Chapter 36 – Fourth Challenge (Part 5)
After a chaotic cleaning break, the stage was finally ready to resume the talent competition.
Chris, with his eternal host's smile, stepped back into the center, carefully tiptoeing across the freshly cleaned surface, exaggerating each step as if walking on ice.
The audience was already expecting another comment—and Chris didn't disappoint.
"Well, campers, after a rather eventful performance and a cleanup worthy of a professional maintenance crew…" he paused, glancing around as if still inspecting the floor. "…it's time to get back to the show!" Chris declared.
Applause echoed, though a few chuckles lingered from the earlier incident.
Chris, enjoying the renewed energy, raised the microphone dramatically before making the next introduction.
"And now, get ready for a performance that promises to be… elegant, unique, and probably highly calculated," Chris said.
He paused, letting the anticipation build.
"Please welcome Heather," Chris announced.
The lights focused on center stage.
And Heather appeared.
But not just in her tutu.
With a book in her hand.
Heather walked with purpose, her expression radiating unwavering confidence as she stepped into the spotlight.
Her pink tutu contrasted with the way she held the book—like she was preparing something far beyond a simple ballet routine.
The audience murmured with curiosity, some leaning forward, trying to guess what she was planning.
From the bench, Gwen crossed her arms, watching with suspicion, still processing Heather's behavior over the past few days.
Cody, barely finished processing what had happened with Bridgette, also watched with interest—though his mind was still racing from all the accumulated drama.
Chris, ever the instigator, enjoyed the suspense before asking:
"Well, Heather, I see that besides the tutu, you've brought some reading material. Are we getting educated while you dance?" Chris teased.
Heather turned her head slightly toward him, never breaking her posture.
"It's always good to learn something new," Heather replied with a calculated smile.
The audience responded with a few soft laughs, while the atmosphere remained thick with intrigue.
The judges waited.
Chef Hatchet crossed his arms silently, evaluating the scene with his usual stern expression.
The music was about to begin.
And Heather had more than one surprise prepared.
Heather stepped forward with impeccable posture, her pink tutu clashing with her proud expression as the audience watched with anticipation.
But what drew the most attention wasn't her outfit.
It was the book she held in one hand.
From the bench, Gwen felt something tighten in her chest. A strange premonition, like the air had suddenly grown heavier.
Heather smiled slyly before raising the book for everyone to see.
"This performance is special," she announced clearly. "Originally, I was going to dance. But after some thought, I decided something far more valuable should be shared with all of you."
The murmurs among the campers grew louder.
Courtney frowned in curiosity. Cody tilted his head, attentive. Lindsay, still tangled in mixed emotions, watched closely.
Gwen, however, felt her body tense.
Heather turned the book slightly in her hands before continuing.
"I want to thank someone who, unknowingly, helped me create this act," Heather said.
She smiled with fake sweetness before locking eyes with Gwen.
"So, Gwen—thank you for your involuntary collaboration in this performance," Heather said.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment.
Gwen's eyes widened.
Her breath quickened.
Because she recognized the book instantly.
It was her journal.
Her mind began to repeat: "It's not true, it's not true, it's not true…"
Heather opened the journal casually, flipping through the pages as if selecting the best excerpts for her audience.
Gwen felt every second stretch into agony.
Heather cleared her throat before reading the first passage.
"'Sometimes I feel like Cody is different. I don't know if it's the way he sees things or because he never seems to get lost in the pressure of camp. But when I'm with him… everything feels easier,'" Heather read aloud.
The murmurs among the campers rose instantly.
Cody blinked, surprised by what he was hearing.
Gwen pressed her lips together, feeling the burn of embarrassment rise in her chest.
Heather turned the page slowly.
But her next reading was even worse.
"'Compared to Trent, things are different. With Trent, everything was sweet but… I don't know, sometimes I felt like I was in a relationship because I had to be. With Cody, though, I feel like things happen because they're meant to,'" Heather read.
The air grew even heavier.
Trent, from the bench, frowned. He hadn't expected to hear his name in this performance.
Gwen felt the urge to stand up, to stop Heather, to scream at her to stop.
But she was frozen.
Heather, relishing the moment, read one final excerpt.
"'And then, it happened. We kissed. It was different from anything I've ever felt before. It wasn't just the setting, it wasn't just a pretty moment. It was real,'" Heather said.
The murmurs turned into gasps among the campers.
Cody, who had kept a playful expression until now, wore a mix of surprise and uncertainty.
Lindsay, who had been listening with interest, raised an eyebrow with an unreadable expression.
Gwen couldn't take it anymore.
The burning in her skin, the pressure in her chest, the sound of the murmurs… it all became unbearable.
Heather's words echoed in her head over and over.
The entire camp now knew what she had kept private.
They knew what she had felt.
And worse…
Cody knew.
