I was only bluffing.

No, really, it really surprised me how Reece didn't see past my bluff.

I didn't really want him to lose the Championships...or me.

I only said it because I knew the Championships meant the world to him. I guess, I was hoping he would say that he would lose, and I would immediately say that I was kidding, before gripping the back of his head and smashing my lips onto his.

But I guess life wasn't like that. Not everyone gets the fairytale kind of story.

I just had to learn it the hard way.

"No."

That small word was like a blow to the head.

In fact, I literally took a step back.

Boy, did I feel pathetic.

Reece shook his head violently, "Fuck that, I'm not going to lose the championships, to prove myself to you, Chloe. It's your choice whether you want to believe me or not."

I let out an inaudible gasp. Was this really how this was going to end?

"Okay." I said quietly, looking down at my feet, "I guess we both know where we stand then."

Reece looked at me cynically, before scoffing accusingly, "You know, if you loved me back, you wouldn't have made me choose."

Is that what he thought? That I didn't love him?

I narrowed my eyes at him, becoming defensive again, "Oh please. If you truly loved me, you wouldn't have had a choice." I spat, "Goodbye Reece."

"You know what? Fine. Whatever." He said as I retreated, not bothering to hold me back anymore.

It was only then that I let my tears stream down my face, because there was nothing I wanted more than for him to come after me. But the distance between us only grew further and further apart. Reece had given up and I had no choice but to keep going.

Because every girl knows that when if a boy doesn't come after you when you walk away from him, you keep walking.

With new tears blurring my vision, and countless thoughts running through my mind, I bumped hard into someone. I looked up to mutter an apology, but warm arms encircled me.

"Hey, Little C, what's wrong?"

Valentino looked genuinely concerned, his eyes filled with worry. I just shook my head, and tried to leave, but he refused to let go, instead, he pulled me in for a bone-crushing hug, but I didn't mind, it just so happened to be the one thing I needed most right now.

We stayed like that for a while. I just held onto him for support, and he didn't ask any questions, which I was more than thankful for.

When my breathing was relatively normal, I lifted my head up and wiped away the remaining tears, just the final announcement went off, signaling that the championships were about to begin.

"C'mon," Valentino finally spoke, "we have to go."

I merely managed to nod, as my weak knees took me inside the stadium, as thousands of people cheered with excitement. Valentino was saying something to me, but I could barely hear him over the screams and shouts of the people around us. Together, we made our way to the front rows, where the rest of the boys were already seated.

All too soon, the Championships started.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! I welcome you as we gather here today to celebrate the 31st Annual Cambyses Championships!" The speakers roared, causing the crowd to go absolutely insane.

"Five hundred thousand dollars, ladies and gentlemen, five hundred thousand dollars and the title of the 31st Cambyses Championships are what our contestants are fighting for, so give it up for the youngest fighter to set foot in this ring, Reece Carter, The Reecellius!"

The boys all stood up for a standing ovation, and I mimicked their actions as he ran through the entrance doors, with arms out wide and with confidence radiating off him. His smirk never left his face as the crowd went wild, girls screamed for him as they reached out to touch him as he, in all his glory, leaped into the ring in nothing but black shorts.

He looked so happy. Almost as if our argument moments ago never happened. Did all of that really mean nothing to him?

"Now, the moment you've all been waiting for, put your hands together as we welcome back, our winner for the past year, commonly known as The Lion, Leonardo Scarletti!"

I tore my eyes away from Reece's face – even though he didn't once look at me, before glancing at his opponent.

My eyes widened in total, utter, fear.

Holy-

"Shit." Valentino finished my thoughts as we took in the guy who had walked with his head held high into the ring.

He was huge.

He was like, Hulk, only...not green.

Hell, he looked like all he had to do was sit on you and he'd win.

Suddenly, I really regretted even opening my mouth and suggesting that Reece should lose. What the heck was I thinking? Not that I'd ever actually let him go through with it if he had accepted it in the first place, but...damn, this Leo guy looked undefeatable, with his long dreadlock blonde hair...I could see why they called him The Lion.

