A/N: Oh my gosh. I feel like it has been ages since my last update. It's been almost a month and let me tell you, freshman year got a little more hectic than I anticipated with my huge science project, president project, and two mini projects in English. However, the mid term is over, so I should have a little more time to work on the story and given this is probably a really lousy chapter update, I hope to be updating more over the next week. Thank you for the patience and the reviews. I bet you were beginning to wonder if I was ever going to come back.
So, if you have an idea for the ending, let's talk!
Still credit to VampAmber.
Chapter Fifteen
The girls pulled themselves together after that touching moment and decided they should start practicing again before they performed.
Pretty soon, however, their time was up and they were to meet again with the guys in the courtyard. The guys were on one side as the girls were on the other side as they waited for Ryan to come and introduce the celebrity judges.
Ryan came and introduced the three judges, all formerly from reality shows like the Bachelor, Average Joe, and the Real World. After they were introduced, the guys and girls were instructed to flip a coin to decide who went first. The girls lost the coin toss, so they had to go first.
The girls danced first and did a good job, but the judges weren't supposed to score until after the guys went.
So, after the girls did their routine and they guys were asked to take their places. The music started and almost immediately, the routine turned comedic. None of them were in step and they didn't work it out quite perfectly, although they did become creative and make the others laugh.
After the guys were finished dancing, the who sat on the chairs given to them and waited as the judges discussed who would win. No one really cared who won, really, as much as they were curious as to what the advantage would be for the winning team. This wasn't about couples. This was about sexes.
After a few minutes of discussing the matter, the judges finally turned to the group and said, "We have come to our decision. And believe it or not, it was harder than you think."
"Musically, talentwise, and structure would have to be given to the girls because, well, just because," another one of the judges said.
"But creativity, use of stage, and bravery would go to the guys."
It was silent for a minute as the judges tried to make this as dramatic as possible. The one in the middle, the female, smiled and said, "The girls, however, showed strength in teamwork and working together, which was the point of this exercise. Congratulations, Girls!"
The girls smiled and so did the guys because, well as mentioned before, they didn't really care. It just meant that another competition was over.
"Because the girls won, not only do they win a brand new DVD set, but also, they have something else."
This is what Gordo was waiting for. The catch.
"The ladies are going to be taking a vacation overnight to Maui while the men will stay here."
They must really want the girls and guys to bond, Lizzie thought as she took this all in. They were leaving that night on a private plane .
"Ladies, you have two hours to pack and meet back in front of the mansion. I wish you well," Ryan said, as he put his hands together and smiled. It was all an act for the camera, but still. Lizzie wondered what the intentions of this sudden girl versus boy's thing was all about.
The people went back to their homes and Lizzie and Gordo met up in their love hut. In the back of Lizzie's mind, the whole story about Ethan was still bothering her and Gordo must have noticed because as soon as he saw her he asked, "Are you okay?"
Lizzie wiped her eyes, "Yeah, I'm fine. I guess it must be allergies," she said, and she walked to the room.
Gordo didn't buy that, however, and followed her into their bedroom, "Lizzie, you know, we can talk about things. I thought we were going to try to be friends."
"Gordo, I'm fine," Lizzie said, "I really am," and she started packing.
"I'm not naïve," Gordo said, but then he sighed, realizing that maybe this wasn't, after all, his place to meddle into her affairs, "But I'm not stupid, so if you want to talk to me, you can, but you don't have to."
Lizzie, who had been turned away from Gordo, turned around and grinned, "Thanks, Gordo." She was grateful that he wasn't pushing, as she was feeling down about everything, and didn't want to start crying again, especially not in front of Gordo.
"I hope you feel better," he said, and he gave her a sympathetic grin. He wanted badly to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be all right, but he restrained himself. He still wasn't quite sure where their relationship stood at the moment.
A few minutes later, as Lizzie was finishing packing, a camera came in and started filming and Gracie asked for them to go to the mansion for interviews, so Lizzie left first, almost bursting into tears as soon as she was away and safe from Gordo and the cameras, as that story about Ethan she told earlier always had such an effect on her. She reached the mansion and went to the restroom to make her face more presentable before going into the room to conduct the scripted interview.
