The *Total Drama Aftermath* studio was buzzing with a different kind of energy tonight. Usually, the show was fueled by gossip, arguments, and replaying the most humiliating moments of the competition. But tonight, the mood was softer. The lights were dimmed to a warm gold, and there were actual flowers on the desk—real ones, not plastic props.
Ezekiel sat behind the main desk, adjusting his microphone. He looked relaxed, wearing a casual flannel shirt instead of his usual host vest. Beside him, Gwen was sorting through a stack of cue cards, but she kept glancing at him, a small smile playing on her lips. On their left, Noah slouched in his chair, a book open but ignored, while Mr. Coconut sat in his usual spot, wearing a tiny lei around his husk.
"Welcome back to the Aftermath," Ezekiel said, his voice warm. "Tonight's episode is… a little different, eh. We're taking a break from the drama. No replays of Chef getting hit in the face with a pie. No analyzing who stole whose shampoo."
"Thank god," Noah muttered, though he leaned forward slightly. "I was getting tired of pretending to care about Justin's skincare routine."
"Tonight," Gwen continued, her voice smooth, "we're checking in on the losers. They're living it up at the Playa Des Losers Resort. And… we have some special live feeds."
Ezekiel nodded. "People think getting eliminated is the end. But sometimes… it's just the beginning of something else. Something real."
He pressed a button on the console. The large screen behind them flickered to life. The image stabilized, showing a lush, tropical paradise. Palm trees swayed in the breeze. The water was a crystal-clear turquoise. A sign read: *PLAYA DES LOSERS – NO WORK, ALL PLAY.*
"Let's go live to the Resort," Ezekiel said.
***
The camera feed switched to a handheld view, shaky but clear. It was being held by one of the resort interns. The view panned across the pool area, where Owen was currently attempting to float on a raft made of empty pizza boxes. It panned past Trent, who was teaching Beth how to play guitar.
But the camera stopped at the beach entrance.
A lone figure sat on a wooden dock, legs dangling over the water. It was Katie. She was wearing a simple swimsuit, but her shoulders were hunched. She wasn't looking at the beautiful ocean. She was looking at her phone, scrolling through old photos.
Sadie's face lit up the screen. Photos of them matching outfits. Photos of them hugging. Photos of them crying together when they were separated on teams.
Katie sniffled, wiping a tear from her cheek. "I miss you, Sadie," she whispered to the phone. "It's not the same without you. The team… Courtney is nice now, but it's not… us."
The camera zoomed in slightly. Katie looked small. The competition had been hard on her. Being separated from her twin, even for a season, felt like losing a limb.
Then, a shadow fell over her.
Katie looked up, expecting an intern or maybe Owen coming to offer her a pizza. Instead, she saw Eva.
Eva stood there, towering over everyone else even when sitting. She was wearing a tank top and shorts, her muscles relaxed for once. She wasn't scowling. She wasn't yelling. She was holding two cans of soda.
"Hey," Eva said. Her voice was rough, but gentle.
Katie blinked, surprised. "Eva? I… I didn't know you were out here."
"I've been here since TDI," Eva said, sitting down next to Katie. The dock creaked under her weight. She handed Katie a can. "Orange soda. Your favorite."
Katie took it, her hands trembling slightly. "Thanks. I just… I got voted out tonight. Sadie is still in the game. I'm here alone."
"You're not alone," Eva said firmly.
She set her own soda down and turned to face Katie. The camera lingered on them. In the studio, Gwen leaned forward, her eyes softening. Noah actually closed his book.
"Eva's… not yelling," Noah whispered, sounding genuinely shocked. "Is this a hidden camera prank? Did she replace Eva with a clone?"
"Shh," Ezekiel hissed, nudging him. "Watch."
On the screen, Eva reached out. Her hand, usually clenched into a fist for punching or lifting heavy objects, hovered for a moment before gently resting on Katie's shoulder.
"I know what it's like," Eva said, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "To be separated from someone you care about. To feel like you're too much… or not enough."
