by Marlowe Blue
“Okay. What else?”
“My parents aren’t really like anyone else’s. I know everyone thinks that about their parents, but my parents really are different. They want everything to be perfect and just so. Between now and next week your life is going to be planning my extravagant eighteenth birthday party. I’m going to officially be an adult and that’s a huge deal in our family. My mother will ask for your opinion but ultimately, it’s going to come down to what she wants, so just go with it. She’s driving our party planner crazy.”
I made note of everything she was telling me even though I full intended to be out of her body by the time her party rolled around. Harper deserved to celebrate her birthday as Harper
“Tuesdays, I have violin lessons.”
My stomach fluttered. “You play the violin?”
“Yes.” Of course she did.
“How the hell am I supposed to pull that off?” Playing the violin wasn’t exactly something you could fake. Either you could play the violin or you couldn’t and I had never touched the instrument in my life.
Harper looked up. “You’re right. Somehow you’re going to have to get out of that. Say you don’t feel well or something. Wednesday afternoons I go to the spa with Mother. It’s written in stone and there’s no getting out of it so don’t even try. I suggest you let her do most of the talking and pretend like your listening.”
I jotted that down even though Mrs. Granger didn’t seem like the talkative type.
Harper kept talking and her schedule boiled down to this. Mondays were reserved for studying but she really spent them with Tucker while her parents thought she was studying with a tutor named Francis at the public library. Tuesday was violin lessons. Wednesdays were spa days with her mother. Thursdays she had some kind of charm school lessons that taught you how to be the equivalent of a real princess. Fridays she had free to hang out with Tucker and her friends. Saturday mornings she had dance and in the afternoon French lessons. On Sundays the Grangers rested and lounged around the house. That was a lot and I didn’t know how I was going to pull off half of it. Lucky for Harper my life wasn’t nearly as complicated.
“I work at the pet shop Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. I’ll text you the exact times. It’s an easy gig. Just follow Quinn and Gunner’s lead and do whatever Mr. Hawthorn tells you to do.”
She scribbled that down. “Anything else?” My life seemed so pathetic and uneventful compared to hers.
“When I’m not working, I’m studying. I’m trying for a full scholarship so I really have to keep my grades up.”
“Got it,” she nodded. “I’ll do my best to not let your grades slip.”
“Thanks. I’ll do the same for you. When I’m not studying, I’m hanging out with my friends and Brooke. We don’t do much. Just hang out and talk and listen to music and stuff.”
Harper smiled as she wrote. “That sounds lovely. Do you have a boyfriend?” She looked at me with blinking, expectant eyes.
“No. Not right now. Is there anything I should know about Tucker?”
Harper’s eyes widened. “This week he has to go to the last fitting for his tux. Don’t let him forget about that. If he’s going to be my escort at the party, he has to look perfect.”
I couldn’t think of a time Tucker hadn’t looked perfect. I made a note of that—tux fitting. Still, I was banking on the fact that we would be back in our proper bodies by the time her party came around.
Harper stared through the window again. “Aside from that, he’s the sweetest greatest guy ever and you’ll love him.”
I wondered how she felt about that. I would have been jealous, but she didn’t sound jealous at all, just sad.
“What about your friends?” I asked. “They’re a bit much than I’m used to. They’re pretty mean.”
Harper nodded. “I can’t control people’s behavior, Abby, but those girls will do absolutely anything for me but . . .”
“But what?”
“Be careful with Aria and Dina.”
I was surprised to hear her say that since they were the closest to her. “What do you mean be careful?”
“Something’s been off about them lately. It’s very subtle but I’ve noticed a change in how they look at me and the little glances they steal from each other. I don’t know how to explain it, but I don’t like it.”
I didn’t write that down but I wouldn’t forget it.
She gave me a tight smile like maybe she had said too much. “What about your friends?”
