Anna POV
It's been a week since I found out my Pop passed away and I haven't been myself. I have closed myself off from the girls, I am only alert when I am at breakfast or anything else.
Today is the first day back to filming and I don't really want to but I know I have to put on a brave face and fight through this. I am called to the lounge and I make myself comfortable on the couch. I have only put some concealer on to cover my tired eyes.
I feel the ladies sad looks come my way and I don't like it. I don't want them looking at me like this. I hate being looked upon and felt sorry for.
I see a card on the table and Emily grabs it and stands in front of us. We are given directions from producers but to be honest with you I am not feeling it, so I am just going to sit hear and put a fake smile on my face.
3rd Person POV
Emily walks into the lounge of the villa in Orlando and sees a date card on the table. "Girls." She calls out. "Date card." The girls come down the stairs and make their way to the couch and Emily grabs a card that is sitting on the table. Emily opens up the card. "Ladies, I hope you have enjoyed this past week. Get ready because we are taking this journey out of the US. Girls pack your bags bring, your passports, because we are going to Mexico."
"OMG." Everyone squeals.
Annalise smiles a little as the other girls jump up in excitement. They immediately bolt up the stairs in excitement to pack their stuff.
Anna POV
Once the announcement has happened I slowly make my way to my room where I quietly pack my stuff. I notice Amanda and Lauren packing their stuff quietly. I know they want to talk to me but they are keeping their distance.
Once I'm packed I take my stuff out of the room and make my way down stairs. Producers grab my belongings and take them to the truck.
As I walk out and go to get in the car I notice Robyn and Lisa giving me sorrowful looks. I ignore them and climb into the truck closing the door behind me. I crawl into the back and pull the hat that I have on over my head and snuggle into my jumper.
Slowly all the other ladies walk out to the bus and get inside. They sit up front away from me which I am fine with. We buckle up and we drive off towards the airport. I look out the window just thinking about my Pop.
Twenty mintues later we arrive at the airport and make our way inside where we board our flight. We arrive in Mexico later that afternoon. As soon as we land we are informed that filming will begin again as we get to the house.
We arrive at the house and get miked up and prepared to film.
3rd Person POV
The ladies arrive at a gorgeous villa on the beach. They enter and inside the place opens out to the view of the beach and there are no walls only glass windows looking out.
The ladies run around excited and make their way through the house sussing out the rooms. Amanda and Lauren B room together, Emily and Hayley room in the room next to them. JoJo and Jen room in the next one, Caila and Lauren H room in the next one and that leaves Annalise to a room to herself.
Once the rooms are sorted the girls head back into the main area of the villa and on a coffee table is a date card. "Ladies." Caila yells out. "Date card." The ladies quickly walk to the lounge and sit down. "Want to know who's on it?" The ladies nod and Caila slowly opens the card and smiles. "JoJo, let's take this relationship to new heights."
JoJo squeals excitedly grinning. "Looks like your taking your relationship to new heights." Jen teases.
The ladies minus Annalise laugh. "I better go sort my outfit out for tomorrow then." JoJo responds.
"We will help." Jen responds and Caila and Jen get off the couch and lead JoJo to the rooms.
"We will come too." Amanda offers and leaves with the others leaving Annalise by herself on the couch.
She falls back onto the couch and covers her face trying to keep it together. She takes a breath and sits up, gets off the couch and ventures off to her room.
Anna POV
After the date was revealed all the ladies went back to their rooms and I decided I needed some air. I luckily have my swimsuit on and go for a walk on the beach.
I take in the peace and quiet listening to the water thrash against the sand. I continue walking along the beach that goes on for miles and I don't recall how far I have walked and I realise that I don't know what villa is ours.
I sigh and take a seat on the beach and just take in this moment alone. I decide to use the opportunity to go for a swim. I pull off my dress revealing my sky blue bikini. I let it fall and start walking to the water.
As soon as my feet hit the water I sigh and continue to walk until I am waist deep. I start to float on my back and let the waves float me about looking up at the sky just needing this time to be free.
Lauren B POV
This past week has been awful. Annalise got news that her Pop passed away and since then she has lost her fire. She hasn't talked, she just sits or goes to her room. I feel so sorry for her. She's trying her best but I can see she is losing it.
Amanda and I decdied to let her have her own room this week as she wants her space. We've been wanting to talk to her, but we don't want to over step.
When the single date was announced she had no emotion, it's like she wasn't even aware of what is happening.
After we leave the couch I head towards Annalise's room and knock on the door. "Anna?" I say aloud, but no one replies. I quietly open it and peer inside and see Anna isn't in her room. "Girls has anyone seen Anna?"
"No, I haven't seen her since the date was announced." Emily answers.
"She isn't in her room."
"Where could she have gone?" Caila wonders.
"I'll check the lounge and outside." Amanda offers. Amanda walks back towards the living room and outside. She walks out onto the deck looking in both directions. "You don't think she ran off did you?"
I shake my head. "I don't know, she has been so heartbroken this week she hasn't been herself."
"We need to find her, before people find out she's missing."
"You're right." I agree.
"Ladies." a familiar voice yells out. Our eyes go wide when Colby's voice echoes through the villa. "Ladies you in?"
"Yeah." We all shout.
We hear his footsteps and he appears and he looks handsome, in shorts and shirt that his muscles are clearly seen through. "How you finding Mexico?" he asks us.
"It's beautiful." I respond.
"Where is everyone?"
