Thursday…
"Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey."
Elle pushed up her sleep mask, narrowing her eyes menacingly at Harper and Jules. She'd tried to be nice when they came into her room first thing in the morning talking. She managed to fall back to sleep so no harm, no foul. Now, they had come back and pulled off her blanket and she was primed to murder them both.
"Girl, you better calm down," Jules laughed, obviously not intimidated.
"It's almost 9:30," Harper said, though she at least looked somewhat frightened.
At least her damn hair was dry.
"Do I look like I care what time it is?" Elle asked disdainfully.
"Come on, grumpy cat," Jules was completely unaffected. "We're going to work out."
"You woke me up to go work out?" Elle stared. "Get out of this room. Right now."
Elle didn't hate working out but she loved her sleep more.
"You are a cranky bitch in the morning," Jules shook her head.
"Yes," Elle nodded. "Never said I wasn't."
"Let's just go eat breakfast then," Harper suggested. "Abigail's cooking."
Elle was still annoyed but they'd already learned that Abigail was the best cook in the house so if she was making breakfast, Elle was going before it was all gone.
"Fine," she threw off her covers. Jules laughed, pushing her toward the door and Harper closed the door behind them. She'd grown very worried about people going into their room after Phonegate. They filed into the kitchen where Abigail greeted them warmly. She'd gotten over her anger with Elle for announcing the cattle comment and focused all of her ire on Mia. Elle still felt awful about it but they talked after elimination and Elle apologized profusely. Abigail swore she wasn't holding any grudge.
Elle set about making mimosas that were really just champagne with a splash of juice. The four of women sat around the kitchen island and chatted as they ate. More girls started to trickle downstairs and make themselves plates of the delicious breakfast. Elle felt eyes on her while she was talking to Katie, from Michigan, so she turned, finding Louisiana, another whose name she didn't know, looking away quickly. Elle rested her chin on her hand and stared at the other girl, waiting for her to look again. She'd noticed her staring the night before as well. She knew it wouldn't take long and tapped the nails on her other hand against the marble countertop. Within a few seconds, the eyes came back to her. Elle raised her eyebrows, waiting for the other woman to say something.
"I'm just really surprised that Seth let you stay," she said, looking dumbfounded. "It doesn't make any sense to me."
"Well, then I guess I'm glad you don't make the decisions around here," Elle responded.
"Be nice!" Harper whispered harshly, elbowing her in the side.
"I am being nice," Elle whispered back.
Harper gave her a look so stern Elle had flashbacks of her mother. Rolling her eyes, Elle turned to Louisiana, "I'm sorry you feel that way. The decision wasn't up to me so if you have a grievance, you've gotta take that up with Seth."
"I will, don't worry," the other woman smiled. "If you even make it past the first challenge."
Elle turned back to Harper, "See? That's why I'm not nice."
"Oh, here we go," Jules spoke into her coffee mug and Elle followed her eyes to Mia and Emily breezing into the room dressed to the nines. Mia was wearing a silk slip and matching robe. And marabou feather slippers.
Fucking Marabou feathers? Was this girl even a real person?
Emily looked just as overdone in a dark blue silk romper with black lace trim and a black robe.
Elle hadn't even looked in the mirror when the girls woke her up. She was still in her mermaid shirt with no pants on and her hair was held back by her sleep mask.
"Do they know something we don't?" Elle asked Jules in a stage whisper.
Jules laughed, "They must."
"We know that we're always on camera," Mia snipped. "Clearly you don't."
Elle was not insecure about her looks, even first thing in the morning. Sure, she had her bad days and she didn't think she was perfect but she knew she was hot and she wasn't afraid to admit it.
"I think I'm doing just fine," Elle shrugged. "And I didn't have to wake up early and spend two hours getting ready."
Her comment clearly hit Mia, whose top lip flinched a fraction. The blonde quickly shook it off, shooting Elle a pithy smile, "So, did you call your boyfriend last night and let him know you'll be home sooner than you thought?"
Elle bit back a comment about calling Mia's dad instead and went back to eating her breakfast, deciding not to acknowledge her any longer. Mia glared for a few more seconds before going to the refrigerator with her minion at her heels.
