The One Where Cupid Missed
A/N: Happy Sunday!
It was late afternoon by the time Beca woke up, glancing around to see only a couple people still asleep from the long shoot the previous night. She grabbed her shower stuff and trudged to the bathroom, thankfully finding it empty. These moments of peace and quiet were rare and she savored it, stepping under the hot spray humming gently under her breath.
It was only two mini-weeks into this ordeal and Beca was already feeling the strain mentally. It was grueling without really any reason, making her feel slightly ridiculous, but the constant pushing and prodding to make connections and have conversations and find your perfect match was way more social interaction than she was accustomed to on a daily basis. It had its moments and she felt like she was forming a few genuine friendships in the house but didn't feel like she was making a lot of progress romantically.
Theo was great, but they hadn't kissed since that first one in the hammock and Beca didn't find herself wishing they would again. He was kind and comfortable and easy, but she constantly felt like something was missing when they were together. She couldn't really put her finger on it, but there wasn't that attraction… that pull to be with him that she thought there would be with her match. Maybe it was her own unrealistic expectations… or maybe her perfect match was someone who complimented her the way he did, and those feelings needed to be cultivated. She just wasn't sure, and it was driving her a little crazy.
Beca resisted the temptation of literally banging her head against the wall to drive the thoughts from her mind, instead starting to sing to let the lyrics flood her brain.
"I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose…" she sang, the words flowing easily. It was a little funny to her that this was the song that came to mind in the moment, feeling like she was definitely not bulletproof or made of Titanium when it came to this experience.
She let all the stress fade away as she washed her hair, reaching the chorus again singing a little bit louder. It was the most relaxed she'd been since arriving at the house, savoring the solitude while she had it.
A knock on the shower door startled her, jerking around to face the door but also backward away from it at the same time.
"Bec?"
Beca breathed a sigh of relief, instantly recognizing Chloe's voice.
"You can sing?!" Chloe's voice sounded curious and pleasantly surprise. "How did you not tell me that?"
Beca hesitated, unsure of why it was important. "Uh, yeah… I guess so. I mean… I don't do it a lot, so…"
She heard the sink turn on, assuming Chloe was brushing her teeth.
"You sound amazing," Chloe's voice was clear, so maybe not brushing her teeth after all. "That song is my jam."
Beca hummed, not that surprised as it was fairly popular for a while.
"My lady jam."
Oh. OH. Beca swallowed nervously, staring at the door as if it was about to open. That was definitely not what she expected Chloe to say, the visual popping uninvited into her brain and discovering it was not so easy to get rid of.
"Ah, um, that's nice," Beca replied, pressing her palm against her forehead at the awkward response.
Chloe was apparently unfazed on the other side of the door, replying casually, "It is. That song really builds."
Beca bit her lower lip, not needing any extra images to add to the ones already circling through her brain.
"Anyways, I'll see you downstairs," Chloe called, done with whatever she'd come into the bathroom to do.
Beca was never more thankful for the shower door between them, calling back, "Sounds good!"
Beca waited until she was sure she heard the sound of the bathroom door shutting closed before leaning her forehead against the cool tiles of the shower wall. The thoughts running through her mind were anything but friendly, making her feel awkward and a little guilty for thinking about Chloe doing… that.
It sparked memories of her own experimenting back in college, never going so far as to actually date another woman, but Beca was definitely able to appreciate how attractive the other women in the house were. She'd never defined her sexuality as anything other than straight, figuring that it was natural to notice attractive people regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. Chloe was definitely one of the most beautiful women she'd ever met, but she was also friendly and open and here to find her perfect match in one of the guys and it would be stupid to view their interactions as anything other than friendship.
Realizing she'd been standing still under the water for at least five minutes since Chloe had left her alone, Beca finished her shower and shut the water off. She quickly got ready, threw her wet hair up in a bun, and walked downstairs in search of something to eat.
They had the option to cook if they wanted to, but Beca was glad for the constant catering that meant she didn't have to. Some of the other people in the house were happy to cook to accommodate their different diets or eating styles, but Beca was not on that low-carb or whatever other random train was popular these days. She grabbed a bottle of water and some of the Italian food set out for them and wandered out to eat by the pool. Beca liked the weather in San Francisco, but it couldn't hold a candle to being outside in Hawaii. Her plan was to soak up as much sun as possible before this adventure ended.
She found Jesse reading a book by the pool alone, walking over to join him. He looked up as she approached and shot her a smile, gesturing to the chair beside him.
"Thanks," Beca said, sitting down and carefully balancing her plate on her lap.
Jesse nodded towards the pasta, "That was really good. I wasn't sure… you never know with Italian food."
"True," Beca agreed, tasting the fettuccine Alfredo and indeed finding it very tasty. "Mmm, you're not wrong."
"Where is the trust?" Jesse said, his expression wounded.
Beca chuckled, breaking the seal on her bottle of water to take a sip. "Relax, I believed you. I was just appreciating it, is all."
Jesse closed his book and set it on the table beside him, shifting to face her. "So, how are you doing with all this craziness?"
"Okay, I think," Beca answered thoughtfully. "It's definitely an experience. You?"
"It's not what I expected," Jesse replied, looking around, "But it's pushing me out of my comfort zone and I think it's been good for me."
Beca nodded, understanding what he meant. "Why did you sign up?"
Jesse hesitated, looking a little embarrassed. "Honestly… it was a dare. I was hanging out with some friends one night and we were channel surfing and landed on the show. One thing led to another and here I am. I never thought they'd accept me," he sighed with a shake of his head. "I'm just your average guy."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Beca commented, meeting his gaze. "I think most women are looking for an average guy that respects them and treats them well."
Jesse tilted his head a little, asking, "Is that what you're looking for?"
Beca smirked at his question, reading the real one behind it. "Yeah, I think so. I think what I need more than anything is someone who fits. I've dated enough guys that I have a lot in common with and who have similar interests and lifestyles. I need my other half, you know? I'm not afraid of a relationship, I just haven't found the person I want to have that with… yet," she added, after a moment. "Apparently that person is around here somewhere," she chuckled.
"Do you think it's Theo?"
Damn, he really wasn't pulling punches now. Beca remained quiet, studying his curious expression.
Instead of waiting for her answer, Jesse continued, "Look, I've made it pretty clear I'm into you. But if you really think he's your match, I'll back off. I'm not trying to get between you, I just feel like we could be a good match if we had more time to chat… like this," he explained, gesturing between them.
Beca decided to answer his question anyway. "I'm not sure if Theo is my match or not. This is the part I'm really bad at… that I'm trying to work on," she said, frowning at the thought. "I'm indecisive and I don't always know what the best thing is for me. In the past, I've dated some really good guys but I just wasn't sure and they didn't stick around… and I didn't blame them. I guess it sounds like I'm afraid of commitment, but I'm just afraid to commit to the wrong person."
Jesse nodded, "No, I get it. I think on some level we're all afraid of that…"
He trailed off and Beca looked at him confused, turning and following his gaze now directed over her shoulder to see Theo approaching them.
"Hey, Bec, I was wondering if you wanted to go for a walk?" Theo asked, slowing as he neared her chair.
Beca turned back to see Jesse's eyes narrow slightly. "Actually, we were in the middle of a conversation."
Beca swallowed as Theo stiffened at his tone.
"Chill dude, I didn't mean to interrupt," Theo began, holding his hands up. "Bec, I'll be inside when you're done."
Beca turned her head to tell him she'd join him in a bit, suddenly feeling his lips on hers. She pulled back surprised, Theo clearly having meant to kiss her cheek, but knew, either way, the damage was done.
Jesse stood up and grabbed his book, muttering, "Never mind. I was about to get a drink anyways. Enjoy your walk."
Beca's eyes widened as she stared after him, finally meeting Theo's sheepish gaze.
"I'm sorry, I swear it was an accident," Theo apologized, looking guilty.
"I thought you weren't the jealous type?" Beca asked, knowing her tone was slightly accusatory.
Theo frowned, "I'm not! I was leaning down to whisper in your ear and make sure you were okay and you turned your head!"
"Mm-hmm," Beca hummed, not sure she believed him.
"Look, I don't lie and I don't do whatever this is," Theo said, now sounding irritated. "This passive-aggressive shit. I wanted to spend time with you, but not if you think I'd lie about something so stupid."
He turned and strode away before Beca could respond, knowing she definitely could have handled that better. She didn't even have time to process her feelings before a new voice interrupted the silence.
"Trouble in paradise?"
Beca looked up to see Chloe shooting her a concerned smile, settling herself down into Jesse's recently vacated chair.
"Yeah, I fucked up. I'll apologize after he cools off," Beca sighed, looking off in the direction Theo disappeared in.
"And girls are supposed to be the dramatic ones," Chloe teased, making Beca break into a smile.
"I wish I could blame him, but this one was definitely on me," Beca sighed, looking back at the redhead. "I sorta called him a liar and then maybe did it again?"
Chloe chuckled, "That's not usually the way to go. I'm sure you'll figure it out."
Beca shook her head, "I'm really bad at this. I don't know why they let me on this show. I was having this nice conversation with Jesse and then Theo came over and asked if I wanted to go for a walk and it all went to hell."
"Jesse is totes into you," Chloe said carefully. "I mean, you know that though."
"I mean, I think so?" Beca wasn't sure if she was asking or answering. "I don't always get it when guys like me… or anyone really. I'm not the most open or friendly person."
Chloe studied her for a second, her tone light when she finally said, "Well…I like you."
Beca laughed, replying, "Yeah, you're not so bad either."
They were quiet for a moment before Chloe asked, "When did you start singing?"
Beca rolled her eyes, retorting, "About the same time you started barging into people's showers."
"I didn't barge into your shower," Chloe gasped in mock outrage. "I simply heard a beautiful voice and followed my ears."
"So now I'm a siren?" Beca joked, unable to help herself.
Chloe winked, "I'd believe it."
Beca shook her head, shooting Chloe's question back at her. "So how long have you been publicly declaring your lady jams to people?"
"Oh okay, that's how you wanna play it?" Chloe grinned, shifting her chair more to face Beca. "Why are you so interested in my lady jams, Bec?"
