#groupdate

IAN- “Listen, Seth, I am really sorry. All of this, the cameras, the locale, and meeting  new people really had me overwhelmed. I was quite rude to you earlier and I am sorry.  I should not have walked off.  Can I start over?”

SETH- “Certainly! And I love all the art you have, does each one mean something?”

IAN- Yeah, well some do, others I just thought were really nice. I am working on finishing up the sleeve on my left arm.  I think I would like something with a sunset, to remember this experience.”

SETH- “That’s a great idea.  I have wanted a tattoo myself for a while now.  I just never really saw one that I felt I had to have.  But maybe if I got one to remember this.  It would mean something to me.”

IAN- “Life is full of experiences and adventures.  You should always have some kind of reminder when you are doing something special.  Especially something that may change your life.”

SETH- “I totally agree with you. Maybe you can help me design something?  So I understand you are a detective.  I am sure that is a very stressful job!”

IAN- “It can be.  But I do really enjoy my work. Sometimes, yeah it gets too much and I have to take a step back and remember that there a good things, and good people in the world.  I mean, all I see is the bad on a daily basis most of the time. It is also hard not to bring my work home with me.”

SETH- “And that is why you are probably a good detective, and so young to be where you are already.”

IAN- “I certainly am focused. I do vision boards, ever heard of them?” Ian thought he would pursue the visualization techniques in a different way this time.

SETH- “No I don’t think so.”

IAN- “When I have a desire, or a dream, or something that I am working on personally, I do a vision board. As a detective we use pictures and other visuals to help us see where we are and where we need to go.  I do the same thing in my personal life. I make vision boards. It keeps me on track with what I want to do. Helps me stay motivated and focused so I obtain what it is I want.”

SETH- “So like pros and cons, but using visuals, and focusing on the pros?”

IAN- “Yeah, and it really helps me. When I started with the police force, I started on one.  I wanted to be a detective within the first five years, so I did the vision board and I accomplished it in four years. Now, I am working on being the youngest Chief of Police in the history of the force, and I have my vision board to help me see how to get there.”

SETH- “That is amazing. I have a feeling you will be police chief much sooner rather than later!”

IAN- “I hope so!!!”

SETH- “So I heard a rumor that you have a boyfriend.  If that is the case, why are you here?”

ROBERT- “They should have named you Chase, ‘cause you just cut right to it, don’t you...?

SETH- “Quite honestly, if you have a boyfriend, then you are wasting my time, your time, and these others guys times as well. So do you?”

ROBERT- “First of all, Miguel and I HAD an open relationship, meaning we could both---

SETH- “I know what an Open Relationship is.”

ROBERT- “Like I said we HAD an open relationship, but right before I left to come here, he broke things off completely. Said he couldn’t deal with me coming out here to find a soul mate and shit. So no I no longer have a boyfriend.

SETH- “Good, I am glad to hear it. Because I am intrigued by you Robert, and I honestly would like to get to know you better.”

ROBERT- “I get that a lot, people are always intrigued by me, or fascinated, or just all out got the hots for me. I can’t help it. I mean I really do try and turn down my charm and sex appeal. Keep things under wraps, but when you got it, you just got it, right?”

SETH- “Yeah, something like that... So what is your favorite trait about me that you see so far?”

ROBERT- “You want an honest answer?”

SETH- “Most definitely.”

ROBERT- “I like your attitude Seth.  You get right to the point, no holds barred. I mean most people wouldn’t have been so blatant with me and call me out like you did to my face. You didn’t flinch, no intimidation at all.  I am impressed.”

SETH- “I am not intimidated by much, Robert.  We are all just people, looking for the same things in life.  And my mom always told me; You have no reason to be intimidated by someone Seth because everyone put their pants on the same way, one leg at a time and we all have to wipe our own ass...”

ROBERT- “Actually, I don’t.  I have someone that does that for me...”

SETH- “Okay then... Listen it is getting late and I still have to talk with Kellen and Ian before the night is over, so if you will excuse me...”

ROBERT- “Sure thing kid. We got weeks to talk.  And do whatever else pops up, right?”

SETH-  So I think Kellan is from Sulani as well.  Do you know him?”

OWEN- “I know of him. But I personally do not know him. He lives on the other side of the Island with his sister I think. He is fairly well known. He wrote a book a while back, made a name for himself. Nice guy I guess, but like I said I don’t really know him.”

SETH- “So what do you do, Owen, for a living I mean?”

OWEN- “I work as a lifeguard for Sulani Beach Patrol and I volunteer with the conservation society. I am good friends with someone that was on the Bachelor with you.”

SETH- “NIKO!!?? Really??, yeah that’s right he is from here. He has some kind of non profit conservation thing here, right?”

