Chapter 13
Fabiola was almost at the kitchen going to the girls tent when an announcement came on.
"Contestants, please make your way to the pool after the Secret Garden. A new challenge awaits. Unfortunately, Miss Raya will be exiting the show for medical reasons. We wish her well"
"Raya?" Fabiola repeated her name when she heard the news, realizing she wasn't just oversleeping this morning and that she really didn't see her at breakfast.
She started running to see if could see her for at least one last time but the helicopter was already up in the sky with the rest of the contestants staring at it.
"I hope she gets better, I never knew anything was wrong because she wasn't even in the room when we came back to talk with you earlier" Natalia told Fabiola.
"Well, what are we waiting for, let's get ready for the contest!" Garrick clapped his hands in excitement like they didn't just witness a sick Raya being carried.
The time was 1pm. The boys were all ready for the water, standing beside it and waiting for the girls and soon enough, they showed up in bikinis, looking all hot.
Jasmine was wearing a pink one, Fabiola and Zabrina were coincidentally wearing a red one, making Zabrina glare at her, while Natalia wore an orange.
"Contestants, a male and a female, will pick one ball each from the box in front of you in an alphabetical order. Your team will be decided by the colour"
"Wow, I'm so going to love this game" Garrick almost yelled and the rest of them looked at him like he had gone crazy. He was grinning nevertheless, not minding the stares he got.
It wasn't until they started analysing which name came first alphabetically did she truly understand his happiness. Him and Jasmine's were falling line in line and if they happen to just pick the same colour ball, they would have to play the game together.
Another great horror was with herself. She and Braxton's names actually came first alphabetically! It was mixed with anxiety and happiness. This was only going to work if they just picked the same color ball.
She looked at Braxton who had this unreadable expression. She watched his hand as he drew out a blue colored ball and she realized she had actually drawn out a blue ball too, her eyes widened in happiness, seeing it.
They took them and stood aside to let the next set take theirs. She was shaking with happiness but couldn't look at Braxton. He must be so angry being paired with her right now.
She watched Garrick and Jasmine pick theirs and Jasmine was fortunate not to pick the same color ball with him, so she stood away from Garrick.
Harry and Natalia also didn't pick the same. Neither did Mason and Zabrina.
Fabiola realized how lucky she was.
It was finally Sean's turn but he had nobody to pair with. Just as they stood conflicted, the intercom signaled again.
"Contestants, the only participant with nobody to draw a colour ball with, is up for anyone who doesn't like to go with their partner at the end of the game and for those who didn't choose the same color balls, they are to choose the next participant who has same color with them"
"Jasmine?" Harry quickly beckoned on her, waving his blue colored ball and he pointed at her's. She immediately walked to where he stood, with a smile and Garrick glared at them
Mason and Natalia linked up with their blue colored balls while Garrick watched how Zabrina walked begrudgingly to him and she said "Am I the only one who thinks this game sucks? It seems childish"
"The game hasn't even started but you can choose not to join you know" Mason said, crossing his arms and Zabrina looked at him in a glare.
"I believe I wasn't speaking to you"
"I believe I don't owe you my freedom of speech," Mason retorted.
"Mason…" Harry called, putting a hand on his shoulder and Fabiola felt a pang of guilt, was he okay?
"The game you are about to play is called Water Card. Each couple will race from the starting point to the opposite end of the pool, with the male carrying the female. You must reach the other side within the time limit and before the other couple, without falling into the pool. Once you arrive, select one of the scattered cards and read the dare"
Basically, a dare game, that has to be carried out irrespective of who gets to the end first.
Mr Connor was currently grinning because of his plan. Both Fabiola and Braxton had really chosen the same colour balls they placed first.
"All four couples, take your positions. The race will begin at the sound of the buzzer"
Fabiola swallowed seeing the rest of contestants already moving in, she looked at Braxton, but he seemed a little lost in thoughts. Should she tap him to come back to reality? Or he didn't want to do this with her?
"Braxton?" She heard Harry call out his name in the water, he was now carrying Jasmine and they were all looking at them.
Braxton snapped back from his reverie, glancing at Fabiola and walking towards the pool and she took it as a cue to follow him. After getting to the edge, he went in and turned his back to her, bending a little for her to hop in.
She swallowed and entered the pool, placing her hands around his neck and wrapping her legs around him.
The water was so cold, but she could feel her temperature running and she could swear Braxton could hear her heart beating rapidly against his back.
Her eyes surveyed his back, it was a rich shiny wall of art and his hair, she wanted to run a hand on his shiny black hair. She desperately missed it.
She could feel a stare on her, so she turned to see Jasmine grinning at her. What the hell was she thinking?
She tried not to breathe on his neck but it was impossible. Just this morning, she was in his face but now, she didn't know to do.
The buzzer finally sounded and the race began. She felt him holding her tighter than before and started taking strides towards the end. She saw Mason and Natalia fall in the water.
Suddenly, water splashed up into Fabiola's face catching her mid-breath. She coughed immediately, blinking as she struggled to steady her vision.
She heard them yelling and then she felt herself being dropped.
"Fabiola?! Fabiola, are you okay?" She heard Braxton's voice as she managed to blink her eyes open, breathing heavily.
The first thing she noticed was his green eyes staring at her in worry. It gave her a sense of familiarity. His hair now completely wet, was curly like she used to like it and his lips were dang inviting but... That's not what she should be thinking right now.
Her eyes darted to her right and she saw the rest worried participants. Only that, there was Zabrina glaring at her and Garrick trying to hide a smile.
"You're okay, Fabiola?" Jasmine questioned and she nodded. Braxton nodded too and faced Zabrina "Mind telling me why you did that?"
"What?" Zabrina asked, surprised.
"Don't play dumb with me, I saw you after what you did"
"Don't just base your claims because you saw me, what proof do you have? Besides, I wasn't the one moving beside you guys in the first place, it could be Jasmine" she dropped and Jasmine's eyes widened.
"I didn't do anything"
"What if something had happened to her?!" Braxton's voice thundered as he asked Zabrina.
"Contestants, please continue the round. Garrick and Zabrina will step out and, Sean will substitute for Mason"
Braxton was frustrated, they still wanted this game to go on? He watched as Zabrina had no choice but to leave the water, followed by Garrick and Mason.
"Can you continue?" He asked Fabiola and she almost laughed at the situation, he was actually the one doing something by carrying her.
"Yes"
The next thing he did was spread his hands wild and she looked at him in confusion.
"What…"
"The rule said to carry the other person, it didn't really specify how"
"Oh" she hadn't really been paying attention. She walked slowly towards him and suddenly didn't know where to put her hands.
"Should …I?" She raised her hands towards his shoulders and he nodded, saying "Anywhere"
She hugged him and felt him put her legs around him for stability. He turned with ease to continue as the buzzer started again simultaneously.
She caught Zabrina glaring at her from afar and she glared too. She was so going to deal with her when she got out of the pool. How dare she try to blind her eyes. This was far from over… she wasn't going to let it slide!