Chapter 10 Second Challenge (part 2) - The Punishment
With all the teens full and satisfied after the big breakfast, Chris looked in disbelief as Owen was still licking his plates.
That boy had just eaten a pig, a chicken, and two kilos of mashed potatoes, and he still wanted more, he didn't want to know where all that went.
"Well, let's forget what we just saw... Campers, it's time for the second part of your challenge!" Chris said as he shook his head at Owen.
"I thought the second part was just eating..." Owen groaned when the plates were removed from the table by a resigned Chef.
"What more do you want from us?" Gwen complained as she saw how her stomach was even a little bloated, she had never eaten so much.
"The strange goth girl is right." Heather was the same, "Haven't we been through enough?"
"Um... let me think about it, No! It's time for the Wake-Up-A-Thon!
" "A what?" They all said in unison.
"Don't worry, this is easy." The host irritated, "You have to stay awake until the team with the last camper standing wins invincibility."
"Man, you're good..." Everyone agreed with Gwen.
"Let's go to the campfire!"
Gwen groaned as she was shoved in with everyone else, looking to her side she noticed Cody was only cleaning his teeth with a toothpick.
"How long do you think it will be before everyone is unconscious?" Gwen asked.
"A lot, competition always makes us do crazy things," Cody said.
"Damn," Gwen said resignedly as she followed the group.
In a change of scene they found themselves at the campfire.
The campers gathered around the campfire, the atmosphere tense but expectant for the start of the wake-a-thon.
Chris adjusted his jacket with his usual smile of cruel amusement, raising his voice to give the ground rules.
"Okay, remember: no closing your eyes, no getting too distracted, and no going into extreme survival mode. This is a wake-up call, not military training... although to some it may feel like it," Chris said
. With a dramatic flourish, Chris activated the timer, officially beginning the test.
Cody, without much concern, settled in quietly, ready to wait however many hours it took.
But then, Chris raised his voice again, making sure everyone could hear him.
"First of all, viewers! I'm going to tell you something you haven't seen yet. One of our campers... did something during these days you had off," Chris said with malicious excitement.
The cameras turned to a makeshift screen,where videos of Cody stealing the speakers, throwing the party, and celebrating the chaos he had created began to play.
The campers automatically turned to look at him, some surprised, others clearly entertained by the revelation.
Cody shrugged, no remorse evident.
"Honestly, I enjoyed the party. I like our little rebel," Chris said, laughing softly.
Chris paused for a second, letting the suspense sink in.
"But... what would the program be without fun and embarrassing punishments?" Chris said.
Their eyes returned to Cody, some with obvious excitement at what was to come.
Chris pointed to the player on Cody's arm, his expression even more amused.
"So, we'll be embarrassing our local music-loving partier today," Chris said.
With an exaggerated gesture, Chris revealed the sentence.
"As punishment for stealing equipment and partying without authorization... you are to serenade four girls from camp four times." Chris said.
Cody blinked, his carefree smile faltering for a brief second before he composed himself.
The campers reacted immediately:
Geoff (laughing): "Bro, this is going to be legendary!"
Heather (with a sharp smile): "Good. This could be fun."
Gwen (crossing her arms, interested): "Hmm. We'll see how he handles this."
Courtney (exhaling, rubbing her temples): "Why do we always end up in shit like this?"
Chris didn't miss the opportunity to look right at the camera.
"Embarrassing, huh?" said Chris.
And then, the final blow.
"Also… you must choose two partners to accompany you in one final musical number. If you succeed, your punishment will be forgiven and you'll receive a reward. But if you fail… you're eliminated from the challenge." said Chris.
The interns dragged in a stack of instruments, placing the equipment in front of Cody.
Chris smiled, enjoying every moment.
"So, go on, performer. The stage is all yours." said Chris.
Chris's Confessional
Chris settled into the confessional seat, smirking.
"Cody's got talent, I'll admit it. But who said that would save him from humiliation? There are rules on this show, and I break them whenever I want... but that doesn't mean everyone else can go unpunished." Chris said.
Chris laughed softly, clearly expecting disaster.
"All I want is quality entertainment. And this... this is going to be pure gold." Chris said.
Gwen's Confessional.
Gwen crossed her arms, her expression neutral but with a slight smile.
"Okay... I was at the party. It wasn't bad, in fact, it was pretty well organized for something impromptu."Cody really put effort into making sure everyone had a good time," Gwen said.
Gwen exhaled, leaning her head lightly against the wall.
"Serenades? I don't know how he'll handle that. But if he does it right… maybe he has more skills than I thought." Gwen said.
Heather's Confessionary.
Heather smiled calculatingly, clearly enjoying the situation.
"The party? Yes, I went. Did I enjoy it? I won't say no. But now that he's being punished… I'm much more interested in seeing how far he can take this without making a fool of himself."
Heather leaned in slightly, her gaze sharp.