"That is not… I'm not… I didn't ask you to tell me that," Beca stuttered, hating the way Chloe turned her question right back around on her. "Who just randomly announces that information?"
Chloe shrugged, "I guess I do. I don't think it's a big deal."
Beca blushed, feeling the heat in her face. "Yeah… no, definitely not a big deal."
"Are you okay? I'm sorry if it made you uncomfortable…" Chloe trailed off, looking concerned.
"No, it's fine," Beca answered quickly. "Just me and my superpower… forget I said anything."
Chloe laughed, remembering their conversation from the other day. "It's only awkward if you make it awkward."
Beca sighed, pressing her palms against her face as Chloe laughed at her again, wondering if she blocked out the world for a few minutes she could go back in time and redo this conversation.
"Okay, you suck at not making it awkward," Chloe said, still gently laughing. "Tell me something I don't know about you. It can be anything."
Beca frowned, lowering her hands thinking for a moment before confessing, "You know how everyone here thinks I'm just a bartender?" At Chloe's nod, she continued, "Well that's only half true. Yeah, I'm behind the bar sometimes, but I actually own the place."
Chloe's eyes widened, saying, "What?! Bec, that's incredible! You own a bar!"
"Fuck, say it louder next time… I'm pretty sure there's someone on the opposite side of the island who didn't quite hear you," Beca quipped, though she did look around to see if anyone heard the redhead's outburst.
"Sorry," Chloe immediately apologized, joining her in looking around for eavesdroppers and thankfully finding none. "But seriously, that's amazing. Tell me more."
Beca hummed; Chloe's warm gaze and encouraging smile letting her know the woman's interest was genuine, making her want to open up a little. "It's called Charlie's, after my uncle. He owned and worked it for years until a little over a year ago when he passed away." She stopped, unable to keep from getting choked up at the thought of her uncle.
"I'm so sorry, Bec," Chloe said, reaching over to place a hand on her knee. "I'm guessing you two were close?"
"Yeah, we were," Beca sighed. "I started working at the bar when I was eighteen and continued all the way through college. I couldn't believe he left it to me, but I'm so happy he did. I love that place… I feel close to him when I'm there." After a minute, she said, "I haven't told anyone else that."
Chloe raised an eyebrow, asking, "Not even Theo?"
Beca shook her head. "No, no one."
They were quiet for a long moment before Chloe said, "I'm glad you told me. For the record, I never thought of you as 'just a bartender.' I'm not sure how, but I just knew we were going to be friends."
Beca retreated to her comfort zone of sarcasm, quipping, "Well, now that you've seen me naked…"
Chloe huffed, "If you're talking about this morning, I want a do-over. I could barely tell it was you in there."
"Sure, Chlo," Beca laughed, "All I'm saying is no one else wandered into the bathroom while I was in there."
Chloe didn't answer right away, Beca noticing her gaze shifting to look over her shoulder, her smile fading slightly.
"Uh, Bec… I think someone would like to talk to you." Chloe's voice had softened, making Beca turn and see what had distracted her.
Theo was back, looking a little guilty. "Hey, uh… can we talk? Privately?"
Beca wasn't prepared for the disappointment that flooded through her at the interruption, eventually nodding knowing she still owed Theo an apology for her earlier statements. Chloe's expression was unreadable as she gave her a small wave and fell into step with Theo across the backyard.
"Hey, I'm sorry for earlier," Beca apologized, wanting to speak first. "I should have trusted you… and I know you wouldn't do something like that."
Theo glanced at her, nodding after a moment, "Thanks."
They walked slowly across the backyard, Theo coming to a stop within sight of the hammock they had their first conversation on.
"I like you," Theo stated, not looking at her. "But if you're feeling Jesse or something just tell me. I can handle it."
Beca shook her head, "No… I mean, Jesse's nice, but… I think I'm getting frustrated because I'm not sure if you're my match. You could be, but I don't know… does it feel like something is missing for you?"
Theo shook his head. "No, not really. I'm not about to get down on one knee and propose or anything, but I think we've connected. I don't expect to meet someone and just bam… know immediately that they're my perfect match and we're gonna be together. For me it's more about do I like talking to you, spending time with you, and do I want to keep doing that? I do, so that's enough for me right now."
Beca thought about that, wondering if maybe she was looking at this whole experience all wrong. "I hadn't thought of it that way," she admitted, noticing the way Theo's expression relaxed.
He eyed her, asking incredulously, "Were you thinking you had to be in love with me after five days?"
"Well now I feel like both an idiot and an asshole," Beca grumbled, letting him slide an arm around her shoulders and pull her into a side hug.
"I'm sorry," he said, trying and failing to hide how humorous he found her responses.
Beca rolled her eyes but didn't pull away as she replied, "I take it all back. I hate you and you're definitely not my match."
Theo laughed at her deadpan delivery, turning the hug into a real one that she returned.
"I'm sorry I didn't give you the benefit of the doubt of being a decent guy," Beca said genuinely.
"Happens more often than you'd think." Theo released her and took half a step back. "So, we good?"
Beca nodded, feeling a lot better after their talk.
Theo grinned, adding, "You're not into Jesse though, right?"
"Maybe I am," Beca teased back, knowing now he was just trying to get under her skin. "Some competition wouldn't kill you."
"Pfft, I could take that guy," Theo scoffed softly, closing the distance between them to kiss her.
This time he really kissed her, unlike the soft tentative press of lips in the hammock.
This time she was ready for it, kissing him back.
Thankfully they didn't have to wake up as early for the third challenge, allowing a more normal morning with breakfast and a little downtime before they were required outside. Beca happily joined Donald in the kitchen to cook breakfast, whipping up batches of bloody Mary's and mimosas while he prepared eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns. It was nice to simplify things for a bit, focusing on mixing drinks while the smell of breakfast had her stomach growling in anticipation.
Everyone grabbed plates and drinks and settled on the large sectional to eat together. There were so many of them in the house that meals like this were rare. Usually, people ended up eating in groups at random intervals, sticking to the people they gravitated to from the beginning.
"What do you think the challenge will be today?" Zeke asked, finally interrupting the almost silent sounds of people eating.
Aubrey shook her head, "No idea. But CR did say that since you guys went last time it would be our turn this time."
"It could be anything," Calamity shrugged, reaching her fork over to snag a piece of sausage from Chicago's plate to his displeasure.
"Just because you're sexy doesn't mean you can steal my breakfast," he grumbled. "At least take the breakfast potatoes or something."
Jesse spoke up, "Well, whatever it is we need to be more strategic in how we match up. Three is still nowhere near ten."
"We get it, dude, you're sick of Theo hogging Beca and you want to tap that," Bumper rolled his eyes.
Beca shot Bumper a dirty look, but Luke voiced his agreement.
"I mean, he's not wrong," Luke commented, earning himself glares from both Beca and Jesse.
"What I meant," Jesse started, his irritation showing, "Was that we need to couple up in pairs that actually have a chance at being matches. Like Chicago and Calamity, or Benji and Emily."
Theo earned a ton of points in Beca's mind when he backed Jesse's idea. "I agree with Jesse. If we want to find everyone's match, we have to send the right couples to the Truth Booth."
Fat Amy smirked, "Okay, turtle man. Beca's already all up on you… no need to show off and come to that man-child's rescue."
"I don't look like a turtle," Theo mumbled, making Beca laugh.
"I can see it," she whispered back, earning a jab to the side.
Chloe interjected, "I also agree with Jesse. We need to start taking the challenges and Truth Booths and matchups more seriously."
Bumper agreed, adding, "I'm not letting you assholes screw me out of winning that money."
"It's not only about money," Benji glanced around, his fingers laced with Emily's. "I mean, I would still want to be with Emily even if she turns out to not be my match."
"No one is asking you two to break up," Chloe cut in before Bumper could respond.
Chicago responded, "Actually, that's pretty much exactly what we'd ask if they aren't a match. They would have to start figuring out who their real match was somewhere, and spending every minute together wouldn't accomplish that."
Beca frowned at his callousness. "Wait a second, it's stupid not to acknowledge that there are actual feelings to take into account. This whole thing is more than just the money at the end."
"But the money is the most important thing," Chicago argued back, a few others around the room nodding in agreement.
"The fuck it is," Beca retorted, feeling Theo's hand move to rest on her knee.
Aubrey stepped in to mediate. "Okay, I think we all decided to do this for different reasons, and no reason is more or less valid than someone else's. Let's just cool off for a second."
Bumper stood up, shooting back, "Look, I don't know about the rest of you, but that million-dollar prize is a big reason why I'm here. You bitches better take it seriously."
"I'm with Bumper and Chicago on this one," Kommissar voiced, though she didn't sound upset. "Yes, finding love would be great, but we can't just ignore the money."
Beca was beyond frustrated at all of them. "No one is saying that," she retorted. "I'm saying we can't be focused entirely on one thing or the other. We have to account for both the relationships and feelings developing in the house AND the fact we need to find all ten perfect matches."
Luke stepped up and backed her, "Beca's right. The relationships we build are how we win the money. You might not leave here in a relationship with your match, but in order to find them, we have to develop some sort of connection with them. We aren't going to figure it out by blind luck."
Chicago seemed to decide that arguing wasn't getting them anywhere, and they all needed to be on the same side. "Okay, I get that," he acquiesced. "I get that you don't get one without the other… I'm just making sure that we all understand and prioritize the ultimate goal."
Aubrey countered him, "My point was that Beca's ultimate goal here might be different than yours."
He shook his head, "No, everyone's ultimate goal should be to find their match and win the money. That's not up for debate."
Beca restrained herself from rebutting just for argument's sake, her eyes connecting with Chloe's who felt no such desire.
"What if someone's ultimate goal from this experience is to find their perfect match?" Chloe asked, keeping her voice light so as not to provoke too angry of a response. "What if someone wants a relationship out of this and doesn't care as much about the money?"
Bumper rolled his eyes, asking, "You have something you want to admit? A trust fund stashed away somewhere?"
Chloe narrowed her eyes at him, snapping, "I'm going to med school in the fall. I'll be in debt for most of my adult life, asshole, certainly, more than a measly fifty grand could cover."
