Page 5 (1/2)

I liked the Loser Lodge

Owen disappeared into the kitchen, and I heard the sound of coffee brewing After a fewroos casually spread as if he had not a care in the world He wore pajamas, and another one of those cupcake shirts - this time in blue

The man had a cupcake fetish apparently

We drank our coffee in silence, avoiding looking at each other

"Where is everyone?" Owen asked after a long minute

"Do I look like the Cameraman Whisperer to you?"

He was silent

I was silent, too

The front door opened a few minutes later and I jumped to my feet, relieved Someone else to talk to! An assistant entered--Kitty I'd talked to her a few times before she'd admitted they weren't supposed to chat with us, but I liked her She had a grocery bag in her ars?"

"Good," I said, heading in her direction I took the bag from her so she could remove her coat "Where's everyone today?"

"Oh, there was a bigshakeup They're deciding to do all kinds of things differently since this is the Christured they can modify the rules for this particular show"

"Really? Like how?" I headed into the kitchen area with the grocery bag

"Well, the producers aren't very happy with you guys," she said, frowning "That food fight cost the catering allowance an extra three grand"

"Three grand?" Owen snorted froe? You guys are getting ripped off"

Kitty shrugged "Regardless, the executive producer is kinda cheap and he doesn't like to waste money like that He's really not happy with you two" She hesitated, and I noticed she wasn't taking her coat off, just playing with the zipper over and over again

"So what is it?" I asked, setting the bag down on the counter and looking at her "Are we being punished? Is that why everyone's gone?"

"Yes and no," she said "So here's the thing It's kind of a punishame"

My stomach lurched "Oh?"

"Yep!" Her voice had a happy note "They've decided to do a final five"

My eyes widened "A final five?"

"Why?" Owen blurted He got up from the couch andKitty ary eyes "What's the point of a final five? The vote's going to be split all different ways"

"Not really," Kitty said "The producers wanted a prihteleven would be perfect" Zip zip zipshe itated fashion

I counted in my head Eleven jury members and five contestants leftthat was everyone still in the gaets to be on the jury?" Jury ot twice as much money as the other losers and they were sequestered fros

"Yep," Kitty said, and flicked her zipper up again Then down Then up She wasn't lookingover to the Jury lodge I'uys have everything you need, but for the e"

I stared at her in horror "You've got to be kidding me"

"I wish I was," she said in a small voice "I'm sorry"

I sucked in a deep breath Let it whistle back out "Sowait For the next e, partying it up and building the jury? What about the camera crew that filht?

Kitty wrinkled her nose Toyed with her zipper soe o with extended juror footage Sorry"

"So we're not even going to be filmed for the website?" I blinked

She bit her lip and zip zip zipped again "Remember the part I said about punishment?"

I remembered

"So, in other words, because weus to stay in this lodge with no company except each other for the next three weeks," Owen said "Is that right?"

"In a nutshell" Zip zip

I was going to jerk that damn zipper out of her hands in the next minute if she didn't stop it Hell, it wasn't Kitty's fault, though She was an assistant She was just doing whatever they told her to do I rubbed my forehead "This sucks"

"I', though, you just let et it for you Otherwise, I' Boss's orders"

"It's okay," I said, and patted her shoulder "Thank you"

"I brought soroceries," she said ti you some other stuff over the next few days, okay?"

"Thank you," Owen said His voice was so flat that it didn't sound polite at all

"Okay," Kitty said, and gave uys tomorrow" She turned and headed for the door "Happy holidays!"

I watched her go, and shut the front door of the lodge behind her There went my only hope for company for the next three weeks

Eleven damn jurors and a final five It was unbelievable The producers were bending the rules just to punish us We wouldn't be let out of our 'jail' until the show stopped fil, which was around New Year's

If we left, we'd not only forfeit ouron the show, but we'd be in breach of contract to the tune of a million dollars

We were trapped and they knew it

This was some punishment

I looked over at Owen, but his arainst the counter and stared out the s, his expression bleak

I knew just how he felt We'd been sentenced to a month of sheer torture