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Chapter 13 - Chapter 11: Watching from Home 03

The sight of the thousand-foot drop made several of the Louds and Casagrandes clap their hands over their mouths, shock and horror rippling through the room all at once.

 

More than a few silently agreed with DJ's reaction as the camera lingered on the dizzying height.

 

"HOLY SH—"

 

Lynn Jr. barely got the words out before Luna lunged forward and clapped a hand firmly over her mouth, cutting the sentence off mid-blurt.

 

Lynn's eyes widened in protest as Luna shot her a warning look, while a few of the others snickered nervously, still staring at the screen.

 

Where we last left our contestants, they were standing at the edge of a towering one-thousand-foot cliff, peering down with wide, anxious eyes. Below them shimmered the surface of a vast, seemingly peaceful lake, but nestled in its depths were the ominous shadows of danger—and the targets they were meant to hit.

 

"Okay, today's challenge is three-fold. Your first task is to jump off this one-thousand-foot high cliff, into the lake."

 

"ARE YOU LOCO???!!!"

 

"Don't worry, Ronnie. This is a piece of cake."

The surfer girl immediately regretted her casual reassurance as Chris continued with his signature, twisted grin.

 

"If you look down, you'll see two target areas. The wider part represents the section of the lake that we've—hahaha—stocked with psychotic, man-eating sharks. Inside that area is a smaller safe zone. That's your actual target. Which we're pretty sure is shark-free."

 

WHAT KIND OF SICK TWISTED MADMAN IS THIS CHRIS GUY?!?!"

 

Lynn Sr. shouted the words at the television, his voice cracking with pure panic as the image of Lincoln and the others standing over shark-infested waters filled the screen. He shot to his feet, hands clenched into fists, dread written across his face.

 

Around him, the room fell tense—parents stiffening, kids going quiet—as the reality of what the show was putting their loved ones through finally sank in.

The campers leaned over the edge, their eyes scanning the water below. Two concentric circles were visible on the lake's surface. The larger outer ring teemed with movement—dark fins slicing the water as sharks swam in hungry anticipation. The sight drew a collective gulp from the group.

 

"Ex-cuse me?"

 

Leshawna's voice rang out in disbelief, but Chris, unfazed, ignored the completely valid concern.

 

"For each member of your team who jumps—and actually survives—there will be a crate of supplies waiting down below. Inside each crate are materials you'll need for the second part of the challenge: building a hot tub. The team with the best one gets to have a wicked hot tub party tonight. The losers will be sending someone home."

 

The air around them grew heavier with tension. For many of the contestants, it was still their first day on the island—and already the stakes were sky-high, quite literally.

 

"Killer Bass, you're up first."

 

"So, who's going?" someone muttered.

 

Eva stepped forward, her usual stoic glare aimed ahead while the rest of the Killer Bass tried to blend in with the background, hoping to be invisible.

 

"Ladies first," Duncan said with a smirk, flashing a smug glance at Courtney. She narrowed her eyes, clearly unamused by the delinquent's taunt.

 

No one was eager to be the first jumper, but then, from the group, a slim, pale teen with white hair stepped forward. His orange swim trunks contrasted with his black tank top, and though his face was composed, the hesitation in his stride was impossible to miss.

 

"NONONONONO!!!!!"

 

"NO, LINKY!!!"

 

The scream tore through the living room as one, raw and panicked, the entire Loud and Casagrande families erupting in pure terror for the boy on the screen.

 

Leni reacted instantly, scooping Lily up into a tight hug and pressing the little girl's face into her shoulder so she wouldn't have to watch. Lily clutched onto her, trembling, her small hands fisting the fabric of Leni's jacket.

 

Around them, everyone was on their feet—hands over mouths, hearts in throats—eyes glued helplessly to the television as they watched, powerless to do anything but scream.

LINCOLN – CONFESSIONAL

Lincoln sat in front of the camera, his hands covering his face.

"I was so scared, but I need to prove myself to my team."

He lowered his hands, looking directly at the lens.

"Without Ronnie Anne, I don't really have any friends on my side right now, so… i gotta prove myself."

 

"This is officially the dumbest thing I've ever done in my life."

 

Back at the cliff, Lincoln cautiously stepped closer to the edge, preparing to jump—until Ronnie Anne rushed forward and grabbed his arm, halting him mid-step.

 

"WHOA! Link, are you sure you even wanna jump at all?"

 

"Hey!" Heather shouted, annoyed. "He's on the wrong team, so ponytail, get your butt back over here now!"

