I DO NOT OWN ANYONE OR ANYTHING IN THIS STORY BESIDES THE OC'S.

Carol's Point of View-

I went up to my room plopping down on the bed trying to think of the long day I had and another busy day tomorrow. I got back up going into the bathroom showering to be squeaky clean for tonight. I got back into my capri pants and black shirt I wore to the show, I pulled my hair up into the towel, I went back out sitting on the bed flipping the television on watching 'American Choppers' on TLC, I watched one and half episodes when my phone rang, "Hello?" I asked answering it.

"Hey Carol, it's Beth, we just got to the hotel, I'm coming to get you." Beth said.

"I'm scared." I said in a terrified type voice.

"You should be."

"I'm trembling."

"You should be."

"Bye."

"Bye." Beth said hanging up the phone; I got up taking the towel off my head as I walked into the bathroom. I brushed out my medium length blonde hair, I separated it down the middle putting it into two braids, in the middle of the first braid a knock came to the door, as I braided my hair I walked out unlocking the door opening it for Beth. "You're not even ready."

"Sorry, I was watching the television."

"Jeez, television is bad for you." Beth said as I went back into the bathroom to get a tie and started the other braid.

"Does Matt know I'm coming?" I asked.

"He knows we invited a friend."

"Like that won't be awkward."

"Just be yourself like you were when you met me or Jeff." Beth said as I put on lip gloss and sprayed myself with perfume.

"First off, when I met you, I didn't realize who you were until we were at the taping."

"Act like that."

"Fine, you say that." I said as I got butterflies in my stomach, when I met Beth and Jeff I didn't have time to get nervous.

"Let's go." Beth said grabbing my arm pulling me out of the bathroom; I reached out grabbing my purse, key and phone.

"What are we doing tonight?"

"The bar and maybe some karaoke."

"Great, getting drunk then singing, it's that smart?"

"You sing then get drunk, difference." Beth said as we climbed onto the elevator.

"Have fun singing, I don't sing."

"Sure you do, the guys won't let you leave until you sing one song."

"I'll sing the Barney song." I said.

"At a bar?"

"Why not?" I asked as the elevator opened climbing off going to the bar.

"I don't think they'll have it.

"I don't need the music though." I said as we walked into the bar being waved over to a table by Jeff, Matt's back facing us; I could see Shane, Talia, Shannon and Julie. Beth practically dragged me up to the table, Jeff stood up allowing Beth into the table.

"Everyone, we want you to meet Carol, she is one of the contestants in the Diva search." Jeff said as in unison everyone said 'Hi.'

"Carol, that's Matt, Julie, Shannon, Talia, and Shane." Beth said going around the table, I slightly waved. Matt stood up allowing me to scoot into the booth in between him and Julie.

"Where are you from?" Shane asked.

"Raleigh." I said as I rested my purse on my lap.

"Not too far from us." Shannon said.

"That should be a bad thing." I said.

"How is that a bad thing?" Matt asked.

"A white fat ass like me could stalk you being that close." I said.

"I love being stalked." Jeff joked.

"You'll be my first target then." I said.

"You have an unique personality." Shannon said.

"I've been told." I said, and I kind of have to have an unique personality. We talked about anything, just shooting the shit, to me it seemed as if Matt was digging me, but I could be way off. "If you'll excuse me, I want to go get a drink." I said looking over at Matt smiling a little.

"I'll go with, anybody else want anything?" Matt asked standing up and I slid out of the booth.

"We're good." Jeff said, Matt and I walked up to the crowded bar.

"How'd you enjoy your first show?" Matt asked.

"It was okay, crazy and hectic I guess." I said as I leant against the bar and Matt stood behind me to protect me from the others crowding the bar.

"You haven't gotten the full experience of it yet."

"I know, I am hoping to win this search to continue traveling, I know the lifestyle is hard, but I love seeing new places." I said.

"What could I get you?" The bartender asked.

"A strawberry daiquiri and you?" I said looking back at Matt.

"I'll just take a Bud Light." Matt said, the bartender got Matt's drink and started making my drink, "So you like to travel?" Matt asked.

"Not necessarily traveling, I hate flying, but I like exploring new places."

"How did you handle the fly out here?"

"I ended up talking to Beth." I nodded over to Beth as the bartender brought over my drink, "Thanks." I said paying him for my drink. Matt and I moved out of the crowd talking small talk.

"Have you lived in Raleigh your whole life?"

