The Final Rose

Happy Hour

"Sophie! You coming over to Matt's right?" Veira, her editor asked, a warm smile on her face. 

"Of course," Sophie replied. Matt was one of her closest friends at the New York Times. They had both started as interns together and worked their way to permanent positions. It was his birthday, she wouldn't miss this for the world. Instead of their regular friday evening happy hour at a bar, Matt had invited them over to his place. 

"Ok, just send me the latest on the White House leak before you leave?" asked Veira.

"Sure thing!" replied Sophie. She grinned. It was only her fourth year at the NYT but she still couldn't believe the access to hard hitting political figures she had. Already, she had done some serious investigative pieces. She had even travelled to the Turkish border and into Syria to report on the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons. I mean how many 25 year olds got to live their dream? Sophie was an incredibly lucky - No not lucky, she determined firmly.

Luck is nothing but opportunity meeting preparation, she repeated one of her favourite nuggets of wisdom from Oprah. 

~

"Matt, Happy Birthday!" she exclaimed as Matt opened the door to his Manhattan loft. 

"Oh darling, thank you," he replied as he pulled her into a bear hug. Then she heard a squeal as Cory, Matt's partner, rushed to her side for a hug.

"Sophie Davis! Where have you been all these months?" 

"Oh you know -"

"Seeing anyone, again?"

"Wh..What, no!" She stared at him. It had been well over six months since she had broken up with her ex. It had been actually good for her. She needed to focus on herself and career.

"Cory!" Matt exclaimed, clearly annoyed at his boyfriend. 

"What sorry dude. I'm just saying, Sophie, you're an intelligent, hot woman, with a kick ass booty. And if you're not seeing someone, well I know this guy....and I think you would hit -"

"Oh god, no! Not another blind date." She groaned. Cory meant well. She knew, but she hated being his pet matchmaking project. He was always trying to set her up with people since the break up with her ex. It's not like she was sitting around her apartment moping. She had a life. Well, she had work.

"Come in Sophie, ignore this idiot," Matt laughed as he led her inside his cozy apartment. 

All of her close associates from the NYT were there, along with some of Matt's other friends. After just four years, her colleagues had become like her second family. Sure the newsroom was an ultra competitive environment, but maybe it was because they all worked in different departments, things had just clicked with this little group here. The evening was spent with laughter and drinks in good company. 

"Yo, let's put on some TV." Cory said.

It was already getting late, she should go home soon. Someone flicked on the TV. Some episode of the Bachelor was playing. The guy was about to give a rose to some girl, and then it quickly flipped to an advertisement. 

"The Bachelor is currently seeking women interested in finding true love for the next season -" came on the voice of the presenter.

"God can we switch to something else?" complained Tim, one of her colleagues from the paper.

"Oh come on guys, the Bachelor is hilarious." Cory exclaimed.

Sophie laughed, he would think that. "You've to be really dumb to go on that show." 

"What, don't believe in love Sophie?" Cory challenged. 

Sophe rolled her eyes. "Hmm let me make out with 25 women and see which one I'm attracted to the most while there are cameras capturing my every move. Yep seems like the perfect way to find love." 

"I know its ridiculous. But I've to admit, its a guilty pleasure of mine." Veira shyly admitted.

At that Sophie stopped laughing. She looked at her editor with mouth agape. "You watch the Bachelor!?" 

"What! Don't look at me like that. It's an entertaining show!" Veira pouted.

Sophie couldn't believe it. She shook her head with a rueful smile. Veira. Her editor that was so crisp with what mattered and what didn't matter in news, who could make the foreign minister of Belarus sweat in his seat, watching the Bachelor? Now that was a funny thought. 

"Maybe you should audition for it Sophie," taunted Cory. She threw a pillow at him. "What? You could find true love, babe!" 

At this everyone in the room laughed. Sophie pursed her lips in annoyance. 

"Oh wow, can you imagine Sophie on that show? She would probably leave the poor guy at the alter." laughed Matt. 

Sophie shot him a look. Traitor. 

"You know I think it would be really interesting to be on reality TV. Just to see what it's like," chimed in Crystal, one of Matt's friends. 

"Yeah, I've always wanted to be on survivor actually," Tim agreed. 

Well yeah, survivor isn't so bad. It had actually been one of Sophie's favourite TV shows in high school. 

"Sophie you could kick ass on that show. You've toughed it out in Darfur and Syria, reality TV should be a breeze." commented Crystal.

"It would be way more hilarious to see her on the Bachelor though." Matt cracked barely containing his laughter. "I'd bet she would do her karate move on one of the bimbos there for being so annoying."

"Hey Crystal, that's actually not a bad idea. I think lots of people would like to know what its like being on reality TV. Maybe I can pitch it to the Times for a story." Veira commented with a thoughtful look. 

Matt snorted, "so like reality, reality TV?"

"Oh. my. god. You can't be serious Veira." Sophie exclaimed. 

"Hey so I've an idea!" Cory jumped up excitedly. "So let's put the names of all the reality shows in a hat, and have each of us apply to the show we draw right now, but the rest of us have to make a application profile for that person"

Sophie groaned in resignation. Wow would he ever stop? 

"Dude let's do it." Tim exclaimed. "I'd love to send an application for the Amazing Race or Survivor."

"Yeah and if one of us get in, it would be really cool to write an expose piece on reality TV from the contestants viewpoint." Veira murmured. 

So that was how Sophie found herself sitting in a circle as Cory went around holding out his hat. Matt was first. He picked Survivor. Lucky bastard. They spent the next half hour creating Matt's application profile. Crystal stalked through his facebook photos to find the perfect torso shot. And Veira created a 5 min application video. It was actually pretty funny describing her friend for the application. 

Dude don't say that! I don't want to be their stereotypical gay guy," Matt whined as he peered over Crystal's shoulder.

Veira got the Amazing race. Cory drew the cupcake wars. Everyone cracked up since he couldn't bake a damn thing. Crystal drew Top Model and Tim got Amazing Race. 

And finally it was Sophie's turn. She put her hand into the hat and wrapped her hands firnly around the piece of paper. She unrolled the piece of paper and stared at it in horror. 

The Bachelor

Cory snatched the paper in her hand and wooped in delight. "Looks like its your time to find love, sunshine." 

"Oh no, nu-uh." No way was Sophie was going to be on that show. 

"Chill out Sophie. There's no way you're bimbo enough for the producers to actually cast you. Let us have our fun and make you a profile anyways." 

"Well thanks - I think?" Sophie rolled her eyes as she agreed, grumbling as they went through her facebook photos, choosing the perfect bikini shot.