The Bachelorette
14 Become 12
In every breathing rose are sweets within its folds
Liam’s POV
I stood on the steps in the rose ceremony room with the other bachelors, my sweaty hands clasped together behind my back. It was quiet and you could cut the tension with a knife. Each man radiated nervousness, apart from Harry and Louis, who stood off to the side, separated from the rest of us, a red rose pinned on their lapels. My fate was uncertain tonight.
I did manage to have a private talk with Clara during the cocktail party and she was the most kind, sweet and beautiful woman I had ever met in my life. I wanted to get to know her more. But that wasn’t guaranteed. I needed to get a rose tonight if I was to have that chance.
The host, Mark, walked into the room from the open glass doors to our left. He stopped by the table in which a bunch of red roses sat on a silver platter, the same platter from where Clara got the two roses for Harry and Louis.
“Good evening, gentlemen. Welcome to your first rose ceremony.”
We all said “good evening” back and his eyes went to the platter of red roses.
“It’s been a fairly calm first cocktail party, hasn’t it? Many of you had the chance to talk with Clara and two of you received a rose. Harry, Louis, you are safe tonight.” Mark nodded at the two bachelors, who smiled a little. The host returned his gaze to us and gestured to the roses.
“For the rest of you, unfortunately, Clara only has 10 roses left. So two of you will be leaving the mansion tonight.”
I took a deep breath to calm my heart. It was pounding like crazy and I couldn’t stop it. My tie began to feel tighter around my neck and I felt my body heat up underneath my suit. Niall stood next to me and I could see the uncertainty in his blue eyes, reflecting in his glasses.
“Here’s Clara.” Mark said. We all looked to the left and the young Bachelorette walked into the room, her silver heels clicking on the floor. The room filled up with shy smiles from all the guys when she looked at us, her shining eyes fraught with nerves. Clara and Mark shared a hug before the host left, walking out of the doors, so it was just the 14 of us guys and Clara. She stared at each of us for a moment or two, almost as if she was apologising for what she was about to do. When her green eyes locked to my brown ones, the corners of my lips tugged up, reassuring her that everything was going to be alright. Her gaze went to the silver platter and with a deep breath, I watched her reach out her hand and grab the first one. She gripped it in her fingers, raising her eyes to the 14 bachelors that stood before her.
“Angelo.” Clara spoke and my heart faltered a little. The dark-skinned man stepped forward with a smile and allowed Clara to pin the rose to his lapel. They exchanged a kiss on the cheek before Angelo turned around and took his place standing next to Louis.
Clara picked up the second rose and called out the name Sasha. He walked up to her and she pinned the red rose onto his lapel. He walked back towards us but now stood next to Harry. The third rose sat in Clara’s delicate fingers and she called Deacon. The process was repeated again and again while I just stood there, waiting for my name to be called. It only made it worse when Niall’s name was called. He stepped down from beside me and I felt a ping of jealousy when his lips touched her cheek. I wanted to do that but I couldn’t move. I wasn’t allowed to. Not until my name was called out. I had begun to lose hope as more bachelors stood on the other side of the room.
Suddenly, it was down to me, Zayn and two other guys called Michael and Anthony. It was just the four of us standing there, all looking at her. Clara picked up the second last rose and looked at it intently, sighing through her pretty pink lips. I will tell you, I had never been more nervous in my life than I was right now. I watched her throat move as she breathed in and out deeply. She looked up and opened her mouth to speak. And the name that hit my ears made my heart jump a beat.
“Liam.”
0*0
Clara’s POV
I saw the flash of relief wash across his face. He was scared that I might not have said his name. But I had to give Liam a rose. He deserved it. He was a sweet man with a kind heart, good looks, and a golden personality.
He walked towards me and sighed, raising his head up as a sign of confidence. I looked up at him with a gentle smile.
“Liam, will you accept this rose?”
“Of course I will.” He whispered. I pinned it to his lapel and leaned down to kiss me on the check. I put my arms around his neck and gave him a brief warm hug, to reassure him. Liam took his spot with the other guys, all of them adorned with red roses on their lapels. Now, there were just three guys left. And I could only give one of them a rose.
My hand trembled slightly as I took the red rose in my hands. If I thought it was difficult to choose now, I knew it was going to be heartbreaking as the number of guys decreased. My heart pounded as the three remaining guys waited. I looked up and felt the anxiety rise when their eyes locked to mine. I had talked with Zayn for all of five minutes tonight because one of the other guys, Michael, came and interrupted and stole me away. I understood that each of the guys wanted to get to know me on a deeper level but I didn’t have time for all of them. I wanted to form connections with the guys that I wanted to know more. It was my decision. But that being said, it was hard to send two of them home tonight.
Zayn was a lovely guy. There was no doubting that. He was handsome and quiet but I liked that about him. He was mysterious and I wished to explore what lay underneath. Maybe I could be able to make him more confident and comfortable in being here. Michael was also lovely but he had interrupted my conversation with Zayn and the only interaction I had with Anthony was our first meeting outside the mansion. There had been no time for me to get to know him better. I had made my choice. And I didn’t want to leave the guys hanging any longer.