"If he manages to impress, it can be a plus. But if he fails… at least he'll give us some extra entertainment." Heather said.
Lindsay's Confessionary.
Lindsay blinked slowly, smiling excitedly.
"Oh! The party was great. There was good music, lights, and everyone was having a great time. Cole really knows how to make something fun." Lindsay said.
Lindsay thought for a second before mentioning the serenade.
"Singing for four girls sounds... difficult? But I'm sure he'll do a good job. I hope the songs are pretty!" said Lindsay.
Cody looked at the instruments in front of him, his gaze traveling between the girls at camp, calculating who would be the best choices for the first performance.
Before he could make a choice, Noah and Owen approached.
"Bro, if you need backup, we're here. I'm volunteering as your drummer. I'VE GOT POWER!" said Owen with a smile.
"And I guess I can handle the keyboard. I always wanted to play something that didn't make me look tragically useless." Noah said with a relaxed shrug.
Cody smiled, approving of the idea, and picked up the guitar, approaching Chris confidently.
"Okay, let's start with the first one." Cody said.
Chris called out to the campers, his smile with the classic touch of cruel entertainment.
"All right, everyone! Our local partier is ready to sing. But first... he needs to pick his girl." Chris said.
The group turned to Cody, expectant.
The moon shone dimly over the camp, the campfire crackled softly, and the campers watched expectantly for the next number.
Cody adjusted his guitar, his fingers running over the strings as he checked the sound.
Owen and Noah helped him organize the equipment, making sure the track was ready.
"Okay, Cody, pick your girl," Chris said again.
But instead of starting to play right away, Cody moved calmly, walking over to Gwen, who watched everything with a neutral air.
When he stopped in front of her, the night breeze made his bangs move just a little, and then Cody spoke, his voice lower, but still clear enough for everyone to hear.
"Will you do me the honor?" Cody said.
Gwen blinked, taken aback by his invitation.
Her first reaction was hesitation, her gaze dropping slightly as if she wanted to avoid him, but her legs moved before her mind could process it.
She stood.
Cody smiled faintly, taking her hand gently to guide her to the center, in front of all the campers.
Eyes flicked toward her, some excited, others curious, and Gwen felt the intensity of the moment as if she were the spotlight in an unrehearsed play.
Cody took a breath, and then…
The first chords rang out in the air, enveloping the campsite in the melody of "Iris."
The reactions were immediate.
Geoff (whistling with amusement): "It was obvious!"
Duncan (crossing his arms): "Good. Let's see how well he does."
Lindsay (gently clapping): "How lovely! I love romantic music."
Heather (with a sharp smile): "Wow, this could get interesting."
But the real surprise came when Cody opened his mouth and began to sing.
"And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to Heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't wanna go home right now."
Cody closed his eyes for a moment before singing, letting the song take shape.
When he opened them again, his gaze fell on Gwen, who was watching him with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.
The notes flowed naturally, his voice had an unexpected depth, and each word resonated in the air with a heavier weight than she had anticipated.
Cody took a step forward, closing the distance between them, not being invasive, but close enough for Gwen to feel the presence of the moment.
In one verse, Cody gently turned the guitar, leaning slightly toward her, his voice lowering its intensity, becoming more intimate.
"And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am."
Gwen exhaled slowly, unaware that her breathing had become more controlled, her heart pounding against her chest, as if her body was reacting before her mind.
Cody did a small turn, moving away slightly, letting the notes create space before he moved forward again.
His movements weren't exaggerated, but there was a confidence in the way he carried himself, as if he were made for the stage.
Gwen looked down for a second, but looked up quickly, caught up in the atmosphere Cody was creating.
"I just want you to know who I am I just
want you to know
who I am I just want you to know who I am."
When the last note rang out, the silence hung for a second, and then applause exploded from the camp.
Chris clapped his hands, looking smug.
From the first note, his voice rang out with unexpected clarity, none of the awkwardness everyone had anticipated.
The lyrics took shape, the emotion flowed naturally, and the atmosphere changed completely.
The group fell silent, some in disbelief, others simply shocked by how good he sounded.
Confessional – Gwen
Gwen was silent for a moment, her expression more serious than usual.
"Okay... I'll admit it. This was... way more than I expected." Gwen said
Gwen ran a hand through her hair, exhaling softly, as if trying to gather her thoughts.
"I've noticed certain things about Cody before. The way he acts, the way he carries on with conversations… But this time… this time was different." Gwen said
"When he started singing… something just clicked." Gwen said, lowering her gaze slightly in a lower tone.
A light blush crossed her face before she frowned, as if trying to ignore it.
"And now I'm here… in this stupid confessional… processing what I'm not supposed to be processing." Gwen said
"I'm not saying it means anything. Not necessarily… But I also can't say I didn't feel anything." Gwen said sighing heavily.
