ᵀᴿᵁᵀᴴ ᴼᴿ ᴰᴬᴿᴱ メ ᴾᴴᴬᴺ

-30-

pj walked in, looking slightly uneasy as he should be. there was tension in the room, mostly due to dan still throwing clothes into his suitcase and zipping it up violently.

dan saw phil moving to greet his new partner, smiling at him with a weak smile which made him even more angry. he growled under his breath in annoyance as his suitcase caused him difficulty. he didn't understand why phil went on to pj so quickly. did he not see that he was hurt?

conor got everything set up, ordering his crew to check on lighting and waiting for them to get everything ready. after giving the three boys a five second heads up, conor started talking to the camera about the challenge that was made the night before reminding the viewers of the switcheroos. there were four switch ups at this moment in time meaning two couples were safe of the heat. however they had other challenges they would have to do in order to gain views.

"five days of the week, each day we will broadcast the days of two couples along with any important drama of course," conor smiled his mischievous smile.

"but this week we will see all the couples meeting their new partners for the next three days and see how well they can cope. how well do they TRUST their other half? let's find out. first up, dan switches with pj to his new partner chris, leaving pj with phil."

and with that, the green light turns red. conor turns. to face the three boys who could do anything they wanted behind the camera as conor spoke, the camera following him so the audience too could feel the tension in the room.

"dan, it's time. will you come with me so i can take you to chris?" conor motioned dan to follow, who reluctantly did, not even looking at phil who frowned, his eyes following his ex-partner out the room.

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"why are you doing this?" dan asked conor as they left the room. conor didn't answer, his smile only growing wider.

"now remember, if you ever want to talk your point of view or feelings to the audience one on one, go to this room... and here we are!" conor opened the door for dan to go in, chris sitting on the bed with a wicked smile.

"nice to see you again, daniel." his new partner laughed. dan stood in annoyance, looking back at conor who nodded and then closed the door.

"fancy seeing you here." chris said, his eyes looking up and down dan and stood up, moving towards him.

"what are you doing?" dan said, moving back, almost tripping over his suitcase.

"are you not even going to greet your old friend?" chris laughed, not moving any further towards dan but instead doing the opposite.

"trust me, you won't resist after a day." he challenged. "you and phil huh? as if that would ever last."

"don't you dare talk about me and phil like that!" dan hissed, his hands tightening into fists. he couldn't even look at chris, not without remembering them their history and why they would now talk to each other as if they hated each other. which in dan's case, he really did. chris only teased him for it.

"what are you going to do about it?" chris raised an eyebrow. "you come all violent and they kick you out. and do you know what that means?"

dan looked away, biting his lip. he knew exactly what that means.

"that's right danny boy, phil is left in here. this dangerous game for five whole months without you 'protecting him' but you know what? i don't think he needs protecting." chris shrugged his shoulders.

"what's that supposed to mean?" dan was still standing by the door of the room, knowing he can't leave but also not willing to let himself go near chris, who looked up.

"i think you are the one that needs protecting."

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"so how long have you guys been together?" pj asked, boiling the kettle. phil was sitting on one of the couches, feeling a little uneasy. dan had left him without even saying goodbye. he had just gone, as if not bearing to look at him again. was he blaming him for making him do this game?

"phil?" pj sat down beside him as he waited for the kettle. phil looked up as pj repeated the question.

"two months," phil whispered. he didn't normally give such short, abrupt answers but he couldn't bring himself to make conversation, as much as that would kill the tension.

"are you okay?" pj asked, going back to the kettle and pouring them into two cups which had tea bags inside them. he lifted them both carefully towards where phil was sitting, placing them on the coffee table. phil thanked him.

"yeah i'm fine i'm just-"

"worried about dan?" pj finished for him, leaning back on the chair and sighed. "don't worry, you trust dan, don't you?"

"more than ever." phil replied. he was appreciative of pj being so nice to him, of trying to make it seem not as bad as he was making it seem. but at the same time he couldn't help but feel suspicious about pj's behaviour.

"then you should have nothing to worry about," pj smiled what seemed like a genuine smile but phil couldn't tell. he hardly knew this guy and now they had to share a room together? his thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

phil stood up to go get it, seeing two golden envelopes being slid through the door. he picked them both up seeing they were both addressed to him. one said truth, the other said dare.

"what do i do with these?" phil asked his new partner. he obviously had an idea of what he had to do with them, but he wanted pj to tell him something else. before he could reply, there was one more knock. with nothing being slid through, phil looked through the peep hole to see conor waving from behind the door. he let him in.

"now ladies and gents, let's see what phil will do. he has two envelopes, one that says truth and one that says dare. whichever one he chooses will show his next challenge. phil will you please choose an envelope to open?" conor walked in with a camera following him, looking at phil intently to see what he would choose. phil was made to sit down next to pj who sat quietly sipping his tea.

phil looked at both the envelopes, silently wishing dan was here to help him choose. he stared at the truth envelope knowing that it could have been the safer option but knowing what conor has done so far he couldn't help but be wary of it. he remembered what marcus said, thinking maybe he should do the braver option so he could stay in the show and be voted for. he put the truth envelope down.

"i choose dare."