“They’re the best. Really cool.” I felt guilty saying that after what Harper had just told me, but it was the truth. “Gunner’s always going through some drama with that boyfriend of his but Quinn and I just mostly listen and let him vent. They’re both fun and open so you should fit right in with them. Please spend as much time with Brooke as possible. She’s stuck alone in our apartment most of the time.”
Harper’s face brightened. “I’ve been an only child all my life. I’ve always wanted a sister. I think it’ll be fun.”
“Brooke’s an awesome kid. She’s not annoying at all and she really looks up to me.”
Just then I felt something I wasn’t expecting to feel—jealousy. I was jealous that Harper was going to be spending time with my little sister and Brooke would probably love her. Brooke was who I would miss the most. Then I reminded myself that this was only for a little while.
Harper gathered her things. “I should go.”
“What are you going to do?” I was curious because I surely didn’t have a packed schedule like her. “I’m going to get some homework done and hang out with Brooke and just chill.”
I slid Harper’s purse onto my shoulder and stood. “Harper, earlier today when we were in the bathroom and I told you about the switch, you laughed and said I had no idea what I had done. What did you mean by that?”
She pressed her lips together. “Oh, I didn’t really mean anything by it. I just thought it was funny like in that movie.”
I wanted to believe her but I got the eerie feeling there was something else she wasn’t telling me.
I had an hour to kill before heading to Tucker’s so I spent it in the library reading up on economics since Harper and I had made an agreement to keep up each other’s grades. The whole drive to his house, I thought about ways to make conversation with him. I imagined him and Harper having deep, thought-provoking conversations, but whenever I got near him, my mind went blank. How was I supposed to be smooth like Harper instead of a nervous mess?
I spent five minutes sitting in his driveway, clutching the steering wheel. It had been a long time since I’d had a boyfriend and the thought of having one again, even if it was only temporary was a little frightening.
Harper’s phone dinged with a text. I thought it was Dina or Aria since they had send several messages that I ignored. But the text was from Tucker.
Hey, Babe! What are you waiting for?
It was now or never. I checked my face, got out of the car, and forced myself toward the Finley’s front door. My legs felt like they were weighed down with bowling balls. I rang the doorbell and the door swung open immediately. “Hey, Babe.”
“Hey . . . Babe.” I wasn’t sure what else Harper called him, but I’d only heard them refer to each other as babe. I should have asked when I met with her earlier. Tucker pulled me inside and gave me a deep, wet kiss. I had felt nothing like it before. My body tingled and every part of me felt weak. I was disappointed when he pulled away from me. Tucker reached behind me to shut the door. The way he looked at me, well, looked at Harper was the look of a boy who adored the girl he was looking at. I had to remind myself not to get used to it.
The Finley’s home was huge, yet modest. All the furniture and décor was new and modern, but nothing was over the top. I remembered that his father was a dentist and his mom was a college professor.
In Tucker’s bedroom we settled down on a denim couch he had which sat in front of his flat screen television. His room wasn’
t far from what I’d imagined it to be. It wasn’t neat, but it wasn’t a horrible mess. Baseball posters lined the walls and his shelves couldn’t hold another trophy. There were too many golden men holding baseball bats for me to count. Clothes were piled beside a hamper covered with baseballs and his bed was only half made. He put on a movie, what movie, I couldn’t tell you because he moved close and put his arm around me as soon as it started. My heart fluttered, giving the same sensation I’d felt that night on the Triple Loop Coaster. Staring straight ahead, I promised myself that I would not ruin this magical moment by throwing up.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Tucker watching me. Gently, he placed his hand on my chin and turned my head toward him. This was the closest I had ever been to him. After all these years, I had never noticed how he had flecks of green in his blue eyes and four pale freckles on the tip of his nose. I couldn’t keep my eyes off those soft, pink lips of his.
He gave me his famous half smile. “What’s wrong? You seem a little different.”
Uh-oh. You’re blowing it at playing Harper, Abby.
