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“So, you’re telling me that the all-powerful and illustrious Cat Grant has the power to get you on a reality show but doesn’t have the ability to strong-arm the producers into letting you bring more than two suitcases and carry on?”“It’s not like she made the rules.” Kara huffed as she strained to pull the zipper close around her clearly overstuffed suitcase. “And Ms. Grant didn’t strong-arm anyone.”“Oh please.” Alex crossed her arms and leaned against her sister’s bedroom dresser, watching Kara’s packing struggles. “That woman could strong-arm body builders and gorillas and not even break a nail. She may be small, but that woman knows how to throw her weight around.”“Well, I mean, she is ‘The Queen of All Media’ for a reason,” Kara grunted as the zipper refused to move past a particularly large bulge.Alex cocked her head. “Do you need help?”“I got it.” Kara resituated herself so she was sitting on top of the suitcase, pushing down the contents just enough for the zipper to slide on past and fully close. “There! And you said it wouldn’t fit.”Alex shrugged. “Now you have to hope that the seam won’t split.”Kara flopped on top her suitcase and let out a groan. “If you jinxed me, I swear…”“What? You’ll beat me up?” Alex pushed herself off the dresser. “I didn’t know they taught combat training for reporters. Although, with where you’re going, you just might need it.”“Do you think it’s gonna be that bad?” Kara frowned, looking up at the old plastic stars on her apartment ceiling. Despite their cheesiness and child-like connation, Kara had put them up in her mid-twenties in intentional patterns to match her favorite constellations. Of course, it wasn’t the skylight she had always dreamed of, but that would have been impossible with the several floors above her. Besides, the faded green glow of them had become rather comforting. Alex had warned her it would make any of the men Kara brought home want to spend the night to be uncomfortable, but Kara hadn’t found that to be the issue. The real issue was finding a man she actually wanted to spend the night with let alone invite back to her apartment.“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Alex plopped down on the bed next to her sister. “I mean, I’m kind of jealous. All those hot, single women looking for love? Sounds like my kind of party.”“Oh yeah, I’m sure your girlfriend would really appreciate hearing that.”“Nah, Maggie doesn’t mind when it comes to The Bachelor.”“Really?”“Yeah. Mostly because of all the girl’s interest in the bachelor. But let’s face it, most of the contestants could do better than the guy they pick. Especially this season. Ugh, what kind of name is Mike Matthews anyways? It sounds completely made up.”The new bachelor this year was pretty-boy Mike Matthews: a man who came from a wealthy family, including a father who is proud conservative Congressmen, and dabbled in everything from bartending to photography. He was known for a history of partying, but also for his charity work that Kara couldn’t help but worry it was just for PR reasons. He was cute, she supposed. Especially to those who were into that sort of muscular party/preppy boy look. He could definitely be worse, that was for sure. At least he seemed to take care of himself, but that could always be a sign of narcissism. “Wait,” Kara propped herself up on her elbows, “you’ve seen it?”“Oh yeah, Maggie and I watch it together all the time. We typically both try to stay away from reality television, but we watched it as a joke one night and found it strangely addicting. It’s complete trash but also our guilty pleasure now. She almost lost her mind when I told her you were going to be on it.”“You told her?!” Kara gasped. “Alex, the contract—”“Says you’re not supposed to tell anyone but immediate family, I know.” Alex ran her fingers through her short red hair. “But relax. Maggie isn’t going to tell anyone. And I didn’t tell her about the in-depth exposé Cat Grant has you writing on it either.”A week before, Kara’s boss had called her into her office and ordered her to close the door. If Cat Grant didn’t have a reputation for firing people via shouting across the room, Kara would have feared termination. Little did she know that her boss had something much worse in mind.The popular dating show, The Bachelor, had been increasing in popularity over its many seasons. The show revolved around one man, the bachelor, trying to find love in the ten women that the show brings on through a series of interactions, group dates, and travel. Each episode, the bachelor sends home contestants until the season finale where he is expected to propose to the final one that he deemed worthy to be his wife, and then they supposedly live happily ever after togther.Nauseated by this and revolted by the shows growing fan base, Cat Grant was determined to expose the show for how old-fashioned, anti-feminist, and degrading towards women it was. Rather than interviewing past contestants, Cat decided to send a girl she could trust to the inside and take down all the grit and scandal first hand. That girl just so happened to be one Kara Danvers.While Kara had been anxiously waiting for a break to come her way, this was not all what she had been expecting. Upon hearing the news, she was less than thrilled, but because she desired to keep her job and possibly obtain promotion, Kara decided to go along with it. That then led to a frenzy of packing, photo shoots, interviews, contract signings, and shopping. So much shopping. Contestants had to provide all of the dresses and outfits themselves, and while CatCo covered all of Kara’s expense, Kara couldn’t help but cringe for the other contestants at the thought of the financial dent all this purchasing would leave behind. To make matters even worse, all the clothing and other items then had to fit into two suitcases and a carry-on for each contestant. Where exactly was Kara suppose to make room for her jeans and t-shirts?“Great, so now she just thinks I’m desperate enough to go on a reality show to find love,” Kara groaned, throwing her arm over her face in embarrassment.“Well, yeah, but she also hooked me up with this.”Kara peaked out from under her arm to see the small black cell phone in her sister’s outstretched hand. It was small and was unlikely to be able to connect with internet considering the antenna that looked extendable on the back. As Kara took it, she felt as if she were launched back ten years to her first phone her adoptive mother gave her as a teenager. She couldn’t help but laugh as she flipped it open and saw the number pad she hadn’t seen since childhood.“Thanks?”“Yeah, I know it’s not the most up-to-date thing, but it should be easier to smuggle in and keep hidden. The battery lasts for days, they’re pretty much indestructible, and I doubt anyone will even consider looking for it. You can easily just shove it inside your shoes or under your mattress.”One of the many rules with being on The Bachelor was that contestants weren’t allowed to have phones, computers, or anything that would connect them to the outside world. They were to be completely isolated for the weeks they were there. Movies, television, and books were even discouraged. Cat said it was one of the many tactics that the show used to increase drama and ratings. But luckily for Kara, journaling was still allowed.“I’m also the first number plugged in,” Alex continued. “You remember how to use speed-dial, right?”“I’m sure I can manage.” Kara flipped the phone closed with a smile. “Thanks, Alex. Seriously. The part I had been most dreading about this entire thing was not being able to talk to you for weeks. This really does mean a lot to me.”Alex slung her arm around Kara, pulling her close.“What are sisters for?”---Lena Luthor was raised to follow her mother’s plan. She was to make perfect grades, receive high honors, graduate at the top of her class in high school, college, and graduate school. She would then work for the Luthor company, continually developing groundbreaking inventions, increase company stock, and do everything in her power to continue to make the Luthor family name proud.And throughout all of Lena’s life, she had done exactly that. She had gone above and beyond in all of her mother’s expectations in every area except for one.Continue to make the Luthor family.Lex was the exception. He was a man and his sperm had no biological clock to worry about. Lena’s uterus lacked such fortunate. Citing Lena’s own adoption due to being the bastard daughter of her father, Lionel Luther, as the reason why only pureblooded Luthor offspring were acceptable, Lillian Luthor constantly berated and pressured Lena into finding someone suitable for marriage. The fact that Lena's own child wouldn't be completely Luthor was frustratingly overlooked.Just like with everything else she did, Lena did her best to make her mother proud of her. And while her dating life had proved much less than glamorous than the average woman, Lena had thought she had finally found the right man to settle down with when she met Jack Spheer. He was smart, charming, and had a keen business scent that lead to him founding Spheerical Industries. LuthorCorp was a small technology company that while may have been on the rise, would have grown exponentially with a merger of a company like Spheerical Industries. Perhaps that was why Lillian approved. It always thrilled Lena when she saw how impressed her mother was when Lena had brought along Jack to one of the Luthor family’s dysfunctional family functions.Despite all of Jack’s impressive wonders and glamor, Lena just felt like something was missing. And it wasn’t as if Lena didn’t want things to feel right. Oh no, she most definitely did. So much so that she was even looking into buying a diamond ring herself to cement the entire arrangement. But apparently, things didn’t feel right to Jack either and he ended things before Lena had a chance to develop a strong counterargument.Funnily enough, Lena took the breakup surprising well in comparison to her mother. The news sent Lillian into a flamboyant rage that left Lena with the sting of both words and a slap to the cheek: the tell tell sign that her mother had been drinking again.When Lena was finally able to leave her mother’s presence, she returned to her home so she too could drown herself into a bottle of gin. She’d opened one of the more expensive bottles that night and drastically underestimated its potency. However, that didn’t stop her from throwing back glass after glass and making everything else that happen that night free from memory.But that also didn’t stop her from winding up on a plane to be a contestant on a reality dating show as trashy as this one.Lena blamed both her and mother alcohol fueled spite. Spite had led to her mother sending her the e-mail with The Bachelor application attached and the message, ‘The only way you’d ever find someone as pathetic as you. Spite then led to Lena filling out the form and submitting. Actually, Lena couldn’t remember filling it out, but her drunken bitterness sounded like it was the only plausible motive. Regardless, spite led to her actually following through and agreeing to be a contestant when the role was offered.That and the fact that her mother would be without a way to contact her for next several weeks.Upon landing in the California airport, Lena was greeted by a group of individuals who took her suitcase and ushered her into the backseat of a sleek black car along with a woman. This woman, who Lena later found out was the producer, ran her mouth at about a mile per minute explaining all the different responsibilities and events now thrust upon Lena’s life as a Bachelor contestant. For the most part, Lena plastered on her fake but polite smile and nodded along. She was already in way too over her head, but she’d be damned if she let anyone except her know that.“Here, we are!” the producer exclaimed as they pulled up to the immaculate and large California mansion. With a terracotta roof, rusted brick exterior, iron work balconies, and a garden of palm trees and shrubberies, it was the epitome of everyone’s wealthy California fantasy life.Lena peered out the window and lost herself for a brief moment as the reality of what she had done suddenly hit her. What was she thinking? How desperate and spiteful had her mother made her? This was a new low even for her. And now she was in California, a place so hot and sunny that Lena could already feel her pale skin burning. Even after this was all over, there was no way Lena would have the strength to face her mother or anyone else.“Alright, another girl’s arrived so we’ll have to return to the airport, but you can get out now,” the producer pulled out her phone and her fingers began to fly across the screen. “My people will take your luggage to your room. Go find Morgan, and he’ll be able to show you to your room.”“Morgan…?” Lena frowned.The producer looked up from her phone with a confused arch in her eyebrows. “Morgan Edge. You know, the host?”In all her life, Lena had never once watched the show. She told herself that she didn’t have that much time to waste. But then again, she apparently had enough time to waste being a contestant. When she had been accepted to be on the show, she had obviously done plenty of research and read several articles to know what to expect, but the articles and tabloids did little to prepare for the actual experience. Such as in this instance when Lena hadn’t expected that she would meet the host so soon or that he would be so causally referred to by first name.“Oh right, my mistake,” Lena replied as she opened up the car door. “Thank you for the ride.”“Don’t worry about it. I’ll be seeing you soon anyways.”The door closed behind Lena and the car was driving away before Lena had a chance to look behind her. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Lena smoothed out the wrinkles in her causal green dress before heading up the steps to the front porch and into the front door of the mansion itself.“Hello?” Lena called out.It was much colder inside the home than Lena expected. Her arms quickly crossed across her chest as she peered around the front room complete with marble floors, a grand staircase, and several mighty columns. Finally, her eyes landed on the bald-headed man she recognized as the host and narrator of her life for the next few weeks, Morgan Edge.“Ah, you must Lena,” he broad grinned as he approached her and offered his large hand out to shake with hers.“Yes,” Lena quickly shook his hand with a courtesy two pumps before dropping. “And you must be Mr. Edge.”“Please, call me Morgan,” he laughed. “I’m sorry I didn’t greet you right at the door. Many of the contestants just wander right in, but this year, most have rung the doorbell and just waited for someone to let them in. Can you believe that? They act like they’re post men delivering a package rather than people actually living here.”“That sounds very thoughtful of them,” Lena replied, keeping her arms cross now due to her growing distaste towards Edge. The filming hadn’t even started and this man was already treating the women as entertainment rather than actual people.“Well, I’m glad you think so because you’ll be rooming with one.” Edge pulled out a piece of paper from her back pocket and handed it to her. “This is a map of the mansion. You’re free to go where ever you’d like, but keep in mind that cameras will be filming you everywhere except for your bedroom and the bathroom. Even if you can’t see them, they’re there. I circled the bedroom you’ll be staying in.”“Wait, who am I staying with?” Lena asked as her eyes quickly scanned over the map.“A one Kara D.. We don’t release contestant’s last names so unless your roommate tells you what her last name is, you’ll only know it as that one initial.”“Noted,” Lena mumbled, already planning the route she’d take to her room.“First Impressions dates are tomorrow night, but today, I’d advise getting to know your fellow contestants. You’ll be spending a lot of time with them in the upcoming weeks.”Lena nodded.“Well, I think that’s all for now. Dinner’s available whenever you’re hungry in the kitchen. I’ll be around if you need me.”“Thank you,” Lena muttered as she watched him turn away and walk back down the hall before turning his head to her for one last time.“I get a feeling you’ll be around for a while, Lena. You’re just his type.” Edge winked before disappearing into a room and leaving Lena alone in the massive front room.With any of the other contestants, Edge's words probably would have sent an eruption of butterflies in their stomachs, but with Lena, it just sent a chill down her spine.She was in way too far over her head.As Lena began her slow trek up the stairs and down the hall to her room, she began thinking of what her type was. It certainly wasn’t Mike Matthews. The bearded, dark hair, brooding but funny never really appealed to her like it did with other girls. Facial hair had always been a turn off. She preferred it when their face was soft and smooth. While Jack had dark hair, Lena had always thought there was something special about blondes. Especially when their hair was long enough for her to run her fingers through it. At least Mike had blue eyes. Lena had always been a sucker for blue eyes.But Lena knew it was shallow to judge someone based on appearances alone and whether or not they were her “type.” People are more valuable than their appearance. Lena may have not been here for the right reasons, but who knows, maybe she could actually find love.The thought made Lena scoff aloud.Right. Like that would ever happen. On or off this show.The door to her room was slightly cracked open and she could hear someone humming from the inside. Slowly, pushing the door open, Lena peered in to see a perky woman bouncing along to the tune she was humming as she unpacked. Her long blonde hair was tied up in a ponytail, bobbing along as the woman twirled around as she closed the drawer to her dresser. As she twirled around, her gaze fell on Lena who was still standing in the doorway watching. Her eyes brows shot up as her bright blue eyes widen in shock before her fingers fumbled in adjusting her glasses before a bright smile took over her face.“Hi! You must be Lena! It’s a pleasure to meet you! I’m Kara, your roommate!”
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Lena never considered herself to be an anxious or nervous woman. Yes, she hated presentations and displaying her findings to audiences, but that was mostly due to the massive time commitment they required to be done well. Time she could very well be spending on other much more productive things. The audiences and crowds rarely bothered her especially when she knew that her worst critic would be her mother anyways. In truth, she’d prefer an audience in the hundreds of thousands than a one-on-one interaction with her mother, the only person in the world who had the ability to make Lena’s palms sweat and stomach coil in nerves.But alas, here Lena was struggling to remember to breathe as she anxiously wiped her hands along her green dress as she stood before her blonde, beautiful roommate. Apparently, this contest was getting to her sooner than she thought possible.“Yes.” Lena cleared her throat, hating herself for how high pitch she initially sounded. “I’m Lena. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well.”“Awesome!” Kara’s blonde ponytail bounced behind her as she made a much too excited sweeping gesture around the room. “It’s a pretty nice place, right? Like, I’ve seen the mansion before on television, but I had no idea it was so big!”“But apparently not big enough for every girl to have their own room.” Lena commented before catching herself and her eyes widened in alarm. “I mean, it’s not that I’m upset to be rooming with you.”“Oh no, I get you,” Kara insisted with another animated wave of her hands. “I mean, it’s a mansion after all. Apparently, in previous seasons with more girls, they put as many as five or six girls in one room. Can you imagine that?”Lena grimaced. “Sounds like boarding school all over again.”“You went to boarding school?” Kara asked, leaning closer.Lena’s cheeks colored at Kara’s increased notice and attention. “It was a long time ago.” Finding her throat suddenly dry again, she cleared it and directed her attention to the beds. “So, did you have a preference for which side of the room is yours?”“What? Oh no, it doesn’t matter to me.” Both Lena and Kara looked down at the clothes Kara was currently unpacking into a dresser, and it was Kara’s turn to feel her face turn red. “Well, actually, I kind of started moving into this side of the room…”“That’s fine!” Lena assured her as she pulled her suitcase up to the other bed and opened it up. “I’ll just start moving in her over here then.”“Awesome,” Kara replied as she hid her still red cheeks by turning her to face the dresser.The two women unpacked in silence for the next few minutes. While the tension was awkward to Lena, she felt no urge to break it, knowing full well that she would only make it worse. Besides, Kara would only be in Lena’s life for a little while. A few weeks at most. Judging by how tan the blonde’s smooth skin was, Lena determined that she was most likely from a sunny state like California or Florida; a place nowhere close to the northern city of Metropolis. They came from different parts of the country and from different parts of the country they would return. Their paths had only crossed for a short bit, and, logically, Lena saw no need to attempt to make their relationship status with each other anymore than it already was. Besides, they were competition anyway. For all the kind, bubbly vibes that this blonde woman put out, Lena couldn’t be sure Kara wasn’t just a wolf in sheep’s clothing.But then again, she doubted any sort of wolf would fumble with her glasses that much or have brought that many t-shirts to a reality dating show.“So, what do you do, Lena?” Kara asked, clearly not sharing Lena’s sentiment when it came to the intention of keeping the awkward silence.“I work at my family’s business,” Lena replied with her deliberately vague answer.LuthorCorp was a small company that she doubted anyone outside of Metropolis had ever heard of unless they were in the tech field, but she preferred to bring up her family as little as possible. That and she didn’t want to admit to educational background at MIT or her multiple degrees at the risk of having the producers and her housemates label her as that. She didn’t want to sound any more pathetic than she already was.“Oh, cool!” Kara beamed with a sudden smile. “I wish I got to work with my family like that. It would be so much fun!”“Not with my family,” Lena muttered loud enough to let Kara know to drop the subject, which she did with a smile.“Knock, knock!”The rap of knuckles against the door frame snapped both women’s attention from their packing to the long-haired brunette standing with a soft smile leaning against the doorway.“Hi, I’m sorry to disturb you,” she said with an accent Lena couldn’t quiet place, “but a bunch of the other contestants thought it would be fun to all eat dinner together. We were wondering if you’d like to join us.”“Dinner?” Kara jumped to her feet. “Absolutely!”“Wonderful!” the woman replied as she pushed herself off. “We’re just getting it set up now.”“Imra!” a voice called from downstairs. “Where did you put that bottle opener?”“Oh, sorry, that sounds like my roommate, Megan. I better go help her.”“That’s okay!” Kara assured her. “We’ll be down in a minute.”“See you then,” Imra replied with a smile before turning to scurry off downstairs.Kara turned to Lena with a broad smile before elaborately gesturing her hands to the door.“Shall we?”---The reporter side of Kara felt naked. She had no note pad, no tape recorder, or even a pen to write things down on her hand with. Everything would rely on memory and a close attention to detail that she’d have to keep acutely memorized before she had a chance to write it all down in her journal at the end of the day. And then she’d have to pray that none of the producers or contestants snooped around for it, but she knew full well that any of them could and would. It was just up to her to not give anyone a reason to. Otherwise, she wouldn’t just be kicked out of the show, but also her job.So, no pressure at all for Kara as she found herself standing in a large kitchen with eight other girls who were most likely already looking for any reason to send home one of their competitors. When her eyes locked with the severe gaze of one particular brunette, Kara promptly shoved her sweating palms into her pockets and simply prayed that Lena hadn’t noticed her somewhat rigid posture.“There they are!” called out a blonde woman with a hefty amount of eyeliner as she took a swig of her wine. “We were wondering if you two would ever show.”“Yeah, we didn’t know if you preferred red or white wine,” a dark-skinned woman wearing a playful smirk held up two bottles in each hand, “so we opened both. Grab a glass ladies.”“Before Megan drowns us all,” Imra said with a friendly touch to the dark-skinned woman’s shoulder, “it’s probably a good idea if we all introduce ourselves.” She flashed Kara a smile that realized some of the tension in the blonde’s back. “Everyone, this is Kara and Lena!” Kara gave a small awkward wave and instantly wished she had played it cool like Lena who only offered a polite smile. “I know we’ve already been through this, but I’m Imra, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”“And I’m Megan,” the dark-skinned woman holding up the two bottles said. “I’m here for all your wine needs. Or liquor. Any alcohol really.”“And thank God for that,” the loud blonde with dark eyeliner held out her now empty wine glass for Megan to refill. “And you can call me Leslie or by my DJ name, Livewire.”“You’re a DJ?” Kara asked, perking up.“If you could call it that,” said the brunette that made chills run down Kara’s spine. “It’s for a small local station in nowhere, Montana.”“Oh, excuse me.” Leslie dramatically held up her hands. “How dare I try to steal any of the thunder from the great reporter Siobhan Smythe of the Daily Planet!”Daily Planet? The gears in Kara’s head whirled as panic settled in her stomach. That was wear her cousin Clark and his wife Lois worked, and both of them definitely had photos of Kara on their desk. And they weren’t exactly your average reporters either. Average reporters didn’t get Pulitzers. Siobhan would definitely know them if they were mentioned. For heavens sakes, she worked with them! If this woman recognized Kara, her cover was blown.“I thought we weren’t supposed to reveal last names,” a squirrely blonde mumbled from across the kitchen table.“Well, that’s what happened when you introduced yourself with business cards, Eve,” replied the brunette with wavy hair as she leaned back into her chair and took a sip of her beer.“Well, some of us are responsible and chose to make a career for ourselves rather than get knocked up as a teenager, Samantha,” Siobhan snapped back.The wavy-haired brunette’s eyebrows shot up as she swallowed her beer before setting it down on the table in front of her. While her posture didn’t look as if it would lunge across the table at Siobhan, her eyes told a much different story.“First of all, it’s Sam, not Samantha. Second of all, I have a career and pretty damn good one. Third of all, mention my daughter again and you’ll be remembered more for your screams and broken nose than your career.”Kara had no doubt that Sam wouldn’t follow through on that threat which only made the following silence so much tenser. But it only took Siobhan a few second to find her bearings again and cut through the silence with a snort.“Yeah, right,” she snorted. “It’s not like you’ll be here long anyways. They only ever keep the single mom on for a few episodes anyway to increase their diversity.” She turned to look at Megan. “Same goes for you. You’re just here to boost rating. It’s not like the bachelor ever actually chooses your kind of people.”“He doesn’t ever pick the pasty white bitch of the season either,” Megan shot back with a tight smile.“Alright ladies!” Imra clapped her hands. “Let’s all take a deep breath. After all, we never gave Vasquez a chance to introduce herself.” Imra gestured to the short haired woman currently munching on a bag of pretzels. “Is there anything you’d like to say?”Vasquez shrugged and swallowed her current mouthful of pretzel. “I’m Vasquez. I work in security. Can someone pass me some of that hummus?”The squirrely blonde woman, Eve, passed it down the table to her.“Thanks,” Vasquez said before she began dipping her pretzels into it and continued on in her eating.“Okay…” Imra’s eyes scanned over the table. “Wait, we’re still missing one more girl. Does anyone know where she is?”“I’m here!” Kara looked up to hear the thundering of steps running down the stairs and a flustered, but excited brunette pop into the kitchen. “Sorry, I was taking a brief nap. Jetlag from British Columbia can be a real killer.”“Isn’t British Columbia in the same time zone as California?” Lena asked slowly, her brow furrowing.“Well, yeah, kinda…” the girl’s face instantly colored as she swiftly changed the subject. “Anyway, I’m Nia! It’s a pleasure to meet all of you!”Nia waved her arm in greeting, but in doing so in her rushed and flustered manner, her hand hit against a full wine glass on the counter, knocking it over and slipped the red wine across the granite counter top. Being quick to act, Kara jumped to grab the paper towels to gather up the fluid before it spread to the floor.“Oh, my gosh, I’m so sorry!” Nia exclaimed as she quickly righted the overturned glass.“It’s okay,” Kara assured her with a smile. “It could have happened with anyone. It’s no big deal.”Siobhan rolled her eyes and laughed. “I can only hope your First Impression Date goes that smoothly. Then we won’t have to worry about wasting anymore wine.”“First Impression Date?” Kara asked slowly. Was that already? Oh gosh, Kara hadn’t even planned that far ahead. With everything going on in preparation for this show, she had more or less lost track of days and now that she thought about it, the First Impression Date was tomorrow. The event where Mike would come meet all the contestants for the first time as they came out one by one from separate limos. It was also the event where Mike would send home the first contestant.“Yeah, when we first meet the Bachelor, Mike,” Imra explained, handing Kara more paper towels. “Isn’t he just dreamy? I could look into those eyes forever. I really hope he likes me.”“It’s not about him liking you so much as remembering you on these things,” Leslie said. “And that boy’s gonna remember me.”“Why? What do you have planned?” Eve asked.“It’s a secret, but trust me,” Leslie grinned as she refilled her glass, “it’s definitely gonna get me that rose.”“Hmmm,” Eve nodded. “Now, I know it might sound strange, but I was thinking about doing a back flip. Is that too much?”“In heels?” Leslie asked.“No, I mean I’d take them off.” Eve sat up a little bit straighter. “But I use to be on a national gymnastics team and I don’t really know what else to do to set myself a part.”“Do you have the right dress for it?” Sam asked.“Yeah, I think so,” Eve said.“We’ll see about that,” Siobhan said. “Otherwise, you’re just going to make a fool of yourself on national television. But it won’t matter anyway. I seriously doubt anything you girls do will top what I have planned.”“I’ll just be sure to bring the sweetest wine I can find,” Megan said as she filled another glass for Nia. “Because he’s going to need something to get your sour taste out of his mouth.”“Oh, I’ll be in his mouth alright—”“Ladies, please,” Imra clapped her hands again, somehow keeping calm throughout the remarks. “Let’s please try to remain civil with one another, and I would greatly appreciate it if we kept vulgarity or crude innuendos out of the conversation when discussing Mike. Please?”The women murmured in agreement.“Thank you,” Imra turned back to Kara and Lena. “Now, I don’t believe you two never told us which wine you preferred. Oh no, Kara! Your shirt!”Kara followed Imra’s gaze and her eyes widened as she saw the large red stain now on the front of her shirt that had undoubtedly resulted when she had helped Nia clean up the split wine. Looking down further, she noticed it had even spread to the front of her jeans.“Oh, my gosh, I’m so sorry!” Nia fretted. “This is all my fault.”“No, you’re good!” Kara assured her, backing away slowly. “I’m just gonna go get changed and try to treat this before it stains.”“Do you need any help?” Nia asked, getting up to follow.“No, no!” Kara moved towards the stairs a little quicker. “It’ll probably be easier if I just do this myself. But thank you!”With Lena remaining down in the kitchen with the rest of the other girls, Kara decided that this would be the perfect time to take advantage of an empty room.---“I was wondering when you’d call. Did it take you that long to figure out speed dial?”“Alex,” Kara said in a harsh whisper as she gave one last look of her empty bedroom before locking herself into the bathroom. “I’m freaking out.”“What, some girl steal your straightener or something? Oh, wait no, you got the bitchy girl as a roommate, didn’t you?”“No, Lena’s great—”“Oooo Lena. Sounds exotic.”“In what world does the name Lena sound exotic?”“I don’t know. It just sounds European or something.”Kara rolled her eyes. “Okay, Alexandra.”“Hey! I’ll have you know that my name is Greek for ‘Defender of Mankind.’ And have you seen this red-hair? I’m an exotic warrior, thank you very much.”“Since when does red-hair make you exotic…” Kara pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a sigh. “Yes, you’re an exotic, beautiful warrior. Now can we get back to my issue please?”Alex’s tone shifted to more seriousness one. “What’s up?”“The First Impression Date is tomorrow night, and I don’t know what to do or wear.”In Kara’s state of panic and time of need, the last she expected was to hear her sister peel of laughter.“Alex. I’m serious!”“No, I know. I’m sorry. It’s just I… I wasn’t expecting that.”“Alex, if I don’t get in at least the top five, I could lose my job.”“Well, then that’s Cat’s fault for only giving you a week to prepare.”“I seriously doubt she’ll see it like that.”“Okay, well, look at the bright side – she did give you a lot of nice dresses. I’m sure those will work for your benefit.”“Everyone has nice dresses, Alex. They’re all like supermodels. They’re pros while I’m still in little league hitting the tee-ball. Ugh.” Kara pinched her nose as she sat down on the edge of the tub. “You should have heard them tonight too. Everyone’s got these elaborate plans for their first impression date. This one girl is even talking about coming out of the limo and doing a back flip.”“Oh yeah, that sounds perfectly safe.”“Ugh, and here I was just thinking you introduced yourself and said hello, but apparently, everyone’s expected to do something big and elaborate to set themselves apart.”“Something that makes a first impression…”“Exactly.”Alex sighed loudly into the phone. “Kara, why do you think it’s called the First Impression Date?”“Ugh, I know! I’m a horrible journalist.” Kara buried her face in her hands and let out a groan. “And this thing is going to define me potentially for the rest of the season. And I have to impress him. It’s not like I have any impressing talents!”“You could always show him how you can fit twenty pot stickers in your mouth. That’s always impressive.”“Alex, I’m serious!”“Okay, I’m sorry, but Kara, I really do think you’re over thinking this. Just treat this like any kind of first date. Don’t try to fake anything. Especially with your acting skills. Just pull from parts of your personality that you feel like Mike would find most appealing.”“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Gosh, why does dating have to be so hard?”“Well, it’s typically easier when you’re dating a guy who’s not dating nine other girls.”---Lena had never particularly excelled at first impressions when it came to personal levels. On a business level, she could close a deal faster than a greasy car salesman in just five minutes with a stranger. But when it came to relationships, Lena had much less luck. Especially in a group setting. Her first instinct was to remain silent and observe, which she did for the most part with fellow contestants she met tonight. And while meeting with Mike would be a one on one experience, it would be an experience sandwiched between him meeting other contestants. She had no plan, no personality that would help her stand out. There was nothing special about her. It was pointless for her to even bother unpacking tonight if she would be sent home tomorrow.So, that evening, Lena decided to do what she always did when she was stressed and without any sort of work or technology to lose herself into: bake.For a mansion devoted to a reality dating show full of beautiful thin women, there was a surprising amount sweets. The refrigerator might have been filled with liquor, but the cabinets were filled with chocolate. Lena had no trouble finding all the ingredients to make her favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. Of course, many of the women probably wouldn’t eat the cookies, but really, all Lena cared about was getting her mind off things and baking. Perhaps the crew could take them. They followed her around enough already.The other contestants had cleared out after dinner in order to finish their unpacking and prep for tomorrow’s First Impression Date. Lena told herself the main reason she wasn’t in a rush to get back upstairs was because of Kara who was probably busy still trying to take care of that large wine stain on her clothes, but Lena knew she was lying to herself. Instead, Lena decided to lose herself in the measuring and mixing of ingredients. It may not have been the same as working with chemicals in a lab, but at least these were an experiment she could eat.She was just pulling them out of the oven when she heard the sound of heels clicking against the tile floor of the kitchen. For a brief moment, she hoped it was Kara. After all, she had been the only one who had made Lena feel remotely comfortable during this entire ordeal, but she should have known that Kara wasn’t the one to wear heels causally around a house. Besides, only snakes could wear heels that high.“You’re baking?” Siobhan asked, a frown contorting her features. Lena tensed as she felt Siobhan’s gaze rake over her with the same kind of venom and judgement that she had previously only known from her mother. “I should have figured. It’s not like you’re one who values their weight or figure.”With a slight upturn of the corner of her mouth, Siobhan spun on her heel and disappeared back down the halls towards the stairs, leaving Lena there with a still hot pan of cookies.Lena tried to take a deep breath. If anything, she knew she wouldn’t give the bitch the satisfaction of knowing that her venom had actually hit a vein. Her mother had brought same judgements to her regularly and it wasn’t as if Lena had time to work out with her work schedule. Besides, what was the harm in baking? All she had wanted to do was just relieve a little stress and now she was even more tense and worked up than when she started. What was she even thinking? It wasn’t as if anyone in this house would actually want to eat any of the cookies anyways.Or so she thought.“Mmm, what’s that smell?”Lena looked up to see her blond roommate now in sweats and a National City t-shirt peeking out from around the corner, eyeing those fresh baked cookies still on the pan.“Chocolate chip cookies,” Lena replied.“Ooo! Those are my favorite!” Kara bound into the room like an excited puppy. “Can I have some?”For a moment, Lena’s anxiety and self-hate faded and were replaced by a strange feeling in her stomach. Was this what it was like to be appreciated?“You can have as many as you want,” Lena told her with stunned smile, unable to keep from laughing slightly as Kara snatched up several of the still hot and gooey cookies from the pan.“Oh! Gosh! Hot!” Kara gasped as she juggled the cookies back in forth in her hands.“Here,” Lena laughed slightly as she offered a plate to the blonde. “Use this and save your fingers.”“Thanks.” Kara quickly piled up the cookies on the plate, using the wider surface as the perfect platform to pile up more cookies on. Lena could only laugh more when Kara had managed to fit almost half pan of cookies on the small porcelain plate.“You haven’t even tried them yet,” Lena told her.“If they taste anything like they smell, then I’m in for a real treat,” Kara grinned before taking a bit from one. As soon as the cookie hit her mouth, she closed her eyes and let out a moan that Lena knew she shouldn’t have derived so much pleasure in. “These are amazing. Like the best cookies I’ve ever had amazing.”“Well, thank you,” Lena blushed as she fumbled with fingers, not familiar with how to take compliments. “But they’re nothing special.”“No, they really are. Is this what you’re going to give Mike on your First Impression Date?”“Um,” Lena bit her lip, “I hadn’t really thought about it.”“Well, you should, because I definitely doubt I’ll ever be able to forget you after trying these.”And at those words, Lena couldn’t but blush ever deeper.
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From the gossip floating around the mansion, both Kara and Lena were the only two who hadn’t started getting ready for the First Impression Rose before lunch. Eve and Siobhan had both skipped lunch and dinner to get ready for tonight. Leslie had locked herself in her room to ensure that her outfit remained top secret which left Nia to get ready in the living room. She didn’t seem to mind though since, according to her, the couches were much more comfortable to nap on during the different steps in her make-up process. When lunch did come, it wasn’t a full sit down meal like the dinner the night before even though the table had been set for it. Instead, individual women would walk by and grab a buttered roll to munch on or an apple to save for later. Remembering the harsh words from Siobhan the night before, Lena decided it would be best to avoid the carbs in the bread she loved so dearly and settle on the salad option she could tolerate. If she wasn’t having a great time, then why should her taste buds? Kara however did not share the same sentiment. “Oh my gosh, is it a full spread like this every day?” Kara gasped as she gazed upon the plethora of food before her. “Yeah, I think so,” Sam said as she squeezed a lemon into her ice water. “Kind of funny considering how little the women here eat.” “What?” Kara asked as she looked up, her voice muffled from the bread roll she had just eaten in one bite. Sam’s eyebrows shot up before her mouth curled into a playful smirk. “I guess not all the women,” she mumbled to Lena. Kara didn’t appear to hear her as her throat bobbed when she swallowed. “Hey, Lena, would it be okay if brought some of these rolls back to the room? I sometimes get cravings in the middle of night and I’m worried the kitchen won’t be open then.” “Oh, um, sure,” Lena nodded. “Take all you need.” “Awesome!” Kara’s hands quickly grasped more bread, doubling fisting the rolls as she turned towards the pantry. “I’m gonna see if there’s anything in the kitchen I can store this in. Thank you so much. You’re the best!” Once she was out of ear shot, Sam couldn’t hold in her laughter anymore. “It’s certainly nice to see that not all the women on here are fake,” she said as she sipped her water. “Although now I don’t want her to last here very long.” Lena couldn’t help but bristle at her words. What did this woman have against someone as sweet and kind as Kara? She had been remarkably one of the few rays of sun she had experienced in this dark house hold and how could anyone dare to try to blot it out? Kara may be a bubbly burst of sunshine that brightened everyone’s day, but Lena certainly knew how to throw out some bolts from the thunder cloud she was. “Are you really that insecure about a man you’ve never even met?” Lena asked, her green eyes narrowing. “Not at all,” Sam swiftly replied, shaking her head as she set down her glass. “I just fear that the more genuine and sweet she is, the more of a target that will be placed on her back.” She sighed and leaned back in her chair. “Situations like these can lead to pack mentality and while there may be a fight for an alpha to follow, it won’t take long for them to figure out an omega to kick.” Sam’s gazed turned from Lena to the pantry where they could hear Kara rummaging through some Tupperware. “And I’d really hate for that to be her.” Lena’s own gaze followed. Sam was right. These contestants didn't care to follow any sort of women's code when it came to this competition. One of them had already shown her claws but she doubted all of them would be that obvious. Lena knew she wouldn't be. But unlike those other girls, Lena silently vowed to herself that she would only use her claws to do everything in her power to protect this bubbly blonde.~~~ “Alright so the blue or the red one?” “You know I can’t actually see them, right?” Alex asked through the speaker on Kara’s phone. “I’m gonna need more detail than just the color.” “Yeah, but don’t you like know my entire wardrobe? Isn’t that like a superpower that comes with being sister?” “I don’t think it works like that, sis.” “Ugh, fine, it’s the blue dress I wore to last year’s Christmas party or that red one you stole for your one year anniversary date with Maggie.” “Oh, those ones! Yeah, I’d go with the blue one then. That red one shows off too much cleavage for a first impression. Unless you’re going for that vibe. Cat Grant would probably be impressed if you did. If you play your cards right, it might even get you trending on Twitter.” “Like I could even go for that vibe if I tried,” Kara sighed as she tossed both dresses across the bed. “The blue one is definitely a safe bet. Now I just have to figure out how to wear my hair.” “So wait,” Alex said slowly. “Where are you?” “I’m in my room,” Kara replied as she hung her red dress up for another time. “Where else would I be?” “Well, where’s your roommate?” “Oh, she’s downstairs talking with this other girl, Sam. I think you’d really like her actually. Very down to earth.” “Shouldn’t they both be getting ready for the date tonight?” “I think Sam’s mostly ready, and I doubt Lena will have to do much to get ready. That woman could roll out of bed and still look better than half the women in a beauty pageant.” “That hot, huh?” Even though Kara couldn’t see it, she was pretty certain her sister was arching a teasing eyebrow. “I just mean that she’s definitely one of the pro supermodels and I’d just be the girl who got her coffee” “Then it’s a good thing Cat Grant trained you well in that.” “That’s the only thing she’s trained me in.” “Kara, you’re going to be fine.” “Am I? I mean what interest is a rich, preppy frat boy going to have in me? I’m just a dorky reporter girl who can barely remember the last time she had more than two glasses of wine.” “Okay, first of all, I’ve got to get more alcohol in you. Second of all, so what if you’re a dorky reporter girl? Some guys love that stuff. And don’t forget how lovable of a dorky reporter girl you are. That’s not an easy trait to come by, and I strongly doubt that any of your competition has it. If you play your cards right, you’ll have Mike and viewers eating out of your hand. And then it'll be that much easier to write your article.” “But I mean, what does it even matter?” Kara groaned. “This whole concept is ludicrous and so fake anyways. I could just make stuff up. I have a one in ten chance of being proposed to in just a couple of weeks. That’s insane. People don’t just find true love through a period of nothing but televised forced interaction. It’s all just a scam in order to get more viewers and higher ranking.” “I don’t know, sis. Love kind of has a way of sneaking up on people. It might just sneak up on you.”~~~Despite working in the corporate world, Lena had never witnessed a fleet of limos the size of the one that pulled up to the mansion that night. Despite each contestant being sequestered to their rooms, Lena and Kara were fortunate enough to have a window facing the front drive; one that they were both currently peeking out of. While they both could witness the long line of limos currently standing in wait in the long drive, neither Lena nor Kara could actually see any of the contestants walking to the limo as a balcony obstructed their view. However, they both knew who was getting into each limo as one of the producers would loudly call out the contestant’s name when it was their turn. “Samantha!” squawked one of the producers. “Oh, thank goodness,” Kara sighed in relief. “Could you imagine having to go first? Having to set the bar for the rest of girls on the show? Not to mention that you know you’ll be the first contestant to appear on the show. Gosh, that sounds terrifying.” “So, you’re not worried about actually making an impression on Mike?” Lena asked, arching her eyebrow. “Oh, well, yeah, of course,” Kara stammered. “Of course, that’s why I’m here after all.” Kara gave a smile so forced that Lena almost found it comical. But it was for exactly that reason why Lena had no worries that Kara wouldn’t make a good impression on Mike. She had this bubbling awkwardness that was impossible not to love. And of course, that blue dress she was wearing that showed off her surprisingly toned arms and calf muscles definitely worked to her favor. “Are you nervous?” Kara asked. “Anxious,” Lena replied, her eyes on the limo first in line that had just pulled away. “I’d prefer to get this over and done with.” “Whoever knew you were so romantic.” “Nia!” shouted the same producer in a voice so shrill that both of them flinched. They were both silent as they hear the frantic stumbling of heels making their way down the hallway and stairs. Despite knowing Nia for only a day, Lena could help but pity the poor girl. Yet despite her flustered manner and her bursts of sporadic sleep, Lena still felt quite fond of the girl. Almost as if the woman was her little sister. But what did Lena know? It wasn’t as if she was the pro at sibling relationships. “You have nothing to worry about you know,” Kara said, snapping Lena away from her own thoughts.“Pardon?” Lena asked, turning her head away from the window and towards her roommate where she suddenly found herself lost in stunning blue eyes.“It would be impossible for you to make any impression but a good one in that dress.”Kara gave a smile that blossomed a flower of warmth inside Lena’s chest, causing her to quickly look away to hide her blushing cheeks in the shoulder of her dark green dress. She had always been told that this was one of the best colors on her and this dress, while still covering up enough to be labeled as modest, did an excellent job at accentuating her curves. Lena knew how good she looked, but something about being told that by another made her feel the heat of both embarrassment and elation.“The same can be said for you,” Lena said, clearing her throat slightly. “That color really brings out your eyes.”And it most certainly did. But rather than drowning in the sea of blue before her, Kara somehow made it so that Lena felt as if she was floating down a lazy river. A little dazed and confuse but also happy and carefree. The night was still so young and Lena was already feeling more conflicting emotions than she had in her entire life. And she hadn’t even gone on the date yet.“Meghan!” called the harsh voice downstairs, jarring Lena from her thoughts.Oh gosh. The date.“Have you seen my cookies?” Lena asked, her mind snapping out of her trance that Kara’s gaze had trapped her in. “I put them in a Tupperware but now I’m not sure where I put it.”“Oh, so you are bringing the cookies!” Kara grinned. “How on earth could you have been worried about making a bad impression when you have those! I’d marry you just for the recipe.”Lena’s cheeks flared but her voice remained strong. “You know, you could always just ask.”“Well, um.” This time, it was Kara’s turn to be flustered. “It not that I’d be opposed. I mean, you are really pretty and super sweet, but I, um, I don’t think Mike would like that very much.”Somehow Lena managed to keep her face neutral, probably due to the shock of being called both pretty and sweet ironically for the first time in her life, and blinked slowly as she turned to face a bubbling Kara nervously rubbing the back of her neck. Even like that, Kara still looked like the most beautiful girl Lena had ever seen. “I meant ask for the recipe,” Lena explained. “OH,” Kara’s eyes went wide. “I’m so sorry, I just got caught up and just assumed…” Lena arched her dark eyebrow. “Assumed what?” “Lena!” interrupted the producer. “That’s you,” Kara jumped up, frantically darting her eyes around the room before they landed on the Tupperware on the dresser, which she grabbed and swiftly shoved into Lena’s hands. “Your cookies. Don’t forget those.” “But-” Lena started, but it was too late as Kara had already begun to push her towards the door. Apparently, those muscles weren’t just for show. “There’s no time to waste,” Kara proclaimed. “And you’re going to do great! I’ll see you soon, roomie.” And with that, Lena was out in the hallway holding a Tupperware of cookies with her bedroom door locking behind her and leaving her completely and utterly perplexed. “Well,” Lena sighed as she stood up a little taller and straighten out her dress. “It’s time to focus anyway. I can’t have let my mother have the satisfaction of seeing her only daughter not even get one rose this season.” However, it didn’t take long though for Lena to find herself getting lost in thoughts of someone rather than Mike giving her a rose.
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The limo ride was tense and silent. The driver with the large mustache never so much as looked at Lena as he navigated down the dimly lit streets of California towards the awaiting camera crews and bachelor. Anxiously, Lena drummed her fingers against the Tupperware container, hating herself for not taking the time to try to liven up the container with decorations such as a ribbon or bow. Maybe she should just forget the whole thing and leave the container in the car. The driver probably wouldn’t mind finding a batch of cookies later. Or even the production crew could take them. They deserve something for all their hard work. Lena only shook her head. This was all she had going for her, and she’d be foolish to think that she could stand out on her looks and personality alone. It clearly hadn’t been fruitful for her in past relationships. Before she knew it, the limo was pulling up on to the elegant stone drive way and Lena’s heart began racing just like it would before any work presentation or board meeting. Yet, this wasn’t business. She couldn’t be cold and neutral. She had to be warm and smiling. Lena attempted to stretch her mouth out into that upturned curve that people like her bubbly roommate summoned so easily, but Lena only felt fake and ridiculous. Why couldn’t she do this? “We’re here, miss,” the driver told her in a rather gruff voice, still not bothering to look Lena in the eye. He wasn’t an old man, but he wasn’t a young man either. Flecks of gray speckled his black mustache and his tan skin creased around his eyes. But even if he did seem neutral and plain, Lena couldn’t help but feel at least a little comforted by this man. After all, he wasn’t degrading her to an object like everyone else was in this show. He was just doing his job as the driver; a job that degraded him to an object too. “Thank you,” Lena nodded, as she moved to open the door before stopping for a moment. “Um,” Lena’s eyes fell down to the Tupperware. “Could I interest you in some cookies?” The driver’s stone face fell into one of mild surprise as his eye finally flicked over to meet Lena’s in the rearview mirror. “That’s very kind of you, miss,” he told her, “but I didn’t bring my insulin with me so I’ll have to pass.” “Oh, okay.” “Thank you though.” Lena looked up to see him smiling warmly at her and she couldn’t help but respond in kind.“Drive safely and I hope you have a good night,” Lena told him.“You too. And miss,” he paused for a second, “good luck.”Lena was just about to thank him with the limo door opened, flooding the dim limo with light. Doing her best not to squint, Lena stood up as she mumbled another thank you to the man who had opened the door for her, but it wasn’t long before her gaze fell on the dark-haired man standing in a suit several feet away, and anxiety robbed her of her voice.Mike Matthews looked different in person. Of course, many of the photos paparazzi snapped of him were either of him drunk or hung over, so of course he didn’t look his best then, but Lena wasn’t prepared for how good he looked now. Standing tall in a dapper black suit and red bow tie, Mike Matthews looked exactly like the heartthrob so many women treated him as. Mike Matthews even had the picture-perfect smile flashing directly towards Lena which she couldn’t deny did make her heart flutter. It was surreal especially with all the cameras added surrounding them. Lena just couldn’t help but stop and stare.But if Lena wanted to have any hope in this competition, she’d have to stop calling him by his full name, move her feet, and smile for the ever constant camera.“Good evening,” Mike greeted with his ever unnaturally white smile. “Does this pretty woman have a name?”“Lena,” Lena replied before noticing that Mike had his hand outstretched. Her hands flustered for a bit as she rearranged her hold to grip both the Tupperware and his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”“Well it’s certainly a pleasure to meet you as well. My name’s Mike,” Mike nodded towards the container in Lena’s hands. “What do you have there?”“Oh yes, here,” Lena let go of Mike’s hand and reached to open the lid. “I know how long these things can take so I thought I’d make you something to hopefully make it a little easier.”Mike’s blue eyes widen and a more genuine grin broke out across his face. “How did you know I loved bread?” he exclaimed.Lena’s face scrunched in confusion. “Bread?” She looked down to see the Tupperware she thought filled with chocolate chip goodness actually filled with the dinner rolls from lunch. “Bread!”“Yes, bread!” Mike laughed obliviously as he reached out and took one. “You even already buttered them!”“Oh gosh,” Lena mumbled as she hastily put together the dots. Kara had given her the wrong container as she headed out and now she was feeding possibly somewhat stale dinner rolls to the bachelor himself. Her eyes flickered to the camera watching them and she quickly covered her stunned expression with a smile. “Well, I hope you like them.”“How could I not?” Mike wiped off a bit of butter from his mouth with his thumb. “This is lovely, Lena. Thank you.”“My pleasure.” She held out the container one last time. “Can I interest you in another before I leave?”“Please!” Mike exclaimed in a way that made Lena’s mind instantly flash to Kara. “You’re incredible.”“You’re not so bad yourself,” Lena smiled, blushing slightly at the unexpected and undeserved compliment. ---“Now Lena, I’m gonna need for you to be real with me,” Meghan leans forward on the couch with her elbows on her knees as she stares intently at the pale woman in the green dress who just walked in. “Did you just give that man leftover bread from our lunch?”The producers had supplied a waiting room of sorts for the contestants filled with plush couches and chairs and a large screen equipped with a live feed of the contestants’ interactions with the bachelor. The three women before Lena had already made themselves comfortable and were now lazing around in their formal attire. Nia sported an elegant royal blue dress with bright glimmering stones that matched her large necklace and earrings. Sam had gone for a more classic approach with a sensible but stylish gray dress that Lena would have sworn had pockets. Meghan lounged in a deep purple, floor length dress that only enhanced her curves.Lena flopped down on the couch across from her with much less grace than what she showed prior. “Apparently, I did.”“Girl!” Meghan groaned as she tossed her head back theatrically. “You’re telling me that I spent all my money on some fancy ass wine for this man and all it took was some free dinner rolls to get him to fall for me?”“I’m sorry,” Lean groaned into her hands. “I can’t believe this. I meant to bring cookies.”“Cookies?” Meghan arched an eyebrow. “You’re telling me that you can't tell the difference between cookies and bread?”“They were in the same kind of container,” Lena mumbled as she dragged her fingers down her face. “And my roommate gave me the wrong container. I can’t believe I was that stupid.”“Well,” Sam said with a sly smirk as she stirred the straw in drink. “Certain people just have that effect on others.” Lena sat up and narrowed her eyes at Sam. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“Oh, girls!” Nia exclaimed with a clap of her hands. “There’s another limo pulling up!”The four women peered over to the large screen displaying the live feed, leaving Lena’s rolls abandoned on the table. “Who do you think it is?” Nia wondered aloud.“Whoever it is, I just hope they brought something other than bread to help wash down this wine,” Meghan said as she leaned back around the couch.“Did you bring the wine?” Lena asked.“Yep, and two glasses,” Meghan explained as she took a sip of chardonnay. “One for me and one for Mike. And let me tell you, he’s definitely my kind of drinking buddy.” She gave Lena a quick wink that sent a strange twist in Lena’s gut. Lena’s first impression just kept looking worse and worse.“Oh gosh, it’s Siobhan,” Nia groaned. “Oh, good Lord,” Sam groaned. “Is it okay if I get some of the wine, Meg?”“Oh, yeah girl, take some,” Meghan passed it to her as she poured a glass for everyone else. “I’m just worried we don’t have enough.”Lena gladly took a glass of the chardonnay as she watched Siobhan step out of the limo in a shockingly well form fitting red dress which featured a neckline so plunging that she wandered if the producer would have to censor it. Her high heels only made her legs that much more impressive as she strutted towards Mike. He was clearly trying his best to be a gentle as they talked but his eyes, on occasion, drifted a bit farther south than her eyes. “What do you think they’re saying?” Nia asked.Unfortunately, while they had visual, audio wasn’t available for them in order to give a semblance of privacy for each contestant from the others. If Lena was being honest however, she preferred it this way. She didn’t need any more reasons to feel inadequate in this competition.“I don’t really care,” Meghan shrugged. “I’d honestly prefer it if she were like this all time. Silent.”“I can drink to that,” Sam said as she raised her glass. But as soon as she was taking a swig of it, she was choking on it. “Is she serious?”All eyes went wide as a collective gasp filled the room as the four women watched the screen as Siobhan pulled Mike down by the collar for a kiss, officially marking the first kiss of the show.“Well at least we now know she’s not just the bitchy-est girl of the house but also the easiest.” Meghan sneered into her glass. “I just hope she has chapped lips.”“And bad breath,” Sam added.“And to think I just brought him coffee…” Nia mumbled as her face fell.“Aw honey,” Meghan draped her arm around Nia as Siobhan walked off the screen. “You didn’t just bring him coffee, but a latte. And I’m almost positive that that left a better taste in his mouth than that witch.”“Wicked this way she comes,” Sam mumbled as the sharp click of heels against stone came nearer. “Enjoy the show ladies?” Siobhan asked with an annoyingly smug look on her face as she placed her hands on her hips. “I must say, I think I left quite the first impression.”“But was it a good one?” Meghan asked with a cock of her head.Siobhan narrowed her eyes. “Just get back to doing what you do best,” Siobhan sniped, “And keep drowning yourself in alcohol.”“Alright ladies, play nice,” Sam interrupted. “Don’t make me put you in time out.”“Can you be anything but a mom?” Siobhan snapped. “Well I have to be when I’m around bratty children,” Sam said with a very pointed smile and slightly flared nostrils. “Oh, my gosh,” Nia gasped.All heads whipped towards the scream and many jaws dropped. On the screen, the limo pulled up the driveway, but this time, there was no uncertainties as to who was in it because she was proudly standing in the sun roof open with her arms stretched wide. And with how the lights were hitting the many sequences on her dress, she looked more disco ball than woman. Leslie was certainly living up to her shock factor she boasts about. “Oh gosh, she brought a megaphone,” Sam groaned as Leslie lifted up a megaphone and spoke into it towards Mike. “Oh, poor Mikey,” Siobhan shook her head. “No one should have to go through that.” “Mikey?” Meghan asked. “Yeah, you don’t call him that?” Siobban replied. “Huh, I guess I’m closer to him than you.” “You’ve literally only known him for two minutes,” Meghan fired back. Lena simply sat and took another sip of wine. This wasn’t her fight and she certainly had no intention of becoming involved. If anything, the fewer enemies she had the better. Of course, that meant she’d leave less of an impression on anyone here and just fade into the background like the potted plants next to her. Actually, that’d be the preferred impression she’d leave rather than the bread girl others already knew her as. Oh gosh, she could already picture the kind of mockery she’d have to endure at the office and on social media when this episode aired. If anything, she just wanted to leave and cut her losses now, but then that would just give her mother even more ammo in her arsenal. So here she was, just the silent bread girl. At least that was better than bitch or disco ball girl. “Why are their dinner rolls here?” Siobhan asked, eying the Tupperware container full of them on the table. “Lena brought them,” Nia said, giving more attention to the shiny, megaphone wielding shock jock on screen. Lena tried to act unfazed by the mention and to act focus on the live feed like everyone else, but unfortunately, Siobhan’s only had eyes on her. “You brought bread to a date? The stale rolls from lunch?” Siobhan asked with a level of distain in her voice that reminded Lena of her mother. “That’s pathetic.” “It can’t be too pathetic since he seemed to enjoy it,” Lena replied, doing her best to summon from the same strength she did with verbal altercations with her mother. “Oh please,” Siobhan rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms. “He was probably just being nice to the weird girl.” “You can think whatever you want,” Lena said, crossing her arms and leveling with Siobhan. “But the fact is that Mike was much more excited to see my buns than he was to see yours.” Siobhan’s eyes flashed but the snake appeared to know when to hold her forked tongue. While this was a victory, Lena knew better than to show any ounce of gloat in front of a viper. “Oh gosh,” Meghan groaned. “When the light hits her just so, Mike has to squint. Heck, I have to squint. She’s like a freaking light bulb. Where did she even that dress?” “I don’t know, but I hope she tells us.” Sam shrugged. “I think my daughter would like one.” “But like where would you even wear it?” Nia asked. “If she wore it around her house, she’d probably save on her light bill,” Meghan said, triggering a laugh from Sam and Nia. “Well, whatever she does with it, it’s clear it hasn’t impressed Mike,” Siobhan said. “He didn’t even kiss her.” “Well, not everyone throws themselves at every guy they see and tries to shove their tongue down their throat,” Meghan mumbled into her wine as she took another swig. “Don’t hate on me for having more guts than you did,” Siobhan hissed. “That’s because I have more brains,” Meghan snapped. “Why you little-” “Ladies,” Sam clapped her hands together. “I think it’d be best for us to be on our best behavior to greet our colleague, the shockingly shiny disco ball.” “Talking about me?” Leslie slid into the room remarkably quietly for how loud her outfit was. “Leslie,” Sam smiled, stepping in between Meghan and Siobhan. “That’s certainly a unique dress you have there.”“Thank you,” Leslie smiled, giving a little twirl to show off just how the sequence caught the light and blinded anyone too close. “The shock jock’s has to have a high shock factor.” Her gaze fell on the open Tupperware on the table. “Did someone bring dinner rolls?” Lena did her best to resist the urge to hide behind her hands and sink into the couch. Instead, she decided to down the rest of wine and wait for the source of the Tupperware switch to join them. A new limo was pulling up the driveway, and from the blonde hair she could spy through the slightly rolled down window, Lena doubted she’d have to wait for long.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
