Chapter 33 – Fourth Challenge (Part 2)
With the talent show challenge announced, the Bass team quickly began testing their skills to choose the three contestants who would represent them.
The amphitheater turned into an improvisation space, where each team member had the chance to show what they could bring to the competition.
The auditions began with enthusiasm, but it soon became clear that some had more talent than others.
Katie and Sadie were the first to showcase their skills.
The best friends held hands, stepped into the center, and began a synchronized dance routine.
The problem wasn't their lack of enthusiasm… but their coordination.
Every time Katie turned one way, Sadie turned the other. When one stepped forward, the other stepped back.
It was chaotic—but fun.
"Katie, follow the rhythm!" Sadie shouted, trying to correct the direction.
"You follow my rhythm!" Katie replied, frustrated.
The others watched with mixed expressions—some enjoying the show, others trying to hold back laughter.
In the end, although their energy was contagious, their lack of coordination left them out of the selection.
Tyler, determined to prove his talent, pulled out a yo-yo and began making quick movements with it.
At first, things went well. He managed a few basic tricks and seemed to have control over the object.
But then, in an attempt to pull off a more ambitious spin, the yo-yo tangled around his wrist.
He tried to untangle it, but ended up trapping his other hand too.
Within seconds, he was practically immobilized, wrapped in the string like a trap.
"Wait, I can fix this!" Tyler exclaimed, struggling with the yo-yo.
In his desperation to free himself, he lost his balance and fell backward with a loud thud.
The Bass team stared in silence for a few seconds before Geoff burst out laughing.
"That was incredibly bad!" Geoff said, amused.
Tyler sighed in resignation, knowing his audition had ended there.
DJ stepped into the center with a bit of shyness, holding a long red ribbon.
When he began to move, everyone was surprised by the grace of his performance.
The ribbon floated through the air, forming impressive shapes as DJ executed precise steps with flawless coordination.
His size and strength contrasted with the delicacy of the dance, making the performance even more impressive.
Courtney watched with her arms crossed, but couldn't help nodding in approval.
"I had no idea DJ could do that," Bridgette murmured.
In the end, everyone applauded.
DJ was the first clear candidate for the team.
Duncan didn't waste time. Instead of doing something elaborate, he simply pulled out his knife and began carving a piece of wood.
The others watched curiously as the juvenile delinquent worked with precision, shaving off small splinters with quick, calculated movements.
After several minutes, he stepped back and revealed his creation.
A perfectly sculpted skull.
It was detailed, with deep shadows and a rustic texture that made it stand out.
Courtney raised an eyebrow.
"A skull?" Courtney asked dryly.
"What were you expecting? Flowers?" Duncan replied with an arrogant smile.
Although his skill was impressive, it wasn't clear whether this was what the team needed to win the challenge.
Duncan simply shrugged, showing no interest in being selected.
Geoff entered with energy, holding his skateboard in hand.
"This is gonna be awesome!" Geoff exclaimed, hopping onto the board and starting his routine.
He jumped, spun in the air, and landed with precision.
One of his moves had him sliding down an improvised rail in the amphitheater, leaving several campers impressed.
Even Duncan, who rarely showed enthusiasm, raised an eyebrow.
"Gotta admit, that guy's got talent," Duncan said.
Courtney, meanwhile, simply wrote his name on the list.
Geoff had secured his spot with no problem.
Harold, excited, tried to step forward to show his skill.
But before he could speak, Courtney stopped him with a single look.
"Don't even try, Harold," Courtney said firmly.
Harold blinked several times before protesting.
"But you don't even know what I'm going to do!" Harold exclaimed.
Bridgette shrugged before chiming in.
"I can hold a handstand for twenty minutes," Bridgette said casually.
The others looked at her for a moment before slowly nodding.
"That's impressive, but… how entertaining is it?" Sadie asked.
Bridgette thought for a moment and ended up smiling.
"Guess you're right," Bridgette said calmly.
With that, her audition was dismissed.
Courtney picked up her violin and, without waiting for approval, began to play.
The melody echoed through the amphitheater, clean and perfectly tuned.
Each note flowed with precision, showing impeccable technique.
The others listened in silence, some surprised by the quality of her performance.
When she finished, she put away the violin and looked up.
"Well, is that enough?" Courtney asked confidently.
No one said anything for a moment.
Finally, Duncan let out a soft laugh.
"You've got your spot," Duncan confirmed.
Courtney simply nodded, satisfied.
With all auditions complete, the Bass team made their final decision.
Courtney, DJ, and Geoff were chosen to represent the team in the talent show.
Each with unique skills, ready to face off against the Gophers in the competition.
