Chicken Fight

"They haven't thought this through," Cassie commented.

"What?" Bridget asked, not paying attention. The decisions over who faced who in the first round appeared to be causing considerable disagreements.

"The number of pairs. Ten pairs won't work in a tournament structure. They need either eight or sixteen pairs or byes in the first round," the analytical auburn-haired girl explained.

Shrugging off the problem, Bridget said, "I'm not getting involved. Rachel or Carmella can deal with it. Maybe they can add extra teams. There's plenty of people around to form some new pairings."

"Is someone looking for a partner?"

Bridget gave a start at the sudden appearance of a blond-haired man below the dock in the water. Cassie didn't appear fazed in the slightest. She'd noticed the guy and his friend lingering near the pier as they checked out Bridget. The latter had become long accustomed to the attention of leering men.

"I'm sitting this one out, Eddie," Bridget stated once again.

"I already heard that, but I'm talking to your friend," Edward Laffont replied. As the older brother of Alexis, Bridget's squadmate, Eddie seemed to always think he had a shot with the cheerleaders. Or, in this case, the squad's unofficial student manager. "What do you say, bookworm? How about you hop onto my shoulders, and we can join in?"

"No, thank you, Eddie," Cassie politely turned him down. "I prefer to take pictures of my friends."

"Save that film for after we win. I'm sure we could celebrate in a memorable way," Eddie suggested with a wink and a slight slur to his voice.

"How about you watch that tone, Eddie?" Bridget warned.

"Tone? I'm just trying to have a fun time," the blond answered with a 'who me' shrug. "Considering that she's your friend, I'm sure someone has cashed in at her bank by now."

"Did you just--"

"It's okay, Bridget, I can handle this," Cassie told her protective friend. Always friendly, she attempted to defuse the growing tension. "I'm sorry, Edward, but I'm not very competitive. Perhaps you can find another girl that shares your interest in games."

"I can be competitive for both of us, and I don't mind a girl that takes orders," Eddie responded, moving toward the ladder. "So, get over--"

"Do we have a problem here, Laffont?" a new voice asked with a hard edge to it from behind the two girls.

"Just trying to get these girls to have some fun," Eddie informed the new arrival while pausing halfway up the ladder. "I'm all for fair play, Singer. So, I'll let your grab the wilder one."

"I'm not going anywhere with anyone," Bridget declared coldly.

"I believe that Cassandra already said no, and the same goes for Bridget," Fred Singer pointed out.

"What's your problem, Singer?" Eddie questioned, surprised by the practical jokester's less than jovial attitude. "These younger girls need a little push in the butt to get moving."

"My problem," Fred started to say as he stepped gingerly to Cassie's side, "is your rude and distasteful comment to Cassandra. And it's time for you to get moving."

Fred emphasized his point by stomping down hard on Eddie's hand that held the ladder rung. The sharp cry of pain was followed by a soft splash as the college student fell back into the water.

"Are you alright?" Fred asked, focusing on Cassie.

"I already was alright. That was not necessary, Fredrick," Cassie replied. "Rudeness doesn't require **** to deal with it. Sometimes a few kind words or a polite joke can work better. I think you, of all people, know that."

"Uh, yeah, you're right, of course, Cassandra," Fred awkwardly agreed. "I'm sorry for acting like that. I just didn't like...I'll let you get back to your pictures."

Bridget waited until Fred retreated off the deck before speaking.

"Oh. My. Gawd!"

"Eh?" Cassie sounded as she peered through her camera's viewfinder.

"I think Fred has a thing for you!"

"You think?" Cassie asked, more out of politeness than curiosity.

"He rushed over here and tried to protect you," Bridget pointed out. "And I didn't think he even knew your name."

"Fred knows me. You're always too busy chasing boys to notice that he likes to flirt with me," Cassie revealed.

"What?! How come you didn't tell me? Does Tinny know?" Bridget rushed out the questions. Cassie was her one friend that didn't seem interested in chasing boys.

