Annalise POV
Slowly more and more ladies pile into the mansion and the room is getting crowded. I'm starting to get nervous.
I'm currently on the couch talking to Lauren B, Amanda and one of the newer arrivals JoJo. "Were you guys expecting Colby to be as good looking in person?" JoJo asks the group.
I smile at the faint memory. "Where are you from JoJo?" I ask changing the topic.
"Dallas."
"Lovely."
"Have you been?"
I nod. "I have, I used to compete there."
"Compete?" Lauren B questions.
"I was a gymnast."
"That explains the killer bod." Amanda jokes.
"I've worked hard." I retort sending her a wink.
"Where in Australia are you from?" JoJo asks
"Sydney."
"Aww lovely."
"And you are now the first Aussie on the show." Lauren praises.
"I am." I grin. "And I hope I do us proud."
Colby POV
I have finally met all twenty woman and I'm actually getting excited to see them all and get to know them. Chris and Renee approach me. "How do you feel, you've officially met all the woman, any instant connections?" Chris wonders.
"Yes." I admit.
"Good, we wish you the best of luck and we are here if you need to chat." Renee finishes and I head on inside.
3rd Person POV
All the ladies are inside on the lounge when Colby walks in. "Ladies." he greets getting there attention and there heads snap in his direction. "Are you having a good time?" he asks.
"Yes." They all cheer in unison.
"Good. I firstly want to thank you all for coming. It's not easy packing up your lives and coming here, but I appreciate it." He thanks. "I also wanted to say that I hope I get the chance to talk to you all." he wishes. "So how about we get this night started with a toast."
"Brilliant idea." Jen answers handing him a drink.
"Why thank you." Colby thanks. "To a wonderful night." Colby toasts and they all clink there glasses.
They all stand in a circle and suddenly Mandy grabs Colby and steals him away. "And the games begin." Annalise jokes and the girls laughs.
Annalise POV
One by one the girls start chatting with Colby, well they try to but he gets stolen every two minutes by someone. "So how long did you do gymnastics for?" Lauren B asks me.
"I started when I was two and finished three years ago."
"Why?" she asks. I turn around and move my hair so she can see my scar. "Shit."
"What are we swearing at?" JoJo and Jen ask joining us.
"That." Lauren answers pointing to my scar.
They take a closer look and gasp. "How the hell did you do that?" Jen asks sitting down.
"I broke my neck." I answer.
"How?" Amanda repeats.
"I fell off the uneven bars my senior year of college."
"And your okay?" Emily exclaims.
I nod. "I am, it was a really hard time. It took me a year to recover from the injury alone, but once I was ready, I went back to uni to finish my degree."
"Where?" Amanda asks.
"Florida."
"So you were a Gator?" Lauren C asks.
"I was."
"I'm taking it you had to stop after your injury?" JoJo assumes.
"I did. I only had half a year left when it happened, I missed out on Nationals, which we won but it was a really hard time."
"What do you do now?" Lauren B asks.
"I'm a writer for the university paper and website, as well as an assistant coach." I answer.
"Same team?"
"Same team just a different group of girls."
"Are the girls you coach any good?" Amanda asks.
"Three National championships since I've started coaching but that's not me. It's all the athletes, we are just there to help and guide them." I respond.
"What apparatus was your specialty?" Lauren B asks.
"I was an all rounder but my favourites were Floor and Bars."
"Have you gotten back on the bars?" JoJo asks.
I shake my head. "I can't."
"One day you will." a voice says from behind us. We turn around and find Renee Young walking our way. "Hi ladies."
"Hi." we greet cheerfully.
"I saw you girls chatting and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about."
"Not much, just chatting while we wait to talk to Colby." Amanda answers.
"Why aren't you all pulling Colby away?"
"I'd rather the guy come to me." I admit.
"Me too." Lauren B agrees.
"You know there is nothing wrong with making the first move." She reminds us.
"We know that, but he gets pulled left right and center, I don't know if you know this but us ladies are voulchers when it comes to men." I joke.
She laughs. "That we are." she winks.
It's starting to get later into the night and more girls have grabbed Colby for a chat and I'm starting to realize that maybe my tactic won't work.
I walk out onto the patio when I hear Lace talking shit about me. "Why is that Aussie bitch here." Lace wines.
My eyes go wide and I squeeze my fists. The girls look behind her wide eyed and she doesn't seem to notice me. "Lace, I wouldn't." Erin warns.
"What? She doesn't scare me. She may have all the other fake bitches fooled but not me, I just hope Colby sees through it." Lace continues.
Lauren and Amanda appear behind me. "She has no idea." I inform them.
I slowly walk up behind her. "Anyone can tell that she's just hear to put herself out there, I'm going to make sure everyone here realises who she really is."
"Lace." Erin warns again.
"What?" Lace grumbles.
I chuckle as I take a breath and walk towards the couch. "Well, well well, Lace you can't keep your mouth shut can you." I alert and she whips her head around and winces. I laugh lightly. "Whip lash?" I taunt. "Why so quiet? Aren't you going to say all those things to my face?" I ask stepping forward and standing in front of her. "You were confident a few moments ago, do you want me to stand behind you again?" I tease. She glares and goes to stand up but I stop her. "Let me make one thing clear, I am not fake, I'm 100% real, if you or anyone can't handle that too bad. I am not hear for you, I'm hear for Colby."
Lace glares. "You think you're so tough don't you."
"I know I'm tough and okay to stand up for yourself, because it's people like you that think that everyone should fall at your feet." I exclaim. "Life doesn't work like that, it also doesn't work by making a complete fool of yourself on national television and blaming it on others."
"How dare you."
