Bag a Boyfriend, page 3
Day Three
Lizzy reached back for Charles’ hand, like it was the most natural thing in the world. A part of her wished she felt electricity racing up her arm at his touch. She caught the eye of his handler, watching from behind the camera. She blinked and asked Charles to repeat himself, trying to ignore that intense gaze. The rest of the crew were careful never to invade their space, to make it appear as if they were alone rather than facing a sea of people. She turned her back to them; a camera followed to ensure her face was still in shot as she looked at Charles, smiled up at him. If it weren’t for the invading forces this would be a lovely date.
“There’s a Japanese concept,” he explained, “called forest bathing. I can’t remember the word for it. It’s about finding, ah, space, cleansing, fresh air, in nature.”
“That sounds lovely. Forest breathing.”
“Forest bathing.”
“Ah.” She noticed one crew member nudge another, they were going to make her look like an idiot.
Charles guided her down the gravel path to a little river where water ran rapidly over rocks.
“I love the sound of it,” he said. “I listen to something similar to help me sleep.”
“Doesn’t it—” she stopped herself from asking if it made him need to pee, that would not go down well. Sure, he’d answer but she didn’t know how it would appear to the public. That sadistic bastard following them would likely make them film it again, make her say it as sarcastically as possible, implying she thought Charles was the idiot. “Never mind. It is lovely here.” She wondered why they hadn’t done activities like white-water rafting but answered her own question as she posed it; everything was sponsored, there were no local white-water rafting outfits to need promotion. She’d prefer more adventurous dates like the big productions had, maybe even sky diving. But that wasn’t Charles’ style, he’d appear even more uncomfortable.
The crew clustered up the little slope, unable to join them by the river. Later they would capture the river itself without them standing in front of it. The idea of forest bathing was lovely but was it possible when there was so much technology close by?
I’m next, Lizzy thought on the drive back to the hotel, if that kiss didn’t save me.
While the camera had captured panning shots without them they retreated to the car where a second camera had captured their kiss. To be more accurate Lizzy had kissed Charles, following the instructions that he was reluctant to.
But kissing Charles wasn’t just to please the whispering overlord; the competition aspect was getting to her. If nothing else, she wanted to beat Caroline.
The weird things crew members said to her, trying to prompt her into sarcasm, made her realise she had been cast as the funny one but she wasn’t nearly as amusing as they planned. There was pride in thwarting their efforts to humiliate her, yet she had still kissed him, playing right into their plans.
The boyfriend-handler had been watching closely but his face was like stone when she glanced at him after separating from Charles. Surely it had been him telling Charles to kiss her?
It would be better to leave the final three as the party girl, the bitchy one and the nice one. It’s clear who the audience would support but there’d be enough tension; Caroline was a great actress, Charles might have fallen for her act.
“Last date of the day,” Caroline greeted Lizzy, as she entered the ladies’ suite after her date. “You know what that means.”
Caroline was already made up for the bag ceremony, her severe bob perfectly straight as ever, behind her Lizzy could glimpse Lydia getting the final touches which meant they were ready for her.
Lizzy closed her eyes briefly; she needed strength to face Caroline without screaming. “There is no curse, Caroline. The production chooses the order of the dates.” It had held true the first two days of production, but could it count as a curse when Mary had chosen to leave?
“Either way, I’d be worried if I were you.”
Briefly, as she brushed past Caroline, Lizzy wondered if they did order the dates for who was going home. Caroline would be likely to know, she seemed to know more than the rest of them. She turned, opened her mouth to say something then closed it again. Caroline may not be a mole but she was good at stirring drama, there was no point playing into her hands.
“How did your date go, Lizzy?” Jane asked, breaking into her thoughts. She looked stunning in a deep blue full-length gown.
“Am I late?” Lizzy asked, looking around at them and failing to answer Jane’s question. They hadn’t had to rush since the first day; fewer people meant more time. “You look beautiful,” she said to Jane. Remembering she couldn’t be upset at Caroline for being bitchy if she didn’t try to include her, she added, “You look good too Caroline.” Lydia was too busy on her phone to care.
Caroline patted her platinum blonde hair as she looked in the mirror. “It’s not their best work but at least they have something to work with.” She had not allowed Maria, the hair and makeup artist, anywhere near her hair, complaining that she’d had it treated before the show.
Lizzy rolled her eyes at Jane who smiled apologetically.
In much shorter time than she could have imagined they were lined up in the ballroom ready to receive bags from Charles. She’d been hurried into her gown in quick time. Maria had told Lizzy that a wedding was expected that evening in the hotel and they had to cut filming short.
“It’s not like they could film somewhere else when the hotel is a sponsor and it’s not like the hotel could turn down actual paying clients either,” she explained.
“Let’s hope that Charles remembers his lines then,” she’d said to Maria, who had given up trying to protest it was real – just as Lizzy had given up trying not to talk to her.
Today they would go down to the final three and the prize for moving on was a toilet bag. Lizzy tried not to fidget as the host exhibited the bag and its many functions. Waterproof and so many pockets with a little hook to hang it. Was this how Bill showed potential buyers around properties? – “and a second bathroom! Oh my!” Lizzy pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing out loud.