"I didn't tell you or Tinny for this very reason. You get too worked up, and it's not a big deal."

"Not a big deal?"

"Yes, Fred is not the type of man that I'm interested in," Cassie stated. "He doesn't take life seriously enough."

"Do you know how many girls--"

"What is going on here?" asked another new voice, this time a feminine one with a touch of disdain in it.

"Nothing, Sela," Bridget quickly denied, knowing that Cassie wouldn't want her love life discussed in front of the opinionated Sela Wynwick.

"It doesn't look like nothing," Sela declared, pointing out at the gathering in the lake.

"Oh, that. Tinny's organized a game of chicken," Bridget explained.

"Chicken? As in the pool contest?" Sela inquired.

"The one and only."

"And who is Calum's partner?"

"I think Rachel," Bridget answered.

"It is Rachel," Cassie confirmed.

"I...guess that's fine," Sela said flatly. "Are they done selecting pairs?"

"It looks like it," Bridget replied.

"But, the numbers are wrong. Ten pairs won't work for a tournament," Cassie clarified.

"Hmm, you're absolutely right, Cassandra," Sela agreed, her voice perking up. Then, raising her voice to be heard out across the water, she announced, "I'm playing."

Heads turned at Sela's announcement. They followed as she left the dock and walked down the shoreline to a group of spectators. The men in the gathering stood up straighter, sucking in any college beer guts, as the blonde beauty, in her dark green bikini, sauntered toward them while evaluating her options.

"Sela always seems awfully interested in Calum's activities. Have you ever wondered if she's jealous?" Cassie questioned.

"Jealous? They're cousins!" Bridget chuckled at the ludicrous suggestion.

"Distant cousins," Cassie clarified. "Bailey's his cousin too, and she never acts like Sela."

"Sela and Calum are close. Being protective doesn't mean she has taboo thoughts about him," Bridget said to her less worldly friend. "Have you been reading those racy romance novels again?"

"What I read has nothing to do with it," Cassie replied. "Sometimes, when people have controlled personalities like Sela's, they like to cross the lines of acceptable behavior in private."

"Okay, Tinny and I are going through your bookshelves again," Bridget threatened. She watched as Sela appeared to have decided on a partner. "You're the good girl of our trio. Stuff like...**** doesn't happen in real life. Or at least anywhere but the boondocks down south."

"That's not entirely true, Bridget. There are rumors about the wealthier families--"

"Pay attention. Sela's picking her victim," the blonde said. She motioned back to the shoreline, where Sela had finished walking a circle around a sturdy-looking college student with shaved dark brown hair.

"What was your name again?" the Wynwick blonde inquired, running her hand along his bicep.

"Jason; Jason Quill," he informed her as his light brown eyes opened wide while gulping at the gorgeous, classy blonde's touch.

"You think you can hold me up until the championship?"

"Y-Yeah, I mean, yes, I can!"

"You'll do," Sela stated. Abruptly turning around, she walked down the small sandy beach and into the water—all the while expecting Jason to follow, which he hurriedly did after shaking off his shock.

"We already have an even number of pairs, Sela," Carmella yelled at her.

"Then find another pair," Sela responded. "I'm sure one of your other minions can sit on a boy's shoulders."

"Bitch," Carmella mumbled under her breath. Knowing that they needed another pair, the Sugarbee captain preferred not to be outnumbered by the cheer squad. Scanning for one of her girls, she spotted a friend flirting with Brock Beal. "Cordie, get out here!"

Cordelia Vandermeer's head shot around, flinging her long, slightly curled dark-brown hair around. A tall, leggy girl with hazel eyes, very large breasts, and a firm ass, she wore a red and white checkered bikini that looked like a picnic blanket.

"Me?"

"Yes, you! Grab Brock and get out here," Carmella ordered.

"But my hair," Cordelia whined, raising her right hand up to touch her brown hair. She'd spent all morning primping its locks to be perfect for the party. "I can't get it wet."

