Monday July 26

10:00am PST

"So then what happened?"

"After he realized golf wasn't my forte, he decided he needed to teach me tennis. He gave me a 'private lesson.'"

"Complete with groping?" My face reddened. "Aha! I knew it"

Race and I were sitting on my bed, recovering from the huge breakfast we had consumed that morning. I know he had been anxious to hear about my date with Jack the previous day, but by the time he'd gotten back to the room after dinner I was half-asleep. All he had managed to get out of me was that I had enjoyed myself before Skittery came in, effectively ceasing any further discussion of the topic. Race had begrudgingly gone to bed, though not before warning me that he wanted a full report the next day. "And don't leave out a single detail!" he ordered as he lay over me. (In the top bunk bed! Get your mind out of the gutter!)

"It was just, you know, a little neck nuzzling…and a little touching…" I said. My face was down, my eye focused on the floor, lest they should give away just how intimate Jack and I had gotten on the court. "He was more of a tease than anything else."

"Yeah, he strikes me as the tease kind." Race resituated himself so that he was on his back, his head hanging back over the end of the bed. "So?"

I sighed, seeing that he wasn't going to let up until I told him every sordid detail. Of course, everyone in the house wanted to know the entire story, but I had only given a vague recap of the date at the table that morning. Racetrack was the only one getting the unabridged story. I mimicked Race, lying on my back with my head flopping over next to his. "So we went to the restaurant in the country club for a small lunch and we talked about our families and stuff. We shared our 'coming out' experiences and just got to know each other better.

"After that he brought me to a park for a small picnic…and that's kind of when things started to get heavy."

"Ooo, tell me more, tell me more!" he insisted.

"Jack was flirting–not that I minded, of course–and he started doing things like feeding me and scooping up chocolate for me to lick off…" I trailed off as I noticed Race's face turning red, though I wasn't sure if it was from laughing or from the blood rushing to his head.

"He…he tried to feed you?" he gasped out. "Sorry, hold on!" he said sitting up and fanning himself. "I have to catch my breath because that…that is just so…stupid! I mean, you barely know the guy!"

A sense of relief spread over me, relief in knowing that I wasn't the only one who thought Jack's behavior had been a bit ridiculous the day before. "I wasn't really into it," I told him, "but he got so insistent that I had to do something. I mean, I didn't want to hurt his pride."

Race snorted. "I think what he may need is a nice, swift kick in the ass. I mean, yeah he's gorgeous and loaded, but he seems to have a God complex." His face returned to its natural color and he took a deep breath. "Okay, so go on." When I didn't continue he looked at me suspiciously. "Come on, Blink, I don't buy that as being the end. What aren't you telling me?"

"Well…no, that wasn't the end," I admitted, though I was hesitant. I trusted Racetrack more than anyone else here and I felt comfortable telling him the juicy details of the date…but I didn't want to tell him about Jack's pushiness the night before. Whether it was because I didn't want Race to think me a prude or because I didn't want him to think Jack an asshole, I couldn't say. "We…well…we kind of, sort of…uh…kissed," I stammered out, positive that my face was as red as a beet.

I didn't look at Racetrack, not wanting him to suspect that I was lying. Well, not lying really, but not telling the entire truth. My fears dissolved as I heard him chuckle. "Blink, I think you're the only person in this house who would be embarrassed to mention a kiss. Was he a good kisser?"

I let out a breath, glad to have jumped that hurdle. "He was okay. I mean, it was kind of a spur of the moment thing."

"Ooo, only okay? That's pretty harsh…or are you just picky?"

"I'm not picky."

"Oh really? How many guys have asked you out on a date in the past year?"

I furrowed my brows, not sure what that had to do with anything. "Uh…I don't know. I guess about twenty or so…"

"Damn! You get around!" Race said incredulously.

"I turned down almost all of them!" I protested.

"Why?"

I shrugged, my back pressed against the wall behind the bunk beds. "Different reasons. I mean, this one guy, Jeff, he was just too flamboyant. That's totally not my type. Then there was Andrew and he had this gap in his teeth and it was just too noticeable and distracting. Lance asked me out, but he was really into country music. Some cashier in the grocery store gave me his number…but he works in a grocery store! Then– "

"Whoa, whoa!" Racetrack cut me off, a bemused grin on his face. "I get the picture. You're definitely picky!"

