The Challenge: Fire & Fate

11

The morning after a Challenge win always feels like summer break — everyone pretending the game's not still breathing down their necks.

The sun's out, coffee's brewing, and for a minute, life in the house almost feels normal.

Kam's in the kitchen in her robe, humming while flipping pancakes. Marcus and Cory are arguing over who was "team MVP" yesterday.

"Obviously me," Marcus says.

"You literally dropped a crate," Cory argues.

"It was part of my strategy!"

"To do what? Lose faster?"

Theresa sighs. "You two exhaust me."

Leroy leans over, calm as ever. "This is them bonding. It's loud, but it's progress."

Jasmine walks in mid-yawn, grabs a pancake, and announces, "I had a dream T.J. made us climb a volcano."

Kam deadpans. "Don't manifest it."

Everyone laughs.

🎥 Confessional — Sienna (Team Earth)
"This team feels like a sitcom family now. We argue, we roast each other, we win — mostly. Kam's the mom, Leroy's the dad, Marcus is the overachieving sibling, and I'm... the tired aunt who keeps everyone fed."

Across the house, Team Fire's celebrating again — because of course they are.

Devin's leading a mock victory speech from the living room.
"On behalf of Team Fire, I'd like to thank our strength, our teamwork, and the total lack of mud on our shoes!"

Tori raises her coffee cup. "Hear, hear!"

Bananas bows. "As your fearless leader—"

Devin cuts in. "Fearless? You literally hid behind a crate."

"I was supervising!"

Maya rolls her eyes. "We're all doomed."

Xavier catches my eye from the kitchen doorway, smirking. "You coming to the celebration meeting, Teach?"

I laugh. "If there's food, maybe."

"There's always food when I'm involved."

Kam whispers to me, "Girl, be careful. That's how flirtation starts."

I grin. "Too late."

🎥 Confessional — Kam (Team Earth)
"Sienna's always had that spark — quiet, magnetic energy that makes people like her instantly. Xavier's just lucky enough to notice it."

By afternoon, the backyard's buzzing.
Fire's grilling, Air's tanning, Water's pretending they're not stressed about elimination.

Nany and Kailah are playing cards with Zoe and Tyler, laughing every few seconds.
Cara Maria and Sarah are deep in conversation with Harper, trading strategy stories.
Marcus and Devin are having an arm-wrestling contest that's devolved into chaos.

Meanwhile, I'm sitting with Xavier and Cory, sipping something cold and watching Jordan and Laurel from Water argue for the third time in five minutes.

"Why do they always fight like divorced parents?" I ask.

Cory snorts. "Because they basically are."

Xavier smirks. "It's passion. Toxic passion, but passion."

Kam joins us, dropping onto the couch beside me. "If that's passion, I'm staying single."

"Preach," I say.