Going to Allie's friends

Allie took a few slow, experimental steps down the library aisle, balancing perfectly in Elena’s sneakers. A thrill of absolute power rushed through her. She didn't just feel like she was controlling Elena—she was Elena. She could feel the fabric of Elena’s modest sweater against her skin, the texture of the library carpet beneath her feet, and the rhythmic beat of Elena’s heart.

"Time to see what people really think of me," Allie thought with a sharp, wicked smile that stretched beautifully across Elena’s face.

Steering Elena’s body out of the library, Allie marched confidently down the crowded school hallway. It was fascinating to see the world from this height. Almost immediately, Allie noticed how differently people treated Elena. When Allie walked down the halls in her own body, people often gossiped or gave her competitive looks. But as Elena, classmates smiled warmly, waved gently, and stepped aside politely. Elena was treated like a sweet, fragile lamb.

Allie saw a group of her own close friends—girls she ate lunch with every day—gossiping by the water fountains. She guided Elena straight toward them, adopting a quiet, timid posture to mimic Elena's usual vibe.

"Um, hey girls," Allie said, her voice matching Elena’s soft, gentle cadence perfectly. "Have any of you seen Allie? I was supposed to ask her about a class project, but she skipped third period."

Her friends turned around, their faces immediately softening into bright, friendly smiles for "Elena."

"Oh, hey Elena!" one of the girls, Chloe, said with a dismissive roll of her eyes. "Honestly, if Allie skipped, she's probably just skipping class to go cry somewhere or obsess over Julian again. You know how desperate she gets."

Allie froze inside Elena's mind, a sharp sting of anger hitting her.

"Yeah," another friend, Maya, chimed in, leaning closer to Elena conspiratorially. "Allie acts like she's the queen of the school, but she’s so exhausting to be around. She thinks she has a chance with Julian, but did you hear what he was saying this morning? He’s totally obsessed with you, Elena. Allie is probably at home crying her eyes out because you won."

Allie’s blood boiled inside Elena’s veins. Hearing her own best friends trash her behind her back—while being completely nice to her face—was deeply frustrating and eye-opening. They genuinely thought she was annoying, insecure, and desperate. Meanwhile, they practically worshiped Elena just for being quiet and sweet.

A dangerous, teasing smirk slowly broke through Elena’s shy facade, completely baffling her friends. Allie leaned against the lockers, crossing Elena's arms with a sudden, intoxicating burst of confidence that didn't belong to Elena at all.

"Is that what you guys think of Allie?" Elena asked, her voice dropping into a smooth, sharp, and deeply playful tone. Her eyes sparkled with a malicious, knowing glint. "Fascinating. Tell me more. "