Derek Taylor

Derek, a character in the America's Most Eligible series, is one of the contestants of America's Most Eligible. He is also a potential love interest. He made his first appearance in Book 1, Chapter 1.

Appearance
Derek has hazel eyes and tan skin. His hair is brown and shaved, and he has stubble. He wears a tan suit with a white dress shirt underneath and a red tie.

His casual outfit consists of a white plaid shirt and blue jeans. He wears a watch on his left wrist.

Personality
He appears nice and friendly, and as the Super Fan, he knows a lot about the show. He rattles off details about the show as if it were second nature. He seems to be one of the few genuine contestants on the show and hates when people are condescending; for example, he gets mad if you showboat your win(s). In Chapter 3, he thinks it’s shallow if you compliment Alyssa, the woman he’s talking to, on her body.

America's Most Eligible: Season 10

 * Chapter 1: Who Has What It Takes
 * Chapter 2: First Impressions
 * Chapter 3: Flirting for the Win
 * Chapter 4: All Hands on Deck
 * Chapter 5: Get Your Head In The Game
 * Chapter 6: Rumor Has It
 * Chapter 7: Caught In The Spotlight
 * Chapter 8: Shut Up and Dance
 * Chapter 9: When the Competition Gets Fierce
 * Chapter 10: Without a Paddle
 * Chapter 11: Here To Make Friends
 * Chapter 12: Don't Call It a Comeback
 * Chapter 13: Back To Reality
 * Chapter 14: Peace of Mind
 * Chapter 15: Kiss and Tell
 * Chapter 16: Where Wishes Come True
 * Chapter 17: Lights, Camera, Sabotage!
 * Chapter 18: Before The Storm (Determinant)
 * Chapter 19: Here For The Right Reasons
 * Chapter 20: And the Winner Is...

America's Most Eligible: All Stars

 * Chapter 1: Baby, You're a Star
 * Chapter 2: Guess Who's Back
 * Chapter 3: Back in the Saddle
 * Chapter 4: Sand, Sun, and Strife
 * Chapter 5: Under The Sea
 * Chapter 6: A Shot in the Dark
 * Chapter 7: Save the Last Dance
 * Chapter 8: Enemy of My Enemy
 * Chapter 9: The Art of the Deal
 * Chapter 10: Up In Smoke
 * Chapter 11: The Real World
 * Chapter 12: Playing with Fire
 * Chapter 13: On Thin Ice
 * Chapter 14: Behind Closed Doors
 * Chapter 15: Moment of Truth
 * Chapter 16: That's a Wrap!

America's Most Eligible: Wedding Edition

 * Chapter 1: Save the Date
 * Chapter 2: Yours, Mine, and Ours
 * Chapter 3: All Eyes on Us
 * Chapter 4: Dance, Dance
 * Chapter 5: Let Them Eat Cake
 * Chapter 6: Ready, Set, I Do!
 * Chapter 7: Trouble in Paradise (Determinant)
 * Chapter 8: All in the Family
 * Chapter 9: Mama Drama
 * Chapter 10: What Happens in Vegas...
 * Chapter 11: Roll the Dice
 * Chapter 12: Pins and Needles...
 * Chapter 13: Say 'Yes' To This Mess
 * Chapter 14: For Better or Worse
 * Chapter 15: Goin' to the Chapel
 * Chapter 16: So Long, Miami

Your Character
Derek is one of Your Character's fellow contestants and is one of your love interests. He respects Your Character if you choose to speak fairly, justly and kindly; as shown when you get a relationship point with him for reprimanding Lina when she steals a bottle of alcohol. If you decide to sneak away with him to explore the AME mansion during the premiere episode, he will share his Super Fan knowledge and his strategy to win. Despite having a showmance with Ivy, he seems to show more interest in Your Character. Derek also sees Your Character as a trustworthy person as shown in Chapter 6, when he asks you if you want to join an alliance with him and Ivy. In Chapter 11, if Your Character decides to say goodbye to him, he seems sad over it and hugs you immediately. When asked who he thinks is behind it, he admits it could be anyone, but specifically mentions Handsome Stranger, Beautiful Contestant and you finish off with throwing Ivy's name into the mix, to which he admits is also a likely possibility. In addition, he asks you if you don't think it could also have been one of the producers. He tells you he suspects that the secret vote could have been rigged against you.

