I awoke to see my overly obnoxious roommate, Namine, staring straight into my eyes. Her pale blonde hair hung down in her face as she leaned in and shoved an envelope in my face. I quickly snatched it and watched as she giggled.
"What's so funny? You send in a survey in my name again?" I asked as she lowered her head, holding back more giggles. "Nope." She muttered. Was she drunk?
"Then what is it? What's so funny?!" I was beginning to grow angry.
"I entered you for something." She looked back up and snickered.
"Ugh, whatever." I threw the envelope back at her and laid back down pulling the covers over my head.
"No, you have to read it!" She pulled the covers off and handed me the white envelope once more. I snatched it and tore it open. Once out of its packet I quickly scanned its contents. Oh no she did NOT!
"You entered me for The Bachelorette?!" I shouted. She shrunk back and shook her head. At this point only God knew the look on face, which had to have been horrified.
"Yeah, you need a guy and I thought that the ones you didn't want you could point in my direction."
"I don't need a man!"
Namine looked sorry. She took the paper out of my hand and read it.
"You…you won?!" Her voice jumped an octave. She jumped out of her skin and screamed which seriously annoyed me.
"So what?" I snatched the paper back.
"You should totally go! There are going to be twenty five hot guys drooling over you! Go." Namine was still tripping out. She would giggle and bounced up and down, shaking my bed by doing so.
"I don't see a reason to go and what gave you the right to sign me up for it?" I protested.
"Reason number one, twenty five hot guys, reason number two, publicity, and finally reason number three true love." Namine went all girly on me and totally lost me there. I sat up and stared.
"Please, true love? Like that even exists."
"It does and you should give it a try. Please do it for me."
"No." I said as I stood up and slipped on my silk robe. I exited the room and thought about the show all that day.
Time passed and before I knew it I was packing my things into my three black suitcases. I had everything ready by the time I was supposed to fly out.
The flight was tedious and the landing was rough. I met up with the host about two hours after I landed. She was short and had a black bob cut; her blue eyes didn't leave the small Blackberry Pearl in her hand. Eventually she noticed me and apologized ten times before we finally moved on.
We made it to the Bachelorette Mansion and she showed me around.
"So, what made you decide to enter for the Bachelorette?" She asked as we entered the parlor.
"I didn't," I said annoyed. "my roommate slash 'best friend' entered me."
The hostess, whose name was Xion, just nodded and explained the rules.
"So there's how it's going to work. There will be twenty five men all competing for your heart. Some you will like some you won't. You will go on dates with each of them, some of the dates will be group dates others will be one on two and one on one. You will eliminate the men during the rose ceremony the day after the date. You will eliminate ten men on the first night. After that the eliminations will go down to one a night. Your dates will range from beaches to opera houses and etcetera. Any questions?" She cocked her head and smiled.
"Nope, none at all. Just when am I going to meet the guys?" I wasn't too eager but whatever gets her to shut up.
"Tonight the men will arrive. You will greet them at the entrance one by one. We will drive you to your residence and you should have a few hours to prepare. We will call an hour ahead of time and will pick you up at seven."
"Okay, sounds…fun." I said searching for the right word, don't think I quite found it either.
Xion dialed a number on her cell phone and we walked outside. A long black limo pulled around and we hopped in. Xion explained that they were going to drop me off at the house where I was to stay then they would call around six. I handed her my number and waited as she scrawled her number on my arm.
"What the h-?!" I said jerking back my arm.
"Oh, sorry. I thought you wouldn't mind."
"You thought wrong!" I felt like slapping her. That stupid girl!
"Sorry…" I heard her mumble something but I didn't quite catch it. Something like witch…? Wait…
Finally we made it to the 'house' which was more of a mansion. I looked around for a few minutes then went straight to unpacking. Afterward I got dressed for the evening and put my make up on. I waited forever but after an eternity Xion called me saying that the car would be there shortly. Again I waited this time I went to look around the house. There were three bathrooms, four bedrooms, a gigantic kitchen and the biggest living room I have ever seen. I didn't look too bad, a little tacky but nothing I couldn't handle.
At Six-Fifty the car arrived and I rode back to the Bachelorette Mansion, which makes no sense seeing as how I won't be staying there. I thought of Namine as we drove past a lake with fireflies surrounding it. She would have gone on about that sight forever.
We pulled up and I was again greeted by Xion, this time she had a man next to her. He was short and had wild red hair. He wore a green hat and his two front teeth stuck out. I laughed on the inside and thought of what a dork he was. I walked up to him and shook his hand.
