Can't Script Love

Week 5: A Double Date

Teagan woke me up on the first day of week five when the crew members of the show announced a 'cast meeting'. The kitchen and dining room tables were set with a meal of biscuits and gravy, and we all took a seat to wait for the start of the meeting.

A young woman, much more fit to stand behind a camera rather than talk to a crowd, flipped through a ratted notebook. "So, ah, the week for plan five – the plan for week five is largely centered around two-on-one dates. There will be... two! Two of these dates."

The other girls started whispering among themselves; I busied myself with eating my breakfast.

"One of these dates is going to happen, well, tonight. So we suggest these two girls get ready after the meeting because it's going to take a drive to get to the- the location. Then the second date..."

Kaisa interrupted the poor girl. "Could you tell us who is going on the date tonight?"

"Of course, of course," she said hastily. "Jasmine, it's you and Skylar tonight."

My fork clattered onto my nearly-empty plate. Teagan cheered and wrapped her arms around me with a squeeze. I sat frozen as my brain tried to process the news. A few of the girls glared at me, but Jade sent a smug look in my direction.

The twins were announced as the second two-on-one date of the week. A hushed stillness settled in the kitchen, but Blythe and Blair hugged each other, smiling. "It's only fair to find out which sister Nicholas likes best," Blair told the rest of the girls.

The meeting was abruptly adjourned when Notebook Woman scurried from our scrutiny. I poured myself a glass of orange and debated whether it would be appropriate to spike it with some alcohol.

"Be excited Skylar!" Teagan gushed. "You and Jasmine are going way out of town to, what I imagine is, a beautiful setting with delicious food. It's a trademark."

Jasmine perched herself onto the table top near my plates. "We're going on a date together!"

I laughed insincerely. "No, I am going on a date with Nicholas at the same time you are going on a date with Nicholas."

"What's wrong with the way I said it?" Jasmine coyly raised a glass of juice to her lips and winked at me. She bounced off the table and exited the kitchen, taking the glass with her.

I reached for my own glass, then I realized Jasmine had taken it.

"Never mind the juice," my television best friend said. "Let me help you get dressed up for the day." Teagan jabbered on as she guided me back to our room. "I'm sure that when your date starts, the sun will be beating down on you. Temperatures will drop, though, when the sun goes down. I suggest something you can breathe in but with more coverage. Not too skimpy or you'll make a wrong impression, but you need to look breathtaking."

"Teagan, you are taking this more seriously than I am."

Teagan turned me around and started directly into my eyes. "Skylar, I don't want you to go home yet. You are my closest friend here, and I want both of us to succeed."

"I won't necessarily go home after tonight."

"It's a two-on-one date."

"So?"

"If you don't beat out Jasmine, you get sent home. It's the rules. Haven't you seen this show?"

I bit my lip and shot Teagan a cheeky grin. She shook her head at me.

"Alright, alright," I conceded. "I'll get my A-game on tonight to stay another week with you."

"What are you looking to wear?"