Chapter Four

That evening we all sat down outside again for dinner. 

The cameras are on as we sit at a table long enough for all of us. As we sit and the others talk, I notice the cameras focusing on certain conversations. Like when any of the males and females interact, for example. 

Chase is talking to Emily right now, making her smile and laugh. They’re at the other end of the table so I can’t hear them. I find myself wondering how they have such a seemingly normal conversation knowing they were being recorded the entire time.

I tear my eyes away from them as I feel a nudge on my elbow. I looked over to see Victor had pulled his chair around so he could sit next to me. “You see we’re neighbors?” He asks, giving me that half grin again as his gaze fixed on me.

I nod a little, clenching my hands in my lap. “I hope you’re not noisy.” I attempt a joke. I can’t be uptight and shy the entire time. I was here to win this thing, so I was going to have to get more comfortable with talking to these guys and being watched the entire time. Besides, Victor didn’t seem so bad. He had been the only one to even look at me so far, so there was no harm in returning his kindness at the very least.

He chuckles, a low sound that makes my stomach do a flip flop. “Nah, I’m pretty quiet.” He says. I do my best to ignore the camera now behind us and the microphone hanging over our heads, capturing every moment of our conversation. I found myself subconsciously sitting up a little straighter and fixing my hair over my shoulders. I hope I don’t have a double chin.

“What uhm… What did you say during your introduction video?” I ask. 

He shrugs. “Normal stuff. Which pack I’m from, which bloodline I hail from.” I tilt my head a little, contemplating his words. I hadn’t been asked anything like that. It had to be because I wasn’t from any important family, so why would they waste time by having me talk about my nobody bloodline? 

I nod a little, looking away when I feel a pair of eyes on me. No one is looking at me though, and it makes me feel a little crazy. Maybe it was the cameras pointed at me, maybe that’s what was making me feel like I was being watched. But ever since I’d gotten here, I swear, someone was watching me.

“Hey guys.” We stop talking and look up as Laura comes outside, grinning and stopping at the head of our table. “I wanted to go over the plans for tomorrow.” We all nod, giving her our attention. “Tomorrow will be a sort of… ice breaker. We’ve set up a small exercise everyone will be participating in, so make sure you get your beauty sleep! It will involve running and teamwork, be warned!” She laughs, a loud, scripted sounding thing. “Now, if you can’t remember your room assignment, come and see me after dinner and we’ll get it sorted. Hope everyone has a great night!”

“Wonder what kind of exercise it is. Last year they made everyone take turns trying to get a flag down from a giant pole.” I furrow my brow at Victor’s words. He’s talking to Chase, who’s across from us chowing down on the provided food. 

Chase glances up, and shrugs. “The first day is always some dumb relay.” He says like it was obvious. Hm. Maybe I should have taken the time to watch some of the previous seasons, because it was looking like they followed a certain pattern for what we’d be doing, and I was the only one who had no idea what that pattern was.

I find myself drumming my fingers nervously on the table as they continue to talk. I wasn’t a weakling, per say, but looking around at these other people… I wasn’t sure I could compete with them. They were all from Alpha bloodlines, and had plenty of free time and resources growing up to help improve their bodies and minds.

I clench my fork in my hand, acceptance flowing through me. 

At the very least, I had to try.

The next day, I’m the first person awake. 

Or rather I’d never even gone to sleep so I was the first one out of my room. 

I’d tossed and turned all night, only managing to grab a few hours here and there. But then I’d hear a bump or someone flushing a toilet somewhere and I’d be awake again, my mind filled with thoughts of the impending day. More than anything, I just didn’t want to be the first one voted out. How humiliating would that be?

I sat in the kitchen, on the counter with my legs folded criss cross as I ate a container of yogurt. The fridge had been fully stocked, and we were told we could get whatever we wanted whenever we wanted. I still kind of felt like I was stealing this, not going to lie.

“Mooorning!” I jump, dropping my spoon in the process at the sudden entrance of Laura.  She stops once she’s in the kitchen and looks around a little. “Where is everyone? Are you the only one awake?!” I shrug a little, hoping down from the counter to pick up the spoon I’d dropped. “Lazy! Let’s go wake them up!” She proclaims and turns and struts off into the house. I can hear her heels clicking the whole time, and the cameras follow after her. 

“I can get that.” I glance up as someone slightly familiar squats down in front of me. It was the overly gorgeous microphone guy from yesterday. 

“Oh, it’s okay.” I say, shaking my head as I stand up with the spoon in my hand. “I’m the one who dropped it.” It’s a bit odd how he watched me like he’s witnessing something great as I wiped the yogurt off the floor with a paper towel. 

I give him a funny look, and he shakes his head. “Sorry. You’re just… different from the other cast members.” He says, looking me up and down. 

I shake my head a little. “I don’t know what you mean.” He gives me a knowing smile, and leaves without another word. 

Weird.