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Ah, another season of Disventure Camp, bringing back old contestants for the ratings. As tiring as it was coming back to a game you already played once or twice, the opportunity of a million dollars and playing alongside friends was always tempting enough to come back. Unfortunately, old faces meant recurring issues. Aiden Brooks was brought back again, but so was Allyson Amber. And they were on the same team again! Great, right? Well, not really. All of their friends watched season five. While some thought Ally's blindsiding of Aiden was wrong, and others thought she was just playing the game, it was clear to everyone the quiet tension between the two. And it was brought back to the same environment where it transpired.
It was before a challenge, and Aiden was alone by himself either searching for resources or a totem. He was minding his own business when he heard a distant but incoming call-out of his name from a familiar gamer,
"Hey, Aiden?"
Knowing who it was, Aiden rolled his eyes. He ignores her and keeps walking, forcing Ally to run after him.
"Aiden, wait up!"
Aiden still did not budge and walked faster, but he was no match as Ally caught up with him, nearly out of breath.
"Aiden, stop for a minute!"
Aiden turned around swiftly with an annoyed expression. He glared at the other's audacity to approach him. Did she not get the message? In a slightly raised voice, he shouted,
"What!? What do you want??"
Ally felt Aiden's obvious frustration, and she knew and understood his dislike for her right now. However, that didn't stop her from trying to talk to him. She stood up straight, hands up a bit in small defense.
"Look, I know we haven't had the best relationship in this show, but-"
"You can say that again,"
Aiden made a snarky remark that came out without a second thought. His lips moved faster than his thoughts, things just slipped out. Getting cut off like that made Ally's blood pressure rise, but she barely managed to swallow it down. With a deep inhale through her nostrils, she calmed herself down and continued,
"…But, I want to apologize for how I played last time, and back in All Stars. I've been wanting to apologize to you, but never had the opportunity to. I hope we can… put what happened in the past behind us, and play alongside each other again."
"Play together again?" Aiden snorts, what a funny joke. "Yeah, right. Like I'm gonna make that mistake again."
"Well, I- I won't."
Ally became more firm with her words, yet genuine. She placed her hands on her heart as she apologized once more.
"I'm sorry for betraying you a second time. I didn't realize how much it hurted you, but… game or not, you didn't deserve that."
Aiden blinked at her apology. Although finally receiving an apology for the betrayal brought him some closure, he was still, for the most part, unfazed as he folded his arms sternly.
"I hope you know it's going to take a lot more than just words to make me trust you again, right?"
"I know, which is why I didn't come to you without a proposal:"
The streamer closed her eyes to take another deep breath through her nose before exhaling out her mouth. She can't believe she's actually going to do this, but it has to be done. Reopening her eyes, those green eyes were fixed on Aiden.
"As long as we're on the same team, whoever you want to vote for, I will back it one-thousand percent."
She rose one hand up, palm facing forward, and the other on her chest in a solid swear.
"And if I don't uphold my promise, for whatever reason, your alliance can vote me out."
Now this statement absolutely shocked Aiden, his blue eyes widened and all. Is she insane? He didn't believe she was being serious, yet she was. Trying to find any words to respond with, he started slowly.
"…That… is a huge risk—"
"That I'm willing to take."
Ally nodded, not backing down. Her heart was pounding against her chest and she tried to ignore it. She was putting her whole game on the line to make it up to Aiden. But to her, proving her loyalty through a big risk and something that could benefit Aiden felt like the only way to get him to actually consider her offer.
Aiden was still at a loss for words, trying to figure out if this was a ruse to get his guard down and believe she's on his side, just to get fooled again. He hated getting fooled. He felt like he could never escape it. The recurring trauma left him paranoid of who he could really trust anymore. Sometimes he even questions if James actually loves him or is just dating him because of the social media incident back in season two. He felt like he was at his wits end, one more back-stab away from officially breaking emotionally and mentally. He can't go through this again. He just can't.
His bottom lip maneuvered under his upper lip nervously. Should he take her offer? Her facial expression showed desperation and guilt.
Perhaps having an extra vote that will always do what he says won't hurt. Plus, her doing so could POSSIBLY mean he can trust her again.
"…Alright, you have a deal."
He gave in, his voice almost shaky. The two sealed it with a handshake, solidifying that Ally can never take it back now. Afterwards, Aiden crossed his arms and chose to leave before anyone saw their interaction. He walked forward, passing Ally by her side to head back to the team's camp. But before he fully left, he stopped right by her side. He didn't look at her, but left her with a message, a warning if you will.
"I hope you don't intend on doing the same thing the third time."
That bitter-sounding reminder struck Ally with guilt once more, making her furrow her eyebrows as Aiden finally walked away. She bit her bottom lip hard, but with enough courage to respond back, even if Aiden did hear it, she nodded,
"Trust me, I won't."
- CONFESSIONAL -
"Am I walking on a tightrope right now? Yes. But I need to fix things with Aiden. Not just because of the game, but… Ever since I double-crossed him in Fans vs. Favorites, he didn't want to talk to me after the season ended. We weren't that close as friends outside the show, but it's like he completely cut me off even when we're with our other friends. If I try to talk to him, he ignores me or moves away. If we're playing a fun team game and I want to join his team, he's quick to say they're "looking for someone else to join". He wouldn't even LOOK at me. He's dodging me like I'm a monster in a horror game!"
Ally sat on the huge rock, staring at the camera as she described the two’s current relationship. She rubbed her arm anxiously, not noticing her leg bouncing softly.
"I thought he was just being petty and would get over it. I mean- he just swapped teams, he was still in the game! But after the season ended and I was able to watch him on the Fans team, that… wasn't him. I don't know who that was, but that wasn't the Aiden I knew. He was so irritable, reckless, bitter, something the Aiden in season two wouldn't be. Did I really cause him to… spiral…?"
There was a moment where she just sat there, looking off camera as her eyebrows furrowed and she frowned with tears in her eyes. She really believed anything she did inside the game wouldn't affect her friendships outside it, but now she realized how wrong she was. That she actually caused a friend to suffer.
Yet, she sucked it up, not allowing any tears to come out as she balled up her fists against her knees. Her expression switched to determination as she looked back at the camera.
"I definitely fucked everything up with him last season, but I'm going to make it right with him. Even if it means putting my neck on the chopping block to gain his trust back. This is my last life, and if I fail,"
She sighed.
"It's game over…"
- CONFESSIONAL END -