Chapter 34 – Fourth Challenge (Part 3)
From her spot, Heather watched them walk away.
First Cody, then Gwen following him.
No explanations needed. She knew exactly what was happening.
An opportunity she wasn't about to miss.
Gwen had challenged her leadership in front of everyone, had openly confronted her—and Heather had no intention of letting that slide.
Her gaze hardened for a moment before a calculating smile appeared on her face.
If Gwen wanted to play, then Heather would show her what happened when someone got in her way.
But first, she needed to make sure Cody and Gwen were distracted.
And for that, she had the perfect person: Lindsay.
With controlled steps, Heather approached her ally and, without losing her calm tone, spoke quietly.
"Lindsay, I need you to do something for me," Heather said, her confidence intact.
Lindsay, who was tying her hair into a bun, looked up with interest.
"What is it?" Lindsay asked casually.
Heather made a relaxed gesture before replying.
"I want you to keep an eye on Cody and Gwen," Heather said, her tone calculated. "Watch them, follow them, make sure they're not doing anything suspicious… can you do that?"
Lindsay blinked a few times before smiling brightly, unaware of Heather's true intentions.
"Oh, sure! I'm really good at observing," Lindsay replied enthusiastically.
Heather kept her smile, satisfied with the answer.
"Perfect," Heather said softly. "Just stay close—don't let them notice you too much."
Lindsay nodded, while Heather glanced sideways at Gwen's cabin.
Now she had what she needed.
Cody and Gwen distracted. Lindsay occupied.
And she had the perfect chance to move freely.
Because her target was clear.
Gwen's journal.
That book the goth girl always wrote in, where she probably kept thoughts no one else had read.
If Heather managed to steal it, she'd have a huge advantage over her rival.
And if there was one thing Heather loved more than winning, it was knowing things others didn't want revealed.
With a sharp look and a calculating smile, Heather slipped toward Gwen's cabin, silent as a shadow.
The trap was already in motion.
The sea breeze was light, rustling the leaves with a soft, almost soothing sound. The camp was full of noise and tension. The talent show was approaching, and the pressure was palpable.
Cody, feeling the weight of too many things—song choices, rivalry with Heather, attention from Lindsay and Gwen—decided the best option was to escape for a while.
Not to hide, but to clear his mind.
The ocean was the answer.
He stood up with determination, grabbed his towel, and started walking, not expecting company.
But then, as he looked up, he saw Gwen sitting a few meters away, lost in her sketchbook, her pencil moving slowly across the page as if she were trapped in thought.
It was an image he'd seen many times, but in that moment, it felt different. Maybe because he was in the same mood.
He approached quietly, tilting his head with curiosity before speaking.
"Hey, what's got you thinking so hard?" Cody asked in a relaxed tone.
Gwen looked up with a slight start, her pencil still in hand, then exhaled with a soft smile.
"Just organizing my thoughts. This challenge has too many details," Gwen replied, calmly closing her notebook.
Cody raised an eyebrow, as if considering her answer for a second. Then, with a carefree gesture, he nodded toward the ocean.
"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 getting away from the chaos, the group, Heather… sounded good.
Not just because she wanted to relax, but because, somehow, the idea of being alone with Cody felt comfortable.
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 ocean, Gwen following a few steps behind.
The water was warm, wrapping around them with just enough coolness to make every movement feel light.
Cody and Gwen swam together, unhurried, enjoying the sense of freedom the sea gave them.
Little by little, they dove deeper, exploring the underwater world that stretched before them.
The corals, vibrant in color, seemed to breathe with the movement of the water.
Tiny silver fish swam nearby, reflecting the sunlight filtering down from the surface.
Cody extended a hand, pointing at a group of fish swimming in perfect coordination.
"Look at that," Cody murmured, his voice muffled by the water.
Gwen followed the direction of his hand and watched for a few seconds before turning to him with a smile.
"Sometimes I forget how amazing this place is," Gwen admitted, her tone filled with genuine appreciation.
Cody looked at her, a certain sparkle in his eyes before replying.
"I could say the same," Cody said—though he wasn't sure if he meant the ocean or her.
Gwen let out a soft laugh before continuing to swim.
"I didn't expect you to be the kind of person who enjoys this so much," Gwen said, not intending to sound critical.
Cody floated on his back for a moment before replying lightly.
"I see it as a chance to forget everything," Cody said. "Don't you ever feel like that? Like there are days when you just want to get away from it all for a while?"
Gwen looked at him for a moment before nodding.
"Yeah. And lately, it's been happening more often," Gwen admitted.
Cody watched her, noticing a sincerity in her voice she didn't always show. Something in her tone told him she wasn't just talking about the game.
He didn't ask. He didn't need to.
Instead, he simply swam beside her, feeling that somehow, they were sharing something that didn't need explanation.
As they continued swimming, their movements became more synchronized, their bodies floating with the rhythm of the water.
And then it happened.
