Page 31 of The Cuffing Game
“No, you’re right,” Matías cut in. “Might as well just go for it, right?”
“Yeah. Also, I know Marlon is generally an open-minded campus. But if anyone gives you a hard time for liking guys or anything like that, you let me know.”
He held out a fist. Matías bumped it and replied, “Thanks, that means a lot, really. I have no idea what the show has in store for us, but let’s try our best to have each other’s backs while we’re both here.”
Noah smiled. “Deal.”
Day Two
The Cuffing Game
Behind-the-Scenes Contestant Interview
Caleb Jacobsen
MIA:Hi, Caleb! Thanks for joining us. Please state your name, year, major, and crush.
CALEB:[while addressing the camera]Hello, world! Haha, I’ve always wanted to do that.
MIA:Name, year, major, and crush?
CALEB:Caleb Jacobsen, junior, political science, and Carlos. Before his unfortunate elimination. RIP. Carlos, if you’re watching this and if you’re interested, you know what to do. Slide into those DMs, will ya? Because I can’t do that yet.
MIA:So yeah... that happened. How are you feeling about not having the chance to confess to your crush?
CALEB:It’s a bummer, especially since he got eliminated on the first night.
MIA:Did you talk to Carlos at all while he was here?
CALEB:Nope, didn’t get a chance. I honestly thought I had more time. Lesson learned. Luckily Bethany and I got along well, so we’re cuffed together now.
MIA:So I’m assuming you like girls, too?
CALEB:Hm? No, I’m gay. Like Pete Buttigieg.
MIA:Wait, what? Then why did you...
CALEB:[leans forward]The other contestants won’t be able to see this until they get out of here, right?
MIA:Right...
CALEB:Bethany doesn’t like me, either. Or at least not in that way. She likes Jack, but she’s too scared to confess right away. And I want a chance to win the money. Might as well try since I’m already here, right? So I agreed to cuff with her when she asked. I don’t know how long I can last in the game but...[shrugs]Should be fun!
MIA:That’s amazing. Well, I’m wishing you the best of luck. Thanks for coming on!
CALEB:Thanks for having me. Carlos, if you’re watching, DMs!
Chapter Twelve
Mia
Throughout the next day, Mia refreshed the YouTube page of the first episode ofThe Cuffing Game.At first, there were only a dozen views. Then fifty. By noon, the view count had exponentially grown, so that it was getting hundreds of new views every few minutes. It was dangerously addicting. And gratifying, given how hard she and her friends had worked on the episode the previous night.
Last night, editing the first episode had been a lot more difficult than any of them could have ever imagined, and by the time they had uploaded the final product, they’d each taken turns sitting in the rocking chairs whenever they felt overwhelmed. Despite all this, Mia had felt giddy just knowing they finally had created a tangiblesomething, the first episode of their show.
And now it was out in the world for everyone to see.
New comments appeared every second, and back in the room she was sharing with Kallie, Mia carefully readthem one by one. Celine and Noah were the clear crowd favorites, cemented by the results of an online poll Alex had included at the bottom of the page. They’d given the viewers until 5 p.m., Pacific time, to get their votes in before they resumed filming today, but now Mia wondered if they should just call it. Comment after comment said that Noah and Celine looked perfect together, like two celebrities in a rom-com.
