Chapter Text
The car stopped and for a brief, merciful second there was silence. Bethan took a deep breath, flexing her fingers anxiously, to keep from drumming on the leather seats. The air conditioning was on, but even so she could feel a bead of sweat run down her back. Her thighs were sticking to the car seat, whoever had decided they should arrive in swimsuits clearly hadn’t thought through the ramifications of that decision. Bethan lifted one hand and gingerly tucked a strand of her honey brown hair behind her ear; she had to appear perfect today at least. There wouldn’t be any stylists or make up team in the villa, so this was her only opportunity to really wow her new housemates. It was a look, that was for sure - a bold cherry red lip paired with cute fun buns, and a new black one-piece with cutouts in the side picked from a corporately sponsored wardrobe. There would be more fresh fashion choices provided in the house, but Bethan had brought a few key pieces from home in her shiny new wheeled suitcase. The suitcase a production assistant would get from the boot of the car as soon as she got out.
One more deep breath and Bethan moved. She pushed open the car door, almost physically aware that this was when it started - they had already done some small sessions with her in front of the camera, both to introduce herself, and all manner of promotional shots for the show, but this was the first time she wouldn’t be able to re-shoot or be heavily photoshopped to correct any slip ups or blemishes.
Smiling broadly, Bethan emerged from the car, placing one white strappy sandal-clad foot on the driveway and pulling herself as smoothly as possible out of the car. The heat hit her first, the air thick with it after the coolness of the car’s interior. She looked around in genuine awe at the white plaster walls, the red tiles of the roof, and the lush green plants. Remembering the producers’ advice, Bethan steered her eyes away from the cameras and crew, and looked up at the villa in what she hoped was something more attractive and less slack-jawed gaping. After a moment, her suitcase appeared at her side and a voice accompanied it instructing her to head on in.
Bethan’s heels clicked against the driveway as she obeyed, pulling the small suitcase behind her. The villa really was gorgeous, a far throw from the crowded terraces of home, it was almost impossible to believe it was going to be her home for the next two weeks. If she stayed the full duration - the very thought sent a chill down her spine. She needed the money; there was no question of her leaving early. With a small shake of her head, Bethan banished the negative thoughts. She was in a beautiful place, and was soon to meet a host of beautiful people.
As if summoned by her thoughts, a head popped out through the doorway, then let out a joyous yell. A broad smile immediately sprung to Bethan’s face. The face belonged to a woman who quickly ushered Bethan through the front door. Long wavy dark brown hair partially framed an open, friendly face, although the shaved section above one ear made the look seem fresh and modern. The woman’s curvaceous body was clad in a black and burgundy halter neck one-piece with a cheeky mesh panel in the middle. Bethan couldn’t help but to let her eyes linger a second longer than she probably should have. Bi and proud, Bethan had spent too long thinking of the qualities she would be looking for in her dream Love Island beau, she hadn’t stopped to remember that she was going to be surrounded by gorgeous women in their swimsuits. She would just have to keep the goal in mind. Find a nice boy, fall in love, take home the prize money.
“Hey! You made it!” came the warm greeting, a Welsh lilt to her words, as Bethan passed through the door into the mercifully air conditioned house. “It’s so nice to meet you! I’m Elladine.”
“I’m Bethan,” she replied. “I love your outfit, it’s stunning!” The compliment was genuine, as much as it was an excuse to take another look at the stunning hourglass curves Elladine was rocking.
“Babes, I was about to say the same to you!” Elladine responded enthusiastically. “The boys are going to freak when they see us.” Bethan grinned, lifting her eyes to look around. The inside of the house was white from floor, to walls, to ceiling. It was almost clinical but for the splashes of colour visible in the neon lights on the walls, and a glimpse of something bright through a half open door. White camera casings dotted the ceilings. One turned, silently, as Bethan looked at it. She quickly looked away, not wanting to remind herself that she was going to be constantly watched for the next fortnight.
“I’ve been feeling well nervous ever since I got here,” Elladine continued, leading Bethan into the house. “I mean, it’s exciting, but it’s also a lot of pressure, isn’t it?”