Bumper retreated immediately, apologizing, "Okay, I get it. Sorry."
Chicago frowned at him, adding, "You should be. That was rude as fuck, bro."
Theo spoke up for the first time, saying, "No one here has any right to comment on someone else's financial situation. At the end of the day, we all have to work together to figure out the perfect matches. If we're constantly fighting and arguing, we'll all lose."
Nods around the room indicated they were satisfied with that statement, and Beca hoped that might be the end of it… at least for now. She was sure this argument was going to come up again and again the longer it took to confirm perfect matches in the Truth Booth.
As if waiting for the drama to end, CR suddenly appeared in the room. She strode towards to stand in front of the large television screen.
"Okay guys, it's time to head outside to the backyard for your challenge."
Beca found herself walking outside to the challenge beside Jesse, noticing he was staunchly avoiding looking at her. She wondered if he felt weird or embarrassed by Bumper's comments earlier, decided to try and dissolve any lingering tension.
"Bumper's an idiot," she murmured, bumping her shoulder gently against his arm.
Jesse still didn't look at her, but Beca saw the corners of his mouth quirk up in a half-smile.
She kept going, her instinct to turn to humor proving to be a good one at the moment. "It's okay if you want to tap this… everyone knows I'm the hottest one in the house," she whispered, grinning as he couldn't stop the laugh from bubbling up from his chest.
"I'm gonna let that one slide without being offended," Beca finished, glad that whatever had been bugging him was definitely gone.
Jesse glanced at her, finally saying, "I definitely think you're the hottest girl in the house."
Something in the way he said it made her stomach flutter… a hint of seriousness underlying in his tone that made her sure he meant it.
"It'll take more than a little flattery to get in my pants," she warned as they approached the challenge area.
"Noted," Jesse nodded, giving her a quick salute before moving to stand a few feet away from her.
Beca was confused why until Theo came to a stop beside her, glancing at Jesse before meeting her eyes.
"He okay?"
"Yeah, I think he is now," Beca answered, realizing Theo had noticed the reaction to Bumper's accusation earlier. "Are you?"
Theo rolled his eyes, "I never take anything Bumper says too seriously. He's a jackass."
Beca laughed, "On that, we agree, turtle man."
"Whatever you say, Yoda."
"I'm not sure if that was supposed to be an insult, but you failed miserably. Yoda is for sure the best character in Star Trek," Beca quipped, chuckling at Theo's wounded look at her purposely misplaced reference.
"I think I'm in physical pain."
Beca was still laughing at him, "You nerds are so easy to rile up."
Theo shot her a mock glare. "Messing up Star Trek and Star Wars is one of the seven deadly sins… didn't you know?"
"Mm-hmm, right up there with murder and gluttony," Beca fired back, not giving an inch.
Theo shook his head, "I don't think it's gonna work out between us after all."
Chloe strolled up on Beca's other side, hooking an arm around her elbow. "Don't worry, Becs, he'll be crawling back in no time."
Beca scoffed, "If I take him back at all."
Theo didn't budge, retorting, "Whatever. When you win this challenge you'll be begging me to go on that date with you."
Beca chuckled, whispering to Chloe, "He's a cocky little shit, isn't he?"
Chloe glanced around her at Theo, the smug look still on his face. "For a turtle."
Beca burst out laughing at that, Chloe and Theo both joining her as he admitted defeat.
"Okay, okay, you two brilliant ladies win this battle, but know that I haven't conceded the war," he insisted, pointing a finger at the pair of them.
Beca smirked at him, turning to Chloe to ask, "Seriously, what do you think they're gonna make us do?"
"No idea, but whatever it is I really hope I'm good at it," Chloe replied, looking around. "I'm ready to get out of this house for a day."
"Says the one of us who has already gotten to go on a date," Beca pointed out. "I haven't left this place since we got here except to be rescued by a terrible sailor on a poorly constructed raft."
Chloe nodded, "True. You've definitely had worse luck out of the two of us… those matchups have been so awkward for you I don't know how you've survived."
The thick sarcasm in Chloe's tone had Beca also conceding, "Yeah, okay, you've definitely had the worst of it when it comes to the matchups. Maybe this one will go better?"
"Out of our hands this time," Chloe shrugged. "The boys pick."
"I don't hate that though," Beca said, recalling the anxiety she'd felt when her name was called. "I might be okay with never having to go up there and call out my perfect match ever again."
Chloe shook her head. "No way, I want to go first the next time it's our turn. I'm sick of not being someone's first choice. It sucks."
Beca sighed, knowing that must feel terrible. "You deserve to be someone's first choice. We all do."
"Everyone here? Good, gather round and pay attention!"
CR's loud shout cut off their conversation, Chloe letting go of Beca's arm to move closer making her feel slightly empty without the contact. Beca shuffled forward along with the group to listen to what they were going to do.
"Okay, over in that far corner of the yard is where we've set up the challenge," CR instructed, motioning off towards the far end of the property that was blocked from their sight by bushes and trees. "Targets have been set up with balloons for you to shoot arrows at. Each target will have a life goal posted along the top. The ladies will be doing some archery today, so I hope you've all got an inner Katniss who's been waiting for this moment to shine."
The guys started chuckling as the challenge was revealed, Beca glancing around to see that most of the ladies did not look thrilled about it, or like they had an inner Katniss waiting to be revealed. She definitely didn't.
"Each life goal along the top of the target belongs to one of the guys," CR continued, smirking at their disappointed reactions. "You win a date with the guy who belongs to the quote above the balloon you shoot with an arrow and pop. The first three ladies to pop balloons go on the date with their matching guy. Any questions?"
Beca's hand shot into the air along with most of the other girls, CR looking less impressed by the second.
"It's not that fucking complicated," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. Pointing at Calamity she asked, "What?"
"Is it an actual bow and arrow? Like with sharp arrows?"
CR rolled her eyes, answering, "You can't kill someone with it if that's what you're asking. But it will pop a balloon if you hit it with enough force."
Aubrey asked, "Are we going to get any type of instructions on how to shoot an arrow? What if we've never done it before?"
"Guess you won't be winning a date," CR retorted, clearly losing her patience.
Beca refused to be intimidated, asking, "So we literally have no control over who we end up on a date with?"
CR stared at her, answering, "Shoot for the balloon beneath the quote you think belongs to a guy you want to go on a date with. What part of this is so confusing?"
Kommissar rolled her eyes, "The part where it's blind luck who we end up on a date with. How are we ever going to get a match in the Truth Booth with shitty challenges like this."
"I don't make up the challenges," CR said, her tone final. "You signed up to participate, so quit thinking that you can change anything about this process. How hard can it be for three of you to get lucky and pop a damn balloon?"
Chloe mumbled, "We're about to find out."
Beca glanced at her, asking, "Have you ever shot a bow and arrow before?"
"Of course not," Chloe answered, rolling her eyes. "Have you?"
"Do I look like I studied archery?" Beca shot back, her annoyance at the challenge getting the better of her.
Chloe raised her eyebrow. "Maybe… Katniss was all scrappy and anti-social like you. It could fit."
Beca shook her head, "I'd be the first to die in the Hunger Games. Don't ever forget it."
"Good thing all you have to do is stand there and pathetically shoot arrows at giant balloons then," Theo chimed in, grinning at her and Chloe's exchange. "Win us a date, would you?"
"I'll win us a super nice date by the pool tomorrow," Beca sighed, adding, "Seriously, there's no way I'll be good at this."
Theo stuck his nose up, replying, "I didn't want to leave the house anyway. We can have just as much fun hanging out here… sitting by the pool… doing nothing… voting another lame couple into the Truth Booth…"
Beca narrowed her eyes at him. "Guilt-tripping me isn't going to make me good at archery in five minutes."
Chloe commented, "Don't be ridiculous. We've got at least two hours before anyone shoots an arrow."
"Don't remind me," Beca glanced at her, knowing how true that statement was.
CR was holding a hand to her ear, listening to something coming through her earpiece before announcing, "Okay! We're ready! On my cue, you all go ahead and jog over to the challenge area."
Theo muttered, "Sure, just jog over to this place you can't see and don't fuck anything up."
That brought a small smile to Beca's face, whispering back, "I knew there was a reason I liked you."
"Yeah, you're not the only sarcastic shit in this house," he quipped, his whole body relaxed and not at all ready to start jogging on cue.
He wasn't the only one not paying attention, and CR made them re-shoot jogging over to the archery area five times before she was satisfied. The words "Let's shoot it again," were now permanently on her shit list. Beca would be fine if she never heard them again, made worse by the knowledge that she would hear them over and over and over during the next eight mini-weeks.
They finally were allowed to gather in front of Gail and get a good look at the challenge that awaited them, which didn't improve Beca's confidence at all. The so-called targets were actually just wooden squares with large balloons stuck to the front, the life goals written clearly along the top. Upon reading a few, Beca knew they were all fucked at matching which guy belonged to which goal.
Emily whispered beside her, "These are so vague! They could belong to any of them!"
"Own a business?" Calamity mumbled, stumped as well.
"So much for strategically choosing our dates for the Truth Booth," Aubrey sighed, resting her hand on her hip.
Beca nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we're super fucked."
Chloe offered, "Record an album could be Benji or Jesse, both of them can sing pretty well."
Emily said, "True, but I'm pretty sure Benji's is to star on Broadway. He's obsessed with Les Mis."
Beca frowned, trying and failing to picture Benji as any of the characters. "Who hasn't graduated from college?"
Kommissar answered, "One of the military boys, maybe?"
Chloe muttered, "I'd believe Bumper never graduated."
"Bumper has his master's in business," Fat Amy said casually, too shocked looks from the other women. "What? He's an asshole but he's not stupid."
"That's debatable," Beca scoffed, still pissed at his earlier statements. "What the fuck are we waiting for now?"
They'd been standing in front of Gail for long minutes now without the woman saying anything, apparently waiting for the crew to get in position before they began filming the actual challenge. It took another half hour for everyone to get set up and CR to give the final approval for the host to begin.
