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I held two half-heart pieces of paper in my hands, and I kept shuffling them one over the other as I stared at the girls. Looking at Laurie, I knew I couldn’t announce her name. If I wanted any chance to be with Madi, I couldn’t pick Laurie even if she was the audience’s choice. Not when she was behind all the horrible names on Madi’s locker and especially not after what happened on Friday night.

“Cole?” Angus prompted.

I could feel sweat beading on my forehead. There was so much pressure to please the audience, but every part of this felt wrong. I knew the True Love competition was supposed to have been a bit of fun, but it had become very real to me. My feelings for Madi were the truest thing I’d ever experienced, and I couldn’t betray those feelings for anything.

My hand scrunched up the little hearts as it squeezed into a fist. “I’m not doing this,” I said. “I’m sorry, girls, but I can’t send any of you home tonight.”

Not so much as a breath sounded in the room and shocked expressions spread across everyone's faces. The girls all looked between one another, while the camera crew were all shooting Angus concerned looks.

“Err, Cole,” Angus said. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” He still looked stunned by my announcement, and I could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

“Yes, I’m sure,” I replied, still focused on the girls before me. “Girls, all four of you are still in the competition. I will still be selecting one of you as my date for formal, but that decision will be made at the formal this weekend.”

With that, I strode away without looking back.

“Well, wasn’t that a shock, folks?” Angus said, his voice slightly more confident now. “After that, you’ll definitely need to tune in to our broadcast this Saturday night. We’ll be filming live from the Lincoln High formal where all will be revealed, and Cole will make his final decision. I know I’m excited, and I hope you are too!”

Angus wrapped things up for the camera quickly, but he came straight after me as soon as the filming was done.

“What the hell was that, Cole?” he yelled. “You can’t do that!"

I shook my head. “I can, and I just did.”

“This is because of Madi, isn’t it?”

I nodded since there was no point denying it.

Angus looked at me like I was pathetic. “I don’t think Madi will be going to the formal this weekend…"

I scowled at him. “Don’t worry about her. I’ve got a plan. It's all going to work out."

Angus looked at me like I was crazy, but he was left without a choice. The damage had already been done.

“We’ll be talking about this tomorrow,” he said. “And your plan better be brilliant.” Or else, his eyes added.

He didn’t need to convince me though, and I thoroughly agreed with him. I no longer cared about the contest, but my plan needed to be brilliant or there would be no winning Madi back. And that was all I cared about at this point. This was my last chance, and I needed it to work.

24

Madison

“Cole refused to eliminate any of the girls last night,” Hayley said when I got in her car on Tuesday morning.

I frowned and focused intently on securing my seatbelt. I could feel Hayley’s eyes on me as she waited for a response, but I was still trying to process what she’d said. What did that even mean? I wasn’t sure whether to be happy or sad.

“Madi?” Hayley reached out and grabbed my arm when I failed to reply.

“I thought you were boycotting the rest of the contest,” I said, finally meeting her gaze.

“Think of it more as recon,” she said. “I was gathering intel so neither of us would be completely blindsided at school today.”

I didn’t mind that she’d watched the show; I just wasn’t sure if I was ready to hear what happened in the latest episode. It was tough to avoid True Love talk at school though, so I guess Hayley had a point.

“So, what happened?” I asked, resigning myself to the fact I’d find out one way or another.

“Cole had the hearts in his hand and was standing there ready to announce who the audience had selected when he scrunched them up and told the cameras he was refusing to choose. He told the girls that they were all still in the competition and that he would be making his final selection on Saturday at the dance.”

“Wait, so he’s not taking one of the girls to the formal?” I asked.