Reality Love Bites
Chapter 7
So much had happened over the past week. Contestants had left and a new one had been added. Bo had observed it as if she wasn't even involved in the process because unless an event affected Lauren, she hadn't much cared. Bo smiled as she thought of Lauren and tapped her pen on the table beside the blank piece of paper. She was sitting in a small room by herself and was supposed to be writing a poem for the next challenge. She had been unable to think, being around the remaining contestants as they chatted together so she had silently excused herself, giving Lauren a small smile as she exited. Bo could hear the muffled voices of the patrons in the cafe and the clinking of cutlery through the door. She would have the most time to write her poem for the poetry reading that would determine the first full day date with Tamsin tomorrow after drawing out the final position performance number.
Things had been different after her declaration to Lauren in the hot tub, not just between them, but with Kenzi as well. Bo had spent as much time with Lauren throughout the week as she was able to and they had grown ever closer by the day, becoming firm friends. Kenzi had essentially acted as a chaperone most of the time. Her best friend had hovered and had only interfered if she had felt moments that had gotten a little too intimate between them. Bo was thankful for her friends timely interference really because she often found it a challenge not to reach out and touch Lauren sometimes.
After a huge group date at a gay and lesbian charity gala to promote equality and tolerance they had been shocked to learn that Tamsin was to dismiss half of the contestants and Bo had worried that she would be one of them. She had gone out of her way to avoid Tamisin at the event and had only been in her presence for a dance which Vex had commanded mandatory for each contestant to do. Bo had answered Tamsin's questions politely as they had danced, but she hadn't done anything particularly inspiring. In all honesty Bo had spent her time looking over Tamsin's shoulder to watch Lauren dancing with a handsome woman in a pink tuxedo.
She had sat nervously as each woman was called up to accept their red rose from Tamsin and the bachelorette had made her sweat until she called her up last. She had stood there with the remaining contestants and had breathed a sigh of relief because she hadn't wanted to leave the house yet. She wasn't ready to leave Lauren. Kenzi had patted Bo on the back and had winked at her before whispering that she needed to at least try to pretend to be interested in someone other than a certain blonde doctor. That hadn't been the end of the surprises that night however. Vex had then clapped his hands to get the remaining contestants attention and surprised them all...
"Okay ladies, settle down. The night isn't quite over yet, we have one more surprise. Tamsin, darling? Would you mind standing over here beside me?" Tamsin nodded and moved to stand beside the host and gave him her attention. "Take a look at your remaining suiters. Are you happy with the choices you have made? Do you feel that one of these lucky six may indeed be your next true love?"
Tamsin had looked at each of the ladies standing before her, still in their formal attire. Evony, Nadia, Lauren, Chrystal, Kenzi and Bo had remained. They weren't all Tamsin's choice, of course, the producers had had their input into the matter. She had wanted to get rid of Crystal, but the producers had said that she livened up the house with her loud and outrageous antics and made for fun and titillating television. They had wanted Tamsin to get rid of Bo because she wasn't giving her enough attention or even seemed like she had really wanted to be there. So Tamsin had compromised, saying that she wanted to keep Bo because she was playing harder to get than the others and that she would dismiss Dylan instead of Crystal to keep them happy. They had agreed.
"Yes. I am very happy with my decision, she said. "Each woman here has something special and I look forward to being able to getting to know each and every one of you a little more intimately." Tamsin had ensured that she looked directly at Bo when she said that and the reaction she received was perfect. The stunning woman, who she knew had no interest in her whatsoever managed to look both sheepish and defiant at the same time. The blush that crept up her neck and coloured her cheeks was also pleasing.
"That's great!" Vex responded before clapping his hands again and moving on. "But we do have a special surprise for you and the housemates." Tamsin took her eyes off of Bo and turned to Vex as he continued to put on his show. "Tamsin, we are about to introduce a new contestant into the house and this someone you are already familiar with."
Tamsin's eyes went wide, "What? Who?"
"This woman is someone close to you and has had feelings for you for a long time."