Meanwhile, as Lizzie was in the interview talking about the day's events so far, Gordo was in their room, deep in thought, as he had been a lot lately. He was genuinely concerned for Lizzie, as she looked like something had been bothering her, and somehow that effected him. He didn't realize her feelings could do that to him, and he was beginning to realize that what he felt for Lizzie was a little more than a crush as he had been trying to convince himself, and that it was becoming something more real. It would take him a long time to get over her.
Lizzie returned a half an hour later and only said, "Your turn," as she sat down on the bed as Gordo got up to conduct his interview. She was glad that she at least wouldn't have to deal with her mixed feelings for Gordo that night.
Little did Lizzie know, however, was that something was astir outside as Lizzie was waiting for time to pass.
Gordo finished the interview and was walking back to the hut when something caught his attention. It was Elizabeth and Thomas and they were surrounded by cameras, so Gordo figured they were just going what the production meeting asked them to do…flirt with each other. Gordo rolled his eyes and walked into the hut, wanting no involvement in that staged flirtation. No, he wanted to spend as much time with Lizzie as possible and maybe not figure her out as much, as he wanted to get some insight as to how she operates.
He walked into the hut and saw Lizzie who was peering out of the window in the kitchen, "Hey," he said.
She hushed him quickly, "I want to hear what they are supposed to be talking about."
Gordo walked over next to her and looked out the window as well. They could only hear murmurs of sounds, "What do you think they are talking about?"
Lizzie shrugged, "I don't know. They are supposed to be flirting."
Gordo rolled his eyes and walked away from the window, "That is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard!"
Lizzie wasn't paying attention to what Gordo was saying, though, "I hope they don't make me 'flirt' with someone else while I'm here," she idly commented, forgetting her audience.
Gordo heard it, however, and his ears perked up ever so slightly, "You mean you don't want to flirt with anyone else?"
Lizzie shook her head, still not thinking that there was room for misinterpretation with this comment, "Nope, I just don't know if I could stand it. It's too much to follow. If they offered more money, however…maybe we'd talk."
Gordo sighed. There he went, getting his hopes up and ending with disappointment.
"Oh, here comes Elizabeth. I hate that bitch. She reminds me of…well, she just bothers me, that's all," she said, catching her almost saying "Parker."
"She's probably not like that in real life, Lizzie. She is an actress."
Lizzie rolled her eyes, not frustrated with Gordo's opinion as much as she was just fed up with the whole gist, "Whatever. All I am saying is that I wouldn't be best friends with her."
Gordo nodded his head and sat down on the chair near the table to relax, "What about Tory?"
Lizzie laughed inwardly, "Are you kidding me? If this Tory is anything like my cousin, Caroline, she would form an alliance with Elizabeth and they'd be bitches together."
"That reminds me," Gordo said, with the intentions of his next comment to stir some sort of reaction, "Do you think I'd like this Tory person? I mean, after the show, do you think I could get her number or something?"
Lizzie turned to Gordo, unimpressed, as he smiled. "Well, I've never met her, but she seems like a total manipulator, so if that's what you want, who am I to stop you?"
"You mean it wouldn't make you jealous or anything?"
Lizzie raised her eyebrow, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well," Gordo said, getting amused by all of this, "You are my ex-girlfriend and at the end of the show, if we win, not only do we get money, but we also get a trip to Europe, all expenses paid, to Europe."
"Are you sure that isn't some set up of some kind?" Lizzie asked.
"Nope," Gordo said, "It's publicity and I imagine people will want proof that we went to these places."
Lizzie rolled her eyes, "Oh, well," she said, "what are the chances that we win this thing, anyway?"
Gordo shrugged, "I don't know. It's probably closer than you think."
Lizzie sighed as she turned away from the window, "Are they finished with the fight?" Gordo asked.
"No, nothing's happening, though."
Lizzie invited herself to sit down across from Gordo after she poured herself a glass of water. She set it down on the table and noticed that Gordo was looking at her.
"What?" she asked, blushing, "What is it?"
Gordo shook out of his stare and said, "Nothing. I was just thinking about that time when we went camping and you used all your water on the first day, and you had none left for the hike the next day."
"Oh yeah," Lizzie said, grimacing at the memory, "I was so dehydrated. I thought I was going to die."
