“Sooo, when were you planning on telling your partner about this big plan of yours?” Brodie asked me, his expression deliberately casual.
I gave him my most innocent look. “Right now?”
“Uh huh.”
“I’m serious. I was going to tell you, but I needed to get everyone together before the rest of the house got up and found out what we were doing.”
“Oh, I believe you.” He raised an eyebrow in my direction. “I’m just curious what information you’ve been passing Jendan to make sure he’s safe.”
I went back to the bed and sat on the edge. “I said something during the first vote about not being last in the reward challenge, remember.”
“And that’s all?”
“Maybe.” To be honest, there were so many secrets flying back and forth, I was starting to lose track of what had been told to whom.
“Just as long as we’re sneaky together, and not sneaky against each other.”
“All scheming is done with you. I promise.” I gave him a mock salute and then winked. “At least…all the scheming you know about.”
“Oh yeah?” Brodie grabbed me by the waist and began to tickle me.
I squealed with laughter.
CHAPTER SIX
“Is it weird that the sneakier Kandis is, the more it turns me on? I figure I’m going to be a mess by the time we get to the finale.” – Brodie Short, Day 18
Seated on the couch next to me, Brodie planted a hand on my knee and leaned over to murmur in my ear. “You’re practically vibrating. Stop it.”
I pried his hand up off my knee, finger by finger. Secretly, I kind of liked his hand there, but the others were watching. “I can’t help it. I’m nervous. You know I get nervous at these things.”
“Yeah, but you’re telegraphing. Calm down.”
I exhaled noisily and straightened my loose, ruffled shirt. For the vote that week, I’d chosen to wear a pair of black skinny jeans, a black tank top, and a filmy white poet’s shirt that was two sizes too large and belted high at the waist. With my long, dark hair, I thought it was a good look. Kind of low-key but still feminine. I couldn’t do a skin-tight dress every week like Sunnie—for one, I didn’t have enough dresses. And two, I’d probably fidget so hard or cross my legs so often that I’d end up flashing my panties to the viewing audience. Jeans were just a safer bet.
I crossed my legs again and gave Brodie a mutinous look and then straightened one of my ruffled sleeves. “I’m allowed to be anxious.”
“Just play it cool,” he said, grinning in my direction as if I’d said something clever. How he always managed to look like he was having a good time was beyond me. I was practically prancing in my seat with the jitters.
When we got back from the commercial break, we’d hear the week’s nominations. Jayme and Fido sat at the front of the group, their faces completely impassive. They wouldn’t look at me and Brodie or at Casper and Sunnie.
Marla had assured me that she’d told them about Casper’s treachery and said that she’d shared the tape recorder. She’d said they’d been furious at Casper’s play-making and inability to keep his mouth shut. They hadn’t said anything to me, though, and despite Jendan and Marla’s assurances, I didn’t know how the vote would go tonight.
I could very well be going home despite all the scrambling. They could still nominate Brodie and me despite the behind-the-scenes work I’d been doing this week, and if that happened, I was out the door.
I’d get a little cash for coming in eighth, but not enough. I couldn’t go home yet.
I toyed with one of the ruffles on my shirt absently and then froze when the TV’s logo screen disappeared and Becky Bradley’s big hair and big teeth filled the screen. “Hello, House Guests! Are you ready for the nominations?”
We all clapped.
“Jayme, Fido,” Becky said in her smooth voice. “Please stand and nominate a team for eviction.”
Jayme bounced to her feet and straightened her sun dress and then looked at her partner. Fido stood at her side with his arms crossed, a wary look on his face. He nodded at his partner, and Jayme clasped her hands and turned to us. “This week’s decision was a difficult one.”
Oh god. They were going to put me up. I just knew it.
“Whenever you put someone up for eviction, you have to weigh a lot of things. Not only who you’re getting rid of, but who you’re keeping. And some people are just too dangerous to keep around for long, or you’re going to be writing them a check for the money.”
I felt sick to my stomach.
She gave the group of contestants a wary smile. “So that’s why we’re putting Sunnie and Casper up for eviction. Nothing personal, guys. Just strategy.” With that, Jayme and Fido sat down.
Stunned and trying to hide my delight, I looked over at Sunnie and Casper. They were shocked. No, beyond shocked. Sunnie looked ready to cry, and Casper just looked furious. He shot an angry glance over at me, but I looked away. It was either that or giggle aloud with sheer relief.
I was safe for another week.
Brodie’s hand touched my knee again in warning, and I squeezed his hand back, acknowledging it. Be cool. I could be cool. Totally.
“The nominees may now give their speeches to plead with their house mates for their vote,” Becky said.
Sunnie stood, and blubbered something about being everyone’s friend and how she wanted to stay. I wasn’t paying much attention. I was too focused on not giving away anything. Be still. No fidgeting. Certainly no smiling. The inside of my cheek was going to be swollen given how hard I was biting it.
