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Anyway thanks again and enjoy chapter 8!
Colby POV
Another week has been and we are leaving LA and heading to Las Vegas. This will be the first destination we are heading to and I'm excited.
I land in Vegas and waiting for me at the airport are Jon and Joe. "Hey man." Joe greets.
"Hey." I greet.
"How's it going?"
"Better than I thought it would be."
"Is that due to a certain brunette?" he asks with a grin.
I glare at Jon. "Did you tell?"
Jon nods grinning. "Most of the locker room knows."
"What's your week look like?" Joe asks.
"I have a one on one, and a group date." I answer.
"Who's the one on one this week?" Jon asks.
"Lauren B."
"The flight attendant?"
I nod. "Yes."
"And your plan for the group date?" Joe asks.
I smirk. "That's where you two come in."
"What?" They both ask.
"Would you two like to make an appearance?"
They grin. "We're listening?" Joe replies.
"Would you two like to be the special guest judges tonight?"
"Yes we would." Jon accepts. "Are you trying to embarrass these woman?"
"Not exactly but I would love a good laugh." I joke.
"So tell me about some of the woman that are left?" Joe asks.
3rd Person POV
All the ladies are on the couch and Renee walks in by herself. "Hello ladies." She greets.
"Hey Renee." They all greet.
"So you're probably wondering why it's just me?" she asks. They all nod. "I wanted to be the one to tell you to go pack your bags, because you are heading off to your first destination."
"OMG." They all squeal.
"So get ready because you're heading to Vegas." Reneee announces and the girls jump off the couch in excitement. "Now run along, Colby is already there and he is eager for you to join him."
Annalise POV
"Vegas baby." I squeal as we make our through LAX.
"Have you been?" Lauren B asks.
"A couple times and it was always fun time."
Lauren laughs. "I've been multiple times too, I even got arrested once."
"What?"
"It was at a music festival."
I grin. "You bad girl."
"Like you can talk."
"I've never been arrested but I've had my moments." I laugh. "Do you think you'll get a date this week?"
"I hope so."
Lace and Olivia walk past us. "What jokes." Olivia says loudly.
We both turn to glare at them. "Do you want to say that to our faces?" I speak up. They stop walking and look at us. "Cat got ya tounges?"
Lace steps forward. "One of these days I'm going to prove to everyone here just who you are." She threatens
I laugh not even remotely threatened. "Yeah good luck with that crazy."
3rd person POV
The ladies land in Vegas and get driven to the hotel. Amanda, Lauren and Annalise step inside first and they run up the stairs to find the best room. "Vegas baby." they squeal.
"Now this is a cool room." Annalise observes.
"Girls." JoJo shouts. All the girls meet in the lounge where they see JoJo holding a date card in her hand. "I found something." She says as all the girls sit down. She slowly opens up the card and reads it. "Lauren B." JoJo announces. Lauren instantntly smiles. "Let's take Vegas by storm."
Lauren blushes excitedly. "You have a date." Amanda squeals.
"That means I have to get ready." She responds.
"We'll help you." Annalise offers and they drag her into their room.
Annalise POV
"Are you nervous?" I ask Lauren as she does her make-up.
"Really nervous. I haven't really had a lot of time with him, so I still don't know if we have a connection."
"Use today to find out."
"You're right."
"Don't you forget it." I joke.
"Do you think I could borrow your peach dress?"
"Go for it."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome." I respond retrieving the dress.
"Lauren." Jen calls out.
"Yes."
"There's someone here for you."
"Well go on." I say and she scurries out.
3rd Person POV
Colby knocks on the ladies hotel room door and JoJo answers it. "High." she squeals jumping into his arms.
"Hello." He chuckles.
"Come in."
"Nice place."
"It is."
They walk further inside and the ladies in the lounge notice him. They all get up off the couch and greet him. "Hey ladies." He greets.
"Hey." They greet excitedly.
"How are you all finding Vegas?"
"It's awesome."
"Is Lauren ready?"
"Lauren." Jen calls out.
"Yes." Lauren B calls out.
"Someone is here for you."
Lauren walks down stairs dressed in a peach dress with nude heels. Colby smiles as she walks down.
Annalise follows after her with Amanda in tow and they watch as they Lauren and Colby meet at the bottom of the stairs. If you look very closely, Annalise looks a little bothered.
