Page 16 of Playing With My Heart Strings

baylor

Ruthless

The second episode airs today, which also means the first elimination happens tonight.

We don’t get to watch the episode, but earlier this morning, we were told that all the girls will wait together in a briefing room, and once it’s over, we’ll learn who is at risk of elimination. Those who are will head out to the stage, and viewers will get to vote for the girl they want to save.

I shouldn’t care or even be nervous about the elimination, considering I have immunity for this week, but I am.

It was never explicitly said that my performance on the show determines my fate at my job, but it’s been implied by the looks Colette gives me every so often when no one else is paying attention.

Ideally, I’ll get eliminated at week five or six and can put all of this behind me.

It’s the opposite of what most of these girls want, but it’s what’s best for me . I’m sure Colette and I have different ideas of “what’s best,” though.

“Who do you think is going to get eliminated?” Sage asks as she wrings her hands together.

Before I’m able to answer, the door swings open and a producer comes in.

“I guess we’re about to find out,” I mutter as we all turn our attention to him.

He clears his throat. “Ladies. If I call your name, please come with me to the stage.” Stress radiates off some of the girls in the palpable silence. “Jordan.”

Her jaw drops and her shoulders fall as she prepares herself to go. I hadn’t interacted with her at all in the past week, so I wouldn’t know what her connection is like, but clearly it wasn’t as strong as some of the others here.

“Kelsie. Morgan.” The producer rattles off the remaining names, and after they leave, several girls let out a collective sigh.

“What do you think they’ll have to do to try to get saved?” Abigail, a petite girl with mousy hair and a sweet Southern accent, asks, her voice hardly above a whisper.

“No idea,” Valerie answers.

Although the rest of us are guaranteed the next week in the competition, the anxious energy in the room doesn’t disappear. Some of the women here became friends with a couple of the girls who are at risk, even in the short time we’ve had together so far.

I try not to think about what’s going on or who’s leaving as I close my eyes and take deep breaths, in and out.

The twenty or so minutes that we spend waiting feel like hours. But then the door opens and one girl returns. Jordan.

Jade squeals and runs over to hug her.

“What did you have to do?”

“Was Dusty there?”

“Did you get any explanations for why you were at risk of being eliminated?”

Jordan recoils as questions are fired at her, everyone crowding her more and more. Her face pales into a ghastly white, and that’s when I realize she’s about to pass out.

“Move!” I push one of the girls aside, trying to get to Jordan.

“Oh my God!” The others realize what’s happening and back up to give her space.

“Someone go get a producer,” I order, and Abigail slips out. “Hey, Jordan, can you hear me?” I ask, and she nods. “Okay, we need to get you sitting somewhere. Can you walk over to the couch?”

She nods again, and I help her walk over to the sectional just a few feet away. The rest of the group disperses and goes back to what they were doing before Jordan came in.

“I don’t know what happened there. I think there was just too much excitement and everyone crowded around me at once.” She gives me an embarrassed look.

“It happens. And you just went through what was probably a stressful experience.”

She huffs and then lets out a harsh laugh. “Yeah. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either, you know? We were really just being judged based on how the producers edited the show. They didn’t have us do anything out there, we basically just had to watch as the votes came in.”

Interesting.

“It was really hard on the other girls. I mean, I was lucky. I don’t know if they just did that because it was week one.

I at least thought it would be based on our musical talent and how strong we felt our connection was, not just what was broadcasted on television.

I mean, I don’t know about you guys, but our group date had absolutely nothing to do with music. ”

“Ours didn’t either, and neither did Katherine’s solo date.

But you’re right, that does seem odd. I also thought they’d have you sing or do something .

” I try to wrap my head around the idea that the producers are only letting people vote based on what they see on a fabricated TV show.

I make a mental note to ask Daniella about it.

“I hope it’s different moving forward. It was hard having to watch votes come in and see how much viewers disliked you.” She cradles her head in her hands.

“Just try to relax,” I encourage. “I know it’s easier said than done, but you made it this week. That’s a good thing.”

“Thanks…” she trails off, like she can’t remember my name. I don’t discredit her for that; it’s been a whirlwind of a week, and even though there’s only ten—well, eight, now—girls here, we didn’t have a lot of interaction with each other if we weren’t on the same dates.

