, this is just too weird...

"Well I'm not going if you're not going, Princess," said Duncan.

"And I am not seeing that movie alone. So Trent, either you or Courtney should-"

"I'll come!" The musician gave in. "I just hope that I won't be third wheeling like the last time you two talked about horror movies."

"See what you've done, Court?" Duncan said playfully.

"You've caused disorder in the galaxy," Gwen laughed.

"Ha ha, I remember that line from..."

Trent blocked the noise out. Seriously? Now I'm starting to believe José.

**

"...And I always have Mike give me massages every night," Zoey told Heather as they both sat on her bunk bed, crisscross, eating potato chips and ice cream.

"That..." Heather took a bite of a chip. "Sounds amazing right now. My shoulders have been so tense. But I'm way too lazy to grab Alejandro."

"That has been me for the past six weeks."

"Really? I'm only one week behind you?"

"Um...yeah, Mike and I said we were a month pregnant when we got to the island a couple weeks ago."

"Oh," her face flattened. "I never really paid attention to what anyone had to say." She took a scoop of her strawberry ice cream. "I donnt wealy cawre..." And chances are," she swallowed. "I'm gonna forget what you just said by tomorrow."

Zoey laughed, now getting used to Heather's way of being "humorous." "So...boy or girl?"

"Hmm...I never really thought of that. I think it'll probably be a girl."

"I think mine will be a boy. Mike thinks it'll be a girl, though."

"Alejandro will probably say the opposite just to go against me," Heather rolled her eyes. "Ugh...men are so annoying."

"I know, right?" The redhead agreed. "Mike won't stop asking if I'm in any pain, and I keep telling him that if I was, I'd tell him."

"You think that's bad? This morning, Alejandro told me to be careful getting out of bed!"

"Wow," Zoey laughed. "But he does have a point. You're gonna have to be more careful in your third trimester because you'll be huge!"

"I know," she scoffed. "I've seen a pregnant woman before. Let's just hope that neither of us has twins or triples, or...whatever."

"Yeah, that would suck. But there is an upside to pregnancy..." she lowered her voice. "Apparently, near the beginning of your second trimester...your libido increases."

"Really?" Heather smirked. "Alejandro won't be able to go anywhere in the next couple months."

"Neither will Mike." They both giggled. Then Mike walked in.

"You two are hanging out...again?" He raised an eyebrow at them. "And you're giggling? Oh no, this can't be good..." he backed away and shut the cabin door.

They burst out in laughter. "Did you see his face?!" Zoey wiped a tear of joy away from her eye.

"I know!" Heather nodded, trying to catch her breath. "Wimp!"

"He totally is!"

"So is Alejandro."

"Yeah...especially around José."

That made Heather pause. She sat up straight, clearing her throat and swallowing. "I don't think he is. Jose's a jerk face."

"Definitely," The redhead said. "But he acts like being called 'Al' is the worst thing ever!"

"...I don't wanna talk about José right now. I'm really tired. I think I'm gonna go back to my cabin."

"Heather...what's up? Are you ok?"

"Obviously not!" She snapped, promptly standing up and walking towards the door. "But maybe I will be if you let me sleep. Bye!" She shut the door, leaving Zoey confused.

**

Heather let out a long sigh as she laid down on the bed, rubbing her stomach. Maybe I shouldn't have eaten that much... She looked up at the ceiling, and thanks to Zoey, she now couldn't stop thinking about the whole José situation. She groaned. Why does he have to even be here?

"Maybe when you're older you can kick José's ass," she found herself speaking to her unborn child. "Or better yet, he'll mess with the wrong person and he'll end up dead Either way works," she laughed. "You know, you're the only one that doesn't talk back when I say something. I know it won't be that way after you're born, but thanks for doing that now. Ugh...you're probably going to be the most stubborn person ever!" Heather then smiled. "And that will be just fine. It's better than being agreeable to everything. Now that's annoying."

Suddenly, the door opened. "There you are!" Her fiancé smiled. Heather's eyes went wide and she immediately sat up. He raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "You look like you were about to get caught doing something you shouldn't be doing..."

"Please!" She waved her hand at him. "I was asleep and you woke me up!"

"Enough to make you sit up in bed?"

"...Yes," she answered slowly.

