AN Day 9 - Thursday

Last night was great, but it really sucks to have to sneak out so early to rush back to camp.

Today starts way less crazy than yesterday. No gimmicks on the day before the game. Tiff wakes up the team and gets you all to breakfast, but you can't eat too much because you are about to practice.

Lulu and Moxxi walk into the dining hall. The announcers are all dressed up for TV while you and all the other players are not... you all have shorts and t-shirts on and everyone's hair is in a ponytail or something. Nobody has makeup on... but this is what FUTA is about. It just feels kind of voyeuristic this morning.

"Listen up, Ladies," Lulu announces in her no-nonsense way. "Let's talk about tomorrow. Pink versus Green. Red versus White. Blue versus Yellow."

The dining hall gets loud fast. This is a huge announcement, and so sudden! You know who you are playing against now... This is so big.

"Couple things," Moxxie says with a big smile. "You remember how winners get the lodge and losers don't? Let's talk about the details! Losers also have to give up their phones. Oh, and losers can't leave camp without being disqualified from the show, but winners still can under special circumstances." She is absolutely relishing this, but you and the others are all devastated.

Yeah... there was something about this in the contract, but you didn't think you would actually be **** to stay here while the show was shooting... and giving up your phone? You can't remember even going a day without it before. Now you won't be able to have it at all? Well, only if you lose...

"...and while winners go to the Lodge, losers go to a very special place!" Moxxi claps her hands excitedly. "So look forward to that."

They leave, and the dining hall is in chaos. It takes the coaches a minute to calm everyone down.

"Pull it together guys," Tiff says. "This isn't anything to freak out over. Be on the field in half an hour."

You and the others go back to the cabin to change and get ready. Now you have to practice, but your phone is ringing. You stop to answer it, watching Elena squeeze into some tight shorts.

"Riley!"

"Mom?" You are surprised she's calling so early. "What's wrong?"

"Well, it's about your dad," she says.

"Oh my God. Is he OK?" you ask.

"He's fine. He's getting married."

"What? What the fuck?" you say. "To you?"

"Of course not. It's someone new, but they got engaged yesterday and your sister says he hasn't told you."

"Oh my God." You close your eyes. Your dad is such a mess. "OK. Thanks for telling me. When's the wedding?" This will be your dad's third wife...

"Pretty soon. Are you doing OK?"

"I'm good. It just got real over here. It's gonna suck if we lose."

"Baby, it's sports. You'll lose sometimes."

"I know. And it'll suck when I do," you say honestly. "I have to go practice, mom."

"OK. Love you."

You hang up. Ugh. Thursday.

Now that Tiff knows you're up against Green Team, she has special drills prepared for you. You spend all morning working hard. After lunch, you find yourself in a classroom with Tiff and the team to get serious about Green Team. You have the clips that you won from yesterday's pillow event to study some of Green Team's members.

It's a productive meeting, and you feel like you and the team are prepared for tomorrow. After dinner, you find Annette in her office. She looks glad to see you.

"Riley? How was your date?" she asks.

"I never said it was a date," you tell her.

"Why else could make you turn me down?" Annette asks. "Sit."

You sit in a chair by her desk. "Right. Do you still want to do the thing?"

"Of course. If you do."

"I do. There's a girl I like and I want to impress her." Would Ana be impressed with your face being on everything? No, and you still know she isn't serious about you... but you feel bold. This FUTA thing is exciting. Why not do it?

"Good. Great," Annette says. "Come to my place tonight at eight. I'll have Jade there, and your competition."

"Competition?"

"I just mean you're not the only girl we're considering. Are you up for it?"

"Sure," you say.