In Book 2, Chapter 2, it is revealed that you went on a trip with him to Paris, France, if you won Season 10 or to New York City, New York, USA, if Ivy won Season 10. During All Stars, you are never partnered with Derek through Carson's whim. However, when you win your third audience vote perk, you can switch from Handsome Stranger to Derek. If you choose to, you remove Derek from the Bottom Four and put Handsome Stranger in his place. Either way, both men understand your decision.

Ivy Fisher
When Ivy falls into the sea in Chapter 4's group date, Derek and Your Character (if you decide) jump in to save her. Afterward, they play up their chemistry and start a "relationship" in front of the cameras to capitalize on the rescue. In a later scene, it appears Ivy is genuinely interested in Derek when she tries to kiss him without any cameras, something that Derek is reluctant to oblige. In Chapter 13, if you choose to watch the footage of the week you were gone, you find out that he and Ivy broke up after he was inspired by You to be his most authentic self. She plays it up as being strung along by Derek while the cameras are rolling and the video finishes with her slapping him for added effect and walking away. If you choose to talk to Ivy after the Runway Challenge, she tells you that she is fine and that she feels free after the break-up.

Kiana
In the All Stars season, Derek is partnered with Kiana starting with the laser tag challenge. If you and Slater don't win the challenge, he and Kiana do.

Beautiful Contestant
In Season 10, Derek interacts with Beautiful Contestant less frequently than he does with you or Handsome Stranger. When it comes down to the Final Five, they are both placed in the bottom during the Kissing challenge. Your advice to Handsome Stranger and Ivy determines if she or he is eliminated. When it is the Final Two (Ivy and you), both she and Derek try to convince you to talk to the jury to get their votes.

In the "All Stars" season, when Vince complains about his partners (Beautiful Contestant and you) and convinces Carson to switch them again, Beautiful Contestant is partnered with Derek. They place second in the go-kart challenge, saving themselves from the bottom four, but also place second in the cooking challenge which by then lands them in the bottom four. He calls their dish The Shadow of Mt. Vesuvius.

Bianca Sandoval
In the "Wedding Edition" season, if Derek is not your fiance, they kiss during the game of Spin the Bottle at your bachelor/ette party.

Handsome Stranger
In the "Wedding Edition" season, if Derek is your fiance, they kiss during the game of Spin the Bottle at your bachelor/ette party. They protest it though because Handsome Stranger thinks of Derek like a brother.

Miscellaneous

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Trivia

 * He bears a resemblance to American actors Kendrick Sampson and Jesse Williams.
 * His title for Season 10 is The Super Fan.
 * In a premium choice in Chapter 2, if you choose to check the studies with him, he will reveal that he is a big fan of the reality show and that he watched every episode multiple times.
 * Alternatively, he also tells Your Character in Chapter 4 that he is a Super Fan and subsequently reveals that he's seen every episode of America's Most Eligible at least twice.
 * In Chapter 6 of America's Most Eligible: Season 10, if Your Character joins Derek and the Handsome Stranger in the hot tub and picks to ask them about their favorite show, they both say The Crown & The Flame.
 * Your Character admits he/she just started watching it, whereas Derek confesses he binge-watched the first two seasons in a week.
 * The Handsome Stranger for his part doesn't want to hear any spoilers because he is only at the Battle of Wolf's Mouth.
 * Derek will appear in America's Most Eligible: All Stars, according to a sneak peek released on January 3, 2019.
 * In a premium scene with Derek in Book 2, Chapter 2, Derek revealed that his new title for Season 11 is The Artist.
 * In the All Stars season, Derek won the third Audience Vote. His perk was an Elimination Freeze, saving all four contestants in the bottom..
 * If the player decides to make Derek their partner on Chapter 14, he can reach the finale without ever going up for elimination.
 * He shares the same name as Derek Reimonenq, Vera's great-great-grandfather in Nightbound.
 * The name Derek is of German origin, which means "the people's ruler" or "gifted ruler". It is a variant of the names Theodoric and Derrick.
 * His surname is revealed to be Taylor in Book 3, Chapter 6 in a premium scene. Otherwise, you learn his surname when Carson introduces his parents in Chapter 8.
 * He shares the same surname as Darren Taylor from The Freshman series and Cassandra Taylor from the Baby Bump series.
 * Currently, he is one of several contestants whose last name has been revealed, the others being Ivy, Eden, Bianca, and Slater.
 * Ryder's last name was revealed in Platinum, Chapter 4. The last names of Handsome Stranger and Beautiful Contestant are customizable.