Chapter Text
Dr. Jemma Simmons slammed the door of the apartment she shared with her roommate. She tossed her jacket and purse on the kitchen counter and huffed in anger. Jemma’s roommate, Daisy Johnson, looked up from her laptop and pulled her earbuds out to address her angry friend.
“I take it your presentation did not go well, huh?” Daisy tentatively asked.
Jemma threw herself down on the couch next to Daisy and handed her a beer. “Of course it did. But that wanker, Nathanson, took all the credit and froze me out of the Q&A with the executives. He stole my notes during lunch so he was prepared for every question they threw at him. Maria Hill shook his hand when it was all over but walked right by me.”
Daisy rubbed Jemma’s shoulder with a sympathetic smile. “We’ll just have to find a way to get Nathanson back. Want me to hack into his work computer and leave him a present?”
Jemma chuckled and gave Daisy’s hand a slight squeeze with her own. “You know how I feel about being involved with your bad girl shenanigans. I’ll figure something out, I suppose.”
The two clinked bottles and took a sip of their beers. “You can’t let him get to you, Jemma. He needs you to dumb things down so he can understand what he’s stealing from you. Just keep what you say to him at nerd level 100 and he’ll start falling apart. Then you can swoop in and save the day.”
Jemma thought for a moment, pondering the truth bomb Daisy just dropped. “Daisy, I love you, you little genius! I’ve made it so easy for Nathanson to steal my work! I should just talk to him like I used to talk to my professors and watch his little head explode.”
Jemma let out a fake evil laugh which sounded more like a terrible Jabba the Hutt impression than a menacing laugh. Daisy rolled her eyes but smiled at her best friend.
“Of course! Oh, so you know how much you love me right?” Daisy asked.
“What do you need now?” Jemma leaned away from Daisy with a confused look.
Daisy grabbed her laptop and opened a browser window. “So you know they’re bringing back ‘Eligible Bachelor,’ right?”
“That god awful show we used to watch and make fun of how pathetic the girls were so they could get their 15 minutes of fame and get invited back to be on ‘Hottest Bachelorette?’ Looks like we have something to look forward to on Monday nights again.” Jemma smiled, thinking of the fun they used to have before Nathanson made her life a living hell.
“Exactly! So you wouldn’t mind auditioning for the show with me, right? Thanks, Jem! You’re the best! I already signed us up and the auditions are tomorrow!” Daisy said as she jumped over the back of the couch and ran into her bedroom.
Jemma’s jaw dropped as realization set in. Daisy signed the two of them up to audition for a reality dating show. A show where the final pairing was predetermined to maximize broadcast ratings. A show where women acted out all of the terrible and untrue stereotypes that have been placed on women. A show that her friends, family, and coworkers would watch. Jemma jumped to her feet and walked over to the closed door to Daisy’s room. She banged on the door and shouted, “DAISY JOHNSON! WHAT THE F…”
“I love you!” Daisy interrupted from the safety of her room. “It’ll be fun! And who knows? Maybe we’ll meet the man of our dreams?”
“Not bloody likely,” Jemma muttered under her breath.
Daisy poked her head out of her room and gave her a mischievous smile. “Just you wait, Dr. Simmons.”
“I’ll have you know that I don’t need a show to find a man. I’m quite capable on my own. Yes, I’ll admit it’s been a few months since I went out on a date, but still, I don’t need a scripted and outright terrible television program to meet someone. And neither do you.” Jemma lectured, using the authoritative voice that Daisy often teased her for.
“Come on, Professor Simmons. It’ll be fun!” Daisy protested.
Jemma took a breath and asked as calmly as possible, “Daisy, why are we doing this? Can’t you audition by yourself?”
Daisy came out of her room and stood in front of Jemma. “I’m a little embarrassed by this, Jemma, but it’s been six months since all that crap with Ward. There are days I feel like I’m too boring for guys or maybe I’m just damaged goods. None of the blind dates I’ve been on have led to a second. I figured this would be a chance for me to break out of my shell and do something completely different. To see what it would feel like for a guy to pick me, you know?”
Jemma’s heart broke at her roommate’s confession. Daisy’s break up with Grant Ward was something straight out of a soap opera. It involved a double life, a web of lies, and a lot of hard liquor in the aftermath. Daisy was staring at her feet, shifting uncomfortabl7. Jemma walked over and hugged her roommate.
“I had no idea you felt like this, Daisy. I’m sorry if I’ve been so self-absorbed with work and Nathanson. If you think this show will help you get back on ‘in the saddle’ as you Americans like to say, then I’ll be there right by your side,” Jemma agreed. She could feel Daisy’s smile on her shoulder as she hugged Jemma tighter.
“You’re the best friend a girl could have. No wait, you’re the bestest friend a girl could have. No wait, you’ve been elevated to sister-status!” Daisy gushed.
Jemma took a step back but kept her hands on Daisy’s shoulders. “I’m always here for you. Now, while this is definitely something I’ve never considered doing in my wildest dreams, I guess it would be a welcome distraction from Nathanson. And I suppose it would be fun to see how the producers find these women. Besides, there’s no way we get picked, right? What’s the worst that could happen?”