Chapter 7 – Rest Day
Cody woke up early, looking at his ceiling still in the dark, he was in his cabin.
He thought about the camp, after a challenge supposedly there was a period of three days until the next one, although in reality it was only two if we don't count the challenge day. So now he has two days off.
In the original series it was not shown what was done during these days, but now it was time to enjoy the island and his companions in his own way.
First, Cody got up, changed into sportswear and went out to train while walking a bit through the forest trying to make his own map.
The sun was just beginning to paint the sky with orange tones when Cody returned from the forest, sweating after his morning workout.
As he approached the dining cabin, he found an unexpected scene: Chef Hatchet, alone in the kitchen, focused on preparing breakfast.
Chef crossing his arms, looking at him with a raised eyebrow
"Well, well... what do we have here? A camper up before 6. Has Chris already started torturing them or are you straight from another punishment?" Chef said
Cody smiled, shrugging as he took a breath.
"No punishments... yet. Just going out to train a little before the crazy day starts." Cody answered
"Training. Uh-huh. So what, are you supposed to be some kind of secret athlete?" Chef said with a snort of surprise
"Not secret... but let's just say I like to be ready for anything." Cody said laughing
Chef shook his head before going back to his work, stirring the breakfast mix.
Taking the opportunity, Cody leaned against the work table with a casual smile.
"Need help?" Cody asked
"Help? From a camper? The last time one of you touched my kitchen, you almost burned the place down." Chef said, looking at Cody skeptically.
"I just said if you needed anything. I didn't mention fires or cooking accidents... yet." Cody said, raising his hands in surrender.
Chef let out a light laugh before handing him a knife and some vegetables.
"Fine. But if you chop a carrot wrong, I'll throw you out of here." Chef said.
Cody grabbed the ingredients and started working, keeping the atmosphere relaxed.
While Cody chopped the ingredients, he decided to take the opportunity to get to know Chef better without seeming intrusive.
"I must say... I never imagined I'd find Chef Hatchet cooking in complete peace. I thought he was all screaming and pans flying." Cody said.
"I take it out on you guys when it's time for chaos. When it's early, all I want is for this kitchen not to turn into a war zone." Chef said, exhaling with a relaxed air.
"And how long have you been surviving here, on this island of madness?" Cody asked, raising an eyebrow in interest
. "Too long. And every time I think I've seen it all, Chris finds something worse to ruin my patience." Chef said, snorting as if doing calculations in his head.
"Would you say Chris is like a plague that never goes away?" Cody asked between laughs.
"I don't know if plague is enough. More like a natural disaster in a suit and too many ideas." Chef said with a sudden smile.
Cody burst out laughing, surprised to see that Chef was in a good mood when he wasn't shouting orders.
"Well, at least you have food as a refuge. There's no torture that Chris causes that a good breakfast can't cure." Cody said
. "Exactly. Although if Chris gets into my kitchen, not even breakfast can save him." The Chef said, nodding in satisfaction.
The kitchen was still quiet, the sun had already risen, and Cody was still helping Chef with the breakfast preparations.
While they were mixing ingredients and organizing the trays, Chef watched him out of the corner of his eye with an expression somewhere between mockery and curiosity.
"You know, if you put the same dedication you put into flirting into the challenge, you could win this without any effort." The Chef said sarcastically.
Cody let out a light laugh, not seeming affected by the comment.
"And lose the fun? Come on, Chef, this is a TV show. What's the point of being here if you don't make the most of it?" Cody said.
Chef snorted with a slight smile, shaking his head.
"Taking advantage, huh? All I see is that you already went from Courtney to Lindsay in less than 24 hours. If you keep this up, in a week you'll have fallen in love three times over." Chef said.
Cody raised his hands in surrender.
"It's not my fault that opportunities present themselves. What am I supposed to do, ignore them?" Chef Cody
laughed even harder, slamming his palm on the table.
"Boy, you're not going to have any energy left if you keep going at this pace." Chef
Cody just smiled confidently before changing the subject .
"Tell me something, Chef... is it true you were in the army before this?"
Chef looked at him with a serious expression, though not annoyed.
"What's wrong, do you want to know if I can survive in hostile territory?" Chef asked.
"No, I want to know if the cooking at this camp is tougher than a real mission." Cody said laughing softly
Chef let out a snort before answering.
"I'm not going to tell you anything about my service, but I can assure you one thing... dealing with Chris all these years is worse than any military training," Chef said
. "That's exactly what I was hoping to hear," Cody said, laughing.
Cody turned his head curiously, as if he was about to ask the most serious question of the day.
"Oh, by the way... I want a clear answer to the question everyone is asking." Cody said.
Chef raised an eyebrow in interest.
"And what would that be?" Chef said.
Cody leaned slightly across the table, his expression conspiratorial.
"Is Chris bald?" Cody asked very seriously.
