The game was over, and to be honest, I didn't even understand how it had ended. All I knew was that our university had won against the visiting team. I watched Clayton waving around like a superstar; well, maybe in his own damn way, he was the MVP. I wondered why they decided to have the basketball team play in the open field when we had a perfectly good gym.

Shaking off my confusion, I slowly and carefully stole a glance at Diarmid and his friends. They were engaged in lively conversation, and I felt a twinge of longing. Suddenly, a buzz started in the center of the field. The cheerleading team—well, at least their leader—was taking charge. What was her name again?

"Who's that again?" I asked Josh, who was busy applying some lip balm.

"Who?" Josh replied, not really paying attention.

"That girl? The cheerleader?" I said, still distracted, my gaze fixed on the open field where the cheerleaders were announcing something I didn't quite understand.

"Well, it's Chelsea. She was your classmate last semester, right?" Leroy chimed in, slowly sipping his drink. "Looks like they're going to pick some hot guys."

I turned my attention back to the cheerleaders. Chelsea was pointing at random guys, and her squad would chase after them, dragging them into the middle of the field. Once there, they sat the guys down in a row of chairs and blindfolded them. As of that moment, they had already captured three guys, and they were currently running after Clayton, who didn't seem too eager to escape.

I couldn't help but smirk at the spectacle.

Stealing another glance at Diarmid, our eyes locked. My heart raced. I wanted to talk to him, at least explain what was going on in my head. I had been worried when he hadn't shown up for a few days. I considered asking Finn or Brigit about him, but I held my tongue. Earlier, after the opening remarks began, I had excused myself, hoping to see if Diarmid would show up. I waited in his usual spot in the parking area, feeling the anticipation build inside me.

I smiled at him, but he just stared back, not even smiling in return. Disheartened, I shifted my gaze back to the chaos on the field.

Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted near our seats. I looked up to see five cheerleaders making their way toward us, well, not to me, but to Diarmid's group. I watched as they pulled Finn and Roisin into the mix. Brigit was laughing and playfully shoving Finn, while Roisin stood up without a second thought. The other three cheerleaders surrounded Diarmid, who remained completely unfazed, ignoring them entirely.

My eyes widened in shock. I didn't know what to think—would he go with them or stay put? But then I saw Brigit whisper something to Diarmid. His gaze locked onto mine again, and with that connection, he stood up and walked toward the cheerleaders, all while still looking at me.

"Diarmid." I murmured, my voice barely cutting through the noise of the crowd. I didn't want him to go. A rush of anxiety washed over me as I watched him approach the cheerleaders, still holding my gaze. What was he thinking? Why did it feel like everything was slipping through my fingers?

"Looks like he's going to have some fun," Josh commented, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.

"Yeah," I murmured, trying to sound casual, but my heart wasn't in it. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was my chance to step forward, to bridge the gap. But would I? Would I risk it all for the boy who made my heart race and my thoughts scatter?

As the cheerleaders rallied around Diarmid, Chelsea stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Alright, boys!" she called, her voice loud and clear through the microphone. "Welcome to the 'Lucky Guys' game! You're about to experience something fun, and who knows, you might just win a date with one of us!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, and Chelsea flashed a charming smile, her attention flickering between the boys they had chosen. "Let's see how well you can handle a little bit of pressure!" she said, gesturing to the blindfolded boys. "You'll be answering questions while we cheer you on, and trust me, we can be very... persuasive."

With that, she turned to the crowd and began explaining the game, her voice full of enthusiasm. "So, the rules are simple! Each of you will have to answer our questions, and for every wrong answer, you'll face a fun little consequence we have planned! And don't worry; it's all in good fun!"

While she spoke into the microphone, I noticed Chelsea eyeing Diarmid with a sly grin. She stepped closer, her voice lowering as she leaned in, whispered to him.

Diarmid didn't flinch, his expression remaining calm and collected. I saw Chelsea smiled and continue explaining the game to the crowd.

I felt a mix of anger and discomfort wash over me. Why was she still flirting with him? Did she really think he'd fall for those lines?

As the game continued, I watched Diarmid interact with others, smiles broke into his lips every once in a while, though my heart remained heavy with uncertainty.

Chelsea's attempts to capture his attention only intensified my fears. Would he see past her charms? Would he even notice my struggle to stand my ground in this chaotic moment?

