Moving On

Chapter 9: What a Mess

Everyone was standing around the firepit waiting on the results. Lucas kept looking at Veronica. She looked a lot better than earlier but he needed to talk to her and he knew it wouldn't go over well. That damn challenge. He understood that eventually his motives would be questioned, most thinking he wanted her for himself but he didn't think anyone would touch the surface of the actual truth. He had weighed the outcome multiple times. It was best to tell her.

Lottie leaned over, "You worried about Bobby?"

"Yeah, he doesn't deserve to go. If it's solely up to a public vote then he'll be fine but if his theory is correct, he could get dumped."

Lottie nodded, Lucas had filled her in on what happened in the video call and afterwards. She felt bad for him. Cara sounded horrible.

Bobby was standing in between Rocco and Ibrahim. He caught Veronica's gaze, she crossed her eyes and puffed out her cheeks at him. He laughed.

"I got a text."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚌 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚟𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚐𝚞𝚢𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚟𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚅𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝.

This was the quietest the firepit had ever been. Bobby didn't even have anything to say.

Noah's phone dinged

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚐𝚞𝚢𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚛𝚎....

𝚁𝚘𝚌𝚌𝚘.....

𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚑𝚒𝚖.....

Veronica gasped. Gary broke the silence, "Tough luck mates." He hugged them.

Bobby put his hands in his pockets. He felt really out of place. "Sorry guys, no matter how this turned out it was going to suck. Rahim, you're a great guy and I wish we could have talked more. Rocco, well, I never really understood your theories but I hope you find that moth you were looking for." Everyone laughed.

"Thank you Bobby, I really appreciate that. I hope we all find the moths that will meet our flames of desire, and even though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night, I can see paradise by the dashboard light." He raised his hand and waved then turned and left.

"Umm, ok? He's just going to leave like that? Also, I'm pretty sure the last part is from a Meatloaf song."

Veronica giggled, "Hashtag Deep."

"Don't you want to tell him goodbye Marisol?" Hope genuinely felt bad for her. If she really had liked him she should talk to him.

"Why? It's not like it matters now anyway." she stormed off

"She's always storming off. It's so annoying." Priya turned to Ibrahim, "I'll miss you babe," she hugged him.

"I'll miss all of you. I loved listening to all your stories. I'll see you guys on TV I guess."

They all moved in and hugged him. "I'll help you pack." Priya winked at him.

Bobby walked up to Veronica and hugged her. "That was rough."

"I'm glad it went our way and I'm also really glad Rocco's gone. Is that mean of me?"

"No. He needed to leave."

"Were you nervous? About the vote?"

"I was nervous my time with you might have been over. I kind of like you."