Runner Up (26 page)

“So Anthony, this has been quite a year for you. You were third runner up on the Soulmate TV show and
were certain you wouldn’t want anything to do with the show again, heart-broken and vocal about it at first. What
made you change your mind and be, in essence, the Star of the next season?” Randall asked, he had the showman
smile as always.
“Well, it wasn’t an easy decision, I was a bit raw after the first show and I knew that with the added fame,
dating was going to be strange, I had girls calling me at all hours, complete strangers that were proposing to me. It
was surreal and I decided to jump back on the horse again when the show called back the third time.” Anthony
said. His hair had grown a little longer; he looked a bit disheveled and sad to me. I hoped he wasn’t sad but I had to
let the thought go. He was not my responsibility anymore.
“The third call? What did you say the previous two times?” Randall questioned.
“I said ‘no way’ the first, and ‘I’d think about it’ was my second reply. They gave me a week or so between
calls. They let me mull over it. They totally knew how to talk me into it gradually.” He grinned and I remembered
that weird punch in the gut feeling that smile would always do to me. It didn’t work this time. I let out a breath I’d
been holding a second, a bit grateful to have really let him go.
“So let’s talk about the final two girls. You were sharing with me before the show you have been really
struggling with the hard choice you made at the end. Tell me about that last week.”
“When I was finally able to watch the show, I became aware of the personality traits of both girls when
they weren’t with me. Perhaps that was the biggest issue. The fact that America got to see more of the girls than I
did, behind-the-scenes, in stressful situations, in boredom, some ladies were kind and some pulled out their claws.”
“While dating Hannah we had such an amazing friendship that was building into something that was felt by
me, when we were in the rainforest I broke the TV show rule by whispering to her that I was falling for her. It was
true, I was and I knew from her that it was mutual.”
“You told her you loved her?” The host repeated.
“In so many words, I did. At that point in the show Desiree and I were flirting pals but she began to turn
up the heat. I think she was noticing I was going through the motions on our dates. It is hard to date so many
women when you have sort of decided who you want to be with.” He said this last line and his forehead began to
furrow, like he was stressed about something.
“So you had decided at that point to choose Hannah as your Soulmate? It was still weeks away from the
ending?” Randall asked to spur him on.
“Yes, until the visit to Desiree’s parents, I was still planning on picking Hannah. We were such a match, I
was beginning to envision our lives together and we really did start making future plans after finishing the show.”
He was talking fast which wasn’t like him. I was trying to ignore what he was saying, like it had no affect on me, but
I felt moisture running down my cheek. Chrissy joined me on the couch and swiped it away for me.
“What happened at Desiree’s house?”
“She seduced me, short and simple. All my vows and promises smashed in a stupid night of too much wine
and a competitive woman.”
“Competitive? You are saying that Desiree seduced you to win you, not to fall in love with you.” The host
insinuated well. This was feeling a bit rehearsed to me.
“Yes, I look back on it now and all the suggestions and innuendo started after I began backing off. I
watched the film and saw Desiree’s acting completely different on the show than she ever did on our dates.”
“So if you were in love with Hannah, why didn’t you just tell her you were sorry, and that it was a bit of
slip-up? If you would have picked her at the end you could have told her that you would never do it again. It’s not
that she didn’t know you were ‘dating’ other women.”
“In my family our beliefs are that if you sleep with someone you marry them. We did not use protection
and Desiree’ may have been pregnant. I wanted to do the honorable thing by the time the show ended.”
“The week after you slept with Desiree you asked Hannah’s father for his blessing. Were you still
undecided at that point?”
“Yes, I truly loved Hannah, but I couldn’t deny that I had been with someone else. My conscience won
over my heart.” I was looking at the TV but it was a blur through my tears. I was not in love with him anymore but
this just stirred the pain around in my chest for fun.
What is the point of all this?
I turned to my parents. “I don’t want to watch anymore.”
“It’s almost over dear.”
There was silence on TV as Anthony got all misty and it felt like another attempt to pluck at my heart
strings. It only worked a little, since I was already stirred up.
