As the sun's tentative rays start to illuminate the mansion the next morning, a knot of nerves tightens in my stomach. Today is the day of the finale.

I found solace in the fact that I wouldn't be deeply hurting anybody depending on who I chose- Mia and Luna both understood the situation, however, I still felt like a bundle of nerves.

The hum of the hair straightener is a rhythmic backdrop as I sit and get ready for the first part of the day, my mind wandering through the labyrinth of emotions. In the midst of this moment, Caroline Matthews strides into the room, her presence injecting a note of tension into the air. Her sharp eyes assess me,.

"Ready for tonight, Amelia?" Her words hold a weighty implication as if probing beneath the surface for the vulnerability I've concealed. I muster a feigned smile and nod.

"You've done a good job of maintaining a smile, even if it's fake," Caroline said to me.

Her parting words, a cryptic reminder to choose wisely, linger in the room as she exits.

What does she mean by "choose wisely?"

As the day carried on, I almost couldn't believe that I was packing my belongings, and getting ready to go home.

I felt ready to leave the mansion, however, I also enjoyed the bubble I had been in. Adjusting to the real world again might take a few days or so.

I also wondered how I was going to handle my feelings about Perry once I got home- especially if she wouldn't want to talk to me for good.

Amidst the bustling final preparations, a gentle knock disrupts my solitude. Anticipating Caroline's entrance, I'm surprised to find Luna standing at the door.

"Can I come in?" she asked me.

"Of course," I said to her.

Luna, with a sincerity that warms my heart, expresses a desire to share a moment before the grand finale. Her admission of missing me weighs heavily, and I reciprocate the sentiment. "I'm coming to visit you in Maine," I assure her, "and you'll visit me in Pennsylvania. This isn't the end."

Luna's eyes shimmer with appreciation and joy, and I pull her into an embrace – a silent acknowledgment that, despite the impending separation, our connection persists beyond the show.

The anticipation in the air thickens as I surrender to the skilled hands of the hair and makeup team, creating an elaborate transformation for the grand finale. Each stroke of the brush, every careful adjustment to my appearance, carries a weight of finality. The black and gold gown drapes elegantly around me, a symbol of the culmination of this journey.

I'm going to miss having my hair and makeup done every day, that's for sure.

Callie, radiant in her glamorous attire, makes a stylish entrance into the room

"You look beautiful," I said to Callie.

She smiled back at me and said, "Thank you, Amelia. So do you.

"How are you?" she inquires, and I offer a measured response, "Ready as I'll ever be."

"It's all going to be okay. I promise," Callie said to me, with a smile, "I'll see you out there."

The gravity of the moment hits me like a tidal wave as I step into the elimination room for the final time. Luna and Mia, both striking in their distinct styles, await me with an air of anticipation. Mia, adorned in a sleek black pantsuit that accentuates her confidence, contrasts with Luna's ethereal presence in a beautiful light pink dress. The room crackles with unspoken tension, a silent acknowledgment of the decision that lingers in the air.

A million thoughts started running through my head- as I still hadn't quite decided who I was choosing. Earlier in the day, I told myself I would pick at the ceremony, but that didn't feel right. Nothing about it felt right. Even though Mia and Luna agreed that whoever won would go along with the plan of saying we broke up, I didn't even want to subject them to that.

I didn't want to fake this anymore.

To my surprise, four other women walked in- Isabella, Zoey, Serena, and Casey.

It felt like a gut punch not seeing Perry there.

She's really done with me.

"Welcome back Casey, Serena, Zoey, and Isabella! Unfortunately, Perry couldn't make it," Callie said, "They were invited back for the finale, and of course, they had to come to the after-party."

"It's so great to see you all," I said, smiling at the four women.

"I know I haven't been gone long, but I've missed you all," Casey said.

Callie then looked at me and said, "Are you ready, Amelia?"

"Yes," I said, with a nod.

That's a lie.

I pretty much zoned out as Callie made her speech about the past weeks, and me choosing who would be my partner. That was until she turned to me and asked, "Amelia, who are you choosing to be your partner?"

Standing between Luna and Mia, my heart races as if attempting to outpace a million thoughts swirling in my mind. The gravity of the impending decision settles heavily on my shoulders. I feel a dryness in my mouth, and my palms betray me, becoming clammy against the fabric of my gown.

I closed my eyes for a second and then I opened them and said, "No one."

There was a collective gasp in the room at my decision.

Callie turned to me, her eyes wide, "Amelia...are you sure about this?"

I glanced around the room at the reactions. Mia looked cool as a cucumber, her expression was not giving anything away. Luna almost looked like she was suppressing a smile. Isabella, Zoey, and Serena all looked shocked and confused- and Casey didn't look surprised.

Behind the cameras, I could see that Caroline looked furious.

"I am," I said, turning to Callie, "I am sure about my decision. Luna and Mia, I am so sorry. But I have to go with my heart. And my heart is telling me to stay single."

Luna gave me the smile she was suppressing and said, "I respect your decision."

"As do I," Mia said, "I don't want you choosing one of us if your heart is telling you otherwise."

My heart was pounding as Callie started talking to the cameras about self-love, coming up with something on the fly- and when production ceased, both Luna and Mia came up and gave me a hug.

"That was fucking badass," Mia said, "I'm impressed."

"I had a thought in my mind that maybe you wouldn't choose either of us," Luna said, "I'm proud of you."

