Paper rings ~ Dodge Mason

Tom Fool.

"I tried calling you a million times." Natalie said.
"Yeah, what happened?" Paige asked.
"I know. I know, um...Lilly needed me. My mom and Bo were fighting" Heather said.
"Heather." Paige looked at her.
"Yeah, I know i'm out of the game. What happened last night?" Heather asked.
"The challenge was different this year. They put us in blindfolds and loaded us into a van and they took us to an old train bridge. One by one we had to find our way back." Natalie said.
"We could ask for help. ten steps in the right direction, but only if we answered their questions." Paige said.
"What we're the questions?" Heather asked.
"They wanted secrets. But not ours. They were playing us against each other." Paige sighed.

"Talk about Dodge." Diggins said.
"What about Dodge?" Paige chuckled.
"I see you two hanging out quite a lot. tell me secret of his." He said.
"Now that i think about it, Dodge never really told me any secrets. We really only have light conversations. I mean, i try to get him to open up because I've told him almost everything about me but he won't budge. All i know is that he's great at riding horses, teaching horses too and the stuff that happened with his sister." Paige said.
"What happened with his sister?" Diggins asked.
"He told me she fell off a horse and became paralyzed." She said.
"Ok, What kinda stuff does he know about you?" Diggins asked.
"Really what everyone knows about me. All that's different is he's hearing it from me and not from Ray Hall, or Natalie." Paige said.

"Somehow Dodge got through. I was so scared i could hardly stand up straight." Natalie said.
"But, you guys made it right?" Heather asked.
"Yeah." Paige said.
"I'm the only one who knows about Dayna." Natalie said.
"Not the only one. I know." Paige said.
"You do?" Natalie asked.
"yeah, he told me in the first challenge." Paige said.
"If Dodge finds out..." Natalie looked down.
"He won't find out. He won't, you know?" Heather said.
"Yeah, What happens at a challenge stays at a challenge. Remember?" Paige said.
Natalie nodded.
"What is it?" Heather asked, reading Natalie's face.
"You didn't tell the judges something else, did you?" Heather asked.
"mm...I-i didn't. i didn't." Natalie said.
Paige could tell that she was lying.
"Ray was the first one back." Natalie tried changing the subject.
Heather sighed.
"How do you think he did that?" Heather flossed her eyes.
"If he answered all 5 questions." Paige said.
"Oh, my god. Oh my god! what if he said something?" Heather looked up at the ceiling.
"Bishop cant find out i hooked up with Ray! They wouldn't care about me, though, right?" Heather said.
"Like-like the Judges wouldn't ask about me if i'm out of the game, right?" Heather asked.
"I don't know." Paige said.
"I have to go talk to Ray." Heather sighed.
"It's ok. It's just not fair. You should be in the final four not Shawna." Natalie said.
"Wait what? Paige, you didn't make it?" Heather asked.
"No, I tripped on the plank and fell but i grabbed the plank before falling in the water. Luckily, I had enough body strength to get me back up but i gave up." Paige sighed.
"I'm so sorry." Heather hugged Paige.
"Apart of me is happy i didn't make it. I don't wanna end up like my dad." Paige sighed.
Heather moved a piece of hair out of Paige's face.
"I know." Heather said.
"I'm gonna go." Paige got up and left.
"Heather, maybe you can ask the judges for an exception.You still have your immunity." Natalie said.
"Yeah, but you have to use it before the challenge starts." Heather said.
"Just talk to Diggins!" Natalie said.
"We've come this far as a team. I already lost Paige i can't do this alone!" Natalie said.
"Your not alone, you have Dodge." Heather said.
"Dodge isn't enough to hold me together. We can do this. We can win this together, For Paige and Paige's dad." Natalie said.