Katie looked at her, tears welling in her eyes again. "You do?"
Eva nodded. "When I got eliminated… I thought I lost everything. My strength. My purpose. But then… I realized I had time. Time to figure out what matters." She turned her head, looking directly into Katie's eyes. "And you matter, Katie. Not as Sadie's twin. Not as a competitor. As you."
Katie's breath hitched. She set the soda down and leaned into Eva's touch. It was a tentative movement, testing the waters. Eva didn't pull away. Instead, she shifted closer, wrapping an arm around Katie's shoulders.
It wasn't a aggressive hug. It was protective. Warm. Eva pulled Katie into her side, letting the smaller girl rest her head against her chest. Katie closed her eyes, letting out a long, shaky breath.
"Sadie will be okay," Eva murmured into Katie's hair. "She's tough. Like you. And when she gets here… we'll all be waiting. But until then… I've got you."
Katie looked up, her eyes shining. "You do?"
"Yeah," Eva said, a rare, small smile touching her lips. "I'm not going anywhere."
Katie smiled back, a genuine, relieved smile. She wrapped her arms around Eva's waist, hugging her tightly. Eva held her back, resting her chin on top of Katie's head.
The camera lingered on them for a long moment. The sound of the waves crashed softly in the background. It was intimate. Real.
***
Back in the studio, there was silence.
Noah was the first to speak. "Well. I stand corrected. That wasn't disgusting. That was… acceptable."
Gwen smiled, shaking her head. "It was beautiful, Noah. Admit it."
"Fine," Noah sighed. "It was cute. Happy? Eva has a soft spot. Who knew?"
Ezekiel chuckled. "Everyone who pays attention, eh. Eva's always been protective. Now she has someone to protect."
Mr. Coconut nodded solemnly from his chair. He raised a tiny stick with a marshmallow on it, as if making a toast to the screen.
"It reminds me," Gwen said softly, looking at Ezekiel. "Of why we do this. It's not just about the million dollars. It's about the connections."
Ezekiel met her gaze. The air between them shifted, just like it had on the dock. "Yeah. Connections."
"Let's cut to another feed," Ezekiel said, clearing his throat slightly, though he didn't look away from Gwen. "Before Noah starts crying."
"I do not cry," Noah said defensively. "I have allergies. To emotion."
***
The screen flickered again. The location changed. This wasn't the quiet dock. This was the open ocean.
The camera was mounted on a jet ski, following two surfers riding a perfect wave. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of purple and orange.
One surfer was tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a wetsuit with a bear patch on the shoulder. The other was slender, blonde, moving with graceful ease on her board.
"DJ! Catch me!" Bridgette yelled, laughing as she carved through the water.
DJ paddled hard, his face split into a wide grin. "I'm trying! This wave is huge!"
They rode the wave all the way to the shore, jumping off their boards as the water shallowed. They stumbled onto the sand, soaking wet and breathless.
Bridgette collapsed onto the sand, laughing. "That was amazing! Best day ever!"
DJ fell down beside her, grabbing her hand. "Yeah. Way better than getting chased by a mechanical shark."
"Or eating Chef's boot," Bridgette added, making a face.
They lay there for a moment, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The camera zoomed in. DJ turned his head to look at Bridgette. His expression was soft, full of adoration.
"You know," DJ said. "When I got eliminated… I was sad. I thought I missed my chance. But… being here with you? It's pretty good."
Bridgette squeezed his hand. "We're lucky, DJ. A lot of people come here and leave alone. But we… we found something."
"Yeah," DJ agreed. He sat up slightly, brushing a wet strand of hair out of Bridgette's face. "I promise… no matter what happens in the game… when you get out… I'll be here. Or I'll find you."
Bridgette smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "I know. You're too nice to break a promise."
She leaned up and kissed him. It was quick, sweet, and tasted like saltwater. DJ kissed her back, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to keep her close.
