That evening, Reese sits with Contestants 14 and 45 again. The only difference is they’re just three chairs away from Rebecca. They’re so close, in fact, that she can hear parts of their conversation.

  “It will be like…” Rebecca hears Contestant 45 say, “…hope it goes viral.”

  Contestant 14 is harder to understand. “Right, mate? Right, man?” That’s all she can make out of what he says.

  He looks at Reese like he’s everything he aspires to be. It’s clear even from a distance, though, that they both know when the time comes, one of them will kill the other. Contestant 14 is vicious. Reese likes that. Makes things easier, Rebecca supposes.

  She sits alone, until Vanessa takes the seat next to her. Rebecca isn’t sure she’s ready for a conversation with her, but Vanessa doesn’t give her the chance to refuse. She just speaks—and her words take Rebecca by surprise.

  “I don’t know how to say this, so I’ll just say it: people out there think it’s weird that you haven’t said anything about what’s happening between you and Reese. You haven’t posted about it. You haven’t responded to any comments tagging you. You haven’t even talked about it with any of us. There are bets online on whether you’re actually a person or some AI.”

  Rebecca feels like someone just poured a bucket of cold water over her. She’s weird now? A robot?

  “Nobody shares their personal life online.”

  “Did you fall on your head this morning? What about your boyfriend?”

  Rebecca gasps, just slightly.

  “I’m not trying to offend you, okay? I’m teaching you how to be a human being, damn it. I’ve met people like you, but I thought they were all nerds, not dancers.”

  “People like me?”

  “Yes. Walking flesh-and-blood machines. In their case, math machines. In yours, a dancing machine. But that’s all you are. A machine with a single purpose. Everything else is a waste of time. Who raised you like that?”

  Rebecca doesn’t know what to say. Her cheeks burn. The numbers 23 and 38 flash on the screen, but she’s too thrown off by the conversation to pay attention.

  “The people watching this show don’t care about what I have to say about—”

  “Come on, girl. I’m trying to be real with you.” Rebecca turns to Vanessa so quickly her neck cracks. “I thought you were real. At least Reese wouldn’t shut his mouth about how genuine and true to yourself you were.”

  “When did he say that?”

  “During the short period of time I hung out with him.”

  The answer disappoints Rebecca. “Look where being real has got me.”

  Vanessa smiles.

  “There she is.” A pause. “Tell me, did you have anyone outside this place? Friends? A boyfriend?”

  Rebecca doesn’t answer. That’s enough for Vanessa.

  “I didn’t,” she continues. “Yes, I had friends, but at the end of the day, I was completely alone. I’d come home and there wouldn’t be anyone to watch a movie with me, or anyone to cook for. If something came up, I had to deal with it on my own.” Not even her eyebrow twitches as she exposes herself like that. “Did you have someone? Do you think the people watching this show have someone? None of us do. We’re all trying to connect. The only difference is, we can help them with that.”

  Rebecca straightens her back.

  “I don’t agree. Just because I’m here doesn’t mean I have to change or conform to make other people happy.” She swallows. “Maybe you’re right—I’m too obsessed with one goal. I liked it. And I lost it. And now I’m here. I don’t care if people understand me or not.”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “You know what I think? I think you’re desperate to be liked. That’s why you pushed so far with your dancing. When people see you on stage, they love you. Ballet is beautiful, and so are you. I’ve seen your videos—you look like a fathered angel.” She tilts her head. “But when you’re not dancing, you’re just you. And you’re so afraid that people won’t like you that you push everyone away. Even Reese.”

  “I did that for a reason.”

  “Don’t worry. I think you were right in doing what you did.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes. Everybody loves him now. He’s the poor victim, somehow. They forget he cheated on you first.”

  Rebecca swallows. She hadn’t forgotten—how could she? But she preferred not to think about it.

  “The thing is, I despise the guy. Now I see it so clearly. It’s better that you pulled away. Besides, his fans are like… a cult.”

  Rebecca lifts her back off the chair. “What do you mean?”

  “Exactly what I said. They do everything he asks. He uploads a story asking for ten new picks, and he gets twenty and a whole new guitar. Just before this, he got this huge package. Didn’t you see him? And now it’s not just outside—people here are doing the same. He’s a master manipulator.”

  Rebecca can’t help but let out a small chuckle.

  “‘Master manipulator’ sounds a bit much. Reese is persuasive, and he can be bossy, but he’s not a bad person. His intention never is to hurt anybody.”

  “Oh no. You too? Girl, I thought you’d opened your eyes.”

  “He isn’t what you think. When you really get to know him, you see that he’s hardworking and doesn’t give up. He has faith in himself, but also in others.”

  “Or that’s what he made you believe.”

  “No. I don’t think so.”

  “Then why hasn’t he forgiven you? What you did was for a good reason.”

  Rebecca’s eyes widen. It’s the first time someone has understood why she did what she did. But Vanessa’s question is the same one she’s been asking herself. And yet, saying it out loud makes it real in a way she isn’t prepared for.

  “I don’t know. He probably has his reasons.”

  “Of course he has a reason—he wants to win. He used you to get this far, and now he doesn’t need you anymore. You gave him the perfect out.”

  “That’s not it,” Rebecca says, firmly. “First of all, what do you even mean by ‘this far’? There are 29 contestants left.”

  Second of all, he’s not even mad at her. He just doesn’t love her anymore. “You’re not the woman I thought you were.” She keeps that point to herself.

  “You’re still in love with him.”

  “So?” Rebecca holds Vanessa’s gaze with more defiance than she should.

  Vanessa watches her carefully before shaking her head. “I don’t get it, that’s all. But if you’re fine with it...”

  “Seriously, you don’t get it?” Rebecca asks. “I thought we were being real.”

  Vanessa’s lips slide into a resigned smile. “Okay, you got me there. I saw the appeal once, but not anymore. I thought he was deeper than he is. More in tune with his feelings.”

  “In tune with his feelings or not, that doesn’t change the fact that he always treated me with care and respect.” Rebecca sighs. “And you know what? I think the viewers hate it.”

  Vanessa hesitates for a fraction of a second before scoffing. “Well, I hate it too,” she finally says. “You sound like a religious fanatic. Brainwashed, girl. Just like those jerks.” She gestures at Reese and the contestants around him. Contestants 14 and 45 aren’t the only ones anymore.

  Reese doesn’t pay attention to any of them—or to Rebecca, for that matter. He’s too busy checking his phone, typing, scrolling, brows knitting together, foot tapping on the floor. What is he doing? Rebecca can’t stand not knowing.

  “Stop looking at him! You gotta be strong.”

  “I am being strong.”

  “Listen to me when I tell you—you’re better off without him.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “Please tell me you don’t still think he has feelings for you.” She rolls her eyes. “Oh my God, you’re such a cutie pie. He doesn’t. He never did. It’s not your fault. Love isn’t real. It was invented to keep marriages going.”

  "I appreciate that you want to teach me how to be a human being," Rebecca says, tinged with sarcasm, "but I’m fine. I’m still really sad." Just thinking about Lena makes her throat ache, so she doesn’t say her name. "But I’ve come to terms with the fact that…" She stops. Her first impulse is to say ‘I don’t want to live without ballet’, but instead she finishes the sentence with: "I have to trust."

  “Trust what?”

  Rebecca studies the floor, as if searching for answers. “My instincts. My heart. That’s part of opening up too, isn’t it?”

  “That’s the part that gets you hurt later. I wouldn’t recommend it.”

  The steel door swings open, and Contestant 23 steps through. Rebecca never even heard a sound from the battle.