21. Episode 14 Paya
As expected, Plan Psychological Warfare has sprung the great divide on my team.
Saffron’s gone full lawyer on the case of the burnt socks.
Raina and Arlie still haven’t found the missing machete that I’ve had to pretend I know nothing about, letting the sword fall on Jeida.
They all seem to hate her more than ever.
And now Jeida refuses to sleep in the shelter. What a disaster.
On our way to the next challenge, I’m more determined than ever to make it to the merge and escape my sins.
Becoming one with Celeste, in more ways than one, has become my priority.
In order to do that, my alliance needs more voting power in the long game.
I think about the players Celeste has spoken most about. Time to strategize. Starting with Beya.
Our teams converge at the fork in the trail and fall into a single file line. I scan ahead and spot Beya three players up, walking behind Celeste. I slow my pace until Beya naturally drops back into stride with me, our shoulders brushing against the narrow path.
“Whatever happens,” I murmur, eyes forward. “Keep her safe and I promise I’ll get you to the final four. Arlie too.”
Beya’s quiet for a long moment as she walks. She doesn’t ask who I’m talking about. Only flicks her attention toward Celeste, then back to me and nods. “Cat’s honor.”
I haven’t sorted out how I plan to make good on that promise, but I mean every word if that keeps Celeste safe until the possibility that we’re on the same team.
That’s two spots past production’s plan for me.
I recall Misty’s words when discussing the contract.
This is my game. Who knows how far I’ll go, but I don’t think I’m ready to leave.
The trail opens onto the beach and our teams split apart again.
I look toward the small but mighty Team Masc.
Celeste leads them onto the sand, as beautiful as ever in a white tank top, sports bra underneath, and green shorts.
Her locs are pulled up with her team’s orange wrap, a few strands falling across her face.
I shift my attention to Beya next to her. She’s adjusting the position of her wrap, sliding it from her head down to her left bicep. The exact spot as mine.
When the challenge begins, Steph stands at the center of the mat with her hands on her hips, a wide grin already on her face. The course behind her is set up across the wide stretch of the beach. Tubed nets spread like snakes on the ground, and a final ring toss at the far end.
“Today’s challenge is for immunity,” Steph announces, motioning toward the arena.
“This relay is called Ring My Bell because someone’s getting knocked out tonight.
We have three obstacles. At the end, first team to land all five rings on their post wins immunity.
Losing team heads to The Summit tonight. ”
Steph eyes the uneven teams in front of her. “Team Femme, you’ll sit two players out today. Decide amongst yourselves.”
Saffron and Raina immediately volunteer to run and Arlie steps forward next, then Jeida. That leaves Blair and me. Sigh. The bench it is.
We settle on the sidelines as Steph yells and my team springs into action. The challenge starts in a blur of bodies and sand and Steph’s running commentary about who’s in the lead.
Blair scoots closer to me on the bench, tilting her floppy sunhat as a shield for privacy and whispers, “Paya.”
I track Celeste as she runs up the field, her thighs working hard with every stride.
The weather isn’t as hot as it usually is, but damn do I need a fan right now.
The dinging sound every time someone finishes a portion of the relay isn’t helping my concentration in the slightest. She catches me staring and tosses me a quick smile.
I sandwich my bottom lip between my teeth, the butterflies fluttering at the pit of my stomach again.
“Paya?” Blair tries again, but my mind is on some other island.
“I’m sorry. What was that?” I blink back to the bench, away from thoughts of being used all night to satisfy Queen Celeste’s every need.
Maybe Saffron was right. Clearly I have been distracted. I shift in my seat and squeeze one leg over the other, surprised by how wet I’m getting. What’s happening to me?
“Tonight’s vote.” Blair tilts her body toward mine. “If we don’t win.”
I lean back, creating distance when she scoots closer, casual enough that she won’t notice. “What are you thinking?”
“It’s Jeida, right?” There’s a hint of desperation in her voice.
“Uhm…” Without much thought, I slowly nod, my attention drifting toward Celeste again. She’s crawling through the net now, her toned arms hauling with the kind of focus I’ve seen her use in meetings.
“I really hate to say this, but if we lose, Jeida should go home.” Blair purses her lips.
“Look at everything she’s done to us. While you were away, she even told me she didn’t care if we lost. She was writing my name down.
