The Handcuff Effect

7

I sat down opposite Stace at the wooden table, watching her eyes sparkle with curiosity. I wasn't at all surprised that she knew about the hospitality episode. News spread like wildfire, as need did when Nathan pulled a prank. They were renowned for being perfectly intentional, yet for all intents and purposes, appeared entirely accidental.

Nathan was a genius.

'So,' Stace began dramatically, slapping her open palms onto the surface of the table, 'Tell me everything! I can't trust anything that I hear from Anna Moore's stupid mouth. She's a compulsive liar.'

I shook my head at her, a smirk playing on my mouth. 'Don't be mean,' I told her, before picking at my blueberry muffin, kindly sponsored by the girl in question.

Rolling her eyes, Stace turned to Nathan. 'Did the eggs go all over him?'

Nathan looked vaguely disappointed. 'Only one.'

I snorted, plucking a chunk of cake from the patty pan, stuffing it into my mouth. I felt three sets of eyes on my and I looked up. 'What?' I asked defensively.

Jared's eyes flashed oddly. 'You're immune to Nathan's skills? Marry me.'

I snorted again, stuffing more cake into my mouth. I was not about to tell him that I was far from immune. Like, the opposite. 'I'm good. Thanks.' I replied instead and the table cracked up.

I hadn't realised how quickly it had filled up with people until I found myself squashed up against Nathan's side on my left, and Anna on my right. Don't get me wrong, Anna's nice. But she's also a massive attention seeker, hence her compulsive lying. She was a little overbearing, and one could really only deal with her for a little bit at a time.

Naturally, she chose then to speak up. 'I reckon I could do that.' Anna noted drily.

Everyone within hearing distance shot her a look. 'What? I did that to my brother the other month. Except I got more than one egg on him.' She shot us all a look; lips pursed, brow arched.

I willed Stace not to say anything. I willed hard. Even closed my eyes, that's how intensely I hope Stace would hold her tongue.

'I thought he was overseas?' Stace asked, ever the tone of innocent curiosity. I wanted to bang my head on the table repeatedly. Stace was the type of person who couldn't help but rile up personalities like Anna.

Anna levelled a hard look at her. 'He came back for a visit.'

No one believed that. How was this hole of a town anything compared to Europe? Who would want to come back here--on uni wages, mind you-- for a visit?

I decided to break the tension. 'Have you decided what movie we're watching yet?' I asked Stace.

You could practically see her mind switch gears. It was almost entertaining. 'Actually,' she began, 'I was looking at movie previews in my free, and I found this one--'

'Do they have to come along?' Jaded whined at me, grinning gleefully when he saw Stace's unamused expression.

I looked at him like he was stupid. 'You do remember that we're attached to these guys, right? As in, if they don't go, neither do we?'

Jarred gave a a deprecating stare. 'I know that, dumbass.'

Instead of replying to him, I just rolled my eyes, looking back at Stace. 'So that movie you were talking about?'

Jarred groaned, dropping his head onto his folded arms, eliciting a giggle from Stace and I both. She shot me a delighted smile and a resisted the urge to beam at her. So maybe Stace and I weren't chief masterminds like the two idiots we were stuck to. But it didn't mean we were completely incapable.

.

'I'm not going to the movies in this stupid dress.' I told Nathan once we got home. 'If I have to cut it up to get it off, then so be it.'

Nathan arched a brow at me, a sly grin on his face. 'Will I be watching?'

I just looked at him, until he caught on and raised his hands in surrender. 'Sorry, ma'am.' He grumbled.

I snickered at his forlorn expression, before leading him into my room. I wouldn't say it aloud, but I was secretly pleased that he seemed to be warming up to me and my house so quickly. He grabbed the juice before I could when we got home today.

Dragging him up to my cupboard, I rummaged around, finding a pair of denim shorts and a baby-yellow singlet top.

I fumbled with the thin spaghetti straps for a moment, before coming to an idea. 'Turn around and close your eyes.' I told Nathan. He shot me a look, brows furrowed in confusion. I raised my own in response. 'Just do it.'

Nathan pulled a face. 'Okay, okay. No need to get snooty.'

I wanted to disagree. 'I'm not snooty,' I replied. 'Just keenly aware of personal space.'

'Says the girl handcuffed to me.' He retorted, and I glared at his shoulder blades.

'Says the fact that said boy is facing away from my clothes draws.' I returned easily.

'Says the nice lacy bra in your hand.'

I gasped and slapped him in the back. Hard. 'I told you not to look!'

Nathan chuckled. 'Couldn't resist, Burger. Couldn't resist.'

.

I blindfolded Nathan three times before I felt confident enough to get changed. Guys like him always found a way out of blindfolds.

'Come on, Burg, is the mask really necessary?' He asked from the other side of the bathroom door.

'It is with you.' I replied, using the nail scissors I'd found in the top draw of the bathroom to cut myself free of my school dress. When I slipped it off, I felt the biggest sense of relief. It was like I was a snake shedding my skin. But better. And less disgusting.

'Oh, come on.' He grumbled. 'It's not like I'd do anything.'

Of course he wouldn't. You're you. 'That's not the point.' I told him, swapping my undies for new, clean, beautiful ones. 'I'm not one to strip tease.'

'Strip tease, huh?' Nathan asked slowly.

I was so glad he couldn't see my blush. Instead, I worked on cutting the strap of my bra, on the side to which Nathan was attached. I was just glad it was an old bra, not one of my favourites.

The lacy bra Nathan had seen was my only strapless bra, worn once for a formal dinner about six months ago. I'd even considered throwing it out on occasion, but now I was so glad I hadn't.

I pulled my now ruined old one off, slipping the strapless one on. Then I proceeded to make a designer of myself and I cut the base of my spaghetti straps at the back. Shimmying the thing up and over my chest, I allowed Nathan inside the bathroom only so I could use my other hand to tie up the back.

'I'll get it.' Nathan murmured, and his fingers brushed mine at the nape of my neck. I froze, fingers stuck fast. Nathan gently brushed my frozen fingers away, nimbly tying up the back.

Spinning around I stared at Nathan, who looked a little sheepish with one eye free from the mask, my scarf and a pillowcase. He looked like a failure of a pirate or a hospital victim.

I felt heat rise in my cheeks. 'What did you see?'

Nathan tweaked my cheek infuriatingly. 'Nothing you didn't want me to.'

Well, that's a worry.