Chapter Two

The auditorium buzzed with a nervous energy that could power a small city. Three hundred high school students, crammed into the faded velvet seats, fidgeted and whispered, their collective anxiety thick enough to cut with a knife. Up on the stage, Principal Thompson, a man whose smile rarely reached his eyes, adjusted the microphone with a practiced air.

Jamie sat rigidly beside Greg, his palms slick with sweat. He tried to focus on the intricate patterns of the auditorium's ceiling, anything to distract himself from the impending announcement. Beside him, Greg, ever the font of inappropriate humor, leaned in close.

"Dude, you look like you're about to be sentenced to death," he whispered, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Relax. Worst case scenario, you get stuck with Mrs. Henderson for a week."

Jamie shot him a glare. "This is serious, Greg. This is… Sandra."

Greg raised an eyebrow, his usual teasing tone softening slightly. "Okay, okay. I get it. Your childhood sweetheart. The one who makes your palms sweat more than a calculus exam." He clapped Jamie on the shoulder. "You got this, man. The universe owes you one."

Jamie wished he shared Greg's confidence. The universe, in his experience, had a rather cruel sense of humor. He glanced around the auditorium, catching sight of Annabella a few rows ahead. She was surrounded by her usual gaggle of friends, her bright yellow jacket a splash of vibrant color in the sea of nervous faces. She looked… surprisingly subdued. Her usual boisterous laughter was replaced by a quiet murmur with her best friend, a cool, collected girl named Cathy.

He wondered who she was hoping to be paired with. Michael Todd, probably. Every girl in school had a crush on Michael Todd. Jamie couldn't deny the guy's appeal – the chiseled jaw, the effortless charm, the uncanny ability to excel at everything. He was everything Jamie wasn't.

Principal Thompson cleared his throat, the sound echoing through the suddenly silent auditorium. "Good morning, students. As you all know, today marks the beginning of our annual marriage practical. This exercise is designed to simulate the challenges and rewards of a long-term relationship, and to assess your ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively."

A collective groan rippled through the crowd.

"However," Principal Thompson continued, a hint of a smile finally gracing his lips, "we understand that this can also be a… stressful experience. Therefore, we have implemented a new system this year. The top five couples, based on their performance throughout the week, will have the option to switch partners, provided both couples involved agree."

A gasp went through the room, followed by a flurry of excited whispers. Jamie's heart leaped. A chance! A chance to be with Sandra, even if the initial pairing wasn't in his favor.

"The pairings have been randomly generated," Principal Thompson continued, "and will be displayed on the screens now."

Two large screens at the front of the auditorium flickered to life, displaying a list of names. Jamie held his breath, his eyes scanning the list with frantic intensity.

"First pair," Principal Thompson announced, his voice booming through the speakers, "Annabella Watkins and… Jamie Young."

Jamie blinked. His name. With Annabella? The girl from the stairwell? The girl who called him "weird gaming guy"? His stomach plummeted. This couldn't be happening.

A collective gasp went through the room, followed by a flurry of excited whispers. Jamie's heart leaped. A chance! A chance to be with Sandra, even if the initial pairing wasn't in his favor.

"Second pair," Principal Thompson continued, his voice booming through the speakers, "Annabella Watkins and… Jamie Young."

Jamie blinked. His name. With Annabella? The girl from the stairwell? The girl who called him "weird gaming guy"? His stomach plummeted. This couldn't be happening.

He risked a glance at Annabella. Her face was a mask of disbelief, her usual lively energy replaced by a stunned silence. She caught his eye, a flicker of… something he couldn't quite decipher… crossing her features.

"And finally," Principal Thompson said, drawing out the suspense, "Sandra McBerger and… Michael Todd."

The air rushed out of Jamie's lungs. Sandra. With Michael. The perfect couple. The universe, it seemed, was not feeling particularly generous today.

A wave of nausea washed over him. This was a disaster. A complete and utter disaster. He was stuck with Annabella, the girl who saw him as nothing more than a weird gaming guy, while Sandra was paired with the golden boy, the guy who had everything.

He barely registered Principal Thompson's instructions about the marriage practical homes, the points system, the various challenges they would face. His mind was a whirlwind of disappointment and a strange, unsettling… what was that? A flicker of… something… in Annabella's eyes?

As the auditorium began to empty, Jamie remained frozen in his seat, his gaze fixed on Annabella, who was now staring back at him with an unreadable expression. He had a feeling this week was going to be far more complicated than he could have ever imagined.