The Islanders were on the daybeds discussing the new arrivals.“Well, this stinks.” Elladine pouted. “We’ve had five seconds of peace, and now we’ve got new islanders changing it up?”

Nicky put an arm around her. “The course of genuine love never runs smooth, and the course of Love Island is like sandpaper.”

“Come on, guys!” AJ clapped her hands. “You don’t think it’s exciting? The whole point of being here is to meet new people.”

“AJ’s right, and as Rian said, always says, there is no use worrying about something you can’t control,” Tai said.

Bill started ticking things off on his fingers. “You’re more prepared. You’ve explored plausible options and maybe made a plan…”

“You’re more likely to have anticipated outcomes,” Elladine added.

“Good one,” Bill nodded approvingly.

“Ugh, stop!” Tai said, his face wrinkled up, “Now you are making me nervous. Rian, back me up here.”

She smiled. “Sometimes the worry is good, like when you have a test coming, and it pushes you to study. But in a situation like this… we can only take it as it comes. We know the new Islanders are coming. We don’t know who they are or who they might be interested in. So there is no sense in worrying about it.”

“What would you do if they took an interest in you?” Harry asked.

Rian shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s like asking me what I would do if aliens landed on the roof terrace.”

Bill smiled, “What would you do?”

“Couple up with them.” Rian teased. Bill looked shocked. “But seriously, I don’t know. That’s the point.”

“I think we need a distraction,” Tai said. “Let’s play hide and seek.”

“What are we, children?” Harry scoffed.

“It’d be better than sitting here all day,” Camilo said.

AJ sprung to her feet. “I think it’s a great idea. Everyone has to play. It’s my Birthday. I order it.”

Nicky smiled. “By the birthday decree, it must be done.”

AJ grabbed Rian’s arm, pulling her to her feet. “There, we have our first volunteer.”

“Who else wants to play?” Tai asked.

Seb raised his hand. Everyone looked at him with surprise. “What? I think it could be fun.”

The other islanders raise their hands. Tai clapped his hands. “Right! We’re playing classic here, no mods. Whoever’s ‘it’ counts to 100. Everyone else hides. If you get caught, you head back to the lawn.”

“Who’s it?” Seb asked.

“Rian and I can be it.” Harry volunteered.

“Babe, please ask before volunteering me,” Rian said.

Harry waved her off, “Semantics, I know you don’t mind. Besides, it’s easier to win with two people. We can cover more ground.” Seb gave Rian a worried glance.

“It’s settled then. Harry and Rian will be ‘it’ while the rest of us hide.” Elladine said.

Viv clapped her hands. “Oh, I feel like a kid again!”

“Me too,” AJ grinned.

“AJ, you are a kid.” Seb teased. AJ rolled her eyes.

“Are we all ready?” Tai asked.

Rian and Harry covered their eyes. Rian could hear the Islanders scramble away as they look for places to hide as Harry counted. Once he got to a hundred, Rian opened her eyes. Harry grinned at her. “We’re going to rock this.” He leaned over, pressing a kiss to her lips. “I’ll check the roof terrace.”

Rian headed over to the hideaway. When Harry kissed her, she felt… nothing. It left her wondering if it was a bad or good thing. She heard splashing coming from the hot tub and headed that direction. She couldn’t help but chuckle as she walked over to Iona and Camilo soaking in the hot tub they weren’t even trying to hide.
“You guys are so caught.” Rian teased.

“Come join us?” Iona asked.

“Sure for a few minutes,” Rian said, slipping into the hot tub.

“Good, Rian can settle it for us,” Iona said triumphantly.

“What’s going on?” Rian asked.

“I think it’s stupid to wash your legs,” Camilo explained. “You have soapy water running over them. They get clean just fine.”

“I bet you don’t wash your feet either,” Iona said with a shudder.

“Is this what you two are arguing about?” Rian chuckled.

“What do you think, Rian? Wash? Or No?” Camilo asked.

“Camilo, wash your legs and feet.” Rian rolled her eyes. “As riveting as this conversation is, I’m gonna have to ask you two to head the lawn. I found you.”

“Aw,” Iona stuck her tongue out at Rian, who laughed as she pulled herself out of the hot tub. She had other Islanders to seek.

Rian headed to the bedroom next. Upon first inspection, it seemed no one was there. But something seemed off. She saw what looked to be a person in one bed, pulling the duvet off revealed a pile of pillows. Trickery. Rian smiled. She loved a bit of mystery and looked around, debating the next place to check before dropping to the floor beside the bed. She looked over to see Viv’s face a few inches away, with Seb hiding behind her. “Found you.”

