Your phone rings

Your mother is still looking at you with a blank stare, but you don't drop your eyes even for a second. Come on, why doesn't she confess? It's over, you've caught her!

'Cause, baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth

Kim's phone is ringing in your pocket. Why now? Damn it!

-Gimme a sec.- You excuse yourself and answer. Unknown number.

-Kim Harris?- Comes the rough voice of a woman that you've never heard. Your Kim's mind pictures the interlocutor as an old lady, short and chubby.

-Yes, who's asking?-.

-I'm calling from St. Gregory Hospital. Mr. Josh... Stuart is hospitalized here, and asked to call you.-.

"Josh Stuart? That's Kim's ex. Why is he calling her?".

-This way, please.- The nurse (not the one on the phone, this is a middle-aged woman with a pretty face and long chestnut hair with bangs) gives you the direction. Your mother kept playing dumb with you, so you've left her and driven up here, mulling over how to behave with Josh (you don't know why they broke up for start, you never liked him pretty much but you feel sorry for his bike incident), and eventually you decided to improvise.

The nurse opens the door and leaves you alone. Josh, a guy with black hair that goes down to his neck, is laying on the bed with his right leg in plaster and a muddled expression on his face. It must be the anesthesia for the operation, which also explains why he didn't call you in person.

-Hey...- You begin: -So, uhm, how are you?-.

He notices your presence and revives a little.

-Oh, here you are. You took your time. Urgh... Come on, come here and swap back.-.

You blink perplexed. "Swap back", like...

He lifts his eyebrow and gives you a "wake up, dearie!" look.

-Hello? You had your fun, could you give me back my body now?- He chants with a high-pitched tone, also very out of place for a boy.

Your jaw drops to the ground at the realization of what's going on.

-K-Kim, is that you?-.

"He" smiles with pretense.

-W-What are you doing in Josh? How, how did you get in there?-.

Kim sighs heavily and then grimaces: -Urgh, I still feel fuzzy. Hurry up, give me back my body and I'll explain... wait, are you crying?-.

"Am I crying? Yes, I'm crying!" Tears are falling copiously on your cheeks out of your control. You instinctively go to her and hug her tightly, eliciting her protests and painful groans.

-Easy, Tom! My leg!-.

Sniff: -I'm sorry, I just...! You've disappeared, and I've looked for you, and I didn't find you, and I thought you were, that you were...- your voice then breaks in sobs.

You hear her soughing: "Oh", and then someone knocks at the door.

-Mister? Is everything ok?- It's the nurse, probably alerted by your noise. You break the hug wiping off your tears and she promptly replies: -Yeah, but could you come here for a moment?-.

The nurse opens the door and gets closer: -Yes? Do you feel pain in your leg?-.

-A bit, but I feel blood leaking from my ear. Could you check please?-.

The woman, louring, leans forward and asks something, but then Kim turns her head in a snap and presses her stolen lips onto those of the nurse. The woman gasps in shock and spasms rock over her body before abruptly relaxing, while Josh falls asleep on the spot. You admire with horror and curiosity the nurse straightening up and adjusting her uniform.

-Better. So, where were we?-.

-Holy fuck, you've possessed her!- You exclaim.

-Ssh! Be quiet, moron! You left me ****, duh!- It's strange seeing this woman probably older than your mom acting like a twenty years old girl.

-H-Hold on a second, I don't understand, how did you end up in... oh my God, you caused the accident!-.

-Gosh, relax!- She raises her stolen hands: -I didn't want to kill him, just make him spend a month on crutches! Listen, this bastard has cheated on me, for months! With a girl I detest!-.

You have to admit again that, as terrible as the confession is, it's funny to see her fidget like that. But then a horrible suspicion strikes you.

-Did you mean, ehm, Maylene?-.

-Yes, that bitch! Wait, do you know her?-.

-Anyway!- You quickly change back the subject: -What happened yesterday evening? Why couldn't I find you?-.

Still looking at you with mistrust, she explains her story. She indeed entered Tina's room with the intent of taking her body, following your same instinct, but when you arrived too she panicked and hid under the bed. When she learned that her sister was jerking off to her, she decided to change plans and waited for you to go to the bathroom, then she slid under your parents' door and possessed...

-Mom! I knew!-.

-Hm! Did you? It didn't seem like it this morning.-.

-Well...- You blush: -I figured it out only recently.-.

-However. After I've driven you to school I went to this sucker's house and possessed him.-.

If you remember correctly, Josh lives near the university; so probably the reason she brought you was to avoid the risk of you running into her on your own.

-But I don't understand. Why did you pretend with me? Why were you hiding?-.

-Because.- She stops for a second as Josh begins to stir, but luckily he remains ****: -At first I didn't know it was you; fortunately you helped me when you started to behave like a moron. But then I realized that if I had called myself at the hospital with Josh's voice, I wouldn't have come here and surely I wouldn't have gotten close to him. With you, I had more chances. And I didn't want you to interfere because "hurting others is wrong and blah blah blah", so I kept my mouth closed; plus, I counted on the fact that you wouldn't blow up my life in just a morning. And finally... I don't know, I wanted to see how things would go. Have some fun.-.

-But you could have... talked to yourself and convince her...-.

She scratches her temple in a hint of embarrassment.

-...I know I'm not exactly the easiest person to deal with. The idea of a piece of goo sliding inside of me... eek!-.

-I see. Heh, you've planned everything.- You constate bitterly. You just have one final doubt.

-And why haven't you said anything this morning? About how I did your make-up?-.

She tenses up a bit, as if the question had caught her not so much unprepared, but surprised. Though it's difficult to lecture her in such an extraneous form.