“I’ve never done anything like this before,” Bethan confessed. “I know a lot of people who come on this show are Insta-famous, or used to being looked at, but I’ve got a whole twelve followers, and they’re all family. It’s all a bit scary, this.”
“At least we’re all in the same boat,” Elladine smiled.
“Are there any other girls here yet?” Bethan asked, unsure of whether she wanted to be one of the first, or the very last.
“Only one. We’ve been waiting in here,” she gestured to an open door, and Bethan strode forward, pulling her suitcase behind her.
Two other suitcases sat abandoned close to the wall, so Bethan parked hers before turning to face her second roommate. For a long moment Bethan found her breath catching in her throat. Goosebumps rose on her bare arms and she knew they weren’t from the cool air being steadily pumped into the room. Bethan could feel her eyes widening as she raised one hand to her hip, subconsciously striking a pose. The woman standing at the end of one of the teal and yellow beds was nothing short of breathtaking. At first Bethan was captivated by the long blonde hair, tumbling in loose waves, dragging the eyes down to a practical red bikini, a tanned and toned stomach with definite hints of a six-pack beneath the smooth skin. Bethan dragged her gaze back up to find the sweetest face; big brown eyes and a neat button nose. Her make up was so natural it almost looked like she wasn’t wearing any, her full lips had just a hint of colour. There was something in the way she met Bethan’s roaming eyes that, in any other situation, could have been interpreted as an invitation
“And then there were three,” the blonde goddess spoke, her tone casual. “Man, I knew everyone here was gonna be gorgeous, but I wasn’t prepared...” she trailed off, catching her bottom lip with her top teeth. The way her eyes pierced Bethan’s brought a flush of colour to the brunette’s face.
“Stop flirting and introduce yourself!” Elladine laughed, breaking the near-palpable connection between the two women.
“Sorry! Sorry!” the blonde ducked her head, a bashful smile crossing her lips. ”Name’s AJ. It’s nice to meet you,” her words seemed nothing out of the ordinary, but AJ’s eyes remained steadfastly fixed upon Bethan’s, holding her in place.
“I’m Bethan,” the words felt heavy on her lips, but Elladine spoke before Bethan had to find anything more interesting to say.
“We were just talking on the way in. She’s really nice.”
“She seems it,” AJ gave a smile, then broke her gaze and looked at the Welsh woman, freeing Bethan from her temporary paralysis. “I hope everyone’s going to be cool. I don’t want to get sucked into a load of drama. I mean, we’re all here to have fun, right?” A smile of genuine relief crossed Bethan’s lips, the idea of joining a reality show had filled her with worries that it would be like walking into a pit of vipers, everyone sniping at each other in their bid to win. That could still happen, she supposed. She had yet to meet everyone, the sharpest fangs might still be out there.
“Me too,” Bethan voiced her agreement. “Let’s just keep it all chill and friendly, and I reckon we’ll all get on great. It might be all about coupling up, but there’s a lot to be said for girl power. You’re my sisters now, and I don’t let my sisters turn on each other,” was she imagining, or was that the smallest of winces on AJ’s face when she had said ‘sisters’? Whether it was or wasn’t a wince, it was gone before Bethan could dwell on it, and AJ’s face split into a wide smile.
“Yes queen!” she laughed. “I’m so glad you said that. I’m a hockey player, and that’s what I love about my teammates back home; we never mess around arguing about who passed the ball to who, or whatever. We just get on with it. I want you all to be like my new teammates while we’re here.” Bethan nodded.
“Sounds good to me.” It seemed like some sort of bond had been forged between the three of them at least.
“So, AJ’s a hockey player and I’m a glassblower, what do you do on the outside, Bethan?” Elladine asked.
“I’m a musician,” Bethan offered. “Cello mainly, but I can play violin too. I usually play in an orchestra and we record background tracks for tv and some films. Nothing too fancy, but I did play on the remake of Emma, which was cool.”