While Lena may have left the room after Kara’s accidental assumed marriage proposal, Kara didn’t have much time to recover from an intense cringe and urge to hide under her covers before she heard her own name being called. That only meant her flustered and cringing awkwardness extended into the short limo ride. How could I have been so stupid, Kara thought to herself. It wasn’t as if there was any chance Lena even thought about her or any woman for that matter like that. Obviously, she didn’t if she was on a dating show known for being toxically heterosexual. It’s just that her sister had gotten into her head with all her teasing, and while Kara knew Alex meant well, she couldn’t help but feel like her sister was pressuring for the gay side of her to come out. Alex had always been like that ever since Kara confessed to her that she and Lana Lang use to make out in college rather frequently when they were drunk. And it wasn’t as if Kara doubted that Alex wanted the best for her regardless of who she ended up with, but she did feel like Alex would be at least be a little bit happier if that person identified as a woman. That kind of thinking always sent Kara in a spiral of attempting to figure out her bisexual nature and if she liked guys more than girls or vice versa. Sure, Mike’s attractive, but so are all the women here. But someone can think that someone is attractive in a non-sexual way, right? Like yeah, Mike and Lena were both attractive, but she had no urge to pin them to a wall and make out with them. She didn’t even know Mike yet and all she knew about Lena was that she was a terrific baker, works with her family, and thinks that Kara’s eyes ar pretty. They were both people she hadn’t known existed simply a week ago and were basically strangers. She couldn’t be attracted to either one of them. A person can’t have feelings for someone they just met. Love at first sight or anything close to it only exists in fairy tales. But then why did Kara’s heart twinge every time she thought of Lena’s smile. Or those emerald eyes. Or that soft laugh. “You okay back there?” the driver asked. “You look like you’re about pass out or something.” “I’m fine,” Kara shook her head. “I’m just nervous and overthinking everything.” “I can’t blame you,” the driver replied. “It’s a lot to take in.” “Have you done this before?” “Since the beginning. I’ve seen a lot of pretty people come and go in this vehicle, and I can’t think of a single person who hasn’t been nervous or look like they were about to throw up. And I can’t blame them. I’d hate to be leaving the best limo driver too.” Kara cracked a bit of a smile as the driver winked at her. “Do you have any advice for me?” Kara asked. “Just remember to put one foot in front of the other. Sometimes it’s best to focus on the smaller things you can control than the big things you can’t control. And to just breath. One foot in front of the other. Love should come naturally, not by force.” “Okay,” Kara took a deep breath. “That doesn’t sound so bad.” “It shouldn’t be,” the driver shifted the gear into park, signaling that they had arrived at the mansion. “Now remember to smile for the cameras.” Kara’s heart took off in another sprint, but the playful wink the driver gave her calmed her slightly. Like Alex told her, she just needed to be herself. It was okay that she didn’t have a plan for the first impression date like everyone else. That might even make her stand apart if she’s lucky. And the whole exchange would only last a few minutes anyway. Then she could sit in the back with the other girls and see if Lena had any leftover cookies with her. Yeah, she told herself, just think about those cookies. The limo door opened sooner than she would have liked, and the light quickly illuminated the dark interior. But with the attempt at a smile that she knew Cat Grant would expect, Kara stood herself up from the car, wobbling slightly as she stood up in her tall heels. But that embarrassment didn’t stop her. Nor did the cameras pointed at her. She held up her chin high and her smile wide all the way up until the point she spotted the man of the show himself standing just a couple yards away with his winning smile directed towards her. Okay so he was a bit cuter than she expected in person. But as Cat Grant would say, he’s still just a person. And every person has their flaws. If Kara was lucky, she might just find what his flaws were and use them to stay longer. Not to blackmail him, but to learn how Kara can play the part of his ideal woman. Doing her best to rest into more of a state of composure, Kara flashed a more geniue smile as she walked up the steps of the mansion to meet the bachelor who, by his expression, already liked what he saw. If Kara was lucky, he may just be a sucker for blonde. She flipped her hair and his eyes followed, which she hoped was a good sign. “That’s a lovely dress,” Mike said with a bright smile as his eyes trailed down the blue fabric as Kara came to a stop before him. Sucking in one more calming breath behind a forced smile, Kara lifted up her skirt slightly to show off more of the dress, but also keep the fabric from being so revealing to her figure. “Thank you,” Kara said, before her sister’s advice echoed in her mind and she decided to take that step that only she would take. “You know what kind of material it’s made out of?” Mike’s face dropped slightly and his eyes widened in surprised. By the furrow in his brow, Kara could tell that he was quickly running through every kind of material that he knew and coming up blank. She already hated herself for even trying this, but there was no turning back now. “No,” Mike said slowly. “I don’t believe so.” Taking another breath and a slight step forward, Kara did her best to give her most winning smile. “It’s girlfriend material.”~~~~ “So that was your big plan?” Siobhan asked as Kara joined the other girls in the viewing room. “Whisper some line in his ear?” Kara flopped down on the couch next to Lena, hiding her red cheeks behind her hands. What had seemed like a good idea at the time only soured the more Kara thought about it. While she may have followed her sister’s advice and stayed true to herself, she had forgotten just how ridiculous and an acquired taste she was. Oh gosh, Cat was going to kill her. Even if it had made Mike laugh. “It seemed like a good idea in the moment,” Kara mumbled from behind her fingers. “What did you even tell him?” Meghan asked. “Because it sure looked like he liked it.” Oh gosh, that was right; there was no audio for them back here. Kara would have much rather they had heard and then just judged, but now Kara had to repeat it a second time. Peeking out from behind her hands, she saw Lena staring at her curiously like everyone else and Kara knew that she couldn’t not tell them. “That my dress was made out of girlfriend material,” Kara mumbled, just loud enough for everyone to hear. And by the resounding sound of Meghan and Leslie’s cackle, she knows they did. “You can’t be serious,” Sam said, failing to hold back a laugh of her own. Kara’s embarrassment overcame her once again in tenfold for a moment, but when she saw Lena stifling her own laughter next to her, she found that she could suddenly bear the crushing weight. “And here I thought Ms. Dinner Roll over here was the stupid one this season,” Siobhan said with an upturned nose and a wave of her hand. “Hey, dinner rolls are not stupid-” Kara cut herself off when she realized what exactly Siobhan had just said and her stomach dropped. Peeking out from behind her hands, Kara saw the familiar Tupperware on the table open in front of her, but with bread rather than cookies. Wide eyed and horrified, Kara turned to the rosy cheeked Lena who seemed to be fighting off her own form of embarrassment. “Oh, my gosh, Lena, I am so sorry this is all my fault! I swear I didn’t know.” The words poured out of Kara’s mouth faster than water would a faucet. She just couldn’t believe she could be so foolish and careless to someone who had been anything but so nice and sweet to her. And even the possibility of Lena thinking that Kara did it intentionally erupted in a painful twinge her chest. “It’s okay,” Lena assured her with small smile. “No, I’m so sorry and your cookies were so good. Oh, my gosh, I’m just so sorry.” Kara shook her head frantically. “I can go tell him. Yeah, I’ll go tell him it’s all my fault and not to hold it against you.” Kara moved to stand but Lena placed her hand on Kara’s knee to stop her. “It’s okay, really,” Lena told her with a small smile tugging at her lips. “It all worked out. More so than it probably would have gone with the cookies.” “Really?” Kara asked going into a stunned slump back on the couch. “Yeah,” Lena said with a scoffed a slight roll of her eyes. “Apparently, he really loves bread. Like a lot.” “Oh.” Kara’s brow wrinkled in puzzlement. “Really? I mean, they were good rolls, don’t get me wrong, but they were just plain rolls. They weren’t even those Hawaiian sweet rolls. But he liked them better than cookies?” Lena threw her head back in a genuine laugh but before she could say anything, Siobhan cut her off. “I can’t believe neither of you are taking this seriously,” she snapped at them. “Giving him dinner rolls and ridiculous pick-up lines. Clearly, you’re both just here for Twitter followers and your ten seconds of fame.” “That’s rich coming from the woman who has already tried to stick her tongue down the bachelor’s throat,” Meghan said. “Well excuse me for having more courage than all of you,” Siobhan turned up her nose. “I don’t know,” Sam said as she reached over to pick up a dinner roll. “I think it takes more courage to give someone a container full of bread or deliver a pick-up line like that on live television.” “Did you hear that?” Kara knocked her elbow against Lena’s arms. “We’re courageous.” Even with Kara’s attempt to lighten the mood and smooth over the embarrassment, Lena’s cheeks still went bright red. “Well, I thought it made great entertainment,” Leslie said as she raised her glass towards the couple on the couch. Her bright sequined dress caught the light again, throwing it to Kara’s face so she’d had to squint, but she still smiled at the honest support. “Oh, what do you know of entertainment, shock jock,” Siobhan scoffed. “In case you haven’t noticed princess, this is my kind of turf,” Leslie said, leaning on her elbows. “This ain’t nothing like your hard-hitting journalism of the Daily Planet. Unless you’re telling me that you write their trashy gossip column.” “As if,” Siobhan said, crossing her arms and wrinkling her nose. “Tell me Siobhan,” Sam said with a cock of her head, “what does someone like you write for the Daily Planet?” Siobhan’s face paled slightly before she quickly gestured towards the television. “Look, someone else has arrived.” And someone had. All the women turned their heads to watch the monitor as they saw someone new step out of the limo. Dressed in a lovely deep purple dress, Imra stood up with a bouquet of daisies in hand and the widest grin on her face. When her eyes saw Mike’s own returning smile, her own seemed to just grow even bigger. Her heels weren’t too tall, but she still walked slowly and gracefully up to him, holding the bouquet like a bride walking down the aisle. When she offered them to Mike, he gladly accepted them. “Well, that’s kind of sweet,” Leslie said. “I mean, he’s giving out flowers all seasons, but how often does he get flowers?” “Yeah, but he hands out roses, not cheap daises,” Siobhan said. “Still more flowers than you’ve gotten this season,” Meghan noted. Siobhan only rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as they waited for the cheery brunette to join them. “Hi, guys!” Imra beamed as she strolled in. “Is that bread? Bread’s my favorite! Can I have some?” Lena nodded as she looked at the brunette in slight astonishment. Kara couldn’t help but think that the crease that formed in Lena’s forehead was just adorable. “That was really sweet of Imra,” Nia said with a genuine smile. “I bet it gets hard giving out flowers all seasons and not getting any in return.” “That’s exactly what I was thinking!” Imra said, taking a bite of her roll. “I just hope he liked them.” “Why daisies though?” Kara asked. “They don’t exactly scream love like a rose.” Imra shook her head. “No, they mean hope,” Imra explained. “Hope that even if we don’t together in the end, that we both still find the love that we’re looking for.” Not even the bitter Siobhan or the sharp Meghan had a response to that. The room fell slightly silent as Imra moved to sit next to Nia and wait for the next contestant to arrive. And it didn’t take long.Out of the dark limo and with a blinding white smile and curled blonde hair, they saw Eve beaming up the bachelor. But rather than approaching him, she just stuck her arms up in a strange flair that sent a strange wave of nostalgia over Kara as she thought back of the gymnastic classes her and Alex took when she was younger, and her stomach dropped. “She can’t be serious,” Meghan said, but it didn’t take long before they all saw that she completely was. Eve threw herself forward on to her hands as she took herself through a front hand spring. For her sake and everyone else watching, it looked as if she was wearing shorts underneath her short gray dress. Apparently, she had thought this through much better than Kara. When Eve landed the first one, Kara thought that would be her last, but she was mistaken as Eve threw herself into another. And then another. However, the third one was her last as an unfortunately place flower pot with a large ficus found itself with her foot in it. The springy blonde found herself on the ground covered in dirt all while the cameras rolled. “Oh, that idiot,” Siobhan said with a roll of her eyes. “I don’t know,” Leslie pointed out. “It sure captured Mike’s attention.” All the women watched as Mike rushed over to the blonde, kneeling beside her as he apparently checked her for wounds. While she seemed to lack none, Eve clearly relished in the attention even if it was at the cost of her pride. It sent a strange feeling through Kara, one that she didn’t like. It made her feel like Siobhan probably shouldn’t be the only girl she should watch out for. “I hope she’s alright,” Lena told Kara with genuine worry on her face. “I’m sure she’s fine,” Kara replied with a slightly tight smile. “Look, she’s already standing.” Mike had already pulled Eve to her feet and Eve had already begun her walk towards the side off camera to join the rest of the ladies with a somewhat exaggerate limp. The woman had decided on flats rather than heels to wear tonight, but even with that fall and limp, Kara didn’t doubt that Eve would be wearing heels from here on out. “What happened to your plans of doing a back flip, girl?” Meghan asked as Eve walked into the room with no limp to show. “I got worried I’d rip my dress,” Eve replied as she reached for a glass of wine to sip on. “I should have kept my eyes open more.” “Or just stopped at one front hand spring,” Sam said. “I thought it was great,” Leslie told her. “Most girls only get a rose, but you got a ficus!” “Did they let you keep it?” Nia asked, peeking out from around Leslie. “No,” Eve said as she sat down in a chair next to Lena. “A producer or someone is going to try to repot it, but I think one of them said I probably killed it.” “You killed it?” Nia’s face dropped. “That’s what happened when you do gymnastics on a set in a dress,” Siobhan said. Eve shrugged but didn’t respond as she took a sip of her wine. “I thought it was impressive,” Lena told Eve as everyone else turned to watch the monitor as another limo approached. “Thanks,” Eve said with blushing cheeks and a tone that made the back of Kara’s neck tingle. The long black limo pulled up to a stop and the door slowly opened to reveal just a clothed foot and leg that made Siobhan gasp aloud, effectively cutting off whatever conservation everyone around her had. “A pantsuit?” she covered her mouth and leaned closer. “Who does this woman think she is? This is the Bachelor!” “So, what?” Sam asked. “I think it looks nice on Vazquez.” And it did look rather nice on Vazquez, Kara thought. She was wearing a sleek burgundy pants and jacket with a black blouse underneath. It showed off her figure in a different way than a dress did but still in a very much so pleasing way. Her smirk and short hair only made Vazquez’s look that much more appealing. “Everyone knows that only two types of women wear pantsuits: lesbians and Hillary Clinton,” Siobhan pointed at the screen. “That woman’s a dyke.” Kara couldn’t help but flinch. Growing up in a smaller town, she had heard that word thrown around at her sister and her a lot. Neither of them were very feminine growing up and half the town knew of Alex’s attraction to women before she even did. Still, that didn’t mean they were accepting. People at school, football games, and even grocery stores would hurl insults like that them in both shouts, laughs and whispers. Kara had never been sure which one was worse because they all stung. Alex, like others, say they have reclaimed the word and proudly identify as it, but Kara never could shake its sting. “Woah now,” Sam sat up. “A person’s sexuality is not determined by what clothes they wear. And you don't need to be throwing a word like that around.” “So, what if it’s the truth?” Siobhan fired back. “Because some people find it offensive and rude. I know I do when you say it in that kind of tone,” Sam told her. “And furthermore, I don’t think a lesbian would come on the Bachelor especially considering the objective.” Siobhan turned and narrowed her eyes at Lena and Kara on couch. “Well, clearly not everyone's here for the right reasons.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
All the ladies had just begun to get comfortable when Morgan, the host, walked in with a gray suit and red tie. He flashed his characteristic white smile before he began to address the ladies.“Wonderful first impression ladies,” Morgan said as a camera crew flocked around them. “I’m sure Mike will have a hard time forgetting any of you. And as a follow up to your brief introductory meetings, you will each be given a chance to sit and talk with him more in depth. Due to the number of you, we suggest to keep the talks to about 10 to 15 minutes each as the rose ceremony will be in exactly 2 hours. We suggest that you go in the order that you arrived in, but that decision will be ultimately left up to you.”A buzz of murmurs overtook the ladies as they quietly whispered to one another. It was clear from Morgan nod towards Sam that she would be the first of the women to talk more in depth with sought over bachelor. In some ways, she had the advantage as she would be the one of the few women that the other contestants respected the time. As the night progressed and the wine bottles became empty, the women filled with liquid courage would no doubt cut into to the other women’s allotted time so they themselves could score more one on one time with Mike. However, Sam did have the downside of having the daunting task of having to be the first to break the ice in the first of many rounds of awkward small talk the bachelor would have to endure.“I bet the producers hand-picked Sam to go first,” Kara murmured to Lena, watching Sam as she smoothed out her dress as she stood.“Really?” Lena asked, her eyes fixed on Sam like Kara’s as she walked outside the foyer.“I mean, would you rather face a shock jock, a rude snob, or a motherly figure?”“I suppose you have a point,” Lena replied. She herself could attest to Sam’s skill at ridding the anxiety caused by this ludicrous situation.However, some women had different ideas.“It’s obvious why they want women like Sam to go first,” Siobhan remarked with a flip of her hair. “They don't want to set the bar too high.”If that were the case, Kara thought, she would be going first and Lena would be going dead last.“And they sprinkled in women like you to keep him guessing,” Meghan replied.“As if,” Siobhan rolled her eyes.“Hey, you can’t play limbo unless someone sets the bar real low,” Meghan held her hand close to the ground while eyeing Siobhan.Leslie and Eve snickered, earning their own dark glares from Siobhan.“We’ll see who’s laughing when I get a rose.”~~~It wasn’t long before it was Lena’s turn to approach the bachelor on her own. She wished that she had more time to down a couple more sips or even glasses of wine. She was already half way there when she realized that she had forgotten the Tupperware of bread rolls, but going back would only fuel the other contestant’s mockery and burn the little one on one time she had with Mike.The butterflies only grew when the bachelor appeared in view and she caught sight of his gleaming smile.“I was hoping you would be next,” Mike said as he hugged Lena, making her nose winkle at the assault of cologne. “Bring anymore rolls?”Lena laughed lightly as they parted, but their hands stayed intertwined. “No, I actually left those back with the others. I’m sure I can bring you some soon that aren’t quite so stale.”“Stale?” Mike scoffed. “They were nothing but perfection. Would you sit down with me?”Mike pulled her towards a padded bench, keeping a firm hold on her hands as he sat down. Lena soon found herself sitting quite close next to him with an arm over her shoulder. While it did feel nice and the position triggered past memories of Jack, she couldn’t help but feel… lacking. And the pungent cologne certainly didn’t help.“I’m sorry, it’s probably too much,” Mike said.“What?”“The cologne,” Mike opened up his suit jacket, flashing a designer bottle at her. “I brought some with me in case one of the ladies’ perfume lingered or over powered. I thought I was clever planning ahead, but I think the bottle broke.”“Why don’t you just throw it out?” Lena asked, glancing at one of the many producers and crew man standing around them at a distance who would have gladly done it for him.“It was a rather expensive bottle,” Mike replied. “That and my father gave it to me.”“Oh,” Lena’s gaze fell as she understood. “That does make a difference.”“He would chew my ear out if he heard I threw it away. And he would somehow know if I were to buy an exact replica to replace it.”“It’s every parent’s superpower.”“Exactly. And then my mother would scold me about how I worry too much about the approvable of others and how much more productive I would be if I focused all that energy on to myself when really…”“You just want the approvable of them,” Lena finished his thought where he trailed off.“Yeah,” Mike leaned back his head with a sigh. “I guess you come from a similar family set-up.”“Oh yes,” Lena let out a slight laugh. “You can check off the overbearing mother who never expresses praise in this package.”“I see nothing wrong with that package,” Mike smirked.Rather than blushing at that sort of line like any of the contestants here would, Lena only cocked an eyebrow, earning a blush instead from Mike.“Well uh,” Mike coughed. “What does she think about you being on this show then?”“Nothing yet. She still doesn’t know I’m on it, but I know I’ll get earful when she does. Especially when she sees the whole bread fiasco?”“Bread fiasco?” Mike grinned. “I think bread party is a better phrase.”“Well see,” this time it was Lena’s turn to blush. “I actually meant to bring you these cookies I made. Those rolls were actually my roommates.”“Wait,” Mike let go of Lena’s hand to grip his heart. “You mean to tell me that you gave me someone else’s rolls?”“Not intentionally,” Lena hastily corrected.“My rolls were stolen!” Mike gasped and gripped his chest tighter. “How could you?”“It’s not my fault all the Tupperware in the kitchen looks the exact same as one another!”Mike only laughed.“I just can’t believe that even happened. How much food do you have lying around in that mansion?”“It makes a big difference who you room with.”“Well, that certainly explains that look on your face. You looked so shocked when you opened up that container. I just thought it was something I did.”“You did get shockingly excited about bread.”“I always get excited about bread. Especially when it’s being offered to me by a beautiful lady.”Lena knew that tone. It was the kind Jack would use when he walked her back to her apartment or the movie hit a slow point in the plot. It was the kind of tone that triggered her eyes to meet with his and her lips slowly part before they were meeting his. That only lead to more. More that Lena knew she wasn't ready for.When she looked in Mike’s eyes, she saw that same look she would see in Jack’s. His tongue was already subtly licking his lips as his head leaned forward and his eyelids started to drift. This was it. The moment every contestant on the Bachelor was hoping for: for the bachelor to kiss them. Siobhan may have been the first one to kiss Mike, but as far as Lena knew, she was the first to be kissed by him. He was already doing all the work; she just had to reciprocate. She could do this. Just a quick peck and it could all be over.“Mind if I cut in?” called a loud but hoarse voice from behind them.Both Lena and Mike sprang apart. From the glare of the lights, Lena suddenly remembered the cameras and hastily tried to smooth out her dress as she stood. How had she forgotten so quickly about the cameras surrounding them?“Leslie,” Mike cleared his throat. “Hello.”“I hope I wasn’t interrupting something,” Leslie asked even though from her expression, she knew that she had.“Uh,” Mike struggled for words.“I was just thinking that now would be the perfect time for us to get to know each other a little better.” She placed a hot palm on Lena’s shoulder. “Lena won’t mind, will you Lena?”“Um, no,” Lena said as shrugged off Leslie’s hand with a step back. “I suppose not.”“Wonderful. I guess will be seeing you later then.”And Leslie’s words were final as she then effectively shooed Lena off and pulled Mike in closer with just one gesture. Leslie looped her arm into Mike’s as she tugged him along for a stroll in the patio, leaving Mike only a quick glance back at Lena before he found himself in conversation with the shock jock herself.Lena knew she should have been pissed with Leslie for cutting in on them. That she should have argued or at the very least have held a grudge against her for the rest of the competition as any of the other contestants would have. She could have even gone back and cut right back in and have been completely justifiable. Leslie was intense, but so were most people in Lena’s life. She could handle a shock jock like her.She probably would have if she didn’t feel so relieved.~~~“Wait so Leslie just cut in on you?”“Yes, but it’s not a big deal…” Lena assured Meghan, but Meghan was not having it.“You didn’t even have five minutes!” The wine sloshed out of Meghan’s glass as she jumped to her feet. “Someone has to show that woman some manners!”“No!” Lena quickly positioned herself in front of the enraged but also tipsy bartender. “You’re only going to make it worse, especially for yourself.”“Especially since that woman’s already dug herself in a hole,” Siobhan said as she casually sipped her red wine. “It’s never a good idea to cut in on dates on the first night. Leslie may be remembered as the disco ball girl, but she’ll also be remembered as rude cutting in girl. She's that much closer to crazy.”That seemed to calm Meghan more than any of Lena’s attempts thus far. Still, Meghan couldn’t suppress the glare or look of distain she had towards the other woman.“I suppose you have a point,” Meghan muttered as she took a generous gulp of her wine in a way that made Lena grateful Meghan had already had her time with Mike.“Oh, don’t let me stop you,” Siobhan continued. “Please, go give Leslie a piece of your mind. Just think of what a favor you’d be doing for the producers. Ratings always spike for reality shows when there’s a fight.”Meghan’s lips pressed in a hard line, but she refused to respond. Instead, for the first time in two days, Lena saw Meghan put down her still half full wine glass and retreat from the foyer down the hallway. Lena felt her heart sink. She hadn’t known Meghan for very long, but it wasn’t often that anyone ever stood up for Lena like that. But unfortunately Siobhan’s words had struck a chord. Maybe she should go after her. Lena picked up her foot then stopped. What would she even say to her? While it was rare that someone stood up for her, it was rarer for Lena to hear comforting words.“Wow,” Siobhan rolled her eyes. “What a drama queen.”“Oh, grow up, Siobhan,” Sam said as she pushed past both the women in order to catch up with Meghan.“Whatever,” Siobhan rolled her eyes again and turned back to her drink.Seeing Sam chase after Meghan, being the motherly, caring figure that Lena so wish she had, only made Lena’s stomach sour more. Her glass of wine went untouched as she slumped on to the patio bench. Her hand covered her eyes as she rubbed her aching temple.This was already more than she bargained for.Lena felt the cushion sag as someone sat next to her and a warm pleasant perfume fill her nose that she couldn’t help but lean into. Why couldn’t Mike have smelled like that?“Hey.” It was Kara, and Lena’s sour stomach only found itself in knots again.“Hey,” Lena said, clearing her surprisingly hoarse throat as she sat up straighter, already embarrassed by her poor posture.“Is everything okay?” Kara asked, her blue eyes wide and full of concern. “I saw what happened with Siobhan and Leslie. I’m really sorry you had to go through that.”“It’s fine,” Lena gave a strained smile. “That’s just how life goes. It’s never easy.”“Well it shouldn’t be that hard either. Especially when you did nothing wrong.”“I’m not the one who went after Meghan though, am I?” Lena’s gaze fell back on the wine that she desperately wished to be a couple fingers of scotch.“Yeah, well, we all have our strengths.”Lena couldn’t help but scoff in disbelief.“It’s true!” Kara’s bit her lip for a moment while she thought. “I mean, just look at all your strengths. You can bake cookies like master chef. You’re so likable you already have people volunteering themselves to get in fights for you. You’re easily the best roommate I’ve ever had. And you have legs like a goddess.”Kara’s cheeks flushed and she ducked her head not long after she listed off the last item as if it were an observation she wished that she hadn’t said aloud, but a small strange warmth filled Lena’s chest regardless and she soon found herself throwing back her head in genuine laughter.“I don’t think I’ve ever been told that last one,” Lena told the blonde, “or really any of those sorts of compliments for that matter.”“Really?”Kara’s forehead wrinkled in such a way that, for a moment, Lena couldn’t but think it was cute. But only for a moment. After that, she decided to do with it what she did with all feelings like that that scared her: crush it, put it in a box, and shove it as deep down as she could. In reality, compartmentalizing was her only strength.Reaching for the glass of wine that she intended to choke down regardless of the nausea in her stomach, Lena put up her normal front she used as armor and said, “Don’t go using all your best material on me now. It would probably be best if you said it for the man with the roses.”“Oh, I wasn’t…”“I’m kidding, Kara,” Lena said as she took a small sip of wine and fought back a look of disgust at the taste. “I’m sure you only have the best pick-up lines saved up exclusively for him. Probably gleaned out of the finest Buzzfeed articles and Pop Sugar magazines. The shallowest of sources to appeal to the shallowest show.”“Yeah,” Kara’s eyes fell on to her lap and Lena had to take a large gulp of wine to keep her from attempting to give any sort of comfort to the woman next to her, fearing that it would only make it worse. Why did she always have to make it worse?It was moments like this that reminded Lena why didn’t have any close friends. She always had a knack of hurting those closest to her. She was basically a bomb and the closer people got to the impact zone, the more damaged they left with. They always left. Regardless of how many times Lena tried to change herself, they always left her. And now it was Kara’s turn to leave. And of course, she would. After all, Kara wasn’t here to make friends.But as a couple seconds of silence ticked by, Kara showed no indication of moving.“I still can’t believe I said that,” Kara said.“What?” Lena spluttered, still stunned that Kara hadn’t fled yet.“That pick up line. Gosh,” Kara tangled her fingers into her hair as she groaned. “Why did I say that? It was so stupid. The stupidest thing I could have done.”“It wasn’t that.”“Yes, it was!” Kara leaned forward, putting her elbows on her knees as she cradled her head. “You said it yourself; I got that line from a Buzzfeed article I read on the plane ride here!”“Kara,” Lena’s hand automatically went to the blonde’s shoulder, “just take a deep breath. You’re doing fine. Everything is going to be fine.”“I just can’t screw this up, Lena. I can’t.”Lena knew Kara meant it which only made her chest twisted uneasily, but she pushed it down. Kara was here to find love, just like all the other contestants. She wasn’t here to dodge her family’s calls or her own responsibilities for a few weeks like Lena mainly was. Kara wanted a husband and family and love: all things Lena couldn’t give her.“I’m sorry for what I said,” Lena said. “I’ve never been all that great at taking compliments. It definitely not one of my strengths.” She gave a soft laugh, but when Kara didn’t join in, it quickly died. “But in all seriousness, I did like your pick-up line. You’re probably the only person I’ve ever met who can actually pull them off. Anyone would be beyond flattered to hear that from you. I know I would. And it was obvious Mike loved it.”“Really?” Kara asked, looking up hopefully.“Absolutely. No guy laughs that hard otherwise.”“I just hope you’re right.”“And I’m sure that blue dress you’re wearing did you a lot of favors too being made of girl friend material and all.”Kara laughed at Lena’s joke that time, much to Lena’s relief. It was only then that Lena realized how long her hand had been on Kara’s shoulder and she snapped it back to her side as quickly as she could.“I was actually going to ask for your personal opinion about this dress.”“Oh?” Lena raised an eyebrow.“Yeah, how many cookies do you think I could eat and still fit into it?”This time, they both laughed.
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While Lena may have been gracious when her time with Mike was cut short, Siobhan refused to let Leslie cut into hers. When Leslie walked back into the room, Lena was sure to look away. The last thing Lena wanted was to be in a hostile situation here like she normally was at home courtesy of her family. Still, that didn’t stop Kara from wrinkling her nose at the lady in the disco ball dress.“I still can’t believe she did that to you,” Kara told Lena. “I thought she was more chill than that.”“People are an enigma,” Lena replied as she took a sip of her wine. “Besides, it’s never wise to trust the competition.”“Yeah,” Kara said softly.Kara wasn’t an idiot; she knew all these women were at odds with her. They viewed her as a threat and she knew that she should view them the same way even though they wanted a husband and Kara only wanted a story. She knew Cat Grant would be approaching this competition much like Leslie or Siobhan had so far: ruthlessly and selfishly. But that just wasn’t Kara. She would rather give up the coat off her back if it meant someone else would be warm, but these women didn’t think that way. Megan didn’t seem to know what she wanted and Sam seemed to be here more as a maternal figure than a contestant. Eve seemed sweet but something about her just rubbed her the wrong way. Imra was nice, but she just seemed kind of off. Vazquez was too quiet and emotionless to get a good read off of. And… was Nia asleep in the corner?All of them could easily be hiding something.Except Nia. She probably just needed a decent night’s sleep.But then there was Lena. The one, despite talking the most to, had barely opened up and seemed to distant herself from most of the other contestants. She was just different. Everyone else had this drive, but Lena had this desperation, and the more time Kara spent with her, the more she doubted it was for Mike or victory. She just wanted a friend. And Kara would be damned if she couldn’t give that to her.~~~Siobhan’s time with Mike may have run a little longer than those before her, but Kara could have sworn it still went by in a blink of an eye. Before she knew it, she was getting a farewell nod from Lena and walking down the stone path towards the awaiting and heavily anticipated Mike Matthews. The reporter in her wanted her to be sharp and taking in all the details from the setting to the crew to the bachelor himself, but her thundering heart beat was making that all the more difficult. Every look at the camera made her nerves only heighten. Gosh, did it have to be filmed? Was Lena this nervous when she talked with him? Did the cameras make Lena nervous too?“Hello!”Mike’s greeting snapped Kara out of her thoughts and had her throw on a bright smile just in the nick of time. It was always easier to smile when returning one, and Mike had easily one of the brightest ones to give. If Kara didn’t know any better, she would have been sure that his teeth gave off that cartoon gleam.“Hey there,” Kara replied before suddenly finding herself wrapped in a quick but light hug. Wow, he sure had a strong cologne smell to him.“Sorry,” Mike grinned as he ended the hug and stepped back. “I just had to make sure you knew my suit was made of boyfriend material.”“Ah,” Kara laughed. “I see what you did there.”“The delivery might not have been as on par as yours but hey,” Mike shrugged. “A man’s still gotta try.”“I think you’ll have to try a little bit harder, man.”“Oh really?” Mike wiggled his head back and forth playfully as he took Kara’s hands in his. “Well show me what else you got then?”“Um, okay,” Kara tossed back her head for a moment in thought. “Are you a steak? Because you’re well done.”Mike laughed. “I can’t say I’ve heard that one before but I definitely appreciate the cheesiness of it.”“Good because I think all the ones I know are pretty close to that level of cheesiness.”“Then it’s a good thing I’m not lactose intolerant,” Mike smirked.“Then I guess we would make a gouda couple,” Kara cheekily said.“Oh wow, good one! I definitely don’t have the knack for those sorts of puns.”“It’s just nacho thing?”Mike laughed again. “I definitely don’t think I’ve ever met a girl as sharp or as funny as you.”Kara’s cheeks turned a deep red as she ducked her face down, hiding her small blushing smile. Dating was definitely not Kara’s forte, but this just might be the first man she’s ever actually hit it off with. But this was supposed to be for work and here she was making terrible puns. Would she be mortified when she would have to watch this again when it aired especially knowing that Cat Grant would be paying attention? Oh absolutely. But it was working. And if she kept playing this angle and working with it, maybe she would be able to actually secure her spot in the rose ceremony tonight.Alright, think Kara. What is it most girls do in the movies to get the guy to like them? She had to flirt without the pick-up lines. How is she suppose to do that? What were those steps Alex had taught her? Make him laugh? Check. Physical contact? Check, she was holding his hands. Now all that was left was to flutter her eye lashes and say something cliche.“I don’t think anyone’s ever told me that before,” Kara confessed, slowly looking up with her lashes fluttering probably too much to look subtle. Gosh, Alex would be making fun of her after she saw that.“Everyone should be telling you that,” Mike said softly as she cupped her cheek. “That and that you’re stunning in that dress.”The fantasy snapped briefly in Kara’s mind for a moment. She would be lying if she said that it was easy to resist being swept away by Mike’s blue eyes. Luckily, Kara had always had preference for green. That wasn’t what snapped her out of it though; no, it was that those blue eyes of Mike had looked down and checked out her cleavage and leg the dress she wore so elegantly displayed. It wasn’t as if Kara had expected him not to since she was the one who chose to wear the dress after all, but that he seemed to be really more swept away by her appearance rather than her wit or humor.But it was a good thing she noticed. She was a reporter. This show was her story. And Mike was just a playboy. There was no doubt he had used similar tactics on every girl he had met with so far. He wasn’t to be trusted. But Kara needed him to trust her.“I don’t think I’ve ever met a man quite like you, Mike,” Kara said.“I can take that as a compliment, I hope?” Mike grinned, tightening his hold on her waist.“I’ll get back to you on that,” Kara said as she wrapped her arms around his neck before she found her lips pressed against his.~~~The kiss… was something. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but his stubble scraped against her face and his lips were hot and tasted off? Almost like she could taste the flavor of the other women’s lips on his even if he had wiped off their lip stick. The underlying bitter taste was undisputedly left over from Siobban or Leslie. Hopefully not Lena. Did Lena kiss him?Regardless of the kiss and who kissed him before her, Kara was desperate to get the taste out of his mouth. While she may not have had easy access to a toothbrush at the moment, there was luckily Lena waiting on her with a wine bottle and glass ready for her at the table.“Can I pour you a drink?” Lena asked as she reached for the bottle.“Please,” Kara dropped down next to her as she watched Imra go in.“Was it that bad?”“No,” Kara scratched her head. “Just awkward. The whole situation really. What did you talk about with him?”“Cologne.”Kara blinked. “Well he did definitely have a strong one on.”“The bottle apparently broke.”“How do you break a bottle of cologne?”Lena just shrugged. “What did you talk about?”Kara reached for her drink. “Pick-up lines.”“No wonder you want a drink.”“It wasn’t that bad.”“It was pick-up lines.”“You can’t tell me you’re not a fan.”“Who really is?”Kara leaned forward. “So, if I told you that ‘even if there wasn’t gravity on earth, I’d still fall for you,’ you wouldn’t be in the least bit flattered?”Lena’s cheeks colored as she took a quick sip of wine.“People don’t actually say those, you know.”“Perhaps you just haven’t met the right people.”“Perhaps.” Lena said slowly.“Well take it from me, I wish I were cross-eyed,” Kara placed a hand on Lena’s shoulder and those green eyes that looked at her almost made her stumbled over the punchline. “So, I could see your beautiful face twice.”If Kara thought Mike’s smile was impressive, it was only because she hadn’t really appreciated Lena’s.~~~“Alright ladies, it’s that time you’ve all been waiting for,” Morgan Edge announced to the contestants. “Please follow me to the courtyard.”Exactly two hours had passed since they had last seen their host. All the women exchanged nervous glances with one another as the stood up and abandoned their drinks and seating to follow Morgan Edge in to the courtyard with a film crew hot on their trail. In the courtyard, they found Mike standing there tall and serious in his suit with a pedestal next to him piled high with roses. Nine roses to be exact. Only nine of them would be staying.One of them would be eliminated.Kara had done enough to feel like she had enough clout to make it through the first rose ceremony. Of course, it would have definitely been helpful to gauge Mike’s connection with the others if he had given out the first impression rose, but he hadn’t. Normally, a bachelor will give out a single rose on large group dates such as these, but Mike hadn’t in this case. While Kara found it mildly frustrating like all the other contestants, she definitely understood. It definitely wasn’t easy to judge someone’s character after only interacting with them for about twenty-minute total. Or in Lena’s case, even less. Kara crossed her fingers that Lena’s shortened time wouldn’t cost her a rose.“Please line up along the x’s,” Morgan instructed, gesturing to the x’s on the floor made of tape that the crew placed down earlier, which the girls quickly did.It was now a line of ten women on one side of the courtyard with Mike standing directly across while the camera crew and producers stood just out of sight, whispering quiet notes to themselves. Kara had a sneaking position that Mike had already told them who was going home and their continued glances at her made her all the more nervous.Morgan Edge took a breath before stepping into the center of the room, staring straight at the camera.“It’s come to that part of the evening where the bachelor, Mike, will begin giving out roses to the women he believes he can best pursue in a relationship,” Morgan Edge said. “While the time he spent with each was brief, one of those ladies made an especially special impression on him, and that is the one he would like to give the very first First Impression Rose to. Mike, would you care to do the honors?”Oh, so they were still doing the first impression rose, Kara realized. Her eyes darted around the room at the ladies next to her. Who would it be? Would it be her? Was that why the producers kept glancing at her? Maybe Ms. Grant wouldn’t kill her after all.Mike picked up the first rose. He took a deep breath before he smiled and looked up, almost directly at Kara. But just almost.“Imra,” Mike said. “Would you accept this rose?”The brunette beside Kara broke out into a huge smile. She gladly approached Mike and accepted the rose, practically glowing as she thanked him for it. She returned to her stop in the lineup with a rose in her hands and practically a giddy jump in her step. If Kara didn’t know any better, she might say that this woman actually already feelings for Mike. Ones that probably surpassed a simple crush she expressed earlier.“Now,” Morgan stepped back into the center of the courtyard, “It’s come to a much more serious part of the evening. There are nine of you left, but only eight of you will return to the mansion. One of you will be eliminated and be sent home tonight. I wish the best for all of you.”He stepped back and gave a nod towards Mike who was already looking down and fiddling with the first rose in his hands. Clearly, he wasn’t very comfortable with this aspect of the show. From how some of the other women around her were twisting their bracelets and rings, no one really was. Except for the camera crew. They were all leaned forward with their eyes intense, clearly eating this up.“Samantha,” Mike finally said as he finally raised his head. “Will you take this rose?”It took a split second for Kara to remember who Samantha was before she saw Sam walked forward and graciously accepted the rose Mike held before her. Was he going to go in the order in which he met them? Who came after her? Oh gosh, Kara had got to get out her head. All this anxiety was making her sweat like a pig. And of course, that wouldn’t do anything to help her odds.“Siobhan,” Mike called out next.If Imra was giddy in her walk, Siobhan was just cocky. Kara would have probably given up her chance at getting a rose if it meant that Siobhan’s tall heels caught on an uneven stone in the courtyard and she tripped. But of course, they didn’t happen. Instead, all the contestants had to endure the arrogant smirk she made as she rejoined them with a rose in hand.“Nia.”The poor girl almost jumped out of her skin when she heard her name. Whether it was from shock of being called or from being awoken from sleep, Nia jolted up as soon as Mike said her name. She gave a shy thanks to the bachelor who was chuckling slightly before she sheepishly returned to the other contestants. Kara couldn’t help but wonder what they had possibly talked about on their one-on-one time.“Kara.”Kara? Who? Oh, right, Kara!Kara didn’t thankfully jump like Nia had, but the surprise on her face must have been just as apparent since Mike laughed softly as she approached him.“Will you accept this rose?” he asked her.“With pleasure,” Kara said, carefully taking it out of his hands, careful not to raise her arms too much in fear that she would reveal her pit stains from her stress sweats.Walking back to her spot, she couldn’t help but grin broadly. While yes it was nice to be flattered and picked, Kara just couldn’t believe that she had somehow made through the first round. Maybe she could actually do this. Maybe Ms. Grant wouldn’t fire her. Maybe this would be her big break. Or maybe she should just focus on walking back to her spot and standing on her little x so one of the producer stops giving her the death glare.Megan, Leslie, and Eve were called next before there was one rose left and two contestants: Lena and Vasquez. Neither gave away anything in their neutral expression as they stared forward at nothing. Both of their postures were rigid though, almost as if they were both taking a defensive stance: Vasquez in her pant suit and Lena in her dress.While Kara didn’t know if Lena was stressed, Kara certainly was. Her stomach crumpled itself into a knot, tangling with her lungs as she struggled to find her breath. Lena had to get the rose. It wasn’t fair if she didn’t. Leslie had been the one who had cut in on them. It wasn’t Lena’s fault if Mike couldn’t see how great she was. How could anyone not see how great she was? Lena was basically her only friend here and the thought of her leaving so soon after she had barely gotten to know her made Kara want to throw up.Besides, Lena was here for the right reasons. Kara was just here for a stupid article. Could she just give her rose to her?Mike picked up the final rose and took a deep breath. Kara could basically hear the suspenseful music the producers would overlay in the background of the footage. If a commercial break somehow busted into their reality, Kara worried her thundering heart wouldn’t be handle it.“Lena.”Kara was thankful her sigh of relief seemingly went unnoticed as everyone watched Lena walk across the courtyard and accept the last rose. Kara had been so focused on Lena that she hadn’t even noticed Imra put a caring hand on Vasquez’s shoulder beside her.“Ladies,” Morgan Edge said as he walked back into the center of the courtyard. “Please say your goodbyes.”Everyone gave their farewells to Vasquez, but to be honest, none of them really knew her. It had only been a little more than a day and Vasquez had barely said more than a couple of sentences to any of them. It honestly didn’t seem to shock anyone that she had been the first to go home. Vasquez didn’t even look too surprised herself. She kept her goodbyes to simply ‘goodbye’ before walking out of the courtyard towards the limo waiting for her outside.“Can you believe that?” Siobhan said as the producers escorted them out of the courtyard. “That woman was a total dyke.”“Seriously, Siobhan?” Sam asked.“Oh, come on,” Siobhan scoffed. “Don’t act like you didn’t sense it. Mike clearly did. Why do you think she was the first to go home?”Kara just sighed and hung back until she could be in step with Lena who still clutching her rose rather tightly.“Hey,” Kara said as she gently nudged Lena’s side. “I’m glad you got a rose.”“Why?” Lena asked. “So, I can bake you more cookies?”“Well yes,” Kara answered honestly. “And so, I can practice more pick-up lines on you.”Lena rolled her eyes but Kara could see some of the tension leave her shoulders.“I can’t wait,” Lena said dryly.“If that’s the case,” Kara cleared her throat. “Are you a parking ticket? Because you’ve got fine written all over you.”Lena snorted once before forcing the neutral expression back on her face when other contestants turned to look at them, but Kara didn’t bother to hide her cheeky grin.Maybe this assignment could be a little fun after all.
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“So, how’d the first impression date go?” It was close to 2 A.M. and Kara was currently hiding in the cool porcelain tub of her room’s connected bathroom with the shower curtain drawn and the door locked. She was wearing her pajama shorts, so she sat in the tube with her knees tucked against her chest and her head opposite the faucet, trying to keep as much of her skin as possibly from touching the cold porcelain, but she needed it to stay awake. She would have called her sister sooner but Lena had curled up in bed with a book almost as soon as they had returned and it then took her forever to finally turn off her bedside lamp and go to sleep. When Kara finally heard the soft snores of her roommate, she snuck away to the bathroom with her secret burner phone in hand. With the door locked and sink running, Kara hoped that it would be enough to keep Lena from doing any investigating while Kara called her sister. “It was fine, I guess,” Kara shrugged. “Honestly, it was pretty awkward.” “Well, yeah,” Kara could practically hear Alex rolling her eyes. “You’re dating someone who is basically cheating on you with like a dozen other women right in front of you.” “Only eight now.” “Ooo who was eliminated? You have to tell me so I can win the Bachelorette Bracket this year.” “Bachelorette Bracket?” “Yeah, like you know how there’s that bracket for basketball and you fill it in at the start of the season with who you think will play against each other and win? It’s like that but with the Bachelorette. I could get big money if I guess the name of the winner correctly.” “So, you’re using my current dating life for financial gain?” “What are sisters for?” “Oh my gosh, you’re insane.”' “Like sister like sister. Now tell me the drama! Who was sent home?” “It was this woman named Vasquez. I’m not sure what her first name was.” “Vasquez, Vazquez, Vazquez. Did she have blonde or brown hair? Oh wait, I found her!” “Where?” “On the network’s website. They already have all the contestant’s pictures up. You look pretty hot in yours.” “Ugh, I hated that.” Kara groaned as she leaned her head back against the cold shower wall. They made her take off her glasses, insisting that she looked better without them. Then they took about hundred photos because she wouldn’t stop squinting. Of course, that wouldn’t have been an issue if they had just given back her glasses. “Well, you still look good. And ooo this girl has a nice pixie cut. Very cute.” “She was also a big fan of pant suits.” “My kind of girl.” “You have no idea. Everyone saying she was sent home because she’s a lesbian.” Kara jerked the phone away from her ear as it crackled with Alex’s cackle. “Oh gosh, that’s genius! If I wasn’t with Maggie, that would definitely be something I’d try. There’s no way all those women can be straight. Like there’s that old statistic that says like ten percent of the population is queer.” “I guess they rooted out the queer then,” Kara mumbled, fiddling with the plug for the bath as she tried to ignore the uneasy feeling blooming in her stomach. “I wouldn’t be so sure there. That statistic was proven false years ago. The percentage is believed to be much higher. There’s a good chance several of those contestants are queer. I mean, just look at you.” “Alex!” The bath plug slipped from Kara’s hand. “What? You think I forgot those drunk make out sessions you and Lana Lang use to frequently take part in? I’ll let you in on a little in on a little secret Kara: straight women don’t make out with other straight women.”Why had she ever told her sister that? That was a secret that she should have just left buried. “Look Alex, I don’t want to talk about this right now.” “Why not? There’s nothing wrong with liking women, Kara. Just look at me.” Kara’s nostrils flared as her back tensed. The uneasy feeling in her stomach blossomed upwards into her temple.“Well, I’m not you, okay?” Kara snapped. “Gosh, chill out, Kara. What’s gotten into you?” “Nothing,” Kara deflated, sagging against the cold slate of the tub. “I’m just tired. Sorry. I’ll call you later.” “Okay.” From her tone, Kara knew Alex didn’t believe her. “Get some rest. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you.” “Love you too, bye.” The phone snapped shut as Kara flipped it close. She let out a deep sigh as she pinched the bridge of her nose just under her glasses and leaned the side of her face against the tub. The cold surface soothed her mounting headache. She knew her sister was right. Even on a show that was as toxically straight as the Bachelor, the producers had let one queer under the radar. Two if Vasquez really was a lesbian. She certainly hadn’t tried to hide it if she was. But then again, she had been sent home just because she fit the part: short hair, pantsuits, lack of makeup. Or maybe she had just been trying to make a statement. That women are supposed to fit a certain mold of femininity and if they don’t, they aren’t desirable. If so, Vasquez was greater than many of the women here as she took a stand for something. Kara, on the other hand, just hid among them behind a pair of glasses and a notebook. It was just easier that way.It was easier to play the part that society and Cat Grant wanted. To have a job and a normal life. Sure, Alex was doing great with her professional and personal life, but Kara wasn’t Alex. Kara wasn’t committed like her sister. Sure, she was committed to job, just look at where she was, but relationships? What was the point of making a big deal over her bisexual identity if she ended up with a man anyway? Statistics weren’t exactly in her favor. And regardless of who she ended up with, her bisexuality would become moot. If she marries a woman, she’s gay. If she marries a man, she’s straight. It’s pointless. It’s just easier for everyone if she keeps it to herself.Besides, what kind of woman would even want to date the uncertain mess that she was? Eventually, Kara forced herself to stand and leave the tub. The soft bathmat felt good on her cold feet and for a moment, Kara considered just hiding the rest of the competition out in here, locked in the bathroom. But of course, that would be impossible. A woman can’t live on breath mints alone. With another sigh, Kara turned off the bathroom light and opened the door back into her bedroom. But she didn’t find just her bed waiting for her. “Lena,” Kara gasped as she quickly shoved her burner phone into the back waistband of her shirt, hopefully fast enough that her roommate hadn’t seen it. “What are you doing up?” “I forgot to brush my teeth,” Lena leaned to spy around Kara’s head. While Lena was only wearing a gray camisole and black pajama shorts, Kara still couldn’t help her mouth from going dry. Apparently anxiety had some strange side effects. “Is someone in there with you?” “In here? With me?” Kara frantically shook her head as she cleared her throat. “Of course not. Why would someone be in here with me?” “It sounded like you were talking to someone.” “I was uh…. Practicing.” “Practicing? For what?” “Uh… pick-up lines. Yeah, pick-up lines.” “Oh.” “Yeah, like are you French? Cause Eiffel for you…” The line died on Kara’s mouth as she realized Lena was definitely not in the mood for it. Who really is at 2 A.M.? “Do you mind if I brush my teeth?” Lena asked, nodding towards the sink behind Kara. “Oh, yeah, sure,” Kara mumbled as she quickly moved out of the way. “Thanks,” Lena said as she moved past. Wanting to kick herself, Kara moved back towards her bed, swiftly shoving the burner phone under her pillow before she climbed under the covers. She definitely had to be more careful than that. While Lena didn’t seem like the kind of girl who would snitch, Kara couldn’t take any chances. Maybe she should just tell Lena. It wasn’t as if it were a big deal. But of course, that would lead to other things and soon she’d find out why Kara was really here. Cat Grant would kill her. No, it was just better that the whole remained a secret for everyone. Not to mention, she had literally just met the girl a few days ago. She shouldn't even consider sharing secrets with her at this point. “Do you need anything else?” Lena asked as she stood in the bathroom doorway, the light behind her almost illuminating her like a halo. Even in pajamas, she still looked like a super model. “No,” Kara took off glasses and set them on the table beside her. “I’m good. Thank you though.” The light cut off and soon they were both in their individual’s bed. “Good night.” Kara said, closing her eyes as she hoped to put the past five minutes as quickly behind her as possible. “Good night.” Lena replied. “And Kara?” Kara’s eyes flew back open. “Yeah?” “That pick-up line… you can do better than that.” “I’ll keep trying.” Kara smiled. “For you.”~~~ Just a couple hours later at 8:30 A.M., all the women gathered up at the kitchen table again with bleary eyes and coffee cups in hands. Despite how late the rose ceremony had run the night before, they were all expected to be up and present when the date card was delivered. It would tell them which one of them would receive the coveted one-on-one date. The others would have to endure a group date with the Bachelor and seven other women vying for his attention. It was easy to see why everyone wanted the one-on-one, but Kara was dreading the thought of her name to be called. After her fitful sleep last night, she doubted that she had the strength to make it through the effort and awkward small talk of another date. It was only day three, but the introvert in Kara was demanding some alone time. At least in a group date setting she could fade more into the background and exist more in her own world like she did when she was on the streets and buses of National City or on the elevator of Catco. It certainly wasn’t the offensive stance Cat Grant would prefer her to take like Siobhan or Leslie would, but maybe it was still early enough in the competition that she could get away with it. Besides, how was someone even supposed to act when the guy you’re on a date with is also on a date there with seven other women?“The date card is here!” Imra exclaimed as she pranced into the room, waving an envelope in hand with a camera crew following her.The small chatter among the women ceased immediately as all the women became laser-focused on the brunette opening the envelop. Each woman plastered the kindest eager face that they could manage for the camera, knowing that whatever they did could be edited by the producers to mean something else entirely to boost rating. The nicest girl could be made to look like the biggest bitch and vice versa. With the cameras rolling right now, none of the women could take that chance. Since Imra had received the first impression rose, she had the highest likelihood of receiving the first one-on-one and everyone knew it, but that of course didn’t keep everyone form being on the edge of their seats.However, Imra’s face fell slightly as she read the name on the card, but she quickly turned back on the smile as soon as she could.“Samantha,” she read aloud, triggering a series of fake gasps of excitement from the other women while Kara let out a small sigh of relief. “Won’t you fly high with me?”Samantha’s face flushed a light red color as she covered her mouth with her hand as Meghan elbow her in the side excitedly. “Girl, he’s gonna take you flying!” Meghan exclaimed.“I hear he has his own jet,” Eve said leaning forward. “Maybe he’ll fly you somewhere romantic like France or something. I hope you have your passport!”Samantha just rolled her eyes but her smile still lingered. “As long as he brings me back in one piece, he can take me to the Arctic Circle for all I care.”“We definitely expect all the details for when you get back,” Imra said with what looked like a genuine smile, but Kara could see the disappointment behind it. “As for the rest of us, it says 'let’s get this relationship off with a literal rocky start.’”“Wait, is he taking us to a rock concert?” Leslie asked, a excitement growing in the DJ’s eyes. “I don’t think so,” Imra replied as her eyes skimmed over the letter. “It says to wear work out gear.”“Ladies!” Meghan clapped her hands and let out a laugh. “We’re going rock climbing!”~~~~Rock climbing wasn’t exactly something Kara was proficient in. Given that she grew up in a more rural area and currently lived in a big city, both places far away from any climbable mountains, she had barely even tried rock climbing in her entire life. The last time she remembers ever doing it was when Eliza sent both her and Alex to space camp and they got to climb a red wall that was supposed to simulate Mars. But that was easily a decade ago. Hopefully Mike didn’t have his expectations up too high. Rather than traveling in individual cars like the women had to the previous date, a small bus pulled up to the mansion for all of them this time. The contestants filed on in wearing their tight work-out gear, some much more revealing than others. Siobhan and Leslie both proudly strutted on to the bus with just a sports bra as their top while Meghan and Eve both wore surprisingly short spandex. Kara would have felt like a prude in her yoga pants and hoodie if Lena had been wearing something similar. Of course, Lena’s black legging and dark gray running jacket made her look like a goddess while Kara basically looked like a hobo in comparison.But when having to choose whether to sit next to the bitch in sports bra or the goddess in the leggings, Kara would always choose the goddess.“You ever rock climb before?” Kara asked Lena as they both watched the bus pull out of the mansion driveway towards the interstate.“Not exactly,” Lena shrugged. “But when I was a teenager, I use to sneak out of the house by scaling the trellis next to my window. It's probably the closest I've eve come to it.”“Oh wow, sounds like you had fun as a teenager.”“Not really,” Lena shrugged. “I just wanted a better view of the stars.”Something shifted in Kara’s chest, almost as her heart just hit her ribs for a second as she felt a strange jolt flow through her. It wasn’t painful though. It was the exact opposite.“That’s why I use to climb on the roof as a kid,” Kara said. “My sister and I use to trace the constellations and then we’d argue over who get the wish from the shooting star.”Lena's eyes glazed over slightly as if she were experiencing a memory and her lips curved into a small smile for a few moments before her forehead creased and corners of her mouth fell as her eyes returned to reality.“There definitely aren’t as many shooting stars as there use to be,” Lena sighed as she looked out the window. “You can’t even the stars some night in Metropolis.”“It’s the same way with National City,” Kara said, thinking back to those faded green glow-in-the-dark stars she had plastered on the ceiling above her bed back in her National City apartment. “But I like to think that if I look long enough, I’ll eventually see one. One that's not just the blinking red light of an airplane.”“I wish I could have that kind of hope.” Her chest that recently experienced such a pleasant jolt now soured as Kara caught a small glimpse of pain behind those green eyes beside her. And while it may have been a long shot, Kara couldn’t just leave her like that and her mouth soon opened with the first thing she could thing of. “Well, you should,” Kara said, playfully bumping her shoulder against Lena’s. “How could anything not fall for you?”For a brief moment, Kara held her breath, praying that the pathetic pick-up line worked some sort of magic. She was finally able to breath when she saw Lena rolled her eyes and a small smile returned.“Perhaps that pick-up line practice is going better than I thought,” Lena replied. This time it was Kara’s turn to blush.
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As much as Lena hated to admit it, she was actually looking forward to this group date. She didn’t care so much for all the company, but she the prospect of rock climbing sent a secret thrill through her. Lillian had always forbidden her from ever trying it, telling her that it wasn’t a woman’s sport and what not. According to her, women weren’t meant to climb. If they were, evolution would have granted them bigger and more calloused hands. When Lena attempted to point out that humans weren’t meant to go swimming then since they lacked both fins and gills, her mother just glared. Lena learned to hold her tongue and learned how to climb on her own via the trellis and trees in her yard. They were the first of many things Lena taught herself how to do. And it was nice to have Kara there. Even if the woman was a bit strange at times and locked herself in her bathroom to talk to herself on occasion, she was still very sweet and probably the most authentically nice person Lena had ever met. In fact, Lena had never felt this comfortable around anyone before. There was just something about her roommate that made her feel safe and even special at times. But this was a dating show, and no one was to be trusted, regardless of how they made her feel. When they did arrive at the rock climbing destination, Lena was partially relieved to see that it was indoors. As much as Lena loved climbing, it wasn’t something she really wanted to try without a harness after a certain point. Especially with all those cameras pointed at her. The last thing she needed was to add more fuel to her mother’s ridiculing fire. All the contestants poured out of the bus rather eagerly, pushing past one another as they raced towards Mike, who was already there standing in black gym shorts and a gray tank top. Leslie rushed into his arms first, wrapping her arms around his neck as he hugged her back. He looked fine Lena supposed. It wasn’t as if he looked bad by any means, but Lena had just expected more to be hiding underneath his tuxedo when she first saw him. His arms were toned, his waist was slim, and he was shoulders were broad; definitely an attractive specimen to many women, especially the ones here. But it just didn’t send off anything for Lena. If anything, she was slightly reminded of Jack which she thought would trigger some buried feeling, but instead she felt nothing. Maybe she was just turning into the sociopath that her mother was. “It’s so great to see everyone!” Mike exclaimed when he finally escaped Leslie’s vice grip. “I thought I would bring you all here today to share in one of my passions: rock climbing! Typically, I prefer to do this outdoors, but since I know not everyone’s at the same skill level, I thought it would be fun if we did it at a much easier place, and I showed you girls a thing or two to see if you find it was enjoyable as I do.” Several of the women cheered. Lena followed suit by clapping and making sure she had a bright smile on her face in case the camera swooped past. Everything she did would be under scrutiny. Just like when she was at work with her mother. At least, Lillian had prepared her for this in some way. “So, if you ladies just follow me,” Mike gestured to follow him as he started to walk backwards. “I’ll show you the way to the gym where you ladies can familiarize yourself with the walls and equipment while the experts go over the basics.” The women followed him almost like a mob as each of them clamored to be the one closest to him. In the end, it looked as if Megan was the victor as she slung her arm under Mike’s first, but Leslie, a close second, looped her arm through Mike’s other arm just seconds later. Lena could just blink slowly at their desperation and follow close in line with the other girls as they entered the very tall and very large building with green metal siding. It almost looked as if it were an aircraft hangar of some sort. Who else would need a building this large? When she stepped inside and the cool AC hit her face, her eyes bulged. This place wasn’t for housing a plane; this place was for housing mountains. Inside, the walls swelled and curved in the colors of blue and white so they looked like glaciers except for the vibrant, multicolored hand and foot holes dotting along the service. Other smaller boulder like areas dotted themselves about the room to service those who didn’t bother with harnesses needed for the walls. Ropes hung down and swayed like grass in the wind. The ceiling almost seemed nonexistent due to just how far back one had to bend their neck to see it. “A bit higher than the trellises?” Kara asked, coming up to her side “Just a bit,” Lena realized her mouth was open and she quickly shut it. “Don’t worry,” Kara’s arm brushed against hers. “I’ll catch you.” Lena could only let out a small almost frightened laugh. From that sort of height, Lena would need more than Kara to save her. The contestants and Mike stood and listened attentively as the one of the climbing experts, an old woman who’s skin was baked by the sun and hands split by the rock, review the rules and safety tips everyone would need to know if they desired to climb this wall. Many of the women took this as a chance to admire Mike in his gym attire, but Lena wasted none of her time on that. Instead, she took in everything her the expert told her and made quick calculations in her head to ensure the most safety on her part. The system of pulleys, harnesses, and ropes brought her much more comfort when she understood them. And it brought her another dose of comfort when she noticed just how much Kara was paying attention as well. “So, now that we’ve gone through all of that,” the expert clapped her hands. “I think it’s time for all you ladies to get chalked up and pick a place on the wall to start climbing!” The chalk referred to actual chalk that climbers would use to that they would have the best grip possible, similar to how gymnasts would use it on the bars. Many climbers swore by it and even claimed that it saved their life a couple of times. Of course, this didn’t stop Megan and Leslie from leaving a perfect chalk outline of their hands upon Mike’s butt from smacking it after a thorough hand chalking. Even after Mike had tried to brush it off, it remained, leaving Megan and Leslie in deeper giggles. Lena only rolled her eyes and prepped herself for the wall next to Kara. “Does it feel any different with the harness on?” Kara asked as Lena stepped into her harness. “Climbing, I mean.” “Not really,” Lena said as she tightened the harness into place. “Well really, this all feels too different to compare to the old trellis in my backyard. That was much more laid out. This is just… intense.” “Yeah, you can say that again,” Kara stepped into her own harness. “I thought you had rock climbed before this.” “Not with harnesses,” Kara pulled hers tight as if to add emphasis. “My sister and I use to free solo the cliffs close to where we lived when we kids. Well mostly water solo since it was usually above water.” “Free solo?” Lena blinked. “Like without ropes?” Kara nodded. “We didn’t have the money or knowledge to use those.” “But they weren’t this high, right?” Kara looked up, shielding her eyes against the ceiling lighters but still squinting. “Sometimes,” Kara shrugged. Lena’s eyes only widened further. She was about to ask for more when she heard the approach of another woman next to her. “I guess I’ll climb next to you two,” Siobhan said. “This way I’ll look like such a better rock climber in comparison.” “I didn’t know bitches were known for their climbing ability,” Lena said, biting her tongue soon after when she remembered the possibility of a camera watching them. “What did you say to me?” Siobhan demanded, both her eyes and tone fierce. Lena wasn’t exactly one to back down from a fight too easily, but she had never been so close to one with Kara and cameras around which made her hesitant. “If you want to climb here then suit yourself,” Kara said. It wasn’t Kara’s words that shut up both Siobhan and Lena, but her actions. She had just taken off her hoodie, revealing the rippling muscles underneath. Kara still had on a tank top, but her impressive biceps and triceps shown in full glory. Lena couldn’t help but rake her eyes over the rest of blonde and notice just how toned and built the rest of Kara’s figure was. Lena’s mouth went dry. This woman was sculpted by the goddess herself. No, she was the goddess. “You know, I think there’s an open spot by Imra,” Siobhan said, backing away. “See ya.” Kara scoffed as she finished tightening up the rest of her harness. “I didn’t know you had such a sharp tongue,” Kara said, arching an eyebrow at Lena. ‘And I didn’t know you could bench press my bodyweight,’ Lena thought, but thankfully didn’t say. Instead, she cleared her throat and mumbled something about it being a bad habit as she did her best to not gawk at the ripped arms of her friend. Lena’s fear of falling quickly evaporated; she knew Kara would actually catch her. A small part of her even wanted to fall just so Kara would. Not long after they had gotten started climbing the wall, Nia had a brief but impactful slip that sent her hitting her ankle against the wall particularly hard. A medic who had been standing rather bored on the sidelines quickly rushed forward to attend to her followed by one of the producers. Many of the contestants held their breaths and watched in a stunned respectful silence from their varying heights on the wall as the medic examined her ankle while the dark hair producer and Mike held Nia’s hands. The injury was ultimately determined to be minor and just a sprained ankle, but just to be safe the dark-haired producer offered to drive Nia to the hospital. Slipping her arm over his shoulders, the dark-haired producer helped Nia limp towards his car. She was still expected to be back from the hospital in time for the dinner.After a bit tense climbing that slowly began to relax become causal and fun again as the contestants explored the course on their own, the expert blew her whistle and signaled for the women to come back down.“Now that you all have been able to get in some practice on the course and familiarize yourself with it, I thought now would be perfect time to put your skills to the test,” the older woman smiled. “A simple race. Whoever gets to the top first wins. And the prize will be a kiss from the coveted Bachelor himself.” All the women who had been goofing around earlier suddenly became serious. Mike had only kissed a few of women, the only official one known by all of them was Siobhan after she threw herself at him yesterday. This was what every girl wanted, and they all seemed willing to fight to get it. But Lena couldn’t help but glance at Kara to see what stance she was taking. When she looked over, her green eyes met those blue and something in her wanted to reach out to touch her, but those blue eyes fell away after just a split second. Rather than dwelling on that strange feeling that had just blossomed inside her for that moment, Lena shook it off and prepped herself to climb the rock wall. The blare of whistle cut through the air and the women knew that was their cue to start. Leslie attempted to hurl herself up as fast as she could but scrambling up the wall proved much more difficult than she expected. Siobhan, while she didn’t fall or stumbled, struggle with deciding which foot hold she’d want to take. Imra was forced to quit early because her ropes somehow tied up. Eve proved rather competent due to her gymnastic background even if she lacked speed. But real focus of this competition was on the raven haired and blonde contestants who both raced up the course in a rather impressive speed. Kara had her strength as an advantage, but Lena had the eye. She could spot the best hold to latch on to that would require the least amount of leverage and strength needed to propel herself up wards in a fraction of a second. Of course, Kara’s strength as played in her favor as a rather effective distraction for Lena. At one point, Kara had stretched her body in such a way that her tank pulled up, exposing chiseled abs. Lena had almost fallen from the wall right then and there. But even as they neared the top, Lena knew that Kara had the upper hand, both metaphorically and physically. They had been neck and neck most of the way up but Kara had found her groove and was able to find hand holds with ease while Lena’s eye could only go so far. That and she was getting rather tired. All those spin classes hadn’t exactly prepped her arm muscles for this kind of work. Yet as they neared the end, Kara slowed as she attempted to reach for a handhold that was just too far a way to make work. After watching Kara scale up the wall with ease, it seemed rather ridiculous that she would reach for such an impossible hold now especially with how close she was to the top. But Lena could only watch Kara for so long. She had only a small amount of time to work with. She grabbed the hand holds closest to her and was able to hoist herself up just enough to slap the wall at the top, claiming victory just inches before Kara could. “And you said this was nothing like those trellis in your backyard,” Kara told her above the cheers from the contestants and crew below them. “I guess I’m just full of surprises,” Lena smiled, the elation of victory coursing through her. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I love surprises,” Kara replied. A pleasant twinge gripped Lena’s chest, but she quickly tried to brush it aside. It was just teasing. “Let’s just repel down from here,” Lena said, bracing herself for the slack in the rope to come. “Being at this height is making me dizzy.” They both kicked off from the wall, the rope slack but taunt enough to keep them from falling too fast as they were lowered towards the group. In a way, it was easily one of the more fun parts of the climbing. Lena felt almost like she was flying as she kicked off the wall and the air softly ran past her while any fear evaporated. She closed her eyes and let the bliss overtake her. Kara seemed to feel the same way and soon they were both kicking hard off the wall so they could fall gently fall for longer periods of time. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the best the idea as neither one paid much attention and soon, they found themselves with twisted ropes and their falls became much less graceful. “Oof,” Lena grunted as she fell against the ground, unaware how close they had been. She hadn’t hit the ground very hard, but what had really knocked the air out her was the sudden weight that appeared on top of her. Lena opened her eyes to see the head of a sweaty blonde woman above her with glasses a little off kilter on her face. Lena was just about to reach out to fix them until she realized that Kara was not just on top of her but on top of certain places. “Kara,” Lena said, slowly. “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry about that,” Kara replied shaking her head. “When I said someone would fall for you, I didn’t mean on top of you.” “Kara.” “Thankfully, we were so close to the ground." "Kara." "Can you imagine what a greater fall would have done?” “Kara, look at where your hands are.” Kara’s blue eyes dropped down from Lena’s face to her own hands then her eyes went wide. She quickly scrambled off Lena, her face turning a deep red as she saw the perfect white chalk prints from her own hands left behind cupping Lena’s chest. They were spaced out rather perfectly on the swells of Lena’s shirt in such a way that the handprints on Mike’s ass looked second rate. “Oh my gosh, Lena, I’m so sorry,” Kara gasped, her eyes still wide and face still very much red. “It’s fine,” Lena said as she unsuccessfully tried to brush off the unfortunately placed chalk handprints. “I guess Mike isn’t the only one giving Lena a treat,” Leslie laughed, triggering more laughter from everyone else. Lena could only force a chuckle as she felt her own heat of embarrassment taking over while Kara’s whole body seemed to turn red. “Accidents happen,” Mike said as he strolled forward. “I’m just glad you two are both alright, right?” “I’m fine,” Lena assured him. “Peachy,” Kara said slowly backing away. “I think I’m gonna get some water though.” Both Lena and Mike frowned as Kara hurried away to go find her water bottle before being first stopped by one of the crew members to help unhook her harness. “I can get the producers to cut that if it you want,” Mike told Lena. “You don’t need something that embarrassing to be on air.”“Um, I think that might be best,” Lena said, her eyes still following Kara. “I know that’s probably what Kara would want.”“Then I’ll definitely see what I can do,” Mike assured her with a smile. “Thank you,” Lena said, smiling back, rather surprised that Mike would do something like that for them. “Anytime,” Mike grinned at Lena as he pulled her into an embrace. “So, it seems like you’re the winner.”“So it would seem,” Lena replied, still smiling slightly from the elation of her win as her own arms instinctively wrapped around Mike’s sweaty torso.“I do believe a congratulations is in order,” Mike said before lifting up his hand. “But first, I want to try something.”“Yeah?” Lena said slowly, her eyebrows furrowing as she saw Mike focusing on her face.“Hold still for just one second…” Mike ran his thumb and then forefingers along Lena’s cheek. A part of her wanted to flinch away from his calloused touch but all she could manage in her stunned state was raise an eyebrow.“What are you doing?” Lena asked.“I was trying to see if the chalk would show up on your skin,” Mike explained, still intently staring at her cheek. “But I’m too pale.” Lena concluded.“Yeah, I think so, but to be honest,” Mike gestured down to Lena’s chest and then his rear. “We’ve both probably had our fair share of chalk stains this afternoon.”Lena couldn’t help but laugh; however, her laughter was cut short by his lips pressed against hers. They were warm, but also surprisingly dry. Despite this, she still kissed him back. He definitely smelled better today so maybe that was why she did it. Of course, the cameras and the other women watching played a huge factor and how she wanted to prove herself. Regardless, the kiss didn’t last very long and Mike was soon pulling back. “I never realized how much chalk can dry things out,” Mike said licking his lips. “I definitely owe you a much better kiss.”Lena smiled back at him, but her stomach recoiled.~~~ On the bus ride home, neither Kara or Lena mentioned the kiss, the competition, or the white handprints on Lena’s chest now hidden beneath her jacket. Instead, Lena listened intently as Kara relayed stories about her and her sister’s glory days when they would climb cliffs and steep ledges with nothing but their hands. Lena only smile and nodded.But she knew.She knew Kara had let her win.