"How are you guys doing today?" Gail asked cheerfully, to cheers and positive responses. "That's great! Glad to hear it," she continued, smile in place "Alright so at the last matchup you guys improved from two to three perfect matches… well done!"
Beca clapped along with the rest of the group, smiling at the few cheers and whistles that accompanied the applause.
"You're moving in the right direction, but you've still got a long way to go," Gail reminded them. "So, keep at it! You've only got eight more shots at finding love… and that million bucks." She paused to let that sink in before starting to announce what they were about to do.
"Alright, you guys… it's time for your next getaway challenge! Are you ready?" Gail asked, smiling encouragingly at them to interact with her.
"Yeah!" Beca cheered along with the rest of the cast, more clapping involved as they tried to act like they didn't know what was coming.
"So in this challenge, the top three finishers are going to win a getaway date and get that valuable one on one time… and hopefully get you guys closer to finding that perfect match," Gail said turning a little more serious. "Last time the guys had to do most of the work, so we're gonna mix things up a little bit. This time the ladies are going to get their chance to play Cupid and shoot their shot at love."
When none of the ladies clapped or cheered or showed any real excitement at that prospect, CR strode out from behind the scenes to stop Gail mid-speech. She spun around to face the group, glaring at them.
"I get that you ladies are not happy about this challenge, but we will be here all day if you don't get your shit together," CR scolded, clearly not in the mood for games. "Suck it up and start acting. I'm not here to babysit you. We've all got jobs to do, so fucking do yours."
Beca clenched her teeth together to keep her jaw from hitting the ground. CR was definitely intimidating, and it was clear that she wasn't in the mood to mess around today.
"Who pissed her off?" Stacie muttered as the producer retreated back behind the cameras.
"Gail! From the top!" CR shouted, crossing her arms over her chest.
Beca paid close attention as the host repeated her opening speech, clapping loudly and giving what she hoped was an excited cheer at the announcement of getting to shoot her shot at love. So what if she'd never shot an arrow before. So what if none of her arrows were going to get close to any of the targets. Fake it 'til you make it was on repeat in her head.
Gail continued on with her explanation. "Each of you ladies have a spot with a bow and a quiver of arrows," she said, gesturing to the row of colored mats on the ground a good distance away from the targets. You will all select a mat and use the bow and arrows to try and pop one of the balloons."
They nodded their understanding and Gail moved on. "You will see that above each target is a life goal that belongs to one of the guys. When you pop a balloon it will reveal a picture of the guy who belongs to that goal, and the guy you will be going on the date with," she explained, turning to the guys. "Gentlemen, you get to sit back and watch these ladies shoot it out!"
The guys cheered at that, offering excitement at not having to participate along with encouragement for the girls. Beca heard Theo cheering her on, but knew he was only going to end up disappointed.
Gail returned her focus to the women, saying, "Alright ladies, step up and choose your bow."
Beca shuffled over to the row, ending up on the green mat. She picked up the bow with a vague memory of watching The Hunger Games, feeling surprised at the weight of it. For some reason, she was expecting it to be lighter.
"Three of you please put us out of our misery quickly," Aubrey mumbled from beside her, Beca nodding in agreement.
Gail waited patiently until receiving some sort of signal. "Alright, are you ladies ready! Remember, the first three to pop balloons win the challenge!"
Beca studied the targets in front of her, knowing if there was ever a time to be lucky rather than good, it was now.
"Go!" Gail cried, spurring them all into action.
Beca didn't bother to rush, knowing it would probably only make things worse. She grabbed an arrow from the quiver in front of her and tried to figure out how to notch it on the bow. After a few long seconds, she felt like she was pretty close, and looked up to study the targets closest to her. One said "CLIMB EVEREST" while another read "OPEN A RECORD LABEL" and neither clued her in at all to the man behind them. Deciding that climbing Mount Everest was far too ambitious a goal for her, she focused on the record label one and shot her arrow. Predictably, it went about three feet in front of her, the string of the bow twinging her arm painfully.
"Fuck," she cursed, hearing Theo swear at the same time behind her. The "I told you so" running through her brain at max volume threatened to come out, but she managed to hold it in.
She failed at her next several attempts as well until a loud popping sound caught everyone's attention. She glanced around to see Calamity cheering her ass off before jumping into Chicago's arms. Apparently, Chicago was the one who wanted to graduate from college… good for him. She was also relieved that the two had actually talked a bit to go with all the hooking up, giving them a chance at a match in the Truth Booth.
Aubrey had the same thought beside her, saying, "Well, at least now we know who's going into the Truth Booth tomorrow."
"Agreed," Beca replied, returning her focus to her bow at the same time Theo yelled out to encourage her.
"Come on, Bec! You can do it!"
She rolled her eyes, wanting nothing more than to tell him to shut the fuck up. It was much harder than it looked, and so far none of her arrows had even reached the closest target.
A second loud popping sound had her lowering the bow, hopeful that a third wouldn't be far behind it.
Emily stood shell-shocked a few feet away, having been shooting for and finally succeeded in popping the balloon beneath "STAR ON BROADWAY" only to reveal a picture of Jesse's face. Beca's jaw did drop this time, turning to look at Jesse who looked about as disappointed as Benji, though he covered it well after a second.
A third pop prevented her from having to shoot another arrow as Flo beside her popped "CLIMB EVEREST" and revealed Zeke's photo.
Gail immediately intervened, saying loudly, "That's it! We have our three winners for the getaway date! Congratulations Calamity, Emily, and Flo!"
The group cheered and clapped with enthusiasm, knowing that they had a legitimate couple entering the Truth Booth tomorrow."
"As you know," Gail continued, "There's always a little bit more to it. The three couples that go on the date are also gonna be eligible for the Truth Booth, the only way to validate whether you're a perfect match or not." After a pause, Gail asked, "Are you guys ready to find out what you'll be doing?"
The group cheered, but the couples going on the date were the only ones extra excited to find out.
"You guys are going to spend the day at The Cove getting surf lessons!" Gail announced, the group clapping and cheering at the news for the winning couples. "In addition, you'll each be treated to a private dinner right on the beach."
Gail waited a few moments before addressing the rest of the group. "So, while they're out surfing, everyone else needs to vote one of the couples into the Truth Booth. This is important, so choose carefully and I'll see you all at the house tomorrow for the outcome of the vote."
Beca clapped at Gail's sign off, thankful that this time they actually had a couple with a realistic shot at being a perfect match. In some ways she hoped they were, not having much interaction with either of them but irritated at Chicago's attitude that morning. Something about his part in that entire conversation rubbed her the wrong way and she wouldn't mind him out of the house and in the honeymoon suite for the remainder of the show.
Theo ambled up beside her now that they were finished shooting. "So… you really sucked at that."
Beca retorted, "You say that all confident and smug now that I'm unarmed."
"You say that like I'd be more scared if you were still holding that bow when I'd probably be safer," Theo didn't hesitate, glancing around at the rest of their group already heading back towards the house.
"I wasn't THAT bad," Beca insisted, knowing it was a total lie.
Theo laughed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as they started to walk back. "No, you were worse! I couldn't believe it," he admitted, adding, "I was really expecting you to be bullshitting and to go out there and nail a balloon right away."
"Which was yours?" Beca asked curiously.
"Record label," Theo replied, explaining, "I've always loved music… the way people connect through it and how it can make sense when nothing else does. I think it'd be amazing to be a part of that in some way, even though I can't sing or do anything musical at all."
Beca felt the same way about music, although she had a decent singing voice and mixed on the side. "I think that's pretty fucking awesome," she said, shooting him a smile.
He met her gaze, as if not quite believing her. "Yeah?"
She nodded, leaning into his embrace. "Yeah."
It was getting easier to settle into this rhythm of mini-weeks, especially when she didn't have any dates to break up the monotony. At this rate, Beca figured she'd better settle in and move forward as if a day away from the house and the rest of the group wasn't in the cards for her journey on the show. She slept in until early afternoon, eventually grabbing something to eat and joining a bunch of people on the sectional for a rousing discussion of who the three correct matches were from the previous matchup ceremony. Beca gave up when she became more confused than when they started, the group only in agreement that Benji and Emily were a match.
Everyone split apart to do their own things and Beca found herself out on the back porch swing with Donald, not having really chatted with him since the first couple days.
"How are you doing with all this?" Beca asked him, genuinely curious at his answer "Found your match yet?"
Donald glanced at her, hesitating before saying, "I think I might have."
He didn't elaborate, making Beca want to know even more. "Go on," she encouraged, nudging him with her elbow. "Don't be such a tease."
He laughed, "Okay, okay… no need to get violent. I think… I think it could be Lilly."
"Really?" Beca asked, only surprised because she'd rarely heard the woman speak.
"Yeah, jerk… don't look so surprised. She's kinda awesome," Donald replied, rolling his eyes at her doubtful look.
Beca retreated, "No, I mean… I'm sure she is. I've just never heard her say more than a few words, is all."
"True, she's usually quiet, but I've gotten to know her and she's really cool," Donald explained. "She's a police officer from Seattle and she's a badass."
"No shit," Beca said under her breath, not expecting that at all. "But she's tiny."
"So are you, and you're also kinda a badass," Donald retorted, though his tone held no heat behind it.
Beca certainly didn't think of herself that way but appreciated his comment nonetheless. "Thanks… I think."
Donald nodded, "It's definitely a compliment. I thought you might be my match at first, but I think we connect more like friends. I'm definitely looking for a strong, badass chick who's independent. I can't stand the needy, clingy, whiny girls… no patience for that shit."
"Completely agree," Beca said absentmindedly, missing the way he raised an eyebrow at her response.
"You dated a lot of whiny dudes?"
"No," Beca answered, finally looking back at him. "Mostly assholes, actually."
Donald hummed, "So, Theo is a big change to that, then."
Beca nodded, "I've never dated a guy like him before. I think he's actually just a regular nice guy… it throws me off sometimes."
"Well, if you want my opinion… which you obviously should," Donald quipped, continuing, "Theo's a standup dude. He's not trying to get with any other girls in the house or anything shady like that, so you might want to give him a legit shot… you know?"