Colby then sees the other two ladies at the top of the stares. "Ladies." he greets. They both wave awkwardly. Lauren meets him at the bottom of the stairs and he offers her his arm. "Ready?"
Lauren grins. "Yes."
"Let's go. See you ladies." Colby farewells.
Annalise POV
After Lauren left with Colby I felt jealous. I don't know why, I'm happy that she has a date with him, but it's finally hit me that he's dating other girls and he's forming connections with them.
I'm currenty in the hotel gym when I see a familiar shaggy blonde head walk in with another good looking guy. He notices me and waves. "Jon?" I question.
"Hey." He greets.
"What are you doing here?"
"I live in Vegas." He responds. "What about you, are you even aloud out of the hotel room?"
I laugh. "We aren't in prision."
The big guy laughs. "Hi I'm Joe." He introduces himself.
"Hi, I'm Annalise." I introduce.
"Nice to meet you. Are you enjoying yourself?"
"I am."
"Are you staying out of fights?" Jon teases.
"As much as I can." I retort playfully. "Well I better head back, it was lovely seeing you Jon and nice meeting you Joe."
"Likewise." Joe replies.
I get back to the suite and make my way to my room where I find my room door open slightly. I peek inside and see a figure inside snooping around. Amanda comes up behind me and I put a finger to my lips. "Don't talk." I whisper.
I take a step closer to take a better look and see that its Lace and Olivia. What the fuck are they doing? "What are they doing?" Amanda whispers.
"I have no idea." I say as they continue to snoop. "They must be looking for something to use against me."
"What though?"
"I have no idea."
"Should we bust them?" She inquires.
I shake my head. I point at the cameras filming us and she laughs. "They are just going to show the world who they are."
"You're evil."
I smirk. "I'm the devil."
3rd person POV
All the ladies are on the couch in the living room and there is a date card on the table. Jen stands up and retrieves the card. Jen opens the car. "Who's got talent? Colby." She reads and retrieves the second card. "On the group date is... Lace, Olivia, JoJo, Amanda, myself, Annalise, Lauren H, Caila, Emily and lastly Hayley."
"I wonder what we'll be doing?" Olivia wonders.
Annalise chuckles loudly. "It's quite obvious, a talent show."
Olivia glares as the other girls stand up and head to their rooms.
Colby POV
After my single date with Lauren I found myself intrigued by her. She's family oriented, loves her job, she's down to earth and sweet, all things that I look for in a woman but there is just something missing.
I enter my suite to find Joe, Jon, and Renee drinking. "There he is." Renee grins.
"Hi." I greet.
"How'd the date go?" Joe asks.
"Good, better than I thought it would."
"Did you give her a rose?" Jon asks.
I nod. "I did."
"Kiss?" Renee wonders.
I smirk. "I don't kiss and tell."
"So I met Annalise today." Joe mentions.
I stop pouring my drink. "Where?"
"At the gym. We were leaving as we entered, she recognized Jon."
"What did she say to you?"
"Just asked how I was, nothing to extreme, she had to leave though." Jon answers.
"What do you think?" I ask Joe.
Joe grins. "She's beautiful man, she has a presence about her, she knows who she is and what she wants in life."
I smile. "She does."
"You like her a lot don't you?" He questions.
I nod. "I do, and I don't know why."
"It's because she gets you even though you just met." Renee chimes in. "It's refreshing, you can be yourself, she's sees you for you, and not just as Seth Rollins."
"She hasn't once called me Seth."
"That's because she knows that Seth isn't actually you, he's a big part of you but the real you is this." Jon responds.
"When you were on your date today, did you think about her?" Joe asks.
I nod. "I couldn't stop thinking about her. I keep comparing her to all the other ladies, and I try to not to, but somehow she always pops into my head."
"You'll know in due time, but in the mean time, keep up what your doing, you're doing great." Renee praises.
Annalise POV
The next day us ladies are getting ready for the group date. I'm wearing a black high wasted skirt with a nude crop top. To finish off the outfit I'm wearing brown ankle boots. My hair is in loose curls and for my make-up I have gone for brown smokey eye.
3rd Person POV
Colby is standing underneath a fountain in front of the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. The girls walk down a flight of stairs in two groups towards Colby. He looks up and they see him.
They run towards him with JoJo in the lead and she leaps up and hugs him, he catches her with ease. "Hello." Colby chuckles.
"Hi." She greets.
Slowly all the other ladies appear in front of him and he hugs them individually. "Are you ladies ready for a fun day?" He asks them.
