Page 9 of Switch!
“How come you didn’t punch him?” Elliot grumbles. His eyes focus on Caleb before narrowing in accusation. “Why’d you have to come after me instead? Are you gay for Travis or something?”
“You better shut up,” Dean says, “unless you want him to mess up your other ankle. Those were some serious karate moves.”
He nudges Caleb, and I try to make his body smile in response, but I can’t make his mouth move. Not wanting to raise suspicion, I quickly retreat so he can react naturally. I return to my body to find it grinning, even though my eyes are closed. This hasn’t gone unnoticed. When I open them, I see a couple of students looking in my direction. Let them stare. Every time I successfully step into Caleb’s skin, I come out feeling stronger. They better not push my buttons. I’m no longer a helpless pushover.
— — —
I’m eating lunch alone, as always, when someone sits across the table from me. The guy who was in the bathroom when I had to rescue my book from the toilet. He’s smiling like we’re old friends.
“Is it true?” he asks.
I shake my head. “What?”
“That you’re paying Caleb to be your bodyguard.”
I stare at him, baffled. “How does that make sense? He attackedmeyesterday. I was minding my own business!”
“Sure,” the guy says, “but maybe it was an act. Caleb’s friend wanted to mess with you for trying to steal his girl, so he was pretending to rough you up until the other guy forced his hand.”
“Huh? I didn’t try to steal—”
“That’s not what happened,” a squeaky voice on my left says. A kid so young he has to be a freshman slides down the bench to join our conversation. “The reason Caleb attacked Elliot is because he got in the way.”
“Yeah, right,” the first guy says. “That’s stupid. They’ve been friends since grade school.”
“That’s what Caleb told him,” the freshman insists. “After they left the school. They were right behind me. I was terrified!”
“Wait,” I interject. “You really heard Caleb say that?”
The freshman nods. “Elliot was mad at him, and Caleb shouted, ‘Well you shouldn’t have gotten in my way!’”
The guy across from us shakes his head. “Something’s up. I was in the front row, man. Caleb just stood there forever, like he couldn’t make up his mind.” He points a finger at me. “And you didn’t try to escape, even when you had the chance. You weren’t even squirming!”
“I thought he was playing dead,” the freshman says. “It’s what I would have done.”
“You were both there?” I ask.
They nod in unison.
I pick up the remnants of my lunch and stand, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Thanks for getting help instead of just standing there while three guys ganged up on me. I’ll make sure to return the favor if the situation is ever reversed.”
I wouldn’t have minded making friends, but I want the kind who will have my back. My irritation with them is short-lived. I have more pressing concerns. People are talking about this now. If it happens again, and I turn Caleb into a statue by possessing him, that’s going to get noticed. Even if people don’t understand the reason. I’m not the only one who can see patterns. I need to master Phase Two, and quick!
— — —
I use the weekend to plot my next move, enjoying how it feels to have a secret. And such a cool one too! I take my notebook from its hiding place beneath my mattress. What I’ve written would sound insane to anyone who hadn’t lived through it. Considering how often I’ve gone back to revise my theories, scribbling new observations in the margins, the notebookisbeginning to resemble a madman’s manifesto. The most recent entry is about the cord I felt tethering me to my body when I was outside of it, and how physical distance seems to influence how long it takes to return. I don’t want to find out what happens if I can’t make it back to my body. Understanding my abilities could mean the difference between life and death. This is serious stuff.
But not all the time. I also write down potential superhero names. Why not? If I master this, maybe I can right social injustices, starting with the bullies at our school. I’d call myself The Ghost in the Machine, or maybe The Puppet Master. I’m still working on it. After giving a costume serious consideration, I realize that colorful tights will only draw attention to me. I already have the perfect disguise. From the outside, I appear to be a feeble nerd, when in reality…
I’m a feeble nerd who doesn’t truly know what he’s doing. Sitting in my room while speculating will only get me so far. I need to put my theories to the test. That’s why on Saturday, when my mom starts hinting that she wants the apartment to herself, I tell her I want to go see a movie. All I need is a ride. I still have the twenty bucks she gave me earlier in the week. When six in the evening rolls around, I’m already inside the cinema. I bought a ticket to a big blockbuster that I only have a passing interest in. I’ve already made my peace with missing it. I have bigger fish to fry.
I loiter in the lobby and keep an eye on the entrance, sizing up every guy who walks in until I see one I envy. He’s in his twenties and athletic. His hair is black like mine, but he’s handsomer by a mile. His clothes are expensive and trendy. That’s all fine and good. What really makes me wish I was him is the beautiful brunette on his arm. She’s around the same age as he is and gorgeous, but what really gets me is the way her mouth moves between smiles. What’s she saying to him? How would I reply? I can’t even imagine, but I crave that sort of experience. It’s bad enough that friendship eludes me. I don’t want dating to remain a mystery too.
I watch as the couple waits in line at the concession stand. Once they have popcorn and drinks, I trail them to their movie of choice, which is some sort of drama. Whatever. I won’t be watching the screen anyway. I take a seat three rows behind the couple, slightly off to one side so I can see them better. Then I wait. I want them to be settled before I make my first attempt. I’m nervous about the silver cord stuff. If I possess the guy and he goes rushing off for more popcorn, I’m not sure what will happen. Will the cord break? What then? Even if I don’t die, what if it leaves me trapped in his body, unable to take any action of my own? I think of what the first astronauts risked when venturing out into the darkness of space. I can do this.
Although I’m not looking forward to another extended journey through the void, as I’ve come to think it. Close proximity is better, since it means a shorter jump. The movie is ten minutes in when I try, but not by focusing on the cool guy. I turn my attention instead to an old man and really give it my all. Nothing happens. Because I don’t want to be him. When I finally give up and focus on the younger guy…
After a nauseating twist through the void, I find myself sitting closer to the screen. I can feel a hand on my thigh, and I’m pretty sure it’s not my own. That’s thrilling, but when I try to look down, my head is locked in place. Phase One. I’m not surprised. The movie appears blurry, as if someone smeared grease over the camera lens. The audio is muffled. I’m happy regardless because I confirmed a theory. Desire is key! For the first phase, anyway. Now I just need to figure out the next step. More desire? I imagine how amazing it would be to kiss the girl next to me. I’ve never kissed anyone before. Not like that, so my motivation couldn’t be higher. Except nothing happens. I try for something simpler, like flexing my bicep. No luck with that attempt either, but I’ve noticed something. The body I currently inhabit isn’t completely paralyzed. Breathing and blinking still happen without me needing to will it. All those subconscious processes are still running, which is good.
