Aiden Brooks (Jaiden)

(You're James)

It all started in the previous challenge when, as an act of sabotage against Karol, Aiden placed the spider she had given him on Oliver to distract them. But everything went to hell; they crashed, and Karol broke her foot. She was unable to continue the competition with a broken foot, and now she hated Aiden even more. Aiden, feeling so guilty, couldn't help but run away sobbing when he saw Karol lying there cursing him. He wanted revenge on Karol, not to break her foot.

When you finally went to see him, you found him lying on the top bunk, his back to you. That image pierced your heart. Carefully, almost afraid of breaking it further, you said, "Would you like to talk about it?"

There was no response. The silence was heavy. The votes didn't matter, nor did the game. Aiden mattered. Resigned, with a lump in your throat, you murmured, "Okay, I'll give you your space..."

Aiden listened, tears silently streaming down his face, unable to respond.

That night you heard him cry. All night long. Every sob broke you a little more inside. The next day, from the bunk below, he was still crying. You couldn't take it anymore. You climbed up and touched him. He was trembling. He confessed, his voice breaking, that he couldn't breathe properly, that his chest hurt: a panic attack. And finally, he confided in you; he needed it.

You placed your hand on her shoulder and asked her to breathe with you. Little by little, she calmed down. In a low, vulnerable voice, she said, "Thank you. It helped."

-"Well"

You pulled your hand away… but he caught it. He was red-faced, embarrassed, as if his heart was racing faster than his brain.

—"Hey... James?"

-"Yeah?"

You put your hands around his, excited.

—"I need to tell you something. That..."

Your heart raced. But Aiden, flustered, abruptly let go of your hands, forced a smile, and said, "I wanted to tell you that we should take a selfie right now."

You looked at him, puzzled, with a pang of disappointment. After the challenge, the doubt lingered in your mind. What was it he really meant to tell you?