“So what you are saying is that you still love Hannah?”
“Yes, I do.” He said emphatically. He eyes never wavering.
“What about Desiree?”
“She and I decided that we were not in love and we parted ways. I admit to calling her out on being
competitive and wanting to be on television more than she wanted me personally. She confessed that all of that
was true.”
“So you broke the heart of the girl you actually loved and now you are without the one you actually
picked. This has not been ideal for you.” Randall said in a strange voice. Sometimes I doubted he had a soul.
“No indeed, I am just desperate to try and make this right to Hannah. I have no idea how.” Anthony said.
He was wringing his hands nervously.
“Are you and Hannah communicating?”
“Not really, we have only spoken a few words to each other since the show ended. You saw most of them
on the after show. She wants nothing to do with me.”
“I would like now to divert from this topic to share something with you from the Parker household we
received a few days ago. We did not know how to move forward with it until Anthony agreed to this interview. I
would like to play it now.” Randall said quickly and cued the crew.
The screen behind them comes to life and I was shocked to see Chrissy again on my television. I gave her a
look on the couch to clear some confusion in my head. She just grinned and pointed back to the TV. I watched as
she spoke.
“I am Chrissy Parker, Hannah Parker’s cousin from the show Soulmate. I came on this station a few
months ago, made some remarks about my cousin’s relationship with Anthony Capriccio, and lied about many
things. I was never told that they were intimate. In fact I was told the opposite. I made up the part about the
pregnancy and abortion to get paid from the network. I have since offered the money back and also wanted this
chance to clear the names of both Hannah and Anthony in my allegations. I regret that I acted foolishly out of
jealousy and anger when my cousin, who was like a sister to me, came home from the show and couldn’t tell me
about what happened. I was petty and stupid and I have seen in many ways how my lies affected both of them. It
was both thoughtless and reckless. I would like to apologize on air for all the pain I have caused. Please forgive me,
Hannah and Anthony. America I am very sorry for lying to you.”
The host panned back to Anthony and his face was sober.
“I did not expect that.” Anthony said.
“We didn’t here at the network either. But we wanted a chance to clear the rumors away. The network is
also sorry for any part of ours that contributed to the spread of false information.”
“Thank you.” Anthony said gravely. I could tell he was processing things like I was right now.
“So we only have a minute before the show ends but I hope that you can find some solace now in knowing
where your heart is leading you. Will you attempt to win back Hannah’s heart? Is she your Soulmate?” Randall
asked using every ounce of charm he had.
“I believe she is. I will be trying every thing in my power to talk with her again. I am hoping that by sharing
my heart tonight that she knows that I love her still and I want another chance.” Anthony said and smiled humbly.
The show ended and I was flabbergasted. My brain was spinning with info. I looked over to Chrissy and
said the first thing that popped into my head.
“You gave them all the money back? What about your car?” I grinned at her, crawled a few steps across
the room, and gave her a random hug.
“They didn’t ask for the money back after I sent them a letter about wanting to take back the lies I told.
Instead they sent me a video camera and told me to send in a confession of my lies and a public apology. They told
me to keep it a secret and to send it back to them when I got it perfect. I took like 40 takes. They actually sent me
another check for ten thousand dollars for the scoop on it all being a lie. They are whacko! I decided today, if it’s
okay with you, that I donate the ten thousand dollars to the homeless shelter downtown in your name.” Chrissy’s
face looked happy and lighter after the confession. You could tell she wanted that pain off her chest.
“Wow, Chrissy. I don’t know what to say.”
“Just nod, and cry a little, a happy cry this time.” She said as we shared a bear hug. Mended fences are so
much stronger than the one you build the first time.
“Ok.” I agreed and let the tears flow.
The media storm did not take long to find me. I stayed the night at my parents after a late night talking
with everyone. We discussed everything from the love confessions of Anthony to my new relationship to Jackson
and what I was going to do about Tony wanting to text me now. Argh!
The cameras showed up again at my parent’s front door and I could not leave. I wanted to go back to my
home and Chrissy and I tried a foolhardy plan of trying to back up slowly so they would move out of the way.
