Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Why did I audition for Total Drama?

Yeah, sometimes I wonder the same thing. Why did I audition for Total Drama?

I've questioned it since setting foot on the island, to be honest. The grey sky, rickety bridge and washed up seagulls weren't exactly... inviting. And the challenges they set us were absolutely ridiculous. But what really sealed the deal for me was when I woke up making out with Cody's ear.

It wasn't exactly a nice thing to wake up to, not gonna lie. Probably my most embarrassing moment ever.

So, I did what any rational person would do. I screamed and ran away as far as my legs could take me (not very far). Can you blame me? Seriously, Cody? I hardly knew the guy. And there was about a 94% chance that it got aired on national TV. Great.

He screamed and ran away too, so I'm glad the feeling was mutual. I just hope he doesn't become homophobic because of me or something. That would be truly tragic.

And the Awake-a-Thon continues. My plan is to avoid Cody at all costs. The embarrassment would be too much for my pride to handle.

I think the world is in my favour for once, because I haven't seen Cody much again today, and I'm glad.

However, that didn't stop almost every camper yapping in my ear about it for hours on end. Honestly, it was like a mantra. I was asleep, for Pete's sake, I had no mental awareness of what I was doing! It was infuriating!
I had Tyler lecturing me for 'leaving myself open'- whatever that means- and Leshawna trying to gaslight me into thinking I had some 'ulterior intention' that I wasn't aware of. Of course I didn't. What am I, Romeo?

Gwen and Duncan are the final two left standing. Personally, I'd place my bets on Duncan. Gwen hasn't been holding up that well since Trent inevitably fell asleep. But I won't, because I don't gamble.

Good thing I don't gamble, because Gwen ended up winning. Huh.

Once the Awake-a-Thon ended and the endless echo of questions about Cody subsided, I lay in my bed, with Pride and Prejudice in my hand, a fine distraction from the events of today.

That is, until someone bursts through the cabin door.

"Hey, buddy!" The voice of a worryingly large individual calls out to me.

I take a great big sigh before responding for dramatic effect.

"What is it, Owen? Have you come to strip me of my pride and interrogate me about the Cody incident, too?"

Owen just gives this goofy ahh chortle before responding.

"No, I've already done that today!"

Then he just stops talking? What, am I meant to respond to that?

"Well?"

"Have you seen Izzy?"

"No, Owen, I haven't seen Izzy."

Owen sighs.

"Okay, then, bye buddy!"

Then he just...leaves. I sigh and shake my head. Owen is certainly an odd specimen.

I go back to reading my book.

'It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of –"

Yeah, no. There's too much in my mind for reading.

Chapter Text

Why did I audition for Total Drama?

Well, to meet all the hot chicks, obviously!

And maybe to prove that I'm not a loser. That I can be- no- am a cool guy.

Yeah, the first impression wasn't great- the island was dead as, and my foot got crushed, but every cloud has a silver lining. Sometimes the silver lining just still needs to be discovered.

The challenges were...odd. For some reason, we had to jump off a cliff? And then we had to build a hot tub or something? I don't even know, it was all a fever dream to be honest.

And then there was the Awake-a-thon.

If people didn't think I was a loser, they definitely do now.

Because I woke up to a warm sensation tickling my ear. Dare I say it was... nice? That is until I heard a scream and fatefully realised that Noah was kissing my ear.

Cool, my very little reputation so far has definitely been destroyed.

I don't know how it happened, I swear. I was unconscious, I did not consent, and I had no intention for this to happen. Noah must've gotten the wrong idea or something, he was the one kissing my ear. We had a little chat before we fell asleep, and that was nice and all, but I did not mean to fall asleep next to him and I certainly did not mean to cuddle him.

I've had a couple of people talk to me about it- by a couple, I mean Izzy- but I think everyone else is going to Noah about it. He's the culprit after all. Better him than me.

It's either that Noah's avoiding me, or I just coincidentally haven't seem him at all today. It's probably the former, but I'm not complaining. I feel that we both need a bit of time to recover.

The Awake-a-thon's ended, and we're finally allowed to go to our cabins, but I don't think I want to. I just need to clear my head after this challenge, forget about that. As long as I don't acknowledge it, or think about it, people will just forget it happened, right?

Chapter Text

I walk out of the cabins like someone entering a courtroom: guilty.