OWEN- “Yep, Nico. I work for him actually. Hell of a nice guy. But the goal of the organization is to clean up the beaches here on the island and then go global.”

SETH- “See, like I said you guys are smart, accomplished...”

OWEN- “So are you, Dr. Schrieber. Don’t be selling yourself short. You have everything any of the rest of us have here, and more...you get to choose one of US!””

IAN- “So what are you thinking they are talking about over there? Seth certainly seems to have a lot to talk about with that Owen guy. I mean, it is probably nothing of substance.  I said something about  visualization techniques at our meeting yesterday and he had no clue what I was talking about.”

KELLEN- “Does it matter what they are talking about, Ian? I mean Seth seems very comfortable with him. If you want to make headway with him, you have to come down to his level so to speak. He thinks with his heart, not his head, Ian. Try to talk to him that way, not logic, more emotion. I figured that out right away and that’s how I plan on winning him over!”

IAN- “Really? I survive daily on logic, not emotion, that could get me killed. I am not sure I can even be emotional any more.”

SETH- “Thank you for rescuing me, Kellen.”

KELLEN- “Rescued you, I don’t understand, I was just walking by.”

SETH- “Robert is a nice guy and all, but he is really full of himself! A little of him goes a long way! Did you know he was knighted?”

KELLEN- I don’t think there is anything little about him from what I can tell! And, If he was knighted, then I am the Queen of England. He isn’t even English. Anyway, I guess I should say your welcome. I hope you are enjoying yourself.  I mean this place is a paradise, and all you have done is talk to everyone.  I hope you get some time to relax and enjoy the water.”

SETH- “Me too, and yes this place is fantastic, but I am really anxious. I didn’t realize how hard all this would be. At least on Big Brother we had competitions. Here it’s me picking from the competitors.”

KELLEN- “Hey, be true to yourself, Seth, and listen to your heart. Relax a little and just let things happen. If one of us is the one, you will know it.  It shouldn’t feel like a chore, I mean no one has said that you HAVE to pick a boyfriend. I used to feel like I HAD to have a boyfriend and started getting involved with this guy... I went on a date with this guy I met on a dating app, he was a sailor, with tiny hands. All I could see were the tiny hands. I was there, like blowing into my drink, trying not to stare at his hands, but all I could think was: Oh my Watcher he has Trump hands! I’m on a date with a soggy cheeto. I wasn’t wrong. He turned out to be a dick who dished me on the forth date because I didn’t put out. Please, I am totally not putting out for tiny Trump hands! You need to just do you and not settle for tiny Trump hands!”

SETH- (He laughed a little about the tiny hands guy) “You know, you are right.  I need to just relax and be myself.  I mean I want all of you to be yourselves and not be something your not to just please me or get my attention, so I should expect the same for myself, right?”

KELLEN- “Exactly! Just talk, get to know us.  Don’t be so determined about making a choice.  If it is meant to be, it will happen.  If not, what a great experience. I mean don’t get me wrong I signed up for this to meet someone, and I have met seven other great guys already.  If you and me happen, that is icing on the cake!”

SETH- “RIGHT!!  Icing on the cake.  I like your attitude, Kellen, thank you. I am going to slow down and enjoy this.”

IAN- “So you two talking about cake? How romantic!”

KELLEN- “Sit down and talk with us Ian, stop being so intense!”

Seth sat there for a minute after Ian left and contemplated everything he learnt tonight about each of the guys. The thing was, is that he liked each one of them, even Robert had something that Seth appreciated, confidence, even if it was misguided.  Each one of them had something about them that could add to a partnership.  Mark saw him sitting there and thought for a minute... Should I go up and talk to him?  Make sure he is okay, or just let him be??

He decided to interrupt him, just to make sure he was okay.

MARK- “I don’t mean to interrupt, but you seem really engrossed in thought.  You okay?”

SETH- “Oh, thanks for checking, Mark.  Yeah I am okay, just don’t know how I am going to make a choice between all of you guys. There is something about each one of you that endears me to you already.”

MARK- “Well, if it helps, I see a lot about you that I like as well. How about you just forget about all of that for a little bit.  We are on the other side of the world here.  Can you imagine what stars we could see if we looked?  Bet there are not the stars we see back at home. Come go over here with me, and lets gaze at the wonder of the universe.”

SETH- “OH WOW!!!  There is my zodiac, right there!!  See it  the Crab!!!”

MARK- “Yeah, it is, that is great.  So we have that in common then.”

SETH- “You are a cancer too??”

MARK- “Sure am.  I am my mom’s little firecracker. Born on the 4th of July. So when is your birthday??”

