"Well, you have to," Courtney spoke. "She's devasted, and it's all your fault."
"Yeah, you basically-"
"Once again, Heather, it's not cheating if you are not in a relationship," Cody repeated. "Sierra and I are not dating and frankly, the only reason you two are being so nice to her is because she's useful, and nothing else."
"That doesn't matter," Heather scoffed. "You need to talk to her or else we will fail the next challenge, no matter what happens next."
Cody sighed and got up. He really didn't want to talk to her, not after what happened. But it turns out she could really take love seriously. Maybe he shouldn't let the girls convince him during Paris…
Cody heard Sierra sobbing; he turned back to the girls and gulped. "Sierra, I…uhh…I really don't know…"
"Nothing. You don't have to say anything."
Sierra sniffled, wiping her tears. "This was a big fluke. Whatever. It's not like you're in love with him."
Sierra turned to see Cody's more nervous expression, sweat down his face. This instantly soured her mood.
"No, you aren't," Sierra whispered before getting closer to Cody. "No, you aren't!"
"Ok, that's enough," Heather sighed. "We don't need this before the game, Sierra!"
Cody took the time to escape the screaming girls and into the confessional bathroom, now screaming. How was he ever going to survive this new challenge?
👽
Noah slumped down as he rested the ice pack on his bruised eye. It's not like he regretted telling Sierra off, especially since no one else did. Sure, he didn't think it would come to a physical fight, but what else was Noah supposed to do? Let Sierra torment Cody for the rest of the game? Especially since feelings have blossomed, and Noah was technically Cody's boyfriend, though it was non-confirmed.
However, it didn't help that he could hear his team talk about it.
"Well, I know Noah! He wouldn't do something like that," Owen spoke.
"Yet he did," Duncan argued, folding his arms. "We all saw how happy they were before, and he still-"
"Wait, were they really happy? Just Cody…wasn't-" Owen stammered.
"Without how distrught Sierra is, how could they not be?"
"Maybe because she's delusional, and you're feeding her fantasy like the delusional people you are," Noah murmured, knowing that no one would hear him.
"But thank you, Duncan," Alejandro coughed. "You know, for everything he said to you about Izzy, I would've thought his hypocrisy would upset you."
"Hypocrisy?" Owen gulped. "Well, it wasn't that….it was my choice too."
Noah rolled his only available eye and turned away.
"Yo, Tyler!" Duncan called out to the athlete. "What got you so tense? Don't tell me your scared of Noah?"
"Yeah, Tyler," Noah hissed, his voice full of malice. "It's not like I bite."
Tyler felt his vision blur of fear and nervousness, but his pride couldn't allow him to even speak on the matter. What was he supposed to say, especially since he broke a massive code of secrets all because he couldn't keep to himself?
👽
Tyler needs to back off.
Why?
If he continued to stare down Noah to understand his intentions, Noah would maim him on the spot, even if it damaged his reputation, but he couldn't care less at that point. But he needed to calm down; if he needed to be good at the challenge, he needed to put his head in the game.
Noah just hopes that Cody is doing well.
👽
"I need to stop touching stuff," Cody gulped as the alien clone approached him, circling around him. "I mean, you are good-looking, as I am myself, but…uh…"
The clone sniffed around Cody before standing up.
"Oh? You think this is cool too?" Cody chuckled. "Well, that's nice."
Then, a massive gasp filled the area, and Cody could only shrink into himself, and he could see the clone doing the exact same thing. Even the clone didn't like her? Maybe this could be the hint Sierra needed.
"Two Codys!?" Sierra squealed happily. "Ah! This is such a lucky day!"
"Not for me," Cody muttered to himself.
"So, new Cody," Sierra giggled. "Do you love me?"
The alien clone stopped for a moment before sticking its tongue out and scurrying away, leaving Cody alone with his stalker. Great. Alone with his stalker, how can things get even worse from there?
"Now, Cody, may I be honest with you?" Sierra asked. "Now that we are alone?"
Cody gulped and tried to leave, but Sierra continued to speak.
"Obviously, Noah got into your soft, easily manipluated mind. And that was wrong of him!"
Cody was about to protest, mainly because Noah was never the manipulative type, and how could he ever get manipulative if Cody also contributed? Why should he pretend he was a victim of Noah?
"But don't worry," Sierra whispered, cupping Cody's face. "I can fix it."
👽
"Aliens, why did it have to be aliens?" Noah complained. "Man, I wonder how Cody's doing? Dealing with that crazed freakazoid must be driving up the wall."
A rustle behind him caused Noah to jump and turn around before seeing…Cody?
Huh, it wasn't like Cody abandoning his teammates, even when things have become difficult for him lately. However, with closer inspection, the messier hair, green-tinted skin, and green eyes caused Noah to back up a little, but the alien clone jumped towards Noah before lifting his hand up, urging Noah to do the same.
