The next morning, Toby and Spencer stood side-by-side in a small crowd of Not Alone contestants. Bethany was waiting for everyone to arrive, sending fake grins to every couple that met her eye.

                Spencer was pressed up against Toby’s, the steady pulse of his heart jumping from his bare skin to hers. In only a bikini, she felt more exposed than ever for the cameras. She truly felt like her skin was crawling with nervousness; the very last place she wanted to be was at a challenge pretending to be Toby’s girlfriend. She had no idea what was going through his head and she didn’t have to chance to ask him due to the huge cameras being on their faces at all times. She was sure he felt something beyond friendship, but it was it just an impulsive “I wonder what it would be like” moment to him or was it more, like it had been to her.

                Although her body was pressed against Toby’s, she had never felt farther away from him.

                “Okay, everyone, challenge time!” Bethany announced, gathering their attention. “This is what we’d like to call ‘Trying not to fall for you.” All the guys will be harnessed up in the air above their beds and you’ll have to hold your girl until you no longer can. The last couple raised will be our challenge winner! If you both feel like you can’t do it anymore, you’ll be able to drop her on the bed and we’ll unharness you. Ready to go?”

                Everyone nodded. Bethany smiled and stepped aside, revealing four beds. Jenna placed her hands on her hips and grabbed Liam to be her partner. Upon Bethany’s first words, Jenna’s cat-like stare immediately landed on Toby. He didn’t seem to notice, but Spencer managed to send a selfish glare her way. Satisfied, Spencer realized that was the moment that Jenna rolled her eyes and grabbed Liam’s arm.

                The next thing they knew, all the guys were sitting on a different bed, being harnessed to a thick, strong wire above them. Spencer giggled in amusement as she watched Toby stare up at the wire. It was obvious he was wondering if the wire could hold everybody without breaking; oh, Toby, always wondering. She took a seat next to him, glancing up. “It’ll hold,” she laughed.

                Toby smiled, a shy, bashful look that she’d never seen on him before, but she liked it. “How’d you know I was thinking that?” he questioned, pretending to be freaked out.

                “Because, Cavanaugh…” she started. “I can read your mind!”

                He arched a brow amusedly, crossing his arms over his chest with that gentle half-smirk of his. “How on Earth do you know that, Hastings?”

                She grinned daringly, almost expecting his challenge, enjoying the subtle moment of flirtation between them. It was unlike any of the fake acts they had deliberately shared for the cameras; this was real. Just Toby and Spencer in their own world…on top of the world. “Like this!” she laughed, flipping him over and putting the tips of her fingers on his temple.

                “Hey! You don’t know what I’m thinking about.”

                “Why’s that?”

                He swallowed thickly, his eyes burning into hers. “Because if you did…things would be a whole lot different.”

                Spencer didn’t know how to respond, but luckily, she didn’t have to because Bethany announced that the challenge was starting. She gasped excitedly, staring at her best friend for instructions. “How are we doing this?”

                They confusedly glanced around, until they saw Madison and Peter, with his arms around her waist and her legs on his shoulders. Both shocked by the idea, they exchanged weary glances and slowly nodded. Spencer wrapped herself around Toby and they were hoisted in the air.

                Fifteen minutes easily passed, until they realized it was not as easy as it looked. With Spencer clinging badly to Toby’s torso, it was straining her ever muscle. He instantly lifted his head back despite his exhaustion, his own arms sore from holding her tightly against him. “You okay?”

                “Yeah,” she breathed slowly. “Distract me…please.”

                Toby furrowed his brows for a moment, until his gaze fell on one of the cameras down below focused squarely at them. Huh, he’d completely forgot it was there. Toby rested his head down on her shoulder.

                All of a sudden, her bare skin pressed up against him seemed to be catching her attention; she hadn’t realized just how close they were. She knew this was for show, but she instantly got caught up in it.

                Toby chuckled, making Spencer pull away and fake glare at him. “You’re laughing at me?” she demanded with an arched brow.

                “Never!” he declared. Spencer laughed and rolled her eyes in response to his sarcasm. With the little strength she had, she managed to move her hand around to slap him in the arm.

                He jumped a little when she did this and she giggled. Her eyes igniting with a fiery challenge, she willed him to make the next move. So, he did. Moving his arm around, he managed to poke her in the stomach, which always made her squeal because she was so ticklish.

                This meant war.

                Laughing like a little kid, she reached around and pressed a finger right to his side, causing him to squeeze her with a jolt. “Seriously, Spence?” She smirked and nodded.

                Within about thirty seconds, they were practically a tangled, laughing, fighting mess up in the air. Of course, this didn’t end well because Toby reached around to get her in the side. She fought back, lost her grip and fell down on the white bed, laughing the whole way.

                They lost the challenge, but that was more than okay.