They outsmarted our plan by not moving – foiled again.
Chrissy and I gave a hug pose to the cameras before going back inside. At least everyone would know that
our relationship had healed, if people still cared about the comings and goings of boring Hannah Parker.
My dad called the show back to ask for protection from the media hounds, but they informed him the
show was no longer responsible for paying for security. My dad hung up and called the local police.
I called Jackson on my cell to warn him not to come to my parents looking for me.
“Hi beautiful.” He said slowly, something strange in his voice.
“Hiya Handsome, I just called to warn you not to come to my parents today. Our plans are changed. The
media hounds are back.”
“Yea, I figured that would happen after last night.” He said a bit dejectedly, it was very unlike him.
“Stupid Soulmate, gosh I wish that all this drama would end, it’s over and done. Why can’t they just leave
me alone?” I said lightly but my heart was wondering why Jackson sounded so down.
“Are you okay Zee. You don’t sound like yourself today.” I asked.
“Well, I watched the special on last night. Ruby called me and told me it was on. I guess it just got me in a
panic. It is what it is.” He said, trying to sound more chipper but not quite reaching it.
“Jackson, I said I love you because I do. I was not waiting around with baited breath for some guy on a TV
show to change his mind. If anything I never would have met you if I hadn’t been on the show. I would be in New
York awkwardly single and chasing some photography job, I am sure. I love you, Jackson Zyskowski! Now cheer
up. I will find a way to come over if I can lose the Paparazzi.” I said firmly, I hoped he was really listening.
I make a few cheesy kiss noises into the phone until he laughed and we said goodbye. I hated to put him
through this mess too.
So aggravating
.
I was trying to shove away any anxious thoughts and took deep breaths until the police arrived. I
attempted to leave in the chaos and my dad’s mustang stalled out in the driveway. My dad ran out and popped the
hood and was lost to us for the rest of the day.
“Lost in tinkering.” I told my mother.
I decided this week it was time to buy a car, my own car. I called Ruby and asked if she could come and
get me at a neighbor’s house. I snuck through the backyard wearing a wig that looks like Chrissy’s short hairdo. I
waited next to the garage and jumped into Ruby’s car when she arrived. My heart actually pounded like I was in a
stupid spy movie while I waited for my ride.
How silly is this?
I spent the rest of the evening with Jackson watching movies and hiding out in the Bliss House. I spent
some quality time reminding Jackson how much I cared. I got lost in his eyes a few times.
Tomorrow was car shopping, Chrissy was going to pick me up at the Tasty Twirl, ice cream shop, so I
could avoid the paparazzi knowing where Jackson lived. I was really ready for this to be over.
* * * * *
While car shopping I got three texts from Anthony asking to talk. I responded all three times saying the
same thing.
‘I am seeing someone new.’
He was not getting the hint. I felt something brewing; something inside me was prepping me for another
face-to-face with Tony. I focused on the task of buying a car but my thoughts were stirring. I was praying every few
minutes for God to help me handle the situation maturely and peacefully.
Chrissy was an excellent partner for car shopping and my father showed up half way through the day to
start intimidating the sales crews to give us a good deal. He was an expert haggler and soon I had a new vehicle to
drive home, a very practical sedan with a big trunk that would fit all my camera gear. It was silver with navy trim. I
liked it; it was simple and suited me nicely.
We drove home in three separate cars and I got a surprise when a TV van was parked just outside my
rental house.
“Hi Sandy, I see you have found my hideout.” I waved as I got out of my new car. Grrr.
“Why would you be hiding out sweetie, no one has hurt you dear, we were just hoping for a little one-onone about your feelings about Tony and his announcement last night. Did you watch it?”
“Yes, I did see it and other than that I have no comment.” I squeezed myself past the camera guy; my keys
were jangling in my hand as I nervously tried to find the right key for the door. I was now wondering about getting
a guard dog or two.
“We can play this easy or hard. I don’t think anyone has a clue where you live right now.” Sandy Thomas’s
voice was low and conniving … I took a deep breath and turned around.