“Aw, we even made a decoy and everything.” Seb pouted as he and Viv climbed from beneath the bed.

“I think I understand why cats like to be under beds. That was so cozy.” Viv said.

“I wouldn’t put it that way,” Seb said.

“What, you don’t like being pressed up against me?” Viv teased. Rian giggled.

“That’s a whole other question,” Seb said, blushing.

“You two are adorable,” Rian said.

“Um, Rian?” Viv said, looking at her with concern. “Seb told me what happened with Harry. When we were coupled up, he mentioned winning often, but I thought… it was just bants. We care about you, Rian, so if you feel uncomfortable with anything, let us know. We’ll talk to him.”

Rian reached over to pull Viv into a quick hug. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“We’re caught, so I guess we should head to the lawn,” Seb said, taking Viv’s hand. They walked out of the bedroom. Rian figured she might as well check the dressing room just in case, and she wanted to change into a dry suit anyway after the hot tub. She heard a noise from the cupboard as she walked in. Standing in front of her wardrobe for a moment as Rian debated. Should she whip all the cabinets open? Pretend to be a ghost? But then an evil thought entered her mind, and she smirked.

She opened her wardrobe and angled the door before taking another swimsuit out. She heard a gasp as she changed her outfit behind the door, seemingly absentminded of the fact she was giving whoever was hiding a bit of a peep show just giving glimpses of skin here and there. Once she was finished, she walked over to the wardrobe and opened the door. “Busted.”

The person stepping out of the wardrobe was no one she had met and realizing what he had just seen. She blushed a fantastic shade of red. The guy seemed to recover faster than she did.
“Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Rafi.”

Rian looked at him, and against her better judgment, blushed again but steadied her voice. “Hi, I’m Rian.”

“I can’t say I could have asked for a better-looking girl to find me. You look incredible. The show was enjoyable too.” Rafi teased.

Rian gestured to the wet swimsuit that was hanging. “I had a little hot tub time with Iona and Camilo when I found them… not hiding.” She rolled her eyes playfully. “How long were you hiding?”

“Not long.” Rafi grinned. “I thought I’d join the game and give you a fun surprise to find.” He winked at her. She blushed again, mentally cursing herself to stop. Who was this guy? And why did he affect her this way? “I’ve wanted to meet you for ages, Rian.” He said. “Watching you on the telly. I knew we’d get along.”

“What made you think that?” Rian asked.

“The first challenge.” Rafi said, “That secret was racy but honest. I like that. I knew then you were my kind of girl.” He sighed. “You caught me. I should head over to the lawn, right? Unless…” he gave her a sly look. “You want to chat with me a bit more.”

Rian shrugged. “Sure, why not? Follow me.”

Rian headed up to the roof terrace. She figured if Harry was there, she could introduce them. If not, she could get to know Rafi a bit better. There wasn’t anyone there. Rafi sat down, patting the seat next to him. Rian sat down next to him. “So let’s get to know each other while we have the chance. Ask me anything you like.”

Rian smiled. “OK, where are you from?”

“Born and raised in Bromley. But my parents are from Egypt. Growing up in London, it’s so loud there.” Rafi said.

Rian nodded, “I know I moved from the country to London for work. It’s so loud.”

They took a moment to enjoy the silence before Rafi broke it. “It’s strange for things to be so quiet. The view here is amazing. Have you gotten used to it?”

“Not yet. I consider myself lucky to enjoy it,” Rian replied. “So I’m sure you know I’m a scientist. What do you do?”

“Researching cancer cures.” Rafi smiled. “Amazing work. I’m an actor.”

“Really, anything I might have seen?” Rian asked.

“Probably not. I’m just getting started,” Rafi explained. “I’ve mostly been modeling so far and doing some singing and dancing.”

“Triple threat.” Rian teased. Rafi smiled.

“Out of thousands, they chose us to be on the show.” Rafi mused. “We must be something special.”

“I don’t think being picked for Love Island makes me special.” Rian said thoughtfully, “I think it means I make for good TV. Those are different things.”

“Come off it, Rian! People don’t want to watch ordinary people doing ordinary stuff.” Rafi said. “They want to watch hot people doing cool stuff. So that makes you hot and cool.”

Rian shook her head. “You don’t even know me.”

“I’d like to,” Rafi said. Rian looked at him with surprise. The honesty in his voice was tugging at her. “If you’d like that.”

Her brain told her to be careful but ignoring it, she smiled, “I think I’d like that.”

His smile was blinding. “Good. I can’t wait, but I suppose we should get back to the others.”