“Baylor,” I offer, and she gives me a look of gratitude.

Abigail comes back with a producer, and they start asking Jordan questions to see if she needs medical attention so I get up to stay out of their way.

About thirty minutes later, we’re given the okay to leave the briefing room and head back to the hotel.

The sound of knuckles rapping against my hotel door wakes me from the short nap I was taking.

The elimination mentally and emotionally drained me, even though I knew I was safe.

I pad over to the door, looking through the peephole instead of blindly opening it for whoever awaits me on the other side.

A flash of curled blonde hair and Daniella’s face reassures me, and I swing the door open.

“Hey, babe. How’s everything going so far?

” She makes herself at home, walking right over to my bed to flop onto it.

This is the first time in a while that I haven’t either seen her in person—since we live together—or at least texted her.

But as contestants, we all had our phones taken away and have had to rely on each other for social interaction, a fact that makes my stomach churn slightly, knowing that Aspen may very well be the only person I get to talk to in the coming weeks. If I’m still here, that is.

“I swear Colette is some kind of sociopath, because what the hell was that elimination process?” I rant, letting out an exasperated sigh as I lie down next to her.

“Trust me, I had no idea until Alex told me what happened.” She rolls on to her side to face me. “But you have to admit, it makes for good television. They’re projecting that the ratings will skyrocket. I mean, it’s already looking really good for SSP.”

“I felt bad for the girls who got eliminated. And Jordan for having to go through it. I know I’m only here for a short time, but I wish I could do something about it without giving away my identity, you know?”

Daniella takes my hand, lightly squeezing it, a signal that she understands. “Just focus on getting as far as possible. You don’t have to win the whole thing, but if that’s something you want, Baylor, then I say go for it.”

“I’m not a country singer, Daniella.” I snort. “I don’t know if touring and being part of a record label is what I should be doing with my life. I mean, what would my parents think? They’d probably lose their minds right now if they knew I was on a dating show.”

“Okay, but are you saying that because that’s what you want, or because that’s what your parents want?”

I freeze, my eyebrows pulling together as I quickly reply, “Me. Definitely because of what I want.” It’s the truth. At least I think it is. I shouldn’t be running around trying to be a famous singer.

“Well, you know if you change your mind, I’m always in your corner.

It doesn’t matter what anyone else wants.

You have to follow your heart and think about what you want, okay?

” If she sees through my lies, she doesn’t say it outright.

But the heart-to-heart she’s trying to have with me makes me suspect that she does.

“I know, Dani. Don’t worry about me. How’s everything been going on the production side?” Even though she’s not a producer, she still sees most of what’s happening on the show. She knows how things are going for me.

“I will admit, I’d rather be working with you than Emily.

She practically drools over Alex every time we’re near him.

You should see her, Baylor, it’s ridiculous.

I’m surprised Colette hasn’t fired her already, even though Alex brushes off her advances every single time.

” She rolls her eyes, and I’m trying to figure out if she’s annoyed because she’s jealous, or if she’s annoyed because of the rules.

Sparks Studio Productions has a zero-fraternization policy. Relationships with coworkers aren’t allowed, and relationships with contestants are definitely not allowed. Except for my case, apparently, but then again, no one knows I work for SSP.

“She’s digging her own grave if she keeps it up.

Everyone knows the policy, and she’s dumb if she thinks she’s the exception to the rule.

” Daniella’s face darkens for a split second, but then she rolls off the bed, hopping down onto the floor.

She smooths out her pants before saying, “Anyway, I’m not supposed to be here, so I better get going. I just missed you.”

“I missed you too. But listen, give it a couple more weeks and then everything will be back to normal.”

“Right. I’ll see you around.” She heads toward the door, but as her phone chimes, she swings her head over her shoulder before reaching the door handle.

“Oh, and Baylor? Enjoy your date with Dusty tomorrow. Rumor has it he had a long conversation with the producers about what he wants the date to be like and it’s completely different from what was originally planned.

In fact, Alex just texted me, and I’m needed to help with the planning of all that, so I’ve gotta run.

” With a wink and laugh, she walks out the door.

Oh, right. The solo date is tomorrow.

But wait. Why would Dusty want to change the plans for me ?