Chapter 5

My phone vibrated in my backpack. I took it out and stepped aside when I saw Alice was calling.

"Yeah?" I breathed into the phone as I picked up, still catching my breath after the jump sequence. "Hey."

"Dennis, I'm not coming home tonight," my sister got straight to the point. "I'll spend the night in the studio. We're setting up the sets here. You should see the scale of it!" Her voice carried exhaustion and delight at the same time. "You haven't forgotten filming is tomorrow, right?"

"After your lawyer made me sign a contract," I wiped my neck with the towel, "the only thing I have the right to forget is my own name. And even then only until someone writes it on my forehead with a marker. So no chance."

"Very funny. I'm serious. Do you have everything ready?"

"What's there to get ready? I'll put on pants, pull on a T-shirt, and go. Fine, maybe I'll change my socks, if I must."

"Just don't forget to paste on a smile, Dennis! This isn't just a date with a girl. It's the pilot episode of my project!" Alice reminded me, switching into director mode. "So please don't be stingy with the emotions. We start with Cupid's Wheel, then a getting-to-know-you brunch. I hope you can survive one hour. My camera operator is filming you, and everything is scheduled down to the minute. We need emotion and momentum. It would be great if there were chemistry in your pair..."

"To hell with that, Alice, don't start!" I snapped. "I'll do what I can, but don't ask me for the impossible!"

"Easy, little brother. I'm just repeating what everyone here has been drilling into all the participants! You were the last one to get into the reality show, so you might have missed it."

Something crashed in the background on my sister's end, and she gave an order:

"No, no, not there! Move it closer to the wall and secure it! And add light. Where's the second electrician? We need one more strobe in this spot! And get those cables out of the way, someone is about to wipe out! Yura, where's the props manager? Why is the arch still without lights and ribbons?!"

A pause settled over the call, and I pictured the chaos: people running with cables in their hands, camera cranes, sets stretched across the studio, lamps, and Alice in the middle of it all, handing out orders as if she could tame it.

She really had it rough in there. She was trying with everything she had, and I couldn't be bothered to say "you're doing great" just to calm her down.

The pause and the chaos lasted just long enough for that thought to carve a path to my conscience.

"Dennis?"

"Alice, everything will be fine. I give you my word, you won't have to be embarrassed because of me. I'll show up and try not to ruin anything, even if I regret it a hundred times afterward. I'll be watching you, Director!"

Allie giggled, not without hope.

"Thanks, little devil, for helping me out. I'm so nervous! Tomorrow, just be yourself and don't you dare get a haircut!"

"Got it," I answered shortly and ended the call.

I always got my hair cut at the same time, and I wasn't about to change my routine for the show.

One of the guys in the gym shouted:

"Demon! You with us, or are you done?"

I turned and waved.

"Done for today! Have a good workout!"

Art was still standing there chatting with Lera, clearly caught up in the conversation. I slung my backpack over my shoulder, grabbed my water bottle, and went to the locker room. After showering and changing, I said goodbye to Psycho, left the sports club, and headed for the parking lot where I'd left my father's sedan. After training, the cold air felt good on my face, and I wasn't in a hurry. My thoughts kept circling back to tomorrow. I had promised Allie I wouldn't ruin anything, but I couldn't convince myself I wouldn't look like an idiot.

"Dennis!" a girl's voice suddenly called from behind me.

I looked back. Lera, jacket open and hair whipping in the wind, was catching up to me at a fast walk. I had to stop.

"Listen," she said, out of breath as she came closer, "I wanted to ask. What are you doing this weekend? A group of us is going to SkyBar tomorrow, and then maybe we'll stop by Vlad's apartment. It'll be fun. Want to join?"

I held my gaze on the girl's face for a second, weighing her offer and her expectation. Maybe next time something might have worked out, why not? But not today.

"Can't, Lera. I'm busy."

"The whole weekend?" A trace of hurt slipped into the brunette's voice. She smiled. "What if you think about it?"

I did want to think about it. As usual. But I didn't want to take the thought any further. I smiled at the girl too. The new contract forbade any disclosure of details about the show or its participants, so blaming the project was not an option.

"Tempting offer, but no way. Family stuff."

She moved her shoulders in disappointment, pulling her jacket closed over her chest. And she couldn't resist a jab.

"Visiting your beloved grandma, maybe?"

That was an option too. Next time I would definitely lie about something along those lines, but for now I told almost the truth:

"Wrong guess. I'm going to the circus with my sister. Already bought tickets... first row. I love clowns!"

If she was surprised, she didn't show it.

"Well, suit yourself. But if you change your mind, call. There will be good music and cocktails."

"Okay. Bye."

I had already turned away when the girl called after me again:

"Demond, do you always lie to girls to get rid of them? You don't even have my phone number!"

"Always," I didn't deny it, and smiled wider at the brunette as I walked toward the car. "But never say never."

"Meaning?"

"Maybe one of you will change that rule someday."