“So, you and Toby?” Melissa asked, her lips upturned in a slight smirk as she watched her sister. “When did that happen?”

                Spencer shrugged, staring at the full glass of wine in her hands. She was going to pour a glass of water, but of course her sister had poured the wine in before she could do anything. “I don’t know…it just happened,” she lied.

                Melissa laughed, taking Spencer’s glass to take a long drink; hers was already long empty. “Did you two make out at a party or something?” she questioned.

                Spencer chuckled and shook her head. “No. No parties.”

                Melissa smirked again. “Right, I forget. You spend your Saturdays reading The Giver,” she said bashfully   Spencer chuckled, rolling her eyes.

                “So,” Melissa started. “Let me get this straight. You’re going on a reality show with her the second you guys start dating? Hmm…”

                Spencer averted her gaze. Mellissa smirked for the billionth time, her blue eyes lighting up in realization. “You guys are faking it for the money, aren’t you?” She laughed and Spencer’s lack of response was enough of an answer. “Dang, Spence. Here I finally thought you made your move on him.”

                She bit her lip. “What do you mean?”

                Melissa crossed her arms over her chest. “Could it be even more obvious that you are falling for him?”

                “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Spencer sighed, glancing at the window. “Okay, the limo’s here to take us to the airport. I’ll see you soon.” Quickly, she grabbed her suitcase.

                “Now go get your guy.” She nudged Spencer and grinned. Spencer smiled back. “Seriously? A limo? What’s wrong with a taxi?”

                Spencer laughed, raising her eyebrows. “Guess they want us to feel at home. I’ll see you later, Melissa.

                Within a few minutes, Spencer was inside a limousine. The interior was incredible; the top was almost a mirror with retro lights that looked similar to stars accenting it. In the center on the side was a large cooler, filling with everything from water to champagne. The seats were leather and white, matching the exterior of the limo.

                Sitting in the center, talking to a man and a woman he didn’t recognize, was Toby. As soon as his eyes fell upon her, his eyes lit up. Her heart skipped a beat. He was really good pretending to be in love with her.

                Toby grinned softly. “Hi.” He gestured to the woman. “Spencer, this is Anna. She’s one of the show’s producers. This is Eddie, the manager.” His expression changed for just a deep moment in warning, so foolishly, Spencer moved closer to Toby and shook their hands.

                “Hi, Anna,” she greeted. “Pleasure, Eddie.”

                “Hello,” they both replied with smiles. Her face was average, but her lips were plump from obvious ejections and he looked to be in his late 30s with dyed brown hair.

                Spencer intertwined her fingers with Toby’s and he instantly rested his head on her shoulder. “You look handsome,” she whispered loud enough for Anna and Eddie to hear. After all, it wasn’t a lie. Toby responded warmly, wrapping his arms around her waist so that he could hoist himself up into her lap.

                She swallowed thickly at her best friend’s bold action, trying to ignore the fact like it felt incredible to be close to him, but she had to constantly remind herself that none of this was real, that this was for college money. But, was it hard to distinguish realism from fantasy, particularly when he was leaning close to her with that heavy look in his beautiful, green eyes. Then, his cheek was pressed against hers. She closed her eyes for a moment. Could they stay like this forever?

                “There’s a camera by the window,” he whispered into the entrance of her ear, snapping her back. She nodded in understanding a slight disappointment. Had she expected him to say something?

                “Sorry to intrude on the moment,” Anna said after a pause. She was holding a piece of paper and a pen. “But for the sake of the show’s introduction, how long have you two been together?”

                “One!” Spencer said immediately, overlapping Toby’s, “Five!”

                They exchanged worried glances for a minute, but Toby laughed and nudged her. She forced a laugh and played along. “One month and five days.”

                Anna and Eddie looked at them with cautious stares, making Spencer nervous. Everything about this whole situation made her nervous and Toby knew that. She calmed down when she felt his hand warm in hers, giving a comforting squeeze. “We like to keep track of every single day,” she explained as Toby leaned against her. “He writes them in the calendar I keep in my locker.”

                He laughed in agreement.

                “So,” Eddie continued. “How old are both of you?”

                “Sixteen,” Toby and Spencer answered at the same time. Anna smiled warmly at their joined responses.

                “You two have great chemistry,” she complimented. “I think our viewers are going to like you. We already have a very promising audience.”

                Toby looked at Spencer with an arched brow, amused. “So, how is this going to work?”

                “Flawlessly straight forward,” Eddie answered simply. “Most of the drama will be happening in the house itself. Not only do we bring in couples, but a few singles as well to get in between them. There will be challenges every week too and the winning pair gets a date in a certain selection. Some of your time will be spent away from challenges though because we have to wait a few days once the episode has aired to get viewers’ votes for removal.”

                Toby furrowed his brows. “Oh? So the viewer’s vote.”

                Eddie was the first to respond. “Yes.” There was a short pause. His gray eyes scanned to the couple across from him, turning to Anna with a questioning look. She smiled slightly in response to his expression and glanced at the tiny camera by the window.

                “Um,” Anna began, getting Toby and Spencer’s attention. “Would you two mind kissing? Just for a second or two. It was something we should have asked at auditions, but we needed footage for your introduction.” She nodded to the camera as if they didn’t know it was there in the first place.

                Spencer’s eyes widened in panic. She could feel Toby’s body go still. A strange feeling rushed through her in that spilt second: hope mixed with disappointment. Did she want to kiss him? Totally. But did she really want her first kiss with Toby, a boy she hadn’t even confessed her feelings to yet, to be in front of two complete strangers for a camera? Totally not.

                She looked at him worriedly and very closely, he turned around. Green eyes shining with nervousness and concern, his gaze locked with hers in a wordless exchange. Should they do this? Spencer meekly nodded, not wanting to blow their cover by saying no. Toby turned his head to glance at Anna and Eddie, who were curiously watching them now. He lightly bit his lip and sighed, though she was just frozen in that spot. She didn’t want to miss Toby’s reaction to this. Was he thinking the same thing she was?

                No. She brushed the thought away quickly. She knew he only viewed her as a friend; that was all that made sense for them.

                Since Spencer had forgotten how to move, Toby was the one to cup her face and lean in. She was startled by the feel of his hands against her face, but hid it, closing her eyes and remembering to lean forward too. The first thing to touch her overheated skin was his forehead. Her heart skipped a beat in her chest. Then, the tip of her nose brushed against his. Oh, this is really happening…

                She pressed her lips to his.

                His lips felt so soft against his, like golden silk mixed with velvet. As simple as that, all questions answered. Spencer Hastings was long gone.

                She was helplessly in love with her best friend.

                Biting back her every instinct to rope her fingers through his beautiful hair and kiss him until the world faded to nothing, pulling away.

                The kiss itself only lasted a second, but its affects remained. It was barely a peck, but her lips tingled and her heart pounded against her chest. Suddenly afraid to meet Toby’s eyes, she looked down.

                Spencer wasn’t aware that Toby was staring at her with a look mixed with wonder, awe and fear too.