"HA!"
Maria laughed out loud at the insult aimed squarely at Heather, clapping once in pure satisfaction.
"That's my girl."
She leaned back, pride written all over her face as she watched the screen, clearly pleased to see her daughter finally standing up for herself.
The last two Gophers remaining were Trent and Owen. Trent approached the cliff with a confident grin, exchanging a solid high-five with Owen before stepping forward.
"Let's do this!"
He leapt with arms stretched high, soaring through the air before landing perfectly in the safe zone.
"Yeah! Woo!"
Now, everything came down to one last person. Owen.
"Okay, campers!" Chris announced from below, his voice still booming through the megaphone. "There's only one person left! You guys need this jump for the win!"
He turned to Owen, still using the megaphone.
"No pressure, dude."
At first, Owen looked relieved—until Chris added with a grin:
"Okay, there's pressure!"
Owen's nerves returned in full force as the rest of the Gophers began chanting.
"Go, Owen, you can do it, Owen! Go, Owen!"
Lindsay, Leshawna, Cody, Gwen, and Izzy shouted encouraging words, trying to hype him up while Heather, as usual, barked orders instead of support.
Owen – CONFESSIONAL
"Oh, I was pretty darn nervous. See, the thing is, I'm not that strong a swimmer."
Geoff – CONFESSIONAL
"I'm looking at this guy and thinking, 'There's no way he's gonna make it.'"
Gwen – CONFESSIONAL
"I actually thought, 'If he jumps this, he's gonna die.'"
Ronnie Anne – CONFESSIONAL
"I fully thought if he jump he'd end up in traction, the dude's belly flop would be like an atomic blast—it would probably cause the island to become like Fallout minus the deathclaws… god I hope so."
Carlino rubbed his hands together, a grin slowly spreading across his face as he leaned forward in his seat.
"This is gonna be awesome."
Chris, trying to sound motivating, offered a final nudge.
"Take a good run at it, buddy. You can do this!"
Owen nodded, backing up a few feet to give himself a running start.
"I'm going to die now. I'm going to freaking die now."
All eyes were glued to him from below. The campers watched, breath held, as the outcome of the challenge now rested on Owen's massive shoulders.
"Come on, big guy!" Leshawna shouted.
Fueled by her encouragement, Owen took off running—and leapt.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
He screamed all the way down. The sheer velocity of his fall was terrifying. Chris's eyes widened. In the water, Trent and Noah looked up in alarm, bracing for impact. On shore, the other campers backed away instinctively.
"OOOOOOHHHHHH, CCCCRRRAAAPPPPP!!!!!!"
SPLAAAAAAAASSSSSHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The sound echoed like thunder. The resulting shockwave from Owen's legendary belly flop sent a 30-foot wall of water crashing in every direction. Campers were thrown back like bowling pins, sharks were launched into the trees, and even the boat was knocked clean out of the water. Chef Hatchet stared in stunned disbelief.
The families collectively gasped as the screen filled with the aftermath of Owen's belly flop, the water erupting upward like a full-on typhoon.
For a moment, no one said anything.
Then Lynn Jr. leaned forward, eyes wide, a slow grin spreading across her face.
"That… was… epic!"
No one argued.
"That was the most epic belly flop in human history," Lincoln had gasped.
"…No argument here."
Ronnie Anne was blown away by how epic Owen's drop had been, both figuratively and literally.
Lincoln reached down and helped Ronnie Anne up as everyone tried to recover from the watery chaos.
"Yes! Yeah! Oh yeah, who's the man?"
Owen resurfaced triumphantly, arms raised. He had landed in the safe zone.
"Wooooohoooo!!!"
"Yes!" Beth and Leshawna cheered.
Chris raised the megaphone again.
"The winners! The Screaming Gophers!"
Cheers erupted from the victorious team.
"That was awesome, dude! What's wrong?" Trent asked.
"I, uh, think I lost my bathing suit."
A collective groan rose from the campers, their expressions a mix of horror and nausea.
Both families groaned in unison, a chorus of horrified relief.
Everyone was suddenly very grateful they weren't seeing Owen naked live in real life.
Later, in the makeshift changing tents Chris had set up, the campers were drying off and getting out of their swimsuits.
"That was easily the craziest thing I've ever done," Bridgette said, adjusting her clothes.
"Oh totally," Ronnie Anne agreed. "I've seen surfers get bit by sharks, but I've never jumped from something that high up before."
The two girls leaned near the crates their teams would soon haul.
"If this is the first day here," Bridgette said, nervous, "I'm honestly worried about what's next."
"Don't think like that," Ronnie Anne replied.
"Focus on today's problem, not tomorrow's. Plus, there's still the hundred grand. Always remember—that's why we're putting up with Chris."
Bridgette smiled at her friend's advice just as Lincoln walked over.
"Hey Ronnie, hey Bridgette. How are you girls holding up after… all that?"
Ronnie Anne gave a so-so hand gesture while Bridgette smirked.
"We're fine, Lincoln. Don't worry."
He fist-bumped Bridgette, then Ronnie Anne noticed the rest of the teams arriving.
"This is where we part ways… and Link… I wanted to say… that was pretty brave of you to step up and go first."
Her cheeks flushed pink.
"Oh… it was no big deal," Lincoln said, scratching his neck. "Someone needed to be first… and I'm glad you made it safe."
Ronnie Anne's blush deepened. She gave a small wave before walking away to her team and tugging her crate.
Lincoln watched her go, smiling softly to himself. Just being here with her meant the world to him… as friends, of course… yeah… just friends.
"You like her, don't you?"
Lincoln jumped. He had completely forgotten Bridgette was standing nearby—and had seen everything.
"No I don't… I-I m-mean I like her… as a friend… but not… like in that… way… I mean in a… romantic sense… Ya know."
Bridgette smirked.
"I know, Lincoln."
Lincoln didn't say another word. He stiffly walked back to his crate like a malfunctioning robot, while Bridgette's smirk grew wider.
Bridgette – CONFESSIONAL
"Lincoln is so in love with Ronnie Anne it's honestly the cutest thing ever. Wonder if I could help them a little bit."
"And now, after Lincoln and Ronnie Anne, I'm rooting for Bridgette to win the prize," Lori said firmly.
Bobby nodded along, completely on the same wavelength.
"Big time, babe. She's my third pick for who I want to take it all."
