They Call Her Love | ✔️

18: They Call Her LoveBug

Because of the game, we didn't have a chance to review the tapes before the episode aired. I was terrified as I sat on the couch, squeezed between Darcy and Jagger, waiting for the theme song of 'Life After Lottery' to chime in.

"Jagger, stop hogging the popcorn," Darcy smacks the back of his head from behind me.

He rubs it, irritated. "Ow! All you had to do was ask!"

"Alright, children, play nice," I rest a hand on each of their kneecaps. "I don't need any distractions though this episode. I never reviewed it and I'm convinced this will be the death of me."

"I'm sure you'll be fine, Love. They wouldn't show anything in the episode that would put you in a life-or-death situation," He says as he hands the bright red bowl to Darcy.

"And if there is, make sure to include us in your will," Darcy pops her mouth open and tosses in some popcorn.

"Such understanding friends," I say, mockingly. "What did I do to deserve you guys?"

"Win the lottery," Jagger snorts and Darcy laughs at this.

Once the opening credits begin to play, there's a hushed silence that comes over us. They play clips of my confessionals talking about the aftermath of my date with Chris.

"I feel terrible about what I said," My face flashes on the screen. "I didn't mean to hurt him at all. Luckily, at school, Chris was completely willing to put it all behind us."

Then, the screen cuts to the conversation Chris and I had at his locker.

"I can't believe he actually asked you out on a second date," Jagger shakes his head. "He must be in love with you."

I can't help but feel uneasy about this. What if Chris actually did feel more for me than I did for him? Then again, that would imply that he had any feelings for me at all, because I was unsure about what I felt for him. Sure, he was a great guy, gorgeous to look at, and fun to talk too, but I couldn't shake off the nagging voice in the back of my head telling me there was something missing - something that could potentially increase what I felt as more than friends.

"I'm Team CaLove all the way," Darcy side-comments.

"What does that even mean?" I eye her.

"Caleb plus Love? CaLove? Do you not read anything on Twitter?" 

"Obviously, not," I roll my eyes. "That sounds absolutely ridiculous. Why are people even taking teams? I'm not exclusively dating anyone right now."

"Technically, you and Chris are," Jagger says. "Whether you like it or not, your fans will always be choosing sides. Even if it's with me."

I gag, "That's disgusting."

"I know," He shudders.

The episode continues, showing clips of my parents' time on Lily and Rick, the lacrosse game, the fake re-enactment of me buying a car (considering I have no previous acting skills, I did a pretty convincing job), and other various moments captured this past week.

However, I knew that they were saving the cliffhanger for the very end of the episode and once the thirty minutes were almost up, I was physically at the edge of my seat in anticipation for what would be shown next.

"Love!" 

Whitney's voice booms through my TV speakers.

"Shut up," Darcy jerks forward, also leaning at the edge of the couch with me. "They're going to play the show down between you two?"