"I'm sorry, guys. I really thought I had it under control," Amy apologized for what seemed like the upteenth time. She slumped along the wall of the hot tub. The heat and bubbles massaged her aching muscles but did nothing to relieve her loss.
"We don't blame you, Arod. It's only the first challenge," Tobin reassured, stepping into the tub. Lauren stood outside the tub behind Amy.
"Tobin's right. We still have two more challenges to complete. We can win this. We are the first New Kids. The OGs as the kids call it," Lauren paused in her speech. "Wow, I am getting old. Anyways, I know we can beat these youngins, because we have been together from the start. We also have years of experience under our belts. Remember: WE are the veterans."
Clapping rang through the room as Lauren finished her pep talk, but it didn't originate from her fellow New Kids. More people had been filing in for recovery in the ice bath or hot tub. It didn't take long to find the source of the clapping. Julie lie in the ice bath a couple feet away from the hot tub.
"Who are we clapping for," Alex asked from her seat next to Julie in the little pool.
"Lauren. You were always really good at giving pep talks, but you missed one thing. Like you said, you guys are getting older meaning you're easier to crack," Julie reasoned, "Eventually you won't be able to keep up with us 'youngsters'."
Lauren narrowed her eyes, but surprised everyone by saying, "You're right."
"What?"
"Cheney?"
"Really?"
Lauren shrugged. "We may be older and 'easy to crack,' but being young makes you easier to sway, especially in this age of technology."
Julie realized what Lauren was hinting at. "I'll have you know that I am doing just fine without my phone. In fact, it's refreshing to be away from a screen all day."
"Oh, but you probably miss the little things like, let's say social media," Amy suggested. She grabbed her phone and opened her Instagram. "You know, I bet you haven't seen this new video. The most recent post from baby.animal.vids?"
Julie tensed. She was a sucker for baby animals. She could spend hours watching one after the other.
"Aw, the precious baby pandas!"
"Looks like you're in no position to be taunting us. It's three to one," Lauren pointed out. True enough, Julie was alone. None of her NEW New Kids were in the room.
Alex nodded slowly. "Mm, I gotta agree. You're not in the best position, Jules." She shared a look with Lauren. Lauren smiled. They had an unofficial member on their side.
"You guys aren't pressuring Julie into giving in, are you," Crystal asked rhetorically. Morgan stood on Crystal's side.
"Yeah, you aren't ganging up on JJ, right?" She eyed Alex who avoided eye contact.
Julie released the breath she had been holding. She was no longer alone, and they came just in time.
"I wasn't close to giving in," Julie insisted.
"Sure didn't look like it," Tobin taunted.
"It's going to take a lot more than that to break Jules. She's tough as nails," Crystal claims stepping into the hot tub.
"True. And to prove that we aren't bitter from the first challenge, we saved a couple seats for you guys," Amy offered. Crystal and Morgan shared a look.
"Yeah, nice try but I think I'll pass on the seat," Morgan said. She walked into the middle where Tobin was standing. "Even though a seat sounds really good right now," she murmured to herself. Overhearing her, Tobin nodded. "I do too. I'm not sure how we're supposed to continue after practice."
