What If?

Chapter 2: A Life in Someone Else's Shoes

**Andrea’s Perspective**

I wake up the next morning, still in Kirsty’s room. It takes a moment for the reality to sink in. This isn’t a dream. I really did switch lives with someone, and that someone is Kirsty Cameron.

I glance around the room, taking in the details I missed last night. It’s a small space, cluttered with schoolbooks, magazines, and clothes. There’s a stack of photos on the nightstand—pictures of Kirsty with her friends, at school events, and with her family. It’s a life I’ve never known. A life I’ve only ever dreamed of.

The alarm on my phone buzzes, jolting me out of my thoughts. I grab the phone—a cheap model compared to the high-tech device I’m used to—and see a message from someone named Amy.

*Hey Kirsty! Ready for the history test today?*

Test? My heart sinks. I haven’t studied for any test, and I don’t even know what’s on it. I fumble through Kirsty’s schoolbag, pulling out a history textbook that looks well-worn. Flipping through the pages, I realize I don’t have a clue about any of this stuff.

Panic sets in. How am I supposed to pass a test in a subject I know nothing about? And it’s not like I can just drop out of school. Kirsty’s life is normal—filled with responsibilities, expectations, and mundane challenges. But for the first time, those mundane challenges seem terrifying.

I get dressed in the clothes I find scattered around the room—jeans and a plain t-shirt, a far cry from the designer outfits I’m used to. I pull my hair into a messy ponytail and head downstairs, where I’m greeted by Kirsty’s mom.

“Morning, Kirsty,” she says with a warm smile. “I made your favorite—pancakes.”

The smell of freshly cooked pancakes wafts through the air, and I feel a pang of longing. It’s been years since I’ve had a home-cooked breakfast. My meals are usually prepared by chefs or ordered from high-end restaurants. I sit down at the small kitchen table, and for a moment, I just savor the simplicity of it all.

“How’s school going?” Kirsty’s mom asks as she sets a plate in front of me.

“Uh, it’s… fine,” I reply, trying to sound casual. I’m not sure what else to say. What would Kirsty normally talk about? I have no idea.

She gives me a concerned look. “You seem a little out of it today. Are you feeling okay?”

I force a smile. “Yeah, just a bit tired.”

She nods, accepting the explanation, and I breathe a sigh of relief. The last thing I need is to raise any suspicions. I need to figure out how to live this life without anyone realizing that I’m not really Kirsty.

After breakfast, I grab my backpack and head out the door. Kirsty’s mom waves me off with a smile, and I’m hit with a strange mix of emotions. This is what I wanted, isn’t it? A normal life, with a normal family, and normal problems. But now that I have it, it feels overwhelming in a way I didn’t expect.

The walk to school is uneventful, but every step feels heavy with uncertainty. I’m stepping into a world I don’t know, and I have to pretend like I belong. When I reach the school, I’m greeted by a girl who must be Amy—the one who texted me earlier.

“Kirsty! You look like you didn’t sleep at all last night,” she says with a laugh. “Don’t worry about the test, though. It’s mostly just the stuff from the last few chapters.”

I nod, trying to act like I know what she’s talking about. “Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

As we walk to class, I can’t help but feel like an imposter. Amy chats about school, gossip, and weekend plans, but it all feels foreign to me. I’ve spent so many years in the spotlight, surrounded by people who are only interested in my fame, that I don’t know how to be just another girl in the crowd.

When we reach the classroom, I take a deep breath and prepare myself for the test. The teacher hands out the papers, and I stare at the questions, my mind going blank. I don’t know any of this. All the years I spent learning lyrics and dance routines haven’t prepared me for this.

I try to answer the questions, but it’s no use. I’m in way over my head. When the bell rings, I hand in the mostly blank test paper and walk out of the classroom feeling defeated. This normal life is harder than I ever imagined.

Meanwhile, I can only imagine what Kirsty is going through in my life. She probably thinks it’s a dream come true—glamorous parties, red carpet events, and a world where everyone knows her name. But fame comes with its own set of problems, and I wonder how she’s handling it.

We haven’t met yet, but I can’t shake the feeling that we will. Our lives are intertwined now, and there’s no going back. I just hope she’s managing better than I am.

As I head to my next class, I realize that I have a lot to learn. This life is nothing like I expected, and if I want to survive, I’m going to have to figure it out fast. Because the truth is, no matter how much I wanted to escape my old life, being someone else isn’t as easy as it seems.