"I am not!" I whined. "I just…have standards."

He rolled his eyes. "Right…standards that no one could possibly live up to, right?" Before I respond, he asked, "How long was your longest relationship?"

"Uh…four dates, I guess…?"

"What was wrong with that one?"

"…he drank disgusting beer…"

There was a long pause, followed by, "Yeah…you're definitely picky."

3:00pm PST

My body slapped against the water harshly, forcing spurts of water to shoot up and fall in droplets around me. I clawed my way back up to the top, kicking my legs to stay afloat. I rubbed my hand over my face, removing the water from my eye. "I'm going to kill you!" I shouted to whomever had pushed me into the pool. Judging by the cackle I heard as I fell I was guessing the culprit was a very hyperactive female answering to the nickname "Mayfly."

"Stop splashing before you ruin my hair and make-up!" Smartass was stretched out on a pool chair in her bikini ("This bikini probably cost more than your car, so don't get it wet") with a pair of over-sized sunglasses cover half of her face. Her body was oiled down from head to toe as she lay tanning. In the half hour since she situated herself there she had only moved once to turn from her back onto her stomach. Even as she scolded us she didn't bother to glance up.

"Cannonball!" Racetrack flew into the pool next to me, his body creating a huge splash that soaked the ground around the pool. When he resurfaced he looked over to where Smartass still lay. "Damn," he muttered to me, "I thought for sure that would get her wet."

"I guess we'll just have to keep trying," I replied conspiratorially. "Why buy a swim suit and not get it wet?"

"I've decided it's better not to try and understand why Smartass does most of the things she does." He grabbed my hand and swam back toward the ladder. "Maybe a double jump with both of us will work."

Cherry let out a wolf whistle. "Rawr! Sexy, wet boys!" Her bikini looked like it was two sizes two small. As she leaned over to apply lotion to her legs I'm almost positive I could see a flash of areola.

"Gah!" I held my hand up to my eyes. "Remind me again why straight men like that stuff?"

"Oh come on, Blinky," Maylfy chirped, abandoning the promise she had made to me only two nights prior. "You know you secretly want breasts. They're calling out to you." She placed her hands on either side of her bust, pushing her "girls" together. "Come play with us, Blink!" she called out in a high pitched voice.

Race's hand clamped down on my shoulder. "Stop trying to brainwash the poor guy! I'll pull my package out if I have to!"

Cherry threw her head back in a boisterous laugh. "Racetrack, you say that as though it's a threat! We're straight, remember?" She sat back in her chair, glancing through the latest issue of Cosmo. "Besides, we've already had the pleasure of meeting your boys, and I'm not impressed. If your stuff had to battle Mayfly's boobs I'm about ninety-nine percent sure she's the one who would come out victorious."

"…I'm not sure if I should be flattered or disturbed by that, Cherry," Mayfly said. "In fact, the very mental image I am currently having is humorous, creepy, and a little arousing all rolled into one. It's like a bad porno or something!"

"Tits vs. Nuts," I proclaimed, spreading my hands out as though envisioning a film marquee. "I can totally see it!"

"When a massive pair of breasts threatens the entire world, it's up to one courageous pair of testicles to save the day," Race announced, trying in vain to sound like a movie trailer announcer.

"Oh, yeah, make the breasts the bad guys! How about a giant penis monster is let loose and is stopped by the heroic breasts?" Cherry suggested.

"Ooh, better yet," Mayfly jumped in, "the giant penis monster is devoured by the giant Vaginazilla?"

"You're all sick!" Smartass snarled, finally moving from her place on the chair. "Are you all bloody pre-teens or something?" She stood, grabbing her towel. "I thought I could just tune you all out," she ranted. She spun around so that she was facing all of us. "But no! You just make it so impossible to relax around here!" She began slowly backing up, still glaring at all of us.

"Uh, Smartass…" Mayfly began.

"Don't! I don't want to hear what other vile and disgusting thing you have to say!"