Unable to bear it, Gwen stood up abruptly, her chair hitting the floor with force.
Without looking at anyone, without saying a word, she ran.
Into the woods.
Away from the stares.
Away from the shame.
Away from Heather.
The silence left by her departure felt heavy.
Chris, for the first time in the competition, didn't make an immediate joke.
Heather closed the journal with a calm gesture, as if satisfied with her work.
Cody stared in the direction Gwen had run, his mind still trying to process what he had just heard.
Trent looked at Heather with clear irritation.
Courtney crossed her arms, watching the scene with a stern expression.
Lindsay, meanwhile, narrowed her eyes, as if analyzing something deeper in what had just happened.
Chef slammed the table hard before raising his scorecard.
3 out of 10.
Chris let out a sigh before finally reacting.
"Well… that was a performance, though I'm not sure if we should call it artistic or just a strategic strike."
The cameras remained focused on the stage.
But everyone's attention was on the woods.
On the path Gwen had taken.
And on what might happen now that her truth had been exposed.
As soon as Gwen disappeared into the darkness of the forest, Cody felt the urge to get up.
The stares were still on him, the murmurs in the amphitheater hadn't stopped—but none of that mattered.
Heather had crossed a line. She had exposed something she had no right to share.
And Gwen, in her desperation, had fled.
Cody didn't think twice.
He stood up quickly and, without saying a word, ran after her.
His silhouette vanished down the same path Gwen had taken, leaving behind the tension at camp.
Confessional – Trent
The camera focused on Trent, still frowning from what had happened on stage.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair before speaking.
"I didn't expect my name to end up in the middle of all this," Trent said seriously.
"Compared to Cody? Like I was just a reference point?" he added.
He exhaled with a soft huff before shaking his head.
"I'm not mad at Gwen. I'm mad at Heather. And honestly, if she wanted to humiliate someone—she succeeded."
He looked to the side, thoughtful.
"I don't know what's going to happen now… but this won't end well."
The shot cut, leaving tension around his role in everything that had happened.
Confessional – Lindsay
The camera focused on Lindsay, her arms crossed and a complicated expression on her face.
"Heather knows what she's doing. She planned this—and Gwen walked right into her trap," Lindsay said.
She paused before letting out a sigh.
"But then there's Cody. Why does he always have to be in the middle of everything?" Lindsay said.
Her expression turned more thoughtful, as if unsure of what she was feeling.
"I don't like this… I don't like any of it."
The shot cut before she could say more.
Confessional – Courtney
Courtney appeared on screen, arms crossed and a stern expression.
"Heather never does anything without a purpose. And this time, her purpose was to destroy Gwen," Courtney said.
She exhaled with some frustration before nodding.
"But what surprised me was Cody. The way he went after her—without a second of hesitation."
She looked at the camera with an analytical air.
"If Gwen had doubts about her feelings before… she won't now."
The shot cut at that moment.
Confessional – Gwen (before running)
The camera focused on Gwen minutes before the disaster. Her expression was tense, her breathing uneven.
"No… It's not true," Gwen said.
Her lips trembled slightly before she repeated it softly.
"It's not true, it's not true, it's not true…" Gwen whispered.
Her eyes darted quickly, trying to process what Heather was exposing.
And then, without another word, she disappeared from the confessional and ran into the woods.
The shot cut abruptly, leaving the void of her absence palpable.
The atmosphere at camp was tense. Not just because of what Heather had done—exposing Gwen's journal in front of everyone—but because of the revelation left hanging in the air.
The kiss.
Until that moment, campers had suspected something between Cody and Gwen—but no one knew the full truth.
Except Lindsay.
She had seen it. She had witnessed the exact moment Cody and Gwen kissed.
And now, with Heather exposing Gwen's feelings, everyone else knew too.
And no one wanted to be left behind.
Confessional – Lindsay
The camera focused on Lindsay, arms crossed and a clearly irritated expression.
"I knew about the kiss. I saw it," Lindsay said.
She exhaled sharply before shaking her head.
"But now everyone's acting like they just discovered something. Like they have a chance to do something."
She pursed her lips before shrugging.
"I don't care what Gwen does. I don't care what Heather thinks. I just know I'm not going to sit back while all this happens."
The shot cut, making her intention to act clear.
Confessional – Courtney
Courtney appeared with her arms crossed and a calculating expression.
"The situation has changed. We all knew Gwen had something with Cody—but the kiss… that makes it real," Courtney said.
She paused before exhaling softly.
"Heather made her move. But that doesn't mean the rest of us can't make ours."
She smiled slightly, with a strategic air.
"At the end of the day, it's Cody who has to decide."
The shot cut just as Courtney adjusted her hair with confident flair.
Confessional – Bridgette
Bridgette appeared on screen with a complicated expression, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
"I already kissed him. I don't know if that gives me an advantage—or just more problems," Bridgette said.