Their hands brushed beneath the surface—a brief, unconscious touch at first, but neither pulled away.
Then, without saying a word, their fingers gently intertwined, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The atmosphere shifted.
The ocean stopped being just an escape and became the perfect setting for what was about to happen.
The water was warm, the sun filtering through the surface with a golden glow. Everything felt different, as if the universe itself had placed them there at that exact moment.
Their bodies stilled, floating gently, the silence between them saying more than any words could.
And without planning it, without thinking too much, they found themselves face to face.
Their eyes met, the reflection of the sea shimmering in their gaze.
And then—it happened.
Cody tilted his head slightly, his lips brushing Gwen's softly at first.
But it was only a moment before the kiss deepened, pulling them into a moment neither wanted to end.
Passion rose, wrapped in the rhythm of the waves, in the warmth of their touch, in the way everything seemed to fit perfectly.
The world disappeared for a moment.
It was just them, underwater, fingers still intertwined, feeling what they'd ignored for too long.
And neither wanted to let go.
The water reached their chests, gently rippling around them, as if the whole world breathed with them. Cody and Gwen were so close there was no space left between their bodies. Their lips met again, with restrained urgency, as if trying to say everything words hadn't dared to express.
Cody's fingers held Gwen's waist with firmness and tenderness, as if afraid the moment would vanish if he let go. Gwen, in turn, kept her arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers softly brushing his nape as she pulled him closer—like she couldn't be close enough.
Their mouths moved in sync with an emotion that overwhelmed them—a slow sway at first, then deeper, more certain. The murmur of the water, the warmth of closeness, the slight tremble in their breathing—everything melted into that moment.
When they finally pulled apart, just a few centimeters, their foreheads rested together, eyes closed, breaths mingling. Gwen barely whispered, as if she had just found something she hadn't known she was searching for. Cody looked at her, and for a moment, nothing else in the universe existed but that gaze.
"Don't say anything," she whispered, her voice barely audible between their racing heartbeats. "Just… stay here."
And he did.
Of course, the scene continued, keeping the romantic tone with emotional depth and a bit more intimacy—without crossing the line:
Cody agreed without a word, as if any sound might break the spell. He still held her, feeling how the warm water couldn't cool the heat pulsing between them. Gwen rested her head in the hollow of his neck, letting silence speak for them both.
Their fingers intertwined for a moment beneath the water, almost unintentionally—but neither pulled away.
"Are you always going to look at me like that?" Gwen murmured, without lifting her head.
"Like what?" Cody asked, his voice rough, soft.
Gwen looked up then, her green eyes glowing with something between curiosity and tenderness.
Like you don't believe this is happening. Like I'll disappear if you blink.
Cody exhaled, lowering his gaze for a second before locking eyes with her again.
She watched him for a moment—no teasing, no sarcasm. Then, with a sincerity that didn't come easily, she said:
I'm not far, Cody. Not right now.
She leaned in again, her lips brushing his—just barely, like a promise. The kiss that followed was calmer, slower. It wasn't the fire from before—it was the ember that remained and refused to die out.
And there, between the gentle ripples of the water and the shared heartbeat of two souls unknowingly searching for each other, Cody understood that sometimes the unexpected… is exactly what you need.
Lindsay had been watching from a distance, following Cody and Gwen with the same intent Heather had given her.
At first, she was only supposed to watch, to make sure "nothing suspicious" happened between them.
But then she saw it.
The kiss.
The moment when Cody and Gwen, without words, without needing explanations, gave in to what the atmosphere had pushed them toward.
And for Lindsay, that changed everything.
She felt a sting in her chest—a regretful discomfort she couldn't ignore.
She wasn't used to feeling this way.
She always saw things with lightness, with enthusiasm. But in that instant, something inside her twisted.
Pain.
And it made her angry.
While Lindsay tried to process what she had seen, the scene before her eyes shifted.
Gwen pulled away first.
She watched her leave the water, grab her towel, and walk away—leaving Cody alone in the sea.
Lindsay pressed her lips together.
If Gwen wasn't there… then nothing stopped her from doing something.
Heather had given her a task, but now…
Now Lindsay had her own plan.
Because there was something inside her she didn't want to ignore.
And Cody was right there.
Alone.
Waiting.
It was her chance.
Without wasting another second, Lindsay adjusted her hair, took a deep breath, and began walking toward the water.
Now it was her turn to approach Cody.
The cabin was completely silent. Heather moved quickly, her eyes scanning every corner in search of her target.
The shelves, the bed, Gwen's desk—everything was being searched with precision.
She knew the journal had to be there. Gwen wasn't the type to leave important things out of reach.
And then she saw it.
Beneath a pile of books, partially hidden, was the black notebook with thick pages and signs of constant use.
Gwen's journal.
Heather exhaled with satisfaction before grabbing it firmly, feeling the weight of the information now in her hands.
This was power.
But just as she was about to flip through it, the sound of the door hitting the wood froze her in place.
