Episode 2: Too Hot Two Candles

The aftermath of the spooked out moment was a conversation and cuddles.

Michael promised, "I'll keep all the bad guys away from you. I'll check the locks with you. Come here so I can cuddle you."

I hopped on him and we spent the night in my room, watching the rain and holding onto each other.

Anna and I scheduled a meetup with Michael too, so she could officially "meet" my boyfriend. We had mutual friends and knew of each other before but now she would get to know him as my boyfriend.

But a week later on the Monday morning of the meetup, we got the text that we had to stay in as the rule of the second episode week's challenge from Fern.

"Hello Marie and Michael! We're all happy we got to have a short break from filming. We've rescheduled interviews to the mid-season mark. For the first challenge of episode two, we're doing TOO HOT TWO CANDLES! For the whole day, no body contact of any kind, but you will sit close to one another until later when you both have to compete in a video game slash trivia books challenge. Then at eight PM all lights go out, except for two candles. This requires both of you to be at home for the day."

I showed the text to Michael who was brushing his teeth.

He spat the toothpaste out and he gargled.

"I'm going to win," He said and waggled his eyebrows.

"Not if I do first," I said the same thing for the CrossFit Games and look where that got me.

There was a pause before we both frolicked in our laughter and games. Now that I'd gotten used to Michael's touch it would be hard to not touch him at all. Fern said there would be a penalty if we did touch each other, but surely they couldn't be that strict?

Now that I was more insecure with the threat of a stalker around, I relied on Michael's touch sometimes, when I got scared or anxious. But I wasn't going to go down without a fight. No matter what it took, I would do my best not to touch Michael.

--

They definitely were strict. Fern came in person to facilitate the first part, and whenever Michael and I got closer, she'd flick our wrists. That woman had brutal strength in her flicks.

I flinched as Michael got flicked again after I 'accidentally' grabbed Michael's hand. That was her way of punishing us. If one of us broke the rule, the other suffered.

"It's okay, I'd suffer again for Marie!" Michael nodded and did a war cry, making the cameraman focus on him.

He was such a natural with the cameras, I was surprised he wasn't an actor.

I laughed, reaching out for him again already forgetting the rule. Michael grit his teeth as I gasped, another harsh flick to his wrist.

"I'm so bad at this," I admitted.

"You really are," Michael said.

His wrist was a lot redder than mine. I wanted to blow cool breath over his wrist, help him wash it and put cream on it, but I couldn't do any of that right now otherwise his pain would get worse.

"Alright, time for the video game for Marie and the book along with trivia for Michael." Fern said, bringing both out.

Michael and I complained, "No!"

My task was to win a tournament cup on the Nickelodeon Kart Racers game. That was four whole races with three rounds each. I was an absolute beginner at gaming and Michael didn't like reading or trivia so it was a full on disaster.

Michael reached for the book, a frown on his face. A puff of air escaped his lips and he stretched his arms, knocking into mine. I reached for the laptop at the same time, bumping into him. Fern immediately flicked both of us, that little flick causing a band of pain around the area.

"Ow! I wasn't ready," I said, rubbing at the welt.

"Ninja Fern is always ready," Fern said, putting her fingers up.

It took me around half an hour to complete the tournament and even then I came last in almost every race, except for the very last one. I drove past into fifth place right before reaching the finish line. Instinctively, I grabbed Michael's free hand, his other hand was holding the book.

"Ah!" At first I made a sound of triumph at my being fifth place and then I regretted touching him.

Fern reached over ever so slowly this time to flick Michael.

I sacrificed myself, letting go of the gaming console and flinging my body over Michael.

"No more flicking!" I said, shielding him and receiving the flick.

My actions made my cheeks burn, bringing amusement and laughter from Michael, Fern, and the cameraman. I hid my face in the crook of Michael's arm for a few seconds before pulling away.

"You guys, it's not funny anymore, look at Michael's wrist, it's going to swell at any moment." I said.

"It's not that bad," Michael said, but I gave him a laser glare that shut him up.

"Oh, no, Michael does it really hurt?" Fern asked.

Michael feigned his wrist being bent and broken and he said, "Yeah, it kind of really hurts. I think I need Marie's help. Our first aid kit is in the bathroom."

"Oh, well we can take a break from filming." Fern said.

Relieved we got to take a break I almost skipped to the bathroom with Michael, only to slow myself down. After all, Michael had a 'swollen' wrist. I drew back, and I spoke with Michael.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"Mm," He nodded.

We reached the bathroom together going inside.

As soon as we closed the door, I jumped into Michael's arms, kissing him like there was no tomorrow.

I pulled back with another kiss, and I whispered against his neck, "Michael meter all filled up."

Michael tugged me back in, and he said, "Marie meter still a ways to go."

After our little bathroom tryst, we finished our challenge.

Michael had to answer trivia questions related to the book's content. I couldn't stop myself from howling with glee when Fern's face would go from a smile to a flat lip in less than five seconds when Michael got the question wrong. Every damn time.

"Which of these places did Fearless Freddy go? Frighting Town, Fleeting Town, Freighting Town, or Feating Town?

"Fleeting?"

"Wrong. The answer was Freighting Town."

Fern's lips fell flat on the "wrong." and I clapped loudly. He only got one question right and that was a simple question I could answer without even reading the book.

Finally, Fern and the cameraman left, just in time for the lights to go off. They made sure we were next to each other but not touching, each holding one candle. As they left, Michael winked at me in the dark and I knew what we were both going to do on the count of three.

One.

Michael bowed, putting his hand out.

Two.

I curtsied, doing a slow twirl.

Three.

The flames extinguished as we blew them away, leaving a trail of smoke. In an instant, we were tangled up together, right where we needed to be,

At last, the day left us in the darkness swaying in each other's arms to a sultry rhythm and blues song.