Fletcher wasn't happy, he wasn't happy at all. He was more than not happy he was furious with himself and with his parents. He couldn't believe he let his anger get ahold of him and actually start a fight. He thought that maybe if he did actually fight Gabe he would be able to prove how manly and athletic he was, but the effect was the exact opposite. He actually got himself closer to the boy he detested the most while loved at the same time. He couldn't believe that his parents would agree to such a horrible and probably illegal way to get him to get along with someone. He couldn't believe that he would be handcuffed to Gabe for god knows how long. He yelled as he got dressed in his bedroom. He contemplating skipping school today for the sole reason of not having to get handcuffed, but then his parents would know he wasn't at school, but he didn't want to go. He could pretend to be sick, but then he'd have to go in the next day and get handcuffed anyways. He yelled and banged his hands on his desk as he threw a book across the room. This was going to be the sole worst experience of his life and he couldn't even think of how he was going to relate to his parents or Gabe's because they had to alternate households and classes. Fletcher knew he had to relax because it wouldn't help anyone if he was angry and irritated, and it would make the whole experience even worse. He sighed and put on his dress shirt as he brushed his hair. He thought it couldn't be that bad to be handcuffed to Gabe. Maybe he was better than everyone thought he was, and Fletcher was being too judgmental. Fletcher then thought it could be even worse and Gabe could make his life a living hell more than he already did.
Fletcher decided to stop thinking about it, because nothing good ever came out of people who worried too much. He was finally ready and walked downstairs to see his mother making breakfast and Fletcher could already tell she didn't want to have a conversation, because she knew he's be mad. She placed some pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, and hash browns onto his plate while also placing syrup, chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, and whip cream on the table. Fletcher knew that she was trying to butter him up and try to not make him angrier than he already was, but it wasn't going to work. He wasn't going to buy it he wasn't going to be bought by some nice breakfast and her sunny attitude. Fletcher crossed his arms as his father came down holding a new backpack and a new cellphone for him. Fletcher now thought that they were obviously trying buy him with shiny things and new things, but he was going to hold his ground, and wouldn't be swayed by some fancy new things. His parents could tell that he wasn't amused by the new things that they had bought and made him. They chuckled awkwardly as his mother returned to the stove and his father quickly picked up the paper. Fletcher did take the new backpack and cellphone, but that didn't mean he wasn't mad at them. He was more than mad at them, he was furious at them, and not matter what they could say or do he would never, ever forgive them.
It was time to go to school, and his father sighed softly as they left their retro designed kitchen. Fletcher's family was very wealthy, and they lived in the wealthiest part of town. Both of Fletchers parents had very well paying jobs. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was a therapist. It wasn't bad enough he had parents who analyzed him every second of the day, but now they were putting him through this torture of being friends with the demon spawn from hell. His father turned on the radio to Radio Disney when they entered the car as to avoid a conversation, and Fletcher had always admired his father's ability to avoid conversations that he didn't want to have. The drive to school was a silent once despite the loud pop music of some up and coming artist that Radio Disney was whoring out on the radio. Fletcher didn't think she was all too good, because her song was all about true love and happiness, and these were two things that he didn't believe in. There was no such thing as true love and no such thing as true happiness. Everyone could be happy and everyone can fall in love, but no one could be someone's true love, and no one could be truly and perfectly happy.
Fletcher's father dropped him off at the front of the school which happened to be the closet entrance to the main office, and this angered him more, because his father typically dropped him off by the side entrance which happened to be near his locker, but Fletcher felt his father didn't trust him to go directly to the main office, and his father was right. He didn't want to go directly to the main office, but he knew he had to anyway. His new phone vibrated, and Fletcher figured it still had the same number as his old phone. It was a text message from Mitsu wishing him good luck. He smiled, because he was obviously going to need luck today. He walked through the front doors and he quickly entered the main office. The receptionist looked up and motioned for Fletcher to go into the principal's office. He smiled back and went into the Principal's office to see both Ms. Harmony and Gabe waiting for him. Fletcher sighed and collapsed onto one of the chairs and Gabe looked at him and chuckled a bit. Fletcher had half a mind to punch Gabe in the face.
"Well, seeing as you're both here we can perform this experiment," Ms. Harmony said and Fletcher stood up very confused.
