A/N: I've been wanting to write something like this for a while now.

The whole situation began with Noah's selfishness. Justin had just gotten the case from Lindsay, and they had poured water on him. Izzy had grabbed the case, claiming herself a zillonaress. He started to wonder if she'd actually share, so he jumped off the roof and ran after her. This had caused him to get caught up in the mess that had led to a sixteen way tie. Many of which had come from a broken board falling from a high height. Noah wished a couple more of them had fallen off before they reached the water. Courtney for example or Lashawna, as both were pretty good at the game.

Regardless they had a sixteen way tie, fortunately he was still in the running for the money. On the other hand, he was now stuck on another season of this stupid show. The first challenge hadn't done much but introduce them to the concept of the season, movie based challenges. It also gave them the chance to choose trailers, not that it mattered as Chef had the monster crush the second one anyway. So one challenge in and nothing for substance had happened.

Then there was the second challenge, alien movies. Despite some drama going on between Trent, Gwen, Duncan, and Courtney the foursome was the most adept at the challenge. He had done alright for himself, using the vents to sneak towards the boiler room. Unfortunately in the last part of the challenge, when they were all running from Chef he had not had the physicality to avoid being caught. From what he understood, Chris had shown up later and destroyed all but two egg, which Trent and Gwen had taken. It was then that Chris revealed the winners would be the team captains. Needless to say the two had not been thrilled. Bridgette and Geoff had gotten voted out for making out too much.

At the beginning of the next challenge, Chris had the team leaders pick schoolyard style, Chris as Gwen who she would pick and she had said. "I dunno, Duncan?" Noah couldn't believe it. How dense was Gwen? Yes Duncan was the one she got along with most, but if she didn't want to stir up drama, that was not the way to go. Both Trent and Courtney looked furious. After that Trent chose Courtney, naturally this had the effect Trent wanted. In the end he and Izzy had been among the last chosen.

Chris told them the set was to be placed at the top of a steep hill. They each took a piece up with them. On her way up Gwen nearly fell and Duncan had to help her. Trent had asked what she was doing and a confused Gwen had replied that they were on the same team. It was clear Trent was worried about Duncan. The battle continued with Trent royally pissing off Gwen, Noah had to admit though, he enjoyed watching. DJ had refused to take the trailer up, and thus they had lost the first part.

Later on that challenge Heather and Duncan were arguing. Luckily Gwen managed to calm the delinquent down but she wasn't doing herself any favors. Noah knew she didn't mean anything by it but he was sure Trent hearing her call Duncan hot was only worrying him more. By the end of the challenge their team won and Izzy was voted out.

The next challenge had not gone so well with Trent. The guitarist seemed a bit crazed, constantly talking about the number nine. Noah didn't know what that was about but judging by the look on Gwen's face, she thought it was about her. Other than that things were pretty uneventful until the last part of the challenge. It was a dance off and Lashawna was facing off against Trent. Noah figured they were doomed, then Trent tripped over a stick. The thing was, Noah had seen him wink at the camera beforehand. Was it intentional?

Noah decided it would be best to keep an eye on things. The next challenge was western based. It started with mounting a horse from a hundred feet up. There were problems, namely most people missing, but eventually the teams were tied at three points each. Owen ruined the shoot out by drinking all the water out of the guns. It wasn't until the last challenge that Noah noticed something up again. They were the calves and the Grips were the cowboys Noah notied Trent catch up to Gwen,who held still so he could rope her. He very deliberately missed. Now Noah was certain of it. Trent was losing on purpose, and from the looks of things Gwen wasn't happy about it.

After his team won, he noticed Gwen wandering off and followed. She met up with Trent and he overheard the two of them talking. "What happened to bathing in a barrel like the rest of us?" The goth asked

"Ah, I figured I'd made enough of a fool of myself today." Trent replied, looking ashamed.

"Trent, we need to talk." No one wants to hear those words, but it made sense.

"Aw, please don't tell me this is what I think it is." 'Well he caught on quickly, ' Noah thought. 'if only he had been that good at reading Gwen earlier.'

"It's what you think it is."

"I told you not to tell me that!" 'So what? She's supposed to break up with you another way?'

"Trent, you're a great guy. I mean that. But this isn't working." Honestly? He thought it was pretty gentle for a break up.

"Is this because I offered to brand myself with a G?" Even Noah had thought that was too much.

"No. Well, yes. But it's not just that. You've got your… quirks and I've got mine. I get that. But you've been throwing challenges for me, and I need to win this fair and square, okay?"

"What are you saying?" Noah couldn't believe Trent was that dense. In all likelihood he just didn't want to admit it.

"It's over. I'm sorry."

" I hear you, loud and clear." The guitarist sighed, as he walked off.

Noah followed Gwen back to the trailer where he was met with a surprise. Standing there were the Bass with Justin giving Gwen a look that told him all he needed to know. He was standing quite a ways back from them, but it seemed Justin had confronted her about the whole Trent situation. He reached the group just as he heard Gwen tell them she had nothing to do with it.

"Prove it." Justin told her.

"Proof is a thing that rarely exists when you're truly not involved. " He interjected. Gwen turned around.

"Noah? Have you been following me this whole time?" She asked.

"Yeah, and from the sounds of it so has Justin. If he was really there though, he'd have heard you say you wanted to win fair and square."

Justin narrowed his eyes at him. "You're on her team, this benefits you. How can we trust you're not in on it?"

"Oh yeah, I'm really into working with others." Noah rolled his eyes.

"Even if she isn't involved, she owes us." Justin insisted.

"She doesn't owe you a thing." Noah claimed. He grabbed Gwen's hand. "Now if you'll excuse us, she just went through a break up." The downtrodden goth was easily lead away from the group. Eventually the two of them reached the make up confessional and went inside.

"Noah, I feel so bad." Gwen sighed.

"You don't have to feel bad. If Trent really did this of his own volition, then you have no reason to feel guilty." Noah explained. It wasn't that he was empathic, he was simply speaking the truth from a logical viewpoint. In a court of law Gwen might be charged with withholding information, but she wouldn't be guilty of the crime itself.

"I'm guilty by association." She argued.

"Maybe, but so what? You weren't the one who cheated. Moreover if you try to help the Grips later, you'll come off as a hypocrite."

Gwen nodded. "I guess you're right, but I still feel like I have to make up for it."

"Maybe you could make it up to them in a noncompetitive way. Like cleaning for the girls, or something. If you do that though, do it because you want to, not because of peer pressure. I mean you're a goth, being a social outcast and doing your own thing is your deal right?" Noah admired Gwen's free spirit and he didn't want her to lose it.

Gwen gave him a watery grin. "Thanks Noah, but why'd you help me anyway?"

"Well I don't want to lose, but truthfully? I knew it would piss off Justin."