Chapter 11 #2
If I’d known I wouldn’t be allowed any communication at all, I never would have come. I need to find a way to get a letter out to her, an email, fucking anything. I can’t have her thinking I’m ghosting her by choice.
Landon is impatiently waiting for me to answer, and there’s no way in hell I’m exposing myself like that, least of all to him.
“Heights,” I say.
He lifts an eyebrow like he doesn’t believe me. “Heights?”
He’s searching my face, like he finds joy in catching me in a lie. He won’t succeed, though, because apart from losing Lily, heights scare the fucking shit out of me.
“Yeah, the idea of being splattered across a surface scares the shit out of me.”
He continues staring at me, but he doesn’t question it. Clearly, I passed his little lie-detector test or whatever the hell he thinks he’s capable of.
“What about you? Let me guess, commitment?”
Landon makes a sound that’s a cross between a sneer and a scoff.
Before he can answer, the timer goes off, and Alex steps in front of us.
“Well, I hope that helped you all get acquainted. Now for the exciting part, why don’t you all join me down by the pool?” he says before someone yells cut, and yet again, we all come together, filing back downstairs.
“Why the fuck do we keep moving around?” Angel grumbles from behind me.
“Uh, because it’s a show?” Bella throws out like it’s obvious. “If every scene was filmed in one spot, that would be boring as hell.”
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Angel snarls back to her.
Bella flips her off before tossing her hair over her shoulder.
Angel lunges for her, but Mason is quick to grab her, hauling her away with a laugh.
“Oh shit, she’s a feisty one.”
Damn. Apparently, it’s not just me that’s rubbing people the wrong way.
Drama every corner you look. Guess that was the point of casting, right?
Find as many abrasive personalities as possible and force them to share a roof for the foreseeable future.
Forget the finding-love-and-completing-challenges part, that’s a reality show in itself.
Once we’re all arranged on the large couch by the pool, the cameras begin rolling and Alex begins.
“So, now that you all have gotten a little one-on-one time with each guy or girl, we’re going to give you the opportunity to spend even more.
With the locked-in ceremony right around the corner, it’s important to test connections, and lock in with the right person.
This could be your future husband or wife, so the dates are high,” he says and laughs.
Already we’ve become accustomed to his horrible puns and jokes, so on cue, we all chuckle and smile as the camera zooms in on each one of us. Hopefully, they only highlight the most-amused-looking faces in editing. Definitely won’t be mine.
“Ladies, if I could have you all come forward,” Alex says, gesturing for us to all stand in a line in front of the couch.
We do as he says, and the camera cuts slightly as they rearrange a few girls. Not sure why it matters, but whatever.
“Now, ladies. You’ll all be allowed to choose two guys to go on mini dates with. We’ve set up some pretty awesome spots all over the island, so it’s definitely going to be a fun day.”
My eyes meet Noah’s, and he shoots me a quick wink. I can’t help but stand up a little taller, attempting to hide my excitement, but who am I kidding? The opportunity to go on an actual date, mini or not, with Noah away from all this? Or at least from most of it? Sign me up.
“Kenzie, we’ll start with you. Who are the two men you would like to go on mini dates with?”
She thinks about this for a moment. “I’d like to go with Calvin and Mason.”
Calvin dips his head respectfully, a pleased smile on his face as Mason lights up.
“Hell yeah!” he shouts, high-fiving Connor, who’s next to him.
A few people laugh as Alex moves to Cora.
“Cora, who will you be going on dates with?”
My gaze darts over to see Andrew leaning forward slightly, hope all over his face.
“Andrew and Noah.”
That catches me by surprise, and I feel bad for the venomous look I must throw her. Shit, my bad. That literally came out of nowhere. I bet it’ll make good TV, though.
Andrew looks almost relieved, whereas Noah gives a polite nod before his eyes meet mine again in a reassuring way.
“Next up is Savannah. Who will be your lucky two?” Alex smiles.
She moves her head back and forth as if she’s giving this a lot of thought before she grins. “Noah and Landon.”
Double side-eye.
First, because why the fuck is everyone picking Noah, and second, because Landon? Ass attracts bitch, I guess.
Okay, calling her a bitch might be a little far. I don’t even really know the girl.
As if she can read my mind, she turns to me, a satisfied smirk on her face before she blows me a kiss.
Yeah, just kidding. Major bitch. Dare I say cunt.
Luna is next, and she goes for Shane and Calvin, no surprise there. Angel picks Noah and Mason. Bella chooses Noah and Connor. Kiera picks Noah and Dallas, and finally it’s me.
“I’ll go with Noah and… Shane.”
I only hesitate for a moment because truly, I didn’t have a second guy picked. I don’t know why I didn’t come up with one sooner, but when I, on the spot, realized I hadn’t, I picked the person who would be the least-miserable company.
“And there you have it. We’ll have those dates ready soon, and you’ll be getting text messages about where and when they’ll be taking place. Now, some of you will be going on multiple dates, cough, Noah, I’m looking at you,” Alex says, glancing at Noah.
Noah smiles humbly, but I can tell he’s loving the attention. I mean, what guy wouldn’t? Six out of eight women chose to go on a date with him. That’s gotta feel good. It’s also gotta make the other guys feel like shit. Oh, and me too.
Daryll yells cut, and everyone disperses as the crew scatters, presumably getting the filming and setups ready for the mini dates.
“Alright, everyone, upstairs. We want to see new outfits, hair, makeup, the works. Dress to impress,” a woman shouts as she herds us like cattle.
Luna loops her arm through mine as we head up the stairs to get ready. “How does it feel that half the girls in this place want your man?” she teases.
I roll my eyes at her and grumble as Savannah, Angel and Kiera all whisper to each other, giggling before looking back at me.
“More than half it looks like.”