"Yeah, but–"

"No! Whatever it is I don't care!" With that she took one more step back…and toppled into the pool.

"Shit!" Mayfly flew to the side of the pool. "I hope she didn't hit her head or anything, because I don't know CPR. You guys?"

A much more blasé Race sauntered to Mayfly. "Don't worry. With all of that hot air she's bound to float pretty well."

Smartass resurfaced, sputtering and coughing. Her mascara and eyeliner were dripping down her face in black streams. Her hair was matted to her face, with one piece sticking up like a unicorn horn. "You…" she said, looking accusingly at all of us, "you all did that on purpose!"

"I wish!" Race laughed. "Sadly, I can't take credit for any of this."

"I tried to warn you," Mayfly told her, looking smug. She held her hand out to Smartass in an effort to help her out. Smartass simply smacked it away.

"Don't bother!" she hissed. "I don't need you or your help!" She pulled herself from the water. Her towel was still floating in the water, soaking up so much water that it wouldn't be of much use. Still, I snatched it from the water.

"Here," I said softly, holding it out to her tentatively.

"And just what the fuck and I supposed to do with that?" she asked, eyeing the wet towel as though it were a sewer rat. "I'll be fine! I pray at least one of you is eliminated tonight!" And with that Smartass, angry, shivering, and embarrassed, stomped back into the house with her nose in the air.

There was a short silence, broken by Race proclaiming, "Psh! Like any of us are going home. Well, Cherry may have worn out her welcome…" he trailed off, flinching slightly as Cherry's hand smacked against his shoulder. "But Blink and I are definitely safe. I mean, Blink and Jack have already had a private day together."

"Complete with kissing and groping," Mayfly added slyly. She giggled as I blushed. "Yeah, you're totally safe. I saw the way Jack was checking you out at lunch." She sat by the pool, dangling her feet in. "I'm just worried because I haven't had much of a chance to talk to him." She pouted slightly. "It would suck to not even make it to the half-way mark."

"Mayfly, if massive boobs really do attract men – and I can't exactly attest to that, mind you – you're completely safe."

Her arms encircled my torso. "Aw, Blinky! You always know just what to say to make a girl feel special!"

7:00pm PST

Our third elimination night and I was still as nervous and paranoid as I had been at the first. I thought that it would get easier with each one, but I found that it was the exact opposite. When there were five other guys for Jack to eliminate I felt confident that I was above at least two of the other ones. Now, though, there were only four guys, myself included, and one would be going home. I know Race was right in saying I was most likely safe. Jack had seemed especially flirtatious with me at lunch and he seemed to genuinely enjoy my presence. Still, I couldn't shake this nagging feeling that something was going to happen tonight.

I looked at Race who was standing patiently and confidently next to me. Was it him? Was I worried about Race being eliminated? It was certainly possible. While Racetrack and Jack got along well enough, would Race be able to fit in with Jack's world? Would Jack be worried about Racetrack's sarcasm and lack of manners?

Next to Racetrack was Mayfly. She looked as nervous as I felt. I had to smile. While she assumed the worst, I had a feeling she was going to be staying for a while. She was intelligent and able to talk to Jack about things other than sex and wealth, which was more than either Smartass or Cherry could say. May had confided in me that Jack had explained to her what his father did and that it had bored her to tears, but she had politely feigned interest, which, I think, is an important trait of a future millionaire wife is. In fact, I could see Mayfly winning this thing.

Just as I had begun to assess the likeliness of each remaining contestant winning, the doors swung open and Medda entered, once again dressed like a psychotic ballerina. "Welcome!" she chirped sweetly in that accent we had all come to know and hate. "Congratulations to you all for making it this far! You should all be very proud of yourselves." She turned so that she was looking into the camera, her face taking on a somber expression. "Sadly, for two of you the fun ends here. Tonight is out third elimination. Jack will be sending two of you home."

Yeah, yeah, yeah, lady. We know how it works. Just get on with it!

Medda returned her focus to us, looking us over one by one, smiling as though she knew exactly who was still going to be here after tonight. "Let us get this underway, shall we?" She stepped back, her eyes on the door.

