Finding Miss Charming

Episode Four

It's almost as if I've blacked out, but then... there's only two girls left.

All the beautiful, amazing girls with roses seem happy, and yet saddened that they have to say goodbye to friends. I feel sad that I have to say goodbye.

Mack. Hunter. Winter.

Mickie. Olive. Jenna.

Beck. Ferris. Amara.

Willow. Sarah. Grace.

And finally, Taylor.

The two girls left out, Scarlett and Nyla, had two vastly different expressions on their faces. Scarlett appeared to be sort of grim, while Nyla just seemed to be fine. Unbothered. At least I know I made the right decision with her, it seems that she didn't feel any connection either.

Before I knew it, Scarlett walked up to me and looked into my eyes, almost as if searching for something. As she raised her hand I winced, thinking she was going to slap me. What she actually did gave me chills.

She placed her hand delicately on my cheek before leaning in to whisper words I never wished to hear, "one of the girls is not as single as they say they are and is just here for a bit of fun, please don't let them use you."

With that, she pulls back and kisses my cheek, still appearing to be in a state of sadness. I look at her confused at her words, all sorts of thoughts whirling through my mind. She simply nods before taking her leave with Nyla. Just before she exits, though, she mouths "follow your heart."

She has to be lying, I think to myself. She has to be. But I know that I'm lying to myself.

Scarlett has no reason to lie, she's leaving. If she really wanted to mess with me, she would have said something less vague, something that would deter me from my main focus: to find love. She wouldn't have seemed so upset.

What am I supposed to do from here? How am I supposed to go about moving forward? Should I take the 'ignorance is bliss' approach, or dedicate any sort of time at all to seek out who this untrustworthy person may be?

The latter sounds like it would be the better option as confronting the girls in an honest manner could lead to a much faster solution. On the other hand, it could take time away from purely getting to know those who are here for the right reasons.

I'm interrupted from my thoughts by Mack, who comes up to me and winks flirtatiously, that same glint in her eye from when I first met her.

"I know that you and Stewart are going to have to leave in a bit, so do you mind if I steal you for a moment?" she asks, twirling her hair in a way that catches my eye.

"Ye-yeah," before I can finish, she grabs my hand and tugs me away from everyone else. As I'm being swifted away, I quickly give Stewart a reassuring look, tossing up four fingers, to signal that this shouldn't take too long over four minutes or so. He nods, and with that, Mack and I are out back.

She leads me to a bench hidden away underneath a cover, and practically sits on me, with how close she sits beside me, knees brushing against mine.

"So, what is it that you wanted to talk about, Mack?" I raise a brow, looking directly into her piercing dark gaze.

She opens her mouth, as if to say something, before she wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me softly, slowly.

Her lips are soft and plump, and feel so warm and right against mine, I'm unable to keep myself from kissing her back. Just before I come to my senses and prepare to unravel ourselves, she releases me.

"I'm sorry, I know that you're not the type to be into that sort of thing. Especially so soon into this all, but I really needed to do that," she apologizes softly, and she seems different from before.

It's then that I do something that I don't regret, but know I may should not have; I kiss her again.

It's soft and sweet and innocent. Three things I never initially put with Mack, but here I am. Her gaze seems sincere and kind, and I can't help but smile at her.

"I really like you. Like, a lot, and I just feel like, despite the fact that it hasn't been very long, we have a connection."

Her straightforwardness is refreshing, and it makes me smile even more. I gaze into her eyes and am grateful to see the genuineness in them.

"I like you too, Mack. You've always intrigued me as someone mysterious, almost unattainable, since you walked into the living room of this place."

She pecks my lips again, taking me a bit off guard, but I don't think about it. I relish in the feeling of her warmth, before getting up.

"Thank you, Mack. I look forward to seeing you again." She simply smiles and nods, her cheeks noticeably red, and I smile back before leaving.

I meet back up with Stewart, and once we get into the limo, I tell my surprising new friend everything that I had just happened.