A last-second change of heart seals your fate - part one

About half an hour later and with instruction from the production crew about how they wanted you guys to set up, you made your way to the lounge seating near the pool like a dead-man walking towards his execution. The girls all sat on the lounge chairs while the guys stood up in a line next to Amanda, the host, and waited for their fates.

“Alright guys,” Amanda says somberly. “You know what time it is. It’s recoupling time. Since the boys outnumber the girls, the girls will decide your fate. Each girl will pick a guy who they want to save and couple up with. The boy not picked or in a couple will be eliminated…. Why don’t we start with…. Rachel.”

Rachel stood up, and Amanda spoke again, “Rachel, which boy are you going to couple up with and why.”

Rachel composed herself and said, “I’m coupling up with this boy because we’ve been together since day one, and I haven’t seen myself with any other guy. The person I’m picking is Mike.”

Mike had relieved smile on his face and came over to Rachel, and they hugged. They both got in the lounge chairs and sat down in the safety of not being eliminated. That result didn’t surprise you in the least.

“Next, why don’t we go with… Jenna,” Amanda says. “Jenna, which boy do you want to couple up with.”

Jenna gets up and starts to speak. There is hesitation in her voice, and she closes her eyes and then says, “The boy I want to couple up with is someone I can see a romantic future with. I was attracted to him from the start, and I think… it can work the best. I don’t know where things will end up, but I want to see it through. The boy I want to couple up with is Tom.”

Tom didn’t look as relieved as Mike, it was more matter of fact, but he still smiled and took his place beside Jenna. The two hugging it out and sitting in the lounge chairs alongside Mike and Rachel. Despite it not being what you wanted and the decision giving you pain, you were happy for Jenna. Both of you shared an understanding that you were fine with just a week here, didn't you?

“Tom, you were a little sure of yourself there,” Amanda asks. “Did you know a hundred percent you were going to be safe.”

“Not a hundred percent, but I thought I was going to be yeah,” Tom says.

“Jenna, that decision seems to be difficult for you. Was it as easy as Tom suggested?”

“Umm…” Jenna says. All a sudden, you see her gauge you for a second and then say, “I… had to choose between saving a close friend and someone I could fall in love with. It was hard.”

You nodded. You wanted to tell Jenna it was okay. You said so from the start, didn’t you?

At this point, your only hope was resting on Liz’s shoulders.

“Liz, you are up next,” Amanda says, and Liz stands up from the chairs and smooths out her dress. “Liz which boy are you going to save, and why?”

“The boy I’m going to save is… someone I got to know better as the days gone by and realized there was still something there. The boy I pick is… Rick.” Liz says.

Jamie looked stunned as Rick smiled from ear to ear. Rick walks forward towards his safety and hugs Liz graciously. You must have had the same expression Jamie had. Your doom was sealed as you watch your last hope sit down.

You were fucked.