The Experiment

Beginning

Harry thoroughly reads through his application one more time. It has to be perfect. He has to be chosen to be a part of Love is Blind. He knows he sounds ridiculous, that he has to be chosen. He does, though. He feels like this is genuinely his last chance to find that once in a lifetime love. All he's ever wanted: to find a love that will last. He knows that he won't find that in the fashion industry where he's employed. He won't find it in a bar (no matter how hard he tries).

When Harry is finally finished reading through his application, he takes a deep breath. He holds that breath as he clicks Submit. "I did it." He whispers in a shaky voice.

"Don't you think it's a bit weird to fall in love with someone you've never seen before?" His sister, Gemma pipes in. She's sitting on the other side of the couch. She has a skeptical look on her face.

"No, I don't." Harry answers honestly. He likes the idea of someone falling in love with his personality and not his looks.

Gemma playfully rolls her eyes. "If you say so." She sighs. "What if you fall in love with this person and when you meet them, you aren't physically attracted to them in the slightest. That would be humiliating, wouldn't it?"

Harry shakes his head. "No, I don't think so.." He thinks carefully about what he's going to say next. "Sometimes physical attraction isn't immediate. It's also not the only thing that matters in a relationship."

"All I'm saying is that I wouldn't want to marry someone who doesn't make me want to jump their bones constantly."

"Well I'm going to prove you wrong, Gems. I'm going to find my soulmate in there if I'm chosen. I just have a feeling that the person I'm going to spend the rest of my life with is going to be in one of those pods."

"You're such a weirdo. You know that, right?"

Harry gets a call a few months later. He almost forgot that he submitted the application at all. He had given up hope that the show had chosen him to be in the experiment.

"Hello?"

"Hi, is this Harry Styles?"

"Yes... Who is this?"

"This is Gail Marshall. I'm a producer with the show Love is Blind... you applied a few months prior?"

The breath is knocked out of Harry. He can't believe a producer from the show is contacting him directly. That has to be a good sign, right? He's brought back to reality when he realizes he hasn't responded to Gail yet.

"Uh, yes.. Yes, I did."

"Well, we've been going through applications the past few weeks and yours has stuck out to us. We've been very interested in you since we've read your file."

Harry doesn't know what to say. This is exactly what he's been hoping for. "Wow... uh, that's amazing! I can't believe you all liked my profile."

"We think you'd be a great addition to this season of the show, Harry." Gail replies, giddiness evident in her voice.

"Wait, really?"

"Yes! We think that you can bring a lot to this season. We have many other fantastic additions to this season that we can't wait for you to meet." She giggles, and clears her throat. "Silly me.. I forgot to ask the most important question... Are you still interested in being on this season of Love is Blind? We know that it's been a few months since you submitted your application. You'll have to leave your job and life for several weeks in order to be a part of this experiment. So, what do you say?"