Partnered Up

Chapter 12

"Okay, eight minus the square root of 11 times twenty-five over one twenty-one is..?" Michael asked Gav.

"Ugggh... I don't wanna do anymore math! This is dumb. It's all dumb. You're dumb." Gavin pouted

"Here, I'll make a deal with you. When you get a question right, I'll give you a prize." He winked at Gavin.

"Okay, well the answer to that question is...three!" Gavin was so proud of himself and excited to learn what Michael was going to give him.

"Congratulations, you've won a prize!" He leaned over toward Gavin and gave him a kiss.

Now, we have ten more to do, you got this." Gavin groaned and flopped backwards into his pillows.

For the next twenty minutes Michael helped Gavin do all the dumb problems and maybe even motivated him with a few neck nibbles. Gavin tried to escalate it to something more but Michael wouldn't let him, well not until his homework was done.

"But Michael!"

"But Micoo!"

"I don't sound like that!"

"Sure.." Michael ruffled Gav's hair then stood up and stretched.

"Gav, let's go for a walk. I just need to move around."

"Yeah, I'll bring a frisbee! Let's go to the field on Salem Street! Come on!" He grabs the frisbee off the floor and pulls Michael by the arm down stairs and out the door.

"Slow down! You're gonna rip my arm off!" Michael laughed at Gavin's eagerness. It doesn't take long for them to reach the field. On the plus side, no one's there so they have the entire ground to play.

"Ready? Go long!" Gavin whipped the disk straight across the field, faster than Michael could even dream of running.

"Christ Gav!" Michael finally reached the frisbee, out of breath.

"I wanted to try out for ultimate so I practiced for months before I realized I had no free time for the games. Still got the arm for it, I guess." Gavin yelled back, "Throw it!" Michael knew he was horrible at frisbee, but he couldn't be that bad, right? Wrong.

He picked up the frisbee and flung it as hard as he could. It flew about, five feet.

"What was that!?" Gavin yelled between fits of laughter.

"Oh shut the hell up."

For the next hour and a half Gavin tries to teach Michael how to throw, but that only resulted in Michael's frustration, a broken frisbee and the two just sitting on the grass in defeat.

"Well, we can... Look at stars and find constellations, right?" Gavin tried to lighten the mood.

Yeah sure, stars." Michael grumbled, lying down on the grass.

"Michael, we graduate in a week. Like, holy shit. Where'd the time go?" Gavin rambled.

"I know, it's insane. I'm not ready for college... Where are you gonna go for college?"

"I don't know. I can't possibly chose what I'm doing the rest of my life now! That's absolutely mental..." He lied down next to Michael, and the two just stared at the stars for who knows how long.

-------

Gavin stood in his suit staring at himself in the mirror. Today's the day people strive most of their life for, and I've made it. It's just so surreal.

"Hello? Earth to Gav! We're gonna be late numb nuts." Michael taps Gavin's shoulder.

"How the hell do you work this thing?" Gavin questioned. Michael laughed as he walked over to him.

"No one ever taught you to tie a tie?" He began to fiddle with the silk cloth.

"This is a bow tie, it's harder!" Michael finished, leaving a perfect knot.

"Thanks. Are you ready for this? GRADUATION DAY IS FINALLY HERE!" He screeched.

"Shut up, idiot. You're gonna wake up people in Canada! But yeah, I am. I just don't want my mom to take a ton of pictures."

"We survived prom and both our families gawking over us so, we should be okay." They smiled at each other and headed down stairs.

Of course, both the Jones and Free families made them pose for many, many pictures before they could depart.

"Mom, do you think Michael and I could ride in one car, and you and his parents could go in another? We just want some peace and quiet before the next hectic few hours." Gavin pleads.

"My baby's growing up," Tears form in her eyes. "Of course you can, just be careful, alright?" She hugs Gavin and kisses his forehead.

Michael grabs the keys and the two head out.

"Dude I'm so excited! I've waited forever for this!" Michael beams as they get in the car.

"Yeah, all those years of late night 'study sessions' paid off." They begin the trek to school.