With the recent elimination, everyone was gathered to greet the new arrival. Alec had been eliminated. In complete honesty, she found Grett’s comeback to be great! That’s who she was rooting for, not that stupid crybaby. She regretted ever liking that loser.
Sitting alone in the lounge room, Fiore fiddled with her hands, the last episode playing over again on the TV. She could hear them all bickering past the wall, but she didn’t care. It really didn’t matter about them. They were all losers who didn’t deserve her attention.
Footsteps began to approach, so she rolled her eyes. Whoever it was, she did not want to hear it. At all.
“Hey, Fiore. Um… Alec was asking about you.” Hunter muttered, albeit hesitantly. She had a sneaking suspicion that he didn’t actually ask, and that Hunter just felt bad for her. But that felt wrong. That guy hated her. So much they had arguments more than she did with Ashley when she first got here. Although, those arguments were all petty squabbles, resolved by James and Tess breaking the two up.
Speaking of James, he was her only friend when she first got here. He told her that he admired her strategy from the first game. That soon led to them becoming friends, even with the obstacle of Hunter being in the way. As much as she hated opening up to people, she considered doing it with James.
The same went for Ellie. They were friendly in the first season, and even if she (& Miriam) did cause her to lose the million, she still felt a small kinship to the ginger. The feeling was mutual, thankfully. So, they watched the episodes together. When Ashley got out, Fiore was cheering so loud, as was Ellie. For very different reasons, but still.
Now… they had their partners. Aiden and Gabby.
They didn’t need Fiore anymore. She was just there as a second friend, and since her and Aiden weren’t on friendly terms, James would never talk to her again.
Ellie would be far too distracted by her girlfriend to even notice Fiore anymore. There was no point in trying with her. All she’d get was a ‘Mhm.’ So, why try?
There was an important lesson she took from the endings of those friendships.
Love ruins everything.
Hunter cleared his throat, taking a few steps further into the room.
“Fiore? You… uh… you okay?”
She shuffled in her spot, further away from him.
“Obviously. Why do you care?”
Silence filled the air for a moment. It seemed he didn’t know what to say. But, he did make the effort of sitting next to her. Even if it was just on the edge of the couch with space between them.
“I just… I don’t know. I thought you’d want to see Alec. You guys were friends. I think.”
She couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Her and Alec, friends? Pfft. Not anymore. Not after all of the stupid things he did. Not after his crying fit.
Not after he betrayed her.
Well, no. She betrayed him. But, if anything, the betrayal was mutual. Her fath- her friend, calling her a mistake. It hurt more than she wanted it too. With her mother, it was always expected. With Alec? God.
“Ew. Gross! Do you actually think I like that alcoholic failure of a father?”
He shrugged his shoulders, leaning back on the couch and letting out a sigh.
“Kinda. That’s what everyone on your season said when they were voted and they saw the scenes of Alec saving your ass.”
“I didn’t need that loser.”
“Really?”
…
She scoffed, turning her head to look away from him. Why was he even asking? He had other things to worry about, like going outside, his girlfriend, Tess, anything! Not her or anything relating to her. Stupid pasty guy and his stupid ugly necklace. She had the urge to strangle him with it right then and there.
“Whatever. Not like you care or anything.”
A sigh fell out of his mouth, followed by a small nod.
“You’re right. I don’t care. But, seeing you, a little kid, all alone… it’s sad. And, I did talk to Tess. She told me I really shouldn’t be fighting with a child. I mean… she’s right.”
‘Yeah, that’s what your girlfriend said too.’
The words almost fall out, but she held back. Why? That was a great retort! She just couldn’t seem to say it. God, why is she doing this now?
“Yeah, you got me eliminated, but… I think I’m happier here. A million bucks gone, but hey, Ally’s still there. Knowing her, she’s bound to win. Plus, you went out immediately after me, so I can’t be too mad.”
“It was Connor, not me! Get it right, loser.”
He leaned back, chuckling softly.
“Yeah, but Connor came back. You didn’t.”
Groaning, Fiore turned away from him. This was the second worst conversation she’s ever had. First is every single talk in season one when she had to fake her personality. That was genuinely disgusting. Just thinking about it makes her want to throw up.
“Hunter! Everyone is gathering for dinner! Vould you care to join us?”
Lake peeked her head in the doorway, a smile on her face. He turned to look at her, and nodded.
“Yeah, just a second.”
He looked back at her, a soft smile on his face. A smile? Why? See, this is why she hated him.
“What?”
“See you around, Fiore.”
Then, he turned and left, the episode filling the air once again.
God, she hated these people.