"Wait, this method has never been tested before?" Fletcher said not feeling comfortable going through a procedure that wasn't verified as accurate.
"It has, but not enough to prove it completely accurate. Of the studies done the results have been very good. You don't have anything to worry about. Let me just explain how this is going to work. You two are going to be handcuffed until you can truthfully and honestly admit to each other than you like each other and that you two are best friends. You shall alternate week to week of whose classes you're attending since your classes vary. You two will attend Fletcher's classes this week. Fletcher, you must be happy about this, but try not to gloat in Gabe's face. Anyway, during the time in the school you'll be handcuffed. Even in the bathroom. I know what I said before, but you two are boys, you should be able to handle it. You'll only be unlocked for showers, to change in P.E, and to change at home. Speaking of homes, you will also alternate week to week of whose house you'll stay at. Since you two will be attending Fletcher's classes. You two will be staying at Gabe's house. Now Gabe, be a nice host and treat Fletcher well. You two will eat together, sleep together, learn together, and play together. You two must learn how to get along. Oh, and Fletcher I hope that you can help Gabe with his studies and Gabe please try to get Fletcher to be more athletic. This is all, you two shall be handcuffed and be dismissed," Ms. Harmony said as the school's security officer came in and handcuffed them not too tightly, but not loosely enough to get out of them.
"Do we even get a say in this?" Gabe said as he lifted his arm also lifting Fletcher as he nervously ran his fingers through his hair.
"No, now please run along to class," Ms. Harmony said as they left the office. Fletcher looked down at the hand cuffs and realized how close their hands were. He could hold Gabe's hand if he wanted and he couldn't do anything about it.
"Look, I got to go to my locker," Fletcher said to Gabe who gave him a look of disdain.
"Your locker is near all those nerds. I don't want to go there. I want to go see my friends!" Gabe whined and Fletcher rolled his eyes sighing.
"I don't care what you want to do. I need my books so we can understand OUR classes. Now please stop arguing with me," Fletcher said beginning to his locker and Gabe groaned as he reluctantly followed Fletcher. They walked into the hallway that contained Fletcher's locker, and at the end of the hallway was the sci-fi club in their most recent sci-fi uniforms.
"That's what I'm talking about, Fletcher. I don't want to be here. It'll ruin my reputation," Gabe said as if he was actually significantly popular.
"You're handcuffed to me. Trust me your 'reputation' has gone down a bit," Fletcher said as he opened his locker beginning to take out his books.
"No, I told everyone I was being force to be handcuffed to you. It's not like I chose to be handcuffed to a fairy," Gabe said chuckling and Fletcher sighed again trying to restrain his anger.
"Look, we're going to have to learn to get along, and if you keep making comments like that. This school year will move VERY slowly. I suggest you stop being so damn ignorant and be nice or I can make this experience very difficult for you," Fletcher said angrily as he slapped his locker now that he had his books.
"Fletcher, looks like you got yourself a boyfriend," Max joked as he walked up with Mitsu following behind him.
"Very funny Max," Fletcher said punching Max jokingly, "Max, Mitsu I'm sure you two know Gabe, and Gabe I'm sure you know Max and Mitsu."
"Yes, of course I know Max the bisexual and Mitsu the goth," Gabe said and Max frowned and Mitsu grabbed his arm holding him back.
"Gabe, what did I just say about being nice?" Fletcher yelled, "C'mon we've got to go to Honors English, before I let Max swing at you."
"Honors English? I hate English, can't we just skip this class?" Gabe pleaded as Fletcher began to walk towards his class room.
"Absolutely not, unlike you, I have perfect grades and I want to keep them. Plus, we're talking about Romeo and Juliet. How can you not enjoy a class like that?" Fletcher said smiling as they turned the corner.
"Because, um, I'm straight?" Gabe said and Fletcher sighed once again from the boy's ignorance. As they walked down the halls people began to point, stare, and whisper, "Oh my god, people are already noticing! This has never happened to me."
"This happens to me every day. By you, by your friends, and by other people, and I always feel the way you're feeling right now," Fletcher said as Gabe stopped and was shocked, because he didn't know that Fletcher was affected so much by what he and his friends say.