Beca processed that, knowing it was a decent gesture for Donald to back some guy he'd only known for a couple weeks. Then again, she'd probably say something similar about Chloe. Despite not knowing the redhead for long, something inside her could just tell that the woman was trustworthy and genuine.
"Thanks, DJ," Beca said, shooting him a smile. "I'm working on it."
Beca spent a while longer out on the swing after Donald wandered inside in search of Lilly, eventually deciding to go submit her vote for the Truth Booth. She headed inside to find Aubrey, Luke, and Benji standing around as crew members were getting organized.
"You guys about to vote?" Beca asked, moving to join them.
Aubrey nodded, "Just waiting on everyone to get set up. They want us to sit around and chat about it for a few minutes before we actually vote."
"Not sure what there is to discuss," Luke scoffed, looking annoyed. "It's not like there's a major debate about who to vote for this time."
Benji nodded, "True. It's time to figure out if Chicago and Calamity are a match or not. I kinda hope they are."
Aubrey agreed, "Me too. We need to confirm a perfect match sooner rather than later, and since we don't seem capable of getting you and Emily there…" she trailed off, gesturing towards Benji, "They're a good bet."
"More so than the other two," Beca added. "Obviously Jesse and Emily are not a match, and I doubt Zeke and Flo are either. I guess at least they're a possibility, but we need to split up the other two if they aren't a match before it's too late."
"Definitely," Luke rubbed his hand over his hair. "The last thing we need is their relationship to stretch on for weeks and they're so attached to each other they refuse to talk to other people."
Beca glanced at him, "Were you talking about them the other day? When you asked what happens if two people aren't a match and still want to be together?"
Luke got defensive even though Donald wasn't anywhere to be found. "I wasn't really talking about anyone," he said, sounding frustrated. "But sure, them, or Tom and Stacie, or even Benji and Emily if they aren't a match. I mean, wouldn't you still want to see where that relationship goes even if the Truth Booth says you guys aren't a perfect match?" Luke asked Benji.
Benji's expression turned conflicted, finally answering, "Yes, I think so. Obviously, we would still play along and try to figure out who our match was, but I hope we've built something that she would want to see through before calling it quits. Beca was right, there are feelings involved that maybe should transcend this stupid game."
Beca smiled at him, "We can all see the connection you've got with Emily. She's your match. But even if she wasn't, I don't think anyone else here has a shot of breaking you two up."
"Maybe Jesse and Emily will get voted into the Truth Booth and be a match," Benji muttered, his eyes trained on the television screen that showed the pair's photos side by side.
"Not gonna happen," Luke assured him. "The four of us are all voting for Calamity and Chicago, and I'm sure everyone else will too. This vote is gonna be unanimous."
"I'm voting for them, but I don't think they're a match," Beca offered, knowing it might be a controversial opinion.
Aubrey turned to look at her, asking, "Really? I think they match pretty well."
"Gut feeling," Beca shrugged, knowing she couldn't really explain it. "I just don't think they are, but I'm still gonna vote for them because they could be… and if they aren't, I agree with everything Luke said on splitting them up before it's too late."
They fell silent until a crew member interjected, "That was perfect. You guys can vote whenever."
Beca hadn't even realized the movement around them had ceased and the cameras were filming their entire discussion. Whatever, the less scripted shit she had to go through the better.
Aubrey went first, followed by Luke, then Beca, with Benji bringing up the rear. Beca didn't hesitate upon approaching the screen, touching between Chicago and Calamity's faces until the "VOTE SUBMITTED" box flashed up. She retreated away from the screen so Benji could vote, moving to stand beside Luke and Aubrey.
"Hopefully we'll get this one right," Luke said quietly.
Beca nodded, but deep in her gut she just knew the pair wasn't going to be a match and they would still be at square one for the matchup tomorrow.
CR had given them a thirty-minute warning before the three couples returned from their day of surfing, allowing everyone plenty of time to be gathered either in the living room on the sectional or in the nearby kitchen grabbing a drink. It seemed things had gone smoothly on the date since the crew wasn't set up and waiting for their return this time, setting Beca at ease. She was currently on the couch with Theo stealing sips from his margarita to his displeasure.
"I asked if you wanted one!"
"I didn't want a whole one," Beca retorted playfully, handing him the plastic cup back.
Theo rolled his eyes, "No, just half of mine."
Beca winked at him, pretending to reach for the cup again only to have him move it out of her range. "I didn't think you'd make such a good one."
"Ah! The truth comes out," he accused playfully. "You didn't trust my bartending skills."
"To be fair, you literally have not cooked a single thing or poured a single drink besides water or coffee since we've been here," Beca defended. "It's a natural assumption."
"Everything is catered," Theo replied, seemingly unbothered by Beca's point. "Why would I cook if I don't have to?"
Beca shrugged, "Other people cook."
Theo countered, "Other people eat like fucking rabbits. I eat like a normal human."
"True, how do you keep those abs, anyway?" Beca asked curiously, having seen the things he'd consumed since being in the house.
"Good genes and good luck."
"Literally everyone here hates you."
Theo laughed, passing her back the cup in an attempt to shut her up. "Here, drink some more and you'll find it matters less."
Beca took another sip and glanced towards the commotion at the front door, watching as the three couples returned from their surfing adventure. They all seemed happy and tired and drama free, something she definitely appreciated after the way the last Truth Booth discussion began.
The crew gave them a few minutes to get back and settled before shepherding them all into the living room for the results of the vote. Gail appeared not long after, shooting them a quick smile while CR gave her rapid instructions and reminders as she got into position.
"Okay, you guys are pros at this part by now, right?" CR turned to the group, looking tired after spending the day out on the date filming. She'd apparently decided the crew could handle filming around the house without her now and went with the group on the dates to ensure they got quality footage.
At their nods, she continued, "Gail will chat you up and reveal the results of the vote. The couple will head out to the Truth Booth, the crew will get reactions from them before, after, and get the main group reaction in here. Okay, let's get rolling."
Gail waited until everyone was set before starting with her usual greeting. "Hey guys, how are we doing tonight?"
"Good," Beca answered along with most of the group, glancing around to see most people with looking positive.
"Great!" Gail replied enthusiastically, turning to the three couples who were standing in a row behind the couch. "How was your date?"
Calamity answered, "It was awesome. I've never surfed before, but we had a great time on the water."
Gail nodded, fixing her gaze on Emily. "How was it for you and Jesse, Emily?"
Emily blushed under all the attention, replying, "It was so much fun. We had a great time."
Jesse added, "Yeah, we hadn't really gotten a chance to talk or get to know each other, but she killed it out there!"
Beca had a hard time believing that, knowing Emily was one of the least coordinated people in the house. She was more interested in the way Jesse was looking at the brunette with his arm comfortably around her waist, turning to see Benji eyeing them as well.
Gail seemed pleased with their answers, finishing with Zeke and Flo. "Flo, how was it spending the day with Zeke?"
Flo smiled, "It was great. He's a total gentleman and we had a lot of fun."
"Awesome," Gail said, her gaze covering the rest of the room. "How are we feeling about this vote?"
Luke replied, "I think for once we're finally feeling confident about a Truth Booth. We haven't started off so well, but this time we might have a perfect match."
"Fat Amy, what do you think?" Gail asked curiously.
"I think we're about to find out if Barbie and Ken are actually a match or if they can kiss a trip to the honeymoon suite goodbye," the blonde answered, as colorful as always.
Gail nodded, apparently having decided that was enough commentary. "As you all know, the three couples on the date today were eligible to be voted into the Truth Booth… the only true way to validate if a couple is a perfect match. If you are a match, you'll immediately move out into your own honeymoon suite. If not, you're right back in the house and you guys have collectively blown another chance to get that much closer to a million dollars. Got it?"
At the affirmative answers from the group, Gail turned to point at the screen and continued, "Alright, let's take a look. Who is heading to the Truth Booth?"
Beca watched as the screen flashed and the pictures of all the couples were replaced with larger ones of Chicago and Calamity, resulting in loud clapping and cheers from the group. She looked over to see the chosen pair smiling, clearly having anticipated this outcome.
"Chicago, you look like you expected this," Gail commented when everyone settled down.
He nodded, responding, "Yeah, I mean… it's no secret that Calamity and I are one of the strongest couples in the house. It makes perfect sense to get us in the Truth Booth so we can be on our way to the honeymoon suite and take that next step towards a million bucks."
Gail raised her eyebrows, saying to Calamity, "He seems very confident you two are a match. Do you feel the same way?"
"Yeah, I do," she answered, shooting Chicago a smile. "Like he said, we've really connected and now it's time to see the proof."
"Alright, well, it seems like everyone is on the same page with this vote tonight," Gail said, looking around the room. "Chicago, Calamity, it's time to head to the Truth Booth."
After the couple left through the back door, Gail addressed the rest of the group. "When they see the result in the Truth Booth, you guys will see the same results on the screen here. Good luck, and I'll see you tomorrow at the matchup."
Beca joined in the chorus of saying goodbye to Gail, suddenly feeling nervous while they waited to see if the pair was a match.
"They have to be a match, right?" Zeke asked, looking around the room.
"If they aren't, we seriously have no fucking idea what we're doing," Luke sighed, leaning back into the couch cushion.
The wait was torture, stretching on before CR finally informed them that the pair were now entering the Truth Booth.
Beca sat forward, feeling Theo's hand come to rest on her knee as if he sensed her anxiety. She wasn't sure why she was so nervous, chalking it up to desperately hoping that they found at least one perfect match while they were here. The challenges weren't easily lending themselves to pairing up possible matches, and this could be one of their only shots to confirm a perfect match in the Truth Booth.
"Ugh, I'm so nervous," Aubrey said, shaking her head as if it was ridiculous to feel that way.
"Me too," Bumper agreed, shocking everyone. "I think they're gonna be pissed if they aren't a match."
Uni chimed in, "Let's not worry about that until it's confirmed they aren't. We might be spending the night celebrating our first perfect match."
Beca doubted it but was willing to wait to see what the screen said. After another long few minutes, it flashed until the black box reading "NO MATCH" remained across their pictures.
