Page 11 of The Love Raffle

Amber couldn’t even summon a response. She had been on sets before but only small ones. Very small ones. One of them was in someone’s garage. This whole thing was bigger than she imagined. At least Elouise and Conner could make it, though she couldn’t see them in the sea of guests.

The producer woman from that cramped room was up front giving the crowd instructions on how to react to the show. Amber was familiar with reality game shows, but she hadn’t known the work that went into them. Even the crowd had to be coached. This really wasn’t her thing.I’m not a character. I’m myself.She took a deep breath.

“Alright, girls.” A man in black walked across the stage holding a clipboard. He stood in front of them while another crew member led a guy in a buttoned shirt and leather pants to the curtains near their podiums.

Amber heard Kate let out a squeal and caught collective gasps from the audience. She noticed the smiles growing on her competitors’ faces and grew confused.What’s happening?

“Levi!” someone from the audience shouted.

Amber now registered what the commotion was about. She glanced back at the buttoned-shirt guy and her jaw dropped. He looked even better under the studio lights.

Levi Marks was smiling and waving at the crowd on his way to the curtains, which hung in a ring around a small tube about ten feet from Amber and the other girls.

“He’s mine,” muttered Patricia. Her voice had grown gravelly. Almost like a demon.

Amber was startled by Patricia’s words. She whipped her head to her left as Levi Marks was concealed behind the curtains. He stuck his head out to wave at her and the other contestants, but Amber couldn’t say a thing to him.

Briefly, his eyes met hers and Amber stood frozen.

“Hey, hey.” The man who had been addressing them snapped his fingers in front of Amber.

Amber caught sight of the host in her peripheral vision. The host was famous too. These were all the people she had only seen on TV.Yet here I am, standing with them.These blinding lights,cameras, and hushed conversations were not helping her case.Come on, Amber. This is your shot. Focus!She shook her head.

“… so like we practiced. Smiles, smiles, smiles and charisma, charisma, charisma. We don’t want the energy down for asecond,okay?” the man said. He pointed his forefingers at the corners of his lips and pulled them to form a grin.

Amber was a little disturbed at the way it came out. His aura oozed franticness and irritation. As he marched backstage, one camera guy held up his hand asking if everyone was ready.

Amber stood straighter and flipped her hair off her shoulder. She saw that the other girls were already putting on their best TV faces, so she followed suit.Make this count.She didn’t care about the prize like Beca did. She wanted to be seen. To be liked and hopefully booked for her energy.Yes. That’s what’s most important.

The cameraman’s fingers went down one after the other as he counted. “Three, two…” He pointed and the show began.

Chapter 5

Patricia had two hundred points, Kate had one fifty, Diane had one hundred, but Amber? Her score…was ten.

“Damn, what isupwith her?” Elouise whispered to Conner. Amber had gotten them a discount on seats but even with that they could only afford the back row. Most of the seats were on ground level but these were elevated and required stairs to reach them.

Conner was on the edge of his seat. He had his hands clasped between his open legs, looking on as Amber lagged behind the other girls in the second round. The first round had been shot on the left section of the stage, but this round was happening on another, and they no longer had a clear view. For this round, four easels had been set up two steps below a couch and desk. The couch and desk were where Levi and host Jeff Sullivan sat. Behind them was a big screen with a photo of Levi himself. He was who the contestants were painting. “It’s only the scores from the first round. I’m sure she’ll do better this time.” He spoke over the dialogue between Levi and the host.They should be wrapping up now.Not much time was left.

Come on, Amber,Conner thought. It seemed the crowd found her unbelievable.And I don’t mean that in a good way.She had fought to gain those ten points. All the other girls had answered the Hollywood questions with ease while Amber had just stood there. She only got those ten for answering a questionspoon-fed to her by the host. She had pressed her buzzer first but had gone blank when it was time to give her answer. And the question was easy too. Who played the Grinch in the live action movie was something even his grandma knew.All I can think is that she’s ridiculously nervous.Which was sad because as an actress, she was meant to be comfortable on stage. He sighed.

Meanwhile, Levi was laughing at a joke Jeff made. His arms were on the back of the couch. “No, he’s right. I’ve been too busy to look for anything real, you know?” He sat forward. “But let’s hope that the outcome of this little show can help with that.” He winked at the screaming audience. They seemed to lose it at whatever he said. For someone who had been out of the spotlight for months, the praise was both comfortingandstartling.

“Okay, time’s up. Let’s go see these paintings,” Jeff said when a ding sounded. He hopped to his feet and the crowd cheered.

Amber dropped her paintbrush. She had heard some laughter from the front row and cursed herself for being such a bumbling mess. She had paint on her face and her apron too. She lifted her easel when Jeff instructed them to do so and stood next to Patricia in a line that faced the audience.The only thing I’ve been good at is maintaining this plastic smile,she thought angrily. Her introduction had been basic compared to the other girls. So far, people have loved Kate. Amber was the contestant who faded into the background.I don’t want to be that girl.She fought her nerves to think of ways to stand out. She may have been behind, but the show wasnotover yet.

Patricia waved her painting overhead when Levi and Jeff began to examine it. The crowd adored her work and Amber could see why. It was impressive.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Amber said audibly, forgetting that her mic was on.

Levi and Jeff looked at her and the audience laughed.

Jeff smiled. “Jealous, are we, Amber? Because she did a decent job and you… Oh my.” He pointed at Amber’s painting, and she watched the cameras zooming in.

The crowd laughed, and Amber’s stomach sank.

Patricia shrugged. “Take it easy on her, people. Everyone doesn’t have the opportunity to take art classes for years.”

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