Page 10 of Knot Just for Show

That’s not where the similarities end either. Both of us come from small packs–in which we were the onlybreedersof our family generations.

Though, I’ve always been acity mouse, moving straight from Boston to the ‘City of Angels’ without even a suburban detour between. Whereas, Roxy has only recently converted to urban life, having grown up on an extremely hippie-crunchy commune, deep in the wooded mountains.

We continue chatting easily until Kimmy, the production assistant, pokes her head into the kitchen, gently palming the mic on her headset as she calls us into the common room to begin shooting.

I follow Roxy like a baby duck follows its mother, barely a step behind her heels as she slinks back into the common room.

To my relief, Roxy lifts a large throw pillow from the sofa cushion beside her as she takes a seat, eyeing the open space meaningfully in silence as Kimmy herds us into a small semi-circle around none other thanAnna Jones.

I bounce down onto the cushion beside Roxy, my heart in my throat as I stare up at Anna; her luminous brown hair is tied back from her face, and a simple navy sheath dress is hanging smartly on her lithe frame.

There’s the sound of shuffling and a few shushing whispers before the cameras begin rolling. Anna takes the time to really find her lens and lean into her voice before she begins speaking clearly and confidently to camera.

“I am here in the ladies’ lounge with our female contestants!” Anna gestures to the seven of us seated around her.

I’ve watched some of the show, so I know that the ‘character’ edits for each of the contestants that goes to the next stage of the game will begin to be introduced; individual introductions filmed in offshoot confessional rooms cut together with the footage of us in these first opening scenes played against upbeatbacking music to help the future audience meet the cast of faces they will follow for the duration of our ‘season’.

In real time, however, all I can do is try not to sit too awkwardly and keep a non-goofy smile from taking over my features whilst also not succumbing to intense ‘resting-bitch-face.’

“This season, we have eight lucky ladies looking for love!” Anna gushes before starting her introductions at the far end of the room.

“Our participants, one sigma and seven omegas, will vie for the affections of twenty-three mysterious men of mixed designation!” Anna does an excited little shimmy, allowing the last of the secondary camera crew to make their way in front of the petite redhead seated at the opposite end of the room from Roxy and I.

“Let’s meet our omegas!” Anna beams, sweeping a hand toward the redheaded woman.

“Allie,” Anna introduces her, before moving to a brunette woman with beautiful tattoos–still on her feet and not quite looming over Allie, seated in her plush armchair.

“Lana.” Anna bobs a quick nod at her before moving on to an incredibly glamorous looking woman with close cropped coily hair and large, hooded eyes that seem to glitter like gold sandstone.

“Jesse, Suzi, Kara,” Anna rattles off the names of three women seated next to one another on the sofa on the far end of the room, the three of them in similar bodycon dresses—each with a bobbing ponytail or bouncing blowout in a different shade of blonde.

“Brittney,” Anna introduces mean girl Barbie, and Roxy and I share a little snicker.

Of course her name is Brittney. Why should either of us be surprised?

“And last but not least, Ursula and our sigma Roxanne.” Anna gestures to Roxy and I at the end of the couch. I watch Roxy wince as Anna uses her full name instead of the name she chose to introduce herself with.

“How are we doing this afternoon, ladies?” Anna asks with all the bubbly brightness of a kindergarten teacher addressing her class on the first day of school.

Most of the other contestants begin to cheer and whoop—so I feel pressured to join in, clapping weakly and making a whistling noise from my seat while Roxy watches us with mild disgust.

Just like a teacher trying to drum up excitement on the first day, Anna puts a hand to her ear and makes an exaggeratedI’m listeningface—her lips pursed and eyebrows drawn together.

“I don’t know if I heard you! How are you doing this afternoon ladies!?” she asks again, the other omegas cheering louder and clapping more spiritedly. I half heartedly follow suit, embarrassed that Roxy is watching me short circuit under the pressure of my own people pleasing nature. Who do I want to please more? The other omegas and the production team? Or Roxy, the super cool sigma who saved me from being eaten alive by bitchy-Brittney?

Only time will tell! I am released from my momentary hell by Anna moving right along—doing her best to get this reality TV ball rolling.

“Today begins your dating cycle in the bubbles!” she gushes, knitting her fingers beneath her chin.

“You get to begin to explore your connections with the men who have come here to share in this experience with you!” Anna practically squeals.

“Are you ladies ready to start?” She stage whispers conspiratorially to camera, though the question is obviously meant for us.

Again, the other omegas cheer loudly to show their ascent—while I commit to an awkwardly paced clap and a wavering grin.

“Alright ladies! It’s time to see if you really can Build-A-Pack-Blind!” she calls out to moderate applause.

Chapter Four

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