There was quite the commotion after Lexi took the stage and announced that the annual cheer team silent auction was about to begin. Literally everyone turned their attention to the semi circle we had now formed on the stage.

Guys in the crowd wolf whistled and began to boast vocally about winning someone hot. Girls scowled at the stage and whispered nasty comments in each other's ears I'm sure, giggling and pointing at us like animals in a circus.

I was definitely not ok with being a public spectacle like this, but as I stole a nervous glance around the stage at my team mates, I realised this was more of a joke than anything serious. They were all smiling and laughing, pretending to stand in front of each other and show off their best assets to attract a higher bid. They were making light of it, so surely I could do the same? It's all harmless fun. For a good cause. At least that's what I was attempting to tell my rapidly beating heart and steadily rising anxiety level.

Lexi stepped up to centre stage and tapped on the silver mike atop the thin stand holding it up.

"Ok ladies and gentlemen. Let's get the rules out of the way first." This statement attracted a lot of booing and hissing from the majority of the men in the crowd. They didn't want rules, they wanted to buy some time with the cheerleaders.

Lexi continues, not at all phased by the negative response. She has serious balls this one! Candice squeezes my hand and I give her a small nod to let her know that I am still breathing. Just.

Lexi attempts to reign in the rambunctious men.

"Everyone Finished?! You all know how this goes, but for the newbies in the crowd and on stage, let's just spell it out shall we?" She throws a quick glance back in my direction and a small smirk crosses her lips.

"All of my dashing and darling team mates will be given a number. They will each complete a quick lap of the stage, to show you what they've got and then, if you see someone you like, you can head over to the left of the stage and make your bid with my assistant and myself for the lad or lady of your choice, to spend some quality time with at tonight's event."

Again, more whistling follows and I feel the bile rising in my throat like the lava of a volcano, ready to explode.

I'm going to be sick.

"Some of my lovelies up here have very kindly donated their time for a date card auction. This means you, the lucky buyer, get to have them all to yourself on a tasteful date of your choice!" The crowd goes nuts at this announcement and my nerves hit an all time high.

Lexi revs them up some more and I have to literally force a smile onto my face and will my legs to hold me up, the adrenaline is pumping so hard I feel as if people in the crowd can see my erratically beating heart as it races so fast, it shreds my chest.

I close my eyes and try to calm my nerves as Lexi continues;

"It goes without saying that to win a date, you must put your money where your mouth is people! Now, let's get the bidding started shall we?" She lifts her arms in the air like she is signalling the start of a very important race and the atmosphere amongst the thirsty bidders is wild.

One by one, the ladies and gentlemen of my team take their lap of honour. Each is rewarded for their bravery with shrieking and whistling and applause. As the next in turn gets closer to me I lean in to Candice and whisper in her ear;

"I can't do this Candice. What if no one buys us? What happens to the rejects?" My heart beat is so loud in my ears it's deafening. I'm literally freaking myself out.

"Ellis, will you shut up! You are seriously not that crazy are you? Do you not know how hot you are? Now stop it, breath. And wish me luck, I'm next!"

The guy who stands next to Candice in line returns to his place following his lap and Candice steps up to the plate. Each step is confident, a huge smile on her face and a swish of her hips and hair.

She has the crowd in the palm of her hands. Or the dip of her cleavage more like it. She is going to eat them alive.

One of the huge guys I saw at Bayne's table earlier yells out something and he catches her eye. She winks at him as she rounds the stage and he returns it, nudging his friends and raising a brow towards Candice.

As she completes her turn she makes a small curtsy at the mic towards Lexi and the crowd erupts in applause and hooting like never before.

She returns to my side in a fit of giggles, a flush over her face.

"Holy hit Ellis, that was amazing! Get up there baby! Trust me, it's only for fun."

She emphasises her point with a smack to my behind as i slowly edge my way forward to Lexi.

"Please help me welcome one of our freshman to the stage, this lovely lady is from the land down under and that my dear friends, makes her exotic". Lexi wiggles her brows at me and the yelling and screeching in the crowd kicks up another notch.