When Sunnie was done with her speech, Casper stood and looked right at me. “I’ll save my words, except to say that everyone in this house will get what’s coming to them.”
He thumped back into his seat.
“We’ll start the voting. Kandis, you will vote first.”
Oh thank goodness. I bolted up out of my seat and headed to the confessional. I kept my head down as I headed to the booth and managed to keep my cool until I shut the confessional door behind me.
Then, I squealed aloud and did a happy dance.
Safe another week!
Safe!
One step closer to the million!
“Kandis, please be seated,” Becky said over the intercom, but I could hear a hint of laughter in her voice.
I stopped my crazy dancing and smoothed my hair. “Sorry.” I slid into the big easy chair in front of the cameras.
“Please cast your vote.”
“Totally voting for Casper, Becky,” I said with a wide grin. “And if he asks who nailed him, you can tell him it was all me. Nothing personal, just doing it for Mom.”
She chuckled. “Thank you for your vote, Kandis. Please go sit down with the rest of the group now.”
With one last delighted shimmy, I straightened my clothing and headed back out to the others.
Five long, tense minutes later, the votes were in and Casper was marched out of the house. He didn’t hug anyone or offer encouraging words to the rest of us. In true sore loser fashion, he simply grabbed his bag and headed out the door.
As soon as he was out, the intercom clicked on. “Contestants, you have ten minutes to get ready for the next Power Play.”
We surged into action, changing clothes and pulling up hair. As I headed into the bathroom, Marla gave me a grin and put up her hand.
I high-fived her.
~~ * ~~
“Tonight’s Power Play is the Wheel of Misfortunes,” Jayme called out, reading from one of the cue-cards left for us. “Since Fido and I had Power this week, we will not be competing. That means that there will be five of you competing, and as of right now…” she paused dramatically and then glanced up at all of us. “You are now officially playing as singles.”
We cheered, excited. I cheered maybe a little less enthusiastically than the others. Why did I have a weird feeling about this? Why did I twinge with unhappiness at the thought of Brodie no longer being my partner? Brodie was untrustworthy. He was a player and a liar.
So why did I feel like I was going to miss him? Weird.
Jayme gestured at the large game wheel in the center of the challenge area and continued to read. “On my word, Fido will spin the wheel.”
I eyed the wheel itself. It was an enormous wooden circle, painted like something out of Wheel of Fortune, with ‘pie’ pieces of varying colors. Each colored slice of the board had a question-mark on it, no doubt a card covering what laid underneath. On the far end of the challenge area, neat colored boxes were lined up on tables. Across from the wheel was a scoreboard with our names on it, and we stood lined up in the middle. Next to me, Sunnie kept wiping her red-rimmed eyes and sniffing loudly, still upset about the vote.
I gave her an encouraging pat on the arm, feeling bad for her. I’d talk with her later, let her know she was never the target. Maybe that would help her hurt feelings.
“Fido will spin the wheel,” Jayme said, still reading, “and a dare will be revealed. You will each have five minutes to perform your dare. Fail to perform the dare and you are out of the challenge. Complete the dare, and you receive a point. The first person to three points wins the Power for the week. If we have a tie, we’ll have a faceoff between those contestants. Is everyone ready?”
“Ready!” we chorused.
“Then spin the wheel of misfortunes, Fido,” Jayme called triumphantly, waving her card with a flourish. She moved to the scoreboard, ready to mark points.
Fido grinned and gave the wheel a jerk, sending it flying around. We watched in anticipation as the wheel clattered around and eventually came to a stop on a slice of yellow. Fido reached up and removed the question mark card, revealing the words underneath. “Milkshake of Madness,” he read aloud.
Jayme reached for her card and then pointed at a yellow box nearby. “The milkshake of madness is a yummy and delicious treat that contains twenty unique ingredients.” She sauntered over to the yellow table and revealed five tall soda glasses, all frosted from the ingredients within. She picked up the card on the table and began to read. “Every ten seconds, I will name off another unique ingredient and finding out what’s in the milkshake just might turn your stomach. Your entire glass must be chugged within the five minute allotment. Fail to do so and you will be removed from the challenge.”
I cast a worried look at Brodie, who stood on my opposite side. “If there are bugs, I’m going to be really sick.”
“Just don’t think about it,” he told me. He did a little jog in place and leaned his head from side to side, as if readying for a round in the boxing ring instead of simply drinking something. “You can do this, Kandis.”
At the far end of the line, Jendan took his glass from Jayme and immediately put a hand up, flinching. “Oh my god. It smells like beef jerky.” He shook his head. “I’m out.”
“Oh, you and your sensitive stomach,” Marla protested…until she was handed her glass. Then she looked a little ill herself. “That smells really bad.” She held the shake at arm’s length.