There was a mild tension in the house the next morning. It was hard to believe that a mere 24 hours ago, none of us knew that HARRY FUCKING STYLES was the bachelor. And tonight, he would send twelve women home. Of course it made people nervous, especially those who felt they hadn't had enough time to make an impression on him. I couldn't even imaging the pressure of showing up in an evening gown one night, meeting the guy and then having him kick me to the curb six hours later. I was so glad that everyone at least had a decent chance with the extra amount of time we'd been given.

Logan had officially left the show, but not before Harry went to the hospital to say good-bye to her. Phoebe rejoined us in the morning.

I didn't bother trying to start breakfast for everyone this morning. Instead, I just made coffee in the gigantic coffee maker, thinking I might have to drink half of it myself to stay awake since I had stayed up most of the night. Then I toasted a bagel and grabbed some strawberries - they were so sweet and fresh this time of year. Merle, the trusty camera man, recorded my every move. 

I looked straight into the camera at one point and said, "I would hate to be the one who has to watch all of this footage when we're done and decide what gets shown on air." I pretended to fall asleep and start snoring.

Merle laughed, but tried not to let the camera shake. Producers were coming and going as well, but they didn't eat breakfast with us. I think their meals were actually all catered because they had so much work to do. 

Several women filtered in as I poured my first cup of coffee - Lucy, Allison, Oluchi, Hanan, Sadia, Keke, Jade, Bianca, and Victoria. 

"God bless you, Harper!" Lucy proclaimed in her thick Australian accent. "You always have the coffee ready for us. God bless you," she repeated.

"To be fair, it's only our second morning here," I laughed. 

"Still," she said, filling her mug. "Coffee makes the world go round." 

"Ain't that the truth?" I said, cuing a yawn. "I was up til after 3:00 in the morning, watching videos of Harry in his younger days and at his concerts."  

"Really?" Allison laughed. "Did he bring them all with him?" 

While the other girls stifled laughter, I let out a giggle and said, "There's a YouTube channel on the TV in your room, along with Netflix, Hulu and some music channels. You can search stuff up on Google, too, but you can't sign into any websites."

"Why not?" She asked. 

"Well, it doesn't give you the option," Keke said. "And they don't want us getting on social media, remember? They don't want us to spill anything to the outside world."

"Why?" Allison clearly wasn't the brightest bulb in the pack.

"They don't want spoilers for the show, okay?" Lucy said in a slight huff, and Allison didn't ask any more questions, although she still looked slightly confused. 

"Lucy, what do you do for a living?" I asked, taking a too-hot sip of coffee. "Shit," I muttered under my breath. Now my tongue was going to feel weird for the rest of the day. 

"I'm a sonographer," she said with a proud smile on her face. And damn, could that woman smile. She reminded me of the Cheshire Cat with the way her mouth opened all the way to the sides of her face. 

"What's that?" Allison asked, and for once it wasn't a stupid question. It wasn't a term we used very often in the US. 

"She's an ultrasound tech," I answered and both women nodded. 

Almost everyone else wandered in while I had two, and then three, cups of coffee. I really wanted to get to know all the women there, but time was slipping away. By the end of tonight, there would only be eighteen of us instead of the original thirty.

We didn't see Harry until lunch time, which was probably good for him. He had some big things to think about. I sincerely would have hated to be in his place. 

After lunch, he announced, "I'd like to take a hike up into the mountains this afternoon. I would really love for all of you to join me. So make sure you put on your hiking boots or some comfortable athletic shoes. I'll meet you in front of the house in half an hour."

Most of women were excited to change into something comfortable, but a few grumbled about having to dress down around Harry. Like, seriously, what did they think would happen if they married him? He would see them with PMS, he would see them sick a snotty nose and a hacking cough, he would see them first thing in the morning when their hair wasn't brushed and they had morning breath. Didn't anyone think about these things, or did they really believe that every moment of marriage would be glamorous and worry-free?