-Well, you weren't that bad. I mean, you just had to fly low and in a week everyone would have forgotten. Mom doesn't usually make those types of comments, so... why you asking?- She frowns, recalling her previous suspicions.

-What have you done, Tom?-.

You swallow a sour lump. Her expression is already darkening, and you feel that she won't like what you have to say.

She, indeed, didn't. Not wanting to listen to her when she asked you to swap places, in the beginning, probably has saved you from **** by strangulation by a mad nurse. You're now waiting for her in front of "your" car, she has told you she had to change host (a creepy world, but better than "mount") since the hijacked woman was on duty. At a certain point, in fact, you see a girl of your age with blonde thick long hair, split into two symmetric bands falling down her chest, coming in your direction; she's slightly taller than you and she's wearing a pinafore plaid dress and ballerina shoes, finally she's sporting a shoulder bag that looks more like a sack. Basically, she looks like the typical parish girl.

-Don't say anything. Just get in.-.

You conceal your astonishment and comply.

-So.- You say while maneuvering out of the parking lot: -Who is she?-.

-I don't know.- Comes the dry reply: -Only some random girl who has no one waiting for her at home shortly. Problems?-.

-No, no, of course not.-.

Silence falls for a few minutes. Every now and then you take a look in the rearview mirror, where a church choir singer is glaring furiously at you.

-I guess I can say that you're my friend.- You then comment, referring to your family's reaction when you'll bring this stranger at home.

-And why didn't you exit my body instead?- She spits out.

She has posed a good question. Why didn't you? You would like to tell that you felt the responsibility, the guilt, or that the idea of a mere echo of her running her body because of you creeped you out... but the truth is meaner and shameful, and you feel ashamed even just to say it.

She sighs, but it's more a groan, and she lets escape from her mouth an exclamation that you doubt the girl has ever uttered.

-Why did I overestimate you? You keep thinking with your penis even if you have my pussy now. I bet it feels good, uh? After fantasizing about it every night, finally having it between your legs, must be a dream coming true.-.

Your face is burning in embarrassment and chilling in fright.

-W-Well, are you talking, like, generically, right?-.

She rolls her eyes and throws her weight on the backrest: -Tom, I know you have a crush on me. Tina too. You just had to avoid facing her about it! Gosh, men are so stupid.-.

If you weren't already stopped at the traffic lights, you would have slammed on the brakes for the shock.

-You-you-you-you...-.

-I, I, I, I knew it, obviously.- She says petulantly, fluttering one side of her long hair with a hand gesture: -I'm Kim fucking Harris, everyone dotes on me. And yes, I know you jerk off to Tina and Mom too. Now focus on driving, it's green.-.

When you get home, you call to check if someone is present, but nobody answers. They'll probably be at the mall, you think, while your body may have gone to your friends' house.

-Uff!- Kim drops onto the sofa and searches in her pocket, probably looking for a cell phone. As fascinated as you are by the scene, you don't really like the idea of ​​someone like Kim rummaging through that poor girl's things. But you're a bit curious about what she has put in that sack.

-What's in her bag, anyway?- You ask with feigned disinterest.

-Let's see.- She opens it and draws a pair of books with colorful drawings, that look like children's. Pure disgust crosses Kim's stolen face.

-Eugh! I'm an animator! Oh my God, it's full of songs about Jesus! I need to get out of here asap!-.

You cover your mouth to hide your chuckling, but she notices the same. Before she can grumble in protest, however, you see Tina coming down the stairs.

-Kim, I heard you...- She doesn't finish the sentence because her eyes fall on the apparent intruder.

-Hey Tina, this is my friend.- You explain, but then you realize you don't have a name. Tina looks a bit dazed: after all, as you've noticed, the girl doesn't seem the type that Kim usually frequents. However, Kim herself stands up and holds out her hand.

-Nice to meet you, I'm Krissy.-.

-Yes, ah sorry, I'm Tina.- She comes over to shake her hand: -You know, I imagined you dif-UHH!!!-.

You wince shocked as Kim pulls her and kisses her passionately. Soon, the stranger is slumped **** on Tina, who spins around as in a dance step and lays her down on the couch. She then grazes her hair and strokes her hip in examination.

-You gotta lose some weight, huh sister?-.

-Wow.- You comment agape.

-You're really... good with this body change thing.-.

She shrugs her shoulder. After a while, the girl wakes up confused, but luckily all she sees are two thoughtful lasses who have picked her up, ****, in front of their house. She thanks you repeatedly, deeply apologizing for the inconvenience and introducing herself as Lauren Campbell, then she says goodbye and leaves. You feel relieved for her, and a little sorry for involving her like that.

-Hey, listen Tom.- You turn around and see a regretful expression on Tina's face.

-I didn't think you'd be worried about me. Sorry.-.

Woah. Even if she's not in her body, it's the first time you hear Kim apologizing to you.

-Never mind. And I'm sorry too for this morning. If there's something I can do...-.

-Just stay away from my socials. Now, when will your body come home?-.

You think for a second and reply: -For dinner, I guess.-.

-So I'm stuck as Tina for a few more hours. Oh well, it could have been worse.-.

Wait, she's giving you the permission to keep her body a bit longer? That's... well, that's... wow!

-Oh shit! I still have to give Cindy her notes back. Ehm, will you take care of it or...?-.

-Mmm. Nah, you've taken the hassle. Her address is on your phone, and remember...-.

-Don't mess up. Clear, one hundred percent.-.

With this words, you take "your" purse and the keys of the car. Out of the corner of your eye, you see her going up the stairs before you close the door behind of you.