“I love musicians!” Elladine gushed. “If I find out one of the boys is in a band, I’m going to make a beeline straight for him.” Bethan laughed lightly.
“All yours,” she gave easily. Bethan had known too many musicians to find them all that enticing. It was easy to say the words, but a tiny voice at the back of her head wondered whether the other woman might hold her to that, should it come down to the two of them facing off over some unexpectedly grounded and super hot bass guitarist. Had she just committed herself to backing off?
Spiralling thoughts were cut off as a loud beeping noise sounded. Bethan started, looking around for the source of the alert.
“What was that?” she asked.
“Sounded like a text,” Elladine mused, causing Bethan to flush in embarrassment. This was Love Island, of course it was a text! Both women turned to AJ, who was staring intently at her show-issued mobile phone.
“It’s me,” AJ announced in a small voice. She paused, then a mischievous smile crossed her lips. “I’ve got a text!” she announced in a louder voice. Elladine and Bethan whooped at the first usage of the show’s most iconic catchphrase. AJ studied the screen a second longer, then read the contents of the message. “Girls, it’s time to start meeting the boys. AJ, please make your way to the lawn and choose a boy to couple up with. Elladine and Bethan, stand by in the bedroom. You’ll be up next! #girlmeetsboy #getthepartystarted” she lowered the phone and frowned. “But the other girls haven’t arrived yet.”
“I guess they’ll be coming in later?” Elladine ventured.
“You get first pick,” Bethan grinned. “Lucky girl.”
“I’ll see you out there, guys,” AJ smiled
“Good luck,” Elladine said as the door swung closed leaving two women behind. Bethan let out a low breath, then sat heavily on the nearest bed, making sure to keep her phone nearby. The clicking of AJ’s heels against the floor disappeared as she walked away.
“We’re really here,” Bethan sighed.
“AJ’s got a lot of energy, hasn’t she?” Elladine mused, perching on the side of the bed. “I guess it’s hard not to be excited when you know you’re picking first.”
“I wonder what the boys will be like,” Bethan turned the tide of their conversation. “What’s your usual type? Other than musicians, of course!”
“I want a guy who’s been around the block a bit, you know? Someone who knows what he’s about and takes it seriously.” Elladine smiled as she spoke. “What about you? Who are you hoping is out there?” Bethan bit her lip as she thought. Her usual type was jokey lads and girls she met in bars when out with her sisters and cousins. There was never much in the way of establishing any deeper link than that they both enjoyed a dance and a drink. Maybe Love Island was her chance to try a new approach.
“Someone smart and mature,” she voiced, knowing her family back home would be pissing themselves with laughter. “I’m with you on this one - I need a guy with a good head on his shoulders.” It was funny, Bethan realised, how speaking the words aloud almost made them true. As much as she was in this game for the money, there was a not-so-quiet part of her that still loved the idea of a fairytale romance. “Someone with strong arms and a good heart,” she finished softly.
“Aw, I hope you find him babes,” Elladine seemed so genuine, it was very hard to imagine not liking her. “I don’t suppose we’ll have much time to chat before we choose, so we’ll mostly be going off looks. You might be able to get your strong arms, but the rest is all a mystery.” She frowned, then let out an abrupt giggle. “Oh my- speaking of the boys...” she trailed off, pushing herself up from the bed and taking a few paces. “Look!” Bethan rolled off the bed, and found Elladine shaking her head in amusement at what appeared to be a large salad bowl filled with an assortment of condoms. “I guess we’ll be needing a lot of these in this house, won’t we?” she asked salaciously. Bethan let ouf a cackle of a laugh, partly fuelled by her growing anxiety about being summoned down to meet the boys.
“I’ll take one now, just in case,” she said with a wink, tucking a holographic square packet into her bikini top, hoping it would mold enough to the shape of her body to not look like she was carrying a condom around like some desperate weirdo.
