The Bachelor star Juan Pablo Galavis eliminated bachelorettes Cassandra Ferguson and Kat Hurd during Monday night's sixth episode of the ABC reality dating series' eighteenth season.

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Cassandra, a 21-year-old former NBA dancer from Rochester Hills, MI, was ousted at the end of the week's group date because Juan Pablo just wasn't feeling as strong a connection as he had with some of the other ladies. Kat, a 29-year-old medical sales representative from Scottsdale, AZ, was eliminated traditionally by The Bachelor star during the season's sixth Rose Ceremony.

"I want love so bad. I feel like I've just been like waiting so long for something special with someone, and I saw so many great things in him. I saw everything that I wanted in a person, you know, that I could see myself with," Cassandra said in her final words.

"It's been awhile since I've seen all of those things in someone. It just hurts to go home like right when I realize that I see this person as someone I could really spend my life with. And then to just go home, it hurts. I just feel sick." 

"I saw myself at the end, you know?" Kat said following her ouster. "I knew that we were at a different point than the rest of the girls, but I was okay with that. It's a marathon, not a sprint, right? I just didn't get up to speed, so. I think the problem is that my whole life, I've been told how great I am and what a catch I am, and yet, here I sit." 

The Bachelor's sixth eighteenth-season episode began with Juan Pablo and his remaining eight bachelorettes traveling to Taupo, New Zealand.

Cassandra said felt selfish for being away from her young son to find love. She wanted a guy who would be equally invested in her son as he is with her, and she noted that's tough to find. However, Cassandra believed Juan Pablo would be committed to their joint happiness.

Meanwhile, Kat wanted to step up her slow-burning relationship a notch with Juan Pablo and Clare Crawley, a 32-year-old hairstylist from Sacramento, CA, didn't know where she stood with the Bachelor since he admitted he regretted and felt guilty about their late-night swim in the ocean alone. The romantic event "blew up" in Clare's face, and she wanted to feel secure again in their relationship.

Once the first date card arrived, Andi Dorfman, a 26-year-old federal prosecutor from Atlanta, GA, learned she'd finally be accompanying Juan Pablo on a one-on-one date. Andi was anticipating a breakthrough in their connection.

For their date, Juan Pablo drove Andi in a high-speed jet boat and then they explored "the squeeze" -- which was an extremely narrow path in the water you walked through created by the crevasses of large rocks on either side. Andi trusted Juan Pablo and let him guide her, and they ended up finding a small romantic waterfall which they kissed under. Juan Pablo felt "amazing" about Andi, saying she was "incredible."

At Te Puia that night, the couple enjoyed dinner surrounded by hot springs in the earth known as geysers. Steam was rising all around them, but their date took a turn for the worst when a geyser exploded and soaked not only them but their food as well. Although the meal was ruined, Andi told the cameras she cared more about Juan Pablo's company.

Meanwhile, the girls in the hotel suite received their date card. The following girls were listed on the card: Kat; Cassandra; Sharleen Joynt, a 29-year-old opera singer from Heidelberg, Germany; Chelsie Webster, a 24-year-old science educator from Columbus, OH; Renee Oteri, a 32-year-old real estate agent from Sarasota, FL; and Nikki Ferrell, a 26-year-old pediatric nurse from Kansas City, MO.

As a result, Clare discovered she would be getting her second one-on-one date of the season, and she was looking forward to finding out if Juan Pablo still truly wanted her there. 

Back on Andi's date, the couple found a drier spot to chat. Andi said she wanted a "great love" above all else in life and couldn't wait to have a family. Juan Pablo appreciated her heart and offered her the date's rose.

In Rotorua, New Zealand the next day, the girls on the group date had a picnic with Juan Pablo in the middle of rolling grassy hills. Afterward, they physically rolled down the hills in giant Ogo Balls. Each ball contained water and held two or three people. Nikki stole a couple of kisses from the Bachelor during their ride together, and everyone said it was a blast.

Later on that night, the group hung out in Hobbiton, the set of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Sharleen said she was "geeking out" with excitement. It was also Cassandra's birthday, and she was itching for some alone time with Juan Pablo.

Renee got some private time with Juan Pablo and got her second kiss of the season. She was thankful he didn't look at her child -- or Cassandra's child -- as baggage, and she explained she felt sparks and chemistry. Renee told the cameras she felt she was at the point in her relationship with Juan Pablo she'd be at with a man whom she had been dating for six to eight months.

Nikki then told Juan Pablo she was "falling for" him, and while she wanted to pull back emotionally, she tried not to because she believed the risk would be worth it. Juan Pablo admitted the process was scary for him as well. He then relaxed Sharleen by kissing her and suggested she not question herself. Juan Pablo advised her to make the best out of the process and not to worry.

Cassandra also got some one-on-one time with Juan Pablo and she told him he was such a good person and father. She found him to be genuine and saw everything she wants in a man in him.

Afterward, Juan Pablo, saying he thinks he may find his happy ending on the show, then gave the group date's rose to Sharleen. Renee was surprised because she had noted beforehand she thought Cassandra "needed it more than anyone at this point. She's an amazing, amazing girl. She's been someone that I have been rooting for throughout this whole thing. If it's not me, I want it to be her."

Juan Pablo then pulled Cassandra aside again to chat, which caught the other girls off-guard. He began telling her that she was one of his "special ones" in the group because she was a single mother.

