The campfire smoke still lingered in the air the next morning, mixing with the smell of burnt marshmallows and regret. My head throbbed from the Awake-a-thon, but the real pain was the decision I had to make. Tie. 5-5. Noah or Beth. I knew what I had to do, even if it sucked.
After the quick, silent breakfast, Chris sent us one by one to the confessional for our final thoughts and the tie-breaking vote. No one would know who voted what – that's how Chris kept the drama alive. We just scribbled a name on paper in the outhouse, dropped it in the box, and walked out.
**Confessional: Heather**
"Obviously Noah. He's too clever, always scheming. Beth stays loyal. Easy choice."
**Confessional: Lindsay**
"Like, Heather said Noah's bad for the team? So yeah, Noah."
**Confessional: Beth**
"I hate this... Noah's smart, but Heather thinks he's trouble. I voted Noah. Sorry, guy."
**Confessional: Leshawna**
"That Noah boy needs to go. Too much attitude. Voted him out."
**Confessional: Gwen**
"Noah's a friend, but Heather's alliance is toxic. I stuck with voting Noah to keep the balance... even if it hurts."
**Confessional: Justin**
"Beth's sweet, but harmless to me. Noah's a bigger brain threat. Voted Beth."
**Confessional: Noah**
"Self-preservation. Voted Beth. If I go down, at least I weaken Heather's grip."
**Confessional: Owen**
"Aw, man... Beth's nice! But the guys were talking strategy. Voted Beth. Sorry, little buddy!"
**Confessional: Cody**
"Noah's cool, but Beth's glued to Heather. Voted Beth to shake things up."
**Confessional: Trent**
"Justin made a good point – hit Heather where it hurts. Voted Beth."
**Confessional: Ezekiel**
I stared at the blank paper forever. "Beth... she's been nothing but kind. Helped with the beds, always smiling, even when things suck. I don't wanna do this to her, eh. She's good people. But if Noah stays, maybe we can fight Heather better. Sorry, Beth... really sorry." My hand shook as I wrote her name. Dropped it in the box. Felt like crap.
Evening came. Campfire pit. Chris with his evil grin and the marshmallow plate.
"Alright, Gophers! We had a tie last night – five each for Noah and Beth. But the tiebreaker vote has been cast..."
He handed them out slowly: Gwen, Trent, Heather, Lindsay, Owen, Cody, Leshawna, Justin, Noah...
Then: "Beth... I'm sorry. You're out."
Beth's eyes went wide, then teary. She stood up slowly. "Oh... wow. Okay. Thanks for everything, guys. It was fun while it lasted." She hugged Lindsay tight, who started crying too. Then she looked at me. "Ezekiel... you were always nice. Take care." That hit hard.
Heather crossed her arms, glaring at Noah. "Well played, bookworm. You must've sweet-talked the boys into saving yourself. This isn't over."
Noah just shrugged, smirking faintly. "Whatever you say, queen bee."
I let out a long, quiet breath. She blamed Noah. Not me. Not even a glance my way. Relief washed over me like cold lake water.
Beth walked the Dock of Shame, waving one last time. The group broke up, some muttering, some relieved.
Later that night, when the cabins were dark and quiet, I couldn't bring myself to go inside. The others had shuffled off to their bunks, snoring already or whispering about the vote, but I stayed by the fire pit. The flames had died down to glowing red embers, just a few sparks popping now and then like tiny fireworks in the dark. The lake lapped softly against the shore, and crickets chirped in the bushes – normal camp sounds that felt anything but normal tonight.
I sat on the same log where Gwen and I had watched the stars that one night, poking at the coals with a half-burnt stick. Every time the wood cracked, it felt like my conscience cracking too. Beth's face kept replaying in my head: the way her eyes widened when Chris called her name, how she tried to smile through the tears, that little wave as she disappeared down the dock. "Ezekiel... you were always nice." Why'd she have to say that? Why'd she have to look right at me like she knew I was part of it, even if she didn't know for sure?
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, staring into the dying glow. Back in the original timeline – the one I left behind when that weird meteor thing hit and sent me back – Beth had lasted longer. She was part of Heather's little empire, yeah, but she never got voted off this early. She was harmless, helpful, always trying to keep the peace. And I just... erased that. One scribbled name on a piece of paper, and poof. Gone. Because I thought it was "strategy." Because I wanted to weaken Heather without becoming her next target.
Was it worth it? Noah stayed. Smart guy, sarcastic, but maybe an ally now. He even thanked me – that still felt unreal. But Beth... she didn't deserve the boot. Not like this. I could feel the knot in my chest tightening, like someone had wrapped a rope around my ribs and pulled. My eyes stung a bit – not crying, eh, just the smoke, right? Yeah, definitely the smoke.
I thought about the time travel again. Why me? Why give a second chance to the guy who got kicked off first, the one everyone called creepy or weird? Was it to fix things, or just to make me suffer twice? In the old show, I was out early, humiliated, turned into a monster later. Now I'm here, changing votes, making friends maybe... but still hurting people. Beth's smile when she fixed the beds that first day, how she laughed at Owen's dumb jokes – all gone because of me.
The wind picked up off the lake, carrying that cool, piney smell that always reminded me of home on the prairies. I pulled my hoodie tighter. Part of me wanted to run down to the dock, yell after the boat that took Beth away, tell her sorry, tell her it wasn't personal. But that'd be stupid. The cameras are always watching, even at night. And what good would it do? She's gone. Next stop: Playa Des Losers, probably eating better food than we are.
I sighed, long and heavy. At least Heather thinks Noah pulled the strings. That's good. Means I'm still flying under the radar. Means I can keep pushing back against her without her knowing it's me. But man, it doesn't feel good. Feels like I'm becoming the kind of sneaky player I hated watching on TV.
The embers were almost out now, just a faint orange pulse. I tossed the stick into them, watched it catch for a second before turning black. Tomorrow's another challenge. Probably something brutal – Chris loves his torture. Paintball, or climbing, or whatever. I need sleep. Need to be sharp. But right now, all I could do was sit here in the dark, wondering if changing the future really means making it better... or just trading one kind of regret for another.
Footsteps crunched on the gravel path behind me. I tensed, but then Noah's voice cut through the quiet.
"Hey, prairie boy." He sat on the log opposite me, hands in pockets, no usual sarcasm on his face. "I know it was you who broke the tie. Don't know how I know – call it a hunch. Anyway... thanks. Seriously. Owe you big time." He gave a small nod, almost respectful, then stood. "Get some rest. Chris'll kill us tomorrow." He walked off toward the cabin without another word.
I blinked after him. Noah... thanking me? Weird. But kinda nice.
More footsteps. This time slower, confident. Justin emerged from the shadows, hair still perfect somehow.
"Mind if I join?" He sat without waiting, stretching his legs. "Rough one tonight. Beth didn't deserve it, but... game moves fast." He flashed that million-dollar smile. "You okay, Zeke? Looked like you were carrying the weight of the world back there."
"Yeah, eh. Just... thinking. Didn't feel good voting her off."
Justin nodded. "I get it. She's sweet. But you're playing smart so far – stepping up in challenges, not like those homeschool rumors we heard before the show started. Respect." He leaned forward a bit. "Look, if Heather comes gunning, we could use someone reliable on our side. No pressure, but... think about it. Us guys gotta watch each other's backs."
He clapped my shoulder lightly – friendly, not pushy. "Sleep on it. Night, man."
As he left, I stared into the fire. Noah owed me one. Justin reaching out. Maybe alliances were forming. Maybe I was actually changing things this time.
The flames died low. Tomorrow was another challenge. Another chance.