"You two are gonna fight before we leave this house," Jules quietly snickered. "I swear."
Elle took a bite of eggs, "I wouldn't give her the satisfaction."
"Good morning beautiful ladies."
Elle's level of annoyance rose when she heard Jim's voice behind her. She also found herself wishing she'd put on more clothes.
"Your first challenge takes place this morning," Jim explained as they all turned their attention to him. "I'll need a few of you to head into the living room. How about Mia, Emily, and…Alice."
Elle watched as Frick and Frack perked up along with Louisiana. Teacher's pets.
"The TV will come on with a message from Seth. Act surprised when it starts and call the rest of the girls into the room. He will give you a clue about the challenge. Then you'll have 90 minutes to get ready."
"Some of us may need more time than that," Emily's expression was smug as she looked over at Elle.
Elle responded by scratching an imaginary itch on her nose with her middle finger.
"I saw that," Jim pointed at her.
She smiled at him and he waved for the trio he'd indicated to make their way into the living room, telling the rest of them to go back to what they were doing. They had to pretend he hadn't been there so that the editing team could easily cut around him. Elle finished off her mimosa, wondering what was in store for them for this challenge. Daisy hadn't given her any clues.
When Emily ran into the kitchen, saying they had a message from Seth, Harper excitedly grabbed Elle's arm, yanking her off of her stool and pulling her toward the kitchen.
"Ladies," Seth's face appeared on their 50 inch Smart TV. "I've had a great time getting to know all of you this week. I've learned that Harper knows how to build the perfect shoe. Abigail has a horse named Cupid. Alice works on Bourbon street and Elle bleeds Cubbie blue."
Jules bumped her arm and Elle tapped her fingers against her bottom lip, trying to tamp down the smile that threatened to appear. She didn't know what she was smiling about. It was probably just the part of her that liked being the center of attention. She was an actress after all.
"So now I'd like to know how well you know me," Seth continued. "Meet me outside in the back yard and we'll find out. If you don't have any of the answers I'm looking for, then there's only one word to describe you…"
Seth laughed as the video ended and Elle's eardrums were assaulted with shrieking from at least 3, maybe 4 of the girls. Jules was standing with her mouth hanging open, her big emerald eyes bugging out of her head.
"What is happening?" Elle asked loudly. "What is this collective madness?"
"You don't know?" Harper stopped bouncing to grab Elle by the shoulders. She was such a grabby person.
"Clearly I don't."
"Enzo and Cass!" Harper exclaimed. "Enzo and Cass are here!"
Elle looked around and was relieved to see Abigail and a few others looking just as confused as she felt. Jules was still paused with her jaw dropped. Elle snapped her fingers in front of the New Yorker's face.
"Enzo is her favorite," Harper laughed. "She'll be alright."
"I hope so," Elle said, still confused. She grabbed the silent woman's hand, "Come on honey. Let's change your batteries and get you working again."
"What in the hell are you wearing?" Seth looked up when Enzo walked into the production trailer. He was clad in a leopard print suit with a black shirt underneath and a bright red bow tie. He looked ridiculous, even for Enzo.
"What? It's supposed to be a game show," the other man spoke in his gruff voice. He ran a hand over the front of his jacket, "I look amazing. What's your problem?"
Seth didn't know why he was surprised. Enzo's fashion sense was a constant source of locker room entertainment.
"Only problem is I told your wardrobe people they gotta cut these things off at the knees 'cause it's hot as hell out there," Enzo explained. "Somebody doesn't handle it soon I'm just gonna take my pants off."
"Keep your pants on man," Seth pointed.
"Listen, I know you don't wanna lose any of your girls to your boy," Enzo popped his collar. "But the python's gotta breathe."
"That inch worm is gonna scare the girls away," Seth laughed as Enzo plopped down on the couch.
"I'll try to keep it under control," Enzo offered. Cass came into the trailer, thankfully not wearing the same loud outfit as his counterpart. Carmella came in behind him, smiling. She came over and gave Seth a quick hug, "I'm just tagging along. Don't tell Sasha I'm here."
