Page 44 of Never Ever Getting Back Together

Grayson passes his phone to a crew member, checks his reflection in a wall mirror, and aims a high-beam smile our way.

“Welcome,” he says, “toNotte Infinita.”

“The ceremony is thelast part of the night,” Francesca whispers to Kim. “As in, theendof the night. If it were actually an infinite night, there wouldn’t be an end, so why call theend part infinite?”

Her voice is getting screechy with frustration.

“Tonight, Jordy’s had a wonderful time getting to reacquaint himself with all of you, and I know you’ve all enjoyed it just as much as he has. But while some journeys are destined to continue from this moment forth, it’s now time for Jordy to decide which of you he wants to keep exploring, and who he’s seen enough of.”

Did Grayson look at me during that last part? I swear he did.

“Good luck, girls.” With that, Grayson abruptly leaves the room, Jordy trailing after him. I look at the other girls, but they seem as confused as me.

“We’re going to get some reaction shots, girls,” Isaac says. “I just want you to act like you’re listening to something very interesting… okay, great. Now a little small laughter. Good. Now look a little scared. Not that scared, Kim, there isn’t a tornado approaching. More like ‘the power’s out and there’s only five percent battery left on my phone, but I’m expecting an important call’ scared. Much better. Now a frown, like you’ve just seen a puppy being murdered. No, Skye, thinkbrutallymurdered… yes, better!”

After we run through every possible emotion known in the spectrum of human experience, Jordy and Grayson finally walk back in, and it’s Jordy’s turn to talk at us condescendingly.

“Tonight has been absolutely amazing,” he says, all gleaming teeth. “And I’ve cherished the opportunity to meet every one of you again, and see how you’ve changed—and how you’ve stayed the same—since the last time we spoke. For some of you”—he paused for effect—“that’s been slightly longer than for others. So, I’ve had some time to think about everything that happened tonight, and where I’d like the next week to take us.”

He definitely looks me in the eye at this. I raise my chin, keep my face blank, and muster every scrap of dignity I still have. After the whole “all of last night” thing, that might not be a lot, but damn it, I’m gonna work with what I’ve got.

“And tonight I’ve decided to keep Skye.”

For a confused moment I think he means he’s keepingjustSkye.Plot twist.Then I realize it’s the start of a list. Isaac gestures for Skye to go forward and… do something toJordy, either hug him or punch him in the stomach, I can’t tell which. When Skye gets close enough, Jordy holds out his arms. Ah, so, a hug then. I had a feeling that was probably the case, but I’d hoped for the latter anyway. It’s worth keeping a healthy sense of optimism about such things.

She stands over to the side, where the people who didn’t alienate half the cast and reject Jordy in front of everyone are going to stand. The cool kids.

“Lauren.”

She grabs Francesca’s arm excitedly, then joins the hug-to-cool-kids conveyer belt.

“Perrie.”

Perrie keeps her face blank, but does give him a nod in acknowledgment. Hug, cool kids. She gives me a sad smile when she turns around, and I mime clapping for her. If one of us has to go home on night one, I’m glad it’s me.

“Kim.”

Kim lets out a sigh of relief loud enough it turns into a semi-shriek at the end. Hug, cool kids.

“Francesca.”

Francesca breaks into a smile, and there’s my confirmation. My cheeks are flaming now, and I’m sure it’s visible on camera, which makes the whole thing worse. The other girls arestaringat me, and so is Jordy. He is dragging this out. Revenge for last night, probably. He’s won, again. He has no right to win, because he’sincontestablythe asshole here, but he has anyway.

I should’ve known better. I should’ve sat in the shame and tried to let him—and what he did—go.

This is what I get for trying to hold my own against him.

“And Maya.”

I snap back into focus. Ha, pardon me?

Everyone waits for me to react. I walk forward slowly, kind of expecting a trap, but it never comes. I give Jordy a quick, light hug, before I, too, join the cool kids.

I try to catch Jordy’s eye to get some sort of hint or explanation, but he doesn’t look at me once. I try to wipe the bewilderment off my face for the cameras.

Jordy clasps his hands before him. “Every single person I’ve spoken to tonight has grown so much since the last time I saw her. I’ve grown, too. There wasn’t a single girl who didn’t impress me with her wit, intelligence, and great attitude today. I want the chance to get to know the new and improved versions of all of you, and the only way I can do that is by seeing you all again next week. So, if you’ll all stay, I would be honored to have the chance.”

The group is beaming, and Jordy is beaming, and the camera’s panning over us. So I beam, too. It’s about as natural as fluorescent lighting, but nothing’s real, here, so I probably fit right in.

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