"I offered you water!" Gordo said, defensively.
"I know. I just didn't want to make you dehydrated at my expense."
"Ahh," he said, nodding his head, "Well, you lived through it."
"That I did," Lizzie said, taking another drink of water.
There was a moment of silence lingering in the air as they both thought about the memories they shared on that trip, until all the sudden, they heard a knock on the door, and Gordo got up to get it. It was Gracie, "Hey, Daniel. Is Tory ready for the trip?"
Gordo opened the door a little wider, so Gracie could see her, "Hey!" she said, "You ready?'
Lizzie stood up, "Yeah, let me just get my bag," she said, and she disappeared into the bedroom, and reappeared a few seconds later with a bag on her shoulder.
Gracie smiled, "Good. You are leaving in five minutes. Just go over to the mansion."
"Okay," Lizzie said, and she started out the door. She almost felt the need to give Gordo a hug and tell him goodbye, but she decided against it.
"I'll be there in a minute. The girls are going to be there, too."
Gracie watched as Lizzie went away and closed the door, making it just her and Gordo in the room, "We need to talk."
Gordo was thoroughly confused at this point, and his expression showed that.
"The girls think that they are getting a vacation from you and they are going off to Maui and they are about to find out that they are going to a dance club tonight."
Gordo was still unclear as to what was going on.
"What the girls don't know, however, is that in about an hour, all of you guys are going to get on your own private plane to Maui and stay in a different place as the girls and go to the dance club as well."
Gordo nodded his head, becoming a little clearer as to what was going on, but still not quite getting the big picture.
"However, the girls will have no idea who you really are so you will be undergoing some make-up and wardrobe changes almost as soon as you get there and tonight, you will spy on them."
"Oh, okay," Gordo said, getting the idea.
"Another thing that the girls don't know is that the real competition of the day is tonight. For each dance they have with another guy, they loose a point; If they make out with anyone, they loose three points, if they simply kiss another guy, they loose two points, if they make any implication that they are available, they loose a point; If they flirt with anyone, they also loose a point. However, if they tell someone they are not available, are happy with their current situation, or do anything that would be beneficial to you two as a couple, they gain points. Tomorrow, when everyone is back here, the couple with the least amount of points is going to go home and be eliminated for the rest of the process. Any questions?"
So, if you have an idea for the ending, let's talk!
Still credit to VampAmber.
Chapter Fifteen
The girls pulled themselves together after that touching moment and decided they should start practicing again before they performed.
Pretty soon, however, their time was up and they were to meet again with the guys in the courtyard. The guys were on one side as the girls were on the other side as they waited for Ryan to come and introduce the celebrity judges.
Ryan came and introduced the three judges, all formerly from reality shows like the Bachelor, Average Joe, and the Real World. After they were introduced, the guys and girls were instructed to flip a coin to decide who went first. The girls lost the coin toss, so they had to go first.
The girls danced first and did a good job, but the judges weren't supposed to score until after the guys went.
So, after the girls did their routine and they guys were asked to take their places. The music started and almost immediately, the routine turned comedic. None of them were in step and they didn't work it out quite perfectly, although they did become creative and make the others laugh.
After the guys were finished dancing, the who sat on the chairs given to them and waited as the judges discussed who would win. No one really cared who won, really, as much as they were curious as to what the advantage would be for the winning team. This wasn't about couples. This was about sexes.
After a few minutes of discussing the matter, the judges finally turned to the group and said, "We have come to our decision. And believe it or not, it was harder than you think."
"Musically, talentwise, and structure would have to be given to the girls because, well, just because," another one of the judges said.
"But creativity, use of stage, and bravery would go to the guys."
It was silent for a minute as the judges tried to make this as dramatic as possible. The one in the middle, the female, smiled and said, "The girls, however, showed strength in teamwork and working together, which was the point of this exercise. Congratulations, Girls!"
The girls smiled and so did the guys because, well as mentioned before, they didn't really care. It just meant that another competition was over.
"Because the girls won, not only do they win a brand new DVD set, but also, they have something else."
This is what Gordo was waiting for. The catch.
"The ladies are going to be taking a vacation overnight to Maui while the men will stay here."
