Colby POV
I still can't get over what happened yesterday, the girl from the gym applied to be on the show. A girl like her shouldn't be on a show like this; she seems to have her life sorted out, but for some reason its made me even more intrigued by her.
Today I'm selecting the twenty ladies that will be on the show. I have gone over my list and re-watched all the auditions and have picked the ladies that I think will be great for the show.
I hand my list to the producers and they smile in approval and I am left alone. Renee walks in and sits down next to me. "I know you never wanted to do this, and since yesterday you were still having doubts, but now that you actually have a chance at finding someone to be with, use this as a second chance to finally do something that could potentially turn out great for you." She advises.
"I will, and thank you Renee for doing this with me." I thank.
She smiles. "I want you to be happy Colby, this is your chance to start over with someone new that you could actually spend the rest of your life with."
"You're right."
"Of course I'm right." she grins. "Are you ready for the world to know that you are the next Bachelor?"
I shake my head. "No but let's get this over with."
"Just enjoy this Colby." she encourages and leaves me be.
Annalise POV
It's been a couple days since my audition. I haven't heard anything from any of the producers yet, but ABC is announcing the new Bachelor tonight, so I'm definitely tuning in to find out.
I hear my buzzer go off and see its Emma and Abby. "Let us in." They bellow.
"Yes mams."
A minute later they arrive at my door and walk inside. "How was it?" Emma asks.
"It was better than I thought." I admit.
"Do you think you made it?" Abby asks.
I shrug. "I don't know. I haven't heard anything yet, but they are announcing the new bachelor soon, so I'll most likely know soon."
"What questions did they ask you?" Emma asks.
"It felt like I was in an interview, but more personal. I almost brought up David, but quickly redirected myself."
Emma squeezes my hand. "We know it's hard for you to talk about him."
"I've gotten a lot better, but I don't want to be known for that." I respond.
"Don't worry about that now, let's just wait to see if you get on the show, then we can worry about that." Abby suggest.
"Good idea."
We camp ourselves on the couch with some food and wine. A few minutes later Chris Harrison appears on the screen. "It's on." Abby alerts.
I turn the volume up and watch excitedly. "Good evening, I'm Chris Harrison and welcome to a very special sit down interview where I'm going to make two huge announcements." he begins. "The first is the main reason why we are here, the announcement of who is going to be our next Bachelor." he announces excitedly. "But before we do that let's catch up with some of our favorite past Bachelors and Bachelorettes and get their predictions on who might be the next Bachelor." Once the video has finished the camera pans back to Chris. "There you have it, past Bachelors and Bachelorette's making some bold predictions."
"Oh come on already just announce it." Abby screams.
Emma and I look at her laughing. "You okay their Ab?" I ask.
"He takes so long." She complains.
"Now it's time to find out what you've all been waiting for, let's introduce the newest Bachelor. Hold on to your seats because this just may surprise some of you." Chris announces and a clip plays.
On screen is an empty arena which looks like a wrestling ring. The lights turns on the ramp and someone walks out, that is when my breath hitches. "OMG." I gasp.
"What?" Emma asks.
"Remember how I was telling you I was at crossfit and I tore into the blonde bimbos?"
"Yeah."
"The two blonde bimbos were excited about him, he was in the session with me, we talked."
"And you're only just telling us now? Do you have any idea who he is?"
I laugh at the memory. "Everyone seems to know but me."
"That is Seth Rollins, he is one of the best wrestlers in the world, he is really well known in the CrossFit and Wrestling community, omg he is the next bachelor, OMG, this is insane, he's a hearthrob." Abby exclaims.
"He told me he was a wrestler, he just didn't say how good." I comment and turn back to the screen as the vignette plays.
"I can't believe he's the next Bachelor, a lot of people are going to be wanting to be on the show." Emma adds.
"How do you know him anyway?" I ask.
"You may have stopped watching WWE but we didn't, he's one of the main guys but he's out with an injury." Abby explains.