"We need another person," Carmella shot back.

"It can't be me. I'm not wrecking all my work," the vain brunette stated, growing more confident as she saw a way out. "Get Triana or Talissa."

"Triana went for a 'hike' in the woods with Hoyt," Fred announced.

"Having issues, Mella?" Gabby challenged.

"No, I'm not!" Carmella snapped before shouting. "Talissa! Find a partner and get over here."

"What?!" a voice said from under a giant umbrella on the sandy beach. Two admirers sitting near the umbrella parted, allowing the bewitching beauty with pitch-black hair to peer out. A pair of sunglasses came up, revealing green eyes to go with medium-sized breasts and a toned ass. Yet, it was her alabaster skin that Talissa Bresse pointed her hands at. "Carm, you know what the sun does to my skin!"

"The sun's setting, which means we don't have much time," an annoyed Carmella reminder her friend. "You've slathered on enough suntan lotion that you'll be fine until it goes down."

"You don't know that. I could burn to a crisp, and--"

"Get a partner and get out here!"

---

With the sun beginning its descent, the decision had been made to have four of the dozen pairs go at the same time. Despite Cassie's attempt to point out that twelve teams still didn't work, the chicken fight contestants gave it little thought. The girls spent their time hyping themselves up while reminding their partners not to screw up. Those male partners spent their time ogling the abundance of exposed flesh and jiggling boobs. A few mouthed "This is awesome" or "Holy shit" to their friends.

The first round began with Rachel and Calum matched up with Naomi and Morgan, while Sela and Jason took on Addison and her boyfriend, Glenn. Whistles, catcalls, and cheers rang out from the beach and the grassy shoreline. Always the comedian, Fred cracked a joke about the gambling odds. Then, to his chagrin, Barnabas Kessler started taking bets. Seeing that everyone was in their swimsuits and didn't have cash on them, questions about how to keep track popped up.

"Let Kimmie write them down," Kirk Langley suggested.

"Me?!" the shy platinum blonde squeaked. Not wanting to argue, Kimberly Goose grabbed a pen and notebook from her bag and reluctantly walked over to the gamblers.

"Alright, those are the final odds for the first round. No changes until the next round," Kessler proclaimed. Carmella, Gabriela, and Tinsley led the favorites to win, with Bailey, Sela, and Talissa as the longshots.

"Who's in charge of making sure nobody reneges on their bets?" Cody Higby asked.

"Dewey's a straight shooter; let him," Kessler proposed.

"I'm not a fan of gambling, guys," Dwight Dunkley protested, but under prodding, he caved just like Kimberly.

For the first two matchups, Addison and Glenn were favored over Sela and Jason due to their familiarity with each other and because betters had doubts over Sela's willingness to fight. Naomi's small stature led to her and Morgan as slight favorites over Rachel and Calum. Both boys had thin frames, so it came down to whoever was easier to hold up.

With the separate duels twelve feet apart from each other, Shayla rushed into the middle. The youngest varsity cheerleader from last year checked to make sure that the combatants were ready.

"Ready?"

"Whoa!" Rachel exclaimed as Calum struggled to get a proper footing. Swaying back and forth, the wiry young man eventually managed to steady his balance.

"Problems, Thirlby?" Morgan sneered his question.

"We're good," Calum declared but tilted his head up to check with Rachel. "Right?"

"We're ready, Shayla," Rachel informed the referee.

Nodding, the petite, dark-skinned teenager lifted a black sarong and dropped it, signaling the start of the chicken fight.

"That's mine!" Carmella shouted when she recognized her sarong.

Addison and Glenn reacted first, charging forward. The sudden move surprised Sela, causing her to throw her arms up in front of her face and lean back. The move likely would've cost the blonde the game in the opening seconds, but she chose her partner well. Feeling the haughty socialite slipping, Jason clamped his arms against her legs. Straining to keep the legs tight against his chest, he dipped down slightly and hunched forward, causing Sela's body to flip back to a safer, sitting position on his shoulders.

