Kiss & Tell | Nicolandria FF

Part 21 - ?

It took night six on the villa for Chelley to realize that she'd only survive this game by not taking it seriously.

There had just been so many emotions and feelings and obstacles floating around, and Chelley couldn't handle it. Ace had been confusing, and Austin had been annoying, and if she took them seriously, she was sure she would combust. So, Chelley decided that when she was around men, she would turn her brain off.

Not in the ditzy bimbo way. More like—go in whatever direction they pointed just because it was fun. Why not? What did Ace have in store? What did Austin have to complain about today? Honestly, if she really thought about it, they were like a bunch of birds performing for her attention.

When she adopted that mentality, the show became significantly more fun for her. When Ace chose Amaya instead of her, she wasn't even upset. Instead, she wondered why that was the play he chose to make. And when Ace realized that she wasn't upset or jealous—simply waiting on his next move—that made him perform even more.

And now, at Casa, she was doing the same thing, and Chris immediately fell into line. Making her breakfast, cheering her up, staring at her like she was a ray of sunshine. Which—she was. Chelley was a ray of sunshine.

Chelley liked feeling like the prize the boys were fighting over. All she had to do was eat the breakfast they made and smile pretty, and they were convinced they were up a point.

It was funny.

She wished her girls had the same mindset. Instead, she was tiredly watching Olandria initiate every move with Taylor instead of letting him come to her. That made Chelley sad to see, actually. Olandria was so beautiful and her personality was even better—and there she was, fighting to keep Taylor's attention. At some point, she had stopped telling the girl to stop. She obviously wanted to earn Taylor's attention, and if Olandria was set on doing something, it seemed nothing would stop her.

But when Chelley noticed that Nic and Olandria were beginning to have this weird unspoken attraction, she paid very close attention.

Mainly because Nic was doing the exact same thing Ace and Austin and Chris were doing to Chelley—in fact, better. He stared at Olandria not like she was a prize, but more like a blessing. Chelley watched discreetly, examined the way Nic sat up when Olandria came near. She listened to the way he said dumb things to her, hoping to get her to laugh. She witnessed his eyes crinkle when Olandria said something—anything.

Chelley felt like a detective. It was fun—so so fun to watch Olandria and Nic try to hide whatever it was they had. It was fun bringing it up to Olandria, watching her buffer for just a moment before trying to deny it. It was fun sitting next to Nic and saying, "oh Olandria looks nice in that bathing suit," just to watch him attempt to sneak a glance at her.

But she hadn't expected Olandria to admit to liking Nic.

She almost felt bad for Cierra.

Almost.

Cierra was kind of doing the same dumb shit Olandria was doing with Taylor. Chasing Nic, trying to keep him pinned down. Chelley was very observant, very very observant, and Nic liked Cierra, she could tell, but he never looked at Cierra the way he looked at Olandria. And Chelley would feel bad, but Cierra was treating Nic like he was the prize, and it made Chelley want to kick her.

Like now, with Cierra sitting there sulking, anxiously thinking about Nic.

Chelley wanted to kick her.

"My stomach hurts," Cierra grumbled, gripping her stomach. Chelley had the girl's head in her lap, and was raking her fingers through Cierra's hair. "I bet he's there making out with someone else."