The Screaming Gophers had no trouble moving their crates. With carts to help, the job was so easy they broke into song.
"Forty-nine bottles of pop on the wall, forty-nine bottles of pop…"
Meanwhile, over with the Killer Bass, things were not going as smoothly. Most of them were clearly struggling—Duncan was kicking crates forward, DJ had to flip his box to move it, and others looked completely worn down.
"Ow! I think I just got a splinter!" Courtney yelped, pulling her hand back.
Eva stomped over and hoisted Courtney's crate with one arm like it weighed nothing.
"Shut up, and pick up your crate… chicken."
The message was loud and clear—Eva
wasn't here to baby anyone.
"Again, that Eva girl is way too competitive," Lynn Jr. said flatly.
Her sisters immediately rolled their eyes in unison, the silent look of pot, meet kettle passing between them.
"Hey! I'm the only one with C.I.T. camping experience here. You need me!" Courtney argued.
Eva and DJ exchanged skeptical glances. Neither looked particularly convinced.
Tyler was doing okay… until he abruptly stopped and dropped his crate.
"Ugh, I gotta take a whiz."
"Hurry up, we're already behind," Eva snapped.
"Oh, I have to go too."
"You do? Oh my gosh, me too!"
Katie and Sadie abandoned their crates and skipped into the woods.
"Those two are weirdly synchronized," Lincoln muttered.
"For real," Harold agreed.
Courtney kept trying to push her crate when a fly buzzed past her ear—and straight into her eye.
"Ow! I think something just bit me!"
Her eye began swelling instantly. Lincoln ran over.
"Courtney! Are you okay?"
"Does it look like I'm okay!!??" she snapped.
"Whoa, easy, Courtney. I can fix this, no problem. I'll be a minute—I saw what we needed on the way back. Just chill."
Lincoln darted off and returned with leaves and a long vine. He crouched beside her, inspecting the puffiness.
"What bit your eye was most likely a black fly," he explained which Courtney's good eye widened with concern. "It's not gonna cause any permanent damage. It'll just sting and puff up for a while."
That seemed to calm her down. Lincoln got to work, tearing a small leaf into pieces, placing them in a larger one, and then carefully applying the bundle over her eye. He secured it with the vine, forming a makeshift cooling patch.
It wasn't fancy—but it worked.
"How does your eye feel, Courtney?"
Courtney feels her eye through the leaves and it feels a thousand times better already.
"It feels… better, like a lot better. Thanks, Link."
"No prob."
Bridgette and Harold walked up and admired Lincoln's handwork.
"Pretty cool, Lincoln… wait is that…"
"Holy basil. Used to treat inflammation of the eyes. I wrapped the smaller leaves into a larger one and boom—instant cooling patch."
Lincoln answers Bridgette's question as Harold admires Lincoln's handiwork.
"Awesome, you got mad skillz, Lincoln."
Courtney shoved the ginger back as he got way too close for comfort.
"Where'd you learn to do stuff like this?"
"I'm a big fan of Rip Hardcore and have read all his books cover to cover, like, five times. Plus I've done wilderness survival training and managed to spend a week out in the woods by myself."
The Bass all look surprised—seems like they've got a good secret weapon for challenges now.
"Awesome, I got some skills too from the Muskrat Boys. I can build a hang glider out of an old tarp and sticks."
Lincoln nods his head, impressed by Harold's skill. Harold's eyes pop open just remembering something.
"Oh hey, I wanted to ask you—back in the lodge when Ronnie Anne snapped at Chef, were the two of you speaking Spanish?"
Harold's question made the rest of the Bass turn, curious now as well.
"Yeah, me and Ronnie Anne are fluent in Spanish. Most of her family is bilingual
—Spanish and English. We decided to learn to speak it together. Para que podamos compartir otro pasatiempo juntos."
The sudden Spanish impresses most of the Bass. Duncan decides to make himself known.
"Cool, you and your girlfriend can speak a different language. Can you teach some? Like, how do you say 'I don't know, Piggy, the graffiti was there when I got here'? Got any tips?"
Lincoln stares blankly at the punk before answering.
"Yeah—don't break the law."
Lincoln's joke gets most of the Bass to chuckle. Even Duncan cracks a smirk.
"Man, Link, you got tons of useful skills."
"Believe me, Harold—I need to. My home is crazy, so having enough tricks and skills helps me deal."
"What's happening at home?"
Geoff decided to enter the conversation, overhearing and slightly worried something bad might be going on.
"Oh no, my home life is fine. It's just… I have a lot of sisters. So it can get hectic sometimes. But they're my family, and I love them."
"How many sisters do you have?"
"Ten."
Lincoln's answer to DJ's question causes the Bass to freeze in place, not believing the boy.
"They never believe us," Luna commented, arms crossed as she stared at the screen.
The rest of the Loud sisters immediately chimed in, voices overlapping with familiar frustration.
"They always think it's a joke."
"Or that we're step-siblings or adopted."
"Is it really that hard to believe?"
Lincoln knew this would happen. He took out his wallet and a row of photos came out, each one showing him with a different girl.
"This is Lori at her golf championship, this is Leni at a fashion show, this is Luna at her band's 'The Moon Goats' concert, this is Luan performing at a comedy club, this is Lynn winning her 8th straight football championship game, this is Lucy at her morticians club, this is Lana at a mutton busting game, this is Lola winning at the 'Lil' Miss Mean and Cute' pageant finals, this is Lisa receiving a Nobel Prize, and this is Lily planting flowers. They're all my biological sisters. None of us were adopted and we all have the same parents."
The Bass are stupefied at the news. Even Eva and Courtney are looking over the photos, each featuring Lincoln.
"Wow dude… you're serious."
"Man, I have four brothers, but dude—I've never seen a family this big."
"For real, how you this sane, dude?"
Bridgette, Geoff, and DJ all gave their opinions on the amount of sisters the Loud boy has.
"Hey, my last name isn't Loud for nothing."
Lincoln folds the photos back into his wallet.
"Me and Ronnie Anne both deal with large families. It was one of the things we bonded over."
"How many siblings does she have?"
Bridgette was rubbing her head at the mental image of having that many girls in one house.
"Oh, she only has a brother. But she lives with him, her mom, her grandparents, aunt and uncle, and four cousins."
