Freshmen Fiascos: The College Fest Part 2

On day three, the academic quad was buzzing with the kind of energy that only a high-stakes competition could generate. The crowd was a mix of excited spectators, anxious participants, and a few overly serious professors who seemed to be keeping a watchful eye on everything. It was the day for the intellectual events—debate contests, quiz bowls, and academic face-offs that brought out the fiercest competitors. A dumb person like me had no business there. 0_0

“Today’s going to be intense,” Olivia murmured beside me as we squeezed into seats near the front row of the main auditorium. “Jake’s facing some pretty tough competition.” IKR Olivia. IKR. >_<

She was right. Jake had been paired with Priya, a brilliant third-year student known for her uncanny ability to recall random trivia and obscure facts. Together, they made a formidable team. But they were up against the reigning champions—a duo of bookish, serious types who had won the quiz bowl three years in a row. 9_9

“I’m not worried,” I said, trying to sound confident as I spotted the other team setting up at their podium. “Jake’s got this.”

Just as I said that, Jake and Priya entered the stage. Jake looked relaxed as usual, while Priya’s eyes darted around, sharp and focused. They took their spots and exchanged quick nods of encouragement.

“You can do it!” I shouted, waving enthusiastically.

Jake looked up, spotted us, and grinned before turning back to the stage. Beside me, Olivia leaned forward, her attention riveted.

Though I put up a brave face and made sure to cheer him on, I knew that this competition was gonna be a tough one.

Regardless, I enjoy the thrill of doing things for the sake of doing it. And I am sure, whatever the result was gonna be, Jake and I and Liv all of us were here to enjoy ourselves. And make the most of our college life together. :)

The quiz bowl began, and it was immediately clear that this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. The questions were rapid-fire—covering everything from world history to obscure scientific theories to pop culture references. Jake and Priya kept pace, answering confidently and racking up points, but the opposing team was equally fierce, firing back with answers before the moderator could even finish reading the questions. -_-

“Whoa, this is close,” Olivia whispered, her gaze flitting between the teams.

The tension in the room was palpable. Each time a buzzer rang out, the audience collectively held its breath, waiting to see which team would answer. By the halfway mark, the teams were neck and neck, and I could see Priya’s shoulders tighten as the stakes rose.

And then, it happened.

The moderator asked a particularly convoluted question about molecular biology—something that should have stumped even the best of them. Jake frowned, clearly thrown off, but just as the opposing team’s hand shot up, Priya’s eyes lit up.

“ATP synthase, found in the inner mitochondrial membrane,” she said quickly, her voice ringing clear across the room.

The moderator blinked, then smiled. “That is correct.”

A murmur of shock rippled through the audience. Priya’s answer had been almost impossibly fast, catching even the reigning champions off guard. XD

“Did you see that?” I breathed, glancing at Olivia.

She nodded, eyes wide. “I think Priya just became my hero.”

But the moment of victory was short-lived. The champions quickly recovered, firing back with a series of rapid answers that narrowed the gap once more. The clock ticked down, the tension mounting as the final few questions were read.

And then, the buzzer rang for the last time.

“That’s it, folks!” the moderator announced, his voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd. “The quiz bowl is over. Let’s see the final scores.”

There was a brief pause as the judges conferred. I held my breath, heart pounding as I stared at the scoreboard.

“And the winners are… the reigning champions, with a total of 58 points!” the moderator declared.

A round of applause filled the room, polite but tinged with disappointment. Jake and Priya had lost by a mere two points.

Jake turned to Priya and offered her a quick, reassuring smile, but I could see the tightness in his expression. They’d come so close, and I knew losing had to sting. But it is also important to experience everything in life. Because, life is not just a bed of roses, there's thorns there as well.

Still, as they walked off the stage, I stood and clapped as loud as I could. For me, the efforts they had put in to win the competition mattered the most and Jake deserved all the praise for that.

“You guys were amazing!” I called out, catching Jake’s eye.

He shrugged, giving me a sheepish grin. “We tried.”

“You were awesome,” Olivia agreed, smiling at Priya as she approached. “That answer about ATP synthase? Mind-blowing.”

Priya flushed slightly but looked pleased. “Thanks. I just—well, I read a lot.”

Jake laughed, slinging an arm around her shoulders. “You mean you’re a genius.”

Priya ducked her head, but I caught a small smile tugging at her lips. Despite the loss, it was clear that she and Jake had clicked as a team. ^_^

“That was just the beginning,” Jake said, his competitive spirit reemerging as we headed out of the auditorium. “Next time, we’re taking them down.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” I replied with a grin. “But for now, how about we grab some food? I’m starving.”

The mood lightened as we headed for the food stalls, Jake and Priya bantering about the quiz questions while Olivia and I listened, amused. But just as we reached the lawn, I spotted someone familiar among the crowd.

It was the same dark-haired guy I’d noticed at the opening ceremony—the one with the intense eyes and quiet presence. He was leaning against a tree, watching the students mill around with a distant expression.

