The Swap

Chapter 18 Jack

When the bell rings, I'm not gonna lie Freckles has to push me.

"It's now or never!" She tells me, grabbing my new bony girl wrist and pulling me out the nurse's room doorway. Stepping into the jammed hallway is probably the most petrified feeling I have ever had in my life. It's a mad house. And it's loud. So loud. It seems like every single kid at Thatcher is pushing and shoving and shouting. The two of us stand side by side, our arms brushing, our backs to the lockers, sort of frozen, staring out at the scene.

I grab Ellie's hand just for a second before I realize what it looks like.

Like we're, you know, a couple, holding hands, and I drop it fast.

"Jack! What are you doing?"

"I know, it's just-" I stop. Just the small​ fact that I'm a friggin' girl!

I don't say that out loud, though, because one glance toward Freckles standing in the That her hallway with my banged-up face--black eye, swollen nose--and I can tell she's just as overwhelmed as I am.

"Hey," I say, speaking kind of loud so that she can hear me over the crowd. "Let's move on three, okay?"

Freckles nods.

"Okay," I start. "Ready?"

"Ready," she says.

"One," we both say. "Two..." And--

Exactly on three, Sammy appears out of nowhere and throws his arm around Freckles' neck. "Sup, dude!"

She catches my eye, like, Could this get any weirder? Then she glares at Sammy like he's totally crazy.

Really, were the crazy ones!

I nod at her like, you know, I am you and you are me, remember? And if that's not enough, I walk behind her and sort of nudge her in the back.

"That's my friend Sammy," I whisper.

Freckles turns to me. "I know who that is!"

Sammy looks around, completely confused. "Um, who is, Jacko?" Then he nods toward me in Freckles' body. "I see the dames are already loving your action, big dog."

Freckles looks back at Sammy in a complete daze. "Um, dude." Sammy grins. "Are you feeling all right?"

Unreal.

I can't watch any more of this.

I take a step away.

"Monday," I mouth toward Freckles.