Bellamy's Redemption

by Holly Tierney-Bedord

  “I will,” she said, stepping forward.

  “Bellamy, are you happy with this?” Catalina Cartwright interrupted.

  “Um, yes?” Bellamy asked.

  “Okay,” said Catalina. “Sorry, Eve. That means you have been eliminated.”

  “I’ll walk you out,” said Bellamy, gallantly holding out his arm to her.

  The camera crew started wrapping up so I found Shyla and we made our way back to the bus that was waiting to take us home. We took seats across from each other, kicked off our shoes, and waited. I knew how this would go from the way previous nights had played out: About half of us would be here right away and the other half would stay around Bellamy’s mansion trying to get face time with him. It was three o’clock in the morning and I was ready to go to sleep.

  “Can you take us home now and come back for the rest of them?” Shyla asked the bus driver. His name was Philippe and he seemed unimpressed with us evening gown-clad, supposedly desirable young women.

  “No can do,” he said.

  “Did this used to be a school bus?” asked Shyla.

  “Don’t ask me,” said Philippe.

  “Take us home. Pleassse,” whined Marissa.

  “Rules is rules,” said Philippe.

  “Did you happen to notice how many people Bellamy kissed tonight?” Shyla whispered to me.

  “No. I didn’t realize we’d already moved on to that step.”

  “Seriously? Yes, Emma, there was a ton of kissing. First I saw him and Klassie kissing, then…”

  “Who?” I interrupted. “Which one is Klassie?”

  “You remember her! Rollergirl. The one with super huge, puffy red hair who showed up wearing roller skates the first night.”

  “How could I forget about her! Okay, who else?”

  “Deb from Duluth really threw herself at him next. They were sitting by the back fountain, and the next thing I knew, she was on his lap attacking him.”

  “I thought she was so puritanical!”

  “Oh no! Not at all!”

  “Where was I when this happened?”

  “I think you and Vanessa were getting champagne refills.”

  “Oh. Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  “Then he and Tamika were making out like crazy on the porch swing, and then he and Mylar were all over each other on the marble bench.”

  “Wow,” I said. “I really thought we were all still in the holding hands phase.”

  “No, Emma. You have to get on board or you’re going to be in trouble!”

  “Okay, okay,” I said. “If I just get some sleep tonight I’ll be ready to deliver tomorrow. Did I miss anything else?”

  “Well, yeah, of course. Tamika came back for more and interrupted him and Mylar, and then Bellamy kind of shooed Mylar away since I guess he likes Tamika better. Mylar was mad all night after that. Didn’t you notice her glaring at him during the elimination ceremony?”

  “No, I guess I missed it all. Wow. Crazy! I really have to pay more attention.”

  “I know! And then right before the elimination ceremony I saw him and Klassie going at it again.”

  “So it sounds like Klassie and Tamika are the ones to beat,” I said.

  “I guess so,” said Shyla. She looked troubled.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked her.

  Her eyes filled with tears. “Nothing. I’m just tired.”

  “Really?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just, this is harder than I thought it would be.”

  “Oh,” I said. I touched my earrings, unsure what else to say.

  “How are you handling it so well?” she asked. “Aren’t you jealous?”

  “I guess not really.”

  “Do you like Bellamy?”

  “Oh, sure. Yeah. Of course. I mean, who wouldn’t?”

  “Exactly! He’s such a catch! I like him more all the time! I’m going to kiss him the next time I see him.”

  “Yeah, just do it,” I said.

  “Thanks for talking,” said Shyla. “You’re, like, my best friend here. In fact, I think of you as an older sister, or like another mom to me.”

  “Sure,” I said. I settled into my seat and closed my eyes. I started to drift off, but was suddenly awakened by the sound of screaming.

  “What’s happening?” I asked, jumping up.

  “It’s Shar and that Australian girl,” said Shyla. “They’re in a fight. Come over to my side so you can see better.”