Okay, maybe I do feel a little guilty for avoiding Cody all day. Maybe I should've been the bigger person, and actually cleared the air and talked to him about it?

I don't know...It's a nice thought, but it's easier said than done. I'm sure the air will clear itself soon enough. It's not that big of a deal, right?

I take a tentative step out of the cabins. The buzz of the night immediately reaches me, the chirping of birds and wailing of bugs ringing through my ears. I then spot my other cabinmates approaching – Justin (closely followed by Owen), and Trent.

Wait.

Is someone missing?

Justin, Owen, Trent, and...

Cody.

Damn it, I might see him whilst I'm out. Nononono, that's not good at all, it defeats the whole point of clearing my head.

"Hey, Noah! How's it going, man?" Trent says as I head further on, but I really don't have the motivation to respond. I walk past him without a second thought.

"Gee, touchy," I hear him faintly say in the distance.

I wander around cautiously, inhaling the distinct smell of the island: fish, Owen, and betrayal.

I exhale deeply. It's okay. This island is massive, what are the chances that I'll see–

I stop in my tracks.

I see Cody walking my way. My heart speeds up and I can feel my pride crumbling. Did I jinx it earlier by saying the world was in my favour?

He's looking at me. That's it, I'm ready to go back to the cliff from our first challenge and jump off it agai–

"Hey," Cody muttered, in a tone that was confident yet embarrassed all at once.

He's...making conversation?

"Oh. Uhhh...hey." I reply uncomfortably, and in that moment deciding that the rock on the floor was actually rather interesting.

There was an awkward silence.

"Look, I know you've been avoiding me all day, and I don't really mind, but I just want you to know that I'm not...into guys like that–"

I immediately interrupt, daring to look at Cody.

"Oh, my- no I swear it's not like that," I protest, crossing my arms and looking away again.

Great. I even sound sarcastic when I'm being genuine. "Yeah, it was an accident. I didn't mean for it to happen."

I instantly see Cody's shoulders relax, and he gives me a dampened smile, pressing his lips together.

"Good! I thought that I was gonna have to give a whole speech about how I like you, but you're really not my type."

Uh, rude?

"Gee, thanks," I reply dryly, rolling my eyes.

Cody chuckles sheepishly.

"Sorry, man, but you're no Gwen in my eyes."

Oh, yeah, I forgot about Dante and Beatrice here.

"You're already hung up on someone? It's only been two challenges, bro."

"Yeah, I know, but what's not to love about her? She's smart, mysterious, and really hot."

I simply roll my eyes at that comment.

"Seriously?... I don't know what you see in her."

"It's down to personal preference, I guess."

Or teenage hormones, more like.

There was another silence, but it wasn't awkward this time.

"So, have any girls caught your eye?" Cody asks.

I shoot him a pointed look. Wait, does he not know? Is it not obvious?

"Uhhh, no?"

"Seriously? No one?"

"I mean, I guess uh..."

My eyes scan around the camp before zooming in on Izzy, who currently has her head burrowed in the ground, for whatever reason.

"Izzy's cool."

Cody simply looked too stunned to speak.

"Izzy? Seriously?"

I lean forward, waggling my eyebrows, and reflect his own words back at him.

"It's down to personal preference, I guess."

Cody playfully punches my arm.

"Oh, shut up, dude. Do not use my words against me."

Just to set the record straight, I do not like that nutcase of a girl. I'm a little fruitcake, but apparently Cody hasn't noticed that, so I'm gonna use that to my advantage, and mess with him for a bit.

We laugh together for a while, before eventually settling down. You know, maybe my first impression of Cody was wrong– he's actually one of the more sane ones at this camp. But I've noticed he likes to put on this 'cool guy' persona– especially around females– that actually ends up making him seem less cool.

"So, we good?" Cody asks out of the blue, outstretching his clenched hand, offering a fist bump. I smirk before returning the favour. I'm not a fistbumpy guy, but I have my exceptions.

"We're good."

I can almost physically feel a weight being lifted off of my shoulders, and I'm sure Cody can too. He smiles at me again.

However, a loud, booming voice pulls us out of the moment.

"Noah! Cody! I'd like to see you at the Dock of Shame now."

Damn it, that's Chris. Me and Cody instantly look at each other, a mix of confusion and worry painting our faces. The Dock of Shame? That can't be good.