Page 101 of Alice Chen's Reality Check

When everyone’s geared up, the producers position us around themud pit.

I tap Daniel’s shoulder. “Our best strategy is to hang back and let the first wave fight it out themselves. Stay out of the way and stay alert. Got it?”

“Got it.” He bumps his shoulder against mine.

I’m not feeling all that confident about my chances. The staff is heavy in my hands, almost too heavy for me to lift and swing effectively. And having to balance on the beam while holding the staff does not sound like a walk in the park.

Dawn Taylor raises a hand. “Babes, square up! Ready, set…fight!”

Trevor darts out first, moving to put himself between Mikayla and the others. Noah takes the bait, charging forward to sweep his staff at Trevor’s legs.

“Agh!” Trevor loses his balance and pitches forward. He just barely manages to grab onto the beam.

Then Ava nimbly leaps past him to get to Mikayla. She whacks Mikayla in the stomach with the padded end of the staff.

“Trevor, help!” Mikayla shrieks, seemingly unaware that Trevor is dangling over the mud pit. “Trevor!”

Trevor swings himself up and is immediately forced to raise his staff to keep Noah from knocking him over again. As they grapple, Ava goes after Mikayla hard, lunging forward and causing the other woman to fall on her butt.

Mikayla scrambles backward on the beam, screaming, “Trevor, help!”

Trevor grits his teeth and shoves Noah back, long enough to turn and dive for Ava instead. He throws his staff at her, catching her feet and sending her tumbling into the mud pit below.

Before Noah can get back to Trevor, Chase and Selena join the fray, both going straight for him. They launch a well-coordinated attack, Selena going high as Chase goes low, and Noah goes flying.

One couple down. I lock eyes with Daniel and nod. Time to get off the sidelines. Daniel and I charge out together. Trevor and Mikaylaare the closest to us, and already winded from the fight, so we go after them.

Daniel takes a swing at Trevor that clips him in the shoulder, but Trevor manages to maintain his balance and return the favor.

Daniel dodges, almost losing his balance. I dart over and steady him.

“Thanks, Slayer.”

“You’re welcome,” I say. I really could get used to being on the same team as Daniel. We work well together, and that knowledge makes me almost giddy, confidence bubbling up in me like a fizzy soda. I look around for Selena.

“Secret alliance?” I mouth at her. Selena winks at me. Together the two of us turn on Mikayla, swinging our staffs at her.

“Trevor, stop them!” Mikayla squeals as I jab at her. “Why aren’t you helping me?”

But Trevor is busy grappling with Daniel and Chase. He yells, “I’m a little busy right now, Mikayla!”

“Well, hurry up!” she yells back as Selena and I close in on her.

“Goddamnit,” Trevor grinds out. He’s on the defensive now, his staff raised to block blows from Daniel and Chase. “Did you see how Alice helped Daniel? Did you ever consider trying to helpmeinstead of just needing me to bailyouout?”

Ducking, Trevor dodges out of Chase’s reach, elbows past Daniel, and in two bounds he’s on us. But instead of saving Mikayla, he gently bops her foot, sending her sprawling into the mud pit.

Selena and I gape at Trevor.

“That still counts, right?” Daniel asks no one in particular.

“What the hell!” Mikayla wades over, wiping the mud out of her eyes. “Trevor, why would you do that to me?”

“Why would I do that to you? Why would you cheat on me?” Trevor shouts down at her. “After everything I did for you! Remember the Barbie-themed picnic I set up for your birthday with the pink ombré balloon arch and the backyard movie projector? What about when I woke up at five in the morning to make you cotton-candy-flavoredrolled ice cream from scratch on Valentine’s Day or when I planned an entire beach weekend for you as a surprise anniversary trip? I was the perfect boyfriend! I raised the bar for perfect boyfriends!”

“Ohmygod,” Mikayla says. “Be real for once, Trevor! You didn’t do any of that forme.You did it for the views, for the likes, and for the engagement. You totally got off on people saying what an amazing boyfriend you are and how lucky I am to have you. And you know what, I don’t evenlikeBarbie!”

“It was a sponsored post! That’s how we paid for our kitchen renovations!” Trevor says, throwing his hands in the air. “Of course everything I did was to build our brand, but that was still for you, too. For us. Because we’re Trekayla.”

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