"Uh, the other girls are in their rooms, want me to get them?"
"Please, I'll be in the lounge."
I knock on all the ladies doors and they all come out. "Colby's here." I announce.
"What?" JoJo squeals excitedly.
"Yeah he's in the kitchen." I explain and the ladies come out of their rooms and make their way towards the lounge room. They squeal when they see Colby and I am starting to worry. Annalise isn't here and Amanda still isn't back from the beach yet.
I walk back to the living room and just as I arrive Amanda comes back from outside and my heart sinks, she doesn't have Anna with her. "Any luck?" I mouth.
She shakes her head. "No."
I look outside and see it's starting to get dark. "Do you think I could talk to you Colby?" I ask him.
He looks at me confused. "Sure."
I ask him to follow me outside. "Um, I don't know how to say this, but as you know Anna hasn't really been herself, but we don't know where she is."
His eyes go wide. "What do you mean?"
"Uh, well she was here when we were filming the date card then not even fifteen minutes after that I looked in her room to see how she was and she wasn't in it."
"Thank you for telling me, I will find her. Could you maybe walk right of the beach and we spilt up."
"Of course." I respond.
Colby POV
As soon as Lauren B announces that she can't find Anna I'm freaking out. I knew she wasn't acting like herself but now she is in a different country it's getting late and she's heartbroken
Amanda and Lauren walk one way and I walk the other direction looking in anyplace she might be. Suddenly a big breeze comes by and something hits me in the leg. I look down and realize it's a safari dress. I then notice a figure laying on their back in the ocean and immediately my heart races.
I call out to her "Anna." The figure moves slightly. "Anna!"
Anna POV
I don't realise how long I have been in the water for but I feel relaxed and I haven't thought about my Pop. I just am laying here looking up at the sky that is starting to get dark.
I suddenly hear someone calling my name. "Anna!" I sit up a little and see a figure walking in my direction. "Anna." They call out again.
I turn around fully and see it's Colby. I swim so I can stand up and see he's made his way onto the sand. "Colby." I answer and get out of the water and the breeze hits me. "What are you doing?" He asks freaking out.
I make it to him. "I was swimming."
"You didn't tell anyone?"
"I was just clearing my head, and the time must have gone quickly, I only thought I'd been gone a little bit. I just needed to relax."
He sighs looking me over for anything wrong and he finally realises I'm in my bikini and his eyes go dark. "Amanda and Lauren are worried about you." He addresses.
I sigh. "I'm sorry it's just I didn't want them to worry about me, I just don't want them to feel sorry for me, I just needed some space."
"I get that, but you need to tell people where your going especially right now."
"I'm sorry, I really am, it's just when I was in the water and I was floating, listening to the waves, I wasn't thinking, it made me not feel something for just a little bit."
"Next time you decide you need some space, just tell someone please." He pleads.
"I promise."
I then start to shiver as the wind has gotten stronger and cover myself. He notices and hands me my dress. "Here." He offers.
"Thanks." I thank.
"Let me help you back."
Colby and I get back to the villa and Amanda and Lauren are outside the other ladies are inside. "There you are." Amanda exhales.
"Sorry, I just needed to clear my head." I apologise.
"Why are you wet?" Lauren asks.
"I went for a swim. I just needed some space away from the house, and some alone time and it helped."
"Just next time please let us know where you go, we were worried and we had no idea where you went."
"I promise, I'm sorry it's just I just wanted to be alone."
"We understand that but next time just a quick I'm going here and we'll let you ha e your space."
"I will."
"Okay." they smile and hug me.
"Colby." I call out turning to face him. "Thanks."
He smiles. "You're welcome."
Later that night I lie in my room a little better. I'm still sad but I know that I don't want to be a burden on everyone and that I have to pick myself up, and enjoy myself. I'm in Mexico for fuck sake I should be enjoying it.
I suddenly hear something crash against my window. I frown and sit up and get out of bed. I look at the time and see it's 10:30pm. All the ladies have been asleep for a couple hours now.
I look out the window and see that it's Colby. This is so teen romance movie it's not even funny. I let out a small laugh. "What on earth are you doing?" I question.
"I'm going to need you to come with me." He responds.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, now quick."
"Catch me?"
He grins. "Just don't hurt my leg."
"Well in that case move." I order. He laughs and does as he's told. I quickly climb over the window and see it isn't to much of a drop. I jump and land. "Piece of cake."
"Show off." He says playfully.
"Now where are you taking me?"
"Just follow me."
We arrive at the beach and on the sand are paper lanterns. "What is this?" I question.
"Well I know you can't be in Australia for your Pops funeral, so I thought you could do something for him." He explains.
I feel tears form in my eyes. "Colby."
"I know it's taking all of your power to not leave and I thank you for that, but to help you anyway I can I will, so here." he says passing me the lantern. "Light it up and when you are ready, raise it in the air and say goodbye."
I cry a little and nod as he passes me the lighter and lantern. I take a moment to remember my Pop; a caring and loving, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend.
I slowly raise the lantern in the air and watch it fly up.
Colby pulls me to him and I lean on his chest as I watch the lantern float into the air.
"Thank you." I thank.
He turns to face me. "I want to help you anyway I can, and if it means I have to get emotional and sappy so be it, but I don't want you to leave, so I want to make you feel safe, and happy."
I smile and lean up to kiss him softly. He deepens the kiss a little. "Thank you." I repeat and he kisses me again in response and I wrap my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.