Reality Love Bites.
Chapter 1
"I'm sorry! I'm sure I just misheard you," Bo exclaimed, putting down the magazine she had been halfheartedly flipping through. "Because what I just heard was that a few months ago you signed us up for a reality tv show."
Bo's mouth opened in disbelief as her roommate and best friend nodded her head emphatically in confirmation. "And don't forget the best part, we made the cut!" Kenzi said, waving the confirmation letter at the brunette.
Bo had gotten used to her friends eccentricities, they had been living together for five years, after all, but she wasn't sure how to respond to this tidbit of news. Kenzi would enter and sign up for anything and everything. Whether it was to be in the running for some prize, a role in a reality tv show or for a karaoke competition down at their local drinking hole. Kenzi would sign up and she would always drag Bo along with her. Maybe it's not that bad, Bo thought to herself. I mean she has won us most of the stuff in this apartment.
Kenzi continued to wave the piece of paper out in front of her and Bo sighed and took it from her and started to read what her best friend had gotten them into now. The brunette started to shake her head in disbelief. "Oh no no no no NO! Hell no!" Bo thrust the letter back at Kenzi whose smile had transformed into a scowl.
The petite girl tossed the letter on the coffee table and placed her hands on her hips. "What do you mean no? This is a fantastic opportunity for you to get back on the horse, Bo Bo. You have been moping around the apartment for months since breaking up with Melissa. You might find your soul mate and live happily ever after."
Bo stood up and went toe to toe with her friend, crossing her arms defensively across her chest. "I have not been moping about Melissa or the fact that we broke up and she got me fired from the best job I ever had."
"Mm hmm. Sure you haven't. Sit down, sweetie. Please."
It was the 'please' that did it and the sincerity of worry in Kenzi's ice blue eyes. Bo took a deep, calming breath and fell back onto the couch. "My life just really sucks right now, Kenz."
"All the more reason not to dismiss this opportunity straight away without at least thinking about it," Kenzi said, taking a seat beside Bo and taking her hand. "You have had a rough three months. Going to palm springs and living it up in a mansion for up to six weeks could be just what the doctor ordered to get you out of your funk! Besides, I will be right there with you, so it will be like an all expenses paid vacation."
Bo looked at her friend squarely in the eye, "What is in this for you because you did read the description of the show right?"
"Yeah. What of it?"
"It's the lesbian version of the bachelorette! And the last time I checked you were as straight as they come, Kenz."
Kenzi waved her hand, "Oh please, I can totally fake it. I'll be your wing man and together we will get you to the end. I mean I must of been convincing enough in the small video I sent with us doing jello shots off of that naked lady for our audition because they picked us as a double act. You've watched the bachelor so you just know that the lesbian up for grabs is going to be super hot and well off financially and you my stunning friend will sweep her off her feet and live happily ever after."
Bo frowned at her friend because despite how absurd this all seemed, Kenzi was making it all sound so exciting and fun. Am I seriously considering this? They are going to find out that Kenzi misled them with that audition tape and we will both get kicked out on our asses! But until then perhaps some job opportunities would arise from this little adventure, Bo thought.
Kenzi clapped when Bo picked up the letter and read it all through again. "It will be fun, Bo. We will be there a minimum of two weeks just hanging out drinking champagne and lounging in the sun beside a huge swimming pool. We will be at the house most of the time unless there is a challenge or we get chosen for a date. Seriously, it will be just like a holiday."
"Except for the camera's that will be following us around all the time and that we are going for all the wrong reasons. I'm certainly not open or ready to fall in love again. It's dishonest, Kenz. What if we are responsible for taking away the opportunity for another woman who was meant to meet the bachelorette?"
"Now don't close yourself off to the possibility of finding love and happiness, sweetie. You deserve that as much as anyone else and with me by your side anything is possible."
Bo smiled sadly at her friend. "I love you, Kenz. You are always there to support me, but who am I kidding! I am an unemployed loser who has lost all her direction in life. I'm a mess. Who would ever want me."
"If I swung that way, I would be all over you like bees on pollen, sugarplum."
Bo laughed and gave her friend a big grin. Kenzi always had the ability to make her feel good about herself, even as she sat there in a pair of old yoga sweats and a faded, torn T-shirt with Cheeto crumbs down the front. "OMG this says we need to be there by tomorrow!"
"Yep, so we should get packing, right," Kenzi asked hopefully. "Besides they don't know you got fired from your job. All they know is you are in PR and an agent to the stars and drop dead gorgeous. You can tell them that you are between firms or something or even better branching out and starting your own agency! Every contestant that makes it to the top five gets $10,000 and the final two get $25,000."
"Really? Wow, that money could really help and I was thinking about going out on my own until everything with Melissa happened."
Kenzi stood up and dragged Bo with her before giving her a big hug. "This will be fun, you'll see," the young Goth said, stepping back and brushing the crumb transference off of her corset. "Go get yourself showered, presentable and packed while I organise our flights to palm springs."
