The Bachelor - David Dower (freenovel24 .txt) 📗

knew that, but as what she said, she was not ready for that yet. Leaving after the top four was what she had planned and that was what would happen.

“We should meet after the show is over,” Kim added with excitement.

“I’d love that.”

 *****

“Ladies, as you already know, we will say goodbye once again to two beautiful women tonight,” Brent announced an hour later.

Really, it was not even night time outside but the crew did some tricks inside the house to give it a feel.

Deep inside, Julianne didn’t want to let go of Kim. She was the only friend she got inside the show and now she had to leave. But she respected her friend’s decision. There was no use of staying if she was in love with someone else.

But what about her? Was there any use of leaving when the one she wanted to be with was here?

She did not bother to think of that for now.

“Zach?”  Brent said, looking at Zach. Like Brent, he was wearing his dashing suit and tie, his face serious.

Julianne didn’t realize that she had not been listening to the speech and she hurriedly stood up when Brent motioned for them to stand up in front of Zach. The other ladies already had tears in their eyes. Pauline was sobbing like a stupid child, Chloe was trying to look cool but it was clear that she was nervous as hell, and Tanya was playing with her hair as she looked up at Zach with tears already pooling her eyes. Penny on the other hand was holding Kim’s hand in what seemed like a pretty strong grasp.

 *****

Zach looked at the ladies with a blank stare. He looked at Julianne, her head bent. He had not spoken to her since for too long for almost a week now. She had been keeping herself busy in front of her blasted computer.

He took a white rose and uttered, “Julianne.”

Pauline sobbed harder that he had the urge to stick the rose in her mouth to keep her quiet. Chloe threw Julianne a dirty look as the love of his life slowly walked forward. “Will you accept this rose?” he asked.

For the first time in weeks, she raised her eyes to look at him. He couldn’t point out what she was feeling, but he was sure there was sadness. It must have been the thought of Kim leaving. She nodded and said, “Yes,” took the rose, and walked away.

Taking another long-stemmed rose, he looked at the ladies once again. Kim was just standing there without a care in the world. Just like Julianne during the first Rose Ceremony.

“Chloe,” he forced out and the lady squealed. It was the first time she lost her control over the elegance and grace she had been trying to portray. Zach fought his urge to shake his head incredulously.

“Will you—”

“Yes!” Chloe answered and took the rose from his hand.

He forced out a smile as the lady walked away to join Julianne at the other side of the room.

With haste and bitterness, he took another rose and huffed out Pauline’s name.

She didn’t hear it at first, but when she did, she cried out, her tears falling more freely.

“Yes, yes, yes,” she rushed towards him and took the rose before he could even open his mouth. Not that he cared anyway. He couldn’t even imagine asking her if she wanted to stay or not. Asking Chloe was enough.

Another rose, another glance at the three remaining ladies. He wanted to say Kim’s name, to make her stay and be with Julianne. But he made a promise. He would let her go home. He had to.

He couldn’t be selfish now. Kim and Jack had something and he wouldn’t jeopardize their plans just because he didn’t want Julianne to be left alone without a friend. Julianne wouldn’t like that either. If she needed anything, he’d be there for her, but right now, he had to think about Kim. She wanted to leave and he would have to give her that.

Finally, he took deep breath and said, “Penny.”

Kim sighed in relief and Tanya cried out. Zach finally realized that his days with Julianne were soon going to end. The show’s twist didn’t give them a chance to have a top five. They skipped that part and that meant skipping weeks of being around Julianne.

 *****

It was the first time for Julianne to have the genuine urge to walk and say goodbye to someone after they didn’t get a rose. She went directly to Kim who, unlike the others who had left, had no tears on her face.

“I’ll miss you,” Julianne’s eyes watered.

“I’ll miss you too,” Kim huffed out.

Julianne leaned back and looked at her friend for the last time. Well, they would have to see each other, but it would be for quite some time.

Not really, you’re leaving next week, a voice inside reminded her.

Yes, she would be leaving next week. They just skipped the top five. It was now the final four and she had to leave after this.

“Go and say your goodbye to Jack,” she pushed Kim gently towards the director.

“I’ll do that later,” Kim said, looking around. “I don’t want issues when I leave.”

“You’re right,” Julianne nodded.

“So, Jules, you’re happy I didn’t break my promise?” Zach asked behind her. She turned to him and frowned.

“You were planning to break it?”

“For a moment, I did,” he nodded, looking at the horrified Kim. “But I know how important this is for Kim and Jack.”

“Thanks, Zach,” Kim rushed towards him and gave him a hug.

“I’m not embracing her,” he mouthed at Julianne.