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While the white chalk stains may have covered Kara for most of the group date that day, it was nothing that a quick shower couldn’t remedy. As much as she would have preferred to hide in the bathroom and let the hot water soothe her sore muscles and cringe-worthy memories, the last thing she wanted to do was hog the bathroom from her roommate. Kara had already made Lena’s day difficult as it was, the last thing she needed to do was make the short time they had to get ready for their following cocktail party any more stressful.No word yet had filtered back to the women on whether or not Sam had gotten a rose from Mike on their one-on-one date yet, but with it being so early in the season, Mike most likely gave her one regardless of he felt a real true connection yet. The spark of possibility was enough. At this point in the season, Mike was most likely to send home the contestant he hadn’t had much individual time with, which is something that a one-on-one date provides ample opportunity for while a group date does not. Lena was more than likely secure after their shared kiss on the rock-climbing date. Sparks seemed to fly there despite how much Kara desperately tried not to think about it. It wasn’t her concern who either of them kissed. She was just here for the story and nothing more. She just had to keep her head in the game, and not let the thought of Lena’s smooth curved lips distract her.And Mike’s lips. Of course, Mike’s lips. Those were the only lips that mattered. Those were the only ones that would keep her here long enough so that Kat Grant wouldn’t kill her.Kara roughly toweled dried her hair after the shower, irritated that she was getting so easily getting distracted from her assignment. What kind of reporter could she even be if she didn’t stay focused on the story? She was scrubbing her hair so quickly that she almost didn’t hear the gentle knock at her door.“Come in,” Kara called out as she twisted her hair up into a towel knot on top of her head and threw her head back, stumbling a bit as her vision and balance spotted.“Woah,” a voice said as Kara felt soft but firm hands grab her arms to steady her. “Are you okay?”“Yeah,” Kara sighed, shaking her head slightly and noticing the stray strands of wet hair she had missed in her towel knot. “I think I just stood up too quickly.”“You sure?” Lena asked, her concerned green eyes staring into Kara’s blue. “I’d hate for you to fall and hit your head.”“Well, the only thing I’d fall for is you, remember?” Kara replied with a lazy grin as she swiftly tried to nonchalantly stuff the hair she missed in her towel knot and failed.Lena rolled her eyes. “I’m pretty sure a lack of blood flow to the brain should be more of a concern. You promise you’re okay?”“I promise.’ Kara said with a more serious smile. “I’m fine.”“Good,” Lena said. “I’d hate to lose my only friend in this place.”Lena’s grip tightened slightly on Kara's biceps before falling. For a second, it looked as if Lena would move those wet strands of hair out of Kara’s face, but decided against it. Regardless, Kara’s skin instantly felt cold without it. A small twang of something tickled in her stomach. The same kind of something that always seemed to crop up around Lena. Kara just couldn’t figure out if it was pleasant or not.“We’re friends?” Kara asked.“Well, yeah,” Lena frowned slightly. “At least I thought we were.”“Oh yes, absolutely!” Kara rushed to assure her before adding with a joking smile. “I just didn’t realize my pick-up lines were making so much progress so fast.”Lena’s frown turned back into a smile with another roll of her eyes.“For your sake, I just hope those lines are making similar progress with Mike or at least he doesn’t see you using them on me,” Lena said. “Otherwise he may think I’m the one you’re hoping to get a marriage proposal out of.”Kara’s smile dropped slightly, and she suddenly realized she was standing this close to Lena in just a towel with her hair dripping wet.“I was kidding, Kara,” Lena said, ducking a little to meet Kara’s downcast gaze. “You know, kind of like your earlier marriage proposal?”“Hm?” Kara perked up. “Oh, yeah, of course! Why would he think that anyway?’” Kara forced out a small laugh, hating herself for feeling like she did in that brief moment.“Well, I guess I better let you get ready. We have the cocktail in party in just an hour or so.”“Oh gosh, don’t remind me,” Lena replied with a groan. “They just want to pump us full of alcohol before the rose ceremony, so they get the maximum level of drama out of us.”“They have to get those ratings somehow,” Kara shrugged. “We can just sit on the sidelines and drink our wine drama free.”“Sounds like a plan to me. Just save me a seat.”~~~Lena was still getting ready in the bathroom when Kara slipped out of the room to join the other girls downstairs. They all adorned their own cocktail dresses with varying lengths and colors but equal strength and glamour. Kara sported her red dress and hoped that the matching lip stick didn’t seem to desperate looking, but after seeing the cleavage line on Eve’s dress, Kara soon worried she was being too modest.The real downside of the lipstick was that Kara would now have to pay careful attention to what she ate, but considering that she hadn’t eaten in several hours, her careful attention was waning. For a moment, she considered running back on up to her room to see if Lena still had that Tupperware full of stale bread rolls.“Alright, is that everyone ladies?” Morgan Edge said with a clap of his hands. “Wait, where is Lena?”“I’m here!” a voice called from the stairs.If it were anyone else, Kara was sure that they would have been as graceful and slow as possible as they descended the stairs, doing their best to emulate Julie Andrews. Lena, however, rushed down in her stunning dress like Cinderella racing against midnight, but with the fluidity of a Russian ballet. Kara could barely look away. It wasn’t just a woman running downstairs, but a beautiful dance.Wow, Kara thought, her nerves and hunger must really be getting to her if she’s thinking like that. Any distraction from those were a welcome one, but she hadn’t expected it to come from her roommate. It would probably all pass by the time rose ceremony came around, and she got some food in her.“Now that’s everyone!” Morgan Edge smiled. “Follow me ladies; the Bachelor awaits!”~~~“So, how did you like my pun with the date card?” Mike grinned cheekily as he leaned back on his chair, clearly still very much proud with himself.Somehow, Kara had snagged one of the first private conversations with Mike at the cocktail party that evening. She had already eagerly scarfed down almost a dozen of pigs in a blanket and rather than waiting impatiently for more finger foods be brought out, she thought that it might be better to distract herself with Mike after he asked if they’d like to go sit alone on the patio. It wasn’t as if she could have said no if she wanted to, but the lack of appetizers definitely helped.“I was impressed,” Kara grinned, brushing the remaining stray crumbs off her lap. “You really roped us all in with it.”“Oh, I get it with the climbing ropes,” Mike snapped his fingers and laughed. “I’ll definitely never be that quick with them.”“Just takes plenty of practice,” Kara assured him as she took a sip of her drink.“Speaking of practice, you clearly have rock climbed before. I was honestly surprised you didn’t win. You were pulling yourself along up there like it was nothing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman as strong as you.”“Ah well,” Kara coughed, suddenly feeling self-conscious of her broad shoulders in a strapless dress. She was always told women with broad shoulders should never wear strapless tops or dresses which is why she always had a cardigan handy, but not tonight. At least her hair was down to cover them up. “Things happen. I’m glad Lena won though. She deserved it.”“Witty, strong, and modest,” Mike smirked. “You’re quite the impressive package, Ms. Kara.”Kara couldn’t help but blush as she took a sip of her wine. This was going better than she thought. Perhaps she could continue to play this out after all. Now all she had to do was remember those tips that Alex had given her on flirting. Of course, Alex only had experience with women. Hopefully, men weren’t as different as everyone made the out to be. Everyone likes to be flattered after all.“You’re too sweet,” Kara said as she brushed her hair behind her ears in an attempt to look coy. “You’re pretty witty with your puns too. Not to mention that you could probably out climb me any day. Especially with your strong arms.”Of course, Kara had only seen Mike’s arms at the gym today. The other times they had been covered in a suit. They were decent, she supposed. They really didn’t do much for her, but he didn’t need to know that. What harm could come from stoking his ego a bit?“Well, thank you,” Mike puffed out his chest a bit as he looked at his arms. “I do my best to keep them fit, but I will be honest, I’m a bigger fan of leg day. Either way, I’m a little scared to take up that challenge after seeing you today. With most girls, I’m afraid they won’t keep up with me, but with you, it’s the opposite. It wouldn’t surprise me if you broke a course record at my gym. You really must climb a lot.”“My sister and I use to climb a lot when we were younger,” Kara explained. “I honestly hadn’t done it in years. It came back a lot easier than I thought it would though, but I don’t know about any course records that I’d be breaking any in the future.”“Just like riding a bike. With some more practice, I bet there would be world records broken. We definitely need to do it again sometime. I know a lot of gyms with great courses we could try. Which one did you and your sister use to go to? I’m always up for new challenges”“That was actually my first time climbing at one of those gyms. We’d just do it on the mountain and cliffs around our home.”“Oh, so you’re like an outdoor climber and bringing your own gear kind of girl. I can respect that. In fact, I wish I could be more like that. I’m just glad you aren’t one of those free solo climbers. Those people are insane. They’re just asking to be killed.”Kara went silent. Free solo meant to climb without ropes or any sort of gear. While yes, it was reckless, Kara and her sister had barely done it up really high mountains and most of the time, it was over water, so they had something to break their fall. Plus, they were young. They didn’t know any better and thought that they were invincible. Sometimes Kara worried that Alex still thought like that, but it wasn’t as if they were out climbing Everest or Denali. Mike may have had a point about how reckless that kind of climbing was, but his tone and expression he had when talking about it made Kara not want to say anything about it. Maybe this wasn’t going as well as she though.“We just used it as nice work out,” Kara said with a forced smile. “An easy distraction to blow off some steam while having some fun. Nothing too serious.”“You having to blow off some steam?” Mike arched an eyebrow. “I know we’ve only known each other for a short while, but I find it rather hard to picture you angry.”“I’m only human,” Kara gave a shrug as she looked down at her wine, doing her best to remain a smiling neutral. “It’s not like I go into a rage or anything. Sometimes I just get frustrated and need a nice run or climb to get away.”“Oh, I definitely get that. Let me tell you, I wouldn’t be nearly as fit as I am right now if my mother wasn’t in my life.”Kara’s smile slipped. “What?”“My mom. She’s crazy,” Mike gave a frustrated sigh and rolled his eyes. “Both my parents are really. They are always tended to kill whatever buzz my friends and I had going on. They’re never happy with whatever I do, and I don’t see why they continue to nag me about it as if it will help. Don’t you just hate that? I just wish that they would leave me alone half the time. They’re just suffocating.”“Oh,” Kara mumbled, looking down to fiddle with her napkin. She knew all too well what it meant to have nonexistent parents.“But at least you had a sister,” Mike continued. “I would have killed to have another sibling to take my parent’s focus off of me. Let them screw up for a change. They’re just so judgmental its infuriating.”Kara didn’t respond. She wasn’t quite sure what to say. A part of her wanted to yell and be angry while the other wanted to cry and be mournful. It had been over ten years since the fire, but the thought of her lost parents still made it difficult to breath.“Hey,” Mike’s voice dropped into one of seriousness. “Are you okay?”Kara swallowed hard. Oh gosh, had she really been that close to crying? She blinked rapidly, clearing her eyes of any water that may have accumulated. Gosh, why did there have to be cameras? She just wanted to run away and hide.“May I cut in?”Oh, if there was ever a time for Leslie to make an entrance, it was now.“Yeah,” Kara’s voice cracked slightly as she stood up. “I needed a drink refill anyways.”Before Mike could protest, Kara hastily left the area, spilling some of her nearly full wine glass on to her dress.
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After an exhausting day of climbing, the last thing Lena was in the mood for was a cocktail party. She was already so weary that the idea of laying down on the bench for a nap seemed all too appealing. Thank goodness for the ever-present cameras that kept her from doing so. She had already run slightly late for the cocktail party as it was, so she didn’t need to give the producers anymore of a reason to convince Mike to send her home so early in the competition. What she really needed at the moment was some caffeine. This was a cocktail party after all; there had to be an espresso martini somewhere.But just as Lena was beginning her search around the courtyard, her eyes fell upon a seemingly distraught looking Kara stumbling her way back from her time with Mike looking very flustered. A dark red stain dotted the front of her red dress and her beautiful blue eyes glistened. The sight sent a shot of adrenaline through Lena, making her more alert than any shot of espresso ever could, triggering her to swiftly grab Kara's shoulder and steer her away from the other girls before she would be noticed and possibly mocked.“Kara, what’s wrong?” Lena asked, doing her best to block Kara’s face from the camera.“Nothing, I’m fine,” Kara insisted before taking a very large swig of her wine and whipping her sniffling nose with the back of her hand.“You don’t look fine,” Lena eyed the wine stain on Kara’s dress. “Did Mike do something to you?”“He just said something triggering that’s all,” Kara drained the rest of her wine with another gulp. “He didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one with problems, not him.”“That’s not how it works, Kara,” Lena said slowly, her brows furrowing. How could anything be wrong with Kara? She was the perfect, sweet blonde everyone wanted to be or be with. She was an angel.“I don’t really want to talk to you about this right now, Lena,” Kara went to push by her, but Lena held her back.“But you know you can talk to me, right?” Lena said softly.There was a pause as they held each other’s gaze. With those sad blue eyes, all Lena wanted was to wrap Kara up in her arms and protect her from everything that could ever possibly cause her harm in this world. But in those eyes, there was a pain that showed this sweet blonde had already experienced some of the horrors of this world. And that knowledge just simply broke Lena’s heart.“I know,” Kara said softly, and for a moment, it looked as if some of that pain had eased. “I’m just going to the bathroom to freshen up.”“Okay,” Lena said before watching her go and disappear out of the courtyard.After a moment, Lena took a breath shook her head. Why was this woman getting to her like she was? It was just ridiculous. Kara was the enemy. Regardless of however sweet or cute or muscular she was, Lena shouldn’t be so quick to trust her. Or like her. She was all too familiar with mind games and the last thing she needed was to be engaged in them on national television. She just needed to keep her head in the game and not get distracted with frivolous things.~~~“So Ms. Lena,” Mike said as he leaned back in his chair. “You are the climbing champion of today. How does that make you feel?”Lena snorted slightly before reaching for her wine.“It makes me feel like all that sneaking out in high school has finally paid off,” Lena replied before taking a sip of her wine.“Oh, so you’re a bit of a wild child,” Mike wiggled his eyebrows.Lena scoffed.“I don’t know if I would go that far with the label,” Lena shrugged. “But I suppose I pushed the envelope a bit further than my brother ever did when it came to home or school. I guess that is just part of being the youngest.”“Same goes for the only child like me,” Mike laughed. “I used to drive my mother so crazy that she would have a count down on the days that were left until I went back to boarding school in order to calm herself down.”“Oh gosh. I thought my mother was bad by putting the countdown on the refrigerator for everyone to see. God forbid she put my report card like a normal mother.”“Wait," Mike leaned forward, "you went to boarding school too?”“Yes,” Lena nodded. “For as long as they would have me.”“No way,” Mike leaned back in his chair and glanced over Lena with a grin. “I bet you would have been a hoot in boarding school.”Lena could only scoff again and a sip of her drink. She may have been a “wild child” by Mike’s standard by sneaking out at night, but she was really anything but. He snuck out to party and drink while she did it to read and study. In fact, she was known as the student who would sneak into the library after hours. That’s not to say that she didn’t go to a couple parties in her days, but they definitely weren’t anywhere close to her best nights.“Oh, come on,” Mike continued, “You have to give me something. What were you like in boarding school?”“I was….” Lena trailed off as she struggled to figure out what to say without embarrassing herself. “An academic. I cared about my grades and future a lot. That’s not to say that I didn’t party or do anything I regret, but I definitely had other priorities.”“Other priorities,” Mike pursed her lips in almost a mock focus as he nodded. “So you were a nerd.”“I mean, I don’t think I would go that far,” Lena mumbled, knowing good and well that Mike hadn’t quite gone far enough with him term. She was a mega nerd. Her constant 4.0 GPA proved it.“Really?” Mike cocked an eyebrow. “Then what did you study in college?”“Which time?”Mike threw his head back as he let out a laugh so loudly that Lena was sure that the other girls could hear.“You know, I thought you were going to say something nerdy like math or something,” Mike clapped his hands, “but you definitely had a much nerdier answer. Which one? HA!”“Well, I’m glad I could bring some amusement to your night then,” Lena said as she reached for her drink. All she could think about now was how awkward it would be between them when he learned that Lena did in fact have multiple degrees from several different colleges.“Ah,” Mike sighed as he leaned back in his chair and looked over Lena again in a way that made Lena take an extra gulp of her wine. “You know, you’re exactly the kind of girl I would have liked to party with when I was in school: beautiful, spunky, independent, quiet but has a lot going on. And definitely smart.”Lena arched an eyebrow in surprise. This party playboy was actually attracted to smart, independent women. Maybe he had more layers than she previously thought.“I’m glad to hear it,” Lena said, doing her best to force the surprise out of her smile. “But I feel like I have to let you know now, I haven’t gone to any parties since college.”“Why not?” Mike cocked his head.“I just got older and got job,” Lena said, looking down as she ran her finger along the top of her wine glass. “I don’t have time anymore to spend my Friday or Saturday nights out on the town.”Or the people to do it with, Lena thought to herself, but Mike didn’t need to know that.“Well,” Mike said as he reached for Lena’s hand on the table with a hopeful smile. “I hope we can find some time together.”While all Lena really wanted was a friend to spend those nights with, Lena found it difficult to offer a smile in return.~~~“So, if I just hold my glass like this in front me, the stain is basically unnoticeable,” Kara said as she held her wine glass at an awkward distance from her chest in an attempt to hide the red wine stain. “Although, I can’t hold anything in front of me during the rose ceremony. And of course, that will be when everyone is staring at me. Oh gosh, why do I have to be such a klutz?”Not long after Lena had returned from her rendezvous with Mike, she had found a much calm Kara patting at her dress with a paper towel, fruitlessly trying to get the earlier wine stain out. Seeing the patio chair open next to her, Lena took this as prime time to lounge next to her roommate and do her best to soothe over any nerves she hadn’t gotten a chance to earlier. Besides, the other girls had seemingly formed their own clichés amongst themselves. If her and Kara were apparently a cliché of their own, so be it. There wasn’t anyone else Lena could think of spending the rest of the evening with anyway.“Relax, Kara,” Lena said as she swirled her martini glass in her hand as she reclined against the cushions on the seat. “With your height, they’re most likely going to be putting you in the back anyway. And besides, with a stain that small, your rose will easily hide it.”“What makes you think I’ll even get a rose,” Kara mumbled as she picked at the sequins on her dress.“Because I’ve seen your face,” Lena said matter-of-factly as she took a sip of her drink. “And last time I’ve checked, he’s not blind.”Kara breathed out a laugh as she peaked a glance at Lena.“You sure you’re not the one who has too much to drink tonight?” she asked. "You better be careful or else I may not be the only one going in with a stain on my dress."“As if,” Lena rolled her eyes and made a face. “This martini is absolutely revolting. I haven’t even made it through one.”Kara laughed again, but her laughter was quickly cut off by a shriek. The both looked up and saw a red-faced Eve stomping back into the courtyard with her fists in clenches by her side. Automatically, Lena sat up straight, bracing herself for whatever seemingly inevitable altercation. While Eve didn’t seem to have Lena in mind as a target, Lena had learned to never be too careful. She was used to playing defense especially from spending so much time with her mother and all of her surprise attacks. If given the chance, Lena wouldn’t even hesitate to play offense as well. Compared to a lifelong battle with her mother, these other contestants were mere children and shouldn’t take much to land a critical hit.But just as Lena was running over the possible weaknesses of this fuming fellow contestant, Kara stepped out to put herself in front of Lena, blocking her from whatever attack that could possibly come her way with those finely sculpted arms. Lena’s heart fluttered and brace slumped. This was new. No one, not even Lex, had ever fought for or even alongside her. A foreign feeling swelled up in Lena’s chest, and she clung to it tightly as it was a pleasure she had never tasted before but was famished for.“Who did it?” Eve squawked, snapping Lena unpleasantly back into reality. “Who drank my champagne?”The women’s gaze flickered back and forth from one another, each looking more confused than the next. Lena’s own brow furrowed in confusion. What was this girl talking about?“My special champagne bottle?” Eve continued with a bit of a slur to her voice. “The one I had been given on my birthday and that I had been saving for a special night? I brought it all the way from the other side of the country.”There was several more beats of silence as all the contestant just stared back at her, all most likely wondering just how much this woman had had to drink. Lena couldn't resist the urge from rolling her eyes. Who wouldn’t keep a better eye on some supposedly special champagne?“It didn’t have a pink label, did it?” Leslie spoke up from the other side of the courtyard.Eve’s eyes and nostrils flared as she turned her entire body towards the shock jock.“Yes,” Eve seethed as she took a step towards the other woman. “It did.”“Oh well, my bad,” Leslie shrugged her shoulders. “I just thought it was one of the free bottles of booze the producers gave us.”“My grandfather gave me that bottle!” Eve shrieked.“Look, I didn’t know,” Leslie said, holding her hands us. “It was just sitting there on the table so I just thought it was up for grabs to bring back and share with Mike.”“I was supposed to share that bottle with Mike, you –”“Hey!” Sam jumped up, bravely putting herself between chill Leslie and rabid Eve. “Why don’t we all just take a moment a cool our heads before any of us say anything we regret.”“What are you doing, Sam?” Meghan asked, holding her own bottle of wine and glass. “You’re ruining all the fun.”“Stay out of this” Eve sniped at Sam. “Don’t treat us like any of your children.”“I will treat you like a child if you’re acting like a child,” Sam fired right back with a cold stare only a mother can master.“Anyone want to place a bet?” Meghan asked. “My money’s on Leslie. I don’t think that talk show host is all talk.”“Don’t forget Eve is the one who did the back flip,” Siobhan said, clearly enjoying witnessing the drama she had no hand in.“I think Sam might be right, Eve,” Imra piped up. “It would probably be best if we all approached this with cooler heads. After all, Leslie did say she was sorry.”“No, she didn’t!” Eve barked. “That whore stole my champagne and moment with Mike and didn’t even properly apologize!”“Who are you calling a whore?” Leslie snapped, a rage coming to her own eyes.Sam did find herself suddenly standing in between two women who both appeared ready to pull out on another hair, but she somehow held her ground. It definitely worked to her favor that both Eve and Leslie had both had more than their fair share of alcohol that night but that didn’t mean they didn’t have the passion and drive behind their actions. She managed to dodge anything too forceful, but that didn’t mean her own dress and hair didn’t get a little tussled during the scene. In fact, it appeared that neither of the two women were even close to hitting one another before producers started to step in.“Alright, ladies, ladies, ladies!” Morgan clapped, somehow managing to speak above the women and bring them all to silence. “I think it’s best we cut this cocktail party short and proceed with the rose ceremony.”All at once, the other women seemingly sobered up and stood straighter. A different kind of tension blanketed the room as the women smoothed out their dresses and fixed their hair in the few minutes that they had before shuffling off to elimination ceremony. One of them wouldn’t make it back to the mansion that night and no one but Sam was safe. Kara snuck a worried glance at Lena. Lena did her best to give a reassuring smile back.
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The girls were quiet as the producers herded them into a separate courtyard for the rose ceremony. Just like last time, they stood in two rows with one line of contestants standing on a step so that they could be seen over the women in front of him. Like Lena had told her, Kara was told to stand on the back row, and she luckily had the large head of Leslie in front her blocking the wine stain on her dress. Both Leslie and Eve continually snuck glares at each across poor Nia who stood between them on the front row. Beside Kara, Sam let out a huff annoyance. Kara suspected she wasn’t expecting this level of immaturity from two grown women, but on the other hand, this was a reality show and there was definitely a hefty amount of alcohol involved. Besides, both Eve and Leslie were probably stirring up more drama just for the ratings and Instagram followers that they would garner from this episode alone. It wouldn’t surprise Kara if either one of them hadn’t already been offered a sponsorship with gummy hair vitamins or a weight loss sham. At least she wasn’t the only one here for the wrong reasons.And then there was Lena standing to the side of Eve, looking completely disinterested and even bored to the drama that was happening right beside her. It was nice knowing that Lena was above that. There were actually a lot of nice things about her roommate actually…“Alright ladies,” Morgan clapped his hands.Kara shook her head, deliberately losing her train of thought to focus on the situation at hand. She was a reporter after all. A reporter who was most likely about to be sent home after that stunt she pulled where she had run out on Mike when she was in near tears.“There are nine of you currently,” Morgan continued. “And as you know, one of you will unfortunately be going home tonight. It’s not an easy task, but it’s one our Bachelor must make in his journey to find true love. Take it away, Mike.”Morgan stepped to the side, allowing Mike to approach beside him, looking much more serious and solemn than Kara had seen him before. If Kara didn’t know any better, she would have sworn that his gaze lingered with hers as he looked over all the contestants before him. Beside him stood a pedestal with seven roses. Sam had already received the other rose after her one on one, leaving them just short of one rose. Someone would not be going back to the mansion tonight and Kara was higher in that likelihood than she cared to admit. Cat Grant was going to kill her if she was sent home this early.“Please know that I think you all are wonderful individuals after spending even just a short time with you and that this is the hardest part.” Mike said with a deep and seemingly genuine sigh.Perhaps there was more heart to this playboy than Kara thought. Then again, Bill Cosby seemed to be nothing but heart until the brave women came forward and testified against him. It's too easy to show only one tailored side of oneself on television.Mike lifted the first rose, his fingers careful to avoid the long thorns that production mistakenly or intentionally forgotten to shear off. The bachelor didn’t seem to mind, however; his thoughts were elsewhere.“Siobhan,” he said.Kara could practically feel the smirk and arrogance seeping off of Siobhan as she pushed through the women in front of her strutted up to Mike to accept the first rose of the night. She even had the gall to smell it as she walked back, gloating to the other contestants before returning to her designated taped X where she was supposed to stand. It took every ounce of Kara’s will power not to roll her eyes.“Lena.”Hearing her roommate’s name instantly had Kara perking right back up. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she saw Lena sheepishly but gracefully accept Mike’s extended rose. After mumbling her thanks, Kara and Lena shared a quick smile as Lena walked back towards the contestants. Kara couldn’t help but feel a smug pride in knowing that her girl, sorry, no, her friend had gotten the second rose of the evening.“Nia.”Thankful to rid herself of the tension war-zone of Eve and Leslie, Nia quickly sauntered forward to accept the rose from Mike who couldn’t help but smile at Nia’s excitement even if she did have on an ankle boot. Upon receiving it and turning back, it looked as if Nia shared another smile with one of the producers; the same dark-haired one that had driven her to the hospital after she had sprained her ankle rock climbing. Apparently, Nia had been making some friends of her own outside of the contestants.“Meghan.”Kara’s heartbeat began to quicken. There were now past the halfway point and she still hadn’t received a rose. This wasn’t good. So much of her career as a journalist. And Alex and Maggie would never relent on teasing. She had not doubt that they would even make her watch her own failure when the episodes were set to air months later.“Imra.”Yep, this was it. At least this way she didn’t have to worry about getting too invested. Right now, she could just rip it all off like a band aid and then just go from there. This would be fine. She would be fine. Everything’s fine.“Kara.”“Oh, thank God.”Kara hadn’t realized she had whispered it aloud until all the contestants around her turned to look at her. With horrifying embarrassment, Kara ducked her head in an attempt to hide her face that was now the same color as her red dress. Thankfully, she made it down the step without falling. For a brief moment, she considered crossing her arms in an effort to hide the stain, but she decided the negative body language that it would convey wasn’t worth it. Instead, she did her best to summon an embarrassed but thankful grin that miraculously won one from Mike in return.“Kara, will you accept this rose?” Mike asked with an almost boyish grin.“Yes,” Kara said as she took it. “Thank you.”The first thing Kara saw when she turned back to face the other girls was Lena’s sly grin which only made Kara blush even harder. The other women seemed less impressed as they parted so Kara could make it back up to the taped X the producers told her to stand on. It wasn’t until she was back in position and staring ahead at Mike like the other girls with a rose in hand that Kara felt like she could actually breath.One more ceremony down. Only seven more to go.With only one rose and two women left, tension rose even higher on the front row. Neither Eve nor Leslie had gotten a rose yet. After the stunt that they had pulled just before the rose ceremony, it appeared as if Mike had taken sides. Whichever one he chose, he clearly smitten with. Kara made a note that that would be the contestant that she would have to watch out for. Either Eve or Leslie already had Mike tied around their finger.“Eve.”Eve’s shoulder’s slumped in relief while Leslie’s shoulder’s tensed when the final rose was called. Kara watched with a slight raised brow of judgement as Eve strutted forward, stumbling slightly from what was most likely from the several glasses of wine she had in the hours before. She was rather cocky as she accepted the rose, even flashing Leslie a gloating grin as she returned to the other girls, but Leslie didn’t show much emotion. Instead, Leslie’s face took on a neutral and firm expression as she braced her shoulders almost as if she were a solider. Leslie didn’t seem much like the kind of girl who cried heartbroken tears after a breakup, but instead burned their ex’s picture and moved on.“Ladies,” Morgan stepped into the center of the room. “Please say your goodbyes.”Nia automatically gave Leslie’s stiff frame a hug which caught Kara slightly off guard, but even more so when Leslie relaxed and returned it. Imra and Megan were quick to follow suit, leading Kara to offer one soon after. Lena, who didn’t seem like much of a hugger to begin with, offered her farewell with a pat on the shoulder. Sam followed likewise, telling Leslie that Livewire would be the first DJ on her radio presets and the first woman she would call for back-up in a fight. Only Siobhan and Eve didn’t offer much anything in a farewell, instead they stood and watched with their arms crossed, but Kara doubted if Leslie really cared. After Leslie had finished her goodbyes with the other contestants, Mike walked her out, leaving the rest of the girls to return back to the mansion.On their way towards the mansion, Kara’s gaze drifted towards Lena. How long would it take for herself or Lena to be sent home? What would happen then? Would they even remain friends? There was just something different about her and Kara wasn’t quite ready to lose Lena just yet. She wondered if she ever would.~~~“Come on, Alex, pick up,” Kara grumbled.Once again, Kara was sitting on the cold porcelain of the bathtub in her bathroom. While she knew Alex would love to have an update on who left, Kara really just needed someone to talk to. Mike had stirred up some feelings in her that she typically kept buried and for good reason. When those feelings did come up, Alex was the only person she talked to about it. She had been there from the nearly the beginning after all. She was the only one Kara didn’t have to fill in or build up a trust with. Of course, she was also the one who sometimes lacked the ability to pick up their phone.“Ugh,” Kara sighed after her fifth failed attempt.Kara would never consider herself to be a very clingy person. That just wasn’t the sort of person she was. She may be a reporter and loved talking with other people to get their stories, but she greatly valued her alone time and independence. But once in a blue moon, something would press her buttons just so and she desperately needed someone then. And Alex had always been that person. Except for tonight.Reluctantly, Kara stood up from the bathtub, rubbing at her neck where a knot was already forming from stress. A quick glance at herself in the mirror told her she looked pretty bad for a girl who got a rose tonight. Her make-up removed and her evening gown replaced with oversized pajamas, making her look rather rough. With a sigh, Kara just shook her head. She just needed some sleep.“You okay?” Lena asked, as Kara walked back into the room.“Hm?” Kara asked, doing her best to hide the burner phone in her hand before she could deposit it back in her shoe. “Oh yeah, just tired, that’s all.”“I can turn off the light,” Lena said, placing her bookmark in her book and closing it so she could stand up.“No really, that’s not necessary,” Kara insisted. Her gaze flitted over Lena’s causal sleeping attire, and she was baffled how someone could look so stunning before bed while she herself looked like a train wreck. “I thought I might stay up for a little bit longer. Look at the stars, you know?”Stargazing had always been one of Kara’s preferred ways to calm herself down. It was why she had those childish glow-in-the-darks ones on her apartment ceiling. There was just something about staring into the vast darkness and wondrous universe that always managed to put her at ease.“Well, if there are any stars, that is,” Kara said as she looked out the window to a black sky. “Is it cloudy tonight or something?”“I didn’t think so,” Lena said, putting her book away to look out the window by the Kara. “Maybe if you open up the window?”Kara did, but all they were greeted with was a gentle breeze rather than constellations.“Maybe it’s because we’re too close to the city?” Kara sadly suggested with a deep sigh.Of course, the stars have to fail her the same night Alex does. But just when Kara thought all hope was lost, Lena spoke up.“Or we just have a bad angle. Pass me my bath robe.”“Why?” Kara asked as she passed Lena her bath robe.“Because I don’t want to get cold,” Lena slipped into her robe, flipping her hair out and sending a wave of delicious lavender scent Kara’s way. “Now come on.”“Where?” Kara asked, but by Lena’s movement she already had a good idea.“Outside of course,” Lena explained, one leg already hanging out the window. “The roof is flat outside our window anyhow. You deserve to get to look at your stars.”“Lena, this is ridiculous!”“Oh relax,” Lena said, already standing on the roof outside their window. “It’s not like we’re climbing down off the roof or sneaking out. We’re just star gazing.”“But what if you fall?”“Well, you said you’d catch me,” Lena flashed a smirk. “I’m holding you to that. What do you say, Kara?” Lena held out her hand. “Would you care to stargaze with me tonight?”Kara hesitated. This was ridiculous. What if they got caught? What if they fell? Would they stay on the show? This was such a huge risk for what felt like nothing.But seeing that look in Lena’s eyes and that awaiting hand held out for her had Kara obliging before she could give it much more thought.“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Kara said as she climbed out on the rood and stood on the roof next to Lena.“Well you better believe it,” Lena said as she tightened her bathrobe. “I used to sneak out of my room all the time to stargaze.”“You did?” Kara asked, her breath catching ever so slightly.“You can make fun of me later."“I would never make fun of that,” Kara said automatically.For a moment, Kara thought that Lena was blushing, but she knew it had to have been the wind.“Where do you want to sit?” Lena asked.“Is here good?” Kara asked. “I’d rather not go too far out with it being so dark.”“Here is absolutely fine.”Their shoulder’s brushed against one another as they sat down on the rough shingles. Kara tucked her bare feet underneath her legs for warmth, wishing she had been smart and grabbed her bathrobe like Lena had, but she didn’t want to go in now. Not while during their adventure.“Do you see anything?” Lena asked as she squinted towards the sky.“Uh…” Kara looked up and once again saw the starless sky she saw from her window. “I don’t think so.”“Wait, what’s that?” Lena asked, pointing at a blinking dot in the distance.“I’m pretty sure that’s a plane.”“Oh. Well, what about that?”“Cell tower.”“Oh wow. To be fair, I left my glasses in the room. I promise I’m not this bad at this.”“Don’t worry about it,” Kara laughed.Things fell a bit silent after that. While they may have been too close to the city to see the stars, they were far away enough so they didn’t have to hear it. Occasionally they would hear an engine purring down the road or frogs croaking around them, but it was still rather peaceful on the roof. Lena continued to squint up at the sky as Kara’s fell down towards the roof in front of them as she fiddled with her finger nails.“Do you want me to talk about what happened earlier?” Kara asked quietly.“Only if you want to,” Lena replied softly.“It’s just,” Kara ran her fingers through her hair as she sighed. “Mike just said somethings that sort of triggered me that’s all. He just doesn’t understand some things.”“He does come from a very different lifestyle. That can be a hard thing for some people to overcome in any relationship.”“I just wish he understood how great he has had it.”Lena scoffed a sighed. “He does certainly lack in maturity.”“And I’m not saying that that makes him a bad person or anything,” Kara continued. “But it does make me feel as if I can’t talk to him about certain things. Like he wouldn’t understand. That he might judge me.”“Yeah,” Lena said softly, her gaze trailing off in the distance. “I understand that.”They were both quite for several moments, listening to the unseen nightly world around them. Kara could feel her heart beating in both her head and chest. Her own nerves were building inside her. Alex wasn’t here to help her defuse them like she normally was, and she just had to talk to someone about it. Someone who would understand. For some reason, something was telling her that Lena would.“I miss my parents,” Kara whispered.She could see Lena tense ever so slightly beside her, and for a split second, Kara wished that she had never said anything. But then she felt Lena’s warm hand cover hers.“That’s okay,” Lena said, offering a kind smile to the blond beside her.“Do you miss yours?”Lena hesitated.“My mother and I do not exactly have the best relationship,” Lena said slowly. “Mostly due to the fact that is simply my stepmother.”“What about your dad?”Lena gave a small shrug.“He died a couple years ago,” she explained. “We weren’t really that close. He was always working.”“Oh,” Kara said softly, her gaze falling to her lap.“But my real mother,” Lena added quietly. “I do miss her.”“Yeah?” Kara flipped her hand over so her and Lena were now locking fingers. “Tell me about her.”“She was… beautiful,” Lena sighed. “Kind. Smart. Funny. All the things a girl could ever ask for in a mother.” Those stunning green eyes stared out across the distance, hunting for the horizon on a dark night. Kara gave her hand a squeeze. “She died when I was four. Drowning.”“Both mine died when I was thirteen,” Kara said as she too looked off in the distance. “House fire.”Lena gave Kara’s hand a squeeze in return. A single tear slid down Lena’s pale cheek, but she wiped it away.“I’m sorry,” Kara said quickly as she wiped the back of her sleeve against her nose. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”“No, you’re fine, really,” Lena insisted with a steadying breath. “I never talk about her. It feels sort of good to. Freeing almost.”“Do you want to talk about it some more?” Kara asked.“Only if you do too,” Lena gave a small smile.It was that night, on that roof under a starless sky, holding hands with the with a beautiful woman through both mutual laughter and tears, Kara realized that of all the relationships she would form on this show, her one with Lena was the only one that truly mattered to her.
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That night was the first night Lena dreamt about Kara. It was a peaceful dream, simply just the two of them lying on the roof once again with those strong but soft hands holding hers. That sweet vanilla scent of the blonde wrapping around her like a blanket. Kara would laugh, flashing that smile so big that it crinkled her nose and she would have to push her glasses back up. Even though she wasn’t sure what Kara was laughing at it, Lena couldn’t help but laugh along. She felt the most safe and free than she ever had at any point in her life. It was perfect. She never wanted to wake up. But, like all good things, it had to end. When she awoke to the shrill shrieking of her alarm, Lena found that she was alone in the room. Kara’s bed was empty but had clearly been slept in and the bathroom door hung open revealing an empty room. With a small sigh, Lena shook her head as she got out of bed, doing her best to shake remaining emotions from her dream. If anything, she wanted to smack herself or bang her head against the wall. This was not the time to develop one of her ridiculous crushes. She thought she had put that to rest after Veronica. While Kara may be the only real friend Lena thinks she’s ever made, she was nothing more than that. If she let stronger emotions get involve or even so much as dabble in the hope of it ever being something more, she would no doubt lose Kara completely. Besides, she was here for Mike and nothing more. After a quick shower, making her bed, and getting ready for the day, Lena drifted downstairs to where she knew most of the other contestants already were eating breakfast. As always, a large spread of everything from waffles to oatmeal laid awaiting on the dining table where the other contestants already sat. With Kara nowhere to be seen and the food lacking the dent that usually indicated Kara’s presence, Lena couldn’t help but frown. Where exactly was her roommate this morning? Once again, Lena shook her head. These clingy urges had to stop. Besides, it was probably time for Lena to try to socialize with other people outside of the beautiful blonde. Pouring herself a cup of black coffee, Lena then sat down next to Sam who was busying herself reading on her Kindle. “Reading anything good?” Lena asked as she cradled her coffee cup in hand. “I wish,” Sam sighed as she set down her tablet. “I thought this experience would be the perfect time to read all of those classics I told myself I would read someday, but my gosh is Les Miserables the longest long-winded book I’ve ever read. I still don’t understand how he wrote it in the 1800s and kept all those pages in order.” “I mean it was the 1800s,” Megan shrugged. “What else did he have to do?” “But it’s 1,900 pages,” Sam said. “He had to have had something better to do than ramble on for that long.” “Just be glad it’s not Moby Dick,” Nia said as she picked off the poppy seeds on her bagel. “Every page put me to sleep.” “Everything puts you to sleep, girl,” Megan said. Nia opened her mouth to protest before she closed it and shrugged in agreement. “Either way,” Sam continued. “I would just prefer to get back to my old routine of reading the paper every morning with coffee.” “You read the paper every morning?” Megan asked. “I knew you were old, but I didn’t realize you were sixty.” Sam rolled her eyes. “Excuse me for preferring to know what’s going on in the world. For all we know, an astroid could be headed towards earth.” Siobhan scoffed. “Like that would ever happen.” “Really?” Sam raised as eyebrow. “Then I certainly don’t want a journalist with your attitude covering it.” “Don’t worry,” Megan said. “She’ll be too busy taking coffee and lunch orders to ever get a chance.” Siobhan jaw clenched and gave a murderous glare to Megan, but she didn’t say anything as she took a sip of her coffee. “Can I pass you a waffle or anything, Lena?” Imra said after a beat of tense silence. “I think I’ll stick with coffee, thank you,” Lena said, returning Imra’s kind smile. “Did someone say waffles?” Lena turned around and her jaw almost dropped to the floor. Behind her, Kara stood in her damp Central City Running Club tank top and athletic shorts. Her wet hair was tied back in high ponytail and a thick gleam of sweat highlighted those toned muscular curves in her arms and legs. But most captivating of all were her shimmering blue eyes that were now unobscured by her glasses. How was it possible for someone to look this good after a workout? It was a good thing Lena wasn’t holding her coffee cup then because she surely would have dropped it. “Yeah!” Imra perked up. “There’s plenty left if you want some.” “Please,” Kara said as she took the seat next to Lena. “So,” Lena cleared her throat as she did her best not to stare at Kara’s flexed arms as she reached across and filled her plate with waffles and fruit. “How far did you run this morning?” “Oh, nothing too far,” Kara said, reaching for another waffle. “I just ran the trail behind the mansion five or six times.” “That’s a 2-mile trial.” Eve said. “Huh,” Kara said as her eyebrows shot up. “I guess I had more energy to burn off than I realized.” Lena hated herself for how long she let her gaze linger on Kara’s exposed, gleaming bicep as she reached for the syrup and poured it over her breakfast. Thankfully she had plenty of coffee to drink because otherwise her mouth would have been completely dry. For a moment, Lena considered volunteering to run with Kara in the morning, but she didn’t need any of her degrees to know that none of her spin classes had prepped her to keep up with this athletic goddess. Then again, it would provide Lena with a much better view to watch those muscles in action. Maybe she could just so happen to fall not too far into the workout and Kara would have to carry her… A particularly hot sip of her coffee burnt Lena’s tongue, shocking her out of her vastly inappropriate daydream. What was wrong with her? This was her roommate and friend. Pull yourself together, Luthor. She shouldn’t even be looking at this blonde. She was here for Mike. Right? Eve loudly cleared her throat, and Lena readily welcomed the distraction, whipping her gaze to the squirrely blonde now standing at the head of the table. “Well, since you’re all here now,” Eve said. “I wanted to take this time to formally apologize for what I said and did last night. I clearly had too much to drink last night and it is very unfortunate that Leslie paid the price of it. That was never my intention. I just overreacted a little bit.” All the women remained silent for several seconds, each sneaking glances at the others. Lena fought back a small smile as she saw Kara slowly but sneakily eat one more piece of her waffle. “Well, that was very brave of you to say that, Eve,” Imra said, finally breaking the awkward silence. “But just to be clear,” Megan added. “You did call her a whore and try to fight her. I really don’t think we’re the ones that you need to be apologizing to. Expect for Sam. You kind of attacked her just to get at Leslie.” Sam opened her mouth but was swiftly cut off by Siobhan. “Oh relax,” Siobhan crossed her arms. “It’s not like she can actually apologize to Leslie right now anyway. And so what Leslie went home? She clearly wasn’t his type anyway and it was obvious she was just here to promote her own radio career. Eve did us a service if anything.” Megan cocked her head and narrowed her eyes in disbelief. “That’s definitely not what I would call it…” “Good morning, ladies!” All the women turned around to see Morgan strutting in with several camera men behind him. His teeth flashed an unnaturally white smile as he spun in his gray suite. Several of the women stood up with Lena and Kara following clumsily after a few seconds. Some of the contestants tried to hide their bare faces since it was too early for them to have thought about putting make-up one, but Lena secretly adored that Kara made no attempt to hide herself even so sweat and so soon after a workout. It wasn’t like she needed to either. “I hope you all are doing well today,” Morgan smiled before taking a more serious tone. “Unfortunately, that cannot be said for Mike.” Imra gasped, her hands coming to her mouth while all the other contestants took on similar looks of shock and nerves. A ball of fear gripped Lena’s stomach. This season couldn’t be over already. “Is he alright?” Imra quickly asked. “He will be tomorrow,” Morgan offered her a sympathetic smile that seemed just a tad too disingenuous to be real. “He’s tragically come down with food poisoning early this morning and he will be unable to spend any time with you all today. The dates have been delayed.” A chorus of groans filled the room, but Lena couldn’t help but feel relieved. It wasn’t over just yet. She still had time. “Today is whatever you all make of it,” Morgan continued. “You’re welcome to do anything you would like around the house or on the property. We just ask that you do not leave. Everything else is free reign. Please enjoy the pool or some drinks or whatever else you would like to spend you day. The day is yours.” “The whole day,” Sam muttered as she picked up her Kindle. “I guess I do have to keep reading Les Miserables.” “Or you could nap,” Nia suggested. Sam slowly grinned. “I like the way you think, Nia.” “All day,” Kara mumbled as she slumped back in her seat. “Maybe I went on my run too early. What do you think you’re going to do, Lena?” “Probably just reading by the pool,” Lena shrugged. “Maybe some journaling if I feel up to it.” “Ooo that’s a good idea,” Kara perked up. “Mind if I sit next to you while I journal?” “As long as you don’t try out any of those god-awful pick-up lines on me.” “What do you think I’ll be writing out?” Kara grinned wider when Lena rolled her eyes.~~~ “You know if you were a library book, I would check you out.” “I don’t take Mike as someone who has an affinity for reading,” Lena said, not looking up from her own book. The day had passed by surprisingly quickly for Lena. Most of her day had been spent by the pool with her book in hand, but she hadn’t been able to get nearly as much reading done as she had expected with Kara next to her. It wasn’t just because the conversation flowed so easily between the two of them, Lena couldn’t help but get distracted with her so close. There was just something so fascinating about Kara when she wrote. The way her eyes and forehead crinkled in thought, her hand glided across the paper in a quick but elegant script, her teeth bit her bottom lip in concentration. Lena had never seen anyone more focused in her entire life. It was by far too much attention and writing to just be going into some cheesy pick-up lines. And of course, it didn’t help that Kara was just in another pair of athletic shorts and a tank top. It may not have been as revealing the bikini top and skirt Lena herself was wearing, but it definitely put those surprisingly defined arms and legs on view. Somehow Lena managed to stay on her best behavior for the five seconds it took her to help rub the sunscreen onto Kara’s back. It was pathetic and she knew it. This was her friend. She had no reason to feel the need to throw herself into the pool to cool off. Besides, it was a passing crush. These feelings would die like the always did and develop with someone else before she knew it. It was just the cycle of life. In the meantime, it would just be best to shove them down as deep as possible. “Dang it,” Kara groaned as she held up her broken pencil point. “Well, you know what? Life without you is like a broken pencil. Pointless.” Lena rolled her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time that day, but she couldn’t help but give a small smile. “Are you going to carry around a pencil with you and break it just so it comes across that smoothly?” “Not a bad idea actually,” Kara said, slumping back against her pool chair. “This would be so much easier if I had the internet.” “But then where would the fun and sincerity be?” Kara arched an eyebrow with a sly grin. “So, you do like my pick-up lines?” “Well, I never said that,” Lena said with a slight splutter, grateful for her large glasses to hide behind. “You just called them fun.” Lena pursed her lips as Kara’s grin only grew wider. “I suppose I can’t argue with you there.” “Hey guys!” The both looked up to see Megan coming towards them, and they both returned a way. “What’s up?” Kara asked, quickly closing her journal and shoving it in her bag before she could even get a glance at it. “The other girls and I were talking about playing a little drinking game if you guys would be up for it. It probably won’t last for super long since none of us really want to nurse a hangover for tomorrow, but we still thought it could be a fun way to pass the time. You guys in?” “Yeah, sure,” Kara said, turning to look at Lena. “You in?” “Why not?” ~~~ When Lena and Kara arrived, it was clear that several of the girls were already a few drinks ahead of them, but Lena was okay with that. The sooner one of them puked, the sooner she could leave. These sorts of party games were never her cup of tea. The only times Lena ever drunk heavily was privately. Social settings like this tended to stress her out too much. But she didn’t feel like she had much of a choice especially when Sam slung her arm around her neck and pulled her the chair next to her. “I need for you to do me a favor,” Sam said, her words already slurring. “No matter how much I want to, don’t let me throw my Kindle into the ocean.” “You mean the pool?” Lena asked slowly. “That body of water right over there,” Sam pointed at the pool. “Why would you want to throw your Kindle into the ocean?” “To drown everyone so the book will end!” “Oh, so I take it Les Miserables still isn’t going well for you?” Lena gently reached for the Kindle on the table in front of Sam. “How about I take this from you now and just hold on to it for the rest of the night?” “You’re a smart woman, Lena,” Sam said, giving Lena’s shoulder a heavy pat that caused Lena to stumble slightly. “Thanks,” Lena said as she slid the Kindle to Kara who was barely holding back her laughter as she watched the entire exchange. “Could you keep this in your bag for now?” “Sure,” Kara said, shoving it in her bag next to her journal. “Alright ladies,” Megan called out from the head of the kitchen table. “It’s time for that classic game that I’m sure none of you have played since college: Never Have I Ever!” Lena’s heart sank. She hated this game. She hadn’t played since boarding school because she actively avoided it all cost. It always ended with her not even tipsy and everyone else drunk calling her a prude. At least she definitely wouldn’t have to worry about a hangover tomorrow. “Rules are simple,” Megan continued. “Someone says something that they have never done and anyone else who has done it has to take a drink. Nia would you like to start us off?” “Uh, okay, um,” Nia bit her lip as she thought. “Never have I ever cheated on a test?” “Oh, wow have we got a little Ms. Perfect over here,” Siobhan said as she took a large swig of her wine. Everyone else besides Kara and Lena took a drink. Everyone turned to look at them questioningly, but Lena couldn’t help but be secretly relieved that perhaps she wouldn’t be the only prude of this game. “Alright, so three little Ms. Perfects,” Siobhan added dryly. “It’s your turn, Imra,” Megan said, ignoring Siobhan. “Okay, um, let’s see,” Imra drummed her fingers against the table. “Never have I ever left the country.” “Oh, come on,” Siobhan groaned, “Let’s get more creative than that.” “One time I fell asleep on a bus and found myself at the border for Mexico,” Nia said. “Aren’t you from Canada?” Lena asked. “Yeah,” Nia said. “I kind of missed my stop.” “Clearly,” Lena mumbled as she took a sip of her drink. “Okay, my turn,” Eve said. “Never have I ever had a one-night stand.” “Alright, now we’re talking!” Siobhan exclaimed, once again taking another drink. Once again, both Lena and Kara didn’t take a drink while several of others did. Megan gave a shout of surprise and gleeful pat on the back as Imra sheepishly took a drink. “It was once in college and to my credit, I just discovered Long Island Iced Tea,” Imra said. “Oh honey, we’ve all been there,” Megan laughed. “Alright, my turn,” Siobhan said with a sly smile. “Never have I ever kissed a girl.” Lena tensed. Did she know? How would she know? This had to just be her own paranoia talking. No one besides Veronica knew the true answer to that question. And she had made it clear many times that no one was supposed to know out of the two of them. Sliding on the neutral hard mask she usually saved for her mother, Lena didn’t take a drink. Especially not with the cameras on her. It only threatened to break when she saw that Kara too didn’t take a drink. Of course, she didn’t. Kara was a beautiful blonde, blue-eyed goddess. She was every man’s dream. If anything, this should solidify her determination to shove those ridiculous crushy feelings into a box and throw them into the pool to drown. “Wait, you two have both kissed a girl?” Eve asked, snapping Lena back into the game. “Yeah,” Sam shrugged. “Didn’t you ever experiment in college? If not, you definitely missed out.” “Cheers to that!” Megan laughed as she held up her drink. Everyone else laughed but Lena and Kara.~~~ The game lasted a few more rounds before it gradually fell apart. Conversation overtook the game and many of the women broke off into pairs to go find something else to do. With it already being dark and both exhausted after hanging out with people several drinks ahead of them, Kara and Lena decided to call it a night and head back up to their room. Lena couldn’t help but feeling this terrible gnawing sensation in her stomach as she got ready for bed. Typically, lying never bothered her. She did it with her mother without second thought all the time, but with Kara, it was different. Maybe it was just the fact that Kara was the first person she ever really remotely trusted and chance to spill a secret she had been burdened with for years was just all too appealing. “Are you feeling okay, Lena?” Kara asked as she climbed in her bed. “Hm?” Lena said as she busied herself with her suitcase. “Oh, I’m fine.” “You sure? You’ve been acting a little off since the drinking game.” “Oh, I just never enjoyed those kinds of games. Not in my style.” “Yeah, I get that. People always end up calling me boring. It’s not even that fun of a game if you ask me.” “Seriously.” The gnawing in her stomach only intensified. It was now in her chest and throat. This was someone who understood her. Surely this was someone, the only one, Lena could be honest with. Furthermore, there were no cameras in here. This could stay between the two of them. And then Kara would leave to go back to National City and Lena to Metropolis. If anything, this would be the ideal person to tell. And if she took it poorly, Lena was sure Nia wouldn’t mind if she bunked with her now that Leslie was gone. “Kara,” Lena said slowly, “can I tell you something?” “Of course,” Kara said automatically. “Anything.” “I sort of lied,” Lena’s gaze suddenly became very focused on a tiny speck of dirt underneath her fingernails. “In the game. I have a kissed girl before.” “Oh,” Kara said softly. “It was in boarding school and again a little bit in college.” The words flowed before Lena could stop them. The secret was finally out of its tightly sealed box and refused to ever go back in. “Her name was Veronica. She was this cruel, mean woman I befriend my junior year in boarding school. I hated how she would treat others in our class, but I hated even more how much I was drawn to her and how good she made me feel. I was so weak, but she was anything but. She knew how to evoke these feelings and emotions in me that I’ve never felt before. I’ve been trying to find that feeling in all my relationships since, but I’ve found anything remotely close.” Her mouth finally fell shut after the last sentence. It was secret that had been a secret to even her. Actually, just one she had been in denial over for the past several years. Jack had always been wrong for her. He never gave her those feelings. He never came remotely close. They were both quite for several long seconds. Perhaps Lena said too much. Who was she to even think it was suitable to spill that kind of deep secret to someone so new to her life? At least it was out now. She wouldn’t have to worry about spilling it to Nia now when she moved all her stuff in there. “Can I tell you something?” Kara asked quietly, finally breaking the silence. “Of course.” Lena said, her head automatically snapping up to finally look at the blond laying on her bed with her gaze fixed on the blank cleaning above her. “I… kissed a girl in college too.” Kara said slowly. “Several times.” Lena couldn’t help but offer a small smile. “I guess we’re not boring prudes after all then.”
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Kara laid in bed awake for a while that night. Her mind was too busy to even consider sleep. She told Lena about Lana. She told Lena that she had kissed a girl. Just the thought of that made her heartbeat quicken. But one other thought made her heart beat even faster.Lena had kissed a girl too.That fact seemed to just do something to her. It sent a sensation through her body that made her want to do anything but sleep. It made her want to do things. This was exactly how she felt the night before after her dream about Lena. Just waking up and seeing her asleep across the room after that had sent an unexpected jolt of energy through her. Despite the early morning hour, there was no way she would have been able to fall back sleep. A run had helped her then, but now at this hour, she had no hope for that. All she could do was sit on her hands and will her body to calm down enough to grab at least an hour or two of sleep.~~~“Kara, do you have any idea what time it is?”“Well it’s earlier here,” Kara said as she ducked beneath a tree branch. “Besides, aren’t you normally up by now?”“Not on my weekends off,” Alex groaned. “Where are you anyway? Is that static?”“Oh, that might be the leaves,” Kara looked down at the layer of brown leaves and sticks underfoot.“Leaves? Wait, are you outside? Kara, you’re supposed to be being discreet when you call me! They could kick you off the show if they see you talking to me.”“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Kara said, peaking over her shoulder just to be safe even though she knew she was completely unnoticed. “There’s a running trail behind the mansion through the woods and I’m off trail on the complete other end, I’m fine. And besides it’s like 5:30 AM. None of the other girls or crew are awake yet.”“Why are you awake?”“Oh, you know, thought it would be a good time for a run.”“With the sun barely up?”“Coolest part of the day.”“Kara, you intentionally wait until at least 9 AM before you go on any run just so you know that your chances of finding a dead body are at its lowest.”“Well, I mean who would put a dead body behind the Bachelor mansion anyway?”“Someone trying to get a lot of recognition. And killers tend to be narcissistic that way.”“Oh gosh, Alex, you can’t say that kind of thing to your sister when I’m by myself in the woods!!”“You shouldn’t be calling your sister this early in the morning!”“Look I…” Kara sighed as she rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry. I just needed to talk to someone. Someone who probably understands.”“Is everything okay?” Alex asked, immediately dropping any irritation and taking on a tone of concern.“It’s just I was wondering…” Kara took a deep breath, summoning any little bit of courage she had left. “What was it like when you met Maggie?"“What do you mean?”“Like…” Kara struggled to find words before she whispered, “like how did you feel?"The line was silent for several seconds. Kara didn’t need to see her sister’s face to know just what pieces her sister was putting together. It still made her grateful that her sister couldn’t see her face. This wasn’t a conversation she thought she could manage in person.“I felt hopeful,” Alex finally replied. “Hopeful that I could actually be happy. Maybe not for the rest of my life, but hopeful for as long as I had this person in my life, I could actually be happy. And that just maybe, I could make her happy too.”Kara swallowed down the lump forming in her throat.“Had you ever felt that way about anyone else before?” Kara asked, her eyes watering slightly as she squinted at the slowing rising sun through the brush.“Certain aspects of it, yes. But never to that fullest extent until my first date with her. I didn’t feel like I had to fight anymore. It just never felt completely right with anyone else.” Alex paused. “Have you felt like that?”Kara let out another sigh as she leaned against a tree, letting the rough bark dig into her back. The cool breeze of a California summer revealed goosebumps along her skin even with her thin jacket clutched tight around her. Around her, birds started to chirp and sing as the forest around her began to awaken. Even with the distance from the and stark contrast from the mansion, Kara still struggled to keep her breath even.“Remember Winn?” Kara asked.“The guy you dated in college? Yeah.”“I kind of felt that way with him. Or at least, I wanted to. He would have been perfect for me.”“Really? That boy followed you around like a puppy dog. He was obsessed with you.”“So? He was funny, we got along, and he treated me well. And he made great grades, and now he’s like a huge web developer over in Star City. Just think of how happy we could be right now if I had let things work out between us.”“But would you be? Be happy that is.”“He would be ecstatic. He’d have everything he ever wanted.”“But would you be?”“I…” the words trailed off before Kara could say them. With a deep sigh, Kara’s legs slowly gave out as she slid down the tree’s trunk and on to the crunchy leafy forest floor. “No. I don’t think I would be.”“It’s okay to feel like that, Kara. There is nothing wrong with not liking someone back.”“But I want to. We would have been perfect if I could have just developed feelings in return.”“We can’t help who we develop those feelings for.”“I know,” Kara gave a small groan as she shook her head. “It’s just so irritating how everyone else seems to do it so easily. So many people here are already head over heels in love with Mike even though they barely know him.”“A lot of its probably for show. The whole fake it till you make it kind of thing. And besides, it’s definitely not a bad thing to not fall in love so easily. It saves you from a lot of heartbreak and betrayal in the long wrong.”“Whoever said I was immune from heartbreak?” Kara gave a bitter laugh.“Kara…”“I just wish this wasn’t so complicated. And that I could just choose who I develop them for. Or better yet, just transfer them from someone else.”Alex paused before asking slowly, “Someone like who?”“I…” Kara caught herself, immediately hating herself for how much she had already said. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not like it would work out anyway.”“Maybe you’ll be surprised.”Kara shook her head, doing her best to push down the emotions that were welling up and covering them with humor like she did best. “I’ll be surprised if I make it into the next round.”“Well, you better,” Alex said. “They’re about to start airing the episodes soon, and I like having the inside scoop. My bachelor bracket needs to be solid this year.”“You better cut me in on winnings you get then.”“I’ll consider it,” Alex paused for a second. “Kara, you know you can talk to me about anything, right? And anything that you tell me won’t make me feel differently about you and I’ll always love and treat you like a sister.”“Yeah,” Kara leaned her head back against the tree as she let out a deep breath she didn’t even realize she was holding. “I know.”“Great, now tell me who you think is going to win this thing.”~~~After her unexpectedly long conversation with her sister, Kara still had some energy for the run she had planned. Afterall, she had to at least look sweaty and worn out when she got back to the mansion for appearance’s sake.When she did arrive back to the mansion, many of the other girls were already sitting at the breakfast table like the day before with the massive food buffet in front of them going untouched as the grumpily cradled their coffee in front of them, no doubt nursing a hangover from the night before. Without hesitation, Kara grabbed a plate and built a small tower of bacon and eggs on it, topping it off with a two large waffles. She searched for butter and syrup to top them when she heard a voice next to her.“Don’t most people carbo load before they run?”Kara whirled to the side, almost dropping her pile of food in the process, to see her roommate with a delicate eyebrow quirked up. Kara would have guessed that Lena hadn’t woken up too long ago since she was still her sleepwear and there wasn’t a trace of make up on her face, but that in no way hindered her beauty. Her long raven hair still hung perfectly, and those stunning green eyes still shown with a hidden strength. Kara could look into those eyes for hours and still find something new.But this was breakfast and there were several other girls sitting around them.“Maybe I’m carbo loading for tomorrow?” Kara suggested with a weak smile.“Sure,” Lena gave a playful smirk with a roll of her eyes.“Do you want any?” Kara held out her plate in offering, but Lena quickly held her hand up.“Oh no,” Lena swiftly replied. “I’d balloon out if I had all of that for one meal. I’ll just stick with my yogurt for now. Besides, I don’t really care much for bacon.”“Really?” Kara said, a grin slowly growing as she continued. “I thought you of all people would love it.”“Why?” Lena frowned.“Cause you’re always bacon me crazy.”Lena rolled her eyes so hard that Kara thought they had rolled back into her skull, but the small smile on Lena’s lips made it all worth it. It may have not been her best work, but Kara still considered it to be pretty smooth for something she came up with on the spot. If only it was that natural with Mike.“Could you two keep it down?” Imra groaned as she rubbed her bleary eyes. “You’re both being obnoxiously loud this morning.”Kara’s brow furrowed in confusion. They weren’t any louder than normal and of all people, Imra wasn’t exactly known for being snippy.“They’re feeling the effects of last night,” Lena murmured. “Definitely had a couple too many last night.”“Ohhh,” Kara nodded. It appeared she had one more reason to be grateful that neither her nor Lena passionately partook in the drinking games of last night.“Have no fear ladies,” Megan announced as strutted into the dining area with a tray of tall drinks in hand. “I bring you your salvation: my famous hangover cure!”“Ugh, why are you so chipper this morning?” Siobhan groaned. “You had more than I did last night.”“Because I had this!”Imra and Siobhan cringed at Megan’s volume, but they didn’t bat away the drink she placed down in front of them all. Sam sniffed it and wrinkled her nose while Nia stirred it with her straw. The drink was thick and almost lumpy with a dull reddish-brown color to it. Megan had attempted a garnish with mint leaves, but it certainly didn’t look any more appetizing.“What’s in it?” Sam asked hesitantly.“A little of this; a little of that,” Meghan shrugged. “Now drink up!”The ladies groaned and gagged softly at the taste, but they did as they were told, all clearly desperate to shake the hangover before the date card came in for the day.“I thought hangover cures never worked,” Kara mumbled to Megan.“They do when you put vodka in them,” Megan winked.Lena threw her head back as she laughed while Kara just stared at Megan in horror.“What?” Megan raised her hands in defense. “A hangover is just your body going into alcohol withdrawal, so if you just give it more alcohol, you feel fine. And besides, it’s not like anyone is driving so there’s no harm in it.”Lena just shook her head as she did her best to muffle any further laughter as Kara’s gaze lingered a bit on Lena’s face that so rarely seemed to express laughter. It was exhilarating. She wanted to see it more even if a little jealousy burned in her that she didn’t cause it, but next time, she would be the cause. She would do her best to make Lena that happy and laugh every chance she got.Their laughter and drinking were suddenly cut short as the women heard the front door open and close. Kara quickly wiped whatever crumbs she may have had on her chin while Lena’s face instantly sobered for the camera crew that followed Morgan Edge in a suit as he strutted into the room full of hungover women in their pajamas. Many of the women sat up straighter, pushing their hair out of their face and attempting to tame their bed head. While not verbally, Kara could see that all of them were silently cursing the fact that Morgan was able to just walk into their home without warning at any hour he deemed with a crew of cameras at his heels. Of course, that didn’t mean there weren’t cameras when he wasn’t around, but they were at least hidden and easily forgettable.“Good morning ladies!” Morgan announced with a broad grin. “I hope you slept well last night.”Kara had a feeling he knew that most of them didn’t. But that’s television.“I just wanted to come here in person and let you know that Mike is actually feeling much better this morning,” Morgan said, his hands rubbing together as he talked to both the contestants and the cameras. “In fact, he’s feeling so much better, that he was hoping that Megan, Lena, Siobhan, Eve, Samantha, Imra, and Nia would join him helping him out of the doghouse.”Many of the women turned and looked at each other questioningly. That supposed hint of a date didn’t sound the most promising or as obvious as the previous rock-climbing group date. Kara was already starting to zone out and start thinking about the pile of waffles on the plate in front of her when she realized that all the other women and cameras were on her.“So that means,” Morgan continued as he turned to address Kara completely. “Kara, Mike would like to take you out tonight. And I have to say,” Morgan exaggerated a look of concern, “it’s a rather corny date.”Kara blinks before she remembers she’s supposed to react positively for the cameras and forces the brightest and largest smile on her face that she can manage. It definitely helps when she spots the plate of waffles in front of her in her peripheral vision.“So, ladies,” Morgan claps his hands, “I’ll leave you all to get ready for your date. And Kara, I’ll see you tonight.”Morgan and his crew left the contestants to process the news, but as soon as they heard the door shut, the smiles on the faces dropped and loud groans took their place.“Why couldn’t he be sick today?” Siobhan groaned.“I don’t think he should have to suffer because we are,” Imra said.“Oh, shut up and drink,” Siobhan said as she herself threw back the rest of Megan’s hangover cure.Kara just looked down and started eating her waffles, intent on avoiding any conflict this early in the morning. She almost didn’t notice Lena sit down next to her with her coffee in hand.“So, it looks like you have the one-on-one for today,” Lena said. “You must be excited.”Kara shrugged.“I’m more nervous about what I’m going to do to fill my time in the mansion with everyone gone.”“Speak for yourself,” Lena groaned. “I don’t know who I’m going to talk to during this date.”Kara laughed, but honestly, she felt the same way.
