SWAPPED

I really thought my day couldn't get any stranger.

When I enter through the front doors at school, the cheerleaders immediately rush over to me. I sigh, here we go again.

"Hey Alora!" a cheerleader says to me in an upbeat mood. Funny one.

More eyes look at me when I make my way down the hall, eyes that never batted in my direction before.

"Yo," One dude says as he approaches me. "Can I get your number? You fine as hell." He tells me. He's joking... right? I start thinking of what to say. Even if he was being for real, I hate boys who talk to women like that.

"Um..." I begin to say, but before I can get another word out a familiar voice comes up from behind me.

"Hey babe." He says as he wraps his arm around my shoulder. It's Lucas. Oh thank god. He looks at the guy in front of us. "Who's this?"

After the other guy finally left I look back at him. He takes his arm off my shoulder awkwardly and looks away. "I saw that you were in an awkward position... I was just trying to help-"

"Thank you." I tell him. "I didn't know what to do, so thanks."

We look at each other for a little longer before we both break eye contact and look away. This is so freaking awkward! I have to change the mood.

"So-"

"When-"

We both speak at the same time. "You go first." He tells me. God I just want to die.

"Um- have you notice people acting strange this morning?" I ask him.

"Well beside that guy asking for your number, no."

"Oh so you think a guy would never ask for my number?" I say sarcastically as I raise an eyebrow at him.

"No- it's just..." He looks at the ceiling then back down at me, I'm trying to hold back my laughter. "You're messing with me aren't you?"

I let out a laugh. "Yes-"

Another cheerleader comes up to me, it's the captain of the team. "Hey so you're coming to practice right?" She asks me. Cheer practice?

"Why would I-"

"Okay great!" She begins to walk away. "Don't be late like last time."

Last time? What is she talking about? This day has been way to strange for my liking.

"I thought you said you hated cheerleaders?" Lucas asks me, I forgot he was there.

"I do." I say simply. "I have no idea what she's talking about." I shake my head

"See, this is what I mean. Everyone has been acting so strange lately." I begin walking to class and he follows next to me in the crowded hallway. As we continue to walk down more girls wave at me, smile at me, not laugh. Some guys look me up and down but not in a targeting way. "Please tell me you see this." I ask Lucas.

"As clear as day..." He responds looking around.

Before we make it to class we hear a slam against the lockers. we look over to see where the noise came from, there's a group of people huddled around. I sigh, it's probably some kid getting bullied poor guy.

Usually at this time of day I would the one getting bullied in the morning. Enzo always, for some reason, has some sort of consistent schedule of when he decides to give me a hard time. I wonder who the new target is.

I push through the crowds, I have to help this kid. For some reason, I feel like I can, and I don't know why. It's almost like I'm thinking against my will, but then an arm stops me.

"Alora where are you going?" Lucas asks pulling me away from the crowd. "You're going to get hurt." He says.

Before I can say anything the bell rings and the crowd disperses. My eyes immediately fall on the boy who's looking at the floor. All that's left is for him to look up so I can see who it is, and he does.

It's Enzo.

He makes eye contact with me and looks away angrily, he picks up his stuff and heads to class.

I stand there, extremely confused. Why the hell are Enzo's friends bullying him? I look up at Lucas. "Something's wrong..." I tell him.

"I know I've only been here for a few days but, based off what I've seen going on in this school, you're right." He agrees.

We both walk into the class that we share with Enzo and sit in our regular spots. I can feel him glaring at the back of my head, almost like as if he thinks I have something to do with this, when in reality, I'm just as confused as he is.

I stare at my paper, unable to focus. Looking at both of me and Enzo's situation, it's almost as if our roles have switched. Usually he's the one who people look at while walking down the halls, getting asked if he'll go to practice, but for today, it was me.

And usually, I'm the one who gets harassed, made fun of, left alone in the hallways after the bell rings, but today, it was him.

There's no way that this isn't some sort of prank. But how would someone get the entire school to act like this? It's impossible.

When school is over, and mostly everybody has left, he comes up to my desk and slams his hands on the table and glares at me.

Of course he'd think I would have something to do with this, and I would think the same thing of him, but what kind of sick person would want to get beat up by their own friends?

"Are you happy now?" He declared.

I sigh, roll my eyes, and glare back at him. "Honestly, yea, I am. You had it coming."

He looks back, slides a hand down his face, lets out some sort of sick chuckle, turns back around and faces me again. "I knew you had something to do with this." he accuses.

I narrow my eyes him and get up from my seat. A wave of courage washes over me. "Look, as much as I'm overjoyed by your sudden downfall, I had nothing to do with this."

His breathing grows heavier, his fingers ball up into fists, white at the knuckles. "Who else would want this more than you!" He snaps. He grabs me by my collar.

A hand is put to Enzo's chest, separating him from me. "You don't want to take it there again." Lucas urges. I had forgotten he was there.

"Stay out of it blondie." Enzo pushes Lucas away and returns his glare back at me. "You will regret this." Enzo threatens.

"How the hell would I be able to pull something like this?" I snap. Can he not think? "Who the hell would listen to me!" I add.

He goes silent. He knows I'm right.

"Let's just go." I tell Lucas, leaving Enzo in the classroom alone. God he's such an idiot.