I looked back at Reece, and felt a little relieved that he didn't seem the slightest bit intimidated.

"Confident, as always, that cheeky bastard." Valentino grinned. "Good memories." He mumbled to himself, and for a moment, his eyes shined with pride, as he relived a moment that must have meant something important to him.

I looked at him, stunned, "Wow, you really adore Reece, don't you."

Valentino glanced at me and smiled, "Did Reece ever tell you how we met?"

I frowned, before shaking my head. I just assumed they were childhood bestfriends, like Charlie and me. "No. How did it happen?"

Valentino looked away from me, focusing back at Reece, "Lets just say, I wasn't all muscles back in junior school." He told me as he furrowed his eyebrows, "I was fat, Chloe. And kids used to give me a lot of shit about it."

Long gone was the cheery Valentino who liked to joke around and laugh, but instead stood a little boy who had gone through years of bullying.

"One day, we had PE, and we had to run laps around the oval - Which by the way is the worst form of torture and public humiliation for an obese kid - and I came last, but that's no surprise." Valentino shrugged. "What surprised me was the fact that I was ganged up in the boys locker bay."

I took a sharp intake of air, as tears brimmed my eyes.

"So, while I was being a punching bag for the fuckers, Carter had walked in because he'd left his bag in his locker. When he saw what they were doing to me, shit hit the roof. We'd never spoken to each other before but he just jumped in and took all those guys without a thought. All my life, people would just watch or ignore me as I'd get picked on, but no one would dare do a thing about it, but Reece did. He did something about it."

Valentino smiled, a genuine, smile of gratefulness, "He helped more after that. He got me to hit the gym, and he'd train with me every day after school. In eight months, I was the fastest kid running those laps. I burned fat, gained muscles. No one fucked with me anymore. Carter and I became bestfriends, became brothers, always looking out for each other."

My cheeks hurt from smiling, as I wiped a tear that had escaped, "Oh my God, Val. I don't know what to say."

Valentino shrugged, "Not much to say. I'm just happy he's found the right girl." He remarked, stealing some of Dennis' food. "He's got it bad for you, you know that right?"

No, Val, he doesn't.

But I was never able to reply, because all too soon, the championships started, and all Hell broke loose.

☮ Reece Carter ☮

I dodged another punch from Fat Riot, which has become my official nickname for the guy before me, since I refuse to call him The Lion.

The Lion?

Seriously?

That's just so gay.

I mean, at least mine sounds like a Greek God.

Even though Chloe thinks it sounds like a virus.

Dammit. There I go again, thinking of her. Thinking of how stupid I was to confess to her that I love her. Thinking about how she didn't say that she loves me back. Thinking about how much Chloe looked heartbroken. Thinking about how things could have turned out so differently.

I punched Fat Riot, square in the jaw, with so much intensity and anger, that he fell back.

I pushed him down, and managed to get him to stay down for five seconds.

And that's all that was needed for me to win Round 1.

The crowd went absolutely insane, as cheers drowned my ears, I looked around at faces of the crowd, but only one person stood out.

Nerd.

Loser.

Princess.

Chloe.

I smile at her, and for a moment, she's stunned, before she smiles back.

And in that moment, I was complete.

I turn back to Fat Riot, who is ready for Round 2, and make up my mind, "Alright Big Boy, this round's all yours - Just don't hit the face, it's priceless, you know." I tell him as I shield my face, and give in.

♡ Chloe Armel ♡

No, no, no, no, no, no, no! What is heck does he think he's doing?

"CARTER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Valentino bellows beside me, making me wince from the pain that shoots through my ear.

The blood drains from my face as I realise that he's going to lose the Championships to prove his love to me.

"Why the hell is he backing down?!" Jayden yells as The Lion repeatedly punches Reece in the stomach. Reece does nothing to fight back, he just blocks his opponent's hits.

Bile rises in my throat, I can't bear to look at him getting hurt. The Lion smashes him to the ground and locks him down.

5

4

3

2

1

The bell rings, The Lion won Round 2.

I can't believe he just lost a round. His first time ever losing a fight. My head spins. I feel horrible. Guilty. Disgusted with myself.