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Finding a seat on the bus without Kara was more daunting for Lena than she cared to admit. Everyone seemed nice and friendly, but they just weren’t Kara. Perhaps she shouldn’t have made herself so exclusive to one person especially on a show that seemingly glorified the opposite and just spread herself thin like everyone else had. If she had, Lena wouldn’t be developing a stress headache in her temple as she stood in the front of the bus hesitating like the new girl in school all alone and seeing everyone else already paired off in a shared seat. This was going to be a long day. Thankfully, the seat beside Nia looked empty due her to large ankle boot that took up most of the foot room. Since Nia had a custom for sporadic napping, Lena thought she may get a chance for enjoy a trip of silence for once and let the stress headache go away on its own before the group date. But of course, Nia was far too excited for that. “Where do you think we’re going?” Nia rattled off excitedly. Megan’s hangover cure apparently worked a little too well. “Do you think it’s an animal shelter? Oh, or maybe a concert with the people who sing ‘Who Let the Dogs Out?’ Wouldn’t that be so exciting?” “Isn’t that song like 20 years old, though?” Lena asked. Nia’s eyes widened. “No, it can’t be that old. Well, actually, oh gosh, you may be right. You don’t think the Bachelor would be that out of date, would you? But then again, it is a classic song…” “I honestly can’t say,” Lena shrugged, settling deeper into her seat. “Well, what do you think?” Nia pressed, leaning forward. “What do you think he meant by us helping him out of the doghouse?” “Perhaps he’s stuck in an actual doghouse and just needs help getting out,” Lena said, leaning back so she could rest her head on the back of the seat. “Oh gosh, that would be too much,” Nia laughed, oblivious to Lena’s body language. “I don’t even think he would go that far on a joke, especially considering he was sick yesterday.” “Anything is possible,” Lena said. “Well, maybe not anything,” Nia replied. “But I trust that he would take us on a quality date. Especially considering it’s on the network’s dime.” “If only he could be flying us to Paris on the network’s dime,” Lena muttered as she closed her eyes. “Brainy said that’s possible. Especially if your one of the final few contestants. That’s what they’ve done in past seasons too anyway.” “Brainy?” Lena opened her eyes to shoot Nia a questioning glance. “Oh, you know, the producer,” Nia said with a poorly attempted casual wave and a slight blush coloring to her cheeks. “Long dark hair. Warm brown eyes. Endearing small smile. Always ready to jump in if you need help.” “Oh?” Lena raised an eyebrow. “He wasn’t the one that came to your aid when you got injured, was he?” “Yes, that’s the one,” Nia beamed before quickly forcing her excitement down a level. “He, uh, he’s pretty cool.” So sweet, sleepy Nia had a crush on one of the producers. While Lena knew she should be happy strictly because this meant one less girl to worry about, she couldn’t help but be happy over the fact that Nia had figured out her own way to cheat system. As someone who worked in the spiteful, toxic environment that was her family business, Lena couldn’t help root for the underdog that found a loop hole out of the similar environment that was this show. Besides, it was certainly a far better love story than any that the producers or writer would be able to come with for the show. “So, you guys are friends?” Lena said slowly, her eyebrow still quirked high as smile tugged on her slips. “Yeah, I, uh, guess you could say that. We just kind of clicked, you know? Kind of like you and Kara.” Lena blinked. Like her and Kara? “Um…” Lena said slowly, her brow furrowing as her mind whirled. “Well, I hate to be a downer on this conversation,” Nia yawned, “but I think the caffeine is starting to wear off. I might try to catch some sleep on the ride there if that’s alright.” “Yeah, sure.” The stress headache was gone just about as suddenly as it appeared as she let her mind spiral. What did Nia mean exactly? Did she think that there was more to her and Kara’s relationship than just their friendship? Sure, they had clicked rather quickly and, despite the fact that Lena had only known Kara a few days, Lena did consider Kara to be her best friend. But they were roommates so of course they would bond more quickly with each other than with the other girls. And if anything, that was all they were: friends and roommates. That was all they ever would be even Lena’s subconscious told her differently in her dreams. Kara didn’t see her like that. She never would. How could she?Unless, maybe, Nia saw something that she didn’t? “Hey, Nia,” Lena said. “What did you mean when you said like me and Kara?” But her answer was only soft snores since Nia’s face was pressed against the window already asleep. ~~~ The bus didn’t pull up to an animal shelter nor a doghouse, but instead, a massive warehouse. Several of the girls exchanged questioning looks and murmurs as they exited the bus into a large empty parking lot and walked towards it cautiously especially since Mike wasn’t coming out to meet them like he did when the last group date. Rather, the producers ushered them in through the door along the side with the cameras and microphones on their tail the entire time. If this weren’t a popular reality show with so many people, Lena would have feared more for her life. Then, as they walked through another opening along the empty hallway, they found other people in a room blanketed with bright lights and white backgrounds. From the camera’s slung around several individuals’ necks, lighting, and other equipment, Lena quickly deduced it was a photography studio and that the date was likely a photo shoot, meaning that it probably wasn’t the best idea to go with a natural look of lighter make-up today. If she was lucky, maybe she could convince one of the photographers to photoshop out the pimple slowly developing on her chin. But really, what did it matter anyway considering that most of her life over the past couple of days had been documented by camera that definitely didn’t cover up her breakouts. Besides, make-up could only cover so much. However, most of the other girls didn’t pay much attention to the photography studio that they walked into since Mike, in his white-washed jeans and a gray collared shirt, stood grinning in the center of the room. Megan wasted no time as she ran in for another full body hug and even wrapping her legs around the waist of him for a few seconds before she let go. Never to be out done, Siobhan quickly followed Megan with a hug and kiss that made Mike blush. The other greetings were more subdued as Lena was only given a quick side hug like several others, which she definitely preferred over the first two options. “So, ladies,” Mike said, rubbing his hands together as he grinned. “I bet you’re wondering why I brought you all out her today.” “Is it a photoshoot?” Eve gawked. “Do you want us to be models?” “Well, all of you possess model worthy beauty,” Mike said with a sweeping gesture for the camera and Lena barely suppressed an urge to snort while Sam beside her suspiciously coughed. “I thought it would be a shame if it were to go unappreciated.” Eve squealed and bounced in excitement. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun!” “But what did you mean by in the doghouse?” Megan asked, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t see how those two relate.” “Well, it wouldn’t just be us in the pictures…” Mike trialed off with his large grin. Beside them, a door opened and the scampering of small claws on tile and short yips echoed through the room before the collective gasps and exclamations of the girls took its place. Imra immediately threw herself down to eye level of the variety of puppies that stumbled into the room and she immediately grabbed and began intensely cuddling with a brown Labrador puppy. Megan found a Corgi puppy and lost her ability to say anything but praise for it. A white spotted Greyhound puppy stumbled its way into Nia who instantly bonded with it as it chattered in excitement. Sam gravitated towards the gray Pitbull, scratching the puppy behind his ears as it drooled into her lap. Eve couldn’t tear herself away from a fluffy Poodle puppy and even Siobhan found herself enraptured with a tan Chihuahua puppy who couldn’t control its happy tail. And Lena… well, Lena wasn’t much of a dog person. It wasn’t that she didn’t like them or preferred cats. It was just that she didn’t know what to do with them. Her family never had dogs growing up and neither did any of her school housing. While the companionship sounded enjoyable, Lena always worked too much to ever adopt one. She didn’t know what do with an entire fleet of puppies like this. Shouldn’t she have a ball or something? That’s what dogs always liked in movies. Oh, this was going to be a disaster especially since it looked like all the other women had paired off with all the puppies, and it definitely didn’t look like any of them was up for sharing. But then, just as Lena felt another stress headache taking over, she felt something small bump up against her leg. Looking down, Lena saw a golden fluffball beaming up at her with its tongue lolling to the side and its tail thumping against the floor. A smile broke out along Lena’s face as she was instantly reminded of Kara. What other creature could be so obliviously cheerful and so cute all at the same time?“Well, hello there,” Lena said softly.Slowly, she bent down to pet the golden retriever puppy on the head. Immediately, the puppy lolled her head back into her touch and her small tail began spinning frantically behind her. Lena’s eyes widened in surprise. No one, especially a small innocent creature like this, had ever taken to her so quickly. No one except for this puppy and perhaps Kara. Perhaps this was just another similarity Lena was forcing on to the puppy because she missed Kara, but Lena refused to believe that she was that pitiful. They were both just excessively friendly creatures and Lena shouldn’t let that make her feel special since they would treat anyone like that, not just exclusively her.The golden retriever yipped and jumped at Lena’s legs so she could stand up on her hind legs as she leaned her fronts ones against Lena, her long pink lolling to the side as those big brown eyes stared back up at her. They may not have been those blue ones that haunted her dreams, but they melted her heart just the same. Ignoring the piece of her mind that told her that she would only cover herself in long golden dog hair in addition of running the risk of accidentally getting peed on, Lena scooped up the puppy in her arms and held her tight to her chest. Seemingly unfazed by being lifted, the puppy barked happily and laid a heavy lick on Lena’s cheek despite her protest.“This one really seems taken with you,” Lena heard Mike say behind her as she felt a hand touch her waist and his lips come up to her ear before he murmured, “I can’t say it’s the only one.”An uneasy feeling settled in her stomach, but before Lena could say anything, the puppy snapped at Mike, her teeth just missing his chin. A small but fierce growl came from the dog in Lena’s arms as she spun the dog out of reach and Mike quickly backed away. While Lena knew that logically she should distance herself from the angry puppy as well, she couldn’t resist the urge to hold her tighter to her chest.“Sorry,” Lena said, slightly out of breath from the shock. “She doesn’t seem to like you.”“Or she just really likes you,” Mike replied, nodding towards the dog who was now as perfectly content with a broad open smile and her tongue lolling to the side.“I guess so,” Lena said, scratching the golden behind her ears.“I guess I’ll just circle back then,” Mike said before walking towards Megan and Corgi puppy currently chewing on her hand.“Good girl,” Lena whispered as she scratched the happy puppy’s chin.~~~The date consists mainly of a photoshoot centered around the Bachelor and the contestants with the puppies. Mike held each of them at least once except for the golden retriever puppy that seemed ill content in anyone’s arms except for Lena’s. Even when the photographer told Sam to grab it for a shot, the puppy just sulked, but her grumpiness arguably made the puppy even cuter. Only when Lena was close would the retriever look remotely happy. One photographer insisted that the golden fur would wash out Lena’s pale skin and that gray Pitbull puppy would look better, and Lena’s heart almost broke when she heard the golden retriever’s whimpering. Perhaps this is why she should never get a dog; she wouldn’t ever be able to say no to it. Besides, she couldn’t let her mother see how soft the puppy would make her.The puppies themselves were all rescues from puppy mills in the area and the nonprofits agreed to let the puppies air on the show in exchange for exposure and a sizable donation from the Bachelor himself. Most likely, the donation and work with the nonprofit acted as good PR for the playboy bachelor with a small arrest record, but no one seemed to mind since the contestants got the puppies, the photographers got their shot, and the nonprofit got the donation. However, it was a stunt similar to one Lena’s mother would pull which didn’t quite make it seem right to Lena. The girls rotated out from group shots with Mike to solo ones with him with the make-up artists and hairdressers pulling the girls aside when they saw a chance. Mike continuedly flashed that playboy smile he was known for and that grin only grew when one of the photographers told him to un-button his shirt. Of course, several of the women cheered this one with Megan even offering a wolf whistle as it hung open to reveal his surprisingly defined chest and abs. “Ugh,” Eve sighed next to Lena. “Have you ever seen a more fine-looking man?” “It’s nice,” Lena replied with a slight shrug of her shoulders even though she wasn’t paying much attention to anything besides the golden retriever puppy fast asleep in her arms. “Nice?” Eve echoed in disbelief. “The man’s a god. You can’t tell me you’re not impressed.” “I mean of course I’m impressed,” Lena backpaddled, tearing her attention away from the puppy. “It takes a lot of dedication and hard work to look that nice after all and I admire that.” “You’re more impressed with his dedication than you are his body?” Eve asked with a judgement raised eyebrow. “You sound like a Disney movie.” Lena frowned. “Is that a bad thing?” “Why complicate something that’s so simple? I’m here to find a man,” Eve pointed at Mike. “And that man right over there is the one I want. And I’m going to win him.” “I believe you could,” Lena told her honestly. Eve narrowed her eyes at her slightly. “That doesn’t bother you?” “I mean, that’s the reason everyone’s here,” Lena said with another shoulder shrug. “I came here to spite my mother so as long as I at least succeed in that, I would consider this adventure a success.” Eve smiled slowly. “Nice to see you don’t complicate things either.” Lena managed a smile, but before she could say anything, an assistant called out for her. “Lena! You’re up next!” Snapping to attention, Lena followed the assistant to the taped X on the floor in front of the white backdrop where Mike already stood. Returning Mike’s smile with one of her own, she quickly stood next to him on the X, her smile wavering when she smelled the mix of other women’s perfume mingled with his cologne? “What’s that face?” Mike asked immediately taking notice. “Don’t tell me I’m wearing too much cologne again.” “No, not that,” Lena hesitated. “Just different than all the puppy smell.” “Oh yeah, puppy smell is the best,” Mike agreed with a large grin. “Even when it’s from that fierce little guy.” He pointed down to the golden retriever puppy still very much passed out in her arms with her paws up in the air and her furry belly exposed. It took all of Lena’s will power not to rub it or scratch the puppy’s head that was resting in the crook of her elbow. “She’s certainly a fierce little one.” Lena smiled down at the golden fur ball. “Alright, Ms. Lena,” the photographed snapped, drawing their attention away from the dog. “I’m going to need you to take a step towards Mike. Yes, like that. Now lean against him. Don’t forget to smile now.”What followed was a lot of what Lena considered to be awkward shots with her sitting on Mike’s knee, standing back to back, and then leaning against his bare chest. Even on closer inspection, Mike was fitter than Lena realized with hard defined pecs and abs. If he rock-climbed and hit the gym as much as he said he did, it didn’t surprise Lena, but it didn’t impress her. Jack had been the same way. He wasn’t unattractive in any aspect, but nothing in Lena ever seemed to respond to it. She’d feel the same about him now as she would if he were to gain several hundred pounds. Lena had always told herself it was because she cared about deeper things such as personality, brains, and heart, but that theory was thrown out the window when she met Veronica. Apparently, Lena’s attraction favored those of the same sex. That didn’t have to stop her from trying to teach herself to find enjoyment in opposite sex. Ostriches on several occasions have performed courtship rituals on their own farmers over their bird counterparts, and ostriches mate for life. If an ostrich can find a way to love and commit the rest of their lives to someone from the different species, surely Lena could find a way to feel something for the human male. She had too. Or else her mother would have won, and Lena will never have a chance to be happy.
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Spending the day alone in the mansion was not nearly as enjoyable nor as restful as Kara thought it would be. Unlike yesterday, there was no one laying by the pool, mixing drinks in the kitchen, or sleeping on the couch in the living room. Not even traces of them lingered such as a coffee mug or plates from breakfast this morning since they have already been cleaned up by the staff. Instead, it was just her and a couple stray producers and camera men cleaning their equipment and talking through the setup of the upcoming rose ceremony. For the most part, they acted as if she wasn’t even there, so much so that Kara drifted upstairs to the privacy of her room.The room itself even felt empty without Lena in there, although it did help to see Lena’s personal affects still apparent and lying around the room. Her bed was perfectly made as it was every morning, unlike Kara’s which laid unkept. Similarly, Lena’s hygiene products and cosmetics sat atop her dresser neatly while Kara’s looked more strewn about. From appearance wise, it looked as if the two women couldn’t be more different, but in reality, Kara doubted she had ever found anyone more alike and compatible to her than Lena.On her bed, Lena’s book peaked out from underneath the pillow that Lena chose to keep it for easy access for reading at night. In the little time Lena had been there, she had made rather impressive progress on it. Curious and bored, Kara picked it up. Since contestants were discouraged to bring books to begin with for several reasons, it looked like Lena had taken duct tape and covered the title and author’s name in an effort to probably avoid an accidental indorsement and owe money to the show. Always assuming the book to be a romance of sorts, Kara couldn’t help but gasp when she saw the actual title on the title page: The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Question for the Ultimate Theory.That couldn’t be right, Kara thought. But when she opened it up to Lena’s bookmark, the chapter title was Quantum Geometry. Kara could only blink. She was rooming with a genius. An actual genius who read books about physics for fun. And even made notes in the margins!Kara snapped the book shut and shoved it back underneath the pillow. This was all too much to think about at the moment. She had a date to get ready for anyway. She didn’t have time to dwell on the fact that her roommate had both stunning face and mind. Or the fact that the two of them were even more unalike that she previously ever thought. If it weren’t for this shared reality show experience, they would have never crossed paths so what’s to say that they’ll ever cross paths again? Lena will be busy giving academic lectures and modeling for companies to even consider wasting her time with a supposed reporter than mostly just went on coffee runs. Kara was too foolish to think that she ever had a chance. Lena’s just way too out of her league.As a friend.Kara shook her head and reminded herself to breath. Her thoughts were just spiraling, and she just needed to focus on something else. Like her date tonight. That hopefully shouldn’t be too hard.~~~Kara half expected that she would be crossing paths with the other contestants as they returned from their date, but the producers had different plans. They had Kara stuffed inside a limo that was already pulling out of the driveway when the van of other girls was just turning down the street. The windows were too tinted to see through, but Kara could almost feel the gaze of those familiar green eyes on her as the vehicles passed one another.The drive was longer than Kara had expected and by the time the limo pulled up to its destination, dusk had already settled. Taking one last breath to steady herself, Kara opened up the door, frowning slightly when she stepped foot on dirt rather than pavement or concrete. Looking up, Kara saw a grinning Mike waiting for her in a grassy field just a few feet away. He was dressed casually with light washed jeans and a crisp gray button up underneath his black canvas jacket. It was an outfit that Kara herself would definitely prefer over her light blue sun dress. When the producers had told her to go for a dressy cute casual look, Kara had just been left stumped and hoped that the dress would suffice, but now unfortunately, she sees could have just pulled off a much preferred pair of jeans.“Hey,” Kara said as she stood up out of the limo, grateful to have gone with the close toed boots rather than sandals. “How are you?”“Well, I’m doing just fine now that you’re here,” Mike said as he pulled her into a hug.Instinctively, Kara responded to his arms wrapping around her in kind and she found her face pressed into the jacket on her shoulder. Rather than getting the musky cologne she anticipated as she breathed in, her nose filled with something else entirely.“Is that… puppy smell?” Kara asked slowly as she pulled away.“Oh gosh, sorry, yeah,” Mike said, wiping at his jacket as if that would remove the smell. “It’s probably from the group date. They put together a puppy photoshoot.”“Oh, right, doghouse,” Kara nodded.It sounded almost like Lena had gotten the better end of the deal. Hopefully, she had had a good time.“Yep!” Mike gloated with a cheesy grin. “Pretty clever, right?”“Oh yeah, so clever,” Kara said with a teasing smile and roll of her eyes.“Were you given any clues about out date tonight?” Mike grinned ever wider.“Morgan warned me that it was rather corny…”“Well, I suppose that’s fair,” Mike said before adding excitedly, “because it is a fair!”“Wait, what?”Mike spun her around, Kara gasped as she saw the private entrance to a bustling fair in the distance. Several concessions stands stood tall and waiting while rickety rides and rollercoasters reached out above them as light began to slowly flicker on as the sun slowly set. How she had missed it all as they pulled in served only a testament to her nerves.“Are you serious?” Kara exclaimed as she spun back towards Mike.“Yeah! I knew you’d like it,” Mike grabbed Kara’s hand. “Come on!”~~~The fair actually was surprisingly corny. There were both popcorn and street corn available in almost every stall that they passed, small corn mazes to get lost in, and even a couple people dressed as corn walking by them. Other food classic fair food such as fried chicken, cotton candy, and deep-fried Oreos wafted around them. Mike only looked on in amazement as Kara drug him to multiple food vendors and scarfing down the ice cream, funnel cake, and even cornflake battered chicken leg without a second thought. He threw his arm around her and made a comment about the calorie count of carnival food before chowing down on his own dinner of elephant ears and turkey legs. Eventually, a producer stepped in and suggested that they eat something less greasy and messy so they looked more appealing on camera, so Mike decided on capping off their buffet with a funnel cake him and Kara would split as they continued to walk around the fair while the producers followed with napkins at the ready.“So, what would you like to do first?” Mike asked. “There’s the haunted house, the teacups, the petting zoo…”“Teacups may be a bad idea with how much we just ate,” laughed Kara. “And the haunted house might be better at night. The petting zoo could be fun though.”“Just prepare for the smell though,” Mike said as he dramatically wrinkled his nose.“Nothing like a real farm though. They always smell worse. And trust me, you get used to it.”“Now why should I trust a girl from National City about farms?”“My aunt and uncle have one out in Kansas,” Kara explained, smiling at the thought of them. “I used to spend my summers there with them and my cousin Clark.”“I’m sure your parents loved that,” Mike said.“Well…” Kara’s throat closed up before she could finish. Her parents did use to love to take her on trips there every chance they got. After their passing, the visits lost their touch and excitement. Aunt Martha and Uncle Jonathan always continued to care and be patient with her though even when she didn’t make it easy. Kara shook her head as she did her best to push away those sad memories suddenly clinging to her.“Ooooo, or we could play some of the fair games!” Mike said lighting up.Kara blinked and her attention snapped on to the carnival stall in front of her featuring the deceptive rope ladder and the button high along the back wall that contestants had to push in order to receive one of the colorful massive stuffed animals lining the ceiling. She readily welcomed the distraction and did her best to fall back in line with the date to give the cameras what they wanted.“You know most of these games are rigged though, right?” Kara said as she saw Mike eyeing the carnival rope ladder challenge.“I think I could do it though,” Mike said. “I mean, I just have to climb to the top and that’s only like ten feet.”“Yeah, but do you see how the ladder is being held on by only one point at each end?” Kara pointed at the singular hook where the two ropes from the ladder tied off at. “A proper ladder would have two hooks at each end so it remains steady. With just one point, it’s like walking a tight rope. You need insane balance for that.”“Well, what if I have insane balance?” Mike argued with a cocky raised brow.“Then be my guest,” Kara gestured towards it.“I’ll win you that purple stuffed elephant,” Mike said rolling up his sleeves as he nodded towards the largest stuffed animal hanging up above the carnival rope ladder challenge.“But I like the chicken,” Kara countered, referring to the substantially smaller yellow bird beside it.“Only the best for my girl!” Mike insisted as he approached the ladder.Kara could only roll her eyes. Just one more thing Mike didn’t listen to her about.Mike prepped himself at the bottom of the ladder with two hands already in place. When the worker blew the whistle, Mike threw himself up the ladder, intent on propelling himself up to the top too quickly to fall off. But apparently, he didn’t have insane balance and flipped himself off the ladder within seconds, falling on to the inflatable padding underneath with a huff. He groaned as he picked himself up, his face red from exertion and embarrassment.“You okay?” Kara asked with a gloating grin.“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he said as he stood up.“Told you so,” Kara said as Mike slinked back towards her.“Yeah, yeah,” Mike sulked.“Funnel cake?” Kara offered, holding up the fried dough covered in powdered sugar.“Ooo,” Mike immediately perking up as he took a piece.They hadn't walked very far when another game caught Mike's eye.“Alright, this one!” Mike said excitedly as he pulled her to another stall. “This one can’t be sham!”“Oh please, this one has to be the oldest one of them all.”“But the High Striker’s a classic! And it’s so basic. Anyone can do it.”Kara could only sigh and shrug her shoulders as Mike approached the game. He was right: the game was simple. All it was consisted of was slamming a hammer at the bottom of the lever and launching a puck in the air to try and hit a bell. The harder the hammer hit the lever, the higher the puck went and the closer it came to the bell. It sounded like a simple test of strength, but Kara and sister has seen several muscular men miss the bell. And Kara had a feeling that she was about to see one more.“Prepare to be amazed,” Mike grinned as he twirled the oversized hammer in his hands.“Oh, I’m prepared alright,” Kara said as she crossed her arms and watched with a judgmental eyebrow raised.“Here we go!”Mike slammed the hammer down against the lever, launched the puck up. But only to about halfway up to the bell.“Huh,” Mike said frowned. “One more time! He said I get two goes.”Kara looked over at the bored carnival attendant who only shrugged his shoulders. It looked like he didn’t care if Mike took several more goes.“Go for it, Mike,” Kara encouraged, feeling even a little bad for Mike’s embarrassment at this point.Mike swung the hammer down again, this time with clear effort going behind it. But the puck on rose a little higher than it did with his last hit.“You were close,” Kara told him.“You’re lying,” Mike said as he rolled his shoulders.“Maybe just a little.”“Eh, you were right, and it probably is a sham. Lucky for you though, I’m pretty good at working around shams.” Mike turned his attention to the carnival attendant. “Hey, would you give me that blue elephant up there in exchange for $50?”“Uh, yeah, sure,” the attendant shrugged.“You know that’s cheating, right?” Kara said.“Psh, the fair makes a profit either way,” Mike shrugged as the fair attendant used his special hook to get the massive elephant down from his perch and hand it to Mike in exchange for the cash. “Why, thank you kind sir.”“Wow, it’s a lot bigger down here than up there,” Kara said, noticing how the elephant stood almost up to Mike’s shoulders.“Yeah, no kidding,” Mike said as he struggled to find a way to hold it.“You good?” Kara asked, unable to hold in her laughter.“Always,” Mike said with a huff before clearing his throat holding up his prize to Kara with an attempted flourish. “For you my fair lady, I won you this great elephant.”“Oh well, thank you kind sir,” Kara said as she attempted to take it off his hands even if the stuffed animal’s size mad that difficult. “She’s the finest elephant I’ve ever laid eyes on.”“And she’s held by the finest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”When Kara looked up, her stomach jumped slightly as she realized just how close Mike was to her now. She reminded herself a split second before she took a step back that cameras were on her. How quickly she forgot that this was a date and not just a night out with a friend, Kara will never know. But one thing was for sure, Mike’s lips were dangerously close to her.“Would you like to try, ma’am?”The two of them sprung apart, both surprised by the carnival attendant. He held out the hammer towards Kara. He probably just wanted to try and score even more money from Mike’s wallet or just wanted to stay on camera for a little longer. Either way, Kara gladly snatched up the offered distraction.“Sure!” Kara said, taking the hammer and taking her stance in front of the High Striker.“Now don’t be discouraged if you don’t hit the bell, sweetie,” Mike said. “It’s not even something a lot of men can do.”Kara wasn’t sure if the adrenaline spike came from the “sweetie” pet name or the jab at women’s supposed inferiority against men, but Kara swung that hammer with a much greater force than she thought she ever could. The ring of the puck hitting the bell shocked her out of her frustration.“Hot damn, Kara,” Mike whistled.“Uh,” the attendant stared at Kara blankly. “I guess you can just pick whatever prize you want.”“The chicken!” Kara beamed.“But the elephant is so much bigger,” Mike argued.“But it’s not the chicken.” Kara argued right back. But just as she turned her head to the side to look at Mike, she noticed something far better. “Wait, can I get that star instead?”“Kara, that’s even smaller!”But Kara didn’t care. Once she saw that stuffed yellow star with a smiley face stitched onto its middle, Kara knew that she just had to get it for Lena. She just had to.“Thank you,” Kara said as the attendant handed her the more appropriately travel sized stuff star.“Dang, I just wish I had let you go first,” Mike said as he slung his arm around Kara. “You could have saved me $50 bucks.”“But then I wouldn’t have gotten this.” Kara said as she looked down at her star, knowing full and well that it was worth far more than the massive elephant Mike now lugged around.~~~When the sun finally settled beneath the horizon and all the colorful carnival lights turned on to fight against the darkness of the night, Mike pulled Kara on to the ferris wheel with them. With producers left to hold their additional funnel cake, massive blue elephant, and other souvenirs on the ground while the discussed camera angles and prepped their camera drones, Mike had Kara pulled close to his side in the small car that slowly pulled them upward in the night sky.“I hope you had a nice time tonight,” Mike said, his arm wrapped tightly around Kara’s shoulders.“Of course,” Kara said. She had actually. In a different environment, her and Mike would probably make very good friends. The romantic angle though complicated things. “I didn’t know a person could eat that many funnel cakes until I saw you do it.”“Me?” Mike laughed. “I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to consume that many turkey legs.”“All comes with practice,” Kara grinned.“I guess you’re right,” Mike said before his voice became much more serious. “So, um, one of the reasons I asked on this date was because I wanted to talk, but if you don’t feel comfortable talking about it, that’s fine.“Talk about what?” Kara asked as she did her best to keep her voice calm even though her heart was beating faster than helicopter blades. He couldn’t know that she was an undercover reporter. He just couldn’t.“About the other night,” Mike said. “When you left so quickly when Leslie interrupted.”Kara let out a sigh of relief as her anxiety only soften ever so slightly. While this was still a conversation she’d rather not have, it was still better than being confronted with the alternative.“Oh that.” Kara said softly, swallowing the small lump forming in her throat that always seemed to form when she talked about her family.“Did I say something to upset you?” Mike asked. “Because I truly meant to harm if I did. And I’m really sorry if I hurt you.”“It’s just, um,” Kara wiped her sweaty palms on her dress. “I don’t really like talking about my family.”“I thought you loved talking about your family. You mentioned your sister Alex all the time.”“Uh,” Kara took a deep breath as she stared down at the fair grounds below. “She’s my adoptive sister. Her family adopted me when I was a kid.”“Oh,” Mike’s arm around her shoulder immediately tightened. “I’m so sorry.”“Yeah,” Kara took another. “Sorry, I just sometimes get emotional when people talk about their own family or how they wish they didn’t have to deal with them.”“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry. Of course, I love my family and I never meant anything really by saying those things. I was just nervous and had some drinks in me and… I’m just so sorry. I’ll do my best to not talk like that in the future.”“It’s okay,” Kara told him.“No, it wasn’t,” Mike said, running his hand through his dark hair. “I hated seeing you walk away like that. I should have gone after you, but Leslie was so insistent. It’s why I sent her home.”Kara blinked, turning her gaze from the fairground below to Mike’s face next to her. “You sent Leslie home because of just that?”“Well, I mean, I also didn’t feel much of a connection with her,” Mike shrugged. “But she really didn’t seem to care that you were upset and that really bothered me.”“I’m sorry.”“You have nothing to apologize for,” Mike took her hand. “You’re the one I feel connection with.”And then Mike was leaning in for a kiss and Kara didn’t bother to stop him. She knew the cameras were on them now, and she had been expecting it since they first got on the ferris wheel. Mostly, she was surprise that it hadn’t stopped at the top. But even if he had refused to listen to advice, he was still sweet and apologized. If only the kiss was sweet though. His stumble scraped her face and his tongue tasted of grease.~~~Deliberately leaving the massive stuffed elephant in the limo when she got out, Kara walked back into the mansion late that night. None of the girls had bothered waiting up for her although she could see Meghan and Sam laughing by the pool with a drink in each of their hands. Preferring a showering above all else, Kara snuck past the window where she would be visible to them and rushed up the stairs and into her room where she was surprised to see Lena still very much awake. She hated the way her heart skipped a beat at the sight of her roommate even when she was just wearing her simple pajamas and glasses.“Hey,” Kara squeaked before clearing her throat. “I didn’t expect for you to be up.”“I thought I would wait up for you,” Lena said as she closed her book. “How was the date?”“Fine, fine,” Kara shrugged. “He took me to a fair where I ate far too many funnel cakes and turkey legs.”“I’m sure you loved that,” Lena said, the corner of her mouth turning up slightly in amusement.“Probably not as much as you did with those puppies.”Lena smiled wider. “The puppies were pretty great. Especially this spunky golden retriever puppy. You would have loved her.”“Did you get to keep her?” Kara asked, immediately embarrassed by how excited she sounded.“No, unfortunately,” Lena groaned. “They all had to go back to the shelter. They were all so precious though.”“I wish I could have been there with you.”“Me too.”Lena’s smile then wreaked havoc on Kara’s already excited and flipping heart. A small blush colored her cheeks as she pushed back her hair behind her ears. She needed to get a grip. If anything, Kara was just experiencing a delayed sugar high. Yes, that had to definitely be it.“Did Mike win you that at the fair?” Lena asked, pointing at the yellow star Kara held in her hands.“Hm? Oh no, I left that thing he won me in the car. It was way too big to fit in my suitcase anyway. This I actually won for you.”“For me?” Lena echoed in shock.“Yeah, cause you know,” Kara shrugged her shoulders. “I was just thinking about how much you loved them and how it wasn’t fair you didn’t get to see them some night in Metropolis. I just thought you might like it. It’s totally cool if you don’t. It’s kind of a big thing to have to fit in your suitcase anyway. I can actually just throw it away for you right now.”“No, wait,” Lena swiftly cut off Kara’s ramble by standing and gently taking the cheap yellow star out of Kara’s hand. “I love it. Thank you, Kara.”“Anytime,” Kara said, slightly tense now that Lena was now standing so close to her and she could see what looked like stars in those green eyes. Her gaze was just so easy to get lost in and Kara wanted nothing more than to spend all night getting lost in them. They just seemed to pull her in, towards them, breath in that intoxicating scent that is Lena and made her mouth go dry. She wanted it more than anything else.“Well,” Kara cleared her throat and took a step back after she knew was far surpass an acceptable amount of time to be staring into your friend’s eyes. “I guess I should take a shower.”“Yeah,” Lena said, stepping back and holding the star tightly against her chest. “I guess I’ll see you in the morning then.”“Okay,” Kara said throwing her towel and change of clothes into the bathroom. “Good night then.”“Good night,” Lena said as Kara closed the bathroom door.Kara took a longer shower that night, scrubbing away the evidence of Mike and doing her best to think about anything else that wasn’t Lena’s eyes or how she felt under their gaze.
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Lena did her best not to think about the stuffed yellow star Kara had given her. Or that her blonde roommate had won it for her. Or that it was a reference to a past time they spent with one another. Or that if she pressed her face into it, it smelled like her. She did her best to bury those thoughts. Dwelling on them would only cause her to impose some unnecessary and unwarranted feeling on to them. It was just a stuffed yellow star. There was no meaning other than that. That didn’t mean it was strange to keep on her bed though. The next day was the cocktail party and while Lena would have loved to be able to spend that time catching up with Kara after their day apart, the producers had other ideas. They had the contestants dress into their cocktail attire hours before the actual party so they could film the talking heads beforehand, but so it looked natural when edited into the show. Many of the questions were vague such as “do you have any plans for tonight” or “how do you feel after yesterday’s date.” The producers encouraged contestants to ramble so there would be more content to edit into the show and keep them from having to interrupt the party tomorrow. Always being distrustful with the chance of a bad edit, Lena typically kept her answers short and to the point, much to the producers’ dislike. Even with reminders of shorter answers meant less time on the show, Lena still remained rather reserved and tight lipped. What did she have to say anyhow that she hadn’t already said before? Besides, contestants like Eve and Siobhan gave the producers more than enough content to work with especially after downing several mimosas. Of course, Lena’s refusal to cooperate more with producers and her more sulky mood probably had to do with the absence of her best friend. With Kara having the most recent one-on-one date, the producers kept her for the most questions and time. Lena briefly watched from afar, but with how easily Kara seemed to answer their questions with cliché’s and cheesy lines, Lena’s stomach soured. Her feelings meant nothing however as it was probably just jealousy over Kara’s ease on camera. It wasn’t the way she talked about Mike. Lena didn’t even like Mike. He had nothing she was jealous of. Except maybe Kara’s attention. It isn’t until that evening when the contestants are being herded into the section of the mansion where the cocktail party and rose ceremony were to take place that Lena actually had a chance to talk to her roommate, who by this time, looked completely exhausted. “Do you think it would be too much to ask for coffee rather than wine tonight?” Kara asked as she stifled a yawn. “Megan could probably whip you up a nice espresso martini if you asked her,” Lena suggested. “I mean, I doubt the producers would really want you drinking anything that doesn’t have alcohol in it.” “Ah yes, for the drama,” Kara sighed. “Maybe they can just pour some whiskey or rum into a coke. Red wine just makes me way sleepy. Why do we have to drink wine anyhow? I’d kill for a nice beer right now. But I guess wine is more classy or feminine or whatever.” Lena’s eyebrow quirked. She hadn’t heard the sleepy side of her roommate; queen of sunshine and cheesy pick up lines was cranky. Rather than it being obnoxious, Lena couldn’t help but find it oddly adorable. “Well, you remember what happened with champagne earlier,” Lena said. “How could I forget,” Kara said with a roll of her eyes. “All I’m saying is that if the producers want us to be liquored up for the drama, they should provide us with more options. Because wine is disgusting.” Lena laughed as she stood up. “Well, I have to disagree with the last part, but I’ll admit, you do make a valid point. I’m going to go get a glass of wine, but I’ll see if I can find any other sort of caffeinated beverage for you.”~~~ The producers were easily the most annoying part about this show. They constantly asked questions and even goaded drama among the contestants. Kara was lucky to have had so much experience with her sister and her boss who were both pros at seeing through the bull placed in front of them. With her own work and study in media, Kara had a pretty good gauge to just what the producers wanted her to say. She just didn’t think that they would want to hear her say it about twenty different ways. And their constant questioning about her date last night with Mike made her want to tell them to buzz off. She may be living a majority of her life with cameras all around her currently, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t privy to privacy. By the time the producers had finally had their fill, Kara was exhausted, but of course, they still had the cocktail party and rose ceremony to sit through. If it weren’t for Lena, Kara wasn’t quite sure how she’d make it through. That and maybe a little bit of alcohol to help wane off this growing headache. When Lena went out on her search for alcohol, Kara initially thought this was her first chance at some quiet time as the other contestants around her all seemed engaged in their own conversations. But just as Kara was leaning back in her chair to relax, some gently nudged her arm. “I was hoping I would get a chance to talk to you tonight,” Sam said, sitting down in Lena’s seat. “The producers just couldn’t get enough of you earlier.” “Please don’t tell me you have questions about my date too,” Kara said with a groan. “Oh no,” Sam said with a wave. “My questions about something else entirely.” Kara raised her eyebrow. “Les Miserables?” “Sort of, funnily enough,” Sam said as she leaned in closer. “I went into your bag to retrieve that, but I accidentally stumbled upon something else.” Kara stared for a few seconds before her eyes went wide. “You read my journal?” Kara whispered in shock. “It just sort of fell open.” Sam explained in a way that Kara was very sure that her journal did not just fall open. “You had no right-” Kara started before Sam cut her off with a look. “I just wanted you to know that your secret is safe with me,” Sam whispered, intentionally eying the camera on them and turning her head so her mouth couldn’t be seen. “And that you’re not the only one here to further your career.” Kara’s eyes slowly widened. Taking Sam’s lead, she also turned her head away from the cameras. “Are you…” “A psychology student hoping to get her PhD by writing her thesis about this experience and the types of women and men on the show, yes,” Sam said with a slight twinkle in her eye. “But all the producers see is a single mom trying to find love and I’d like to keep it that way.” “Your secret is safe with me,” Kara swiftly assured her. “We can look out for each other and hopefully compare notes afterwards. There’s actually a lot I’d like to ask you about your roommate.” “Lena?” Kara frowned, her shoulders becoming tense. Sam using Kara was one thing, but using Lena was something else entirely. “Speak of the devil,” Sam said before spinning around and flashing a bright smile. ~~~ To her surprise, it was surprisingly easy to find a drink besides wine. All she had to do was ask and a producer passed her a glass of wine for her and Jack and Coke for Kara. Kara was most likely definitely right in the sense that the producers was trying to get them intoxicated to incite more drama, but Lena didn’t really care if that meant she had a carte blanc for whatever drink she desired. She had a feeling that Kara would feel the same way. But Lena was more surprised to see Sam and Kara talking to each other in hushed whispers when she returned. As soon as Kara spotted Lena, both Kara and Sam straightened up and ceased their conversation. Lena’s eyes narrowed as she approached the two now silent women. “Everything okay?” Lena asked, her eyes darting between them. “Just swell,” Kara said with a smile that was embarrassingly forced. This woman may be stunning, but she couldn’t lie if she tried. “I was just talking to Kara about a private matter,” Sam said with a slightly tense smile before getting distracted with something behind Lena. “Now if you excuse me, I have to stop Eve from thinking that it’s a good idea to jump into the pool in her evening gown.” Lena turned and watched Sam rush up to Eve who was currently perched on the diving board with her heels in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. Of course, it didn’t help that it looked like Megan was actually egging Eve on, but it didn’t seem to make much persuasion on Sam’s part to get Eve off the edge and on to the solid ground. “Wow,” Kara said. “That makes me not want to drink.” “I like to think we can hold our alcohol better than that,” Lena said, passing Kara her drink. “Oh, sweet!” Kara beamed. “You actually go me something besides wine!” “It really wasn’t that hard,” Lena said as she took a sip of her wine. “All I had to do was ask.” “Still, you’re my hero.” And Lena tried to blame the fluttering in her chest then as an ill-timed sporadic burst of heartburn. “So, what were you and Sam talking about?” Lena asked. “Ugh,” Kara whipped her chin with the back of her hand. “Nothing too important.” Lena frowned, but before she could argue, she felt a tap on her shoulder. “Mike would like to talk with you,” a producer told her. “You’re up next.” “But...” Lena started before a producer cut her off by putting a firm hand on her back and ushering her to the courtyard, the wine sloshing out of her glass as she walked.“Good luck!” Kara called after.Lena could only gulp.~~~ “So that puppy from our date was pretty cute,” Mike said, leaning against the back of the bench amidst the foliage of the garden of palms and flowers surrounding them. “She seemed quite smitten with you.” “And I with her,” Lena said, taking a sip of her wine. “Do you know what happened to her? Like after we left?” “I believe she was taken back to the shelter that she came from,” Mike explained with a small shrug of her shoulders. “Apparently, they rent out time with the puppies so they can get socialized and possibly meet their forever family.” “Oh,” Lena said with a small frown as she looked down and ran her finger along the rim of the wine glass. “Her forever family, right.” “You know I could put in a word with them if you’d like,” Mike said. “I mean if you’re able to adopt her after… this.” He made a sweeping gesture to their surroundings. “I can ask them to set her aside. I mean, I would love a dog and it isn’t very often that a puppy clicks like that with a person. You know, even if they hate me.” Lena couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t think she hated you.” “She growled and snapped at me.”“But she’s a puppy.”“Puppies aren’t supposed to do that.”“She’s one of a kind then."“I could have told you that based on her taste.”And there was that look again. That hooded eyes, sly smirk look that meant he thought his smoothest earned him something. Cheesier lines from Kara had had far better reactions, and Lena could have kicked herself for walking into it so easily. But he was possibly getting her the puppy her heart still missed. He was being kind and generous and that should earn him a quick kiss anything right? Their lips met and it wasn’t quite as bad as before. Still not exactly pleasant but she wouldn’t argue the opposite. Just awkward. And a little uncomfortable. But tolerable. She could make it work for the cameras at the very least. Any poor taste he left in her mouth, she could easily wash away with wine later.~~~“So, I hear you left the stuffed animal I won you in the limo.”Kara’s eye bulged. If she had a mouthful of her drink, she surely would have spat it across the courtyard.“I, uh,” Kara gaped. “I didn’t think you’d hear about that.”“You do realize I’m the lead of this show right,” Mike raised an eyebrow with a broad grinned. “They tell me everything.”Kara’s heart stuttered again. Not everything, she thought. She still had her secrets, even if Sam now knew about one. Still, she preferred to keep them that way.“It’s not that I wasn’t flattered,” Kara assured him. “It was just that… well, well it was quite large.”“It was a token of my affection.” Mike insisted, his face crumbling as he put his hand over his heart.“It would have taken up half my room!”“Fair point,” Mike laughed, dropping his wounded puppy façade. “I was just teasing you anyways. I have no clue what someone is supposed to do with those afterwards.”“Beats me,” Kara shrugged. “It was still very sweet of you to win it for me.”“Ah yes, ‘win,’” Mike put up the air quotes around the last word. “One day, I’ll win you something that money can’t buy for a couple bucks. Oh! That reminds me. I forgot to give you this earlier.”The way he dramatically pulled it out from behind his back had Kara’s heart drop with fear as her first thought was that it was an engagement ring. As much as she would love to win this show for the sake of her life and career with Cat Grant, this was definitely moving far faster than she ever thought she’d be comfortable with. The show itself was structured in a time frame that was already far too fast paced for her to wrap her head around. There was no way he could cut it short so quickly.But then her mind registered what it actually was in his hand: a rose.“Oh,” Kara said, with a noticeable sign of relief.“Yeah,” Mike said, handing it to her. “I meant to give it to you last night, but I was having such a nice time that I forgot all about it. I’m really sorry if I stressed you out by not giving it to you or anything.”“That’s okay,” Kara insisted, and it really was. In fact, until this moment, Kara hadn’t even realized that she hadn’t even gotten a rose from Mike before this. Of course, that now explained why the producers had been hounding her so much with those pesky, repetitive, vague questions from before. “I had a nice time too.”“Maybe we could do it again sometime,” Mike placed his hand over Kara’s.“I’d like that,” Kara said, but really all she really would have liked in that moment was another Jack and Coke.~~~Later that night, the women were led to the courtyard and guided on to which X they would being standing on. Kara held the rose that Mike had given her during their private talk earlier as if it were a ticket in an airport, like almost in desperation rather than with pride. She gives a quick glance towards Sam, but she doesn’t hold her gaze for long. Lena is watching her when Kara’s blue eyes flit her way and she can’t help but offer the blonde a small smile in reassurance which she then received in return. It didn’t make much sense. Kara was safe. Why would she be worried? What should ever cause her to worry? “Ladies,” Mike said, clearing his throat and Lena’s and Kara’s gaze dropped as they both turned their attention on to him. “I truly have come to care for each and every single one of you which makes what I’m about do more difficult than I would like, but I can say this honestly: I do sincerely wish you all the best in life as you are all incredible women.” Lena’s heart dropped. This was going to be it for her. She wouldn’t make it past this. Really what chance did she thought she had in comparison to all these amazing beautiful women around her. Her anxiety only began build as Mike picked up the first rose. “Samantha.” Well, of course he would pick the one other woman he had taken on a one on one. That and she was sweet, kind, and motherly. Everything Lena always struggled to be. “Nia.” A small smile tugged Lena’s lips as she saw Nia beaming as she approached to take the rose. At least someone got to stay longer on the show and spend more time with their blossoming crush even if that crush wasn’t on the bachelor himself. If anything, it was just refreshing to see another woman who was immune to Mike’s supposedly irresistible charm. Lena may have not been so much the freak of nature she thought herself to be. Siobhan received the next rose. Then Eve and Imra. When Mike picked up the final rose, all eyes turned to her and Megan. Lena’s mouth quickly went dry and her stomached began a slow painful descent into her gut. Had the kiss not been up to par? Afterall, her heart definitely hadn’t been in it. Or her tongue for that matter. Maybe that was why he was sending her home. He couldn’t be that shallow, could he? Or maybe this was why he was so quick to offer the puppy to her so it would be more of a pity prize. That shouldn’t give Lena such a bout of anxiety though. She preferred the dog’s company far more than the Bachelor’s. Still, Lena just wasn’t quite ready to leave just yet. “Lena.” A familiar sigh of relief came from next to Lena, but she didn’t get much time to dwell on that before she found herself wrapped in the embrace of Megan. It took Lena a second to get over the shock before she was returning the hug in full force, feeling the first bit of pain that came with saying goodbye to a contestant. Megan may not have been much more than a special acquaintance to Lena, but the mansion and experience definitely wouldn’t be the same without her. “Do me proud, girl,” Meghan whispered into Lena’s ear before she dropped her hold. Before Lena had a chance to reply, Megan’s attention was already on the other contestants as Sam pulled her into a large hug. Lena watched with an increasingly growing heavy heart before she felt a gentle touch next to her. “You should probably go get your rose,” Kara told her, nodding towards Mike who still held the flower outstretched. “Oh, yes, of course,” Lena said, stumbling over to Mike as her cheeks grew hot. “I’m so sorry about that. Thank you.” “Any time,” Mike chuckled as he handed it off to her. “I’ll always be more than happy to wait for you.”But as Lena smiled and inhaled the rose’s scent, she couldn’t help but think that it was a shame he wasn’t the one she was waiting for.
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Kara could swear she would have died if Megan’s name had been called last instead of Lena’s. She almost died when Mike said Lena’s. The thunder of her heartbeat and the twitching of her eyelids had made it hard to focus on anything. When the weight was finally lifted, Kara felt like she could finally breath. In fact, she would have cheered if she could. Unfortunately, the anxiety sweats had been all too real and the last thing she needed were her pit stains to air on national television.Lena seemed to be in a similar state of emotional distress as well and after she didn’t move for several seconds, Kara urged her forward. The sooner her roommate got the rose in her hand, the sooner she knew she could count on her on their relationship lasting just a few days longer. If given the option, Kara would have much rather preferred giving Lena the rose she had been given earlier. Just to assure that Lena could stay longer on the show. Because she was here for the right reason. And they were friends. No other reason at all.Still, a pang of sadness struck Kara’s throat as she hugged Megan goodbye. Sure, they hadn’t been super close, but her snarky comments and self-confidence reminded her of her sister. If she were in National City, Kara had no doubt that this was a friend who would fit in quickly at their weekly game nights. Now seeing her off reminded Kara not just of how much she missed home but how close she herself could be from being sent home next week. Kara may have gotten a one-on-one already, but Kara couldn’t see any reason for why Megan was sent home and not her. Or why he saved Lena for the last rose.She should always get the first rose.As Megan turned to begin her final walk out of the courtyard, Mike followed, most likely to give her a final goodbye and closure with a reason. All of the cameras panned and followed, leaving Morgan to announce the ending of the ceremony and that the remaining women were free to spend the rest of their evening as they wished. The women solemnly retreated out of the courtyard in silence, Kara walking in step with Lena at her side, until Siobhan broke the silence.“Well, I guess there goes the theory that that the black chick lasts until the final four,” Siobhan said.“Siobhan!” Sam shouted.“What? It’s not like we all weren’t thinking it. If anything, you should be worried now more than ever. I doubt the single mother card will keep you from being cut next week.”“No, but the fact that she’s already been on a one-on-one might,” Imra bit back.All the contestants stopped in their tracks. With Megan no longer in the picture to tag team Siobhan with Sam, it was assumed that Siobhan would be free to be bitchier than ever. But it appears Imra has filled Megan’s spot. The surprising contender even held her gaze level with Siobhan’s venomous stare, until finally, the snake relented.“Whatever,” Siobhan said with a flip of her hair as she turned her back on the rest of the women. “We’ll just see which one of you drags he sends home next week.”Siobhan sauntered off with her head held too high, leaving the rest of women in a tense awe as they all turned to look at Imra.“You’d make Megan proud,” Sam told her with her own nod of approval.“I don’t know if I’d that far,” Imra said with a sheepish smile and reddening cheeks. “But you can’t be the only one that stands up to her now.”“I can’t think of a better partner,” Sam replied. “Now who would like to join me as we pour one out for Megan?”Eve and Nia cheered in unison as Sam and Imra linked arms and lead the way to the kitchen. A small laugh slipped from Kara as she turned to her roommate who also watched on in amusement.“You in?” Kara asked.“Well I suppose one drink couldn’t hurt,” Lena said, a smirk tugging at her lips.“Then shall we?” Kara asked, holding out hand.“We shall,” Lena said as she took Kara’s hand.When Lena gave Kara’s hand a small squeeze as they walked, Kara faltered in her step which only made Lena laugh harder.~~~It turned out that one drink was actually quite a bit more than one drink. With the new information that the producers would supply any drink that they wanted, the contestants were unstoppable. Nearly all the women dropped from the usual wine requests and flooded the producers with requests for mai tais, pina coladas, rum punch, and anything else they could think of with the producers clearly hoping that this wild night would lead to something great for the camera.But much to their disappointment, none of the contestants seemed to be in the mood to start drama and the biggest argument simply centered around which drink to pour out in Megan’s honor. In the end, the women came to a consensus and decided that Megan would never discriminate on her drink of choice, so why should they? They each woman requested two shot glasses full of a different spirit, one to take and one to pour out, and held them up in a toast.“To Megan,” Sam announced, both her glasses raised high. “May you always put the “hot ass” in shot glass.”The women cheered and threw one shot back as they poured out the other. It seemed fitting, but as Kara thought about it, she couldn’t be sure if they girls would ever do the same for her when she left. Or anyone else really. Siobhan may have been bitchy earlier but at least she was being honest. Who among the rest of these women are glad to see other women leave and is just waiting for the perfect moment of sabotage to come up? Sam already had plenty of information to take her down and while she may have been forthcoming of her own hidden agenda on the show, that could always just be her throwing off suspicion. The other women seemed nice, but she really didn’t know any of them. Except maybe for Lena. At least, she hoped.After several more drinks were had and laughter of stories of their fallen comrade were shared, several of the women decided to turn in for the night. Imra, Eve, and Sam left a still chatting Kara and Lena by the pool while Nia napped on chair close by. Kara assured them that they would be up not long after once they finished their drink and wake Nia up then.“It’s a shame honestly,” Lena said.“What?” Kara asked as she swirled her drink. “That Nia can fall asleep anywhere and I can barely fall asleep in my bed?”“Yes, actually, but that’s not what I meant,” Lena laughed as she tilted her head upwards. “That there are too many lights on for us to see the stars.”“Well, we can turn off some of the lights you know.”“But then how will we see? We don’t even have our phones to us as flashlights.”“Candles,” Kara perked up, already on her feet. “There are a whole bunch in the kitchen and the kitchen is like right there. I’ll go get them.”“Kara, you really don’t have to,” Lena said, but Kara was already opening the door to the kitchen.Conveniently, the lighter laid right next to the candles and Kara quickly grabbed an armful of them. As she left, she flicked off the light to the kitchen and one of the main ones illuminating the courtyard and pool, but the remainder lights left on left plenty of light to see the cute little smirk on Lena’s face as Kara dropped the candles on to the small table separating their pool chairs.“Ta-dah!” Kara announced proudly, placing her hands on her hips in triumph.“Wow, you really are a go getter when you’re tipsy,” Lena said, the corner of her mouth tugging her smirk into an even cuter smile.“Are you saying I’m not when I’m sober?” Kara said, striking up the lighter to light the nearest candle.“Not as much, I suppose,” Lena said, laughing into her drink when Kara wrinkled her nose at her.“We all can’t have multiple degrees now, can we?”“Ah, but that might actually be because people don’t really tend to care. It pays off much less than you think.”“Well, I think it makes you all the more wonderful,” Kara said, arranging the now lit candles on the table between them.“You’re too sweet, Kara,” Lena said, leaning her elbows against the table. “I can see why Mike was so eager to take you on that one-on-one.”“I don’t see how he hasn’t taken you on every single one,” Kara said, her eyes drifting to Lena’s lips and then the slope of her neck. "Who wouldn't want to?"Lena’s throat bobbed as she tracked Kara’s gaze. She laid her arm on the table, her fingers just slightly brushing along Kara’s on the table next to a flickering candle.“You also get very sweet when you’re drunk,” Lena murmured.“I’m not drunk. I’m just intoxicated by you.”Perhaps it was just the alcohol, but how could Kara not stare and the raven-haired beauty that was her roommate? That green dress just hugged her curves so wells and really just brought that light and color out of her eyes. And when she laughed, she looked so free and happy as if she had been weighed down with entire world on her shoulders except for in that brief moment. The sensation Kara felt when she caused that laugh was intoxicating. There was nothing wrong with appreciating Lena in that current moment or how her eyes and nose crinkled or how wonderful she smelled. Oh gosh, this woman smelled so good. It would be alright if she just leaned further in for a better whiff.Those beautiful green eyes locked with hers and Lena’s laughter died down but something else took its place. As those green eyes darkened, a new craving and sensation bloomed in her gut, one far more pleasurable than any before it. It urged her closer, to shorten the gap between especially when Lena’s tongue licked those soft pale lips. Kara envied that tongue. She needed to know how those lips tasted. As she leaned in ever so closer, her eyes became hooded, surrendering herself both her passion and this beauty before her who smelled of lavender and… something burning?“Kara, your hair!”Snapping back into her previous sitting position, Kara realized with horror that the burning smell had actually becoming from her own hair caught in one of the candles alight next to them. Her breath caught in horror as Nia screamed next to them and Lena remained frozen in shock. Kara jumped to her feet, her head whipping from side to side as she frantically tried to figure out just what to do. As jumped frantically around them in search of a towel or something to stamp out the flame so close and hot to her, her hope began to fade as she came up with nothing.“Lena, what do I do?!” Kara cried as panic took over.Then something pushed against her shoulders with enough force to knock her over. Kara threw a hand out behind her to break her fall against the concrete that never came. Instead, she crashed into water and became completely submerged in the pool. Really Kara wasn’t sure if it was the being on fire part or the being dunked into cold water that killed her buzz and sobered her up so quick, but she was definitely awake and alert now. Disoriented for a few seconds, but thankfully holding her breath, Kara found the bottom of the pool and kicked off, launching herself back up to the surface.“You pushed me!” Kara gasped as she broke the surface and clung to the side of the pool.“Well, it put out the fire, didn’t it?” Lena replied, looking way too smug for Kara’s liking.“A little bit of a warning would have been nice,” Kara grumbled, pulling on the shoulder straps of her dress that were now weighed down by water and strain.“I’m sorry, but you were on fire! What other option did I have?” Lena said as she approached the side and held out a hand. “Come on, I’ll at least help you up.”“Is this your form of apology?” Kara asked, taking Lena’s dry hand in hers.“I’m not going to apologize for saving your life or your hair for that matter.”“That’s what I thought.”Kara braced her foot against the side of the pool and pulled.When Lena surfaced, coughing and spluttering against the water as her black mascara ran down her cheeks and her hair now a slick back off her face, Kara was once again struck by the beauty of this woman even if her eyes were dark and fierce.“You pulled me in!” Lena gasped furiously.“You pushed me in first!” Kara countered quickly.“Oh, you!” Lena moved her arm as if she were going to hit Kara but stopped short and let the water follow through.“Did you just splash me?” Kara asked, wiping the new water off her face.“I can always splash you again if you need a reference,” Lena smirked, and Kara saw a dance of light in those dark green eyes.“Oh, you’re so dead.”Growing up with a sister like Alex, Kara was no stranger to splash fights and Lena clearly had no idea just what she was getting into. The brunette squealed as Kara threw a wave of water against her which was hastily followed by Lena’s own water assault. Their laughter and squeals echoed around the courtyard as they each attempted to best the other. It was their own little private world with just the two of them and Kara loved it.Except it wasn’t just the two of them.“So, do you guys want me to get you a towel or something?” Nia asked, wary of the water that was still being thrown.Both the women’s laughter and splashing ceased when they realized Nia was still there, watching them both with clear confusion on her face. Kara cleared her throat and wiped away the excess water on her face.“Ugh yeah,” Kara said, clearing her throat again. “Towels would probably be great. I doubt they would be happy with us dripping water everywhere.”“Okay, I’ll go grab those,” Nia said before walking out of the courtyard.A silence fell over the two women remaining in the pool as both their cheeks colored in embarrassment as they realized the extent of their actions all while Nia was around to witness it all.“Well, I suppose I’ll use the ladder to get out,” Lena said as she swam towards it. “I doubt Nia would me so trusting to offer either of us a hand.”“It’s not my fault you fell for me,” Kara said, doing her best to not stare at Lena’s ass or the way her wet green dress clung to it as she climbed out of the pool.“I don’t think it counts as falling if you pull me down,” Lena said as she did her best to wring the excess water out of her hair over the pool as the water dripping out her formed a puddle around her.“I think it does.”Their eyes met once again as Kara pulled herself out of the pool and instantly, Kara’s mouth went dry. What had happened earlier or really what was about to happen before Kara’s hair caught fire, resurfaced in her mind. She wanted to kiss Lena. Or more importantly, it looked like Lena wanted to her to. Was it possible for Kara to not be alone in all these feelings? Was there a slight hope that Lena felt even ever so slightly the same way?“Lena, I…” Kara started before Nia’s return swiftly cut her off.“Here are the towels!” Nia announced, waving some white towels in the air. “A producer had some on hand so it really didn’t take very long.”A producer? Oh shit. Were they still filming?“A producer?” Lena asked, her eyes just as wide as Kara’s.“Yeah, they had been packing up most their equipment for the night after Sam, Imra and Eve went to bed, but when they heard my scream about Kara’s hair on fire, they rushed over and apparently got a solid shot of you pushing Kara into the pool and then Kara pulling you in. How’s your hair by the way, Kara? Brainy said they can get a hairdresser to fix it if needed.”“My hair? Oh yeah,” Kara ran her fingers through her hair until she found the stringer burn clump down towards the bottom where her curls once were. “I think it’s okay, but it might be good if it is looked at.”“Okay, cool. I’ll let Brainy know now,” Nia said, turning around. “I hope you guys have a good night!”The two women watched as Nia skipped away.“Who’s Brainy?” Kara asked, turning towards Lena who was already collecting her shoes.“Just a producer,” Lena said as she stood up with her towel and shoes in her arms. “I’m heading on up. Good night.”“Wait, Lena,” Kara said, grabbing Lena’s arm. “Don’t you think we need to talk about this?”“There’s nothing to talk about,” Lena replied, the dance and light now gone from her eyes. Her freedom was gone and now she was back to holding the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was no longer the woman Kara just had a splash fight with in the pool or almost kissed in an intoxicated haze. This was just another contestant on a reality dating show and nothing more than that to Kara.“Okay,” Kara dropped her hold. “I’ll see you later then.”Kara’s eyes followed Lena as she retreated from the courtyard, and then with a sigh, Kara blew out the rest of the candles and cleaned up the remaining cups and drinks. She wanted to make sure she gave Lena plenty of time to already be showered and asleep by the time she returned to the room. Besides, Kara also needed some time to kick herself for ever thinking that Lena possibly ever considered her as anything remotely more than a friend.
