"It's fine, really!"

He spoke, smiling nervously as he shook his head. Walking beside you at the same pace, heading towards the dock of shame as Chris liked to call it. Raising a hand to rub the back of his neck nervously.

Now, Cody knew he didn't have to come with you. He basically self eliminated himself just to be able to be with you, and he knew his team, the Screaming Gophers, weren't exactly pleased with it. Although he was grateful for Chris allowing it and letting him leave with you.

To everyone else on the island, he was just a simp or following your lead. His team suspected you even brainwashed him of sorts to get him to eliminate himself, but it wasn't true. In reality, he himself just wanted to leave with you. Throughout the week, he had gotten close to you. You were the only girl who really talked with him even during his whole Gwen crush thing.

Standing beside you on the dock while waiting for Chef to come on the boat to pick you two up, he was a little closer than usual but restrained himself from accidentally holding your hand or anything embarrassing like that.

"I swear, I don't mind."

He added, turning his head towards you, his teal eyes staring at you for a moment before smiling and closing his eyes while doing so. His tooth gap showing but he didn't mind it. Besides, you never teased him for it and called it "cute" once when you first came to the island, and it stuck with him ever since.

If all those reasons weren't why he would follow you and willingly leave the contest to be with you, there's other reasons. After he figured out Gwen had no interest in him, he started to realize how much... better you were or better worded how much nicer and friendlier you were. Obviously, he started trailing after you, and yet you still welcomed him.

It was no wonder he started to change and develop a crush on you instead, like during a challenge he gave you his yellow collard shirt and he was left with his blue jeans and dark green shoes. It was embarrassing, but he would rather you feel better, and that was when he realized how much he had fallen for you.

So much so...he was willing to leave behind the opportunity of winning the money and be with you.