Next to them, Rachel and Calum got distracted by the struggling duo. Luckily for them, Morgan wasn't able to replicate Glenn's hard charge. Even with a much lighter girl on his shoulders, the recent senior class president didn't spend his free time lighting weights, and it showed. Digging her heels into Barrow's sides, Naomi sought to spur him forward.

"Knock that off. It hurts," Morgan told the girl, who the other Sugarbees called Nugget because of her small size.

"Stop complaining and get over there," Naomi ordered. Along with her petite figure, she had very long straight brown hair that came down to her lower back, a piercing pair of gray eyes, small breasts, and a tiny, toned ass. "And watch where you put your hands!"

"Watch it, Cal. They're almost here," Rachel said, causing Calum to stop watching Sela and Jason's close call.

"I'll let Morgan use up his energy, and you enact our plan," he whispered up to his ginger general.

"Got it," the cheerleader acknowledged, preparing for the slap that Naomi telegraphed. Blocking it with her forearm, Rachel countered with a hard shove attempt, but the spry girl leaned away in time.

Back at the other chicken fight, Sela and Addison grappled as the partners had moved until their chests met. Glaring at each other, Jason and Glenn hurled insults back and forth. Glenn's hit home more as everyone could clearly tell that Sela represented the weakest link of the four.

"Go for her bikini, Addie!" Fred suggested from the shore. The unfathomable image of seeing Sela's D-cups in all their glory incited more calls for that tactic.

"Stop acting like pigs," screamed a girl from the crowd.

The commotion caught Sela's attention, causing her to drop her guard.

SLAP

"Oooooh!"

"Oh, hell, no!"

"Now, that's a bitch slap."

Outside of the handful of catcalls and comments, everyone else fell silent. Addison paused in horror after delivering a vicious slap to Sela's cheek. Bringing her hand up to her mouth, she felt awful at the stunned look on Sela's face.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean--"

"You. Slapped. Me," the blonde coldly stated as her face lost its stunned look.

"I swear I didn't--"

"You slapped me!" The blood-curdling scream that followed as Sela shoved hard at Addison sent shivers of terror down the spines of the on-lookers. "You fucking slapped me!"

Addison absorbed the first hard shove into her bosom. Reacting defensively, she tried to bring her arms back up to parry the next incoming shove. The second rage-filled shove slammed right past her hands, allowing Sela's palms to strike her neck. Addison gasped for air after the blow, but Sela never gave her a chance to recover. The enraged cheerleader sent her next attack straight into the coed's face. The rapid combo of shoves caused Addison to tumble backward and splash into the lake.

"Nobody slaps me, bitch!" Sela taunted down at the soaked brunette.

"I got five more bucks on Wynwick!" Shakir Wright bellowed, placing another bet.

"Got it," Kimberly responded, jotting down his bet.

"Erase that, Kimmie! All betting is closed until after the first round ends," Kessler declared. "You know that, Wright!"

Out on the lake, Calum watched his cousin with concern. "Are you okay, Sela?"

"Dammit, Morgan, I told you to watch your hands," Naomi yelled at the guy below her. The petite brunette's partner had consistently allowed his grip on her thighs to slip behind his head. Once there, they seemed to slide inward and far too close to her kitty for comfort. Slapping them away only bought her about twenty seconds before the hands returned.

"I'm trying to win," Barrow pointed out.

"Yeah, win the game, not the way into my bottoms," Naomi pointed out while leaning over to motion to the distracted pair in front of them. "Go!"

"Cal, watch out!" Rachel warned as she saw the other team move back into striking distance.

"You asshole!" Naomi screamed, whacking the side of Morgan's head and then the other one. The sleazy school president had slid his finger past her lower lips under the guise of getting a better grip as they marched forward.

"Stop it. That hurts!" Morgan complained as Naomi unleashed a flurry of strikes at her own partner.

"Attack Plan Naomi, Rachel!" Calum called out while he slid around Morgan. The move placed Rachel in prime position to go for Naomi's weakness.

