Chapter Text
“So, it’s a reality show.” Scott said dryly, while flipping through the pamphlet that Scarlett just handed him.
“Think of it more as a documentary.” Scarlett, the creative director of the W Network, was currently trying to persuade Tessa and Scott to film a behind-the-scenes look at their upcoming Thank You Canada Tour.
“Scarlett, that’s a very sweet thought, but we already filmed a show in the past and it didn’t exactly paint either of us in the best light.” Tessa cautioned.
“Look,” Scarlett slid her black Burberry glasses halfway down her slim nose. “With retirement on the rise for you two, you might have to start thinking of other ways to make money. This tour is happening no matter what, so why not earn some extra cash in the process?”
Tessa and Scott exchanged glances of uncertainty. Honestly, Scarlett was right. What harm could possibly come out of this? When they filmed their first reality show, Tessa and Scott weren’t exactly the most mature people. They didn’t quite have their shit together, to put it lightly, but things were different this time. In fact, a documentary could help shine light to the aspects of skating that Tessa and Scott hope to improve in the future.
“Do you think we could have a minute to discuss this?” Tessa asked.
“Take all the time you need.” Scarlett began. “But I can assure you that this is a once in a lifetime offer that I wouldn’t advise passing up.”
Tessa flashed a faint smile and grabbed Scott’s hand, leading them into the hallway. The corridors of the W Network office were filled with promotional posters of the various TV shows that the network produced. In a weird way, it almost felt as if they were being interviewed by some Hollywood producer.
“T, you can’t be serious about this?” Scott questioned the second they made it into the hall. “You do remember that we have a whole team of skaters that would have to be okay with this.”
Tessa sighed. “Of course, but I think we could use this documentary to our benefit, to everyone’s benefit really. You always tell me that it’s our job to pave the way for tomorrow’s skaters, and what a great opportunity to show that! Think about all the exposure that community-funded skating clubs could receive from this.”
As Scott thought long and hard about what kind of answer he was supposed to give to that, his eyes stumbled across a poster for the reality show that they did years ago. In this particular poster, Scott was grabbing Tessa by the waist, with a completely posed facial expression. Tessa was holding a pair of bright white skates with orange laces that didn’t belong to either of them. The whole thing seemed very…fake.
Noticing that his eyes were drifting, Tessa turned around to see what Scott was staring at. When her eyes found the poster, she quickly understood the disgusted look on Scott’s face. There was a reason that neither of them ever watched that show.
“Scott,” Tessa cradled Scott’s face in her hands. “This isn’t going to be a repeat of that. I promise. It’s a way for us to do what we both want to do. To be role models for the next generation of skaters.”
There were plenty of things that Scott was good at. Skating, telling jokes, chugging beer like it was no one’s business, but saying no to Tessa was not one of those things. So whatever resentment he had for the W Network had to be put aside for now, because there’s no way he’s talking Tessa out of this show.
“So, is that a yes?” encouraged Tessa.
“Yes,” Scott sighed. “But only because I love you.”
“Ah!” Tessa beamed and placed a quick kiss on Scott’s lips.
“We’re in this together.” She assured him. “I really think this could be a great opportunity.”
Two weeks after their meeting with Scarlett, the camera crew made their first appearance. The crew came in to film something called a ‘confessional’, where each skater gets the chance to tell a little bit about themselves. This is supposed to make them relatable to the audience. At least that’s what Scarlett said.
“Good morning darlings!” Scarlett exclaimed as she met with the skaters.
Her outfit was absurd, as usual. She was wearing a black fur coat (faux fur because she wouldn’t dare risk her connections with the people at PETA), a tan silk jumpsuit, an obnoxiously huge pair of Tom Ford glasses and black Louboutin heels. She looked like Paris Hilton in the body of a 50 year old.
“So nice to finally meet you!” Kaitlyn Weaver was the first to greet her. The other skaters followed suit shortly after.
After Scarlett made small talk with everyone, she was in full-on manager mode.
“Robert, get the green screen set up over there. Larry, get the mics. Natalie, bring me my coffee!” Scarlett commanded.
“Um, my name’s Nora.” the young intern admitted sheepishly.
“Your name can be Kim Kardashian West for all I care, but if you don’t bring me my coffee soon, you’re going to be out of a job.” Scarlett scolded.
As Nora quickly shuffled off, Tessa approached the intern.
“Hi, Nora? I’m Tessa.” She introduced herself. “Is Scarlett always like this? You’re not her slave and she shouldn’t be treating you like that.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t think Scarlett would like me talking to you.” Nora fumbled with a paper coffee cup as one fell to the floor.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll tell her that it was my idea.” Tessa reassured her and bent down to pick up the cup, but before she stood up again, Nora was already gone.
At this moment, Tessa began to wonder if this documentary was really a good idea after all.
Tessa and Scott were the first to be put in the ‘confessional room’. They would be asked some questions about the tour, their partnership, and future plans. Sounded easy enough. Well, it would have been easy if Scarlett wasn’t the one asking them questions.
“So, you two are a couple, right?” Scarlett asked in a deadpan tone.
“Actually,” Tessa began.
“So, you’re single?” Scarlett interrupted.
Tessa and Scott stared at each other for a minute, fumbling to come up with the correct answer. They absolutely despised this question. No matter how many times they told reporters they were single, the questions kept coming up. They weren’t lying, they were technically single. Neither one of them were married. Granted, they just had sex this morning (twice actually), they live in the same house, wake up next to each other, and discuss the names for their future children, but still, they were single. Until the day Scott gets down on one knee to propose, they don’t owe the world shit in regard to their relationship.
“Why don’t we focus on the tour, eh?” Scott deflected the question.
“Uh-huh” Scarlett replied deadpan, while scrolling through her iPhone. “So, what are your aspirations for this tour?”
“Well, we truly have the sweetest fans and we just want to be able to thank them for their continual—” Tessa’s speech was interrupted by Scarlett.
“What do you think of ‘The Real Skaters of TYT’, you know, for the name of the show?” Scarlett finally looked up from her phone.
Scott had a look of disgust on his face. This woman just interrupted Tessa, his Tessa and nobody interrupts his Tessa.
“Scarlett, you just interrupted her.” Scott shot back. “When we agreed to do this thing, you said it had to do with the tour and Tessa was trying to explain that.”
Everything Scott was saying seemed to go right through Scarlett as she became quickly distracted when Kaetlyn Osmond walked by.
“Kaet, sweetie, what do you think of the name for our show?” Scarlett followed after the young skater, leaving Tessa and Scott alone in the confessional room.
Scott could sense Tessa’s anxiety, so he began gently rubbing her knee.
“You okay?” He asked gently.
“Yeah, can you just take this off me please?” Tessa pointed to the mic pack on her back.
This was going to be one long tour.