Tamsin wanted to punch her friend in the face as he continued to play it up to the camera's. Vex is enjoying this way too much, she thought to herself as she tried to keep her cool. Who could it possibly be? She flashed through all the terrible blind dates Vex had tried setting her up on. God! I wish Ciara was here! I always need her to help keep Vex in line! Tamsin hadn't really heard much of what he'd been saying as her mind continued to race. She hated surprises and he knew it!
"So without further ado, Tamsin, here is the woman who would like to also have the opportunity to win your heart!"
With a sweeping flourish of his hands the camera's swivelled to the large double door of the mansion. Tamsin's heart thudded in her chest and she could swear that in that moment, no one was breathing as they waited for those doors to open. And when they did, Tamsin felt light headed from equal parts shock and happiness.
Ciara swept into the room wearing a stunning formal, floor length dress and looking every bit as elegant and graceful as Tamsin knew her to be. Her honey coloured locks were up in an elegant style that allowed one to appreciate her soft beauty and long neck.
Tamsin hadn't listened as Vex welcomed and introduced Ciara to the other contestants who were either glaring or openly appraising their new competition. It's Ciara! Your best friend. Say something. Do something. Anything! But Tamsin just stood there rooted to the spot. Her best friend and business partner had feelings for her? When did that happen?, she thought.
"You should also know that Tamsin is not a police detective, but co-owner of one of the largest private security companies in the world with Ciara. I shall leave you all to get to know one another. Tamsin you will leave now as well, there is a car waiting outside for you."
That seemed to snap Tamsin out of her stupor! "What? But I haven't even gotten to say hello to her!" Ciara turned and gave her a smile at that and looked to be about to approach even as Evony and Crystals voices started to cry out that Ciara being here was totally unfair.
"You will have a chance to catch up, but not yet. Ciara will have to win a date with you just like everyone else. Now off you go. I'll accompany you, shall I?" Vex grabbed her arm and started pulling her towards the exit. Tamsin saw Ciara give her a shrug and another smile before they were in the hall and heading hastily towards the exit.
"You're a right Shit, you know that!," Tamsin hissed as Vex helped her into the car.
He laughed, "I know darling, but you still love me. The look on your face was awesome. The viewers are going to love it!"
Tamsin shook her head and opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She was still so shocked and flabbergasted.
Vex turned serious, "I'll come and see you a bit later and we can talk. Okay?"
Tamsin nodded mutely and she allowed him to close the door as the car started and took her back to her temporary residence...
"This is bullshit! Come on, Crystal. Let's go before I do something I'll regret," Evony turned on her heels and stormed out of the room towards the rooms.
"IT'S JUST NOT FAIR!," Crystal whined as she followed Evony out of the room.
Kenzi moved forward and shook Ciara's hand, "So that was Evony and her annoying sidekick Crystal. Evony was confident that she would be walking away with Tamsin's heart, so that's why she's not incredibly impressed that you have come in and rained on her parade."
"Plus, she's a total bitch," Bo added before reaching out and shaking the new comers hand, "I am Bo and this is Kenzi, Lauren and Nadia." Bo motioned to each of them in the introduction.
"It's very nice to meet you all," Ciara responded with a crisp and refined English accent.
"Oh ho! If only Evony had heard you speak as well! Her head would have surely spun around!," Kenzi said with delight and a clap of her hands! Upon hearing a snort from the direction of the cameraman, she looked up to find Hale looking at her and smiling. She smiled in his direction before focusing on the group once more. "So you know Tam Tam already, huh?"
Ciara raised an eyebrow at the nickname, but nodded cordially at the young woman. "I do. We have been best friends for years."
"Come, sit and tell us all about her. Why have you waited so long to declare your feelings for her? Bo Bo, grab some drinks. Ciara's going to tell us stories!"
They chatted well into the night and they learned a lot about Tamsin and her past and as all the contestants went off to bed they all felt that Ciara may just be the perfect person for Tamsin...
Bo frowned down at the poem she had written. It was much more serious than she had meant it to be. As she had continued to think about Lauren and the days leading up to where she was now, Bo had managed to write something that was very meaningful about what Lauren had managed to achieve within her in such a very short time.