The room erupted, with different reactions echoing around the room from disappointed shouts to cursing to people holding their heads in their hands. Beca felt slightly validated having never believed the pair was a match but also frustrated that they were having such trouble figuring things out.
"Fuck!" Luke yelled again, bent over with his head between his legs, suddenly standing up and pacing into the kitchen.
"We suck," Kommissar said, some frustration definitely creeping into her usual calm, collected tone.
Theo shook his head, stating, "We really have no fucking idea what we're doing."
Benji was still eyeing the way Jesse and Emily were standing, offering, "If they aren't a match, literally anyone in this room could be a match. We can't take anything for granted."
"We need to start taking this game more seriously," Bumper added, looking as irritated as Luke. "Maybe tomorrow we should just all pick someone different to get more information."
Theo shook his head, arguing, "That's a great way to blackout. There are still couples in the house with some chemistry. It doesn't make any sense to ignore that."
Uni disagreed, saying, "Our matchups haven't been working so far, and no offense, but Beca could easily have matched with like seven of the guys here and no one would blink twice about it."
Beca raised her eyebrows at that statement, surprised that it came from Uni who she hadn't had a single conversation with.
Theo's frustration took over, biting back, "Yeah, but she hasn't spent time with seven guys in the house, has she? She felt a connection with me, otherwise, maybe she'd give you the time of day."
Uni rolled his eyes, thankfully deciding not to respond in kind. "I wasn't talking about me, bro. Chill, I'm just saying switching up the matchups to be more strategic isn't the worst idea we've had."
Aubrey stood up, raising her voice to get everyone's attention. "Hey! They're gonna be back soon and we don't know how they'll feel about not being a match. Can we just stop for a minute until they get here? We can figure all this out tomorrow before the matchup."
Zeke took a deep breath, saying, "Fine, but we seriously need to switch up the strategy."
They only had to wait a few more minutes before Calamity and Chicago entered the room through the back door, both looking equally unhappy.
Calamity shrugged, saying, "Not a match."
Chicago simply looked around the room and asked, "So, who's getting drunk with me tonight?" as he immediately strolled off towards the kitchen.
Beca sighed watching Calamity try to convince Aubrey and Emily she was okay, obviously recognizing the woman was upset they weren't a match. A glance into the kitchen showed Chicago, Zeke, Luke, and Bumper throwing back shots, realizing that the night was about to become a total shit show.
Theo followed her gaze, asking quietly, "So… are we getting drunk?"
Bumper yelled out from the kitchen, "All you bitches get in here right now. We're doing shots until we forget everything that happened in the past hour."
Beca turned back to Theo, patting his hand on her knee a couple times before standing up. "I guess we're getting drunk."
"Bec… Bec, wake up."
"Why are you yelling?" Beca mumbled, not opening her eyes.
A hand gently shaking her shoulder finally did the trick, Beca cracking an eye open to see Theo looking at her. "First, I'm not yelling," he replied, his voice soft. "Second, we've only got a few hours before we start shooting the matchup ceremony and I figured you'd want time to shower and get something to eat."
Beca nodded gratefully, looking around to see she wasn't the only one still passed out from the night before. It had truly been a shit down, with shots getting passed around like water. The entire house had been completely drunk in a show of support for Chicago and Calamity not being a match.
She rubbed her forehead in a pathetic attempt to stop the pounding, trying to make sense of her jumbled memories.
"Did Lilly and Aubrey and Zeke really go skinny dipping?" Beca asked, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Theo nodded, "Yep, yes they did."
Beca glanced around in search of water, her mouth feeling like a desert. Theo reached down and picked up a bottle of water from the floor beside the bed, offering it to her along with some aspirin.
"You're my hero," Beca muttered, opening the bottle and chugging half of it. She popped the pills into her mouth and took another sip. "I can't remember the last time I was that drunk."
"None of us do, because I doubt we've ever been that drunk," Theo commented, looking as if he hadn't experienced the slightest bit of a hangover.
"Why are you not dying?"
Theo shrugged, "I've been up for three hours already. I threw up multiple times and got in a workout and ate something and took a shit ton of those pills. You'll get there." After a moment, he asked, "What else do you remember about last night?"
Beca closed her eyes, trying to force her uncooperative brain to work. "Um…" she trailed off as certain images appeared, one causing her eyes to open wide. "Did Luke and Calamity hook up?!"
Theo nodded, glancing back towards the open bedroom door. "Chicago was pissed… still is, actually. I thought we got him drunk enough to forget, but… nope. Also, Stacie and Tom definitely got it on in the pool, so I wouldn't recommend swimming until it's been cleaned."
Beca screwed her face up, mumbling, "Gross."
"Yeah, the sex room was occupied so… improvisation."
Beca chuckled, correcting, "STD Den."
Theo laughed, "Yeah, that works."
"Okay so, basically today's gonna be a shit show. Got it," Beca sighed, pushing the blankets back and slowly stood up to stretch. "I'm gonna shower and try to feel like a human by the time we have to film all night."
Theo nodded, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a hug. "I believe in you."
Beca hugged him back, before pulling away in search of her shower stuff. "Thanks for the vote of confidence." Another memory hit her, and she turned to stare at him. "Are the guys still convinced you should all pick new people tonight?"
Theo hesitated, giving away his answer.
Beca had no desire to stand up in front of Gail with some guy she'd barely said two words to and then be stuck sitting with him for the rest of the night. Pointing a finger at him, she warned, "You better fucking pick me."
"It could be Jesse or Donald… or Luke," Theo argued back weakly, finally conceding, "If no one else has picked you, I will. Happy?"
Beca nodded, still regarding him warily until he repeated himself. Satisfied, she shuffled away into the bathroom, praying the hot water would work magic on her pounding head.
The build-up to the matchup ceremony had gone about as well as Beca figured, with Chicago refusing to acknowledge Calamity's presence. Instead, he spent his time chatting up Chloe and Flo, much to Beca's irritation. She wasn't sure what it was about the guy, but he definitely rubbed her the wrong way. He was clearly rebounding hard and she didn't want anyone in the house to get hurt. Calamity and Luke were also talking innocently enough on the couch, but just the fact that she moved on so quickly with so little regard for Chicago made Beca distrust her as well. Luke was a good guy, and she hoped he wasn't falling too hard for this bullshit.
They took the required matchup ceremony shot before the crew told them it was time to go. Beca fell into step beside Fat Amy and Emily as they strolled along the path towards the stage, the crew getting plenty of footage of them all walking along. By some miracle they didn't have to do it again, CR having mercy on their hungover asses. Beca found herself in a chair on the middle row of the risers, between Chloe and Calamity.
The crew took their time getting shots of the guys walking in to stand on the small platform, making them go back out once and walk back in before CR was satisfied. Beca didn't mind it as much, thankful that the aspirin and some food and plenty of water had her feeling mostly back to normal. She watched as CR adjusted the guys' positions, taking a few extra seconds to appreciate how nice they all looked wearing something that wasn't a tank top and swim trunks and flip flops.
Finally, CR stepped back almost to the podium and addressed the group. "Okay, are you all still alive after last night? Coherent? Able to form sentences?"
There were mixed responses to those questions, but Beca could tell the woman didn't care based on the smirk that crossed her lips.
"Great, glad to hear it. Okay, you know the drill by now, but after last night I wanted to make sure you guys were good," CR said, looking at them a little more seriously. She glanced behind her and motioned for Gail to get into position, doing one last check before moving away behind one of the cameras.
Beca turned her attention to Gail who had her eyes trained in the direction CR had just headed in, waiting for her signal to begin the matchup ceremony. Once everyone was in place and ready to go, Gail turned to address the guys.
"Hey guys," she greeted, then specifically asked, "Gentlemen, how's it going?"
Beca clapped a couple times as the guys nodded, a few answering her question with "Good."
Gail smiled, opening her body up to both groups. "This is your third chance at one million dollars."
There were more cheers, several of the guys holding up three fingers, punctuated with Luke calling out, "That's right! Third time's a charm."
"But," Gail reminded them, holding up a finger continuing, "If just one person gets it wrong, then you're not ten for ten and you all get nothing."
Beca felt her stomach clench at that, Gail formulating the statement as if this was their last shot at the money despite knowing it wasn't.
"And if you don't get any perfect matches, that's a blackout… and your prize immediately drops by two hundred and fifty thousand dollars."
"No!" Bumper called from the platform, "We got this."
Gail nodded at the outburst, asking, "How are we feeling about tonight?"
Zeke answered, "We've had a lot of discussions about tonight and we're gonna try something new."
Beca frowned, glancing at Chloe who looked equally unhappy at that answer.
"What do you mean?" Gail asked curiously.
Uni chimed in, "We're clearly doing something wrong, so the guys have decided to switch things up a little to try and get more information."
Kommissar rolled her eyes, the shake of her head catching Gail's attention. "Kommissar, you don't agree with this plan?"
"No, I think it's stupid to just pick randomly without taking connections into consideration," Kommissar answered.
Beca agreed with her, praying that Theo got to go first before Bumper could lose his mind and pick her.
Gail waited a moment before saying, "Well guys… tonight, it's your choice! There's nothing to keep you from trying out something new. When I call your name you're gonna step up here, choose your perfect match, and then the two of you will place your palms on the handprint touchpad and lock in as a couple."
Chloe muttered, "We're so fucked."
Beca nodded in agreement as Gail called the first name.
"First up for the guys tonight is… Unicycle!"
Beca held her breath as he walked up to the podium, greeting Gail with a smile.
"Unicycle, you seem to be on board with this new strategy," Gail said, inviting him to elaborate.
He nodded, "Yeah, we've gotta try something different. We've had no luck in the Truth Booth and no luck in the matchups, so it's time to experiment."
Beca bit her lip in anticipation, praying he didn't pick her. Uni seemed like a nice guy, but she'd had zero interaction with him so far.
"Good luck, I hope it works out for you," Gail said sincerely, finally asking, "Unicycle, who is your perfect match?"
He turned toward the ladies and answered, "My perfect match… is Aubrey."
Aubrey looked surprised, then resigned as she rose and walked up to join him.
Gail smiled at her, "Aubrey, how do you feel about this matchup?"
