My alarm goes off at eight o'clock in the morning. For a few seconds after I turn it off, I sit in bed and listen to the silence that permeates the house. Then I get up and head downstairs for breakfast after putting on jeans and the school uniform. A bowl and spoon lay on the table, alongside a box of cereal. One chair hasn't been slid under the table properly - looks like she was in a rush - so I correct it and take a seat on the only other chair.
I look to the side at a photo above a dusty cabinet.
Good morning, I sigh out in my mind as I take a spoonful of cereal. I look on my phone but see no messages to respond to.
I stand up after my breakfast and head back up the stairs to brush my teeth and do my hair. A bit of water does the trick and if it doesn't, I can't be bothered to use gel to fix it. When I go to grab my toothbrush I notice it's on the ground.
Couldn't she at least pick it up and rinse it? She's gotta take it easy with these jobs before she gets so overworked she knocks over coffee mugs, I grumble to myself.
I toss the dirty brush into the bin and grab a brand new one from a package under the sink.
I look in the mirror.
Zachary Marlowe, a brown-haired boy with blue eyes, looks back at me.
It's Monday today, but I don't care enough to double check I packed accordingly.
My walk to school only takes about ten minutes. Not even ten seconds after leaving the house, I hear someone call my name.
"Good morning, Zachary!" the old woman next door exclaims as she tends to the plants in her front yard.
"Good morning, ma'am." I reply.
"You oughta do something about your sister," she complains, "About an hour ago, when I said "Good morning" to her, she almost didn't notice in her panic to the car."
"Yeah, I know. It's becoming a bit of a problem."
"Yes. Now I know I don't really have the authority to boss either of you two around, but since Lilian isn't around anymore to talk to your sister, I feel I should tell you. I'm worried for her."
I spend the rest of my walk to school trying to get my mind off the subject, but to no avail. As I approach the school, I see another student getting dropped off by his dad. The kid - looks like a freshman - walks in my direction before he notices me and quickly dashes past, avoiding eye contact and probably holding his breath. I watch him slow down after a bit and turn the corner onto the schoolyard. When I turn my head back to where he stepped out of the car, I see the dad driving off.
YOU ARE READING
The Swap
Teen Fiction"Where am I? This isn't my room. Wait, this isn't my voice, either! This isn't my body!" Allison Par is a timid girl. She just moved to a new town and her mom started dating a new man. Allison just wants him gone, but she's too terrified to speak up...
