Tai Up My Heart

Chapter 3: Dare You To Switch

I woke slowly, alone. A complete change from yesterday's rude awakening, my fellow Islanders had let me sleep in. I stretched, then sunk back into the bed. It was nice to have a bit of a lie in to myself.

I let my mind wander, replaying the past two days. I had let my expectations fly high and boy had I come crashing down. I felt defeated. I had expected a Bobby and Alyssa type day one romance. But I had watched the show. I knew that it can take time, like Marisol finding Graham. I just really hoped I didn't have to wait that long, especially since this season had been shortened from the prior seasons.

I pulled myself out of bed and into the dressing room. I showered, brushed my teeth, and fixed myself up. There was no need to keep it mellow just because he wasn't here yet. For all I knew, he was sat at home watching, waiting to get here. I put on a skimpy red bikini and blew myself a kiss.

I made my way downstairs and to the kitchen. I needed coffee. Nicky saw me approach and immediately poured a cup. My coffee brother. If only there had been a spark.

Nicky and Elladine had both had sex dreams the night before. I perched on a stool at the counter and gave them both an expectant look, ready to hear everything.

Nicky didn't go into many details. But his dream involved someone named Stacy.... and he didn't even know anyone named Stacy. He thought this was super weird. I laughed.

"Nicky, it's not that weird, mate. It's a dream! Ooooooh, maybe it's a premonition, maybe one of these days we will have a new Islander named Stacy" I looked to Elladine and made a 'yikes' face. She laughed. She was a good sort. I knew too many uptight girls who would have taken offence to a joke like that.

Ella's dream had involved a singer I wasn't familiar with. The boy's recoiled and teased her, though, so I figured it must be bad.

"He's sooooo cheesy", Seb groaned. That was enough for me to get the picture. Seb had good taste in music.

"I don't even fancy him! That's the weird thing. But in the dream.... the sex was....." she blushed. Hard.

"Careful with that," I said "I can't tell you how many times I've had dreams about celebrities that I didn't fancy, then wound up obsessively crushing for weeks after!"

"Oh no!" her eyes went wide.

It was true, too. At least half of my celebrity crushes were spawned from random sexy dreams.

"Tell us who!!" she pressed.

"Oh no no no no..." I grinned at her, "Maybe just you and I later, but I'm not willingly giving these boys any ammunition for future teasing!"

"Fair enough" she smiled and gave me a side cuddle.

"Last night I dreamt that we were all here at the villa. But it was a castle made of glass, and I had to make loads of cakes and everyone was getting so impatient. Then the lava-crown people rode in on dinosaurs and attacked....." I trailed off

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Tai watched as Olivia walked up to Genevieve and AJ. He thought AJ was pretty cute, too. She might be a good backup plan...... but she wasn't Olivia.

AJ had challenged Genevieve to an arm wrestling match. Olivia agreed to be the referee. She cheered them both on until AJ emerged victorious. Not surprising. She's a pro athlete.

Then AJ challenged Olivia. Tai leaned closer to the tv to see Liv's reaction. He smiled when she accepted the challenge. He liked a competitive girl. It was more evenly matched than he expected. Olivia was strong, and she also had some serious technique. She won. He hadn't even met her yet, but he felt proud of her.