“You go girl!” Elladine giggled. “I think I’ll hold off for now. We all know where they are if we need them. I probably won’t do any big bits right away. Unless the right guy comes along, obvs!” her tone was light, sparking a quick blaze of irritation in Bethan - had this been a trap to make Bethan look like some sort of raging nymphomaniac? So quickly Bethan’s comfortable surprise at early formed friendship had turned to a low and haunting paranoia. “A text!” Elladine yelped after her phone alert chimed. “That must mean it’s my turn!” Before Bethan could react, Elladine had pulled her into a quick hug, called out a hurried “Good luck, see you down there”, and danced out through the door.
Bethan sat on the bed once more, her mind boggling that there still only seemed to be three girls in the villa. The bed was soft and springy beneath her, it didn’t feel at all like her bed back home - the covers were clearly new, lacking that worn but familiar texture of her own bedding. Alone, suddenly a burst of homesickness had hit Bethan and she yearned for something from her real life. The travel and show prep and getting ready had been so all-consuming she hadn’t yet had a chance to really come to terms with the fact that she was miles and miles from her family and the reassurance of home.
Resisting the temptation to snuggle under the covers and risk ruining her hair and make up, Bethan rose to her feet and strolled the full length of the room, attempting an air of nonchalance as she eased the condom out from under her swimsuit and depositing it back in the bowl. An age seemed to pass before her phone finally beeped, summoning her to the lawn.
Stepping out into the sunshine was almost overwhelming. The heat and the light made her blink a few times, before sheer panic-fuelled adrenaline pushed her forward, striding a slightly-too-fast catwalk along the decking toward the bright green lawn. Three men stood in a line, each turning their face up to watch her approach. Elladine and AJ stood further away, each proprietorially linking arms with their chosen boy. The Welsh woman offered a smile, whilst AJ gave a thumbs up in encouragement. Then suddenly she was in front of the three remaining boys, her attention fully on the situation at hand.
The three boys she had to choose from couldn’t have been more different in appearance. First to catch her eye was the tall, dark-skinned man in the middle. Definitely no boy, he had deep soulful eyes and definitely fulfilled her professed requirement for a strong pair of arms. To one side stood a boy who certainly seemed more her usual type – white, but tanned, with a cheeky smile, bright blue eyes, and a well-defined chest. On the other side was a boy who might have earned a longer glance in another setting, but seemed almost too sweet next to the two heavier set men. Bethan dismissed any guilt she might have felt over her shallow thoughts – it wasn’t like she had much more to go on.
The blue eyed lad stepped forward first, an air of boyish confidence in his manner.
“Alright, beautiful? I’m Bill,” he introduced himself with a cheeky smile. “I’m gonna come right out and say it; you look like a bit of me.” He had no discernible accent to Bethan’s West Berkshire ears, so she deduced he must be from the south. The more she looked the more she was convinced that he was cut from the exact same cloth as her usual type, and she could very easily see herself fitting nicely beside him. Winning material, though, she wasn’t sure – especially after she had consigned herself into the role of girl-looking-for-mature-man. Bethan gave a quick wink, reasoning silently that if it all failed with any attempt at a more mature relationship in the house, she was likely to have a good chance with Bill.
The second of the line-up stepped forward, again showing impressive confidence. Immediately Bethan could tell that he was more mature than her first suitor.
“Hola Chica, I’m Camilo. Welcome to the Villa. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” He voice was something else, suave and inviting.
“Is it?” she asked, her own voice deepening a little to match his. It felt a little strange to be flirting in front of other potential partners, but then this at least was the aspect of Love Island she had known she was going to have to quickly come to terms with.
“Well, it is now you’re here,” he finished with a hopeful look. “Sorry, that was really cheesy. It’s just – I think me and Bill had the exact same reaction, so I thought I should try and fancy it up a bit.” as he trailed off, Bethan decided she liked this realness over the cheesy line he had started with. The touch of Spanish seemingly warring with an East London accent was more than a little intriguing. That he was trying hard to win her attention was very flattering, and Bethan couldn’t help but to find herself quite attracted to him. Offering a wide smile, Bethan watched him step back before dragging her gaze to the third and final option.
