Climbing the stairs much faster than I descended the ones at his house, I mentally hype myself up to open my bedroom door as I grab the doorknob. I twist it slowly.
Gradually pushing the door open, I gasp and freeze in place.
I just want to go back to sleep and wake up and everything be normal again. But, no, of course that’s not the case. Instead, I’m staring at my own body sleeping in my bed.
Carefully, I walk over to the side of my bed, staring down at myself.Do I really sleep with my mouth that far open?
Tilting my head side to side, I realize this may be the only opportunity I have to see myself from someone else’s eyes …literally.
And, boy, it’s weird.
Reaching forward, I rest my hand on my body’s arm and shake gently. My body is breathing at least, so that’s a good sign … I think. What the hell do I know though? I’ve never been thrust inside someone else’s body before.
“Psst,” I whisper, rocking my body gently back and forth.
My body groans and rolls over to face me before passing back out.
Am I always this much of a problem to wake up? I know I sleep like a rock, but come on. Get it together, girl.
After rubbing their—my—eyes, they flutter open, and time freezes.
Neither of us breath or blink.
“Ahhhh!” my body screams, eyes flying wide open and fumbling to sit up in my bed. They clutch Pepper like their life depends on it as another scream tears through them, the sound of my own voice shrieking in my ears.
I slap my hand over my body’s mouth. “Shh. It’s okay. Just relax.”
A laugh slips out of me as I realize how horrifying this must be from their point of view. I suppose I still need to confirm one thing.
Whispering softly, I ask, “Mason? Is it you in there? Don’t scream, please.”
Slowly, I remove my hand, returning it to my side.
“What thefuckdo you mean,in there?” He looks around like he’s trying to figure out where the voice is coming from, and trust me, I get it. “Wait, my voice. What’s wrong with my voice?!”
Crouching down beside the bed, I take Mason’s hands in mine. “Look, I don’t know how the hell this happened, okay? I’m still working on that. But for a second, can you please focus and take a deep breath for me?”
He pulls away from my grasp. “Who are you? Fuck. Who am I?” He trails off as he looks around the room before analyzing his hands and arms in a similar fashion as I did earlier.
I rock back on my feet, sighing. “Well, I’m not an expert in this situation, as this is the first time this has ever happened. But my best guess is that you’re in my body, and I’m … well, I’m in yours.”
Mason’s blue gaze finds mine. “This can’t be real. Are you seriously telling me right now that you think weswitched bodies?”
“Look, this might be a bad idea, but what if we tried to run into each other and somehow physically force ourselves back into our own bodies?” I suggest, feeling incredibly uncomfortable that I’m sitting at the kitchen island, looking up across the counter into my own eyes.
Daphne looks at me like I’m stupid, and I chuckle.
“Can we use that as a last resort? I don’t want to start the day in pain.”
“Fine. Do you have any better ideas?” My legs dangle in the air, and I swing them back and forth, not used to them floating above the ground. “Daph, your legs are so short! Look!”
“Are you doing okay?” she asks me timidly. “You are handling this oddly well now.”
My stomach rumbles, and I shrug. “I mean, we obviously need to figure out how to change back. But until then, I figure it’s better not to freak out, to stay grounded, and think logically, not emotionally.”
She glares at me, her jaw on the floor. And I suppose her stupor isn’t for nothing, as I might not have handled it well right away.
Literally five minutes ago.