"Yes." They cheer.
"Let's go I've got something really fun planned for you all today."
They enter the casino and make there way towards one of the many theatres. They walk inside and on the stage is Terry who's one of the best ventriloquists.
The ladies all stand at the bottom of the stage as Colby greets Terry. "Well aren't you ladies all beautiful." Terry greets.
"Beautiful! They are drop dead sexy." His puppet Gary jokes. The ladies laugh. "Welcome to Vegas."
"You're probably wondering why we are in this theatre right?" Colby asks.
"Yes." they reply.
"Tonight all of you are going to be competing against one another in a talent show where the winner will be decided by Colby and two special guests." Terry announces.
"I want you ladies to pull out your secret talents that no one knows about and perform them here tonight." Colby explains.
"The winner will get some special alone time with our bachelor here." Terry finishes.
"So I'm going to leave you ladies to rehearse. I'll be back with the judges soon." He finishes and leaves.
Annalise POV
For the talent show I want to do something that will get me noticed. Show off a little bit and I also be remembered. I'm currently backstage choosing outfits when I feel eyes on me. I turn around and see Olivia and Lace watching me. I chuckle and wave at them mockingly and they immediately go back to what they were doing.
Terry approaches me with Gary on his arm. "Hello." He greets
"Hi." I greet.
"Have you decided what you're going to be doing today?" Terry asks.
I nod. "I have."
"Any clues?"
"I'm going to be doing something that will definitely get me noticed and will allow Colby to see a different side of me."
"Smart. Are you going to be wowing us?" Gary the puppet asks.
I send him a secret grin. "Just you wait."
"Good luck." Terry wishes.
3rd Person POV
The auditorium is packed with hundreds of people taking their seats and the atmosphere is electric. All the ladies are seated in the first two rows of the auditorium and there are three reserved seats behind them for the judges.
The lights in the auditorium dim and the chatter dies as a spotlight comes on and Terry appears on stage and the crowd cheer loudly. "Welcome to Las Vegas." he welcomes everyone. "Tonight we are having a very special show for you all. We have the newest bachelor in the house." he announces and the crowd goes crazy. "We also have the very beautiful contestants trying to win his heart." Terry adds pointing to the first couple rows in the crowd and the crowd cheers. "Now please let me welcome The Bachelor himself, Colby Lopes."
The crowd erupt as Colby walks onto the stage in dark jeans and a black t-shirt. The contestants cheer as he stands next to Terry. "Thanks for that warm welcome." He thanks.
"You aren't here alone are you?" Terry asks.
"No I'm not. I needed some help tonight, so I made a few calls." Colby begins and the crowd gets antsy at who it might be. "Please welcome, my former Shield brothers, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns." He introduces.
The two superstars appear on stage and the whole auditorium erupts. "OMG." JoJo screams.
"You know them?" Jen asks.
"That's The Shield."
"Shield?" Annalise questions.
"They used to be a faction but Seth turned on them."
"Thanks for the warm welcome." Jon thanks.
"We are excited to help our brother out here tonight, so we hope the contestents are ready because we aren't going easy." Joe continues.
"Are you ready for our first contestant?" Terry asks the crowd.
"Yes." The crowd cheers as the boys walk off stage and take their seats behind the ladies.
"Our first victim, I mean contestant is... Amanda." Gary announces and the crowd laugh.
Slowly one by one the ladies perform. The three ladies left to perform are Annalise, Lace and Olivia. "Are we ready for the next act?" Terry asks the crowd. The crowd cheer loudly. "Please help me welcome... Annalise."
Annalise stands and makes her way onto the stage and a microphone appears on stage.
She walks up to the microphone and looks out into the crowd and closes her eyes for a second to compose herself.
Annalise POV
When my name is called Amanda squeezes my arm in reassurance as I stand up and make my way on stage. I slowly walk towards the microphone and I close my eyes as I take in what I'm about to do. I take a deep breath and open my eyes. "Before I begin I just wanted to say, that I actually have never done this in front of anyone before, so if I suck, I'm sorry." I joke and the crowd laugh a little. "
Music starts to play and I shut my eyes.
"In The Stars" - Benson Boone
Sunday mornings were your favorite
I used to meet you down on Woods Creek Road
You did your hair up like you were famous
Even though it's only church where we were goin'
I open my eyes and take a small breath and peer into the crowd and everyone is mesmerised.
