Background Video 4 – A Tale of Two Sisters

Later on that day after suppertime and late into the evening, you hung out with Jenna. The two of you chilled out on the balcony bench sitting next to each other, talking. Jenna had explained to you while you were umm… busy with Mona that the islanders picked Brad’s, the new guy, brain. It seemed Brad was taken in immediately by Mona who came onto him strong, though Brad was still more physically attracted to Paige and Evelyn, which were more his type. You didn’t really care though. It was apparent what Mona was up to with Brad. As for Paige… no way, right?

Afterward, at night, you went to sleep without any intention of disturbing Paige, who was still passed out. You pass Evelyn on the way to bed without her glasses in her nightwear. She bows her head slightly in greeting. Evelyn blushes with a coy smile as you both remember how your tongues tasted earlier. You pass each other, and Evelyn sleeps in the lonely newcomer’s bed. You and Jenna lie in bed together. Jenna, comforted in the knowledge that Paige was knocked out, crawls over to you to be put in your embrace. You wrap your arm around each other as you both fall asleep without any funny business.

The following two days were mostly uneventful, with no activities or events planned. There were some curious things to keep a note of.

Mona, satisfied with her last encounter with you, spent it mostly flirting with Brad, Mike, and even trying to rekindle things with Tom. Mona was like one of those outdoor cats that would leave and come back whenever, and as such, you didn’t bother to lecture her about playing around with those guy’s hearts. Your AMA still reassured you her only romantic interest remained in you.

The other things of note was Evelyn’s progress and status reports. During the next two days, you hung around more frequently with Evelyn just shooting the crap. Mostly in the daytime, you would spend with Evelyn in broad daylight talking about various facets of her life and your shared interests. You persisted in keeping a respectful distance from her and try your best not run any games on her or flirt during that time, but despite that, her affection and love kept going up and up. Her relationship data shows the following at the end of one and a half day:

Evelyn Carter-Green

• Affection:60 (We all need somebody to lean on)
• Love: 45 (Somewhat hopelessly)
• Lust: 20 (You give me butterflies)

Her detailed relationship status was even more interesting.

• Relationship: Single
• Interest in Matt: 60
• Interest in Mona: 35

Another important thing of note was that during a late-night session with Jenna on the first day, you had gotten a bit too close to each other - one thing led to another. You were both seated next to each other on the bench on the balcony which led to you touching followed by eating each other’s faces out. Your hand ran along the side of her body and started massaging her breasts, which cause her to quiver in your presence and moan into your mouth. The next thing you hear is the balcony door slid open, and Paige stares at you two both with the look of little kids who were caught stealing from the cookie jar.

You couldn’t exactly read Paige’s face. She didn’t look particularly angry or upset. You had the Party Menu to thank for that you suspect. Paige breaks the awkward silence as you move your hand away from Jenna’s breasts with all the stealth of a bull in a china shop, and Paige asks, “Jenna… do you have a hair clip I can borrow?”

“Umm… s-sure I do. Wait, just let me get it for you,” Jenna gets up and walks past Paige hurriedly. Paige whistles and taps her fingernails on the balcony door glass.

“How are you, Paige?” You ask her.

“I’m swell. I mean besides these super annoying cramps I’ve been having… I’m just going to hang out with Brad for a while after this,” Paige says blankly, no hint of vendetta or intent to injure in it.

“He seems like a nice guy,” You say.

“Yeah. He’s actually pretty funny when you get to know him. I thought he’d be a dumb cowboy but did you know he majored in engineering at Texas Tech?” Paige replies and goes on and on about how a great guy he is. “Though that Mona keeps playing him and dragging him along. I can’t believe guys keep falling for her act.”

Your frown deepens. Without knowing what to do, you check your phone and check Paige’s detailed relationship menu while Paige rubs her belly and grimace.

• Interest in Matt: 70
• Interest in Brad: 30
• Interest in Jenna: 10
• Interest in Tom: 10

Well… that wasn’t good. It seems you dipped in your relationship with Paige without any notifications, and Brad is rising in Paige’s heart. You felt a pang of jealousy at this and say, “Paige…”

Paige waits for a long time for you to talk, and you swallow your words. Was this really fair to Paige? You want her back but you made out with her sister behind her back, then Jenna and even fucked Mona before you even things up with Paige. It felt somehow she was becoming a train that was leaving the station and it made your heart ache. Wasn’t Paige allowed to explore her options, and were you, a two-timing store clerk, a better prospect to date than a backup NFL quarterback? Words. You could only offer her words right now. You felt plain awful and useless.