Finally, the sales pitch was over and it was the girls’ turn. An assistant placed three bags on the stand behind Charles.
Come on Charlie boy, choose me. I saved you with that kiss this afternoon.
But the first name called was Caroline, who preened as she accepted the bag from Charles. It looked like he did an evasive manoeuvre to avoid Caroline kissing him smack on the mouth. Caroline was obviously very pleased with herself as she walked back to join the other women.
Maybe Lizzy had miscalculated; her stomach dropped a little, maybe they would get rid of her now that she’d kissed Charles. The handler was close to Charles just out of shot but she couldn’t see his face with the lights in her eyes.
“Jane.”
Jane hurried forward, eager to receive her hug from Charles. She blushed prettily when he kissed her on the cheek and gazed into his eyes. Charles jumped, pressed his hand to his ear and nodded; the handler threw up his hands in frustration. Charles picked up the bag and placed it in Jane’s hands.
“This is for you,” he said. “I hope you like it.” As though he’d picked it out himself.
They stood staring at each other till the handler cleared his throat, then Jane moved back to her place.
Lizzy maintained her smile while thinking, oh no, I hope it isn’t Jane, Caroline and Lydia as the final three. I was sure they’d keep me.
Bill stepped forward. “And now we are down to the final two. Charles, you must pick either Lydia or Lizzy to receive this beautiful bag and stay in the competition to win your heart.”
Lizzy looked at Lydia and gave her an encouraging smile, though anxiety was swirling in her stomach. Lydia didn’t seem too worried.
Charles looked to the handler who nodded at him. So he must be the voice in Charles’ ear, it made sense.
“This has been a really hard decision. You’re both wonderful, beautiful women.” Charles paused and Lizzy wondered whether it was for dramatic effect. “But the person I’ve chosen to get the last bag is Lizzy.”
Relief washed over her. Lizzy heard Jane exhale a breath she must have been holding, and a frustrated noise issue from Caroline, as she walked up to accept her bag and obligatory hug from Charles. She tried to shake off a feeling of elation, like she had somehow won. Charles wasn’t a prize. And even if he was, she didn’t want to win him!
Bill stepped next to Charles just as Lizzy returned to her place. “I’m sorry Lydia, you did not receive a bag. Your journey to love ends here. Please say your goodbyes.”
Lydia gave Lizzy a one-armed hug and a smile, then was enveloped by a quietly crying Jane. Caroline gave her a half-hearted pat on the back. Lydia managed to extract herself from Jane’s embrace and bounced over to Charles with her arms open.
“Charlie-boy.” Like Caroline, she tried to kiss him on the lips but he avoided this and planted one on her cheek; that was smoother than Lizzy had given him credit for. Lydia took his offered arm to exit the room.
Lizzy released a breath slowly as she watched them walk away. There had been no big scenes and she was safe for another day. She was half impressed with Lydia for not telling Charles off.
“All right,” a crew member called to the whole room, “we have a unit on Lydia’s exit. That’s a wrap for everyone else. Clean up and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
Lizzy, Jane and Carline were hurried out of their borrowed gowns and back into their normal clothes.
“Of course Lydia left, she was too much of a liability,” Caroline said. “It was funny when she tried to get Charles to make out with her but she was trying to get him to speed in the car lent to them and just take off with her. She was pretty persistent.”
“How do you know this?”
“I listen,” Caroline said with a sniff as she turned away from them and left the room.
“Do you want to grab a late dinner?” Lizzy asked Jane as she pulled on her jeans. “I have issues eating on camera.”
“Oh Lizzy, I’m so glad you’re still here!” Jane said. “You’ll keep me calm through this. I like Caroline but she can’t make me laugh like you can.” At least she was making someone laugh.
“Let’s get some food and you’ll feel better. Only two more days to go!”
They collected their belongings, along with the items Caroline had left, and started towards the door. The rest of the room had already been cleaned out, presumably for the upcoming wedding – one of the downsides of the hotel only having one suite.
“Don’t remind me,” Jane said. “What if he doesn’t pick me? I mean, I’ll be happy if he picks you, Lizzy.”
Lizzy smiled. “But you would rather it was you. I know.” Neither of them mentioned Caroline. “Don’t worry, I want it to be you too. Though I should tell you, I kissed Charles today.”
They stepped into the lift and Lizzy pressed the button for the ground floor.
Jane was less concerned about this than Lizzy thought she would be. “Lydia and Caroline both kissed him on their first dates. Besides, you’re supposed to be dating him, why would I mind?”
“Oh, I don’t know, because you’re in looove with him?”
Jane blushed. “I’m not. Though I do think he’s lovely and when he looks at me sometimes I forget that it’s reality TV and everything else just melts away and it’s me and him….” She trailed off. “I haven’t kissed him yet. It just feels wrong to do that on camera, you know?”
“He’d be crazy to pick me over you,” Lizzy said with sincerity. Not only was Jane the prettiest of them, she was the kindest too.
They returned the borrowed gowns, shoes and jewellery to the assistant waiting in the lobby.