"I don't think he's my match, but I guess trying something new is better than picking the same people over and over and expecting different results," Aubrey answered, looking almost indifferent about being chosen by Uni.
"That's a great outlook," Gail complimented her. "Alright, Unicycle, Aubrey, lock-in."
Beca watched as they pressed their palms to the touchpad and locked in, returning to Aubrey's chair on the top row.
"Next up for the guys is…" Gail paused dramatically, before saying, "Chicago!"
Beca swallowed hard, realizing it'd be so much worse if he picked her. Suddenly she wondered if she was about to spend the night cursing Uni for picking Aubrey instead of her.
"Chicago, how are you doing after that Truth Booth last night?" Gail asked.
He shrugged, "Fine. Calamity and I aren't a match and she didn't have any trouble moving right along to the next guy."
There were some gasps from the ladies and low rumblings from the guys at Chicago's words, Beca glancing over to see Calamity's eyes narrowed at him. It was a far cry from the way they'd been making out and hooking up over the first two weeks in the house.
Beca couldn't tell if Gail's surprised expression was real or fake as she looked past Chicago at Calamity, asking, "Is that how you feel?"
Calamity shook her head, answering, "We aren't a match. I care about him, but there's no point in focusing all my attention on someone who isn't my match."
Chicago retorted, "Yeah, that's fine. Whatever."
Gail addressed him again, deciding it was better to move on from this particular subject. "Chicago, who is your perfect match."
Chicago turned around and said, "My perfect match is Chloe."
Beca felt her stomach turn as he said the redhead's name, the feeling only getting worse at Chloe's small smile as she got up and joined him at the podium. She hoped Chloe didn't actually like that guy, still not liking the vibe he gave off.
Gail greeted Chloe, asking, "Chloe, this is the third matchup and the third different guy you've stood next to. How do you feel about that?"
Chloe responded, "Obviously I wish I had made a stronger connection with one of the guys by now, but I'm staying positive. It just means I'm open to any relationship that starts to form."
Gail nodded at her answer, saying, "Chicago, Chloe, it's time to lock-in."
Beca kept her face neutral as the pair locked in and returned to sit in the chair beside her, whispering softly back and forth. CR stepped up and announced the first break, Chicago immediately helping Chloe to her feet and escorting her out of the area to film their reactions. Beca thought about getting hers over with, instead remaining seated in the hope of getting this entire night over with as quickly as possible.
The short break turned into almost a two-hour delay, frustrating the entire cast and crew as technical difficulties kept popping up. To say everyone was running on a short fuse would be the biggest understatement of the entire show so far, the tension only growing in the small space. CR finally announced they were ready to continue shooting, also letting everyone know that the usual longer break would be cut short to make up for lost time. Ignoring the resulting groans, she nodded at Gail and disappeared from the middle of the set.
"Next up for the guys is… Tom!"
Beca watched curiously as he walked to the podium, wondering if he was going to follow along and pick someone different or continue to select Stacie.
Gail didn't seem to be in a chatty mood anymore, asking almost immediately, "Tom, who is your perfect match?"
Tom didn't hesitate, turning around and saying, "My perfect match is Stacie."
Stacie smiled and strode up to stand beside him, his arm easily coming to rest around her waist.
Gail wasn't immune to the obvious reaction from some of the guys, asking, "Tom, you and Stacie were matched up at the last ceremony. Some of the guys don't seem happy at your pick."
Tom shrugged, "I think Stacie and I are a match. Picking different people is fine and all, but we also have to remember we got three matches last time. By everyone picking someone different we risk blacking out."
Gail nodded at his logic, posing her next question to Stacie. "Stacie, do you think you and Tom were one of those three matches last time?"
Stacie answered, "I definitely think it's possible. It's still early in our relationship… but we've definitely got a strong connection."
"That's what you're all here to find," Gail commented. "Alright, Tom, Stacie, it's time to lock-in."
The pair placed their palms on the touchpad and locked in, retreating to sit together in the open chair.
Gail turned back to the guys, announcing, "Next up we have… Theo!"
Beca breathed a sigh of relief, counting on him to keep his word and pick her.
"How are you doing tonight, Theo?"
He smiled back at her, replying, "I'm great, Gail."
She continued their conversation, asking, "Do you know who you're going to pick tonight?"
Theo nodded, "Yeah, I know a lot of the guys want to try out this strategy, but my connection with this girl is only getting stronger… There's no way I'm not picking her tonight."
Gail smiled at his confident answer. "Theo, who is your perfect match."
Theo half-turned and shot her a smile. "My perfect match is Beca."
Oddly enough there were no disappointed sounds as Beca stood up from her chair and walked over to join him, only hearing cheers and clapping from the rest of the group.
"Beca, how do you feel about matching with Theo during all three ceremonies so far?"
She smiled at the way his hand was resting comfortably on her opposite hip, leaning slightly into his embrace. "Like Theo said, our connection is getting stronger the more time we spend together. I'm glad he picked me tonight."
Gail nodded, replying, "You two definitely look like a perfect match, and it seems the rest of the house agrees."
Beca blushed as there were more cheers, Theo steering them gently around to grin at the rest of the group. She caught a glimpse of Chloe looking almost uncomfortable, but Theo turned them back to face Gail before she could be sure.
"Theo, Beca, it's time to lock in," Gail instructed them.
Beca placed her palm on the touchpad, watching as it fake scanned before the black box declaring them "LOCKED!" appeared across both screens. Theo laced their fingers together as they returned to Beca's chair, settling comfortably into it together.
Instead of the customary break, the group tried to hide their surprised reactions when Gail continued on and called the next name.
"Alright… Jesse! Come on up here."
Jesse only faltered for a second, but it was enough for CR to shout out an interruption. "Again! Don't look so stunned, Jesse!"
He nodded, returning to his place to wait for Gail to announce his name again. Beca felt bad for him, knowing that none of the guys would have expected Gail to call their name.
"Alright… Jesse! Come on up here," Gail repeated.
This time Jesse smoothly smiled and made his way to the podium, not an ounce of surprise or shock in his expression.
"How are you feeling tonight, Jesse?"
Jesse scratched the back of his head, answering, "A little conflicted. A lot has happened in the past day in the house to throw things off."
Gail nodded, an understanding look on her face. "Jesse, who is your perfect match?"
Jesse hesitated, before spinning around and saying, "My perfect match is Emily."
Beca felt her heart drop into her stomach, wondering what the fuck Jesse thought he was doing. Unfortunately, most of the rest of the cast did not contain their reactions.
Bumper shouted, "What the fuck, dude?!"
Kommissar rolled her eyes, retorting, "This is why you guys shouldn't randomly start picking people you don't have a connection with."
Emily looked stunned, slowly rising from her chair. She kept looking between Jesse and Benji as she walked to the podium, clearly not wanting to be there.
Calamity let out a frustrated sound from beside her, saying, "Jesse, you're an idiot. If we blackout, it's on you."
Jesse also clearly wasn't expecting that level of response from the group, turning to look back at Gail when Emily reached his side.
"Emily, there was a pretty loud reaction to Jesse picking you," Gail said gently, while obviously enjoying the new tension in the room. "Were you hoping to match up with someone else tonight?"
Emily glanced at Jesse, answering, "Jesse and I had a great time on our date. I thought we connected, but I've definitely still got something going on with Benji."
Jesse adds, "Part of the strategy tonight was to pick new people! Emily and I had a great date and I thought we really hit it off. What if I end up being her match instead of Benji?"
Calamity yells out to him, "Hey asshole! She's just being nice so you don't get butthurt over the fact that she wants to be with Benji because he's her perfect match."
Jesse spun around, his frustration boiling over, "What do you know about it? Like you're qualified to give any of us advice on who our perfect match is?"
Calamity looked around retorting, "Everyone in the house knows Benji and Emily are a perfect match!"
"That's not true at all!" Jesse shot back. "We have no confirmed matches, which means anyone could still be anyone else's perfect match. We connected on our date and there's no reason why she couldn't be my match. Sorry if I can't just drop my feelings for someone the way you did with Chicago."
"Fuck you, Jesse," Calamity scoffed, standing up in response to that. "That's how this fucking thing works! You're not a match, move on. You have to explore different relationships to find your perfect match!"
Jesse rolled his eyes, "Well tell the rest of the house that strategy. I've been saying it for three fucking weeks but no one seems to care. Theo has been smothering Beca this entire time but no one seems to give a shit about that."
Theo rose up from the chair, angry at being pulled into the drama. "Leave me out of your fucking issues, bro. I get why Beca doesn't want to be with you! Maybe if you weren't such a dick she'd spend more time with you!"
Beca was frowning, furious at how she somehow became the focus of this argument. She grabbed Theo's hand, pulling him back down into the chair. "Shut the fuck up," she muttered, shooting him a glare.
Gail took the opportunity to bring the focus back to Benji and Emily, turning to the other man still standing on the small platform. "Benji, how do you feel about Jesse picking Emily tonight?"
Benji frowned, answering, "I mean… I'm not happy about it. If he wants to pretend like there's a chance Emily is his match, there's nothing I can do about it. He can live in his own delusional world."
Beca's jaw dropped open at the shade from the normally kind, quiet man. She hadn't believed him capable of saying anything mean to anyone else, but definitely appreciated his hint of sarcasm and passive-aggressiveness.
"You guys can all go fuck yourselves," Jesse said, turning back to Gail and ignoring the rest of the cast, including Emily.
Gail waited another long minute, glancing around before finally saying, "Okay, wow. That was a lot. Jesse, Emily, I think it's time to lock in."
Beca shook her head as they pressed their palms to the touchpad, turning to look at Chloe's equally stunned expression.
Chloe whispered to her, "What the fuck just happened?"
Beca took a slow breath, shrugging and whispering back, "No fucking idea. That was insane."
CR strode purposefully out into the middle of the set, announcing, "Okay, let's take a half-hour and get some reactions. No one go too far!"
Beca and Theo stood up from their chair, exchanging a glance.
"I wasn't going to let him disrespect you like that," Theo said quietly as they walked offset. "He crossed a line."
Beca wasn't interested, retorting, "You know he likes me and is jealous of you. Just let it go."
