Deal Breakers

First Round Part 2

The questions continued,  five more questions down, and Peter and I were on fire. Chase never missed a beat and currently had a perfect score of 8. They had even remembered my middle name and the street I'd grown up on.

Score Board:
Kevin & Kelly 4
Peter J & Sarah 5
Hugo & Katherine 5
Timothy & Jacob 6
Lindsey & Rochelle 7
Denver & Sarah 8
Patrick & Christina 3
Charlie & Lizzie 7
Alex & Taylor 3
Peter J & Layla 6

Todd had taken a break. He was off in his dressing room, probably getting his face powdered. While we sat there with mics attached to our shirts, the stage lights beating down on us. I'd already been on set for two hours and the hunger had started to set in.

I looked at Chase who was staring off into the darkness of the unlit arena. I could see his chest rise and fall; deep in thought. Part of me wondered if he was like Pete, trying to figure out the best game plan, though he was the only DB with a perfect score. He was almost guaranteed to win this round for himself.

I glanced at Pete, his face in his hands. This was not his usual Game face. "You alright?" I asked with a nudge to his side, hoping to get his attention and maybe even some reassurance that we were okay.

He didn't look up, just nodded. "Yup."

Yup? That's his way of saying 'No, but leave me alone.' If I ever heard it. Part of me, though I don't know why, feels like this is my fault. Like I've done something wrong, though I know Peter is curious why Chase has seen a birthmark so close to my butt. Honestly, I don't even know how he knows that.

"Craft break,"Ellen's voice pierced through the background noise, drawing everyone's attention to the other side of the cameras. As if by some enchantment, three lavish carts laden with delectable food emerged into view. Instantly, a crowd of hungry bodies gravitated towards the carts, each person seemingly experiencing the same pang of hunger. The carts, draped in white linen, showcased a tantalizing display of cuisine on large, gleaming silver-tiered trays. Among them were two trays of savory dishes and one tray of sweets.

"Sushi!" Lizzie squealed excitedly. I passed on eating raw fish under those heat lamps they call lighting. I needed something filling to keep up with this day, comfort food.

I pushed passed Lisa, Kelly's mom. "Excuse me," I breathed. I grabbed a dish from the bottom of the second cart and loaded it with fries and a cheeseburger.

I looked over and saw both Chase and Peter hadn't gotten up, they weren't talking either, just staring off into the darkness.

"This is fun right?" Jacob asked me, his brown eyes bright with excitement.

"It's something," I said with a chuckle. Jacob was an elementary school teacher and his boyfriend Timothy was a published writer. I googled them the first night at the hotel and though Tim isn't a celebrity, he is on New York's best-seller list.

"You three are killing it," Jacob said before taking a bite of a Turkey wrap. "That Chase guy, he knows you two like the back of his hand."

"He sure does," I say with a sigh. "We-uh- we all grew up together," I add with a ping of guilt. I probably couldn't answer all the same questions about Chase.

"Nice, I don't know any of Tim's family. They kind of disowned us." He said with a shrug, showing he didn't care what they thought.