Blurred Reality

Chap. 23

To Smash or Be Smashed?

I watched as the girls entered the theater giggling amongst themselves. Their smiles instantly flattened the moment their eyes caught sight of the elimination display that was set out behind me on stage.

"What in the hell…." I heard Kelly whisper as she and Melissa made their way closer.

"Do we… need to get on stage?" Amelia hollered over to me seeming sarcastic.

I nodded, "Uh-huh, everyone just line up as you usually would. I'll explain what's going on in minute."

The room filled with chatter and mixed emotions as the girls made their up to the stage. It took me a moment to interrupt all their ruckus.

"Okay girls, first off I would like to tell you all that you did a fairly impressive job at entraining me in the casino. However, I'm not too sure how many of you accomplished mindfreaketting the crowd so to speak." I chuckled.

A few of the girls smirked and I think I heard Melissa groan.

"As you all know magic is definitely a VERY important part of my life. It does take a little bit of so called "magic" to keep the sparks flying in a relationship. Despite the fact that a hand full of you were on top things today, right now I'm getting the feeling that some of you girls aren't playing your cards right with me. So, right now there isn't going to be a challenge, instead I've decided to hold an emergency elimination. The only challenge is to be honest with me and if you're not- there's the door." I gestured to the door sarcastically and the girls froze.

"However there is still a challenge winner… Amelia, come here." I smiled towards her. She practically knocked over Lisa in her venture off of the stairs.

"First off, you shocked me in the casino with your trick! I was impressed with the effort and amount of creativity you put into it. Second, will continue to stay here and go out on a romantic dinner with me tonight?" I questioned as I held out her chain.

Her lips curved into a sinful grin. "Mmm… of course I will!"

Once Amelia had settled herself back into the group I continued.

"This next chain is for number '69'..." I laughed as my eyes locked with Lisa.

She blushed a bit and replied, "Alright, simmer down now, Rodger!"

The last three who were left standing where Melissa, Krystal and Brittney. And I knew exactly who I was going to send packing.

"Melissa," I began.

She walked up to me before I could even finish, her eyes dead set into mine.

"Save it…" She muttered. "I know I did horrible with the challenge."

"Actually, you did pretty well for what kind of an asshole you had to deal with." I replied.

She just shrugged looking nervous.

"The choice is yours are you staying?" I questioned somewhat pathetically.

There was a long pause until she reached down for the necklace in my hand.

"Yes."

"I think you made the right decision." I grinned as I pulled her in for a tight hug. "By the way, I called your office this morning." I added in whisper.

Krystal and Brittney anxiously starred back at me while I tried to conjure up the right wording to delicately address the topic at hand.

"There really wasn't anything wrong with how either one of you performed at the challenge today. The reason as to why both of you stand before me tonight is because the two of you have been hiding crucial information about your past. Krystal, last night you decided to tip me off on the fact that Brittney had slept with my cousin George-"

I was interrupted by the girls exasperated gasps.

"When in retrospect, upon investigating BOTH of your Myspace's, you haven't been up front me about the fact that you're still legally married!"

A few cusses spilled out from girls.

"I'm NOT married, I'm separated. Neither of us have signed the papers yet, big deal." Krystal shrugged with a sigh.

Brittney's cheeks were on fire with embarrassment. "I-I, well, George and I… sorry… I guess I should have told you. But what the fuck Krystal, I can't fucking believe you!"

"Believe me?! You had the nerve to BRAG about it to me!" Krystal folded her arms in defense. "Who BRAGS about fucking someone's LESS hotter cousin anyhow?"

"Shut up you dirty bitch! You're the trash that is STILL married!" Brittney pointed her finger deep in her chest.

Krystal rolled her eyes, sticking her hand up in Brittney's face. "Whatever hoe, keep on smashing the hommies!"

Oh, shit… now the true colors show.

"There's no reason to fight, you're both going home." I shook my head discussed in the two of them.