Some people just didn't use common sense. Or maybe they didn't have it at all.

For example, Dove decided to wear heels. No joke. She had a sunhat on and a backpack with a water bottle, but she completed the ensemble with low, strappy heels.

"Dove, you might want to wear more comfortable shoes than that," Jade helpfully suggested. Jade was from England, and I'd met her in passing on the way to our rooms last night. She seemed really friendly and down to earth. 

But Dove didn't want her advice. "Oh, shut up! These shoes are like an extension of me. I can walk in them anywhere!" Dove replied harshly.

Seriously. Common sense, people.

When Harry suggested the same thing to Dove, however, she was all smiles, saying, "Oh, you're so sweet, Harry. Don't worry about me, I can manage just fine in these."

I pretended to stick my finger down my throat while Jade and Brittany laughed.

Hiking with 28 other women was no small task, it turned out. Harry was in fabulous shape and kept moving swiftly through the woods and gradually uphill. Clearly, not everyone was a match for his athleticism, with Phoebe, Allison, Sara and a few others pooping out after the first switchback.

Harry was happily oblivious that he had lost a few followers, since he was chatting away with about seven or eight of the women who managed to keep up with him. I was keeping up, too, but I wasn't shouldering in, trying to monopolize the conversation like some other women, *cough* Natalia and Olivia. I was happy to listen to his banter and the steady sound of his breath in between words. He really was in terrific shape. I thought I was fairly fit, but I was huffing and puffing after the fourth switchback.

It was right around then that Dove decided she'd had enough as well. She purposely stumbled and broke one of her heels clean off and then she sat down to pout. "Harry!" She whined.

What? Are you still in second grade?

Harry looked back and rushed back down to her. "Oh, Dove, are you all right? What happened?"

"I think I twisted my ankle," she pouted.

"All right, well, let me think here," he said, as he lifted her foot up and inspected it. He looked at the few camera men who were with us, and then to the two producers who were struggling to keep up. They looked rather relieved that they had a chance to stop for a break. One of them radioed the team at the mansion to get the medical team up here. But I was the one Harry spoke to. "Harper, would you and Shailene be able to take Dove back to the house so that she can take care of her ankle?"

I responded, "Certainly," although I was pissed at her little antics. Harry may not have noticed, but it would be clear when her fall was shown on national television, that she faked it. I just hoped that Harry was not seriously considering Dove as an actual candidate. 

I could see that Shailene felt the same way I did about having to haul Dove's sorry ass back to the house. We let her wrap an arm around each of our shoulders and set out. One of the camera men dutifully followed, never stopping the film. 

As soon as we were far enough from the rest of the group, Dove began to gripe. "I can't believe he didn't even come with us. Now everyone else gets to hog his attention."

"News flash!" Shailene snapped. "You are not the only contestant here. Did you not notice that? Harry is doing what he came to do - get to know everyone as best he can before he decides who is staying and who is leaving tonight."

Dove just grumbled, "Whatever," and stayed silent the rest of the way.

When we finally entered the house, we brought Dove to the room that served as a First Aid station and dumped Dove onto one of the cots. There was no one else in the room at the time, so I felt like I should still take some responsibility for her. I grabbed an emergency ice pack from the first aid kit, popped it, shook it, and put it on her ankle.

"That's cold!" She shrieked.

"That's because it's ice!" I snapped. "You know, the stuff you use to keep the swelling down." That was a joke because her ankle wasn't swollen at all. I was sorely tempted to give her an I told you so about those silly shoes, but I held my tongue.

One of the EMT's came into the room, mainly because Shailene had gone to hunt her down. I turned to leave Dove in more capable hands. 

She sneered at me and said, "You're just being nice to me in front of the camera. I know what you really think of me!"

Oh no, woman. You have no idea what I really think of you, and I'm sure if I said it, it would be censored before being aired on television.

"I'm being nice because I'm a decent human being," I sighed and went to take a shower.

