‘How will we know the lines to say?’ a woman with deep brown skin and braids called out.
‘Don’t worry.When we did our trials for this activity, most couples picked the same films so we already have a list of the fifty most romantic scenes.I’ll give you an iPad with a mini script and you’ll be able to watch the clips to help you fine-tune your performance.’
‘Great!’ the woman replied.
‘You’ll have an hour to prepare, then each couple will perform on the stage over there.’ Sammie pointed to a platform that had been set up on the beach.‘And the winning couple will get a special prize.’
‘Oooh!’ the redhead called out again.
‘Oh, and as part of your prep, I’d also like you to introduce your match to the group.So tell us their name and three things that you’ve learned about them so far.That’ll help everyone in the group get to know each other better too.Any questions?’
‘How long do we have to come up with the film and scene idea?’ a black guy with low-cut salt-and-pepper hair asked.
‘Let’s say fifteen minutes.If you need longer, just let me know.’
‘Okay.’ He nodded.
‘Any other questions?’ Sammie said.I wanted to ask if I could sit the activity out completely, but I knew she wouldn’t agree.‘No?Okay, great!Pens and paper are on the tables beside you.Good luck!’
Ordinarily, I’d like this kind of thing.Even though my own love life was crap, that didn’t stop me from enjoying a good romcom, whether it was a book or a film.They gave me hope.Helped me to believe that one day I’d find my Mr Right.I was hoping that coming to this hotel would be my ticket to happiness, but it was just another reminder that fairytale endings didn’t exist.
Anyway, I was getting side-tracked.I needed to focus on the task.
‘So, come on then.’ I faced Jake.‘Tell me your favourite romance films.’
‘Don’t have any.’ He reached in his short pockets, pulled out his sunglasses then put them on.
‘Don’t believe you.’ I raised a suspicious eyebrow.‘A lot of your songs are romantic, so that had to come from somewhere.’
As soon as that sentence flew from my lips, my internal organs shrivelled up like dried raisins.I shouldn’t have said that.Now he’d know that I listened to his music and as I’d already realised, the guy had a giant ego.He didn’t need me to stroke it.
‘Alotof my songs, huh?’ He cocked his head and a smile tugged at his lips.‘To know that they’re romantic, you would’ve had to have listened to them.Iknewyou liked my music!’ he gloated.
I walked right into that one.
‘I don’t have to like them to be aware of them.When all the radio stations are playing them, it’s hard to escape.They get stuck in your head like those annoying earworms.’
‘Hmm-mm.’ He looked at me with suspicion.I was a rubbish liar so I shouldn’t be surprised that he didn’t believe me.
The truth was Ididlike his music, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.
‘Anyway, you probably didn’t write those songs, so it’d make sense that you’re a cynic when it comes to romance.’
‘I wroteallof my songs,’ he corrected.‘The solo releases anyway.When I was in the band, we had to do whatever we were told.’
‘Oh,’ I said, thinking that sounded awful.I wanted to know more, but seeing as this match was temporary, I didn’t have the right to ask him personal questions.
‘Yeah…’ His voice trailed off.‘I used to watch those kinds of films, but then…’ He paused again.‘Sammie said they had popular films on the list, so we should choose a classic.’
‘We could go forBridget Jones,’ I suggested.‘Like when Colin Firth’s character says he loves Bridget just the way she is.’
‘Maybe.’
‘Or the line in Jerry Maguire.’
‘Where Cuba Gooding Jr.says “show me the money!”?’ Jake laughed.
‘No!When Tom Cruise says “you complete me” and Renee Zellweger’s character says “you had me at hello”.’
