The walk from this girl's house to school was an experience I don't want to relive again. Nothing even happened, it just felt terrible. Fortunately, I recognised her street, so I didn't need to ask for directions or anything, but that still didn't lessen the feeling of crossdressing. The entire time, I was praying in my head to not bump into any sickos, or anyone at all for that matter. I ignored anyone that walked past me to the best I could, but having this skirt swaying around in the wind - I feel like I'm naked, why do girls wear these!?
Eventually, I make my way to school. The school yard is swarming with people, so I decide to position myself near the gate to be able to catch myself approaching. A few minutes pass, and the school yard empties as the clock almost ticks to eight thirty. Where am I? What's taking me so long? That's such a dumb thing to say. I'm about to give up hope when a familiar looking girl walks through the gates, spots me and approaches.
Shit, shit, shit, what do I do!?
"Allison? Where were you the entire time?" she asks, a little irritated.
I don't know where Allison was supposed to be.
"I was just w-walking to school," I reply, trying to sound natural.
"Without me?"
Fuck.
"S-Sorry, I uh..."
"I was waiting at your house for ten minutes until I decided to knock and check up on you, and then your mom just said that you had already left!"
"I-I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you that uh... M-My dad brought me by car today... S-Since he had to drive this direction anyway to get to work..." I stammer. Please let that flimsy lie suffice.
"Your dad? You mean Chad?"
"S-Sure- I mean, yes, him."
She looks at me weirdly and is about to say something, but I quickly blurt out that class is about to start so we'd better get going. We walk into the building and make some turns, most of which I awkwardly almost walk past, and end up in front of the maths classroom. This is when it hits me that I'm going to have to survive an entire lesson stuck with this Karen of a girl.
The teacher begins her lecture, but I'm not paying attention. I checked this girl's - Allison's - bag, but she didn't pack her notebooks the evening before. Normally, I'd ask Evan for a sheet, but right now I'm sitting next to Allison's friend, and I don't want to interact with her more than I need to. Unfortunately, she taps me on the shoulder about ten minutes into the lesson.
"Allison, why are you sitting like that?" she whispers. I look down. What's she on about?
"Sitting like what?"
Her face collapses into confusion.
"Your legs!" she whispers loudly, "You've spread them open, aren't you worried the teacher might call you out on it!?"
I look back at the way I'm sitting. My legs are indeed spread open. Do girls really not sit like this? I've never seen a girl actively change her sitting pose, but I've also never really paid attention to how girls sit. In any case, I follow her advice and close my legs.
"Are you okay, Allison? You've been acting really strange today," she asks concernedly. The first time she doesn't sound like a stingy mother.
"I-I'm fine, don't worry,"
"Are you sure? Your hair is messy and you haven't put on any makeup, are you sure you're really fine?"
Looks like people can tell, but maybe - hopefully - only this girl.
"You can tell me anything, y'know? Is it because of Chad?" she asks.
"Why would it be because of Chad?"
"What do you mean? I thought you didn't like him!"
Did Allison get into a fight with her dad recently? Is that why he was surprised when I greeted him so casually this morning? Why is this girl overreacting so much, it's just a small family feud, right?
"It was just a small argument."
The girl stares at me with mixed emotions. Confusion, concern, but also a hint of anger.
"Did you hit your head!?"
"N-No...?"
"Then why won't you tell your concerned best friend what's going on with your behaviour today!?" she asks sternly, quite frustrated.
I try to think of a response, but end up just mumbling gibberish. She sighs loudly and looks back at the board, not acknowledging me anymore for the rest of the lesson. Finally, she leaves me alone, but I don't feel good about it. I feel like I made a huge mistake.
YOU ARE READING
The Swap
Ficção Adolescente"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...