She placed a hand on her head before letting out a sigh.
"I didn't expect this to turn into a competition. But now it's obvious that everyone's in it."
She looked at the camera thoughtfully.
"I don't know what Cody's going to do after all this. But what I do know—is that it won't be easy for anyone."
The shot cut, leaving her uncertainty hanging in the air.
Confessional – Gwen
Gwen appeared with her arms crossed, her expression reflecting accumulated anger and frustration.
"Heather had no right to do this," Gwen said.
She exhaled sharply before shaking her head.
"But now everyone knows," she added.
Her jaw tightened for a second before continuing.
"I don't know what Cody's going to do. I don't know how he'll react after all this. But if any of them think I'm going to give up—they're wrong," Gwen said.
The shot cut just as Gwen looked away, showing she was ready to fight for what she wanted.
The night air was cool, the whisper of leaves swaying in the wind filled the space with a deceptive calm. Despite the silence of the forest, inside Gwen, everything was still chaos.
She sat on a fallen log, arms resting on her knees, her gaze lost in the underbrush.
Her breathing still carried traces of the run she'd made fleeing the amphitheater.
The pain was real. Not physical—but emotional.
Heather had exposed her.
Not just in front of camp—but on national television.
Every word from her journal had been ripped from her privacy, thrown mercilessly for everyone to hear, judge, and worse—comment on.
Now everyone knew.
About Cody. About how she saw him.
About the kiss.
The humiliation was there, crushing her chest, making her throat feel tight.
For the first time in a long while, Gwen didn't want to face it. Didn't want to see him.
But then, a sound pulled her out of her chaos.
Footsteps.
She looked up, turning slightly.
And there was Cody.
Emerging from the trees, his expression calm but his eyes clearly searching for something—or someone.
Gwen felt her body tense.
She knew why he was there.
Cody stepped a few paces closer until he stood in front of her, his posture relaxed, but with a hint of concern on his face.
For a few seconds, neither spoke.
Only the sound of the wind filled the space between them.
Until Cody took a breath and finally broke the silence.
"Do you want to be alone?" Cody asked.
Gwen pressed her lips together before exhaling softly.
"I don't know," Gwen said.
Cody stepped slightly closer, still not moving from his spot.
"If you need me to go, I will. But if you want to talk… I'm here," Cody said.
Gwen looked at him for a moment before turning her gaze away.
And then, on impulse, she began to speak.
"Heather did it on purpose," Gwen said.
Her voice was low—but firm.
"She wanted to humiliate me. She wanted to make me look ridiculous," Gwen said.
Cody crossed his arms, his expression hardening slightly.
"Yeah. And she did. But… you know what?" Cody said.
Gwen lifted her head slightly.
"What?" Gwen asked.
Cody smiled faintly.
"That doesn't change what really matters."
Gwen looked at him with slight confusion, waiting for him to continue.
"Heather can read whatever she wants, she can shout things in front of the whole camp—but there's something she'll never be able to control."
He paused before gesturing lightly toward himself.
"What you feel. What I know. What we decide is worth it," Cody said.
The words hung in the air for a few seconds.
Gwen felt a small pressure in her chest—but this time, it wasn't anxiety.
It was something else.
Cody wasn't there to tell her to get over it.
He wasn't there to minimize her pain.
He was there to remind her of something she'd forgotten in the middle of the chaos.
The power to decide what mattered—and what didn't.
Without saying more, Gwen slowly stood up.
She looked at Cody for a few seconds before letting out a small sigh.
And then, in an almost instinctive motion, she stepped closer to him.
Cody didn't react immediately—but when he felt her arms wrap around him, he knew exactly what to do.
He wrapped his arms around Gwen's back firmly, holding her without saying a word.
The hug wasn't rushed. It wasn't desperate.
It was necessary.
And when Gwen pulled back slightly, Cody looked up.
And without thinking too much, without hesitation—he kissed her.
The stage was ready for the next performance. Geoff was next on the list, and the audience waited with interest to see what he would bring.
But then… disaster struck.
Geoff, always confident in his skateboarding skills, tried a trick before starting his act. A small spin to warm up. Something simple.
Only—it wasn't simple.
Because, in a matter of seconds, the skateboard snapped in half with a loud crack that echoed through the amphitheater.
The audience reacted immediately—some gasping, others laughing at the situation.
Geoff stared at the remains of his board in horror.
"No! That was my lucky board!" he exclaimed, holding what was left.
Courtney and Bridgette, from the bench, felt the pressure crash down on them.
This wasn't part of the plan.
What now?
Who could replace Geoff in a matter of seconds?
Courtney looked at Bridgette, hoping for an answer.
Bridgette looked at Courtney with the same desperation.
And then, as if fate had decided it, both turned their gaze toward Harold.
The boy, who until that moment had just been enjoying the show, tensed as he noticed all eyes on him.
