Bedroom Games
Page 4
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The large TV in front of us flashed the House Guests logo, and then cut to a screen. A smiling blonde woman with a huge bouffant of hair beamed at us from the other side.
“Hello, contestants! My name is Becky Bradley, and I’ll be your House Mother for this season of House Guests! Welcome to the show!”
We all clapped politely. Someone behind me whistled.
Becky smiled, clearly unfazed by our enthusiasm. She continued on. “In just a few minutes, we’re going to lock the doors, and this summer’s session of House Guests will begin. Your first week in the house will be a free one. After that, however, you will compete in the Power Play. Whoever wins Power receives their own private room and will nominate two other players for eviction at the end of the week. One by one, you’ll be voted out until only two of you remain. Those last two contestants will go head to head at the end of the summer and compete for the million-dollar prize. Are you excited?”
We all cheered, myself included. It was hard not to get excited at the thought of a million dollars by the end of the summer.
“Before we go, though, I have to warn you. Every season of House Guests is full of twists.” Becky’s smile was coy. “This season is no different.”
I wasn’t surprised. Anyone that watched House Guests knew that the show liked to change things up on people. They had to in order to keep things interesting.
“In fact, we’re starting out with three twists…” Becky paused dramatically. “And the first one is about to come through the doors. Good luck to you, House Guests!”
The TV fuzzed out, replaced only by the House Guests logo. I glanced at the three empty stools next to me. It was obvious what the first twist was going to be: more contestants.
Sure enough, the double doors burst open a moment later. Three people entered, each one holding a yellow envelope labeled with a 1, 2, or 3.
My jaw dropped.
They’d said twist, all right. I just hadn’t expected the twist to be famous people. Or rather, these famous people.
The first one through the door was a hot, sexy rocker guy with dark hair falling over one eye. His arms and neck were covered in tattoos, and he had piercings all over the place. I recognized him instantly — Liam Brogan from Finding Threnody, my favorite band. I knew they’d just broken up last month, too. Oh my god. I fanned myself with excitement. Liam Brogan was here? He was hot. He’d also been on The World Races, which had just finished airing a few weeks ago, and had hooked up with a cute little Southern blonde named Katy.
Unfortunately for me, the cute little Southern blonde was currently clinging to his hand and following him into the house. I guessed they were still together. That was all right, really. Liam was hot, but with the blonde, he kind of melted my heart a bit.
Katy gave us all a nervous smile, stepped a little closer to Liam, and waved with her bright yellow #2 envelope. Then she stepped aside, and the third person moved forward.
Everyone groaned.
Brodie Short was the third person. I recognized him from The World Races, too. He was handsome, of course. Tall and blond and tanned. Good looking. He’d also sold his sister out on the very first episode and spent the rest of the show either playing tonsil hockey with Tesla Spooner (the lead singer for Finding Threnody) or screwing over other contestants to claw his way to the top of the heap.
In short, they’d given us celebrity lovebirds with Katy and Liam and the villain in Brodie. Everyone loved Katy and Liam. Everyone hated Brodie.
I didn’t want Brodie here, either. I was the one planning on lying and scheming my way to the top this summer. I didn’t want competition. So I couldn’t help the frown on my face as the three of them sat in the stools in the front row next to me. Blond, handsome Brodie sat next to me and flashed me a pearly white grin.
I glared at him, stone-faced.
Liam, now seated, turned to the others. He’d let go of Katy’s hand and held up his envelope. “We’re supposed to read these to you guys in order. I’ve got number one.” He gave everyone a faint smile as they cheered and clapped, and then he tore the seal on his envelope and began to read. “To make this summer more fun, we’ve brought in a few contestants you might recognize from another reality TV show. Brodie, Liam, and Katy will all be playing alongside you for the million dollars.”
We clapped politely, but in my mind, I was sizing up the competition, and I knew the others were doing the same. I glanced to the back row and my friend was smiling, but a little less broadly. I knew what he was thinking. Brodie was a tool, and Katy and Liam had already won a million. They didn’t need another million dollars.