 

Ronnie Anne whipped around, locking eyes with the queen bee. The two girls glared at each other, tension crackling in the air—until Owen, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood.

 

"Don't worry, guys. Shows like this use interns to make sure the stunts are survivable… right?"

 

He looked to Chris for confirmation. The host gave a shrug, grinning like a kid caught with matches.

 

"Welllll~ Chef made it… soooo that counts, right?"

 

"I'm going to die at a very young age,"

 

Lynn Sr. went pale in an instant—then promptly fainted, crumpling backward as the shock finally caught up with him.

 

"LYNN!"

 

Rita barely noticed at first. Her hands were clasped so tightly together her knuckles had gone white, her eyes locked on the screen as she whispered frantic prayers under her breath, calling out to anyone, anything, that might be listening.

 

"Please… please let him be okay… please…"

 

Lincoln muttered, deadpan. His dark humor didn't ease Ronnie Anne's nerves; in fact, it seemed to make her even more anxious.

 

"Don't worry, you two."

 

Bridgette stepped up beside them, placing a calming hand on Ronnie Anne's shoulder. The surfer girl met Lincoln's eyes with a confident nod.

 

"You got this, Link. Once you're in the safe zone, I'm right behind you."

 

Her words seemed to anchor him. Lincoln took a deep breath, then nodded.

 

"Yeah, you're right, Bridgette. I'm gonna be fine," he said to Ronnie Anne, trying to reassure her one last time.

 

He backed up several steps, took a running start, and launched himself into the air.

 

"CANNNNOOONNNNBALLLLLLLL!!!!!"

 

His shout echoed down the cliff as the remaining Killer Bass and Ronnie Anne peered over the edge, holding their breath.

Lincoln hit the water with a tremendous splash. For a moment, there was only silence—then he surfaced, thrashing and glancing around to check his landing spot.

 

"WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!! I MADE IT!!!!"

He had landed perfectly in the safe zone.

Chef, waiting in the "boat of losers," waved from nearby.

 

The Louds all released a collective breath they hadn't realized they were holding, shoulders sagging as the tension drained from their bodies all at once. Muscles unclenched. Hearts slowed. A few of them even laughed shakily, the kind that came from being this close to panic.

 

"Oh, thank god…" Rita murmured, pressing a hand to her chest.

 

But the Casagrandes didn't relax—not fully.

 

They were relieved, absolutely. Seeing Lincoln safe took a massive weight off their chests. Still, their eyes stayed glued to the screen, expressions tight and uneasy.

 

Because Ronnie Anne was still out there.

 

Still jumping. Still competing. Still trapped on that insane island with maniacs, wild animals, and a host who clearly viewed safety regulations as a suggestion.

 

Rosa folded her hands together again, jaw set.

"Lincoln is safe," she said softly. "But mi niña…"

 

Carlos crossed his arms, eyes narrowed. "That challenge isn't over."

 

Frida nodded, worry etched into her face. "And knowing Ronnie Anne, she won't back down."

 

The relief in the room lingered—but it was fragile now, balanced on the edge of whatever madness came next.

The rest of the Bass team broke into cheers, except for Ronnie Anne, who clutched her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.

 

Bridgette gave her a quick pat.

"Told you he'd be fine. Welp—I'm next."

Without hesitation, she dove off the cliff in a graceful arc, slicing through the air with arms outstretched. She landed cleanly in the safe zone, surfacing with a loud whoop as Chef pulled up beside her and Lincoln.

"THAT WAS CRAZY!!" she shouted, still buzzing with adrenaline.

 

Lincoln reached out and helped her into the boat, both grinning from ear to ear.

Back on the ledge, Tyler was practically vibrating with excitement.

 

"She did it! Yeah! Yeah! I'm next!"

The hyper athlete sprinted forward and leapt.

 

"Cowabunga! Hoo-hoo!"

Tyler was loving every second—right up until he collided painfully with one of the floating buoys in the water.

 

Most of the Loud girls snickered at the sight of Tyler slamming straight into the buoy, the impact bouncing him back like a ragdoll.

 

Leni winced immediately, hands flying to her mouth. Lana squeezed her eyes shut, and Lily let out a small, sympathetic gasp.

 

"That had to hurt…" Lily muttered.

 

Across the room, Bobby leaned forward, concern etched across his face, while Carlota and Carlitos exchanged uneasy looks. CJ grimaced, instinctively rubbing his own shoulder as if he could feel the impact secondhand. Even the adults reacted—Rita, Lynn Sr., Maria, and Frida all flinched in unison, that shared parental instinct kicking in hard.