Julianne rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Okay, ladies, why don’t we have a toast?” he announced over his lungs when Kim finally let him go and went to the corner of the room with the still crying Tanya.

Julianne was looking at her friend as she took the glass of wine Zach handed her and joined with the toast.

 *****

Julianne stayed in her bed the following morning. Kim and Tanya went home yesterday, right after the ceremony and she had no one to talk to downstairs. She could hear the ladies talking and laughing, celebrating their success of coming this close to the final ceremony.

She, on the other hand, was confused. Now that the time of her leaving was near, she doubted everything. A big part of her wanted to stay. A big part also wanted to leave and see if this was all real.

But what if leaving would mean she was right and that she and Zach weren’t really going to work out? She would surely spend the rest of her days regretting and blaming herself for not staying and getting what she could get.

And if she stayed and she and Zach would end up together, that would be great. But she couldn’t deny the fact that there was not a record of any of the Bachelors who had stayed long in the relationship that had bloomed in the show itself. She knew that there was only one Bachelorette who actually got married and was still happy being one. But no Bachelor survived. Not one.

Yes, she could make Zach an exemption, but she highly doubted it as well.

I’ll leave, she told herself.

Don’t, a voice whispered inside her.

Julianne groaned and rolled out of her bed. She had to get a cup of coffee to clear her head.

 *****

Zach was in the kitchen talking with the ladies and Liam when Julianne came down looking haggard. She caught his eyes and looked away.

He knew what was bothering her and he wasn’t certain if he should be happy or not that she was obviously thinking of the fact that she was leaving, and that she was looking uncertain about it.

“Hey, Jules,” Liam called out, raising his cup of coffee.

Zach elbowed his friend. No one could call Julianne Jules.

“You want some coffee?” Liam jumped out of his stool to walk towards Julianne.

Zach, oblivious of the glare he got from Pauline, Chloe, and Penny, jumped to rescue Julianne from his friend.

“Good morning, fellows,” Brent’s booming voice said, catching all their attention, including Liam’s. “I’m just here to drop some news,” he smiled at everyone as the camera guy roamed around the room, taking shots of each and every one of them.

“What news?” Zach asked.

“Tomorrow and the next three days after, Zach will visit your homes,” Brent uttered, addressing the ladies. Chapter 26

Julianne didn't know what to think as she travelled back home with one camera guy. All of them, Pauline, Chloe, and Penny left the ranch to go back to their homes and prepare their families to meet Zach.

Well, unluckily for Julianne, she didn't have any family. Not one living relative she could identify as flesh and blood.

"Aren't you going to invite someone?" the camera guy asked when she just sat on her couch doing nothing.

"No," she answered, not looking at him.

He shrugged and raised his camera.

"Can I take a shot around?"

"Sure," she nodded, reaching for her phone.

Diane was the only person she called, but not to invite her over. It was to check in and ask about the tour.

"It's nothing without you. We had to cancel the next trips because we're not sure how long you're staying in that show!" Diane exclaimed. "Where are you now? Aren't they doing some family meeting stuff?"

"How did you know?"

"I watch the show, Julianne," Diane said dryly. "Do you want me to come over?"

"No," she answered in haste. "I'll handle this alone. I'll bore the Bachelor to death."

"Whatever you're doing, it's nothing close to boring him. You're still in the show!"

"I know, I know, but I'll tell you about it when I get out."

"When?"

"Soon," she promised and talked about her book and her next project. "Yes, I'll do it. Okay, bye," with a sigh, she replaced the phone back on the receiver. She looked around her living room and decided to clean up. Zach will visit the three other ladies first so that means she had three days on her own.

*****

Zach was on his way to the first family meeting he had to suffer and it was Pauline's. Pretending to not to not like her was difficult and he couldn't imagine how to further stretch his newfound talent of patience-stretching when he would have to be with her and her family.

He was just trying to neutralize his feelings when the limo stopped outside a big house-a really big one-and with a sigh, he climbed out, straightening his shirt.

Pauline was already waiting by the door with that big smile on her face that he had learned to despise. Never in his life had he hated a woman as much as he thought he hated Pauline. With a forced smile, he walked the rest of the steps towards her and gave her a peck. That kiss was for the camera guy tailing him, of course.

"Hi," Pauline purred as she tucked her blonde hair behind one ear. "Ready to meet my family?"

Zach gulped and nodded. "Sure, excited to meet them."

He thought he'd be facing one simple blonde family, but never in his wildest dream had he imagined facing a football team of guys.

Pauline has seven brothers. Big, big brothers. Football team big. And by the look on their faces as he came through the door, he was sure they were not pleased to