"Shit that means I've met him."
"That's good that means you have a one up on everyone."
I turn to look at them. "That doesn't mean I will be on the show."
The video finishes and Chris has a large grin on his face. "Please help me welcome our newest Bachelor, Colby Lopez." Chris announces as some music plays and Colby walks out in a really nice suit.
"OMG, he looks hot." Abby exhales.
"He does." I agree not moving my gaze.
Colby shakes Chris's hands and the crowd applauds loudly. "Welcome Colby."
"Thanks for having me." He thanks.
"Your life has officially changed, you're the next Bachelor, what's going through your mind right now?"
"I never thought this would happen, but I'm ready to start this journey, even if I'm still a bit wary."
"You've probably never watched the show, what do you expect from this?"
"I'm going in this clear headed. I've heard about the show, but I was never really invested in it until I got this opportunity, and I promise you this, stay tuned this season because there is going to be a lot of surprises happening."
"So are you ready to find love?"
"I am. I'm ready to find someone that I can share my life with, I'm ready to find someone that gets me."
"Do you think he was told to say that?" Abby whispers to Emma.
"I'm not sure." Emma answers. "But I have a feeling this season is going to be completely different." Emma adds and they glance at me.
After asking Colby some more questions Chris Harrison stands up. "Now the second thing that I'm going to announce is very exciting, because, for the first time I won't be doing this alone." Chris addresses. "Please help me welcome, my co-host for Season 20, Renee Young."
The crowd cheers as Colby stands up and a pretty blonde walks out and waves to the crowd and hugs Colby. "I guess the secret is out of the bag aye?" Renee jokes.
"She's co-hosting, that's so cool." Abby expresses.
I glance at my two friends. "Is she a wrestler?"
"No she's a backstage announcer, she also has her own little show on the network." Emma explains.
"She's pretty."
"She's also dating Dean Ambrose." Abby announces.
"Who?"
She takes out her phone and shows me a picture and my eyes go wide. "That's Jon, he was at the gym with Colby."
After watching the announcement I hear my phone ring. I look down and it's Robyn. "Girls." I shout.
"What?"
"It's Robyn."
"OMG, answer it." Emma urges.
"Hello?" I say answering the call.
"Annalise it's Robyn." Robyn alerts.
"Hi."
"I'm just calling to inform you that you are one of the contestants on the new season of The Bachelor."
"OMG, are you serious?" I ask wide eyed.
"Dead serious." She confirms. "We'll be sending a filming crew out to you in the next couple days to film, and then you will be flying out to LA."
"Wow, that quick?"
"Yes. We start shooting the season in the next couple weeks, so we have to film all the intros by the end of the week."
"When do I fly down to LA? What do I bring? How much do I pack?" I list off.
"Pack enough stuff for 10 weeks, including rose ceremony dresses." Robyn answers.
"Shit, okay, I will, well I better inform work."
"We'll have a camera crew at yours the day after tomorrow." She responds.
"Okay I'll be ready, where do you want to meet?"
"We will meet you at yours and go from there." She replies. "We will also need to contact some of the places we hope to film at for approval."
"Sounds great, thanks Robyn. See you in two days." I thank and hang up. As I glance at Emma and Abby. "Well girls what turned out as a drunken joke has actually become reality."
They pounce on me tackle me to the ground. "OMG this is so cool, our best friend is going to be on The Bachelor."
"I wonder what the producers are going to make you?" Abby wonders.
"Probably the Aussie from down under that gives zero fucks." I guess.
"I could see it, and I could see you as the villain." Emma adds.
I laugh. "Because I'm so evil."
"Just remember to have fun and be yourself." Abby advises.
I smile. "So now that I am officially on The Bachelor, I'm going to need you two to help me pack because I'm going to need nearly three months worth of clothes."
"Now this is the fun stuff." Emma jokes and we venture to my room.