What If?

Chapter 1: The Glitter and the Gloom

**Andrea's Perspective**

I should be happy right now. Ecstatic, even. Winning three Grammys by the age of seventeen? It’s the kind of thing kids dream about, the stuff I used to dream about. But as I stand here backstage, the heavy statuettes in my hands, I feel… empty. The applause is deafening, my name is on everyone's lips, and yet, there's this gnawing sensation deep in my chest.

“What’s wrong, Andrea?” My manager, Peter, asks, his brow furrowed with concern. “You look like someone just told you your cat died.”

I force a smile, the kind of smile that I've perfected over the years—the one that says everything is perfect, even when it isn’t. “I’m just tired,” I lie.

He pats my shoulder. “You’ve worked hard. You deserve a break. How about a week off in the Bahamas?”

I nod absently, already knowing it won’t help. The trouble isn’t that I’m tired of working; it’s that I’m tired of being *me*. The glitter, the fame, the constant pressure to be perfect—it’s suffocating. I’d give anything to just be… normal.

**Kirsty’s Perspective**

I stare at my reflection in the mirror, trying to imagine what it must be like to have cameras flashing in your face, people screaming your name, and the world at your feet. The most exciting thing that happened to me today was passing my algebra test—not exactly headline news.

I sigh and brush my tangled hair out of my eyes. There’s a poster of Andrea Willows on the wall behind me, and I stare at her smiling face, trying to imagine what her life must be like. Riches, popularity, adoration—all the things I’ve always wanted but never had. If only I could switch places with her, just for a day.

But that’s impossible, of course. Dreams like that don’t come true for girls like me. Still, I can’t help but wish for it, just a little.

**Andrea's Perspective**

That night, I lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind racing. I close my eyes and make a wish—a wish for a life where I’m not Andrea Willows, Grammy-winning pop star, but just Andrea, an ordinary girl with an ordinary life.

I feel something shift, like a breeze brushing over my skin, and for a moment, I feel lighter. I drift off to sleep, not knowing that my wish was heard.

**Kirsty’s Perspective**

I wake up to the sound of my phone buzzing. Bleary-eyed, I reach for it, my heart skipping a beat when I see dozens of notifications. What on earth? I rub my eyes and sit up, blinking at the unfamiliar surroundings. This isn’t my room. This room is huge, with sleek, modern furniture and a giant window overlooking the city.

Panic rises in my chest as I scramble out of bed, nearly tripping over the silk sheets. Where am I? I rush to the mirror, and the face that stares back at me isn’t mine. It’s Andrea Willows.

I gasp, stumbling backward. This can’t be real. I must be dreaming. But no matter how many times I pinch myself, the reality doesn’t change. I’m in Andrea Willows’ body, in her life, and this isn’t a dream.

**Andrea's Perspective**

The first thing I notice when I wake up is the quiet. No blaring alarm, no Peter calling with a new schedule for the day, no frantic emails to respond to. Just… quiet. I open my eyes to a small, cozy room filled with posters of pop stars—including one of me.

I sit up, the events of last night rushing back to me. The wish… Did it really happen? I jump out of bed and run to the mirror, gasping when I see the reflection. The girl staring back at me isn’t Andrea Willows; she’s an ordinary girl with tangled hair and wide, brown eyes.

Kirsty Cameron. I remember seeing her name on the schoolbooks scattered across the desk. This is real. I’m not Andrea Willows anymore. I’m Kirsty.

**Kirsty’s Perspective**

I sit down heavily on the edge of the bed, trying to process what’s happened. I’ve got everything I ever wanted—Andrea’s fame, her fortune, her life. But it feels… wrong. Like I’ve stolen something that doesn’t belong to me.

But I can’t go back, can I? Maybe this is a second chance, an opportunity to live the life I’ve always dreamed of. Maybe I can make this work.

**Andrea's Perspective**

As the reality of the situation sinks in, I feel a strange mix of emotions—relief, fear, excitement. I wanted a normal life, and now I have it. But living someone else’s life isn’t as simple as I thought. There’s a weight to it, a responsibility that I didn’t anticipate.

But there’s no turning back now. If I’m going to be Kirsty, I have to do it right. And maybe, just maybe, this will be the fresh start I’ve been longing for.