He blinked a few times before murmuring:
"Uh… me?" Harold said.
Courtney pointed urgently.
"Yes, you! Get on stage right now!" Courtney said.
Harold frowned, confused.
"But… what do I do?" Harold asked.
Bridgette gave him a gentle push forward.
"Anything! Just do something," Bridgette said.
And before he could resist, Harold ended up center stage—with all the lights on him.
The pressure was intense.
But then… he remembered something.
He didn't have any tricks planned.
But he did have a skill not many people knew about.
Beatboxing.
The audience watched with curiosity as Harold took a breath, preparing his mouth for what he was about to do.
And then—he began.
The first sounds were soft—a basic vocal percussion rhythm that caught everyone's attention.
But then, little by little, the rhythm intensified.
His voice began layering sounds—fast beats, tone variations, and percussion effects no one expected from him.
Some campers widened their eyes in surprise.
Geoff, still holding the remains of his board, paused his lament to watch with interest.
Courtney and Bridgette, who had pushed Harold almost out of desperation, now watched the performance in disbelief.
The audience began to react.
Owen whistled enthusiastically. Noah raised an eyebrow, impressed. Sadie and Katie exchanged surprised glances before nodding to each other.
Harold, noticing he had everyone's attention, pushed the rhythm further.
Now it was pure accelerated beatbox—a mix of sounds that echoed through the amphitheater with a steady beat.
The audience began to follow the rhythm—some tapping their knees gently, others nodding their heads to the beat.
And then, without warning, Harold delivered his grand finale.
A closing sequence of air punches, deep vocal sounds, and a final echo of vibrations that left the amphitheater in complete silence for a second.
Until Chef slammed his table.
And raised his scorecard.
9 out of 10.
The audience erupted in applause.
Chris, who had been watching with amusement, finally chimed in.
"Who would've thought the team's salvation would come from Harold?" he said with a wide smile.
Courtney and Bridgette exchanged glances before breathing a sigh of relief.
Geoff, still disappointed about his board, smiled faintly.
Harold exhaled slowly before smiling with pride.
The challenge continued.
And the Bass team now had their score.
The atmosphere in the amphitheater was charged with new anticipation.
Cody and Gwen returned to the challenge after their moment in the woods, still carrying the intensity of what had happened in their expressions.
Chris, always eager to heighten the drama of the competition, appeared center stage with his signature wide smile and exaggerated energy.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we've seen incredible performances tonight. We've witnessed pure talent, unexpected accidents, and even public confessions no one saw coming."
He paused, enjoying the audience's reactions before continuing.
"But now—it's time for someone everyone's been waiting to see," Chris said.
The lights shifted, focusing on the area where the campers were seated.
The audience murmured with interest, some leaning forward to get a better view.
Chris raised a hand dramatically before announcing with energy:
"Please welcome—Cody!" Chris said.
Applause echoed, mixed with murmurs about what was coming.
Cody, who had remained calm until that moment, stood up with a sigh before turning to Gwen for a second.
She looked at him attentively, still feeling the effects of everything that had happened.
Cody gave a faint smile before walking toward the backstage area.
It was time to get ready.
While Cody changed and prepared behind the scenes, the murmurs among the campers intensified.
Everyone had an opinion about what was about to happen.
Lindsay, arms crossed, watched with interest, her mind still analyzing recent events.
"Bet it's going to be a romantic song," Lindsay murmured thoughtfully.
Courtney exhaled before shrugging.
"Maybe not. Cody's unpredictable," Courtney said.
Geoff, recovered from the tragedy of his board, chimed in enthusiastically.
"It'd be awesome if he sang something upbeat—something that gets us moving," Geoff said.
Noah, who had barely reacted throughout the competition, raised an eyebrow with mild amusement.
"Let's hope it's not too cheesy. I don't want another collective meltdown," Noah said.
The girls—especially those who had shown interest in Cody—were more attentive than ever.
Because after what had happened with Gwen…
Now everyone was watching.
And no one wanted to miss the chance to see how he would respond to all the tension that had built up.
The music was about to begin.
And Cody was about to take the stage.
The amphitheater lights flickered intensely, synchronized with the rhythm of the amplifiers, creating the perfect atmosphere for the final performance of the night.
The murmurs among the campers were obvious.
Some leaned forward, eager to see what Cody would do after the emotional whirlwind he had just stirred with his renewed image. Others, still processing Heather's revelations, wanted to see how he would handle such an exposed moment.
Chris, sensing the tension in the air, grabbed the microphone with a wide smile.
"If there's one thing we can't deny, it's that this competition has been packed with emotion," Chris said.
He paused dramatically before continuing.
"But if anyone knows how to turn those emotions into a show—it's our next performer," Chris said.
The lights focused on center stage.
The curtain began to rise slowly.
And there was Cody.