Felicity's POV.
I squeezed my eyes shut and tossed Alex's coin into the fountain, my fingers brushing the fountain's cool stone lip as I whispered my wish.
"Show me who's the one for me. Just… show me, please."
When I opened my eyes, Alex was right there—smiling, hand extended like I'd already chosen him.
But then…a low chuckle slipped out of the shadows. Christopher. Watching. Always watching. My heart clenched.
Alex drove me back to my dorm, his arm brushing mine the whole way. I didn't hate it.
"I had a lot of fun tonight," I said softly when we reached my door.
"You're welcome, sweetheart," he replied, his eyes glowing.
"Good night," I whispered.
"Good night, love," he said—and the word love rolled off his tongue like it had always belonged there.
I shut the door behind me, leaned against it, and exhaled. My pulse refused to settle.
Before I could stop myself, I grabbed my phone and dialed.
"Christopher. Meet me in my dorm room. One minute."
But before he arrived, I hit another call. A softer one.
"Mom? Dad?" Their faces lit up my screen. I blinked back sudden tears. "I miss you so much."
"Oh, darling," my mother said, eyes brimming. "How are you? How's everything there?"
"I'm fine," I lied, even though my heart was spinning out. "I just… needed to hear your voices."
My dad gave me a lopsided grin. "That boy from the hospital—the one who keeps hanging around, always helping you—he behaving himself?"
I almost choked on a laugh. If only they knew there were two boys following me around.
A knock at the door yanked me back to reality.
"I'll call again soon," I whispered, blowing them a kiss before hanging up.
I opened the door.
"Can we talk?"
>>>>>
Christopher's POV.
"What's up?" I asked as I stepped inside. My voice came out lower, rougher than I intended, like it carried the weight of everything I hadn't said.
Felicity crossed her arms, a shield between us. "You tell me. Why are you always hovering? Always showing up? This—" she gestured toward the door, her voice rising—"this isn't your turn. This is Alex's time. Please don't ruin it."
Her voice cracked on that second please, and it tore through me.
"When it's your turn, you'll date me," she went on, her chin trembling with defiance. "So just… wait. Please."
I wanted to respect that. I wanted to give her space. But the truth was burning under my skin, impossible to cage. In one reckless movement, I stepped forward and pinned her gently against the wall, my hand braced beside her head.
"I can't stop thinking about you," I breathed. My chest was so close to hers I felt her unsteady breaths. "And I can't stand watching you with someone else. Please… just end this stupid two-weeks game. Choose me. Be with me."
For a second, her eyes softened, and I thought I saw her heart breaking in the same rhythm as mine. Just a second. Then she looked away, shutting herself off, and I knew I had to leave before I lost every shred of self-control.
>>>>>
Alexander's POV.
Day Six. My turn again. And this time, I was ready.
Penelope leaned against her desk while I pestered her.
"Come on, what does Felicity like? Tell me something. Anything."
"Ugh fine. Movies," she said simply. "And snacks. And…not being bored."
"Perfect," I grinned.
That night, I took Felicity to the open-air cinema on campus. A giant screen stretched across the night sky, fairy lights twinkled above us, and the smell of popcorn floated through the air. I had it all lined up—popcorn, Hawaiian pizza (her favorite, or so Penelope swore), and a milkshake with two straws.
"Wow, my second favorite is Hawaiian pizza. How did you know?" Felicity asked, raising an eyebrow.
"My little secret," I said with a grin.
"Fine," she muttered. "You don't want to tell me. I'll let it slide."
Halfway through the movie, she laughed so hard she nearly dropped her popcorn. And I leaned closer. Closer. Until finally—I kissed her.
It was quick. Impulsive, surprising even to me.
Felicity's eyes flew wide. "What was that for?" she demanded, clutching her soda like it might protect her.
"Because I couldn't wait another second," I admitted. "You look beautiful tonight."
She tried to look shocked, but the corners of her lips betrayed her, curving just slightly—like maybe, just maybe, she didn't hate it.
But then… I saw him.
A shadow lingering at the edge of the crowd. Watching. Waiting. Christopher.
I slipped my hand into Felicity's, my chest tightening. "There's something I want to tell you. Please don't hate me."
Her brows knit. "Hmm? What? Why would I hate you?"
"There's something I've been keeping for a long time. A secr—"
"Hello, mate. Fel."
Christopher's voice cut me off like a blade.
He dropped into the empty seat beside us. "What are we watching? Move over, I want to sit here."
I stiffened. "Excuse me? What are you doing here?"
"Uhh… trying to watch a movie?" he said with fake innocence, grabbing popcorn like he belonged there.
"We're on a date," I snapped. "Find somewhere else. Not here."
Felicity groaned. "Boys, please. Chris, what are you doing here? Just—leave."
"Nope." He leaned back smugly. "Not going anywhere. Let's all breathe in… and enjoy the movie."
And in that moment, I realized—
Winning Felicity wasn't about flowers, pizza, or even kisses.
It was about surviving the battlefield her heart had become.