Will You Accept This Rose?

6. Our Thing

While quietly eating her breakfast as the other women's squabbling could not be drowned out by the loud chewing of her cereal, Lucy almost choked when she realized that she and Tim had not made plans to see each other again in secret, which meant her day would consist of reading and boredom. She pouted all the way to her bedroom to pick a book to hopefully get lost in for a while. She climbed up onto the top bunk of the bed and crossed her legs as if perching on a high branch of a tree away from the rest of the world. Lucy's gaze flicked over to her window and contemplated sneaking into the orange grove to enjoy the beautiful day and fragrant fruit even if Tim would not pick her up.

When Monica and Sandra raced into the room and Monica shoved Sandra against the door to kiss her hard, Lucy knew she had to at least leave her bedroom and give her roommates privacy to enjoy themselves.

"What are you doing here?" Sandra asked when she caught Lucy in the corner of her eye. Her hands stilled on her pants at the sight of the unwelcome roommate.

"I live in this room, too," Lucy pointed out.

"Aren't you supposed to be off reading somewhere or whatever it is you do all day?" Monica wondered. "Come to think of it, I hardly ever see you around the mansion most days."

"Because, I don't want to be found," Lucy answered coolly. And, it would be impossible to find her considering she was breaking the rules and escaping from the house.

"Well, I suggest finding a very good hiding place today. That little stunt Tim pulled last night is all anyone is talking about," Sandra explained.

"No one's said anything to me," Lucy responded.

"Yeah, because everyone's talking about it just not to your face," Monica shot back as if it was obvious. "Half of the house sees you as a threat now."

"I didn't do anything. Tim kissed ME."

"Do you think that matters? You're clearly the front runner, and it's only week two," Sandra stated, annoyed.

"You think I'm the front runner?" Lucy felt her cheeks warm.

"Oh, give me a break," Monica groaned. "We can all see how he looks at you, and that kiss? You've got a bit of a target on your back. Be careful and keep a low profile for the next few days until some other drama shakes the house again. Got it?"

"I'll make myself scarce," Lucy nodded. "Thank you."

"We're only being nice to you, because you've kept our secret. There's honor in that," Sandra replied seriously.

Lucy looked between them appreciatively for forging an unlikely alliance with two other contestants. She had seen how other women had done the same during previous seasons of "The Bachelor", but she could not have anticipated her roommates to become her allies given how different they were.

"Unless you want to watch me go down on Sandra against this door, get lost," Monica snapped since Lucy seemed frozen in place.

"Right, yup," she said, flustered, and scurried out of her room with only her book held against her stomach. Lucy slipped into the sunroom to take a pillow and blanket before setting out on her escape route into the orange grove. She went to the place Tim usually parked to pick her up and laid out her blanket in the grass, then she settled herself on her back and began to read. Lucy was proud of herself for making the best of the situation even though she missed Tim.

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Angela watched Noah storm into the media room, so she bolted to enter right on his heels.