Catfished - COMPLETED

CHAPTER TWO

       It was mid-November and St Louis was unusually warm. Max and Nev rode in the rented car to the address Lucy had provided in the email to the MTV producers. They passed the Arch. Max couldn't miss a photo op and took several shots. Nev posed in a few of them.
        As they got closer to their destination, Max asked Nev the question he had been wondering for awhile. "Do you think Jordan is real?"
       Nev kept his eyes on the road. After a brief pause, he answered, "I really don't know. We don't have much to go on yet. For Lucy's sake, I hope so! She's such a sweet girl."
       "I know! I don't see how she was single long enough to turn to an Internet relationship."
       "If he's fake, are you moving in?" Nev joked.
       "Did you see that smile!?" Max retorted with a chuckle. They had an ongoing joke about starting relationships with girls from the show with failed relationships. They had both come to the conclusion that it wouldn't be right. These poor women had gone through too much. They were usually in desperate need of time to heal from the emotional scarring that their Catfish had caused.

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       The GPS announced that they had arrived at their destination. Nev pulled the car into the driveway. The guys could see the grey craftsmen style home. The front yard had tall, old trees with leaves that had turned yellow and orange.
     "Beautiful," Max said to himself as he got out of the car with his camera.
      The crew spread out to get as many ideal shots of the house and the first meeting of Lucy as they could. Nev looked to the crew and producers to make sure everyone was ready. Once he got the okay, he and Max headed to the front door and knocked.
     Lucy opened the door in a few moments. She smiled excitedly.
     "Hi, guys!" she said in greeting. She hugged Nev and then Max.
     "Hey, gorgeous!" Max said.
     "Come in! Come in!" She motioned for the guys to follow her.
      They went through the front door. She led them through her open home and into a comfortable looking living room. Nev and Max sat on a couch and Lucy sat in a small club chair facing them.
      "Does the crew want to sit too?" she asked innocently.
      "That's sweet of you to ask. They usually make themselves pretty at home," Nev replied with a smile.
      "Okay. Good!" Lucy got up and walked into the kitchen. When she came back, she had a tray full of goodies that she offered to the guys. "I made some cookies, if anyone wants some."
     "Oh, man!" Nev and Max were taken aback by her kindness. They turned to the crew. "Look at this!" They passed the tray around and it returned to them empty.
     "I'll make more for tomorrow," Lucy told them, laughing to herself.

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       The crew set up the cameras, sound equipment, and lights for the next segment. Lucy was being fitted with a mic. Nev and Max sat on Lucy's couch, completely at ease.
      "I really like this one," Nev stated.
       Max nodded in agreement. "She's so nice and thoughtful."
      "And pretty!" Nev added quickly.
     "Definitely that!" Max laughed. After their giggles lessened, he added, "This guy had better be real!"
      Nev nodded slowly in agreement.

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       The lights were on and cameras were rolling. Lucy looked a little uncomfortable with so much undivided attention on her. Nev placed a head on her arm and smiled up at her. "You've got this. We're on your team," he reassured her.
       Max smiled at her warmly and nodded.
       The interview began. They had her restate a lot of what was said in the skype call they had had earlier with her. She seemed to grow more comfortable after some time discussing the familiar.
       "This is an uncomfortable question but it helps us to know how sensitive the case is.. Have you exchanged any nudes?" Nev asked.
       Lucy blushed. Here was unfamiliar territory. "Yeah." She covered her face in her hands to hide the blush.
      Nev and Max laughed. "It's really not uncommon. No worries. Did he reciprocate?" Nev asked.
      "No. He just asked for mine. When I asked for his, he said it was too dark in his room to take a pic."
       "Ah, geez!" Max exclaimed and covered his face in second-hand embarrassment.
       "Have you spoken to him on the phone?" Nev asked her.
       "Yes! It is definitely a man!" Lucy kind of laughed. The guys smiled with her.
      "Good! Have you video-chatted?"
      Lucy pursed her lips together. "No. I know that's bad."
      "How serious are your feelings for Jordan?" Nev asked.
       "Scale of 1-10, I would say my feelings are a 7. I really like this guy but I am also skeptical and suspicious of him. I've been trying to hold my feelings back from escalating anymore." As she spoke, Lucy hugged herself tighter and tighter.
      "That's easier said than done," Max observed. "You may say that now, but when push comes to shove and you get down to the hard facts, it may not be the case. Most of us can't control ouremotions easily."
       Lucy took a deep breath and slowly exhaled it. "I know. That's my greatest fear. He turns out to be lying and I care more than I think I do."
      "Well let's get a look at this guy!" Nev suggested.
      Lucy pulled out her phone. She opened her Instagram and opened Jordan's profile.
"I'll let you guys go through it," she said, handing Nev the phone.
      Max pointed his hand-held camera at her screen. Nev scrolled.
       "Okay. Good looking guy. How old is he? 30?" Nev asked.
      "34," she answered.
       Nev raised his eyebrows in shock.
       "And you are?" Max inquired.
       "I'm 27," Lucy replied.
       Max and Nev glanced at each other and made their respective faces.
        Nev scrolled some more, considering each photo. "Nothing says he's a male model," he observed. "All of his pictures look like a picture he's taken from his phone. That's a good sign."
       "That's reassuring," Lucy smiled.
       "Okay. Send us all the info you have on him. We'll do our digging and get back with you tomorrow. Sound good?" Nev asked.
Lucy did a small clap in her chair in excitement. "Can't wait to hear back from ya!" she said.