Chapter 8: The Second Round

Author's note: Hey! Thanks for all of your reviews! They're so nice and they're the motivation I need to keep on writing. You're awesome! Thanks!

Aelin's teacher looked at us the way anyone would when they had a surprise. And it wasn't a good surprise like finding out what Christmas presents you got.

"Look at the backboard," Was all the teacher said.

Aelin nervously turned around to find this written on the board,

Surprise, surprise students. Your second round is here. It's a rope and tire course. But there's a catch, I've assigned your partners just for you so watch your back. Aelin had been lucky in the last round because she had Rowan, but she didn't like her new partner at all.

Aelin and Ianthe.

Rowan and Chaol.

Aedion and Dorian.

Manon and Lysandra.

BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Aelin didn't like the way Ianthe was looking at her. After the frog incident, she wasn't sure she could handle being around her. It wasn't like she had a choice though. Come on Aelin, you have to win this, no matter who your partner is.

Aelin found Aedion staring at Dorian the way Ianthe was staring at her. What was going on between the two boys? She looked at Rowan to find Chaol doing his scowl/pout thing at him. It was quite adorable.

All of them on an unknown ground, with their enemies. What could go wrong?

"GO!," The teacher bellowed when they were all lined up and outside.

The first obstacle Aelin faced was a rope wall.

She started her way up and across it when her foot caught in a hole. Down she went.

Aelin didn't have time to register as strong and sturdy arms wrapped around her. Bridal style.

She turned to see a handsome face staring down at her. Chaol. She took a deep breath. The world stopped and it was only them.

"AELIN!" Ugh, Ianthe. Bad timing.

But she was right. Aedion and Dorian were the only people ahead. So she ran to catch up. Though she was stopped frequently by Ianthe, who was falling all over the place in her 8-inch heels.

Aelin rolled her eyes.

The next obstacle was a pond. They had to get across only by swinging a tire attached to a rope. It would have to be a really long swing.

She saw Aedion on the other side and Dorian still waiting to get across. Aedion pushed the tire over to Dorian and he hopped on. When Dorian was nearing the edge, Aedion pushed him into the water.

Aelin suppressed a smile as Dorian's head rose above the water. Soaked and covered with plants, he started yelling at Aedion, but Aedion didn't care.

He was a true Ashryver.

Aelin went first since she didn't trust Ianthe. And Ianthe went next.

Thanks to Aedion's mini-prank they were now in the lead.

They had to come over yet again, another obstacle. This was a 6-foot wide gap in the path. Aelin peered into the gap. All she saw was an endless black.

Aelin sent Ianthe swinging with the rope tire. At first, the swing didn't make it all the way at and Ianthe was chickened out and didn't jump the rest of the way.

Aelin rolled her eyes and pushed again.

Aelin went on this time, but she stumbled and fell into the gap. A startled yelp flew out of her mouth, but someone caught her.

Chaol again? No, this arm had tattoos that she knew a bit too well. Rowan.

They looked at each other and stood there awkwardly. Aelin fidgeted with her necklace and Rowan shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

Should she say something? Thank him and move on? Or talk about what happened.

She wanted to apologize for lunch, but he'd been a douchebag too. She missed Rowan's company. No, missed wasn't the right word. Yearned was. She yearned for Rowan's company.

It was pretty ironic considering what he'd done. But, maybe they could come to an understanding. A truce.

Chaol entered the scene painting. He whispered, "Call me."

Rowan tensed as if he'd heard. Surprisingly, he didn't growl. He only looked at her with sad and longing eyes. As if to say, it's your choice.

She'd need to figure out this situation later, for more people were starting to catch up.

And so she gave Rowan and Chaol each a look specifically for them and she swung across the gap.

There was another Rope ladder. Aelin being Aelin completed the obstacle within 2 minutes. Ianthe was a different story, she was all over the place.

What a hot mess.

Evangeline, the youngest girl in the whole school, caught up with Ianthe. She was younger than all of us by a lot. She had skipped 3 grades. Clever little thing.

At last Ianthe shimmied down. How did she even get into the school? She wasn't the slightest bit athletic.

Evangeline, who was at the top, didn't look too good. Her face was pale and she was panting more than she should've.

"Are you al-" Evangeline as she gagged, and threw up. Glorious and undeniable.

And all over Ianthe.

A moment of silence.

Then a scream that pierced the clouds.

Sickening pale yellow goo slide down her hair and face. The stench was worse than Aedion's room.

A sound of disgust, "You disgusting freak. You ruined my new dress! Don't you smirk at me Aelin! I always get what I want." And with an arrogant huff, she ran away. Not towards the finish line. But sideways. To the bathrooms.

Well then.

Way to go Karma.

Evangeline scoffed and started to laugh. Aelin joined in.

Aelin was still laughing as she ripped through the finish line.

"What do you want?" Rumbled husky voice in the clearing fog. Despite the sun high in the air, it was dark. And Ianthe could only make out the outline of him. Of the man, she'd had a fling with. Of the reason why she was here. She could only get an outline of the person that would help her bring down Aelin Ashryver Galathynius.

"Hello, Arobynn."

Author's note: What did you like?

I'm assuming they'll be 5-6 rounds of competition. I adore Aedion/Dorian bromance. Ianthe sucks.

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