“Hey, that’s one of the transfer students, right?” I murmured to Olivia.

She followed my gaze, then nodded slowly. “Yeah. His name’s Alex, I think. He’s a senior.”

“He looks… intimidating,” I admitted, taking in his tall, lean frame and the sharp lines of his face.

“More like brooding,” Olivia corrected. “But I heard he’s really smart. Apparently, he was top of his class at his old school.”

“Really?” I glanced at him again, curious. There was something about him that felt… different. As if he was carrying a weight the rest of us couldn’t see.

Before I could think too much about it, another figure stepped into view—a girl with bright red curls and a confident stride.

“And that’s his friend, Crystal,” Olivia added, her voice hushed. “She’s… well, let’s just say she’s got a bit of a reputation.”

“What kind of reputation?” I asked, watching as Crystal approached Alex and started speaking animatedly.

“The kind that makes people nervous,” Olivia said cryptically. “But I don’t know much more than that. She’s been pretty low-key since she transferred here.”

I filed that information away, intrigued despite myself. The two of them—Alex and Crystal—stood out in a way I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Maybe it was their intensity, or the way they seemed so detached from the rest of the crowd. Whatever it was, I had a feeling we’d be seeing more of them.

“Come on, you two,” Jake called, waving us over. “Let’s eat before everything’s gone!”

Shaking off my thoughts, I turned away from the newcomers and followed my friends to the food stalls, letting the excitement of the day wash over me. ^_^

Thursday dawned bright and early, bringing with it the excitement of sports day. The entire campus had been transformed into a sprawling arena, with fields, courts, and tracks set up for every imaginable sport. Students streamed in from all directions, chattering eagerly as they made their way to the various events.

“Ready for some action?” Jake who wasn't even part of the team asked, bouncing on his toes as we approached the soccer field.

“I was born ready,” I shot back, though I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of nerves. I’d signed up for the dodgeball tournament with Olivia and Noah, but watching the other teams warm up, I suddenly wasn’t so sure of myself. 9_9

“Don’t worry,” Olivia said, catching my expression. “We’ll just have fun.”

“Or we’ll get pelted with balls and go down in a blaze of glory,” Noah added dryly.

“Such optimism,” I teased, but I couldn’t help but smile. We made our way to the dodgeball court, squeezing in among the throngs of students waiting for the matches to start.

“Okay, guys, remember the plan,” I said, adjusting my headband as we stood at the edge of the court. The gymnasium was packed with spectators, and the buzz of excitement filled the air. I looked around at the other teams, each group decked out in their respective colors and coordinated outfits. Some looked way too serious, like they’d been training for this moment their entire lives. 6_6

Olivia, standing next to me in her green team shirt, gave me a nervous smile. “You mean the plan to, um, not get hit in the face?” >_<

“Exactly,” I replied, grinning. “And also, to avoid embarrassing ourselves too much in front of, well, everyone.” That would be worst. Worse than embarrassing ourselves in High School.

Noah, our third team member and the only one who looked even remotely confident, rolled his eyes. He adjusted his cap backward and stretched his arms. “Relax, guys. It’s just a game. How bad could it be?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Did you see the other teams? ‘Just a game’ is not in their vocabulary.” 9_9

He glanced over at the lineup. There was the “Red Titans” team, a group of guys who looked like they spent more time in the gym than in class, cracking their knuckles menacingly. Then there were the “Blue Banshees,” known for their lightning-fast reflexes and aggressive playing style. And, of course, we had the “Golden Aces”—the reigning champs, looking smug and unbeatable.

Noah shrugged, unconcerned. “So what? We’ll just have fun and dodge the balls. It’s dodgeball, not the Olympics.”

“Yeah, that attitude’s gonna keep us alive,” Olivia muttered, glancing nervously at the muscular players warming up across the court. +_+

“Look, our strategy is simple,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “We dodge. We duck. We weave. And when in doubt—hide behind Noah.”

“Wait, what?” Noah blinked. “That’s your plan?”

“Hey, you’re the fastest, and I’ve seen you run from responsibility like a pro,” I teased. “Use those skills now.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Fine, fine. But just so you know, I’m not taking a ball to the face for either of you.”

Olivia and I exchanged a glance. “We’ll keep that in mind,” she said with a grin.

The first match was against the Blue Banshees. They were known for being quick and ruthless, darting around the court like they were born to dodge and throw. As the referee blew the whistle, we sprinted forward, each of us grabbing a ball from the centerline.

And then—chaos.

Balls whizzed past my head, missing me by inches. I yelped and ducked, narrowly avoiding a hit to my shoulder. Olivia squealed as she dove out of the way, and Noah, true to form, was already running around like a madman, dodging every ball thrown his way.

“Nice one, Noah!” I called out as he spun around and threw a perfect shot, knocking one of the Banshees out of the game.

