A/N: Hey guys here is a day late update because I had just gotten back from a camp. Also I had accidently put this chapter up along with chapter 6 so some of you maay have read this but please bare with me:) haha x

CHAPTER 7

Someone please explain to me how does a muddy, dirty obstacle course have to do with academics? The backstage crew lined us up and I was second last, in front of Rose. Elliott introduced the show as usual and explained how the game would work.

Simply, he would get each girl to choose a small envelope out from a box and on that card would be a subject, such as English or Science, and then he would read out the question on the card inside the envelope. If a girl got the question right she was safe and just had to move to the back of the line. If the girl got the question wrong she would have to take part in the messy obstacle.

An air horn was blown and the game began with Lindsay at the front.

I watched as she selected an envelope and Elliot announced that the subject she had chosen was History.

"In what year was the first landing on the moon?" Elliot asked. These questions were so easy! I thought.

I watched Lindsay and she looked puzzled, "Uh, 1980?"

Elliot shook his head, "I'm sorry that's incorrect. I'm afraid you'll have to walk the course."

And so I watched on the big screen setup Lindsay walk the court. She squealed and carried on like something was attacking her.

The girls in front of me kept answering the questions wrong, which were incredibly easy, and when they went through the obstacle course made a big fuss. I thought Elliot and America would love this. To see all the girls get down and dirty.

Finally it was my turn and I pulled out and envelope. Elliot read out the subject which was English.

"Who was the author of the novel Oliver Twist?"

I smiled briefly, "Charles Dickens."

Elliot sighed, "That is correct, the first one today. You may go to the end of the line."

I walked past all the muddy girls and waited for Rose to have her turn.

Her subject was Science and was asked for the chemical equation for water.

"H2O," she answered simply and walked to the end of the line.

The game continued on for five hours which included water breaks, lunch breaks, Elliot having a meltdown and a shouting match at the other girls.

I don't know why he was so angry seeing all the other girls going through the course.

I didn't have to go through the course at all but Rose had to go through once after making a mistake on a music question, "What is Binary form?"

She went through the course carefully though and only her bottom half was muddied.

I finally found out why this made Elliot so mad was when we wrapped up the game and huddled around Elliot like we were students and he was the teacher.

Then all the giggling girls tensed when they saw Xavier stand next to Elliot. They couldn't do anything about it as the cameras were still rolling.

Xavier smiled at the girls, "That was good fun seeing you guys take part in that and it shows that most of you aren't afraid to get dirty and have some fun."

I saw Lindsay look my way and send me an evil smirk.

"But," and all the girls surrounding me tensed ready for the big blow, "my parents have high standards for me and the girl who would be my date would have to pretty smart. This means that Annabelle Kennedy will be granted immunity for this week as she answered the least amount of questions wrong."

He smiled at me as I probably stared at him in shock.

I toned out the rest of them talking and Elliot wrapped up the show. Finally, once the cameras were shut down, he glared at the girls, "How could you not have known the answers to those questions. I gave you guys-- " He cut off looking at me and then quieting down his voice.

So he had rigged the questions for them to win. Rose gave me a look.

"They're done talking. I have a feeling we should run."

And we did. We sprinted back to the mansion as the girls behind us ran after us yelling hate and abuse.

That night Rose slept over in my room where we had a movie marathon watching corny Disney movies on my laptop. These included Starstruck, The Princess Protection Program, Another Cinderella Story and Mulan.

During the remainder of the week before the eliminations all of us girls had free time to do whatever we wanted. The only thing was that there would be cameras with us following what we did to 'sell' us to the public so that they would vote. Thankfully Rose and I were assigned with Jono again who was starting to become like an uncle.

Honestly, I was missing my normal and calm routine from back home so I managed to drag Rose along with me to the closest Library I could find (with Jono following behind). The closest library in this part of California was a small one in an old sandstone building which belonged in the sixties. When I walked in I was hit by the scent of musk and old books. An old lady sat at the counter with a thick book. She looked up and smiled at us when we entered and then quietly went back to her book. I wandered off leaving Rose and Jono for half an hour browsing over a few books. I couldn't borrow any without a card but it was just the simplicity and quietness I seeked in the library without the chatter of girls and the stuffy scent of hairspray.

Finally I found Jono and Rose again in the little kids section. Jono was playing around with features while Rose was doing some stretches on the ground.

"Rose, do a dance for us," I finally said as the great idea struck me. She gave me a strange look though.

"We're in the library."

I shrugged, "Oh well, what happens in California stays in California."

"And goes on national TV," Jono added. I shot him a dirty look and he shrugged.

She sighed, "I have nothing to dance to."

I pulled out my iPod and randomly selected a song and the familiar beat to Wings by Little Mix played.

Sophia must have put this song on my iPod.

Rose gracefully stood up and started moving to the beat before she finally got into the music and let the rhythm lead her body. I saw Jono recording this without her awareness.

I clapped enthusiastically until I noticed another librarian death staring us. What happened to the nice one?

In the end we were kicked out of the library despite Jono was recording and we were part of a national TV show. The old witch obviously didn't care about media. What would her grandchildren think of her?

On the way back to the mansion Rose dragged us into a pound as she had been missing her dog. She made us stay there for an hour playing with the gorgeous puppies and I must admit I fell in love with a baby chocolate Labrador with the biggest brown eyes. He was adorable and I wanted to adopt him but I don't think we were allowed pets in the mansion.

For the whole hour the puppy, that had the very original name of Coco, played with me. When Jono said that we should go I gave him my puppy eyes not noticing he was still recording.

"Please Jono, can I please adopt him?"

He laughed at me, "You know you're not allowed pets in the mansion Annie."

