Second Chances

Day Two, Part Two - Growing Connections.

As Noah and I sit there quietly enjoying the view, a phone pings with the message tone. AJ shouts out and we rush to hear what will be on the cards today.

She reads the text aloud. "AJ as you are the newest islander you will have the opportunity to go on 3 dates, to get to know islanders of your choice. It is now time for you to make your selection. #topthree #whoyougonnapick."

She looks around at everyone's shocked but excited faces. Some are more excited than others, at the prospect of going on a date with her. I would like to be one of the three picked, as AJ was definitely one of the people I'd like to get to know in that more intimate one on one setting.
AJ looks around at the group, her eyes trail down my body just as they had done this morning. But then move past.

"The first person I'd like to take on this date is someone who has shown an interest since I came in..." She paused for dramatic effect. "Talia will you go on a date with me?"

A prickle in my chest surfaces for a moment as I wasn't picked first, but I remind myself that she still had two other choices. Talia nods and agrees excitedly, then AJ continues.

"The second person I'd like to take on a date is because we didn't have much of a chance to get to know each other in that way on our season, so that person is Tai."

He grins, fist bumping with Bruno. They already had history, so who knows how that would affect the date.

Perhaps I hadn't made that much of an impression on her as I thought. Damn!

"And the third person I'd like to take on a date is someone that has intrigued me, even more so since our brief interaction this morning..."
Her eyes meet mine and my heart skips a beat as she says my name. "Luna, will you be my final date?"

For once I don't have any witty or flirty remarks, so just smile and nod.
It felt great that I'd been chosen, but I also felt a little nervous about having to go last. If I wanted to make a big impression with her, I'd need to go hard as she would have had the other two dates to compare it to.

AJ receives another text, asking Talia and her to go and get ready to leave the villa. They walk off arm in arm.

There goes my opportunity to talk to AJ before anybody else, I wonder who to speak to or what to do while I wait for my date.
Chelsea was always my go to person on the outside for anything and everything. Although for some reason as I made my way over to her I felt nervous, possibly for the fact that I needed to see where her head was at as we might like the same boy.

I see she is on the day beds with Will, Miki and of course Levi was there too. She notices my approach and pats the empty space to the right of her, I look between her and Levi who was sitting on her left.

"Hi babes, can you come help me with something?" I ask, trying to subtly get her away from the group so I can chat with her privately.

"Sure bra. Anything for you." She gets up and I direct us to the beanbags.

As we sit down I begin to pick at the skin around my thumb nail.

"Luna, what's wrong?" Chelsea asks, once she is comfortable on the bag.

I looked up to see she had a worried look upon her face. "Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to chat with you." I quickly say, trying to make my voice cheery.

"You know I know you better than that hun. I see that you're picking at your nails and your voice went up an octave at the start of your sentence, which usually means something is up." She moves her beanbag closer to me, nudging my arm with hers. "What's up?"

I sigh. "I'm just gonna say this, but I don't want it to affect our friendship. I know you and Levi are hitting it off, but I think I may like him a little too."