CHRIS – CONFESSIONAL
"Okay, I thought that dude was kidding about the sister thing. Man, Mr. and Mrs. Loud—I want to say, you guys have more drive than these teenagers ever will! HAHAHA! Oh man, bringing Link and Ronnie was the smart call. Who knows—with the way they look at each other, you might have some grandkids pretty soon. HAHAHA!"
Rita and Lynn Sr. both blushed at the joke about them, while Maria's face went pink at the mention of grandkids.
"Lincoln and Ronnie Anne could make some beautiful great-grandkids for us," Hector joked, grinning at the others.
Rosa chuckled, shaking her head. "Ay, Hector, always thinking ten steps ahead."
"...should happen to fall, twenty-eight bottles of pop on the wall!"
The gophers continued their cheerful chorus as they marched through the woods, their voices echoing through the trees. Spirits were high after a long trek, but their journey was finally reaching its end.
Beth squinted ahead and pointed excitedly.
"Hey, look! There are the campgrounds!"
The gophers picked up their pace, carts rattling behind them as they pushed through the last stretch.
"That was pretty easy."
"I'm pleasantly surprised!"
Owen and Cody slapped hands in triumph, proud to be the first team to arrive.
"Where is the Bass?"
While most of the Gophers relaxed, one team member stayed alert. Ronnie Anne scanned the horizon, clearly more concerned than the others.
"Worried 'bout your boo?" Leshawna's teasing grin made Ronnie Anne's cheeks flush with heat.
"He's not my boo, Leshawna."
"Girl, you can't fool me. You care for that little snowball, huh?"
Ronnie Anne gave a nonchalant shrug, trying to play it cool.
"He's been my best friend for five years. Yeah, I care about him."
"Girl, some of the best relationships come from friendships. Most of my friends do or have dated one another. He seems like he likes you more than a friend. I say go for it. Don't work, don't work—you can still be friends."
"And now Leshawna and Bridgette are tied for third for me," Lori commented.
The Loud sisters nodded in agreement.
"I really like her—and her personality," Carlota added, smiling, clearly happy to see Ronnie Anne and Leshawna becoming fast friends so quickly.
Ronnie Anne mulled over Leshawna's advice, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. Still unsure, the tough, tomboyish girl turned and walked off, running a hand through her thick hair as she wrestled with her thoughts.
LESHAWNA – CONFESSIONAL
"Ronnie Anne is definitely someone I already like, but man, that girl couldn't be honest with herself to save her life. That girl definitely has a thing for snowball—or my name is Ivana?—and it's not."
Meanwhile, the Killer Bass were still on the trail, dragging behind due to an unscheduled pit stop.
Katie and Sadie finally returned from the woods, jogging up behind their team.
"All better?"
"Yep," Katie replied to Eva's question with a relieved smile as they rejoined the others and resumed pushing their crate.
But as the camera panned down to their backsides, a faint red glow began to appear.
"Ooh, something's itching me. Are you itchy too?"
"Totally itchy. Really bad…"
Katie and Sadie exchanged confused looks, squirming as the discomfort grew. Their cheerful attitudes quickly gave way to restless irritation.
Back at the campgrounds, the Gophers hadn't made much progress. They were currently attempting to pry open their crates... with their teeth.
"Remember, Gophers! You can only use your teeth to open the crates," Chris announced proudly. He turned to the camera, grinning. "I came up with that one."
Resident wildcard Izzy was already on the job, gripping a rope with her teeth as she tugged ferociously.
"Hey! I think I got it open!"
With a final yank, the crate popped—but not without cost.
"Ow, ow! Rope burn on my tongue!"
Izzy opened her mouth, revealing a bright red burn mark streaked across her tongue.
Ronnie Anne recoiled slightly, raising an eyebrow.
"That's gonna be a weird insurance claim."
The Bass were picking up speed, trying to make up for lost time. But Katie and Sadie were falling behind, now visibly glowing red from behind and fidgeting uncomfortably.
"Ooh, it's really itching now."
"Mine feels like it's burning."
"Okay, I have to scratch!"
The two friends finally gave in, frantically scratching at their behinds when Chris pulled up on an ATV.
"You guys are way behind the other team. Like, way behind. What's the problem?"
"Their butts are itchy," someone offered bluntly.
Chris blinked, then turned to Courtney, raising an eyebrow at the makeshift eyepatch covering one eye.
"What's with the eyewear?"
"She got bit in the eye by a black fly," Lincoln explained. "I MacGyver'd that cooling patch to help with the swelling. The twins over there... I don't know what's wrong."
Lincoln and Bridgette approached, eyeing Katie and Sadie, who were still furiously scratching. Bridgette knelt slightly, using a gentle tone.
"Did you guys squat down when you peed in the woods?"
Katie nodded. "Yeah."
"Did you happen to notice what kind of plants you were squatting over?"
Sadie tried to recall.
"They were kind of oval-shaped and green... and all over the place."
Bridgette and Lincoln exchanged knowing looks.
"Were they low to the ground? About this big?" Bridgette gestured.
Katie and Sadie nod their heads.
Lincoln started snickering.
"What?"
Bridgette held back a laugh.
"You guys squatted on poison ivy."
Katie and Sadie's eyes widened in horror.
"What do we do?!"
"Oh no!"
Without thinking, they both dropped to the sand and began dragging their butts along the ground like dogs.
The entire Loud house living room erupted into laughter. Everyone was doubled over, clutching their sides, some nearly in tears at the revelation that the girls had squatted straight over poison ivy.
"HAHAHAHA! No way, that's awesome! HAHAHAHA!!!"
"Somebody help us!"
Lincoln stepped forward.
"Relax, Sadie. You girls just need to soak in water. Once the burning subsides, the medical tent should have Aloe Vera. If not, I can make you some."
"Where do we soak in water around here?" Katie asked, desperate.
Lincoln simply pointed to the giant lake right next to them.
Both girls went wide-eyed again. In their panic, they had completely forgotten it was there.
They quickly began unbuckling their shorts—until—
"WHOA! ARE YOU TWO NUTS???" Lincoln shouted.
The girls froze. The rest of the male Bass immediately turned away, shielding their eyes—except one.
Katie and Sadie yelped and dashed down the beach to find privacy.
"They've gone down the beach, Link. You can open your eyes—same for the rest of you boys," Bridgette announced.
All eyes turned to Ezekiel, who was still looking down, disappointed.
"Awww, that was gonna be a good show, eh?"