They stayed like that as the sky turned dark, the sound of the ocean wrapping around them like a blanket.
***
Back in the studio, the feed cut out. The lights came up slightly.
"Wow," Gwen said, her voice quiet. "DJ and Bridgette… they're really happy."
"Good for them," Ezekiel said. "DJ deserves it. He's… he's a good guy. Sometimes the good guys win. Even if it's not the money."
Noah stretched his arms. "So, let me get this straight. Tonight's episode is just… everyone being in love? Where's the betrayal? Where's the backstabbing? I need conflict for my column."
"There's enough conflict in the game," Ezekiel said seriously. "Out here… maybe people just need a break. Eh, Gwen?"
Gwen nodded. "Yeah. A break."
She looked down at her hands. Under the desk, her fingers brushed against Ezekiel's. He didn't pull away. He turned his hand over, interlacing their fingers. It was subtle. The cameras wouldn't catch it unless they were zoomed in specifically on the desk. But Noah saw. Mr. Coconut saw.
Noah raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He just turned a page in his book. Mr. Coconut gave a thumbs up.
"Alright," Ezekiel said, standing up. "That's our show for tonight. Remember… whether you're in the game or out… keep your hearts open."
"And don't eat the yellow snow," Gwen added with a smirk.
"Thanks for watching," Ezekiel said. "See you next time."
The "On Air" sign flickered off. The crew began to move around, packing up cables. The audience filed out, chatting about the wholesome episode.
Ezekiel and Gwen stayed seated for a moment, still holding hands under the desk.
"You did good," Gwen said softly. "Hosting. You're natural at it."
"We did good," Ezekiel corrected. "Couldn't do it without you."
Gwen smiled, standing up. She pulled him up with her. "Come on. Let's get out of here. Noah's going to start critiquing our posture if we stay another minute."
"Hey!" Noah called from behind them. "Your posture *is* terrible! Zeke, you're slouching!"
Ezekiel laughed, opening the studio door for Gwen. "Ignore him, eh."
They walked down the hallway together. The lights were dimmer here, the shadows longer. It felt private.
"About what Eva said," Gwen started, her voice hesitant. "To Katie. About… not being alone."
Ezekiel stopped walking. He turned to face her. "Yeah?"
"I know the game is temporary," Gwen said, looking at her feet. "The show ends. The cameras stop. People go home."
"Yeah," Ezekiel agreed. He stepped closer. "But some things don't end."
Gwen looked up. "Like what?"
"Like us," Ezekiel said simply. "I told you. I came back to fix things. To make sure… I didn't lose you again."
Gwen's eyes widened slightly. She knew about the time travel. She knew about the future he remembered. It was a heavy secret to carry. But hearing him say it… it made the weight feel lighter.
"You won't," Gwen said firmly. She reached up, placing her hands on his chest. "I'm not going anywhere, Zeke. Not unless you're coming with me."
"Deal," Ezekiel said.
He leaned down and kissed her. It wasn't for the cameras. There was no audience. No Chris McLean watching from the shadows. Just the hum of the ventilation system and the distant sound of the city.
When they pulled apart, Gwen was smiling. "Okay. Now we can go get food. I'm starving."
"Poutine?" Ezekiel suggested.
"Always," Gwen said.
They walked out of the studio doors into the cool night air. Above them, the stars were bright, hidden slightly by the city glow but still there. Constant.
Inside the studio, Noah watched them leave through the monitor. He shook his head, a small smirk on his face.
"Damn," he muttered.
Mr. Coconut nodded.
"Exactly," Noah said. He closed his book. "But… maybe not too disgusting."
He stood up, stretching. "Come on, Coconut. Let's get some sleep. Tomorrow's another day of drama."
Mr. Coconut wheeled himself after Noah. As the lights went out in the studio, the image of the Losers' Resort remained on the main screen for a moment longer. The empty dock where Eva and Katie had sat. The surfboards lying on the sand where DJ and Bridgette had kissed.
Silent witnesses to the love that survived the game.