Bo wasn't sure if reading this poem out loud was a good idea. It was very personal and revealing, but a knock at the door informing her that she needed to finish up and get ready to go on stage left her with little choice. I wish Kenzi was still here, Bo thought as she gathered her poem and exited the small room that she had retreated to. Bo shook her head as she thought about the night that her best friend came out of the closet, literally and was eliminated from the show...
They had all been drinking up a storm, playing silly games and talking about everything from dolphins and world peace, to what you would take with you if you were stranded on an uninhabited island. Evony and Crystal had thawed a little in concern to Ciara because she hadn't yet won a chance to get some time with Tamsin, which Evony found incredibly fun to tease her about. Kenzi had said that she was heading off to clear her head a little as they started to talk about more private and personal things. Bo had chosen to sit across from Lauren and next to Nadia because it was getting harder and harder to pretend that it wasn't Lauren she was staying for.
Bo had thought nothing of it when Crystal had drunkenly declared that she was going in search of Kenzi, so when an outcry of, " ' OH MY GOD!' " came about ten minutes later, everyone was up and running out of the living room and into the great hall.
Other cries of astonishment followed when we all saw what Crystal had stumbled upon. There she was standing by the door that was built into the grand staircase and everyone knew as the storage room. Inside that storage room were Hale and Kenzi in varying degrees of undress and smudged lipstick over their faces.
"This is gold! Hale! You dog, you," said the other cameraman who was filming the embarrassed couple as they fumbled around the small confines of the room looking for their clothes. One of the other crew had raced off to get Vex and an hour later, Bo was watching her best friend leave the house in disgrace...
A scattering of applause drew Bo from her thoughts. And she watched as Crystal soaked it up before leaving the stage reluctantly. Bo took a deep breath, she was nervous and knew this was her chance to truly express herself to Lauren without anyone knowing that it was specifically written for her. Bo, of course, hoped that Lauren would know. Especially with the blonde and Evony heading off for a double date with Tamsin that night.
Bo had done her best to fail at the challenges over the week, as she suspected, Lauren had as well, but that had all come to an end when the Quiz yesterday had Lauren and Evony teaming up and winning. Bo was confident that it wouldn't matter and that she wouldn't lose Lauren's affections overnight, but a tiny part of her that still hadn't healed from her previous betrayal by someone she loved had her worried just the same.
"Last to read her poem titled, Forever Yours is Bo Dennis! Make her feel welcome folks." The MC smiled in Bo's direction and she took one last deep, calming breath before stepping out and onto the small stage.
She looked up and saw everyone waiting expectantly, including Lauren, the other contestants and Tamsin. Bo closed her eyes for a moment. Ignore them all and just read, she thought before doing just that and reciting her poem.
Found a connection with you right from the start,
Over the months, more intense feelings started to spark.
Reveling and cherishing the time that we shared together,
Every day my heart mended, healed and got better.
Value and self worth, you inspired and taught,
Equality in a relationship that I desperately sought.
Revived, restored and belief renewed,
You were my cure, my abused hearts glue.
Our future is bright, pure and true,
Utopia on earth, when it is me and you.
Real love is rare, sacred, a gift,
Shared with you, however, it's worth all the risk.
Bo was met with silence for several moments before the entire cafe erupted with applause. She looked meaningfully in Lauren's direction who was thankfully right beside Tamsin. Her love, beamed as she applauded and Bo spotted the tears welling up in her eyes and her heart soared knowing that Lauren knew it had been about her. Bo's gaze slipped to see Tamsin and the look on her face gave Bo a knot in her stomach and she was thankful that she hadn't eaten since breakfast or she would have lost it all over the stage. She knew from Tamsin's look that she had just done what she had been avoiding all week. She had just won the challenge and would be having an all day date with Tamsin tomorrow...
Authors Note: I know some of you had to wait quite some time for this update, but now that it is here I hope that you enjoyed the chapter that was full of shocking surprises. Genesis or Exodus will be next in the next week or so. :) As always your comment will be very much appreciated. Till next time thank you for reading and take care.
Doccubus21
xoxoxo
