“Just so you know,” Jake said. “That was goodbye for the next three days, because for the next challenge some of you will be paired off with members of the other team.”
Excuse me? WTF?!
“Each pair will be given points for their findings. So, that means you’ll have to put aside your differences and work together. Yeti or not, let’s find out the pairings.” Jake clasped his hands together like an evil villain, plotting to take over the world.
Beth snuck by the camera to offer Jake a fishbowl with little pieces of paper in it. I caught her eye, and she mouthed that she was sorry. Not a good sign.
“This is gonna be fun!” Jake smiled, picking two pieces of paper from the bowl. “Our first couple, sorry, I mean pair,” he said, but didn’t really look like he slipped on that word at all, “will be Kyle and Sophie, who got really close when Sophie was recovering from the flu at the cabin. Let’s see if they can work together as well in the forest.”
Sophie and Kyle offered each other genuine smiles. I was happy for them and glad someone would enjoy the next few days.
“Next up, we have Lyssa and Caroline.”
I couldn’t imagine them both getting out of the woods unharmed. Neither was an experienced camper, but both were experienced divas. Caroline’s face seemed stuck in a frown, but Lyssa had plastered on her best pageant smile. My sister was a pro. The audience was going to love her.
“And lastly,” Jake softened his voice, like he was on a matchmaking show. “We have . . . Devan and Samantha.”
Of freaking course! Trapped for three days with Her Majesty’s Royal Pain in the Ass.
Devan nodded at me, but he didn’t look any happier than I felt.
Jake continued, “Myron and Brenda, you can sit out this round, and watch from the production monitors. You can even stay in the guest house since no one else will be there.”
My parents held hands and nodded. “Like a second honeymoon,” my dad said, kissing my mom’s hand.
Ew, gross. In general, I knew that I was lucky my parents were still together and in love, but I just wished they could act like normal people.
“Contestants, please stand with your new teammates.” Jake gave me a particularly wicked grin.
Kyle and Sophie practically floated their way to each other. Kyle even threw his arm around my sister’s shoulder. Sophie, of course, blushed.
Devan, on the other hand, made his way over to me like I was going to give him a root canal with a rusty spoon. Caroline scowled and stomped toward Lyssa, who was going to permanently injure her cheek muscles if she kept smiling that hard.
Colin and Jake exchanged a nod.
“Here’re your assigned quadrants.” Jake handed each pair a map. “And remember, you and your partner will be judged not only on the amount of clues you are able to find, but also on how well you work together. You have thirty minutes to plan and pack!”
And then to add insult to injury, before Colin called “Cut,” my mom shouted, “Love you girls! Kick butt!” loud enough that Lyssa, Sophie, and I could hear, not to mention the other team, and oh, yeah, all of America and most of Canada.
The moment the camera was no longer on Jake, he dropped the bravado. His phone rang and he picked it up. “Hey, Melody. I miss you, too, baby,” he said and slunk off to the espresso machine.
Everyone else began talking and arguing. Devan peered down at me with a withering glare.
Before he could say anything, I blurted out, “I hate losing. So don’t make me lose.”
“Oh, you think I’m the weaker link?” he scoffed.
I didn’t bother answering. Instead I muttered, “I’m gonna go get some snacks for the road.” Without bothering to see if he was following me, I took off toward the craft services table.
On my way, I eyed the glass fishbowl that had determined the pairings. No one seemed to be watching, so I ran my hand through the papers in the bowl, feeling them slip through my fingers. Out of curiosity, I picked one up and unfolded it. The paper was blank. What the hell?
I picked up another and another and they were blank, too. It wasn’t fate that brought us together at all. It was Colin. He had seen the footage of Devan and me on the couch that night, and our fight the next morning. He knew that Kyle and Sophie were smitten, and that Caroline and Lyssa hated each other. This was all about manufacturing drama. Looking around at the rest of the cast, I didn’t think Colin would have long to wait.