Grabbing a clump of the Sugarbee's long, brown hair, Rachel yanked hard. Distracted by the attack on her partner, Naomi never had a chance.

A shout of joy rang out from the cheerleaders as their captain advanced to the second round.

---

"Brother versus brother. This should be interesting," Gabby remarked from Drake Quarry's shoulders. Across from them, McCoy Quarry emerged out of the water with Gemma Harlow on his shoulders.

"Not really. I have the better brother," Gemma declared. "Coy's a leader."

"Drake's the older brother and the bad boy," Gabby replied, patting the top of Drake's head. "We all know he's kicked Coy's butt since they were little."

"Damn right," the older Quarry brother nodded.

"I'm not the one with the bum knee," the younger brother commented with a grin.

"Bum knee?" Gabby repeated with a start.

"Oh, didn't you know that?" Gemma queried in a singsong voice.

"It's not a big deal," Drake reassured her.

"Yeah, don't let it distract you, cheer cunt."

"I'm not the one distracted, dance slut. Coy's the one looking over longingly at Bridget every few seconds," Gabby countered.

"Coy!"

"No, I'm, uh, not looking at her," Coy weakly protested, causing Gemma to fume.

As Shayla moved into position again, Carmella whispered to her partner, Ransom Kittle.

"Scootch to your right about another foot."

"You got a plan, Carm?"

"I always have a plan, Mr. Kittle," Carmella replied with a smirk that he couldn't see. "This one will allow us to save our energy for the next round."

"I never know if Benny is the luckiest or unluckiest guy in the Honey Hollow," Ransom commented about his close friend.

"He's both, sweetheart."

"Ready?" Shayla questioned.

"You better not ruin my sarong, cheer brat," Carmella warned the youngest varsity cheerleader.

"It does like cheap and flimsy," Shayla lied. As Carmella denied any such thing, the petite girl dropped the wet garment into the water with a splash. "Go!"

"What's the plan?"

"Take a few steps forward, but let them come the rest of way to us," the captain of the Sugarbees directed. "Lauren's too agile for us to risk a fair fight against. Get ready to spring forward on my command."

Ransom watched as Lauren Caputo and Alvin Meech closed the distance. Suddenly, Alvin cried out and staggered.

"Now!"

Following his best friend's girlfriend's order, Ransom took several rapid steps forward. While the great-grandson of Wirchie's founder attempted to keep his balance, Carmella issued a sharp, backhanded blow to Lauren, knocking the brown-haired cheerleader into the water.

"I'm sorry, Lauren," Alvin apologized as he helped her up. "I stepped in a hole."

"How did you know?" Ransom whispered to Carmella.

"I dug it," she revealed, turning to watch her protégé struggle with Gabby.

The two girls griped each other's arms tightly enough that their fingers dug into the skin. At least one of the girls would have bruises tomorrow to explain. While the Quarry brothers worked to avoid the same fate as Alvin, by gingerly testing each step they made, up above them, Gabby and Gemma hurled comments at each other.

Gemma sought to insult the Latina's choice of men and her reputation, while Gabby worked to mindfuck the younger redhead.

"Yeah, I might like to fuck more than is acceptable, but that also means I've earned experience."

"That's another way to admit you're a slut," Gemma groaned as she tried to free herself.

"It just means that I've been a good mentor to Bridget. She's learned all my tricks."

"So, you do turn tricks for paying customers!"

"And once Coy sees what Bridget can do, you're shit out of luck."

"Carmella's taught me things too!"

"Carmella's been banging the same guy for years. Unless Benny's cheating on her at college, those two are boring in bed," Gabby suggested with a laugh. Glancing down, Gabby caught Coy's attention. "Oh, McCoy, I can offer a one-night package deal with Bridget and me someday in the future. Carmella won't do that for Gemma."

"Wha..." Coy stared in shock at the offer.

"Don't listen to that bitch!" Gemma screamed.

