Felicity's POV.
I woke up the next morning with one clear thought. What have I done? The memory of last night came back all at once. The hand kiss. The hug. The arguing. The competition. The challenge.
I groaned and buried my face in my pillow. "Too late to cancel?" I muttered.
"Nope," Penelope said from across the room. She was already awake and way too cheerful. "You started it. Now you suffer."
I looked at her. "You're enjoying this too much."
"Of course I am," she said. "Three men. One girl. It is iconic."
I threw a pillow at her. "Stop calling it that!"
She dodged easily. "Too late. It already has a title."
Penelope sat at the edge of my bed, looking very pleased with herself. Meanwhile, I lay face down on my pillow, thinking about all the choices that brought me here, half wondering if my heart could stop racing every time Christopher's name came up.
"You know what you need?" Penelope announced, flipping her hair like she had a big idea. "A system."
I opened one eye. "A system? Penelope, this is not math class. This is my life. And my sanity."
She smirked as she had already won. "Exactly. That is why I decided. You will test them. All of them. Two weeks with Christopher. Two weeks with Alex. Two weeks with Noah. Then you will know who is serious."
I sat up so fast my hair hit her face. "Excuse me?!"
Penelope was unbothered. She touched her cheek and calmly adjusted herself. "Yes, darling. Two weeks each. Call it a dating audition."
"Penelope, that's insane! You can't just…"
"Oh, but I can," she cut me off smoothly. "Unless, of course, you would rather keep spiralling between denial and your heart racing until you explode."
I groaned loud enough to wake the entire building. "This is ridiculous. I came here to focus on school, not to get stuck in some love triangle drama."
"Correction," she said, pointing at me. "You came here to get a degree and a love story. Now, the sooner you admit it, the easier this will be. Accept your destiny."
I buried my face back into the pillow. "Not me catching feelings, come on. Or am I?"
Penelope cackled. "Oh, you're catching them, Felicity. And honey, they're contagious."
I sat up slowly, running a hand through my hair. "Two weeks each, that is not a bad idea."
That was what I had said. Then seven weeks until the Winter Ball. Two weeks for them to prove themselves. Two weeks for me to figure out my heart. My phone buzzed. I froze.
Penelope leaned forward, very interested. "Messages?"
"Yes."
"Read them."
"I'm scared."
"Come on, read them."
I took a deep breath and opened my phone.
Chris: > Good morning. Eat breakfast. Don't skip. I'll see you in class.
It was simple and direct and very him. My heart did a small, annoying flip.
Alex: > Rise and shine, sunshine. Hope you're ready for today. I've got plans.
Plans? What plans?! My stomach flipped again.
Noah: > Morning, Felicity. I hope you slept well. Take your time today. No pressure.
I stared at the messages. Three different approaches. Three different hearts. I didn't sleep well. My mind has been busy lately.
Penelope leaned over my shoulder. "Wow."
"I know."
"Dark and bossy. Flirty and dangerous. Soft and steady." She grinned. "You're in trouble."
"I'm aware."
Before I could say anything else, my phone buzzed again.
Chris: > Wear something comfortable.
Alex: > Wear something nice.
Noah: > Just be yourself.
I blinked. Penelope blinked. Then she burst out laughing. "Oh, this is going to be good."
Yesterday was the worst day of my life. But today, I think it is a good day. Penelope slept here for the first time. I was still in my pyjamas, my hair looking like a bird's nest, while Penelope sat down and sipped her coffee like she had front row tickets to my downfall. By the time I finally got dressed, I was already tired, not physically but emotionally, when there was a knock on my dorm door.
Before I could answer, the door opened. Christopher. Followed right after him was Alexander, grinning like he had a plan. And right behind Alexander was Noah, looking calm but somehow making everything feel ten times scarier. All three of them were there. All stopped dead in the doorway. All saw each other. All saw me. All are waiting for me. Chris leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking calm but focused. Alex stood a few steps away, smiling like he owned the morning. Noah stood between them, hands in his pockets, relaxed but alert. My heart betrayed me by racing instantly.
Penelope nearly fell off the bed in excitement. "Ohhhh, this is going to be fun."
"Good morning, Felicity," Noah said softly as he took my hand and kissed it.
I said to myself, 'There we go again.'
