Real(ity) Feelings

Chapter 2

Joe shifted awkwardly as he stood over the giant X on the ground. To his right stood an Adonis of a man, dark skin, curly black hair, and the biggest white smile he'd ever seen. To his left, stood a bleached blonde and tan surfer type. The other two blokes in line were also versions of the same body type - tall and muscular, one with long brown hair pulled into a bun, and the other a ginger - an extremely buff ginger.

"Washboard abs down the line...great", Joe thought to himself as he wondered for the fiftieth time why he was there. Love Oasis was the UK's reality TV obsession...but it was also a bit of a joke. He wasn't quite sure how he had ended up here - all he could remember was his manager telling him it would be a "good decision for his career." Joe wasn't sure how making out with girls and getting into fights would help his quest in becoming more than a YouTube vlogger...but who was he to question it. His subscriber count had been dropping, and the new generation didn't seem to care about his voice impressions or pranks anymore. It was time to switch it up - or he was going to be on the next train to Wiltshire thatching roofs with his Uncle Gary, just like he had been doing 5 years ago after school.

"That might not be so bad,"he thought, as the perky host of the show walked out onto the balcony and started her long spiel to the cameras that were suddenly rolling. Joe stood a little taller, realizing he could be on camera at any moment.

As the host finished her intro, he saw the doors open once again, and a beautiful blonde woman walked out, tall, tan and not lacking in...other assets. Joe knew instantly she wasn't his type. But he was supposed to be the "charmer" - that's what Ben had said. He knew that was code for "the small, but funny one". He would have to turn on the charm, whether he wanted to or not, in hopes someone would pick him.

"Lucy! Welcome to the mansion," the host started. Joe began to tune out, but snapped back into reality when he heard her finish with, "Now, the men will step forward if they fancy you. You don't get to learn anything about them, beyond their names, before making your choice."

"Shit," Joe thought. He had to pick who he liked first?! He thought it was the other way around. "This is going to be interesting."

All four men alongside Joe stepped forward, but something held him back. He needed to see who else was in there. Somewhere in the back of his mind he remembered the flash of red and hazel he had seen just 10 minutes earlier.

Lucy giggled, and picked the surfer looking bloke, who Joe found out was named Luke. "Luke and Lucy," he thought. "Should actually be called Barbie and Ken."

The doors opened again, as a tall, dark and gorgeous model walked out onto the terrace. Joe quickly learned her name was Jasmine, and she was also quick to make her decision, as she partnered up with the ginger, who revealed his name was Peter.

"The model is into gingers, eh?"Joe smirked as she made the unexpected decision and pranced across the yard to him, giving him a giant hug, despite her extra three inches in height. "Maybe this summer won't be so bad...the entertainment factor is already high."

---

Dianne felt nervous. She was the last one out - so four men would already be spoken for. Although she knew any of them could step forward at any time, she was hoping to avoid the drama on the first day. She was just hoping for one to want her. That's all she needed.

As Hannah walked out in front of her, she could hear the wolf whistles from the men below and Dianne had to physically bite her tongue so she didn't make a sarcastic comment. Of course the men loved Hannah - she was tiny with golden blonde hair and bright pink lips. "Plus, she's genuinely so bloody nice",Dianne sighed to herself.