"Are you kidding me?" Krystal gasped. "You're joking right?!"

"He's NOT joking, dumbass! Obviously he doesn't like married women." Emily interjected from behind her.

Brittney laughed as she headed off stage.

"What are laughing at slut?" Krystal yelled at her.

"Just you… you're unbelievable…"

I sat across from Amelia at dinner forking my rice. Man, I was stuffed. Seriously, if I ate another bite I was going explode.

"So, tonight was insane." Amelia commented as we watched the waitress clear away our dishes.

"Yeah, a little too insane for my liking." I half laughed.

"Were you really going to send both of them home?" She asked curiously.

I shook my head, "Not until they started fighting like that. I don't want to be with someone who is going to be chasing me around with a kitchen knife."

"I used to date this guy who had a bad temper. He'd throw a tantrum over the stupidest little things. I like things to be easy going and laid back. No sense in arguing all the time." She told me while she fidgeted a bit with her lip ring.

"I agree. So tell me Amelia, what is the craziest thing you've ever done?" I asked curiously as I set my plate to the side of the table.

She smirked seeming to think a bit. "Craziest thing ever…. that's a hard question… probably sneaking my dad's car out and crashing it when I was 15, then trying to flea the scene." She paused to laugh. "Let's just say I didn't get very far."

I chuckled, "You TRIED to flea the scene?"

She nodded seeming embarrassed. "Yeah, me and my friend were so scared that our parents weren't ever going to let us see each other again so we decided that was more important at the time than telling the truth, I guess. You know young and dumb. So we came up with this plot that when we had gotten home off the bus that his car was just magically gone…. Key's and all. Only problem was that we crashed the car at the end of my subdivision!" She cracked up and I joined in.

"What the hell did you crash into?" I asked as our waitress refilled her wine.

"Actually, my neighbor's pit-bull ran out in front of the car and since it was winter at the time I slammed on the brakes so hard we fish-tailed into the stop sign."

"Nice job! Ah Ha! That's so classic!" I laughed. "The dog wasn't hurt?"

Amelia shook her head. "Nah, he was fine but my dad beat my ass!"

"No doubt. I'm sure of it."

"I would ask you the same question… but I'm sure your answer is probably harder to search for." She winked.

I winked back. "Actually, this show is the craziest."

"Really, not hanging off of a helicopter from hooks or catching yourself on fire?" She joked.

"No, this takes the cake for crazy…" I replied as I took a sip of my wine.

"Good crazy or bad crazy?" She questioned seriously.

"Tonight with you it's excellent crazy." I smiled widely and reached out for her hand.

"Hmmm… well then, hopefully we can be crazy together more often?" Her fingers looped against mine and I noticed that her eyes seemed greener than usual.

"I certainly hope so." I replied honestly.

"So, I have a serious question to ask you." She began a bit uneasy. "Are you falling for any of the girls on the show?"

I bit my lip and drew in a deep breath. "Yes, I am. We're down to the final 5 now, I believe that I'm falling for each one of you."

Amelia narrowed her eyes at me. "So… let's say if I didn't tell that I was MADLY in love with you by tomorrow night, would you eliminate me?"

"No… I don't think so… I mean… what?" I laughed a bit confused by her question.

"I guess what I am trying to say more or less, is that I am falling for you more and more each day Criss. But I don't want to be like some of the other girls here and throw my heart out on the line and have it smashed by a single elimination night nor do I want to speak the "L" word too soon and freak you out or have you feel like I am just saying that shit because I'm competing against so many other girls to win you over. I want it to be real between us." She explained.

I nearly stuttered when I went to reply, "Y-yeah, I couldn't agree more, Amelia. When the time's right, its right. Thank you for telling me how you feel. To be honest with you I don't think you have to worry about an elimination smashing your heart anytime soon, babe."

Her hand squeezed tighter against mine and I smiled contently.

Maybe there really was a lot more to Amelia than just friendship…