Chapter 21: The Pairing
863 Words
The next morning, Kingsley Academy felt like a ticking time bomb.
Nobody cared about classes.
Nobody cared about homework.
Nobody even cared about the upcoming debate competition.
There was only one topic of conversation.
The Partnership Project.
Students filled the hallways making predictions.
"Imagine getting paired with your best friend."
"Imagine getting paired with an idiot."
"Imagine getting paired with your ex."
"That's worse."
The entire school was restless.
Including Ava.
Especially Ava.
She sat in class staring at her notebook while her classmates argued over possible pairings.
The project was important.
Very important.
According to the principal, it would count for a huge portion of their final evaluation.
Which meant one thing.
Your partner could either save your grade...
Or destroy it.
Ava wasn't sure which possibility scared her more.
---
Their teacher entered carrying a folder.
Immediately, conversations died.
Everyone sat up straighter.
The folder.
The cursed folder.
The folder that contained everyone's fate.
The teacher smiled.
Nobody smiled back.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
Barely.
The teacher placed the folder on her desk.
"I assume you're all interested in today's announcement."
The classroom exploded.
"YES."
The teacher laughed.
"At least you're honest."
---
For the next few minutes, students listened as the project was explained.
Research.
Presentations.
Reports.
Interviews.
Public speaking.
Basically every difficult thing Kingsley could think of.
The more the teacher talked, the more nervous everyone became.
Then came the worst part.
"The project is worth thirty percent of your final grade."
The room erupted.
"THIRTY?"
"No way."
"That's evil."
"I want to transfer."
The teacher ignored the complaints.
Ava's stomach dropped.
Thirty percent.
Failing wasn't an option.
Not even close.
---
Finally, the teacher picked up the pairing list.
The room became silent.
Painfully silent.
Students leaned forward.
Some even clasped their hands together.
Praying.
Begging.
Negotiating with the universe.
The teacher began reading names.
Pairs were announced one after another.
Some students cheered.
Others groaned.
One girl looked seconds away from tears.
Ava listened carefully.
Still no name.
The list continued.
Still nothing.
Then—
"Ava Williams..."
Ava looked up.
"...and Ethan Blackwood."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The kind of silence that only lasted one second before complete chaos.
---
The classroom exploded.
"No way."
"You're joking."
"THEY DID WHAT?"
Noah nearly fell out of his chair.
Liam looked like Christmas had arrived early.
Even Jace looked stunned.
Students immediately started talking over one another.
Some laughed.
Others looked horrified.
Several people pulled out their phones.
Ava sat frozen.
Surely she heard that wrong.
There was no way.
Absolutely no way.
Slowly, she turned toward Ethan.
He was already looking at her.
And judging by his expression...
He was having the exact same reaction.
---
"No."
The word left Ava's mouth before she could stop it.
The class laughed.
Across the room, Ethan spoke at almost the same time.
"No."
The laughter got louder.
The teacher pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Ava."
"Ethan."
"No."
The teacher sighed.
"Ava."
"This has to be a mistake."
"It isn't."
Ethan immediately joined in.
"There's definitely been some kind of error."
"There hasn't."
The teacher looked entirely too calm.
Ava found that suspicious.
---
"We can't work together."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Several students nodded.
A few looked disappointed.
They clearly wanted the drama.
The teacher folded her arms.
"Why not?"
Ava opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Because explaining years of irritation, arguments, prank wars, competition, and mutual stubbornness sounded ridiculous.
Ethan wasn't having the same problem.
"We'd kill each other."
The class burst into laughter.
The teacher looked unconvinced.
"You've survived this long."
"Barely."
More laughter.
---
The teacher waited for the room to settle.
Then delivered the news neither wanted to hear.
"The pairings are final."
Ava stared.
Ethan stared.
The teacher stared back.
Nobody blinked.
---
"But—"
"No."
"There has to be—"
"No."
"We can switch with someone else."
"No."
The teacher was enjoying this.
Ava was sure of it.
Absolutely sure.
---
The reality slowly began sinking in.
No partner changes.
No exceptions.
No escape.
She was stuck with Ethan.
For an entire project.
A project worth thirty percent of her grade.
Thirty.
Not three.
Not five.
Thirty.
Enough to change everything.
Ava looked at Ethan again.
He looked equally horrified.
Good.
At least the suffering was mutual.
---
The bell eventually rang, but nobody moved.
Students were still discussing the pairings.
Mostly theirs.
Of course.
Noah walked over immediately.
"This is the greatest day of my life."
"It isn't," Ava said.
"It is."
Liam nodded.
"It really is."
Jace shook his head.
"I already know this is going to end badly."
For once, Ava agreed with him.
---
As students gathered their belongings, the teacher called their names.
"Ava. Ethan."
Both looked up.
The teacher smiled.
A dangerous smile.
The kind teachers used before ruining lives.
"You should start planning immediately."
Neither responded.
The teacher's smile widened.
"After all..."
The room quieted.
Ava suddenly had a bad feeling.
A very bad feeling.
The teacher looked directly at them.
"You'll be working together for the next two months."
And just like that, both of their nightmares officially began.
- Writer