The real battle was about to begin.
After a long discussion between Cody, Heather, and Gwen—each defending their perspective on who should represent the team—they finally agreed that everyone would get a chance to showcase their talents.
The auditions began immediately, with a series of performances as varied as they were unexpected.
Owen was the first to try, stepping onto the small improvised stage with a big grin.
"Get ready for something amazing!" Owen said, pounding his chest before taking a deep breath.
Then he did it.
He burped the alphabet.
Letter by letter, with a precision few could replicate, he made the air vibrate with his undeniable… though highly questionable… talent.
The boys applauded enthusiastically, impressed by his skill.
"That was art!" Trent exclaimed, laughing.
The girls, on the other hand, reacted with absolute disgust.
"That was revolting," Gwen said, crossing her arms.
"Please, ten bucks says he won't be picked," Lindsay added firmly.
Heather quickly wrote his name on the rejection list.
Beth appeared smiling, holding two torches she had somehow acquired.
"I'm going to do a fire act!" Beth announced excitedly.
The others watched her cautiously.
As soon as Beth lit the torches, she tried to spin them gracefully… but her coordination was the problem.
One torch tilted dangerously close to the stage.
The other swung too close to Noah, who had to dodge quickly.
"Beth, be careful!" Lindsay shouted.
The flames were about to reach a curtain in the amphitheater, causing a brief panic.
Fortunately, DJ acted quickly and extinguished the fire with a bucket of water.
Beth, soaked and confused, let out a nervous laugh.
"Oops… well, that was dramatic," Beth said, trying to stay optimistic.
Heather ran a hand down her face, slowly shaking her head.
"Definitely not," Heather muttered.
Izzy bounced into view, overflowing with energy as always.
"Time to dance!" Izzy shouted before launching into her performance.
The problem wasn't lack of skill… it was too much energy.
Izzy spun, jumped, and performed acrobatic moves at a speed that made her hard to follow.
At one point, she launched herself too far and crashed onto the table where the improvised judges were seated.
"That was amazing!" Owen said, clapping.
But Gwen simply raised an eyebrow.
"Amazingly chaotic," she corrected.
Izzy got up like nothing had happened, grinning widely.
But the lack of stability in her performance kept her out of the selection.
Noah, without even looking up, pulled out a book and cleared his throat.
"My talent is simple: speed reading," he said in a monotone voice.
And he began.
Pages flew by at an impossible pace, his voice barely pausing as he recited each sentence with precision.
Within seconds, he had finished several pages.
The others stared in disbelief.
"That's impressive!" Trent said.
"It's useful… but not entertaining," Heather commented, cutting the excitement.
Noah simply shrugged.
"Not my fault people prefer flashy things over intelligence," he said, closing his book.
Gwen, in a rare moment of hesitation, stared at the paper in front of her.
Cody, noticing her expression, leaned slightly toward her.
"Do it. I know you can," Cody said, with a confident smile.
Gwen exhaled before picking up her pencil and starting to draw.
Little by little, the lines took shape with precision.
Her focus was total, and within minutes, she had a detailed portrait of Chef Hatchet.
When she finished, she turned the drawing for the others to see.
Owen whistled in admiration.
"Wow! Chef looks even scarier on paper," Owen said.
Gwen smiled faintly, while Cody gave her an approving nod.
Although her talent was undeniable, she ultimately decided the drawing wasn't flashy enough for the competition.
Trent picked up his guitar with confidence and began to play.
The melody flowed through the amphitheater smoothly, his technique flawless and his stage presence relaxed.
Heather watched silently, showing little emotion but not interrupting.
When Trent finished, several campers applauded enthusiastically.
"That was a great solo," Gwen said, genuinely impressed.
Trent beamed, feeling satisfied with his performance.
Lindsay strutted across the stage, moving with elegance and striking poses like she was on a fashion runway.
But the group's reaction was mixed.
Gwen raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
"This… is a talent?" Heather asked dryly.
But before Lindsay could respond, Cody clapped softly.
"You look amazing," Cody said with a smile.
Lindsay lit up instantly, her expression completely transformed.
"Thanks, Cody!" she exclaimed, clearly delighted.
Though her mood improved, she ultimately wasn't selected for the competition.
Just when it seemed the selection was wrapping up, Heather appeared on stage in an unexpected outfit.
A pink tutu.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
The Gopher team was organizing in the amphitheater, preparing final details before the talent show.
Conversations among campers flowed normally, but suddenly, Cody found himself caught in a situation he hadn't anticipated.
Heather appeared near him and, without warning, began stretching.