Theo stubbornly shook his head, "No, Beca. He's not going to talk about you like you aren't an active participant in this relationship."
Beca pursed her lips, thinking back to those words and realized that Theo had a point. Jesse had crossed a line, but he was getting attacked from all sides and lashed out. It was wrong, but he was also being provoked, and she knew that wasn't really how he felt. At least she hoped it wasn't.
"Let's get Beca first," the crew member said, pointing her towards her mark.
She got into position and waited for the first question.
"Thoughts on what just went down with Jesse, Emily, and Benji?"
Beca sighed, turning her expression more serious as she answered, "Jesse messed up tonight. If we blackout it's his fault."
The guy glanced at his piece of paper, asking, "How did you feel when the guys said they were trying a new strategy?"
"I can't believe the guys think this new strategy is a good idea. They're going to fuck up the matchup tonight for everyone."
She noticed him frown as she was speaking, leaning out from behind the camera to say, "Hey, just a reminder you can't say 'fuck' on TV. It's just more we have to edit out."
Beca shot him a look, replying, "Have you met me?"
He laughed, "Yeah, I know. A lot of us are the same way, but we aren't on television."
"We curse all the time in the house," Beca pointed out."
"I'm not saying never curse, I'm saying in these little interviews where it's easy to record it again with you saying something else… stop cursing," he hinted, twirling a finger to signal her to repeat her previous answer.
Beca rolled her eyes, agreeing just to get it over with.
"I can't believe the guys think this new strategy is a good idea. They're going to screw up the matchup tonight for all of us."
The guy nodded and said, "Good, you're done."
Beca switched places with Theo, looking around and tuning out his answers. When he was finished, they walked back to the stage area together and sat back down beside Chloe and Chicago who were chatting and smiling and looking way too close.
CR got things rolling shortly, making sure everyone was in position before signaling Gail to continue.
"Bumper!"
Bumper walked confidently up to the podium, nodding at Gail's greeting.
"Bumper, how do you think this is going tonight?"
He shook his head, declaring, "It's a mess. I'm not feeling it at all."
"Let's turn it around then," Gail said positively. "Bumper, who is your perfect match?"
Bumper answered, "My perfect match is Fat Amy."
Fat Amy let out a sound of approval, marching up to stand beside him.
Gail didn't waste any time, saying, "Bumper, Fat Amy, lock-in."
They pressed their palms to the touchpad and locked in, returning to the only empty chair without further comments.
"Next up for the guys is… Donald."
Beca decided they had officially abandoned the new strategy as Donald chose Lilly to be his match. Some relief flooded her at the memory of their conversation by the pool. Hopefully, he was right and Lilly was his match. Beca could tell by the nervous faces surrounding her that a blackout tonight was a real possibility.
They'd been mercifully granted an hour break, but now everyone was back in place and ready to shoot the remainder of the matchup ceremony. Beca glanced around at the exhaustion setting in for both the cast and crew, and hoped that things went smoothly from here on out.
Gail resumed her place behind the podium, back to the lights that would hopefully all shine up into the sky once they were finally ten couples.
"Next up is… Luke!"
Luke walked to the podium and greeted Gail with a cheery, "Hello."
"Luke, it's been an interesting night, to say the least. How are you feeling?"
He nodded, "I'm good. I think we'll get some important information from tonight no matter how it goes."
Gail didn't press him for more information, moving on. "Luke, who is your perfect match?"
"My perfect match is Calamity."
Calamity smiled and walked quickly up to join him at the podium.
"Calamity, you've had a crazy past twenty-four hours in the house," Gail observed, making Beca want to say, 'Thanks Captain Obvious.'
Calamity nodded, "Yeah, it was a disappointing Truth Booth, for sure, but Chicago isn't my match and now I have to start over to find out who is."
Luke added, "Calamity and I haven't had much time to get to know each other, but we had a good time last night."
"Yeah, you did!" Bumper called out cheekily, earning himself a slap from Fat Amy, followed by a cheeky fist bump.
Gail smiled, moving on and instructing them to lock-in. "Luke, Calamity, it's time to lock-in."
They pressed their hands to the touchpad and locked in, retreating to the open chair and sitting down beside Beca and Theo. Beca glanced at Luke, who shrugged as if to say Calamity was as good as any of the ladies to be his match. Beca gave him a subtle nod, knowing he had to pick someone.
"Zeke!"
Zeke smiled at the cheers from the group as he walked to the podium.
"Zeke, I think everyone has an idea of who you're going to pick tonight," Gail said with a wink.
He laughed, agreeing, "Yeah, we went on an awesome date and really connected. I'm excited to spend more time with her.
"That's great!" Gail replied enthusiastically. "Zeke, who is your perfect match?"
Zeke turned to spot his chosen woman, saying, "My perfect match is Flo!"
The group cheered as the small woman joined him at the podium, Beca chuckling at the height difference between the pair. She thought they could definitely be a match, hoping they were as they pressed their hands to the touchpad and locked in.
Gail looked at poor Benji standing alone on the platform, saying, "Benji, Kommissar, come on up here." When they arrived she focused on Benji, asking, "Would Kommissar have been your first choice tonight?"
Benji answered diplomatically, "I think Kommissar is a great person, but everyone in the house knows who my first choice was tonight."
Kommissar was quick to deflect any tension, adding, "Benji is the sweetest guy in the house, but he's not my match. I love him, though… he's one of the best for sure."
Benji smiled at her words, saying, "Thanks. I think you're great, too."
Gail beamed at the pair of them, instructing, "Okay Benji, Kommissar, it's time to lock-in.
Beca took a slow breath as the pair locked in and returned to the chairs to sit down. Finally, they were coupled up into ten pairs. Every time felt like a miracle, making Beca wonder if it would ever get easier or if the matchup ceremonies were just destined to be long and horrible.
Gail clapped her hands, announcing, "Alright you guys, you're locked in! Take a look around… what do we think?"
Beca glanced at the couples, not feeling confident at all. All they could do was hope they didn't blackout.
"I'm not feeling too great about this," Luke volunteered, his expression skeptical.
Uni shrugged, "We needed to try something different. I think it will work and that we won't blackout."
Calamity still wasn't over Jesse's pick, scowling, "If we blackout we all know who to blame."
To everyone's surprise, Emily came to Jesse's defense. "Enough! Snide comments won't change anything. Jesse was right, we aren't certain about any matches at this point. Let it go."
Beca kept her mouth shut, not wanting to end up in the middle of any more drama.
Gail waited a moment and continued when no one else spoke up.
"Now remember, the matchup will tell you how many couples are matched up correctly, but not who those matches are," Gail explained, adding, "That's for you to figure out."
Beca wondered briefly if she would have this particular speech memorized by the tenth matchup ceremony, actively fighting from mouthing along when Gail began explaining the beams.
"Now behind me are ten beams of light," Gail began, the lights flashing on and rising to shine straight up into the dark sky. "Each solid beam of light represents a perfect match. One beam is one perfect match, ten beams are ten perfect matches and one million dollars!"
They clapped and cheered at the mention of the money, Beca looking nervously at Theo as they got closer to revealing how well they did this time.
"But remember, if you fail to get a single perfect match… you have blacked out and your prize instantly drops by two hundred and fifty thousand dollars," Gail reminded them, the mood dropping immediately.
"No way!"
"Not gonna happen, Gail!"
Beca mumbled to Theo, "We aren't gonna blackout, right?"
He shook his head, "Impossible. We're a perfect match, remember?"
She didn't respond to that, simply gripping his knee a little tighter. The swirling feeling in her stomach wasn't going away, making her anxious that none of the beams were going to light up.
"Alright you guys, let's see how well you did," Gail finished, moving around to place her hands on the touchpad.
"Let's go, Gail!" Bumper shouted, clapping as she stood still with her hands on the touchpad.
"The number of perfect matches is…" Gail trailed off, waiting for the beams to light up.
They sat there in silence wondering if they had blacked out, each second feeling like a minute until finally, the first beam lit up.
"Yeah!" Unicycle shouted, holding one finger up in the air. "That's one!"
The group clapped and cheered at the sight, their relief at not blacking out clearly evident.
"Keep going!" Zeke said, inching forward on the edge of his seat.
Beca relaxed a bit at the sight of the beam, knowing that it was possible it represented her and Theo. They waited impatiently until a second beam shot into the sky, accompanied by more howls and cheers.
"Come on, keep going," Tom muttered, low under his breath but his positioning directly behind Beca allowed her to hear him.
They waited more long seconds before that familiar sound echoed through the room and the lights came on, ending their progress at two. The disappointment that filled the room was tangible, knowing that they had gone backward in terms of progress.
"Only two matches," Chicago sighed, shaking his head.
"Damn… we really have no idea what we're doing," Aubrey commented.
"Wow," Unicycle's voice was deflated, not getting the result he had hoped for.
Gail chimed in, "Only two perfect matches. You guys just took a step backward. Two perfect matches… that's what you locked in at your first matchup ceremony, only now you've blown three of your chances at love… and a million dollars."
She paused to let that sink in, continuing, "You only have seven more chances to go ten for ten, so step it up… because those chances are falling fast."
Beca heard the slight harshness in Gail's tone, knowing they probably needed this scolding.
"Head back to the house and start mixing it up," Gail advised, "You've got a long way to go. Have a good night."
The group wasn't eager to leave the matchup, still processing the disappointment as they slowly rose from their seats and began filing out of the area to walk back towards the house. CR grabbed Theo and Aubrey to stay behind and film reaction shots and Beca chose to linger to walk with him. She smiled as he got into place and waited for his cue to speak.
"Theo, what's your reaction to only getting two beams tonight?"
Beca smiled as he answered the question, his expression a little defeated.
"Now we're kinda back to square one," he said, his eyes going up briefly before looking back into the camera, "and we suck at this game so bad. We have a lot of work to do if we're going to find everyone's perfect match."
A/N: As always, the biggest thanks goes out to my incredible beta, Arsto! She's been battling the flu all week and still got this chapter ready to post!
Thanks to everyone out there reading along and loving this fic with us! We're just getting started ;-)