"What…are you?" Noah whispered, feeling the clone's finger against his. It was strange and slimy, yet very, very human.
"Are you seriously messing with Cody right now!?" Duncan screamed.
"This is- Are you that dumb?!" Noah tried to defend himself.
The clone growled in dismay before launching himself toward Duncan with malice in his eyes. Duncan punched the alien clone, which caused it to explode green goop, which stained their clothing.
"Way to kil our winning ticket, idiot," Noah spoke, trying to clean himself.
"I'll kill you. I swear I'll kill you."
Noah rolled his eyes and looked over at Duncan. "Actually, since I am here, how about we talk about you."
"What about me?"
"Hm, well, since you think I'm such a homewrecker, I'm surprised Courtney didn't call you on your incredible hypocirsy."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Duncan hissed.
"Well, I heard a certain punk fell in love with a certain goth," Noah smirked. "And it seems only I know about it too."
"You-"
"Now, I won't spill. I'm not Tyler, Duncan, lest we forget. I suggest leaving me alone before you say something you truly regret."
Noah turned over and walked over to a new empty area. The glares of Duncan seemed non-existent to him, but the whispers and the talks still lingered. He was so distracted that he smacked his forehead towards Cody. The two stared before speaking at the same time.
"Oh Noah/Cody-"
"I'm glad it's you-"
"How are you-"
The lovebirds chuckled, blushing. It seemed almost nice to be with each other again, no matter what happened recently.
"Um, I'll go first," Cody chuckled, but his smile faltered into a frown. "The Kiss? The kiss was so…so great. As good as it was in the moment, it felt it's brough nothing but chaos. Sierra completely lost it, your team is itching to vote you off and I just..ugh, I can't help but feel it's my fault."
Noah listened, and he could feel his heart squeeze in pain as he walked closer to Cody.
"I know whatever you get from me, isn't worth all of this," Cody sulked. "I get if you've changed your m-"
Cody stifled a gasp as Noah kissed him again. It felt just as good as it was in the confessional, with passion and comfort, unlike the kisses he received in the past. And Cody loved it; he always loved it.
"W-was that just to shut me up?" Cody gulped.
"Not entirely," Noah answered."It was also to get you to listen."
"Huh."
"None of this is your fault," Noah spoke, holding Cody's hand. "Even if it was, it's not I'd be completely blameless. But blame doesn't matter. Sierra doesn't matter. My team doesn't matter. No one else matters, and no one else can change how I feel."
Cody gulped as Noah interlocked their fingers, and he could feel Noah shaking.
"I like you, Cody, and I want to keep talking to you, and holding your hand, and sneaking glances at you from across the room."
Cody stared at Noah, his eyes filling with tears.
"No matter what happens," Noah took a breath before continuing. "I want to be with you…if you let me, that is."
Cody pulled Noah close and shoved his face into his shoulder, hands interlocked.
"Yeah. Totally. Awesome." Cody whispered.
Noah rolled his eyes in affection. He always liked it when Cody was an awkward geek sometimes, and it was barely awkward with him.
But the rumble of the tank caused them to look up. They knew what they had to do.
"Now. If you'll escuse me," Noah chuckled, pulling away.
"Oh, I don't think so!" Cody laughed, pulling Noah away and running. "Just because you like me doesn't mean I'll make this easy!!"
Noah watched Cody run away, but he didn't run. He could run, but Cody was happy, so why ruin it?
"Hm. Challenge Accapted."
👽
"Aw! Little Buddy! I'm gonna miss you!" Owen sobbed, squeezing Noah.
"I know, Owen," Noah coughed. "I'm gonna miss ya to, Lunchbox."
"Ok, I know I should be flying down soon but I have soemthing to say to you," Owen spoke. "Noah, I just want you to win this game for me."
"Owen, that's a big ask," Noah sighed. "I can't guarrentee, but I'll try. Ok?"
Noah backs off and lets Owen jump down, hearing his screams. After a small while, he sat down at the back, trying to calm his nerves, but it was hard to think until strong hands touched his shoulders in a massaging matter.
"You better not," Noah growled.
"Why not, Mi Amor," Alejandro whispered. "You know you can do so much better, and if you back down, you can leave all this stress behind."
"I rather take the stress of the seaon than to the strss of being your boyfriend," Noah spoke back. "Now, I will ask this only once. If you do not stop, I can guarentee that you will never have kids in the future."
Alejandro huffed and pulled away.
"I was only trying to help."
"Help someone else," Noah hissed.
Noah went to the furthest corner and began to sleep, trying to let the rumble of the plane rock him to sleep.
Okay here's some noco art!! I'm gonna start my Christmas break tomorrow so I'm gonna try and like work more on my art in hopes like it gets even the tinest of better but noco!!! Oh and I thought the ref was like someone sleeping so I drew Noah snoozing sorry!!
