The Challenge: Fire & Fate

17

The morning after elimination always smells like relief and pancakes.

Well, technically, my pancakes.

"Vale's Kitchen is officially open!" Marcus announces like a talk-show host, clanging a spatula on a pan.

Kam claps. "Chef Sienna strikes again!"

Cory's already halfway through his plate. "You're lucky we don't vote on MVPs weekly."

"You'd still vote for yourself," I say, flipping another pancake.

"Exactly," he says, mouth full.

Leroy shakes his head. "Man, eat like you haven't been starved for 3 weeks, please."

Across the table, Jenna grins. "Don't fight the magic of carbs."

"Thank you," I say. "Finally, someone appreciates my art."

🎥 Confessional — Devin (Team Fire)
"Look, I know she's on another team, but Sienna feeding everyone every morning? That's how you win a social game. If this were Big Brother, she'd already have half the jury on her side."

Out by the pool, Team Fire's stretched across the loungers, half strategizing, half tanning.
Bananas and Tori are bickering about sunscreen. Devin's pretending to nap.
Xavier's playing cards with Maya and Ava, but his eyes keep flicking toward the kitchen window.

Tori notices. "You're not subtle, X."

He grins. "What?"

"You're looking at her like she's dessert."

Bananas doesn't even look up. "Plot twist — she's cooking dessert."

Tori snorts. "You guys are hopeless."

🎥 Confessional — Tori (Team Fire)
"Xavier's got that look. The 'I want to flirt but also win money' face. Problem is, in this house, those two things never end well."

Later that day, Kam and I sit under the shade tent doing what Kam calls "strategic people-watching."

Kam's got her sunglasses on, expression unreadable. "So, what's your read on Fire right now?"

I follow her gaze — Bananas laughing with Devin, Tori tossing a ball to Maya, Xavier gesturing animatedly at something.

"They're too confident," I say. "Confidence makes people sloppy."

Kam nods approvingly. "Good. What about Water?"

I find Jackson first, shirtless, of course, sparring with Laurel and Kyle while Kailah and Zach watch.

"Dangerous," I admit. "They're getting stronger again."

Kam smirks. "You mean he's getting stronger again."

I roll my eyes. "Don't start."

She leans in. "I'm just saying — he looks at you like you're the twist he didn't see coming."

Before I can respond, Devin passes by holding two plates of snacks.
"Anyone want strategy fuel?"

I grin. "Only if it's gossip-flavored."

🎥 Confessional — Kam (Team Earth)
"Devin and Sienna? Sibling energy all the way. He's loud, she's calm, and somehow they balance each other out. It's weirdly wholesome, and I never thought that I'd use Devin and wholesome in the same sentence."

Inside the gym, Team Air's chaos is... impressive.

Tyler's pacing. Zoe's stress-eating. Harper's muttering to herself.
CT and Darrell are just standing in silence, watching it all unfold.