"Have you lived in Cameron your whole life?"

"Yes." Matt said.

"Question answered."

"I've never really seen you around."

"I'm much like a hermit." I said.

"Aw, living with your boyfriend?"

"Ex-boyfriend, but we're still best friends forever."

"Gay?"

"Not that I know of, I don't think he is, our relationship was going south, things were pushing us in different directions." I said sipping my drink, yes it is kind of a lie, but he doesn't know.

"So, you're single?"

"Yep, you?"

"What's going on you two?" Jeff asked as him and Beth walked up to us.

"Just talking." I said.

"That's good." Beth said.

"How long have you been with the business now?" I asked.

"Ten plus years." Matt said.

"Are you trained?" Jeff asked.

"Yeah, I've been doing independent shows with my ex-boyfriend." I said.

"That will be a plus for you in the search." Matt said.

"I doubt that." I said.

"Don't doubt yourself." Beth said.

"Why don't you think you could win?" Matt asked.

"Because…" I said as Lindsey walked up to us.

"Hi, I don't think we officially met, I'm Lindsey, one of the Diva search contestants." Lindsey said glancing over at me giving me an evil little smile; I saw this immediate attraction to Lindsey in Matt's eyes.

"I'm Matt, my brother Jeff, his wife Beth and you should know Carol." Matt said.

"Nice to meet you, I'm such a big fan." Lindsey said.

"Really?" Matt said crossing his arms, I looked over at Beth and if looks could kill and Jeff had no idea mine and Lindsey's history.

"You know, I need to get going." I said.

"Okay, nice meeting you Carol." Matt said shaking my hand; I went back to the table setting my drink down and grabbed my purse.

"Bye guys, it was nice meeting you all." I said, I shook each of their hands quickly before I headed out of the bar, Beth ran after me.

"You're going to let her snatch Matt?" Beth asked.

"He's not mine, and obviously he isn't digging me."

"She's not his type, come back." Beth said grabbing my arm turning me around.

"Go back and watch Lindsey flirt with Matt?"

"Cut in and beat her at her own game."

"Matt is not going to pay attention to a fat ass like me when there is a skinny girl with big breast like her standing there."

"Not if you keep thinking that, what about the girl that was in the ring earlier that was proud to be big?" Beth asked as Jeff walked out to see what was going on.

"What's going on?" Jeff asked.

"We're just discussing stuff." I said.

"Yeah, when's your flight tomorrow?" Beth asked rolling her eyes.

"Um…." I said pulling out my palm pilot looking at my flight time, "10 AM."

"That's ours, you want a ride?" Jeff asked.

"That'll be nice." I said smiling.

"I'll come by and get you." Beth said.

"Okay, I'll see you in the morning?" I asked.

"Yeah." Jeff said, I knew Beth was upset I didn't fight for Matt's attention, but it was obvious to me that she was his attention. I went up to my room calling Jerry crying kind of.

"Hey Jerry, I know it's late, but I just wanted to talk, I just had a bad night. Call me tomorrow please." I said hanging up; I changed into my pajamas going to bed.

Jeff's Point of View-

I knew something was wrong with this whole situation between Lindsey and Carol, and somehow Beth is involved in this. After Carol left to go up to her room, I stopped Beth from going back into the bar.

"What is seriously going on here?" I asked, I could tell Beth was upset and angry at the same time.

"Carol, she has some confidence issues and Lindsey is making it worse." Beth said.

"I don't think Carol has confidence issues, she was so proud of herself today."

"Not really, Carol hates the fact and idea that she is fat, she thinks Matt doesn't like her or won't like her because she is fat. Lindsey, who is in there talking to Matt right now, hates Carol, Lindsey has been non stop making fun of Carol since she has laid eyes on Carol earlier today at the arena, which isn't helping Carol feel better about herself." Beth said as I could tell she was getting frustrated, I knew she wanted to help Carol feel better about herself, but with Lindsey always coming around it won't help any and I hate it when someone messes with someone that means a lot to me or to someone that means a lot to someone that means a lot to me, which in this case it's both.

"Beth, you can't fix someone in one day, you just met Carol today, it will take time. As for Lindsey, let me take care of her and Carol will be my little project, I will make Carol more confident with herself and change her self-image with your help okay?" I asked.

"You believe me?"

"Yeah, obviously it has to be the truth if this little thing happened and you're my wife, I have to believe you sometimes." I said kissing her lightly on the lips.