  I squeezed in next to Shyla. Shar and Jessica were rolling around in the grass, pulling each other’s hair and shoving each other. A bunch of production people and camera guys were trying to simultaneously break up the fight and film it. Suddenly Catalina Cartwright reappeared, getting her hair and makeup retouched as she hurried along, in case this bit made it onto the show. It looked like she’d been on her way out and had to be dragged back. I noticed that her sparkly shoes were gone and now she was wearing raggedy old boat shoes.

  “Break it up you two, break it up!” she yelled. “Everyone get on the bus and go home. Tonight is over. You’ll have another chance at love tomorrow.” Some of the women on the bus clapped at the news that we were finally leaving.

  “Keep these two separated,” Catalina told Phillipe.

  He shook his head. “I no babysitter.”

  “I said, keep them separated,” she screamed. When he looked down instead of answering, she plowed her way up onto the bus and looked down the aisle at all of us. There was frightening silence as we waited to see what would happen next. Her hands were on her hips; her lips were a dark, uneven smudge. “Are you a bunch of kindergarteners? Are you?” she yelled at us.

  “No,” we said. I couldn’t believe it was her, the Catalina Cartwright, standing inches away and yelling like an angry parent.

  “She’s so mad,” whispered Deb, who had just slid into my seat beside me. “I think everyone in California is on something. Why else would they have these mood swings? In Duluth we don’t have these problems, and this is hard for me.”

  “Shhh,” I said.

  “Don’t shush me,” she whispered.

  Catalina Cartwright’s tirade was picking up even more steam: “You all think you’re special, but you’re not. You all behave like spoiled brats, which you are. I’ve about had it! Do you know how many years I have been hosting this show?”

  “Six!” someone shouted.

  “And I have never had a worse group than you! I feel sorry for Bellamy. I can’t imagine that he is really going to find a wife in this lot of losers. I hope some of you can pull it together, keep your vaginas in your pants, not start a fight with the girl sitting next to you, and represent yourself like a lady. You won’t get much further in the competition if you don’t grow up!”

  Why was she yelling at us, I wondered, when Shar and Jessica weren’t even sitting back here? They were still up front by Phillipe, standing on the bus steps, blocked from coming up any further since she was standing in their way. Catalina apparently had just realized this. She spun around, waving her hands.

  “She’s a shouter,” whispered Deb. “I hate shouters. They seem so out of control. I’m scared. I wish Bellamy was here. Then I’d feel safer. Wouldn’t you? I’m telling you, she’s on drugs. I think everybody here in California is on drugs. We’ll be lucky if we aren’t hooked on something by the time we’re through here. I just hope it’s not the meth.”

  “You,” Catalina said to Shar, “will go home if you can’t behave yourself. Same to you, Little Miss England. We’ll send you back home too. You can sit on your ass and eat crumpets and think about what you lost. If you think Bellamy is calling all the shots about who stays and who goes, you’re wrong. Got it? The same goes for all of you,” she said, turning back around, surveying the bus.

  “I’m Australian, not English,” said Jessica.

  “Now you’re on my list,” said Catalina Cartwright, pushing past them, shoving camera guys out of her way. She huffed and puffed away from us, Shar and
Jessica sat down far away from one another, and we finally drove away. It was now after four o’clock in the morning.

  Chapter 16

  There was a knock on the door at 7:00 a.m. It was announcing a date card, unceremoniously and anonymously deposited on our welcome mat. Amy woke us up because we’re all supposed to be present when a date card is read.

  “Ooh,” she said, “I’m on here. Okay, are you all ready? Everybody listening? Aubrey, Amy, Chloe, Tamika, Mylar, Jessica, Shyla, Klassie, and Shar: Do you enjoy hash browns and toast as much as I do? Meet me for breakfast at 8:00 a.m., followed by a hike. ~ Bellamy.”

  “Eee!” squealed Shyla. Her sleepy expression immediately disappeared, replaced with a look of sheer joy.

  “A hike! I love hiking,” said Amy, fanning herself with the date card. “Can I keep this, since, you know, I found it. Would any of you mind?”

  “It’s too early to have breakfast and hike,” said Shar. She had a black eye from her fight with Jessica. I couldn’t believe they weren’t going to send both girls home. I guessed since several contestants had left ahead of schedule, the producers realized they had to ignore some of the bad behavior or there would be no show.

