Chapter Twenty-Two Mia
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mia
Mia woke up to countless comments on episode three screaming in all caps about Matías and Jack. People also laughed at Noah
and his shovel, while others griped about how the show was a bit slow and less exciting than others.
It’s because it’s not supposed to be a traditional dating show! Mia thought as she lay in bed. If she’d had the time and energy, she’d have written up a response to those people explaining
exactly that. But she didn’t. Plus, she didn’t want to be that person.
She navigated to the playlist of previous episodes. They were averaging around fifty thousand views per episode now. A quick
search through social media revealed that people were starting to talk—and make videos—about The Cuffing Game on Instagram and other platforms.
“It looks like everyone loves the show so far,” Kallie said when Mia showed her the posts. “For the most part, anyway. Congrats,
Mia! We’re making strides.”
Grinning, they shared a high five.
Before she put her phone away for the day, Mia checked her notifications.
Jeannette had sent her a text reminding her to drink water, like she did every once in a while, and Lola had sent her a few
dozen TikToks that she would probably never get to. Meanwhile, Cara had filled her in on her latest boyfriend drama, while
their mom had sent them all more wholesome photos in the family group chat, like the ones with everyone dressed in matching
Dolly Parton Christmas sweaters in front of the tree.
Mia felt a weird sting in her chest as she zoomed into everyone’s smiling faces. This was her first December away from home
and, already, she was missing so much. She wondered if her family had also gotten a sweater for her. If Jeannette had ordered
the sweaters, probably. If their mom had, probably not. Besides sending photos in the group chat, their mom had barely messaged
her since Mia first packed her bags and left for LA.
Mia had just sent Cara the best encouraging response she could manage when Kallie loudly cleared her throat.
“Yeah?” Mia asked, looking up from her phone.
“I just got a text from Alex,” Kallie replied. “They didn’t know if you were awake yet, which is why they texted me. You’re
wanted in the production room before you do the announcements for the day. I’ll go with you, too.”
Dread crept over Mia as she followed Kallie out of their room.
Mia had barely closed the door of the production room behind her when Damien asked, “Mia, are you sneaking around with Noah? Please. It’s our last full day in Big Bear. Just tell me the truth so I can do damage control.”
Mia reeled back. “No? Why would you think that?”
Damien looked at Alex, who hit a few keys on their laptop and adjusted their glasses.
“So . . . you know we have cameras all over the house, right?” they said. “We saw you sneak out of the lodge with Noah in
the middle of the night.”
“But I never left the house with—”
“You two didn’t leave together, but you came back around the same time,” Alex clarified. “Several hours later. Sorry, it’s
not like I’m trying to keep track of what you do, but I do skim through the mini-camera feeds every day before I edit, for
any shots or moments we missed with the main cameras. After Day One, I made a note of you and Noah just in case it was anything
significant, but then . . .”
“You sneaked out again. Last night,” Damien finished for them. “Or at least Noah did. We didn’t see you this time, but you
know where all the cameras are, so . . . Mia, please. As the producer, according to SPC rules, I need to report to them if
you are sneaking out with one of the talent, especially if you two are making out or—”
“No!” Mia exclaimed, spluttering at the very idea of “making out” with Noah. Trying her best to ignore the heat rising in her cheeks, she went on, “It wasn’t anything like that. And I didn’t even go out last night! I went to bed right after we submitted the episode. Kallie can vouch for me.”
Kallie let out a nervous laugh. “I’m a deep sleeper, but I believe you, Mia. We all do, right?”
She shot a pointed look at both Alex and Damien. Alex hesitantly smiled and nodded, but Damien let out a long sigh.
“So Noah went out by himself last night, then?” he asked. “Don’t get me wrong. I do want to believe you. But I’m just doing
my job. Since we are using school resources for this project, there’s a lot of paperwork that needs to be done if you’re—”
“Please don’t say that part again,” Mia pleaded.
Damien raised an eyebrow. “Which part? The ‘making out’? Mia, what’s wrong with you? Do you like Noah Jang?”
Everyone was staring at her now.
It was a scene straight out of Mia’s nightmares, the exact shot and even mise-en-scène of her friends that she hoped would
never become reality.
Damien rubbed his face with his hands. “She does. Just look at her. Honestly, I’ve suspected it for a while, since she’s a
completely different person around him. I told myself, okay, she either really hates this guy or . . .” He sighed. “I’ll spare
you the word, Mia. Because it’s clear from your reactions that you haven’t come to terms with your own feelings yet.”
“Completely different person”? Mia frowned. She was about to ask Damien what he meant when Kallie said, “Wait, if Noah’s your crush, then . . . why is he here? As one of the contestants?”
“He’s also Celine’s crush,” Mia said. “Or he was. I don’t know if she likes him anymore. She basically told me yesterday that
she doesn’t.”
Alex groaned. “It’s going to be another rough day of editing today, isn’t it?”
“A rough everything, from the looks of it,” said Damien. “At least we have more people joining us today.”
The two of them shared a knowing look. There it was again. The faint something between Damien and Alex. This was neither the time nor place to bring that up, though, so Mia said instead, “Regardless of
my own feelings, it’s not like that between me and Noah. That one time we went outside together, we sat around the firepit
and talked for a bit because we both couldn’t sleep. That was all. But it wasn’t planned or anything like that. I promise.
And he definitely doesn’t like me that way. Noah and I aren’t even friends. I’ll do my best to stay clear of him from now
on.”
Damien pursed his lips for a moment, keeping his gaze steadily on Mia’s. Then finally, he shrugged.
“All right, I believe you,” he said. “Let’s get started with the day.”