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Kara was awake when the first rays of sunlight began to chase away the few stars within the night sky and the horizon shifted from black to soft gray, Kara began tying the laces of her running shoes. The night had brought little sleep and from the way she saw Lena’s body stiffen as she opened their door, she doubted her roommate had suffered from a different fate. Closing the door softly behind her, Kara headed downstairs with the hood of her sweatshirt pulled up over her head as she tried to distance herself further away from any cameras that might be on her as well as the events of last night. When her foot finally crossed that threshold from the tile of the Bachelor Mansion to the much more untamed woods behind it, Kara took out, desperate for even more distance as the ever-lightening sky just dusted the running trail before her with enough light for her see the destination of her next step.As her feet pounded the dirt and her lungs heaved in the cold morning air, Kara felt the closest she had to dreaming than she had since boarding the plane to get here. The closest she felt to an actual escape. But of course, with all dreams, her thoughts drifted into areas she seldom touched intentionally. Even as she attempted to fight it with gritted teeth and faster pace, the thoughts of Lena refused to relent: the wrinkle that formed between her brow as she leaned in, the part of those pale lips as her eyes drifted close, the way her lavender scent muddled with the chlorine from the pool, the touch of her hand against her bicep, the small sigh as she said her name.It was an affliction that Kara couldn’t quite shake as a small but loud part of her fiercely clung to them.When the sky had lightened to indicate a more appropriate hour and her lungs and legs burned too much to carry on at her current pace, Kara stole a quick glance over her shoulder to ensure she was as deep and hidden in the woods as she thought. After deciding that she was indeed in the clear, Kara took her hidden burner phone out of her sports bra and speed dialed her sister, her foot crunching impatiently against the leaves as it rang.“What?” Alex groaned groggily.“Alex,” Kara breathed, still slightly out of breath from exercise. “I need to talk to you.”“Ugh, please tell me this isn’t you asking for more pick-up lines. You know I can’t think of those if I’m sober.”Kara frowned. “What are you talking about?” Then her heart dropped. “Wait, have they started airing the episodes already?”“Mmhmm. Last night.” Alex said in a way that Kara could picture the regular teasing smirk on sister’s face. “And I got to say Kara, when I said to be yourself, I didn’t mean for you to tell him that your dress was girlfriend material or use any kind of pick-up line that was that bad.”“I know,” Kara groaned as she covered her face with her hand in a cringe. “It was just the first thing that came to mind.”“Maybe that’s why you have such a hard time in your dating life,” Alex continued. “But then again, Mike seemed pretty smitten with you.”“Yeah, I guess he is,” Kara shrugged.“Are you not with him?”“I mean, he’s sweet. He laughs at my jokes and cares about my feelings, but I don’t know,” Kara sighed. “It just feels like something’s missing; you know?”“Yeah, I can get that.” Alex hesitated. “There wouldn’t happen to someone else would there?”Kara’s heart began to pound again, and she hoped her tone didn’t show it.“What are you talking about?”“I’m talking about a certain raven-haired, pale-skin, green dress beauty who brought stale bread rolls on night one.”“Lena?” Kara swallowed as her mouth was suddenly dry. “What about her?”“Kara, you were flirting with her all night long.”“I was not!”“Yes, you were! You used more pick-up lines on her than the actual bachelor!”“Look,” Kara pinched her nose with a sigh. “Lena’s just a friend. Nothing more than that.”“Sure,” Alex said in a disbelieving tone. “Well, for the record, I approve of her. I think you two are rather cute together. And from twitter, it looks like a lot of other people agree.”Kara’s heart dropped and she leaned against a tree for support as she feared her legs might buckle. “What?”“Relax, not like as a couple. I think I’m the only one picking up on that. But like the two of you have quite the following now. Your Twitter is blowing up; everyone keeps tweeting you their worst pick-up lines. And there’s also all these people now declaring that they are going to only be giving bread to their dates from here on out because flowers are overrated and inedible.”Kara choked out a laugh. Leave it to Lena to start a trend and not even know it. Thankfully, before she had gone on the show, Cat Grant had had her social media experts wipe any mention of Catco or journalism off of Kara’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and even Tinder. She was just a secretary as a boring office building to everyone else. Still, Kara doubted her boss would be super thrilled about her recent reputation as a pick-up line expert.“I mean, I guess that’s good.” Kara shrugged her shoulders. “Better than them hating me I guess.”“Oh, you’re on your way to making bank off your social media from all the endorsement offers you’ll get from gummy hair vitamins and juice cleanses,” Alex said. “Also, that Vazquez chick was a total lesbian. Like it wasn’t just the pant suit, but like the way she walked, talked, and even moved her hands. That woman gave off nothing but queer vibes.”“Why would a lesbian come on a toxically heterosexual reality show?”“To get the women, duh. I mean, not gonna lie, she had some pretty good options. Like that Sam girl. Dang, if I wasn’t with Maggie, I would definitely be sliding into those DMs.”“Alex,” Kara groaned. “Please.”“What? You’re not the only one who is allowed to crush on the contestants.”Kara’s cheeks flared and a redness engulfed her face and neck. “Can you just drop it? Please? Lena’s my friend and she can’t be anything more than that.”Alex paused and her tone turned a tad more serious. “Can’t? Why can’t she be more than that?”“Alex…”“Do you want it to be more?”“I…” Kara’s throat closed around the words as she hung her head with closed eyes and a sigh. “I think I do.”“Kara,” Alex’s voice serious and solemn. “I didn’t know. I wouldn’t have said—”“It’s fine, Alex,” Kara’s voice broke in a way that it clearly wasn’t. “She just doesn’t want me like that.”“How do you know for sure?”“Why would she come on this show if she was queer? Why would she put up with this entire process to just give up everything to be with some nobody like me?”“You’re not a nobody, Kara.”“I know, I just….” Kara took a deep breath to steady herself. The lack of sleep of the past few days were starting to show. “I just need to set up boundaries. I don’t want to get hurt again.”“Again?” Alex’s tone became fierce. “What did she do to you?”“She didn’t do anything,” Kara shook her head. “Someone else did. A long time ago.”“Kara—"“Can we just talk about something else?” Kara pleaded. “How are things going with you and Maggie? What about Eliza?”And with a sigh, Alex reluctantly moved on to a different topic, but even as her sister began relaying stories from her previous weeks, Kara’s heart never stopped aching from the realization from her own admission that she was falling hard for her roommate who would never love her back.~~~When Kara made it back into the mansion, she was shocked to see just how many of the other women were already awake and sitting at the breakfast table. Most of them had clearly learned their lesson from before when the cameras would come in early in the morning with a date card and record them all in their natural attire. Now, while they still wore their sleep wear, their faces were already adorned with make-up and their hair styled. If anything, it looked like an off-putting photo shoot as Kara automatically felt excluded in her sweaty work out clothes, muddy shoes, and red face. That was when Kara spotted her roommate, who even though she didn’t disguise herself for the camera, she still looked just as stunning as the women around her as she squinted her eyes intentionally at the fine print of the cereal box she read over her now empty bowl.Of course, Kara’s heart failed to calm down quite like she would prefer for a post workout heart rate, but Kara did her best to push it aside. This was about setting boundaries. She had to learn to control her emotions, otherwise she risked losing her forever. Searching for another available seat at the table, Kara spotted Nia currently dozing off into her muffin while Sam read off her tablet as she nursed a cup of coffee and Imra picking off the sesame seeds from her bagel. Unfortunately, all the seats next to them were full and the only open one laid next to Lena. Apparently, the producers had been removing one chair from the table each time a contestant was eliminated as to encourage more socialization among the women. If Kara didn’t know any better, she’d swear it was torture.Walking around Eve who currently fluffed her hair in a mirror and Siobhan who delicately nibbled on a bare piece of toast without any acknowledgement or greeting directed to her, Kara sat down in the seat next to Lena who was the only one who seemingly noticed her arrival.“Hey,” Kara said, immediately wanting to kick herself. Why couldn’t she ever think faster on her feet?“Hey,” Lena replied, nodding at the box of cereal. “Did you ever realize how much sodium was in corn flakes?”“Uh, that’s unfortunate?” Kara said slowly. Perhaps Lena was worse than she was at this.“I mean, I’m pretty sure the target age demographic for corn flakes is seniors,” Lena continued. “And many people in that age group suffer from hypertension. Why haven’t they made a low sodium alternative for them?”“I don’t know?”“Ugh, sorry,” Lena rubbed her eyes as she sat down the cereal box. “I get more frustrated when I’m tired and apparently that that means my cereal is triggering this morning.”“I’m sorry you didn’t sleep well,” Kara murmured, knowing they shared the rough night sleep for the same reason, but also knowing not to address it, especially here.“It’s fine,” Lena waved her hand. “How was your run?”“It was fine. Plenty of dead leaves and trees to look at.”“Sounds fun.”“Oh yeah, so fun.”And then fell silent. Great, Kara thought, they can only talk about cereal and high blood pressure or nothing at all. It couldn’t have been she was making things awkward, could it? She had mentioned the detail about the trees on her run, so wasn’t it Lena’s job to continue from there? Ugh, why did she have to overthink everything?“Can you, uh, pass me the bagels?” Kara asked, nodding at the plate of them off to Lena’s left.“Sure.”Silence once again as Kara proceeded to butter and then eat her bagel as Lena traded her empty bowl of cereal for a cup of coffee which she drank silently. From the faint lipstick stains along the rim, Kara doubted that this was Lena’s first cup of coffee. But Kara didn’t want to ask. That would only make the silence more awkward and inexcusable as being expected this early in the morning.When the front door opened and the camera crews finally entered, Kara couldn’t be more than relieved to have someone else break the tension outside of her and bring on a whole new distraction as their small quiet breakfast table was suddenly abuzz and crowded with crew and producers which parted only for Morgan, their host with the polished teeth and head.“Good morning ladies!” Morgan grinned as the light glinted of his smile that Kara was sure a small fortune had gone into. “I hope you all slept well as I have in my hands just what you all have been waiting for.”He flashed the white envelope with the red seal to the women and Eve and Siobhan jumped before hastily sitting back down while Sam jabbed Nia in the ribs to rouse her to attention. After her recent one-on-one, Kara knew she didn’t have a chance for anything other than the group date this time, so she just turned her attention to lathering her second bagel with cream cheese.Of course, Lena could always get the next one-on-one. The thought alone twisted Kara’s stomach in such a way that she almost tossed her bagel. On one hand, that meant Lena would most likely be staying longer in the running and Kara would get to see her hopefully longer, but on the other, that meant she’d be with Mike. As hypocritical as it was after her own solo date, Kara hated the idea of a solo date for Lena. The thought wreaked havoc on her stomach, and she couldn’t help but cross her fingers under the table that Lena’s name would be called with her own on the group date.“Eve, Kara, Sam, Siobhan, Nia, and Lena,” Morgan read off. “Get ready to start your engines because the race is about to be on.”Kara couldn’t help the soft sigh relief that escaped as Eve crossed her arms and Siobhan scowled at the now beaming Imra, the only name that hadn’t been read off. Of course, they would be on the group date once again. With Imra receiving the first impression rose, Kara was surprised Imra hadn’t received a one-on-one date much sooner. But this was only the third date technically. Perhaps there was still time. There had to be.“That means Imra will be the one on the coveted one-on-one tomorrow,” Morgan whipped out another smaller envelop from his pocket and opened it as he smiled at Imra as he read it. “Why the long face?”Imra frowned and her brow creased as she thought over the strange date card while Morgan’ own smiling expression gave away nothing as he stared expectantly back at Imra who only great more confused by the second.“Well,” Morgan said after several moments before tucking away the date cards into this suit pocket. “I suppose I should leave you all to get ready. The bus for the group date will be here just after noon so be ready by then. I advise wearing something more casual than formal, ladies. I’ll see you all then!”With a nod at the camera, Morgan retreated back out the room and through the front door with most of the crew following suite even those several lingered in the room to mess with the calibrations and settings on their equipment as the women finally began to talk.“The race is about to be on? What is that even supposed to mean?” Siobhan crossed her arms before glaring at Kara. “Do we have to race one another because I am certainly not racing against Ms. Marathon over there. That’s just not fair especially after how you showed everyone else up at the rock-climbing group date.”“Well, Lena won that date so,” Kara shrugged with tight lips, almost longing for the peace from the awkward silence of just minutes ago.Siobhan only narrowed her eyes further and opened her mouth to say something before Lena stepped in.“Besides, he mentioned engines,” Lena said. “He probably means car racing.”Eve blinked. “Car racing? But I haven’t ever driven over the speed limit.”“Oh yeah,” Siobhan scoffed. “Sure, you haven’t.”“But what do you think mine means?” Imra interrupted. “He wasn’t insulting me, right?”“I think it has something to do with horses?” Sam suggested with a small shrug. “Like you know, the joke where a horse walks into a bar and the bartender asks why the long face?”“Oh!” Imra clapped her hands and a small giggle escaped as she put the pieces together. “That was a joke I told him a few days ago. I can’t believe he remembered! Do you think we’re going horseback riding?”“Maybe drinking if it has to do with the joke,” Kara suggested. “Or both. Wait, is it legal to drink and ride a horse at the same time?”“I think it depends state to state,” Sam shrugged. “I bet Megan would know.”“But she’s not here anymore, is she?” Siobhan stood up from the table. “Just like one of you won’t be by the end of tomorrow. I can only hope it's sooner.”Kara blinked, but Sam only rolled her eyes as she picked back up her tablet.“Don’t you have a unibrow to pluck, Siobhan?” Sam said as she sipped her coffee.“I can assure you I’m not the one who should be taking advantage of the extra time to get ready,” Siobhan replied with her nose upturned as she spun on her heel and walked out of the room.Eve and Imra were quick to follow Siobhan up the stairs to their own rooms to get ready while Sam took her coffee and tablet to pool chairs to get some fresh air, leaving Kara and Lena alone with a Nia back to dozing away at the table. Once again, the uncomfortable tension settled over the room like a much too heavy weighted blanket.“So, uh, would you mind if I shower first while you eat breakfast?” Lena finally asked.“Yeah, uh, sure,” Kara cleared her throat as she looked at the now lukewarm food in front of her, but her stomach lacked its normal cravings. “Take as long as you need.”“Thank you,” Lena stood up. “See you in a bit.”And then Kara was alone except for a sleeping Nia and a breakfast buffet she no longer craved.
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Cornflakes. She had really just tried to talk about the sodium content in cornflakes. Lena bit her lip and clenched her fists to keep from groaning out loud and banging her head against the tile wall in the shower. Why couldn’t she just be normal? She finally had a friend and then, of course, she had developed feelings for them. God forbid she actually ever have a friend and not mess it up for herself. Normal people had friends. Why couldn’t she just be normal?She shut off the water and towel dried her hair as she did her best to push the events of last night out of her head. Kara was intoxicated. A lot of people were flirtatious when they drank. Her words and actions didn’t mean anything. That and the fact that Kara was straight. Well, straight-ish. Sure, Kara had apparently kissed a girl before a couple of times but clinging on to that little shred of hope was futile. She didn't even have the courage to admit it to the other women. Besides, the only women Lena attracted were the toxic manipulative bitches. If anything, she had better hope with someone like Siobhan than the ray of sunshine that was her roommate.Not to mention if she were to even act on her desires, she would ruin Kara’s chance on the show. As much as she hated to admit it, Kara and Mike were cute together. They made a nice match. If Kara was caught kissing another woman, she’d only be wrapped up in a wave of drama and then most likely get kicked off the show before she could explain herself. Kara deserved a chance of happiness; Lena didn’t. She just had to shove all those complicated feelings into her trademark boxes and shove them deep down to dwell upon later for both their sakes.But still, Lena could have sworn Kara was about to kiss her, and a part of Lena was devastated when that didn’t happen. She found herself longing for the touch and warmth of the woman who slept in the bed next to her. Just to nuzzle her nose into that vanilla scented blonde hair and feel safe as those strong arms wrapped around her as those soft lips pressed against her forehead, cheeks, and lips.Yeah, Lena was screwed.When Kara finally did enter their room, Lena offered a smile which Kara returned in kind with an awkward wave, which of course, only made Lena hyper fixate on the toned lines of Kara’s biceps and forearms. Curse Lena’s weakness for strong women. She could have kicked herself as Kara retreated into the bathroom for a shower of her own. Lean could only pray that this group date had nothing to with physical activity or revealing clothing. It could probably be classified as a health risk at this point because seeing Kara in just a bra or bikini top would probably cause Lena’s heart to give out.Shaking her head, Lena did her best to think of Mike for the remainder of the time she got ready. He was the one she should be focused on. And perhaps, if she thought about Mike as her heart began to flutter and her mind began to drift at the thought of her roommate, she could redirect her feelings to Mike. Afterall, if Pavlov could get a dog to salivate for a bell rather than food, perhaps she could do the same with the bachelor rather than her roommate. What other choice did she have?When all the women gathered in the front hall in their casual outfits, Lena did her best to not let her eyes linger on Kara who stood in loose gray top, jean shorts and a flannel tided around her waist. She just looked so cute in her outfit among the jumpers and sun dresses of the other contestants, even if Lena herself stood in a loose white blouse, rolled up black jeans, and dark sunglasses. When Lena found her gaze lingering on the defined calf muscles of the blonde, she immediately tore herself away and did her best to pull an image of Mike’s face to the front of her mind. As the bus pulled up the driveway, Lena welcomed the distraction of upcoming activity.As the women boarded, Lena took the set beside Nia, forgoing the open one next to Kara. Their gaze met ever so briefly, those blue eyes almost pleading, but Lena was quick to shove any feeling down as she sat down next to the normally sleeping brunette. They had an audience. Now wasn’t the time the do anything rash like she had almost done last night.“You don’t want to sit next to Kara?” Nia asked with a slight frown.“Well, I just thought we could get to know each other a little better,” Lena said with a smile more forced than she cared to admit. “How are you, Nia?”“Good!” Nia’s smiled. “Especially after last night. Brainy and I got to talk for a while after you and Kara went up. You weren’t hurt right? Like when you two fell in?”“Ah, no,” Lena cleared her throat, her eyes darting around. “We’re both fine. It was just an accident.”“How do you both fall into a pool by accident?” Nia’s brow furrowed.“We were also a bit intoxicated. Accidents happen.” Lena admitted in a more hushed tone as she scrambled to switched topics. “But you and Brainy. How was that last night?”Nia’s eyes and smile brightened as she grabbed Lena’s arm. “Oh, it’s been so great, Lena! He is the most thoughtful, kind man I’ve ever met. And he’s a genius. Like an actual genius. He can do all these calculated math equations in his head, but he can still make me laugh. And you want to know the craziest part?” Nia leaned forward so only Lena could hear her as she whispered. “I think I may actually be falling in love with him.”“Really?” Lena’s eyebrows shot up as she kept a now tense smile on her face. “But what about Mike?”Nia sighed. “That’s the thing, I can’t do anything that would jeopardize Brainy’s job so I pretty just have to wait till I’m eliminated and then the end of the season to even get to be with him. I know it sounds kind of wrong, but I swear I haven’t done anything to give Mike the wrong impression. I mean, we haven’t even kissed.”“You haven’t even kissed…” Lena slowly repeated, remembering how she had first kissed him in the rock-climbing event and again afterwards. She had just assumed everyone had been kissed at this point. Had other women hadn’t? Had Kara?“I mean, like we’ve come close to a few times, but something always feels wrong,” Nia shrugged her shoulders. “Then Brainy happened and I just didn’t really want to after that.”Even though Lena understood, a part of her twisted and wanted to shout. How was it fair? How was it that Nia had found someone she had feelings for other than the Bachelor and it was all seemingly so easy? Sure, she’d have to wait, but it would happen. Lena on the other hand just a stupid crush that had no hope. Even on the infinitesimal chance it was reciprocated, it wouldn’t be that simple. She had already kissed Mike several times, and while they were all pressured by cameras, the bachelor, and herself, that didn’t take away from the fact that they had happened. And as much as Lena hated to admit it, she knew Kara had kissed him too. At this point, Nia could strip herself away from Mike without much if any of herself lingering with him, but Lena and Kara, that wouldn’t be the case. Regardless of how much of Lena wanted to give herself completely to Kara, she had already given some of that to Mike.The thought almost made her want to throw up.“You okay, Lena?” Nia asked, her face and tone concerned.“Yeah,” Lena assured her with a fake smile. “Just a little car sick. I’m really happy for you and Brainy though. I’m glad you found someone.”“Thanks,” Nia blushed. “And hey, I’m sure you’ll find someone too. I mean, if it’s not Mike that is.”“Thanks,” Lena said tersely, already knowing for certain that it indeed wasn’t Mike.~~~“Alright, welcome, Ladies!” Morgan shouted as he welcomed all the ladies loading off the bus and into an empty parking lot in front of a garage with a massive chain-link fence surrounding it. “I hope you’re all ready to show Mike just what you all are made of.”Mike stepped out of the car beside him and several of the women cheered as he dusted off his brown leather jacket and jeans. It was a different look for the playboy, but still, it didn’t seem to do much Lena. Still, that didn’t stop her from trying her best to mirror the actions of those around her with a smile and small applause of her own. Cameras were always watching.“As some of you may know, one of favorite sports is racing,” Mike said in a loud voice. “Specifically, car racing. When I have the time, I like participating in stock car racing and since I love spending time with my girlfriends during my hobbies, I thought it would be fun to see you all behind the wheel.”“Hey, who doesn’t love fast women?” Morgan said with a grin that made Lena’s skin crawl.“So, this group date is a competition of sorts,” Mike continued as after sharing a smile with Morgan over his joke. “You will all partner up to compete with each other. Whichever pair wins will get go on a two on one with me for dinner tonight.”Many of the women perked up: a two on one. A date where it was just two contestants and one bachelor. As bizarre as it sounded, it was common for the bachelor to pick one woman out of the two and send the other one home. Of course, that didn’t usually happen until later in the season, but this season had fewer contestants than normal, so this could have been the producers only trying to create more drama for the situation. Regardless, it appeared that most of the women wanted that dinner date even if it meant that they would have to share it with someone else.“For the challenge each pair will be designated to one stock car,” Morgan continued in his announcer voice. “There you will be given two hours to decorate and modify the stock car however you’d like with specialists observing from afar to make sure nothing dangerous is done. You will also need to decide which one out of the two you will race, and which one will be the passenger. It may not be the easiest decision, but we trust that you all will make the right one.”Lena’s fingers twitched. While she’d never participated in street racing, she’d be lying if she said she had never wanted to. Lex regularly brought home and assortment of clunkers and junk cars from his friends and the two of them would fix them up as a side hobby and then test drive them in the abandoned mill’s parking lot at night. At least they use to before he moved up more in the family business and lost time for things like that and time for her. Lena on the other hand had a degree mechanical engineering and another in automotive technologies. She knew cars. More so than probably any man here. But of course, they didn’t need to know that and nor did they want to know that.“So, it appears Eve and Siobhan will be one team and Samantha and Nia will be another,” Morgan continued as he gestured towards Lena. “Leaving Kara and Lena as our last team.”Lena’s eyes widened as she whipped her head to either side of her. Apparently, division of teams had happened much sooner than she had expected which left only her and Kara without a partner. Kara could only smile sheepishly at her which Lena automatically returned even though her heart pounded in her chest. Why wouldn't it go this way? The world had never been kind to her before, why would it be kind now and do anything in its power to try to spare her from another ruined relationship?“Alright ladies,” Morgan said as he clapped his hands together. “Your time starts now.”The other women took off towards the opening garage door before them, but Lena and Kara held back as they departed with barely a brisk walk. Too much ran through Lena’s mind to even give her a chance to be running for a challenge. They fell in step beside each other as the cold air and tang of oil of the garage building hit them as they entered. A lone white stock car stood parked to the side away from the other pair of women who all chattered excitedly about their cars and the race while a word had yet to pass between the blonde and brunette until they stood before the car.“So, I guess we’re partners,” Kara finally said with a shy smile as she looked at Lena with those blue eyes that made her question the strength of her knees.“Yeah, I guess so,” Lena replied, her gaze falling to the ground as she tucked a lock of her hair behind her ears.“Well, you, uh, got any ideas for the car?” Kara asked as she nodded towards the stock car in next of them.Lena gulped as she finally looked over at their gray stock car set aside for them. While it may have looked like any ordinary car with the doors welded shut to the other women who simply reached for paint, Lena’s mind drifted towards something else entirely. She didn’t have much interest in the exterior as she did the interior, and if her suspicions were correct, she could probably tune up this V8.“I’ll have to see what it looks like under the hood before I’m sure, but I have my suspicions,” Lena said as she felt along the crease of the hood for the lever to pop it open. “I’m sure I’ll be able to make some slight performance adjustments even with the limited time.”“Performance adjustments…” Kara repeated slowly. “I was just wondering if you wanted liked the idea of flames on the side or not.”Lena stiffened. Was that supposed to be reference to last night when Kara’s hair had caught fire? Or what almost happened right before it and after in the pool? No, she was just overthinking things like always. No good would come from forcing meaning where none lied. She just had to go ahead and shove those feelings down now before they caused her anymore grief or annoyance.“Flames can work even if they are cliché,” Lena said with a shrug as she tied back her hair with a scrunchy. “I really don’t have any preference. You can decorate it however you’d like.”Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Kara hesitate. This was supposed to be a group project where they were a team that communicated with one another. But Lena didn’t know how to do that. After her mother, brother, and even father had let her down so many times, she had learned that was better to only rely on herself. She did her best work when she worked alone. She didn’t even know how to work with someone else.But as she saw that wrinkle in her brow and the downcast gaze of those blue eyes, Lena wished she knew how.~~~“Only a few minutes left,” Kara said as she wiped her hands on her jean shorts. “You about done?”“Actually,” Lena said as she slammed the hood down, “I just finished.”“Great timing.” Kara grinned as she put her hand on her hip. “Did you hook up the nitrous and make it so the car could run on jet fuel and fly?”“Not hardly,” Lena barked out a laugh as she wiped the grease off her hands on a towel. “Personally, I would have preferred to be able to attach some subframe connectors and a forced induction. But I did what I could. Replaced a few sparkplugs, tuned up the engine, removed the stock air filter.”Kara’s eyes widened. “What would you remove the air filter?”Lena raised an eyebrow as she leaned on the hood. “I removed the stock air filter box,” she corrected. “I wanted to get more airflow to the engine. The more airflow, the better the intake and the better the fuel mixture. It might not be the best call if we were to drive the car regularly, but since it’s only temporary, I didn’t see any big deal.”“But won’t we be like breathing in carbon dioxide now if we removed the air filter?”Lena frowned and tilted her head as she studied the blonde. “That is so not the same thing. It doesn’t bring air into the car interior, just the engine. We should be totally fine.”Kara sagged her shoulders with a sigh. “I mean if you say so. You know this car stuff way better than me.”Lena couldn’t help but smirk.“Trust me darling, we’ll be just fine,” Lena assured her, touching her shoulder as she passed.Something about touching the blonde did something to Lena. Her feet suddenly felt weightless while her hand on Kara’s shoulder felt heavy, as if she couldn’t have picked it up even if she wanted to. Despite the thin layer of clothing, all she could feel was the warmth and strength lying just beneath the surface of the blonde next to her. Her fingers craved more to touch, but she knew she had already crossed a line when she let the pet name slip especially with the brief physical touch to follow that caused a blush to bloom across the blonde’s cheeks. As much as it pained her, Lena slipped her hand away and directed her gaze towards the sides of the car that Kara had been working on.“Oh my gosh, Kara,” Lena gasped.“Do you like it?” Kara asked as she rubbed her neck, her cheeks flaming a dark color.How could Lena not? In just a short amount of time, Kara made the blank stock car look like a classic. While no stickers or endorsements lined the sides like a professional, the large reoutlines of the number 02 was centered in the middle of the now blue car with a yellow racing stripe going along it and at the tail of the stripe, it morphed into a star. It may not have looked like anything too intense, but the fact that Kara had managed to pull this off in such a time crunch without any stencils was unbelievable.“It’s incredible,” Lena gaped. “I had no idea you were so talented.”Kara shrugged. “I took some art classes in college. It’s no big deal.”“Says the woman who is good at everything,” Lena scoffed.Kara only blushed harder. “I don’t know about that.”“And here I was thinking you’d paint on some bad pick-up line about cars.”“Well actually you know, if I was a car, I’d need some coolant because you got my engine overheating.”A loud laugh slipped out of Lena’s mouth before she could contain it which only made Kara grin even wider it.“Okay, that may not have been your best, but I certainly appreciate the effort,” Lena told her she pushed her loose hair back behind her ear.“You’re always worth the effort,” Kara replied.And of course, those words hit her harder than all the pick-up lines combined.~~~“You sure you’re okay with driving?” Kara asked for the millionth time as she leaned over the top of the car parked at the starting lines as the ladies prepped themselves.“Of course,” Lena clipped the strap on her helmet. “I’m the one who can drive manual after all.”“Only if you’re sure,” Kara insisted. “I just don’t want you to feel pressured into this because I’m terrible at handling a stick shift.”“No pressure at all.” Lena gave a small smile. “I’m honestly a little excited.”Kara returned the smile with a teasing one. “Should I be scared then?”“Maybe just a little,” Lena winked.Oh god, what was she doing? Did she actually just wink? Her palms were now sweating so bad she feared she wouldn’t be able to grip the wheel. A hot trail of sweat now ran down her back and resisted the urge to hide her face behind her helmet. There was just something about being around cars again that reminded her too much of her youth and now she was being careless. She had to stop for Kara’s sake. Otherwise, she’d be the one feeling pressured, not her.“Alright ladies,” Morgan called out as he sauntered to the edge of the racetrack with a flag in his hand. “One minute till start time.” “Time to get in!”Kara flawlessly pushed herself up with her hands against the topside of the car’s roof and slipped her legs in through the window then her body in one swoop, her wavy blonde hair disappearing into the car in a blur. Lena’s knees almost gave out watching. How could someone be so effortlessly beautiful and strong?“Better get your head in the game, Lena,” Siobhan smirked from her car beside them with an incredible tacky and drippy attempt at a galaxy design. “I need a little competition after all.”Lena narrowed her eyes but didn’t bother with a retort before she attempted to slip into the window with a fraction of the grace that Kara had just shown. Luckily, she had chosen the pants over the skirt on the this date. Of course, she still banged her knee against the frame and her elbow against the steering wheel before she finally flopped down into the seat, but thankfully, Kara didn’t make a comment and only smiled reassuringly at her which somehow only seemed to turn Lena’s face even redder.“Don’t forget to buckle up!” Kara said as she tightened her own black helmet.“Oh right, of course,” Lena said, doing her best to push aside the realization that this may have been the first time she’d ever had a goddess with her in the front seat. A goddess who would be cheering on her driving in a race. In a car Lena had never driven. Oh, this was going to be a nightmare.Just as she was beginning her descent into anxiety, Morgan sounded a whistle that slowly pierced through her thundering pulse in her ears.“On your marks, get set, go!”The cars besides them took off and Lena suddenly realized she hadn’t even cranked the engine.“Is everything okay?” Kara asked with a much too distracting face of concern.“Yes, yes,” Lena answered shortly, her face beet red as she rolled the engine over and silently prayed to a God she hadn’t in years.When the car finally roared to life a second later, Lena slammed the gas and worked the clutch and gears so they were off like a shot even if one of the first gear shifts jerked them forward. Her panic faded slightly as she they seemed to make up on lost time easily as they were soon gaining and then passing the apparently already stalled out flower covered car where Sam frantically attempted to re-crank the motor while Nia waved to them sleepily out the window as Lena already knew she had no desire to win the race. Lena could only offer them a brief smile as she rounded the first bend of the course and set her sights on the hideous car that was Siobhan and Eve’s ahead.“You never told me you were a racer!” Kara shouted above the noise as she held the car door in a death grip.“Just in fantasy!” Lena put in the clutched and changed gear.“Could have fooled me!” Kara pulled a piece of loose hair out of her mouth that the wind had done very little to keep tame.Lena told herself that Kara wasn’t looking at her. It was simply just the whisps of the own hair that had escaped her ponytail that the wind tangled in her peripheral vision and nothing more. But when she turned her head to take a quick peak, she saw that Kara was indeed staring at her with those blue eyes and soft smile that haunted her dreams. They enraptured her and entrapped her. They were the only destination worth the journey. She would hold their gaze for as long as she could.However, a pothole had to disagree.“Oof,” Lena grunted as the car jumped as it hit the hole in the road, but thankfully didn’t lose much momentum. “Sorry.”With her eyes back on the road, she saw just how close they were to Siobhan and Eve’s car now. Perhaps those enhancements she made had done the trick better than thought, or of course, Siobhan may just not be a good racer because they neared them, Siobhan’s car didn’t seem to really notice them until they passed. But unlike the Nia in the passenger seat waved at them, Eve only flipped them off. Lena couldn’t help but blink. Maybe Eve was more toxic than she realized. Or maybe she just really wanted that date.Shaking her head, Lena pressed forward, gliding on past them and into the lead with only a little left of the race. Now in high gear, she let her hand relax on the gearshift, intent on keeping up this speed for the rest of the race, but as she did so, she felt a warm hand open next to her. Somehow, her fingers seemed drawn to those as they itched to interweave themselves with another rather than their own. Not taking her eyes off the road, Lena allowed her hand to slowly wander, ghosting the touch of Kara’s, fearful it had only been placed their absentmindedly and would be moved once she realized it may have been in the way.But it stayed firm.Lena’s touch grew heavier until their fingers touched and palms met. Those soft but firm fingers felt different than before. Maybe it was the thrill of the race or the distance apart, but now Lena couldn’t find herself ever longing for anything else to be in her grasp. No flower would ever be as beautiful, and no weight would ever be as solid as the hand she now held in hers. A low fire burned in her stomach as she felt Kara offer her hand a soft squeeze which Lena automatically offered one in return. She had thought racing had been her fantasy, but this was surreal.With the last turn, Lena knew she had to downshift. If she didn’t, the car might stall, but with her hand resting in Kara's, she couldn’t bring herself to let go of her touch. As the turn approached, Lena spun the wheel with one hand and gritted her teeth as her other hand squeezed Kara’s tightly, almost fearing she could cause damage to Kara’s hand. But Kara only returned Lena’s vice grip with one of her own, unwilling to let go. Lena’s heart swelled.No one had ever held on to her as tightly as she held on to them.The car jolted and engine whined before falling silent, but Lena didn’t react. Instead, she turned her head to Kara who was looking at her with just as much intensity as Lena felt. Their grip didn’t lessen, and if anything, Lena wished had the strength to squeeze harder. Those blue eyes held the color and power of an ocean before a storm and Lena longed to be the one that brought the thunder and waves that would rock them both. To take the dive and surrender herself to the impulses her true nature craved. She would let herself drown if that meant she would truly finally feel loved.The roar of an engine sliced through the moment and Lena’s body and body jerked away just in time to see the Siobhan and Eve’s car fly past them with the Siobhan’s cackle echoing through the air as their tires kicked dusted on to theirs.With a silent swear under her under breath, Lena took her now free hand and bumped the gearshift to its correct spot before cranking it up the car again. Roaring back to life within seconds, Lena’s foot smashed against the gas and they took off, just narrowly beating out Sam and Nia’s car as they rolled over the finish line and parked their car behind Siobhan and Eve’s. Siobhan and Eve were already climbing out of their car and running towards an excited Mike who pulled them both into a hug at once when they reached them. All of this, Lena saw through the windshield of the car as she her knuckles turned white around the steering wheel.“Are you okay?” Kara asked slowly.Lena let out her breath which she didn’t realize she was holding. “Yeah. You?”“Yeah,” Kara said with a crooked smile.“I’m sorry I lost us the race,” Lena said with sagging shoulders as she loosened her grip on the steering wheel.“That’s okay,” Kara told her. “I still had a nice time. I mean… only if you did.”Lena looked at those blue eyes and smiled.“I did.”
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Kara and Lena still didn’t speak much as they boarded the bus back to the mansion, but now, the awkward tension had depleted so only a pleasant silence remained. When Kara sat down in an open seat behind Nia, she smiled when Lena slid in right beside her. She tried her best to reign in her thoughts before she got ahead of herself, but maybe, just maybe, the way she felt about her roommate wasn’t quite as one sided as she believed. Her hand still throbbed from Lena’s death grip to prove it.“Well, well, I guess your little mechanic stunt turned out be just that: a stunt,” Siobhan smirked as she sat down in the open seat across from them. “Tell me, Lena, what did it feel like to eat my dust on the last lap?”Lena shrugged. “Humbling, I suppose. I didn’t know a dog could drive.”Kara blinked, her eyes darting between Lena’s soberly straight face and shocked twitching of Siobhan’s upper lip and clenching fists. For someone who seemed so soft and reserved, Lena had a bite and underlying power that oddly caused Kara’s stomach to clench.“How quaint,” Siobhan replied after a few seconds. “Perhaps you can think of something more original while I’m at dinner with Mike and you’re stuck at the mansion all alone.”“The ego you must have to think you’re worth the effort.”“Wow, ladies, let’s pull those claws back in,” Morgan said with a clap of his hands as he boarded the bus. “That certainly isn’t the kind of lady like behavior we condone on this show.”Kara rolled her eyes. Sure, they didn’t. It wasn’t as if they didn’t have countless footage at this point of Siobhan bullying the other girls, Eve trying to fight another girl, or dozens of clap backs from other women. At this point, Kara almost suspected that Siobhan was an undercover producer planted to start drama or even just being paid to do so. On their first day, she claimed she worked for the Daily Planet, the same paper where her cousin Clark and his wife Louis worked, but she hadn’t never mentioned it or her work again. Could it be that it was a weak cover?“Anyway, Siobhan and Eve,” Morgan continued. “Mike has requested that the two of you ride back to the mansion with him so he can better get to know you before your dinner tonight. Would that be something you two would be up for?”“Oh really? Of course, I wouldn’t mind!” Siobhan said as she stood up and side glanced Lena. “I’d love to get some closer interaction with him in not such a group setting.”Her snakelike eyes lingered on Lena’s with a plastic like grin as if to remind her that she had also not received a one-on-one yet and now Siobhan was just one step closer. Apparently, she seemed to forget that Eve would be joining her as she failed to even hold the door open for her as she followed Morgan off the bus. However, if her display meant to rally up Lena, it seemed to have failed as Lena only looked exhausted as she slumped back into the seat.“I finally feel like I can breathe with her gone,” Lena sighed as she crossed her arms, and the bus began to move. “I really don’t understand what I did to piss her off so much.”“Perhaps she just sees you as a threat,” Kara shrugged. “I mean you are the most stunning woman here.”Lena rolled her eyes and light blush colored her cheeks. “Oh please. Anyone looks nice compared to that snake.”“Actually,” Kara said as she leaned back against the seat and met Lena’s gaze. “Have I ever told you that her face remind me of the stars?”Lena scoffed bitterly as she shook her head. “Oh god.”“It’s probably because her eyes are so far apart.”Sam cackled in the seat in front of them while Lena’s frown slowly stretched into a smirk as amusement flashed in those green eyes that Kara couldn’t get enough of as she tried and failed to keep a straight face.“A reverse pick-up line?” Lena asked with an arched eyebrow.Kara couldn’t help but grin. “Whoever said pick-up lines weren’t versatile?”Lena smiled. “You never fail to surprise me, Kara.”For the second time that day, Kara was grateful to share a seat and a smile next to Lena.~~~The bus dropped them off at the mansion and as soon as the women stepped off the bus, producers were pulling them aside to do talking heads to be edited into the episode as it aired. Likely because of her recent interaction with Siobhan, Lena was one of the first pulled aside while Nia snuck away for an afternoon nap, leaving Sam and Kara on their own as they opened the door and entered the mansion.“So, I see you and Lena made up,” Sam said as she walked next to Kara.“What are you talking about?” Kara asked, her back immediately tensing.“Nothing, nothing,” Sam held up her hands, but a playful smirk stayed on her lips. “Hey, actually, I kind of wanted your opinion on my outfit tomorrow night. Wanna come up?”“Um… sure?” Kara said slowly, tilting her head at the strange tone in Sam’s voice.“Sweet, follow me,” Sam spun on her heel towards the stairs and took off in rather quick walking pace, but Kara’s longer legs had no trouble keeping up with her. “I’m pretty sure, we’re just down the hall from each other, but you know how confusing large places like this can be sometimes especially with how busy they can be.”Sam’s neck jerked somewhat oddly and towards a wall bouquet in the upper corner of the stairs that Kara had walked by countless times without any consideration. Now however, she noticed the small blinking red light of a camera and her heart skipped a beat. While she had known several like it existed around the mansion, she hadn’t expected them to be hidden like that. How many cameras like those had she missed?“I know it’s rather silly, but I always love a second opinion and with Megan now gone, I don’t have the convivence of a roommate anymore,” Sam opened the door to her room and quickly shut the door behind Kara. “Let me just go freshen up real quick before I show you.”Kara’s brow furrowed as Sam pulled her into her private bath and flipped on the bathtub faucet so sound of water echoed around them in the room as she shut them in the bathroom. Taking a step back in the already small bathroom, Kara eyed Sam nervously.“What are you doing?” Kara asked.“I don’t trust them not to be listening,” Sam told her. “I think I bought us like five minutes or however long it takes to fill the tub.”“That’s going to waste a lot of water.”“It’s not like we’re paying for it,” Sam said with a wave of her hand as she pulled a pen and notepad from her back pocket. “But I wanted to ask you a few questions for my thesis. Mostly I just want to make sure my base line is accurate since we’re both not exactly who we say we are. Is that okay?”“Um, I guess?” Kara frowned. She was the reporter; shouldn’t she be asking the questions?“Great,” Sam flipped open her notepad. “Is your name really Kara?”“Um, yeah,” Kara shrugged. “Kara Danvers anyways.”Sam smirked. “Pleasure to meet you Kara Danvers. I’m Samantha Arias. Next question, are you really from National City?”“Yeah,” Kara rubbed the back of her neck. “I mean, we didn’t have to tweak a whole lot of stuff to get me on the show.”“Besides your occupation.”“Well, I’m not technically a journalist. Really I am just secretary.”“Mmhmm,” Sam pursed her lips as she made a note. “Are you single?”Kara snorted. “Um, yeah.”“So, you consider yourself single while you’re on a dating show?” Sam asked, tilting her head to the side.“Uh, well, I guess if you count whatever we’re in right now with Mike then no.”“Interesting,” Sam looked down at her notes. “Are you straight?”Like a deer staring down a semi-truck at night, Kara’s jaw went slack and her eyes went wide as her stomach twisted tightly before she found her voice. “Excuse me?”“Do you identify as queer?” Sam reiterated more pointedly.“Why is that relevant?”“Do you know if Lena does?”Kara’s words stuttered when they finally came. “What are you talking about?”“The night we played ‘Never Have I Ever’, you both said you hadn’t ever kissed a girl, but I’m not buying that for a second. I know I was intoxicated, but you two both have terrible poker faces.”Kara’s cheeks and ears burned as she looked down at the water filling the tub beside them.“What does it even matter?” Kara asked.“Because my hypothesis is that no one here is actually here for the bachelor,” Sam explained. “That while this show is degrading and anti-feminist, I believe that every woman came on this show for some sort of personal gain that doesn’t involve a man at all, and then detailing the psychological effects that has one everyone. I came here for my thesis, Leslie wants to advance her your careers, Nia wants a jump start to her vlogging career, Megan wanted social growth and endorsements which I’m pretty sure Imra, Eve, and Siobhan want to. I’m not sure about Vasquez, but if she has any social media accounts, I’m going to lump her with the latter, but Lena doesn’t strike me like that kind of person. With her education level, being on this show would probably hinder her career more than anything. And I really don’t see her as anyone who spends much time on social media or as a potential vlogger. She's been the most difficult to figure out.”“So, you think she came on here to try to pick up a woman?” Kara snapped, her fists clenching.“Not intentionally, but I think she may have come here lying about what she wants due to denial and has now set her sights on someone rather than the bachelor,” Sam said slowly. “For example, today, I think she may have lost the race today on purpose.”With her heart skipping a beat, Kara’s nails dug into her palms as she attempted to silence the part of her longing for that to true while also not showing any signs of it on her face. Lena was more than just some box Sam was trying to put her in. And more than any fantasy Kara may have. Lena was beyond that and deserved to be treated as such. Nothing would happen and nothing could happen. If Kara had been forced to face that truth then so did Sam.“I think you’re just seeing things,” Kara finally said.“Am I?” Sam asked, completely unconvinced. “You two are close. I’ve seen the way she looks at you, Kara.”Her throat went dry, but Kara gulped past it. “So? We’re friends.”“Then why do you both at each other like you both want to be more than that?”Kara’s nostrils flared and she reached over to yank the faucet off, and the running water ceased. “We’re done here.”“Your feelings aren’t anything to be ashamed about,” Sam said as Kara pushed past her. “It’s best to face them. Holding them in will only cause you more harm.”God, she sounded like Alex. But what did she even know anyways? She was nothing but a want-to-be therapist who clearly hadn’t gotten past the stage of diagnosing everyone around her with problems.“Just stop okay?” Kara said as she opened the bathroom door into Sam’s room. “This doesn’t concern you.”“I just want to understand,” Sam said, quick to follow. “I just want to help.”“You can help by leaving us alone,” Kara said before she went into the hallway and made her escape back to her own room.~~~“Are feeling okay?” Lena asked.It was later that evening after dinner when most of the women had already retreated to their rooms to change into pajamas and start of a nightly routine while they enjoyed the peace in the house without Siobhan. Now each lying in their own separate beds, Lena read from her book while Kara scribbled away in her journal while they each enjoyed a peaceful silence until Lena spoke.“Hm?” Kara asked, peaking up from her notebook. “I’m fine.”“Really?” Lena’s forehead wrinkled in concern. “Because you barely ate anything at dinner, and you haven’t said anything most of the night. You just seem off.”Kara shrugged her shoulders. She was off. Sam’s words from earlier echoed around in her mind, and now they were all she could think about. Perhaps there were truth to them, but really, what was the point. It wasn’t as if Lena or anyone else could do anything about it. If anything, Kara should just keep her distance more than ever from Lena at the risk of ruining this chance for both of them.“I guess maybe I am a little off,” Kara said. “I’ll be fine though. Nothing a little sleep can’t fix.”“Is it something I did?” Lena asked.Kara’s shoulders tensed, but she forced them to relax before she spoke honestly. “No. You didn’t do anything.”“Is it about the race?”“Lena,” Kara sighed. “I’m fine, really.”But that didn’t seem to satisfy Lena who had already closed her book and stood up out of bed to slip her shoes and robe on before tying the sash around her waist.“Come on,” Lena said, nodding towards Kara’s own shoes and robe beside her bed.“Where?” Kara asked, sliding her notebook under her pillow before standing up. She couldn’t help it; she didn’t need to know where to follow Lena.“To get some fresh air,” Lena said as she opened their window and climbed out before holding her hand out to Kara. “Come on.”Before she could even think about, Kara’s hand was already reaching towards Lena’s and taking it in her own. Soon both women sat out on the same roof that they stargazed on not so long ago, and Kara could only silently thank the fact that they were in southern California where it sparsely rained. While they scooted on out to a more level section of the roof to sit down on, Kara’s hand itched to hold Lena’s hand in hers once more.“Maybe we’ll see something other than planes tonight,” Lena said as they settled down in their former spot which they deemed both safe from falling and from cameras.“I mean there’s the moon at least,” Kara said, nodding in the direction of the full moon ahead of them.Lena laughed. “Well, at least we do have something to look at.”They fell into a comfortable silence, much like the one they had in their room before, but now, they sat only inches apart and that little distance between them was all Kara could care about. Even with the moon so bright and large in front of them, Kara had no interest in looking at anything other than the woman beside her. But hope and Sam’s words nagged her thoughts, and her hammering heart demanded an answer.“So, Lena,” Kara rubbed the back of her neck as she gulped. “Did you, uh, did you lose the race today on purpose?”The brunette’s eyes widened before a neutral expression replaced it followed by a shrug of her shoulders.“It appears I was rustier at driving a stick shift than I thought,” Lena replied almost causally, but her voice was an octave higher than normal. “I didn’t realize the car was slowing down enough in that last turn to stall out.”“But then why did you squeeze my hand so tightly?”On those words, Lena froze, her back now stiff.“Why did you let me win the rock-climbing race?”This time, Kara froze. Her mouth dropped open and close like a fish before she was able to regain her senses and keep it closed as she cleared her throat. How did she know that? Kara hadn’t even admitted that Alex. Had she known this entire time?“Because you deserved it,” Kara said with a weak shrug as her gaze on the moon fell to the roof beneath. “Because I want you to be happy.” She hesitated before adding in a whisper, “because I care about you.”Wringing her wrists in her hand, Kara stared intently down her mismatched socks poking out beneath her running shoes and mentally braced herself for whatever kind of rejection Lena would throw at her.But seconds ticked by and no rejection or even words came until finally, Lena spoke in a small voice.“I’m not use to people wanting me to be happy,” she said. “For all my life, I’ve been nothing more than a pawn for people to manipulate to get what they want. I’ve learned that if I care about something, I have to hold on to it as tight as I can and never let it go.”As those words sunk in, Kara slowly lifted her head and turned to look at Lena who stared right back at her with those glimmering emerald eyes and scared smile on her lips. With a small smile of her own growing, Kara noticed Lena’s hand empty and open next to her, so she slowly reached for it, still fearful that she was imagining what was happening between them. But as the seconds ticked by and the more her heartbeat in her chest, Lena showed no intention of pulling away.“So, at the race…” Kara said slowly, her starting to sparkle in hope.“I didn’t want to let go of you,” Lena told her with a small smile as she took Kara’s hand in hers and gripped it tightly. "Because I care about you too."Green eyes met blue and a force like gravity sprung up between. Being conjoined at the hand wasn’t enough anymore. Her other hand twitched for more as Kara bit her lower lip as an electricity crackled between them. Kara’s heart lurched when she saw Lena’s tongue come out and lick her pale lips, and she knew she had not a chance at control anymore. Consequences be damned.Neither woman knew who leaned in first, but time stopped for both of them when their lips met. Unlike any of the moments with Mike before, this kiss was soft and delicate and all encompassing. The world around them fell away and it was only the two of them existing soles in each other's arms. Slender fingers curled against the collar of her shirt and pulled Kara in deeper as raw emotion took over while Kara’s hand slid to the back of Lena’s neck and tangled in her silky raven hair to do the same. That lavender scent Kara loved so much wrapped them in a cocoon as they only squeezed each other’s hands tighter. Their noses brushed as they changed angles and Kara could only smile wider as she once again tasted those soft pale lips.Perhaps Sam was right and none of the women were here for the right reasons, but in that moment, Kara could only be grateful that her and Lena were one of them.
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“So, what happens now?” The cool breeze of the night did little to sooth the warmth now coursing through the blonde’s veins especially when she held the other woman’s hand in her own. Her touch was both somehow gentle and all encompassing. Lena’s hand held not just Kara’s palm, but also her heart, and if she so chose, Lena could squeeze the life out of Kara; she already took her breath away with every look. But this was what Kara had been dreaming of for too long. What her wildest fantasies could barely glimpse. Already she considered throwing herself off the roof just to have the confirmation that this was indeed real and not just a twisted vivid dream. It already didn’t make any sense why someone as intelligent and beautiful as Lena would be interested in her, but Kara selfishly wanted it to last longer.“What?” Kara blinked, still slightly lost in the way the moonlight shimmered offer Lena’s dark raven hair.A small smile tugged at Lena’s lips. “What happens now.” She squeezed her hand in Kara’s. “What happens now with us?”Us? Now? Crap. Well, this wasn’t a dream, because dream Kara would never consider the future implications of kissing her female roommate on a reality tv show where she was supposed to be competing for the hand of one man. A reality show Cat Grant had ordered her to go on or else ruin whatever chance Kara had to be reporter or world in the field of journalism. Oh god, Cat was going to kill her even if it was a cruel irony.“Um, well,” Kara scratched her head as her thoughts slowly caught up with her.Her hesitancy curled Lena’s smile into a frown as her brows furrowed. Her hand in Kara’s grip loosened until it fell free, leaving Kara’s palm cold and clammy in the night air.“Kara…” Lena said slowly. “We just kissed. I thought… I thought you wanted…”“Wanted what?” Kara found herself asking quietly.“Me.”The single word left Lena’s mouth so quietly that Kara almost didn’t hear it, but when the brunette curled her knees up into her chest and turned her head away from the blonde, the breath squeezed out of Kara’s lungs in a jolt.“No, wait, Lena,” Kara stuttered, “Of course I want—”“Hey!”Both women’s backs went as stiff as board as their saucer wide eyes as they peered down off the roof to see an unfortunately familiar brunette and blonde looking back up at them. Apparently, the women were back from their two on one date.“It’s so nice of you to wait up,” Eve said with a tight smile. “If only we saved leftovers for you.”“Don’t tell me you were gonna jump,” Siobhan shouted up at them. “I don’t blame you though; you are in need of a good excuse to get your face redone!”The limo pulled away as the two women laughed at their own terrible jokes, but from the way they staggered, Kara questioned just how many bottles of wine they went through on their date. The green straps on Siobhan’s dress now hung low on her shoulder, and Eve bleached blonde hair frizzed around her head in halo as if her hair had been wet and air dried. Neither women looked near as stunning as when they left, but neither one seemed to notice nor care.“Good to see both of you too,” Kara called back with a tight smile.“Actually, ma’am,” a crewman from behind the two women called out as he side stepped a camera man. “You need to get down from their immediately. The roof access is strictly off limits.”“Oh, I’m so sorry. We’ll leave right away, won’t we… Lena?”Kara turned her head to her companion to only see the brunette already off the roof and back through the window of their room. Jumping to her feet, Kara’s palms cut themselves on the gritty surface of the tile as she scampered up and to the window with as much grace as a drunk moose. By the time Kara’s hands gripped the frame of the window, Lena was already packing her suitcase. The site alone caused Kara to stumble to her knees as her heart plummeted in her chest.“Wait, Lena,” Kara fretted, ignoring the stinging pain pooling in her knee cap.“I’m going to stay with Nia,” Lena said, her tone neutral, refusing to look at her roommate. “With Leslie gone, she’ll have an open bed I can use.”“No, wait, Lena, please, I’m sorry,” Kara begged as she slung one leg over the window ledge stumbling a bit and having to straddle it.“You have nothing to apologize for,” Lena said as she shoved the last of her clothing in her suitcase and walked to the bathroom to gather her toiletries, her voice now echoing slightly in the other room. “I misinterpreted the situation. I foolishly willed my feeling on you and forced you into a situation you didn’t want to be in. To make things easier I’m removing myself from the situation entirely.”She’s leaving? Kara’s heart sank impossibly more as she now sagged against the window frame, struggling for a solid gulp of air.“You’re leaving?” Kara barely managed to whisper.“Just the room, not the show.” Lena shut the bathroom door, her tone still frustratingly the same neutral tone as before and her face not giving anything away. It was as if Kara were a stranger, and they were engaging in small talk about the weather. “I refuse to give my mother the satisfaction of leaving so early the show. I’ll do my best to make it to the top three and then leave peacefully. You have my word that I won’t say anything to impact your relationship negatively with Mike. I only ask that what happened between us stays secret”“No, Lena, wait,” Kara squeaked, stumbling when her foot caught the edge of the windowsill. “About before, I want there to be an us—”“No.” Lena’s nostrils flared as she clipped her suitcase shut. Her façade faded and for a brief moment, Kara could see just how much pain and fear welled behind those green eyes, robbing her of her voice. “You made your disinterest very clear earlier. I was foolish to think you’d ever want to be more than friends. Now we don't even have to be that.”“Lena…” Kara croaked, but Lena shut the door before Kara could manage another word.~~~Kara didn’t sleep much that night. After two hours of waiting sitting in the fetal position on her bed and Lena still hadn’t returned, Kara lost all hope of her roommate returning. Why hadn’t she just acted quicker? Why couldn’t she have just told her the truth? She finally got a chance to kiss the girl of her dreams, and she had blown it. So much so that she doubted Lena would ever talk to her again. And why should she? Kara couldn’t stop being a gay mess long enough to get any words out. She knew she should have felt shame for it, but Kara couldn’t resist taking Lena’s pillow that she left and pressing her face into it. Tears caught in her throat when the lavender scent that hand pleasantly engulfed her earlier now tickled her nose. The tears didn’t come though until she saw the book Lena had been reading still placed underneath it. How was she supposed to return it without ruining it now for Lena forever? Maybe she could just leave it and hope she comes back for it? Would a producer give it to her if she asked? Doubtful since they were probably scheduled for a lecture first thing in the morning.Folding up the pillow to her chest, Kara flopped down on Lena’s still freshly made bed and willed herself to take breaths. What else was she to do? Her eyes drifted to her shoes where she kept her hidden cell phone and briefly considered calling Alex, but she squashed that notion quickly. If anything, her sister would only declare "I told you so" and then spat some ridiculous notion about how she should do some grand act to declare her love for everyone to see.Lena would hate that. She already hated being the center of attention. She hated the cameras, the interviews, the manufactured tension and drama brought on by alcohol and producer influence. For all surface reasons, it didn’t make any sense for Lena to be on the show, but Kara knew that she was secretly a romantic. That deep down, Lena believed in love, and that someday she would find someone.But that day wasn’t today and that someone wasn’t Kara. No matter how desperately she wanted it to be.When rays of sun finally broke through the dawn, Kara didn’t get up. Her running shoes sat unused by the door and her stomach didn’t growl for breakfast. Her knee burned from where she scrapped it on the roof hours before but she ignored it. Rather, she let her sorrow and the still lingering scent of Lena on the sheets weigh her down as she willed for this whole experience to be over.~~~“Kara, there you are!” Siobhan clapped her hands together. “I was just telling everyone about my date last night with Mike!” With a small nod, Kara shuffled her way to the breakfast table where she appeared to be the last to arrive. Her muscles ached more than if she had worked out the night before and the spread on the table made her feel ill, but she ignored it as she slid into a chair next to Sam. Her gaze immediately found Lena several seats down who delicately sipped a cup of coffee and deliberately looked anywhere but her.“Our date,” Eve corrected Siobhan with a tight smile. “It was a two on one after all.”“Right, right,” Siobhan waved of her hand. “How could I forget. But it was marvelous girls! Rooftop restaurant with just us! Waiters kept coming out with caviar and lobsters, and they poured the most luxurious wine! You could simply taste how expensive it was!”“And then he brought us to a personal concert!” Eve squealed. “It was so romantic.”“Right,” Sam said with sly smile as she cocked her head. “And which one of you went home with the rose?”Both women fell silent. Siobhan’s nostrils flared as Eve shot her a wide-eyed look, but neither woman spoke for several seconds until Siobhan masked herself with the smirk of a snake.“Not all women need roses to know they’re valued, Samantha,” Siobhan said tersely.“Mmhm,” Sam took a sip of her orange juice. “I’m sure that’s what Leslie was telling herself as the limo drove her away.”Siobhan’s eye twitched as her toast crumbled in her fist even though her smile remained, although it looked more like grimace now. Eve simply flipped her hair with a small scoff before turning her attention back to her one cup of plain oatmeal with five blueberries in it. Beside her, Sam flashed a victorious grin at Kara, but Kara barely noticed.“Do you want me to pass you the waffles, Kara?” Imra asked from two seat down.“No thanks,” Kara said as she reached for a glass of water. “I’m not hungry this morning.”With a clatter of glass, Sam coughed on her drink, spraying her own sesame bagel and fruit with a small mouthful of orange juice. But that scene didn’t draw any of the eyes off of Kara as several sets of eyes stared down at Kara. Even from the opposite end of the table, those green eyes Kara longed for peaked at her from over her coffee cup. But Kara found it no easier to breathe. “But you love waffles,” Imra frowned.“I’m just not hungry this morning,” Kara said again, her neck turning red from the unwanted attention. She only tensed and reddened further when Sam pressed her palm against her forehead.“You don’t feel hot,” Sam said with a turn of her head as her gaze flickered over the blonde. “How does your stomach feel? Gosh girl, did you get any sleep last night? Your eye bags packed bags.”“She’s not your child, Samantha,” Siobhan rolled her eyes. “Kara was obviously up too late last night waiting up for me because she can’t handle the idea of Mike being interested in someone better than her. I saw her sitting up on the roof last night all alone waiting for me to get home. Pretty pathetic if you ask me. And everyone knows the jealous ones don’t last long here.”“God, how do you not float away with an ego that size, Siobhan,” Sam rolled her eyes.Wait, sitting up there alone? Siobhan and Eve hadn’t seen Lena up on their on the roof last night. They had no clue what happened before. Kara hoped this could mean that Lena would at least acknowledge her, but when Kara’s blue eyes darted over to Lena’s, she found them staring at the nutriental information on the back of a granola bar. Curiously though, Eve’s eyes also followed Kara’s. With a small gulp, Kara swiftly dropped her gaze down to her empty plate.“I just wanted some fresh air,” Kara mumbled weakly.“If only we had a massive yard, patio, and pool you could go to,” Siobhan replied, grinning wide in her triumph over the exhausted blonde.“Oh, stick a sock in it,” Sam shot back.Siobhan’s eyes narrowed, but before she could say anything, Morgan walked in with a brilliant white suit and a bright smile and a camera crew quick on his tails. Eve fretted over her hair while Siobhan quickly wiped the toast crumbs off her shirt and Sam quickly dabbed up her split orange juice as several camera men circled the table. Kara couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief to feel the attention off her, but she made no effort to better herself in front of the camera. Instead, she decided to just be as exhausted as she felt. “Good morning, ladies!” Morgan announced with a broad grin. “I hope you all slept well after your busy day yesterday! And we hope you’re as pumped as we are this morning because we have an exciting announcement!”“We can’t wait,” Eve gushed, and Sam rolled her eyes.“Well, ladies,” Morgan smirked as he took a dramatic pause. “Pack your bags, because after the rose ceremony tonight, we’re going to Italy!”Sam, Nia, and Siobhan gasped. Imra and Eve screamed. Lena and Kara on the other hand both struggled to crack a smile.Italy sounded nice, Kara supposed. Eliza had always wanted to go. Great mountains to climb, great food to eat, great culture to enjoy. But none of that sounded enjoyable right now. Really, all Kara wanted to do was to climb into bed and hide under the covers until some semblance of an appetite appeared or the hole in her chest closed enough for her to breath easily.“However,” Morgan continued with a more solemn tone. “At least one of you will not be receiving a rose in tonight’s ceremony. And that someone will be taking their bags home with them rather than on the plane to Italy.”The other women eyed each other with both suspicion and doubt on those words, but Kara struggled to feel anything. Maybe she should just volunteer to go home. Afterall, how else would Lena know that she was serious with her feelings? Then again, Lena said she didn’t want to see her again or even be her friend. Could Kara really give up both Lena and her career? She had to walk away from this show with something and her heart only ached more when she realized it wouldn’t be Lena.“So, I’ll leave you ladies to be getting ready for the cocktail party tonight!” Morgan grinned. “This is definitely the night where we separate the women from the girls. After all, this isn't the Girl Scouts.”What was that supposed to mean? Kara frowned, finally engaged in something other than her self-loathing and depreciation. Knowing her boss, Cat would spend several thousand words slashing that line for its toxic masculinity and weaponization of gender norms. After all, that same rage is what made her put Kara on the show. Perhaps it was time Kara put more energy into her article rather than pinning over a woman who now wanted nothing to do with her.But as the camera crew left and Lena smiled at Nia as they talked to each other, Kara’s heart flipped wildly in her chest. This fight would be darn near hopeless.“You okay?” Sam asked.“Hm?” Kara shook her head when she realized she was staring. “Yeah, I’m fine.”“Mmhm.” Sam narrowed her eyes as she cocked her head, turning ever so slightly to see just what had enraptured so much of Kara’s attention. “Oh.” Sam whipped her head back to Kara before asking in a low voice. “Did something happen last night? Is that why you were on the roof?”Kara barely spoke of her sexuality to her own sister. There was no way on earth she would discuss this with someone she barely knew at a crowded breakfast table.Kara gritted her teeth. “Nothing happened. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”Sam’s eyes softened as she saw right through the blonde’s gruff tone. “You know you can talk to me, right? I'm your friend.”Her pity only made it worse. And the only friend she cared about still refused to look at her. Kara’s chair scrapped the floor as she stood up, but she didn’t care. She just needed distance. And she needed it now.“Excuse me, I need to get ready for tonight.” Kara said flatly even though her nostrils flared ever so slightly.“Glad to know you’re finally taking this seriously,” Siobhan said with a smirk and raised eyebrow. “It’s going to take you hours and a whole bottle of concealer to cover up those under eye bags.”Sam bristled, but Kara barely heard her as she spun on her heel and walked out of room. With every step, she fought the urge to turn around and see if those green eyes were watching her.
