a teenage boy

Waking up wasn't a gradual process of regaining consciousness. Instead, suddenly you were awake and fully aware, as if a switch had been pulled. You blinked in confusion and looked around the room. You instantly recognized your surroundings - you were in a hospital. The last thing you recalled was a truck careening straight at you. There was an impact and a crushing pain. And that was all.

You saw a woman sitting in chair across, sleeping. It takes you a few moments to fully focus. As you recognized Pam, your wife, you were surprised that you could see so clearly without your glasses. Your body felt a little strange but you just pushed it off as the effects of whatever **** they had you on. You slowly raised yourself up and tried to speak.

"P...Pam?" you asked, your voice sounding very odd to your ears. She jerked and looked up. "Steve!" she called out in relief. She jumped up and embraced you. "Darling, I've been so worried," she gasped.

"It's okay now. I'm okay," you said comfortingly.

After several minutes she pulled back to look you in the face. Her expression was strange. "Am I okay?" you asked. "I know I'm lucky to be alive - am I crippled? Scarred? What's wrong, honey?"

She pursed her lips, hesitating as she tried to find the right words. "Steve, you were very badly injured - mortally so, in fact..."

"But I'm alive now," you interjected as she paused. "Or am I dying and just so **** up that I can't tell...it doesn't seem like it."

"No, no, you're fine now," she reassured you. "It's just that...well, the doctors did something amazing and unbelievable. They, well, you..." she railed off.

"What?" you prompted. "What is it, Pam? What did they do?" You were beginning to get nervous, wondering what could effect her so.

"Honey, I know this sounds crazy but they put your brain in another body," she said gently.

"What? You're kidding me!" you said in disbelief. But you immediately began putting the pieces together. You looked down at your arms and hands, noticing for the first time how different they were. You starred, turning your hands back and forth. "It's true, isn't it...."

"Yes, Steve, it is. You're a different person now," she said, taking your hands in hers.

Your mind was running a million miles a minute, ranging from thoughts on how the surgery could have possibly worked to wondering about the implications for your life. With an effort you pushed them aside for the moment. "Bring me a mirror, please," you requested.

Pam nodded, walked over to a counter and picked up a mirror. She handed it to you and you glared at the unfamiliar reflection. "That's me now?" you asked aloud. "But that's ...."

1. Thomas (TJ) Evans, a 17 year old African-American kid from your class. He's a good student, popular, and on several sports teams. He lived at home with his mother and two younger sisters.

2. Jonas Wright, a 15 year old kid from the foster system. He goes to your school but is too young for your classes. He's currently 'between' foster homes, having something of an attitude problem. While good looking and athletic, he generally scorns school and the 'bourgeois' students, hanging mostly with the other skateboarders.

3. William Carson, a 13 year old with a single dad. He's a cute kid with a charming, successful father. His mother died a couple years ago and it hit the family hard. His dad hasn't really starting dating again.