Everyone turned to him with a mix of disgust and awkward disbelief.
"Okay. I know when I'm beat."
Carlino sighed and pulled a five-dollar bill from his wallet, holding it out to Hector in surrender.
"You were right, Papi. That Ezekiel guy is just… weird."
Hector accepted the bill with a calm nod, eyes still fixed on the television.
"Told you," he said simply.
Across the room, Lucy shivered, her arms crossing as if the air had suddenly gone cold.
"He's not just weird," she murmured. "He's… plain creepy."
No one argued with that.
The Screaming Gophers had finally finished unpacking the crates and were starting to sort through their supplies.
"Hey, check it out! I got wood!" Owen announced proudly, holding up a stack of planks like they were gold.
Cody chuckled. "Giggity."
The two boys shared a victorious high-five as Trent dug through his own crate.
"I've got some tools here," Trent noted, pulling out a toolkit. "And what looks like a pool liner."
Nearby, Leshawna and Ronnie Anne were busy pulling out nails and pipes, setting them aside in an organized pile. That's when Heather strutted up with a suspiciously sweet smile.
"Hey, Leshawna, I just wanted to say—I didn't mean that stuff about you being a ghetto rap star wannabe. And I love your earrings. They're so pretty!"
Leshawna and Ronnie Anne exchanged wide-eyed glances, surprised by Heather's sudden 180 in attitude.
"Straight up?" Leshawna asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I'm sorry about pushing you over the cliff and all."
"No worries, I needed a push," Heather said with a laugh. She turned to Ronnie Anne. "And Ronnie Anne, sorry about the thunder thighs comment. I love your legs. You do yoga?"
Ronnie Anne shifted uncomfortably. Heather's sudden kindness was almost unsettling.
"No, I do swim a lot and work out. But no yoga."
"That's so cool! Hope you'll share your fitness secrets. I just wanted to come over and clear the air. Truce?"
Leshawna smiled, clearly appreciating the gesture. Ronnie Anne, though unsure, gave a small nod.
"Yeah, yeah. You got it."
"Sure, Heather," Leshawna added. "We all need to work as a team, so… sure."
Pleased with herself, Heather walked off, Lindsay following closely behind. Once they were far enough away, Lindsay leaned in curiously.
"Did you mean all that stuff you said to LaFonda and Donnie Ran back there?"
Heather scoffed. "Leshawna? Ronnie Anne? HA! No. They are both going down. And P.S.? Those are the ugliest earrings I've seen in my life. And why would I want to look like a bloated pig?"
"Yeah, I absolutely hate her."
Carlota glared at the screen, her expression tight with genuine anger as Heather continued to sneer onscreen.
"Absolutely."
The response came instantly, a chorus of agreement from both the Louds and the Casagrandes. No hesitation. No debate. Whatever tolerance anyone might've had at the start was long gone.
Nobody liked this girl. Not even a little.
Lindsay blinked, visibly confused. "Oh… So if you hate them, why were you being nice to them?"
Heather rolled her eyes. "You ever seen one of these shows before? Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."
Lindsay hesitated, hopeful. "Oh… I'm your friend, right?"
"Oh yeah," Heather smirked. "For now."
Meanwhile, the Killer Bass had finally made it to the campgrounds, dragging their crates behind them and collapsing in exhaustion.
"Finally!" Harold groaned, cracking his back.
"Hey, what's up guys?" Trent greeted, waving from the Gophers' side.
The Bass weren't in the mood. Courtney appeared behind them, responding to Leshawna.
"They're just getting a drink," she said, referring to the still-missing Katie and Sadie.
"To Ezekiel," Leshawna added dryly, "Yeah, if they drink with their butts."
Harold burst out laughing. "Hahaha, ha! That's funny!"
Ezekiel laughed along, not really getting the joke. Leshawna's eyes scanned Courtney's face and caught sight of her new accessory.
"Ooh, what happened to your eye, girl?"
"I got bit by a bug and my eye swelled up," Courtney explained. "But Lincoln here made this cooling patch for me. Thanks again, Link."
Ronnie Anne, now hauling boards for the hot tub, walked by and grinned.
"Man, Link—all that wilderness survival training you did is starting to pay off, huh?"
Lincoln puffed up a bit, rubbing his knuckles on his shirt smugly. "Better believe it, Ronnie. I am a master of the outdoors."
Ronnie Anne rolled her eyes and gave his arm a playful punch. "Don't get a big head, lame-o. Don't forget I'm here—and I'm gonna be the one holding that giant check at the end of this show."
The Bass laughed at the exchange, but their laughter quickly died when they caught sight of the Gophers' progress on their hot tub.
"Crap, we need to book it," Lincoln said, ripping the top off one of their crates.
Before he could get too far, Geoff clapped a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, dude. It's not too late. We can do this!"
Geoff's shout rallied the rest of the team, most of whom cheered—except for Ezekiel, who was busy picking his nose.
"Eww..." Bridgette grimaced.
"That is so disgusting," Courtney added, equally repulsed.
Trying to push past the gross-out moment, Courtney stepped up. "Okay, look guys. We have a hot tub to complete, and we need a project manager. Since I've actually been a C.I.T. before, I'm electing myself. Any objections?"
"Aye aye, captain chicken," Duncan quipped.
Bridgette, DJ, Eva, and Tyler chuckled at his jab, but Courtney ignored him.
"Open the crates! Bridgette, go find those itchy girls—we need all the help we can get."
Hours Later...
Both teams had finished constructing their hot tubs. The Gophers, having had a head start, managed to build a near-perfect structure, detailed and sturdy.
"This… is an awesome hot tub!" Chris announced.
Beth, Leshawna, Noah, and Trent threw their arms in the air.
"Oh yeah!"
"Nice!"
Owen, now relaxing inside the tub, popped up with a grin and held his arms up in celebration.
Chris made his way over to the Bass's hot tub—or what passed for one. It was a mess. Splintered wood, busted pipes, and a torn liner made the whole thing look like it was built during a hurricane.
Chris touched the edge of it—and it immediately collapsed.
Gasps rang out from most of the Bass. Some looked shocked. Others... not so much.
"Well, I think we have a winner here," Chris announced with mock surprise.
"The Screaming Gophers!"
Cheers erupted from the Gophers. Their first challenge win came with bragging rights—and a luxury hot tub.
"You're safe from elimination," Chris grinned, "and you get to rock this awesome hot tub for the rest of the summer. Bonus!"