They must really want the girls and guys to bond, Lizzie thought as she took this all in. They were leaving that night on a private plane .
"Ladies, you have two hours to pack and meet back in front of the mansion. I wish you well," Ryan said, as he put his hands together and smiled. It was all an act for the camera, but still. Lizzie wondered what the intentions of this sudden girl versus boy's thing was all about.
The people went back to their homes and Lizzie and Gordo met up in their love hut. In the back of Lizzie's mind, the whole story about Ethan was still bothering her and Gordo must have noticed because as soon as he saw her he asked, "Are you okay?"
Lizzie wiped her eyes, "Yeah, I'm fine. I guess it must be allergies," she said, and she walked to the room.
Gordo didn't buy that, however, and followed her into their bedroom, "Lizzie, you know, we can talk about things. I thought we were going to try to be friends."
"Gordo, I'm fine," Lizzie said, "I really am," and she started packing.
"I'm not naïve," Gordo said, but then he sighed, realizing that maybe this wasn't, after all, his place to meddle into her affairs, "But I'm not stupid, so if you want to talk to me, you can, but you don't have to."
Lizzie, who had been turned away from Gordo, turned around and grinned, "Thanks, Gordo." She was grateful that he wasn't pushing, as she was feeling down about everything, and didn't want to start crying again, especially not in front of Gordo.
"I hope you feel better," he said, and he gave her a sympathetic grin. He wanted badly to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be all right, but he restrained himself. He still wasn't quite sure where their relationship stood at the moment.
A few minutes later, as Lizzie was finishing packing, a camera came in and started filming and Gracie asked for them to go to the mansion for interviews, so Lizzie left first, almost bursting into tears as soon as she was away and safe from Gordo and the cameras, as that story about Ethan she told earlier always had such an effect on her. She reached the mansion and went to the restroom to make her face more presentable before going into the room to conduct the scripted interview.
Meanwhile, as Lizzie was in the interview talking about the day's events so far, Gordo was in their room, deep in thought, as he had been a lot lately. He was genuinely concerned for Lizzie, as she looked like something had been bothering her, and somehow that effected him. He didn't realize her feelings could do that to him, and he was beginning to realize that what he felt for Lizzie was a little more than a crush as he had been trying to convince himself, and that it was becoming something more real. It would take him a long time to get over her.
Lizzie returned a half an hour later and only said, "Your turn," as she sat down on the bed as Gordo got up to conduct his interview. She was glad that she at least wouldn't have to deal with her mixed feelings for Gordo that night.
Little did Lizzie know, however, was that something was astir outside as Lizzie was waiting for time to pass.
Gordo finished the interview and was walking back to the hut when something caught his attention. It was Elizabeth and Thomas and they were surrounded by cameras, so Gordo figured they were just going what the production meeting asked them to do…flirt with each other. Gordo rolled his eyes and walked into the hut, wanting no involvement in that staged flirtation. No, he wanted to spend as much time with Lizzie as possible and maybe not figure her out as much, as he wanted to get some insight as to how she operates.
He walked into the hut and saw Lizzie who was peering out of the window in the kitchen, "Hey," he said.
She hushed him quickly, "I want to hear what they are supposed to be talking about."
Gordo walked over next to her and looked out the window as well. They could only hear murmurs of sounds, "What do you think they are talking about?"
Lizzie shrugged, "I don't know. They are supposed to be flirting."
Gordo rolled his eyes and walked away from the window, "That is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard!"
Lizzie wasn't paying attention to what Gordo was saying, though, "I hope they don't make me 'flirt' with someone else while I'm here," she idly commented, forgetting her audience.
Gordo heard it, however, and his ears perked up ever so slightly, "You mean you don't want to flirt with anyone else?"
Lizzie shook her head, still not thinking that there was room for misinterpretation with this comment, "Nope, I just don't know if I could stand it. It's too much to follow. If they offered more money, however…maybe we'd talk."
Gordo sighed. There he went, getting his hopes up and ending with disappointment.
"Oh, here comes Elizabeth. I hate that bitch. She reminds me of…well, she just bothers me, that's all," she said, catching her almost saying "Parker."
"She's probably not like that in real life, Lizzie. She is an actress."