He seemed nervous, that was the first thing Bethan could come up with. Perhaps a little sweet, behind the sheer panic in his expression. Black tousled hair against pale white skin, and impossibly dark eyes gave an impression of a lost little boy, especially when standing shorter and slimmer than the other two. Bethan lifted her brows in expectation, causing the boy to smile, puffing his chest out a little.
“Hey, I’m Harry,” his voice was definitely stronger than his appearance, a northern twang to it, although the hint of hopelessness wasn’t so appealing. “For what it’s worth, I’m just as gobsmacked as these other two. But I won’t try to sway you. You’ve got to listen to your gut.” Just as Bethan was almost about to raise her opinion of the awkward boy, he continued his rambling. “Or your heart. Or, like, whatever part of your body you trust to make these decisions.” Bethan imagined herself striking a black line through his name. Sure he was a little bit cute, but he was clearly clueless, and not really boyfriend material. Harry scrambled back to his place in line looking almost as thankful that it was over as Bethan felt.
So that was her choice; Bethan assumed that as AJ and Elladine had been moved, with their chosen boys, further away from the line up, there wasn’t going to be the option to steal one of their partners. Not that she was going to be that girl. Not this early on.
It was some comfort to know that all of the boys had seemed interested, even if she didn’t know any of them well enough to work out whether it was genuine or just their not wanting to be the last guy chosen.
“The boy I want to couple up with is…” Bethan declared, her mind alternating between Bill, her usual type, and Camilo, who was possibly better for her. Ultimately she went for the option that would, she thought, make for better tv, and therefore increase her chances in the competition. “Camilo!”
“Nice one,” Camilo grinned as Bethan crossed the grass to join him. She greeted him with an enthusiastic hug, feeling his hand drop to rest in the small of her back. Strong arms indeed; he felt pleasantly warm even despite the relentless sun. “I’m glad you picked me,” he murmured as they made their way toward AJ and Elladine.
“Hey girl! Congratulations!” Elladine whooped. “You really bagged yourself a hottie there, just like we were talking about before. Um, no offence, Nicky,” she followed up hastily, looking at her rather attractive partner. Nicky wasn’t as tall or built as Camilo, but the chest peeking out beneath his open shirt showed some impressive muscle tone.
“None taken,” he smiled, a genuine seeming smile which he directed first to Elladine, then to Bethan. “Hi, by the way. I’m Nicky, and I was lucky enough to be chosen by Elladine here.”
“He’s a music tutor,” she said, giving Bethan a knowing look. “I’ve already got a really good feeling about this. What about you, AJ?”
“Er, yeah. Me too,” Bethan let her eyes travel along to the uncertain hockey player. She stood awkwardly beside a delicate-featured man with a high man-bun, and swimshorts covered in skulls and roses.
“Alright?” he greeted the new arrivals. “My name’s Seb. I like music too,” he followed the conversation between Elladine and Bethan without any idea of the background.
“Cellist,” Bethan replied with an open smile. “What do you play?”
“Well, actually I’m a shop keeper. I run a music shop.”
“You must know about instruments to sell them, right?” AJ prompted in earnest.
“It’s not that kind of music shop,” Seb said coolly. “I sell records; CDs, vinyls, that sort of stuff. There’s a coffee shop too.”
“Oh! With you now, sorry,” AJ capitulated.
Bethan and Camilo took their place in the line as Bethan wondered what had made AJ use her first choice position and get it so horribly wrong.
“Did anyone else arrive after I left?” AJ asked. Bethan shook her head.
“We’re still waiting on two more girls, right?” Nicky frowned.
“Must be,” Elladine mused. Bethan looked back toward the two single boys. Bill was staring intently at his feet, whilst Harry seemed to be attempting to stand up straighter.
“Nobody wants to be picked last,” AJ said softly.
“Yeah, and it’s pretty obvious they both wanted to be picked by Bethan,” Elladine added just a little bit too loud. Bethan flushed with embarrassment.