Beth, Leshawna, Noah, and Trent cheered the loudest, joined by the rest of their team.
"Alright! Oh yeah! Woohoo!"
Chris turned back to the losing team. "Killer Bass, what can I say? Sucks to be you right now. I'll see your sorry butts at the bonfire tonight."
The Bass deflated in defeat.
"While I'm happy Ronnie Anne is safe, I'm worried for Lincoln now."
Lori let out a long sigh, her eyes never leaving the screen. Bobby stepped closer behind her, gently rubbing her shoulders in slow, reassuring circles.
"I mean, think about it," Bobby said calmly. "Lincoln was a team player. He jumped. He did what he was supposed to do. He hasn't done anything to warrant getting kicked off."
Lori leaned back into him slightly, the tension in her shoulders easing just a bit. She nodded, breathing a little deeper.
"You're right… you're right," she murmured.
The reassurance seemed to ripple outward. The other girls nearby relaxed too, their worried expressions softening as they clung to the same hope—that Lincoln's kindness and teamwork would count for something on an island that so clearly thrived on chaos.
Lincoln — CONFESSIONAL
Lincoln sat in the confessional, head in hands. "First day and first challenge… and we lost. Ughhh, I was hoping to win."
He sighed and looked up. "But hey, silver lining—I didn't cost us the challenge, and I've proven I'm useful. So... elimination shouldn't be in my future… I hope."
"See? He'll be fine, babe."
Bobby gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze, offering a confident smile of his own.
Lori looked up at him, her worry easing as she returned the smile. In that moment, surrounded by family and the low hum of the TV, she felt grounded—grateful, steady, and thankful to have him there with her no matter what chaos was happening on screen.
"We won! We all get to stay here for another three days!"
Lindsay screamed out in delight, her voice echoing through the campgrounds. Heather and Beth immediately surrounded her, cheering excitedly.
"Yay, woohoo!"
Their trio of celebration was suddenly joined by a fourth. Owen emerged from the hot tub, still missing his swimsuit after the cliff challenge, his usual carefree attitude unbothered by his current state.
"Woo! Haha! Yes! ~We get to stay-ay, we get to stay-ay, we are so awesome, we won the contest!" he sang as he danced in place, utterly unbothered.
Lindsay tried to keep a bright smile despite the growing awkwardness, but Beth and Heather were visibly revolted, inching away from Owen.
The families collectively covered their eyes, a chorus of gasps and groans rippling through the living room. None of them could believe how utterly carefree this Owen kid was—dancing around completely naked in front of people he'd barely just met, without a shred of shame or self-awareness.
Some peeked through their fingers despite themselves. Others turned their heads away entirely.
"Why would anyone do that?" Carlitos muttered.
No one had an answer.
Meanwhile, one gopher wasn't joining in on the excitement. Ronnie Anne stood back, her arms crossed, her expression serious as she glanced toward Lincoln. He sat away from the group, clearly downcast and lost in thought.
That was until she felt a hand land gently on her shoulder. She turned her head to find Leshawna standing beside her, her energy warm and comforting.
"He'll be fine, girl. So get your suit on and get your butt in that tub, 'cause tonight we gonna partay!!!"
Ronnie Anne gave a grateful smile to leshawna until both girls saw the still naked Owen dancing in celebration. grinning like it was the best day of his life.
"….Leshawna, I'm not getting in the hot tub 'til we drain out the water and clean the insides."
"…Smart idea."
Dinner time rolled around, and both teams gathered in the main lodge, poking at the unappetizing meal prepared by Chef. The Gophers buzzed with energy, still giddy from their victory, while the Bass sat in a gloomy silence, the reality of their loss settling in—they'd have to vote someone off tonight.
"So, uh, what do we do now?"
Katie's voice broke the silence, her innocent question enough to spark conversation among the table.
"We have to figure out who we're gonna vote off," Courtney said, her tone pragmatic as she began weighing the options.
"Well, I think it should be Princess or the Brickhouse here," Duncan offered without hesitation, shooting a glance toward Courtney and DJ. His blunt suggestion drew shocked reactions from both.
"What? Why?" Courtney asked, visibly taken aback.
"Because, unless I'm mistaken, you two are the only ones here wearing chicken hats. And if we ever have to lift a truck, I like our odds with the big guy."
DJ couldn't help but smile slightly at the backhanded compliment. Courtney, however, looked uneasy—Duncan was making some solid points.
"You guys need me! I'm the only one—"
"We know, who used to be a real C.I.T. So who would you pick?" Duncan interjected with a smirk.
"We need to be smart here. The ones we really can't lose are me, Bridgette, Lincoln, and Eva. So… what about him?"
Courtney pointed discreetly toward Tyler.
From the distance, Lindsay's voice rang out.
"No! …I mean, no salt. There's no salt on the table, bummer…"
With Lindsay's odd interruption awkwardly ignored, Courtney and Duncan resumed.
"Hey, at least he jumped off the cliff, chicken wing!" Duncan taunted.
"Shut up!" Courtney snapped.
"Okay, let's just chill out. This is getting way too heavy," Geoff interjected, trying to cool down the rising tension.
"What did you mean you can't lose me?" Lincoln asked quietly, his curiosity piqued. Bridgette and Eva also leaned in slightly, interested in Courtney's reasoning.
"Lincoln, you were the first one to jump, and your wilderness training makes you valuable to this team," Courtney said, pointing to the eyepatch still on her face as a subtle reminder. Lincoln's face lit up with pride—he was needed.
"Same with Bridgette being the only surfer. If there's a water challenge, she'll help us win it. And Eva is obviously our strongest player. So you three are too valuable to the rest of us."
"Good to know I'm useful."
"Same, chicken tender."
Bridgette and Eva smiled, though it was hard to ignore how Courtney made them sound more like assets than teammates.
"I've had enough prison food for one day. I'm gonna go have a nap," Duncan muttered as he stretched and rose from the table.
"You can't do that—we haven't decided who's going yet!" Courtney protested, but Duncan didn't slow down. He walked out, leaving the group in silence.
"Well, I just don't get why we lost, eh? They're the ones that have seven girls!"
The Loud sisters, along with Frida, Maria Rosa, and Carlota, all froze in stunned silence, eyes wide as they processed the homeschooled boy's words. The air in the room felt heavier, like someone had just crossed an invisible line and didn't even realize it.