The other contestants started crowding around too, and I gave them hugs and while seeming surprised, they accepted my decision.

Callie then called out that the after-party was going to begin, and I started to walk away, until Caroline's voice called out, "Amelia. Wait up."

I walked up to Caroline, and she led me out into the hall.

She stared at me for a second, and if steam could be coming out of her ears, it would have been at that moment.

"What the fuck was that?" she asked me.

"I couldn't do it. I couldn't choose one of them," I said, "You know where my heart lies."

"That was a big mistake, Amelia," Caroline said, almost in a threatening tone.

"No, it wasn't."

I turned my head to the voice that spoke.

Callie walked over to Caroline and I, interrupting the intense interaction.

"It wasn't a mistake, Amelia. Not one bit," Callie then turned to Caroline and said, "It's a damn shame you can't see that, Caroline."

"Nonsense," Caroline said, "Complete nonsense."

She then gave us one more harsh look, and she walked away.

Callie put her hand on my shoulder, and said, "Let's go enjoy the after-party."

The after-party of the finale was in full swing, with the poolside venue buzzing with laughter and conversation. The former contestants, along with members of the production crew, mingle around, sipping on drinks and enjoying the lively atmosphere. The pool area is adorned with twinkling lights, creating a festive ambiance for the celebration.

The music resonated from the speakers, setting the tone for the evening. As guests engage in animated conversations, waiters elegantly navigate the crowd, offering trays of delectable hors d'oeuvres. Sushi, mini egg rolls, and an array of culinary delights add a touch of sophistication to the festivities.

The energy was a mix of relief and excitement, and I knew that I should have been in the center of it all.

But I had no energy to be.

As I ascended to the rooftop, seeking a moment of solace amid the celebratory chaos of the after-party, my exhaustion seemed to weigh heavily on me. The night sky stretched out above, a canvas of stars, and the distant hum of the party below provided a backdrop to my thoughts.

As I reached the rooftop, a familiar figure came into view, leaning against the railing and gazing out at the city lights. The sight of her sent my heart racing, and she turned around at the sound of my footsteps as I said, "Perry?"

As Perry and I closed the distance between us, our steps synced almost instinctively, and without a moment's hesitation, our arms wrapped around each other. My heart was racing, and I could feel hers doing the same- solidifying that this moment was real- and not a dream.

When we finally pulled apart, we looked at each other for a moment, and I could see that Perry looked nervous as her gaze met mine.

"Callie said you weren't coming," I finally said, my heart still pounding.

"She knows I'm here," Perry said, "She told me to wait on the rooftop. She had a feeling you would come up here."

I was dumbfounded.

"How does she know you're here?" I asked.

"I messaged her on Instagram, telling her that I needed to come back, desperately. I didn't think she would read it, but she did. She made arrangements for me to fly out, and come to this party. I had to see you, Amelia," Perry said to me, a certain desperation in her voice.

"I was nervous I'd never see you again, Perry. I thought you would never want to talk to me."

"That's not the case at all," Perry said softly, looking into my eyes, "I've regretted leaving the entire time."

Before I could say anything, Perry asked me, "Who did you choose to win?"

"No one," I said back.

"Wait...what? Is that even allowed?"

"I don't think so, but I did it anyway," I said, and Perry smiled at me.

"I'm sure Caroline Matthews loved that," Perry said back.

"Oh, she flipped her lid. But she knew why I couldn't do it. I couldn't choose someone that I didn't truly want to be with. You...you were the only one I wanted that with."

Perry then asked, "Can we sit down and talk about this more?"

"Of course," I nodded.

Perry and I sat down on the couch together, our knees touching. She looked at me and said, "I owe you an explanation as to why I left. A real explanation."

"I know it was because of your mental health, I never held that against you."

"I could feel my mental health deteriorating while being on the show. While meeting you was everything I could have ever wanted, I couldn't handle being on the show. And...I thought that it would be better at the moment if I went home. I made a rash decision, and it was wrong of me. When I was home, you were all I thought about, Amelia. I felt terrible, and I missed you so fucking much," Perry explained, "And I hate to admit it, but Caroline got in my head a bit. She could see that I was struggling, and took full advantage of it, telling me the show was only going to get more difficult."

I felt my blood boil at the last part.

"I knew Caroline might've had something to do with it," I said, "I even accused her of it after you left."

"That was one of the worst nights of my life. Leaving you in the hallway, so upset...I can't get it out of my head," Perry said to me.

She looked at me earnestly, and then she lightly took hold of my hand.

"If you'll take me back, I'm all yours," she said to me.

As Perry and I sat in such close proximity, the charged atmosphere between us was undeniable. In that moment, our connection was palpable, and the unspoken desire hung in the air. Her gaze locked onto my lips, and a magnetic pull drew us closer, an unspoken agreement passing between us.

Without hesitation, Perry started to lean in, and I mirrored her movement. Our lips met in a fervent kiss, an explosion of pent-up emotions and longing. The intensity of the connection was overwhelming, each touch of our lips reigniting a flame that had never truly extinguished.

I was back with who I needed to be with.

Perry's heart was aligned with mine- and it had been since the moment I laid eyes on her.

Nothing else mattered at that moment, even with the party going on below.

Just us.

How it was supposed to be.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading, I really hope you enjoyed it! There will 100% be a bonus chapter and an epilogue- coming very soon.

Update- I've been slacking on the bonus chapter and epilogue LOL. Still absolutely planning on it though.