Jack strode in looking at us warmly, yet grimly. "Hello," he greeted, standing before us. "You all look wonderful this evening." He took a deep breath, closing his eyes as though this were the most difficult thing he'd ever had to do. "I regret that I must now send two of you home." He glanced at the table where the gifts we had given him that first night lay. "Before I announce my first elimination, please let me assure you all that I've enjoyed getting to know each and everyone of you. This was a…a very difficult choice for me." He smiled sadly as he continued, "But it has to be done."

He strode to the table, situating himself behind it. He looked down at the gifts and held his hand above the table. "My first elimination tonight…is Jan." He grabbed the container of lip gloss from the table and held it up.

Jan stepped forward and accepted the lip gloss. "Jan, you're such a wonderful girl. You're funny and sweet and genuine, and I admire all of those qualities. But I just don't think you're the girl for me. I'm sorry."

I'm not sure how I expected Jan to react. It's so hard to tell what goes on in her mind that I don't think I could even venture a guess. Would she cry? Would she be angry? Would she be a good loser, wishing us all the best as she left?

"Oh, wow! This is my favorite flavor! Thanks, Jack!"

…I guess she would just completely miss the entire point of the elimination and assume that the returned gift was, in fact, a gift for her from Jack.

A confused Jack glanced back at Medda for help. "Jan…it's not a gift. I'm giving it back to you…you've been eliminated."

"Eliminated?"

"Yes…from the competition…in the reality show that you're on…" He once again looked back at Medda, his eyes begging for assistance.

"January," the woman said smoothly, taking the young girl's arm and leading her to the doors, "you are out of the game. You will be going home." She signaled to Jack to continue with the elimination ceremony while she tried to explain to Jan what had just happened.

Jack smiled as he watched the puzzled young girl stray to the side. The mood was lightened momentarily, all of us snickering and grinning at each other, grateful that we weren't the ones looking like idiots on television. Still, the underlying nerves resurfaced as Jack turned his focus back to the table, his eyes roaming across the strange array of objects. "My next elimination…is someone I feel I haven't clicked with. He's someone who, though I know he's a good person inside, just doesn't seem like he would fit in with my lifestyle."

God, it is Racetrack! I thought. I glanced to the side, wondering if he knew he was about to be kicked out of the house, if he could sense that the end for him was near.

"My next elimination is Xavier." My head snapped back toward Jack who was gingerly holding the lock of hair Skittery had given him on our first night here. A wave of relief spread over me, both because Racetrack was still here and because Skittery would soon be gone. I caught Racetrack's eyes and we shared a relieved smile. He winked at me, causing a blush to spread over my skin.

Skittery, throughout this, had not moved. His eyes were narrowed and focused on Jack, but he was still in his spot. "I'm sorry, Xavier," Jack told him, "but I just don't see it working." As he said it I noticed him backing away slightly, a look of fear glazing over in his eyes. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave."

Skittery stumbled forward, eyes still narrowed. I could see his jaw clenching down and his fists rolling into tight balls. "You…bastard!" And with that exclamation he flew forward and tackled Jack to the ground. "You damn bastard! I'll kill you!"

The rest of us stood in shock for a few moments as we watched Skittery and Jack scuffle around on the ground. Medda looked as though she was having a panic attack. Even the cameramen seemed stunned. Their equipment dropped to the floor as the men ran forward, grabbed Skittery and yanked him up. Dutchy also ran forward and grabbed one of the psycho's arms, helping the other two men hold him back. "I'll kill you!" Skittery repeated. Spit spewed from his mouth in rage.

Jack was being helped up by another cameraman. He looked stunned, but okay. I couldn't see any bruises or injuries from where I stood. He was helped into a chair as medic flew in.

"Get him out!" Medda ordered to the men who still held the raging Skittery. "Out!"

The trio of men dragged the lunatic to the door. I started to go help, but Racetrack held me back. "Don't worry," he assured me, "I think they can handle him."

The crowd of us surged forward, surrounding Jack. Smartass threw herself at him, flinging her arms around him and cooing over him as though he were on his death bed. Cherry began giving him and impromptu shoulder massage. The on-set medic handed Jack some pain relievers for his budding headache, but declared him fit. "You will want to give him some room, though," he scolded all of us, pushing us back from him.