Just then, Diarmid turned again, his eyes locking onto mine, and the weight in my chest lightened. In that moment, I realized that no matter how much noise surrounded us, our connection still thrummed beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to break free.

The game kicked off with palpable excitement, the atmosphere electric as the cheerleaders prepared for the first round of questions. Chelsea stood center stage, microphone in hand, flashing a grin at the crowd. "Alright, everyone! Let's get started with our first question! Remember, it's all in good fun!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, but I felt a knot tightening in my stomach. The cheerleaders were clearly enjoying themselves, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong. Chelsea continued, "First question: Are you dating someone?"

The first boy, a lanky guy with tousled hair, nodded eagerly. "Yes!"

"Great! You can stay right there!" Chelsea exclaimed, grinning as she moved on to the next contestant. "How about you?"

Another boy shook his head, a nervous smile spreading across his face. "No, I'm single."

"Alright, step out!" Chelsea gestured toward the sidelines, and the boy complied, looking both relieved and disappointed.

Then it was Finn's turn.

"And what about you, Mr. Hot Guy?" Chelsea asked flirtatiously, her eyes twinkling as she addressed Finn.

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I saw him smirk, his gaze darting directly to Brigit, who sat beside me. Her face turned a bright shade of red.

"I'm single," Finn replied confidently, as if he already knew how the game would play out.

I was shocked, but when I glanced at Brigit, I found her smirking back at him. It was their little inside joke. Roisin was asked the same question and said he was single too. He joined Finn, who was laughing as Roisin stood beside him.

One by one, the cheerleaders moved through the line of boys, laughing and joking as some were eliminated, while others remained. It was a game of nerves and bravado, and I could see the competitive spirit igniting among the participants.

Chelsea and her team were down to two boys—Diarmid and Clayton.

"Now we have four guys who admitted they're dating and nine who are single!" Chelsea exclaimed, her voice carrying over the crowd. "Ladies, take note—you might want to hunt those single ones down later!"

Then, her focus shifted to the final two: the hottest guys I'd ever seen.

"Let's start with you, Diarmid. Are you single or dating?" Chelsea asked, a hopeful gleam in her eyes.

Diarmid cleared his throat, his voice steady as he said, "I'm single." His eyes locked onto mine as he spoke.

A ripple of excitement went through the crowd. Chelsea sighed dramatically, "Oh, dang!" she said, her voice laced with regret, while the women in the audience erupted in laughter and cheers.

"Alright, Diarmid, join your friends over there," she gestured to the others.

Finally, it was Clayton's turn. He stood confidently, a smirk on his face. "And what about you, Clayton? Are you dating someone?" Chelsea asked, mischief dancing in her eyes.

Clayton straightened, his voice booming. "Yes! I'm dating someone very special."

The crowd leaned in, intrigued, and my heart raced as his gaze swept across the field before landing directly on me.

"I'm dating Arwen!" Clayton declared boldly.

A collective gasp echoed from the crowd, and I froze. My cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment, anger, and shock. What the hell was he talking about?

I glanced at Diarmid and saw him glaring at Clayton, his jaw clenched, the tension between them almost palpable.

"Oh wow, Arwen? As in the Arwen who was with Sullivan before?" Chelsea teased, enjoying the drama unfolding before her. Clayton smirked at her, confirming it.

The crowd buzzed, but all I could feel was my growing annoyance and humiliation. I hadn't dated Clayton, and now I was being dragged into this mess.

As the tension built, Chelsea moved on to the next round of questions. "Now, if you're dating someone, would you choose them, or one of us cheerleaders?" She winked playfully at the boys. "If you choose your girlfriend, she'll need to come up and compete against us!"

The excitement in the crowd surged, laughter and anticipation rippling through the audience. The first guy chose his girlfriend, and the crowd cheered as she joined him on the field.

Then it was Clayton's turn again. "And you, Clayton? What's your choice?"

He glanced at me, then back at Chelsea. "I'd choose Arwen, of course," he said confidently.

Laughter erupted again, and Chelsea's eyes sparkled. "Looks like you're up, Arwen! Time to show us what you've got!"

I sat frozen, my hands sweaty. Josh and Leroy exchanged glances, unsure of what to say. Brigit, who was sitting beside me, leaned in and whispered, "You don't have to go up there. You're not actually dating that asshat, are you?"

I shot her an exasperated look. "I never dated that arrogant jerk!"

"Then ignore him," Roisin chimed in, clearly irritated as well.

