The house was beautiful. It was the kind of home that people would buy when they were ready to start a family, large rooms and a huge garden. He'd already caught Kirsten eying the swing set in the garden. The house was decorated in light colours apart from the main bedroom that was a deep blue. Little knickknacks covered tables making it appear that someone had lived here for a while. Photographs of them were scattered throughout the rooms. Some of them he recognised; they were part of a bigger photo of the team or from one of the many activities with Camille and Linus. There was one he didn't recognise that had pride of place in the bedroom. It was a large close up of him and Kirsten, arms around each other gazing into each other's eyes. Something that had definitely not happened.
"Camille."
"Sorry?"
"Camille created that one. She was using Photoshop yesterday and complaining about something. I guess it was that."
He simply nodded avoiding looking at the reality of the bed. Sure they'd slept in the same bed before but she'd been unconscious and he needed to watch over her.
"It doesn't bother me you know." She startled him from his thought again. "I trust you. Besides we have shared a bed before."
"Yes but you didn't exactly have much of a choice about it." He mumbled watching as she winced slightly.
"Yeah well you were just looking out for me. And I should've never slapped you." She finished in a rush.
"It was a fair response. You didn't know me then."
"But I do now. It wasn't right."
Shrugging slightly he looked out the window as something caught his eye.
"I'm going to go and say hi to the neighbours. I know Fisher says they know the cover story but..."
"You like to meet people and really know them." She finished.
"You know me well pork chop." He teased.
"Seriously that nickname! It's not very coupley."
"Guess I'll just have to think of some new ones then."
Fisher's dossier on the neighbours had been thorough and he had a suspicion that they were actually agents. But nothing he'd said during his chats and caused them to trip up so he was sure they'd be able to deal with nosy TV producers.
"Kirsten." He called as he opened the door. "We need to get going soon. We've got to go to that meeting before the first recording."
"I know. Camille messaged me. She's going to meet us with Linus there." She seems uncharacteristically hesitant as she stepped towards him, clutching her phone as if it was a lifeline.
"Is everything ok?"
"Yeah sure." She nibbled on her bottom lip. "There's something we need to do before we go."
"Oh?" He was certain they'd done everything they needed to. He'd learnt quickly to prepare for most things when going on missions with Kirsten. Then he could at least be sort of prepared when she went off on one of her crazy schemes. He'd done the same thing as usual this time; certain he hadn't missed something.
"Yeah." She whispered as the phone trembled in her hand slightly.
The studio was smaller than Camille expected; they said the camera out on 10 pounds but no one mentioned that is also added 10 square foot. Two rows of benches occupied most of the space, fridges and shelves bursting with ingredients stood to one side. But what had really caught her attention was the man bellowing in the middle of the set. Magnus Monroe, or MM as he liked to be known. So far everything she'd read about this guy seemed to be true. They said you had to be arrogant and heartless to succeed in showbiz, something Magnus seemed to have taken to heart and then some.
"Did you see that? He just bawled out his assistant because he put two sugars in his coffee instead of one and a half. What a douche." She grumbled to Linus. Not receiving a response she turned to find him watching the other contestants with a furrowed brow.
"You think they can do this?
"We don't have much of a choice. Though if they act like that then no not a chance in hell." Linus turned to see what Camille had already noted, their friends walking in like they would to the lab. Which was exactly the problem.
"What are you doing?" She hissed under the pretence of giving him a hug.
"Huh?" Closer up he looked slightly shaken, they both did.
Turning to Kirsten she muttered: "Did you break Cameron? We only left you alone for an hour."
"Maybe." Camille had never heard her sound so worried.
"We'll talk about it later. But please try and look like a couple. At least hold his hand." She pleaded, pleased when they followed her instructions. Catching Linus' eye she noted he'd also seen the trembling hands of the pair.
"What the hell happened?" He hissed as they made to follow the pair to the meeting.
"Not a clue. I think Kirsten broke him."
