Swapped Love | ✓

■ Saying it (special chapter)

Alice

There were some people in this world that I wanted to slap really hard.

First was Trevor Anderson and then it was Allison Marshall.

Allison had gone mad. Why would she want to get rid of Jared after everything they shared? They were perfect for each other from the beginning.

What could I do to convince that idiot that he liked her and not me?

Naomi knew it, my parents knew it, I guess even Jared's friends knew it, the whole universe knew it, yet my sister didn't or refused to believe it.

I never liked Jared romantically but I knew he was a good guy. He would understand, right? He was a smart boy.

He would get a shock, but he would recover, I hope.

I was standing in front of his house. I had again asked Alli this morning and she told me she wanted this. Big mistake. She should face her fears. Instead, she was home panicking and overloading her already huge brain. The guards escorted me in, probably mistaking me for Alli.

Taking a deep breath, I rang the bell. I couldn't see any guards as I waited patiently for the door to open. A maid opened after few seconds.

"Who is it? Is that-Alice! Oh my god," A girl came out from the right hall and seeing me, rushed forward and hugged me.

I guess this was Hailey. Well, Allison was right. She was gorgeous. More than me. Hmm.

"Why did you run away yesterday? Jared is going crazy! He couldn't come due to the occasion but he has gone mad. We called you but you didn't-" She blabbered on.

"I-I need to speak with Jared," I said quickly.

Deep breaths, Alice. Inhale and exhale. You don't need to panic. Control and tell him everything.

"Yes. Sure. Jared! Alice is here!" She shouted.

"I will see what I can do and-" A familiar voice came down the stairs, speaking on the phone and stopped seeing me.

"Alice?" Trevor spoke, lowering his phone, "What are you-"

I shook my head at him, feeling a pang of pain shoot through me. I didn't want to speak to him. I had other things on my mind. Sisters before assholes misters.

He didn't pay heed, of course. He came forward hurrying, "Alice, what are you doing here? Something happened? Jared said about Allison and-"

"What? No Trevor, he is going mad over Alice, not Allison. She wants to talk to baby bro. I don't know what happened yesterday, but Jared has almost gone mad," Hailey said, interrupting him.

Trevor scowled, "Wait, what is-"

I heard hurried footsteps from upstairs. Jared came down in a worn down shirt which I guess was his shirt from yesterday. His eyes were bloodshot and puffed up which gave the feeling he didn't sleep last night. His hair was a mess. Looks like mister Grey had been suffering through the same things as my sister.

But a part of my mind wanted him to go and take a bath before I spoke because he was probably stinky and I couldn't tolerate stinky people.

"Alice? Oh, thank god! Where were you? Why did you-" He looked relieved and came forward to hug me when I stepped back.

"Can I talk to you in private?" I asked, not wanting to waste a minute.

"But, whats-" Trevor began but Jared came forward and grabbed my hand, "Sure, lets go outside."

"Wait!" Trevor called.

"Not now, Trevor," I snapped, looking at him, "I want to speak to him, not you. Butt out."

Jared gave a wary glance as I walked outside, ignoring the daggers Trevor shot at my way.

《》《》

We were in the backyard, standing still as statues. I had my back towards him. I didn't know how to begin. Should I first say I was the real Alice or should I begin from the day Alli met Jared?

"Alice, please say something. Why did you run away yesterday? I am truly sorry if I scared you away. I swear-" Jared's urgent voice broke out.

"Listen, Jared. This needs to stop," I said firmly, turning to face him.

"What?" He mumbled.

"Whatever is happening needs to stop. This can't go on any longer," I said, chewing my words.

"What are you saying, Alice? I understand if you got freaked out by the confession but you don't have to say yes. I'm alright even if you stay friends with me," He grabbed my shoulder, shaking me.

"What do you- Wait, you are not Alice," He frowned deeply, once he gazed at me with full concentration.

Okay. Time to do it. Let the show begin.

"Jared, I am Alice," I said slowly.

"Stop. Its you, Allison. Where is Alice? Why are you dressed like her?" He asked, looking around, "She is not here, is she?"

"No, I am Alice," I said forcefully.

"Really? I can see your eyes and understand despite the contacts that its you, Allison," He grabbed my elbow, "See? You have a beauty spot, Alice told me. She doesn't have one. Why are you dressed like her anyway? I want to talk to her," He looked irritated, running a hand through his hair.

"Jared, listen carefully. I am Alice. I am the real Alice Marshall," I said slowly again, trying to make him understand.

"Why are you shitting me? What do you want? I know how to differentiate! I want to speak to her!" He scowled, looking clearly pissed off.

"God! That's the thing! The girl who hung out with you all these days was Allison in disguise of me! I am the real Alice Marshall! The girl who you hung out with was Allison Marshall pretending to be me!" I shouted.

Pause. A very long pause. His eyebrows scrunched in confusion as he let go of my shoulders and stepped back.

He stood there blinking, "Are you drunk?"

"No, you idiot. I am telling the truth. You met me the first time at the market and we met two times after that. You asked me out. I didn't wanna go with you, so I asked my twin sister Allison to pose as me. She went to meet you at the café that day. I pretended to be Allison in front of you when you came to our house some day. She has been going out with you all this time. All of this has been a façade," I finished in one breath.

Jared shook his head.

"Tell me you are joking. Its a pathetic joke. I am quite stressed out right now. I want to speak to the girl who has been hanging out with me these past months," He said tiredly, "Please, I want to speak to her."

"That girl is back at home. She couldn't come in front of you, so-"

"Then we go to your house," He said coldly, "I figured she didn't want to see me but this is insane. "

"What? No!" I protested.

"You speak as if I will listen to you. You sisters are confusing the fuck out of me. I want to hear everything," He said in a calm voice, "Enough bullshit is done. I don't know what you are saying or why you are saying suddenly but I will talk to both of you, face to face. Come on," He spat.

Coming here was a bad idea. Allison should have done it.