Here's the next chapter! Enjoy.
Annalise POV
I land in LA and make my way through the airport. I see Robyn waiting at baggage claim and she waves me over. "Hi Annalise, it's good to see you got here okay." She greets.
"Thanks for collecting me." I thank.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm freaking out, but I'm going to use this opportunity for myself."
She smiles. "Good to hear, are ready to go?"
"Yes, and where are we going exactly?"
"We are heading to the hotel where all the contestants will be getting ready for the first rose ceremony."
"Does that mean filming starts tonight?" I ask.
"Yes. Now do you have all travel information, passports, visa's etc."
"I do." I confirm.
"Good, let's get you to the hotel and get you ready, the limo's leave at 6."
Colby POV
"Today's the big day, are you ready?" Renee asks me from behind me.
I turn around. "I think so."
"Don't be nervous, you're going to do great, the internet is already buzzing about you, you'll be a hit, and these ladies are going to fall at your feet."
I laugh. "Are you ready for your big day?"
Renee grins. "I'm ready."
"Let's do this together then."
"Let's."
Annalise POV
After getting pampered for tonight I'm officially ready. My hair is in loose culs that are pinned into a curly updo, with a couple tendrils hanging loose around my face. For my make up I have gone for a dark smokey eye with some false lashes. I finish off the look with a dark red lip.
Once my make up is finished I walk out of the bathroom and put on my dress: a long floor length electric blue dress with a sweetheart neck line and lace straps. I lift up the dress to take a look at my shoes, silver diamontee stilettos.
I hear a knock at my hotel door. "Come in." I call out.
The door opens and Robyn enters. "Holy shit you look amazing!" She compliments.
I laugh. "Thank you, it's different from what I usually wear."
"That colour suits you perfectly."
"Thanks I want to make a good first impression." I admit.
"Trust me you will." she assures. "Are you ready, the limo is waiting?"
I smile shyly. "Ready as I'll ever be, what do I do with my suitcases?"
"If you are successful, we'll collect your belongings and deliver them to the mansion tonight." She answers. "We will also have to do a search of your belongings, to make sure you don't have anything you shouldn't."
I nod. "Not a problem."
"Let's go, we have a schedule to keep to, and it's going to be a long night."
We leave and I'm escorted into the limo where three other ladies are inside. I smile shyly. "Hey." I greet.
They notice my accent and immediately smile. "Hi." They greet.
"Annalise." I introduce myself.
"Hi, I'm Amanda." One of the blondes retorts.
"Lauren B." the second blonde adds.
"I'm Caila." the brunette finishes.
"Hi." I repeat and notice a producer inside.
"Alright ladies, we are just waiting on the last contestant and we will be off." He informs us. "You're going to be the first limo pulling up. One at a time you will get out of the limo, greet Colby, then walk inside." He directs. "Its going to be a long night so grab a drink and sit tight."
The limo doors opens and another brunette gets in. She looks at us and I immediately get the feeling that she doesn't care who we are. "This just got interesting." I say quietly. Lauren hears me and laughs.
3rd Person POV
Colby walks up to the mansion and standing out the front is Chris Harrison and Renee Young. "Colby, welcome to The Bachelor mansion." Chris welcomes.
He smiles. "Thank you."
"Are you ready to start this journey?" Renee asks.
"I am."
"In just a few moments the limos are going to be arriving with 20 beautiful women just for you." Chris begins.
"So take a breath and enjoy this, because you could be meeting the person you could spend the rest of your life with." Renee continues. "So enjoy tonight, speak to everyone and if you make a connection go with it."
"At the end of the night, you will have your first rose ceremony where you will hand out your roses." Chris explains. "This year we are doing something different too, it's called the white rose, and whichever lady you give it to will be given a huge advantage."
"We won't explain that until all the ladies arrive. So Colby, we welcome you to the mansion and don't forget to enjoy this." Renee finishes and he shakes Chris's hand and hugs Renee.
"Let your journey start right now." Chris announces as the first limo arrives and comes to a complete stop.
The first limo stops a few meters away from Colby and the ladies inside squeal as they see Colby looking extremely handsome.
Colby chuckles and takes a breath as the door opens and out steps Lauren B. Lauren stands there for a moment and walks over. "Hi Colby." She greets.
"Wow, you look great." Colby compliments smiling.
She blushes. "Thank you. I'm Lauren and I'm a flight attendant so I travel a lot and see a lot of amazing places." She begins. "I wanted to give you these wings so we can take off on this journey together."
Colby chuckles. "Nice pun." He praises. "It's great to meet you Lauren. I look forward to it."
"I will see you later." Lauren finishes and walks off.
Colby watches as she walks off and smiles and turns back to the limo where the door opens and out steps Caila. Caila smiles and immediately runs and jumps into his arms. "Good you caught me, now we can get to know each other better." She jokes.
"Great first impression." Colby chuckles placing her on her feet.
