Unscripted

Chapter Twenty-Two - Vote #3

Dani looked between Charlie and Cara. Cara was looking at the ground, while Charlie was looking straight at her with venom in her eyes. The tension between the two was so awkward, that I felt Cara remove her arms from mine so she could situate them in her lap. She started picking at her nails, and I wanted to reach out and soothe all her worries. Despite her telling me she was over Charlie, I knew there was a part of her that was still reeling after having a connection with the evil blonde.

Dani responded, "Do you feel it's for the better? It looks like you and Sophie seem cozy enough."

It was Sophie that piped up. "Charlie and I are just getting to know each other. We're not exclusive," I ignored when her eyes flashed over to mine. "It hasn't been two weeks yet, and I know I'm new - but it seems there are quite a few exclusive couples already. That's not fair, is it?"

It was Cassie, who I haven't heard from in a while, that interrupted with a roll of her eyes. "Fair to who? You two? Please - I know I'm not any better, but I can smell the trouble you two are cooking from a mile away." She tapped her nails along her arms, which were crossed as she glared at the two of them.

Dani raised her eyebrows, "Oh, my. Looks like some tension tonight. Cassie, how do you feel about these switches?" Cara shifted in her seat again. I wondered if Cassie and her ever talked after the situation last night. But, then again, when would she have if she was with me the whole time?

Cassie huffed and repeated, "How do I feel about the switches?" She rolled her eyes yet again. "To be clear, I was never in a relationship with Charlie. It was just fun, and honestly I think I've got some fucked up, toxic tendencies. But, I hate it when someone tries to use me for their own vendetta."

Charlie interrupted with a scoff, "I didn't use you for my own vendetta. Stop villainizing me."

Janelle said under her breath, "She doesn't need to."

Charlie arched an eyebrow, "What did you say? Why don't you say it louder for everyone to hear?"

Janelle raised her eyebrows but kept her mouth shut. Charlie blew out a breath, "That's what I thought." She turned to Cassie, "We had a mutual understanding that we were just keeping it casual. I don't know why you had to misinterpret it along the way, but you did - and now here we are." Cara kept picking at her fingers, and I saw she accidentally drew blood on one of her thumbs. I frowned and casually slipped my hand around hers to separate them.

Cassie was growing visibly frustrated and looked at Dani. "Oh, so now production doesn't want to show any secret clips?" Dani looked surprised, and Cassie glared back at Charlie again. "You're right. We did agree to keep it casual, but how about you tell the whole fucking world that the whole time you were supposed to help set me up with Cara?" What?

She laughed, "You said that you weren't serious about Cara, but for some reason she was serious about you. You knew I had a crush on her, and she wouldn't give me the time of day. You told me you would secretly coax her my way, but little did I know you were just wrapping her around your finger while using me?"

Charlie threw her hand up in her air and removed her other arm from Sophie's shoulders. She leaned on her knees in frustration. "Why the fuck would I give a shit about the crush you had on Cara? I don't know you - why would I do anything for you? Plus, you don't have a crush on Cara. You have some weird fucking fixation because she looked like your ex-girlfriend that treated you like shit. News flash - maybe it's just you - maybe you just attract awful shit to happen to you, because you're no better."

I couldn't stop but had my mouth drop slightly open. Becca and Harper gasped besides Cassie, and Charlie looked smug in her seat.

Before Cassie could have a chance to retort, Dani cleared her throat and looked over at Cara, who remained silent. "Cara, your name has been thrown around quite a bit. Care to comment?"