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the door, opened it, and walked towards Zachā€™s room.

For a long moment, she just stood there, arguing with herself. Taking up her courage, she held up her hand in a fist to knock. She stopped, changed her mind and took the knob. With the last remaining courage, she turned it and swung the door open.

And wished she didnā€™t.

There, lying on the bed, was Hanna, her hair rumpled, dressed inā€¦well, nothing but the white sheet of cloth around her.

And there, standing by the bed was Zach, his shirt half open, his face shocked.

ā€œJules!ā€ he cried out.

Julianne held up her hand, ā€œSave it, Zach.ā€ And then she turned away to walk back to her room with a surprisingly big amount of tears pooling in her eyes. Chapter 14

Zach was in panic now. He honestly didnā€™t know how Hanna entered his room before he did.

ā€œGet out,ā€ he told her through clenched teeth, his voice cold.

ā€œZach, come onā€¦ā€ Hanna purred, pushing the only covering she had aside.

In normal circumstances, he would have jumped on the bed, but he was just furious and in a great deal of panic to even consider some chemical response at seeing her gorgeous body naked on the bed. ā€œGet out, Hanna,ā€ he said stonily.

ā€œZach, I know you want thisā€¦ā€

ā€œFine, enjoy yourself,ā€ he snapped and walked out the door. He almost ran to Julianneā€™s door and when he reached it, he knocked. ā€œJules.ā€ No answer. ā€œJules.ā€

ā€œGo away, Zach. Iā€™m sleeping.ā€

ā€œNo, youā€™re not. Open the door and let me explain.ā€ He knocked once again. ā€œJules.ā€

He stepped back in alarm as the door suddenly swung open. ā€œWhat? You donā€™t have to explain anything,ā€ Julianneā€™s voice was as blank as her face.

ā€œI swear I didnā€™t know she was there, Jules.ā€

ā€œYeah, right. I donā€™t really care,ā€ she started to close the door again and he stopped it by one hand.

ā€œJules, come on, you know I was with you not five minutes ago.ā€

ā€œAnd when you didnā€™t get what you want, you jumped right to the next one. I get it. You donā€™t really need to explain, Zachary,ā€ she pushed the door close as she said, ā€œand forget about that talk tomorrow.ā€

ā€œJules!ā€ he cried out as the door finally shut at his face.

ā€œZach, what are you doing?ā€ Hanna was standing beside him now fully dressed. She eyed him suspiciously then looked at Julianneā€™s door. ā€œWas it Julianne who came in earlier?ā€

ā€œWhat?ā€

ā€œWas it Julianne? Why are you outside her door?ā€ her eyes were getting really angry now.

ā€œNo, it was not Julianne. Go back to your room,ā€ he started walking around her.

ā€œIā€™m sure I heard you say her name earlier in the roomā€¦ā€

ā€œYou are drunk. You were imagining things. No one came in.ā€

She suddenly appeared lost. ā€œNo one?ā€

ā€œYes, so go back. And Hanna, donā€™t do that again,ā€ he warned.

Her face colored and she nodded.

Zach couldnā€™t let her or the other girls know about his interest towards Julianne. It would make things difficult for her. But he also had to explain himself.

He slammed his door closed and groaned in frustration.

How could things turn out this way?

 *****

Zach was sulking the next day. Julianne wasnā€™t even looking at him and she was avoiding everyone that even the camera men noticed and were wise to avoid her.

And every time Zach saw Hanna, he wanted to strangle her. He wanted to drag her towards Jules and order her to tell her nothing happened. He couldnā€™t do that though and he knew that. Hanna herself was avoiding him, her face flushing every time her eyes met his. At least she felt shame at what she did, he thought.

The only person who didnā€™t have any ideaā€”apart from the crew and Liam who already went home after breakfastā€”was Tanya, and she was regarding them with a curious look.

ā€œDid something happen that I donā€™t know?ā€ he heard her ask Hanna.

He was sure Hanna would never tell a soul. She would never tell anyone that she was rejected the other night. ā€œNothing,ā€ was her response.

As the girls went up to gather their things, Zach took the chance to talk to Julianne again.

ā€œBefore you say ā€˜get outā€™, I want you to know that nothing happened with Hanna last night,ā€ Zach said in haste, barging in her room. Julianne looked up from her task of arranging her bag, her face unreadable. ā€œJules, you have to believe me. I didnā€™t know she was in my room!ā€ he explained with his hands, wanting to shake her, to get her to reveal any reaction. Anger, frustration, bitterness, or if it was possible, relief, that she was feeling something. ā€œJules, Iā€™m telling you the truth,ā€ his voice was getting desperate.

If Liam was around and witness what was happening, he would be laughing his ass out by now.

ā€œYou donā€™t need to explain anything to me, Zach,ā€ was Julianneā€™s deadpan response and she continued folding her clothes.

ā€œI want you to know I did not plan anything like that. Well, I did, but I wanted it to be with you. She justā€¦I donā€™t know how, but she just appeared on my bed like that.ā€

ā€œAnd you just happen to be half naked as well. Right,ā€ Julianne scoffed.

ā€œI was getting ready to sleep and I didnā€™t see her, honest to God, I didnā€™t! When I turned on the lights, she was there and then you came in,ā€ he explained hurriedly. ā€œJules, tell me you believe me.ā€

 *****

He looked at her inquiringly and his eyes were telling her that her answer was very crucial. She had a long time to think last night and mind you, she thought of every possible reason she could think of. And his excuse was one of the things she considered.