"Grandma!" Paige shouted as she closed the door.
"Paige!" She said, walking in.
"Hi!" Paige hugged her.
"Take a seat, Heather should be here soon!" She said.
"So, What are we talking about?" Anna asked as the two girls were in the living room.
"Well, i was wondering if maybe I could get some more hours in the fall? Just do like housework or laundry or something." Heather asked.
"you want to be my housekeeper?" Anna asked.
"S-sure." Heather said.
"What about school?" She asked.
"Grandma, Heather is a great multitasker." Paige said.
"Yeah! well, i worked like 20 hours a week in high school and i babysat on the weekends, So i think i'd be ok." Heather said.
"Huh, ok. well, i could- i could bring you up to 30 hours starting next month. that work?" Anna said.
"yeah, yeah. thank you." Heather said.
"Okay, well, now that your staying on...I think it's about time that, uh, you met Tom." Anna said, getting up and grabbing a key.
"Grandma." Paige warned as Heather looked at Paige and back at Anna, worried.

"What am i looking for again?" Heather asked.
"Your looking for-" Paige was about to say but Anna grabbed her arm.
"You'll know when you see him." Anna said, walking into a tiny room as Paige followed her in.
Heather soon walked in too.
"They're usually crepuscular." She said.
"Late risers." Paige whispered to Heather.
"Hmm." Heather said.
"It's around sunset that he starts getting frisky." She said, opening the agent door and throwing treats out then closing and locking it.
"This should be interesting." Heather said.
"oh it is." Paige smirked.
Anna whistled before walking back into the little room and back out the other way with Paige and Heather in front of her.
"I still don't see anything." Heather said.
"Trust me, you won't miss him." Anna laughing softly before whistling again.
"Here he comes." Paige said.
"Oh, my god." Heather said.
"Tom!" Anna said.
"The tiger?" Heather questioned.
"Me. Tom Fool." Paige nodded.
"Anne, that's a tiger." Heather looked at her like she was insane.
"Yes. Beautiful, isn't he?" Anne watched him.
"He was only 20 pounds when i took him in. You could see his ribs. Some creep had a whole zoo full of exotics he kept locked in cages." Anne explained.
"But, isn't he like really dangerous?" Heather asked.
"Yeah! extremely. I raised him from a cub, so he knows me, knows Paige he likes me, likes Paige. But he's still a tiger." Anne said.
"I removed watching him walk around when i was little. I would tell him about my mom and how i felt about Crew's birth." Paige said.
"I swear i won't say anything." Heather shook her head.
Anne and Paige looked at Heather odd.
"Isn't that why you didn't want me coming up here? You don't want to get in trouble."
"Oh no, I have all my permits." Anne said.
"No, it was you i was worried could get in trouble." Anne said, talking out the key.
"What do you mean?" Heather asked.
"Well, look just because i have him in the yard, doesn't make him a pet. These gates have to stay closed at all times. understand that?" Anne said.
"Yes, Ok."
"Ok."
"Oh, there he goes! Well, i'll leave you two to it. All be in the house, Grandma." Paige smiled.
"Ok, cya in the house." Anne said as Paige walked away.

"Paige!" She heard.
"Yeah, Grandma?" Paige asked, walking up to her.
"Why are you here? i haven't seen you in awhile." Anne said.
"Well, I missed you. I've been getting in all sorts of fights with Mom and i always wanna spend time with you i just haven't had time." Paige sighed.
"I'm sorry. Your always welcome." Anne hugged her.
"You should come over tomorrow." Anne said.
"Why?" Paige asked.
"Well i have this boy named Andy coming to help with the horses. meant him a few years ago and you still havent meant him." She said.
"Grandma, i said i would take care of the horses once i turned 18. In 18 so i'll take care of it." Paige said.
"Well you've never really done it before. Training a horse is hard. Andy is a good horse trainer, he can teach you some things." Anne said.
"I've lived here almost my whole life i think i can train Marley." Paige chuckled.
"Paige-"
"Marley's my horse and i'll train it." Paige said.
"Who said anything about Marley?"
"Well who is he coming to train?" Paige crossed her arms across her chest.
"Max."
"The new horse?" Paige asked.
"Yup." Anne nodded.
"hmmmm. As long as he keeps his hands off of Marley i'm fine." Paige said.
"Ok. Why would you think it was Marley anyway? Marley was trained years ago. Me and You trained her." Anne said.
"Ok. I have to get Grey from camp. I'll be back tomorrow." She said, kissing her grandma's cheek and leaving.
"Bye Paige!" Anne called.