Bo left Kenzi who was already pulling out her phone to start making calls and made her way through the modest apartment to her room before she allowed her brain to talk her out of it. If it hadn't been for Kenzi and a few other clients that decided to stay with her, she would have been penniless by now, especially after her ex cleared out their joint saving account and disappeared. Kenzi was the most famous of her client's. As one of the hottest DJ's on the club circuit, her star would only get brighter with time. Bo was just thankful that she hadn't bought a house with Melissa before finding out the she had two other girlfriends and that she wasn't even her first choice. Bo had felt like her heart had been ripped out when she had gone over to her lovers house and found her literally loving someone else on the kitchen counter. Maybe this could be the start of a brand new life, Bo thought with renewed optimism as she stripped and stepped under the hot spray of the shower. Maybe I can open myself up to love again...
"Okay, Tamsin, darling. Here you are, this is where you will be staying throughout the show and this is where you will have your overnight dates in the final weeks. Just a few miles up the hill is where the contestants will be staying."
"So I won't be in the same house and I'm not allowed to use my phone or have internet access? What did I let you talk me into, Vexi?" Tamsin asked suddenly unsure if the lure of finding someone that liked her for her, was actually worth it. No internet, no phone and just me with my thoughts for company? At least I have Vex. I'll make him hang out with me when I'm bored out of my skull, the blonde thought to herself.
Vex the effervescent host and producer of the show watched the mixed emotions that crossed over his friend and the star of his shows face. "Now don't you worry, darling. When you aren't meeting the ladies and out on dates or doing the interviews about your thoughts on the women vying for your love, you will be sleeping. And in the spare few hours you do have, you can either watch a movie or read a book. Trust me that you will have hardly any downtime compared to the contestants so there is no need to panic."
Tamsin nodded in understanding as she continued to take in the surroundings of the medium sized, modern house that would be her home for the next six weeks.
"Now, as I mentioned on the drive to the airport all the contestants will think that you are a detective with the LAPD. They will not find out that you retired and are now a half owner of one of the largest private security agencies in the world and in turn are a very wealthy woman as per your request."
"Thank you. I know it sounds silly, but I have been burned a lot since becoming more than a lowly member of the LAPD. I am hoping that in the first few weeks I will be able to get a good impression on who is in it for me and not the money that the show offers."
Vex waved his hand with a flourish at Tamsin's thanks, "Actually, it's given us the opportunity to add some extra excitement to the show because when we reveal your secret to the remaining contestants there will also be a new addition coming in."
"What! You are going to bring someone new into the mix midway through? Who?"
"That my Nordic princess I can't tell you. But it is going to be a doozy," He replies with a mischievous chuckle.
Tamsin didn't like the sound of that, but ultimately she would have very little say on what would go down on the show. "I only agreed to do this because you and Ciara wouldn't let up about me trying to move on. Though if I'm honest, Vex...I'm not sure if I'm ready."
Vex took Tamsin by the hand and led her to the couch that was positioned in front of a huge flat screen tv. "It's been four years, Love. We aren't saying you should forget about Jesse but you know as well as I do she wouldn't want you to mourn her forever. Everyone deserves a second chance at love, Tam Tam, even you."
Tamsin nodded and bit her lip as she fought to control her emotions. She was tired and her friend bringing up Jesse would no doubt bring her nightmares tonight. She tried very hard not to think about her wife in the hours before sleep because the guilt that she still carried with her would manifest into dreams. She hugged Vex and gave him a reassuring smile before standing up. "I'm going to unpack and get some sleep if you don't need me for anything else. I'm exhausted."
Vex nods and clasps his hands together, "Yes, yes of course. Someone will come get you bright and early for hair and make up and then we will do a little Q&A about your expectations, fears, hopes et cetera before meeting all the lovely ladies that will be fighting for your heart. Sweet dreams, pet."
Not likely, she thought to herself as she watched Vex leave and close the door behind him before trudging tiredly upstairs to the bedroom with her suitcase. When Vex had first approached her about being the star of his show she had adamantly refused. But after he gave her his sad puppy dog eyes and told her that this show would either make or break his career, she had reluctantly agreed. It didn't help that her best friend and business partner Ciara had also jumped on the bandwagon, taking Vex's side and agreeing that it was time for her to move forward. They had told her that just burying herself in work and not even being open to the possibility to finding someone to warm her bed and heart was no way to go through life. Tamsin couldn't imagine finding anyone that could even come close to what she had had with Jesse.
Oh, Jess. I still miss you so much. I am so, so sorry. No one will ever replace you. I'm doing this for Vex, honey. This is so important to his career and I want it to work out for him. Lez get married (what a God awful name) was airing on a new cable channel that would cater specifically for the LGBT community and they had high hopes for the show's success. Tamsin admitted to herself that she was indeed desperately lonely. She had gone on a few dates with her friends' encouragement, but there had never been a spark. Could she find someone genuine to love her on this ridiculous show? While she didn't have high hopes, she would do her best to keep an open heart and mind...Even as the guilt washed over her once more that being with someone else would be a dishonour to Jesse...