"I don't think so, mi amor." His smirk only grew wider as he got closer and sat next to her. "Tell me...does it happen to be anything I could assist you with?" He sensually rubbed her shoulder. "Because you can just tell me if you need to-"

"No, you pervert!" She lightly pushed him away. "I swear, that's all you ever think about!"

Alejandro chuckled. "Alright, alright. "Then what else could it be?"

"I was sleeping, Alejandro! You just scared me half to death when you burst through the door like that!"

"I didn't know I was that loud...?" He shook his head, an annoying smile plastered to his face. "I'm still not buying it."

Heather groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Fine. I was...talking to the baby..." she mumbled.

"What was that?"

"I was talking to the baby!! Is that what you wanted to hear?!"

"Mi ángel," Alejandro's voice became softer. "That is nothing to be ashamed of."

"Well, it's just..." she became flustered. "It's...it's just really stupid."

"Its really not, Heather," he placed his hand back on her shoulder. She turned towards him and sighed.

"Was there any reason you were looking for me?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to come swimming with us."

"...Us?"

"Mike, Zoey and I..." he flinched.

"Seriously?" She whined.

"Yeah, I know. Zoey was the one who invited us."

"Of course." The Asian bit her lip, knowing Zoey was just gonna ask her why she walked out in the middle of their conversation.

"So...?"

"You're actually gonna go?"

"Why not? It's not like we have anything better to do."

"Fine."

**

"Let's go swimming," Courtney draped her arms around her boyfriend. "That would be fun." The couple was just finishing up their breakfast and we're the last two in the cafeteria.

"Hmm...maybe," he kissed up her arms. "Will it just be the two of us or are Elvis and his girlfriend invited."

"Only if you want them to be."

"...Nah. We haven't really had much time to ourselves for a few days." The prep smiled, taking the criminal's hand and led him out to their cabin.

When they passed by the lake, Duncan stopped dead in his tracks. There, he saw Alejandro and Heather sitting on the dock with Mike and Zoey in the water. "Oh no, Courtney. If Al's in there, I'm not!"

The brunette rolled her eyes. "You are so immature, you know that?"

"What are you talking about?! He tried to-"

"Don't even start, Duncan!" She let go of his hand. "I don't wanna hear it!"

"You don't wanna face the truth?!"

"We don't even know the truth! Everyone's just...assuming everything! This is exactly why I ran away yesterday! I'm tired of you constantly trying to 'get revenge' on Alejandro."

The delinquent's eyes widened. "What are you saying? You don't think he did it?!"

"I don't know, ok?! That's what I'm saying! And I don't think Alejandro has any kind of vendetta against me!"

"Why? Is it because you still think he's perfect and he could never do anything wrong?"

Courtney scoffed. "Look, I know Alejandro isn't the nicest guy, but I don't think he's as evil as everyone makes him out to be! Especially since he's with Heather now."

"Pffft," he snorted. "You think Heather made him less evil? If anything, she was probably the one with the idea to have you killed and sent him out to do her dirty work!"

"This is just getting ridiculous, Duncan!" Courtney yelled. "You're being ridiculous about this!"

"Well I wonder why! Imagine someone trying to kill me!"

"Imagine not wanting to have one more nightmare about the night you were almost killed!! The more you guys talk about it, the worse they get!"

"But once we expose Alejandro, you won't have to worry ever again-"

"Are you freaking kidding me right now?! That is the exact same thing Gwen and Bridgette told me yesterday! Can I not trust anybody here?!" She stomped right past him.

"Courtney!" Duncan called, walking after her.

"Don't talk to me! I want a break!"

His eyes widened and he stopped. What? What does that mean? "Courtney-?"

"Save it! I'm so done with you right now!"

Right now. "Alright, then!" He glared. "Don't come crying to me when you realize that I'm right!"

**

Gwen walked out of her cabin to get some air when she saw Duncan angrily turning around, his fists balled.

"Hey, what's up?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowed in worry.

"Nothing you should be concerned about," he muttered, crossing his arms.

"Duncan," The goth raised her voice. "Did you and Courtney get into a fight?"

He sighed. "Maybe."

"What happened?"

"Why are you even asking?"

"Can I not be concerned for my fiend?!"

