The Game Of Quadruplet Mates
(Bk 2) Chapter 21

"Line up everyone, men to the left and women to the right." The organizer up on the dais instructed, pointing to the opposite walls of the grand ballroom. "We shall now begin the dance."

I wish I had been better prepared for what was just announced, because as soon as all of the attendees filed into the grand ballroom, the doors were closed and the music started to play. Drinks were handed out and finger food was offered as the organizer discussed the next event. Standing in line between Miss E and Miss A, they were both downing drinks like their lives depended on it and maybe it did. I follow their lead, trying to inhale as much as I can, food and drink. Albiet, a little more drink than food.

I shoved three sandwiches in my mouth and pushed them down with a drink that made me wince. It wasn't the most appealing sight in the world, but it was definitely the most rational. As I swallowed it down with much difficulty, I caught the eyes of my guard at the back of the wall, standing sentry with the rest of the guards.

His eyes were wide as he watched me nearly choke on my own silliness. In his dark clothing, he looked more fearsome than he usually did, but the sudden smile on his features softened him. Just a little

He shook his head at me, the silent judgment in those eyes that stared at me like I was his next meal.

I flashed him a smile before whirling back to face the organizer, who urged the two lines to join in the middle. All around me, attendees reach for one last drink from the revolving trays holding glasses of liquor. I took a deep breath as I stepped forward to stand in front of a man I hadn't seen before.

He smiles kindly, offering his hand. I take it, giving my own smile.

It should be this easy.

The Games should be easy.

Meeting and dancing and laughing with men, but my eyes weren't focused on the man in front of me like they should be. My eyes were focused on 0, who was dancing with another girl or, on my guard, who I could feel was staring at us, or at Mister W, who was busy fending off a girl's hand that slipped down his a s s.

My dance partner is speaking to me but I am not paying attention. I can hear him say a few words but it's like my body didn't want to listen.

My heart didn't flutter or anything of the sort.

Instead, it wanted someone else. Someone that wasn't the man in front of me.

Ever since I was told about the Games, all everyone has talked about was that feeling. That love. That knowing that this is the one.

1 did not have that for the man that held me.

Before I knew it, the thirty seconds alloted for us were done and a gong could be heard as we were told to switch partners. The man that was previously in Miss E's arms was now in mine and, just like the last one, he smiled.

I couldn't bring myself to share it, my mind already thinking of something else- of how I was going to face O

Partners switch again and again and again, hands taking mine, smiles offered and words whispered, but my heart is somewhere else.

It was wrong and I should stop, but it was like fighting a losing battle.

I know I should focus. I know I am running out of time. I know that this is my chance to make my family proud, so I try, try with all my heart to forget him, try to ignore the stare from my guard and try to stop hoping for Mister W to come sooner. "You're very pretty, Miss X." The next man says as he takes my hand and dips me backward.

"Thank you." I managed, smiling as I was brought back up.

"You're not so bad yourself."

But I haven't even looked at his face yet.

So I try to.

He was attractive like all of them are, but something in me just knew he wasn't the one. I could feel his

disappointment with my lack of interest and another thirty seconds passed

I do not jump when I realize that Mister F is my next partner. He smiles, the goofy kind of smile that makes me smile back.

Instantly I felt bad for thinking the worst of him-how I thought he had something to do with my things being in the lake. Not when my guard had already caught who was responsible and it wasn't Mister F

The timing made it seem like it was him, but I was so obviously wrong.

And I was too quick to jump to conclusions.

Doing my best to make it right with one person tonight, I tip my head forward. "I'm sorry about the other day and... about earlier. It was wrong of me and I was being rude when all you've been was nice."

"I shocked you. It was my fault." He says, a blush on his cheeks. "But my mind has not changed, Miss X. I hope you allow me to choose you by the end of the week."

He had his hand on mine but something inside me slipped away from him.

He was not the one either.

And it had nothing to do with him but had everything to do with me. With how I was already focused on someone else and that wouldn't be fair to him. He didn't deserve someone that didn't see him the way he should be seen.

It was his last year too and it was pressuring to be told that in his last year, his last chance to replace a mate, he would be choosing me when I was not sure that I would be choosing him.

"I like you, Mister F, I really do" I gently said. "You are sweet and kind to me. But, I cannot ignore how my heart is already with someone else."

He lets one of my hands drop as he slips his hand through his coat and tugs out a lace fan. "I will still try. I will give this to you soon and then decide."

Thirty seconds.

A gong.

And he was gone.

Not too long after, I see Mister W with Miss E. He is holding her at as much distance as he can muster, a deep frown on his face.

In contrast, her face was lit up like a Christmas

tree, whispering something in his ear.

He closes his beautiful eyes, whatever she said makes him pale,

, his expression hardens and when the thirty seconds were up, he couldn't get away from her fast enough. He quickly takes me by the waist and pulls us a little ways away. "What did she say?" I joked, looking up at him.

His arms around me tightened. He held me close, closer than I had seen him hold anyone else. "Something I don't dare repeat to a lady such as yourself."

