Page 13 of The Romance Rivalry

Six rivals-to-lovers

A week goes by before Aiden and I connect again.

I miss our next two Intro to Lit classes. I was up late editing a couple book videos and had to refilm a bit for a brand sponsor

who has proven to be extra hands-on with content deliverables. All this made getting up for my 8 a.m. class extremely difficult.

I’m not avoiding Aiden, I swear.

My phone buzzes with a new notification. I look down to see a text message saying that I’ve been added to a group chat with

myself, Jeannette, Aiden, and Aiden’s dormmate, Charles, who he’s selected as his second.

Aiden: Sorry for taking so long to pick a second.

Aiden: Most of my “friends” don’t get the tropes thing and gave me shit for reading romance.

Charles: I was the only one whose ass Aiden didn’t kick.

Charles: I’ve watched enough rom-coms to get what’s going on. Nice to meet you both.

Jeannette: You guys are SO going down! We’re gonna wipe the floor with you!!!!

Jeannette: Oh and nice to meet you too!!!

“I’m sending over our trope list now,” Jeannette says, her fingers flying over her phone screen in fierce determination. “I’ve

added the verbiage regarding the one ‘freebie’ trope that you each can fill in at a later date, depending on circumstances.

Before I hit send, you still good with this list?”

We made the list partially based on which tropes would be the easiest to find matches for but added a few more difficult ones

that might have a better payoff in the satisfaction/success score. I was least certain about the grumpy/sunshine. But when

Jeannette explained that I’m the grumpy in this scenario, I realized it might be the one we check off the quickest.

My roommate-bestie is a genius.

“It all looks good to me. Send away.”

Jeannette jams her pointer finger at her screen and pumps her fist in the air. “Yes. We’re so gonna win this thing.”

“Jeannette?”

“Yeah?”

I try to hold back the wetness that seems to be fighting its way up and out my tear ducts. I’ve never had anyone be this invested in and supportive of my life. Other than my parents. But with Jeannette, I can be myself and it seems I can still trust that she’ll like me. That she’ll accept me. That she’ll support my choices. She’s proven this to be true already.

I don’t have to try to impress her or worry about disappointing her.

“Oh, honey, don’t cry,” she says as her own eyes start leaking.

I walk over to her bed, sit down next to her, and lay my head on her shoulder. “I’m so lucky. You’re the best friend in the

world.”

“Irene, this is seriously the most fun I’ve had in my whole life. My brothers never ask me for help with anything.”

I squeeze her hand. “Well, I promise when this is all said and done, it’s your turn. We’ll do whatever harebrained bananas

plan you want for yourself, okay? I’ll be your second any day.”

“Deal. Now, I know how much you hate feelings and intimacy, so let’s just do a quick awkward hug and then go and nourish ourselves

for the battle ahead.” Jeannette loves feelings and intimacy, so this is just for me. And I love her for it.

We embrace each other as we usually do, meaning she wraps her arms around me and I stiffly pat her back three times. And then

we head over to the cafeteria. Today’s lunch is sloppy joes, and I am not missing that.

The Trope Challenge shifts into high speed over the course of the next few weeks. With the cooler October weather and the promise of the holidays ahead, it seems everyone is interested in hooking up these days. The options are limitless.

Aiden is still keen to create content around our competition by announcing our dating challenge to our followers online and

keeping them posted as we go along.

“A joint live Q&A. It’ll be gold. Everyone will eat this up,” he says, trying to convince me.

“I’m just not that interested in sharing this personal stuff with complete strangers.” What I don’t say is that I don’t want

to make a fool of myself.

“I don’t know, I’m with Aiden on this one,” Jeannette admits. “I’d love to see this online. And you two are a riot when you’re

together. Your numbers will skyrocket.”

I let out a deep breath of defeat. “Let me think about it. We’ll see how it goes,” I cave. Everyone knows I’ll end up saying

yes. I always do.

The next day, I see Aiden walking across campus with a pretty brunette who seems dazzled by being in his presence. Girls make

it so easy for guys, I swear.

My phone buzzes a few hours later with a new message.

Aiden: Mistaken identity—check. She thought I was her lab partner from behind. Decent lunch date. Charles says six points and Jeannette

concurs. Oh and the Thai place over on Jefferson Street is really good. We gotta all go back there sometime.

Jeannette: Six points confirmed.

Me: Opposites attract—check. Went out with a guy from the lacrosse team. Jock. Doesn’t read fiction. What could possibly go wrong?

Jeannette rates it a four. Harsh.

Charles: Based on details including Irene’s guffaw-heard-across-campus when said jock mentioned not even owning a book, four is generous

but confirmed.

Aiden: I know that guffaw. Poor guy will never recover.