“Maybe their perfect soulmates are about to walk out of that door any second,” AJ said smoothly, shooting Bethan a quick wink.
“Let’s not kid ourselves. That sort of thing never happens in the real world,” Seb’s dry voice drove the final nail in any likelihood he and AJ would be in it for the long haul.
“Alright, but this isn’t exactly a normal situation, is it?” Nicky chimed in with a cool, calm logic. “It’s Love Island. Where dreams come true. Who’s to say they haven’t found at least one perfect pairing?”
“Wow, corny,” Seb scowled.
“Come on mate,” Nicky continued. “The magic only works if you believe in it.”
“Maybe that’s why nothing magical ever happens to me.”
“Nicky’s got the right idea,” Bethan piped up. “I can’t wait for whatever’s on the horizon.”
“That’s the spirit,” Nicky smiled. Bethan let out the smallest sigh of disappointment that her chosen partner had remained silent for the whole conversation. Did he really have nothing to say on the matter?
A fourth girl emerged from the Villa, causing the gathered couples to fall silent. She had honey brown hair like Bethan’s, but a much fairer complexion. An interesting half braid, half loose hairstyle, and a definite air of self-confidence.
“Hi everyone! It’s so exciting to be here! I’m Miki,” she exclaimed as she approached the two single boys. Bethan felt her mouth fall open as she realised she recognised the girl from her social media. Where Bethan had maybe five thousand people following her various online accounts, Miki probably had closer to a hundred thousand. “I can’t believe I’m here,” she grinned. “This is actual Love Island! Where dreams come true, right?”
“Told you so,” Nicky said quietly.
“As I was walking out I was like, what happens if I totally don’t like any of the boys who are left,” Miki continued, as if she were narrating one of her lifestyle vlogs. “But now I see the two beautiful boys you’ve left for me to choose from and I don’t know why I was so worried. What’s your name, handsome?” she was looking directly at Bill.
“I’m Bill. Pleased to meet you, love.”
“You seem like a rugged, down-to-earth kind of guy, Bill.” Miki grinned. “And they do say opposites attract. Fancy being coupled up with an offbeat creative type like me?” Bethan was impressed at the new girl’s confidence. She definitely seemed the type who saw what she wanted and went for it. It was a little intimidating, and made Bethan glad that they had moved the couples out of the direct eyeline of the new girl.
“I’m not exactly going to say no, am I? Beautiful girl asks if you want to couple up, you say yes. Basic common sense, isn’t it?” Bill returned. Bethan felt the smallest twinge of irritation that he clearly hadn’t liked her that much if he was going to rush straight into the arms of the next girl to arrive, but then that was how the game worked - they all had to desperately cling to whoever first looked at them, the grafting and rearranging could come later. She forced a happy smile to her face as Miki and Bill walked hand in hand towards the couple zone, leaving poor Harry alone and out of his depth.
“I hope it’s someone nice,” Bethan murmured, but Camilo didn’t seem to hear.
“Hello darlings,” the final girl was gorgeous; about Bethan’s height, with a halo of natural curls, and a yellow bikini perfect for showing her well-proportioned figure. To her credit, she barely looked at the waiting couples, and instead kept her eyes on Harry. “What’s your name, sweetie?”
“Sweetie,” he repeated, bemused. “I mean- Harry. It’s Harry.”
“Lovely to meet you, Harry. I’m Genevieve. How lucky am I, that no one got to you before me?” There was something about the woman’s voice that made Bethan want to listen to her forever. The final couple shared a quick hug, then joined the rest of the group, and the initial matching up was complete.
“I think that’s everyone,” Elladine announced.
“Five great ladies, five great gents. Five great couples. Makes sense to me,” Bill added.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit early to say whether our couples are great or not,” AJ muttered, she had moved a little further from Seb, and now stood beside Bethan. Camilo was close on Bethan’s other side and leaned in.
“I dunno. I’ve already got a pretty great feeling about this one,” he spoke, his words a little possessive for Bethan’s liking. “Who do you think the strongest couple is?” he pressed, clearly wanting Bethan to show faith. She made a show of looking around, and noted that a few people had heard Camilo’s question.
