BRANDON
Four hours later
I woke up with Melissa's head on my shoulder, Ashley, Diana and Holly were asleep on the floor. I got up and laid Melissa on the couch and went into the kitchen, where Nicole was making her a snack. "Hey." I said "Hey, what's up?" Nicole asked "Nothing, we should arrive soon. "I said "Hey Brandon, have you told Melissa what happened?" Nicole asked. "Told me what?" I turned around and saw Melissa standing there "What happens when the tournament starts." I said. "What happens?" Melissa asked. "Nothing much, it's just that top prize is $25,000." I said, I then kissed her and pulled her in for a hug, I glared at Nicole with a 'what are you thinking' look.
I went to the front of the bus and got on the CB. "People, we will arrive in Big Bear within the hour. So WAKE UP." I said, I then walked through the bus waking up everyone. "Brandon, why didn't you tell her?" Nicole asked me as she met me in the front of the bus near where Damien was driving. "Dammit Nicole, I will tell her, but I'll do it when I am ready to." I said heading for the lounge where everyone was waiting.
"What happens when we get there?" Scott asked. "We go to the top of the mountain to the lodge and rest up, tomorrow the tournament starts." I replied. "How does the tournament go?" Beyonce asked. "I'll explain everything when we get to the lodge." I replied with a smile. Nicole noticed Scott and Kelly holding hands and getting very close because she said "Are you two officially a couple?" Scott and Kelly started laughing "No, Nicole, we're not a couple." Scott replied.
"We're here." Jason said as he came into the lodge. Everyone went to the window and we saw a winter wonderland. I went to the front of the bus and got back on the CB radio. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Big Bear Lake, local time 10:30pm. There will be an orientation when we get to the lodge, and there are enough rooms and beds for everyone so don't worry about it , and thanks for sticking it out for this long." I said Damien pulled the bus up to the base of the mountain and we all took chairlifts to the top. Within 15 minutes everyone was there. Jason opened the doors to the lodge, and the first thing we saw was the huge lobby where everyone would be hanging out, it looked more like a dance floor, and there was a stage with a huge screen on it for watching the skiing.
I went straight for the stage and turned on the mic. "Hello everyone and welcome to the 11th annual King Of The Mountain tournament...." I paused while everyone applauded "....we are being filmed for ESPN, just to let you know, and I'm going to explain the course to you all...." A picture of the course came up "...the course is 1.5 miles long, but if you are lucky enough to make it to the final race, the course will be doubled to three miles long, and there is a good possibility of falling down, we have bumps placed in the course to try to make you fall. Also, if you are lucky to make it to the final race, first place is $25,000...." I paused, everyone applauded again "...second place is $10,000, third is $7,500, fourth is $5,000, fifth is $2,500, sixth is $1,000, seventh is $500, eighth is $100, so everybody gets something. And finally, there are enough rooms and beds for everyone, if you are wondering where you are sleeping, check the list on the bar, and have fun, we start tomorrow." I said as I got off the stage.
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NICOLE
It turned out that I was sharing a room with Ashley Poole and Andrew Martin, Andrew came into the room while Ashley and I were there and he just set his stuff on his bed and walked out to the lounge. "He's cute." Ashley said. "Yeah, and I think he likes me." I replied. Ashley and i then walked to the lounge. Matt, Jeff and Amy then walked in, Jeff went over to where Andrew was. "Hi guys, where were you?" I asked "Matt replied "Out on the course, in the dark, I think we've got a good chance to win." Amy and I then walked to the kitchen which was kinda small and in the back near the front door. I grabbed a few sodas from the fridge, tossed one to Matt, and one to Amy.
"Amy, let me ask you something. Are you trying to steal Brandon from Melissa?" I asked. "No, Nicole I'm not trying to steal him away anymore. There is no excuse for what I did, but I can't deny how I feel about him." Amy replied as she stared at Brandon who was on the stage with Melissa. "You are in love with him aren't you?" I asked "Yes I am" Amy replied.
I looked around the lounge and there were couples everywhere, Eric and Holly, Brandon and Melissa, Scott and Kelly, The Sheridan sister and their men, Andrea and Kyle, seeing all the couple made me regret ever letting Jeff go. I then turned to Andrew Martin who was sitting on the couch relaxing. "Are you trying to hook up with Test?" Amy asked. "He's cute, I won't deny that, but I'm not ready for another relationship yet." I said. "What time is it?" Amy asked "Almost midnight..." I replied "...I'm going to bed." I ran into Ashley Poole and we went to our room together, I fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow.