“Maybe it’s a date card,” said Klassie. She hopped off the couch and roller skated over to the door. “Ooh! I was right,” she said, picking up the large, square envelope from our front step. She skated in circles, scraping up the herringbone teak floors, waving the card around. “Get everyone together. Hurry!”
When we were all gathered around her she tore it open with one of her long, orange fingernails. “It’s not a date card! It’s something from Catalina Cartwright! Here’s what it says: Attention Lovely Ladies, Tonight there will be no cocktail party. Bellamy has already made his decision about who will be going home, and sees no reason to postpone his decision. As always, formal attire is required for the upcoming elimination ceremony. Tonight’s ceremony will be held here, in the back garden. If you have already received a Deluxe Emerald necklace you may or may not be safe from elimination, and your presence is still required. Sincerely, Catalina Cartwright.”
“What a twist,” said Vanessa. “Since when can someone who is already safe be sent home?”
“Yeah, what do you think that’s all about?” asked Shyla, touching her necklace.
“Oh my goodness,” said Marissa. “Here we go again! I’m done here. I’ve got to talk to him and change his mind.”
Jessica glanced out the window to the pool. “Sorry, mates. He’s not out there any longer. He’s gone home, I’m afraid.”
“Well then,” said Marissa, “I guess there is nothing I can do. I just know tonight’s the night that this is all going to end for me. I feel it in my bones. I’m like a turkey on the night before Thanksgiving.”
“Okay, ladies,” said one of the producers. “Get into your gowns. We’re heading to the elimination ceremony in about thirty minutes.”
I put on a streaky, black and chocolate brown dress with a slit up the side that went all the way to my hip. It had one shoulder and a long bell-shaped sleeve. I liked wearing it; it made me feel like a vampire, or at the least like a blonde Morticia Addams. I pulled back my hair into a bun, and wore the navy lipstick that Maggie the clothes-thief had affixed to the hanger in a sandwich bag alongside a note that said ‘Trust me, this works, especially if you wear the navy heels. ~M’
I was sitting on our front step, waiting for the rest of the girls to get ready and enjoying a moment alone, delicately eating an apple and trying to keep my lipstick off it, when a limo pulled up in front of me. Of course I wondered who it could be. I thought at first it might be Bellamy. Then I had the fleeting, unreasonable thought that maybe Pete had come all the way here, to the mansion, to see me. Or perhaps it was the president!
The driver got out, opened the door, and bowed a little. I ran my tongue over my teeth, preparing myself to meet someone important. I wondered if the navy lipstick was a mistake, considered wiping it off with the back of my hand, and quickly decided it would have to stay on my mouth.
I set down my apple, no longer hungry. I was watching, waiting. Was the limo driver actually nervous? He seemed a little shaky. It must be someone terribly important.
First I saw her hand, and then her dark, shiny hair. And then there she was, in the flesh. Alanna Rutherford had returned.
Chapter 17
I’ve got to admit, it felt a little unnerving to be on the chopping block with the other girls during an elimination ceremony. Especially when Alanna Rutherford, in all her elegance and gorgeousness, was standing right next to me.
“Ladies,” said Catalina Cartwright, smiling brightly and clinking a glass of champagne. No one at home would ever imagine the chewing out we’d gotten from her the other night. “I’m sure you all remember Alanna. It seems that Alanna has had a change of heart and would like another chance at love with Bellamy. She realized she made a terrible mistake, realized that Antonio is not the one for her after all, and contacted us to see if she could try to once again win the heart of Bellamy. Some of you may not think this is fair, but really, as they say, all is fair in love and war. Especially in love!” Catalina raised her glass to the camera. “And now… I present… Bellamy,” she said, as he entered the room.
“Thank you Catalina,” said Bellamy. “Hello, ladies. Hello, Alanna. I… Well, I don’t know what to say. Alanna, I never thought I’d see you again. Well, maybe on magazine covers when I was at the grocery store, and maybe on television, or, I don’t know. But in person, no, I didn’t think we would meet again.” He drew in a deep breath and shook his head. “Alanna, you have given me a lot to think about.”
“I know,” she said sweetly. “I’m sorry I hurt you.” One perfect tear rolled down her cheek. It was enough to show how sad she was without wrecking her makeup. I think all the rest of us, even Vanessa, felt like packing up and heading home.
“Bellamy, are you ready to begin your selection process?” asked Catalina.
“Yes,” he said.
“Even though we have allowed Alanna to join us, you have the same number of Deluxe pendants to hand out, so please keep that in mind as you make your choices,” said Catalina, still grinning like a fool. Then she turned to us. “Bellamy asks that those of you who already received necklaces please stand with the other girls. You may keep your necklaces, regardless of what happens, but if your name is not called, your time here will be over.”
There were audible gasps. We all knew he would be keeping Alanna. That meant four of us were going home tonight.
“Well,” said Bellamy, “because I’d like to hear what she has to say, and because I believe in second chances, I’d like the first necklace to go to Alanna. Alanna, will you accept this Deluxe emerald and diamond pendant on a solid gold chain?”
“I will, Bellamy,” she said, stepping forward and hugging him for a long, long time.
Next he chose Vanessa, and then Deb. Tamika came next, and then Amy. Jessica, followed by Shar and Mylar. I began to feel lightheaded. It had never occurred to me that I was going to go home tonight, and I’d thought that when it happened I wouldn’t mind so much anyhow. But now here I was, practically hyperventilating. What about the trips around the world that were coming? What about the jewels and poolside lounging?
“He just said your name,” hissed Marissa.
“Huh?” I said. “Oh! Oh, whew! Thank you,” I said, going up to claim my necklace. I remembered to give him a hug of appreciation as well, before joining the other girls who were safe.
Finally it was down to Klassie, Chloe, Shyla, Marissa, and Aubrey. Shyla was covering her face with her hands, trying to hide the fact that she was sobbing. I felt terrible for her.
“This is not an easy decision,” said Bellamy. “I think you’re all great girls, but they girl I would like to continue on with is Klassie. Klassie, will you continue on this journey with me?”
“Yes, Bellamy, I will,” she said, skating up to him, doing a little spin, and then giving him a wiggly, rabbity Eskimo kiss. The rest of us looked at one another in confusion, wondering if Eskimo kisses were the new thing or something. Bellamy looked puzzled too. He handed her an empty necklace box since she’d already received her prize earlier on their hiking date.