Things weren't going well. Linus was busy watching the filming with his hands over his eyes, cringing into Camille. They couldn't hear the conversation between the pair but she imagined it was stilted and awkward. She'd never seen them like this. Whatever had happened at the house must have been big to make them so awkward around each other.
She'd suspected something was up in the meeting. They'd been introduced to some of the other contestant along with last year's winner Jan and Dave Mitchell, who were judges for this years show. Kirsten didn't make a single comment about Jan's perky personality. Cameron hadn't attempted his not so subtle glances at Kirsten to ensure she was all right. That was what really had her concerned. Even when he'd found out about Liam he'd still not been able to stop himself looking at Kirsten.
At least the first challenge should be something they could manage, cook a breakfast meal. Kirsten had regularly enthused about Cameron's breakfasts until one day she'd had enough and invited herself along. She had to admit he could cook but she wasn't sure the fantastic waffles were worth subjecting herself to his smoothies. She'd never tasted anything like it!
Knowing Maggie and Fisher her would kill them if this opportunity was wasted she moved closer to the pair so she could do some silent mime to encourage them.
"Ok are you sure that making a smoothie isn't a good idea?" Cameron sliced courgette while avoiding eye contact with Kirsten.
"Only if we want to go out."
"You love my smoothies cupcake."
"They're muffins. And nothing should taste like that!"
"Oh so now I should call you muffin?"
"You really went and googled food nicknames didn't you?" Kirsten sighed resignedly.
"I do not need google nicknames my cherry pie. I'm just a natural."
"Whatever girlfriend."
"Sure my little fasolaki mou. Now do you want anymore courgette?"
"No that's fine. If you call me marshmallow I will kill you."
"Of course not sugar plum." Camille clapped her hand over her mouth to prevent herself bursting out laughing at that last one.
"Anyway the tomatoes have been sautéed."
"I love it when you talk all foodie at me."
"It is hoting up in the kitchen." Dave announced as he prowled around the contestants, checking on progress.
"No that's just the sexual tension between those two." Camille murmured as she slipped back to her seat. Trust those two to have a semi-fight and appear more like a couple then when they'd were acting.
"Well we've certainly had a range of dishes today." James the grinning host announced. "Sadly Mike and Josh are leaving us today. Tune in next time to see who will be the next couple to leave the show."
"And cut!" MM bellowed. "I want all extra shots done later."
Sighing Kirsten turned to find Camille bearing down on them. She wanted a little privacy but now they were going to have to do some more filming but at the house this time. Apparently they needed background of the couples to be shown when the show was broadcast.
"Linus needs some help with an equation Cameron. Kirsten and I will meet you at the house later." Camille practically dragged her away, ignoring Linus' protests that he didn't know what she meant.
"Ok so we've got MM, Dave, Jan and James as suspects. The director has changed since the last serious. Plus some other staff we've yet to meet." She'd expected Camille to start driving once they'd settled themselves in the car but she made no move to start it.
"What?" Camille's staring was beginning to get on her nerves.
"What happened with you and Cameron?"
"Nothing."
"Right that's why you were barely talking and were avoiding each other's eyes. Spill."
"Fine. Everyone kept going on about how we weren't coupley enough so there was something we need to do." She stopped as Camille gave a slight squeak. "Are you alright? No human should make that noise."
Waving away her concern Camille prompted, "So what did you do?"
"We need to be believable as a couple."
"God you're killing me here."
"We wouldn't be believable if we were awkward so we needed to practise being a couple and doing things a couple does."
"Did you kiss him or not?" Camille demanded. Eying her friend carefully Kirsten simply nodded.
'Do not blush!' She warned herself.
"Oh dear lord no wonder the poor boy looked stunned. Please dear god tell me you didn't jump him? Actually that might be a good thing." She added as an afterthought.
"I just kissed him. He knew what was coming."
"What aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing." Kirsten replied, sounding unconvincing to herself.
"Fine." Camille grumbled when her glaring received no response. "But I will find out what happened!"
'Oh I hope not.' Kirsten thought to herself. 'I'm not sure I'm ready to process it. Never mind have anyone else know what happened.
Fasolaki mou means little green bean