Left alone from the bickering, Drake saw his chance, knocking his body into his younger brother. Quick on the uptake, Gabby took advantage of Coy's swaying and shoved hard at Gemma's waist. The combined moves sent both Gemma and Coy spinning into the water.

"Do I get a threesome too?" Drake asked as Gabby ate up the crowd's cheers.

"If we win, Drakey, only if we win."

---

"What's the deal with your man-of-the-day?" Talissa inquired, across the water from Tinny.

"You're not snagging this one, witch," the spunky cheerleader shot back. "I'd focus on the creep under you, but I guess you're used to having Eddie's kind under you."

The somewhat drunk Eddie Laffont grinned at what he mistook as a compliment.

"Hiya, I'm Talissa Bresse," the pale, black-haired girl ignored Tinny's comment and introduced herself with a wave. "And what's your name?"

"Don't answer her!" Tinny ordered her unnamed admirer as he knelt in the water so that she could scamper onto his shoulders.

"He's roommates with Rusty Ridge up in Arbor Corners."

"Nobody asked you, Didi!" Tinny spat back. Still fuming over Elliot Ridge's teaming up with her rival, she vowed to knock Talissa on her ass and then do the same to Didi.

"You know, Tinsley, Elliot's been telling me such hilarious tales about the pranks he's pulled on you over the years," Didi giggled while running her hands over her partner's chest before crawling onto his shoulders.

"Fuck you and you!"

"Tinny, behave," Rachel called over to her energetic charge.

"Yes, Mommy," she sassed back.

"Tin," Bridget warned, causing her close friend to cross her arms across her chest and pout.

"Shit, I'd kill to call Rachel mommy," Wayne Parker cracked.

"Classy as always, Wayne," Dewey Dunkley commented.

"You see those milk jugs? Only a gay guy wouldn't want to milk those!"

"I think it's too late for breast milk to fix your IQ," Larry Lufflutz remarked.

"Huh?"

"Let's go, Bailey!" screamed Cody Higby.

"Shock the world, Bails!" yelled one of the sophomore's friends.

As the participant with the longest odds, Bailey became a crowd favorite for both her underdog role and how much money anyone that bet on her could win.

"Make me some money, Bailey!" cheered a leggy blonde.

"Felicity, you can't cheer for her," Cordelia snapped.

"I can't? But she'd make me money if she wins, and I need to get my nails done," Felicity Witt responded.

"You bet on--never mind. Fliss, she's going up against Didi. You know, your friend," Cordelia explained to her ditzy teammate on the dance squad.

"That's okay. I bet on Didi too!" grinned the Sugarbee airhead.

"You bet on her too?" Cordelia thought for a second. Then, "How many people did you bet on?"

"All of them! I can't lose that way!"

"All of...Fliss, how have you not learned anything from Valentina?" Cordelia asked more to herself.

"She wonders that all the time, too," Felicity said brightly. "Ooh, it looks like something is happening."

"Ready?" Shayla asked, holding up the sarong. Didi and Talissa sitting on shoulders in front of her nodded.

"You're going down, Sugarbee."

Shayla assumed that meant her cheermate was ready but had to look behind to check on Bailey. Still embarrassed and blushing over the attention from a couple minutes ago, the shy girl squeaked and nodded.

"Okay. Get ready--what are you doing?" Shayla asked the two people darting up from the water behind Didi and Talissa as their partners crouched slightly.

Both Talissa and Didi felt a pinch on the fabric of their bikinis. Focused on the upcoming chicken fight, neither reacted in time to stop their tops from popping free. Talissa looked in horror as her black bikini top drifted down just out of her arms' reach. A dozen feet next to her, Didi closed her eyes and bit her lip in anger. Opening them, she saw her strapless, light green bikini floating in the water between her and Bailey. Placing her hands on her hips, Shayla scowled at the two culprits.

"Let freedom ring!" shouted Monty Rusk.

"Unleash the nipples!" screamed Fred Singer.