A beat passed before Lola's shock curdled into outright fury. Her hands clenched at her sides, heels digging into the floor as she snapped her head toward the others.
"Did he really just say what I think he said?"
Lynn Jr. didn't hesitate. She crossed her arms, jaw tight, clearly just as irritated, and shot Lola a blunt look.
"Yeah he did Lola."
The reaction rippled through the group—disbelief, anger, and the unmistakable sense that whatever was about to happen next, it wasn't going to be pretty.
Every head at the table turned to Ezekiel. Katie and Sadie nearly dropped their spoons, stunned by what they just heard.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bridgette's voice had an edge to it now—she was no longer the sweet, forgiving girl.
Eva didn't hold back. "Yeah, homeschool. Enlighten us!"
"Well, guys are much stronger and better at sports than girls are!"
Whether Ezekiel was clueless or just plain stupid was up for debate, but what was certain: he had said the wrong thing.
"Oh, snap! He did not just say that!"
"Dude, what the hell!?" Geoff slapped a hand to his forehead, unable to believe what he was hearing.
Lincoln sat frozen, his face twisting in fury as Ezekiel kept going.
"My dad told me to look out for the girls here, eh, and help 'em in case they can't keep up."
"I wanna kill him so much right now."
Lynn Jr. was barely containing herself, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles went white, her entire body vibrating with barely restrained fury. The only thing holding her back was the presence of cameras—and even that was doing a poor job.
Around her, the other Loud sisters and the Casagrande girls locked onto Ezekiel like a firing squad. Their glares were so intense it felt like they could burn a hole straight through the TV screen he was on. No one spoke. They didn't need to. The collective hatred in the room was loud enough.
Sensing the shift immediately, CJ, Carlitos, and Carlino quietly edged away from the Loud sisters, instinct kicking in. The three boys regrouped near Hector and Carlos, forming a small huddle like sailors bracing for an incoming storm.
"Dad I'm scared."
Carlino's voice was small, his usual confidence completely gone. Carlos pulled him closer without hesitation, resting a steady hand on his son's back and rubbing slow, reassuring circles.
"That's ok I am too."
Carlos didn't joke. He didn't soften it. His eyes never left the screen as he spoke, fully aware that whatever fury was brewing in that room was justified—and dangerously close to boiling over.
Eva didn't hesitate. In a flash, she had Ezekiel lifted by the collar, one-handed, holding him several inches off the floor.
"Still think we need your help keeping up?"
"Ugh… not really…"
"That was the first intelligent thing you've said all day. What is your damage, dude?!"
Lincoln was on his feet now, stepping beside Eva at the end of the table, glaring down Ezekiel.
"Okay, guys. Let's give him a break. I mean, at least he doesn't think that guys are smarter than girls."
Geoff stepped in, trying to cool things off, but—
"But they are."
"WHAT?!"
The shout exploded out of them all at once.
The Loud sisters, Frida, Maria Rosa, and Carlota screamed at the television in pure, unfiltered rage, the sound overlapping into a single furious roar. Any remaining sense of restraint snapped in that moment, shock giving way to outrage so intense it felt like it rattled the walls.
Several of them surged forward on instinct, as if sheer anger alone might let them reach through the screen and drag Ezekiel out by the collar. Eyes burned, teeth clenched, hands curled into fists—this wasn't just disbelief anymore.
It was personal.
The room fell into horrified silence once again. Every camper—Gopher and Bass—was united in shared disgust.
"Dude, I knew there was something wrong with you. After the creepy comment earlier, now this? There is something wrong with you."
Ezekiel stood firm, brushing himself off like he hadn't just insulted half the lodge.
"Can you prove me wrong?"
Lincoln's eyes burned with rage.
"You need a reason, redneck? Okay—my friend Ronnie Anne over there has been on honor roll since she was eleven. Her and my friend Sid Chang? Sid's a robotics expert who's won college-level science fairs. And my little sister? She's got an IQ in the 300s, so much that she's already being recognized by Ivy League schools as a genius!"
Lisa lowered her head, her glasses catching the light as her bangs fell forward to hide her eyes—but she couldn't hide the wide smile spreading across her face. She already knew she was the most intelligent Loud; that was simply a fact. Still, hearing her brother say it out loud, without hesitation or ego, hit differently.
For a moment, the noise and anger around her faded into the background. What remained was a quiet warmth in her chest, a rare, unfamiliar feeling she didn't bother to analyze or quantify.
Praise from others was one thing.
Praise from Lincoln—genuine, heartfelt, and unprompted—was something else entirely.
It filled the young girl with happiness to know just how much he loved and respected her.
The Gophers had started paying attention now, many of the girls glaring at Ezekiel with contempt.
"Hey Ronnie, is all that true?"
"Every word, big. Every. Word."
Ronnie Anne answered Owen's questions but she didn't even look away from Ezekiel, her scowl sharp enough to cut glass.
And then he said the line that sealed his fate.
"That bombshell is honor roll, huh? My dad said girls that pretty work on their backs and not on their feet."
The silence that followed was absolute. Even the air seemed to freeze.
WHAT THE FU—"
All the girls screamed at once, the sound sharp and explosive—but it cut off just as fast.
TWHACK!!!
Lincoln's fist collided with Ezekiel's cheek, the sound sharp and brutal. The boy went flying.
...
...
...
"YEAH, BRO!!"
Lynn Jr. threw her arms up, the sudden switch from rage to pure hype nearly giving everyone emotional whiplash. Her shout was loud, proud, and completely unfiltered, a grin splitting her face as the tension snapped like a rubber band.
The rest of her sisters erupted right along with her—cheering, whooping, and piling on the noise as if they'd just watched the greatest scene in reality TV history. Fists pumped, hands clapped, and more than a few victorious laughs broke out as the room filled with chaotic celebration.
The Bass table erupted as DJ and Geoff rushed to restrain Lincoln.
"SAY THAT AGAIN, YOU INBRED FREAK OF NATURE!!!"
"Link! Chill, man! I understand why, but still!"
"Geoff, dude, let's get him outside. Just breathe, Lincoln."
Together, they dragged the furious boy out of the lodge. Ronnie Anne stood up and followed.
Everyone remained stunned. No one had ever seen Lincoln snap like that.
Courtney clapped her hands together, drawing attention.
"So we all know who to vote for, right?"
