AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Who’s it gonna be?” Noah shouted, moving even further away. He stared at the Banshees, who still hadn’t reacted. “Pick someone in the next fifteen seconds, or Iwillput it on your team’s plate.”
The Banshees huddled up quickly, as the cameras zoomed in. I could only imagine what they were saying. I’d have to wait several months, for the season to finally air, before I knew exactly what they were discussing right now.
“We’re giving it to the Dream Team!” the captain shouted.
Hayden went stiff, like he’d been struck by a bolt of lightning. The rest of just slumped our shoulders.
FUCK.
“Very well,” said Noah, pointing over his shoulder. “Head that way, and get on the train that’ll take you to the next layover.”
For a moment there was nothing but silence, then the Boston Banshees started shuffling away in unison. I could see Brooke staring daggers as they walked by, most specifically the girl named Sarah who she’d saved from first-round elimination. Sarah wouldn’t even meet Brooke’s gaze. She could only look at the ground.
See? This is why you never help another team!
I wanted to scream the words at her, to drive the lesson home again. But I knew they would only hurt, not help.
Especially a strong team like—
“Give it to me.”
I turned sideways, just in time to see Reese reaching out to Noah. Rather than go near the foul-smelling platter again, Noah gestured for Reese to come get it himself.
I watched as my friend strode confidently over. He reached the tin, stopped, then looked back at me.
Holy shit.
It was then I remembered all the stories, of all the things he’d eaten growing up in rural Missouri. Rocky mountain oysters. Cow-brain sandwiches.Roadkill. Not to mention the money he boasted about winning after devouring things his friends haddaredhim to eat, some of them straight out of a pond or lake.
All eyes were on Reese now, every single camera. He lifted the tin with one hand, spun on his heel, and smiled…
Oh my God!
Then he threw it back as casually as if were doing a shot of tequila, dumping the entire can of rotten fish straight into his open mouth.
I almost threw up for him. That’s how bad the smell was. A collective gasp of horror and fascination rose up from the entire cast and crew of the show, including every last contestant and Noah himself.
The chewing was the worst. Rather than focus on it, Brooke and I began popping the rest of the potato pieces in our mouths and swallowing them virtually whole. When we looked up again Reese was somehow, miraculously finished. He opened his mouth and stuck his tongue all the way out to show Noah there was absolutely nothing left.
“DAMN!” Noah exclaimed, still wincing as he checked our teammate’s now-empty mouth. “You’re one crazy, radical son of a—”
He stopped just short of cursing, then looked back at our plates. When he saw them empty, his eyes lit up with excitement.
“I guess we have our second-place finishers then, don’t we?” He jerked his chin amiably. “Go on. You can join the Banshees on the train, now.”
“Good,” Hayden grumbled as we moved gratefully away from the table. “We can finally sleep on the train.”
“Well not really,” smiled Noah. “The train ride’s only an hour.”
“Oh.”
“Wait till’ you see where youaresleeping though,” he smirked knowingly. “Now that’ll besomething.”
Hayden didn’t look the slightest bit amused. “It could be a bed of nails and I’d be fine with it,” he spat.
Noah delivered his trademark wink before ducking back to attend to the other teams.
“I’ll remember you said that.”
