chapter 8

Okay, so at the airport, I was greeted by another camera crew and one of the other contestants for the show. He is some corny guy with long blonde hair. I can already tell that he is going to annoy the hell out of me.

Now they are bringing us to some hotel here. I really wish I knew what the hell is going on. This is very uncomfortable being in a shuttle van with some goofy, girly looking guy and 3 camera men staring at me with this expectation that I am going to do or say something extraordinary.

I have been to Florida plenty of times. I’ve never been to West Palm Beach, but it isn’t anything special from what I can see, but it’s a million times better than Newport, Rhode Island, that’s for sure.

The van finally comes to a stop at some Marriot hotel. I get out the shuttle along with that blonde guy. He has a name. He told me, only I didn’t care so I didn’t try to remember it. We are ushered into the hotel and into a banquet room. Again, I felt like a fish in a fish bowl with everyone looking at me.

As the doors open to the room, I get so nervous about seeing who is behind those doors. But instead of being some megastar, it’s ten other people and more camera people. How many camera people do they need?

So these other people must be the other contestants. My competition.

So I have to sit in this room filled with chairs, waiting for three more people to arrive before they can tell us what’s going on and who we will be assisting. This seems like a lot for people for just one person.

Everyone here looks like the typical MTV show cast. All pretty people. But this is just weird. No one is talking to each other. Everyone is sitting around looking at everyone else. Maybe they aren’t allowed to talk.

Then one of the men standing without a camera, a producer, I’m guessing, comes to me and the blond guy and tells us to take a seat and not to talk to anyone yet. Okay, I was right. I’m so good. Ha ha.

I glance around again to get a good look at my competition. I didn’t think there was going to be so many contestants. There are six guys here. Some of them are good looking, but I can tell that none of them are my type. They’re too pretty. I don’t like pretty boys. The girls are pretty too. But this is an MTV show, so what else did I except?

About ten minutes later, the doors open again and in walks another guy and two more girls. I guess this is it now.

So the producer guy introduces himself as Daniel and welcomes us to the show. He goes into some speech that I’m not paying much attention to. Then he mentions the prize for the winner, which is twenty thousand dollars and a week vacation of living like a celebrity. It doesn’t interest me much. I could just hang out with my mother and get the same treatment, even better actually. The money seems good though because neither of my parents seem to be giving me much money nowadays.

Daniel starts to talk about the “act” that we are working with. He tells us about keeping a certain distance and respecting their privacy. Then he announces that they are right outside the door.

“Come on in,” he shouts.

The doors open and I see a familiar pair of caterpillar eyebrows. Oh. My. God. It can’t be. But Kevin is followed in by Howie, Nick and then Brian and AJ walk in last. Holy crap. This really isn’t happening.

I wish I could call Tabby and tell her, but I can’t. She thinks I’m spending the rest of the summer with my mother. Dangit. I can’t keep this to myself.

I look around to see everyone’s reactions. The guys don’t look particularly happy. Most of the girls are really excited and smiling and I’m guessing that I look freaked out. But I’m only seventeen. I can’t help it.

Brian looks so cute, as always. He never has a bad day, I swear. AJ, my new favorite, looks good too. I prefer the goatee, but it’s shaved off. At least he has on a hat. I love him in hats.

I must be really freaking out because they are pretty much just paying attention to me. AJ even winks at me. And I thought that was Howie’s thing.