"Hi-ya! I'm Maddie Hatter and I'm the sound guy." He said with his goofy voice. He let go of my hand as I introduced myself. He hooked up the microphone to my dress and tested it. It shrieked and my ears began to ring. He smiled and left me to Xion. She looked at me and nodded with a content grin.
"Okay," She said. "Follow me!" She led the way to the Roses and explained the rules once more. We then walked back to the drive way. She left me to wait for the guys in the cold; did I mention that it's January?
The first car drove up and out stepped a tall tanned man with brown hair and blue eyes. He walked by and greeted himself.
"Hello, I'm Terra." He shook my hand and I introduced myself to him. I told him that I looked forward to talking to him later and he walked into the Mansion.
The next car pulled up and the next guy came out he had a similar facial structure as Terra but much different hair. It was long and silver with spikes at the tips. His bangs fell in front of his orange eyes. He too had tanned skin and was quite tall. I shook his hand and he introduced himself as Xemnas. I waited and then the next car pulled up. Eventually all twenty five cars had came and the last person I met was a tall platinum blonde Brit named Luxord. He walked me in and we were greeted by twenty four others. Xion came in the room with her long black evening gown flowing to the floor.
"Hey guys. I hope that you all are getting along well. I see that you've met our newest Bachelorette, Larxene. She's here for the same reason as you all so please enjoy the evening. Also there is a rose on the table as you can see. That is the first impression rose. Larxene is required to give that to the person that made the best first impression, so no pressure. I will be back before the first Rose Ceremony." With that she waved then left the room. I sat down next to the tall redhead, Axel, and the shorter steel haired guy named Zexion. Axel immediately began to flirt.
"Hey, so I don't think we've been properly introduced. Hi I'm interested." I snickered and replied. "I'm not." He frowned but after I giggled he must have gotten that I was just messing with him. Zexion leaned in next to me and shook my hand again.
"Hello, I'm Zexion Vain."
"Larxene Chlorine."
Axel interjected. "Ha, that kinda rhymed. Larxene Chlorine…Oh and by the way I'm Axel Spearhead." I nodded and turned back to face Zexion.
"Nice to meet you." I said as he smiled. The tall blonde came over and stole me from Zexion. We sat on the bench outside wrapped in the warm black fur blanket. There were candles lit everywhere and the pool next to us was lit up.
"You probably don't remember me but I am Vexen McCromwell." I nodded and said my name.
"Well what do you do for a living?" I asked him.
"I'm a scientist from Toronto. I specialize in forensics science."
"So you study dead people?" I must've looked shocked.
"Well…yes, I do." That was kinda weird, the way he said yes. Stretching out the syllables and raising his eyebrow.
"Do they like, jump up and grab you?"
"Only if you are in a horror film. I'm a forensic scientist that deals with skeletons rather than corpses."
"Okay, I understand. Are they creepier? Because usually, with me, the creepier the better."
"Really? How intriguing...I love all things creepy and unusual. Especially in science."
"Like the movie Paranormal Activity, it wasn't your typical horror film more...unusual." I was really getting into this guy.
"Hmm...yes, it was."
At that moment the tall bluenette came my way. He walked slowly and stopped about five feet away. Vexen looked up with anger. The guy with blue hair, whose name I forgot, asked if he could steal me away for a minute. I walked with him over the side of the pool and we sat on the edge. He stared at the reflection of the moon in the pool's water. I looked to see what was so amazing and saw that my reflection was in front of the moon's and he was looking at it. I looked back at him and introduced myself again.
"I'm Larxene Chlorine, a model from L.A." He shook my hand and looked up.
"I'm Saix Thornton. I'm Astronomer from Seattle, Washington."
"You look at the moon all day, is that what you do?"
"No, not all I do. Astronomy is also the stars. I catalog them and search for new constellations too." He said as-a-matter-of-factly. I looked down at the water and then back at him.
"Cool I guess. I prefer my modeling."
"I bet. It's an easy job."
"If you say so but it can get very frustrating. I'm just glad that I don't stare at the moon all day long."
"The moon's out at night." He smirked. For some reason this felt right and simple. "Whatever, c'mon." I took his hand and led him to the living room. I picked up the first impression rose and held it out. "Will you accept the first impression rose?" He stared in shock and nodded his head.
"Yes." He said lowly. I handed it to him and we walked to the couch were we sat down.
"Do you like it in California?" I asked him, hoping to make conversation.
"Yes, it's warmer here and the stars are brilliant to see while at the ocean." I had never thought of it that way.
"Well, you'll have to show me sometime Slick."