Before anything was decided in your mind, Jenna comes back and hands Paige a hairclip. Paige smiles warmly at Jenna, and then thanks her. The two friends looked close, almost like they have been best buddies for life. They talk for a while in the doorway while you run your hand through your hair, figuring things out. Maybe it was for the best.

After Paige left, you stare out at the balcony onto the ground floor of the outdoor patio of the villa and watch her go to Brad, who was sitting by the bar area of the outdoor kitchen. Paige sits beside him, and the two talk, and you sigh. Jenna, watching you, comes next to you to hold your hand and rubs the back of them with her fingers.

You thought of a cliché thing in your head about loving something and letting them go and something about coming back to you, but you found it all to be bullshit.

Sometime in the middle of the next day, you would get a notification.

You have a new data item – Background Video 4

The video opens on an overhead shot overlooking a picturesque, almost cliché suburban dining room. The table is being set by Evelyn, her hair tied back in a ponytail. Evelyn was dressed in an oversized novelty t-shirt and jeans. A familiar older woman in her late 40s with fading blonde hair was standing next to Evelyn helping her set the table. A doorbell is heard and who you suspect to be the mother of Evelyn exits the frame of the video and returns with a grey-hair, with specks of rusted red hair at the tips, older man carrying bags and another familiar redhead with sunglasses.

Paige smiles at Evelyn, who looks a bit intimidated by her own flesh and blood and near mirror image. Evelyn greets them both nervously, “Welcome home, daddy. Hi, sis…”

“Yo,” Paige answers in a curt reply with her hand in a small salute across her forehead and takes off her sunglasses.

“Great timing, honey,” Evelyn’s mother says and kisses Evelyn and Paige’s father on the cheek. “Dinner is just about ready. You two have a seat. Please, Paige, sweetie, you’re a guest you don’t need to help out.”

Evelyn’s mother, Carol, disappears off the screen to bring out more things. Paige takes a seat in one of the chairs, and her father sits next to her, and Evelyn sits somewhere on the opposite side of Paige.

“How was the drive here, sis?” Evelyn asks.

“Same ol’ same ol’. God, traffic in this city is a nightmare.” Paige remarks and places a napkin on her lap.

“I better help Carol with the meal. You two catch up,” Paige’s dad, Roger, says.

Evelyn watches her father leave and looks eagerly towards Paige, who was busy staring at her phone. A frown covers Evelyn’s face, and Evelyn asks, “How is Jackson, Paige?”

At the name Jackson, you can see Paige grit her teeth.

“We’re not together anymore. That asshole cheated on me,” Paige answers sternly.

Evelyn appears uncomfortable like she just entered a minefield.

“I swear Eve. Why can’t men ever just keep their dicks in their pants?” Paige remarks.

Speaking of which, Carol and their shared father return with steaming dishes in hand. Roger brings in a plate of sliced up roast while Carol brings a plate of potatoes and steamed vegetables. Carol looks at a cabinet that was furnished with china and various bottles of **** near the dining table and brings out a bottle of wine.

“Wine, Paige?” Carol asks with a smile and then pours her husband and herself a glass of dark red liquid and then Paige after Paige nods with affirmation.

“Can I have some wine,” Evelyn asks.

“Nonsense honey, you’re a bit too young.” Carol rebukes Evelyn.

“Oh, let the poor girl have a bit of wine. She’s 18 now.” Roger says.

“She’s off to college soon, and we can’t get her into bad habits,” Carol says.

Carol sits down, and Paige begins to dig in before Carol interrupts. “Paige, why don’t you say grace?”

“I don’t know. I don’t really do grace, Carol.”

“We have to thank the Lord for our blessed meal, Paige. You really ought to go to Sunday service with your father and sister tomorrow.” Carol suggests.

Paige contorts her face trying to hold back her tongue.

