“How are you, Hermosa?” Maria asks, leaning down to encircle Missy in a fervent hug. Missy responds with an equally welcoming embrace, as if they didn’t just see each other on the beach ten minutes ago.
Bill extends his hand toward me, forgoing the awkwardness of hugging a mere stranger, something Maria and Missy seem to have no issue with. I shake Bill’s hand with a firm grip just as Maria and Missy break apart.
“Are you ready for tonight’s Black Box Meeting?” Maria asks, her words colored with a Hispanic accent.
“I think so. I’m just grateful Colton and I didn’t come in last in America’s votes,” Missy says.
“Me too. I thought I’d be seeing my abuela early with the way my heart was pounding when they posted the results.” Maria points to the airplane wing displaying our rankings.
Missy laughs nervously, as if she is seeing the results for the first time again. “You and I both. Though I was surprised to see Team Violet come in last.”
All four of us flick our eyes over to Juliet and Carolyn, Team Violet, who, for the first time since arriving on the show, are not cracking jokes or even smiling. They look sick and stiff.
A little over an hour ago, when Niall had come to the beachside base camp to inform us that America’s votes had been posted, everyone fled to the screen on the big beach wing. To our amazement, Team Violet came in last, which means they have to participate in the Black Box Elimination tonight with Team Peach.
Despite the relief of not seeingTeam Tealat the very bottom of the wing’s screen, we were still one team away from having to be in the Black Box Elimination tonight. I can only imagine what Dad thought when he saw the results. Probably that he was right and that I can’t win without him or his guidance.
I try to block the barrage of overwhelming thoughts about my future and my career that demand access to my brain. Instead, I tell myself that the next Mayday Challenge will be different. And that when America votes again, it will be us at the top of the leaderboard. But my doubts linger.
“I thought it would be Heart-Pooper and The Tear-Jerk who’d rank last,” Maria says, leaning in toward us so that the two buff males from Team Ruby, who’ve decided to forgo their T-shirts since reaching the island, won’t hear. Though they likely wouldn’t have heard regardless, since both of them are currently flirting very loudly with Silver.
“No, youhopedit was Heartbreaker and Tearjerker,” Bill says.
Maria swats his chest. “Okay, I did. Ihopedthey’d be the ones to go.”
Missy and I both laugh.
“Contestants, please take your seats,” Shannon’s microphoned voice calls from somewhere behind the cameras.
“Honey, that’s our cue,” Bill says, motioning to their amber-colored chairs. Now that America has voted, our seats are placed by ranking, which means Bill and Maria’s chairs are on the opposite end of the half circle from us.
“We’d better sit down,” Maria says to her husband before turning back to Missy. “But tonight, we’ll dissect every little piece of the Black Box Meeting, yes?”
Bill widens his eyes with exaggeration, looking pained at the idea. It didn’t take long talking to Team Amber to realize that Maria is the real fan of the show and Bill is her faithful supporter along for the ride.
Missy squeals softly. “You know I would love nothing better.”
“Perfect, it’s a girls’ night. Sorry, boys.” Maria winks at her husband, the wrinkles around her eyes deepening.
Missy blows Maria a kiss. “See you soon.”
Women. How is it that they can go from zero to eternal friends in the span of two seconds? Bill rolls his eyes at me as if he just heard my inner thoughts. Then he pops up a foot behind him and blows me an exaggerated kiss, wiggling his fingers at me. “Goodbye, Colton. I will miss you for the three seconds we are parted.”
A smile breaks across his lips, and I decide to jump into his act. I reach out and snag the invisible kiss and hold it to my chest. “Miss you already, Billy.”
Maria laughs and backhands her husband’s chest once more. “Oh, you two. Missy and I share a soul connection you will never understand.”
Bill chuckles. “So do Colton and I.”
“In your seats,” Shannon calls, her voice more clipped this time.
“All right, all right. We better go,” Maria says.
Missy grins as she watches them walk across the semicircle. “You know, it’s been a long and slightly miserable day, but at least we have them here.”
“Yeah, let’s just hope we don’t end this competition with their machete in our backs.”
Missy shoots me an annoyed look. “They are not going to sabotage us.”