I really hadn't had much time with Harry all day, and I knew that the first candle ceremony was in a few hours. I was beginning to feel a little anxious about it, to be honest, because I was enjoying this much more than I had anticipated. And Harry was amazing; even if he didn't keep me around for the whole six weeks, I would enjoy getting to know him better, and the other women as well. I was also curious to watch the story unfold with all of its drama and crazy love-stricken antics. 

Dinner was going to be formal, as well as the candle ceremony later in the evening, so I tried to decided on another evening gown. Okay, well technically I only had one true, full-length evening gown that was reserved for the final night, if I made it that far. The others were dressy enough and definitely more skirt than I'd worn my entire life.

I chose a flowery Versace sleeveless dress, a pretty rose-pink with bright mandarin orange flowers, knowing Harry liked orange. Besides, it accentuated my chest, which I was beginning to appreciate since, for once in my life, I looked like I was older than twelve. 

* * *

When dinner was over, we were mingling in the ballroom once again, which mainly consisted of a little dancing, a little chit chat, and a lot of alcohol. Brittany was swaying again like the first night, and Jamie was doing the same. 

Dove hadn't appeared yet, but when she finally did, I let out an audible gasp and then slapped my hand over my mouth. She was wearing a horrendous fuschia-esque dress with long sleeves and...wings. I couldn't really even think of a way to describe them except that they were feathery and flouncy, and attached from her sleeves to the back of her dress. Like wings. Yes, she was dressed like a bird. The gown was bad enough, looking like something out of a Dr. Seuss book, but to top it off, she was struggling into the room using crutches, making a much bigger scene than was necessary. 

She stopped and looked towards Harry longingly, but he stayed put, chatting with the women from Africa. Dove huffed and hobbled over to a sofa, where she plopped herself very ungracefully. Then with a very snobby snap of her fingers, she summoned a waiter, took a glass of champagne and downed it in one gulp.

Luckily, the evening wasn't nearly as long as the first night when we were all waiting for the bachelor to arrive, which he obviously didn't. It was around 8:00 when Ben called us together to tell us how the candle ceremony would work. We were all given an unlit candle with our names engraved in them. There was a large, multi-wick candle at the front of the room. When Harry called a name, that woman would go and light her candle and then place it in one of the single candle holders next to the large one. 

Ben explained that the candles represented the idea of a flame, as in a romantic flame, the spark between two lovers. For those who lit their candles from Harry's tonight, there would still be a flame between them. He didn't go on to state the obvious corollary, which was that if Harry didn't chose them, their flame would be snuffed out.

I could see a look of sheer terror on the other women's faces. I guess I could understand a little bit – if they thought this was their only chance at finding the love of a lifetime and then they were presented with the opportunity to be with Harry Styles, of all people!  then yeah, I could totally understand the absolute desperation they must have been feeling. Like I said, I wanted to stay, but I wouldn't be heartbroken in the same way as everyone else if I were to be sent home. Hawaii was still my back up plan.

Before beginning, Harry addressed us all. "This is really tough, you know. It's so much harder than I thought it would be. I love you all already and I hate, hate, hate the fact that I'm sending some of you home tonight. I know that I don't necessarily have that chemistry with all of you, but I appreciate you all so much for coming here and putting yourselves out there for me. You are all amazing, brilliant and beautiful women. I really mean that. Please feel free to keep in touch. The producers will give you some contact information before you leave. If I'm playing a concert nearby, give me a shout and I'll make some time to see you. And I absolutely mean that. My family, my fans and my friends mean the world to me, and I really wish I could have a million best friends, but obviously I can't. So please understand if I have to send you home tonight, I hate it and I wish you could all stay."

Just about every girl was wiping tears from her eyes after his speech. I knew they must all be feeling some anguish about the prospect of being sent home. Only one woman could marry him, at least according to the laws in most states. Or he could decide to become a polygamist, which actually wouldn't surprise me, to be honest. 

