Melody's POV

The time finally comes... the rose ceremony. After two long and brutally boring days, Saturday finally rolled around. I stand in the bathroom getting ready with five other girls trying to share a mirror.

Brynn curls my hair as Caelynn does Charlotte's makeup. Scarlett sits in the edge of the tub trying to latch her heels and Mila stands holding two pairs of heels with a look of complexity.

"Which ones?"

I look at the shoes in the mirror. One pair are plain red heels and the other are black heels with a buckle around the ankle. I look at her dark red dress that has a lace top part and a small slit.

"I say black with buckle. It makes the dress pop a bit more."

She nods and then puts on the black heels. Brynn finishes my hair and I step back looking in the mirror.

My hair had been curled to perfection with a braid crown on top. My dress was a two piece; a black long sleeve lace top and plain black silk bottom with a semi high slit.

"Damn Mel I'm kinda jealous."

I glance over at Brynn who had her hair in a messy bun and wore a blue dress with a small cutout of her abdomen. It flowed down all the way to her feet and had a few rhinestones on the bottom.

"B no way. I'm jealous. You look bomb."

"Actually we all do." Scarlett says as we stand in the mirror, "Oh let's take a picture."

She runs out the bathroom then comes back a second later with a camera.

"Since we don't have our phones we might as well use these."

The show had given us each nice cameras, well whoever made it past night one. I was so grateful. They weren't Canons but they were something.

"Everyone say cheese."

We all pose and a flash goes off twice. Scarlett runs out the bathroom again and comes back with Evelyn in tow.

"I forgot I wasn't in the picture."

I laugh at her then grab her arm pulling her into the group. Again we pose and show our bright smiles as Evelyn takes a few pictures. For a bit longer we split up into duos and trios and take pictures. All my nerves fly out the window.

"Alright I guess it's time to go." Brynn says as she fixes up her dress a little bit.

We make our way downstairs then go to the kitchen and grab a wine glass. Sitting in the living room, we chat for a bit then Chris and Tyler make their appearance.

"Ladies welcome to the first weeks rose ceremony. Tonight we will be sending 4 of you home. So be sure to make an impression. Tyler..."

Chris steps back and Tyler steps forward with a smile. He already holds a glass so no one goes to give one to him.

"Ladies this week has been more than I could ever ask for. Thank you all for giving it a chance and tonight I hope we can make some better connections."

He raises his glass and we all clink our drinks. Riley steps up and steals him away making us all sit down.

Brynn sighs, "This is only week one. Imagine if we are here in like five weeks. We'll be fighting even worse for time because the connections will be deeper. I'm already stressed."

I rub her shoulder, "Don't be stressed Brynn. Yeah it might be crazy but it's worth it. Even if you don't find love you found great friends and did something you never thought you would've."

Brynn smiles and pulls me into a hug, "Thanks Mel you're the best."

Time goes on and girls disappear to get their time with Tyler. Charlotte and I are the only two from our group of friends who have yet to speak to him. At this moment we are playing rock, paper, scissors to see who will go steal him way first.

Brynn sits between us acting as a referee, "Rock, paper, scissors... shoot."

At the same time we throw out our weapons. Charlotte holds her hand like paper while I have scissors.

I cheer then pat Charlotte on the shoulder, "Tough luck short stack. Better luck next time."

Charlotte laughs and shoos me away. The group all say good luck as I leave out the living room. I find Tyler sitting by the fireplace with Sophia. He doesn't look very interested in what she seems to be going on about.

He must hear my steps getting closer, because he turns to see me walking up to them and gives me pleading eyes. I chuckle to myself and speed up my pace a little bit. Standing in front of Sophia she still doesn't notice that I'm there, so I clear my throat and smile sheepishly.

"Hey Sophia can I talk to Tyler?"

She looks surprised then quickly nods, "Oh okay."

They both stand up and hug them Sophia vanishes. Tyler looks over at me and smiles, "Thank you."