Now, Sunday mornings, I just sleep in
It's like I buried my faith with you
I'm screamin' at a God, I don't know if I believe in
'Cause I don't know what else I can do
I glance around the crowd and glance at the shocked faces of Colby, Dean and Roman. I glance over my fellow contestants and see that Lace and Olivia are fuming. I smile lightly at that.
I'm still holdin' on to everything that's dead and gone
I don't wanna say goodbye, 'cause this one means forever
And now you're in the stars and six-feet's never felt so far
Here I am alone between the heavens and the embers
Oh, it hurts so hard
For a million different reasons
You took the best of my heart
And left the rest in pieces
I look up above and let myself go as I continue to sing my heart out.
Diggin' through your old birthday letters
A crumpled 20 still in the box
I don't think that I could ever find a way to spend it
Even if it's the last 20 that I've got, oh
I'm still holdin' on to everything that's dead and gone
I don't wanna say goodbye, 'cause this one means forever
And now you're in the stars and six-feet's never felt so far
Here I am alone between the heavens and the embers
Oh, it hurts so hard
For a million different reasons
You took the best of my heart
And left the rest in pieces
I'm still holdin' (on), holdin' (on), holdin' on (on)
I'm still holdin' (on), holdin' (on), holdin' on (on)
I'm still holdin' (on), holdin' (on), I'm still holdin' on (on)
I'm still, ooh, still holdin' on
I'm still holdin' on to everything that's dead and gone (ooh)
I don't wanna say goodbye, 'cause this one means forever (ooh)
Now you're in the stars and six-feet's never felt so far
Here I am alone between the heavens and the embers
Oh, it hurts so hard
For a million different reasons
You took the best of my heart
Left the rest in pieces
The whole crowd goes crazy as I finish the song and everyone is left in awe. I smile and slowly backs always and walks off stage.
I make my way back to my seat and the ladies congratulate me. I turn my head and see all three of the judges watching me. I send them all a small smile and sit down as Terry arrives on stage. "Wow." Terry expresses. "I don't think we were expecting that, you sure you aren't a singer?"
I chuckle loudly. "Just a girl full of suprises."
Colby POV
As soon as Annalise let out the first line of the song I was sunk. Holy fucking shit, can she sing. "Okay, if you don't pick her, I may have to." Jon teases.
I send him a small glare. "I'm sure Renee would love that." I retort.
"I think Renee will let me."
"Where is she?"
"She's watching." he answers and points up to the top of the theater and she waves. "She wanted a closer look."
"I'm seriously shocked right now." I admit.
"We all are." Joe chimes.
"Who's up next?" Jon asks.
"Lace." I answer.
Annalise POV
Terry announces Lace next and to know surprise she is singing. I stare at her as she is singing, and the crowd get antsy. Once Lace has finished the last one to perform is Olivia.
Suddenly a cake is brought out on stage. Music starts and we all look on confused. Suddenly the cake bursts open and Olivia jumps out wearing a skimpy outfit and she is awful. "OMG." I say a little loudly.
Jon seems to have heard it and chuckles. "This is torture." Amanda whispers.
"I can't not watch it." I admit peering between my fingers.
She nods laughing. "You can't turn away."
Olivia finishes and runs off as the ladies turn to look at the shocked face of Colby. He quickly recovers and stands up and makes his way on stage. "Weren't all these ladies amazing." He addresses the crowd.
The crowd cheer loudly as the ladies pile on stage and are joined by Roman and Dean. "Now it's time for our judeges to deliberate, and we will find out who wins." Terry announces and the guys walk off stage.
We are escorted backstage and in the meantime whilst waiting for the decision we get given some food and drink. "Where did you learn how to sing?" Amanda asks me.
"I did singing in high school, but I've never performed in front of people because I was so nervous, and when I left to move to the states I stopped. I wrote the song after my brother died." I explain.
"It was beautiful."
"Thanks Amanda."
"You just had to show off didn't you." a voice addresses.
We turn our heads and Lace walks over to us as we sit on a crate. "Excuse me." I say confused.
"You just had to show off and sing didn't you, you know what Annalise, you think your all that."
I cringe. "What on earth are you talking about Lace, everyone did something why are you having a go at me?"
"Because you just had to go out of your way to one up us."
"One up you, I didn't one up anyone, I did what I was told, I did my part and that was sing." I exclaim. "I'm so sorry that it offended you, but I did nothing wrong." I enforce as Jon, Joe and Colby walk up behind her.
