Soul Swapped

Chapter 1

Anna

13 years later....

The day had finally come.

The moving in day. My mom got transferred to her new office in Winchester last week and now we're preparing to go back to square one. The small town of Winchester was where I was born and stayed for 10 years. I should be thrilled to go back but there's no excitement as such.

Nada.

I mean what's there to be excited about exactly? My whole world was going to be changed. But who cares about me - the dorky, insensible unpopular 16 year old kid  right?

The only person who's psyched about this whole tumbledown was Mom!

I had no idea what the other woman of my life, my Nonna was up to though. She's a disaster waiting to happen. Even in her early seventies she'd the terrific energy of a two month old puppy. That's a sick comparison but the truth nonetheless.

Where is she anyway?

"Are you ready for this?"

Mom entered my room without knocking because her 16 years old daughter apparently had no privacy and asked me with a smile which I didn't return. I wanted to say so many things, pour all my frustrations on her. I mean come on, couldn't she see I was so not ready for this! This was my home for last 6 years. My only sanctuary . I loved this city, my school, my small dorky friend circle even though they never cared about me. Now she's upending my life and had the nerve of asking me " Am I ready???" In my mind I was screaming like a banshee but in real I could only mumble "yea let's do this" in the most unenthusiastic way possible.

Mom sighed sadly.

"Have you seen your Nonna? She's not in her bedroom" Mom asked while still wondering where her mother disappeared to like she always does almost all the time. Didn't matter though, she somehow turned up at one point or another.

I gave her a look to make her understand neither did I know nor I care.

She all but sighed again and kissed my head and went back looking for my Nonna. I slumped down on a chair looking at the naked walls of my bedroom. The purple walls were chosen by me. It was my abode, my own place where I could be myself and never judged by piercing eyes of others. The posters of Harry Styles had already been taken down. My bags were packed. All the boxes were scattered on the floor. I sifted through the memories of my last six years here and smiled a little feeling my eyes welling up.

" I'm gonna miss this place so much.."

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The ride back to my old town was drastically long and boring.

Long boring four hours.

Mom was going on and on about her plans and how she managed to buy the same house we used to live before . I still didn't get why Mom was so happy to go back to the same house where she'd literally fled from. The old memories were too painful for both of us . Maybe the last six years had ultimately gave her the closure she deserved . But I was not up for it.

Trying to drown my mother's voice out was futile. Nonna was lightly snoring beside me. Yea she turned up alright and just five minutes before we were leaving.  It looked like she's wiped. But Mom was still blabbering. If people would witness the three of us and this one-sided conversation of my mother ever they'd definitely think Mom was crazy. My rule was simple - " Say the words only required. Don't waste your air blabbering ". But Mom was clearly against such rule.

"... and Gina told me about this school. Their academic is really excellent. You've heard about Hartley School right?"

Yes I had. It was one of the best school of this area. Even better than my previous one. But I was not going to tell her that.

"Yes" I replied.

She looked back at me for a second. Her eyes almost bulged out of her sockets.
Oh! She really thought I wasn't listening.

Shaking her head in daze, she focused on her driving again.

"So I was thinking you might want to complete your last year from there. I mean I'd some recommendations so it would be easier to get admission. What do you say?"

I thought a little about that. There's only a little over a year left for my high school graduation. I mean I had to complete my graduation from somewhere. Why not from the best one? All I had to do was survive one whole year there. No big a deal. But these changes were kinda too overwhelming.

New school, new teachers, new students!!

I just wish they'd leave me alone.

"Yes . Awesome" See only a few words.

I tried to smile a little at my mother just to assure her I was truly okay with that. It was awkward. My smile.

She on the other hand beamed at me . Teeth and all.

"Oh great !! I'll contact them as soon as possible. I'm so thrilled honey. I remembered my high school...."

And that's my cue to tune her out again.

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And that's the wrap of chapter 1.. thank you for reading..🤗