Lauren flipped up the tray and buckled her seatbelt at the pilots request. She still couldn't believe she was actually doing this. She hated reality television with a passion. She always found it so phony and overly dramatic, but to be honest, she rarely watched television, preferring to get lost in her books. She had a few months before she started her residency at Cedars-Sinai and she had filled out the application on a whim to have a little adventure before starting the job that would take over her life for three to five years. Besides the excuse for a free way to relax for a few weeks while her new apartment was getting renovated, there was also the possibility of making friends and possibly finding love. The monetary incentive was also a welcome bonus, she thought as she closed her eyes and gripped the hand rest tightly as the plane came to a shuddering stop on the tarmac. She had huge College bills and wanted to pay them off as soon as humanly possible. Lauren hated nothing more than being in debt so she would suck it up and risk making a fool of herself on television to get a head start on becoming debt free. Her family had been excited for her as they had waved goodbye to her at the airport spouting that anything that helped her loosen up and have a little fun was a good thing. She had just smiled and given them all a kiss farewell before boarding the plane for LA.
After disembarking the plane and collecting her luggage she found the driver the studio had sent to pick her and several other girls up. She smiled shyly at the man holding a sign with Lauren Lewis and two other names on it. He told her with a scowl that she was the first to arrive and would have to wait. Lauren pointed to a small coffee shop nearby and informed him that she would grab a coffee and a bite to eat while she waited. He didn't appear happy, but when she brought him a coffee and a muffin five minutes later he gave her a grateful smile which she returned before taking a seat within view of the driver and waited.
Eventually someone approached and talked animatedly to the bored driver. She was cute in a wholesome, down to earth, fresh off the farm way. She had wavy, shoulder length blonde hair and a sweet smile. She observed the driver point in her direction and the woman made her way over to Lauren with a look of undisguised excitement on her face. "Hi there," she said, reaching out a hand in greeting when she reached Lauren's table. "I'm Crystal."
Lauren reached out and shook Crystals offered hand. A polite smile formed on her lips at the bubbly introduction, "Hello, Crystal. I am Lauren. Lauren Lewis."
"Pleased to meet you, Lauren. Lauren Lewis," She responded with a flirtatious undertone and a brushing of her thumb over Lauren's hand before releasing her.
Lauren couldn't help the blush on her cheeks and cursed herself for her penchant for social awkwardness. She cleared her throat and sipped at her coffee and looked at the crowds of people walking by. She hoped the last person on the sign arrived soon because she could feel the new arrival at her table giving her an appraising look over and it was making her exceedingly uncomfortable.
"I can't wait to meet all the different ladies and the woman that we are to fight over. This is my chance to show the world my talents and possibly open up my options and get my big break in a movie or something."
Lauren would have preferred to just sit in silence, but her mother had raised her better than that and she was taught at a young age to acknowledge and converse politely when spoken to. "Oh, you're an aspiring actress?" Lauren responded, looking at her over the top of her cup.
"Yes! Isn't everyone that does reality television aspiring to be famous?"
Lauren just shrugged in response. She certainly wasn't doing this to get famous, but it made her think about the other contestants. Was Crystal right? Was she going to be surrounded by perky, beautiful people that wanted their fifteen minutes of fame? God, she hoped not. She could feel Crystal's eyes boring into her once more. Was she going to feel this awkward around everyone in the house. Fifteen lesbian's under the same roof, Lauren thought, swallowing the lump of anxiety forming in her throat. What have I gotten myself into? I must be completely insane!
"So if you aren't doing this for media exposure, what are you doing it for? Love?" Crystal laughed as if that was funny and Lauren was grateful when she saw a woman with a killer body shoved in a form fitting red dress, address the driver and nodded her head. He motioned to Lauren with a flick of his hand and a nod of his head and she stood up quickly, eager to get going.
"The driver is waving us over," Lauren said grabbing her suitcase. "Time to go." Lauren followed the driver and the exotic, beauty in the red dress though the airport and opted for the front seat when they arrived at the town car. The driver didn't say anything, just pulled out and starting driving towards the designated destination...
To be continued?...
Author's Note: Okay, there you have it. I need to hear from you if you are wanting me to keep going with this crazy story idea lol. I feel it could be really fun and I would love to know who is on board and interested in reading it. I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but this will be an opportunity to try out and mess with other pairings besides Doccubus while still staying true to my one true love which is Bo/Lo. ;) This will be a good growing exercise for me as a writer to branch out with other characters and their personalities.
My friend Rafi (aka TheSparklingBlue) is going to help me with this story. She has already been instrumental in shaping this first chapter with her thoughts and suggestions, so a big cheer for Sparkles! Hooray! ;)