But first; an interlude!

It wasn’t until they were waiting on the train platform that Lindsey finally let go of Ryan’s wrist.

“Does this take us to the village?” Ryan asked, moving to view a station route map.

“The village,” Lindsey agreed, “And the beach, and a volcano observatory and something called ‘the ruins’ which, like, I dunno what that is, but it sounds rad as shit.”

As she vomited this stream of conscience, she reached into the pocket of her boy shorts and produced her phone. Lindsey didn’t often carry a purse, something she reminded people of as often as she could.

“Yo, come here,” She called to Ryan as she pulled up her app.

“Uh…okay…” The blonde girl said, sidling up to her.

Lindsey wrapped an arm around Ryan’s waist and pulled her close. When their hips were touching, she lifted her phone.

“Sup guys!” She said to the camera, “I’m taking my girl Ryan here out for a makeover, and I need some spending money. Leave me some comments for some changes you’d like to see and I’ll pick them so we have some points to throw around by the time we get there.”

She gave the camera a wolfish, though largely performative, grin.

“And uh…this is prolly gonna run pretty high,” She added. “So don’t be gentle.”

With that, Lindsey closed the phone and stowed it again.

“Lindsey!” Ryan exclaimed, wide eyed. “Please tell me you aren’t going fuck yourself up to pay for my makeover.”

She let out an exaggerated sigh, meeting Ryan directly in the eye.

“Dude, you have got to stop fighting me on this,” She said. “I’m a big girl, if I wanna help, shut the fuck up and let me do it, already.”

Ryan had the decency to look abashed.

“No, I’m sorry. Thanks, this is really huge. I just…” She paused, considering. “Look, I don’t want to sound ungrateful here, but why are you doing all this for me? You’re taking on changes and spending your own points on me. Just…why?”

Briefly, Lindsey weighed how honestly she wanted to answer that question. Then, she dove in.

“Because I like you,” She said. “You’re kind of a fuck up, but like…mood, so am I. Shocking as this may seem, I’m sorta my fam’s black sheep.”

She took a deep breath.

“Also, I don’t know any of you. Like, any of you,” She admitted. “Me and Exe, we’re total strangers. I met Jake like, once, but that is it.”

She shrugged.

“We outsiders gotta make some friends, y’know?”

At the end of the diatribe, Lindsey braced herself. That her sudden altruism was at least partly self-serving was an admission that would likely hurt her, just with the audience if she was lucky, with the person she was trying to help if she wasn’t.

Yet when she looked up, the emotional cocktail on Ryan’s face seemed devoid of scorn. She stepped up to Lindsey and hugged her.

“Thank you for this,” She said. “Whatever else happens…I’m glad I found a friend here.”

Lindsey was touched. She tried to pull back, but Ryan held onto her and met her eye.

“But promise me one thing,” She said. “You let me help pick which challenges you take. I don’t want you fucking around and eliminating yourself or whatever. If you’re gonna look out for me, I’d like to return the favor.”

Lindsey smiled.

“Okay. Deal.” She said, finally withdrawing a bit. “But listen…you know I’m not your only friend here, right?”

Ryan sighed.

“No, no, I know…” She said, “But you’re the only one who doesn’t just…pity me? If that makes sense? Jake hasn’t even come to see me, Mom’s always bordering on a freakout, and AJ…”

She was cut off by a whistle, and a rumble that made the platform tremble. A gust of wind filled the narrow platform as an apparently unmanned bullet train pulled up to the platform.

“There’s our ride,” Lindsey said as the door opened.

She grabbed Ryan’s wrist and pulled her onto the train.

“Listen dude,” She said once they were inside. “Here’s the thing; how everyone’s treated you, or you felt, or whatever…none of that like, matters anymore. This thing we’re doing here? This is a fresh start.”

Ryan stood a little straighter at that.

“You’re right,” She said, taking her hand. “Thank you.”

Lindsey gave him a big smile, and watched as the comments rolled in.

*****

Exe stopped near the crest of the hill to let Megan catch up. The girl was breathing heavily by the time she did.

“How do you walk so fast?” She asked as she finally reached her.

“I walk with purpose.” Exe answered, simply.

Megan nodded, as though she’d just imparted some sage wisdom on her.

“Purpose. Right. I like that,” She said with a shy smile.

She seemed to like everything Exe did. Exe normally hated her more sycophantic fans, but the weird girl who was her roommate had an earnestness that made it almost endearing.

Almost, but not totally.

