Handcuffs again

Without warning, David puts his arm around my shoulders, fueling the stares of the people around us as we walk towards campus together. I shrug off his hold.

"What are you doing?" I whisper at him.

"What? I thought we're together," he teases, mouth twitching. I resist the urge to slug him in the face in front of everybody. I can't believe I thought I could get along with him.

"Hey. Good morning!" a bright voice greets us on our way to my classroom.

"Ari! Good morning." David replies just as happily. He puts his hand on my shoulder again, even as I throw him an exasperated look. "You met Dina, right?"

"I sure did. I was her tour guide her first day here." Ari responds. A meaningful look crosses between them and my brows snap together in curiosity. Avoiding my eyes, David clears his throat.

"Right. I'm handing her over to you then. My class is the other way." he announces, giving Ari and me a salute. I remember him doing the same gesture in the hallways that day. I may or may not find it adorable.

"Ah--no," Ari says, pulling him back by the arm. "Dave, I need you for something. It'll be real quick, I promise." Ari links her other arm with mine and all three of us enter the class together in this awkward position.

I cringe as we step into the classroom. It looks like a paper machine just exploded with all the post-its stamped on the walls. The class is Peer Communications, which is required for all Freshmen and transferees in this school. Ari, though neither a transferee nor a Freshman, is in the class as a student council representative. To be honest, I don't see the need for this class. Communicating with my peers is not something that I have a particular interest in. And even in those who want to hone their skills in that area, I doubt it would do them any good. You either have it or you don't. It's a weird school, Hell Park High.

"Hello, ladies." Brad and Kier appear, sauntering towards us. A pair of girls start whispering in the corner, glancing appreciatively at them. Brad gives them a bow in response and they giggle like he's the funniest guy ever. I roll my eyes at the scene.

"Brad, what are you doing here?" David asks in surprise.

"Brandon, Kier. You're late." Ari tells them. Just then, she goes behind me and grabs my elbows, holding me in place. Kier does the same thing to David. What the hell? "Sorry, Dina." she softly says in my ear. I strain against her grip, but she's surprisingly strong. Before David and I can react, Brad handcuffs my left hand with David's right hand. We look down at our linked hands, horrified. In my periphery, some of the class glance over at us, curious.

"Mr. Jung. Looking sharp, as always." Brad says, greeting Mr. Jung, our Peer Communications facilitator, as the latter enters the room gaily.

"Oh. Thank you, Brandon." Mr. Jung says, looking pleased. He presses his hand on his striped black and white suit, which seems a little too zebra-like to me.

Whatever. I need him to get these guys straightened out. "Mr. Jung, good morning." I make sure to smile at him. "Can I get a little help here?" I say, shaking mine and David's handcuffed arms in front of him. David grimaces in pain as his shoulders get forced into action.

Mr. Jung's eyes then travel down to my handcuffed hands. His forehead knotted. "Oh! Is this the experiment?" he exclaims cheerfully. David and I look at each other.

"Yes, it's the experiment for our social sciences class, Mr. Jung. The one I told you about," answers Ari. I cast her a glance of disbelief. She avoids my eyes.

"No, Mr. Jung, this is not--"David tries to correct the misunderstanding. But Mr. Jung has already turned to make his way in front of the class, effectively escaping us.

"Dude. What are you doing?" David whispers at Ari, shocked. I commiserate. Isn't this girl supposed to be a part of the student council?

"Please don't tell Seb. I had no choice. Brad has something on me." Ari desperately responds. "So sorry, Dina. I'll make it up to the both of you. I promise."

"Dave. My man. Come on." Brad puts his arms over David's shoulders, and reaching across him, grabs my arm as well. "This is all just a little bit of fun."

"Fun for you," I growl at him.

"Exactly." Kier agrees. I want to smack his insultingly attractive face straight to Mars.

"Brandon, I swear to God-" David looks like he's ready to punch Brad. But Mr. Jung must have had enough of our loitering because he glares in our direction, slamming something hard on this table. We all jump in surprise.

"Didn't you hear me? I said, sit down if you're in this class. If you're not, get out of here." Mr. Jung looks on at us, annoyed now. Great. We just ruined the poor guy's mood. The others in the class are getting restless as well.

Ari, still looking guilty, hurries to a seat near the window, the farthest from us, while Brad drags Kier out of the classroom with him, beaming at us like he just won a race. David looks murderously at his friends' back. He isn't even in this class, but he is forced to sit down beside me on my desk.

"You are so going to pay for this," I whisper to David. I flex my chafed wrists, wincing in pain. A part of my hand grazes his skin and I stiffen.

"Dina, I swear I had nothing to do with this," David replies just as softly, not taking his eyes off the front of the class in case Mr. Jung notices. I ignore him, keeping my eyes in front as well. I count my breaths to keep myself from creating a scene right then and there. It will not do any of us good if I throw a tantrum. Deep breaths, and this will all be over.