Julianne sighed and looked at him, ā€œI believe you,ā€ and then she held up a hand to stop him when he made a move towards her, ā€œbut Iā€™ve had enough. Justā€¦spare me.ā€

Zach stood frozen, his smile wavering. ā€œWhat do you mean?ā€

ā€œIt means I donā€™t want anything to do with you, Zach,ā€ she answered. ā€œLook, I get it. This is your world,ā€ she spread her hands in the air. ā€œThings like last night happens every time for you like a...like an everyday birthday party. I canā€™t handle that. Iā€™ll be leaving after the top four and I donā€™t think I want complications.ā€

ā€œI donā€™t know what you meanā€¦ā€

ā€œWhat I mean isā€¦just spare me with the little games. I donā€™t want what happened last night between us to happen again. It will only make things complicated, so donā€™t think you have something to answer for. Donā€™t think that you have a responsibility to explain what happens to you every time because I donā€™t want that. This is a show meant to entertain other people and I donā€™t think I can mix myself into it. I canā€™t separate my emotion from what is happening in this show anymore,ā€ she finished.

A very long silence reigned between them that she could even hear the ticking of her watch. Zachā€™s face appeared to be confused for a moment and then he frowned. ā€œJules, are you telling me you like me?ā€

His statement made her jaw drop. ā€œWhat? Where the hell did you get that?ā€

ā€œYou said you canā€™t separate your emotion from what is happening in this show anymore. It says you were really affected by what you thought was happening between me and Hanna last night, which means you have feelings for me.ā€ That stupid grin of his broke out on his face again. ā€œYou like me.ā€

He totally nailed it. She couldnā€™t believe he would have caught that part of her speech, dissected it, and finally came up to the exact conclusion. ā€œYouā€™re overanalyzing things, Zachary,ā€ she said.

ā€œNo, Jules, you like me!ā€ he was almost jumping on his feet.

ā€œOf course not.ā€

ā€œThen stay. Stay until the end,ā€ he said without hearing her.

ā€œWhat do you mean?ā€

ā€œStay until the show is finished.ā€

She looked at him, ā€œNo, we had a deal, Zach. Iā€™m only after top four. Which means you will let me go home when you choose the top three,ā€ she reminded him. ā€œSo please, donā€™t make this any more complicated for me. I have more important things to think about thanā€¦ā€ she trailed off.

ā€œThan what?ā€

ā€œNothing,ā€ she snapped and closed her bag. ā€œLetā€™s go back to the island. I donā€™t like this place anymore,ā€ she announced and walked to the door.

 *****

Jules cursed herself for not handling the situation earlier as she had planned. She could have convinced him they were not going to work but somehow, she said something wrong and now Zach was looking at her with amusement.

They just climbed on the boat and were on their way to the island. Hanna and Tanya were talking to themselves, whispering something that seemed so important. Whatever it was, Julianne got the feeling that it was not really good.

No one said a word the moment they got out of the boat and jumped back to sand. Hanna and Tanya, to Julianneā€™s great surprise were too eager to go back to the cabin that they did not even linger beside Zach which gave him the opportunity to talk to her again.

The cameras were still rolling and he was careful with his words when he said, ā€œIā€™ll see you soon, Jules. We really need to talk.ā€

ā€œYeah,ā€ she answered for the sake of the camera and walked off ahead of him.

When she entered the cabin, everyone were huddled together, their heads merged as Tanya chatted on. And then they stopped when they sensed her presence. Only Pauline jumped up and greeted her.

ā€œJulianne! How was it?ā€ she asked.

ā€œIt wasā€¦okay,ā€ she shrugged. ā€œWhat are they talking about now?ā€ she asked when Pauline came near her.

Pauline looked back, turned to her, and pulled her towards the stairs by hand. They went to their room and her friend said, ā€œThey were talking about you,ā€ as soon as the door closed.

ā€œWhat about me?ā€

ā€œHanna said you planned to go into Zachā€™s room last night but then she was already there doingā€¦you know,ā€ she cringed.

Julianne gaped. What a bitch!

I bet she wonā€™t like it when I tell everyone the truthā€¦she thought.

But she wouldnā€™t do that. What for? All of themā€”including Paulineā€”were fighting for Zachā€™s attention and she was not willing to stoop down their level and join the game. She was here for a different reason. She would not do anything because of Zach.

She didnā€™t know if she could convince herself of it all the time though.

 *****

She couldnā€™t sleep that night. She never saw Zach after they arrived at the island, but it was him that was running around her mind all day. That passionate moment they shared last night was eating inside her and she couldnā€™t get the pictureā€”and the feelingā€”out of her system. While the girls were having their late night dinner, she crept out the back door and went to her tree. Yes, it was her tree now.

Julianne couldnā€™t believe that a lot of things happened to her here that she never imagined. She had really thought that she could go back home that first Rose Ceremony. Who would have thought that Zach would be stupid and naĆÆve to even pick her?

As soon as the lights came out inside the cabin, she got up and came in. It was nearly midnight, she noted, and she decided to sleep off whatever she was thinking. Pauline was already asleep and she crept slowly

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