"You're with me now. You can relax. I won't try to squeeze your b**t." I teased as we held each other. "At least, 'Il try not to."

His nose scrunches up and brings his forehead against mine. He was so tall that he had to lean down just to press us together. "If you do it, I won't mind it as much." A laugh leaves my lips. "That's only because I sat on you for almost the entire day." "I didn't complain." He easily responds, as if carrying me was something he wanted to do. "I would have kept you there all week if I could."

I tried not to stumble as he said this but I did cough or more accurately, choke. I tried to gather myself, attempting to say something that wouldn't give away how his words made me flush. "I'm sorry about how it ended."

"I'm sorry for losing you in the crowd." He says back, one of his hands sliding lower, down my wrist where his bracelet was. His lips pulled into a small smile, his fingers caressing the leather. "I tried to get to you but the guards kept everyone away." Somehow, I could imagine my guard specifically keeping him away.

As if sensing piercing eyes on me, I turned to replace a pair of sharp ones staring at us from afar. The smile was wiped from my guard's face, and I felt a chill at the way his eyes roamed between me and my new partner.

I wonder why he told me to be careful with this man, this man with the beautiful but sad eyes that seem to only warm whenever he looks at me.

Is it true when they say he was in love with someone else?

That he's already taken some way or another?

Did that make us one in the same? Both hoping for someone else that we can't be with?

"And what are you looking for in the Games, Mister W?" I whispered as he pressed us close.

"An escape, Miss X." He whispered back.

His words confused me.

What did he mean? An escape from what? Is he trying to let go of the one he loved before? Is that it? Was he truly just like me?

What could the most beautiful man alive want to escape from?

I don't get to ask anymore questions as it is already thirty seconds and he has moved on to Miss A.

It didn't help that, as he danced with Miss A, he was only looking at me the entire time. And even when he moved from her and was on to the next, he still continued to look.

Multiple partners came and went until my hands were grasped by familiar ones. It made my breath halt and my knees weak.

"Blue is your color," He said huskily, circling me slowly.

Although it was part of the dance, it felt like something more as he stared at me. Time slowed as his eyes raked through my entire body. "It suits you."

A blush creeped up my neck as I stared up at him. "O,

"Did you have fun dancing with Mister W?" He whispered, taking my hand in his to twirl me around. "Did you like him whispering in your ear?"

I could not answer as 1 was twirled and was suddenly pressed back into his chest. His lips were on the side of my face now.

"Wearing his bracelet too." Jealousy dripped from each word he said. "You do know how to choose them."

"Like you know how to choose yours." The words slipped out of my lips, mentioning the girl from the contest earlier.

It was too late to stop myself so I pushed it. "You like yours a little unhinged?"

He looked at me like I was the one that was unhinged. "I do."

I shook my head, unable to look at him. "Just shut up and let the thirty seconds pass quietly."

He pulled me even closer to him, so close that I could feel his heart beating erratically. "I'm wrong for you."

But why did his actions say otherwise?

Why did he hold me closer? And closer?

And closer?

O takes my chin between his fingers and pulls me to his lips.

Literally a breath apart, he breathes me in, hesitating to close the distance before pulling away, but only enough to lean down to my ears.

"You know I'm wrong for you." He whispered this over and over in my ear, but it was as if he was trying to convince himself.

Not me

The dance partners changed but we stayed where we were, hands on each other as we swayed to this song that was reaching its crescendo. And then I cannot stay silent for much longer.

My lips parted and it was like I couldn't stop myself, my words, my confession coming out strangled. "I would have fought for you, for us. I would have done it all, but you don't want me to."

This man.

0.

I would know him even if I were blind. I would know him through everything and it hurt, it hurt that I did.

There's a lump in my throat, my eyes stinging gently and he sees this, he sees that I'm about to cry again because of him.

He winces at this, like I've hurt him, like I've slapped him.

"You are maddening!" He seethed, shaking and trembling.

He held my face in his hands, a mixture of rough and tender, his eyes swimming with emotions that drowned me.

"I will tell you this one last time, and I want you to listen because I won't say it again." He whispered, but it was like he was s cre a ming at me. "No matter how much I want you, no matter how much we both say it'll work out, that there's a chance things will change and how we are willing to throw everything away just to have us... you and I will never be together. It is impossible. Do you understand?" I attempt to pull away from him, to run, to hide, but he keeps me in his arms.

"We are two different people with two different goals and two different lives to live. I cannot be who you need me to be. I can never be who you need. That is the reality. I have things- I have my own.." He was breathing so hard, his eyes were glassy. He was blinking back tears.

"I cannot. I

cannot."

The gong rings again but he keeps me in place in his hands, uncaring for the men that cough behind us- asking him to move along.

"I have tried to stay away from you since the Games started but I was weak and I was selfish and I wanted what I have always wanted before but couldn't. And now, I see that it really was a mistake and I am sorry. I am truly sorry.

But I am done like you are done. We are done."

It's as if he blew out the only candle lighting my otherwise dark way, leaving me in the black depths, leaving me alone and empty despite how crowded it was.