Round 3

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Today was Round 3. Peter and I had been distant since the poker game, I think it's me. I feel like I'm struggling to focus on why we're here. Today is the canoe race, considering that I don't swim this felt like the worst possible one yet. I won't say it out loud, but with my luck the next round would be snakes. I hate snakes.

We'd all done our pre-game commentary and were waiting on the vans to show up in front of the CC like they had twice before, but no. Ellen and the camera crew weren't there either. The whole lot of us was waiting outside the CC in the blazing heat, everyone wondering if we were late or if they were. All of us were outside, except Denver and Rachel. Had they taken a van already or were they sleeping in?

After a few minutes Ellen appeared from behind the Community Cabin. "What's taking you guys so long?" She asked pointing at her watch. Her face scrunched up in annoyance.

"What do you mean, we've been waiting on the vans!" Peter J said annoyed.

"No vans, the lake is a five minute walk." She said pointing behind her. "There was a memo about this last week."

We all groaned out. No one reads the memos they tape to our doors, half the time they fly away.

"Follow me, hurry up!" She commanded, with a hand on her hip, Ellen had on her usual camp outfit, capri shorts with a t-shirt.

We followed her into the woods, the large group all murmuring about various topics. Ellen was stomping along, she definitely seemed upset today. I heard the giggles of Samantha who was walking beside Chase. They'd been whispering and she kept playfully slapping his arm. My stomach didn't get tingles or knots, it ached along with my chest. Thank God Peter can't read my mind, or he'd hate me.

Ellen wasn't lying, five minutes from the CC was a ginormous body of water with a greenish-blue sheen to it. Trees scaled along the edges, and out in the distance I could see what looked like a lake house and a dock.

Six canoes were lined up, each had a different number and different color. It was then that I noticed the numbers didn't go up in order, each one was the number of our cabins. Was that our team number? I never thought much about it before, but would we be team five? I got an icky feeling thinking about the show airing, what was it going to look like? I've watched enough reality TV to know nobody ever looks good.

I shook it off, easier than most feelings I've been having. There isn't time for that right now, I'm this far in.

I was surprised to see Denver and Rachel already at the canoes, I guess they got the memo.

"Okay, I wrangled the sheep!" Ellen said to Diane who was checking the camera angles with Oscar. "Let's move this show on the road."

Todd was sitting in a folding chair, scrolling through his phone. Wait, a phone! I found myself so jealous of him. He was allowed to have a link to the outside world. One of the main things I've been craving was a quick peek at my social media, or a few minutes on FaceTime with my grandma Rose.

"Hey!" Samantha bounced our way. "This looks so fun!"

I took a quick look around, Chase was not in sight. I wondered where he was since they'd been inseparable lately.

"So fun." I mimic. Peter gives me a questioning look and I just smile at them both. I have to get myself together, I don't want to make this weird.

Samantha returned my weak smile, looking just as confused as I felt. I waved down Jacob, hurrying his way.

I don't know her to hate her, but I can't help but envy her. I've given up on the idea of pretending I don't have feelings for Chase; the only thing I can do is not act on them. Which I would never. I use to be impulsive, maybe even a little wild- but I haven't been like that in years. Not since Peter and I got together.

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