"Well in that case I believe I will." He nodded and looked back at the rose, still content with having won it.
I heard a pair of footsteps come from behind and turned to see the guy with the eye patch. I stood up and Saix followed my lead.
"I'm gonna take her now, 'kay Scarface?" He said as he pointed to himself then me, ending the sentence with a big swooping hand motion. Saix scowled as I tried to hide a grin.
I walked with him until we came to a table with two chairs. I watched as he sat down. I took my seat in the green wrought iron chair. He finally told me his name after a minute of him picking at his teeth.
"Hey there, I'm Xigbar Forkinstauger and I have the most amazing job in the universe."
"Oh really, what is it?" I inquired. He leaned in and rested his elbows on the tabletop.
"I'm in the Military's Special Ops. I do all of the cool stuff." He said showing off.
"Do you jump out of helicopters?" I challenged.
"Sometimes without a parachute."
"Cool." I said sarcastically. He didn't look too amused. "What do you do then?"
"I'm a model." I said proudly, like it required a degree. He snickered and leaned back in his chair.
"That's a tough job, heh."
"What's so funny?" I snapped back.
"You just act like the stereotype model." Well I never…
"Really?! I do now!" I stood up.
"Calm down sweetie, I was just teasing. You get worked up easily."
"That is not true!" I was ticked. I'm not the nicest person in the universe and I may not be 'sweet' but I'm certainly not a stereotype model. Those chicks don't know how to live. Namine and I pride ourselves on that.
"Okay, okay now. I'm sorry, does that help?"
"Do you admit that you upset me?"
"Obviously..." He rolled his eye.
"Ugh! You little-" He stood up and reached for my hand. He took it and looked me in my eyes.
"Listen here Sweet Heart, I ain't pretty and I'm not the smartest person but I am here for love and it's tough for a guy like me to admit that. I hope that our playful banter doesn't ruin any chances that I may or may not have." I stared at him in awe. Did he actually just say that? I did not expect that from him.
"It didn't." Was all I could say. He rose from his seat and we walked back into the house. I sat next to the guy with the pink hair…Marly, I think? He flashed a smile that showed off his perfectly white teeth. I smiled back and we began to talk.
"Marluxia Flex." He said as he shifted in his seat.
"Larxene Chlorine." He didn't shake my hand like when we first met.
"Word is that you're a model." He stated.
"Yeah, that's me. What's your daily torture?"
"Job, well I'm a botanist."
"Wouldn't most people consider that gay?"
"I guess. I've never thought about it that way."
"So you take pride in your fruity job?" He laughed at that remark.
"Fruity? Ha, good one. Well it is kind of strange for a man to want to be in a profession with plants I'll give you that." Silence passed over us.
"Have you ever been married?" He finally broke the silence with the most awkward question yet.
"Me? Uh...no, not that I recall. How about you? Have you ever married someone?" He paused which signaled a yes.
"I married young to my high school sweet heart. She left three years later because she said she was too young. I found out that she was cheating on me with my best friend. So I'm here for my second chance with love."
"Cheaters suck." I added.
"You would know?" His attention was now focused on the subject at hand.
"Yeah, my best friend became my boy friend after I was picked up by an agency and he cheated on my with Namine, my roommate. We were both unaware of each other dating him and once we figured it out, we kicked him to the curb in a heartbeat. That's how we became roommates and best friends."
"He got what he deserved and you found a new best friend on top of that." He sure has a way of looking on the bright side.
"Yeah, well. She's just as annoying as he was." I forgot that once this was all over Namine and I would be sitting on the couch watching the show and I'm willing to bet that they will play this moment too. She will never let me live it down....
We talked for a good while and then a few more people take me away and the cycle repeated it's self. I was talking with Demyx when Terra came by. He wanted to talk so I took him with me as I went to get a drink.
As I entered the kitchen I began to think of who I felt a connection with that I had talked to thus far. I had a few chosen and some were undecided. I had forgotten that Terra was even with me. He had poured me a drink. I took it and hopped on the counter. He began to explain the discipline of Kendo.
"And that's how it was popularized in America." I was literally half asleep. I woke myself up by slipping off the counter, stumbling along the way. I regained my balance and we walked to the kitchen table. He took a seat across from me and sipped at his drink.
"So where are you from again?" I honestly forgot, this was not just for conversation's sake.
"Chattanooga, Tennessee. Where are you from?"
"Here, L.A. Are you enjoying your stay here?"
"Yeah, it's really nice. I like how it's sunny all the time. It's much hotter here though."