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Lena wished Nia would sleep in the room as much as she did everywhere else. Ever since Lena had knocked on her door in the middle of the night and asked for a room, Nia hadn't left her alone.“So, I have some fresh sheets in you need them,” Nia said as she opened up her dresser to pull the bedding out. “Also, I have plenty of tampons and ibuprofen if you need those too, but if you don’t like the ones I have, I’m sure the producers can get us something. I can ask Brainy if you want. He can get you anything you need in like ten minutes.”“I’m not menstruating, but thank you,” Lena said as she slid her suitcase that bulged awkwardly still from her rushed pack underneath the bed."Oh,” Nia’s brows creased. “I just thought… why else would you need to stay in my room?”“I didn’t want to stay in mine.” Lena’s shoulders tensed as she turned her back to Nia as she pulled the fitted sheet over the mattress.“Why not? I thought you and Kara were best friends.”Lena’s breath caught in her throat as her fingers curled into fists around the sheets in her hand, popping up one of the previously tucked corners. The tightness in her throat spread to her temple and her vision blurred. She couldn’t do this right now. Not yet. She just had to hold it together a little longer.“Things change,” Lena forced out, hating how her voice shook on the last word."Oh no, friend.” Nia touched Lena’s shoulder. “Did you two have a falling out?”The hand on her shoulder made Lena flinch and tense up even further for the impending blow Lena learned long ago to expect. No compassion ever came without an ulterior motive. No kind word ever came without an critique. Even if Nia seemed like one of the purest souls she had ever met, that didn’t mean she wasn’t a lioness waiting to strike. Lena used to pride herself in reading people, but after tonight with Kara, clearly, she was nothing more than a fool in that too. She could almost hear the cackle of her mother in her ear as she once again proved her correct.God, she couldn’t talk about this right now.Turning away from Nia’s touch, Lena pivoted towards her suitcase and hastily unzipped it in search of her toiletry bag.“I’m going to take a shower,” Lena announced.She snatched a folded towel from the top of the dresser in front of her, but a hand on her arm stopped her. When she turned, Nia’s impossibly wide big eyes bore into her own, wavering Lena’s already trembling resolve.“I’m here for Lena,” Nia told her. “But I won’t pry if you don’t want me too.”Lena’s jaw clenched. Here she was fucking up another relationship she had with someone. How many times would she have to learn that she was just better off alone?“I need to shower.” Lena whispered.Nia’s hand fell and Lena shut herself behind the bathroom door just before the first tear fell.~~~Nia didn’t pry breakfast the next morning. Every so often, Lena would catch her sneaking pitying glances her way, but Lena was far too busy trying to not look interested in Kara’s presence to care. When she heard Kara claim she didn’t want waffles the next morning, coffee slipped on Lena’s pants as the cup slipped briefly in her hands before she caught it. The hot liquid burned her the spots where it sloshed on to her thighs, staining her pants, but Lena made no effort to move it. She had hurt Kara after all; what did her pain matter? She had ruined their relationship; what did her pants matter?When Morgan announced that they were going to Italy, Lena struggled to look remotely interested as Nia squealed beside her. She had always wanted to go Europe, but now, it seemed more of hassle and effort to get to the inevitable: her in a car with her bags packed, trying to figure out how to tell her mother she was dumped on a national television. Perhaps she should just send herself home now.But if she did that, Lillian would have one more knife to throw at her. A Luthor never surrenders, but according to her mother, Lena’s best skill was giving up. That was what Lillian believed about Lena’s relationship with Jack. She believed that as soon as the relationship hit its first bump, Lena was too lazy to try to fix it. Really, Lena had done everything but pop the question herself to try to get it to work, but who was Lillian if she ever acknowledged the hard work of another? No, if anything, this show would document just how hard Lena worked, even if it meant working through the pain of losing her best friend.~~~“So Brainy told me that the network set us up at this hotel on a vineyard in Italy!” Nia grinned as she laid out her clothes on her bed. “Apparently, it’s like treat because we’ve had the highest rated season premiere of the Bachelor so far!”Lena blinked as she looked up from her makeup mirror. “The highest rated? So, you mean a record number of people are watching us?”“Yeah! Apparently, they think that we’re the best batch of contestant yet!” Nia grinned even wider. “I’m sure we’re gonna have loads of new followers when we can get on Instagram again. Especially you! That bread stunt at First Impressions went viral! Brainy even showed me some memes from it. They’re hysterical!”“….memes?”Oh God, Lena was screwed.“Yeah! Like ‘She got buns, hun’ or ‘Get you a girl that has both’ and it was like your bread and, you know. My favorite was the one someone did where they swapped out Oprah’s face with Mike in that ‘I love bread’ meme. So great.”Lena leaned her head back with a groan. The last thing she needed today was knowing that several thousands of people were talking about her ass. At this rate, her mother already had lawyers set up to either sue Lena or cut her out of the family entirely. Her only possible saving grace was Lillian and Lex’s lackluster Twitter presence.“It’s not all bad! At least you’re not getting the villain edit like Siobhan is,” Nia continued. “Actually, from what Brainy said, you’re a fan favorite. You and Kara both are with your chemistry especially after the rock-climbing date that just aired. Now that had some fun memes. Kara did climb more boulders than the rock wall if you know what I mean.”Her chest twisted oddly at that as she shoulders slumped and closed her eyes. A blush tingled her cheeks at the memory, but the fun jump in her heart she had recently developed when she thought about it only sank. The last thing she needed was a reminder of knowing that moment had been immortalized on film and now circled the internet.“Oh sorry,” Nia flustered as she rubbed the back of her neck. “I shouldn’t have mentioned that with everything going on.”Lena simply shook her and desperately thought of anything she could to change the topic rather than sit in an awkward silence.“So, you talk to Brainy a lot,” Lena said.Nia’s cheeks turned red as she giggled. “Yeah, he’s pretty great. We usually meet up when he’s on break or during the night. He’s so sweet, Lena. And so smart. Like kind of dorky, but in the cutest way possible. I could just talk with him for hours.”Lena’s heart did a disgusting flop as her mind immediately went towards Kara, but she shut that out as soon as she could. There was no point in crushing after someone who wasn’t interested, was there? Instead, she shook her head and turned her focus back to her eyeliner as she carefully outlined her misting eye.“I’m glad you two found each other then,” Lena said simply, unsure if her even tone would hold up past those few words."It just feels like destiny, you know?” Nia wistfully tilted her head to the side. “Just how crazy is it that we both traveled hundreds of miles to meet each other. What are the chances? I guess it’s true what they say: soulmates just have a way of finding each other.”Once again, Lena’s chest gave an uneasy lurch, but she shoved it down in one of all too familiar emotional boxes before it be dwelt upon further.“Oh?” Lena said slowly. “Isn’t it a little bit of scandal though? I mean after all; you came her for Mike’s heart, not Brainy’s.”Nia simply laughed and waved her hand. “The heart just knows what it wants. And it just so happens that this heart wants a producer rather than a bachelor.”Nia’s smile was infectious, and Lena found herself smiling in the mirror before she shook her head. She'd would be lying to herself if she claimed she had come here for solely Mike. Really, Mike hadn’t even been on her radar when she applied. Surely not every other contestant out there besides them came for just Mike. He seemed decent, but not the type to use a month of personal time off for. She came hopeful for something, and was it so wrong that she may have found it with someone other than Mike? Sure, her and Kara may have kissed, but it wasn’t like it meant anything. Did her actions make her worse than Nia? At least not to Kara it didn’t.Lena closed her eyes as her chest seized. But why didn’t it matter to Kara? Had Lena imagined the entire thing? Had she forced something to be there that wasn’t? Kara must hate her now, after all, she did force herself on her. Really, she wouldn’t blame Kara if she never spoke to her again. What was she thinking someone like Kara would ever have feelings for someone like her?“Well, I’m glad fate was on your side then,” Lena forced a smile. “You deserve it.”"Aw, thanks Lena,” Nia smiled as she turned to look at her new roommate. “And so do you. I really hope everything works out for you with Mike! You both look so cute together!”This time, it was Lena’s stomach that lurched rather than her heart, but she kept her forced smile in place although her eyes betrayed her.“Thanks,” Lena eventually managed.~~~The cocktail party rolled around later than evening and Lena almost wished she had faked a case of food poisoning to avoid the entire situation. Her nerves ran higher than they had at any other point in the competition and no amount of her reading one of her few books soothed that. Her hands itched to bake, but the last thing she needed was accidentally coaxing Kara out of her room or even worse torturing her with the smell. Afterall, Kara was her biggest supported in the kitchen. But why live with the reminder? Instead, Lena simply sat on her hands and waited for the cocktail party to finally commence.Nia and Lena went downstairs to the poolside together, arm in arm with Nia searching out Brainy among the dozen crewmembers and Lena attempting to look pleasant and excited for the camera like third wheel at prom. There was nothing she would have preferred more than climbing back upstairs to her bed and curling up underneath the covers, but that of course was all before she saw Kara.Of course, tonight was the night that Kara walked in wearing her striking blue, sharp cut pant suit. Lena’s knees even trembled at the sight of Kara strutting through the door, her blonde hair pulled back in a tight ponytail that only highlighted her soft facial features. When Kara stuck her hands in her pockets and sent her shoulder slack just so, Lena feared she may have been caught drooling on film. If the first girl was sent home because wearing a pant suit made her lesbian, Kara’s pant suit would be sending others home for the similar reason; if Lena didn’t learn to pick her jaw up on the floor, she’d be one of those girls.But after several moments of ogling, Lena simply shook her head a willed herself to look anywhere else but the blonde. Perhaps it was time she made friends outside of Nia and her old roommate. Imra seemed nice after all and there was a seat open next to her where she sat at a small table next to Eve who didn’t seem to be saying much tonight. Summoning her courage, Lena grabbed a glass of wine and went over to her.“Hey Imra,” Lena greeted, doing her best to not sound as fake as she felt. “How was your one-on-one?”Imra’s face immediately lit up as she leaned forward in her chair with the brightest smile.“Oh, it was so great!” she gushed. “He took me out horseback riding, can you believe it? It was such a cute little trail ride and then we rode horses next to each along the beach! And he had a picnic all set up and everything!” Imra smiled dreamily as she propped her head up on her hand, her elbow resting against the table. “He’s just so great, you know? He’s just literally the protagonist from a romance novel.”Lena bit her tongue to keep herself from scoffing, but she managed to keep her smile plastered on her face as she smiled. Eve, on the other hand, only rolled her eyes, until she spotted the glint of camera lens and immediately perked up.“Oh, isn’t he?” Eve said in a high voice to Lena. “I mean, just in everything that he does, it’s like he’s gentleman out of Jane Austen novel! I’m sure if you were twist your ankle on a walk with him, he’d carry you back home even if it was in the middle of a pouring rain!”Lena snorted into her wine glass. “I surely hope not.”When both Eve and Imra looked at her questioningly, Lena hastily put her glass down to follow up her statement.“I just mean it was one of the villains, Willoughby, of Jane’s Austen’s novels that carried one of the female protagonists home. He ended up breaking her heart. If anything, you should hope Mike is like Edward or Colonel Brandon.”“Oh,” Eve wrinkled her nose as she shrugged. “I guess it doesn’t really matter. I’d rather have a Darcy anyways.”“Why? So, he can insult you and your family?” Imra asked, grinning at Lena when she heard her snicker despite Eve’s glare. "But really, a man with that kind of money can insult me as much as he'd like."Perhaps some of these other contestants weren’t as bad as she thought.~~~“Oh, come on. You can’t honestly tell me you’ve never seen a Fast and Furious movie.”“No, I haven’t,” Lena swore. “The trailers just made the entire franchise seem ridiculously unbelievable.”Mike and Lena sat on their now familiar bench; a bit closer together than they had been before. His arm stretched around the back of the bench, curling around her so his hand pressed against her back, but she did her best to ignore it. While he may not have smelt quite as repulsive as he did their first night, Lena found herself rather put off by his harsh musky cologne. A floral fragrance was always so much sweeter and gentler to the nose, but Mike wasn’t the first and certainly wouldn’t be the last person to understand that. Instead, she simply did her best to ignore it and remember to smile and laugh to be candid for the camera.“Oh please,” Mike waved his head as he scoffed. “Since when is jumping a car from one skyscraper to another unbelievable?”Lena arched an eyebrow. “They didn’t really do that, did they?”“Multiple times,” Mike smirked. “With the way you drove today, I think you would make a good member to their crew even if you decide to pass on the crazy stunts. You were unstoppable out there.”Lena barked out a laugh and looked down. “You conveniently forget that I lost that race yesterday.”"Hmm, maybe so,” Mike murmured, his fingers gently brushed Lena’s downcast chin. “But I’m the one who truly lost something special.”Those fingers at her chin urged her to look up which Lena did till her eyes met his. He had kind eyes. They really were one of the best qualities about him even if she preferred to losing herself the blue sea of another’s. And he looked at her in a way that Jack never looked at her. Maybe she could make this work. Perhaps a bit more effort than she’d like, but Mike would probably treat her well. Lillian would certainly not have anything bad to say about him.“You know, you should really start winning those group date challenges more often,” Mike whispered, his hot breath making Lena’s nostrils flair.“Oh, really,” Lena managed before Mike had his lips pressed against hers.The kiss was like all the ones before it: lackluster. It wasn’t so much that he was a bad kisser, but it felt like drinking a mimosa without the champagne; just plain juice. There was a sweetness to it, but too much of it would make her sick. Lena craved the bubbles, the substance, and intoxication she could lose herself in. The kind that haunted her dreams and fantasies. The way she felt when Kara kissed her.But those kisses only belonged dreams and fantasies. They would never be reality, at least, not again.After several seconds, Mike pulled away. Fear chilled Lena’s heart as he did, but his focus wasn’t on her, but someone behind her. He blinked, frowning slightly, before sitting up straighter and throwing on a polite smile as Lena heard the click of heels behind her. She didn’t know whether to be annoyed or be grateful.“Hey, Eve,” Mike greeted. “Can I help you with something?”Eve continued walking until she stood in front of Mike and Lena sitting on the bench, swishing the train of her green dress behind her, posing herself for them as well as for the camera crew around them. Lena almost rolled her eyes as Eve waited for a nod from one of the producers until she raised her chin high and put her hands on her hips to finally address the couple.“Excuse me, Mike, but I thought I should let you know some unfortunate news.” Eve said with a face too serious for the hands on her hips that Lena couldn’t help but find disconcerting. “It’s about a contestant here in particular that I don’t believe has your best interests at heart.”“Oh,” Mike nodded, his smile falling a bit but not far enough to be a frown.“I should have told you this sooner, but you have to know that this kind of accusation I take very seriously, and I would never want to throw this girl who I considered to be a friend under the bus like this, but I think it’s crucial you know before you make your decision tonight.” Eve continued, dabbing the corner of her eye for tears Lena couldn’t see. “This girl just isn’t here for the right reasons.”“Well, who is it?” Mike asked, turning his head slightly.The blonde’s eyes had a wolfish glint as they turned on Lena.“It’s Lena.”
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To say Kara was uncomfortable was an understatement. With the tension surrounding Lena, Kara had hoped that wearing her more familiar pant suit rather than a dress would relax the knots in her shoulder and back, but if anything, she only felt worse. The previous confidence once brought on by her beloved pant suit now only brought judgmental glances from Siobhan and Eve who previously never held any sway over her. But even that newfound power didn’t hold a candle to Lena’s herculean vice on Kara’s focus. She couldn’t think of anything but. If only she would just look at her. Why wouldn’t Lena just look at her?“So,” Sam swirled the wine in her glass and tucked one foot behind the other. “You and Lena still haven’t talked?”Kara’s nostrils flared as she exhaled sharply through them before taking a generous gulp of her wine and doing her best to not cringe as the harsh taste. “Does it matter?”Sam held up her hands, palms outwards. “Hey, I’m just trying to make conversation. It’s not like this cocktail party is exciting.”For the second time in a row, Sam was right. Sam’s only choice at the moment was to stand with Kara or migrate over to lounge chairs where the rest of the contestants sat listening to Siobhan talk. From the way Imra rubbed her forehead and Nia nursed her glass of wine, that option didn’t look anymore promising.“Maybe we should go be social and talk to them,” Kara shrugged. Surely one of Siobhan’s monologue would get her mind of her old roommate.“I would rather you throw me in the pool.” Sam took another gulp. “I’ll drown myself with wine over chlorine any day.”But as the two women watched, Eve stood up from the table, smoothed out her dress, and walked over to a producer who them guided her to the private date area. Kara frowned. Lena and Mike had just started their private time only five minutes earlier. The only other person to intrude into someone else’s private time had been Leslie, and after she had been sent home right after that, no one had else wanted to risk it. But Eve held her chin high and a slight smirk on her lips as she walked away, and the thumbs up from the producer only caused Kara’s heart to beat even more erratically.“Where is Eve going?” Kara asked, her drink shaking slightly in her hand.“Hm?” Sam pursed her lips as she thought. “Oh yeah, earlier this morning she said she had some information about one of the contestants that she felt she needed to tell Mike about it. Something about someone not being here for the right reason.”Kara’s drink almost slipped from her hand as her heart almost stopped. Ice ran through her veins as she immediately thought back about her kiss last night on the roof. They had been seen. And the producers knew. And Lena was about to be outed on national television for a kiss she thought meant nothing when it really meant everything but.She had to protect her.“Take this,” Kara mumbled, shoving her drink at Sam.Sam’s eyebrows shot up. “Something you want to talk to me about?”“Yes, no, I don't know,” Kara fumbled as she pressed her palms against her eyes before she took a shuddering breath. “You’ll find out soon enough. I just pray that it’s not front of a camera.”Cocking her head to the side, Sam watched as Kara scurry after Eve, her shoulders brushing past several plants and rustling the leafy green branches around her, but the noise drew little additional attention from the other contestants. They were too engaged in their drinks and themselves to notice. But even if they did, Kara didn’t care. Only one person mattered now, and she had to show her.If that meant losing her spot on the show, then so be it.~~~ Mike frowned, his forehead wrinkling as he turned to look at the brunette. “Lena, what is she talking about?”Lena’s jaw worked before she managed words. Her skin felt hot from under the lens of several cameras on her. “Mike, I can explain.”“Don’t try to talk your way out of this one Lena,” Eve sneered, her normally bubbly round eyes now glinting slits. “I know what you did. What you’re doing here.”Mike’s hands slipped from Lena’s, but whether that was due to her profuse sweating or distrust, she didn’t know nor care. This couldn’t be happening. Not like this. She had hidden her sexuality for so long and now everyone would know. Everyone. Lena’s hands shook as her stomach rolled. She was going to be sick.“Stop!”Lena jerked her head up just in time to see Kara stumble into the courtyard, cringing as she knocked down a tall ficus plant to her and apologizing to the fallen plant. Her chest rose and fell quickly as the blonde brushed the hair back from her forehead and stumbled closer before coming to a stop. Lena’s eye crinkled as she stared at the other woman. This was only going to make everything worse especially with how her presence only made her heart somehow beat louder within her chest.“Kara,” Lena breathed with wide eyes. “What are you doing here?”“I couldn’t let you face this alone,” Kara said her blue eyes locked with Lena’s.Why couldn’t she just let Lena take the fall on her own? She could escape and try to outrun whatever storm was about to run down on her. Lena could take it. She was a Luthor after all. Her family had taught her to weather constant storms. Kara deserved to keep whatever sunshine she had for as long as she could.“No, but like why are you here?” Eve interrupted, putting a hand on her hip. “Like this doesn’t involve you at all.”Kara opened her mouth to respond before closing it. Her eyes narrowed before she opened it again and slowly asked, “It doesn’t?”“Can someone please tell me what it is going on?” Mike asked as he stood up, leaving Lena alone sitting on the bench. “What is everyone doing here?”Lena’s gaze focused on Eve’s as she wondered the same thing and inhaled the first lungful of air she had managed in the last few minutes.Eve lifted her nose up high and put a hand on her hip as she pointed her other towards the brunette. “I’m here to tell you that Lena isn’t here for the reasons you think. She told me that the only reason she’s on this show is to spite her mother, not to get engaged to you!”“Oh, thank god,” Lena mumbled at the same time she heard Kara let out a loud sigh. Finally, Lena felt like she could really breath again.Alas Mike did not share this relief.“Is this true, Lena?” Mike demanded as his head whipped back to her.“Mike,” Lena said slowly as she stood up, holding her hand out tentatively like she would a scared dog. “Please, let me explain.”“Why so you can use him more?” Eve sneered. “Haven’t you done enough damage? Have the decency to send yourself home before Mike has to do it for you.”In the corner of her eyes, Lena saw Kara’s nostrils flare, but really, Lena was still too relieved to mad as she stared back at Mike’s round brown eyes searching her own. With a small sigh, Mike ran his palms over his dress pants before turning to address the rest of the women.“Eve, thank you for bringing this to my attention. Kara, it’s very noble for to speak up for your friend's character. I’d really like to talk to each of you at a greater length on this topic one on one. Could you both give me a few minutes to talk to Lena in private about this?”Eve’s hard gaze sought out Lena’s in an attempt to threaten, but Lena was too focused on Kara’s to notice. With a small nod, Kara turned around to retreat to the poolside where the other contestants were with Eve only a few feet behind her. Several seconds ticked by of silence before Lena finally found the courage to break it.“Mike,” Lena whispered.Mike responded with throwing his hands over his face and flopping back down on the bench with a loud groan.“Mike?” Lena asked, louder this time with a quick questioning look to a producer and cameraman who watched them much too close for her comfort.“Why does this always have to be so dramatic?” he mumbled behind his hands.“Um…” Lena sat down next to Mike on the bench. “I don’t mean to be crass, but this is a reality tv show.”“And I’m dating multiple women, yeah, yeah.” Mike’s eyes remained closed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “God, how do some people have the energy or patience to cheat on their partners? Is there a book or something I need to read?”Lena’s confused frown only deepened. “I don’t think that’s a virtue to admire.”“I know, I know.” Mike sighed loudly. “So, I suppose now is when you tell me you have no idea what Eve is talking about and she’s just slandering your good name to try to get you kicked off?”Hearing the steps of a camera man close by undoubtedly trying to get her defensive monologue at a good angle, Lena realized she didn’t quite have the energy everyone probably expected.“No, she was telling the truth.”At that, Mike’s eyes shot open as he turned her head towards Lena. “Really?”“Yes,” Lena admitted with a shoulder shrug. “I never would have applied to be here if my mother hadn’t sent me the form. Of course, she attached it an email implying that I was failure and disappointment and would never find love when she did.”“Oh god. I thought my mom was bad.”“She’s not a very pleasant person. But I saw that the opportunity would include several weeks away from her and as terrible as it is, I am regularly looking for new ways to spite my mother, and this seemed rather promising.”“Well, it is original.” Mike mumbled as he stared across the courtyard at a wall. "At least, I thought it was."“Yeah,” Lena sighed as she watched herself wipe her palms on her dress. “Look, Mike, I’m really sorry if I hurt you, but that was never my intention. Things just got out of hand so quickly…”"Why did you stay?”Lena looked up from her lap to see Mike not looking at her intently. Several thoughts whirled through her mind at once as she struggled to grasp on one that didn’t involve a certain blonde hair, blue eye ray of sunshine."Because it wasn’t like anything I expected,” Lena finally admitted. “You were supposed to be this partying playboy. The other contestants were supposed to be shallow former sorority girls and pageant queens. I didn’t think I would meet anyone with genuine depth or form actual relationships. I mean, I think I’ve made actual genuine friends for one of the first times in my life. This whole experience has become one of the most rewarding and liberating of my life—hh”A hot pair of lips suddenly pressed against her own, pulling a shocked sound from Lena’s throat before she realized Mike was kissing her. With cameras glaring at her, Lena closed her eyes and attempted to relax into his embrace and return the kiss. She clung to the thought that this was just a goodbye and would be the last for a while. Again, it wasn’t unpleasant, and Mike’s hold was warm which was nice, but there was no twist in her stomach or lightness in her head.Nothing like her kiss with Kara.But what did it matter if she didn’t feel the same?When Mike finally did pull back, Lena was relieved to see a sly grin on his face as his fingers gently massaged her scalp. With a small smile of her own, Lena gently squeezed Mike’s thigh, prodding a response.“Yeah?” Lena asked softly.“Your story isn’t much different than my own. This experience has been more life changing that I ever thought it could be. I never thought I could be in a situation like with so many wonderful women.” The corner of Mike’s mouth lifted into a sly smile before leaning into to whisper into Lena’s ear, “I also came on to spite my mother.”~~~“God, Kara, what the hell?” Eve hissed as they got back into the pool side.“Yeah, what the hell, Eve?” Kara shot right back. “You’re just gonna try to throw Lena under the bus like that? What did she ever do to you?”“It’s a competition, Kara, and I’m here to win,” Eve crossed her arms as venom dripped from her words as she stalked forward. “You better stay out of my way if you know what’s good for you.”Kara’s nostrils flared as her chest swelled and her fist clenched by her side. Rather than cower back, Kara stepped forward, her height over Eve demanding the other woman to take a step back. Kara hadn’t gotten into a fight since a year after her parents died, but Alex had ensured she knew how to throw a proper punch if the time ever called for it."Whatever it is you have planned, leave Lena out of it.” Kara whispered sharply as her lips curled up exposing her teeth."Or what?” Eve replied sternly, but Kara could hear the waver in her voice, and it only emboldened her.“Don’t they say that the producers call an ambulance every season?” Kara took a step forward, forcing Eve to take another step back. “I’d hate for that to be you.”Eve’s throat bobbed, but her bravado barely dropped behind that. “Whatever,” she mumbled as she pushed passed Kara and made her way back over to Siobhan.Even after Eve left, Kara struggled to calm down the thundering pulse echoing in her temple as she took ragged breaths. Her eyes stared lock on the still water of the pool as she willed her shoulders to relax the tension in them.“So,” Sam said as she walked up next to Kara and handed her back her drink. “What was that about?”"It’s nothing,” Kara said, taking back her glass, still staring out on the pool before it.“It sure didn’t seem like nothing,” Sam said as Kara downed the rest of drink in one gulp.“Let’s just say if Lena’s leave tonight,” Kara finally said, ignoring Sam's raised eyebrow, “I’m leaving too.”~~~“So, you and Lena seem quite close,” Mike said, leaning back on the bench to look over Kara with a smirk.“What?” Kara’s heart skipped a beat as she immediately felt her palms become sweaty. Did they really know? “What are you talking about?”“I mean, I can’t think of many people who I would stand up for blindly like that,” Mike explained."Oh um,” Kara rubbed the back of her neck. “Well, you know, we’re roommates and I like to think we’ve grown… close.”“Yeah?” Mike raised an eyebrow. “Well, she seems rather fond of you too.”“Really?!” Kara dug her nails into her palms to ground herself so she could add calmly. “I mean, yeah, we’re just good friends like that. Friends. Yeah, friends.”“I’m glad you have such good friends like that.”His hand started to slide up Kara’s thigh to rest on her waist. Kara couldn’t help but be grateful she was wearing a suit rather than her dress. Still, she willed herself to relax at his touch. The way he spoke, it sounded like Lena was safe so really what more could Kara ask for? Still, it certainly wasn’t his touch that she longed for.“I have to say,” Mike added, “that loyalty you showed was quite attractive. I can only hope you’ll defend me like that one day.”“Well, maybe I can someday,” Kara replied softly.“I can’t wait.” Mike said before ending it with a kiss.Kara closed her eyes as she tried to relax into it, but all she wanted was to check in on Lena. But she probably didn’t want that, so what why waste time thinking about it?~~~Lena and Kara only shared the briefest of glances after their individual talks with Mike, but both felt confident that Lena was safe for the night. Still, Lena said by Nia’s side and Kara by Sam’s, neither woman confessing the true action, but each fighting the urge to stare at the other. Did Kara know what she was doing when she stood up for Lena? Did Lena? Was it so hard for Lena to believe that she was worth standing up for?As the women were gathered in the courtyard for the rose ceremony, the producers deliberately set Lena, Kara, and Eve in the same sections undoubtedly so they could be filmed together, no doubt. Still, Lena refused to look at Kara, and Kara did her best to not stare in wait. Besides, they had somehow seemingly escaped tonight with none their secret remaining intact. Who were they to think they could push their luck?Mike offered a reassuring smile to all the women as he stood next to the pedestal with the stack of roses awaiting to be handed out. Two women would be going home tonight, and the rest would board a plan headed to Italy. Despite how they had seemingly escaped detection, Kara still intended to stick to what she had told Sam: if Lena was sent home tonight, Kara would follow.Before he could pick up the first rose, however, the host cleared his throat, drawing the attention towards himself.“I have some unfortunate news,” Morgan said as he stepped forward. “One of the contestants hasn’t be faithful to Mike.”The relief Kara had felt earlier instantly drained and the cold slither of anxiety shot through her again. How foolish was she to think that they had actually gotten away with anything? Of course, the producers would prefer the drama of the rose ceremony confrontation. She shoved her sweating palms in her pants pockets as she willed herself to breath evenly in case any camera landed on her. For a brief moment, she shot a look at Lena as the other women looked at each other in bewilderment, but neither held the other’s gaze for long. Kara’s throat bobbed as she tried to swallow down her dry mouth, but nothing helped as she waited for the accusation and condemnation.“This is actually something we’ve never had to deal with in the history of the show,” Morgan continued, his face giving nothing but disappointment away. “This is uncomfortable for me but as I just found out, I believed that it was important for Mike’s journey as well as the other contestants’ to know this as well. This individual entered into an inappropriate relationship that will unfortunate blow back on everyone else.”Kara bit the inside of her cheek as she looked down at her feet. Her nails dug so deep in her palms that she was almost sure they would draw blood soon. If her mouth wasn’t so dry, Kara would have just confessed publicly to end this long, drawn-out torment, but of course, nothing in body was working like it should. Perhaps if she just locked her knees, she would pass out and be free of this. But that was only delaying the inevitable."Nia,” Morgan said with a tight mouth and tone. “Since you pursued a relationship with one our staffers, we unfortunately feel that it is impossible for you to continue on this show. And that you will need to head out tonight.”Kara’s heart currently hammered too loudly in her skull to believe she had heard that right. Nia? Sweet, sleepy Nia? She was awake long enough to date two people? Oh, that must have been why she was always so tired? Kara whipped her head over to her to see Nia’s face red as she shamefully looked down at the floor. With a shaky breath, she willed herself to walk forward to Mike who currently looked at her with the wide, wounded eyes of a puppy.“Nia?” Mike breathed. “Is it true?”“I’m sorry, Mike,” Nia wiped her cheek with the back of her hand as she sniffled. “I never meant to hurt you. Things just happened.”Mike’s head drooped. “I wish things could have gone differently for us.”With a small sigh, Nia hung head and gently touched his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Mike. I think we both knew we weren’t the best fit for each other. But I never meant to hurt you.”He offered her a strained smile. “Goodbye Nia.”“Bye, Mike.” Nia offered him a far warmer smile. “I wish you the best of luck in your journey to find love.”With a small hesitation, Mike replied, “I hope you do as well.”And at that, Nia was escorted out of the courtyard into an awaiting limo. She finally disappeared when the driver shut the door, but Kara struggled to lift her jaw off the floor. Nia? How was Nia the one that isn’t here for the right reason. Sure, Sam’s theory is that allegedly no one is here for the right reasons, but this seemed rather extreme especially for someone who seemed as sweet as Nia. She was always so kind and cheerful. And she was one of Lena’s only other friends here besides her. Oh gosh, how was Lena handling this?Once again, Kara stole a glance at the pale brunette, but Lena’s focus remained forward and her jaw set. That mask that Kara had struggled so hard to remove over their time here was back in place and this time, it didn’t look like it would budge.“I’m sorry that had to happen like that, Mike,” Morgan said with a solemn look and hand on his shoulder before dropping his hand and turning to address the contestants. “Five roses still remain. One of you will be going home.”Biting her lip, Kara took a deep breath through her nose, and anxiously waited.“Sam.”Figures, Kara thought. He seemed rather smitten with her ever since their first one on one. Hopefully there wasn’t dramatic departure of her too when he learned the truth.“Siobhan.”Kara fought the frown that instinctively fell on her face whenever she heard that name. What did he see in her? Kara bit inside of her cheek to keep her scowl at bay as she watched her sashay up to him, moving her hips almost dramatically as she took deliberate steps in her high heeled shoes. As she returned to stand with the other women, Kara caught Mike’s eyes falling to Siobhan’s backside to ogle and barely held back her scoff: men.“Imra.”When Imra let out a rush of air in delight, Kara arched an eyebrow as she saw the women almost skip up to Mike and stare into his eyes with the widest smile. That he returned? Kara blinked. Maybe Imra wasn’t the only one smitten.“Kara.”Kara flinched when she heard her name called but attempted to cover it with a quick step forward which turned into a lunge of sorts. Siobhan snorted behind her but Kara recovered swiftly and normalized her gait as she walked towards Mike who only grinned at her. She did her best to grin back, but really all she could think of was that last rose remaining as Mike handed her one of her own. If that last rose didn’t got to Lena, then this rose would be pointless.When she returned to her place along the other, Kara’s neck felt hot and her fingers struggled to hold on to her rose as her hold became clammy. She gulped as she looked over at Lena who only stared unfazed out in front of her, not focusing on Mike or any cameras while Eve glared at a camera man who hovered close by her.Morgan stepped forward, blocking the line of site between Mike and the women.“Ladies, this is the final rose,” he announced as if no one knew before he stepped back along the side.Kara shifted her feet as she softly cleared her throat. Why was this taking so long? Couldn’t they just edit in the added time for suspense later? Was this even necessary?“Lena.”When the realization hit, Kara’s knees almost gave out, but somehow, she managed to stay standing. Lena, however, handled with far more grace than Kara could ever hope to handle. Her gown flowed behind her as she glided forward to Mike and his rose with a soft smile on her lips that Kara instantly envied wasn’t for her.Eve, on the other hand, fumed beside her. Her rage emitted a heat that made sweat bead on Kara’s forehead, but she didn’t care. Lena was staying. Lena was staying with her for just a little longer. Whatever could ruin that?“Alright ladies,” Morgan announced once again. “Please say your goodbyes to Eve. Make them short because the private jet leaves for Italy in just two hours.”Kara’s once swelling heart plummeted. Private jet? Tonight? Oh no.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Since she had just packed her back a day earlier, it didn’t take long for Lena to pack her suitcase once again. Really, what took the longest was finding the most comfortable sweats to wear during the long plane ride over Italy. With how late it already was and the short layover planned, they were set to arrive in Italy around noon and expected to sleep on the plane ride over which Lena prayed they supplied neck pillows and blankets for.As she left her empty room in the mansion to board the car to the airport, Lena wondered what the roommate situation would be while they were in Italy. Afterall, half the women were gone at this point; would they have their own rooms? Without Nia, Lena supposed Imra would be a decent roommate if Kara were to take Sam, but with the odd number, would there be a room of three? How soon would the next elimination come around? Lena may have had the strength to resist Kara tonight even with her constant staring, but she doubted she could last much longer, especially after that display tonight.What was Kara thinking of charging in like that? Barging in while Eve attempted to slander her name seemingly without any plan that pantsuit that flattered her figure in impossible ways. Did she not think Lena could handle herself without pulling Kara down with her? What did she think she was doing bringing more attention to them like that? Did she not think about how that would look for her? Was she that desperate to cement the fact that there was nothing going on between them? If she wanted to save her own skin, she should just stay away.But then a small part of Lena wondered if she hadn’t wanted to save her own skin? What if she wanted to protect Lena? Or maybe something more than that? Could she really…Lena shook her head. It was ridiculous to even entertain those notions. Kara wanted to be friends and nothing more. Lena could handle that, she supposed. She just needed to take it slow. She didn’t need more time to risk ruining even more of what they had.The private jet was small, but the cabin had plenty of room for the contestants and the crew. Mike had his own private pod closed off from the rest of the plane, the contestant had a larger private section and the crew had another. The contestants were under strict orders to only stay in their own section, including the crew section, no doubt trying to prevent another Nia and Brainy situation from happening. The women shuffled on to discover that each had enough room for a row of two seats to themselves, probably with the intention of making sleep easier although the seats didn’t quite recline enough to be a bed.Siobhan sauntered to the front of the section to claim her choice seat closest to the drink cart. She threw on her eye mask, earplugs, and hood, mumbling demands that she should only be woken for mimosas or a breakfast wine the morning before falling slump against her pillows in the seat. Imra and Sam were much more graceful in their approach as they shut the window shades and retrieved the complimentary blankets and pillows, reclining the seat as far as they could before settling in as the plane started to rumble as it rolled down the tarmac.Lena found herself sitting in the seat across the aisle from Kara in the row towards the back of the section. As Lena pulled her hair into a bun as the plane began its ascent, she noticed just how impossibly more rigid the blonde’s posture became as she twitched uncomfortably in her seat. Turning her head, Lena frowned as she observed Kara’s tightly closed eyes, quivering lip, jumping legs, head pressed back firmly into the seat, and white-knuckle grip on her arm rest. Even in the dark cabin, Lena could see just how distressed the other woman was. Despite all the walls Lena had set up in effort to protect her heart, Kara still found a way to plague it.When the plane began to level and the seat belt sign turned off, Lena finally unbuckled herself from her seat and cautiously approached Kara. Her feet shuffled on the carpet until she slowly sat down in the empty seat next to her, careful to sit as far away in the available seat as she could to keep up whatever boundaries she could manage. Kara may have been in distress, but this was no time to try to take advantage or distort any of Kara’s desire to remain just friends. She owed her that. As she neared, she could see the quick rise and fall of her chest, and Lena worried Kara might be near a panic attack if not already in the middle of one.“Hey,” Lena whispered softly, bending down a little bit so she knew Kara would hear her above any engine. “Is this seat taken?”Those blue eyes shot open, wide and full of an energy that only made Lena’s heart twist, urging to be close to her, but after a few seconds, those eyes calmed minutely, and Kara attempted a stained smile that offered little assurance.“Nope.”Just as she went to sit down, the plane hit a bit of turbulence causing Lena to flop against the seat with a jolt that drew a short breath of laughter from Kara who pulled her bouncing legs up to her chest and hugged them.“I’m sorry,” Kara said breathless. “I just kind of hate flying.”“Didn’t you fly here to be on the show?” Lena asked.“That was a commercial liner.” Kara’s fingers dug into sweatpants as she fisted the material around her knees. “It was huge and had like a dozen rows of seat. This is so small. And dark. No one would be able to find us.”“Why would they need to?” Lena frowned.“In case we crash.”"Hey,” Lena said softly, laying her hand on Kara’s bicep. “That’s not gonna happen. We’re going to be just fine. Besides, with the amount of press and executives tracking us right now, we’d be found before we even hit the ground.”Lena winced at her wording, but when she heard Kara’s sigh and lean back in the seat, she hoped her words had the positive effect she meant for them.“Yeah, you’re right,” Kara breathed as she closed her eyes. “I just don’t handle tight spaces well. Especially when they’re dark.”“Claustrophobia?”Kara nodded, her muscles still tense under Lena’s touch and her knuckles white against the arm rests. “In the fire that killed my parents, the roof caved in.” Kara swallowed thickly. “I was stuck under the debris for ten hours before the search party found me.”The blonde shook her head, but her eyes remained closed despite a single tear glistening on her cheek. Lena wished to wipe it away, but her hands weren’t moving. Nothing was moving, except Lena’s mind that twisted a cruel image of a sweet little Kara terrified and trapped in a situation that only belonged in nightmares.“Kara,” Lena whispered.“It’s fine,” Kara hastily said with sniffle. “It's fine. Just dark closed spaces like this remind me of that.”How was that even allowed to happen in this universe? Let alone to someone as pure and perfect as Kara?Well, Lena would be damned if she didn’t do something. Anything. Every problem had to have a solution and Lena was sure as hell gonna try solving this one. She had multiple doctorates damnit.“Well here,” Lena stood up, careful to keep her hand still on Kara. “Let me turn on the light.”“But the other girls are sleeping,” Kara quickly said.“That’s what their eye masks are for.” Lena’s smiled as she found the overhead light button and pressed it, squinting at the light that soon flooded around them. When she felt Kara’s arm relax ever so slightly underneath her touch, she couldn’t help but smile minutely to herself. “Better?”“A little.” Kara mumbled, her eyes still closed, but from the lack of tension in her shoulders, Lena figured it had more of an impact than she wanted to admit. “God, you must think I’m crazy.”"No, not at all,” Lena assured her with a gentle squeeze. “We all get like this sometime.”Kara snorted. “Yeah, right. Everyone struggles to breath when they get in a dark tiny plane.”“Everyone has their own triggers. Sure they may not all be this bad, but everyone carries something.” Closing her eyes and letting out a ragged breath, Lena quietly added, “Salt water does it for me. And the beach sometimes.”The blonde tensed underneath her touch, and Lena opened her eyes to see the blonde staring at her. “It does? Why?”“My mom was teaching me how to swim at the beach when she died,” Lena stated flatly, staring at the window screen behind Kara. “She didn’t know how close rip currents could get to the shore. Just tasting salt water sends me right back.”Everyone told her the trauma would lessen as she got older, but really Lena had simply learned to manage it better. She hadn't gone to the beach willingly in decades, but every now and then a picture of blue green water on a cloud day would make her palms sweat and her heart take off. It had last happened in an Ikea, and she locked herself in a bathroom stall for an hour before she managed to get control of herself. Some trauma was like that. Therapy helped, but some things she still didn't know how to talk about in therapy.“Oh God, Lena, I’m sorry.”“Why? You weren’t there,” Lena shrugged.“I wish I had been.” This time it was Kara’s turn to squeeze Lena’s thigh. “To be there for you.”“Thanks,” Lena whispered. “I wish I could have been there for you too.”Despite the dark cabin, Lena still saw the wet gleam in Kara’s eyes, and she had little doubt hers didn’t match. While her mother would have mocked her for her weakness, Kara’s small smile did the exact opposite. If anything, it somehow made her feel stronger. After exposing the deep wound she had long buried, Lena had expected its weight to drown her as well, but somehow, Kara held her above the waves like a buoy. And for a brief moment, Lena let herself believe that she held Kara up as well.“Thank you. For being here. For sharing.” Kara hesitated. “For making me feel not alone.”"Anytime.” Lena gently squeezed Kara’s arm. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”Kara slowly opened her eyes just wide enough so she could look up at Lena cautiously through her eye lashes. Her lips opened but her throat rasped as she hesitated, her gaze falling on the floor before she finally managed to summon her strength.“Can you stay?” she whispered.Lena wasn’t sure if the pang in her heart was a good or bad one, but her body moved before her mind could command it otherwise. She fell back into the seat next to Kara, so close now that their shoulders touched. Her hold on Kara’s arm fell so that now their arms laid next to each other on the armrest between them, but it did little to stop the rush from being within each other’s bubble. She knew it was a bad idea, her heart was already interpreting this in a far different way than it should, and Lena knew that this would only bring more pain in the end, but Kara needed her.And Lena would give Kara anything she needed. Regardless of the cost.~~~“Rise and shine ladies!”“What the hell, Sam?” Siobhan hissed. “I told you to only wake me up if they were serving alcohol.”Lena groaned and slumped forward in the seat as she begrudgingly rubbed her tired eyes. Their flight had been surprisingly smooth of turbulence, but that hadn’t stopped Lena from wanting to stay awake with Kara as long as she could even when Kara insisted not to. Alas, the dull roar of the engines and the soft heat radiating off the blonde beside her lulled her to sleep after only an hour or so.“Well, you’re out of luck since they don’t serve food or drinks this close to the end of a flight,” Sam grinned as she held up her champagne glass sloshing a half-drunk mimosa. “We’re about to begin our descent. Welcome to Italy, ladies.”When Lena opened her eyes to look, she found something much more spectacular than any view Italy could offer: Kara smiling at her. Dark bags hung underneath those beautiful but now blood shot blue eyes and her blonde hair now tangled and matted from being pressed against the seat, but Kara was smiling at her and it was genuine, despite the exhaustion. And Lena couldn’t help but smile back. Her excitement welled up within her, causing her to tense her hands and that was when she noticed something in one.Kara’s tan, long, strong fingers were entwinned with her own and that only made Lena want to squeeze them harder.“Good morning,” Kara murmured.“Morning.” Lena prayed Kara was too tired to notice her blush. “How did you sleep?”“Not the best, but it could have been worse.” The corner of Kara’s mouth ticked upward. “Thank you, again. For last night.”“Anytime,” Lena replied, involuntarily squeezing Kara’s hand before she realized it, but before she could pull away, Kara squeezed it right back.“You okay if I keep holding your hand as we descend?” Kara asked sheepishly, her eyes downcast as she mumbled.The logical, rational, sensible answer was no. Lena’s luggage remained on the seats across the aisle, drawing more attention to their situation which Lena itched to hide. Not to mentioned her body craved nothing more than curling up in cocoon of blankets and pillows to try to snag just even twenty more minutes of sleep. Even the overhead light still gleamed above them, begging to be turned off, while the daylight streaming in through the windows. There were so many other things to do to keep themselves discreet, but just one look from those blue eyes and Lena wasn’t a logical, rational, sensible person anymore.She squeezed her hand again and smiled against the ache in her chest. “Of course.”Whenever Kara needed her, Lena would be there. Even if that meant Kara wouldn’t be there when Lena needed her.~~~~The Bachelor mansion was simply a motel compared to their arrangement in Italy. Each contestant had their own suite, complete with a kitchen, living room, and balcony overlooking the stunning view of rippling water and snow peaked mountains in the distance. Even if that wasn’t enough, the downstairs level of the building included a larger kitchen and dining area as well as indoor pool. Masterpieces hung along the walls while statues and plants decorated every nook and cranny of the rooms, and Lena automatically knew Kara would stress about all the breakable objects at just an arm length at any given time.,But Lena shook her head. That wasn’t her problem.They had different room after all. Their conversation could remain minimal. It was only a matter of time before one of them would be sent home anyways. Best case scenario, there would be three more rose ceremonies until the final two, but there were no rules preventing Mike from sending someone home mid-date or even before then. If anything, Lena should be grateful that her and Kara lasted this long, but really, how would she even handle Kara being in the final two? What would hurt more: seeing Kara in heartbreak or in love with someone else?Who was Lena fooling though to think she’d even see that. She was already Mike’s last pick in the previous ceremony; she would likely be sent home next. Then she’d be right back on that plane; a thought that crippled Lena. Kara would have to fly back without her, and Lena could only pray that it wasn’t another night flight. Perhaps Lena could ask a crew member to sit with her? Or maybe she could send herself home at the same time and they would fly back together. But again, who was Lena kidding? She’d be sent home way before Kara. Kara would probably be flying back with Mike.He seemed like the kind of guy who would hold someone’s hand when they’re anxious. Maybe he could even make her smile. Or even just forget she was nervous at all. Lena wasn’t really into him, but Kara seemed to be. His was probably the hand she wished she was holding the whole time.With a groan, Lena flopped face first on her bed, trying to rid herself of her destructive thoughts like her therapist taught her. She’d definitely have to up her sessions when she got back home. Probably wouldn’t hurt to find a new therapist all together because these strategies were certainly not working. ~~~ Most women slept until midafternoon when a loud wake-up call announced lunch being served in the main kitchen. Smoothing out the loose dark strays with a brush, Lena climbed out of the soft bed and went downstairs to join the other women. Surprisingly, she didn’t look the most exhausted compared to Sam who glared into her cup of coffee or Siobhan who hid her face behind sunglasses.Despite her lack of sleep earlier, Kara happily scarfed down one of the many croissants piled in a mountain in front her at one end of the kitchen table and as she alternated sips from a cup of coffee and Italian soda. The sight of the blonde with her cheeks puffed full of pastries warmed Lena’s heart like a baker oven: Kara was happy. Even when those blue eyes tracked to her own, she paused chewing long enough to smile and wave at her. Wanting to kick herself for thinking this grinning glutton was adorable even as crumbs fell out of her mouth, Lena couldn’t help but smile and offer a small wave back. Maybe the plane ride had really changed things.But then Imra squealed from the front room and the little bubble popped.“Guys!” Imra skipped into the room, waving an envelope in one hand. “The date card is here!”Everyone immediately turned towards Imra, leaning in to hear“Lena,” Imra read with a small grin for the brunette. “You had me at merlot.”And just like that, Lena’s stomach was in her feet.“Are you kidding me?” Siobhan threw her head back and groaned. “The person who drinks the least gets the vineyard date. This is unbelievable.”"Oh, Lena this is so exciting,” Imra squealed, ignoring Siobhan. “Make sure you wear shoes that are easy to get off in case you go grape stomping. It’s just the kind of romantic thing Mike would do!”“What the hell is so romantic about stomping on grapes?” Sam grumbled. “You’re literally squishing fruit with your bare feet.”“Hush, that’s why you’re not going on the date.” Imra shook her head as she waved the card at her flippantly before turning to Lena. “But you get the first date in Italy! You’re gonna have so much fun!”“Yeah,” Lena strained a smile as she felt her heart hammering in her ears. “So much fun.”“Come on,” Imra looped her arm through Lena’s. “Let me help you pick out an outfit!”But even as Imra pulled Lena away towards her suite, Lena couldn’t help but look over her shoulder and her heart broke when she saw the blonde’s face and shoulders fall as she pushed her plate of pastries away.
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Imra was sweet but exhausting. After running through Lena’s own suitcase, Imra insisted on having Lena choose an outfit from her own. On the surface, it was nice, but Lena couldn’t help but wonder if it was due to some odd urge for her to live through Lena’s date. Or make Mike think to on some subconscious extent, Imra was also there in the vineyard. Of all the contestants, Imra seemed to be the only one who was actually enamored with him. But did she really think someone like Mike would really notice something like clothes though? Of course, Mike did seem to be a bit shallow and superficial like that. If Lena cared, she might have put up an actual fight because sharing clothes was her least favorite female bonding activity, but it seemed easier to just take Imra’s dress and leave than engage in much rational conversation. With the lack of sleep from redeye flight from the night before, she didn’t have the energy for it anyway. Really, the whole interaction made her miss Nia and how quiet she was during her naps.And Kara. But when did she not miss her?Shaking her head, Lena pushed those thoughts as far out of her head as she could as she readied herself for her date. The producers had given all the contestants a rather short leash when it came to leaving their current lodging, so Lena might as well do her best to enjoy what time she had to explore Italy and not dwell in something that would never happen.~~~After a windy drive through the countryside, the driver dropped Lena off in the cobblestone driveway at the foot of a massive marble estate. Its roof covered in orange tiles and thick white columns held it aloft. The air smelled of soil and sea and Lena drank mouthfuls of it as she squinted against the sun’s rays to see that up the white stairs and between the columns stood a grinning bachelor in a linen white shirt and khakis. In Imra’s purple sun dress, Lena held her hat to her head against the gentle breeze as she waved, hiding her tired eyes behind large sunglasses. She pulled her shades closer to her face in an attempt to dull the glint and twinkle of the sun off the cameras and the many lenses trained on her as she walked slowly over the stones in the driveway, careful not to twist an ankle in her heels. Mike quickly met her halfway, offering his arm to her for added support as she navigated her way towards the stairs.“I love the dress, but I suppose I should have told you to wear different shoes,” Mike said with a teasing smile.“Ha,” Lena scoffed, her calves burning slightly as she finally reached the building. “Everyone told me to just be sure to have shoes that were easily removed just in case we do grape stomping.”Mike tossed his head back as he let out a laugh. “Dang, I suppose I’m not as original as I thought because that definitely the first activity I had planned.” ~~~ “This cannot be sanitary,” Lena said, her nose wrinkling as she stared down at the large bucket of grapes in front of her.“Sure, it is,” Mike beamed as he rolled up his pants. “Grape stomping is a tradition! They wouldn’t have been doing it for so long if it wasn’t.”“You realize that’s a poor argument to make about anything right?” Lena looked at him pointedly.“Oh, come on.” Mike grabbed her hand in his. “It’s not like we’re the ones who are going to be drinking this. You can’t tell me you’ve never wanted to do this. I mean, haven’t you seen the I Love Lucy episode about it”Lena shook her head. “My parents never allowed us to watch much television growing up.”“God, I keep forgetting how terrible your childhood was.” Mike shook his head and didn’t notice Lena stiffen beside him as he pulled her towards the bucket. “Well, we’re definitely watching it later. For now, come stomp some grapes with me! It’ll be great.”The thought of Kara using this opportunity for a bad pun and saying that ‘it would be grape’ instead flitted through Lena’s head, but Lena shook it off once more. The more she could shut down those thoughts as the cameras rolled, the better. Instead, she put on her best smile and stepped into the bucket with Mike, cringing at the wet burst of slimy fruit under her feet. Applying pressure to her foot, she continued to stomp until she touched the cold slick bottom of the container. Unfortunately, she didn’t realize how slick it was until her foot slid.“Woah,” Lena gasped, but quick arms righted her before she could fall.“Don’t worry,” Mike grinned as he pulled her close to him in the container of mushed grapes and ran his nose through Lena’s dark hair. “I’ll catch you,”A forced smile etched itself on Lena’s stiff face as she looked gratefully up at Mike, but her heart ached as she thought of the one who first made her that promise.~~~Once the grapes had been crushed effectively to soupy mush, producers handed them both towels and ushered them to the next part of the date. The floor chilled Lena’s now purple feet as she walked barefoot, holding her heels in her hand as Mike carried their towels. Doing her best to smile for both him and the cameras, Lena looped her arm around Mike’s while the walked, nodding along to him as he recounted all his favorite sitcoms that he desperately needed Lena to watch as soon as possible. He led them into a large room filled with rows of stacked oak barrels, the woody smell tickling Lena’s nose as the walked past towards a door on the other side of the room. Lena’s green eyes hunted for a glass, eager for a glass or two of wine to ease her stiffness or hopefully make her persistent train of thought a bit easier to manage, but she found none.Then, flashing a broad grin at Lena, Mike pushed open the door to reveal a balcony, overlooking the vineyard. With a small gasp, Lena dropped Mike’s arm and stepped close to the balcony railing, peering over the rows of sprawling trees, mountains peaking along the side and the small glitter of sea in the distance. If she ignored the heavy breathing of Mike and the murmurings of the crew, Lena could almost hear the ocean. A gentle hand touched her back and Lena fought the urge to flinch, but instead smiled as Mike led her over to a neat table set up with a several bottles of wine and a spread of bread and cheese.“So how are you doing with all of this?” Mike asked, gesturing around the vineyard to the camera crew around them after they sat down and poured themselves each a healthy glass of wine.Lena shrugged and held up her second rather full glass of wine, her eyes still trained on the smooth mountain range along the horizon that sun began to dip behind. “The wine definitely helps. Sometimes after a glass or two, I don’t notice them.”Mike’s brow furrowed, studying her. “So, it’s stressful for you?”Lena frowned as she swallowed a healthy sip of her wine. “Isn’t it more stressful you? You’re the one who has to send people home and break all those hearts.”Mike let out a short scoff. “Please, I know most of the women come on this show for their five minutes of fame and follower boosts. I like to think that I’m rather good at weeding those out.” Lena snorted into her glass but covered it up with a fit of coughs and waved him on. “Still, I also have the certainty that I’m with this till the end. Until I get down on one knee and propose to the woman of my dreams. I mean, I have the best odds of a happy ending here. You on the other hand have to deal with the anxiety of not knowing and working against the odds.”With a small chuckle, Lena swirled the red liquid in her glass, watching as the wine kissed the edges of the glass. “Aren’t we always working against the odds? Even if they frequently pan out in misfortune. So much so that I’ve come to expect it actually.”She knew she was being more laissez-faire about the situation than she should have been as she distanced herself from a situation, she took no pleasure from being in. Perhaps this wine held a stronger influence on her than she realized, but she also knew if a certain blonde sat across from her, her answer would be far different. Lena sighed softly; the wine didn’t appear to be helping steer her thoughts any better. Would it be too much to ask for a finger of scotch? That always seemed to help when her mother's recent criticism persisted her thoughts.“So what? Are you just waiting to leave?”Lena paused, taking a moment to realign herself with a breath. Her hand stilled, and she spotted that ripple of sea in the distance and blunt honesty overcame her: “More so to be left.”She heard him set down his wine glass with a soft sigh, and she knew she had to cover her tracks, or at the very least, not let herself sound as much like the broken girl she was. Thank God she wasn’t crying and making a further fool of herself. Anytime anyone glimpsed that side of her, they fled and left her a little more broken.“Really, I mean no offense by it,” Lena’s shoulder’s fell as she also set down her glass and leaned back against her chair, still deliberately not looking at Mike whose stare bore hole into the side of her face. “I just find that it’s easier to prepare myself mentally for it. With family, friends, partners…. Usually when I try to get them to stay, it just makes it worse. Hell, the last guy I dated I knew it wouldn’t work out, but I bought an engagement ring for just to try to get him to stay and, of course, that only made him want to leave me more.” Lena sucked in her breath, closed her eyes, and shook her head, embarrassed just a few glasses of wine had made her tongue so loose and only dug her further into a hole. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said it like that. It was, of course, more complicated than that, but that’s just how I rationalize it sometimes. And it’s not as if I’m afraid to be alone; if anything, I’m so familiar with that it's comforting. Still, sometimes things aren’t meant to work out so why fight it?”“But what about the things that are worth fighting for?”If she were sober and well rested, the familiar bitterness would have kicked in, but instead a long sigh left Lena lips, and she blamed the wine for what she whispered next. “I don’t think I’ll ever be worth that.”His rough hands quickly covered Lena’s and they squeeze her so tight forcing Lena to open her eyes to see those large brown eyes staring back at her.“I think you are.” Mike told her with a gentle smile. “I think that you are a beautiful, strong, independent woman who is easily the smartest girl in every room she walks in. You’re a surprisingly skilled rock climber and driver, and I must say, an excellent grape stomper. Really the number of hidden talents you have astounds me, and I can’t wait to see other skills you’re hiding. You really are an incredible woman, Lena, and any man would be a fool to think less than that.”A small smile tugged at Lena’s lips as she looked back at the large brown eyes staring into hers. All this time she had been Mike, she had never considered him to be much more than an overgrown frat boy who relished in the attention of women throwing themselves at him, but apparently, he contained more depth than that. He listened and watched, and while his observation skills may have been slightly off with some contestants, Lena was shocked he put so much value into traits that didn’t involve physical appearance.“Come on,” Mike said softly, pulling her to her feet. “I want to show you something.”Leaving their glasses of wine behind, Mike led them up them back inside the building and towards the metal spiral staircase in the corner. It shook slightly as Lena climbed up the several spirals, but nothing took her breath away like the view at the top of them. They now stood at the top of a bell tower with a large, aged, brass bell hanging above them and a perfect overlook of the rest of the infinite rows of vines under the orange red sky of the setting sun. Leaning against the railing, Lena inhaled the crisp Italian air with a sigh as she let the dimming sun rays tickle her face.Strong arms circled around her waist and Lena’s back pressed up against Mike’s chest. Lena supposed it was nice; warmed with him so close, but her nose wrinkled ever so slightly at his body odor. Apparently, the grape stomping had worked up quite the sweat. But he was kind. Kinder than many men she had knew. And he listened. And the wine had made her tired, and he didn’t seem to mind her leaning against him. Maybe she could make this work.“Thank you for opening up to me,” Mike murmured in Lena’s ear, his stumble tickling her cheek.When Lena turned to respond, Mike’s lips interrupted her. They were softer than before and wet as if he just licked his lips. She tasted the dry merlot still on them. Thankfully he had avoided the prosciutto on the charcutier board provided earlier as he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. Lena let him.Mike was sweet, sweeter than Jack had been at times, and if she was willing to try to make it work with him, perhaps she should consider the same with Mike, but her stomach twisted at the thought. She had changed too much and learned too much about herself since then to ever entertain a notion like that again even if it promised an easier life.It didn’t matter how much Lena wanted this to work out with Mike; it never would. And she all she was doing now was wasting her time and his.~~~The mansion was dark when Lena returned with a rose from Mike in hand. Lena had almost not taken the rose, but if she had refused, she would have been sent straight home. She still had one more person to talk to before that. Climbing the stairs, Lena swung by room to quickly drop the rose and change into a far more comfortable outfit. If she was going to have this talk, she preferred to do it a soft sweatshirt, cozy leggings and thick socks to cover up her still purple stained feet. That way it she wouldn’t have to bother changing before catching her flight.Summoning up the courage, Lena went down the hall to the suite next door. Taking a deep breath, she knocked softly, fearful she might wake others or even hoping to not wake the resident in hopes to put this off even longer, but just as some of the tension left her shoulders, the door opened.“Lena?” Kara blinked, pushing a wet lock of her hair behind her ear. She looked like she just came out of the shower with how her hair dripped down her hoodie and sweatpants. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”“May I come in?” Lena asked softly, her nail digging into her palm as she fought the urge to run back to her room and hide beneath a mountain of blankets.“Uh, yeah. Yeah of course.” Kara stepped to the side.Her room was similar to Lena’s but with the layout flipped. Several t-shirts and sweat pants laid out across the furniture, and the desk was covered in papers and an open journal that Kara quickly flipped shut and blocked the rest of the papers from view. Her movement scent a wave of that vanilla scent Lena loved over to her, and for a moment, Lena questioned if she could really do this.“How was your date?” Kara asked, fiddling with her glasses as she smiled weakly at the brunette. “Did you go to a vineyard like we thought?”“We did actually,” Lena said, ignoring the heavy anxiety mounting in her chest. “We even stomped grapes.”“Oh cool. Bet it was a grape time.”Kara laughed weakly, but when Lena didn’t, a heavy silence fell across the room. Lena took a deep breath and swallowed down the lump forming in her throat and forced herself to ask the question she’d be wondering for days."Why did you interrupt when Eve tried to get me sent home?” Lena asked.Kara blinked. “Um… because it wasn’t right?”“You realize I’m your competition, right? Having Eve send me home would have done you a favor.”Kara frowned in a way that Lena had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling at it. “That wouldn’t have done me any favors.”“Really?” Lena tilted her head and cocked one eyebrow ever so. “So, you think it’s a good thing having me, someone you kissed, around on the show with that sort of information to share?”A hot blush splotched over Kara’s face, and Lena hated that she took satisfaction from it. They had danced around it for days now. As much as Lena would love to pretend it never happened, it plagued her thoughts with too much ferocity too much for it not to be real, and from how Kara reacted, she hoped the the same was true for her.“Well, it’s not like I would let you take the blame for that on your own.”"How do you know I wouldn’t just put all the blame on you?”“Because I know you’re not like that.”Pursing her lips, Lena’s nostrils flared. With anyone else, Lena could use that Luthor steely glare as a master poker, but not with Kara. She hated how well this woman already knew her.“Did it mean anything to you?” Lena asked, her voice smaller and cracking more than she liked.She hesitated before she hung her head. “Of course, it did,” Kara confessed in an even smaller voice.“Did it?” Lena scoffed, her eyes now burning with tears. “Because last I checked, we’re still here. Both dating the same guy and avoiding each other. Hell, we've barely spoken to one another.”"Lena…”“How could it mean something to you if you just turned away from it? Turned away from me?” Lena hated herself for how her voice broke and for the tear that ran down her check.“Look, it’s not like that,” Kara assured her taking a step forward but stopped when Lena took a step back. “I never wanted to do that.”“Then why did you?!”“I…” Tears burned Kara’s eyes as she struggled for words as she started at the wall past Lena. “I can’t tell you that.”“And what is that supposed to mean?” Lena snapped, crossing her arms across her chest, her green eyes flashing as she was too frustrated to feel any compassion for the flustered blonde. "You've plagued my thoughts, my dreams, for days. I can't escape you. And from the way you act, it's the same for you. So why won't you even look at me?!"“It’s not like that! It's just- it’s just complicated.” Kara sighed, her shoulders drooping in defeat.Lena’s own shoulders fell as the familiar vice on her heart tightened, shadowing whatever hope had led her walk through the door. It was obvious she was nothing more to Kara than some sort of ego boost.“I can’t believe I thought…” Lena shook her head with a sigh as she fought the urge to fold in on herself. “Whatever. Keep your complicated secrets to yourself. I’m leaving. I might just be able to catch a plane before breakfast tomorrow.”“What?” Kara’s blue eyes went wide, and she leapt towards the door, blocking her path. “No! You can’t leave.”“Why shouldn’t I?” Lena demanded, her hands curling into fists. “Clearly, I don’t fit in to whatever set up is going on here. I never have.”“You fit in with me! I mean,” Kara bit her lip. “I fit in with you.”“You would have fit in with anyone, Kara.” Lena said, her nostril’s flared she leveled her gaze with Kara. “We just happened to be roommates for a time. Nothing more than that.”Kara gritted her teeth as a small tears ran down her cheek. “We’re more than that and you know it.”Those words slammed into Lena with enough force that she took a step back. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth dropped open as she studied the blonde with shimmering eyes and a tense jaw.“What are you saying?” Lena asked, her voice lacking the force of earlier.“I’m saying that if you leave, I leave.” Kara swallowed thickly, her blue eyes meeting the green staring at her, overflowing with sincerity and something Lena couldn't quite place. “There’d be nothing left for me here without you.”Lena isn’t quite sure what force comes over her, but she’s grateful for it since it empowers her to grab Kara’s old t-shirt and pull her forward until her lips were on hers. The power fades soon after their lips touch as the cold fear of rejection or embarrassment seeps under Lena’s skin, but within seconds, Kara’s warm touch soothes her as she wraps her arms around her, pulling her body flushed against her own and Lena can’t help but sigh as a delicious heat racing through her. And when Kara backed them up so that Lena’s back was against the wall and her those strong arms held her in, that heat turned into a fever.After a day with Mike, Lena savored the smooth skin of Kara’s cheeks as she rubs her thumb along her face and the soft strands of her hair as she twisted her fingers along her neck. When her nails drag along her scalp, Kara’s mouth breathed out a moan into hers, and Lena’s discovered her new preferred drug. It wasn’t as if kissing Mike had ever been torturous before but that was only because Lena had only tasted a drop of Kara. Now with this fountain, Lena could only shudder at the thought of Mike’s puddle. Something just felt so right to have her chest pressed against Kara’s, their thighs slotted between each other, and their mouths open for one another. Even after experiencing this with Veronica, this moment altered Lena forever.She finally felt complete.