“Zayn.”
His dark eyes filled up with shock and relief. He slowly stepped forward, walking towards me as if I just saved his life. His olive skin shone from the light in the room, his black hair perfectly styled. There was no way I could have sent him home. Not tonight. There was more to him that I wanted to know.
“Zayn, will you accept this rose?” I asked.
“Yes, I will. Thank you.” He murmured, giving me a hug after I pinned the rose onto his lapel. We kissed each other on the cheek and he joined the 11 other bachelors, a smile pulling at his lips but never fully spreading across his face.
Mark walked back into the room and stopped next to me, eyeing the two guys I did not give roses to.
“Michael, Anthony, you didn’t receive a rose. Please take some time to say your goodbyes.”
I observed the two men as they turned to the others who all had roses on them and shook hands, patted each other’s backs and exchanged one-armed hugs. I tied my fingers together and looked at the ground. Both of them had looked a little upset and I was the cause of that. I felt guilty. But I knew this was going to be hard. Easy was not a word I would associate with this experience.
Both Michael and Anthony came up to me individually to say farewell. They wished me luck and that whoever ended up with me will be a lucky guy. Once they were gone, I was left with 12 men. But that didn’t mean this would get any less stressful.
After all the cameras were gone, I retreated to my private bachelorette pad. Finally. I’m on my own. Being surrounded by so many men was enough for me for one night. I had so much to look forward to one this journey and it had only just begun.
The first one-on-one date would happen in two days and the first group date would happen two days after that. I had a full week ahead of me and I had to be prepared. I had to organise the dates, according to what I had discovered from all the guys. I had to create dates that catered to their interests and what they enjoyed doing. God, this going to be difficult.
I welcomed the softness of the plush pillows on my bed and let the sheets wrap around me like a cocoon. I remembered the many pairs of lips touching my cheek tonight, the many warm strong arms hugging me tightly, the many handsome smiles making my heart flutter. I had a great bunch of guys to choose from and I considered myself very lucky. Before I drifted off to sleep, I only had one thought on my mind.
Who am I going to take on the first one-on-one date?
Liam’s POV
I stood on the steps in the rose ceremony room with the other bachelors, my sweaty hands clasped together behind my back. It was quiet and you could cut the tension with a knife. Each man radiated nervousness, apart from Harry and Louis, who stood off to the side, separated from the rest of us, a red rose pinned on their lapels. My fate was uncertain tonight.
I did manage to have a private talk with Clara during the cocktail party and she was the most kind, sweet and beautiful woman I had ever met in my life. I wanted to get to know her more. But that wasn’t guaranteed. I needed to get a rose tonight if I was to have that chance.
The host, Mark, walked into the room from the open glass doors to our left. He stopped by the table in which a bunch of red roses sat on a silver platter, the same platter from where Clara got the two roses for Harry and Louis.
“Good evening, gentlemen. Welcome to your first rose ceremony.”
We all said “good evening” back and his eyes went to the platter of red roses.
“It’s been a fairly calm first cocktail party, hasn’t it? Many of you had the chance to talk with Clara and two of you received a rose. Harry, Louis, you are safe tonight.” Mark nodded at the two bachelors, who smiled a little. The host returned his gaze to us and gestured to the roses.
“For the rest of you, unfortunately, Clara only has 10 roses left. So two of you will be leaving the mansion tonight.”
I took a deep breath to calm my heart. It was pounding like crazy and I couldn’t stop it. My tie began to feel tighter around my neck and I felt my body heat up underneath my suit. Niall stood next to me and I could see the uncertainty in his blue eyes, reflecting in his glasses.
“Here’s Clara.” Mark said. We all looked to the left and the young Bachelorette walked into the room, her silver heels clicking on the floor. The room filled up with shy smiles from all the guys when she looked at us, her shining eyes fraught with nerves. Clara and Mark shared a hug before the host left, walking out of the doors, so it was just the 14 of us guys and Clara. She stared at each of us for a moment or two, almost as if she was apologising for what she was about to do. When her green eyes locked to my brown ones, the corners of my lips tugged up, reassuring her that everything was going to be alright. Her gaze went to the silver platter and with a deep breath, I watched her reach out her hand and grab the first one. She gripped it in her fingers, raising her eyes to the 14 bachelors that stood before her.
“Angelo.” Clara spoke and my heart faltered a little. The dark-skinned man stepped forward with a smile and allowed Clara to pin the rose to his lapel. They exchanged a kiss on the cheek before Angelo turned around and took his place standing next to Louis.
Clara picked up the second rose and called out the name Sasha. He walked up to her and she pinned the red rose onto his lapel. He walked back towards us but now stood next to Harry. The third rose sat in Clara’s delicate fingers and she called Deacon. The process was repeated again and again while I just stood there, waiting for my name to be called. It only made it worse when Niall’s name was called. He stepped down from beside me and I felt a ping of jealousy when his lips touched her cheek. I wanted to do that but I couldn’t move. I wasn’t allowed to. Not until my name was called out. I had begun to lose hope as more bachelors stood on the other side of the room.