SETH- “July 9th and I will be 26, and how old will you be Mark?”

MARK- “Twenty-three in years, but sometime I feel like 43...”

They laid there for a while and continued to talk and check out the stars until Seth started to nod off. He excused himself, said goodnight and went upstairs to his room.

Owen sees Mark get up and makes a bee-line to Seth’s table.

OWEN- “I was heading to the bar to get a drink, would you like one?  It’s on me...” He smiles

SETH- “Thanks, but not tonight, I am really nervous.”

OWEN- “You nervous? Imagine all of us.  I mean you are like watching all of us, kind of like a detective. I am more nervous that you, I can guarantee it.”

SETH- “I never really thought about it from all of you guys perspectives. I suppose your right.  But really I am not like that.  I just want to get to know everyone.  I mean all of you are good-looking, intelligent, accomplished.  This is going to be really hard.”

Owen sits down as Seth continues to talk... for some reason, Seth is very comfortable talking to him.

SETH- “I mean the whole concept of the game is to narrow it down to one guy, but I worry if everyone is really being themselves, or are they just being who they think I would want them to be...I thought you were going to get a drink?”

OWEN- “I prefer to listen, I can get a drink later, I mean we are going to be here a while. Go on...”

SETH- “I really feel like you are more open than the others so far. I feel comfortable with you. Thanks.”

OWEN- “I am just me, nothing special, you know. Lived on this island my entire life and believe me when I say, people on this island have no reason to be pretentious, or something they are not. Well, most of them anyway.”

Seth realized that he and Owen had been talking for quite a while, and he still need to make his way around to the other guys as well. The sun was starting to set and he was getting tired, so he needed to move a little faster if he is going to talk with everyone before the night was over. He reluctantly said goodbye to Owen, and saw that Robert was no longer bar tending so he made his way over to him.

SETH- “So, Robert why were you running the bar. I thought the producers hired someone to do that?”

ROBERT- “Did you have a drink for that so-called Bar Tender?? That boy was not a bartender, trust me. He dropped two bottles, and his drinks were super weak, Weaker than they serve in a lesbian bar or at a Bar Mitzvah! I told him to go back to bar tending school and whatever they were paying him was WAY too much.”

SETH- “So you are bartender?”

ROBERT- “I am a lot of things, Seth. But currently no.. I have bar tended however and, danced on the bar, wrestled on the bar and even well, you know did THAT on the bar.”

SETH- “But you don’t do that now, I mean bartend? For a living.”

ROBERT- “Oh, no, only for special parties and occasions. As for my job, well, I am financially set. I don't need to worry my self with a job. I travel, and buy homes, cars and boats... and sometimes all three at once!”

SETH- “So how did you get all of your money?”

ROBERT- “Damn, that boy has one fine ass...  I’d like to...Oh, sorry, what did you say??”

SETH- “So did you get all your money from an inheritance or something?”

ROBERT- “You could say that, I mean my parents are still living. But on a secluded island much like this one in the Caribbean. I have a monthly stipend.  Plus I have written several books, so I have royalties from that.  and I was knighted a while back.’

Mark, who also has been listening sees an open opportunity and jumps for it. He comes over to Seth’s table.

MARK- “Mind if I sit here a minutes, Seth?” he says as he pulls out the chair.

SETH- “Oh, no not at all. So I really like those swim trunks, very “Sulani’esque”.

MARK- “Yeah, i found them at the little general store near the entrance to the resort. Very comfortable.”

SETH- “They have any in red? I love red. What’s your favorite color?”

MARK- “Actually I like purple... but I wanted to talk about something else. I hope this doesn’t offend you, but are you here to actually, find a possible soul-mate or just for other reasons, if you know what I mean?”

SETH- “If you mean sex... no I am not here for the sex. Contrary to popular belief not all gay men are sex addicts. I was in a long term relationship for a while, and I am the type of person I like having a partner... you know to share things with. But trying to find someone looking for the same thing is not easy.”

MARK- “You’re telling me!! I haven’t been out long, and trying to find a decent guy that is interested in dating, and not all about getting laid is almost impossible!”

SETH- “So where have you been looking, Mark?”

MARK- “Simdr, and let me tell you! It’s supposed to be a dating app, but it is not about that AT ALL...”

SETH- (Giggles a little) “Yeah Simdr is definitely not a dating app, I think they call it a hook-up app....”

Seth and Mark converse a little more. Robert continues to bartend... not sure what happened to the bartender that the producers paid to do that. Cooper is sitting alone at the bar having a drink, Javon is still drinking at the bar as well and hitting on Robert, and Cooper while trying to eavesdrop on Seth’s conversation with Mark.