“All right,” Katy said, and her voice was a soft, almost-shy drawl. “I guess I read mine next.” She tore open her envelope, scanned it, and began to read. “House Guests, your first task will be a competition to determine where everyone sleeps. This summer, our House Guests will be staying in the most haunted plantation in America.”
Everyone groaned.
I twirled my foot more rapidly, thinking hard. Hauntings? Seriously? I didn’t believe in ghosts, but this place was rather creepy. Was that the shtick that Jimmy had mentioned? A haunted house?
Katy continued to read. “This plantation is called The Magnolias. It was built in 1796, and since that time, its history has been tragic. Every single family that has owned this house has met a terrible death. From fire in 1803 to an outbreak of the measles in 1840 to loss in the Civil War. After the Civil War, it changed hands once more, and from there on out, grisly rumors of hauntings and vengeful ghosts began.” Katy looked up from her card and gave Liam a wide-eyed stare. Then she continued reading. “The person that wins the Power Play will stay in the Power Room, which you will find quite luxurious. After that, contestants can either stay in the Mirror Room or the Queen Room. Both rooms have their own particular charm. Contestants that do not fare so well in the competition must stay in the Hanging Room in the attic. No less than three different people have hung themselves in the attic here in The Magnolias over the past century, and rumors are that their ghosts remain still. And since we currently have two extra contestants, those who come in last place this week will sleep on the couches.”
“I think I’d rather sleep on the couches than in the attic,” someone muttered behind me.
Katy flipped over the card. “That’s all mine says.” She wrinkled her nose again. “I guess we’re living in a haunted house.”
Oh great.
Katy nudged her brother. “Brodie, what does yours say?”
He grinned and began to tear open his envelope, reading. “Contestants will compete in the Power Play right now. You will all proceed to the backyard of the plantation once you have finished reading this card, and the first Power Play competition will begin. The winner of the Power Play will not only win Power for the week and his or her private room, but they will also win the chance to choose their partner. That’s right, everyone’s playing in partners this season.” He read the dramatic words slowly, a grin spreading across his face. “The person in Power will choose their partner; everyone else will be forced to pair up randomly.” Brodie looked over at me and winked. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and hook up with you, huh?”
Ugh. I thwacked his arm with one of my now-heel-less shoes, unamused. “Not all of us consider that luck.”
“Hello, contestants! My name is Becky Bradley, and I’ll be your House Mother for this season of House Guests! Welcome to the show!”
We all clapped politely. Someone behind me whistled.
Becky smiled, clearly unfazed by our enthusiasm. She continued on. “In just a few minutes, we’re going to lock the doors, and this summer’s session of House Guests will begin. Your first week in the house will be a free one. After that, however, you will compete in the Power Play. Whoever wins Power receives their own private room and will nominate two other players for eviction at the end of the week. One by one, you’ll be voted out until only two of you remain. Those last two contestants will go head to head at the end of the summer and compete for the million-dollar prize. Are you excited?”
We all cheered, myself included. It was hard not to get excited at the thought of a million dollars by the end of the summer.
“Before we go, though, I have to warn you. Every season of House Guests is full of twists.” Becky’s smile was coy. “This season is no different.”
I wasn’t surprised. Anyone that watched House Guests knew that the show liked to change things up on people. They had to in order to keep things interesting.
“In fact, we’re starting out with three twists…” Becky paused dramatically. “And the first one is about to come through the doors. Good luck to you, House Guests!”
The TV fuzzed out, replaced only by the House Guests logo. I glanced at the three empty stools next to me. It was obvious what the first twist was going to be: more contestants.
Sure enough, the double doors burst open a moment later. Three people entered, each one holding a yellow envelope labeled with a 1, 2, or 3.
My jaw dropped.
They’d said twist, all right. I just hadn’t expected the twist to be famous people. Or rather, these famous people.
The first one through the door was a hot, sexy rocker guy with dark hair falling over one eye. His arms and neck were covered in tattoos, and he had piercings all over the place. I recognized him instantly — Liam Brogan from Finding Threnody, my favorite band. I knew they’d just broken up last month, too. Oh my god. I fanned myself with excitement. Liam Brogan was here? He was hot. He’d also been on The World Races, which had just finished airing a few weeks ago, and had hooked up with a cute little Southern blonde named Katy.
