Blake tries to stop her, but Vendredi steps to the side and exits the rec room, slamming the door behind her.
Siddharth is the one sitting closest to Carter. He turns to him and shakes his head. “Dude. What’s your problem?”
CONFESSION TAPE—Carter Moxley, Contestant
Blake said the most entertaining performance wins a clue for tomorrow’s challenge. Was that or was that notentertaining?
I’m not going to apologize for playing the game, even if it hurts people’s feelings. Come on. Some of us have a million dollars to win.
The air is heavy. The cameras keep rolling, but none of us says anything. Carter ignores Siddharth entirely, continuing to pick at the threads on his pants. Eventually, Garrett hops off the pool table and joins us.
“I can’t take it anymore. That must be enough footage, right?” he asks. Blake sighs.
“Yeah, it was. Alright. You’re all free to go. Except you—” She points at Carter. “I want you in the confession booth now while everything is still fresh.”
Seyoon’s up first, on her feet and out of the room quickly. As others move to leave, I follow her, past the cafeteria and onto the porch. Night has fallen fully by now. There’s just enough light emanating from the cabins to make out Vendredi sitting by the empty bonfire pit. Seyoon jogs toward her. More hesitantly, I join.
Vendredi’s leaning over her knees with her head buried in her arms. She turns when she hears our shoes crunching in the grass and quickly wipes her face. She’s been crying.
“Oh. Hi,” she says.
I don’t know how to comfort somebody in need. I never have. What’s the right thing to say in a moment like this?
Seyoon crouches next to Vendredi. Curious, I watch, wondering if she’ll try validating her feelings or maybe start by telling her everything will be okay. Seyoon waits until Vendredi sits up enough to meet her gaze. Then she smiles and says just one thing.
“Want to pull a prank on Carter with me?”
A beat of quiet. Then, a laugh barks out of Vendredi. She sits up fully, and even in the dim light, I can make out the genuine smile carving a spot on her face for the first time tonight.
“Hell yeah, I do,” she says.
I huff in amusement, my eyes glued to Seyoon.
Yeah. Helping others really is like a reflex for her, huh?
21
I MAY NOT BE GOOD AT TITLING REVENGE PLANS, BUT MAN, AM I OKAY AT ENACTING THEM
SEYOON
Vendredi, Dean, and I form our plan by the bonfire pit, one I’ve named Operation Give That Little Shit Something to Complain About For Once. However, O.G.T.L.S.S.C.A.F.O. isn’t very catchy, so we’re just calling it the revenge prank for now.
We’re still scheming when Blake finds us. “There you are!” she says. She’s in a great mood—this was her best day of filming, after all.
Vendredi stands up, already sighing. “Look, I’m not going to apologize to—”
“Apologize? To Carter?” Blake laughs. “Save it, I’m here to thank you. That, and pull you out for an interview.” Blake nudges her toward the confession booth. “I always support my contestants airing out their grievances. But only on camera. Off you go. I’ll be there to join you in a minute.”
Vendredi, relieved, heads off. “See you tonight!” she calls out to us. I shoot her a thumbs-up.
Blake chuckles. “You two. Oh, you kids keep me young.” She stands over me and Dean, a huge smile across her face. “That back there? That was great. Forget the legacy trio alliance I wanted—ashowmance ismuchbetter.” She starts walking backward toward the confession booth. “In case I need to say it out loud, you won the clue for tomorrow’s challenge.”
“Seriously?” I ask.
“Yep. And if you keep this adorable romance up, there might be more incentives headed your way.”
Then she leaves, and it’s just me and Dean.