“Caroline’s are in there too,” Jane told the harried looking woman, who nodded and noted something on a clipboard.
“I swear I’ve never worn high heels so often in my life,” Lizzy said as she handed them over. “Give me flats any day.”
They avoided the hotel restaurant, eager to get out of the building, and settled on a pizza place nearby.
“I can’t imagine what Caroline would say if she saw us eating this,” Lizzy observed.
“She does have a very nice figure,” Jane said diplomatically.
“She is constantly on about the food they offer us. Like she wants to exist on nothing but lettuce! Going on and on about how ‘the camera adds ten pounds.’ How much is that in kg’s anyway?”
Jane looked thoughtful. “Hmm, I think 5kg. So not really much.” She pulled out her phone – she was one of those polite people who didn’t put their phone on the table during dinner – and tapped the screen. “I stand corrected, 4.5kg…ish.”
Lizzy pulled a face. “Barely enough to bother mentioning.”
Jane fiddled with her slice of pizza but didn’t pick it up.
“I’m enjoying my time on the show, getting to know you, getting to know Charles—”
“—not getting to know Caroline.” Lizzy added but Jane ignored this.
“—but I do miss the kids. It’s hard to be away from them for so long, they develop so quickly.”
The kids weren’t her own; Jane was a kindergarten teacher. Lizzy smiled, she couldn’t imagine anyone better suited to the role.
“I’m sure they miss you too.” She covered Jane’s hand with her own.
“Oh, the poor babies.” Jane blinked away tears. “I feel so guilty leaving them, even if they do have a reliever, it’s not the same. They know me. They trust me.”
“I bet you’re everyone’s favourite. Eat,” Lizzy said, nodding at the pizza, “and you’ll feel better.”
Obediently Jane took a bite and smiled. “Oooh this is good!” she said around a mouthful, surprising Lizzy into laughter. She briefly wondered at Jane’s surprise – did she not normally eat pizza?
Day Four
The ladies’ suite felt much larger with just Lizzy, Jane and Caroline there the next day. At least they couldn’t fault Caroline for claiming an entire couch. There was still as many crew as ever in the ballroom. Lizzy idly wondered how it would go if there was an all-out war as she picked over the catering selection at breakfast. The two sides had been carefully kept apart throughout filming, perhaps due to the fraternising the producer had been involved in which had got him downgraded to this job. The crew had the numbers but Lizzy bet Caroline was a dirty fighter. They would be hindered by Jane who would refuse to fight, no matter what the provocation. Lizzy thought she might be able to hold her own against two of the crew – maybe the smaller ones. The thought of kicking the boyfriend-handler made her smile.
But who’s side would Charles be on? He was friends with a producer but technically he was talent rather than crew which should put him on the some side as the ladies.
“Lucky last today,” Maria said brightly, as Lizzy sat down in the makeup chair sipping her coffee. She could probably take Maria if it came down to it.
The smile Lizzy gave her in return was tired. The early mornings and long days were taking their toll.
“Can you do anything about the bags under my eyes?” she turned her head from side to side, looking at the damage in the mirror. Perhaps she should start napping on the couches.
“Of course. Those are my speciality.” She began preparing Lizzy’s face for the onslaught of makeup. “Charles will never know you were up all night thinking about him.”
Lizzy laughed in response. “How are you so chipper all the time? Aren’t you tired with the long days?”
“I get some downtime in the middle, and they don’t need to me stay to remove your makeup at the end like some jobs I’ve worked on. Are you finding it hard?”
Lizzy made a non-committal sound, constantly aware that she shouldn’t say too much to anyone for fear of it being taken the wrong way.
“I hear you and Jane went out last night,” Maria observed, she’d now moved onto foundation. “Did you have a good time?”
“There really isn’t any privacy here, is there?”
“A shoot is a bit incestuous. Sometimes we get caught up in the drama of it all. Do you think Jane’s a threat?”
“Jane is…” Lizzy fumbled for the right words in case this was being recorded; she didn’t want to say Jane wasn’t a threat to anyone in case it was used out of context, “…the loveliest person I’ve met. I consider her a friend.”
“Even though you’re dating the same guy?”
“Even though we’re dating the same guy,” Lizzy replied with a nod.
If Maria had asked about Caroline that would have been a different story.
Lizzy had the last date of the day again. She wondered if that meant things wouldn’t go well for her in the bag ceremony that evening. So far, she had proven there wasn’t a curse but it didn’t mean production hadn’t allotted her the final date for their own purposes.
Jane hadn’t returned from her date by the time Lizzy left so they hadn’t had a chance to debrief. Caroline had raved about her date to the room at large even though Lizzy was the only one there.
“How are you feeling, Lizzy?” Charles asked.
They were taking a little cruise on the river in a floating restaurant, chatting while they waited for their meals.
“It’s so beautiful here,” she said, trying to ignore the ever-hovering cameras. She wondered how they would keep them out of the reflections of the wall to wall glass of the boat. “I never do things like this. Thank you for bringing me.”
Charles tilted his head to one side as though he was listening to something, which she supposed he was – the ear bud had become an ever-present fixture. “I meant how are you feeling about this experience? A–about me?”