The Bass exchanged glances. Heads nodded.
"Good. Glad to be on the same page for once."
CRACK.
The doors slammed open. Ronnie Anne stormed back into the lodge, her expression dark. She strode straight to the Bass table.
"Omph!"
Ezekiel groaned as Ronnie Anne drove a hard kick straight into his gut, folding him over.
"I got that one for free. Anyone else agree?"
The girls of the Bass table all nodded—some with smiles, others with grim approval. In that moment all the girls they held respect for her decision.
"You did the right thing, Ronnie."
Frida's voice was calm and firm, edged with steel. A cold, satisfied smile crossed her face—one that made it very clear she had no sympathy left to give. Her eyes stayed fixed on the screen, approval written plainly in her posture.
Beside her, Maria's expression was far more complicated. Relief softened her features, pride flickering in her eyes at the knowledge that her daughter wasn't letting herself be talked down to or disrespected. Ronnie Anne had drawn a line—and held it.
Still, Maria's hands clasped together anxiously. A mother's worry lingered beneath the pride, the quiet hope that this wouldn't spiral into something physical, something she couldn't protect her daughter from once the cameras stopped rolling.
She exhaled slowly, torn between good for her and please don't let this go any further.
Night had fallen over Camp Wawanakwa, casting shadows across the quiet landscape. A low fog drifted lazily across the ground as the Killer Bass gathered at the fire pit, twelve wooden stumps arranged in a circle—though tonight, one of those stumps would be left empty by the end of the ceremony.
The atmosphere was tense. Every camper sat in uneasy silence, all eyes periodically drifting to Ezekiel, whose cheek was still swollen and bruised from the brutal punch he'd received earlier. His hoodie looked more rumpled than usual, the air around him thick with discomfort. Duncan returned to the group, casually dropping down on the log behind the homeschooled boy, smirking as he leaned forward.
"Dude, you've got a lot to learn about the real world," Duncan muttered with a chuckle. "I can't believe I missed the punch of the century. Didn't know grandpa had it in 'em."
The laughter faded as Chris McLean stepped onto the scene, carrying a gleaming silver tray with exactly eleven marshmallows on it. His presence shifted the energy immediately.
"Killer Bass," he announced with a dramatic flair, "at camp, marshmallows represent a tasty treat you enjoy roasting by the fire. But at thiscamp, marshmallows represent life."
He gave the tray a theatrical tilt.
"You've all cast your votes. The decision has been made. There are only eleven marshmallows on this plate. When I call your name, come up and claim your marshmallow. The camper who does not receive a marshmallow tonight must immediately return to the Dock of Shame to catch the Boat of Losers. That means you're out of the contest… and you can't come back. Ever."
All the Loud sisters instinctively crossed their fingers, hands held tight against their chests as they stared at the screen. For all the yelling, the cheering, and the fury, this was the moment where worry crept in and refused to leave.
No jokes. No commentary. No teasing.
Just silent, collective hope that Lincoln would be okay.
The campers stiffened. The tension thickened like molasses, everyone understanding how serious this moment had become.
"The first marshmallow goes to… Geoff."
"Tyler."
"Woohoo! Yeah! Place at the table!" Tyler shouted, fist-pumping.
"Katie. Bridgette. DJ. Harold."
"Yes!" Harold grinned as he snatched his marshmallow.
"Sadie."
"Oh yay!"
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Katie and Sadie hugged tightly, nearly crying with relief.
"Duncan."
The troublemaker caught his marshmallow mid-air and popped it into his mouth with a smirk.
"Courtney."
The C.I.T. caught hers with both hands like it was a prized medal, gripping it tight.
Chris now held up the final marshmallow.
"Campers, this is the final marshmallow of the evening."
Lincoln and Ezekiel both sat frozen, fear written across their faces. Lincoln clenched his fists as Chris spoke, his mind racing.
"Oh god, please no…"
Lily's tiny voice wavered, her lower lip trembling as she hugged her stuffed bunny tight to her chest. Her eyes never left the screen, wide and glossy with fear.
Her older brother—her Lincoln—could be eliminated at any moment.
"Lincoln, you were a team player. You were brave enough to volunteer first for the thousand-foot dive and helped a teammate who was injured…"
Lincoln smiled a little, hope flickering in his eyes. But it vanished as fast as it came.
"…but you made history for being the first competitor to physically attack another player. And dude—I fully understand why. Still though… pretty good right hook."
Lincoln folded his arms, his face stern. He didn't regret a thing.
Lincoln – CONFESSIONAL
"And I'd do it again in a heartbeat. No one, and I mean no one, is ever gonna call Ronnie Anne… that and not get their jaw cracked."
Ronnie Anne – CONFESSIONAL
Ronnie Anne blinked, stunned by her own reaction. "That was hot." She stared off into space for a second, clearly caught in her own thoughts.
The families said nothing, the tension easing just enough for a few quiet chuckles to slip out. A couple of them glanced away from the screen, cheeks flushing with embarrassed smiles, while others cleared their throats and pretended to be very interested in literally anything else in the room.
"Ezekiel," Chris turned to him, "I gave you clear as day advice, and you ignored it. You made creepy comments about two of your teammates and insulted a competitor—which, by the way, is the kinda thing that would get you fired on the spot anywhere else."
Ezekiel scratched his head, still not understanding. "Was it really that bad?"
""""""YES!!""""""
Every female Bass shouted in perfect, furious unison.
Ezekiel slumped in his seat, finally getting the message.
"So it all comes down to this," Chris said dramatically. "Who is staying… and who is leaving."
Lincoln's heart was thundering. Sweat ran down his neck. Across from him, Ezekiel's collar was soaked from the stress.
"The final marshmallow goes to…
…
…
…
…
"Lincoln."
Chris tossed the treat toward the white-haired boy. Lincoln caught it with a triumphant smile, his relief washing over him like a wave. Ezekiel looked down at the ground, his face unreadable.
"THANK YOU!"
Lily threw her tiny arms up toward the ceiling, shouting to the heavens with pure, unfiltered joy. Her fear vanished in an instant, replaced by a beaming smile as she bounced in place, relief spilling out of her like energy she didn't even know she was holding in.
Around her, the rest of the Louds exhaled all at once. Heavy sighs of relief filled the room—shoulders slumping, hands dropping, tension finally draining away after what felt like an eternity.
For now, at least, Lincoln was safe.
