Deal Breakers

Day 23

At breakfast the next morning I was irritable, mostly because I wanted to go into the woods and find out what that cord leads to. I never slept, I tossed and turned all night thinking about how there might be cameras watching me sleep. Yikes. The idea that someone was in a room watching me and Peter sleep was enough to give me grey hair, I'm surprised I didn't wake up with a silver strand this morning.

Samantha walked up next to me in the buffet line, but she wasn't her usual bright and cheery self. She looked burdened today, her hair wasn't perfectly combed and her eyes weren't bright. "Hi," I said with a small wave. 

She let out a yawn, nodding her head and returning the wave. "Hey," she replied after letting out another yawn.

"No sleep?"

She shrugged, rolling her eyes. "Not the best."

I tried to give her a sympathetic look, but I think it might have come off sarcastic. Samantha returned my crazy eyes with a weak smile and that was my sign to grab food and exit.

I filled my plate with more eggs than a pregnant Bella Swan and found my quiet corner. Drenched my scrambled eggs in hot sauce and shoved a fork-full into my mouth.

I have seven days till the next round and I plan to relax every moment until then. Peter was at the gym on the grounds near the Arena, he was planning to work out every day until the next game, three times a day. I don't think even the best physical shape can guarantee a win for us, but as long as I don't have to work out it's fine.

"Hey," Chase spotted me as he walked in, he passed Samantha right by without even a wave or smile. I wondered if something happened between them to create some tension. Without asking Chase took the empty armchair across from me and relaxed, throwing his arms behind his head like he was in a hammock on vacation. His muscles flexed in his grey t-shirt in that position and I had to look down at my plate not to stare.

I waved, fork in hand. "Good morning."

He looked around like he was watching out for spies. "I have some insider information."

I leaned forward, excited. Was it about the secret cameras in the cabins? "Tell me."

He smirked, "it's going to cost you some of those eggs."

I scowled. "No, keep your info." I wrapped one around my plate protectively.

He chuckled, leaning closer. "Come on, just a bite?"

I swallowed my eggs before talking again. "Go get some, you man baby." I pulled my plate closer to my chest. "I'm not sharing."

He huffed. "Rude."

Chased dashed to the buffet, grabbed a dish, and helped himself to a mound of eggs. He smothered his with hot sauce and shredded cheddar cheese. With a satisfied grin, he returned to his seat facing mine.

"Stingy," he said sticking his tongue out.

I shrugged. So what if I didn't feel like sharing today? If Peter walked in and saw me hand-feeding Chase my eggs I don't think even he could ignore that. "Now go on, man baby."

"Someone told me next week's challenge involves swimming." He said in a whisper. "Since you don't know how to swim, I figured this might be valuable information."

I groaned out loud. This was important news. I don't know how to swim, and life jacket will likely slow us down. "Crap, I was hoping it was about the cord."

"Oh," he said leaning close again. "I've been thinking about that too."

Chase moved from the armchair and joined me on the loveseat, leaning in close, only a few inches from my ear. "If you're right, they'll want to keep that a secret because it's Illegal. So we'll need to go after curfew."