Harper took one look at me and burst out laughing. “You guys think he looks better now?”

I hate the competition.

The next minute, Chef JJ was marching across the set, Dieter a few steps behind. “Greetings, minions, seems like we were a little slow out of the gate this morning. Beginning to crack under the pressure, are we?” I guess that thought made her really happy, because she smiled a big, toothy smile right then. “You know what I always say…”

“If you’re not standing the heat, get out of the kitchen,” Dieter said.

Chef JJ rolled her eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you? It’s can’t stand the heat. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!”

“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,” Dieter repeated.

“Well, I said it already now.”

My face was so itchy, I swear I could feel the tickle in my teeth. I scratched at my palm and tried to convince myself it was my cheek.

Snap. The cameras began rolling.

“With only three contestants left, this is the last challenge before the East Coast regional finals. Whoever is sent home today will have come so far only to be sent home with nothing.” One of the Transformer cameras stretched its neck toward Chef JJ as she crossed the set. “Let’s see how Harper is handling the pressure.”

“Bring it on,” Harper said. “Oh, I have something for you.” She unpinned a button from her jean jacket and held it up.

“‘Winners never quit and quitters never win,’” Chef JJ read. “I like it.”

Dieter took the button, wiped it down with a handkerchief, and handed it to Chef JJ.

“I knew you would,” Harper said.

I liked it better when Harper was trash-talking. I’d take a trash-talker over a suck-up any day. It didn’t even seem like Harper. Maybe the pressure was getting to her even if she couldn’t admit it.

“And what about you, Keya?” Chef JJ said. “How are you managing?”

“A tad nervous.” She smiled. “But I’m trying to just take each challenge as it comes.”

“What a…nice attitude.” The word “nice” made Chef JJ’s mouth pucker like she’d sucked on a lemon. “And last, quite possibly least, Tristan?”

“I’m just happy I’m still here representing Petersville, the best small to—”

“What’s wrong with your face?” Chef JJ said, scowling at me.

“CUT!”

The next second, Randy was there, squeezing between me and Chef JJ.

“Tris was…pale this morning, so we had Barry give him a little extra.”

“He is looking very”—Dieter’s eyebrows inched down his forehead as he leaned in to study me—“apricot.”

“Don’t worry. We can even out the color digitally,” Randy said.

“If you say so.” Chef JJ was still examining my face like she was trying to identify something stuck to the bottom of her shoe.

When the cameras began rolling again, Chef JJ announced the challenge: One Ingredient Masterpiece. This was no surprise. One-Ingredient Masterpiece has been a challenge on every season except the first.