But before I could decide, Ms. Lisbeth, the cheerleader club's advisor, approached our row. "May I ask, who's Arwen?" she called out. Spotting Josh, the Student Council President, her face lit up. "Joshua! Please help me find Arwen. We don't want to appear unsporting in front of the visiting university—it's all just for fun."

Josh hesitated but then looked at me, unsure. Ms. Lisbeth finally spotted me.

"Arwen, would you please play along?" she asked, almost pleading. "I promise I'll have a word with Clayton after this."

After a brief conversation, I reluctantly agreed. Standing up, I followed Ms. Lisbeth down to the field, where a loud cheer erupted from the crowd. Clayton's face lit up as I approached, but I responded with a glare.

Chelsea clapped her hands, drawing attention back to the competition. "Alright, everyone! Let's get this started! Clayton and Arwen will be going up against the cheerleaders!"

I stepped into the designated area, adrenaline pumping through me. Clayton stood beside me, grinning like he'd won something. "Ready to show them what we've got?" he asked.

I didn't answer, instead stealing a glance at Diarmid, who stood a few feet away, his face tight with annoyance.

Chelsea leaned toward me, whispering, "Don't worry, Arwen. We'll go easy on you... for now."

There are five pairs left, and I can honestly tell the other four pairs were actually dating. Each pair had different challenges or consequences to face. The first couple needed to compete with the cheerleader through a mix of dancing, singing, and rapping. Afterward, the crowd would vote on who performed better, and the guy would pick a cue card to reveal at the end of the game. He would then choose between the cheerleader or his girlfriend based on how things played out.

And then, it was down to Clayton and me.

"Well, we're down to our last couple," Chelsea said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "And I've got a very special idea for this round since Clayton is my mortal enemy," she joked, causing the crowd to chuckle. "And Arwen is a dear friend of mine from freshman year. So, let's mix things up a bit."

Her tone lightened as she directed her attention to Clayton, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Clayton, can you honestly say that Arwen would choose you over those other single guys lined up there?" She waved toward the group of guys who had admitted to being single earlier.

I saw Clayton tense immediately, his easygoing demeanor slipping for a moment as his eyes darted to the single guys standing nearby. He was clearly caught off guard by the question, and it didn't help that the crowd started to buzz with excitement.

"What's wrong, Clayton? Cat got your tongue?" Chelsea teased further, earning laughter from the audience.

Clayton finally managed a smile, but it was strained. "Of course! My girl Arwen is going to choose me, right sweetie?" He wrapped an arm around my shoulder in an overly confident gesture. I stiffened under his touch, uncomfortable with the way this was going. I tried to gently push his arm away, and he flashed me a knowing smile, like he'd won something just by saying that.

Chelsea's eyes gleamed as she prepared to up the stakes. "Okay then," she announced, scanning the crowd. "I need a volunteer who will compete against this last couple!"

I felt the tension rise, but before anyone could say a word, Diarmid stood up. He moved with such calm assurance that the entire crowd fell silent for a moment, watching as he strode toward us.

Chelsea blinked, clearly not expecting him to volunteer. "Oh, Diarmid... are you sure you want to do this?" she asked, a bit taken aback. It was almost as if she was hoping he would back down.

But Diarmid didn't waver. He nodded, his gaze cutting straight to Clayton, and the challenge in his eyes was unmistakable. The crowd caught on quickly, their excitement turning into loud cheering as the tension between the two boys became apparent.

"Alright then," Chelsea said, her voice filled with surprise but a hint of enthusiasm for what was about to unfold. "But before we begin with our final couple, let's wrap things up with the other pairs!"

The other four guys, along with their girlfriends, stood confidently as Chelsea gestured toward the cue cards. "Go ahead, open them! You'll see the name of the cheerleader you declined, and on the back of the card, you'll find the dream date you and your girlfriend just won... for free, of course!"

The crowd roared with excitement as each pair opened their cards, revealing fun and extravagant date ideas. Each couple ended their part of the game on a high note, no drama involved.

Except for us.

I could feel the tension radiating from Clayton, his arm still resting possessively around my shoulders. I shot him a glare, but he seemed oblivious—or maybe just too determined to notice. Diarmid, on the other hand, stood there, calm and collected, his eyes never leaving us. The challenge was clear, and somehow, I felt caught in the middle of a game that was no longer about fun, but something much deeper.