Chapter 20
“For as long as scientists have been searching for Bigfoot, there have been hoaxes. Anthropologists must differentiate these frauds from the real evidence of actual primates.”
—Dr. Roberta DeGraw, dean, Netherfield Academy
I stared at the snack table, wondering how many donuts we could pack, and whether I’d have room for anything with real protein and vitamins and stuff we needed. Devan followed me, wearing a small frown.
He leaned on the table right in a pool of coffee. He hastily tried to wipe off his sleeve with a napkin, then opened his mouth to speak. “Sam, I know this is far from ideal.” He didn’t get any further.
Dr. DeGraw strode up behind me.
“Devan, if I could have a minute,” she said. It didn’t sound like a question.
She didn’t bother to address me, ignoring the fact I was standing a few feet away from her. She probably expected me to leave, but I stood my ground.
Dr. DeGraw cleared her throat, and grabbed Devan by the arm. Her eyes bore into his without blinking. “I’m very disappointed with the way your team is conducting themselves. As captain, I expect you to rein them in,” she said.
I smirked. Being invisible had its advantages. Devan seemed to forget my presence, too. It was nice to see him cut down to normal-guy size.
“Yes, ma’am, I—I—” he stuttered, trying to get out an answer.
But Dr. DeGraw wasn’t finished.
“I need you to act like a leader,” she said. “You know how important this is for the school. Kyle is behaving like a lovesick puppy, and Caroline is letting herself get distracted from her work by a prepubescent James Dean.”
Devan’s eyes flashed at her. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“You three are supposed to be representing the hallowed history of our illustrious school, and you are failing.”
Dr. DeGraw pointed a bony finger in the direction of Devan’s chest. “You must focus on the tasks ahead of you, and not on trying to undress any halfway attractive people you meet. This is supposed to be an intellectual pursuit, not spring break.”
Devan’s head drooped with the weight of her tirade. “I’m sorry to have caused you any disappointment or to have embarrassed the academy,” he said, drawing out the words as if they took a lot of effort.
The professor gritted her teeth. “Never mind Netherfield, what about your father? He’s one of the leading archaeologists in his field, and you can’t even hold your own against rural rednecks from Idaho.”
That was it. I opened my mouth to tell her off, but Devan’s eyes flicked over to mine, pleading with me to keep my opinion to myself.
“They’re from Ohio,” he said, finding the courage to meet Dr. DeGraw’s gaze.
“I don’t care if they’re from Antarctica. You need to do better. Otherwise you may want to find a new school in the fall. I would hate to have to tell your father you’ve failed out of the program, especially when you’re so close to getting into a top university. With my help, of course.” Dr. DeGraw scowled at her watch, as if she had wasted enough time with Devan.
“There’s no need to tell my father anything.” Devan stiffened. “I’ll handle it.”
Wow. What a bitch on wheels. I suddenly felt sorry for Devan. She could call my family all sorts of rude names, but at least I wouldn’t ever have to deal with her again once the show was over.
Devan turned and walked away as fast as his dignity would allow. I followed, but glanced back at Dr. DeGraw, who seemed surprised to see me there.
“Wh
at a charming woman,” I muttered. His dark expression didn’t change as his long legs propelled him up the trail toward the cabin. I struggled to keep up.
“You don’t know her,” Devan sighed, walking even faster. “She’s difficult, but brilliant. She was one of the first women to direct an excavation in her twenties, right out of grad school. She’s won lots of important fellowships in her field and had guys in their fifties and sixties working under her on digs. She had to be tough to get people to follow her. And yet she still couldn’t get tenure. I don’t blame her for being a little bitter.”
“I guess so,” I said.
“And she’s right, you know. There are expectations I have to meet. And this television show is the last thing I need my parents to worry about while they’re abroad.” His voice rose as if he was trying to convince himself, too.
I jogged after him. “So what happens if you fail?”
“I don’t think it’s too much to ask Kyle and Caroline to keep their heads in the game.”
