Deal Breakers

Round 7

Outside of the arena, Todd stood with his weatherman smile at the ready, the cameras surrounding him as he recorded his solo scenes. It's seven in the morning so the sun is out, but gracefully sparing us the blazing heat. They haven't told us what the game was today, no memos to read or written notes from Ellen. Oscar and Diana aren't talking to each other, both of them reading something on their phones. Ellen is missing, she's usually front and center, bossing the make-up lady around, but she's not commanding the scene like usual today. Something is off and all the contestants can feel it.

I'm cross-legged on the grass, pulling at blades of grass, playing he loves me in my mind. I don't need to pick at the grass, I know he loves me. They both do. As everyone chatters about what could be inside the arena I barely engage them, I feel a little numb today. Sometimes, when you feel too much at once, you burn out and right now I feel nothing. I barely looked at anyone around me, until Pete sat next to me and wrapped an arm around me. I looked up at him, his honey-brown eyes dim with concern. Peter and I haven't been ourselves lately, we've been distant and not in our usual way. I pulled away and I didn't realize it until Chase kissed me, that I'd been pulling away more and more, another feeling I had to work out last night while Peter lay peacefully asleep next to me.

"You seem sad," Peter said while caressing my shoulder with his thumb as his other fingers gave me a light squeeze. The smell of his body spray entered my nose, a strong artificial smell of wood and some flowers. I lean my head into his neck though I want to pull away from guilt.

"I think I know why," he continued. My heart rate went from slow and steady to thumping like a rabbit.

Did he see us yesterday in the middle of the grass?

Surely he would have said something at dinner?

My brain raced furiously. "You do?" I whispered, my confession and apology sitting on the tip of my tongue, preparing to spill out like a waterfall. Images of me and Chase's embrace yesterday flashed through my mind.

"You miss your phone," He said with a chuckle.

Oh, thank god.

I felt relief hearing his words, but at the same time, I still felt that icky guilt covering every inch of me. I had almost hoped he knew, so it could all be out in the open and the broken pieces could fall where they may. "You're right, I do." I caught Chase watching out from the corner of my eye, his lips in a tight line.

Peter chuckled again, "It's almost over Lay, next week we'll be home and hopefully a little better off." He said, trying to sound reassuring. I felt nothing but pity for Peter and maybe even some for myself as well.

"Okay, " Diana exclaimed. "It's show time, doors open in five." I wasn't used to her calling the shots, I could tell by everyone's faces that they all were wondering where Ellen was.

I rose from my spot, dusted myself, and tried to prepare myself for a different type of torture. The double doors opened wide and we all walked in a line, entering through like sheep to the slaughter. The arena was fully lit for the first time, showing off exactly how vast inside. Bench seating like along the sides like a basketball stadium, but all the seats were empty and it left this eerie feeling in my stomach. The stage was gone, in the center of the glossy floors was a giant claw machine. Silver and blue in all its glory, it had to be about twenty feet high and ten feet wide. Inside the glass were about a hundred beach balls colored in Deal Breaker colors. An almost comedically large red joystick sticking out of it, big enough for a giant to use. My mouth gaped open, what in the world is this?

"Todd, front and center," Diana demanded.

Todd took his place in front of the oversized children's game, looking irritated. She turned on her heel, facing all of us. Her shiny black hair whipped around, smacking Oscar in the face behind her. "I know Ms. Mitchell usually handles the debriefing of the challenges, but she's no longer a part of the Deal Breakers production team." She said with a tone of disdain and ennui.