An announcement called every new cast member to the set and Amelia clapped her hands. I wrapped my arms around myself and made my way over to the couch, where people were sitting awkwardly on the plush cushions. I took a seat on the end, leaning against the armrest for support.
A blond-haired girl plopped down lazily beside me and sighed loudly, turning to me. I raised an eyebrow. I had never been great with small talk or making polite conversation, though I tried, and I was always awkward with new people. I gave the blonde girl a little smile, feeling less excited than I had been and definitely more apprehensive. I hadn’t actually known I would have to live with the man they chose for me. This was really happening.
“I’m Emily Sommers,” the girl told me evenly, smiling crookedly at me with white, rounded teeth covered by thin, red lips. Emily wore a big, ripped band t-shirt and black ripped jeans. “I just moved to New York and found the ad in the paper. I thought it might be fun while I get through my psych classes, I don’t know.”
“Sadie Harlow,” I told her, shaking her hand. “I’m broke.”
Emily let out a snort of laughter and the others seated on the couch gave her a suspicious glance, side-eying her. Emily laughed again and fell back against the pillows, chucking me under the chin. “I think we’ll get along just fine, Harlow.”
I smiled slowly at the girl beside me. Had I really just made an actual friend, all on my own? Rose would be so proud, I thought to myself sarcastically. Who knew? I shrugged, sitting back beside Emily with my arms crossed over my stomach. Amelia came over to stand in front of us all and I tapped my foot, jiggling my knee in nervousness. Excitement and anxiety made my hands shake.
Emily turned to me, raising an arched eyebrow in question. “You look like you’re about to pee yourself.”
I snorted in reply, whispering back quietly. “I’m ready for them to just tell me already.”
Emily nodded in agreement and Amelia put her hands out, pulling a tall man with slicked-back black hair to stand beside her. He was wearing a navy suit and polished shoes. He looked over each of us and I could feel myself begin to sweat. Emily watched without much interest, yawning a little, and I wished I could be so nonchalant.
“You all know why you’re here,” Amelia told us brightly. “I’d like you to meet our host and one of the creators of the show itself, Rick Dixon. Rick, I’ll give you the floor.”
Rick Dixon smiled widely at us all, so much that I wondered if it hurt his cheeks to stretch that much. Someone handed him a microphone and he sat in the chair across from the couches. He crossed his legs and tapped the microphone with long fingers.
“I’d like to welcome you all to the matching round of Games of Love. We’re so glad you could join us and today, though we’re not filming just yet, we’ll be practicing for the actual show. Think of this as a trial run where you’re matched. Tomorrow, we’ll film the same thing though you’ll already know your respective partner. That way, it won’t be so much of a shock and will generally just look better on TV. I know it’s hard to understand at the moment, so let’s get started.”
The lights dimmed and I wiped the sweat from my neck. A spotlight hit us, and I squinted. A soundtrack of soft, calming love songs began to flow from the speakers, though I couldn’t make herself relax. I wished he would just say it already.
Rick sat up, giving us his brightest smile. “Hello, everyone. My name is Rick Dixon. Welcome to Round One of Games of Love, our new reality show about the perils of fake-dating live and in color. I’ll be your host this evening and these fine people are our contestants, seated here on our couches. This round will be all about matching our respective couples. Keep in mind, these people know nothing about each other. Now, let’s get started.”
The monitor above our heads must have spelled out his lines and Rick glanced over our heads briefly as he read. “Our first couple both hail from New York, born and raised. Congratulations, Madison Hughes and Glenn Greene!”
I watched and listened as the couples were matched and moved to the other side of the set together. Finally, Emily’s name was called, and she stood languidly to leave with the bearded redhead whose name was Luke. She shot me a wink before she left, and I relaxed the tiniest bit before my own name was called and I jolted up from the couch.
“Last, but certainly not least, Connor Lennox and Sadie Harlow!”