“Maybe. But she really has no right to treat you like that. I think you should stuff your brolly up her . . .” I paused. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember the British slang for ass.”
“Oh, is there not enough swearing on the BBC these days? It’s arse.” His lips twitched a little, or maybe it was a smile. It was hard to tell.
“Oh yeah, I knew that.”
We had arrived at the cabin and Devan held the door open for me in grim silence. He gestured for me to follow him past a very cuddly Sophie and Kyle whispering on the couch, barely looking at the map in front of them.
We headed into Devan’s bedroom. Gulp.
“I don’t usually invite girls into my room,” Devan said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I mean, I’ve had girls in my room, you know, for study sessions, and Caroline, of course . . . I don’t want you to think . . .” He paused, took a breath and started again, more calmly. “It’s important the other teams don’t overhear our plans. Plus there are no cameras in here. I’m so tired of always being filmed.”
I found myself enjoying it when he got flustered. It was a rather adorable look for him.
“It’s okay. I think my virtue is pretty safe with you. That is, what’s left of it,” I joked, but stopped when I saw his expression, part intrigued and part horrified at me making an off-color joke. “I’m kidding,” I said. I think he was worried I was going to jump his way-too-attractive bones. Which I hadn’t even considered. Much.
“Samantha,” he said my name softly, which sounded wonderful in his proper accent. “Thank you for trying to cheer me up, or whatever it is you’re trying to do, but I am quite capable of handling things myself, despite what Dr. DeGraw thinks.”
“I know. I just have a terrible habit of trying to take care of everyone.” I shrugged. “Don’t take it personally.”
His eyes twinkled a little bit. “I’ll try not to take anything you say personally.”
“Good deal. So, where are we with the map Jake gave you?” I put my hands on my hips.
Enough chatting. We needed to get organized, and quickly, to win this thing. I assumed Kyle and Sophie wouldn’t get around to making many decisions anytime soon; they were both too mild-mannered and polite. But Caroline and Lyssa could be a shrewd team, and big competition for us, if they didn’t kill each other first.
He squirmed and made room for me next to him on the bed.
A little nervous, I didn’t sit right away, but instead stood looking at a photo on his shelf. It was of Devan with what I assumed were his parents and his sister on the stairs of a beautiful old building with carved stone pillars of some sort. His dad was also tall and slender, like Devan, and his chin jutted forward proudly. His mom, who was petite with thick dark hair, squinted in the sun, and his sister had one of those please-take-the-photo-already forced smiles. Devan looked the most casual, wearing a cotton vest and white shirt, his hands in his pockets, sunglasses on his face. They were a good-looking family. No surprise there.
It was sweet that he hung a photo of his family. I would have done the same thing if I were away from my family for any length of time.
He cleared his throat. “We were in India for my cousin’s wedding last year.”
“It’s beautiful.” I pointed to the photo. “What’s this building?”
Devan stepped behind me, closer than I would have expected. His breath tickled my neck, which made me shiver.
“That’s the Sun Temple at Konârak. It's a pretty important heritage site near the Bay of Bengal. It was built in the thirteenth century.”
“I’d love to visit.” I felt my face redden, hoping he didn’t think I was inviting myself to hang out with him and his family.
He walked over to the other side of the room and picked up a small statue off a shelf, and held it in his hand before placing it back. I breathed a sigh of relief, and stole a glance at the rest of the room, which was a disaster area. “I wouldn’t take you for a secret slob, Devan.”
An assortment of papers, books, and random socks was strewn on the floor, along with a pair of boxers with the TARDIS from Doctor Who on them. If it were a T-shirt I would have asked him about it, but I really didn’t want to discuss his underwear while we were alone in his bedroom.
“I am a bloke. I reserve the right to be a bit messy,” he said, kicking some of the dirty laundry under the bed, including the boxers.