She turned—and her eyes met Gwen's, who had entered with a look full of suspicion.
Heather reacted quickly, hiding the journal behind her back, her expression barely changing.
But the cold sweat starting to run down her neck gave her away.
Gwen crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe, her gaze fixed on Heather.
"What are you doing here?" Gwen asked, her tone drier than usual.
Heather faked a casual expression, glancing around as if the question were irrelevant.
"Oh, nothing important. Just… admiring the décor," she said with a light smile.
Gwen didn't buy it for a second.
"Uh-huh," she murmured, not moving. "And that's why you're sweating like you just committed a crime."
Heather straightened slightly, keeping her active posture, though her fingers tightened around the hidden journal.
"Please, Gwen," she said sarcastically. "If I did something wrong, I'd do it right."
Gwen narrowed her eyes, sensing something was off. But before she could press further, Heather moved quickly, brushing past her with confident air.
"Well, it's been a pleasure," Heather said, still smiling. "See you at the competition, darling."
Gwen turned her head to follow her with her eyes, but Heather was already walking away—her stride firm, her expression intact.
But pressed against her back, hidden from view… was the journal.
And with every step, Heather knew she had just won something far more valuable than any challenge.
Cody floated in the water, his head barely above the surface, eyes closed, mind spinning. He thought about the upcoming performance, how badly it could go… but mostly, about Gwen. About how she'd said goodbye just minutes earlier, with that unexpected, soft, perfect kiss. His heart still pounded like he'd run a half-marathon.
He sighed, letting the lake's coolness wrap around him. Everything was calm. Until something soft and warm brushed against his back.
He turned abruptly, startled—and then he saw her.
It was Lindsay. She was in the water with him, just inches away. Her long blonde hair fell in wet waves over her shoulders, and her bikini left little to the imagination. She smiled like nothing had happened—like she hadn't just interrupted a moment of introspection with… well, what had clearly been her breasts.
"Oops!" Lindsay said sweetly, bringing a hand to her mouth as if she'd just realized. "Did I scare you?"
Cody blinked, stunned for a second. The water didn't feel so cold anymore.
"Uh… a little." Cody swallowed. "Are you… okay?"
"Of course! I was just swimming and accidentally got too close," Lindsay replied, moving as if unaware of the effect she was having. She floated like a carefree mermaid, and every movement made her bikini threaten to give up.
Cody tried to look away, remembering Gwen, the kiss, the performance… But it was hard to focus with Lindsay right there, smiling at him.
Cody hadn't finished processing what had just happened when Lindsay, water up to her shoulders and eyes glowing with a mix of anger and something else, crossed her arms.
"I saw you," Lindsay said, her voice low but firm.
"Saw what?" Cody asked, though deep down he already knew.
"You. With Gwen. Kissing her." Lindsay's tone was almost hurt—nothing like her usual lightness.
Cody stayed silent, caught between guilt and confusion. He hadn't meant to hurt anyone, least of all Lindsay—but he also didn't know how to handle what he felt for Gwen… or what was starting to stir in him being so close to Lindsay.
"Lindsay… I didn't…" he tried to say, but she cut him off.
"It's not fair!" she exclaimed, stepping closer in the water. "You've been so sweet to me, so attentive. You're always there, making me laugh, looking at me like I'm special… And now you go and kiss Gwen like I mean nothing."
He looked at her, overwhelmed. He hadn't meant to play with anyone. But the intensity in Lindsay's eyes disarmed him.
"I didn't know you…"
(Hurry up, idiot… Hurry up, idiot…)
"Well, I do! I like you, Cody. I like you a lot. And I can't believe you played with my feelings like this."
Before he could respond, Lindsay caught him off guard. She leaned in and kissed him. It wasn't a shy or hesitant kiss. It was passionate, determined. Cody tensed at first, his body stiff and heart pounding, as if every part of him screamed this was wrong… but the warmth of her lips, the way she held him underwater, slowly pulled him in.
Without realizing it, his arms wrapped around her waist, and the kiss deepened, grew more intense. The lake seemed to disappear around them. Cody forgot everything for a moment—the performance, Gwen, the doubts. It was just the two of them, lost in that confusing, burning moment.
Lindsay's hands explored him gently, tracing his back, his neck—and he didn't hold back, letting his fingers glide over her wet skin, the outline of her body barely covered by the bikini.
It was madness. A delicious, dangerous madness. And Cody, even though he knew it was wrong, couldn't stop.
The kiss continued, pulling them deeper into that vertigo where reason no longer existed—only. The water around them rippled gently with their movements, and each caress, each touch, further inflamed the tension between them.
Cody felt Lindsay's hands gripping him with urgency, as if she were clinging not just to him—but to an answer. His body responded, but his mind was caught in a whirlwind of emotions: desire, confusion, guilt.
When their lips finally parted, just a breath between them, Cody lowered his gaze, breathing heavily.