I laugh and say you're welcome as he pulls me over to the gazebo. I'd say this is the most romantic place outside the villa. Twinkle light are strung around the bars around the gazebo and candles are placed almost strategically all around. We sit down and he pulls me closer to him. His left arm wraps around my shoulder as his right hand strokes up and down my exposed leg.

If I said this wasn't turning me on right now... I'd be lying.

"That dress looks amazing on you. You look so beautiful tonight. Not that you don't all the time."

I smile and lay my head on his shoulder, "Thank you. So I have an important question for you."

Tyler lightly squeezes my knee and nods, "Lay it on me."

I make a serious face as I look up at him, "Sweet or unsweet tea?"

He throws his head back and laughs making me join him. After sobering up he kisses my hair and sighs.

"You definitely know how to make me laugh. I'm definitely going to have to go with sweet tea. Whoever drinks unsweet tea is a monster."

I sigh dramatically, "Thank goodness. I was scared I was gonna have to end this thing we got going on."

Tyler chuckles and leans closer, "What thing do we have going on Melly?"

Looking at him with shock, I suddenly grin widely and feel my heart pound harder.

He gave me a nickname. And it's actually cute. Well my crush has definitely turned into feelings now.

"Melly? I like it."

"Me too."

"And to answer your question I believe we have something good going on."

He nods, "I think so too."

Leaning closer to him, I finally close the space and kiss him. Our lips move in sync as his hand lightly caresses my face. My hands grab his jacket and pull him near. After a minute of kissing, we both pull away and leave our foreheads touching.

"You are something else Melody Drake."

Silence fills the room as we all stand shoulder to shoulder, facing forward. Cameras move around the room trying to catch our reactions as Chris brings in roses on a silver platter. Tyler walks in and holds up the first rose of the night.

"Melody."

I smile and walk down a step squeezing through Hanna and Lucy, who had already gotten a rose for the week. Standing in front of Tyler he grins and holds up the rose to me.

"Melody will you accept this rose?"

"Of course."

He hands it to me and I give him a light hug then walk back to my place.

"Brynn."

I smile at her on her way back to the stands. She winks and then turns back to the front.

"Layla."

"Evelyn."

"Kennedy."

"Caelynn."

"Scarlett."

"Natalie."

As the names go on and on I can't help but notice Sadie and Grace smirking while looking at Piper.

Chris steps up, "Ladies this is the last rose of the night. Whoever does not receive a rose must pack her bags and go home. Tyler."

Tyler picks up the rose and looks at it intensely. He looks up at the remaining girls. Sadie, Piper, Traci, Riley, and Chloe.

Could this be it? The moment we've all been waiting for. The moment Sadie is sent home.

"Sadie."

Frowning, I sigh internally. What the heck?

"Ladies take a moment to say your goodbyes."

After the girls leave and Tyler does a toast, he disappears with Chris and we all stand looking at Sadie and Grace who are laughing.

"I don't know how that wench is still here." Brynn groans.

"Yeah she literally was causing so much trouble." Caelynn frowns.

Scarlett rolls her eyes and yells Sadie's name, "Sadie!"

The mean girls look at us then slowly make their way over.

"Scarlett what the heck I didn't want them to come over here." Caelynn whispers nudging her.

Sadie frowns crossing her arms over her chest, "What do you want?"

"To know why you're still here. I don't get it. You caused trouble, you should go home."

Sadie looks over at Grace and chuckles.

Grace steps up with her hand on her hip, "Well we just let Tyler know how scared we felt. You know with Piper threatening Sadie and all."

"That's not what happened and you know it!" Brynn growls angrily.

"I know but it was so funny to watch her leave." The sweet smile leaves her face instantly, "Don't get in our way and don't mess with us. Otherwise you're next."

Grace glares at me once then struts away with Sadie on her heels.

"Freaking bitch." Charlotte murmurs.

We all nod in agreement then make our way upstairs to get ready for bed.

Today was intense. As much as I like Tyler I know others like him too. The games have just begun and I'm already over it.