  “If you don’t want to go, I’ll take your place,” said Marissa. “In case anybody cares, he still hasn’t spent any time with me.”

  “You need to make yourself more emotionally available to him,” said Chloe.

  “I’m trying,” said Marissa.

  There really aren’t words for how relieved I was to not hear my name called. The women on the list went off to get ready while I got to crawl back into bed. I slept until the middle of the afternoon and then joined the other girls by the pool. The group on a date were still gone and the house felt peaceful and luxurious.

  “Love your bikini,” Vanessa said to me.

  “Oh, thanks,” I said, looking down at myself. I had opted for a nineteen hundred dollar bathing suit instead of the recommended inflatable bra and bikini bottoms I’d been assigned to wear. The suit was silver and pink striped, a one-of-a-kind original by designer Kajuki Sapuri. Long, shaggy fringe dangled all over it. It had come with a matching headband, kneepads, and fringed elbow-length gloves that I had left in my luggage. The ensemble’s suggested use was for rollerblading; I could tell this from the sketch included with the suit, depicting a woman spinning on a boardwalk, the fringe fanning out all around her, and the words ‘Only For Use Rollerskate’ written in the margin. Without the accessories it was almost simple and definitely classy.

  “You have the best clothes. Really, I want to steal them all,” she said.

  “Thanks. I think your suit is cute too.”

  “This old thing?” she said, looking down at her shiny turquoise bikini. “It’s ready for the rag bag. I never even should have brought it here. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “I think it’s nice.”

  “People think doctors make a lot of money, but actually, we don’t really. I can tell from everyone else’s wardrobes that these girls are just as well-off as I am. Hey, are you filming this?” Vanessa asked a cameraman who had suddenly taken up residence in the next lawn chair over. “Could you please not film this?”

  “Fine,” he said, getting up. “Don’t forget you’ve got a mic on.”

  “I never do,” she said. Then she turned back to me, “As I was saying, I can tell that other girls, you for example, have a ton of money. I mean, not to be nosy, but what does a wardrobe like yours cost, if you don’t mind my asking.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say. I didn’t know if I wanted to let her in on my secret that nearly all my clothes were borrowed. “Um. Hmm. I’m not sure exactly how much my clothes cost,” I said.

  “See, you’re that rich. Money is no object to you. Not that I would ever think this, but there are girls saying that the reason Bellamy likes you so much is because of your awesome wardrobe.”

  “I don’t think guys can tell the difference between amazing clothes and regular clothes. Especially Bellamy.”

  “What do you mean by especially Bellamy?” asked Vanessa.

  “I mean that he’s not that shallow,” I said.

  “Well, enough about all this negative stuff,” said Vanessa, smiling. “Do you know that three girls are going home tonight?”

  “Yeah, I guess I heard that,” I said. “It seems kind of like he’s flying through people, doesn’t it?”

  “Maybe, but once he gets it narrowed down more, things will slow down as he figures out which of us he’s serious about. I imagine we’ll both be safe, as usual. Who do you think is leaving?”

  “I think he will put Marissa out of her misery, and probably send Chloe home since he was about to last time. I’m not sure about number three. What do you think?”

  “Hmm,” said Vanessa. “Well, I’m with you on Marissa and Chloe. I think Mylar might be going home too. There is no way he’s ready to help her raise that kid.”

  “Oh no. They’re back already,” I said. We were suddenly surrounded by sweaty, miserable looking women wearing hiking boots. Shar jumped into the pool in all her clothes and boots.

  “This feels so freakin’ good,” she yelled, dog paddling past us.

  “I’m in pain. So much pain,” said Shyla, sinking down on the lawn chair next to Vanessa.

  “So how was it?” I asked.