Medda took the opportunity to fly to Jack's side. "Are you alright, Jack?"

He was rubbing his temples. "Yes…I'm fine." He looked up at us, offering a weak smile. "I…I don't know what to say. I can see I made the right choice in my elimination tonight." The crowd of us murmured our agreement.

"Jack, I think it may be best if you went to bed and got some rest," Medda suggested.

Jack looked disappointed, but nodded. "Yes, that may be for the best." He stood, but stumbled momentarily. The remaining six of us jumped forward, each grabbing a part of him to hold him up. He looked quite pleased with our support. "I'm flattered. Not many men can say they've had so many suitors help him get into bed." He righted himself and pulled away from the group. "Don't worry about me. Please, enjoy the rest of your night," he insisted. "I'll be fine." He gave us a nod before leaving with Medda's support.

No one said anything for a while. What could we say? We all looked at each other in shock. I sat down on the love seat next to Racetrack. Mayfly and Dutchy were sharing a large chair, Cherry was leaning against one of the bookshelves, and Smartass was sitting on the window sill.

"Well that was royally fucked up," Dutchy asserted.

"Are you really surprised?" Cherry asked. "We all knew he was mentally unbalanced." Though she said it in a nonchalant tone, her eyes betrayed how shaken up she was by the ordeal.

"I can't believe I shared a table with someone who belongs in an asylum," Smartass muttered, shivering as though the thought enough scared her. "I mean…he could have killed one of us in our sleep!"

I gulped, thinking about how true that was. Had he watched me in my sleep, thinking about how to slit my throat without waking me? Or maybe he was considering simply smothering me to avoid a bloody mess. "What do you think is going to happen to him?"

"What do you think, Blink?" Smartass retorted. "He'll be carted off to a padded room." She stood and brushed off the skirt of her dress. "And I say good riddance to bad rubbish. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a pre-beauty sleep beauty ritual to begin!" As she strode out I didn't miss the dour expression on Mayfly's face.

"I'm going for a midnight dip," Cherry said. "Anyone want to join me?"

"Do you promise not to take your suit off again?" Dutchy asked.

"Hm…I'll think about it."

"Fine. But if I see even a glimpse of nipple I'm gone!"

The two exited, still bickering, leaving only Race, Mayfly, and myself in the library. I wasn't in the mood for another swim, especially if it meant once again facing the Breasts of Doom, as Race and I had begun to refer to Cherry's bust. I also wasn't in the mood for another movie night. Still, I didn't want to go to bed or even back to the room just yet.

"Teach me to play poker," I suddenly said to Racetrack.

"Poker? Where is this coming from?"

I shrugged. "I'm bored. It's too early to turn in. Let's play some poker." I looked to Mayfly. "You game?"

"We're not playing for money are we?"

Racetrack rolled his eyes. "No…we don't have to play for money, but it isn't nearly as fun otherwise."

"I'm sure it's loads of fun if you play poker all the time, and, therefore, can walk away with your opponents' life savings, but Blink and I are relatively new at this."

"Well we have to play for something!" Race groaned. He sat there for a moment, his brain racing. I could all but see the cartoon light bulb appear over his head as he looked up, a large smile spread across his face. "We could play strip poker…" he trailed off, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"I don't think Mayfly would like that…"I said lamely as I tried to hide my hesitation at the idea.

"What are you talking about? You guys don't give a fuck about my body, so if I get a free male nudie show I'm totally in!" The two looked to me.

"I…uh…sure," I said, hanging my head. "We'll play strip poker!"

"Should we use the rec room?" Mayfly asked. "Or are you afraid that someone will walk in on us?"

"Psh! Like I care if someone sees the two of you naked," Race said as we walked out.

I groaned, a sense of dread creeping into me. "This reality show is stealing my soul!"

"Don't they all?"

"…Shut up, Mayfly."

AN: Is that the last we've seen of Skittery? Maybe…maybe not…:grins evilly: We're past our half-way point and I hope to churn out the remaining chapters as quickly as I can! Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me to continue going! I vow I will not disappoint!