and then they started giggling uncontrollably. "Truce?" Jane offered, still laughing. "Truce."
They shook hands.
"This is crazy." Jane dropped into the chair behind her.
Monica rested her butt on the desk and nodded. "We both must be insane."
"I don't know how this happened but I'm kind of glad it did," Jane admitted. "I've always been a little bit jealous of you." "Believe it or not, I was always a little jealous of you." Monica envied me? "No? Really? Jealous of what?" Monica toyed with the Rolodex, spinning the wheel and making the cards flip over and over. "I don't know. You seemed to have it together. Your life was maybe a little boring, but it seemed predictable. Safe. Not chaotic like mine was...is. It's still a mess, isn't it?"
Jane nodded. "A little. I honestly don't see how it got to be so bad. By the way, your car was repossessed. Just thought you should know."
"Repossessed? By whom? There isn't a bank loan."
Knowing an outburst was coming, Jane cringed. "By Jason. You didn't pay your insurance again." Sure enough, Monica jumped up and yelled, "He did? What a jerk! That was my car. He had no right." "I'm very sorry but I checked it out. Legally the car belonged to him and if what he said was true, he had every right." "What? What'd he say?"
"According to him, he's paid out two legal settlements for accidents-"
Monica crossed her arms over her chest, and Jane noticed her cleavage seemed a little...more cleaved. "They were little fender benders."
"Did you get me a boob job too?" She pointed at Monica's chest. "Nope. Just a Wonder Bra. They do wonders, don't they?"
Jane nodded and stared at Monica's chest, admiring the way the bra pushed her breasts together and made them look fuller under her white button-down shirt that was unbuttoned one button too many. "I had no idea. Don't you think you're showing a little too much? I mean, I don't want to be known as a slut."
"No, I'm not showing too much." Monica looked down. "And you have nothing to worry about. You're known as a prude. By the way, I'm curious. Did you go to Catholic school?" "Yes." Jane felt her cheeks heating.
Monica shook her head. "That explains a lot. Are you still a virgin?"
Jane gaped at Monica for a moment then stammered, "No, I'm not a virgin." "When was the last time you had sex? You seem rather uptight. Maybe I should-" "No way! If I have sex, I'd like to be there to enjoy it, thank you." Monica laughed. "Yeah, I suppose you have a point."
"Enough about me and my sex life, okay? We were talking about you and your car situation. Your little fender benders cost Jason thousands of dollars. As long as the car's in his name, he's responsible."
Monica dropped back in the chair. "He wouldn't put the car in my name, claimed he couldn't for some legal reason. Same as the house, since the mortgage is in his name. It won't go into my name until I either refinance on my own and take his name off the loan, or thirty years from now when the stupid thing's paid off. You think it's so great having rich boyfriends give you things. But it isn't all it's cracked up to be. Nothing's really yours." "The good news is the Honda's in your name. It's yours. Free and clear." "Really? How'd you get him to do that? Oh my gosh!" She covered her mouth with her hands and her eyes widened. "You didn't sleep with him, did you?"
"No way! That would be a little weird, don't you think?" I thought about it a few times though.
"Well, this whole thing is weird. I've been showering every morning with my eyes closed so I won't see anything I shouldn't, if you know what I mean. It isn't easy shaving your legs when you're not looking."
"Imagine my pickle. You shaved everywhere." Jane stifled a giggle. "Needless to say, you'll have some grooming to do whenever we switch back."
"Oh! I forgot about that." Monica laughed and Jane couldn't help joining in. "Everyone'll be getting in soon. Should we work on our assignments together?" Monica asked after they'd both spent all their nervous energy. "Yes, that sounds like a good plan."
"Good. I guess until we switch back, we'll be a team. What do you say?"
"I'd like that." Jane smiled. For the first time since the switch, she felt at peace with what had happened.
It seemed that there was more to be gained than what she'd thought in this crazy, mixed-up situation. She sensed she just might get something far more precious than a raise.
She might end up with a true friend who had literally walked in her shoes.
