Caught in Between
After the final rose ceremony, Ethan quickly goes to find Theresa.
"Theresa, wait." He says as he spots her starting to climb the stairs.
"Yes, Ethan?"
"Come outside with me, please, we need to talk."
Going outside with Ethan, Theresa shivers from the cold. "Here." Ethan says as he wraps his jacket around her.
"Thanks. So, what did you want to see me about?"
"I wanted to make sure you were alright."
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, after I gave Gwen a rose, I saw the look you gave me."
"Oh, that, don't worry about it."
"I do, though, Theresa. I want to know what you think and feel."
"This isn't my show, it's all yours. You need to do what you have to do to find the woman that's right for you. If it's Gwen, so be it."
Boy, she is so adorable when she starts getting fired up… Ethan thinks to himself. "Do you not like Gwen?"
Theresa rolls her eyes. "No offense, Ethan, but no, I don't. There's a much different side to Gwen than you see."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I would tell you, but you probably would not believe me."
"Don't say that, Theresa."
"Why not, it's true! She has all the class, all the beauty, what the hell do I have, Ethan?"
Theresa…jealous of Gwen? What am I not seeing here? Moving closer to Theresa, Ethan cups her face. "Do you want me to tell you what you have, Theresa?"
"I guess."
"You have this glow about you. Like you love life. Everything around you makes you so happy. Watching you is like a flower blooming. You are a beautiful, amazing woman. I am so happy that I am getting to know you, have no doubt about that." As Ethan says this, he pulls Theresa closer to him. "And I'm going to do this to prove to you just how much I'm loving the fact that you're still here."
With that, Ethan pulls Theresa into his body, noticing how perfectly they fit, and descends his lips unto hers, and gives her a passionate kiss.
After ending the kiss, Theresa just looks up at Ethan. "Does that answer your question now, Theresa?"
"I..um…think so."
"Good." Ethan says as he smiles.
Later on at night, Ethan is in his room, when Lindsey calls him.
"You are doing a great job, Ethan! Tomorrow, you must pick one woman to have a date with. After that, at the rose ceremony, you will narrow the field down to two women, who will be your final choices going into the Final Rose Ceremony. You will be traveling to meet their families, and then returning here to meet with the jeweler, and present the ring to the woman of your choice. Any questions?"
"No, thank you." After Ethan hangs up the phone, he goes out to the patio. I have so many feelings running through me. Theresa is such a beauty. We have a connection. Yet, I see something with Gwen, something that perhaps hasn't been explored yet. I mean, I know she is a bit of a pusher, but I think there's something deeper in her. Am I being crazy? Or am I starting to really fall in love with one of these women?"
The Next Day
The doorbell rings, and the women run enthusiastically toward the door. Gwen spots the date box, and runs to grab it. Bringing it inside, everyone gathers around as she opens it. "Yes, it's me!" She yells, as the women glance at each other. "Gwen, please join me for a night of dinner and dancing. Ethan." Oh, yes! Victory at last! Gwen thinks to herself as she smirks at the other women. "Sorry, girls, but this boy is all mine."
As she gets ready for her date, Theresa sits on the couch and rolls her eyes. "Can she be any more obvious of a snob?"
The girls all laugh. "Don't worry, Theresa. Things will work out, we promise."
As the limo brings Gwen to Ethan, she starts smiling inside. Take that, you bitches. Ethan picked ME! None of you stand a chance. I'm going to make Ethan realize tonight that he wants me.
Once the driver stops the car, Gwen gets out, and sees the lovely decorations set up for Ethan and her dinner. She smiles as Ethan comes out to greet her. "Hi, Gwen." He says as he kisses her cheek.
"Hello, Ethan. Thank you for inviting me."
"You're welcome. Shall we get to dinner?"
"Sure. Only if it's followed by some dessert." She says as she slowly moves her body next to Ethan's.
"We'll have to see, I guess."
Once they sit down, Ethan begins to ask Gwen some questions. "So, are you enjoying yourself here?"
"Oh, Ethan, it is lovely here! Almost reminds me of my own home!
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Well, my mother is very classy in her décor. This house just reminds me of it."
"I see. Tell me, Gwen, what do you see your future being?"
"Well, I want to get married and have a family, and my career. That's what's important to me. What about you? Tell me about yourself?"
Ethan watches as Gwen listens intently to what he says about himself. "Ethan, that is so incredible! Such amazing accomplishments you've made in your life! How great!"
Ethan looks at Gwen curiously again. One minute, she is this jealous and possessive woman, the next, she seems almost genuine. What is going on.."
"Ethan, are you alright?"
"Of course, why do you ask?"
"You have this look on your face."
"I'm just trying to figure you out, Gwen."
"What are you trying to figure?"
"How you could have these two personalities working inside you. Jealous one minute, happy the next."
"Oh, Ethan, it's all an act for those girls. I want them to think that I am so jealous of them. When in fact, I'm just confident that you will make the right choices."
"Well, thanks, I think."
"Not a problem. Say, do you want to dance?"
"Sure."
As Gwen and Ethan are dancing, Ethan can't help but remember his time with Theresa. Gwen is not Theresa. It feels so different dancing with both women. How am I ever going to chose who to take to the Final Two? What am I going to do?
"Are you alright, Ethan?"
"Yes."
"Good. Can I be so forward as to ask to kiss you?"
Taken by surprise, Ethan nods. While Gwen kisses him, Ethan attempts to relax himself and enjoy being kissed. He tries not to get his mind to wander to Theresa, but somehow, it still does.
After the date ends, Ethan sits outside his house on the patio. "How in God's name am I going to choose the final two? Theresa, I know, has a definite spot. But Gwen…a part of me wants to bring her to the final 2, yet at the same time, I don't know what my future with her would be like."
At the Rose Ceremony
"Everyone, I would just like to say how grateful I have been getting to know all of you. Since only two roses will be given out tonight, I hope the remaining women will understand my choices, and will be able to move from this experience with a better idea of the man they are looking for. With that said…" Ethan picks up the first rose.
"Theresa."
Theresa walks forward. "Theresa, will you accept this rose?"
"Yes, I will." She takes the rose from Ethan, and then kisses his cheek.
Taking the final rose, Ethan scans the room of the women, and can't believe how quickly the crowd has gone from 10 women all the way to 4, and now…to two.
"Gwen."
Not paying attention to the other women, Gwen walks up to Ethan, kisses his cheek, and accepts his rose.
"Thank you, Ethan."
"You're welcome."
Noticing Theresa's stare at him, Ethan sighs. I'm sorry, Theresa. But, I felt something last night with Gwen…I just have to figure out what it is.
Coming Up
Ethan's develops deeper feelings for one of the women
What will happen when Ethan brings the ladies home?
Finally, who will Ethan spend the rest of his life with?
Please R/R