Lights, Camera, Lies

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Alice

I knew that Taylor would chase after me, so I ran down the street and darted into his neighbor’s yard. Hiding in some shrubs, I waited until he stopped calling for me, then hurried away.

I didn’t know the area, but found a coffee shop where I could have a cup of tea and a muffin. My head was spinning, and I needed to sit still. Thank goodness there was a power outlet beside the table to charge my phone.

There was no way to know how much of Taylor’s performance over the past few days was real, and how much was an act to get a rather large chunk of property. The station’s neighborhood was run down, but those large lots would still be worth a ton of cash. Rich people didn’t stay rich by passing up business opportunities.

I knew that our physical connection was unbelievably real, but how could we have an emotional bond if he didn’t trust me enough to tell me the entire story about how he was connected to this show? This was a project where I was revealing myself to camera, to the public.

And there was the age difference. It was hard not to think that he was treating me like a stupid little girl. I didn’t want to be the silent, docile young woman.

Plus, the more I thought about it, the more the idea of him paying my tuition after only knowing me for a few days made me uncomfortable. There was no chance that money like that didn’t come with strings.

Maybe we really were too fundamentally different to make this work. He seemed so casual about money, when it had always been a symbol of raw survival to me.

The stress weighed down on me, and my shoulders tightened.

I didn’t want to go to this therapist. Sitting in a room and talking with Taylor right now would be awkward and upsetting enough, but with a stranger judging us? I didn’t think I could go through with it.

But I had never backed down from a challenge. Being dirt poor and working like hell to make it through was just my way of living. I knew so many people who gave up at the slightest inconvenience, yet I slept in a closet to make ends meet.

I had to be strong enough to win this contest, and get my paycheck, and the prize.

Rolling my shoulders back, I finished my muffin. I would have to go. Somehow. Then my phone beeped.

Taylor: Are you OK? I’m so worried about you.

Taylor: I’ll come and get you wherever you are if you want a ride. Or if you just want to meet me at 2 o’clock at the therapist, I’ll see you there.

He sent the address, as I stared into the screen for a few moments. Finally I responded.

Me: I’ll meet you there 5 minutes early so we can get the microphones on.

Taylor responded in a blink.

Taylor: We don’t need them this time. The entire office is wired up. Her only patients today are the three couples from the show, and we’re last.

Taylor: See you soon. Call me if you need anything at all.

Flipping to my maps app, I found the nearest library. I was more than accustomed to finding places to hide out that were free, and somewhat quiet.

I wasn’t sure how much of that part of my life I was ready to share with Taylor. His caring touched my heart, but if that crossed into pity...no. The thought made my shoulders tighten and my fingers clench.

I just couldn’t stand letting him think that I couldn’t take care of myself. That I was some sort of fixer upper opportunity.

More than anything else, I didn’t like feeling that I owed anything to anyone. Because they would inevitably call in those debts someday, leaving me with nothing.

12

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Taylor

Once I realized I wouldn’t find Alice by screaming and running around the neighborhood, I went back into my house to pace the living room.

At least she answered my texts and agreed to finish the show, although I would have understood if she hadn’t wanted to. This stupid family inheritance was supposed to have been a gift, not something that turned everything sideways.