Was it appropriate? Hard to say. But what was clear was that her position made it impossible for Cody not to notice certain details.
Extended legs, precise movements, the subtle arch of her back as she bent forward.
Every gesture seemed perfectly calculated.
Cody felt like his eyes had a will of their own.
He tried to look elsewhere, but Heather's movements inevitably drew his attention.
Unfortunately for him, Gwen and Lindsay noticed almost immediately.
Both girls glared at him from their respective spots, their expressions growing more disapproving by the second.
The air felt heavier.
Heather, of course, didn't miss the opportunity.
She smirked sideways, clearly aware of the situation.
"Gonna stare all day?" Heather asked, keeping her relaxed tone.
Cody, still trying to ignore the weight of Gwen and Lindsay's stares, chuckled before replying.
"You act like you don't do the same when I'm shirtless," Cody said casually.
Heather raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the challenge.
"Oh, don't worry—I definitely enjoy it when that happens," Heather said with a playful smile. "But you… your eyes are about to pop out."
Cody made a thoughtful gesture before responding.
"You're right… but let's be honest, you don't see a moving work of art every day," Cody said boldly.
Heather let out a soft laugh before turning smoothly, arching her back a bit more.
"Enjoy it while you can, Cody. Your goth girl doesn't have this figure," Heather said, with a calculated tone.
Gwen, from her spot, pressed her lips together in clear annoyance, her gaze full of frustration.
Lindsay, meanwhile, crossed her arms, her eyes practically piercing Heather with her expression.
Cody exhaled softly, unfazed.
"And you act like this is the first time you've seen me react like this," Cody replied, with a hint of mischief in his voice.
Heather gave him a sly look.
"It's not. But watching your internal conflict is endlessly entertaining," she said with satisfaction.
Gwen and Lindsay's stares intensified even more.
If Cody stayed in this any longer, he'd probably face some kind of retaliation from them.
So, with a calm gesture, he settled into his seat and let Heather continue her stretching routine.
But the tension left in the air…
That definitely wasn't going away anytime soon.
Confessional – Cody
The camera focused on Cody, who let out a sigh before chuckling softly.
"Heather doing that on purpose? It'd be crazy to assume she wasn't," Cody said, amused.
He ran a hand through his hair before continuing.
"But the funniest part was Gwen and Lindsay standing right there, watching every reaction like I was signing my own death sentence," Cody said.
He exhaled gently and nodded.
"Do I regret it? No. Should I have been more discreet? Maybe. But come on—if Heather's gonna play this game, I'm not sitting it out," Cody said.
His smile widened slightly before the shot cut.
Confessional – Heather
Heather appeared on screen with a satisfied expression.
"Was it on purpose? I won't confirm or deny," Heather said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
She paused to adjust her hair.
"But watching Cody try not to look while the other two girls were practically burning holes through him with their eyes… that was something I couldn't pass up," Heather said.
She exhaled with a carefree air before looking straight at the camera.
"Not my fault the guy has good taste," Heather said.
The shot cut just as she smiled confidently.
Confessional – Gwen
The camera focused on Gwen, who exhaled with irritation and crossed her arms.
"Cody staring a little too much while Heather stretched? Like that's not the most typical thing ever," Gwen said dryly.
She rolled her eyes before continuing.
"The worst part is she knows it—and he… well, he just falls right into the trap," Gwen said.
She exhaled and shook her head.
"I don't care… but if this keeps up, we're gonna have a problem," Gwen said.
The shot cut just as Gwen pressed her lips in frustration.
Confessional – Lindsay
Lindsay appeared on screen with her arms crossed, her expression a mix of frustration and confusion.
"Why does Heather always have to do that right when I'm around?" Lindsay said, clearly annoyed.
She huffed and adjusted her hair.
"And Cody, as always, just plays along without realizing what's happening around him," Lindsay said.
She paused before sighing tiredly.
"It's not fair. I can do impressive things too!" Lindsay said.
The shot cut just as Lindsay pouted slightly.
The Gopher team gathered around the improvised stage. The competition was getting closer, and every camper had shown their skills. But when Heather stepped forward confidently, something shifted in the air.
Everyone watched her with curiosity. No one expected her to have any particularly notable talent. She was cunning, manipulative, a strategist… but artistic?
However, as soon as she adjusted her posture and the music from The Nutcracker began to play, Heather made it clear she hadn't come to lose.
Her body responded to the rhythm with calculated precision. From the first movement, her elegance was undeniable.
Each spin flowed with flawless naturality, every jump measured with refined technique. No unnecessary exaggerations—just controlled movements radiating confidence.
