So I'm back *sheepish grin* but this time with something different. I hope you give it a chance and let me know you think :)

Dating in the Dark

Chapter One

I choked out a deep breath whilst staring down at the hands in my lap. I hypnotically watched as I clicked one thumbnail against the other and took some small comfort in the repetitive sound. What the hell was I thinking signing up for this? Why had I let myself be talked into it? There were people that stuff like was made for and I wasn't one of them, something that seemed more obvious with each passing moment.

"Ok…When you're ready….." I was broken from my trance by the booming voice. I slowly raised my gaze, as if checking that it was talking to me even though I knew it was. What I saw made my heartbeat increase, I could almost feel the thumpity thump against my ribcage and toyed with the idea that my heart may just break free from my chest whilst all the cameras pointed at me watched on. That would certainly make for a good show wouldn't it.

There were a few encouraging faces looking at me pointedly, waiting for me to start, no pressure then. I gulped in some air hoping it would clam my breathing and the rhythm of my heart and opened my mouth to give them what they wanted… before quickly closing it again. I scrunched my eyes closed at my obvious failure and ran a shaky hand over my face. I concentrated on slowing down my breathing. In… out…. In… out… Once again I was brought out of my thoughts but this time by a warm touch on my shoulder.

"It's ok… the first time is always scary but we don't need to rush and if you're uncomfortable just say so and we can try again." I turned to see the host of the show crouching down beside my chair giving me a sympathetic smile. Her eyes were warm as they implored me to be ok and do what was needed. It was ok for her to say though, she was used to cameras being thrust into her face, she wasn't the one putting herself out there for the world see, she wasn't the one making either the best or worst mistake of her life.

"Ok" I swallowed and she smiled back at me with perfect teeth, I couldn't help but run my tongue over my own, they were not so perfect, I had always hated how the front two kind of dipped towards each other. My mom of course told me you couldn't even notice but I knew they were there.

I watched as she walked away to stand by the director, giving me a discreet thumbs up for encouragement. It was sweet but it made me feel like an idiot. I'm an adult acting like a child in front of a lot of people I didn't know, I had to get a grip on myself, it was too late to back out. I could do this! I nodded to the director and he shouted out 'action'. The room lapsed into silence, all eyes and ears on me.

"I'm … um… Charlie…"

"Cut!" I froze at the demand. I had managed to get two words out. That was something wasn't it. "Charlie that was good but try and be a bit more confident ok, remember the purpose of this is to show all the viewers at home who you are." Right… and confident wasn't something that was often said in a sentence when talking about me, unless the word lacks was also there. So basically I have to show the viewers what I'm not instead of what I am… got it.

"Action!" I looked into the camera nearest to me; it had been pointed out as my focal point when I had sat down, what must have been at least half an hour ago. Sucking in a breath I started again.

"Hi, I'm Charlie, I'm 19 and I'm from Vermont." Keep looking, just keep looking, smile.

"And Cut!... perfect Charlie, we'll leave it there for now, why don't you go and meet the others." Suddenly the room exploded into a noisy bustle, the scenery behind me was being changed, cameras being moved, orders being barked and for a second I relaxed. I'd done it. I'd survived my first time in front of the camera. One down, many more to go!

With a sigh I lifted myself from the seat and smoothed down my mauve floral print tunic, before walking in the direction of the girls waiting room.

Walking into the room my heart sank. Sitting on the bright cerise sofa in the center of the room was three far more than pretty women. How could I go up against them? I didn't compare at all and it sucks that the universe felt fit to peg me against them. They noticed my entrance straight away and smiled in my direction, how sincere they were at that point I didn't know, they were probably smiling over the fact that I offered no competition at all. I made my way over to them and sat on the matching arm chair that rested adjacent.

"Hey! I'm Connie" I stared at the blonde as she waved a well manicured hand at me. She was beautiful, green eyes, straight blonde bob, sweatheart face. Yeah no guy was going to choose me over her!

"Charlie" I replied with a small smile. The other two quickly introduced themselves. Annie was a cute red head whose loose waves cascaded down to the middle of her back. Her blue almond shaped eyes popped against her pale skin. Her smile lit up her whole face and she seemed the most sincere of the three. Universe 2 Charlie 0.

Lastly Evie introduced herself. She was the plainer of the three but still very attractive. She had straight, dark brown hair and chocolate eyes to match, there was something a little Selena Gomez about her look. And that brings us to Universe 3 Charlie 0. Great!

