The Bachelor [Niall Horan]

Before

My name is Mae Reynolds and I am nineteen years old. I live at home with my parents and older brother, but go to a local college where I am studying to be a high school science teacher.

Which is exactly what I was doing the day my mom came to my room and asked me to go for a walk with her and our black lab, Gus.

"Sure." I sat up and smiled at her. I left the book and notebook open on my desk, but paused my iPhone in the dock.

I walked downstairs and leaned down to tie my sneakers while Gus licked my face.

"Baby, if you don't knock it off I won't be able to go with you." I laughed, trying to move him.

Once I was ready to go, I climbed into my parents SUV and we drove to the local park. My mom clipped Gus's leash on and we began walking.

"I want you to have an adventure." She said suddenly.

"What?" I asked, kicking a rock.

"Seriously. You are nineteen and all you do is study." She said with a laugh.

"That's not true. I work out alot." I pointed out.

I tried to run every day, not because I felt like I needed to but because I loved running. It cleared my head and brought me to my happy place.

"But you are so young and such an amazing, wonderful person, I want you to have an adventure." She said, stopping.

I loved my life, but my mom was right. I always took the safe route. I didn't have many friends in high school, I commute to college, my ideal Friday night is hanging on the couch with Tonka and ice cream, and forget the idea of a relationship.

But I was so much more than all of that. The sweet, quiet girl on the outside was really a jokester and a leader, I had just never been in a situation to let that blossom.

"Well do you have any ideas for this so called adventure?" I asked, teasing her.

"Actually..." She said with a smile.

"Oh God you do." I said, scared for what she might say.

"There's a casting call for The Bachelor." She finished.

My mother has officially lost it.

"I'm nineteen." I laughed.

"They are looking for eighteen to twenty year olds." She said with a shrug.

"I guess it can't hurt to try out."

________________

"Okay honey, we want you to tell us your name, why you want to be on this season of The Bachelor, and what you think love means." A woman said with a kind smile.

I paused for a moment, the cameras rolling on my face, before starting.

"My name is Mae Reynolds. My favorite story growing up was Peter Pan, and my favorite quote from the story is "To live would be an awfully big adventure." I think that so many people go day to day and don't fully live their lives and take all the chances that they can. I want to be on this season of The Bachelor because I believe that this is a chance that life has thrown and if I grab it, it could truly be an awfully big adventure." I finished.

"And love?" The woman asked. I couldn't help but smile.

"Well love is the biggest adventure of them all."