Chris rolled his eyes. "Morning, Fel," he said.
"Good morning, sunshine," Alex said with a smooth smile, giving me a small bow.
Chris's jaw tightened so much I could almost hear it. "Don't call her that."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Why? Are you trying to own it?"
"I don't need to own what is already mine," Christopher said sharply.
I turned to go back inside.
"Nope!" Penelope pushed me forward. "Face your problems!"
I stumbled a little. "Penelope!" I hissed.
"Go!" she whispered, already enjoying herself.
My soul left my body. Penelope clapped like she was watching her favourite drama.
"Wait, wait, no," I raised my hands. "Absolutely not. Both of you showing up at my dorm like some Netflix crossover is not on my schedule today. This is not happening."
But Penelope was already sipping her coffee, her eyes gleaming. "Actually, gentlemen, it is."
They all turned to glare at her. "What?" they said in unison.
Penelope pointed between them like a referee. "Two weeks. Alex first. Noah next. Christopher last. Whoever wins her heart keeps it."
My eyes went wide. "PENELOPE!"
Alex smirked, adjusting his collar. "Sounds fair to me."
Christopher looked at me, intense and unyielding. Fire burning in his eyes. "Fine. Two weeks. But I don't need two weeks to prove it. I only need one."
Penelope squealed. "Oh, the confidence! I love it."
I groaned and collapsed into my desk chair. "This is how I become the villain. I'm telling you now.
I sighed and looked at them. "Okay. What is this?"
Chris was the first to push off the wall. "Breakfast," he said simply.
Alex stepped forward immediately after. "Actually, I was thinking about coffee," he added smoothly.
Noah raised a hand slightly. "Or we could just walk and talk."
I closed my eyes. "This is already exhausting."
Penelope clapped behind me. "Round one! Fight!"
"PENELOPE!" I groaned.
Chris ignored her and kept his eyes on me. "You haven't eaten."
Alex tilted his head. "Or maybe she wants something light. Coffee sounds perfect."
Noah looked at me. "What do you want?"
That stopped everything. I opened my eyes slowly. Finally, someone was asking me what I wanted.
"I…" I hesitated. "I just want a normal morning."
Silence. Then Chris nodded once. "Fine."
Alex lifted his hands. "Normal it is."
Noah smiled a little. "We can do that."
I blinked. Wait… that worked?
Penelope looked disappointed. "Boring."
I ignored her completely.
>>>>>>>>>>
Christopher's POV.
Two weeks each. That was the crazy deal Felicity had let Penelope convince her to do. Penelope grinned and cheered like this was some kind of TV romance show, acting like she was the host of The Bachelor: Oxford Edition. Two weeks with Noah. Two weeks with Alex. Two weeks with me. The winner takes her heart. Honestly, child's play for me. Two weeks is nothing. If Alex thinks a few hand kisses, his fake British charm, or cheap tricks will win her over, he is completely delusional and in for a rude awakening. This isn't just a game to me. This is Felicity. My Felicity.
He thinks he can steal her away? No chance. Not while I'm here. Not while I'm breathing. Alex can flirt all he wants, smile all he likes, and show off his little tricks, it doesn't matter. He thinks this is a game, something fun to laugh about. But me? I've never been more serious in my life. Two weeks is nothing, just a warm-up. I already know one thing: I'm not losing her. Not to him. Not to anyone. I'm going to fight for her with everything I have. Not because of a bet, not because of pride, but because I love her. And when these two weeks are over, Felicity will know it too. Even if I have to outsmart every move Alex makes and put my whole heart on the line, I'll prove to her where she belongs. With me. Game on.
>>>>>>>>>>
Felicity's POV.
We started walking together. No arguing. No dramatic gestures. Just walking. For a moment, it actually felt normal. Until Chris reached out and gently took my bag from my shoulder.
"I've got it," he said.
I didn't even argue. Alex noticed right away.
"Oh, we're doing that?" he said, amused. Then he reached out and handed me a small drink. "Coffee."
I stared at it. "When did you even—?"
"Preparation," he said with a wink.
Of course.
Noah stayed beside me quietly. After a moment, he said, "There's a step."
I looked down. I would have tripped.
"Thanks," I murmured.
He just nodded.
Penelope whispered loudly behind us, "Oh my gosh, they're actually trying."