"I'm Caila."
"Colby."
"I only really know a little about your wrestling character but I can't wait to get to know the real you."
Colby smiles. "Likewise, I will see you inside."
Annalise POV
I watch from inside the limo as both Lauren and Caila meet Colby and it looks like he likes them. "Annalise you are up after Lace." a producer informs me.
"Thanks." I thank.
"Don't worry you'll be fine." He reassures. "Lace your up." the producer alerts.
"Get ready ladies your competition is here." she declares and the door opens and she steps out.
"She's definitely going to get on my nerves." I mumble.
Amanda laughs loudly. "Same."
3rd person POV
Lace walks out of the limo and smirks at Colby. "Well if it isn't Mr CrossFit himself." She greets.
Colby doesn't respond right away. "I'm guessing you've googled me." He assumes.
"I have and most of these ladies have too, so I would like to be the first one to kiss you." she replies boldly and goes to kiss him but he moves his head and she kisses his cheek.
Annalise POV
Amanda and I crack up. "OMG, did he just rejct her?" Amanda exclaims watching the embarrassing moment.
I nod laughing. "OMG! He did."
"I don't think that has ever happened before."
"She can't believe it." I laugh "I take it she doesn't get rejected a lot."
Amanda chuckles some more. "She's frozen in place."
Colby POV
As soon as Lace leans in to kiss me I move my head and she kisses my cheek. She looks at me flabbergasted and I hear some laughing coming from the limo. "Before I kiss a woman I want to get to know them first." I address confidently as she is standing there speechless. "Why don't you go inside and I'll come find you once you've recovered." I suggest and she nods slowly walking inside. I can't help but let out a laugh when she is out of ear shot.
The limo door opens and I see silver heels step out followed by an electric blue dress and as soon as the person is standing my heart flutters and my eyes go wide, it's Annalise!
Annalise POV
I step out of the limo and stand there laughing. "Still frozen from that attempted kiss?" I ask laughing.
Colby laughs. "I like to make the first move."
"Duly noted." I smile. "I'm Annalise but everyone calls me Anna."
"Colby and duly noted."
"So I've been trying to figure out what to say and how to make a good impression but I guess I'm going to have to get sappy." I begin and retrieve something from behind my back. I pull out a grip bag which has a big butterfly on it. "As you can see I'm not tallest person." I gesture. "I'm actually quite small, so once these heels are off, don't be scared off."
"Thank you for the warning but I'm intrigued."
"Good." I laugh and retrieve some grips from the bag. "I was a gymnast and these were my grips that I used throughout my career." I explain. "So I thought I'd give you a little snippet into who I am."
"I appreciate the gesture, and what does the butterfly represent?"
I grin. "If you want to know find me later." I tease and go to walk off but turn back. "And look out for people trying to steal kisses."
I walk inside the mansion and Lauren, Caila and Lace are inside. Lace is downing a glass of wine. "Hey." I greet as I sit down. "Man was that nerve racking."
"Tell me about it, I thought I was going to be sick." Caila agrees.
"Don't worry you were great."
"So you're from Australia I take it." Lauren B assumes.
"Yes. Sydney to be specific, but I've been living in the states for years now."
"Do you have family here?" Caila asks.
"Yes, my mother was actually born here."
"That's really cool, and good for you for being the first Aussie on the show." Lauren praises.
"Thank you, to be honest I didn't think it would work, I was drunk when I did the application." I joke as cameras follow our conversation. Lauren and Caila laugh as Amanda walks in. "Get out of there alive?"
Amanda chuckles. "Yeah I think so."
"What's so funny?" Lauren asks us.
"You'll find out." I clue in sending Amanda a wink.
Lace scoffs and walks off towards the bar. "Let me guess something to do with her?"
"Let's just say someone is getting embarrassed on television."
Renee POV
I watch from the sidelines as I see each woman from the first limo walk out. Colby is actually interested in some of them. But the person I was really interested in seeing was Annalise.
As soon as she stepped out of the limo I saw the spark between the two of them and a huge smile appeared on my face. "What's got you smiling?" Chris wonders.
"I think we found ourselves a front runner." I predict.
"I've heard some stuff about her."
"The neck injury?"
"Not just that. We did some further digging and what she went through makes her a strong individual."
"So she's smart, beautiful, and mysterious." I compliment. "She's perfect. I'm going to have a word with Colby." I inform Chris and walk over to Colby. "How are you doing?" I ask him.
He smiles. "I'm doing okay."
"You're doing great."
"Thanks."
"So you got your first kiss?" I tease.
He laughs out loud. "That poor girl."
"I dont think she's poor, I think she was being over confident and cocky." He nods his head in agreement. "Annalise is something."
He nods. "She has fire."
"She does."
"And the little snippet about the strap was cute, she has a whole lot more to share."
He nods smiling. "I intend to find out."
"Keep up the good work." I encourage. "Only three more limos to go."