The Swap

by Megan Shull

  Stryker cocks his arm back and fires a chunk of ice at my head. “Do it, Butter Baby!” He shouts so loud I swear the whole neighborhood can hear him. “Dude, grow a pair! When did you get so soft? What are you, a girl or something!”

  That’s it. I don’t hesitate.

  I don’t think too much.

  I lose the sneakers first, then the socks, then I strip down to Jack’s boxers—I keep those on, thank you very much. Then I march forward and throw my leg up and over the side and—

  “OHHHHHMYGOOOOOOOSH!” I scream at the top of my lungs. Then I don’t scream, because the cold literally takes my breath away.

  I can hear the boys laughing, and for a few of the longest seconds of my life my mind goes completely blank. I shut my eyes. I can hear the words, but they sound like they’re in a fishbowl. Muffled. Everything goes in super slow motion.

  Jett: “Control your breathing, big boy. Just make it a minute and a half, and it gets better.”

  Gunner: “Piece a’ cake, big man. Battle through it.”

  Stryker: “Don’t piss in your shorts this time, Jackie Chan!”

  Jett: “Breathe, bud. Just breathe.”

  Jett’s right. The pain lasts about a minute, then everything just goes numb. I open my eyes and squint at the three of them. Gunner’s in the first tub, then Stryker, then Jett, next to me. I’m on the end.

  I copy Jett and rest my arms up around the plastic edge.

  “Don’t think about it, man,” he tells me. “Another day at the office, right?”

  “Uhhh . . . I, I—” I try.

  “Let’s talk, big man,” says Jett. He gives me a nod and a smile. “Take your mind off the chill. Bro-to-bro bonding.”

  I shrug my frozen shoulders. “What do you want to talk about?” I ask him.

  “Why don’t you tell me why you got in tilt yesterday, bud?”

  “Uhhh, ummm,” I stutter.

  Then I have an idea. I’ll just describe Sassy.

  “Well, the thing is”—I look at Jett when I answer—“somebody was saying something and it was really mean.”

  “Really mean?” Jett lets out a laugh. “You are seriously being a girl right now, bud, I swear.”

  “Yeah, well, what if I am? What are you gonna do about it?” I answer, joking.

  See, I can play too. I smile at Jett.

  “Oh man, that hurt, bud. It’s gonna be like that, huh?” he teases. “Even though you literally make no sense.”

  “What I meant was . . . ,” I start again, and try and convert it to Malloy language. “The kid’s a dolt,” I say. I flash back to Sassy in the cafeteria at school. “She’s always laughing at me and rolling her eyes and chirping at me—”

  “She?” Jett raises his eyebrows and smiles. “Dude, the cold’s getting to you.”

  “I mean, he. Yeah, um, like—” I start, then I stop. I don’t know how to explain it. “I just . . . ,” I try, but then I give up.

  “First, little man.” Jett hesitates; his voice gets serious suddenly. “Look, it was ballsy to take a go at him. You’re a beast, bud. Nails. I’ll always have your back, you know that.” Jett stops, looks me in the eye, nods, and holds up his fist.

  I’m kind of thrilled when I realize he wants to tap fists.

  Our knuckles collide, and icy water spills out of both our tubs.

  “Let’s be honest, though.” Jett picks back up. “Clowns just thrive on getting a reaction out of you.”

  I shrug. “I guess.”

  His eyes brighten. “There’s your answer, big boy. Basically ignore the guy. You don’t need that in your life, bro. Let it slide.”

  I nod.

  Jett flashes me his huge smile. “Keep it real, Jacko. Be you. Don’t have time for haters. Stay positive. Work hard. Be humble. Surround yourself with the right people. Focus on what you can control, bud.” He winks. “Keep moving forward.”

  I listen and nod. Even though I don’t really understand exactly what he means, every time Jett talks, it makes me think. He has this aura about him. He’s just a real confident person. When he talks, you listen and honestly believe him. My eyes catch a glimpse of the shining gold pendant hanging from the thin chain around Jett’s neck. I instinctively feel up around my neck too, tug on Jack’s identical pendant, hold it between my fingers like a good-luck charm.

  “You know what?” Gunner chimes in. “Jett’s right, bud, I couldn’t have said it better. Guys say stupid stuff, man. Don’t listen to what anyone else says about you. Don’t get caught up in all that. You got to know when to fight and know when to walk away, bud.”

  “Scared dogs bark the loudest, bro!” offers Stryker. “Dude sounds like a plug. Probably jealous.”

  Sassy . . . jealous? I think about this in a cold-induced haze, and for a few more long minutes, the four of us soak in quiet until—

  With absolutely no warning?

  Jett stands straight up!

  Stands. Up.

  Yes. I see it. I see—

  E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.

  “Good sesh, boys!” Jett announces, ice and water dripping off him and gushing out over the side of the tub as he jumps out. The idea to shut my eyes? It’s like on some sort of cold delay.

  But I do. I shut them tight. And I’m thinking: Wow. Just. Like wow. And I kind of laugh. Never thought I’d see that when I woke up yesterday.

  When I open my eyes, the three of them are standing on the grass with their crazy toned muscles and their white towels wrapped tight around their waists, grinning back at me like I’m an idiot.

  “Never a dull moment with this kid. Apparently you missed the memo, big guy.” Gunner looks at me, just shaking his head, laughing. “Get out, man! You’ll feel like you have pistons coming out of your hips! You’ll feel like a machine! Trust me, bro.”

  I stand up slowly and manage to climb out without doing a face-plant into the grass. Out of the ice bath, my legs almost burn. The air is so much warmer than the water. I stand next to the deck, clutching my arms, shivering. I’m pretty sure my lips are blue.