I shrugged. “Just have a lot on my mind.” I had to start acting like Abby and think, what would Harper do? I confident girl like her would go in for the kill, not just sit there staring at the gorgeous guy that was in love with her.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I went for it. Grabbing Tucker by his plaid collar, I pulled him close and pressed my lips against his. This kiss was even better than the last one. I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. I had been dreaming of that moment for years.
He ran his warm hands up my exposed thigh. I wanted to laugh because it tickled, but I held my composure. I placed my hand on his chest. His heart was beating faster than what was normal.
Finally, Tucker pulled his lips away from mine and stroked my cheek. “I love you, Harper, you know that, right?”
I used my thumb to wipe my lipstick off his mouth. “I love you too, Tucker.” That was the truth. I had loved this boy for the longest time.
His jaw dropped. “Really?”
“Yeah, of course.”
He slapped his knee, grinning from ear to ear. “That’s the first time you’ve ever said it back to me. This is great.”
Oops. Harper had never told him that she loved him? How was I supposed to explain this to her?
He took my hand and massaged the back of it with his thumb. “Hey, did you really mean what you said about after your party?”
I narrowed my eyes and tried to play coy as I thought Harper might have done. I probably looked stupid. “Depends. What did I say?”
His face reddened. “You know, that we would finally do it? Don’t you remember?”
Do it? Like do it, do it. Harper and Tucker haven’t had sex yet? I didn’t know why I was so surprised, but I had just assumed.
“Sure,” I replied. I hoped I was saying the right thing since according to Tucker this was something they had discussed before.
I leaned my head on his shoulder. “My parents aren’t going to be home until later,” he said, “so I’m going to make you dinner.”
I laughed. I’d never had a boy offer to cook for me before. “You’re going to make me dinner?”
“Nothing fancy like the stuff you’re used to, but I make a mean tomato and lettuce salad and nobody warms up chicken nuggets better than me.”
“Now, that’s what I call five-star dining.” I remembered what Harper had told me. “Don’t forget to get fitted for your tux. Remember, you have to look perfect for my party.”
He tucked my hair behind my ear. “Sure. I know this is the most important night of your life and I’m going to be as perfect as you need me to be. I won’t let you down.”
Somehow his words were comforting and reassuring. Harper was right, Tucker was the sweetest and he was easily the best part of this trade. It was going to hurt to have to give him back.
7
Harper told me that dinner was served at 6 PM sharp, so I made sure to be on time and properly dressed. I was still full from Tucker’s, but I didn’t want Harper’s parents to be angry about something as minor as showing up to dinner on time. I would eat what I could.
That night a male server in a white dress shirt and black pants set before us filet mignon, baked potatoes, and roasted vegetables. It smelled heavenly and looked like something that would be served in a restaurant I could never afford to go to. I wished Mom and Brooke could have just one meal like this. It would be a nice break from Ramen noodles, grilled cheese sandwiches, and canned food.
The Grangers still looked as perfectly polished as they had that morning. There clothes didn’t have a wrinkle and not a hair was out of place. I wondered if they had done nothing but sit in a chair all day.
I dug in. Harper’s parents cut into their beef and ate quietly as they had during breakfast. It was odd that no one was speaking so I decided to break the silence. “School was interesting today. In chemistry we started a new project and we started a unit on tennis in gym.”
I looked up from my food. Both Mr. and Mrs. Granger had frozen in place and were staring at me like I was so foreign specimen.
“What?”
Mrs. Granger set her silverware daintily on her plate. “What are you doing?”
What kind of question was that? “Just talking about my day. Making conversation. I figured you guys would want to know what’s going on with me.”
Mrs. Granger narrowed her beautiful eyes at me. “Well, we don’t and I don’t know what would make you think we would.”
Ouch.
Mr. Granger took a sip of his wine and set his glass down. He was a lot gentler in his approach. “Meals are times for thinking and reflection. Not talking.”
