Ready for it? (Joost Klein)

15

Once I have calmed down I join the other contestants. I honestly just want to go home, be alone and lie in my bed.

But I try to smile and let no one know anything about how I feel.

I go and sit next to baby Lasagna. "Hey, long time no see. How are you?"

He greets me with a sideways hug. "Very well! How about you?"

I nod. "I'm doing well too. So crazy that the Eurovision Song Contest is almost here already right?"

He takes a big sip from his glass. "I don't know what to do with my life after that. I've been looking forward to these weeks for a year. I can't believe I'm going to wake up one morning and it's just done."

"Right? And all that prep work. I have to find something new to focus on then."

The audience applauds and I look at the stage. Joost Klein comes on stage with his blue bird and his piano man.

My heart sinks a little. Throughout his song, my eyes don't let go of him.  I almost regret arguing with him.

"I really think he has a great chance to win. The audience loves him," says baby Lasagna when Joost finishes performing.

"Absolutely. He deserves it, too. He has so much energy when he performs."

The rest of the evening I talk a lot with the other contestants. I feel like I really need that because otherwise I would feel lonely.

When I am in my hotel room hours later, loneliness strikes. A few hours ago, Joost was still here.

I change my clothes and finally go to sleep.

The next morning, I want to check my phone as soon as possible. I want to see if he sent me anything.

Nothing.

No new notifications.

I shower and make my suitcase so we can leave as soon as possible. Being back in Belgium will do me good. In the hallway, I run into Elio.

"Good morning, Livia. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you. When are we leaving for home?"

Elio smiles.

"I have good news for you. A television program that is broadcast in the Netherlands has asked if you would like to participate in an episode.

It's a game in 2 teams where you have to get out of an escape room as fast as possible. The filming is this afternoon. How about staying an extra day in the Netherlands?"

I try to hide my disappointment. "Oh, of course! That sounds good."

Elio takes his phone out of his pocket. "Great, then I'll let them know you're in. Your team partner is Joost Klein."

Oh.

So that afternoon I'm sitting in the program's recording room. Joost was already here when I arrived. We greeted each other awkwardly and we are now listening to the director's explanation.

"So Joost and Livia, you are team 1. You will enter the escape room and try to leave it as quickly as possible. You can always ask for hints but that will cost you penalty time.

You will be filmed continuously and we will edit pieces of both teams into one. Your opponents will be Vajèn and Rein. The fastest team wins. Is everything clear?"

I look at Joost. He has his Joost Klein hoodie on. He looks good.

"When do we start filming?" Joost asks.

"Within 1 hour. Discuss a strategy with your partner while we get everything ready."

Joost turns to me. "Are you done avoiding me?"

I look at him. "When did I avoid you?"

"Last night. You talked to every contestant besides me."

I roll my eyes. "You're the one who stepped away from me, Joost."

"Because you were unreasonable. I expected us to talk afterwards, but you were busy hanging around every other male contestant."

I can't believe my ears. "The others aren't acting like little kids. If you were so eager to say something more to me, you could have come towards me yourself."

"I would if we could talk somewhere alone"

I say nothing and just stare at him.

He sighs. "Are we going to forget about this so we can prepare for the escape room?"

I nod. "Only because I want to win."

And so that's exactly what we do. He has done many escape rooms before so he gives me tips on what to watch out for.

The director gives each of us a blue overall. Microphones are also attached to it. "The cameras are hanging in the corners of the room. We are about to start so get ready."

5 minutes later, somebody yells action.

The host introduces us as the first group and puts a blindfold on Joost and me. He leads me to another room, which I assume is the escape room. There he ties my hands to something.

I hear that Joost is also tied up somewhere and the host disappears.

"Alright, Joost and Livia. Your time starts now. You may take off your blindfolds and find the exit! Good luck!", we hear through a microphone in the room.

I shake my head until my blindfold comes off.

We are so going to win this.