Chef blinked, clearly not expecting that question, and then let out a deep, genuine laugh.
"That... I'm not going to tell you." Chef replied, still laughing.
"Oh, come on, give me a hint. Just tell me if the amount of gel he uses is enough to cover up anything else." Cody said.
Chef exhaled in amusement, shaking his head.
"I'll just say this... there are some things I'd rather not question, and Chris's hair is one of them." Chef
Cody said. He smiled widely, satisfied with the answer.
Chef Hatchet's Confessional
"I'm not going to say the kid is the best cook, but at least he knows how to follow directions. He didn't make a mess, he didn't overtalk, and he didn't try to impress with nonsense." Chef Hatchet said with an appraising expression but without his usual harshness.
"Besides, he has a good sense of humor... and that's rare around this place. I wouldn't mind if he started helping out in the kitchen again, as long as he doesn't screw anything up." Chef Hatchet said, nodding approvingly
. "But if he ever tries to ask me any weirder questions about Chris... I'll kick him out in a heartbeat." Chef Hatchet said, looking at the camera with a serious tone.
After everything was finished, there was still time for everyone to get up and have breakfast.
Cody was enjoying a coffee with Chef Hatchet, while they played a card game, where Cody was overwhelming Chef Hatchet.
"Kid, are you cheating," Chef said.
"Chef, you know the saying, bad luck in love, good luck at gambling," Cody joked as he sipped his coffee.
The kids started to make their way to breakfast, when they were a little surprised to find the food was better this time.
* Bridgette's Perspective*
The dining hall still had the relaxed atmosphere after breakfast, the campers dispersing to continue their activities.
As Bridgette took her last sip of juice, she felt movement next to her. Cody, standing there, gave her a small gesture with his hand, a mischievous smile on his face.
Curiosity was immediate.
"What's he up to now?" she thought, as she put down her tray and followed him out of the dining room.
Finding themselves at the exit, Cody leaned against the wall calmly, as if he were in no hurry.
"Go change, Bridgette. It's time to surf," Cody said
. Bridgette blinked in surprise.
"Surf? Here?" Bridgette said.
Cody just winked at her before stepping away as if the answer was obvious.
Bridgette didn't hesitate any longer and ran to change, unexpectedly excited about whatever Cody had planned.
When Bridgette came back ready, she found Cody and Owen already in their swimsuits, chatting amongst themselves.
What caught her attention the most, however, were the chocolates in Cody's hands.
"Wait... those chocolates... aren't they Chef's?" Bridgette said with a slight smile and an eyebrow
. Cody casually handed her a couple.
"The kitchen had too many. Let's just say I decided to redistribute the wealth," Cody said nonchalantly.
Owen laughed as he ate one without question.
"Breakfast of champions before a good swim!" said Owen.
Bridgette shook her head with an amused smile, not rejecting the 'unexpected gift'.
Upon arriving at the lake, Owen wasted no time.
"Time to make this place extreme!" said Owen.
With unstoppable enthusiasm, he jumped into the water with full force, causing a series of waves that traveled towards the shore.
They weren't huge, but they were enough to allow them to play around with the board.
Bridgette excitedly grabbed her board, launching herself into the water and letting the current carry her.
Cody soon followed, keeping his balance and showing that he was no rookie.
The scene became spontaneous and fun, with both of them enjoying the moment while Owen continued to launch himself energetically to maintain the effect.
--
Bridgette's confessional
Bridgette with a relaxed smile, moving her hands with excitement.
"I had no idea Cody could even surf! I thought he was more of a stay-on-the-sand-admiring-the-scenery kind of guy." Bridgette said with a relaxed smile, moving her hands with excitement.
Bridgette crossed her arms, still processing:
"And then there are the stolen chocolates... I don't know if that was a calculated strategy or just her mischievous side, but I admit it was a fun surprise" Bridgette was saying
"I guess she has more initiative than I thought. Now I want to see what else she has up her sleeve." Bridgette said, leaning slightly with a thoughtful expression
*******
The water was calm for a moment, until Cody took out a small tape recorder and turned it on.
Cake By the Ocean
Song by DNCE
"Mm, na-na,ay
(Cake by the ocean)
Oh, no
See you walkin' 'round like it's a funeral
Not so serious, girl, why those feet cold?
We're just getting started, don't you tiptoe, tiptoe, ah."
The sound spread across the lake, accompanying the waves with a charming rhythm.
"Music is magic, and charm takes magic," Cody said with a confident smile.
Bridgette raised an eyebrow in amusement, but didn't deny that the atmosphere felt different now.
Owen, excited by the change of environment, decided to give it his all.
"More waves for the experts!" Owen said
. With a towering jump, he caused a stronger current, enough to give Bridgette and Cody room to move more freely.
Bridgette was focused on her technique, but her eyes couldn't help but follow Cody.
