The Challenge: Rivals

Chapter One

A/N: STOP! Did you read the first story, The Challenge? Please make sure you do because this is a sequel and you will be very confused if you do not read the first one.

There's heavy breathing mixed with the low hum of the bus as they wobble in their seats over the bumpy dirt road but besides that, the bus is eerily quiet. Maybe it's because everyone is seated next to their sworn enemy and they rather swallow a sinus infected pig snout from TJ than talk to their partner? Or maybe every single person is locked up in an anxiety induced paralysis from the first daily challenge of the season?

Emma is silent because she's trying her hardest not to swoon over her stupidly gorgeous girlfriend and blow up their entire scheme of not actually being rivals but head over heels in love. She swallows down her nerves, praying that she can keep her hands and lips to herself because for too many months now, she has been free to touch and kiss Regina whenever the hell she pleases. She can't afford one slip up. Not one longing look that could sell them out. So, that's why she's leaning against the window with her chin upon her palm, watching the beautiful landscape pass her by.

Regina, for her part, has been playing her role as the Ice-Queen to perfection and if she hadn't assured Emma it's all for show last night and this morning in the shower, then Emma would be having a full-blown panic attack right now, assuming her girlfriend is about to break up with her.

The bus slowly rolls to a stop, rocks crunching beneath the tires from the dirt road in the middle of nowhere. She keeps her eyes locked onto the empty nature just outside her window, refusing to even tease herself with an opportunity to admire her girlfriend.

"Alright, listen up!" Ashley hollers from the front of the bus but Emma watches as TJ exits from a black Escalade. "Some of you are new, some of you are old pros. Either way, when we exit the bus, there will be one platform. We want all the men standing on the platform next to their partners. Women, you will stand in front of the platform, next to your partner."

"Do we have a specific order that we are supposed to stand in?" Grace so innocently questions and Emma is so glad that she's not the Rookie anymore stressing over all those small details.

"You were seated on the bus in this particular order for a reason," Ashley plainly answers like she's already annoyed with the newbies. "Alright, don't forget to clap enthusiastically for TJ and because of the nature of this daily, we will be calling you guys over for interviews as quickly as possible."

With that, the bus door springs open and everyone on the bus stands. Faint whispers begin; people wondering about the first game, some anxious to see TJ, others gasping at the gorgeous views. Emma remains focused on the scene outside her window of TJ, adorning sunglasses, his head tilted back as he cackles at Kenny the cameraman. There's a small tug at the corner of her mouth because she missed his laugh but she's sure she will be hating it the moment she's falling from the sky, or her face is shoved in mud, or she has to eat bull testicles.

Fucker.

"Swan," Regina's snippy voice slices through her thoughts like a fruit ninja. "Let's move," she angrily barks at her, so gorgeous in her red jersey with her name across her chest...matching Emma's.

Emma rolls her eyes for show.

Even if the cameras aren't rolling.

She doesn't respond but she pulls herself up from the cushy seat and follows Regina off the bus. Production wastes no time ushering them like farm animals toward a massive sign that says, The Challenge: Rivals 3. Everyone is quiet because the cameras are already rolling, so each person follows the person in front of them until they are all lined up in front of TJ.