Suddenly, it was down to me, Zayn and two other guys called Michael and Anthony. It was just the four of us standing there, all looking at her. Clara picked up the second last rose and looked at it intently, sighing through her pretty pink lips. I will tell you, I had never been more nervous in my life than I was right now. I watched her throat move as she breathed in and out deeply. She looked up and opened her mouth to speak. And the name that hit my ears made my heart jump a beat.
“Liam.”
0*0
Clara’s POV
I saw the flash of relief wash across his face. He was scared that I might not have said his name. But I had to give Liam a rose. He deserved it. He was a sweet man with a kind heart, good looks, and a golden personality.
He walked towards me and sighed, raising his head up as a sign of confidence. I looked up at him with a gentle smile.
“Liam, will you accept this rose?”
“Of course I will.” He whispered. I pinned it to his lapel and leaned down to kiss me on the check. I put my arms around his neck and gave him a brief warm hug, to reassure him. Liam took his spot with the other guys, all of them adorned with red roses on their lapels. Now, there were just three guys left. And I could only give one of them a rose.
My hand trembled slightly as I took the red rose in my hands. If I thought it was difficult to choose now, I knew it was going to be heartbreaking as the number of guys decreased. My heart pounded as the three remaining guys waited. I looked up and felt the anxiety rise when their eyes locked to mine. I had talked with Zayn for all of five minutes tonight because one of the other guys, Michael, came and interrupted and stole me away. I understood that each of the guys wanted to get to know me on a deeper level but I didn’t have time for all of them. I wanted to form connections with the guys that I wanted to know more. It was my decision. But that being said, it was hard to send two of them home tonight.
Zayn was a lovely guy. There was no doubting that. He was handsome and quiet but I liked that about him. He was mysterious and I wished to explore what lay underneath. Maybe I could be able to make him more confident and comfortable in being here. Michael was also lovely but he had interrupted my conversation with Zayn and the only interaction I had with Anthony was our first meeting outside the mansion. There had been no time for me to get to know him better. I had made my choice. And I didn’t want to leave the guys hanging any longer.
“Zayn.”
His dark eyes filled up with shock and relief. He slowly stepped forward, walking towards me as if I just saved his life. His olive skin shone from the light in the room, his black hair perfectly styled. There was no way I could have sent him home. Not tonight. There was more to him that I wanted to know.
“Zayn, will you accept this rose?” I asked.
“Yes, I will. Thank you.” He murmured, giving me a hug after I pinned the rose onto his lapel. We kissed each other on the cheek and he joined the 11 other bachelors, a smile pulling at his lips but never fully spreading across his face.
Mark walked back into the room and stopped next to me, eyeing the two guys I did not give roses to.
“Michael, Anthony, you didn’t receive a rose. Please take some time to say your goodbyes.”
I observed the two men as they turned to the others who all had roses on them and shook hands, patted each other’s backs and exchanged one-armed hugs. I tied my fingers together and looked at the ground. Both of them had looked a little upset and I was the cause of that. I felt guilty. But I knew this was going to be hard. Easy was not a word I would associate with this experience.
Both Michael and Anthony came up to me individually to say farewell. They wished me luck and that whoever ended up with me will be a lucky guy. Once they were gone, I was left with 12 men. But that didn’t mean this would get any less stressful.
After all the cameras were gone, I retreated to my private bachelorette pad. Finally. I’m on my own. Being surrounded by so many men was enough for me for one night. I had so much to look forward to one this journey and it had only just begun.
The first one-on-one date would happen in two days and the first group date would happen two days after that. I had a full week ahead of me and I had to be prepared. I had to organise the dates, according to what I had discovered from all the guys. I had to create dates that catered to their interests and what they enjoyed doing. God, this going to be difficult.
I welcomed the softness of the plush pillows on my bed and let the sheets wrap around me like a cocoon. I remembered the many pairs of lips touching my cheek tonight, the many warm strong arms hugging me tightly, the many handsome smiles making my heart flutter. I had a great bunch of guys to choose from and I considered myself very lucky. Before I drifted off to sleep, I only had one thought on my mind.
Who am I going to take on the first one-on-one date?
Notes
Firstly, sorry for the short chapter! The next one will be longer, I promise! I've just been binge-watching BBC's Merlin and all I've got in my head is magic and the Merlin/Arthur bromance!
Secondly, I wish to take a moment to thank everyone who is reading this! To have wonderful readers/writers like you taking interest in my stories, not just this one, is absolutely incredible! I love all of you!
And lastly, I don’t know when the next update for Always will be because it’s my grandfather’s funeral on Monday. It’s the first funeral I have been to so I’ll be an emotional wreck (still am, really). Maybe Tuesday or Wednesday, I’ll update Always. Anyway, thank you for all the love and support, you have no idea how much it means to me!
blankspace1 xx
Can't wait!!
10/15/16