And just when they thought they were watching a well-executed dance, Heather added her personal touch.
Without breaking rhythm, without losing grace or disrupting the harmony of the performance, her gaze found Cody.
Her expression shifted into something more… something intentional.
Heather spun with elegance, arched her back in a perfect curve, and in that moment, her eyes locked directly onto Cody.
The movement that followed was subtle—but carried a clear message.
Every arm extension, every head turn, every angle of her body leaning toward him was loaded with meaning.
It wasn't just a performance. It wasn't just flawless technique.
It was a game. And Cody was part of it.
The boy crossed his arms, watching her with his usual relaxed smile—but the glint in his eyes revealed he understood exactly what was happening.
Heather spun again, her tulle skirt floating gently in the air.
Then, with a calculated move, she extended a hand toward him before gliding away.
It was as if she were inviting him to follow her… figuratively speaking.
Cody, not missing the chance to respond, tilted his head slightly and let out a soft laugh.
Heather, without breaking eye contact, gave him the faintest smile. Just a second. Just a gesture not everyone noticed—but Cody did.
When Heather finished with a final controlled pose, she held it for a few seconds before rising confidently.
For a moment, the group was silent.
Then, one by one, the applause began to echo.
Even those who couldn't stand her couldn't deny the performance had been impressive.
Heather basked in the reaction, a triumphant expression on her face.
But as the applause faded, slowly, everyone turned their heads toward Cody.
It was obvious.
No vote needed. No discussion.
Cody was practically selected for the team.
Heather, enjoying the chance to add a touch of mischief to the moment, let out a soft laugh before speaking.
"Please, everyone knows you're already in," Heather said casually.
Cody chuckled and shook his head.
"Wow, didn't even get to pretend there was competition," Cody said lightly.
Gwen rolled her eyes—but couldn't help a small smile.
Lindsay, meanwhile, seemed satisfied with the choice, though her gaze remained fixed on Heather.
Trent, who already knew he was in, simply exchanged a relaxed look with Cody.
The decision was made.
The chosen talents for the competition were: Heather, Trent, and Cody.
Confessional – Heather
The camera focused on Heather, who calmly adjusted her hair before speaking.
"Dancing well was never a problem for me. But doing it with style? That's what really matters," Heather said with a satisfied smile.
She paused before looking directly at the camera.
"I don't know if Cody caught everything I meant to say with the dance… but if he did, at least he'll have something to think about tonight," Heather said.
The shot cut just as Heather tilted her head with a sly look.
Confessional – Cody
The camera focused on Cody, who let out a soft laugh before responding.
"Heather sending signals during her performance? Like it's the first time she's tried something like that," Cody said, casually.
He leaned forward slightly, his expression showing amusement.
"Not gonna lie. She's got talent, and she knows how to use it. But if she thinks that's enough to throw me off during the competition… she's gonna have to try a little harder," Cody said.
The shot cut just as Cody flashed a confident smile.
Confessional – Gwen
The camera focused on Gwen, who crossed her arms with a neutral expression… but the slight tension in her lips betrayed her annoyance.
"Heather never does anything without a purpose," Gwen said dryly.
She glanced to the side before exhaling softly.
"The dance was good—no one can deny that. But if anyone here thinks that was just for the competition, then they don't know her at all," Gwen said.
The shot cut just as Gwen looked away thoughtfully.
The camp was quieter than usual. With the teams now defined and the talent show approaching, tension lingered—but not enough to stop a few moments of calm.
Cody, after reviewing ideas for his performance, stretched deeply before making a decision.
He needed to clear his head. And the best way to do that was swimming.
Without a second thought, he grabbed a towel and headed toward the lake. But before he got too far, he noticed Gwen a few meters away, distracted with her sketchbook.
Cody paused for a moment, considered the idea, then smiled before speaking.
"Hey, what's got you thinking so hard?" Cody asked, tilting his head with interest.
Gwen looked up with a slight start, then exhaled with a smile.
"Just organizing my thoughts. This challenge has too many moving parts," Gwen replied, calmly closing her notebook.
Cody raised an eyebrow and nodded toward the lake.
"If you need to clear your head, I've got a better method," Cody said with a confident smile. "I'm going for a swim—want to come?"
Gwen blinked a few times, as if weighing the offer.
The idea of escaping the chaos, the group, Heather… sounded good.
So after a few seconds of thought, she nodded.
"Alright. Some fresh air wouldn't hurt," Gwen said, putting away her notebook.
Cody smiled with satisfaction before heading toward the lake, Gwen following a few steps behind.
Unbeknownst to them, both were under Heather's calculating gaze.