Gwen stared at the camera for a second before shaking her head.
"Great. Just what I was missing." Gwen said
Other campers' reactions confessionals
Owen (confessional, wide-eyed): "Whoa! Cody sounds amazing! How did he hide this for so long?"
Heather (confessional, analytical): "I thought it would be embarrassing, but... this is surprisingly decent. I won't give it more credit than necessary, but I'll admit it, it knows what it's doing."
Courtney (watching the scene with a complicated expression): "Well... this isn't a total disaster. But we're not done yet, so don't get too confident."
Chef (in confessional, crossing his arms): "I'm not going to say I'm impressed. But if it keeps sounding like that, maybe I won't make it clean the kitchen as further punishment."
As the last note rang out,The group remained in a brief silence before the first applause began.
Chris leaned against the side of the campfire, a smile still present.
"Well... that was less terrible than I expected. But there are still three more to go. Let's see if you can keep it up." Chris said.
Cody exhaled with a small smile, satisfied with his start, but aware that there was still a long way to go.
After settling Gwen into her seat, Cody rejoined Owen and Noah, going over the next issue.
"Bro, this is amazing! Who's next?" Owen said excitedly.
Cody looked towards the campers, his smile slowly forming before he moved forward.
Wasting no time, he approached Bridgette, bowing slightly as if he was about to make a special request.
"Bridgette... will you do me the honor of being my muse tonight?" Cody said in a charming voice.
Bridgette blinked in surprise, her cheeks taking on a slight blush before she let out a small laugh.
"Muse, huh? Well... why not?" Bridgette replied. She
stood, allowing Cody to guide her to the center, in front of everyone.
The other campers watched with interest, some already anticipating that this would be different from the previous ones.
Cody picked up the guitar, and the first chords of Michael Bublé's "Sway" began to play.
"When marimba rhythms start to play
, Dance with me, make me sway,
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore,
Hold me close, sway me more."
From the first rhythm, Cody completely changed the dynamic.
Instead of staying still, he moved the guitar elegantly, and in a smooth turn, he took Bridgette's hand, guiding her naturally.
She went with the flow, her posture relaxed but with a hint of nervousness, feeling how the melody transformed the moment into something almost cinematic.
Cody led her through the dance with precision, each step flowing as if they were in a scene from a romantic movie.
The others watched with varying levels of awe and amusement.
Heather crossed her arms, smiling analytically.
"Wow, now this is a real show," Heather said.
Geoff whistled through his teeth, impressed.
"Bro, this is professional level! The dancing, the voice, everything!" said Geoff.
In the middle of the dance, Cody gently twirled Bridgette around, keeping his gaze fixed on her.
"Other dancers may be on the floor.
Dear, but my eyes will see only you.
Only you have that magic technique.
When we sway, I go weak."
Bridgette smiled genuinely, enjoying the moment more than she expected, her body following the movements effortlessly.
Every turn, every step was taken with control, until Cody closed the performance with the classic final bow, holding her close, his breathing synchronized with Bridgette's.
The seconds seemed to freeze, the air heavy with something other than the spectacle.
Until…
Gwen snorted audibly, crossing her arms.
"Ugh. Okay, break up before this ends up being unnecessary," Gwen said.
The moment immediately broke the spell, and Cody and Bridgette separated with a light laugh, returning to their positions.
The campers joked among themselves, some laughing about how the final kiss was missing.
Chris clapped his hands energetically.
"This is pure gold, folks! The ratings are going to be way up!" Chris said.
Chris's Confessional
. Chris leaned back in his seat with satisfaction, his smile showing that this was exactly what he wanted.
"Between the singing, the dancing, and the drama… this doesn't feel like punishment anymore, it feels like a top-notch spectacle. Turn up the cameras, turn up the ratings, because this is doing better than I expected." Chris said
Bridgette's Confessional
Bridgette smiled softly, crossing her legs in the confessional, still processing the experience.
"Well... that was unexpectedly nice," Bridgette said
Bridgette leaned back slightly, her expression relaxed but with a faint twinkle in her eyes.
"Cody really knows how to handle the music... and the dancing. It was fun, I won't deny that." Bridgette said
Bridgette blinked a little, remembering the moment of the lean-in, and then let out a small laugh.
"I definitely understand why everyone said the kiss at the end was missing." Bridgette said
Gwen's Confessional
Gwen crossed her arms, her expression less neutral than before, more closed off.
"Okay, this doesn't feel like a punishment anymore. This feels like a competition to see how much attention Cody can get," Gwen said
Gwen exhaled, her tone lower as she continued.
"And, honestly... it's already starting to piss me off." Gwen said
Gwen snorted, looking away for a second before looking back at the camera.
"I don't know if it's because he's enjoying it too much... or because everyone is enjoying it too much," Gwen said.
She was silent for a moment before shaking her head.
"Tch. What a mess," Gwen said.