I pouted and sat Coco on my lap holding his paws, "But look at him," I said in a baby voice, "he's so little." I cooed.

Coco licked my face and barked in I'm assuming agreement in dog language. I pouted at Jono giving him my best puppy face while Rose stood laughing at the side.

"Fine you can adopt him but he can't stay on the mansion grounds."

I grinned then frowned.

"Where will he stay then?"

Jono sighed, "He can stay at mine and I'll bring him to work everyday until the shows over."

I launched myself at Jono, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I squealed. I actually squealed.

I squealed over a dog?

I got my remaining money from the shopping spree and handed it over to the guy in charge. He gave me Coco, a certificate thing, a dog bag and some food with two bowls for the puppy. Thankfully Coco had been desexed and vaccinated and everything else which needed to happen so I wouldn't have to go to the vet.

We finally left with me walking Coco on a lead grinning happily while Rose smirked at me. With Coco with me I don't think I'd miss being at home as much as before.

During the day Jono let me sneak Coco up to my room but I knew he'd come and get him at night. I Skyped Josh and Sophia and showed them Coco and Josh was incredibly jealous.

"What, you got a puppy?!" He pouted, "That's not fair!" I stuck my tongue out at my cousin while Sophia laughed.

Then Sophia started gushing on about Xavier and I zoned out a bit.

"Oh my gosh, Annie can you introduce me to him on Skype?!"

I looked at her strangely, "I have no idea where he is at the moment. This mansion is massive. He could be anywhere in the whole state or even country. We're never told where he goes or what he's doing you know."

She pouts, "I just want to meet him," then she glares at me, "You have to make him fall in love with you and then get married and then I'll be related to Xavier Matthews!" She grins at her 'amazing' plan.

"Uh-huh," I say blankly, "Not going to happen."

After thirty minutes of playful arguing we say goodnight to each other and I log off. I sneak my way back downstairs, with Coco in my arms, to meet Jono at the front doors but I was surprised to see him having a casual conversation with Xavier.

They both look up when they see me and I cuddle Coco closer to myself as I don't want him to go.

"Come on Annie," Jono coos, "give me the dog."

I pouted, "His name is Coco."

Jono rolls his eyes but holds his hands out waiting. I clutch Coco tighter who's sniffing my neck when finally I sigh and hand the puppy over.

"Be nice to him." I say firmly.

"Of course,"

"And don't forget to feed him. Or give him water. And let him go outside so he can do his business," I give him a whole list of instructions while he waves me off, "I'll be fine,"

I notice Xavier watching our conversation with amusement.

I give Jono an evil eye, "I'm watching you..." I say in a threatening voice and Xavier cracks up laughing. And man, he has a nice laugh.

"Aye, aye captain," Jono salutes with one hand while the other is holding Coco.

I put my hands on my hips, "Are you mocking me?"

Jono shakes his head feigning to be scared. I burst out laughing, "Just kidding Jon Jon." I say, "Just don't kill my puppy."

He nods and I hug him goodbye as he leaves for the night. I notice that Xavier's still standing there leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest looking extremely attractive mind you.

"So you got a puppy?" He asked.

I nod excitedly, "I always wanted a puppy."

I start to walk to the elevator after a moment of awkward silence but he follows me and says, "Are you finding it alright here now?" He asked and by the look in his eyes and his tone I could tell he genuinely cared.

I nodded, "Yeah I guess so. Rose is keeping me somewhat sane."

He chuckles, "That's good. I wouldn't want to see you going insane to be honest. That'd be scary."

"Hey!" I cried, "I'm not that bad."

He gave me a disbelieving look and I pouted. He nudges me with his elbow, "I'm just kidding Annie."

I smirk and shrug, "I know."

He rolls his eyes at me playfully as I stop at the open elevator. I see Xavier get on and I look at him surprised, "Where are you going?" I asked as I get on and the doors close.

"My bedrooms on the same floor as yours."

Oh.

"Aren't you worried that in the middle of the night one of the crazy girls here are going to find your room; sneak in and try and seduce you in the middle of the night?"

He laughs, "I'm not that easy."

I look at him as the elevator stops and the doors open, "What about all the headlines, 'Xavier caught out with One night stand,' Xavier this, Xavier that?"

He looks at me with some sort of disappointment in his eyes, "Do you actually believe all those headlines. How do you even know about them? I thought you weren't a fan?" He gives me a suspicious look.

"My sister is and watches all the gossip shows on TV."

He nods but then says, "But do you actually believe all that they say."

I give him a long look and see some emotion in his eyes.

I wasn't a fan of his music as it personally wasn't my styles. I didn't like how he got all the attention as there were other legitimate artists out there who were just as good and in fact better. And I didn't like how all the fangirls went so crazy and overboard with a celebrity.

But he was a person, and every person has a heart.

I look at him and smile, "I don't know. I don't know you personally. Who knows what could be true or not?"

He gives me a heart warming grin and shyly says thank you.

I look at him confused, "Why a thank you?"

He chuckles, "You're not judging me on what the media says or what anyone says. I know they have given me a bad reputation but honestly I'm not like that."

I smile, "Well, I guess I'll just have to see." And he nods.

"It's almost eleven thirty. I'm going to go to bed now, I need my beauty sleep," I joke and he laughs. I say goodnight to him which he quietly says back and I walk off to my room leaving him standing there before he moves to his room on the other side of the hall.

Ohhhh... What do you guys think? A bit of a moment between Xavier and Annie. Well kind of. What do you guys want to see and is there anyone you want Annie to interact with (besides Xavier). Let me know what you think and please fan, vote and comment!!

Question of the update: this is a pretty heavy question but Pepsi or coke? (TBH. I hate both. I prefer water)

P.s. I had too much Starbursttsss. I'm going cray cray!