 

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum—

 

Carlino burst out laughing.

Lynn Jr. nearly doubled over, clutching her stomach.

And Luan? Luan was wheezing.

 

"Oh man—did you see that?" Lynn Jr. managed between laughs.

 

"That buoy came outta nowhere!" Luan cackled.

 

The room was split clean down the middle between secondhand pain… and secondhand comedy.

"Ohh…" he groaned weakly, the air knocked out of him.

"Ooh…" Lincoln winced.

"Oh man, that hurt to watch," Bridgette added as they watched him slowly slide off the buoy into the lake.

 

The two helped Tyler into the boat, just as more contestants took the leap.

"Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!"

"Look out below!"

"…"

Geoff, Eva, and Duncan jumped in quick succession—Duncan folding his arms like he couldn't care less about the height. All three landed without incident.

But not everyone was handling the challenge well.

 

"Uh uh, no way, man. I'm not jumpin'."

DJ stood trembling, his knees wobbling as he backed away from the edge. The cliff's height stirred up long-buried trauma from his childhood.

 

"Scared of heights?"

 

"Yeah… ever since I was a kid."

 

Chris nodded slowly, feigning sympathy.

"That's okay, big guy. Unfortunately, that also makes you a chicken. So, you'll have to wear this for the rest of the day."

He plopped a yellow chicken hat onto DJ's head with theatrical flair.

 

"Aw man, for real?"

 

"Bawk-bawk-bawk! That means the chicken's path down is that-a-way. Next?"

Shoulders slumped in defeat, DJ walked to the nearby escalator, head hung low.

Ezekiel, without a word, stepped forward—and jumped.

 

"Yee-haw!"

 

Ezekiel launched himself into the air, hollering with glee—right up until his shoulder clipped the mountainside, sending him into a chaotic, spinning freefall like a rogue pinwheel before he finally crashed into the lake below.

 

Lincoln, Bridgette, Geoff, Eva, and Duncan all erupted in cheers for the homeschooled boy's wild (if clumsy) descent.

 

The next Bass to step up was Harold.

"Yes!"

The ginger nerd pumped his fists, clearly psyched to make the jump. He was aiming for something epic, maybe even legendary. As he dove, his long limbs flailed with enthusiasm—until disaster struck.

Harold hit the water awkwardly, his legs splayed wide—and landed crotch-first.

"Wah!"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

The men of the Loud and Casagrande families all reacted at the exact same time—flinching hard and instinctively clutching themselves in a shared wave of male phantom pain as Harold landed squarely on his kiwis after the thousand-foot drop.

 

A collective groan rippled through the room.

 

"Ooooh—nope, nope, nope," Bobby muttered, shoulders hunched.

 

Carlino bent forward, hands on his knees. "I felt that in my soul."

 

Hector sucked in a sharp breath, eyes watering. "That poor boy…"

 

Lynn Jr., meanwhile, just smirked, utterly unbothered.

 

"Boys."

 

Before she could savor the moment, Luna turned and backhanded her in the chest.

 

"Hey—!"

 

Lynn Jr. immediately grabbed her breast, she would have been stumbling back a step if she wasn't on the couch .

 

"OW! What was that for?!"

 

Luna raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Empathy lesson."

 

Lynn Jr. scowled, rubbing her chest. "…Worth it."

His shriek echoed through the valley, a sound so shrill it sent flocks of birds fleeing from the treetops. Even the sharks lurking below seemed to wince in shared, sympathetic agony.

 

"Ow!" Harold moaned as he slowly sank beneath the surface, cradling his pride—and other things.

 

On the beach, the remaining Bass winced.

 

"That was brutal."

 

"Seriously."

 

Lincoln and Geoff exchanged a look of pained sympathy as the moment seared itself into collective memory.

 

Even Chris, ever the sadistic showman, blinked at the screen, uncharacteristically disturbed.

 

"Ohhh… hate to see that happen," he muttered with a smirk that couldn't quite mask his secondhand cringe.

 

He was quickly distracted as Courtney approached him with purpose.

 

"Excuse me, Chris. I have a medical condition."

 

Chris raised an eyebrow, trying to recall if she'd mentioned that during casting.

 

"What condition?"

 

"A condition that prevents me from jumping off cliffs."

 

Chris rolled his eyes so hard they practically circled his skull.

 

"You can chicken out if you want, but it might end up costing your team the win... and then they'll hate you."