Lizzie rolled her eyes, not frustrated with Gordo's opinion as much as she was just fed up with the whole gist, "Whatever. All I am saying is that I wouldn't be best friends with her."
Gordo nodded his head and sat down on the chair near the table to relax, "What about Tory?"
Lizzie laughed inwardly, "Are you kidding me? If this Tory is anything like my cousin, Caroline, she would form an alliance with Elizabeth and they'd be bitches together."
"That reminds me," Gordo said, with the intentions of his next comment to stir some sort of reaction, "Do you think I'd like this Tory person? I mean, after the show, do you think I could get her number or something?"
Lizzie turned to Gordo, unimpressed, as he smiled. "Well, I've never met her, but she seems like a total manipulator, so if that's what you want, who am I to stop you?"
"You mean it wouldn't make you jealous or anything?"
Lizzie raised her eyebrow, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well," Gordo said, getting amused by all of this, "You are my ex-girlfriend and at the end of the show, if we win, not only do we get money, but we also get a trip to Europe, all expenses paid, to Europe."
"Are you sure that isn't some set up of some kind?" Lizzie asked.
"Nope," Gordo said, "It's publicity and I imagine people will want proof that we went to these places."
Lizzie rolled her eyes, "Oh, well," she said, "what are the chances that we win this thing, anyway?"
Gordo shrugged, "I don't know. It's probably closer than you think."
Lizzie sighed as she turned away from the window, "Are they finished with the fight?" Gordo asked.
"No, nothing's happening, though."
Lizzie invited herself to sit down across from Gordo after she poured herself a glass of water. She set it down on the table and noticed that Gordo was looking at her.
"What?" she asked, blushing, "What is it?"
Gordo shook out of his stare and said, "Nothing. I was just thinking about that time when we went camping and you used all your water on the first day, and you had none left for the hike the next day."
"Oh yeah," Lizzie said, grimacing at the memory, "I was so dehydrated. I thought I was going to die."
"I offered you water!" Gordo said, defensively.
"I know. I just didn't want to make you dehydrated at my expense."
"Ahh," he said, nodding his head, "Well, you lived through it."
"That I did," Lizzie said, taking another drink of water.
There was a moment of silence lingering in the air as they both thought about the memories they shared on that trip, until all the sudden, they heard a knock on the door, and Gordo got up to get it. It was Gracie, "Hey, Daniel. Is Tory ready for the trip?"
Gordo opened the door a little wider, so Gracie could see her, "Hey!" she said, "You ready?'
Lizzie stood up, "Yeah, let me just get my bag," she said, and she disappeared into the bedroom, and reappeared a few seconds later with a bag on her shoulder.
Gracie smiled, "Good. You are leaving in five minutes. Just go over to the mansion."
"Okay," Lizzie said, and she started out the door. She almost felt the need to give Gordo a hug and tell him goodbye, but she decided against it.
"I'll be there in a minute. The girls are going to be there, too."
Gracie watched as Lizzie went away and closed the door, making it just her and Gordo in the room, "We need to talk."
Gordo was thoroughly confused at this point, and his expression showed that.
"The girls think that they are getting a vacation from you and they are going off to Maui and they are about to find out that they are going to a dance club tonight."
Gordo was still unclear as to what was going on.
"What the girls don't know, however, is that in about an hour, all of you guys are going to get on your own private plane to Maui and stay in a different place as the girls and go to the dance club as well."
Gordo nodded his head, becoming a little clearer as to what was going on, but still not quite getting the big picture.
"However, the girls will have no idea who you really are so you will be undergoing some make-up and wardrobe changes almost as soon as you get there and tonight, you will spy on them."
"Oh, okay," Gordo said, getting the idea.
"Another thing that the girls don't know is that the real competition of the day is tonight. For each dance they have with another guy, they loose a point; If they make out with anyone, they loose three points, if they simply kiss another guy, they loose two points, if they make any implication that they are available, they loose a point; If they flirt with anyone, they also loose a point. However, if they tell someone they are not available, are happy with their current situation, or do anything that would be beneficial to you two as a couple, they gain points. Tomorrow, when everyone is back here, the couple with the least amount of points is going to go home and be eliminated for the rest of the process. Any questions?"