"You did nothing wrong?" she scoffs. "I see right through you Annalise and I'm going to prove to everyone here just how fake you are."
"And please tell me why I'm so fake?" I ask crossing my legs amused. This is actually quite funny, I'm just watching her put her nail in the coffin.
"Let's list it shall we." Lace suggests. "You play the nice act but you're really just a bitch that needs to run back to Australia."
My eyes go wide at that comment as everyone gasps in shock. I take a deep breath trying to keep it together. "Okay." I grumble.
"You talk about all of us behind our backs." She continues.
I laugh at that one. "Really, what have I said?" I retort. "Please, enlighten me, because this is news to me." I add. "Have I ever talked about anyone behind your backs?" I ask the ladies who have crowded around us. They all shake their heads.
Lace looks around at the girls but still hasn't noticed Colby. "You talk so much about how you're a gymnast and have had this perfect life. You've come here to play up that you're this perfect person but I know who you truly are and what you did."
I raise my eyebrow. "And what did I do?"
"You killed someone."
I am fuming. "Excuse me." I gasp.
"You heard me. I heard you talking about it to Amanda and Lauren."
I look at her gobsmacked and I am seeing red. I slowly hop down off the case and walk towards her and she shuffles back slightly. "First of all Lace, don't go around saying stuff like that, it could get people in serious trouble. Secondly, you don't know shit, and lastly if you had listened to the rest of that conversation that you miraculously came across then you would have heard the real conversation." I admonish. "You would have heard me say that I blamed myself for someone I loved dearly that died and I spent years in therapy convincing myself that it wasn't my fault." I exclaim. "You also would have heard that the person you were referencing to, was my brother, and lastly if you had snooped harder in my room, you would have found a photo under my pillow of my brother that died in a car accident." I announce louder and looks at me wide eyed and goes to walk away but I grab her arm. "I'm not done." I enforce and she gasps. I turn to look at Olivia who is standing there like a deer in headlights. "If you had listened to Olivia you should have stopped, but no you just had to try and find some dirt on me, well here it is." I add. "When you go out of your way to come up with this fabricated rumor that I killed someone, it makes me want to tare you apart, but you what your doing is digging yourself in a hole that you can't get out of, and now the whole world is going to know that you are one crazy son of a bitch." I then send a look behind her and smirk. "And the best thing is that you did it in front of the person you're trying to win over." She gasps and turns her head around and stares at Colby wide eyed who looks furious. "Good luck getting out of this one." I taunt and walk off.
"Lace and Olivia, outside now." Colby orders.
I walk off I feel myself starting to break. I lean against a wall and sink to the floor exhausted. Renee walks up to me and kneels down. "Rough night?" She jokes trying to relieve some tension.
I laugh. "You could say that."
"You okay?"
"I just need a minute."
"Take your time, you know something Annalise, what you did right there takes a lot of patience, you seriously could have kicked off, so kudos to you."
"Thanks. But I was so close to knocking her out, but I wanted her to dig herself a deeper hole."
"Are you going to be okay?"she asks.
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
"If you need anything, come find me."
Colby POV
Watching Annalise rip into Lace was a huge turn on. I sent Olivia and Lace home immediately and I felt good. I am the one in control here, they don't get to ruin my show.
I walk back inside to find Renee comforting Annalise who's leaning against a wall. I approach them and Renee looks up and she smiles. Annalise hears me to and turns her head. "Fun night?" she jokes.
I laugh. "Lots happening."
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Because you saw me in a way you shouldn't of."
I laugh. "Annalise, what you did was extremely sexy."
"I seriously just wanted to knock her out."
"So did Renee." I joke. "Are you going to be okay?"
"I just need a minute."
"I'm here if you need to talk."
"Thanks. I just need to calm down, seriously I was this close to decking her."
I laugh. "It would of made great television."
"The most dramatic bachelor episode ever." She jokes and we both laugh.
"You good?" I ask again.
"Yeah. We should get back on stage."
I laugh shaking my head. "We already picked a winner."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, you." I announce.
"I won?"
"By a landslide."
"Well what's the prize?"
"The rest of the night with me."
"Oh, what are we doing?"
"You'll see." I grin helping her up.
"What about the girls?"
"They are being entertained by Joe and Jon."
"Well in that case let's go." She accepts happily.