 

"It's a calculated risk. I've seen the other team—I don't think nine of them will jump."

Chris grinned, grabbing the infamous yellow chicken hat.

 

"All right, here's your chicken hat."

 

Courtney scowled as the fuzzy humiliation was placed on her head and walked toward the escalator without another word.

Chris checked his clipboard and scanned the area.

 

"I really don't like that Courtney girl," Lori said flatly, arms crossed as she watched the screen. "She seems way too full of herself. Total my-way-is-the-right-way energy."

 

The moment the words left her mouth, several pairs of eyes slowly shifted toward her.

 

Leni tilted her head.

Luna raised an eyebrow.

Lynn Jr. smirked.

Lola and Lana exchanged a look.

 

The silence stretched.

 

Lori blinked. "…What?"

 

Lynn Jr. snorted. "Nothing. Just—wow. Pot. Kettle. Olympic-level projection."

 

Luna crossed her arms, deadpan. "You literally used to run family meetings with a clipboard."

 

"That was different," Lori shot back instantly. "I was organized."

 

Leni smiled sweetly. "So is Courtney."

 

Lori opened her mouth to argue—then paused.

 

"…Okay, maybe I hear it now."

 

The room broke into laughter as Lori huffed and sank back into the couch, muttering under her breath while Bobby gently squeezed her hand, very wisely staying out of it.

"So let's tally up the results… hold on. That's nine jumpers and two chickens. We're missing one."

 

His gaze shifted to the cliffside, where the final Bass camper stood—arms wrapped tightly around her Gopher friend.

 

"I'm not jumping without Katie!"

"We have to be on the same team, Chris! Please!"

"Please! Can we? Can we, can we, Chris? Can we, can we, can we?!"

 

The girls' combined whining was grating enough to make a shark plug its ears. Before Chris could lose what little patience he had, Ronnie Anne stepped in.

 

"If she really needs to switch teams, I can swap with her."

 

"Thank you!" Lori exclaimed, throwing both hands up in relief as the screen confirmed the team switch.

 

She leaned back against the couch like someone who'd just survived a medical scare. "Oh my god, finally. Put them together. That's where they belong."

 

Bobby chuckled, squeezing her hand. "You were taking that real personally."

 

"Because I was," Lori shot back without hesitation. "That island is a death trap, and I'm not trusting it with either of them alone."

 

Leni nodded sagely. "It does feel more balanced this way."

 

Rita let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Thank goodness. I swear my blood pressure just dropped."

 

Lily bounced on the couch, clapping. "Yay! Linky and Ronnie are together!"

 

Carlitos grinned. "Told you they wouldn't keep the power couple apart."

 

Lori pointed at the TV, triumphant. "See? Even reality TV knows better."

Chris's face twisted in irritation.

 

"Not happening, chica."

 

"OH, COME ON!!"

 

Lori snapped at the TV, lunging forward on the couch like Chris could hear her through the screen. Her hands flew up in disbelief. "You cannot be serious right now."

Ronnie Anne narrowed her eyes at the host, clearly ready to pop off—until Izzy chimed in from out of nowhere.

 

"I'll switch places with her!"

 

Chris groaned, rubbing his temples.

 

"Fine. You're both on Killer Bass now. Izzy, you're on the Screaming Gophers."

"Yes!!"

 

The girls hugged and immediately bolted toward their new team. Ronnie Anne gave Chris a look that screamed what the hell?

 

"That means you're up, girls!"

"We're coming, Killer Bass!"

 

They leapt together, screaming joyfully before splashing down safely in the lake.

Chris scribbled a final note onto his clipboard.

 

"Okay, that's ten jumpers and two chickens. Screaming Gophers, if you can beat that, we'll throw in a pull-cart to haul your crates."

 

"Okay, hold up!"

 

Ronnie Anne's voice snapped Chris's attention back to her as she stalked up, hands on her hips.

 

"Why'd you let her switch teams, but not me?"

 

Chris grinned like a fox in a henhouse.

"Missing your boyfriend, Ronalda~?"

Her face went bright red.

 

"HE IS NOT MY BOYFRIEND!!"

 

Lindsay scratched her head confused by the Hispanic girl.

 

"Really? I mean, you two have great chemistry."

 

Even the ditzy blonde girl sees the romance between them," Carlino commented, nodding toward the TV.

 

Leni blinked, genuinely surprised. "I didn't say anything."

 

Luna leaned forward and pointed at the screen. "That blonde girl, Leni. On the show. And for the record—" she shot Leni a sideways grin, "—you're not a ditz."