"Oh, so were friends now? Cause last time I checked, you broke up with me!" The delinquent yelled.

"Then what was that all about with the movie talk?"

"I was being a nice person in front of Courtney, that's all."

"So you're just gonna treat me like shit behind her back? Cause I don't think she'd appreciate it that much. And now you're just trying to get me off subject. As was asking, what happened between you and Courtney?"

"She went ballistic because she doesn't think Alejandro was the one who kidnapped her."

"Ugh...this is why we went to talk alone yesterday. Did you push it out of her?!"

"No!" He threw up his hands in defense. "I just said that I wasn't gonna go swimming with her because he was in the lake! That's all! I swear, she's so dramatic sometimes!"

"Well maybe she's just tired of you being angry all the time! Why not enjoy this reunion instead of constantly trying to get revenge on someone you don't even know!"

"I said it's Alejandro, so I do know!"

"And what if it's not?"

"You're he one who came up with this conclusion in the first place!"

"I know, but I thought about what Courtney said yesterday, and, well...we really shouldn't jump to conclusions-"

"Oh, I know it was him. Who else could it have been? The only person that's just as evil as them is Scott, and like you said, he's too stupid to get away with something like that."

"It's been three years, Duncan. People change. It could've been Geoff for all we know!"

"No way!" He snapped. "I'm getting my revenge on Alejandro if it's the last thing I do! And no one is gonna stop me!!"

"Duncan!" Gwen called after him. "You're such an idiot!" She growled.

Just then, Trent came out of the cabin. "I heard yelling, what's going on?"

The goth huffed, shaking her head. She turned towards her boyfriend. "Nothing. Duncan's just a bit retard!" She yelled in his direction, hoping he would hear.

The musician raised an eyebrow. "Why? I mean, I always knew he was an idiot, but retard?"

"Trent, this is serious. Duncan wants revenge he on Alejandro!"

"Well, yeah, didn't he try to kill his girlfriend? I'd want revenge too."

"Are you just as stupid as he is?! We have no evidence that Alejandro actually did it! He could seriously get hurt if he gets himself into this anymore than he already has!"

"I didn't know you cared so much about Duncan," Trent commented absentmindedly. Wait...did I just say that out loud? Shit.

"Of course I care about Duncan! He's my friend! What are you getting at?"

"It's nothing, ok? I just, uh..."

"Oh," she started, then laughed sarcastically. "Oh! I get what this is about! I totally get it! You still think I'm into him, don't you?!"

"No!" He shook his head quickly. "I-It's not like that at all! I just...I-I heard something."

"You heard what?" She crossed her arms.

"Well...I heard that you hooked up with Duncan the other night!"

Gwen gasped, not believing her ears. "And you believe that bullshit?!! Who the hell told you this?!"

"Does it really matter? Cause I've got all the evidence I need! This morning t breakfast you and Duncan seemed really...friendly with each other, and then you leave the cabin to go and chat with him! A-and you're so worried about him!"

"I told you that I never wanted to hear you talk about my relationship with him ever again! Do you not trust me or something? Is that what this is?!"

"No, Gwen, I trust you!" Said Trent.

"Well you're obviously lying since you're so suspicious if I even look at Duncan!" She shot back. "I told you it was over a long time ago. Besides, why the hell would I cheat on you?!"

"You seemed to be fine with it when Duncan was using you to cheat!"

"Ugh!! That was five years ago!!!! We were 17 years old, Trent!! Stop living in the damn past!!"

"Oh, you are such a hypocrite, Gwen! You're the one who told everyone that Alejandro did it, assuming he would be the only one to! And now you're changing your mind all of a sudden?! And what was with you and Courtney this morning? She said she was 'over it'?"

"Are you serious?" The goth scoffed. "Now you're trying to control my friendships? You know what, Trent? If you don't trust me, you don't deserve to know. We're through!!"

"Fine!" He yelled. "Good! I couldn't stand you flirting with Duncan anyways!!"

"Burn in hell!!" She yelled back. "I am never going to be with you again!"

"Like I care!" He rolled his eyes, turning away.

Gwen stomped over to the forest, just wanting to break something. She snapped a twig in half and screamed. "Stupid stupid stupid guys!!!!"