Aiden: Love triangle—check. Me and the twins from Delta Chi.

Me: God, you’re such a cliche.

Jeannette: You don’t get double points for that.

Charles: Aiden kept calling them by the wrong names. It didn’t end well. I couldn’t even figure out who actually slapped him. Two

points.

Jeannette: Two points confirmed.

Aiden: I can’t convince you guys for three points? I still feel the sting on my cheek.

Me: Earned. I’ll accept three.

Aiden: I’m good. No handouts. No reason for you to claim I cheated at the end when I beat you.

Me: As if.

Jeannette: Irene is in the middle of the best grumpy/sunshine date ever. I called it. She’s especially grumpy and she’s rolled her eyes at least ten times already. This sunshine is unfazed. He just keeps smiling and smiling and smiling. He’s having a good time. Do we score on his satisfaction or hers?

Charles: Wait, I see you guys at the bench across the quad. That guy is in my communications class. He just had dental surgery. His

jaw is wired shut. It only looks like he’s smiling because that’s the only way he can open his mouth to breathe. I call foul.

Aiden: LOL

Me: This is humiliating. I’m done. Just give me credit for the trope and rack up the zero points for the date itself.

Aiden: No no no. Jeannette seems to think this is a ten-pointer. Charles?

Charles: For my own personal enjoyment, I agree. Ten points.

Me: I hate you all.

Aiden: I’m using my freebie. SHIFTER ROMANCE, baby! Check that box.

Me: ...

Me: Do I even want to ask?

Aiden: Went to a Halloween party and my date was dressed as a sexy werewolf.

Me: Of course she was.

Aiden: She even lifted her tail for me.

Me: I do NOT want to know more.

Charles: The fact that Aiden is texting while still on this date with said sexy werewolf who is trying very hard to get him to make

her howl, I’d say it’s in trouble from his side. Early odds... it’ll end at a five, tops.

Aiden: You’re supposed to be my second.

Jeannette: I’ll throw you a bone. Let’s record the five and let Aiden get out of there before she gets her claws into him.

Me: Irene has left the chat

By the end of a couple weeks of what feels like an endless string of brutal dates, like a conveyor belt of questionable sushi

going round and round, I’m exhausted. At this rate, I won’t even make it to Thanksgiving. Forced social situations, it turns

out, are not my favorite. And I’m no closer to finding a love match than I was before we started. The race for points is tight,

however. So I have to remain focused.

The books on my desk in my dorm room remain untouched for now. Shit, I’m so far behind on everything. But as soon as this

challenge is over, I swear to myself that I’ll cram as hard and fast as I can on my schoolwork. It’s first semester of freshman

year. We’re all new and everyone is going through the growing pains of change, right? We can’t possibly be expected to master

everything so soon.

I keep my phone with me at all times. I get a small thrill every time it dings with a new message. Our group chat has moved beyond just dating scores and updates. We share memes and gifs and gossip around campus as well. I feel a part of something. And I like it.

We put an announcement on the calendar for our joint live event after midterms to share with our followers about the dating

challenge. Yes, I finally agreed to it. Though I will miss this just being between the four of us.

“What are you doing?” Aiden sets his lunch tray down next to mine and takes a seat at the table. Our little group has started

making it a habit to have an early lunch after our morning classes on Mondays.

“I’m searching the student database for billionaires,” I admit, looking up from my laptop screen.

“So it’s come to this, huh?” His eyes have that sparkle in them that makes my heart skip a beat. Must be acid reflux.

“Desperate times,” I say.

“I considered going to one of the on-campus faith groups to see if I could find a ‘clean romance’,” he says, making air quotes.

“I mean, if we’re admitting to desperation.”

I laugh and the two of us look at each other, smiles on our faces. For a brief second, I forget that we’re currently in a

serious competition to fall in love.

“Told you,” Jeannette says.

“Yup,” Charles says back.

I didn’t even realize they’d sat down.

“What?” Aiden asks, pulling his eyes away from mine.

“Nothing,” Jeannette says.

“Nothing at all,” Charles echoes.

Jeannette: Hey Charles... starting a side text for just the two of us.

Charles: Smart.

Jeannette: These two knuckleheads.

Charles: God, when will they figure it out?

Jeannette: I hope soon. I can’t follow them around these dates anymore. I’m starting to feel like a creeper.

Charles: LOL. Still, it’s kinda romantic, no? Front row seat as it all happens?

Jeannette: YES! Totally.

Charles: Hey, wanna grab dinner tonight? I think they’re working on their Lit project together so we’re probably off duty.

Jeannette: Thank god. Maybe this time alone will enlighten them.

Jeannette: And yes, dinner sounds perfect.