"I won't say a word," Seth assured her. "She'd kill us both."
"So how's it going?" Cass asked as Carmella returned to his side, tucking herself under his arm. "You falling in love yet?"
Seth chuckled, "I don't even know half of their names without the producers telling me."
"What do you call them?" Carmella questioned.
"Usually the state they're from," Seth explained. "If I can't remember that, I just avoid saying anything."
"So it's just like normal?" Enzo teased.
Seth laughed, ignoring his friend's comment, "Listen, I appreciate you guys coming out to do this."
It was nice having people that he actually knew around. If Corey wasn't the host, he would have been totally lost. So far, filming the show hadn't been as bad as he expected but it still felt awkward and weird.
"Of course, we had to make an appearance," Enzo patted him on the shoulder. "We gotta make sure someone actually watches this thing."
"How is this gonna work?" Cass asked. "What do they get if they win the game show?"
"A date with Seth, stupid," Carmella laughed, slapping her boyfriend.
"That's pretty much what they get no matter what the challenge is," Seth admitted. "I'm always the prize."
"What's the date?" Enzo asked.
"A carnival," Seth answered. "I think they're just gonna get cheesier as this goes on."
"Well make sure you win them all somethin'," Enzo suggested. "They love that shit."
"I'm pretty sure he doesn't have to work that hard. They're here because they want to go out with him Zo," Cass reminded his tag partner.
"He is right though," Carmella piped up. "If you like any of them, win them something. We do love that shit."
Elle squinted against the sun as all of the women filed out to the backyard. She tried to wear her sunglasses but Amy ripped them off of her face the moment she walked out of her bedroom. She and Harper had managed to turn Jules into a functioning person again but Elle feared she was going to be lost to them when she saw this Enzo person.
Abigail walked over, stopping very close, "Do you have any idea what we're walking into?"
"Absolutely none," she shook her head. "You don't watch wrestling either?"
"My brother does," the Texan explained. "I've barely ever even seen it. I just went through a breakup and felt like doing something a little crazy."
"Wow, you really went big with the crazy thing, didn't you?" Elle laughed.
"Didn't we all?"
"Touché," Elle agreed. They were all in the same boat of insanity, regardless of their reasons.
When they rounded the corner to the backyard, they spotted giant inflated white letters spelling SAWFT. The grounds were set up for what looked like a game show. It reminded Elle of jeopardy.
Seth and Corey were standing at a podium. Corey was in a suit and she couldn't even begin to imagine how hot he must be. Seth was in a white Tapout t-shirt and black jeans.
"Good Lord, that is a fine man," Abigail swooned.
Elle nodded. He was okay; if you liked a perfectly sculpted body and a handsome, rugged face. She couldn't kid herself. He was hot.
"Welcome to your first challenge ladies," Corey spoke. "It's time to show The Architect how well you really know him."
Welp, Elle was definitely going to fail the first challenge unless all of the questions were about his favorite baseball team.
Seth and Corey explained that there would be 2 rounds of questions and the winning team from each round would face off in a final. The winners of the final would go straight from the house to a group date with Seth. Elle was paired with Jules, Emily, Alice, and annoyingly beautiful Kai. It would suck to be stuck with Emily but at least she knew Jules was actually a big fan. She was probably their best shot at winning.
"And as I'm sure you've already guessed," Seth smiled. "I brought along a couple friends to help us out."
Loud music started playing and a bunch of the girls started cheering again. Two men walked out from behind the giant letters. One enormously tall and the other in a leopard print tuxedo. The one in the tux had crazy wild blonde hair and ran in a giant circle, passing each team of women and high fiving them all before running back to the tall one, Seth, and Corey and doing a little dance.
He took the microphone from Corey, "My name is Enzo Amore and I am a certified G and a bonafide stud and you can't…teach…that. And this right here, this is Big Cass and he's 7 foot tall and you can't…teach…that."
Jules was squeezing Elle's wrist so hard her hand might turn blue.
"Bada boom, realest guys in the room!" Enzo yelled along with half of the women. "How you doin?!"