 

Leni followed Luna's finger, watching the scene play out. Her eyes widened in realization.

 

"Ohhhhh."

 

She smiled a little, folding her hands in her lap as the implication finally clicked, while Carlino snorted quietly, clearly amused that it took her a second longer than everyone else.

Lindsay, clueless as ever, chimed in but Ronnie Anne's glare was enough to silence the blonde.

 

Chris raised a hand, playing mediator in his own chaotic way.

 

"Look, it was a prerequisite this season to split up lifelong friends. Sadie and Katie share one brain and—worse—their whining could shatter glass. You and Lincoln? You're close, but not surgically attached."

Ronnie Anne cracked her knuckles, and Chris instinctively took a step back.

 

"Whoa there, girl."

 

Leshawna stepped in to cool things down.

"Look, these shows always break up the teams eventually. When that happens, you and Snowball can squad up with the rest of your crew. Cool?"

 

Ronnie Anne stared at her for a beat. Seeing the sincerity in Leshawna's expression, she sighed and backed off. The two walked back to the Gophers just as Trent stepped up.

 

"Okay, guys, who's up first?"

 

Nobody volunteered. The silence was thick.

"I'm sorry, there is no way I'm doing this."

Heather's voice rang out, loud and unapologetic.

 

"Why not?" Gwen asked, raising a brow.

 

"Hello? National TV? I'll get my hair wet."

 

Ronnie Anne groaned.

"Would you rather have wet hair, or be voted off? Because if we lose, you're gone."

Heather snapped around with venom in her voice.

 

"Don't you say a word, you big-butt traitor! You just want to be with your albino boyfriend!"

 

Ronnie Anne stepped right into her face.

"Okay, first—don't talk about my body, you walking stick bug. Second, Lincoln is not an albino. And third—HE IS NOT MY BOYFRIEND!!"

 

Their eyes locked in a battle of wills, tension rising—until Chris intervened.

"As much as I love this, and I do, we need to keep the show moving. Jumping or not?"

 

Ronnie Anne inhaled deeply, then turned to the cliff.

 

"I'll jump—mainly to get away from this bruja flaca."

 

"I can't watch this."

 

Carlos pulled off his glasses, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose as his worry finally boiled over.

 

Around him, the Casagrandes shifted uneasily—voices overlapping, hands clasped, eyes glued to the screen but barely blinking, panic rippling through the family as they watched their loved ones in danger.

 

On the other side of the room, the Louds had collectively turned to prayer. Hands folded, eyes shut tight, murmured pleas filling the air—some whispered, some desperate, some shouted to any higher power willing to listen.

 

The house, once loud with jokes and commentary, fell into a tense, anxious hush broken only by gasps from the TV and the quiet hope that everyone would make it out okay.

With a fierce run and zero hesitation, she launched herself off the edge, twisting midair into a clean, flawless dive.

 

"WOOOOOOOO!!!! THAT WAS

Everyone cheered at once, the tension finally breaking.

 

Rosa clasped her hands together and lifted her gaze upward, whispering a prayer to the heavens, gratitude softening her voice as relief washed over her.

 

"Gracias a Dios," she murmured, eyes shining. Her granddaughter was safe.

Cheers erupted from the Gophers above.

"Girl, you are wild and crazy!!" Leshawna shouted after her as Chris marked down the first jumper for the Gophers.

 

"Who's next?"

 

"I'm still not jumping," Heather huffed.

 

"You're kidding, right?" Gwen was already beyond annoyed.

 

"If she's not doing it, I'm not doing it!"

Lindsay echoed, arms crossed.

 

Leshawna wasn't having it.

"Oh, you're doing it!"

 

"Says who?!"

 

"Says me! Ronnie did it, so you can too! And like she said if you cost us this challenge, you're gone, you spoiled little daddy's girl!"

 

"Back off, ghetto-glamour, too-tight-pants-wearing rap star wannabe!"

 

"Mall-shopping, ponytail-wearing, teen-girl-reading, peaking-in-high-school prom queen!"

 

Everyone stepped back, fully expecting a fight.

 

"Well, at least I'm popular."

 

That did it.

 

Leshawna grabbed Heather by the waist and yeeted her right off the cliff.

 

"AHHHHHHH—!!"

 

She resurfaced, coughing and sputtering.

 

"Leshawna! You are so dead!"

 

Ronnie Anne pulled her onto the boat, smirking.

 

"What happened to 'not getting your hair wet,' hmm?"