"You get use to it." Terra was about to say something when he looked over my should. I turned to see Xemnas standing behind me.
"Hey, can we talk for a minute?" He asked.I stood up and excused myself then followed Xemnas to the fireplace in the living room. We sat in front of the fireplace and watched as the fire burned proudly.
"So how are you?" He asked quitely.
"Doin' good, you?"
"Fine." We sat like this for a while and had a few awkward convos mostly about how he is an amnesiac. Finally someone else came up and took me away. It was Lexaeus and we sat in the same spot that Xigbar and I had been earlier.
"So what's up?" I asked hopin that he would different than Xemnas.
"Nothing." Silence...
"What's your job?"
"Coal miner." Silence...again.
"Uh, have you ever found anything cool?" I was giving up on him.
"No, just coal and rocks."
"Okay, not to be rude or anything but you have the charaisma of that doorknob over there." I said pointing at the doorknob leading back to the house.
"..." I motioned for him to follow as I led him back to the living room where a crowd of the guys were gathered around the sofa. They were all talking about something serious when I walked in. I knew this because they all stopped immediately and looked right at me. I made my way to the couch and sat next to Wakka and Leon. Cloud stood by the fireplace next to Zack. They looked serious, everyone did. I was guessing that they were waiting for Xion. And as I thought of her she entered the room.
"I hope that you've had a good evening." She said as she watched a camera follow the men's eyes. I watched her make her way closer to me. "It's almost time for the first Rose Ceremony and I need to take Larxene away for a little bit." She helped me up and led me to a back room. The wall was covered in pictures of the men, all side by side. Xion stepped aside.
"This is here for you to reflect back on the evening and to show you who is left in the competition. You can come here anytime and think but now you have to make a decision. Tonight ten men will go home and only fifteen will remain. Take your time and let me know when you're ready."
I stared at the pictures and thought very carefully about whom I had a connection with and who didn't click.
Xion's POV
The cameras were rolling and we stood in the Rose Chamber looking back over the men. She had twenty-five guys lined up at her doorstep. She'd literally have to beat them off with a stick. I bet she never believed it when her parents told her that. She paced for a minute and then stopped.
It took her a total of twenty minutes to figure out who she wanted to keep. She turned back to me and told me that she had it all figured out. I walked her to the round room that held the Rose Ceremony. A table against a wall seized the fifteen roses which she was to hand out. I told her wait there as I got the men.
The guys were all gathered around in the living room talking amongst themselves. I walked into plain sight. "Okay, it's time for the first Rose Ceremony, please follow me." They all stood up and followed as I led the way to Larxene.
I lined them up in even rows. Two rows of ten and the row of five in the front. I walked to Larxene who was trying to hide her nerves.
"You're up."
Larxene's POV
"You're up." She said as she took her spot ten feet from my right. I looked at the men once more and picked up the first rose. The roses were cut off so that you could put them in your jacket pocket. Different for the guys I guess.
"First I'd like to say something." Xion nodded her head in approval. "Whoever doesn't make it past the first round…it's nothing personal, I just don't see us having a relationship." The guys were tense all except Luxord. He looked confident but a little shaken.
"Axel." He looked up and quickly walked over to me. "Will you accept this rose?"
"Yes ma'am." I put the rose in his pocket then watched as he took his spot back in the line. I picked up the next rose and looked back at the men.
"Terra." He walked slower than Axel but quick enough. "Will you accept this rose?"
"Yes." I fashioned the rose in his pocket and let him return. I picked the next one and called for Marluxia. He made his way down and accepted the rose. Next were Demyx, Riku, Xemnas, Luxord, Zexion, Vexen, Xaldin, Zack, Roxas, Xigbar and Leon. Saix already had the first impression rose. The rest I had to let go. Xion walked back to me and faced the guys.
"Thank you all for coming. This is your last chance to say good bye so please do so." She motioned for the males to step forward. They did so, giving those awkward 'man hugs' and shaking hands. Those leaving came to me and I hugged them, saying that it was nice to meet them and all that blah. Eventually they had left and it was time for the champagne. We all had a glass and we toasted in hopes of finding love at the end.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Remember that vote offs will begin once it gets closer to the top twelve. Then you can vote. Thanks to Dark Hero Nightmare for proof reading and supporting the idea fully and also to Bane Brakenfur(?sorry if I spelled your name wrong). A special shout out to my fave author on Fanfiction; Mademoiselle Anime Amour! You rock! And thanks to you all for letting me waste your time by thanking people. :) Check out the next chapter coming in a few days!(I hope) ^o^