I rush downstairs when the doorbell rings. I take a breath before opening the door. "Hey Rowan," I smile.

His jaw drops upon seeing me, and it takes him a few moments to pull himself together. "You are too pretty for a guy like me who hides behind a camera or a sketch book all the time."

"That's not true," I immediately respond.

"But it is!" He exclaims. He gestures to his camera. "I don't know how to date. All I could think of for the date is a photo-shoot which you probably wouldn't enjoy." He kicks at the ground. "Or paint together."

"Rowan," I start, but he doesn't let me finish.

"I can't," he whispers and runs off.

I stand in my place from shock. After a few moments, it sinks in that he left me and our date will probably not happen. I slowly close my door and lean against it. Belle rubs against my ankle, and I pick her up. "At least you want me," I mutter and pet her head. I pull my phone out of my back pocket to call Victoria.

"Hello?" She answers cautiously.

"There won't be a date with Rowan. He literally ran away. I need to talk to him, but I'm going to give us both time to think about what happened. What am I supposed to do now?"

"Do you know who you are eliminating tomorrow?" She questions.

"No," I sigh pathetically.

"Not even one? You only have to eliminate four."

"Well, Tucker and Rowan are possibilities."

She hums. "Would you like some help?"

"What do you mean?" I question.

"There are several who have a common interest or are similar to another. For example, Easton and Kade both play basketball. You could choose between pairs." She pauses. "As for today, it's up to you. I would say the guys are curious as to what's going on. You could simply take a day for yourself, pick someone else to go on a date, or have another group date."

"Okay, thanks, Victoria."

"No worries, Adelaide. I'm here for advice and to listen. If you need anything else or want to talk things through, call me back."

"I will. Bye," I end the call and sigh. I don't want to go on a date with a different guy because that doesn't seem like the right thing to do. There are still several guys I need to get to know, especially with the elimination being tomorrow.

Bennett, Easton, Cooper, Gabriel, Noah, and Kade come out to the car and find a spot to sit. I have the sunroof open and the windows down. I had texted them about a half an hour ago and told them that we were going to go play laser tag for our group date. I changed into a NYPD t-shirt, blue jean shorts, and white high top sneakers. I also got Reece to come get Belle before I had left my house.

"Do you always drive on the group dates?" Noah questions from the passenger seat.

"Nope, this is my first time driving for any of the dates."

Noah holds his hand out to me and I take it. What is he doing? He doesn't seem like a guy who is this straightforward. "Is it okay if I pray over our group date?"

"Yeah," I smile and bow my head.

"Heavenly Father, I ask that you would bless this time we have together. Keep us safe and protected while we are out, especially with Adelaide driving. Amen."

"Noah!" I exclaim and playfully slap his hand. "I am a good driver." He grins in response. I shake my head at him and put the car in drive.

"10...9..." The man over the loudspeakers begins to countdown until the round starts. I take off on my own and don't stop until I'm at the third level of the laser tag arena. "Laser tag!" The man says to indicate the beginning of the round. I quickly squat behind a wall to hide from the guys. This will be a good advantage point for when the guys come looking for me or run past me. I can hit them with a sneak attack.

We decided there would be no teams, mostly because I could feel the testosterone pumping through them.

I hear someone push the door open to this floor and quietly get in a better position to shoot them. I try to concentrate on their footsteps, but my heart is pounding in my chest and the adrenaline has me jittery. I pop my head around the wall and come face to face with Gabriel. "Ah!" I scream and jump back. Gabriel had jumped back too, and lets out a shaky laugh. I pull the trigger and his jaw drops as the lights on his vest go out.

I laugh at his expression. "I need information. How many guys are still in and where are they?"

He sighs. "Cooper was out in the first two minutes. Easton and Kade are on the first floor. I don't know where Bennett and Noah are." I nod and get up to go to the second floor, but Gabriel stops me. "What do I get for giving you information?"

"Thanks," I say in response and try to leave again, but his grip tightens.

"I think I deserve more than that," he says.

"Let go." I demand.

"Anyone who is out must leave the arena," a man says over the loudspeaker.

Gabriel drops my hand and walks out. I try to shake off what he meant and why he wouldn't let go of me. I take a deep breath and head to the second floor. I meet Noah in the stairwell.

"Easton and Bennett are the only ones left," he informs me.

I open the door to the second floor for a few moments and then sprint to the first floor. I dive behind the closest wall and I accidentally land on Easton.

"Sorry, don't shoot." I say and scramble off of him. I quickly go to the closest wall that isn't occupied.

"You won't win," Easton says loud enough for me to hear.

I military crawl to a different hiding spot, so Easton won't know where I am. As I move to a third location, Bennett comes barreling down the stairwell.

"So, are we still playing or just chitchatting?" Bennett questions.

Bennett goes out because of an attempted sneak attack. I win, but I think Easton let me win. Bennett ordered everyone pizza to be delivered at the guys' house, and he said he would bring me one. On the way to their house, Kade sulked the entire time, Noah and Cooper fell asleep, and Easton and I talked to each other.

I drop the guys off quickly and head to my house to relax and rest before the elimination tomorrow. I change into some comfy pajamas and pour me a glass of water. There is a knock at my door and I open it to find Bennett trying to balance a box of pizza and a squirming Belle. I smile and happily take Belle from him.

He smiles appreciatively. "I think she missed you."

I snuggle her to my chest and nod. "Sometimes I feel like she's the only one who really wants me."

"That's not true, Addie. Why would you think that?" Bennett asks me and I sigh.

"I don't want to unload on you about the other guys because I don't want to you to feel bad."

He reaches his hand out and places it on my arm. "I want to be here for you. If no one is man enough to show you that you care, then I want to be the one who changes that."

"Will you help me eat this pizza? I can't eat all of it," I say, and he nods. I wouldn't have asked him inside if it would have been just the two of us, but I guess that is one perk of having camera people following you to film your every move.

We go in the kitchen, and I set down Belle on the floor. I grab two plates for us after washing my hands. I sit am about to sit across from Bennett, but I decide to sit next to him.

"Is this okay?" I question him. He nods, and I grab a piece of pizza. "I don't want to count this as our first date, but I'm going to, to be fair." I say and take a bite of pizza.

"Why don't you want to?" He questions.

"You were one of the ones who I knew I wanted to get to know right from the first start."

"The feeling is mutual even though you are the only possible choice," he chuckles.

I grin, and we finish eating our slice of pizza. I push my plate away and put my head in my hands. I feel Bennett rub my back gently. "I prayed that God would help me with the eliminations," I start and turn to him. "For the first one, almost all ten guys came to me and basically said they want to go home. They didn't want me. This time I've had two guys have bad intentions with me. One of the guys completely shut me out, and another one ran away from me." I sigh and sit up straight. "I know I asked for help, but I didn't expect there to be so many jerks in the group."

"Addie, you told us to not to tell you how the guys are," he begins. I nod and sigh. "I will say this. You are not the problem; the guys who don't care, are jerks, or scared are the problem. Maybe it's unintentional or intentional, but regardless, keep guarding your heart and trusting God."

I lean my head on his shoulder. "Thank you. Will you pray for me?"

"I already do," he whispers and leans his head against mine.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE! I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE EARLY UPDATE. NEXT UPDATE WILL BE NEXT FRIDAY.

ANY NEW THOUGHTS ON WHO ADDIE MIGHT END UP WITH?

WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING HOME NEXT CHAPTER?

DO YOU GUYS LIKE SHORTER CHAPTERS OR LONGER ONES?