"You know we're joking right Fletcher? We don't actually hate you. We don't understand you, we don't understand why you don't like sports, why you like to read, and why you never seem to have fun. I mean would it kill you to let loose and have some fun? Go wild and do something bad for once," Gabe said and Fletcher couldn't believe that he was trying to corrupt him, but Fletcher would falter to peer pressure so easily. He was a lot strong than Gabe. He wouldn't do something just so other people would like him.
"I don't know you're joking, because it never seems like you are joking. I don't like sports, because they seem meaningless, I love to read because you learn a lot from reading, and I do have fun just not the fun you think is fun. No, it wouldn't kill me to 'let loose' but I rather not do such a thing. Unlike you I have a perfect record and I won't let it be tarnished by you tell me to do something stupid," Fletcher replied and Gabe sighed with disbelief. Gabe thought that Fletcher was the exact opposite of him. Gabe didn't know if he could help Fletcher, because Fletcher seemed to stubborn to stay who he was.
"I agree that you shouldn't ruin that, but c'mon you're in all honors classes. You spend recess reading, and hey if you had a little more fun you wouldn't be handcuffed to me, and for all you know we would be best friends," Gabe said and Fletcher realized that Gabe did make a very good point. If he had more fun and wasn't so worried about his studies he might be friends with Gabe and wouldn't be handcuffed to him, but then again he wouldn't be himself.
"Don't you think that I want to have fun sometimes? Don't you think I wish I was like you that I could completely disregard my studies and go wild? I sometimes wish I could do that, but my parents expect so much out of me that I never get a time to-," Fletcher began.
"To be a kid," Gabe said completing his sentence, and Fletcher realized Gabe was completely right. His parents were preventing him from have a childhood, but he couldn't possibly ignore the wills to do whatever he wanted. Fletcher couldn't imagine defying his parents. They would hate him until the day he died if he defied them. He was sure of it.
"I couldn't defy what my parents wanted, because they sacrificed so much so I could be happy. This is the best school in the district, they've hired tutors, and made sure I was the smartest I could be," Fletcher said to Gabe who stopped and looked at him.
"And look at where it's gotten you. Handcuffed to me, the complete opposite of you, everyone thinking you're a bookworm and a homosexual, and even the administration thinking you're not physical enough. Tell me, do you really think your parents helped you now?" Gabe asked as Fletcher contemplated what Gabe said, and it did make a lot of sense. He was very unpopular, and people did make fun of him. Maybe if his parents didn't expect so much out of him that he would more popular, but his parents did so much for him and he couldn't forget all that they did for him. Fletcher remembered this morning and how they wouldn't even talk to him. They decided to allow the school to do this and he didn't want to. It wasn't what was best for him. He realized it was what was best for them.
"You're right Gabe. I mean I've been so blinded by the fact that my parents have done so much for me that I couldn't see what they were really doing. How could I have been so blind? I was nothing but a pet to them. Something they could manipulate and do whatever they wanted with," Fletcher said and Gabe chuckled nervously.
"I wouldn't go that far, Fletcher," Gabe said and Fletcher looked at him.
"You're right, but they still killed my childhood. My chance at popularity and my chance to be happy, and I need to fix this and fix it now. Gabe you need help with your grades right?" Fletcher asked and Gabe was still trying to understand his logic.
"Yeah, sure," Gabe replied not really caring.
"Alright, I'll help you get straight A's and you help me defy my parents and get my freedom back," Fletcher said smiling.
"Fletcher, I'd appreciate the help with the grades, but I don't want you to become a total rebel like me. Look, you should become less nerdy and cooler, but you're a smart kid and you'll do big things, and I'll be the one washing your car. I want to teach you to have fun, Fletcher," Gabe responded.
"Really, you'd do that for me? I love you Gabe" Fletcher said hugging Gabe and Gabe began to blush a bit. Fletcher let go and began to text Max.
"I love you too," Gabe whispered not loudly enough for him to hear, but around the corner Mitsu stood smiling to herself.
"Fletcher, I'm sorry for deceiving you. I'm sorry about lying about what administration said. I'm also sorry for writing that on your desk, but I needed you to get closer to Gabe. I know both of you have feelings for each other and he rate you two were arguing you two were never going to get together. I just have to make sure neither of you fuck it up. Now that I know for sure Gabe feels the same way I can finish this quickly and easily," Mitsu whispered to herself while starring at the ground before running off to go get some supplies she would need.