Are You The One? •

seven - the wine

It was time to vote and everyone was eager. Flynn piggybacked Andy down the stairs, then set her on her feet in front of the screen. "Okay, Miss Andy, who are you voting for?"

"Alex and Jamey, for sure.", Andy told him.

He grinned and tapped the square on the screen with their faces. "Me too, sistah."

Many others began approaching and entering there votes, almost all either voting for Jamey and Alex or Natalia and Joshua.

Brooke: "I voted for Jamey and Al because I believe they are a match and I don't think the point is to skim matches for people. It's to find and put a perfect match into the truth booth."

After all the votes had been cast, and the potential matches had returned from there dates, everyone got comfortable in front of the big screen, awaiting the results.

Ryan greeted, "Hello again, guys, ladies." Everyone said hello back to him. "So, our four couples that went on the dates, I hope you had fun. Tessa, how was your date with Thatcher?"

Tessa grinned. "It was really fun, actually. I was pretty scared to get in the water at first but the experience was really cool."

"And Logan, Summer, how were things with you two? I know there was a bit of uncomfortableness initially on Summer's part.", Ryan questioned.

Summer blushed hard and looked down as Logan answered the question. "It was great, we really connected, I think." He grabbed Summer's hand and gave it a quick kiss.

Ryan chuckled. "By the way that Summer is blushing, I don't think that kiss was the first one today."

Matt: "I was a little bit jealous when I heard that the date went so well. But I'm trying to keep my cool, hope they aren't a match." He held up crossed fingers and laughed.

"Alright, it's time to send one couple into the truth booth, the only way to verify if they are a perfect match or not. If the couple is confirmed as a perfect match, they're gonna be moving out to a honeymoon suite for some romantic alone time. But, if not, it's right back here to the house, and that's one failed opportunity for love and money. Well, I'm going to say that two couples got almost a completely even amount of votes. The couple going into the truth booth is going in by only 3 votes more." Hadley fist-bumped Prosper; that had been exactly the plan.

"The couple that you voted into the truth booth is...", the host teased. Everyone sat anxiously, awaiting the names.

Natalia and Joshua's faces appeared on the screen, followed by shouts around the room. "Natalia and Joshua, please make your way to the truth booth." Natalia grinned nervously at Joshua and stood up, holding his hand. Joshua gripped her fingers and weaved through the living room. The two walked down the cobblestone path toward the dreaded truth booth.

"You nervous?", Joshua asked the brunette, squeezing her hand. She nodded a little.

Natalia sighed, "I'm trying not to get too attached but I really like you."

He beamed at her. "I like you, too."

Back inside the house, the housemates were just as nervous. Ryan pointed toward the big screen. "Now, when Natalia and Joshua see the results in the truth booth, you will see them live, right here."

"Sick.", Alex exclaimed.

"Good luck, you guys, and I'll see everyone tomorrow at the matchup ceremony." Ryan waved and exited the home.

"I think they could be a match. They click.", Summer told the others.

"Well, I hope they are.", Andy groaned, leaning into Erin's side.

Miles piped up. "Shut up and we'll see what happens, won't we?" This got a lot of agreement and laughter from the room, as well as playful angry faces from Erin and Andy.

At this point, the potential couple had entered the booth and were waiting for the scanning process to begin.

"Whatever the results, it's alright. We can move on, it's only the first week.", Joshua assured her.

Natalia nodded and smiled at him. "Yeah, exactly. It's okay."

Logan: 'I definitely don't know why we voted in those two when we could have voted in Alex and Jamey. Everyone seems dead set on them but I'm not so sure.'

The lights dimmed and lasers moved up and down, back and forth over the couple. They held sweaty hands as the results grew closer.

And suddenly there it was on the screen.

'NO MATCH'

"Damn it."

"Oh my gosh..."

"This sucks!"

"Thank God!"

"I knew it!"

"I really thought they were."

Comments and frustrated bursts were being exchanged everywhere. Joshua and Natalia, however, were silent.

"That sucks.", Joshua said softly, going in to hug Natalia. She hugged back tightly.

"Yeah, but we'll be fine. There's time to get over each other.", she smiled optimistically. "I'll miss this, though." Joshua nodded in agreement. They pulled out of the hug and headed back to the house.

Joshua: 'Yeah, not being with Natalia is disappointing but this is why I'm here, to find out what I don't need, so that I can find what I do need.'

They reentered the house to see their roommates in dismay. Except Logan, who seemed to have known the whole time. Joshua bro-hugged Logan and Miles then sat down in an available spot on the couch, next to Tessa. Natalia sat down next to Hadley, who had one arm around Prosper, and soon put the other arm around her.

Natalia: "It seems that even here I'm going for guys who aren't right for me."

"Need some wine, Nat?", Hadley offered.

   Natalia nodded, a sad expression overcoming her. "Sounds perfect." Hadley removed her arm from Prosper and led Natalia to the kitchen.

  "I second that.", Tessa spoke up, joining the pair.

   "Why do you need wine, Tess?", Hadley asked, a laugh weaved through her words.

Tessa shrugged. "Wine is always a good idea, Had."

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