He wasn't just surfing, he was doing tricks.
With each wave, he turned with precision, moving with a carefree yet captivating air.
"He's doing them for me," Bridgette thought for a second, noticing how Cody looked sideways, making sure she saw what he was doing.
Without realizing it, a genuine smile formed on her face.
Both They were enjoying the moment, the water, the music, the feeling of being completely in the present.
---
Bridgette's Confessional
Bridgette playing with a lock of her hair, with a subtle smile
"I don't know if it was the music, the waves, or Cody... but something about that moment was different." Bridgette said
"It's not just fun, it's not just surfing. It's... something more." Bridgette said, looking at the camera
Bridgette exhaling softly, as if she was still processing
"I won't say I feel something... but I also won't say I don't." Bridgette said
Owen's Confessional
"Look, I already knew Cody had a thing for girls... but now I see him in action and it's next level." Owen said with an expression of absolute disbelief
He leans slightly towards the camera, as if he's doing invisible calculations in the air.
"Courtney, Gwen, Lindsay, Heather... and now Bridgette. It's 5 out of 5, FIVE!" Owen said.
He shakes his head with a deep laugh.
"If he keeps this up, we're going to have a war over him by the end of the program. And honestly, I want to see that." Owen said.
Some campers were looking at the lake with different expressions, watching the scene with curiosity.
Gwen was crossing her arms, with a neutral expression but with a steady gaze on Cody and Bridgette.
"They look like they're in a movie... but I don't care. Not really. I'm just saying." Gwen
Duncan said, laughing as she looks at Owen causing the mess in the water.
"That guy is crazy, but at least he's helping Cody impress his audience." Duncan said.
"Perfect, another golden moment for the charming Cody. This is already too predictable." Heather said critically but her eyes fixed on the scene.
"That guy has style! If he keeps this up, he's going to become a legend of campy romance." Geoff said, watching the scene with admiration.
The atmosphere was still filled with murmurs, each with their own opinions, but the only thing that was clear was that Cody was leaving an impression... on everyone. During
a change of scene, Owen said goodbye to Cody and Bridgette, leaving them alone .
Cody turned to look at Bridgette
. "Thanks for today," Bridgette said to Cody before kissing him on the cheek and going to change.
"It was worth the effort," Cody said to himself, enjoying the scene he experienced.
Cody thought to himself, what could they imagine? He does things to make girls want him.
He wouldn't deny it, if there was the opportunity he would accept it haha, but it's more about living every moment of his second life.
After death, the only thing he had left were memories and now he wants to do more in this life.
Cody went to change in his cabin, after a bath.
In a change of scene
Gwen was sitting on a log drawing in her journal. When some hands blocked his eyes
"Who are you..." Cody couldn't finish because he received a blow to the nether regions.
"You shouldn't be with a surfer girl" Gwen said in a somewhat annoyed tone while Cody moaned on the ground
"I wanted to see the vampire princess of the camp... But it seems that someone didn't give her her daily blood" Cody said between moans of pain
Cody was still on the ground, holding himself with one hand while trying to regain his lost dignity.
"So... this is your method of welcoming? If you wanted me to kneel before you, there were less painful ways." Cody said half panting with a weak smile.
Gwen snorted, crossing her arms but not hiding the slight hint of annoyance on her face.
"It's not my fault you showed up out of nowhere. Besides, you shouldn't be with a surfer girl." Gwen said.
Cody leaned on his knee as he looked at her with an amused smile.
"Oh, is this an intervention? Am I about to get a loyalty lecture now?"
"Please, like I care. I'm just saying, I didn't expect to see you there, putting on a show with Bridgette." Gwen said, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, come on, dark princess. Don't tell me you're jealous." Cody said.
Gwen tensed for a second, but quickly composed herself.
"Ha."I'd have to care for that," Gwen said.
Cody settled in next to her, still wearing a playful smile.
"Okay then, if you don't mind, we can relax. I didn't come here to get beaten up, I came because I wanted to see what you were drawing." Cody said.
Gwen looked at him sideways before exhaling in resignation.
"If you insist..." Gwen said.
She showed him her sketchbook, where there was a half-finished drawing of the forest around them.
Cody whistled in appreciation.
"Wow, is that how you see camp? Because in my version, it's more chaos and fire." Cody said.
"Well, I don't draw stupid things. At least not most of the time." Gwen said, raising an eyebrow.
Cody smiled mischievously before taking a pencil out of his pocket.
"You know what? We're going to do a trade. You draw me, I'll draw you." Cody said.
"This is going to be a disaster." Gwen said, sighing. But with a slight smile hidden.
They both settled down, choosing their positions as they began to draw each other.
Gwen was focused on capturing Cody's expression, her animated gestures, her confident smile.
Meanwhile, Cody couldn't help but exaggerate a little in his sketch, drawing her with her iconic dark eyeliner and a dramatic air in her eyes.