Oh no. What have I done?

Reece struggles to get up, a coach gets up beside him and hands him a towel and his water bottle. He swirls some in his mouth then spits out. All too soon, he's back up for Round 3 - The final round.

Once again, he puts his hands up to protect his face, as he allows The Lion to assault him again.

Before I know it, I'm running towards the ring.

"Reece! Stop! What do you think you're doing?!" I scream at him as The Lion shows no mercy and Reece struggles to block him.

"Having a picnic, Princess. What does it look like?" He retorts, dodging a punch that was aimed at his face. Reece glares at his opponent, "Fat Riot, I thought I said, not the face!"

"Reece stop it! You have to win! You can't lose!"

He steals a glance towards me and shakes his head, "Sorry, Chloe, but the girl I love wants me to prove my feelings to her, and apparently flowers and chocolates are too mediocre."

My breath hitches as he once again, declares his love for me.

"The girl that loves you back, is sorry for being a selfish bitch and wants you to win the Championships."

He freezes for a moment, whether it's because I had told him I loved him back, or because it was the first time he heard me swear, and in seconds has The Lion in a headlock in front of me.

His eyes burn into mine as a bead of sweat trickles down his perfect face, "Say it."

"What?" My heart is running wild, fear grips me. The Lion struggles and I wonder how much longer Reece is able to withhold him.

"Say the words, Chloe." He demands. A shiver runs down my spine as my face heats on fire. All of my feelings towards the boy in front of me is summarised into three little words.

"I love you."

He smirks, "I love you, too." With that, he punches The Lion with everything he's got, knocking him out cold.

For a moment, I'm too stunned to register anything, that is, until the referee grabs Reece by the hand and lifts it to the air, signalling that he's won.

He won.

Reece won the Championships.

The cheers around us are deafening, but I swear I can just make out Valentino's 'Fuck yeah, baby!'.

'Ladies and Gentlemen', the speakers roar, 'give it up for the winner of the 31st Annual Cambyses Championships, the almighty Reecelius... Reece Carter!'

Reece outstretches his hand for me, and I don't hesitate to take it, as he helps me up into the ring. His new gold medal hangs around his neck, lying comfortably in the middle of his chest, as if it always belonged there. I vaguely notice the thousands upon thousands of people in the crowd screaming around us, because the one person who matters most is right in front of me.

I crash into his chest and curl my arms around his waist, enveloping him into a hug. "I'm so sorry."

"You should be." He states impassively.

I tense, my heart going insane. Oh no.

"I am."

"Prove it."

I step away from him, and knot my eyebrows in confusion. Payback?

"For Christ's sake, Reece, how do you want me to prove it?"

And then, a smirk tugs his breathtaking lips, "Kiss me?"

My mouth gapes open. I forget how us humans breathe.

He's asking me to kiss him.

He's going to lose the bet.

I gaze around at the sea of people, and glance at the boys, who all have goofy smiles on their faces.

Kiss in front of a large crowd.

The last thing on my bucket list.

I look back at Reece, and lift my hand up and behind his head, weaving my fingers through his hair and crashing his lips down onto mine.

And the moment our lips met; fireworks erupted. Whether it was from the sparks that ignited between us, or the applauses and hoots from the audience, I'm not sure, but it didn't matter, because perfection was seized, and in that moment, I was limitless.

After all, it's was just The Bad Boy, Cupid & Me.

THE END.

-------

A/N - Dear Wattpad,

Wow. What can I say? It's been one heck of a ride. A whole year and eight months.

Thank you, to all of my fans, both new and old, for joining me on this wild journey, for getting me to where I am today, for constantly supporting me, and never giving up on me, especially in the moments where I was giving up on myself. Because without you guys, there'd be no chapter two, Hell, there'd be no me.

So thank you guys, you all inspire me, I love you all!

An epilogue will be posted soon, keep an eye out.

So, reckon we can get The Bad Boy, Cupid & Me get to #1 for the first time, ever?

For the last time...COTE!

heart, smiley-face, ex oh ex oh!