Eye Contact by Heron Djenne Canvasback

Chapter Twelve: Checks and Balances

(Week eleven Team Corsair, courtyard)

"We need to get our acts together," Genesis bites his nails.

"I haven't caused any trouble," Fallon snaps her fingers.

"You lost your temper in front of customers," Legacy scratches himself.

"They had it coming," Fallon responds.

"That still horrible customer service," Legacy says.

"What about when you sprayed a customer, huh?" Fallon points out.

"It was a sample, she stunk, and she bought it," Legacy answers.

"I know that I'm the bad apple," Selene crosses her fingers.

"We've all messed up," Genesis says.

"No you, golden boy," Fallon sulks.

"I've taken one too many breaks," Genesis reminds.

"That's nothing," Selene defends.

"In the real world, my paycheck and hours would be cut," Genesis condemns himself.

"Don't beat yourself up. You're our leader, not us," Fallon replies.

(Team Ark, courtyard)

"We can't fool around anymore," Ado says.

"Why not?" Marty asks. "That's what we do."

"Not anymore. If we want to win, we've got to," Ado says.

"What exactly do you want us to do?" Mariachi asks.

"I haven't misbehaved," Sophia scribbles.

"It's about everyone," Ado says.

"You're one to talk," Marty messes with his glasses.

"Yeah, I've been a dumbass, but I wised up. You do that same," Ado says.

"What have I done wrong, huh?" Marty asks. "I sell more clothes that all of you combined."

"That's a rotten attitude," Mariachi says.

"I'm not the one who's rotten here," Marty clears his throat.

"Keep on talking and you'll be seeing through one eye," Ado threatens.

"That won't help!" Sophia shouts.

"He's not helping," Ado says.

"You're the team captain. You're supposed to be the bigger person," Marty smirks.

"Shut up! We're better than this," Mariachi responds.

"One of us isn't," Ado says.

"We can't win unless all of us pitch in," Sophia says.

"Teamwork isn't important to one us," Marty says.

"Apparently that one is you," Mariachi says.

"I'm out," Marty goes inside.

"We can't do this without him," Sophia says.

"You talk to him then," Ado says.

(Team Coup, courtyard)

"We should straighten up," Cade says.

"This is the last stretch," Chanel stretches and flexes.

"What's the order, boss," Pixie wiggles her ears.

"We've been doing what's right," Octavius turns around.

"No, we haven't. That's why we got to start," Cade says.