  “Pretty bad, actually.” She took off her hiking boots, wiggling her toes in the breeze. “First we all ate huge breakfasts. Jessica, the Australian, ordered first, and she got a big stack of pancakes, coffee, bacon, and scrambled eggs. Plus other stuff I think I’m forgetting. I swear, it was like she looked at the menu and picked one of everything. Well, as you both know, she is tiny and adorable, and it seemed like she had set the standard for the rest of us. Like, if she can eat all that and be tiny, maybe the rest of us should be able to also, you know? So we all ordered gross, crazy amounts of food to impress Bellamy with our supposed high metabolism, you know, trick him into thinking we’re men in women’s bodies, ‘cause everyone knows that’s what guys really want.”

  Vanessa and I nodded sympathetically.

  “Could you excuse me for a minute?” asked Shyla. She got up, went over to a large, potted cactus, and threw up in it. “Sorry,” she said, after she regained her composure and settled back in beside us.

  “You don’t need to apologize,” I said, noticing one of the assistants efficiently hauling the cactus away on a dolly.

  “Anyway, so then we all went hiking up a mountain for the past several hours, in the heat. It was terrible. Really terrible. Then on our way back we all had to stop for a ‘romantic view and champagne moment’ with Bellamy.” She put this in little finger quotes and rolled her eyes. “Each of us got about two minutes with him, downed some champagne, looked out at the ocean, and got shoved on through so the next girl could have her moment. I’ve had a migraine for hours. I think I’m going to lie down now. See you at the cocktail party.”

  “Feel better,” I said.

  “I’ll try.” She staggered away while making retching noises into her shoulder blade.

  “Poor thing,” said Vanessa.

  “Did you notice what she was wearing?” I asked, grabbing Vanessa by the wrist and shaking her.

  “No. What was she wearing?”

  “You didn’t see her necklace? It was an emerald teardrop pendant surrounded by diamonds!”

  “She would have mentioned if Bellamy had saved her. Don’t you think?” asked Vanessa.

  “Maybe not if she has a migraine. She’s still over there if you want to ask her,” I said, pointing to where Shyla was on her hands and knees barfing into the fire pit.

  Vanessa hopped up, adjusted her bikini, and ran over to her. She returned a moment later with an expression of shocked delight on her face. “You’re good!” she said. “Yes, indeed! She got that necklace today. Klassie and Amy are safe too.”

  “Cool. I can’t wait to get one tonight. And to spend time with Bellamy,” I added.
“I guess I’m going to have something to eat and get ready for the cocktail party.” I stood up and stretched.

  “Look at you. I just must say it again: I love that suit. And you’re so flat, like a model. Seriously, you look so cool and sophisticated. How did you manage that without looking anorexic? Did you get surgery for that?”

  “Nope, they’re a hundred percent real,” I said, admiring my pectoral muscles.

  “Lucky,” sighed Vanessa.

  “Bellamy’s here!” exclaimed Marissa, running past us. She was dripping wet, and swaddled in a striped beach towel. “I’ve got to change before he sees me like this! I can’t believe I was stupid enough to actually go swimming.”

  “She’s right,” said Vanessa. “She’s a total amateur. Why would anyone go swimming when there are all these cameras around?”

  “Hi there,” said Bellamy. He was wearing a plum colored Speedo and tall gladiator sandals. “Mind if I join two of my favorite ladies?”

  “Of course we don’t mind,” I said when Vanessa was too lost for words to respond. I sat back down on my lawn chair even though I was dying to go inside and get some food.

  “Does this look stupid?” asked Bellamy, gesturing towards his lower half. “The producers said it showed off my abs, but I’m not so sure.”

  “It shows off your abs,” I said.

  “Cool,” he said, moving the lawn chair that was next to Vanessa so that it was right in front of both of us.

  “I’m not blocking your sun, am I?” he asked.

  “No. That’s considerate of you to ask,” said Vanessa, regaining her composure.

  “I think both of you know that I think you’re both great girls, right?”

  “Oh, thanks,” we said.

  “Cool,” he said. He adjusted the chair so it leaned back. “Ahh. It feels good to sit down. We hiked all day. It was great.” Before we knew it, he was snoring.

  “Poor little guy. He’s all tuckered out,” said Vanessa. We looked at each other and smirked.

  “Time for me to grab something to eat,” I said.

  “Me too,” said Vanessa, gathering her sunscreen and magazines.