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“Have I ever told you how much I just love the way you always smell like lavender?” Kara sighed, running her nose through Lena’s dark hair as she pulled the other woman closer into her chest. After their sudden kiss had come to a slow end, neither woman dared let the other go, instead only holding each other tighter with each breath. The entire event felt like it belonged in a dream, but, the longer it lasted, the more Kara knew she would be devastated when she awoke, so Kara decided to do her best to relish in it while she could. Her fingers grazed along Lena’s cheek, and she ran the pad of her thumb lightly over Lena’s pale lips before she leaned in to press another gentle kiss to them. While that intense wave from before didn’t wash over her again, a delicious thrill rippled through Kara with each touch, and, from how Lena sharply sucked in her breath as she pulled Kara ever closer, the same thing happened to her. “I love how you smell like vanilla.” Lena husked as she pressed a lingering kiss to Kara’s soft jaw. “I love how every time I catch that scent, I know you’re close enough to touch.”She emphasized her point by running her fingers under Kara’s t-shirt, skating along the hot ripple of muscles along the stomach and sides. Kara tensed beneath her, firming her abdominal muscles under Lena’s finger tips, groaning at the sudden rush of desire in their wake as she pushed her thigh more firmly between Lena’s and eliciting a sharp gasp from the brunette. Suddenly, their prospects of picking back up on their brief make out session and possibly going further became a reality, fogging up Kara's mind in a delicous bliss.But then, Kara felt gentle hands pressing against her chest, causing her to step back.“Kara,” Lena sighed, her hand pulling away from Kara's chest to fist in her own dark locks, “I know you said you couldn’t tell me why you can’t leave, but I have to know.”Cold water drenched that delightful rush, leaving chilly aniexty in Kara's chest. Why couldn’t the dreams ever last? Why did something always have to ruin it for her?“Lena.” Kara closed her eyes and sighed. A chasm formed between them as Kara took a small step back.“I mean it when I say I want to trust you, but you have to understand how the last woman I was with was anything but trustworthy.” Kara’s heart broke as she felt the brunette shudder. “Please, Kara. I just need to know.”Kara bit her lip. Ms. Grant would kill her if she found out that not only one but two women on the show had learned of her true purpose. With how many times Sam had brought it up, it was a wonder more people didn’t know. What if she or Lena slipped, and it got out and the producers learned of it? She’d be shut off the show and blackballed the rest of her career. Not to mention it undermined her credibility as an undercover journalist. The publicity would ruin her chances of ever going undercover again. Everything she had worked so hard for these past few years would disappear.But this was Lena. The girl who haunted her dreams, flipped her heart with the smallest smile, comforted her as if it were instinct, and looked at her in a way that Kara actually believed she was worthy of her love. That was something she hadn’t ever believed to be possible. “I’m, uh,” Kara cleared her throat as her mouth suddenly went dry before she continued in a hoarse whisper. “I’m kind of here as an undercover journalist.”Lena’s spine straighten and her green eyes blinked. “What?”With a quick look behind her to check a very empty room, Kara repeated in a quick whisper. “I work for Catco, and I’m here on assignment.”Her stomach twisted somehow further into a knot as Lena’s frown deepened as she took yet another step back. Kara’s feet longed to follow, but she held her ground, fearful of accidentally chasing Lena out the door for a second time.“You’re a reporter. And you’re here on assignment.” Lena repeated slowly, her eyes unfocused and darting around as she thought. “For what? To see how many of the relationships you can ruin? To see how easily it is faked?”“Yes- I mean, no!” Kara shook her head, forgoing her hushed tone in hopes to keep the other woman longer. “I was sent here to prove just how terrible the show is. How it’s antifeminist, bigoted, and harmful it can be for certain audiences.”Those green eyes finally found Kara’s as Lena crossed her arms over her chest. “So you figured the best way to do that was to seduce me.”“What? No, God.” Kara fingers tangled into her hair and curled into fists as she let out a sigh through gritted teeth. “What is going on between us was never supposed to happen. You weren’t supposed to happen. None of this was ever supposed to happen. Gosh, you think I wanted to be forced to face my sexuality on a reality show when I finally got my first real assignment?”The fierce fire dimmed in Lena’s eyes. “What?”“Ugh.” Kara flopped on her bed with a groan and hid behind her hands, desperately willing herself to wake up if this was still a dream. “I’ve spent the past two years of my life getting coffee orders and being Cat Grant’s personal assistant before I finally got an actual gig. I did everything I could to prepare in the limited time I had; I read Variety and People articles, watched past interviews, binged a bunch of podcasts from old bachelor alumni. I was so ready to prove myself and to finally have a name for myself, but I didn’t think the most beautiful woman on the planet would be my roommate or that she’d be down to earth and brilliant and kind of laugh at my bad jokes or that she’d make me feel things I thought only existed in movies…”Kara trailed off in a hard cringe as she realized the gravity of what she just confessed. She instantly found herself wishing this were a dream and that when she peaked out from behind her hands, Lena wouldn’t be standing in front of her processing her horribly shattered crush confession. “Okay wow.. I know this should not at all be what I'm taking away from this, but… you think I’m beautiful?”Kara’s eyes went wide in disbelief as she moved aside her hands to stare in disbelief at the woman standing in front of her.“Well, yeah.” Kara blinked as she sat up on the. “How could I not? You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”Lena’s pale cheeks redden with a sudden blush as she stared down at the floor.“Says the woman who looks and is built like an actual goddess,” Lena mumbled, her face growing redder at the confession. “Your abs alone look like they were chiseled by Michelangelo.”A hot blush spread across Kara’s face and neck as she found herself looking down at the floor too. “Uh, thanks. I mean..” Kara rubbed the back of her neck. “I’ve always liked being fit and working out, but I know a lot of men don’t always find women with muscles super attractive and that it can be a turn off, but um… yeah.”The space on the bed beside Kara dipped, and she felt Lena’s hand rest on her thigh.“You’re beautiful, Kara.” Lena assured her in a low voice. “I hate that anyone ever made you feel any different. And it’s not just because of your looks but also your kindness, how genuine you are, and how you make me laugh.”Kara let out a short chuckle. “I knew you liked my picked up lines.”“Well, they may have been a bit more effective than I let on.” Lena breathed out a laugh. Kara loved feeling her soft breath on her cheek.“So if I asked to borrow a kiss and promised to give it right back, would you let me?” Kara said with a sheepish smile as she turned her head closer to Lena.The corner of Lena’s pale lips tugged into a smirk. “Here I was thinking you’d use some line about CPR training and needing to practice mouth to mouth.”Kara grinned. “I mean, now that you mention it…”Lena pulled Kara by the shirt and silenced her with a kiss. It was soft and delicate but also fierce and everything Kara loved about Lena was in that kiss. As many times as her mind had gone back to that night with them on the roof, she could have never believed that each kiss they shared would somehow be better than the last. The way Lena would sigh into her mouth, how her fingers tugged gently at her hair when their tongues skated by one another, when her legs moved to straddle Kara’s lap just so their bodies could be even closer. Everything Lena did, even the smallest of things, turned Kara on and she wanted nothing more than to hold her in her arms forever. This was all she ever wanted. This had been what she was searching for. Catco be damned.“Lena,” Kara whispered, leaning her forehead against Lena as she caught her breath. “Leave with me. Please.”Those tender but passionate green eyes watched Kara carefully as Lena’s thumbs gently skated along Kara’s cheeks. Her lips now slightly swollen from their long kiss and her hair still a bit disheveled from Kara running her fingers through it. She was warm sitting on Kara’s lap, but Kara kept her hands on Lena’s thighs, hoping that would encourage her to stay.“But your job,” Lena whispered.Kara shook her head. “I don’t care. It’s not even really sustainable to begin with. Besides, I could move to Metropolis then, and be closer to you and see if I can find something there.”“You shouldn’t have to give up your entire life for me.”“I will if it means keeping you.” Kara sighed and closed her eyes. “I’ve spent the past few years in National City searching for what was missing in my life. And now that I’ve finally found that, I’m not going to let it slip away so easily.”Biting her lip, Lena studied the blonde, her own thoughts whirling around in her head as she tried to think logically, but Kara always made that difficult. Kara felt Lena brush some of the blonde locks out of her face before she pressed a soft kiss on Kara’s nose. Then Kara realized she was holding her breath. What if Lena said no?But then heard those words that allowed her to breathe again.“Let’s leave together, Kara.”~~~Lena slept in Kara’s room that night. She awoke to a tangle of their limbs and that wonderful vanilla scent she loved so much all around her. She inhaled deeply, savoring it as it filled her lungs; proof that last night hadn’t been a dream. Kara knew exactly how Lena felt about her and shockingly, Kara felt the same way about her. Perhaps this show knew more about romance than Lena had given it credit for.“Good morning,” Kara said softly, gliding her hand across Lena’s back.Grumbling slightly, Lena manuerved herself so she could burrow sleepily into Kara's chest. The soft t-shirt fabric tickled her cheeks. “Morning.”“You know you’re a blanket hog?” Kara asked, her fingers twirling in Lena’s hair.“They’re very soft blankets.” Lena replied.Kara’s chest vibrated as she laughed. “Maybe we can sneak one in our suitcases when we pack.”Lena slowly opened her eyes to see those blue eyes she adored staring back at her. “You still want to leave with me?”“Why wouldn’t I?” Kara asked with a smile so soft that it sparked one from Lena. But then Kara’s stomach growled loudly in Lena’s ear and her smile turned sheepish. “But maybe we could pack after breakfast?”Lena laughed as she tugged Kara out of bed with her.Despite the earlier morning hour, the other women were already downstairs in the kitchen sipping on coffee watching the sunrise when Kara and Lena arrived. While the breakfast spread wasn’t quite as large as it had been back at the mansion, Kara didn’t hesitate to load up her plate with crepes, fruit, and pastries. Lena smiled as she watched and chose to stick with her normal cup of coffee for the moment before she joined the other women on the outdoor patio connected to the kitchen. The cool morning air refreshed Lena’s skin and the smooth stone of the patio beneath her feet sent goosebumps up her legs as she clung tightly to her cup of coffee as they walked outside into the Italian morning.“I guess jet lag is all hitting us,” Sam said she reclined on the cushioned patio chair. “I don’t think we’ve all been up this early before.”“Well, we are in Italy,” Siobhan muttered. “Why wouldn’t we want to enjoy as much of it as we can?”Sam rolled her eyes but didn’t engage. She offered a smile to Lena as she sat in the chair next to her while Kara chose to sit at the small bistro table with Imra who was currently eating a bowl of oatmeal.“Gosh, how can Italy be so gorgeous?” Imra sighed as she looked towards the horizon, watching the sun throwing colors over the city as it rose over the buildings. “Just when I think it can’t get any more beautiful, it does something like this.”“It really does,” Sam sighed. “I wish the other girls could have seen it.”“I wonder if Nia would have slept so much if she had views like this to wake up to,” Lena said as she sipped her coffee, curling her feet up onto the seat. “Maybe that Brainy guy will bring her one day.”“Not anytime soon with that lawsuit they're facing,” Siobhan snorted.Lena choked on her coffee. “What lawsuit?”“Didn’t you hear?” Sam cocked her head towards her, her smile growing ever smug and cocky. “The show is suing them for breach of contract. Apparently, in those papers we signed before this started, we agreed to only pursue relationships with Mike while on the show. Since Nia clearly violated that clause, they’re hitting her with a lawsuit.”“For just being into someone other than Mike?” Lena blinked, and her eyes darted over to Kara who was very silently staring down at her now barely touched plate of food.“It’s messed up, right?” Sam shook her head.“Serves her right if you ask me.” Siobhan said. “I mean, look at Mike and then that skinny little producer she picked over him. Someone should sue her over bad taste alone.”“There is more to a man than just their looks, Siobhan.” Imra’s nostrils flared as she set down her mug with a clunk on the table. “People have depth even if you’re too shallow to see it.”Siobhan rolled her eyes. “You say that as if this show doesn’t base our worth on our profile picture or follower count. They look at us as if we’re nothing more than just a pretty face so why shouldn’t we?”Lena chewed her bottom lip but didn’t bother agreeing with Siobhan. None of the girls did, but she knew they all felt the same. The show thrived on superficiality and all the drama it brought with it as any reality show did and the environment proved grating on all the women at times. One of the reasons Lena had found herself so enamored with Kara from the beginning was her refreshing honesty and genuine love for all things pure. It gave her hope and happiness that she thought impossible. But apparently the show would have none of it. She and Kara couldn’t leave now; at least not together or else they’d face a lawsuit like Nia. The legal fees alone from a lawsuit would bankrupt her. Would they get in trouble if they started dating after they left the show? They had been roommates after all and everyone knew they were close; would that be enough evidence to prove that they were in breach of contract? The show had brought them together, but apparently it also wanted to keep them apart. They’d both have to stay to play along with the charade and just wait for Mike to send them both home and have to play heartbroken to the best of their ability. When Lena’s eyes finally caught Kara’s from across the table, she knew the blonde was thinking the same thing. “Good morning ladies!”Lena jumped at Morgan’s booming voice, spilling hot coffee on her shirt. Her wide eyes darted over to the show host and the camera crew behind him, and Lena suddenly found herself very grateful for not sitting so close to Kara. The last thing they needed was more footage of them together, especially if a lawsuit would come from this.“Nice to see you all up so early.” Morgan unnaturally white teeth glinted in the morning light. “Since you’re all here, I thought it would be best to announce the upcoming dates so you all would have plenty of time to get ready.”All the women on the porch leaned in intently except for Lena. She had already had her one-on-one date here; she knew she would probably just be lumped into the group date if she had to go on any of them.“So without further ado,” Morgan said as he pulled out a white envelope from his jacket and opened it. “Imra, Mike wanted to know if you’d like to horse around with him today.”With a high pitched squeal, Imra covered her mouth and nodded profusely. Of course, she would be that excited for this date. It wouldn’t surprise Lena if she learned that Imra actually had feelings for Mike with how excited she always was to spend time with him. Still, “horse around” sounded like a horseback riding date and who wouldn’t want to take a tour of Italy on horseback?“That means, Kara, Lena, Sam, and Siobhan, you will be joining Mike on the group date,” Morgan gave a coy smile as he surveyed them. “With Fantasy Suites around the corner, Mike wants to make sure everyone is here for the right reasons which means it’s time for everyone’s favorite Bachelor group date!”Beside her, Lena noticed Sam tense, but Lena could only look wide eyed around the other women for any sort of hints. She knew her lack of studying the show would come back to bite her. What even were Fantasy Suites? And what group date?“That’s right ladies,” Morgan continued with the same intense grin. “It’s time for the lie detector group date!”Lena’s eyes went wide as they darted over to Kara who had the same look of alarm on her face, and Lena knew Kara was thinking the exact same thing as her.They were so screwed.
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“It’s about time you called,” Alex yawned over the phone. “Still not concerned with my sleep schedule I see.”“I’m sorry.” Kara checked over her shoulder to ensure her room was as empty as she thought. “I just don’t have much time and I’m kind of freaking out.”“Where are you calling me from anyways? Or is your sleep schedule just this messed up?”“We’re in Italy.”“Italy…" Alex groaned. "God, Kara, you are so paying for this phone bill. I don't have international calling on this plan!”“Sure, whatever.” Kara waved her hands. “Look, I need you to tell me everything you know about passing a lie detector.”There was a beat of silence before Alex’s cackle crackled through the phone. “They’re having you do the lie detector date, aren’t they?”“Yes!" Kara jerked the phone away as her sister's laughter rang louder in her ears. "Oh my gosh, can you stop laughing? This is serious!”“How? Just tell the truth. It’s not like you have anything to hide… right?”Kara knew that tone. Alex always used it when she knew she had the winning hand in an argument or a game of cards. She probably had that smug grin on her face too. From too many past experiences, Kara knew it was best to face it rather than try to fight it.“Fine, Lena and I are kind of a thing.” Kara grumbled through gritted teeth. “Happy?”“Finally!” Alex groaned excitedly. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this?”Kara scoffed. “Alex, I’ve only been on the show a few weeks. You didn't even know who Lena was like two months ago.”“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Kara - you’re finally embracing your sexuality. I'm so proud of you! And it took you long enough.”“Oh please, you think everyone is queer.” Kara rolled her eyes.“Because they are. Sexuality is a spectrum. Everyone is queer for someone. And you are aboslutely queer for Lena. Everyone in America can see that from just watching one episode of you two together this season.”A hot blush clouded Kara’s cheeks as she ducked her head down even though she was alone. She wasn’t sure how the producers had cut the episodes so far now that they were airing, but Kara wasn’t sure if she’d ever feel comfortable watching them. Especially if Alex sounded this certain after only a few episodes she had seen.“Yeah, maybe a little.” Kara mumbled.“A little? Kara, you were groping her breasts on the first group date!”Kara’s blushed turned into a hard cringe as she slumped on to one of the chairs in her room. Gosh, she still couldn’t believe she had done that. How could she have been that oblivious? And why did it take her so long to move her hands after? And babbled for so long? She was absolutely never watching this season.“To be fair, that wasn’t intentional. It just kind of happened.”“What, did they cushion your fall? Kara, you literally left perfect chalk outlines of one of your hands on each of her boobs. How did you not realize where your hands were for so long? Then you just stared at them like you were some adolescence seeing breasts for the first time.”“Believe me,” Kara sighed, covering her hot face with her hand. “I’ve been asking myself that question every day since.”“As you should be. And, God, please tell me you two are over whatever was going on last time you called me. For my sake and all of America's, you two better be nothing but a happy little lesbian couple now.”“Yeah… about that.” Kara slumped further into the chair as an uncontrollable giddy smile took over her face. “We may have kissed. A couple times.”“Shut up!” Alex squealed. “Like a quick peck or more?”“Like a she spent last night in my room kind of kiss.”“Damn, Kara! How can a girl that’s been in the closet for so long have such game?”“I really don’t know, but I guess my pick up lines actually sort of work?”“If those work on her then she really must be perfect for you.” Alex paused before letting out a small laugh. “Wow, Twitter is actually going to implode.”Kara’s stomach dropped. “Twitter?”“Oh yeah, ever since your rock climbing incident with Lena, you both have quite the fan base. Mostly queer folks like me who watch the show, but the like the memes are top notch.”“Oh gosh.” Kara pinched the bridge of her nose. “Mrs. Grant is going to kill me.”“I think you’ve definitely made the show a bit more progressive this season so that’s interesting. I think this is the first time there has been an active queer ship among the fandom with this franchise. Of course, the show is trying to spin your whole relationship thing as a gal pals thing and the power of female friendship, but like, any queer can see right through that bull.”“Of course, they can.” Kara groaned. “We’re so getting sued.”“They can’t sue you for being queer.”“They can for breach of contract though. Nia, a contestant here, is getting sued for pursuing a relationship with someone other than Mike.”Alex scoffed. “You know the ACLU would be all over any lawsuit like that against you and Lena. It's discrimination.”“Yeah, but I can’t risk that for Lena’s sake. That’s not fair to her. It could leave her with nothing.”“Gosh, you are so whipped.” Alex sighed. “Okay fine, just ride it out until you’re sent home. It can’t be so bad if you got a free vacation to Italy out of it.”“Yeah, Italy’s great. It’s just the part about being hooked up to a lie detector that has me stressing out.”“Oh please, you’ll be fine. Lie detectors are notoriously unreliable; in fact, they have a history of favoring the guilty. Just be sure to take a lot of deep breaths and keep your heart rate down, and you’ll be fine.”“You make that sound so easy.”“I don’t know, Kara. Just take all the questions and pretend they’re asking them of Lena. Really, you just don’t want to overthink things like you always do, and it should go off without a hitch.”“Yeah, you’re right.” Kara sighed. “I’ll just try not to overthink it.”“Of course, I’m right.” Alex said triumphantly. “Now, I need you to tell me everything. When did you two first kiss? How did it happen? Who initiated it? I need details!”“I thought I was cutting into your sleep schedule?”“Sleep schedule can be damned when it comes to woman on woman romance!”~~~“Alright ladies!” Morgan called through the house. “The car is here to take you all to your group date.”“Here I was hoping it wouldn’t come,” Lena muttered too softly for anyone but Kara to hear. "Still can't believe they're serious about this lie detector date."“Just take plenty of deep breaths.” Kara did her best to assure her. “I’m sure it won’t be too bad. How accurate of a test could they even afford?”Even as Kara said the last part, she knew the producers had a budget that would rival that of an FBI investigation for a date like this. The media company that produced the Bachelor had more money than Kara could ever comprehend. If they wanted an actual lie detector, they had one. Just the thought had Kara taking another calming breath. The sooner they got this over with the better.No doubt to ensure even more discomfort among the women, the producers had arranged just a four door sedan to pick them up and transport them. As soon as the car came into sight, Siobhan declared she would have the front seat, leaving Kara to sit squished between Lena and Sam in the back. Not much was said as they rolled through the Italian countryside and soft European pop played on the radio. Kara struggled to figure out just where her hands should go. For a moment, Kara found her pinky and forefinger brushing along the back of Lena’s cool hand, but they both pulled away from each other just seconds later. It was careless, but ever since last night, Kara continually craved more of Lena’s touch, to feel that electric heat course through her body. In her attempts to resist, she unintentionally crowded Sam against the car door, who only shot her a confused look but didn’t say anything.Finally when they did arrive, Kara clambered out of the car, eager to stretch her arms and legs, but the producers and crew were already rushing them off inside and towards their makeshift set up. The well lit but plain room had a panel overlooking four metal chairs all with their own set up of wires and straps attached to them. Three light bulbs sat in front of them: one with a green tint, one with yellow, and the other red. Who knew lie detectors could be this cheesy? Grimacing, Kara took one of the chairs in the middle, finding herself once again between Lena and Sam. She did her best to not look at either as one of the crewmen approached her and started wrapping the blood pressure cuff around her bicep.“Gosh this is absolutely ridiculous,” Siobhan muttered after the producer finished hooking her up the wires.“Got some dirty laundry you don’t want aired?” Sam asked with a coy smile next to her.“So what if I do? I have the right to not have to share it in front of a national audience.” Siobhan grumbled. “Not to mention, this isn’t a normal nor acceptable date. If I was dating a guy and they wanted me to take a lie detector test for them, I would dump him immediately.”“Good to know we both agree on something.” Sam sighed, running her fingers through her hair. Kara couldn’t help but notice just how tense the other woman’s shoulders were. At least Kara and Lena weren’t the only ones with something to hide here.“Good morning ladies!” Kara looked up to see Mike had finally arrived in a set of casual khaki pants and a white and blue striped button up with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. Immediately, the anxiety slipped off Sam and Siobhan’s face as they both beamed at him brightly. Kara tried to do the same, but the hard twinge in her stomach made that difficult. She couldn’t pray that Lena’s poker face was better than hers, and when she snuck a glance over at the smiling brunette next to her, she saw that it indeed was.Great to know that she would be sent home first. As soon as they turned on the machines, Kara knew the red light would start shining.“Hi, Mike,” Siobhan said with a noticeably forced smile as she brushed her hair out of her face. “Are they hooking you up to one of these machines too?”Mike let out a laugh in response. “I don’t know if that’ll be necessary, Siobhan. Besides, this is just supposed to be for fun! Didn’t y'all ever play the Fib Finder as kids?”Kara had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes. Alex and her had played the Fib Finder game as teeenagers after Eliza had found a used version at yard sale. Basically, the game involved one person pressing their finger against a lie detector of sorts and the other player would ask them a question to see if the player answered truthfully or not. Even then, Kara knew the game to be terribly unreliable and the fact that Mike had so much nostalgia in the game was awfully concerning.“I thought that game was a scam,” Lena said slowly, scanning the other girls’ reactions.Mike shrugged. “Probably. But we don’t have to worry about that because the studio was able to hook us up with some great government level lie detectors! Isn’t that great?”Kara blinked. Government level?She was so screwed.As if sensing the tension, Mike waved his hand in the hair. “Really, relax girls. Lie detectors aren’t always accurate. This is just supposed to be a way to help me get to know you a little better and try to break through those barriers we all naturally keep up. They technicians know how to read the results better than we do so they've agreed to translate them quickly for us by the light bulbs you see here. If it flashes green, that means you're being truthful. Red, means you're lying. If the results are inconclusive, that's when the yellow light blinks. It's not anything to worry about at all!”Oh, you mean the barrier of me keeping my queer nature a secret, Kara thought. Sure, that’s definitely a barrier she wanted to come down. Especially on live television. Maybe it wasn’t too late to fake a stomach bug, but then again, she was already hooked up to the machine so they would know if she was lying. “Let’s just get this over with,” Siobhan grumbled, too low for Mike to hear, and Kara had to resist muttering her agreement. “Well, if it makes you girls feel any better,” Mike continued as he took a stack of cards from a producer, “I didn’t write the questions; the producers did.”The knot in Kara’s stomach twisted. That certainly did not make her feel better.“So we’ll just start with some easy questions for you all to answer and then we’ll see where it goes from there.” Mike cleared his throat. “Are you excited to be in Italy? Sam, why don’t you start this one off?”The light flashed green with each of their affirmative answers. Mike then asked if they were nervous about the lie detector test, which again had all green lights. Then some more interesting questions started to roll out such as ‘have you ever brought a guy home to meet your parents?’ and ‘have you ever cheated on your partner?’ rolled out with all the women being truthful. When their virginity was questioned, a hot blush creeped up the back of Kara’s neck and she considered refusing to answer, but she wanted this process to end as soon as possible. Still, Kara hung heavy on all of Lena’s answers, absorbing all of the information on her that she could. So far, she’d learned that Lena’s first kiss had been in high school, she had only ever brought one man home to meet her family, she loved receiving flowers, and she trusted her judgment. However, when she was asked if she considered herself a good kisser, her result came back in the uncertain yellow light. With her brow wrinkling, Kara bit her tongue to keep from protesting. How could she not realize just what an amazing kisser she was? Absolutely the best by far in Kara’s experience. Clearly that was a misconception on her part that would need to be rectified as soon as possible. But just the thought of that had Kara’s racing to the point that her next result came out uncertain, and she forced her mind to think of anything but Lena’s soft touch on her.Other couple and relationship related questions rolled out but nothing too dramatic, so when Kara saw that Mike was almost out of question cards, she started to let her shoulder’s relax, but that turned out to be a mistake.“Okay, Kara, it’s your turn to start this one off. Are any of you falling in love on the show?”Kara’s eyes widened as she blinked and tried to think. Was she falling in love? Obviously, not with Mike, but with Lena? There was a very large difference between falling in love and actually being in love, after all. Being in love means an all encompassing warmth of devotion, attraction, and affection towards someone who feels the same in return. That person you spend your whole life looking for and then spend the rest of your life intertwining your lives together. Was Lena her person?At this point, it was too soon for Kara to really know. For anyone really in this circumstance. But that was where the difference between being in love and falling in love came to play. Falling in love meant that you had hope and could see someone being your person. And when Kara closed her eyes and thought of Lena, she saw a future of coffee dates, movie nights, and late night phone calls. Even if they weren’t able to be a couple, Kara wanted any reason to keep Lena in her life. Did that mean she was falling in love with her?Her palms grew even sweatier. She wanted to wipe them off on her jeans, but she knew that would only dislodge with the machine strap on her finger which would risk the wrath of a producer. And she knew she had to answer soon. Quickly, she snuck a glance over at Lena who was currently biting her lip as she stared down at the floor, and just the one look of seeing Lena’s pale lower lip between her white teeth sent a jolt through Kara’s chest. What she would do to replace that lip with her own.But Kara wasn’t a complete dumbstruck idiot. She flitted her gaze over to Mike before she let it fall before she answered, “Yes.”The light blinked green.Mike’s face broke out in a wide grin, but Kara only cared about the expression on the face of the brunette a few seats over. When Kara glanced at Lena's small smile curl dimples in her pale cheeks, Kara was finally able to look at Mike and return his grin with a broader one of her own. “Alright, Siobhan, what about you?” Mike asked, turning to the next contestant.“I’m not sure.…” Siobhan took a deep breath through her nose as she bit her lip. “Yes. I think I am.”The light flashed the false red, and Mike’s brow furrowed. “I’m sorry,” Siobhan whispered as her head drooped, and for the first time, Kara felt a pang of sympathy for the woman. “It’s okay,” Mike assured her with a rather terse smile. “Everyone is allowed to fall in love at their own pace. I respect that.”But from the way Siobhan looked at him, Kara didn’t think that she believed him.“Alright, Sam, your turn.” Mike said, moving on to the next contestant. “Are you falling in love on the show?”With how Sam held her gaze with Mike, Kara knew the answer before she said it. “I don’t believe that I am.”As the light blinked the truthful green, Mike’s shoulders hunched and his face fell further. Apparently, he had been convinced several of these women were having deeper feelings for him, or he already had them for the women. Sam had been the first to receive the second one-on-one afterall.“Oh.” Mike cleared his throat as he tried to straighten his back. “I understand. You’re all allowed to take your time. No one can make you feel your emotions but yourself. I respect you for that.”“I respect you too, Michael,” Sam said, her face and tone softening almost as if she were talking to a child rather than a partner.He took another deep breath. “Okay, last one. Lena, are you falling in love on the show?”Even though she went to hold her breath, Kara didn’t have to hold it for long as just a short moment later, Lena answered, “yes.”Those green eyes flicked towards Kara for a quick second, and Kara didn’t need the green light to tell her that it was the truth. It sent her heart into a wild flutter as the rest of her insides turned into pleasant mush. Kara wasn’t even sure what light would go off right now if the technicians had the lie detector pointed on her. Lena, the beautiful girl she was head over heels falling in love with, was somehow falling in love with her too.
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As much as it loathed her to admit it, the lie detector date became Lena’s favorite group date. Sure, it was uncomfortable and degrading when she was forced to disclose her dating history and details about her sex life on camera. Not to mention, it was rather unfair, and even sexist, that only the women had to be hooked up to the lie detector machine while Mike asked all the questions and never opened the floor about himself. But, of course, Lena’s flawed one track mind could only focus on the last question with the answers that eclipsed it all.
Of course, Lena knew all too well she had fallen for Kara. She had been from the moment she first saw her, all lost and puppy eyed, although she’d prefer to never admit it. Really because there were so many reasons to fall for her. From the way her entire body lit up when she smiled to the way she bounced on her way to breakfast in the morning to how she held Lena’s hand so tightly that she knew she would never let go. God, if her mother knew, she’d never hear the end of it.
But Kara was falling in love with her? Her? The thought alone inspired Lena to scream off the roof. For your own love to be reciprocated… Lena never thought she would see the day. Did her urge to jump off the cliff outside of their current hotel diminish? No. However, now she wasn’t sure if the motivation was out of dread or excitement now.
The rest of the questions went without much intrigue. Questions prodding into past trauma and familial relationships flowed through, but all were either avoidable or dodged in a way that the lie detector didn’t pick up anything substantial. The producers and Mike only seemed engaged with the love question and remained disinterested in the rest. Lena suspected the producer's only reason for the following questions were for the producers to have enough questions to edit with to make the last one feel more genuine.
Finally, the question wound down so there wasn’t any left, and a producer stood up announcing its end. Everyone let out a sigh of relief as the technicians removed the different pads and sensors. Across the room, Lena’s eyes finally met Kara’s again and the blush she saw spread across Kara’s cheeks only made her own blush feel justified.
“Well, ladies! I don’t think I need a lie detector to know that everyone would love to wrap this date up with some gelato and a waterfront walk!” Mike called out with a grin as she looped his arms around Sam and Kara’s elbows to steer them towards the exit. Kara shot Lena a panicked apologetic look as she was pulled away from Lena, but Lena only smiled. The blonde looked so adorable when she was flustered like that.
Thankfully, the gelato location Mike mentioned lied just outside of the building where the lie detector exercise (activity? well, absolutely not a date) took place. Standing next to Imra with a small smile Lena attempted to hide behind her hand, she watched Kara order a chocolate gelato with every single topping piled on top of each other despite how impractical it was for gummy bears to be stacked on an oreo cookie crumb coating. Her smile only grew as Kara attempted to catch them as the toppled off.
After receiving her own gelato, a plain strawberry cone, Lena kept her distance from Mike, instead preferring to enjoy the luxury of walking the boardwalk rather than attempting to talk over the roar of the wind as other women did. Sam began to raise her voice and her step to match that of Mike so she could be heard over the weather, and, of course, Kara took this as the opportunity to hold back to fall in line with Lena. Even with no words said, there was something about walking in step in silence with a partner that greatly appealed to Lena. So many of her past relationships involved obligated vocalizing of a number of things whenever conversation lulled: mentioning her brother's latest award at family functions or congratulating your mother’s new work accomplishments. Just one more thing that drained what little social energy Lena possessed. This quietness… well Lena could get used to that.
As they walked off towards the pier, the sound of crying halted Lena in her steps. She stopped and turned towards the noise behind her. A little girl stood sobbing over a chocolate gelato cone splattered on the sidewalk. When a seagull swooped down to snag a bite of the spoiled snack, the little girl only sobbed harder even while her mother rubbed a soothing hand along her back.
“Oh, no, that poor girl,” Kara sighed, looking at the girl over her own nearly finished gelato cone. “Do you think we could get a producer to buy her another one?”
Before Lena could reply, Siobhan had already broken from the group to head towards the little girl. While too far away to hear their exchange, Lena watched as Siobhan knelt down in front of the little girl and, with a nod of approval from the mother, offered the girl own untouched chocolate gelato. Tears forgotten, the little girl squealed in delight, snatching the dessert and biting a mouthful of it. The mother squeezed Siobhan’s arm in appreciation before they continued on their boardwalk stroll.
As Siobhan shuffled back to the group, Lena turned her head to notice that the whole ordeal had gone largely unnoticed for everyone except for herself, Kara, and maybe a single unimpressed producer. Mike, at this point, was much further down the pier with Sam and rest of the crew, oblivious to the entire ordeal. With no one to watch what she had done, Lena frowned as she tried to determine what Siobhan possibly could have gotten out of the situation.
“What?” Siobhan asked as she approached them, quickly turning her head as she shoved her hands into her pockets. “I’m not a complete bitch, you know.”
“Aren’t you though?” Lena asked. “I mean, why did you do that?”
Siobhan gave her a questioning look. “What? Did you really think I wouldn’t give someone a gelato after they lost theirs? Besides, less calories for me.”
“Do you want us to tell Mike about it?” Lena’s brow furrowed further as her own gelato began to drip down her hand. “Are you trying to get some kind brownie points or something for that group date rose?”
With a deep sigh, Siobhan slumped her shoulders and that cold indifferent bitch facade slipped to show the face of a tired woman.
“I deserve that, don’t I? God, I’m so exhausted from this.” Turning her head to check the camera crew behind them had their gaze elsewhere, Siobhan took a closer step towards them before continuing in a lower voice. “Okay, so here’s the thing - I know I said I worked at the Daily Planet, but it’s not as a reporter. I’ve just been their errand girl for the past few years because my boss thinks I’m too soft to be a hard hitting journalist or even handle any sort of interview. I know it sounds stupid, but I thought by playing the mean girl of this season, I could prove to my boss that there was more to me than she thought.”
“Oh…” Lena stared at Siobhan, suddenly not sure at all who she was seeing anymore. “Interesting.”
“Yes, I can be a bit bitchy, but I know I’ve been over the top the past few weeks.” Siobhan chewed on her lower lip. “One of the producers told me the villain will get a longer show edit, so I kind of leaned into it a bit too far and lost myself.”
“But what changed?” Kara asked, eyes narrowed. “What switch flipped for this sudden change of character?”
Siobhan sighed and rubbed her eyes, highlighting the dark bags under them. “I’m just tired. After that lie detector date, I know he’s sending Sam and I home tonight. I’m tired of fighting it.”
Lena and Kara shared a quick look. Were Sam and Siobhan really headed home? Surely Mike couldn’t have relied on the lie detector tests that much. But then again, why did he have the date focused around it if not.
But then with a jolt, Lena realized that meant it would be her, Kara and Imra at the fantasy suite date. The date where contestants and the Bachelor get their first one-on-one time without the cameras or producers involved. An entire night of alone private time, and for that reason, fantasy suite dates were also known as the sex date. Oh God - would Mike pressure her into having sex? No, no, no, surely not. But then, why else would she still be here? Morgan did say that she was exactly his type. Her stomach twisted up in throat, and the little gelato she had eaten threatened to come up.
“For what it’s worth,” Siobhan said, interrupting Lena’s spiral. “I am sorry for everything. I planned on reaching out to everyone afterwards, but I’m glad I got to tell you both in person.”
“Thank you, Siobhan,” Kara said, stepping forward and squeezing her arm. “It’ll take us some time to adjust and possibly forgive, but we do appreciate it. Now, let’s catch up with the rest of them before Mike starts to worry.”
Siobhan offered a sad smile before turning back towards the group. Lena moved to follow her, but Kara’s hand tugged her backwards.
“Are you okay?” Kara’s blue eyes flicked over her face, studying her. “You look a little green.”
“Fantasy suites,” Lena breathed, risking a glance at the producer beside them who was busy tapping on her phone. “They’re next week, and if Siobhan’s right, that means it’ll be us and Imra.”
Kara’s eyes widened. “Oh.”
“Yeah, we’re so screwed.” Lena breathed.
“Not to continue being a bitch, but isn’t that kind of the point of fantasy suites?” Siobhan asked. “Now come on, Mike is waving at us to get a move on.”
~~~
No group rose was handed out on that date. The wind had picked up and brought in a heavy rain, ruining the rest of the group date plan that included a walking tour of the town. With half the date being cut, the rose ceremony was moved up to start two hours earlier than planned, much to everyone’s excitement of possibly getting to bed at a decent hour this night.
Although doing her best to try to snag a private moment with Lena to talk about the impending fantasy suite date, a producer always intervened, snagging either of them for a talking head interview shoot or a make-up session. This only left Kara to stew in her anxiety all the more, especially as the final rose ceremony neared.
“You know I’m headed home tonight, right?” Sam asked, handing a glass of wine over to Kara as they watched a producer wheel the pedestal of roses into the proper place.
“Don’t say that,” Kara said, counting two roses left to hand out. Imra already received one from her one-on-one date. “You never know what he’s going to choose.”
“I literally told him I didn’t think he would be a good father to Ruby.”
Kara choked on her wine. “When did you say that?”
“As we walked along the pier earlier, he had asked about what was keeping me from falling for him and so I told him.” Sam shrugged as took a sip of wine. “I had planned on sending myself home on the group date, but with the rain, the producers required me to stay so Mike could dump me instead.”
“God, that sucks.”
Sam shrugged. “It was bound to happen anyway. I don’t think he’s ever been that attracted to me to begin with.”
“I’ve had a hard time getting a decent read on him all season.” Kara swirled her wine glass, looking up when Sam snorted.
“Oh please, you’ve only been trying to read one person and we both know exactly who that is.”
“Hey!” Kara playfully punched Sam’s shoulder, laughing as they did. “Promise to look me up after this though, okay? I really am going to miss chatting with you.”
“Of course,” Sam snorted almost indigently. “God, this whole experience makes me feel like a kid at summer camp again, and here we are promising to write to each other every day.”
“Well, we both have a lot of writing to do afterwards,” Kara’s gaze flicked over to the producers who thankfully weren’t eavesdropping. “Maybe we could help each other out and try to compare notes?”
A slow smirk stretched across Sam’s face. “I’d love nothing more.”
From across the room, Lena finally emerged from her interviews, but just as Kara started towards her, a producer clapped her hands. “Places everyone!”
All five ladies in elegant evening gowns lined up along one side of the foyer opposite of the rose carrying pedestal. Imra held her rose in front of her, her head dipping down to smell its bud just as Mike walked in. They shared a glance and smile that turned Imra’s cheeks as red as her rose. Once Mike stood on the x marking his place, Morgan stepped forward.
“Only two roses tonight so that means ladies, two of you will be going home.” Morgan nodded at Mike. “It’ll be a hard decision for you, Mike.”
“Yeah,” Mike said with a shaky breath, adjusting his stance with the smallest steps. “I have come to genuinely care about all of you here tonight and it breaks my heart to send any of you home, but it’s up to me to follow my heart and do what I think is best for all of us. Some of the relationships here have just progressed as far as they will.”
As Siobhan and Sam both predicted earlier, Mike calls out Lena and then Kara’s name, offering the last two roses to them. With tearful hugs from both Sam and Siobhan, Mike walks both of the ladies out, one on each of his arms as they wave their farewell to the three remaining women.
And just like that, Lena and Kara had made it to fantasy suites. Out of all the women who started this journey with them, they had somehow made it through the final rose ceremony before engagement. In a week, Mike would be proposing to one of them.
Please for the love of God let it be Imra.
“Well ladies,” Morgan clapped his hands in front of the three remaining women. “It’s time to pack your bags. We’ll be heading to Greece bright and early tomorrow morning!”
Imra squealed. “This is amazing! It’ll be just like Mamma Mia!”
“Yes, just like that,” Morgan said, flashing his teeth at the camera with a smile. “Be sure to bring your bikinis!”
As they turned back towards their rooms, Kara couldn’t help but let her mind wander to seeing Lena in a bikini again. Perhaps, this time, she’ll need help putting on her sunscreen. And of course reapply every hour just to be safe.
“Actually, Kara, could I see you for a moment?”
Stumbling as she stopped, Kara glanced behind to see Morgan staring at her. Shooting an odd glance at Lena who looked just as confused, Kara reapproached Morgan.
“Everything okay?” Kara asked, carefully.
“Just Kara please,” Morgan said towards Lena behind her. “You can go back to your Lena.”
Lena parted her lips as if to say something but then must have thought better of it because, after a quick nod to Kara, she turned on her heel and continued back to her room. Without her, Kara’s anxiety only worsened.
“Ugh, you wanted to see me?” Kara cleared her suddenly dry throat, her fingers picking at the rose stem still in her hand.
Despite only being a few inches taller than Kara, Morgan towered over her with his curled lip and intense gaze that had Kara shrinking in front of him. Gone was whatever warmth he turned on for the cameras and in its place, a potent glare of disdain. Suddenly, Kara felt as if she was in the principal’s office again after she was accused of starting the senior year food fight.
“I just wanted to remind you, Kara, that you’re under contract.” Morgan said slowly, but carefully.
Kara’s palms began to sweat as she forced out a laugh. “Um, yeah, I know. I’m pursuing Mike, after all.”
Morgan’s right eye twitched. “I also wanted to remind you that you are under an NDA as well.”
“Ugh, yeah,” Kara croaked, unable to summon salvia to mouth now.
“When we heard Cat Grant’s assistant applied to be on the show, we thought we would entertain the idea.” Kara’s amazed she didn’t pass out at that very moment. “After all, every season needs a villain, and even though we’ll sometimes get a girl like Siobhan who tries to play that part for us, we usually create one through editing. With a little movie magic, we can twist anything you say to say what we want to. To humiliate you. Do you know how easy it is to imply racial and sexist derogatory language with bleeping out words now?”
A nasty glint flickered in Morgan’s eyes as Kara’s hands began to shake. A thorn from the rose in her hand pierced her flesh, but she didn’t notice.
“Our plan was to cancel you to such an extent that anything you or your employer wrote about the show could be written off as the ramblings of some hateful bitch. Even if Cat Grant attempted to sue for slander or defamation, they’re nearly impossible to win. Besides, people believe whatever story they hear first, and we have all the control of the narrative here.”
“Okay, uh…” Kara bit her now dry lip and tasted blood. “I won’t write anything, I swear. And I’ll keep pursuing Mike, and everything. Just please don’t do that.”
Morgan’s nostrils flared. “Kara, do you take me as a fool?”
“What?” Kara squawked. “No, no, of course not.”
“Because we are already well aware of your and Lena’s attempt to queerbait the audience for more views.”
The thorn in Kara’s hand plunged deeper. Blood started to drip down her wrist onto her dress.
“It was low key enough in the beginning for us to play along, but you two have taken things too far. Our audience is the demographic of straight, conservative, christian folk. We’ve already received complaints. The ratings are up so some producers think to encourage it, but I will not stand for it. From this moment on, you and Lena are friends and
nothing
more. Understood?”
What was actually happening? “Yeah,” Kara squeaked.
When Morgan looked down to see the blood stain forming on Kara’s dress, he gave a feral grin. “Good. I’m glad we had this chat.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Lena waited in her room for the soft knock of Kara, but it never came. After quickly packing, Lena sat perched on her still perfectly made bed from the night before with her legs jostling more and more erratically as the night pressed on. Only the sounds of the crickets outside and rustling of the air condition unit inside kept her company, echoing arond her and reminding her constantly of her loneliness. Her body craved sleep, but her mind ran much too fast.She had assumed they’d be spending another night together: was that foolish thought? Her and Kara had literally professed their love for each other earlier that day. But they hadn’t been able to share a single act of intimacy together since, spare the occasionally longing gaze thrown towards each other. Why wouldn’t Kara be coming by her room? Should Lena be headed to her room instead? If that were the case, then she had already wasted so much time.However, just when she was reaching for the door, the memory of Morgan pulling Kara aside pulled her up short. Did the producers know something about them? They had been so careful, but also so careless. Had one of the other contestants noticed something? If so, why hadn’t Morgan pulled her aside with Kara? Surely, it had to be nothing, right? Even as she tried to push past it, her mind lingered on the image of Morgan's face when she last saw it. Those cold eyes and that twitching lip. Her mother’s face matched when she discovered Lena’s only B on her grade report or when the small dent on Lena’s front bumper from pulling up too far in a parking garage. The face preceded violent rage that sent spikes of fear through Lena’s vein. Even now, she flinched, remembering how her mother’s fist yanked her hair or ring sliced her cheek. Morgan had something on Kara. She didn’t know what, but ultimately, Lena decided it would be best if she stayed in her room that night rather than risking more trouble for Kara. For the next eight hours, Lena laid in bed catching fits of sleep and replaying every possible horror that may have befallen Kara.~~~The next morning, when Lena finally saw Kara, it confirmed her worst fears. The blonde’s joyful morning demeanor fell away to a tired, skittish girl. The dark bags along her cheeks sunk her eyes into her face and the corners of her mouth didn’t even perk up when she saw the array of muffins on the breakfast table waiting for them. Her outfit of an oversized sweatshirt and baggy sweatpants further dwarfed her. When she did finally spot Lena, rather than returning the smile, she hastily stepped away, her head whipping around her as if she were a cornered animal. The air whooshed out of Lena’s lungs as if she’d been punched in the gut.“Are neither of you eating this morning?” Imra asked, holding up her own plate of muffins and gesturing at their empty ones.“Not hungry,” Kara mumbled.“Flying makes me queasy,” Lena replied with a tight smile.“Oh, well let me see if I can find you a box or something so I can take one or two of them with us in case either of you get hungry later.”“That’s really not necessary,” Lena said quickly, but Imra was already standing.“It’s no trouble at all, really,” Imra quickly assured her with one of her dazzling smiles. “I’ll be right back.”With that, she scurried out of the room, leaving just Lena and Kara at the breakfast table. A few producers stood at the edge of the room, but for the most part, it appeared that the two women were alone. Lena longed to reach for the blonde who simply stared down at her empty plate, but she didn’t know if her heart would handle it well if Kara pulled away.“Kara,” Lena said softly, a sharp pange seeping through her chest when Kara flinched. “Kara, what happened?”Those green eyes Lena adored darted towards the producers then a door as if she were waiting for someone. “They know about Catco,” Kara whispered so quietly that Lena barely heard her. “Stay away from me so they don’t ruin you too.”If Lena had eaten that morning, she would have thrown it up right then and there.“I found one!” Imra cried, triumphently holding up a small cardboard take out container. “I think I can fit about four muffins in here as long as you're both okay with them slightly squished!”God, how could Imra really be thinking about muffins right now?“Good morning ladies!”Morgan strutted in looking silmier than ever, and Lena thought she may actually dry heave on the spot. Beside her, Kara’s already pale lifeless face soured into a nasty green and she began to sway, and for a split moment, Lena wondered if she should call over a producer for help.“We’ll be headed out in the next twenty minutes,” Morgan said, his grin wide and flashing his unnaturally white teeth. “We are set to arrive in Greece by noon today, and one of you will be meeting up with Mike for your fantasy suite date tonight. I’d suggest a quick shave if any of you are forgetful in that department.” His gaze lingered on Kara and Lena, and Lena wished she had something heavier than Imra’s box of muffins to hurl at him. “Try to have your bags in the foyer within the next ten minutes.”He turned and walked out of the room almost as quickly as he arrived, no doubt attempting to keep to the time table he just laid out, but Lena still fumed in her seat. Had he always been this sexist or was just trying to bait them now?“What the hell was that about?” Lena asked, but as she turned to look at Kara, she realized she was already gone.“Let me know if you need shaving cream or lotion,” Imra told Lena with a shockingly kind smile. “Mike brought a basket of all these different Italian cosmetics to our one-on-one the other day so I have plenty.”“Uh, thanks, Imra,” Lena smiled weakly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”“No problem! And let me know if you want to sit together on the flight! Without Sam here now, I just miss having a buddy and someone to talk to.”Lena’s eyes lingered on the empty chair next to her. “Yeah, me too.”~~~The flight was about as uncomfortable as Lena expected. Before boarding, Lena wrestled with whether or not she should sit next to Kara on the plane, remembering just how stressed Kara was on the last flight. But as she climbed on to the plane and walked down the aisle, she saw Kara already seated with a pile of sound equipment from the crew in the seat next to her, blocking it off for anyone to sit next to her. When Lena lifted her hand in a wave, Kara only offered her a strained smile and turned her head.“There you are, Lena!” Imra gushed, grabbing Lena’s hand and pulling her down into the seat next to you. “I was starting to get worried. Now, you can help me with my airplane crossword. It’s five letters ‘Fruit with orange flesh and a large pit’. I’m thinking ‘peach`, but the third letter has to be ‘n’.”Lena frowned. “Peaches aren’t orange.”“They have a large pit in the middle though.”Craning her next over to look at the cheap airplane crossword in Imra’s hand, Lena pursed her lip. “Try ‘mango’.”“Oh yeah, I guess that does work.” She scribbled it in with her pen.“You put ‘mengo’.” “More like ‘womengo’ after last night, right?” Imra’s laugh died when Lena didn’t echo it. “Right, sorry. That was rude.” She scribbled out the e for an a. “My nerves are just pretty frayed at this point. Like I know it’s not a good idea for us to talk about the guy we’re all dating, but it’s kind of driving me insane that one of us will actually be engaged to him by the end of the week, you know?”“Yeah, one of us definitely will.” Lena flopped against the back of her seat, all the air rushing out of her at once, knowing full well that she would rather shave her eyebrows off than let Mike put a ring on her finger.“If it is you,” Imra picked at her nails in her lap, her hands now resting on top of the magazine, “I promise I won’t be mad. Maybe hurt, but never mad. I know everyone keeps saying you’re his type and look like all of his other exes and acting like you’re the front runner, but I swear I don’t hate you for it. And I really hope you’ll feel the same way about me.”“Imra,” Lena sat up, “I promise you don’t have to worry about me. When Mike picks you, I’ll be nothing but thrilled for both of you.”Imra frowned and tilted her head. “ When he picks me. Don’t you mean if ?”God, when did get Lena get so bad at this game? With a shocked cough, Lena cleared her throat. “Yes, yes, of course. I guess just preparing myself for all options, that’s all.”With a heavy breath through her nose, she glanced over towards Kara several seats behind them who now had her arms wrapped around her knees in a ball with her seat. Her head rested on top of them as she stared blankly out of the window as the plane started to move along the runway. As the first jostling of take off hit, the blonde’s knuckles went white as they clutched the sleeves of her hoodie. It broke Lena’s heart worse than before.“So what’s the deal between you two anyways?” Imra asked, following Lena’s gaze. Lena only shook her head and turned back around. “We’re just friends. Nothing more.”~~~A dense gray fog covered Greece when they landed. If it weren’t for the heavy accents of the workers they met and street signs in Greek that they passed, Lena would have hardly known that they even left the country. Still, Imra excited couldn’t be tamed. She pointed out every faint outline of a squirrel scurrying out of the rain to a grumpy man pulling in his trash can. All Lena could offer were small nods of acknowledgements between worried glances over at Kara. The color had yet to return to the blonde’s cheek after flight, but she didn’t make a sound as she closed her eyes and pressed her against the cool glass of the window.When they arrived at their hotel, they were each given keys to their separate rooms. Imra raced upstairs to see her quarters, but Lena hung back to wait for Kara. However, Kara didn’t so much as look at her. Rather than wait as she normally did to ask a member of the crew about the meal schedule, Kara snagged her suitcase and slunk up the stairs towards her room. Lena quickly snagged her suitcase and stumbled in her haste to follow. Rounding a corner, Kara paused to fiddle with her key in the lock, and Lena noticed for the first time, they were alone.“Kara,” Lena called softly. Kara looked up with tired, bloodshot eyes. “Not now, Lena. Please.”Before Lena could work past the fist of confusion in her throat, Kara had already walked into her room and shut the door. ~~~Unsurprisingly, Mike chose Imra for the first overnight. Perhaps, it was because she was his front runner or, more likely, perhaps it was the fact that she was the only one who had seemed to actually smile since they arrived. The crew whisked away Imra for her make-up, leaving Kara and Lena alone in the hotel for the rest of the day with a loose time table of when dinner would be available. Knowing Kara wouldn’t talk to her at dinner infront of any cameras, Lena opted to take a plate up to her room and eat on her balcony. She should have had a view of the ocean from where their hotel sat on the hillside, the classic view of the sparkling blue water and white houses, but the clouds and rain blocked everything past 50 feet in front of her, leaving her with nothing but a blank wall of gray. How fitting. Her one chance to actually travel to Europe and all she’ll be leaving with is memories of heart ache and scenery to match.But then, she heard the roll of a sliding door and saw a quick flash of blonde from the balcony right next to her.“Kara?” Lena gasped, jumping to her feet.With sharp gasp, Kara spun around, revealing her now red rimmed eyes. “Oh, gosh, I’m sorry Lena. I didn’t mean to intrude. I’ll just head back in.”“No, wait.” Lena hated how vulnerable she sounded. Luthors didn’t beg, but here she was begging for a woman who had snubbed her multiple times in just a few hours. But maybe it was that fragile whimper in her voice that gave Kara pause. “Please stay.”Kara’s shoulders sagged as her gaze dropped to the floor. “I just really fucked up Lena. I don’t want to drag you down any further than I already have.”“How have you drug me down?” Her head quickly whipped back to her room and her surroundings to ensure they remained alone before she continued in a lower voice, “I know you said they knew about Catco, but that doesn’t have anything to do with me.”With a heavy sigh through her nose, Kara started to chew her lip, her eyes darting around before settling on the waist high railing and the small gap between them. “I don’t think it’s safe to talk here…Can I come over?”Lena’s gaze followed Kara’s. “Please tell me what you mean through the room door.”Pushing her sleeves up, Kara shook her head. “No, I don’t trust them to not have a camera stationed outside our door.”“Oh God, when did you get so paranoid?”“That’s what I’m coming over to tell you.” Kara swung her leg over the railing with ease and jumped the foot gap between the two rails. Never mind that the surfaces were wet from rain and constructed with unknown sturdiness - this was Greece for God’s sake; they could be a thousand years old - Kara cleared it with ease, and soon stood just a few inches in front of Lena, crowding her space on the small balcony. Her scent of vanilla, now tinged with sweat, clouded Lena’s mind as her fingers twitched to pull Kara closer and bury her face into her neck. But Kara simply reached around her and opened the door to her room.“After you,” Kara nodded, and Lena couldn’t help her defeated sigh.Crossing her arms over her chest, Lena flopped down on her still made bed and watched Kara close the door and curtains behind him, before heading to the bathroom to flip on the sink.Lena rolled her eyes. “Is that really necessary?”“It’s not like we have a television in our rooms to turn on for white noise.” Kara’s eyes flicked over again towards the door. “I just don’t want them overhearing.”“Kara, I’m sure it’ll be fine. You’re doing more harm stressing yourself out like this.”Lena flinched at Kara’s strangled laugh. Rather than sitting on the bed next to Lena, Kara began to pace, her fingers wringing themselves around her wrist and bottom lip between her teeth. The anxiety radiated off her in waves; contagious enough to infect Lena, leading her to cross her arms over her chest.“So, Morgan talked to me,” Kara finally started, barely faltering in her pacing. “Apparently, he and like a lot of other people think we’re trying to queerbait the audience for more views and attention.”Frowning, Lena cocked her head and blinked slowly. “Queerbaiting? Why that?”With a flourish, Kara threw up her hands. “I don’t know. Maybe because he doesn’t think two women could actually develop real feelings for each other? It wasn’t like I was going to correct him. But apparently the network has gotten a lot of attention because of it.”“Okay…” Lena’s frown deepened further. “Wait, that’s what you all stressed? You don’t like that people think you’re gay now? Because–”“No, no, no, not that,” Kara interrupted, finally stopped pacing and gave her full attention towards the brunette. In her exhaustion, she almost looked like a different person. “Morgan wants his show to only feature straight, conservative contestants, and we’re threatening that to the point where he’s threatening to give us a villain edit.”Lena’s jaw worked several times before sound finally came out. “But Siobhan's already given so much material for it!”“I guess he wants it to be worse?” Kara’s steps faltered as she resumed pacing. “And I’m talking worse to the point where it could ruin both of our lives, not just my career. Like editing sound bytes so we’re saying slurs.”A sharp pain in Lena’s arm pulled her out of her current anger spiral, and she realized her nails were digging into her skin from her clenched fists. “That’s absurd,” Lena seethed.“He threatened to bury us in legal fees if we tried to sue for slander,” Kara’s pacing quickened, leaving a flattened mark in the beige hotel carpet in her wake. “I can’t afford that. Neither of us can afford it. I’ve been trying to figure out what to do. I was thinking I could send myself home, but then what’s to stop them from altering the footage they already have. I could try to reach out to my boss, but I don’t even know what she can even do to help me. But then I thought, what if I won? Then they couldn’t give me a bad cut without making their star bachelor look bad....”Before Kara could even finish her last sentence, Lena had jumped to her feet, planting herself in the middle of Kara’s current pacing path, forcing her to stop and look at her. Those blue eyes only clouded with more defeat when they saw the storm brewing in Lena’s green.“You can’t honestly think winning would fix this?”With a defeated sigh and shrug, Kara dropped to the bed. “I have a decent shot at this point. There is only one date left.”“And it’s fantasy suites.” Lena’s jaw clenched harder when Kara avoided her gaze to look at the floor.“I know, I know.” A loud breath escaped out of Kara’s nose. “I’m still trying to figure it out.”Kara’s leg began to bounce, vibrating the entire bed, but she didn’t seem to even notice that nor Lena’s simmering frustration in front of her. The brunette’s eye began to twitch as her own thoughts stumbled over one another, and one sudden but very real anxious one tumbled out of her mouth before she could even stop it. “Would you sleep with him?”Kara’s head whipped up so fast, a terrible look of pain on her face. “How can you ask me that?” Kara whispered.Lena shrugged weakly, her fierce frustration whisking into downcast defeat. “Won’t Mike send you home if you don’t?”A single strangled laugh ripped from Kara’s throat. “Nothing like whoring myself out to stay in this nightmare. Besides, what does it matter? We both know he’s picking Imra.”“But Kara,” Lena’s mouth twisted as if she were fighting off nausea. “If he does pick you, they can’t give you a bad cut. It’s the only hope you have of saving your future.”“For how long? Because it’s not like I could just dump Mike afterwards - I’m still forced into an NDA. They could come back and say whatever they want about me. I’d have to just take it. Even if I were to break up with him, it wouldn’t change the fact I just used him. He doesn’t deserve that. No one does. Especially when he has a really solid chance with Imra; someone who actually cares about him.”Hot angry tears spilled down Kara’s cheeks, spilling onto her lap. With her own tears starting to rise up, Lena fell on to the next to her and pulled the blonde against her chest, but Kara only cried harder. Her sobs now ripping their way out of her body and into Lena’s shoulder as she buried her face further into the brunette. How did everything go wrong just so fast?“I know, I’m sorry, Kara. I just…” a rough swallow forced its way down Lena’s throat as she rubbed circles on Kara’s quivering back. “I thought I’d finally be able to call you mine after this show and we could be happy.”Watery blue eyes looked up at Lena as Kara gripped her thigh with her hand. “You’ll always be mine, Lena. And I’ll always be yours.”“How though?” Tears dripped down on Kara’s hand. “What if it’s not meant to be? I mean, come on, Kara. Is this even worth it at this point? Your job, your reputation, are on the line here. You’ve spent your whole life working towards that. I’m not worth it.”When Lena closed her eyes, memories of her past flashed before her. Memories of always receiving honorable mentions, but never first place like her brother. Of her father sneering at her whenever she asked a question. Of Jack confessing how she’d never be more than a friend for him. Of her mother mocking just how worthless and unwanted her only daughter was by sending her the bachelor sign up form in the first place. She fucked up everything in her life. Why was she even foolish enough to think that she could ever have anything with anyone, especially Kara?Gentle fingers gripped her chin. The soft stroking of a thumb on her cheek coaxed her to open her eyes to see those red rimmed blue eyes gazing up at her with such awe and reverence. “There has never been anything in my life worth it more than you, Lena.” Kara murmured, her voice rough from crying but carried a sincerity so intense, Lena ached. But she needed more. And she needed it now.“Kara, please,” Lena choked out a whisper, her eyes glistening with somehow even more unshed tears as her fingers clawed at the front of Kara’s hoodie, “I need…”“I know,” Kara breathed, sliding back just enough so she could pull her oversized hoodie over her head. “I know, Lena.”Later that night, when their clothes were rumpled heaps on the floor and the sheets were tangled messes around their ankles, Lena came with a sharp cry and breathy moan against Kara’s fingers as Kara softly chanted “I love you, I love you, I love you” in Lena's ear as a reverant vow.
