Blue - Dodge Mason

SIX

'What happens at a challenge stays at a challenge'

"Jacky I've been stuck at work- why did you call me so many times?" Nat asked me confused over the phone while I let out a sigh of relief that I finally got hold of her, "Are you home? I need to talk to you." "I mean I'm about to be-" "Great I'm on my way." I ended the call before she could oppose and headed to her house. The sun had just begun to set and I'd been trying to reach Nat since I dropped Heather off, wanting to explain to her why I'm playing Panic before the first round tonight.

After knocking a few times Nat swung the door open with a confused look on her face. "Hi." I step inside, "Can- can we go to your room?" "Sure." She looks at me still with evident confusion. Natalie sits on the edge of the bed as I shut the door and stand next to it, "I need to talk to you." "Go for it." Nat says and I rub my hands together, not sure where to start, "So you know how I told my parents I got all these scholarships for BU and I figured if I worked extra shifts without them knowing I'd be able to pay for college by summer?" "Yeah, and you've been working your ass off Jac, but what does this have to do with me?" She tilts her head and I explain, "I'm off, like by a lot, and I don't have any way to pay for Boston now." "And you can't talk to your parents about it?" "I can't, if they had the money they'd send me to college in a heartbeat, but we barely have enough to pay rent as it its." I sigh and Nat asks, "So what are you going to do?" "I'm going to try to win Panic."

"Are you fucking with me?" Nat stands up, "Is there something wrong with you?" "Nat I'm sorry." I look at her, "I know Panic's your thing and I'm sorry if I'm in your way-" "You're actually serious about this?" She huffs and I blink, "You're my best friend and I feel awful about this I really do, but I need a shot to get out of Carp, and just to get out of Texas." "I actually think there's something wrong with you, I'd never expect you to do this." Natalie gives me a disappointed look. Before I could even try to appease the situation, an explosion in the distance caused Nat and I to look out the window to where fireworks were being shot off in the distance.

"It's starting." I looked at her, "Nat I-" "Doesn't matter, we better get moving. Opening ceremony's at Pilot's Point." She moved to grab a swimsuit and tucked it into a bag. I cautiously asked, "Do you know if Heather's coming?" "She said she'd have a heart attack from just watching. Probably the first person ever to be afraid to even watch Panic." Natalie swung the bag over her shoulder, "It's like she doesn't even want me to win. God, does she even know that you're playing?" "I told her this morning." I admitted and Nat rolled her eyes, "I'm guessing that's why you're telling me; Heather's moral compass convinced you to not completely blindside your best friend." "I'm sorry." I say again and I offer, "Do you need a ride?" "Not with you." She says harshly as we both exit her bedroom and then her house.

The site slowly came into view as I tried to shift my negative mood from the previous argument with my best friend. Pilot's Point was filled with everyone bustling and overexcited, whether they were watching or competing, and I took a moment to let my eyes glaze over the cliff. Nat didn't want anything to do with me when we got there, so I parked and walked over to Summer. After handing her my phone I sort of just stood by the lake, taking in all of my classmates within their various friendgroups. Bishop and Nat were standing together, he was shooting me a confused look, obviously filled in from Nat that I was playing.

"Welcome to Panic." Diggins shouted through a megaphone, diverting my attention as cheers echoed through the valley, "My name is Diggins and this summer I will be your host with the most. This year the winner of Panic is gonna take home the grand prize of $50,000." My eyebrows shoot up, shit that's at least 20 grand more than last years, this has to be the biggest pot in Panic history. "You all know the rules." He continues over the cheering, "What happens at a challenge stays at a challenge; so I don't want to see any posting, tweeting, or gramming about it, no exceptions. Anyone found in violation risks losing game privileges. The first challenge is the Jump." Diggins holds his hand up to the cliffside visibly behind him. I looked at it with wide eyes as everyone had an excited reaction, ready for the challenges to begin. When I look over, Nat's eyes are already on me, her expression unreadable as she looks away. "Remember kids, you want to go out and down into the swimming hole. You miss it, and it's gonna be the rocks that break your fall." Diggins enforces, "Take a leap from the Lookout and grab yourself 100 points, courtesy of this year's friendly judges, whoever they may be. Let the games begin!"

I nod slowly as everyone began stripping down into various suits or just less clothing to prepare for their descents. Of course I didn't realize the challenge was at Pilot's Point until Nat told me, so I forgot my bikini. It's fine though, I proceeded to tug my top off leaving me in my bra and jean shorts. Following in line to receive my number, I was about to reach summer when a certain shirtless Dodge Mason almost bumped into me. "Sorry, go ahead." He smiled and I went up to Summer. She grinned, "Didn't know you were playing Bennet, you're number 11." Summer winks, "Take a flare, good luck."

Before I could start heading up the cliff, I noticed Nat coming up behind me in her bright orange suit. "I accept your apology." She starts, "I talked to Bishop about it some and it made me realize I'm glad you came to me first, and hey, we're both just competing who knows if either of us will actually win." "Really?" I grin and I quickly embrace her in a hug. Nat chuckles lightly, hugging me back, "I just still can't believe your playing, I'm actually kind of worried Jacky... About you, I mean aren't you-" "Absolutely terrified of heights." I grimaced, "Yeah, I am. But hey, first challenge, and it's not like the judges know it or anything so hopefully there's nothing else too high up once I get past this." "Hopefully, yeah." Nat nods, "Good luck J."

As I'm climbing the cliff I hear cheers and of course, the first one who's up there just had to Ray Hall. "Contestant number one, announce yourself." "You know my name, Diggins!" Ray shouts, "Your mom screams it every night!" "Fuck yeah, that's my boy." I hear Tyler Young shout and I have to hide my disgust as I listen to the same bullshit I've heard from the immature boys of Carp my whole life. "Ray Hall for the win!" He yells and does a flip off of the clip, and I can't lie, it was really badass to watch. Wait no, that was Ray Hall, that wasn't badass at all shut up Jacky. Diggins announced that Ray was in and the contestants continued.

As I climbed closer to closer it began to dawn on me that I was actually fucking playing Panic, but to play I'd have to face probably my biggest fear. I really fucking don't like heights.