Huh. That was new. Usually parents were complaining that they’re kids didn’t talk to them or let them know what was happening in their lives. I’d never been to a dinner that was completely silent and no one spoke, but okay. I would go with the flow. It was a small thing to accept in exchange for Harper’s amazing life.
Mom, Brooke and I rarely had dinner together, but when we did our conversations were lively and there was lots of laughing. Mom asked me questions, too many sometimes, about my day and my life and my friends because she cared. Even when it was just Brooke and I, talking over food was one of the ways we bonded.
After dinner I excused myself. It was nice to not have to do dishes or even clear my plate. I headed to Harper’s room intending to start my homework, but I got lost in all the amazing things she had. I experimented in her expensive makeup collection like I was a little girl. She had things I had never even heard of. I picked out an outfit to wear the following day and placed it on a dress form. Harper’s phone rang non-stop but I ignored it. There were so many calls and text messages that I couldn’t imagine how much time Harper spent talking to people, it was all too much.
I was tempted to call Quinn. I had never gone so long without speaking to her and it felt strange. What would she say when she found out the truth? Would she believe me? Would she be mad because I had hidden the truth from her about the fortune teller? I had no idea, but all those questions only made me want to talk to her more.
I pushed the awkward dinner with the Grangers away from my mind and thought happy thoughts about my time with Tucker. I took a shower and chose my outfit for the following day to save myself some time the following morning. I didn’t want to get in trouble again for being late to breakfast.
When I was set up for the next day and ready to crawl into Harper’s comfy bed, something caught my attention. A moaning coming from somewhere. It sounded like a man in pain. It stopped after a few seconds, so I pulled the covers back on Harper’s bed. The moaning came again, louder and more agonizing this time.
I crept towards the bedroom door and stepped into the hallway. The sound had come from the long, dark hallway which I assumed led to more bedrooms. I had plans of exploring the large estate in the daylight. At night, it was just straight creepy.
&nbs
p; I’d taken three steps toward the strange noise, when the maid, Martine, blocked my path. Martine was a short, tan woman who kept her wavy hair pulled back into a bun. “Where are you going?”
“What’s that noise?”
The moaning came again, louder this time but Martine’s stern expression didn’t waver. “What noise? I don’t hear anything.”
Unless she was deaf, which she clearly wasn’t, she was lying to me. “You have to hear that.”
Something in her seemed to snap and she pointed her finger in my face. “I don’t hear a thing. It’s after hours. Go to bed.”
“Okay.” But I didn’t budge. I was fully intending on finding out where that noise was coming from.
Martine stayed put and folded her arms over her chest. Clearly, she was going to stand there until I obeyed her. I slipped back into Harper’s bedroom and closed the door behind me. I counted to sixty under my breath and then cracked the door open just enough for me to peek out. Martine still stood their meeting my gaze. Officially creeped out, I slammed the door shut and locked it.
The moaning continued for another thirty minutes. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I played music from Harper’s phone to drown out the noise. What the hell was going on in that house?
8
I held my hand still as Dina painted each one of my fingernails blood red. This is what we were doing in study hall instead of studying on Tuesday morning. I waited for Ms. Rigby to say something, but she didn’t seem to care as long as we were seated and quiet.
Dina was much prettier than Aria but only slightly nicer. Short blond ringlets fell into her face as she concentrated hard on her work. “Red is totally your color.”
Phones weren’t aloud in study hall, but Aria was busy hiding hers underneath the table. “So, what are we going to do about this Lincoln Hill bitch?”
Lincoln Hill was our rival school and I finally figured out what Aria’s problem was with some girl named Kennedy Tynes. Kennedy had posted a picture of her kissing some guy’s cheek. That guy turned out to be Aria’s boyfriend who also goes to Lincoln Hill. I’d always told Quinn that dating a guy from a different school was a bad idea, but she always insisted that she and Josh were different. Aria promptly dumped her boyfriend, but Kennedy wasn’t going to get off that easy. According to Aria, she had to pay for her disrespect and she had to pay dearly.