"Can't say I'm shocked," Chris said. "Sexist comments aside—I saw you picking your nose, dude. Not cool. Dock of Shame is that way, bro."
"But what about him? He punched me in the face, ay?" Ezekiel tried to protest.
Chris rolled his eyes. "After you said his girlfriend was a whore. And FYI—your contract waives any liability for pain or suffering caused by either the competition or your competitors. So you're crap outta luck."
Ezekiel stayed silent this time. As he walked toward the dock, the female Bass all watched with smug satisfaction. Lincoln flashed a single middle finger at him, making sure his message was crystal clear as Ezekiel stepped onto the Boat of Losers.
"The rest of you, enjoy your marshmallows. You're all safe… for tonight."
The campers bit into their marshmallows—some with smiles, others deep in thought. They had survived the night… but who knew what tomorrow would bring?
Gwen – CONFESSIONAL
"Yep, this camp pretty much still sucks. But now that I'm here? I guess I might as well actually try to win." The goth girl allowed herself a faint smile, proud of their team's victory today.
Back at the Gopher cabins, the party was still going strong. Loud music thumped through the walls, and the newly repaired hot tub was already bubbling with activity.
"To the Screaming Gophers!" Cody yelled as he, Heather, Justin, Lindsay, and Trent soaked in the warm water, drinks in hand.
"The Screaming Gophers!"
"Go Gophers, go Gophers!" Leshawna cheered, dancing as Owen and Noah joined in.
"Go Gophers!"
Lindsay and Ronnie Anne clapped to the rhythm, their voices rising in harmony with the others.
"Go Gophers, go Gophers, go Gophers! Go! Go! Go Gophers!"
Meanwhile, the Bass silently filed into their cabin, heads lowered. The sting of their first loss still fresh in their minds.
Courtney paused at the doorway, her jaw set. She turned to the confessional camera with conviction in her eyes.
"Are you recording this? Good. They can enjoy their little party all they want. But I am gonna win this competition—and no one is gonna stop me."
Later, after the celebration had faded and the camp had settled into a hush, a quiet stillness blanketed the grounds. Fireflies floated lazily under a star-dotted sky, casting soft glows across the sleeping camp.
"Man, what a day."
Lincoln sat alone on the steps of the Bass cabin, dressed in a white tank top and orange basketball shorts, his silver hair slightly tousled. He stared up at the stars, deep in thought. The events of the day—the dive, the fight, the elimination—spun through his mind in loops.
"Lincoln, what are you doing up still?"
He turned and spotted a familiar figure approaching from the bathroom trail. Ronnie Anne, still drying her hands, held a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste in one hand. She was wearing a black tank top and purple training shorts that hugged her figure, ending just above her knees.
"Oh hey, Ronnie Anne. What are you doing up?"
She raised the items in her hand. "Just finished brushing my teeth. But dude, why are you just sitting here?"
Lincoln gave a half-shrug. "Just trying to take in today. A lot of crazy stuff happened."
"Amen to that. Not every day you jump into shark-infested water—or see your friend punch a deserving redneck in the cheek."
Lincoln's cheeks went a little red at that comment.
"Yeahhhhh… never really expected to do that on the first day."
"I didn't expect you to do it any day. Look, Lincoln… I appreciate you defending me, but don't get yourself eliminated for me."
She sat down beside him on the wooden steps, brushing her shoulder against his.
"Look, Lincoln. I don't want to see you go. We're here together, and we're going all the way to the finale together, remember?"
Lincoln nodded slowly. That had always been the plan—ride this thing to the end.
"I know, Ronnie Anne… it's just—I hate when people talk about you like that. You remember Chandler from Royal Woods?"
Ronnie Anne rolled her eyes. "Hard to forget a guy that ugly. Why bring him up?"
"Last year, he started a rumor you and him hooked up… and I kinda… kicked him in the groin so hard, he had to wear a cast and walk with crutches."
Ronnie Anne stared at him, mouth agape—then clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle her laugh.
"Ha… heheheh… Ohhh man… never in a million years would I be with him."
"I know. That's why I made him come clean. Ronnie Anne… you're one of the most important people in the world to me. I can't stand it when jerks like Ezekiel or Chandler say stuff like that."
Her cheeks flushed a little, something fluttering in her chest. She was caught off guard by how direct he was being. And strangely… it was kind of thrilling.
But then a thought struck her.
"Wait… how'd you know Chandler was lying?"
Lincoln stood, stretching his arms as he let out a loud yawn.
"Oh, easy. A guy that stupid as him could never be with a girl as beautiful as you."
With that, he strolled toward the cabin, giving her a casual wave. "Ahhh, well, I'm gonna turn in. Night, Ronnie."
He disappeared inside, leaving Ronnie Anne sitting in stunned silence.
Her heart thumped once in her chest. Then again. A slow smile spread across her face as she stood up and walked toward the Gopher cabin. Lincoln's words echoed in her mind…
"…a girl as beautiful as you."
So this ends the first episode of Total. Drama Island!!
The Louds erupted into whistles and cheers, hooting and clapping for their brother as if he could somehow hear them through the screen. Across the room, the Casagrandes were practically floating, grins wide and hearts light—collectively riding the high of that moment.
"Dang, Lincoln, that was good."
Luna nodded approvingly, a proud smile tugging at her lips. She leaned back, clearly impressed by her brother's words, happy to see him finally being honest—not just with Ronnie Anne, but with himself too.
"Did you see how happy Ronnie Anne was? She was practically swooning."
Carlota laughed, eyes bright as she nudged Maria Rosa, genuinely thrilled for her prima.
"I know, they are so cute together!"
Leni cheered, clasping her hands as the energy in the room shifted. People began standing, stretching, and moving around after being glued to the screen for so long, the tension fully gone now.
"I'm so glad we got together to watch this together."
Rita said warmly, looking around at all her daughters, her heart clearly full.
"Yeah, thanks for having us over, Rita."
Maria smiled as she spoke, her tone sincere as she met the Loud matriarch's eyes.
"Maria, you're all family," Rita replied without missing a beat. "And we were glad to have you with us. Hopefully we can all meet up again for more episodes."
Laughter and chatter filled the house as the Louds and Casagrandes spent the rest of the afternoon talking, joking, and enjoying each other's company—happy to be under one roof again, all their kids together, watching Lincoln and Ronnie Anne on Total Drama Island.