I mentally force myself forward, one foot in front of the other and before I know it, I'm slowly circling the stage. I throw in a small wave here and there though it comes of as a sad sort of beauty pageant wave.
It does earn me a few laughs though and that alone makes me feel more at ease.

Especially when I see Bayne at the edge of the stage to the left, speaking into Lexi's ear. She wears a frown and for some reason, it makes me uncomfortable.

Does this mean... that... he is bidding? For me? Why does she look unhappy?

I speed up the end of my lap and rush back over to Candice, hoping the sudden heat I'm feeling is not showing on my face. She hugs me quickly and whispers in my ear,

"I knew you could do it, you sexy little thing you!"

I laugh at her and shake my head. God I'm lucky I met her. She makes this all so much easier. And, I admit to myself, enjoyable.

Lexi takes the stage and thanks everyone for their commitment to the cause, announcing that we, the fodder, will be keeping our numbers on and mingling for a while longer so that bids may be made for a further half hour before the winners are announced.

Candice and I exit the stage and head for our bags and the drink stash, I am in need of a double if I'm going to survive being purchased and forced to speak to a random who has bought me. I hope they don't try to get handsy, it may look bad if I go all UFC on someone at my first event. I may be socially awkward but I'm not easy.

As we make our way across the floor, the man- giant who she was so obviously flirting with from the stage makes a beeline for us. He is even more mountain like up close. Even on our heels, we only reach his chest, and if we held hands, there is no way Candice and I could reach around him. He is just such a huge unit!

"Ladies, thank you for the show just now, it was ah, different." He says, chuckling at himself and offering his hand to Candice.

"I'm Max." He says as he leans in a little closer to Candice, shaking her hand but lingering just a second too long, before she smiles up at him and speaks;

"Candice. And this is my amazing cheer buddy, Ellis."

He nods a small hello to me and looks back to Candice.

"I am hoping I'm able to beat the crowd of bidders tonight and win some time with you if that's ok?" He acts as if it's a question but his body language gives him away. I'm positive no girl says no to this one, though surprisingly I don't get the jerk vibe from him. Confident, yes. But asshole? Perhaps not.

"Well, we will see if the price is right I guess ?" She teases and a devastating smile forms on her lips.

"Guess so." He replies and smirks at her. He returns my polite smile with a grin and we continue past him on our way to the table and my drink salvation.

"Jesus Ellis, he is one massive man isn't he? God he would probably look as though he were kidnapping me if we went out." She laughs out loud at her joke and so do I. I have to admit, he makes her look like a tiny child, not just in height but in sheer brute size.

Ellis and I make our way back towards the exit, hoping to get to the change room once more for some liquid courage when I see Bayne heading for the same exit. He wears a frown and is throwing some major negative shade over his shoulder and in the direction of his table. And Lexi.

He doesn't see Candice and I as we exchange a look as we follow him out of the exit. We round the same corner we just saw him slink around, but he is nowhere to be seen.

"Wonder what his issue is?" She says to me as we enter the same change room we snuck into before and set up our drinks.

"He didn't look too happy did he." I reply as I let the now slightly warm champagne slowly slink it's way down my throat, heating me up from the inside.

"Maybe he doesn't have enough cash to get some alone time with his favourite cheer girl?" She teases as she pours the last of the little bottle into our cups.

Shoving that thought aside, I swig the last few precious drops and hand my cup back to her. She places them in the bag along with the empty bottle and we head back out to the stage.

I gulp as I see our team starting to assemble again and realise that this is it. What if no one buys you? How embarrassing would that be? Surely there is some kind of safety net pity bid? Right?

Here goes nothing I think as we head for the stage. I feel fear of course but it's not the only thing I'm sensing. There is something else there too, snaking it's way sneakily into my mind. It's only small that I hardly admit it to myself but all the same, it's very real. A small thrill of hope courses through my veins.

What if Bayne did actually bid for me? What would that mean? Why do I care?

Oh god what the hell is wrong with me that I actually want him to?

Only one way to find out.