The 'marriage practical homes' turned out to be a series of small, prefabricated units set up behind the school's sports fields. Each contained a basic living area, a kitchenette, a bedroom with two single beds pushed together, and a surprisingly functional bathroom. As Jamie and Annabella stood awkwardly in the doorway of Unit 7, a heavy silence hung between them, thick with unspoken disappointment and a shared sense of being dealt an unexpected hand.
Annabella was the first to break the silence, her voice lacking its usual playful lilt. "Well," she said, her gaze sweeping over the sterile interior, "this is… cozy." The sarcasm was subtle but definitely present.
Jamie mumbled in agreement, his eyes fixed on the two single beds shoved haphazardly together, a floral comforter attempting to bridge the gap. He could already foresee the awkwardness of their sleeping arrangements.
"So," Annabella continued, turning to face him, her arms crossed over her chest, "what's your plan, weird gaming guy?"
Jamie blinked, taken aback by the bluntness. "My plan?"
"Yeah," she said, her tone impatient. "We're stuck together. We both clearly wanted to be with other people. So, what's the strategy? How do we climb those rankings and get a partner swap?"
Ah, right. The points. The top five couples. The escape route. Jamie's own disappointment had momentarily overshadowed that crucial detail. He straightened up, a flicker of determination igniting within him. He might not have Sandra, but he wasn't going to just wallow in self-pity.
"We need to earn points," he stated, matter-of-factly. "The principal mentioned various tasks and assessments. We need to excel in those."
Annabella's eyebrows rose. "Excel? You think we can actually *excel* at pretending to be a married couple?"
"We don't have to pretend to be in love," Jamie countered. "We just need to cooperate, complete the tasks, and show that we're working well together." He thought of Sandra, a fresh wave of longing hitting him. "For me… it's important."
He saw a shift in Annabella's expression, a softening around the edges. "Yeah, well, Michael…" She trailed off, a hint of sadness in her voice. "He probably thinks I'm the most annoying person on the planet."
Jamie, despite his own preoccupation, felt a pang of unexpected sympathy. Rejection, even from afar, stung. "He doesn't seem like the type to be mean," he offered, surprising himself with his attempt at comfort.
Annabella snorted. "You haven't seen him dodge my attempts at conversation since sophomore year." She sighed. "Look, weird gaming guy… Jamie. We both want out of this. So, truce?" She extended a hand towards him.
Jamie hesitated for a moment, then shook her hand. Her grip was surprisingly firm. "Truce."
"Okay," Annabella said, a spark of her usual energy returning. "So, how do we become the power couple of this… bizarre experiment?" She surveyed the room again, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. "First things first, these beds have got to be separated. I value my personal space, even in this… simulated marital prison."
As they wrestled with the surprisingly heavy bed frames, an awkward silence descended once more, punctuated only by the grunts of exertion. Jamie couldn't help but steal glances at Annabella. Up close, her vibrant energy was even more palpable. Despite her initial disappointment, there was a determined glint in her eyes, a refusal to simply accept their situation.
Suddenly, as they tried to maneuver one of the beds, Annabella lost her footing on the slightly uneven floor. With a yelp, she stumbled, her arms flailing for balance. Jamie reacted instinctively, reaching out to steady her.
His hands landed squarely on her chest.
Annabella froze, her eyes widening in surprise. Jamie's own face flushed crimson as he quickly recoiled, stammering an apology.
"S-sorry! I… you were falling…"
A beat of silence hung in the air, thick with sudden, unexpected tension. Then, a slow smile spread across Annabella's face, a mischievous glint returning to her eyes.
"Well, *husband*," she said, her voice a low purr, "that was certainly… hands-on."
Jamie's heart hammered against his ribs. He had a feeling this "truce" was going to be a lot more complicated – and a lot more… *touchy* – than he had initially anticipated.
***