 

"Don't talk to me, Grande-Butt! Leshawna can't believe you threw me!"

 

Carlota crossed her arms, scowling at the screen.

 

"Seriously—'Grande-butt'? I'm really starting to hate this Heather girl."

 

She shook her head, clearly upset at the way her cousin was being treated by the self-proclaimed queen bee.

 

"Yeah, she's so mean," Leni added thoughtfully. "I mean, it's not Ronnie Anne's fault for going through puberty. That poor twelve-year-old Heather girl is probably just jealous."

 

There was a half-second of silence.

 

Then—

 

"HAHAHAHA!!"

 

The room absolutely erupted.

 

Laughter burst out from every corner as the Louds and Casagrandes doubled over, clutching their sides. Carlino slapped the arm of the couch. Luna snorted. Lynn Jr. nearly spilled her drink. Even some of the adults couldn't hold it in.

 

Leni blinked, looking around in genuine confusion as the laughter continued around her.

 

"What's so funny?"

 

"Hey, I tossed you into the safe zone, didn't I now I just gotta hope I can hit it."

 

Leshawna followed up with her own flawless dive.

 

Lindsay stood at the edge, trembling.

"I thought this was going to be a talent contest…"

 

"Hahaha! Yeah! No."

 

After Chris answered she finally jumped, arms and legs flailing wildly.

 

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

 

Gwen and Cody followed suit, all three of them shrieking all the way down.

 

"WHOOOOHOOO!"

And then Izzy jumped—arms wide, laughing maniacally all the way.

 

Justin leapt next but overshot the safe zone.

 

"Paddle! Paddle!"

 

Leshawna, Gwen, and Cody waved him over, but the sharks closed in fast—until Justin turned around.

 

The sharks stopped.

 

Heavenly music played.

 

He smiled.

 

They… swooned.

 

He was carried to shore on the backs of the sharks.

 

"He's so handsome—even the sharks know it."

 

Lola swooned dramatically as Justin appeared on screen, hands clasped under her chin. Lana smiled along with her, nodding in agreement.

 

"Yeah… lucky sharks."

 

Across the room, all the single Loud girls—and Carlota—stared at the screen with matching heart-eyed expressions, utterly transfixed.

 

Meanwhile, Lori, Leni, Luna, and Luan all quietly closed their eyes, each drifting into their own thoughts—memories of the people they loved, the relationships they'd built, and the comfort that came with knowing who their hearts already belonged to.

 

The other contestants stared in disbelief.

Ronnie Anne blinked.

 

"What is happening?"

 

"Justin's~ handsome face charmed the sharks," Lindsay said dreamily.

 

"…No seriously,

 

Ronnie Anne – CONFESSIONAL

"I seriously want an answer for that, Justin is not that handsome or cute… and no I'm not blind, I just think there are more… handsome boys out there… someone cute and sweet with the biggest heart ever… yeah there is…. I meant… like… SHUT UP!!!"

Ronnie Anne punches the camera, causing the screen to burst into static.

 

"Oh, great. Another Freudian slip—and another broken camera."

 

Hector bemoaned softly, rubbing his temple as he watched the screen. Rosa glanced at him, looking mildly unimpressed.

 

"It's a good thing our nieta is opening up about her feelings, Hector."

 

"Her feelings are fine," Hector replied dryly. "I just don't want to pay for every camera she breaks."

 

Rosa rolled her eyes, waving the concern away.

 

"She's not going to break a camera every episode."

High up on the cliff, Beth stood frozen, her entire body trembling as she stared at the open air in front of her. Fear had taken hold of her like a vice, and it was clear she couldn't go through with the jump.

 

"I… I can't do it. I'm too scared," she stammered, voice quaking.

 

Chris, wasting no time, popped the dreaded chicken hat onto Beth's head with a smirk. Beth, defeated, turned to head toward the escalator.

 

"I'm sorry!"

"Bawk, bawk, bawk!"

Leshawna and Cody immediately jumped on the opportunity to roast Beth for backing out.

 

"That is like, so lame… right?" Lindsay asked with a disgusted tone.

"Fully lame," Heather agreed.

 

Heather, arms crossed and exuding smugness, nodded along. She found it pathetic how Beth backed out so close to clinching the challenge.

 

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ronnie Anne interjected, crossing her arms. "You had to be thrown off the damn cliff. Stick bug."

 

Heather shot her a venomous glare.

"Mind your business, thunder thighs. Go make out with your guppie boyfriend."

"Not my boyfriend, you bruja de disco rayado."

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