“Yeah, yeah, keep moving!” he shouted back, dodging yet another throw. He made it look effortless, while I was over here scrambling just to stay on my feet.

Olivia, meanwhile, was doing her best to stay in one spot and not look like a target. I had to give her credit—she wasn’t the fastest, but she had a knack for blending in, almost like a dodgeball chameleon. One of the Banshees even glanced right over her before throwing a ball at someone else. All three of us were doing our own things. XD

But then it happened—a ball came flying straight at Olivia’s head. My heart jumped into my throat, and I saw her eyes widen in panic.

“Olivia, duck!” I screamed.

She dropped to the floor just in time, the ball sailing over her head. She looked up, stunned. “I—I dodged it?”

“Yes! Now move!” I shouted, laughing as I pulled her up by her arm.

With Olivia’s newfound confidence in sports and Noah’s natural agility, we somehow managed to hang on, avoiding elimination while the Banshees gradually lost players. By the time the last whistle blew, it was just us and one Banshee left standing.

“Okay, team,” I whispered, gripping my dodgeball tightly. “Final push. Just one left.”

Noah grinned. “I’ve got this.”

He moved with the speed and precision of a ninja, darting forward and launching the ball. It slammed into the remaining player’s leg before they even had a chance to react.

“YES!” I yelled, jumping up and down as the referee declared us the winners of the match.

Olivia and I ran to Noah, high-fiving each other. “We did it! We actually won!” I exclaimed, my heart still racing from the adrenaline.

“See? Told you it wouldn’t be so bad,” Noah said, flashing us a cocky smile.

“Yeah, yeah, don’t get too full of yourself,” I said, rolling my eyes. “That was just the first round.”

The rest of the tournament was a blur of dodges, throws, and near-misses. We somehow made it through round after round, each match more intense than the last. By the time we reached the semifinals, we were battered, bruised, and running on pure adrenaline. -_-

“Who would have thought we’d make it this far?” Olivia said breathlessly as we huddled up before our next match.

“Not me,” I admitted, glancing around at the crowd. It seemed like half the college had shown up to watch the semifinals, and the energy in the gym was off the charts. “But let’s just keep doing what we’re doing.”

“Right—dodging and hoping for the best,” Noah said, grinning.

The semifinals were brutal. Afterall, we made it till here by pure luck. We faced off against the Red Titans, and they played like they were out for blood. I got knocked out early, much to my frustration, but Olivia and Noah held their ground.

“Come on, Olivia, you’ve got this!” I cheered from the sidelines as she dodged yet another throw, her movements surprisingly agile.

Noah was a force of nature, diving and rolling like some sort of dodgeball superhero. The Titans just couldn’t keep up, and when the final whistle blew, the crowd erupted in cheers.

“We’re in the finals!” Olivia screamed, throwing her arms around Noah.

“We actually made it!” I shouted, joining the hug.

But the excitement was short-lived. Our opponents in the final match were none other than the Golden Aces—the team that had dominated the tournament for years. They were undefeated, and everyone knew it.

“Don’t worry, we’ve got this,” Noah said confidently as we stepped onto the court for the final showdown.

“Yeah, or we’ll just die trying,” Olivia muttered nervously.

The match was intense from the very first second. Balls flew through the air at lightning speed, players dove and dodged with incredible agility, and the crowd roared with every elimination.

Noah took out two Aces right off the bat, earning cheers from the crowd, but then we started to struggle. The Aces were relentless, their throws coming faster and faster.

“Stay strong, Olivia!” I yelled as I dodged a ball that came inches from my face. 9_9

“I’m trying!” she shrieked, barely ducking in time to avoid a hit.

One by one, our team members were eliminated, until it was just me and Noah left standing against their two best players.

“Ready for the final play?” Noah asked, glancing at me with a determined look.

“Let’s do it,” I replied, steeling myself.

We moved in perfect sync, dodging and throwing with everything we had. The Aces fought back hard, but we refused to give in. It all came down to one final throw.

Noah took aim, his gaze locked on the last Ace standing. With a powerful spin, he launched the ball. It flew straight and true, and for a heart-stopping moment, it looked like it would hit. >_<

But at the last second, the Ace ducked, and the ball missed by a hair.

“NO!” I shouted, my heart sinking as the final whistle blew.

The gym fell silent for a moment, and then the Aces erupted in cheers, celebrating their hard-earned victory.

We didn’t win the tournament, but as Noah and I stood there, panting and grinning, I realized that it didn’t really matter. We’d made it to the finals, and we’d given it everything we had.

“Good game,” Noah said, offering me a high-five. 0_0

“Yeah, good game,” I replied, smiling.

Olivia ran over and hugged us both, her face flushed with excitement. “We were awesome! I can’t believe we made it this far!”

“Neither can I,” I admitted, laughing. “But we did it.”

As we left the court, the crowd still buzzing around us, I knew this was a day we were rewarded for trying and coming this far rather than the actual win in the first place. Let's see what happens tomorrow.