“Miki and Bill,” she responded, Camilo’s disappointment almost palpable.
“Stronger than you and me?” he asked.
“Just being honest,” she shrugged.
“It’s just a competition,” Miki spoke up, visibly boosted by Bethan’s words. “But that doesn’t mean it really matters who wins. We’re all just here to find love, right?” Bethan silently scoffed - that might be true for a vlogger who already had sponsorship deals and regular ad revenue, but not for a part time musician who still lived with her parents. Not that she planned on telling everyone that.
“She’s right,” Bethan tried for her sweetest smile. “At the end of the day, all that matters is finding the right person for you. That’s the only prize worth winning, really.” It was possibly laying it on a little thick, but if she had to do that to come across well on the telly then she could do it.
“Wow, yes,” Miki met her eyes. “Bethan just said it better than I ever could.” The message alert was almost lost under the murmur of agreement.
“Oh my days, you guys!” Genevieve exclaimed. “I’ve got a text! Islanders, it’s time to get to know each other a little better. Please make your way to the challenge platform and get ready to unpack some secrets about your fellow Islanders! #excessbaggage #gettingtoknowyou”
“We’ve only just got here and we’re already being challenged?” Seb scowled. “I was hoping we could get a nap in first.”
“Are you sure you’re on the right show?” Nicky laughed. “This is Love Island.”
“Oh, stop teasing him,” Elladine spoke up. “This is new and weird to all of us.”
“It’ll be a fun challenge,” Camilo added. “The challenges will help us get closer as a group.”
“Or it’ll spill all our saucy secrets,” Bill countered, speaking Bethan’s thoughts aloud.
“That too, I guess,” Camilo shrugged, causing Bethan to wonder whether she had made the right choice.
“We’re not here to mess around and relax, or to dig up gossip on each other.” Bethan turned wide eyes on Harry.
“We’re not?” AJ smirked.
“No! We’re here on an important mission! We’re here to find someone to love. It’s a serious business. The challenges will focus our minds and get us ready for the road ahead.” There was a stunned silence as everyone stared at Harry for a moment.
“Nah, I’m pretty sure it’s about finding each other’s secrets,” Bethan giggled. “I bet we’ve all got some really juicy ones, too. Look at us!”
“Well there’s only one way to find out,” Elladine prompted.
“Let’s go!” Genevieve said, just as Miki whooped;
“Woo! I can’t wait!”
As one, the group started walking across the lawn. Bethan took a step, then felt a soft touch on her arm. Camilo gestured with his head that she should hold back.
“Hey,” he spoke carefully, his voice low, head ducked to meet her eyes. “Sorry to hang back like this. I just wanted to grab you for a quick chat in private before the challenge, if that’s ok?”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“I just wanted to thank you for choosing me. You could probably see it on my face, but your absolutely made my day,” he was definitely too earnest. Bethan bit down the bitterness of regret and forced a smile. At least he was pretty to look at - maybe once they settled in he might be a little less full on. “You’re blatantly the best looking girl here.” Or maybe ‘full on’ was his standard way of being. The way he was looking her made her feel just a little uncomfortable and she knew he was gearing up to go for a cheeky snog.
“Uh, thanks,” she offered cautiously.
“Well, obviously we’ve only got first impressions to go on at the moment, but I already feel like you’re exactly my type on paper. And I don’t just mean looks-wise. I think we’ve got that spark, you know? It makes me wanna know everything there is to know about you. So yeah… Obviously I won’t try anything on if you’re not interested, but I didn’t want today to go any further without saying I’m excited to start getting to know you.”
“Thanks,” Bethan repeated again, torn between running a mile and playing the game. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you too,” she took the cowardly way out, unwilling to start burning bridges on day one.
“I’m glad you said that,” Camilo grinned. “The others should be wondering where we’re at. We should head over for the challenge.”
“Race you!” Bethan skipped away before he could go for the kiss, or attempt to take her hand.