“So, the map.” He rolled the map out on the bed and stuck a book on either end of it, to keep it from curling up. “We’ll be here,” he pointed, “in quadrant six at the north side of the lake, along the edge of the mountains. It should be about a sixty-minute hike from your camp. We can run by and get anything you need on the way.”
“That’s probably not a bad idea,” I said, curling my hair around a finger, while coming up with a mental list of supplies. “I have some field notes that could be helpful, along with my sleeping bag, and clothes, and we can figure out what equipment we need.”
He ran his hand through his hair, messing it up in a really attractive way, like he just got up from a nap or something else that involved a bed. And of course I blushed as the butterflies turned into huge bats playing rugby in my stomach. “Do you really think we’ll need to stay over in the woods?” he asked.
“I really don’t think we have time to trek back and forth from the quadrant every day. We should just set up camp there.”
“Aren’t there bears and whatnot?”
“You’re hunting Sasquatch, but you’re afraid of bears?” I teased. “Don’t worry. It’s not a big deal.”
Devan’s lovely brown eyes grew wider. “Not a big deal? I think we’re a bit more likely to run into a ravenous bear or wolf than a mythical creature.”
I shook my head at him. “I’ll protect you. I just need a baseball bat.” I surveyed his mess again. “But you definitely can’t leave candy wrappers around. Anything that smells like food will be a problem.”
“So I should leave my fish-and-chips-scented cologne at home?”
“Unless you want to attract some wild animals,” I said.
“Maybe I do,” he said pointedly, with a cheeseball grin and a wink.
I snorted and busied myself by pretending to examine the map. “Pretty weak line, Devan, especially when I’m trying to give you information that may save your life, but, okay, I get it. You’d rather flirt than live. Whatever.”
I went back to looking at the map and hoped he couldn’t hear my heart beating rapidly.
“Sorry,” he said softly.
I glanced up at him and caught his eye. The map fell out of my hands, and he picked it up and gave it back to me without breaking eye contact.
“For some reason, you make me nervous and then I say incoherent things,” he said in a serious tone. “It’s like you see past everyone’s bull or something.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “I think you’re perfectly capable of saying incoherent things without me, but it’s all right. Just more planning, fewer bad puns, okay?
We should head out as soon as we can.”
“Righto.” Devan jumped off the bed like his cute British arse was on fire. “I’ll go pack. You can hold Ganesha,” he said, handing me the palm-sized statue from the shelf.
I turned the little elephant-headed figure over in my hands. “He’s cute, but what am I supposed to do with him?”
“My grandmother gave him to me when I was young. I’m not very religious, but I like to have him nearby. He’s my favorite Hindu god.” Devan hesitated. “He’s the remover of obstacles. I guess I feel like him sometimes, like I have multiple arms and I’m balancing too many roles and responsibilities,” Devan said, while throwing stuff in a backpack.
I studied him, surprised. “I feel that way, too, pretty much every day.” My expression softened, imagining Devan much younger.
We exchanged wary smiles that I hoped meant we could get through this challenge without butting heads as much as we had in the past week. But I wouldn’t count on it. Last time we had a nice moment, he went and ruined it by insulting my sister before I stormed out of the cabin.
I went into the kitchen and rummaged through the cabinets until I came up with some chips and wasabi peas for Devan, and a box of Pop-Tarts. Sadly, all the cinnamon ones were gone. The blueberry ones would have to do. We were in survival mode, after all.
Hal and Dave stopped by to set us up with body mics and film us packing our gear. Hal said he’d catch up with us in our quadrant of the property later on in the day, but first they had to get footage of some of the other team’s preparations. Devan and I hiked to my family’s campsite and raided it for wilderness survival essentials. There was no sign of my parents. They must have already relocated. Lucky them.
“I think we’re good to go.” Devan slung the heavier pack over his shoulder and trudged further into the forest.
Chapter 21
“Most people refer to Bigfoot as a male creature probably because we don’t often spot females of the species. I like to think it’s because the females are smart enough not to get caught.”
Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things Page 16