"How dare I what?" I question. "What did I do? Did I actually make a good impression? Did I make you feel jealous you had to go to talk about me behind my back to feel good about yourself? Well good for you, you do your thing, I do mine, let's see who wins." I suggest and walk off. "Lace, the next time I hear you talking about me I wont be so nice."
3rd Person POV
"Ladies can you all come into the lounge room." Chris Harrison asks. The ladies slowly enter and take a seat at the couch. Colby walks in with Renee standing beside him. "This year things are a little different." Chris begins. "For the first time ever, we have what is called, the white rose."
"The woman that receives this rose, will get exclusive time at each cocktail party and spend some interrupted time with Colby." Renee explains.
"So ladies, use your time wisely when your with Colby because you could make an impression that might make a great impression." Chris finishes.
Annalise POV
As soon as the group is dismissed I get out of there because I'm mad. I decide to take a stroll in the garden. I need to clear my head, so I'm not angry or frustrated when I eventually talk to Colby.
Colby POV
I follow Annalise as she walks outside into the garden. I observe her as she is looking up in the sky and she looks more relaxed now. She notices my presence and turns her head in my direction. "What you doing out here?" I ask her.
"Fresh air." She answers.
"You okay after your little argument with Lace?"
"You saw that?"
"Yeah."
"I hope I didn't turn you off."
I chuckle. "You're fine, but I take it you have a tight fuse."
"I'm usually very patient and don't anger easily, but when people go out of there way to find a way to make me look bad, that is when I lose it."
"I get it, I am completely the same."
"Really?"
"Yes." I confirm. "Feeling any better?"
She nods. "Yes."
"Good." I grin. "Now is this the part where I ask you where your from and what you do?"
She chuckles. "If you want to, or you can go a different route and let me ask the questions."
"That could work."
"Yay, I have the power." she jokes as we walk over to a gazebo. "Okay, first question, what is a man like you, someone that has a pretty cool career and has his life set out, The Bachelor?"
"That's a very good question that I'm still trying to answer for myself, but sometimes things come up in life when you least expect it and you realize you don't have everything you want." I respond. "I have my career, a loving family there is just one thing missing."
"Someone to share it with." She finishes.
"Yes."
"Are you happy that you're doing this, or are you still apprehensive?"
"Bit of both, it's getting easier. I'm a very private person, but I'm also using this as an opportunity to have a fresh start."
"Sometimes it takes a journey like this to do that."
"So what made you come on this show? You seem to have your prioritites straight and you don't seem like a girl that wants to be on TV." I ask curiously.
She laughs lightly. "Well, to be honest with you, I never thought I'd be here, I tend to do silly things when I have been drinking."
"Oh, what did you do?"
She laughs. "I jokingly said that I should apply and my friends thought it was the best idea I've ever suggested and we applied."
"I take it you didn't think you would be here." I assume.
"It was a joke, but once I got over the shock, I was excited."
"I'm glad."
We hear footsteps approach. "Well I think we've been discovered." She mentions.
Lauren B makes her way towards us. "I think we have." I agree.
"I'll let you two chat. It was lovely talking to you Colby."
"Likewise."
Annalise POV
After talking with Colby I can't help but feel giddy. When we were talking it felt so easy.
I make my way back to the group. "You okay?" Amanda asks.
I smile. "I'm fine, I just wasn't expecting drama on night one but these things happen."
"Have you spoken to Colby?" Caila asks.
I smile. "I have.
"He's hotter up close isn't he." Jen mentions.
"He is." I agree.
Colby POV
I walks into the lounge room and smile at the group of ladies sitting on the couch. I walk towards the coffee table and pick up the white rose.
The girls follow after me as I head towards one of the gardens where a smaller group of ladies are talking. In that small group is Lauren B, Amanda, JoJo, Jen, Lauren C and Annalise. The group hear me approach. "Ladies." I greet stopping in front of them.
They all smile. "Hi." They respond.
"I was wondering if I could steal Annalise away." I request. Annalise looks up at me in shock and I guide her to a private area. "Annalise, ever since you got out of that limo I new there was something special about you. And after speaking to you for that short time, there is no doubt that I want to get to know you more, so, Annalise." I address pulling the white rose from behind my back. "Would you accept this rose?"
"Of course." She accepts.
3rd Person POV
All twenty woman are lined up on the stairs and Renee and Chris Harrison are standing opposite them. Annalise is holding the white rose just off to the side. "Annalise firstly congratulations on receiving the white rose." Chris congratulates.
"Thank you." she thanks.
"In just a moment, Colby is going to walk in here and send four of you home, and unfortunately this means it's the end of the road for you." Renee adds.
"So please welcome Colby." Chris introduces and he walks into the room nervously.
"I want to quickly say thank you to you all for being here, and I appreciate you all." Colby thanks and retrieves the first rose and looks up. "Lauren B." He calls out first and Lauren walks over and accepts the rose and sands next to Annalise. "Caila." Colby says second. "Amanda." Amanda makes her way over next and accepts the rose. "JoJo." Colby continues. "Jen," "Mandy," "Lauren H," "Lauren C," "Emily," "Hayley," "Kaitlyn," "Sarah," "Jessica," and Raven." It's down the the last rose and the remaining ladies are standing frantically. Colby slowly retrieves the last rose and looks up at the group. "Lace." He announces last.
Lace walks over eagerly and accepts the rose. She walks back and stands with the ladies sending Annalise a nasty grin. Annalise rolls her eyes and turns back to the front, which was noticed by Colby.
"Ladies I'm sorry you four unfortunately did not receive a rose, please say your goodbyes." Renee addresses solemnly.