Page 8 of The Wrong Bachelor

“Well, there’s our winner right there,” Evan said.

I couldn’t help but agree with Evan as Laurie stood next to Cole and smiled brightly up at him. They looked perfect together.

“Girl number two also comes from our fabulous cheer squad. She’s got the spirit, and she’s got this part, but can she win our bachelor’s heart? Give it up for the other half of the Wilson twins, Miss Brooke Wilson.”

As the students applauded once again, Laurie’s sister made her way to the stage, looking every inch as eager as her twin had. Brooke had always been the quieter one of the Wilson girls, and I got along with her much better than with Laurie. They weren’t identical, but the two girls looked scarily similar when their bleach blonde hair was pulled back into high ponytails.

“This takes sibling rivalry to a whole new level,” Hayley murmured to me.

“Tell me about it,” I agreed.

I slumped back in my seat as the next two names were announced. Anna and Sally, two more cheerleaders, were called up to the stage. I was beginning to think that Teagan had been right. We really would be watching the whole cheer squad chase after Cole. There was no need to pay for that though when we could just watch it in real life.

I perked up a bit as one of the girls from the basketball team, Maria, was called up. She looked so excited, and I started to smile as I watched her take the stage. I’d heard how friendly she was, and I’d seen her tear up a basketball court. Of all the contestants so far, she’d be the one to get my vote. That is, if I was planning on voting at all.

“Zoe Night,” Angus called the next name. Another surprise. Zoe practically ran the school newspaper, and I almost wondered if she’d somehow tricked her way into the lineup. She would do anything for a good story, and where better to get one than from the inside of the True Love contest?

When the next name was called the room fell silent, and only a few pathetic claps followed the girl to the stage. I even heard a few laughs.

“Willow Clarke, everyone!” Angus cheered, trying to draw a reaction from the crowd. “Come on up here, Willow.”

I frowned as I watched Willow approach the stage slowly. Glancing at my friends, I saw my own confusion reflected on their faces.

Willow was in my art class. She didn’t talk much, but she was sweet whenever we chatted. She was somewhat socially awkward and kind of kept to herself. It seemed strange that people had voted for her, but she was strikingly pretty, and the only thing that made her appear out of place on the stage was the nervous look on her face. As Willow walked down the row of contestants, I noticed a smirk spreading across Laurie’s features and she whispered something to her sister. Something about the way Laurie was grinning had me worried for Willow.

“What’s Laurie up to?” I murmured to Hayley.

“I overheard her talking with some of the other cheerleaders,” she replied. “They were all talking about nominating Willow as a joke. I didn’t think they were actually going to go through with it though.”

My stomach dropped. “Why would they do that?”

Hayley shrugged, looking as confused as I was. “Willow’s pretty shy. They probably thought she’d hate it.”

“I hope Willow beats them,” I growled, turning back to face the stage.

“Yeah, that would certainly show Laurie,” Hayley agreed.

Willow looked so lost up on the stage. She was like a rabbit stuck in the headlights. Her eyes were large, and she appeared to be frozen in place. I watched as Cole gave her a reassuring smile and Willow’s lips lifted in a small smile of her own. The gesture seemed kind, and for a brief moment I caught a glimpse of a Cole that didn’t seem quite so awful. Knowing him though, it was all for show. The entire school was watching him, after all.

I was analyzing the interaction so intently I didn’t hear as Angus announced the next contestant—probably another cheerleader. But as applause rose up from the students around me, people started turning in their seats to look at me. Hayley slammed her elbow into my side.

“Ow!” I exclaimed, shooting her a glare.

“Get up, you idiot, he’s calling your name.”

I whipped my head around to look down at the stage, where Angus had his hand reached out toward me. “Come on down, Madison Matthews. Don’t pretend you don’t want to!” he said into the microphone.

My blood turned cold as I realized what was happening.

“Who on Earth would vote for me?” I grabbed Hayley’s arm, desperate for it to be some horrible mistake. “I have a boyfriend.”

“That doesn’t matter right now, just go!” Hayley exclaimed. She practically shoved me to the end of the aisle, and I stumbled as I started down the first few steps. I was in a daze as I descended toward the basketball court and the podium where the rest of the contestants were waiting.

This could not be happening.

I felt sick to my stomach at the thought of being part of the competition and utterly bewildered as to why I had been picked.

As I looked up at the other contestants, Cole caught my eye. He was smiling broadly at me, just like he had been with the other girls. But I could have sworn there was a hint of smugness in his eyes. I was probably being paranoid, but I got a bad feeling that he wasn’t quite as surprised by my selection as I was.

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