Unfortunately for me, the cute little Southern blonde was currently clinging to his hand and following him into the house. I guessed they were still together. That was all right, really. Liam was hot, but with the blonde, he kind of melted my heart a bit.
Katy gave us all a nervous smile, stepped a little closer to Liam, and waved with her bright yellow #2 envelope. Then she stepped aside, and the third person moved forward.
Everyone groaned.
Brodie Short was the third person. I recognized him from The World Races, too. He was handsome, of course. Tall and blond and tanned. Good looking. He’d also sold his sister out on the very first episode and spent the rest of the show either playing tonsil hockey with Tesla Spooner (the lead singer for Finding Threnody) or screwing over other contestants to claw his way to the top of the heap.
In short, they’d given us celebrity lovebirds with Katy and Liam and the villain in Brodie. Everyone loved Katy and Liam. Everyone hated Brodie.
I didn’t want Brodie here, either. I was the one planning on lying and scheming my way to the top this summer. I didn’t want competition. So I couldn’t help the frown on my face as the three of them sat in the stools in the front row next to me. Blond, handsome Brodie sat next to me and flashed me a pearly white grin.
I glared at him, stone-faced.
Liam, now seated, turned to the others. He’d let go of Katy’s hand and held up his envelope. “We’re supposed to read these to you guys in order. I’ve got number one.” He gave everyone a faint smile as they cheered and clapped, and then he tore the seal on his envelope and began to read. “To make this summer more fun, we’ve brought in a few contestants you might recognize from another reality TV show. Brodie, Liam, and Katy will all be playing alongside you for the million dollars.”
We clapped politely, but in my mind, I was sizing up the competition, and I knew the others were doing the same. I glanced to the back row and my friend was smiling, but a little less broadly. I knew what he was thinking. Brodie was a tool, and Katy and Liam had already won a million. They didn’t need another million dollars.
“All right,” Katy said, and her voice was a soft, almost-shy drawl. “I guess I read mine next.” She tore open her envelope, scanned it, and began to read. “House Guests, your first task will be a competition to determine where everyone sleeps. This summer, our House Guests will be staying in the most haunted plantation in America.”
Everyone groaned.
I twirled my foot more rapidly, thinking hard. Hauntings? Seriously? I didn’t believe in ghosts, but this place was rather creepy. Was that the shtick that Jimmy had mentioned? A haunted house?
Katy continued to read. “This plantation is called The Magnolias. It was built in 1796, and since that time, its history has been tragic. Every single family that has owned this house has met a terrible death. From fire in 1803 to an outbreak of the measles in 1840 to loss in the Civil War. After the Civil War, it changed hands once more, and from there on out, grisly rumors of hauntings and vengeful ghosts began.” Katy looked up from her card and gave Liam a wide-eyed stare. Then she continued reading. “The person that wins the Power Play will stay in the Power Room, which you will find quite luxurious. After that, contestants can either stay in the Mirror Room or the Queen Room. Both rooms have their own particular charm. Contestants that do not fare so well in the competition must stay in the Hanging Room in the attic. No less than three different people have hung themselves in the attic here in The Magnolias over the past century, and rumors are that their ghosts remain still. And since we currently have two extra contestants, those who come in last place this week will sleep on the couches.”
“I think I’d rather sleep on the couches than in the attic,” someone muttered behind me.
Katy flipped over the card. “That’s all mine says.” She wrinkled her nose again. “I guess we’re living in a haunted house.”
Oh great.
Katy nudged her brother. “Brodie, what does yours say?”
He grinned and began to tear open his envelope, reading. “Contestants will compete in the Power Play right now. You will all proceed to the backyard of the plantation once you have finished reading this card, and the first Power Play competition will begin. The winner of the Power Play will not only win Power for the week and his or her private room, but they will also win the chance to choose their partner. That’s right, everyone’s playing in partners this season.” He read the dramatic words slowly, a grin spreading across his face. “The person in Power will choose their partner; everyone else will be forced to pair up randomly.” Brodie looked over at me and winked. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and hook up with you, huh?”
Ugh. I thwacked his arm with one of my now-heel-less shoes, unamused. “Not all of us consider that luck.”