"You said one day, 'Just tell me how you feel. Make sure that you are honest with me if you want me here or not, just let me know.' I've been thinking a lot. It's been so hard for me. You're gorgeous, you are funny, you are so nice... but honestly, Cassandra, I wish we were on the same chapter. I thought a lot about it and I don't want you to wait two more days to see your son...  I don't want to but I need to let you go because of Trey," Juan Pablo told Cassandra.

"I'm excited to see my son and I really respect you not making me wait until the Rose Ceremony. I'm disappointed," Cassandra replied.

Juan Pablo asked her not to be disappointed, saying she had grown during the show and he was so glad he could be a little part of that. It was hard to say goodbye, but Juan Pablo admitted he didn't feel a connection as strong as the ones he had been forming with other women.

The following day, Juan Pablo told the cameras he felt lost and was still figuring out his boundaries with the bachelorettes because it would always be him and his daughter Camila -- not just a single man. He felt bad for hurting Clare the week prior, especially since she insisted her intentions were good and she'd never want to disrespect his daughter.

Clare said she had questions that needed to be answered in order to determine if Juan Pablo could be the guy for her.

Juan Pablo then brought Clare to a quiet rocky beach and told her the ocean incident was his mistake and he wanted her to be happy. He explained they were learning together, but Clare was still upset because she'd never want him to feel uncomfortable. She asked why he didn't say "no" to her invitation that night, and Juan Pablo said he didn't want to devastate her because she seemed so thrilled about the opportunity.

Clare appreciated Juan Pablo attempting to smooth things over, and then she asked the Bachelor what their boundaries actually were so she wouldn't cross them. Juan Pablo explained he never did anything physical with a woman in front of his daughter, not even kiss them or hold their hand. Clare was a bit confused, questioning whether they had actually done something inappropriate in the ocean.

"[It was] four in the morning, going to the ocean and swimming and kissing in the ocean. That didn't feel right to me. That's it. Now, I'm going to be honest with you when something happens and I don't want you to feel bad. I don't like hurting you at all, zero. So when you cried because of me, I was pissed at myself. I don't want you to cry because of me," Juan Pablo told her.

The couple then kissed and finished talking things through. With Juan Pablo's apology, they reset their relationship and Clare decided to stick it out rather than bolting.

Clare noted Juan Pablo was worth staying for and she felt he cared for her. Clare thought he acted like a man and loved the fact he was a "protector," because if he was so concerned about his daughter, she believed he'd be that concerned about her children one day.

That night, the pair put on sweatpants and relaxed on the couch by a fire. Clare felt she was in her element and Juan Pablo said she "had something going on that was so attractive."

"I get hot talking about Clare," Juan Pablo said before offering his bachelorette the date's rose. "Clare is just something else. I love that I've seen her change; I love that she didn't bolt. Because I see a future here... She could be the one."

Juan Pablo then played the song they first danced to and they danced once again in the living room. Clare said it was perfect and the doubt she felt earlier was just a page in their story. She felt working through an argument put them on a whole other level relationship-wise.

The next day, at The Blake House, the cocktail reception commenced. Juan Pablo needed to figure out which girl best suited his life. The Bachelor then sat down with host Chris Harrison and explained he was judging the girls on feeling, the quality of conversation, and how honest and open they were. He said he could see himself getting down on one knee and proposing to someone at the end.

Nikki stole Juan Pablo first to talk. She felt secure in their connection although it seemed down to the wire and the Bachelor's choices were becoming very personal. Nikki told him that she could be herself around him and he got her excited. She was looking for her "forever," someone to share life's fun moments with.

"Nikki, she told me, 'I really like you,' and I'm like, 'Wow.' I'm not asking. She's just saying it and I'm like, 'This is good.' Nikki, watch out," Juan Pablo said in a confessional.

Juan Pablo seemed equally as intrigued by Renee. He loved listening to her talk about her son, claiming she was so attractive and he was just mesmerized by her eyes. The two girls who seemed to be on the outs, or the underdogs in the competition thus far, were Chelsie and Kat. Both girls realized one of them would most likely be going home, however, both girls were confident it'd be the other.

Chelsie sat down with Juan Pablo and really tried to open up, because she worried their dynamic hadn't been afforded the time to go over the course of the week. 

Chelsie explained it took her awhile to be sure of what she wanted in her last relationship, but now she's certain about what she wants -- a genuine, real love that the guy would be just as excited about. Chelsie said she wanted to stick around, and Juan Pablo told her that he wanted her there and she was there for a good reason.

Kat then got some time with the Bachelor. She as well tried to deepen their connection, telling Juan Pablo she feared being forward and aggressive with guys due to the possibility of being disappointed. 

Kat shared personal stories of her past with him regarding her alcoholic father and admitted she forces a relationship to go slowly because that's what she finds comfortable and safe. Kat felt great that Juan Pablo was ready for love and children, and she was trying her best to put herself out there.

At the Rose Ceremony that night, Sharleen, Clare and Andi already had roses. Juan Pablo then handed out additional roses to Nikki, Renee and Chelsie.

Sharleen was clearly confused and surprisingly torn up over Kat's elimination.

"It's difficult. Instead of feeling more certain, I'm feeling more doubtful each week. And to be honest, I can see other girls here suiting him better," Sharleen told the cameras.

"I don't want to hurt Juan Pablo. I'm going to give it another week and see if there's something that I'm missing. If I absolutely cannot see myself with Juan Pablo, I think it's best if I leave."


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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