Page 158 of Switch!
I suck in air while trying to remember. “I didn’t see any blood. He was dazed, that’s all. Think it’ll matter?”
Trixie shrugs. “Could have been worse. If he was stabbed with those scissors or died, I bet we’d hear helicopters right now.”
A commercial for pet food catches my attention. “What about dogs? Think they can follow our trail?”
To where we parked the car, maybe, Jesse chimes in.Once we started driving and hit the main road, it must all smell like tires.
I relay this information and finish telling them what happened. When we hear the shower water shut off, I glance over and notice that the backpack is still on the bed. I rise to grab it. Then I walk with it to the bathroom door and knock.
“I’ve got your clothes.”
“Come on in,” I hear Caleb say. Once I’m inside, he adds, “It’s not like you haven’t seen any of this before.”
A towel is wrapped around his waist, but he’s right. It’s my own body. I’ve seen it countless times, although only from the limited angles that a mirror provides. He definitely put on some weight, but I’m not buff or anything. It’s still basically me.
Caleb puts the backpack on the counter and unzips it. “What’s this?” he asks, pulling out the three Narnia books I took from my room.
“I thought you might want to finish those. I know how much the first book meant to you and um… Everything you went through when growing up. Your dad didn’t let you make many choices of your own. You got a raw deal.”
Caleb scowls. “Ilikedmy old life. It was better than yours.”
I grit my teeth, feeling insulted until I remember what he had to deal with while I was gone. “Fair enough.”
He grunts, sets the books aside, and starts pulling out clothes. I turn away when the towel drops so he can put on underwear. I’d leave the room to give him privacy, but he starts talking.
“What’s the plan? How am I supposed to get away from here?”
“Trixie and Jesse have plane tickets back to Tacoma. Their flight leaves from Denver, so I thought I’d have them drop us off there at a Greyhound station. I’ll be with you. We’ll share my body, the one you’re in now, until we can figure out a better solution. We should be okay. If the bus gets pulled over and searched, I’ll possess the police so you can escape. Or I’ll just have them overlook our seat. That’s probably easiest.”
Caleb eyes me while pulling on his jeans. “The body you’re in now, that’s Jesse?”
“Yeah.”
“And he’s aware of you? He knows what’s going on?”
“Yup. I guess that wasn’t in my notes.”
“So you’re in control of him?”
I nod. “Right now I am.”
Caleb seems confused. “Does he have a choice? From what I read, it sounded like he didn’t. The psychic fair or whatever. He didn’t want to be there.”
I think about Patrick, and the rare instances that we grappled for dominance. I don’t think Caleb wants to hear logistics though. “He didn’t have much choice at the beginning, no. Neither did you. I’m sorry. I was still figuring it all out. I do things differently now and try to be more considerate.”
Caleb seems pensive as he finishes getting dressed. “When do we leave?”
“Around noon tomorrow so the others can make their flight. We might have to put you in the trunk again, but we can leave one of the backseats down so it’s not as dark or stuffy. We’ll close it if we see the police stopping cars. I can help if they do. It’s going to be okay.”
I’m not sure he believes me. He leaves the restroom without saying a word. I stay behind to make use of the facilities. When I’m done, I stand in front of the mirror and stare at myself, trying to imagine what life is going to be like now. Assuming we don’t get caught—and I’m fairly certain I can use my powers to avoid that—I’ll be back in my original body, but with a passenger who used to be my greatest enemy. I wonder how often Caleb will want to be in charge. I suppose that’s what he’s concerned about. I am too. Even once we figure that out, if we’re constantly together, what will that do to us as the years progress? Will we become some amalgamation of our two very different personalities until there is no true Travis or Caleb left?
You’ll help soften him up, Jesse says.You’re a good kid.
“Thanks. Do you want to be in control?”
Not yet. I’m still freaked out from the jail break, and for whatever reason, I feel safer in here.
I laugh, knowing exactly what he means. “Just be ready to take over again if the police show up. Think we’ll get any sleep tonight?”