The room lapsed into silence, the conversation they had been having before I entered

clearly forgotten. I took the opportunity to have a look around the small room. Although the furniture was all bright colours the walls themselves were a dark cream. Two of them were littered with photos of past contestants and I couldn't help but cringe at the realisation that my own photo would be put there once this ordeal was over. In the corner were four suitcases resting against the wall, mine one of them. This was going to be a long four days.

"So.. that was cool huh? Filming our first chat?" Evie spoke up clearly excited. She was met with two enthusiastic 'yeahs' and one not so much. Neither of the women seemed to notice my lack of enthusiasm and jumped into a conversation about how excited they were. I took the opportunity to sit back and remind myself of why I was there.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not usually this miserable. Although it usually takes me a while to settle with new people, once I have I enjoy talking and joking around as much as anyone else. However this situation I am currently immersed in is so far out of my comfort zone that I have no idea how to keep myself afloat. You see I'm what you would call a worrier, in particular I worry about what other people think of me and putting myself into this process has put me under a lot of new radars and therefore a lot of worry about the impression I make on them.

For the hundredth time I wonder why I agreed to this. You could say my family and friends staged an intervention and I'm here to prove a point or you could say I held the illogical hope that I could meet the love of my life here, someone who liked me for me regardless of how beautiful, or not, I was.

My thoughts and the chatter of the other three were interrupted as the door creaked open and the host walked in. She was everything that you'd expect her to be. Pretty, confident, great style and a complete ease in front of the camera. She had once been part of a popular girl band that had now branched out and begun doing their own thing. She seemed nice and at least she wasn't one way before the camera and another after.

"Hi girls!" She smiled as she perched herself on the arm of my chair, it was an understatement to say I was envious of her lengthy legs. "I'm Sarah and I'm just going to talk you through what's going to happen next ok?" We all four responded with a nod, some more excited than others, sadly I could feel my palms begin to sweat. "Ok, so the guys are all here and they are looking good!" She threw us a wink and I wondered how true that statement really was.

"Right so, as you know it's called dating in the dark, and it is exactly what it says it is, you will have a series of dates with the guys in the pitch black, this gives you the chance to really get to know them and not be blinded by looks. First you'll have a group date, get to know all the boys a little bit and then you can choose who you would like to see more of one on one. Next you'll have a compatibility date where we chose the best guy for you from the questionnaire you filled in when applying, we'll then have a guy's choice date, a girl's choice, followed by the final date. Lastly will be the light reveal where you can chose one guy to see in the light for fifteen seconds – remember if you choose to see him then he will also get to see you. It's your choice then whether you want to meet up with them after or cut your losses and go home."

I groaned inwardly as I mentally tallied the number of dates the process required. Six. I was going to go one more dates in the next four days than I had been on in all my nineteen years. As if that wasn't embarrassing enough I was going to have them recorded for a reality TV show. Yes, this was exactly where I pictured myself to be this time last year.

I'd watched the show and it was great! I honestly enjoyed the process – when it was happening to someone else. I liked watching the awkward questions and silences, the competition for people they thought they liked, the disappointment when the light reveal showed someone far from what they imagined, as well as the excitement when they found someone they were attracted to. What I didn't like was when people showed just how shallow they really were. How they'd spend hours falling in love with the personality and seconds falling out of it with the face. And here I was putting myself up for the ridicule. Giving someone a chance to prove what I've always known. I'm a nice girl with a nice personality but I'm not fanciable. Thanks Mom, intervention find a man – epic fail!

Suddenly everyone started to move and I was unsure why so I meekly followed them out of the room and back into the area I had left an hour before. I was quickly descended on by a rush of hands pulling at me and only realised exactly what they were doing when I glanced over at Annie and saw that she was adorning a microphone pack.

"Ok…" the director clapped to get everyone's attention. "The boys are already in the dark room, remember you can't see anything and neither can they but our cameras inside will show you in night vision… when you hear three beeps the date is over and it's time to leave and don't forget to make a good first impression!" He nodded his head at us and walked away. We were ushered to an unassuming door on the opposite side of the hall to our waiting room. I was the last girl to enter and was extremely grateful when Annie grabbed a hold of my hand and pulled me into the darkness.

So? :-/ should I just give up now? lol What do you think of Charlie? It's always hard writing a character of my own.

Any reviews would be well appreciated as I know I'm a little rusty – I'm hoping it will get better as it goes on.

*On a different note I plan on updating my other story – Heal – within the next week, thanks to all those being patient with me :)

xx