This Is Your Captain Crashing

Rain Running Down My Face

"So you actually got to meet some of Izzy's friends?" Owen asked Noah innocently. The bookworm, after the whole bout of espionage, ran off back towards the lounge, and was lucky enough to catch the loveable lug and Fitness Buff leaving as the latest episode wrapped up.

Noah nodded at his friends' looks of shock. "Three of them. Zomboss, Amy, and her husband Rory. They snuck into the resort to hack into the cameras so they could hopefully keep an eye on Iz."

"Seriously?" Eva asked as they headed into the front foyer to greet Courtney when she arrived (and Tyler too, although Lindsay would probably take over with that end). "And you just helped them just like that?"

"I needed to know what the heck was really going on. They stuck out in all the wrong ways, and yet I almost didn't give them a second thought. But then I remembered they were here because Izzy was spiralling, so I decided to chase them down and help."

"That's not like you usually, Noah", Owen pointed out. "You're not really a person to get involved in crazy stuff."

"You two and Iz rubbed off on me, what can I say?" The bookworm crossed his arms. "It's just... They've been with Izzy over a whole year. And since we know Iz and Merida have phones, that means they've been talking and texting between each other."

"But then how did Chris not ever catch them doing that?" Eva asked.

"If they hacked the cameras on the plane, they probably could disable any that showed them texting or calling or whatever. Or maybe the camera crew did them a solid because Chris just sucks that much as a boss."

"Yeah, I'd bet on the latter..." the trio fell into silence as they entered the front foyer, somewhat surprised to see Gwen there already. She looked up from her sketchbook and smiled at them, setting the book aside as they all sat beside her.

"Hey guys", the goth said happily. "So, Court's out, but at least Merida still has Cody and Sierra."

"True, yeah", the bookworm muttered. He leaned back in his chair, looking out through the door. "But it still sucks. I just have a really bad feeling that things aren't going to turn out well for her. But who knows, I've been wrong before."

"Like how you thought you wouldn't be eliminated after the dodgeball challenge", Eva joked.

Noah smirked and rolled his eyes as the two TDI finalists giggled. "Laugh it up, you three. I feel like I improved a lot."

"You sure did", Gwen teased. The group fell silent as the front door opened and a very bitter Courtney walked in. She looked like her hair was a bit wild, but otherwise she was fine. "Court!"

"Hey Gwen", The Ex-CIT sighed. She looked over Team E-Scope as they walked up and surrounded her. "So yeah, the producers suck. If they didn't let Chris get away with all this crazy self spending, then this wouldn't have happened. Or I at least would like to hope so."

"All of us are thinking the same thing, Court", Eva said gruffly. The Type A looked at her ex-Bass teammate in surprise, but then relaxed when the Fitness Buff nodded.

"So, how does this work?" Courtney asked. "Do I follow the staff to my room or..."

"We're all hunkering down here around Izzy's room", Gwen said. "Since all of us are roped up in everything that's happening, it's for the best."

At the Ex-CIT's confused expression, Eva explained. "The staff have been really bad towards us because of how we all are on Izzy's side during this whole ordeal. They've been trying to get inside her room, so we all moved next to her to scare them off."

The Type A looked over the group, looked down with pursed lips, then nodded. "Alright, so this is how my time on this show is now? Honestly, as long as it keeps me away from Duncan when he shows up, I'll be happy."