**

"Svetlana wasn't that good," Alejandro said as he, Mike, Zoey, and Heather were all sitting on the dock, sipping their feet in the water.

"Do I need to defeat you again like I did in All-Stars? Does the shoulder spin ring a bell?"

"Yeah, but I could've defeated you if I had been prepared."

"Ok, then let's try again. Are you prepared this time?"

"Really?" The Spaniard raised an eyebrow. The little man nodded. "Alright then," he chuckled, standing up.

"You two are idiots!" Heather yelled. "You don't need to prove your masculinity by fighting each other!"

"I know," Zoey sighed, rolling her eyes. "Mike, come on."

"It'll be over with in a second, Zo."

"Mike..."

"Ready?" Alejandro smirked confidently.

"Yep!"

"Then let's go, little one!" He reached for Mike's arm, But was immediately thrown off the dock and into the lake. "Ahhhh!" He hit the water.

Everyone was laughing when he reached the surface. "Hey! Something is so wrong here! Heather, did you push me?!"

"No," his fiancé laughed. "How could I? I was on the other side."

He pouted. "Fine, you win. But don't think this is over yet. I'll get you one day."

"Pffft, yeah right," Heather said, standing up. "I think I'm gonna go shower and change for the night. Alejandro?"

"I'll probably stay out here for a little while longer to dry off again," he glared at Mike.

"Hey, you challenged me."

**

Heather made her way to the cabin to grab her towel and PJs. By now, the sun was almost all the way down and the camp lights were dimly lit. The quiet hum of frogs and crickets could be heard in the bushes. The Asian started humming as she opened up her suitcase.

Wait.

Why the hell am I humming like some happy go- lucky person? I never hum! She shook her head and stopped, grabbing a pink tank top and black pajama shorts with white, fuzzy slippers. She headed out the door, having to stop herself from humming yet again. Ugh! What is wrong with me?!

When she was nearing the shower rooms, she saw José exiting the men's bathroom. She ignored him at first, only focusing on getting inside as quickly as possible, when-

"I couldn't let them see it." Her heart stopped when she heard his unusually low voice. It made her whole body tremble, and suddenly, she couldn't walk anymore. "That's why I led you guys away."

What is he even talking about? Heather wondered, still frozen with fear. I led you guys away...OH MY GOSH! Her face turned pale. "I knew it," she said, now being able to move a little more and turn to face him. "I knew it was you."

"Of course you did, Heather." He smiled maliciously, slowly walking towards her. "You're so smart. That's why playing this game is so annoying. You're always in my way."

"Then why didn't you just try to kill me instead?" She challenged, crossing her arms and lifting her chin up.

"Because," he began. "Watching you and Al suffer for something you didn't do is just too much fun.

"You're sick!"

"I know. But my face will eventually make everyone else, and even you, eventually, will forget about everything bad I ever did. You'll all go down!"

"Well good luck with that, shithead!" She yelled.

"Oh, Heather, you still haven't seen the worst of me, baby."

"Don't call me that!!"

"You May have Mike and Zoey in your side, but soon, not even they will believe you. No one will. You two will be kicked off this island, and I'll make sure of it."

"You think you're all that, don't you? You think every girl just wants to sleep with you and make out with you, and...whatever. If you think you can make Alejandro and I want to leave this island, you have another thing coming!"

"And you think you're so clever and that you can predict my every move, but you really can't, Heather. Who knows? Maybe I'll try drowning someone else, but this time, Gwen won't be there to save them. And then who are the people gonna turnt o when it comes to accusations? That's right, you two."

Heather's eyes winded. "I'll tell someone about you! I'll expose you!!"

"And who are you gonna tell? Chris? Chef?" He laughed. "Like they care! Everyone else won't believe you. I guess that's just karma for lying all these years."

"Alejandro will believe me!" She defended.

"Yeah, but...isn't he in enough danger already? Wouldn't wanna do that..."

Heather's mouth flew open in a light gasp, her breathing becoming more panicked. "I'll figure out some way. You'll see, José!"

"Alright," he smiled, turning around, then paused. "I'd be careful if I were you, you know, with that baby and all."

She gritted her teeth and balled her fists as she watched him walk away. "No, you better be careful!!!!"

José chuckled darkly to himself. Oh, Heather. The war has only begun.