The Swap

Allison 5.6

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. I feel disappointed and comforted at the same time. Then I get up and head downstairs for breakfast after putting on jeans and my school uniform. A bowl and spoon lay on the table, alongside a box of cereal. I sit down at the chair that's still neatly at the table.

Maybe Sarah should try waking up a little earlier, that'd help a lot.

Afterwards, I go upstairs to brush my teeth and do my hair. A bit of water does the trick. Then I grab my bag without checking to see if I packed the right notebooks. It's probably correct, and I don't really give a fuck if they aren't.

"Good morning, Zachary," the old woman next door greets.

"Good morning, ma'am," I reply.

"I've said it before, but-"

"I know, Sarah needs to take it easier," I finish.

"Exactly. I'm getting worried about her."

"Well, at least I know we have someone that worries about us," I chuckle. She looks at me confused, "Never mind," Maybe that was a bit too comfortable?

With that fumble of a joke, I head to school.

The school day goes by as normal, but as I'm walking down the stairs I bump into a girl and she drops her stuff. She looks mortified upon seeing my face, but I've become desensitised to her expression and just apologise and start picking her stuff up and handing it back. I don't expect a reply, but as I walk away she gives me one anyways.

"T-Thank you," she brings out.

"No problem, it was kinda my fault," I chuckle.

"A-Aren't you Zachary Marlowe?" she asks, to which I nod, "Everyone told me to avoid you, but... w-well, they said you punched a boy..."

"He deserved it, trust me," I snarl, not at her though, "Don't worry, as long as you're not him, I don't care. People view me as a rabid beast sometimes, but I don't mind." That's a lie.

"That's unfair. I'll tell my friends they've got it wrong, maybe it'll help?"

"You can try, but I don't expect much, and if I were you I wouldn't expect much either."

"What a pessimist you are, maybe that's why people avoid you?" she chuckles.

"Maybe," I mumble, faintly chuckling.

"I'm Emily, by the way. Make sure to remember that, I'm the only person not afraid of you," she grins.

"My friends aren't afraid of me either."

"Oh, so you already consider me a friend?" she jokes, actually I can't tell if she's serious or not.

"Hell no, you'll have to do more than just bump into me," I shoot back, clearly chuckling.

Then we go our separate ways.

When I exit the building and am about to walk home, I take a look at the path home I haven't taken in a long time. Zach's image is going to be less of an issue over time, right? That was the only thing that's still annoying me. My old life in contrast offers much less appealing incentives. I'd have to deal with a much worse demon. Once again, I feel a little guilty thinking this, and shoving my problems onto Zach, but the other side of me faces the reality:

We're not swapping back. It's not my fault he's stuck with my problems.

Why does it feel like I'm making a decision?

I walk down the road to home.