I wanted to disappear again. By the time we reached campus, people were already staring. Whispers started.
"Is that her?"
"All three of them again?"
"This is getting serious."
I pulled my bag strap but Chris was still holding it. Right.
I sighed. "This is my life now."
Chris leaned closer. "You'll survive."
Alex smirked. "You might even enjoy it."
Noah added quietly. "We'll make sure you're okay."
I looked at all three of them. This wasn't just a game. They meant it. That was the problem. My heart beat faster. Two weeks each. Three guys. One decision.
I swallowed. "A challenge," I whispered under my breath.
Penelope popped up beside me. "Correction."
I turned to her. She grinned. "The Two-Week Challenge. Three princes."
I groaned. "I'm going to regret this."
She laughed. "Oh, you already do."
And somehow, deep down, I knew she was right. Because this wasn't just the beginning of a challenge. It was the beginning of something bigger. Something real and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it.
>>>>>>>>>>
Christopher's POV.
The next morning, I showed up early, running on black coffee, determination, and a bit of anger. And of course, Alex was already there, standing in front of Felicity's dorm, looking like he walked out of a magazine with that smug look on his face. So was Noah, calm as always, like he had been there for a while. Penelope was there too, eating biscuits like she had front row tickets to this whole show.
"Oh, look who it is," Alex smirked when I walked up. "Oxford's resident grump."
I glared at him. "And here's London's biggest mistake."
Noah just raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "Good morning, both of you. Try not to start a war before breakfast."
"Boys," Penelope said, clapping like she was running a show. "Calm down. Two weeks each. No fighting outside Felicity's dorm. Keep it classy." She waved a biscuit at me. "And Chris, stop glaring at him like you're planning his doom. Gentlemen, please behave."
I folded my arms. "I'm not plotting anything. Yet."
Felicity popped her head out of the doorway, looking like she regretted every decision that brought her to this moment. "Why do you both look like you're about to duel in front of my dorm?"
Alex and I glared at each other. "Because he started it," we said in unison
Noah just leaned against the wall, calm as always, watching them.
Her eyes widened. "Oh my goodness. I can't do this. Seriously, this isn't a rom-com. This is a nightmare."
Penelope beamed. "No. Correction. This is exactly a rom-com. And I, as the wise best friend, get to watch everything." She took out her phone. "Should I make a group chat called Two Weeks of Chaos?"
"NO!" Felicity and I shouted together.
>>>>>>>>>>
Felicity's POV.
The Negotiation.
"Okay, ground rules," I snapped, planting my hands on my hips like a fed-up teacher breaking up a school fight. "Two weeks each. Noah, you get the first half. Alex, you get the second. Chris, you get the last. No overlapping. No sabotaging. And for the love of God, no public scenes outside my dorm."
Noah spoke first, calm as always. "First is fine with me."
Alex grinned as he had already won. "First half is all I need."
"Stop calling her darling!" Chris snapped.
I sighed. "Chris, please don't start."
He held himself back and leaned closer, his voice low so only Alex could hear. "Enjoy your little trial run, mate. Because when your two weeks are over, when I'm done, she won't even remember you existed."
Alex's smirk widened. "We'll see."
Penelope fanned herself with her biscuit wrapper dramatically. "Whew. The tension is delicious. Somebody get me some popcorn."
>>>>>>>>>>>
Christopher's POV.
My Thoughts.
Look, I know how this sounds. Immature. Petty. Competitive. Ridiculous. Like three dogs fighting over the same bone. But hear me out. This isn't just rivalry. This isn't about pride. This is about her. About proving to Felicity that I am not some broody prince or arrogant flirt or grumpy bodyguard wannabe. This is about showing her the truth. That's what I feel isn't temporary, nor shallow, nor something that fades. It is real. I love her with every stupid, stubborn, reckless beat of my heart.
Two weeks is a gift. I will wait it out. I will watch Alex trip over his fake smiles and rehearsed lines. I will watch Noah with his calm and steady way, always patient, always careful, like he already understands her. And when it is my tur
n, I will not just compete. I will prove it. Because this isn't about winning a challenge. It is about showing her the truth. Felicity Paddington is not a prize. She is everything. She is mine, even if she does not know it yet. And I will fight with everything I have to make sure she knows it. Game on.