“I’ll say, Grace, dear,” Roger speaks up and saves Paige. The family forms a circle of hands and all close their eyes except Paige. “Lord in heaven. Bless this food to our bodies and let us hold you in our hearts. In the Lord’s name, we pray. Amen.”

Chewing noises ensue as the family eats in silence. Paige was staring at her phone while she eats, looking like she’s trying to avoid a conversation.

“So, Paige. Have you heard? Your sister got accepted into Yale. Isn’t that wonderful?” Carol asks while forking some baby carrots into her mouth.

“Congratulations.” Paige sounds sincere looking up from her phone and smiles at her sister, Evelyn, who blushes.

“Which college did you go to again, Paige?” Carol asks nonchalantly.

“I didn’t go,” Paige responds coldly as if Carol knew the answer.

“That’s such a shame,” Carol replies with casualness. “How is work, Paige? You're a model or... you do the whole social media thing right?”

Paige swallows and says, “Fine... I actually got offered a gig on a TV show.”

“TV show? That’s wonderful, Paige,” Roger says, smiling proudly.

“ Yeah… it's not a big deal, it’s just this reality show called Island Amour,” Paige says, a bit of red comes to her cheeks as she listens to her father's compliments.

“Island Amour? Oh heavens, Paige. That show is full of degenerates and frankly… harlots. I would never let Eve on a show like that.”

“Well... Carol, I guess I must be a degenerate harlot,” Paige snaps.

“I didn’t say that… I just think you should think about your decisions and the future. The show is downright indecent and exploitative. Women and men sleeping together like that. I heard some even have premarital sex right in front of cameras. Can you imagine?”

“Gee… Carol. You sound like an expert on that show.” Paige says, looking away, rage boiling on her face.

“I can’t help it. They always talk about it during the morning shows. I know I’m not your mother, Paige, but if I were, I would say it’s a rash decision.” Carol says.

“You’re right. You aren’t my mother.”

Another awkward silence ensues. The rest of the family eats in peace. Paige seems to be flicking at her phone screen looking for something, that doesn’t exist, to take her mind off of the previous conversation. Evelyn looks like she wanted to speak up but thought better of it.

“When are you going to start? Your TV show, Paige,” Roger speaks up.

“I’m actually flying out to Spain in a week. Next Friday.” Paige responds.

“Do you want me to drop you off at the airport, kiddo?” Roger asks, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

“Roger… we have the campus tour for Evelyn that day, remember? We were going to drive to New Haven on Friday.” Carol interrupts.

“You guys don’t have to go to that,” Evelyn speaks up. “Really… I can go on my own.”

“Nonsense. A girl as pretty as you on that campus alone. I heard that **** on college campuses has skyrocketed in recent years. You know how men are at colleges are these days,” Carol says.

“Mom, please stop. I’m going to go off to college soon so you can’t expect me to do everything with you guys or keep me in a bubble,” Evelyn almost murmurs her request. Carol looks genuinely horrified at the idea of her daughter's independence.

“Nonsense Evelyn. You’re still a little girl. Look at all those video games and those pictures of cartoons in your room. You even dress up like those cartoon characters and go to comic book conventions. The boys in college will eat you alive,” Carol looks genuinely concerned for Evelyn.

“I-It’s… just a hobby mom. Lots of young adults play video games and watch that stuff…” Evelyn's voice was like a mouse trying to explain to her doting mother.

“I’m fine. I constantly travel due to my modeling work, so it’s not the first time I went to the airport alone. Your college is more important, Evelyn.” Paige ends the discussion.

The last thing you see before the video ends is Paige taking a large gulp from her glass of wine.

You sit quietly in contemplation. You made your decision. You did something you were putting off. Bringing up the Relationship Party Menu, you click on Evelyn’s icon and drag into the party.

You didn’t care if you were going to ruin all your relationships in the process. You wanted Paige to be happy. You wanted Evelyn to be happy. The Menu will help you build their relationship together.

It was sometime in the middle of the day of the second day and almost like a divine juxtaposition you look up where you were sitting alone watching the video and across your field of vision you see Paige at the kitchen bar pouring herself a glass of wine and taking a sip.

Something resolved inside of you then. You weren’t going to give up on Paige.

Who is best girl?