Author's Note: Finally we see the boys and their personalities are revealed! I am so excited about this!

"You've been wearing a lot of gold lately. Any reason?"

It's good to be with Bailey. I was completely relaxed sleeping beside Andrew, but my anger grew as I returned to my room. She is helping me to relax all over again. I told her about what happened and she immediately pulled me in for a hug. We talked for a little while and now I finally feel like I can face the boys after last night.

"No reason. I just like it."

Today is the first day of interacting with the boys all at once. A day at the beach seemed the perfect choice. There isn't much to organize with the palace so close to the water, and the weather is perfect in the middle of July.

I turn in front of the mirror. Yes, this will be perfect.

My sister leads the boys down the beach path, her favorite assignment to date. The enormous group fans out about ten feet from where I stand. Most of them look awestruck by the scene.

I am modeling a black bikini with a gold mesh from the top of the dark bandeau up to my collar bone that ties at the back of my neck. My bottoms are black as well with a gold design creeping across. Hanging from my hips is a light gold colored sarong that ties at my right side.

I shaped my dark hair into thick waves that I arranged around my shoulders. It is blowing softly around my face in the breeze.

"Hey!" I say, a little more excitedly than I anticipated.

A chorus of "Hey" comes back at me. All the boys are wearing swim trunks, though some look more comfortable than others. Tait looks nervous, while Theo is right at home. My eyes cross Sebastian and my heart picks up its pace.

"I decided this day should be relaxing. What place is more relaxing than the beach?" I gesture toward the water. "Let's go!"

The boys excitedly disperse, most of them dispose of their shirts in the sand and race toward the water. Theo claims one of the surfboards leaning against a rack and is the first one in the waves.

Camera crews swarm. They keep their distance, but aren't shy about snapping pictures. I am practiced at ignoring them, but most of the the Selected are either shying away or getting a little too close.

After a while, everyone has fallen into their comfort zones again. Theo is surfing, Tait is throwing horseshoes with Archer Mills and Gideon Burke. I try to decide who to talk to first.

Finally, I spot Kale standing in the foam from the waves, too hesitant to go in.

I slowly walk up. "I'm sorry, Kale."

He looks up, not expecting me to be so close.

"You only wanted to help me. You couldn't have known," I continue.

"I should have let you handle things, Everleigh."

He looks so sincere, it makes me feel even more ridiculous about my reaction last night.

"Kale, you allowed me to see who Levi truly was. If you hadn't stopped me, I would have allowed him to explain himself out of the situation. I would have let him stay only to do damage to my family. No, it wasn't an ideal situation, but I shouldn't have blamed you."

Kale nods gratefully, glad to be back in my good graces. His relief reminds me of just how much control I have. I didn't even bother to imagine myself in their shoes before now. I walk away from this with my country and a fiancee. Most of the men before me will leave this competition having lost everything they came for.

"Besides," I say jokingly. "Andrew says I have to forgive you."

Kale looks excited, pleased to have made Andrew happy.

"He did?"

I nod.

"But why?"

"Something about your love of trucks," I say with a half-smile. My conversation with Andrew floods my mind.

"Well, I will have to thank him personally for that."

I raise my hand, pointing in the direction I last saw Andrew.

"I believe he is over there."

Kale bows and heads toward my little brother.

In his absence, I look around for the next person to talk to.

Theo waves at me, surfing yet another wave, causing him to topple into the surf. I smile and shake my head at him and he waves again once he resurfaces. Idly, I wonder if he will be able to drag himself away from the waves for long enough to chat with me.

Zaccheus Grant meets me in the shade of an umbrella. He is smiling broadly, glad to have caught me alone. When the boys separated to their various activities, I wondered why more didn't come to my side. I soon realize that many of the Selected haven't seen the beach before. A whole collection is standing only ankle deep in the water, jumping away from the crashing waves.

Zaccheus bows.

"Hello, Everleigh."

"It's nice to see you again, Zaccheus. How is everything so far?"

His eyes light up. Zaccheus is a tall, lanky boy with wavy brown hair and brown eyes.

"Oh, I love it here."

A man of a few words, I see. I struggle to think of something to talk about aside from the weather.

"I was just thinking about other activities that we could do as a group. Do you like skating?"

"Sure."

I turn my head and take a long sip of my drink, trying to buy myself some time to think.

"Great. Thanks for your help."

With that, I move down to the waves.

A large mass of Selected has accumulated here, circling around Kale, who has Andrew on his shoulders, and Cedric Perkins who is in the middle of playfully throwing Guin into the waves. Some of the boys are cringing, others are laughing. It is so strange to see how comfortable they are around my siblings. Owen immediately extends a hand to my sister to help her back to her feet.

They are so enthralled in their antics that none of them notices my arrival.

"Having fun, boys?"

I have never seen so many people jump in unison. Everyone turns around with a giant smile. Even Theo is standing nearby, still not out of the water, but closer than he was earlier.

"You should get in the water." One boy yells, encouraging all the rest to cheer.

"I am in the water," I gesture to the waves tickling my feet.

"Come on," they continue to entice me.

"None of you are in any farther." Secretly, I would love to dive into the waves. The sun is especially hot today, and I have barely had the chance to enjoy the beach all summer, but I also enjoy their teasing.

Gideon speaks up, "But we have never seen the beach before. Show us how it's done!"

I begin to decline again, but before I can give an excuse, I am tackled. A large body contacts mine and I go flying into the waves, floating down into the sand. I stay there for a moment, relishing the coolness of the water, before resurfacing to absolute silence.

33 faces stare at mine, hesitant to laugh, anticipating my rage.

I hold my arms out to my sides, give them a shake to be rid of the dripping water and rub underneath my eyes to clean up any spoiled make up.

And then I burst out laughing.

Derek Ortega from Likely places his hands on my shoulders and laughs into my ear.

I lean back into the water to straighten my hair and Sebastian helps me back up. Tingles run through me as he picks me up by the waist and seats me on Theo's surfboard, the two boys keeping the board balanced as they swim farther out from the crashing waves.

The boys unfamiliar with the ocean jump and even squirm as innocent seaweed wraps itself around their legs, but everyone appears happy. I was worried about competitiveness between the boys, but it seems, for the moment, they are content just to have time with me, even if it is shared.

They make jokes and threaten to dunk one another. I consider the day a success.