Such a shame. She’s so aggressive and loud; it’s hard not feeling threatened by her presence around camp. ”
The conversation Celeste and I had last night comes to mind.
So does the warmth of her breath against my neck when she not so gently sunk her teeth into my sensitive skin.
A chill runs down my spine, doing no favors for my swimsuit bottoms right now.
I shake the memory away. Blair is still venting, but I missed the last thirty seconds.
The social strategizing portion of the game is suddenly becoming irritating to keep up with. Focus, Paya.
“Sorry,” I say and snap back to reality. “You were talking about Jeida?”
“I just don’t think she’s going to stop trying to rip our team apart.
She’s been spouting off about me for days.
” Blair’s voice goes softer. “I know I’m not supposed to take it personally, but it’s hard when I haven’t done anything to her.
Saffron, Raina, and Arlie told me they’re on my side. You agree with me, right?”
My brow quirks at that. Something about her forceful tone when she asks rubs me the wrong way.
It almost sounds like she’s the one who wants us to lose today.
She can think whatever she wants. I keep my face forward and make a soft hum of agreement.
This production plant performance isn’t becoming easier with practice as I had hoped.
“If we lose, I’ll write her name,” I finally tell her what she wants to hear, hoping she’ll leave me to my muse that is named Celeste.
She exhales in relief. “Thank you. I just—I feel safer knowing we’re aligned.”
I offer her a small smile and turn back to the field.
Saffron is already on the ring toss on the last leg of the relay.
She tossed two rings and missed both, while Raina shouts encouragement from the line.
The challenge is heating up. Lex finishes the net climb and tags Beya, who launches into the sand pit with the kind of speed I didn’t know her short frame could produce.
We’re leading, but Team Masc is catching up.
I lean forward despite myself, the strategic part of my brain finally tuning back in. We need to win this. If we lose, Jeida goes home and that’s one less number for me to maneuver around in the merge. But if we win, the vote shifts to Team Masc, and someone there goes home.
Deep down, I’d rather see Jeida go home than Celeste. That might make me an awful teammate, but my alliance is still perfectly intact and I’m confident I’m not on anyone’s radar to get voted out if we go to The Summit. Celeste on the other hand, I have no clue about.
Saffron lands her third ring and the ringing sound echoes across the sand.
“Three to two, Team Femme. Thanks to Saffron.” Steph bends down, hands on her knees as if she’s inspecting each move Saffron makes and shouts, “Can she do it again?”
Then Saffron lands her fourth.
Excited, Steph jumps up and down. “Team Femme now has a massive lead! Team Masc just now getting to the rings.”
Celeste reaches the ring toss for Team Masc and starts throwing, fast and ruthless. She lands one. Two. Three. Back to back.
Steph paces toward the opposite team. “Celeste is refusing to give up, hitting three in a row. Team Masc only down by one!”
After three misses in a row, Raina and her switch spots. Raina launches and the ring clatters against the post, then to the ground. Misses. Another throw. Goes long.
“We are now tied!” Steph shouts. “Down to the wire! Who wants it more?”
My stomach is in knots. I swallow hard, my hands gripping my hair, yelling from the top of my lungs. I don’t care how hot Celeste is. I really hate losing.
On the bench, my mouth open, I watch as Celeste steps up to the line and tosses another ring. It hooks the post, spins, then drops into place with a heavy thud.
“Team Masc wins immunity!” Steph’s voice echoes across the beach.
The Masc bench erupts and Beya, Bo, and Lex tackle Celeste in a hug, lifting her off her feet.
Celeste is all sweat and smiles when Steph hands her team the immunity totem.
I’m surprised at the relief washing over me, knowing she’s safe.
Then the second thought hits me. Tonight, one of us goes home.
* * *
Since we returned from today’s immunity challenge, there’s been zero scrambling, no hushed whispers while swimming, no frantic shifting of alliances. The team has already declared voting Jeida out tonight. I should let the pieces settle, but I don’t.
After searching for Jeida for the last ten minutes, I leave camp to find her sitting alone at the far edge of the beach, knees pulled to her chest. The lump of guilt rising in my throat reminds me of my role in helping production orchestrate her being ostracized.
I walk over until my shadow falls across her patch of sand. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” She huffs, the wind blowing through her two ponytails. “You might not get another chance after tonight since everyone’s writing my name down.”