Shifted [z.m au]

XIII. Watching.

◾ wat·ching

noun:
/ wôching /

look at or observe attentively, typically over a period of time.

-

I pushed into the circle of girls. No one seemed to notice me. They all stared down at Margie.

Margie raised herself high enough to grab her left calf. Her face twisted in pain. "Oh, shit!" she cried. "These leg cramps are the worst!"

"You just don't want to play today." another girl joked. "You don't want to get sweaty because it's class photo day."

Everyone laughed. Tense laughter.

"You really scared me when you screamed like that." someone told Margie.

"I frightened myself." Margie groaned, rubbing the calf. "It's starting to feel a little better"

I took a step back, then another. No one had noticed me yet. They all leaned over Margie. Two girls helped her to her feet. Margie hobbled to a low wooden bench and sat down.

I slipped back behind the closet door.

I heard whistle blow out in the gym. "Go ahead." Margie told the others. "I'm okay. I'll be out in a second."

This is lucky break for me, I thought. About time I had a lucky break.

I waited for the others to leave. Then I stepped out quickly. "Hi, Margie."

Bent over, rubbing her leg, she sat up with a start. "Rena-!" her face filled with surprise. "You're here?"

I moved in front of her, ready to stop her if she tried to run. I pressed my hands against my waist. "Where's Zayn?" I demanded. My voice came out in a choked whisper.

"Huh?" Margie pretended she didn't hear me.

"I need to find Zayn." I said through gritted teeth. "I'm not kidding around, Margie. You know where Zayn is, and I need to find out. I have to get him to shifted bodies back."

Margie raised herself to her feet. She winced in pain. I guessed her leg muscle was still cramped.

"Rena-sit down." she said softly. She pointed to the bench. I couldn't read her expression. Was it fear? Was she thinking frantically? Trying to think of how to stall me, how to keep me from finding Zayn?

"I don't want to sit down." I said coldly. "I want to find Zayn. Right away. I want to get out of his body, Margie. And you're going to help me."

Margie bit her lower lip. Her dark eyes locked on to mine. I could see her studying me, trying to decided just how serious I was.

I needed her help so badly. I felt so desperate, so angry and frightened and desperate, all at the same time. Suddenly the words just came bursting out of me.

"Margie, he took me into the woods." I said, squeezing Margie's bare arm. "He took me to the Changing Wall. We shifted bodies. He told you all this-right? He told you?"

Margie didn't reply. She continued to stare at me. I could see she was thinking hard.

"But he didn't tell you about the murders." I continued, holding on to her arm. "He didn't tell you he killed his parents and he killed Harry. That's why I have to get my body back. Do you understand? Do you understand why you have to help me?"

I saw her swallow hard. She gently removed her arm from my grasp. "Changing Wall?" she murmured.

"I'll take you there." I told her. "I'll show you. I'll show you where we shifted. But then-"