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The next morning, Lena awoke with her cheek resting on Kara’s chest and her leg tangled between Kara’s, holding her in a fierce grip. Still nude from the activities of the night before, a shiver ran through Lena, and she snuggled closer into Kara’s warmth. The arms around her tightened, holding her close, and Lena couldn’t resist smiling and pressing kisses along Kara’s chest and trailing up the slope of her neck, relishing in the goosebumps rising along the wake of them. She reached those pale lips she got to know oh-so-well the night before and lingered on them in a kiss.“Hi,” Kara breathed. “How’d you sleep?”A blush crept up Lena’s next as images of last night flashed in her mind: those fingers, those kisses, that tongue . Her toes curled at the thought. “Pretty well. I mean, someone tired me out.”“Oh yeah,” Kara grinned as she sat up. “You know, someone did a pretty great job tiring me out too. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”“Mmmm, let me think.” Lena threw her leg over Kara’s lap, straddling her and pulling her close. Without any barriers, Lena could barely resist starting a grind against Kara’s hard muscles, especially with their naked chests pressed together like so. Her voice dropped to a throaty whisper. “You may have to refesh my memory.”A sly smirk stretched across Kara’s face as she pulled Lena closer, her fingers curling around Lena's waist. “Only if you insist…” Lena’s eyelids fluttered closed as she leaned in to press their lips together, her tongue darting out to moisten them. God, she could lose herself for hours in this woman. Sex had always felt like an obligation with Jack, and a fantasy with Vernoica, but with Kara, God , it was everything. Emotion, passion, energy; a beautiful collision of it all coming together that just left Lena feeling nothing but loved, and she couldn’t wait to do it again. And again. And again.But before their lips could touch, a gurgling growl from Kara’s stomach echoed around the room. With a laugh, Lena pulled away to see Kara’s embarrassed smile.“Sorry,” Kara said. “I didn’t really eat that much yesterday.”“Oh, yeah, I remember.” Lena reluctantly pulled herself off Kara, deliberately ignoring the wet gleam she left on Kara's stomach. “I think Imra even saved some muffins for you from Italy yesterday because she was so worried.”“Wow,” Kara blinked as she pulled herself out of bed, scanning the floor for her clothes. “That was nice.”“Yeah, she’s really sweet, actually. Probably the only person who came on this show for the right reasons.” Lena held the white top sheet close to her chest as she opened her suitcase to find her own clean outfit for the day. “I think your underwear is still under the sheets. Is my bra over on the other side of the room?”“Oh yeah,” a blush colored Kara’s cheeks as she sheepishly held up Lena’s lace bra from yesterday. “I, uh, I’m sorry, but I think I may have broken the clasp.”Arching an eyebrow, Lena strolled over to examine the bra in Kara’s hand to see the bent hooks, delighting in Kara’s red-faced embarrassment. “Hmm, would you look at that? I had assumed you would have figured out your way around bras at this point. You have been wearing one yourself for years now, correct?”“Well, uh,” Kara cleared her throat and rubbed the back of her neck. “It’s just, uh, kind of different when it’s on another person.”“Mmhm,” Lena stepped closer and pressed a lingering kiss to Kara’s hot blushing cheek. Teasing the blonde was rapidly becoming Lena's new favorite past time. “I suppose I’ll just have to give you more practice.”“Yes, uh, yes please.” Kara nodded eagarly, the blush spreading down her neck to her chest, before her stomach let out another growl.With a throaty chuckle, Lena nudged Kara towards her rumpled sweatpants on the floor next to them. “Get dressed, darling. Let’s get some food for you.”“Right, yes, of course,” Kara mumbled. Doing her best not to let the image of Lena’s nude body so close to her distract her, Kara quickly slipped on her bra and shimmied her pants and underwear. “Do you happen to know where my hoodie went?”Looking up from her suitcase, Lena’s brow furrowed. “I’m not sure. It wasn’t by your pants?”“Uhhh,” Kara cleared her throat. While Lena was already dressed in a shirt and underwear, her bare legs were still on full display, and suddenly Kara wasn’t sure how to swallow. “No, uh, no. Not here.”Lena’s lips pursed as she scanned the room, noting the mess of sheets and comforter around the bed. “Obviously, it’s in here somewhere, but we can just look for it later. Do you want to borrow something of mine?” Her green eyes flickered over Kara’s torso, licking her lips as her gaze lingered on those defined arms and abs. Kara may have been hungry for food, but Lena only craved one thing. “I have a sweater that may fit you.”A small thrill went through Kara at the idea of sharing clothes with Lena before deciding to file that away for later with a small shake of her head. “I can just climb back into my room. I should probably put on fresh clothes anyway. I can just meet you down there.”“I suppose you’re right. Don’t take too long though.” Lena leaned forward to lay a gentle kiss on Kara’s lips, smiling into them. “I haven’t had my fill of you just yet."Kara gulped as she watched Lena cross the room, the purple lace of her underwear hugging her cheeks as her hips swayed in such a way that Kara couldn’t remember how to breathe until Lena slipped into the bathroom and flipped the lock with a gentle click. God, this woman was actually going to be the death of her. With a grounding deep breath, Kara slipped out the balcony into her own with nothing but her sweat pants and sports bra. ~~~Once back in her room, Kara jumped into the tub for a very cold shower. Her brain couldn’t think of anything but Lena. How she arched beneath her last night, how her breath hitched just so when she neared her peak, how, even now, Kara’s fingers still smelled like her… God, Lena! Why had she spent so much of her life wasting it on men when none of them had ever made her feel a fraction of this? There was no denying it now; Kara would follow Lena to ends of the earth if she had too. After just a few short weeks, this beautiful, smart, raven haired woman had become the sun Kara’s everything spun around.After the brisk shower, Kara towel dried her hair and threw on jeans and a sweater, taking a mental note to swap this one with one of Lena’s at her next chance, then slipping downstairs to join the brunette for breakfast. Of course, the downstairs dining area lacked the privacy Kara would have preferred in their own rooms, especially as it teemed with producers and other crew, but Kara gladly slid in in the space next to Lena on a booth, swiping one of Lena’s waffles off the plate with a grin.“You better replace that before I stab you with my fork,” Lena said, her fork looming in her hand.“Sounds like someone hasn’t had their cup of coffee yet this morning,” a producer commented in front of them, not bothering to look up from her notes.“More like woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” Kara mumbled, wincing when a foot collided with her shin. “Hey!”Rubbing her shin, she noticed the glare Lena shot her, but more importantly, she noticed the producer now staring at her expectantly rather than the pages in her hand.“Hey…you,” Kara repeated as her mind reeled, sneaking a glance at Lena who offered nothing more than a pointed look. “Got any idea when Imra’s coming back? I heard she saved me some of those muffins from Italy that I’d love to try.”“Right…” the producer blinked, but soon returned her attention back to her notes. “I’m glad you’re feeling better today. I was worried we’d have to delay your date with Mike today.”Kara felt like she was in her cold shower all over again.“I have the overnight with Mike today?” Kara asked, only able to really focus on how Lena’s shoulder drooped in her peripheral vision. “I thought we took a day off in between the dates?”The producer shook her head. “We only do that in editing. Really, we're on a much tighter time table. Mike basically just has time to shower between the dates before we move him on to the next. We expect to be back in the States by the end of the week for the Meet the Family and Finale.”“Meet the Family?” Kara squeaked. “I thought yall were cutting that this season.”“Just delayed,” the producer grunted, marking something in her note and standing up. “We were already in Europe and didn’t want to deal with the cost or scheduling issues of trying to do a Meet the Family before the Fantasy Suites. It’s just going to be two of you this time around. One of you may not have to worry about that though. Best of you both be mentally ready just in case. Now, I have to go find a cameraman to make sure they’re set to film Imra’s return in a few minutes if you excuse me.”She left both women with their wide eyes and a plate of food neither of them wanted to eat now.“I think I’d rather die than have anyone meet my mother,” Lena finally said, pushing her plate away from her.“Eliza would stress bake for days in advance knowing that a whole production crew was coming to the house.” Kara drug her hand over her face. “And I think Alex would actually threaten to shoot them.”Lena snorted. “Mother may actually shoot them. Or leave it to Lex to test out some new death ray invention on them.”Kara shot her a concerned look. “Woah… are they okay? Like mentally?”Lena shrugged. “Probably not. But as long as their privacy is kept and their expectations are met, they are harmless. I always thought I wouldn’t have an issue with that privacy part. I’ve pretty regularly let them down with the expectations part though, but at least this time I’ll have numbers on my side.Kara shook head. “Lena… that’s pretty messed up.”Pursing her lips, Lena pushed the waffle around on her plate. “I think it helps to not know anything different.”Before Kara could actually respond to whatever the hell kind of statement Lena had just laid on her, Imra skipped through the door with a squeal. If the sex hair, the face bare of make-up, or the mismatched shirt buttons didn’t give it away that Imra had spent her night making the beast of two backs with Mike, the bright beaming glow of her smile only confirmed it.“Good morning ladies!” Imra practically sang. “How are you this fine morning?”“Uh…” Kara shot Lena a look that she refused to meet. “We’re good? Seems like you had a good date with Mike?”“Oh, the absolute best!” Imra fell into the chair in front of them, excitedly talking with her hands. “He took me out on this yacht into the Mediterranean, and y'all, the sea was so blue! Like you could see so much! So much better than the muddy water of the lakes back home! And just had the best time talking and swimming together. He is just such a sweet, sensitive guy! Just unlike anyone I’ve ever met,” Imra touched her heart as she adopted a far-away look in her eyes for a few moments. “After dinner he brought me to this lovely beachside windmill, like an actual windmill! Obviously, it had been converted into this adorably cute hotel room, but we just had the most magical night. I’ve never met a man who cared about me so much, you know? Goodness, he really is the man of my dreams.”Thank God Imra was falling for Mike and seemingly him for her. It almost absolved Kara of all the guilt associated with this whole fiasco of dating events. How heartbroken could Mike be that two of his final three didn’t even care for him if she only had eyes for the remaining one? Not to mention it sounded like all fours of them had scored simarliy with their desired person the night before. This whole recipe for a nightmare had turned out beautifully. Now if only Kara could figure out how to get the producers and Morgan to see the beauty in this.“That’s uhhh…” Kara did her best to not look anything but supportive for Imra, but Lena’s comment still weighed heavy on her mind. “That’s great, Imra. I’m glad yall had such a good time.”“Oh, don’t listen to me,” Imra swatted Kara’s arm playfully. “You need to go get ready for your own date! Mike said he was looking forward to it.”Kara’s brow furrowed while Lena not so discreetly rolled her eyes. “He said that?”“Well, not in so many words, but I know he was feeling it. Now get going,” Imra waved her towards the stairs that led to Kara’s room. “You have a date to prepare for, girl!”“She’s right.” A producer appeared behind Imra. “You’re set to leave in thirty minutes. Dress for the outdoors.”“Oh, uh, okay.” Kara slowly stood up. “I guess I’ll do that.”Offering a small wave to them, Kara’s only response was a tight smile and wave from Lena in return before Imra pulled her away to regale Lena with even more details of her night with Mike. Kara’s chest ached, but she did her best to push it down. What good would dwelling on that do her right now anyways?~~~Kara left for the date while Imra still had Lena cornered at the breakfast table. All Lena saw was a flash of blonde as the producers ushered out the door into the waiting town car. Each time Lena thought she saw an opportunity to escape, Imra would venture down a different unique reason to rave over Greece or Mike and his hair or his outfit or his personality. If Lena’s stomach wasn’t already rolling from the thought of her mother possibly meeting involved in the show and the endless years of ridicule that would result in, Imra’s poorly filtered talk about her sex the night before would have. Perhaps, Imra could see the nonexistent jealousy within Lena and that’s why she kept talking. However, when Imra mentioned how her magical night in the windmill was filled with not one, not two, but three vigorous rounds of lovemaking, Lena couldn’t hold back her brief chuckle when she thought of her own several rounds from the night before. That seemed to finally snap Imra out of her post Fantasy Suite haze.“God, I’m sorry, Lena,” Imra said, shaking her head. “I really shouldn’t be unloading this on you. You have your own Fantasy Suite coming up tomorrow.”“... yes, I do,” Lena said, standing up as she spotted her opening and providing an exaggerated yawn for effect. “I should probably go make sure I’m rested for it.”“Of course,” Imra nodded, barely suppressing her own yawn. “Beauty rest is a real thing. Especially considering you’re bound to not get much rest tomorrow night if you know what I mean.”“Right…” Lena shook her head, coffee still tight in her hand. “I’ll see you later.”With that, Lena snuck off back to her hotel room with a cup of coffee still in hand and an abandoned plate of breakfast food at the table. Finally behind the door to her hotel room, Lena let out the breath she felt as if she were holding all morning. Too much had happened over the past hour to feel relaxed in the slightlest, but when she saw the dishelved blankets on the bed and rumpled sheets on the floor, a smile returned to her lips. God, she loved that blonde woman, and she couldn’t wait to make her bed and return it to the same state when Kara returned. But then a glimpse of red peeking out from under the bed caught her eye. Bending down to pick it up, Lena realized it was Kara’s lost hoodie from the night before. Bringing it to her face, Lena inhaled deeply, letting that delicious vanilla scent wash over her. If only she could bury herself into it.Unfortunately though, Lena couldn’t exactly leave Kara’s sweatshirt over here if they had any desire to keep their relationship on the download If she knew the internet, which she absolutely did after spending much of the past year alone after her break up with Jack, there were plenty of eagle eyed fans who could catch on that her and Kara had shared a shirt. To really cover her tracks, Lena realized she should return it without cameras watching herPeaking out on the balcony and seeing it as empty as it was the night before, Lena did her best to discreetly move from one balcony to the other. Wow, Kara made this look way too easy the night before. Of course, those muscles weren’t just for looks it seemed. When Lena did finally reach Kara’s balcony, Lena couldn’t help the sigh of relief when she pulled the balcony door and it rolled as it should. Obviously, Kara needed a fair scolding of basic security, but Kara couldn’t be more grateful now.Upon entering Kara’s room, Lena realized just how little time Kara had spent in her room in favor of her own. The bed was still tightly made by the housekeeping team and her suitcase sat still open on the dresser. With a quick peak, Lena confirmed her suspicions that none of the dresser drawers had actually been filled. Her heart gave a small pange as she thought about how less than a week they shared a room together. If only that could happen now.With the hoodie folded in her hands, Lena placed a quick kiss to it before carefully laying it on Kara’s still open suitcase. Just as she was considering giving it a quick spritz of perfume for Kara when she heard the key turn in the door and open, leaving Lena frozen in place in the center of the room.“Lena?” a producer stepped into the room with a frown. “Sorry, did I get the wrong room? I thought this was Kara’s.”“It is,” Lena said slowly.The producer cocked her head. “Then why are you here?”Lena’s jaw worked as she tried to think of, well, anything. “I just, um, wanted to return Kara’s hoodie.”“Right…” the producer’s eyes darted from the sweatshirt to Lena’s hands. “How did you get in the room?”“Um,” Lena cleared her throat. “Well…”Before any feeble excuse could come, Kara’s suitcase started to ring.~~~The town car dropped Kara off at a helicopter landing pad, complete with a helicopter and a pilot. Her heart crept up in her throat as Kara tried to think of all the positives in the situation: it wasn’t dark, a camera crew would be following in their own helicopter, and Mike, in theory, would be holding her hand the whole time. God, she hated flying.Once in the helicopter, Kara held Mike’s hand as if her life depended on it. While they had headsets to still communicate through, Kara pretended she couldn’t hear anything Mike said, and thankfully, he picked up that Kara didn’t want to talk quickly and remained silent for most of it. If anything she was proud of herself for not punching the camera man who had the camera right in front of them that had to pretend weren’t there. Any time the crew or a producer asked her something over her head set, Kara ignored them and only squeezed Mike’s hands tighter. Eventually, Mike sliced his hand at his neck, begging them to give it up, all while Kara stared out over the ocean with her body flinching each time the helicopter shuddered in flight.At dinner after, Kara did her best to explain her reaction to the helicopter which forced her delve further into her family’s past than she cared for, but thankfully Mike didn’t ask too many questions and let her just be. Even with the crew and producers pressing him, he left Kara to simply just eat her dinner in peace without too many probing questions or camera close ups, so when Mike offered her the Fantasy Suite card much earlier in the night than it normally would have been, Kara had no choice but to say yes.As Mike held the door open for Kara to their hotel for the evening at the base of a hillside cabin overlooking the beach, Kara could only shuffle in as quickly as she could. Without any preamble, Mike shut the door in the camera crew’s face with an exaggerated sigh and dramatic look at Kara that triggered laughter to bubble up from Kara. God, it was so nice to not feel so trapped for once in this show.Going to the bar and pouring a drink, Mike filled two glasses with a finger of brandy each. “I hope you’re alright with brandy,” he said. “There aren’t many options here at this bar.”“Brandy’s fine!” Kara cringed at how squeaky she sounded.Cocking his head to the side slightly, Mike chose to ignore Kara’s odd inflection and picked up the glass to hand to her anyway. Before he even had a chance to offer a toast, the blonde had already thrown the drink back with one gulp. Following suite, Mike attempted to do the same, coughing through the burning in his throat.“So…” Mike said, sitting down on the edge of the bed, his feet suddenly pigeon toed and pointing inward. “So…” Kara rubbed the back of her neck. With the camera and crew gone, an eerie silence now hung in the air. Suddenly, Kara could only hear her increasingly chaotic breathing and pulse. She had to fight the urge to run and hide in the bathroom. God, it would be so much easier if Mike would just say something.“So the cameras are finally gone?” Kara hated that her voice went high. She cleared her throat to say more but Mike beat her to it.“Yeah, well, there’s something I need to tell you, Kara.” Mike said, finally looking up from the floor to meet her gaze. “Something away from the cameras.”“Uh… okay? I actually have something to tell you too.”As if he didn’t hear her, Mike continued. “You’re a really awesome girl, and it’s been so fun hanging out with you. You are just so amazing and I’ve been so lucky to get to know you these past few weeks and go on this adventure with you.”“Thanks?” Kara cocked her head to the side. “I mean, I kind of figured because you’ve kept me around.”“I just think it’s important that I’m honest with you.” With a deep breath, Mike ran his fingers through his hair, looking more relaxed than he had in weeks as he kept to his clearly rehearsed speech. “I’m not sure how well our relationship would work out. You’re just so wonderful and in so many ways and you’re going to make some man very happy, but I’m not sure that man is me. After a lot of soul searching and thought, I’ve come to the decision that my heart is just really in it for Imra. She’s who I’m planning on proposing to at the end of this.” He paused and placed his hand dramatically on her shoulder like a parent consoling a child in a bad Lifetime film. “I hope you can understand.”Kara blinked. A second later, she felt like she could breathe normally again and her pulse returned to normal as the sweet rush of relief flooded her and escaped with a delriously happy laugh.“Thank God!” “There just isn’t a spark when we kiss… wait,” Mike blinked, his gaze coming into focus for the first time as he hesitated, studying the beaming on the woman across from him. “What?”“Mike,” Kara said with a chuckle and shook her head. “There is quite honestly nothing I would love more than for you and Imra to be together for the rest of your life.”“Uh… thanks? But-but why?” He rubbed his temple with her hand. “Why are you still here if you don’t want to be with me? It can’t be for travel at this point because the crew isn’t even letting yall leave the hotel now.”“I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re a good looking guy,” Kara gave a half smile. “Smart, funny, rational. Surprisingly honest! You’d make anyone interested happy. And I mean this in the nicest way, but I’m just not interested.”For several seconds, Mike just stared at her dumbfounded.“Wow, uh, sorry, just give a minute to process this.” His fingers knotted in his hair as the gears in his head whirled so fast Kara almost worried for his health. “But our talks… those dates. You said on the lie detector date you were in love!”“Ah,” she cleared her throat and chewed her lip. “I am… I just may have intentionally left out with who.”“Who?? Oh God, please tell me it’s not with Morgan. One of the producers says he tries to snag at least one of the contestants every season. He’s just such a sleeze ball; you deserve so much better than him.”“Really?” Kara perked up, her report instincts kicking in. “Do you happen to have their names?”“Oh my God!” Mike covered his face with his hands. “It is him!”“No!” She swiftly assured him, darting a quick glance to the door that their noise volume hadn’t drawn the attention of any crew or producers who could be lurking outside. “No, it’s not Morgan…. It’s Lena.”Mike’s back tensed. Slowly, he drug his hands away from his face to fix his gaze on the blonde. “Lena? Like my Lena?”“She’s Lena’s Lena.” Kara licked her dry lips, her focus on her fingers in her lap now tangled with the tan fringe of the blanket on the bedspread. God, this was her first time coming out to someone in person besides Lena and even with her sister, she hadn’t even used the word ‘bisexual’. Why couldn’t this be easier? She could barely bring her voice over a whisper. “I’m bisexual, Mike. I hadn’t expected it to be relevant when coming on this show, but then I met Lena and I… I just couldn’t get enough of her.”Pursing his lips, Mike rubbed his chin. “Does she know? That you love her?”Kara nodded as she swallowed down her still rising aniexty. “Yeah. And she miraculously feels the same way about me.”“Well damn.” Mike sighed as he leaned back in the bed. “That certainly makes my life a lot easier than I was expecting.”Most of the anxiety building up in her chest and throat left her in a whoosh. “You’re not mad?”He snorted. “Mad about what? As long as yall aren’t trying to pull Imra into that, I’m happy with whatever makes you happy.” He tilted his head and a slow smile stretched on his face. “Actually, I wouldn’t be mad at all if you pulled Imra in.”He grunted when Kara chucked a pillow at his head. “Absolutely not.”“Relax, I’m just kidding. But seriously, I swear I’m happy for you. Both of you. And I’m sure Imra will be too when she finds out. Wait… is that why you’ve been so off today? Were you worried about how I would take it? I know my parents are known for being conservative assholes, but I swear you have nothing to worry about with me.”“It’s not you who has been the issue.” Kara groaned as she stretched out on top of the bed next to him, both of them staring at the wooden slats across the ceiling. “It’s Morgan and the other conservative assholes like your parents.”And Kara told him all about her threats and even the truth about how Cat Grant had sent her here. All the while, Mike listened, nodding along and asking clarifying questions when the moments arose and offering words of reassurance whenever she stumbled through parts that spiked her anxiety. Eventually, the conversation began carrying a similar vibe as if she were talking to Alex, and for the first time in this entire experience when she’d been away from Lena, Kara felt safe.By the time she finished her story, the darkness of night was well upon them with nothing but the gentle lapping and breaks of the waves outside to keep them company. When she looked over to see Mike’s face, she was surprised to see his brow crinkled in such deep thought. “I know this is going to sound a little crazy, but I think I may know of a solution that would benefit both of us.”~~~Kara returned to the hotel room with deep bags under her eyes, but a smile wide enough so you could barely notice them. When the producers pulled her aside for some quick talking head interviews, Kara had nothing but praise to offer Mike and their magical night together. A producer asked to elaborate and compare to how the night possibly went for Imra the night before, but Kara only shrugged with a bright smile and assured the camera that she definitely provided Mike a night neither of them would forget anytime soon. With that, she pranced into the hotel, all too happy to return.“Looks like someone had a fun night.” Imra said, her lips forming a tight smile as she set down her magazine next to her plate. “I’m assuming you had a nice time. A producer told me you and Mike went up in a helicopter.”“Oh yeah, the helicopter. I think I’d be happy never flying again after all of this.” With a large breakfast spread in front of her, Kara quickly searched for a free plate to fill. “But yes, it was nice!”“Well, tell me all about it.” Imra’s jaw clenched ever so slightly as she continued her valiant effort to keep her smile.“Yeah of course. But wait a second.” Kara frowned when she counted just two place settings at the table. “Why are there only two? Shouldn’t there be three?” Her head whipped around for that favorite woman of hers. “Is Lena still in her room? Shouldn’t she be down already?”The blood drained from Imra's face as she bit her bottom lip, looking over at a crew member as if one of them might step in, but none of them moved. All while, Kara’s heart rate and breathing only became increasingly more erratic.“Kara… Lena got sent home.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The plane ride back to the states was a quiet one. While Lena knew she didn’t have to take the fall for the phone Kara had apparently been smuggling, she couldn’t see any other option at the moment. The judgement from the crew was swift and brutal. The producer simply told her to pack her bags while simultaneously typing on their phone to book her on the first plane ticket back to Metropolis from Greece. Of course, the route chosen included several layovers, one particularly long one in Atlanta right after midnight where the only food available for her was an extremely overpriced travel sized bag of cashews. Needless to say, Lena had never been lower, standing in that airport with greasy hair, wrinkled clothes, and bloodshot eyes. This had been her mother’s dream when she emailed over that Bachelor application as a joke. Whenever Lillian found something to sink her claws into, she turned into a vicious beast, snapping at it and anything that neared all while cackling and mocking the prey in her clutches. This would be her placing salutatorian all over again when Veronica deliberately misspelled ‘nanomanipulator’ in Lena’s title thesis so she could secure valedictorian over her. Lilian hadn’t spoken to Lena without mentioning how second rate she was for years afterwards.And of course, Lena had never been more livid.What the hell was Kara thinking having that burner phone with her? And not telling her? They shared a room together for weeks for Christ’s sake! And she’s a reporter who didn’t think to put it on silent? No wonder she hadn’t had any reporting gigs before this - she was just as incompetent as she was cute! God, if she saw Kara right now, Lena wasn’t sure if she’d strangle or kiss her.Obviously, Lena didn’t care about having to leave the show. It would have been her or Kara anyway at the next rose ceremony, and, of course, Lena didn’t want to deal with the heartache of saying farewell to Kara, but she was still expecting a farewell. Not a quick shove into a Greece version of a Lyft and even a chance to say goodbye to anyone, including Imra who literally watched her be combatively ushered out of the hotel and into the awaiting car.There was no doubt about it now; she would be the villain edit for this season. At least for whatever episodes were left to air anyway. Not that Lena really minded; any potential job offer that put her cut in some reality tv show wasn’t worth her time. However, Lena really couldn’t afford to be that picky in the job market right now if she didn’t want to work for her mother or brother anymore. If anything, she had been hoping to stay on the show long enough to forever avoid that, but alas, that wouldn’t be an option regardless considering the finale was in just a few days. She knew she would always be sent home jobless and without an engagement so what was the point in wasting time in being mad at a cute blonde who both somehow sucked at common sense but was also amazing in bed.Lena didn’t bother turning on her phone until she landed back in Metropolis. She did need a cab to get home afterall. While she mentally prepared her for the long list of voicemails from her mother and brother demanding where she was, she most certainly wasn’t expecting Jack’s name among them. Since when did Jack call here anymore?Curiosity got the best of her, and she hit redial without reading any of his text messages, and shockingly, he answered before the third ring.“Lena!” Jack squawked from the other end of the line. “Where have you been? I’ve been trying to get in contact with you for weeks!”“Jack?” Lena rubbed her forehead as she desperately tried to remember their last interaction. “I’ve been… away.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Why are you calling me?“I am calling, my dear, because yours truly has been approached by investors. Several very wealthy investors.”“Congratulations?” Lena sighed. “Look, Jack, I’m happy for you. Really. But I just don’t have time for this right now. I wish you the best of luck”“Darling, don’t dare hang up this phone if you want a job.”That froze Lena’s thumb over the end call button. “What?”“The investors only approached me after they read your thesis on Construction of Topological Quantum Magnets in Health Care, and they want to fund your research.”Slowly, Lena blinked and took a deep breath, slowly sliding down to sit on a concrete bench outside of the terminal. “They want to fund my nanotechnology research?”“Yep.” Jack puckered his ‘p’ with a sharp snap. “And I’m talking about a lot of funds. If I want to get the funds Spheerical Technology needs to actually make a name for itself in this country, I need you to head up the division.”“Jack.” She leaned her head back and breathed out a sigh that shuddered her body. “I haven’t touched my nanotechnology research since grad school and that’s been years. I don’t remember enough about it to actually lead an entire team of scientists.”“If only you had the notes from your grad school to help you.” Jack’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “Lena, you’re self sabotaging. Get your butt over here so I can have you sign your new contract, agree to partner in the company with me, and then we can spend the rest of the evening apartment shopping for a new place in National City.”The wind knocked out of Lena’s lung faster than if someone had punched her.“Partner?”“Yeah.” Jack breathed out a deep sigh. “I’ve been interviewing people for a while and none of them can hold a candle up to you. I know you have your issues with your mom that would make it difficult for you to leave, but I’d really like for you to consider working for me. As long as we can keep things professional, that is.”“Yes!” Lena didn’t know when she stood up, but there she was on her feet shouting into her phone in an airport pickup area. “Yes, please!” Clearing her throat, Lena forced herself to sit back down on the bench. “I mean, only if it’s still available.”“Woah, wow.” Jack laughed softly on the phone. “I didn’t think you’d leave your mom’s clutches without a fight.”Lena let out a strangled laugh that had her slumping against the gum covered wall of the airport. “Funny story - I’ve actually been out of my mom's clutches for a few weeks now. That’s actually the reason I wasn’t able to respond sooner.”
“Oh really?” Jack asked. “That’s a story I’m interested in hearing.”
With a weak laugh, Lena choked out a breath. “Come pick me up from the Metropolis airport and I’ll tell you all about it.”~~~The flight back to the states was a quiet one. With Lena’s sudden departure, the crew now took their time to set up and take down since they now no longer had a third Fantasy Suite to film, allowing Imra and Kara more time to rest. Alone time in her room coupled with her sudden loneliness brought about a bit of a depressive episode for Kara. Even with more hours of sleep, she still craved more of it and failed to see the point of leaving the bed now, especially with the crew still banning her and Imra from leaving the hotel. The bright sun of Greece shone through her window, but she just rolled over so it only hit her back.Earlier, a producer explained to Kara about the forbidden burner phone Lena had been caught sneaking into Kara’s bag. From the call history, it apparently Lena had been using this phone all season to call someone on the outside - something all the contestants were told explicitly not to do. They threw the phone in an Italian dump and swiftly sent Lena home, threatening possible legal action if anything more were to come for it. Of course, Kara considered telling the truth, but what good would come of it now that Lena was gone.Still, her heart ached. If only they had slept in her bed the night before. Then she could bury her face in the pillow Lena’s scent clung to. Instead, she donned the hoodie that still vaguely smelled of Lena and trudged on to the plane, settling towards the back in a window seat and feigning sleep in order to ignore the incessant prattle of Imra. While Imra may have been one of the sweetest girls Kara had ever met, she barely had the energy to nod along to the five-minute instructions from the crew let alone a two hour long recap of Imra’s own Fantasy Suite date and hopeful wedding aspirations with Mike.They weren’t returning to the Bachelor mansion. Rather they were flying back to Imra’s and then Kara’s respective hometowns so Mike could meet each of their families. With Imra’s family first, Kara had nothing to worry about as she shuffled into a cab to take her to her chosen hotel where she planned to not leave her room and watch whatever historical documentary or crime procedural she could find on the tv. Anything to keep her mind off the fact that she never got to tell Lena goodbye.~~~“So this isn’t where you grew up?” Mike asked, the town car pulling them up to a quaint two story gray house amid the countryside.“Uh, kind of.” Kara deliberately took her time unbuckling as she gathered herself. “Eliza and Jeremiah took me in when I was 13. After my parents died.”Mike’s brow furrowed as he thought. “I thought you said you were adopted as a kid?”“Yeah.” Kara wiped her palms on her jeans. “I was 13.”His hand settled on top of Kara’s, pausing her nervous fidgeting. “That’s a teenager. You're a young adult. Like in middle school when kids are the meanest.” He shook his head. “God, I’m sorry, Kara’s. That’s just so much to go through so young. I’m sorry.”Her chin dropped and Kara stared at the scuff on the toe of her booties. “It sucked. But also I can’t imagine my life without them now, so I guess I’m also lucky in some ways. They’ve helped me through some of my roughest times.”Mike squeezed his hand over hers. “I hope they can help you through this one, too.”~~~“Kara!”Eliza barreled into her before Kara could step through the door. If it weren’t for Mike’s hand at her back holding her steady, both women would have fallen and sprawled out across the front porch. The producers probably would have loved that.God, Eliza smelled like home. Tears sprung to Kara’s eye when she wrapped her arms around the other women and held her close, burrowing her face into the embrace. Ever since she took the job at Catco, her visits back to Midvale became less and less often and phone calls home further and further home. Had Eliza’s hair always had so much gray? Were the wrinkles on her face always so pronounced? Her hugs had definitely always felt this safe and loving though. If it weren’t for the cameras on their back, Kara was sure she could have broken down completely right there.“Hey, Mom,” Kara said unsteady, forcing herself to take a deep breath to calm herself. “I’ve missed you.”Eliza pulled back, her face softening when she saw the gleam in Kara’s eyes. “Oh, Kara.” Her hand reached up to cradle Kara’s cheek. “I’ve missed you too.”“Do I get a hug now or are you just gonna keep hogging her?” Jeremiah asked, his teasing smirk scrunching up his face. “No, no, take your time. It’s not like we made the house camera ready or anything.” Alex grumbled. Next to her, Maggie swatted her arm.Eliza rested her hand on Kara’s elbow and nodded at Mike. “Let’s get you both inside. We’ve all missed you.”Jeremiah wrapped Kara in a bear hug just several seconds later, all while Eliza pulled Mike into the kitchen, doing her best to wave the crew on in as well even though they insisted on acting as if they weren’t there. All while, Alex’s expression grew increasingly confused as she took in the sight of a six foot tall man standing in their kitchen. When she opened her mouth, Kara quickly pulled her sister into a hug, cutting off her words with a huff.“Be cool,” Kara breathed in Alex’s ear, sharing a glance with Maddie when they both nodded minutely. “Mr. and Mrs. Danvers!” Mike enthusiastically shook Eliza then Jeremiah’s hand. “Thank you both so much for having me in your home! And Alex! Oh, and you must be Maggie! Kara has told me so much about all of you!”“Uh, yeah,” Kara cleared her throat and stepped back to Mike’s side, deliberately wrapping an arm around his waist and forcing a tight smile. “This is Mike. The guy I’ve been dating the past few weeks.”“Mike, huh,” Alex shot Kara a look. “Well, you’re certainly not what I expected.”Mike flashed a grin and held out his hand. “I know my playboy reputation precedes me, but I can promise you I have nothing but honest intentions with your sister.”“I was talking about the beard.” Alex said, shaking his hand once.“ Alex ,” Kara hissed, her head jerked towards the crew behind them.“What?” Her sister held her hand over her chest in mock innocence. “I just meant you didn’t typically go for men… with facial hair.”Kara bared her teeth in a smile. “I’m so burning your Buffy action figure.”“You do that and I throw out your entire box set of Charmed .” Alex growled, her hand still tight around Mike’s hand.“Okay, ladies,” Mike somehow managed to pull his hand free from Alex, shaking his hand to help the blood recirculate. “Maybe we should shift to you showing me a little bit how Kara grew up?”“I can take over with that,” Eliza stepped forward, grabbing Mike’s hand and pulling him with her towards the living room. “Of course, Kara didn’t start living with us until she was thirteen, but I still collected plenty of footage for the scrapbook!”With Eliza and Jeremiah steering Mike down a path of childhood nostalgia, Kara trailed after them, shooting her sister another warning look as they did. They sat on the couches in the living room where school photos, old school assignments, and newspaper clippings covered the coffee table. Mike pulled Kara close to him on the love seat, nodding intently with each new photo or project Eliza held up. Once her adoptive mom started gushing about either of her daughters, the best anyone could do was simply ride it out until she lost steam.“And this was Kara’s senior photo! And her prom photos with that boy from down the street she took. Larry something, right? Golly, he had just the biggest crush on our Kara. They were actually in Science Club together! Great partners - even won an award together! Do you still have that award, Kara?”“Uh, yes!” Kara jumped to her feet, eager for just a single moment where she could breath. “It should still be in my old room. I’ll grab it.”“I’ll help!” Alex said, nimbly jumping over Mike’s feet to stand next to her sister. “What? We shared the room so maybe I moved it.”Kara rolled her eyes. “Sure, whatever.” She shot the camera crew a wave of her hand when one moved to follow her up the stairs. “It’ll be like 2 seconds.”As soon they were behind the closed door of their bedroom, Alex whirled around and pinned her sister with a stare. “What the actual fuck, Kara?”Gritting her teeth, Kara groaned and covered her face with her hands. “I know, I know.”“You’ve been gushing about a girl basically your entire time there, but you bring Mr. Boring home?” Alex shook her head. “What gives?”“Okay, he’s not that boring. And look, we have a plan. We just need some time for it to work.”“And that plan included throwing away this girl as if she were moldy leftovers.”Kara groaned. “I’m sure if she knew the plan, she’d be down.”Alex choked out a noise. “She doesn’t know?”“She left before I could tell her! It’s not my fault.” Kara’s eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms. “They caught her with that burner phone you gave me, so technically, it’s your fault.”Alex threw her hands up and guffawed. “Oh please, like it’s my fault that I was worried when you hadn’t called in several days?”“Well, don’t expect me to call again because they threw the phone away.”“God, of course, and I paid for like 1000 minutes on that thing.” Alex ran her hand through her short red hair. “Have you called her?”Running her fingers through her blonde hair, Kara groaned. "The producers still won't let either of us have internet access. Even if we get engaged. The season won't end until the Final Rose Ceremony so they only way to get electronic access again is by either going home or waiting until that's over.""Ugh, ew, that's messed up." Alex shook her head. "Well, I can do that. What is her last name?"“Uh… about that.” Kara rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. “I’m kind of not sure what her last name is.”The disbelief on Alex’s face was enough to rival that of a child waking up to see their parent with their hand under the pillow to grab their tooth rather than the tooth fairy.“Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,” Alex held out her hands as she shook her head. “You’ve been fucking this girl for weeks and you don’t know what her last name is?!”“Shhh!” Kara’s head whipped her head over towards the door, waiting to see if any of the crew had heard them over Alex’s terrible new mixtape. “First of all, I only slept with her one night. I’ve just been pining after her for weeks. And second of all, they never referred to us by our last name past the first letter. I was Kara D. and she was Lena L. You can try looking for Lenas with an L last name in Metropolis, but there has to be like dozens of hits! I don't think she even had social media or like barely a profile.”Alex rolled her eyes. “Oh no, if only you knew a reporter with connections in that city.”“Yeah, like I’m going to let you bother Clark with this.”“Why not?” Alex pressed forward. “This is literally the only time it’s a perk for you to know him.”“Because,” Kara whined, her shoulders slouching as she hung her head, “He's always so perfect at everything and I know he's just going to judge me for this. I've already embarrassed myself enough in front of him to last a lifetime. Not to mention it's be awkward as hell to have you come out for me to him which is just awkward.”“Kara,” Alex let out a deep sigh. “I hate to break it to you, but that’s basically going to be the rest of your life. The coming out part and admitting the first result when they google you is that you were the finalist on a Bachelor season.”"Oh yeah and in the same hit." Kara shook her head.Alex's brow furrowed. "What?"“Girls!” Eliza’s voice echoed up the stairs. “Did you find it?”“We’ll be down in a minute!” Alex called back, whipping her head back to Kara who looked to be in near tears. “Hey, it won’t be so bad. I mean, at least you’ll always have something to talk about with people.”The scoff caught in her throat. As if this entire experience would be something she could ever bare to talk about. How she held love in her hands and carelessly let it slip through her fingers. How she agreed to the most deranged plan with a man she didn’t know and invested everything in it. How she could never see a dark-haired woman with green eyes or think about the stars or even look at a dinner roll and not want to curl up in a ball and cry.“I just feel like I screwed everything up, Alex,” Kara whispered.Wrapping her arm around her sister, Kara pulled her closed, and suddenly Kara felt as if she were a teenager slipping into her sister’s bed during a thunderstorm. “Even if you did, you still have us to come back to.”~~~“So your family was nice,” Mike said as they climbed into the back of the town car to possibly return.Kara snorted, pushing her hair behind her ear. “I promise you they will eventually chill out. I think Eliza was just excited to have both her daughters and partners under one roof. I’m shocked she didn’t press you about grandchildren tonight.”“Uh, she definitely did when you and Alex went upstairs,” Mike’s cheeks reddened. “That was right after Jeremiah demanded to know my intentions with you.”“Oh, God,” Kara slumped back in her seat, her own face becoming aflame in embarrassment now. “He crushed a grape in his hand too,” he said with a nervous chuckle. “Eliza got on to him for almost ruining one of the pictures, and he mellowed out, but oof.”“I swear, you have nothing to worry about.” Kara set her hand on his knee. “He’s a big softy that cries during almost every movie we watch. Heck, he cried in Cheaper By the Dozen when the frog died.”Mike made an affronted face. “Excuse you, that frog has a name, and it’s Beans.”“Okay wow,” Kara blinked, and her shocked laugh enough through the car. “Maybe you’re a better fit for my family than I thought.”“Maybe.” He slid his hand into Kara’s, holding their palms together. “They are really nice people. I’m glad you had them.”That tightness that had been gripping her throat frequently the past few days happened again. “Me too.”“However, I do think your sister would actually kill me though if we’re ever alone together.”Laughter tore through Kara’s throat, chasing away the grief. “She’s really the one you’ll want to worry about.”With a brief hesitation, Mike’s gaze flickered at the camera secured to the back of the seat in front of them. Much like this entire experience, they weren’t alone; a camera or mic always trailed close behind them, eager to gobble up any content that could be shown or twisted for views. Upon the reminder, Kara’s back straightened, turning her posture impossibly stiff even as Mike rubbed soothing circles on her thigh.“Does she… know?” Mike asked hesitantly.Kara nodded, biting her lip as she carefully chose her words. “Not much, but enough. Alex has always been good at reading me.”“Ah,” Mike’s throat bobbed. “Explains why she nearly crushed my hand earlier.”“She means well, I swear. She’s just…kind of intense sometimes.”Mike nodded. “I get it. She’s just looking out for her little sister.”“Yeah.”Even though they just left, Kara ached to be back home with her family again. Over the past few weeks, this show had gripped her in its fangs, sucking her dry until she had nothing left. She’d only managed for so long because of Lena pouring sustenance down her throat, continually giving her reasons to smile and hope. Mike had been trying without her, but he tasted as bitter and burnt as instant coffee when Lena had been nothing but cream and sweet as a latte. While her family wasn’t at the latte level of Lena, they held her a roasty warmth that only felt like home. And if she couldn’t have Lena, then all she wanted was that warm safety.“Mike, maybe we should–” Kara’s words cut off as they pulled over alongside the road in a turn off. “Wait… why are we pulling over?”With a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, Mike opened the car door and held out his hands. “Care to join me, babe?”He pulled her out into the turn off overlooking a cliffside where the ocean waves glimmered in the light of the orange pink setting sky above. Behind her, additional car doors shut and several members of the crew followed. With a quick glance behind her, a producer offered Kara a quick thumbs up, but Mike tugged her ahead towards a short path leading to a look-out point just below. A strong breeze whipped Kara’s hair around her head and her long dress tangled within her legs, causing her to stumble. Mike barely caught her, and pulled her close to his chest. It wasn’t until they were so close that Kara could hear the rattle of his breath or the slickness of his palms. “I’m sorry,” he whispered in her ear as he slowly walked them both to the look-out point. The heartache in his voice mirrored Kara’s own. “It’ll be almost over after this.”With her stomach curling in on itself, Kara nodded, her limbs going limb as Mike steered her where he wanted her. The setting really was stunning - atop a picturesque California seaside cliff with the backdrop of a setting sun. A scene that filled countless Pinterest boards. It’s what anyone would have wanted. But as Mike dropped to one knee, Kara wished for night to fall and the cliff to crumble.“Kara, will you marry me?”Despite Kara’s stomach curling at the words and a migraine pounding against her skull, Kara’s face beamed. Tears formed in her eyes, but she prayed that the production team interpreted them as ones of joy.“Yes.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
If it weren’t for HR at Jack’s new company still finalizing Lena’s new position, she would have fought with the television network who told her she was still bound to attend the After the Final Rose ceremony. Technically speaking, Lena had already breached the contract when they “caught” her with contraband, leaving the rest of it null and void, regardless of whether or not they had stood to hear her out. Jack’s company would spare the funds and time for the lawyers to fight for her now, but being as Lena had nothing else to do and the filming was to take place in National City anyways, she ultimately decided to play nice and agree to attend the ceremony. That and she apparently had fans now? She’d turned on her phone once she returned home to find hundreds of DMs on her essentially defunct Twitter and Instagram with thousands of new followers on each. She hadn’t posted on either since her last grad school graduation several years ago, but her last posts now had dozens of comments on them. Some praised her for her academic accomplishments, others rooting for her spot on the seasons, but most just sending positive praise her way. One or two comments held hateful rhetoric; however, the algorithm had buried them under a flood of downvotes. Even with the support, the feeling of being under a spot light like this made her skin crawl, and Lena viciously fought the urge to delete or private her entire page.Then there was the matter of the DMs and e-mails. Companies ranging from gummy vitamins, to meal prep kits, to budgeting services all wanted to know if Lena would partner with them to sponsor one of their products. While their financial offers were tempting, it was the sex toys that gave her pause. And there were many of them. Many she hadn't even heard of. And all of them wanted her to advertise one of their queer aimed products. But that was just the tip of the rainbow iceberg.Nearly every other message she scrolled through either praise or condemned her supposed sexuality. Threads on Reddit were even worse. They thanked her for the representation that inspired them to go to school the next day with a pride flag pin or to give their daughter an extra hug; while others claimed to pray over her or criticized her for corrupting the youth or the other contestants on the show. The homophobia even bled into death threats for some rare messages. Just reporting their profile and then deleting some of those messages took enough of a toll on Lena that it brough her to tears. Her entire sexuality was just speculated based on a couple aired interactions with her and Kara. What would happen if they were confirmed as reality?Why would it ever be confirmed though? Sam had reached out to her not long after her arrival to National City with news that she had heard Kara and Mike were engaged. Engaged . Since when did Kara even have feelings for Mike? Let alone accept his proposal? Weren’t they supposed to leave together? Hell, Lena had actually moved to National City in the two weeks since she left the show. There wasn’t supposed to be anything keeping them apart now. But apparently Kara never saw it that way.Lena had been second best all her life. Why should she expect anything different now?When she arrived at the studio, she thankfully stepped out of her taxi at the same time Nia did. Glancing over at Lena briefly, Nia’s head soon snapped back at Lena with a delighted gasp.“Lena!” Nia enveloped the brunette in a swift bear hug that knocked the air out of her stomach. “Oh my gosh, how are you? I’ve missed you!”“Uh, hey Nia,” Lena awkwardly patted Nia’s back as she waited for Nia to unhand her. “It’s good to see you too.”After several long seconds, Nia finally relented. “So, Brainy tells me you got to the final three and then got kicked off too?! I thought I was suppose to be the only scandal this season! Tell me everything!”A fierce blush bloomed across Lena’s neck and cheeks as she straightened out her green dress. “Uh, not much to tell, I guess. I mean, I was in Kara’s room when the burner phone went off. It wasn’t mine, but the producers didn’t really care at that point. I guess Kara was more of a front runner than me, so they sent me home.”Nia snorted and waved her hand. “As if. I saw just how dull their date footage was. Kara always had her attention more on you than anyone else.”Those words sent a sharp pain through Lena’s heart, but rather than flinch, she forced herself to take on her hard Luthor steel mask and tone. “Sounds like you’ve been reading too many Reddit posts.”“Or I actually hung out with you two. I know I slept a lot, but I still paid attention.” Nia’s gaze softened as she laid her hand on Lena’s shoulder. “You don’t actually think Kara’s really staying with Mike, do you?”Lena’s pale lips turned into a sneer as neutrality turned into venom. “Why wouldn’t I? Seems to me she moved on much faster than I.”“Oh honey.” Nia wrapped her into another hug, this one much more gentle than the last, and Lena swore she wouldn’t cry, but Nia pulled away with a stained wet shirt and Lena with smudged black eyeliner. Served Lena right for not wearing waterproof eyeliner.~~~The production arranged for Mike and Kara to arrive at a separate entrance than the other contestants to avoid any potential crossover of them. As if they could sense Kara’s desire to bolt and try to find just one of the other girls to pass a message to Lena through, several members of the crew were set as their permanent detail. For the entire makeup and wardrobe prep, Kara’s legs bounced in her seat, earning many glares from the artists who struggled to style her hair and face. Mike wasn’t much better though, his eyes always either unfocused or darting towards the door whenever someone new arrived.“You know neither of you have anything to worry about, right?” A producer finally asked, frowning at their anxious energy. “Tonight is literally about the two of you and celebrating your relationship.”Mike snorted and the producer arched an eyebrow, but Kara elbowed him in the ribs before he could go further off track.“He’s just a bit nervous, that’s all.” Kara said tersely. “We both are. We haven’t seen the other women since they left, and well, not knowing how some of them are feeling about us is driving us a bit crazy.”The producer pursed her lips. “I see. Well, you’ll have plenty of time to talk with them after the show. Just try to look like you’re happy to be here and together as a couple.” The producer tapped away at something on her phone and started to spin her attention towards something else before hesitating and turning back slowly. “You are a happy couple, right?”Mike choked on a laugh before flashing a wide grin that didn’t quite meet his eye. “As happy together as my parents!”The producer’s brow furrowed before a twinkle started to gleam in her eyes. She snapped her fingers at Mike and Kara’s hair stylists. “Let’s give the two lovebirds a moment alone. I think they might need it.”And with that, in less than a minute, Kara and Mike found themselves in an empty dressing room, finally alone for the first time that night. Despite being exactly what Kara had been craving all evening, her heart couldn’t stop racing in her chest.“Oh God, oh God, oh God,” Kara’s fingers went to hair to pull at it. “They know!”Mike immediately put his hands up. “Chill. I doubt they know my parents haven't shared a bed in years.""Gross, Mike."He rolled his eyes. "They’re probably just thinking one of us has cold feet or something and are trying to figure out how to milk it for some last minute drama for the ratings. We’re fine.”It would be a live taping. Everything that happened tonight would be projected live across televisions around the world so there would be no cuts or editing to interfere with what actually happened. This was a chance for production to prod for any kind of drama. But that was exactly why they were doing this now - coming out and professing love on live tv was the only way they could be sure neither would get the villain edit.“Okay, okay,” Kara forced herself to take several calming breaths and pulled her hands towards her lap. “Sorry, I’m just so nervous about all of this. You’re doing so much for me, and I’m not making it any easier for you. I’m sorry.”“Hey, don’t forget that this is pretty much just self serving on my side,” Mike said with a weak laugh. “I mean, my parents won’t ever invite me to a political event again after they learn I’ve been playing the wing man for a lesbian the past two weeks.”“Bisexual actually,” Kara corrected, not looking up from her nails.“Eh, whatever - it’s not like it matters.” Mike shrugged, before his eyes widened and he immediately backtracked. “I mean, of course it does. But like, if you’re with, like you know, a girl, then they aren’t going to really be caring about what you identify as. But like it still definitely cares. I mean, I care and stuff.”Ah yes, there was that Mike she got to know and tolerate from being on the show. Of course he meant well, but as a straight white man with excessive wealth, he still had a lot of privilege to check in on before he could really start being the ally he already considered himself to be. Him doing this though and possibly cuckholding himself on national television was more than enough for Kara to be able to look past those issues though for a lifetime.“Mike, really it’s fine.” Kara sighed, smoothing out the nonexistent wrinkles in her dress. “I mean, it’s something I need to get used to if I want to be with her.”“Yeah…” Mike rubbed the back of his reddening neck. “Just like, don’t forget that they don’t matter. Opinions from bigoted asshats like them will always exist. Don’t let it stop you from being who you are. That is something that took me a while to understand.”Huh. Perhaps Mike had a bit more nuance to him than she thought.“Thanks, Mike.” Kara reached over and squeezed his hand. “That really means a lot.”“Any time,” Mike flashed a bright wide smile. “Now let’s both go win our girls back.”~~~Nia and Lena were the last to arrive of the women. Production led them to a massive room where all the other ladies sat at mirrors in front of stylists working on their hair and face. Rows of different dresses lined the walls, most likely in an array of sizes of the women to pick out. This was their last appearance on tv with the show, and the network always wanted to show off the best of their cast of rejected lovers from the lead as if they were better off for being on the show. As if getting their heart broken on national television by the mediocre playboy son of a conservative Congressman actually improved their life for the better.The other women did look nice though. Most of them actually looked healthier and happy to see one another. The tension in the air that always seemed to crackle on set fizzled away to a surprising lightness in the air. Megan and Eve laughed with Siobhan by a table of refreshments. Next to them on the couches, Leslie held Sam’s hand still as she painted her nails a fiery red color while Vasquez and Imra nodded along with Sam's story about her daughter. Without production pitting them against each other, these women could apparently be best of friends.“Wow,” Megan blinked as she noticed Lena and Nia walking in, and a hush fell over the room. “I couldn’t believe it when they told me, but I guess it’s true? Kara really was the final pick?”Even though Lena had spent the past two weeks since the show preparing for reactions just like that, she still flinched at Megan’s words. Nia’s hug from earlier threw her off. No one but Kara had hugged her since the show; she’d so poorly dodged Jack’s attempt at one when they first met again a week ago that he hadn’t tried again since. To make things even worse, Lena’s cheeks and eyes still ached with the redness of her previous crying fit. The stains on Nia’s shirts from her mascara only depressed her image further despite Nia’s assurances that none of her eyeliner had actually smeared. She thanked God for the crew that would hopefully use any and all makeup on her. No need for the public to know just how much of a mess she actually was right now.“They make a cute couple,” Imra murmured, staring down at her lap, and to Lena’s relief, she wasn’t the only one barely holding it together.Taking the seat next to her on the couch, Lena slipped her hand over Imra’s. Her voice came out rougher than she’d like as she told her, “I was really rooting for you, you know.”Tears welled up Imra’s eyes as she shook her head and took in a shuddering breath. “Of course, you’d say that. I mean, you and Kara…”At the mention of her name, Lena’s hand immediately withdrew. Her arms wrapped around her stomach, hugging herself in a tight grip as she fought against her own wave of sadness. God, why did she come to this? It was one thing online with all these strangers on Reddit and tumblr editing compilations of their moments together or photoshopping them in different poses, but with these women, they all knew the truth. They all knew, especially after watching any of the season, just how much more chemistry Lena had with Kara than she ever did with Mike. They saw her flirting on the rock climbing date, leaning into each other at the pool, racing in that damn car, holding hands on the plane… The only ones who seemingly couldn’t see it for so long were just the two of them, and that just made it all the more embarrassing and shameful when coupled with Kara’s rejection.“I always knew there was something off about that blonde,” Siobhan grumbled, crossing her own arms.“Siobhan…” Megan sighed. Since when were they actually friends again?“What?” Siobhan threw up her hands. “She hurt my friend. I’m allowed to be a bitch about her.” Wait, since when were her and Lena friends?“Anyway,” Sam sat herself down next to Lena, slipping her arm around her and holding her tight even when Lena flinched in resistance. “We were talking about going on a girls trip or get-together after the show. A lot of us have been chatting on Instagram lately, and we’d all like to get away from this media circus and get to know one another without ulterior motives involved.”Lena blinked, slumping against Sam’s hold. She’d never been invited out on a trip by another, especially not a group of girls like this. “Um, I don’t know. I mean, I just got this new job and I’m moving from Metropolis to National City.”“Ooo, I’ve always wanted to vacation at National City!” Eve exclaimed, clapping her hands.“Me too,” Megan offered a kind smile to Lena. “There is always so much going on there. Let's just go there.”And for the first time since her removal from the show, Lena thought she may have actually gained something from the experience after all.~~~“Let’s all give a warm welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Mike Matthews!” Morgan flourished his hand towards the back stage, an obvious cue for both the audience to start clapping and for Kara and Mike to make their way on stage.The crowd roared louder than Kara thought a group of less than a hundred people could. Their path took them towards the center of the stage where Morgan sat waiting for them with a loveseat and a coffee table with a bouquet of roses on it next to him. Before they could step up on stage though, Kara could glimpse through the crowds, searching desperately for Alex’s face among them. Never before had she needed a smile and thumbs up from her sister more. She finally found her towards the back sitting next to Maggie and Eliza. All three waved enthusiastically at her, and Kara finally felt as if she could breathe.Wait… is that Ms. Grant a few rows down?But then, Mike pulled her up on the stage and suddenly Kara couldn’t see any part of the crowd due to how bright the stage lights shined down on her. Those cameras trained on her only grew in intensity, and of course, that was when Kara finally noticed the two rows of the other nine contestants from the season sitting on one end of the stage and all of her anxiety from earlier hit her tenfold.They all looked stunning, each in their own evening gowns of varying shades of purple, blue, and reds, but it was Lena’s green dress that took her breath away. The way it dipped down her chest, hugged her curves, and sequins sparkled under the spotlights. For the past two weeks, Kara had been relieving every moment they had together on repeat in her head, but now seeing her in person, she saw just how much her memory failed in comparison to the real thing. Even if those green eyes looked more haunted and sad than ever before. Kara’s gaze drifted down, and she noticed Sam’s hand holding Lena’s in her lap, squeezing it for comfort. That was when she noticed the glares from the other women, and she knew it wasn’t because of jealousy, but of rather the harm she had caused Lena. Strangely though, realizing that turned Kara’s fake smile into a real one. Even if Lena believed the worst about Kara now, at least she wasn’t alone. If all this blackmail and sacrifice meant that Lena walked away with friends like this, then it was all worth it.Pulling her out of her trance, Mike tugged Kara over to the love seat with him, nodding at it for her to sit down as she shook Morgan’s hand. Of course, when Kara lifted her own hand to shake his, Morgan ignored it to lean back in his own chair. She gritted her teeth at the insult, but Mike swooped in to take her hand in his and squeezed it until Kara’s fake but pleasant smile returned.“We have a lot to talk about tonight, but first,” Morgan proudly grinned and waved towards the linked hands between Kara and Mike. “Let’s give a round of applause for the happy couple.”The resounding applause sent waves of nausea through Kara’s stomach and her neck broke out in a sweat. Instantly, she wanted to drop Mike’s hand and push it far away from her, but the glare of the camera lens weighed impossibly heavy on her, trapping her under a film.“Wonderful, wonderful,” Morgan sighed, leaning back and smiling smugly at the couple. “You both put on quite a show this season. Especially you Mike. I know I, along with everyone else, wasn’t sure who you were going to pick. When did you know Kara was the one?”Mike flashed a grin so wide his teeth reflected back the studio light. “Definitely the night of the fantasy suite.”“Oh?” Morgan cocked an eyebrow as a chuckle echoed over the crowd. “I think I might need to remind you that this is a family show. We need to keep any of the details PG.”Kara rolled her eyes and slipped her hand out of Mike’s hold. Then maybe they shouldn’t make one of the episodes so focused on the sex side of a relationship if they actually wanted it to be discreet. Of course, they would be blowing this into something it wasn’t.“Was that night significant to you as well, Kara?”“Absolutely.” Kara’s cheeks hurt from her own fake smile. “It was definitely the night it all came together.”Oof, she could have chosen better phrasing there. Thank God the stage lights made it impossible for her to see whatever face Alex was undoubtedly making at her. And Ms. Grant. God, why did she have to be here too?“Wow, it definitely sounds like you both had quite the night at the Fantasy Suites. It’s important for couples to get to know the physical side of a relationship. It can make all the difference. That actually leads into my next question. Now Kara,” Morgan's steepled fingers pointed towards her, “there have been those on social media saying that you had better chemistry with other people on the show than you did with Mike. What do you have to say about that?”The crowd murmured around them, but Kara suddenly forgot how to open her mouth. This was it. This was the perfect segue she needed, but she couldn’t get her damn jaw to work. Mike’s elbow nudged her in the side, nodding at her to speak, and finally, Kara’s mouth fell open.“I, uh, um....”How the hell did she think she could ever be a journalist? She’s literally screwing up the one question that mattered. But then one of the women cleared their throats. Kara wasn’t sure which one, but her eyes darted over to nine pairs of eyes all staring at her, but one pair mattered. Those with eyes as green and vast as the sea and haunted every dream for the rest of time. And for the first time that night, there was the barest hint of hope in them.“I’d say they were right,” Kara finally choked out, her eyes still locked with Lena’s.Loud gasps echoed around them from just about everyone but herself and Mike. Still, Mike couldn't resist clutching his chest in a mock exaggeration. Morgan meanwhile shared concerned glances with the crew behind the cameras, glaring at one of the camera men zooming in on Lena’s stunned face to show in the monitor.“We’re well aware of your friendship with Lena,” Morgan attempted to correct, gesturing for the production to likely push for a commercial. “You were roommates after all. It makes sense you became gal pals.”“I’m in love with her,” Kara continued, her gaze finally turning back towards Morgan. The indignation on his face only fueled the volume in her voice. “Romantically.”“Now Kara, I’m not sure you know what you’re talking about.” Morgan faked a smile as he glared daggers at the blonde. “We can talk about this more after a break and you can collect yourself.”“I don’t think she needs a break,” Mike said with a shrug. “She sounds pretty confident to me. And I’m happy for her.”“That’s enough , Mr. Matthews,” Morgan’s fake facade fell away into a harsh glare.Mike held up his hands. “Hey, I’m just saying.”“Don’t talk to him that way,” Kara snapped, suddenly finding herself on her feet. “He’s been your puppet all season. Let him speak!”“Yeah!” Mike said, emboldened and sitting up straighter on the couch. “If I want my fiancée to leave me for a wonderful woman, then I have every right to say so!”“Exactly!” Kara started tugging off her engagement ring, suddenly more eager than ever to finally take it off.Morgan leaned forward in his chair and hissed. “Just what are you doing Danvers?!”“Honestly Morgan,” Mike rolled his eyes and leaned back against the couch, propping his foot up on the table and using his leg to act as a barrier between his fake fiancée and the host. “You can’t expect her to propose to someone with an engagement ring from someone else on her finger. This isn’t that kind of show, after all.”While Kara knew Mike only said that to bait Morgan even further, she couldn’t help but grin at imagining just how much more entertaining this show would be if polygamy was an optional endgame choice. “Finally,” Kara sighed as the ring yanked off her finger. She looked up to see Lena still staring at her with those stunning green eyes and jaw now slacked. How could she look even paler than before? Kara didn’t care though. Wow, that woman looked so beautiful. Never again would Kara ever put her in a position to doubt how much she loved her and would continue to love her until the end of her days. “Lena…”“Don’t you dare!” Morgan snarled.The host jumped to his feet and his cue cards crumbled in his hands. He tried stepping over Mike’s legs who only proceeded to fold them and make the obstacle even more hindering. More people moved from behind the scenes, shifting greater urgency to Kara’s plans. Was that security?“Oh no, you don’t.” Sam scrambled over to put herself between Kara and Morgan as well as whoever else encroached the stage. “I’ve been waiting for this for months now!”“Ladies, get back in your seats!”“No!” Nia linked her arm through Sam’s in a united front. “I thought this show was supposed to be about finding love, and they did so they deserve a chance.”Wait, were all the women out of their seats? Kara turned her head and noticed the only one who wasn’t still seated was Lena who remained frozen in her chair. Around her, the other eight women linked arms with each other to form a blockade around them. Huh, if this certainly wasn’t part of the plan. Even Leslie and Siobhan stood firm within the chain of women.“Please lay a hand on me,” Megan growled, looking quite fierce despite being the shortest among them. “I’ve been looking for a reason all season to sue this show.”“Yeah,” Leslie smirked, puffing out her chest. “Make our days, punks.”Kara blinked. What was happening?“Kara?” Lena whispered, and suddenly Kara couldn’t see anyone but her. Nothing else mattered. Nothing else ever would.“Lena,” Kara sighed and a wide smile broke out over her face. “I didn’t come on this show ever dreaming that I would actually find love on it. But then I saw you in our room that first day, just so beautiful and sweet, and I knew I wanted to get to know you. And I soon learned that you were the smartest, kindest, and best person I’d ever met. You listened to me when I talked. You held my hand when I was scared. You made me laugh when I didn’t think I could. I never knew someone like you could exist. I don’t know how I got so lucky to ever meet you, but I never want to let you go.” Hiking her dress up so she could bend down on one knee, Kara held out the engagement Mike previously gave her and offered it to the woman of her dreams.“Will you marry me?”For one heart stopping moment, Kara feared Lena would say no and the thought of that alone stole all the breath out of Kara’s lungs, but suddenly, Lena left her chair and wrapped her arms around Kara’s neck, pulling her tightly against her. The ring and Kara’s hands smooshed into Lena’s chest but just the feeling of warmth of Lena’s embrace around her took up all of Kara’s mental capacity. She had missed this so much. All of the stress of the past two weeks melted away with a single touch from the brunette.“Yes, Kara, yes.” Lena breathed in Kara’s ears.And then Lena pulled back just enough to lay her lips over Kara’s and kiss her as if she needed it like she needed air. Whimpering against Lena, Kara pulled the other woman tighter to her, wrapping her arms around Lena’s back and pulling her close, delighting in the exposed skin of Lena’s backless dress. Lena moaned at Kara’s gentle touch, her own fingers winding into Kara’s blonde curls and tugging her head to the side to angle their lips to kiss her ever deeper. Kara’s heart still pounded in her chest but for a much more delicious reason now. God, what a way to go in the arms of this woman. Her love. Her fiancée."I'm still so mad at you, you beautiful idiot," Lena gasped between kisses, her grip still firm on Kara. "We need to talk about this.""Yes, yes, of course," Kara laughed, squirmed delightedly under Lena's touch as she nibbled on Kara's collar bone. "We can talk about everything."Lena pulled face up to sigh against Kara's lips. "Later though." And her lips were soon back on Kara's.Behind them, they paid little notice to the whoops and cheers from the crowds or the struggle with security. They had too much going on in their own little world to care if a camera captured it all. But that wasn’t the only love story captured that night.“Imra,” Mike called out towards the brunette and smiled when he took a step forward, his palms facing upward. “I’m sorry. I just… I couldn’t bear the thought of our love journey keeping two other people from finding love themselves.”“Oh, Mikey,” Imra slipped free from the chain of women and shuffled forward as fast as her mermaid dress allowed. “You’re such a big softie.”Her dress and heels proved to be a dangerous combination, and Imra stumbled, right into Mike’s awaiting arms which caught her around her waist. She grinned up at him as he pulled her closer, their faces now just inches apart. Mike had no ring in her hand nor were he on bended knee, but Imra in his hand and his neck craning down to look at her with only love in his eyes“Will you marry me, Imra?” Mike whispered down at Imra, and she only smiled wider.“Yes! A thousand times yes!”Her hands fisted his suit lapels and yanked his mouth to her own in a fierce kiss, one he returned quickly. When Mike opened his mouth to deepen it, Imra responded eagerly and pushed Mike back onto the couch. He pulled her with her, their mouths remaining firmly stuck together even as his back hit the couch and Imra climbed on top of him. She moved to straddle him, her dress riding high up her thighs with her knees resting on either side of his torso, their hips grinding together despite the several layers of cloth between them.All the while, Mike’s mother and father watched for their seats with an horrified expression akin to as if they were chewing up pieces of the couch and eating it whole.“He isn’t even on top?!” Mike’s mother exclaimed, her upper lip curling in disgust. “This show is supposed to only have good Christian conservative women who upload traditional values! What is this? We can't bring her to any rallies if she's going to act like this.”“Honey," his father sighed. "I don’t think she’s even Republican."