“What?”
“Get your shit together, swallow your pride, and apologize to the bitchy snake lady.”
“Ugghh,” Kyle gagged. “I’d rather drink bleach.”
* * *
He did end up apologizing, though the sincerity behind the words was severely lacking. And really, who could blame him? Lena’s verbal assaults were incredibly personal, as if his taking up space on the island left a sour taste in her mouth. Most of the time, her attacks took place away from Kyle, thank god, because he would not have appreciated her accusations of him of riding on his brother’s coattails to get this far in the game. I tried to keep my opinions to myself, but her constant nastiness was taking its toll on me. Kyle was my guy, whether he knew it or not. Every insult she leveled against him was a personal affront to me. The more Lena and I butted heads, the more I worried that my devotion to Kyle might eventually be my undoing.
* * *
Marsha wenthome in a blaze of glory, as well as middle fingers wagging. I wasn’t sorry to see her go, since her ouster only came after I uncovered her diabolical plan to break up the Dork Quad by voting out either Kyle or me. And since Kyle won the immunity challenge that day and was safe from elimination, that left me on the chopping block.
With Marsha’s exit, and Eugene’s directly before hers, that left four: Kyle, Carl, Lena, and me. It was a major feat to have lasted as long in the game as we had, and we celebrated around the fire upon our return. The mood was relaxed and fun, until Lena decided make it personal.
“So what’s the deal with you two?” she asked Kyle and me. We exchanged glances. As far as I knew, there was no deal. We’d remained incredibly close even after my dramatic, dick-shaming declaration of love. In fact, I dared say, Kyle might possibly be the best friend I’d ever had. Of course, I said that through gritted teeth, since friendship wasn’t really the objective. I had plenty of buddies, but this was the only one I wanted to fornicate with.
“That’s none of your business,” Kyle replied, glaring at her across the fire.
“I’m just asking. Don’t be a dick.”
“Then don’t be a bitch.”
Obscenities started flying. Carl and I sighed. After Lena criticized the way Kyle had scooped his rice from his coconut bowl a couple of days ago, it had become an all-out war between them. And once they got started, the four-letter gender bits dripped off their tongues like acid. Kyle and Lena were like two peas in a very dysfunctional pod.
“It’s not an S.A.T. question, dumbshit. Would you bang her or not?”
“Can you please leave me out of this?” I complained. Carl gave me a sympathetic shrug, but the other two were foaming at the mouth and not in the mood to take my feelings into consideration.
“Oh, wait, maybe you don’t swing that way.” Lena pursed her lips. “I could see that with you.”
“I do swing that way, and yeah, I’d bang her,” Kyle answered, without even looking my direction. In a pathetic kind of way, I was flattered.
“In her current condition, or after a shower?”
I raised my hand, chancing a quick sniff, as I said, “Um… hello? Right here.”
Kyle appeared flustered by Lena’s line of questioning. “I… I’d prefer she take a shower first,” and then turned to me and said, “No offense.”
“None taken,” I smiled happily. The important thing was, he’d bang me.
TV Confessional
“I’m no stinkier than anyone else out here.”
—Kenzie
27
Kyle: Night Terrors
I looked into my brother’s eyes, his fear reflecting my own. The man’s knee was digging in his back as he bound Jake. I shifted my position, catching Ray’s attention.
‘Didn’t I tell you to stay down? Do you want to die? Get back down! Hands over your head. Do it now!’ And then he was on me, pulling my arm back. I could hear the snap. Then blinding pain.
‘If I have to tell you again, he dies!’
To drive home his point, the man grabbed my hair, slamming my head into the ground. Jake screamed, drawing the attention away from me. Blood dripped into my eyes. I couldn’t move my arm. I blinked back my shock. What was happening? A minute ago we’d been jumping our skateboards down the steps, and now we were lying face down in the parking lot. Where had the guy come from? What did he want?