“Do you need a break or something? You seem kinda winded.”

Megan adjusted her glasses and frowned.

“It’s all the transformations,” She said. “Everything just feels big and ungainly now.”

Exe nodded, and made her way toward one of the park benches that lined the trail out to the train. Megan watched her sit down, and Exe had to fight off another eyeroll. She patted the spot beside her instead, and Megan joined her.

“You seem…I dunno, perkier all of a sudden,” Exe said, hoping to turn the girl’s mind toward something positive. “I’m glad you’re getting out of the room, at least.”

Megan beamed. She was very pretty when she smiled. Pity she was wasting that beauty on her brother.

“Yeah! Honestly, I feel a good deal better since the previous round,” She said.

She fidgeted with her skirt, which despite being a loose design was now extremely short on her.

“I guess before I’d just assumed I wasn’t long for the competition. An easy candidate for early elimination,” She explained. “Now, I’m reasonably sure I can at least survive to the finish line.”

Exe scoffed.

“Survive? Girl, you’re kicking ass,” She said, then sighed. “If anything, I’m…pretty jealous.”

Megan favored her with a shrug.

“Well, I wouldn’t be. My victories are pretty cool, but I do worry they’re somewhat transient in the long run,” She said. “Essentially, I took your advice to heart. I’m hoping I can win over the audience, and it’ll make up for the fact that Jake is off limits. But that’s still a pool of points the rest of you can tap into that’s largely out of my reach.”

Exe nodded, mostly following her along.

“Well, still…that hearts and minds shit you’re doing is pretty awesome,” She said. “I just wish I got it.”

Her roommate tilted her head.

“Got what?”

“What makes you so damn popular,” Exe said. “I work my ass off to try to score points and it hasn’t done shit for me.”

Megan gave her a long look. Exe had heard the phrase “see the wheels turning” before, but hadn’t ever experienced it until now.

“You look like you’re processing something heavy, there,” She tried.

Megan flinched.

“Well…So, obviously this entire situation is very strange, and I won’t pretend I have some special insight into the weirdos we’re doing all this for,” She said. “But if I may offer some constructive criticism…”

Exe gave a tired chuckle and made a “get on with it” gesture.

“I think people like me because I’m just…me,” Megan continued. “Maybe if you opened up a bit more. Just be yourself.”

“Ugh,” Exe groaned. “I knew you were gonna fucking say that.”

“Sorry,” Megan squeaked, recoiling slightly.

“It’s alright,” Exe said. “You’re not like, wrong, or whatever. It’s just…not what I’m good at, y’know.”

“Opening up?” Megan asked.

Exe shook her head.

“Being myself.”

She stood.

“But we are not gonna have that conversation right now,” She said. “C’mon. We totally missed the train, but if we get a move on, we can probably catch the next one.”

Megan nodded, then hurried to follow along.

“Uhm, there is one other thing I wanted to discuss with you,” She said. “I don’t know if you’ll like it, but for the sake of science and your well being, I think it’s necessary.”

“Okay…” Exe said warily, “Spit it out.”

“Well…it’s your most recent transformation,” Megan said, “We have a page of cheats in our room. I was wondering if you’d be interested in exploring some. I think we should try some that are revealed and some that are hidden.”

Exe groaned.

“I’ve got a way better idea,” She said. “Let’s bury those under a mountain of garbage or whatever like they don’t exist.”

Megan slowed, then stopped.

“I’m really not sure that’s wise.”

Exe rubbed her forehead, and turned back to her.

“If I don’t ask why, I’m sure you’re going to tell me anyway.”

“Only because I like you,” Megan said gently, then **** herself to stand a little straighter. “And because if we don’t test it out, someone else will. And that might go a lot worse for you if you’re not prepared for it.”

She paused, considering that.

“You really think people would just fuck with me like that?”

“They fucked with Ryan, didn’t they?” Megan said.

Exe wanted to dismiss the point, but she of all people knew better. For all the sorority the show looked like it was turning into, the show was a contest with real stakes.

“Damnit…” She said. “You’re right. But can it wait until…I don’t know, a day or whatever?”

“Absolutely!” Megan agreed at once. “Your time table, 100%.”

Exe nodded, relieved.

“Well, my timetable says we need to make that damn train. So let’s go.”

She took off at her brisk pace again, and Megan struggled to follow.

Author’s Note: Hey kids! It’s challenge time for Lindsey again! Leave any changes you’d like to see for her in the comments!