Harry was visibly upset by this. I felt so bad for him and agreed with what Jamie had told me, that he had a tender soul. It moved me to know he was taking this very seriously. 

He called the first name: 

"Victoria." She let out a little shriek and walked up to Harry. "Victoria, will you stay?" Of course she said yes and he hugged her. Then she lit her candle and placed it in one of the holders. Finally, she stepped to the side of where we were standing, knowing her spot was secure for now.

He went down the list rather quickly, probably not wanting to prolong the suspense for anyone. 

"Allison." 

I guess Harry had a soft spot for women who were dumb as a rock. Sorry, that was unkind, wasn't it. Must be the alcohol talking.

"Shailene." 

"Sara." 

"Bella." 

"Bianca." 

Yes! I liked Bianca and her feisty attitude.

"Oluchi." 

"Gemma." 

Figures he'd pick someone with his sister's name. I only learned that because of my late night video binge.

"Brittany." 

"Lucy." 

"Elena." 

"Demi." 

That was a legitimate surprise for me. And apparently for the rest of the women who couldn't help whispering about it. 

At that point, I realized he would only choose six more women and I actually started to get nervous. I knew my motives weren't really the same as the rest of the women there, but I really, really didn't want to go home. Or Hawaii, even. Although I might be swayed if I were to find a strapping Hawaiian dude who would give me full body massages and could teach me how to surf.

I stole a glance at Dove, who was clearly getting more nervous by the minute, too. Harry said her name next and a look of relief washed over her.

"Dove." 

"Jamie." 

"Harper." Whew! Seriously, I was so relieved. When I stood face to face with Harry, the color of his eyes struck me again. What was that color? Regardless of what it was called, it was stunning. "Will you stay?" He asked and I saw a flash of something in his face that I hadn't seen before. It made me quiver and my answer came out quivering as well.

"Yes." I lit my candle and took my place among the other women.

Harry continued, "Ariana."

"Keke." 

After Keke had lit her candle, Harry addressed the rest of the women. "I just want to tell you again how grateful I am that you all made the effort to be here. If I could marry all of you, I probably would," he laughed. 

Yep, called it. Polygamy.

"Thank you," he said holding his hands together like a prayer. "Thank you so, so much. You've all been absolutely incredible. Don't let this sadden you. I love you all too much to see you leave broken-hearted." Then he took a deep breath and said the last name. "Jordin." 

The remaining women collectively sighed and slumped, and there were tears already running down faces. Harry went to each of them to speak quietly and confirm his affection for them. 

After he said good-bye to Joy, complete with a long, sweet hug, she came to me. "'Bye, Harper," she said, hugging me. 

"Good-bye, Joy. It was so nice to meet you. Are you okay?" I asked. 

"Yeah, I'm good. They actually found out, so I have to leave anyway. Harry didn't want to embarrass me, so he chose to do it this way. I got to sit and talk with him by myself for a little while this afternoon, so it was worth it."

"I'm glad," I said, squeezing her with one last hug. 

I was beginning to think that Harry Styles truly had a heart of gold.

Eliminations this week:

Brenda
Hanan
Jacqueline
Jade
Joy - she is so grounded when she gets home
Logan - left earlier because of a concussion after she fainted
Natalia
Olivia - good-bye, Swedish Chef - seriously, did no one find that funny? lol
Phoebe - guess Harry held a grudge after she puked on his boots
Sadia
Salma - there goes the cougar
Valerie - don't let the door hit you on the way out

Just so you know, I'm finding this WAY harder than I anticipated! I tried really hard to at least introduce all the women and include them a little, but I think it made the chapters seem so cumbersome. But now that 12 of them are gone, it will be easier. 

(I can't wait to kick more to the curb, lol! sorry/not sorry.)

I hope the "candle ceremony" isn't too dorky. I didn't want to rip off the rose ceremony even if the story is obviously based on The Bachelor.

Hope you're enjoying it! <3