"If I do this right, this will turn out like a gothic work of art," he thought with amusement.
A few minutes passed before they both held up their sketches to show them.
Gwen looked at Cody's drawing with a mixture of disbelief and amusement.
"Why do I look like the frontwoman of a metal band?" Gwen said.
Cody laughed while looking at hers.
"And why do I look like a cheap model? Did you make me more attractive on purpose?" Cody said.
Gwen shrugged, feigning indifference.
"Maybe I just enhanced reality."
Cody smiled widely, sensing that Gwen was already in a different mood.
"There's no jealousy in the air anymore," he thought.
The change was evident. The initial tension was gone, replaced by a strange but comfortable tranquility between the two.
---
Gwen's Confessional
Gwen looking at the camera with her arms crossed, but not as hard as before
"I won't say that Cody annoyed me with all his charming energy... but I won't say that he didn't." Gwen said
Gwen her eyes averted a little, as if she was still thinking about the cartoons
"I guess it wasn't so bad talking to him. He's... different when he's not busy flirting with other people." Gwen said
Gwen exhaling softly, with a neutral but thoughtful expression
"It was entertaining. And I think it surprised me more than I expected." Gwen said
....
The night was quiet, the stars twinkling against the clear sky, reflecting in the nearby lake.
Cody was about to enter his cabin when he noticed a lone silhouette near the shore.
Courtney sat with her arms crossed, staring up at the sky as if she had too much to think about.
Never one to stay still for no reason,
Cody decided to sneak up on her, a mischievous grin forming on his face.
Just as he was behind her… he moved his hands to cover his eyes.
"Ahhh!" Courtney let out a squeal, reacting quickly and throwing a straight punch back.
Cody had time to dodge—but just barely.
"Sorry, I couldn't avoid it," Cody chuckled, raising his hands in a peace sign.
Courtney glared at him, exhaling in frustration.
"What do you want?" Courtney asked.
Cody settled in next to her uninvited, but not crossing any boundaries.
"Nothing. I just saw you were here and thought you might need someone to talk to." Cody said, looking at the stars with a relaxed air, and his horn sounded *Put your head ok My shoulder* Paul Anka
"Put your head on my shoulder
Hold me in your arms
Baby, squeeze me, oh, so tight
Show me that you love me too"
Courtney pursed her lips, but didn't kick him out right away.
"Hmph. Well... I guess I didn't expect camp to start off so badly." Courtney said
Cody leaned on his knees, attentive.
"My team doesn't get along. Everyone's too busy fighting or worrying about silly things like alliances." Courtney said
"Well... isn't that part of the experience?" Cody said
Courtney grimaced.
"It's supposed to be fun, but now it seems more like a battle of survival." Courtney said
Cody smiled softly, still listening to her.
Courtney was silent for a moment before changing the subject.
"Speaking of strategies... what's your plan with Bridgette?" Courtney said, looking suspicious
Cody blinked, surprised.
"My plan?" Cody asked.
"Yes. Are you using her to hurt the Bass?" Courtney asked.
Cody laughed, shaking his head.
"If I wanted to use someone, I'd obviously go for the beautiful CIT. But sadly, I still can't convince her of my intentions." Cody said.
Courtney looked at him in disbelief, but couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Please…" Courtney said.
"I just have fun when I can. More than the competition and the prize,I want to live the experience. To have anecdotes." Cody said
Courtney let out a soft sigh, but her expression softened.
"At least you don't seem as desperate to win as some people do." Cody said.
Cody smiled before leaning towards her a little, his expression playful.
"You know, you remind me of an old crush I had." Cody said.
Courtney raised an eyebrow, curious but alert.
"Oh yeah?" Courtney asked.
"Yeah. Her name was Amy Santiago. Smart, competitive, and had no patience for nonsense... but incredibly cute." Cody said.
Courtney blushed slightly, but covered it up by pretending it was no big deal.
"Well, if you had such good taste, I don't understand what you're doing here wasting your time." Courtney said.
"Maybe I'm trying to improve my record." Cody said.
Courtney looked at him with a mix of mockery and amusement, shaking her head.
"You're impossible." Courtney said.
Cody stood up with a satisfied smirk.
"I know. But I love it." Cody said.
Courtney watched him for a second before doing something unexpected, she leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before casually pulling away.
Cody froze.
As Courtney turned around with a light blush, ready to head back to her cabin, she heard a shout behind her.
"Yes! I'm a champion!" Cody said.
The ones trying to sleep huffed in frustration at his celebration.
"Cody, shut up!!." Gwen shouted angrily.
"Someone cover his mouth!" Heather said annoyed.
Courtney laughed, shaking her head before walking into her cabin, a shadow of a blush still on her face.
Cody flopped down onto his bed, still enjoying his small victory.