Page 18 of Hunter

Interesting.

I’m anxious to talk to Isabella, but I remind myself that I have plenty of time. I turn away from the arriving teams, and head back to our table to get some work done.

***

Isabella

In the information packet we received, it said thatThe Astonishing Racehad rented a small cruise ship for moving the contestants and production crew north from Ketchikan to Whittier, so naturally, I’d pictured something out of a Royal Caribbean brochure. The ship we’re approaching, however, looks less like a yacht and more like a washed-up ferry that’s seen better days.

On the ubiquitous blue mat, Nat Keegan interviews two guys fresh from the set ofRevenge of the Nerds, while Beto and I stand awkwardly to the side, waiting for our turn.

Things have gone from bad to worse between me and my cousin. He didn’t return to our hotel room the night before last until four o’clock in the morning, and he was so drunk, he pulled the shower curtain off its rings and fell to the bathroom floor while trying to take a shower.

Luckily, he didn’t hurt himself too badly, and after patching him up with a few Band-Aids, I was able to help him into bed. But he was in no condition to drive three hours later, which meant that I had to do the drive to Prince Rupert while he alternated between puking into a plastic bag and napping in the back seat of my car.

Once on the ferry from Prince Rupert to Ketchikan, we avoided each other for the entire seven-hour ride, with me reading a book in the forward observation lounge while my cousin “caught rays” on the upstairs sun deck. When we arrived in Ketchikan, we parked my car at the airport, which offers parking for two dollars a day, and called a cab to take us to our hotel.

Now, here we are, barely speaking, waiting in line for our first interview. We’re not going to be a very convincing team if we can’t stand each other.

“Beto,” I say softly, nudging him with my elbow, “we can’t come off like enemies for our first interview.”

“We’re notenemies. I don’t hate you, homes.”

“I don’t hate you either.”

“But you’re all up in my junk.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“You’re worse than my moms, yo. Always picking.”

“Okay. I get it. I’ll ease up,” I tell him. “In return, can you at least act like we’re friends? On camera?”

He takes a deep breath and sighs.

“Yeah,” he says. “Just chill the fuck out, bruh, and it’ll be good. Be cool, okay?”

“Don’t call me br—I mean…fine. Okay. Yes. I will chill.”

Nat Keegan waves us over to the mat, so we approach him together, standing side by side.

“Smile for the cameras. The more personality, the better,” he instructs us. “What’s your team name?”

“Team Primos, bruh,” says Beto, putting his arm around my shoulders.

I’m about to nudge him when Nat Keegan chuckles with delight. “Okay,bro! It’s Beto and Izzy, right?”

“Isabella,” I say.

“Izzy plays better. It’s more fun,” Nat Keegan tells me, gesturing to the camera guy to start filming. “Hellooooo,Astonishing RaceNation! I’m here with my bro, Beto, of Team Primos! How’re you doing today, Beto?”

“I’m ready to win the mil, bruh!”

“Ha ha ha! I’m loving the enthusiasm, Beto…the Great-o!” says Nat, ribbing Beto on the shoulder. He points at me. “Who you got racing with you?”

“This is my cuz, Izzy!”

“You two are cousins, huh?” asks Nat, even though he already knows we are.

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