  “Whooohoooo! How good does that feel!” Stryker screams, and nails me in the head with a towel. I copy the boys and wrap it tight around my waist. The four of us all look almost identical if not for age and my and Gunner’s buzzed heads.

  Jett throws his arm around me and pulls me in. He smells like salty sweat. He smells like work. “You know that’s the best thing about having bros, bud.” He pauses and looks down at me with the kindest eyes. “We tell each other everything. No secrets.”

  “Thanks, man,” I say quietly. “No secrets,” I repeat.

  Honestly, I actually feel a little bit bad for a second. I feel this pang. Like I’m in on something special. Like I’m not supposed to see this. But just when I’m thinking that? Stryker creeps up behind me and rips my towel off and there go—

  My boxers.

  Sorry, Jack.

  “Stop!” I say. Okay. I scream. I wail. I let out the hugest cry.

  The three of them are dying laughing.

  Gunner can hardly get the words out. “Sometimes less is more, Jacko, and this is one of those times!”

  Jett shakes his head, grinning. “Just remember, little buddy, everything shrinks!”

  Stryker finally tosses my towel back. “Don’t be alarmed, bud, it won’t stay that way for long!”

  I whip my boxers back up and wrap the towel tightly around my waist.

  I don’t even get it, but they’re still laughing. They can’t stop. It’s like, I mean, it almost doesn’t matter what they’re laughing at. We’re all so tired and wet and sore and sweaty, and honestly it sort of makes me laugh too.

  “What?” I say, and look back at them, grinning.

  Gunner comes right up to me and rubs my head, smiling. “Bro, sometimes you’re dumber than a box of rocks, but I love you, man. I just love ya.”

  32

  JACK

  SUMMER IS DRIVING. SMILING LIKE Summer does. She glances over. “I think we did really well f
or a quick shop!”

  “Sure, I guess,” I say, and try and not sound so completely relieved. Never would I have thought I’d actually survive a mother-daughter shopping spree. Summer reaches across the seat and places her hand on the back of my neck. It’s weird, but I won’t lie. I like it, I guess.

  “Look at my little fashionista over there.” Summer winks. “I can’t believe how much you’re growing up. You’re really good company, Ellie, and I love the new clothes you picked out. It did seem a little bit like I was torturing you with the marathon bra try-on session, but you need some nice things, honey.” She looks over at me and smiles. “You’re growing up!”

  I flash a smile back. I don’t want to seem ungrateful. “So we’re done, right?” I ask. “I mean, we’re going home now, right?” I think about Freckles’s room and her big bed. I could go for a serious nap.

  “Home?” Summer sounds shocked. “You’re joking, right? Hello! The big surprise?” Her whole face smiles as she says it.

  “Oh, yeah.” I grin. With Summer it’s almost impossible not to smile back.

  “You going to make it? Are you still tired?” Summer asks.

  “No, I’m good,” I answer. I feel like I have to gut it out, you know, for Freckles. For Summer.

  “Okay, so the surprise. I’ll give you a hint,” she tells me. “And look, you’ll probably resist this at first, but just hear me out.” She smiles at me sideways. “It involves a little bit of a trim.”

  “A what?”

  “Just a little hair snip,” she answers.

  “Wait, what?” Oh, man. Freckles and I didn’t cover this. “Uhh,” I stall.

  “We really need to do something about your hair.”

  Man, if Freckles touched my hair, I’d be so heated. But what am I supposed to do?

  “Just a little trim, honey, because nobody can see your eyes!”

  “Okay,” I answer. “Just a little trim.” It’s honestly out of my mouth before I realize there’s no going back.

  Ten minutes later Summer and I step through the door of Butterfly Loft Salon and Spa, and I’m standing in front of a shiny, completely white desk with a waterfall backdrop. Like. A real waterfall. With water.

  “See, sweetie,” she whispers. “Doesn’t this place just ooze Zen? It has a fantastic vibe, right?” The biggest smile settles on her face. “Wait till you meet Devon. She’s a true artist, you’ll see.”

  Almost at that second, this college-age girl walks toward us. “Hey, lovely ladies,” she says, grinning.

  She’s wearing a short red dress and scuffed-up cowgirl boots. I try and keep my mouth from falling open. This chick is absolutely smokin’ hot.

  “Too hot for you, bro,” Gunner would say.

  Seriously, she looks like a movie star. Glossy black hair, perfect face, million-dollar smile.

  She looks right at me, eyes shining. “Hey, pretty lady!” she says. Her face brightens, and I immediately feel incredibly nervous because she is extremely beautiful and I’ve fallen in love. She throws her arms around Summer, and the two of them hug like they’re old friends.

  “So good to see you, love,” says Summer, kissing her on the cheek.

  When they finally let go, Summer smiles at me. “Devon, this is my daughter, Ellie!”

  My heart speeds up. “Nice to meet you,” I say, holding out my hand and hoping my palm isn’t sweaty.

  Devon has a strong grip. Firm. “The pleasure is absolutely mine, Elle!”

  Elle. Sigh. I love the way she says it. Elle. Elllllle. Elle. Elle. Elle.

  Devon looks at both of us with her eyebrows raised. “Okay, fabulous ladies! Well, let’s get going.” She winks.

  Something about her voice sends shivers down my spine.

  “Okay,” I say. My voice sounds girlishly high and eager. “I mean, yeah, cool,” I try again.

  Devon motions for me to follow her.

  And I do. Oh, I do.

  I try to snap out of it. I try not to watch the way she moves when she walks. I try, I do. When we get to the door that says TREATMENT ROOM and Devon stops and smiles again, I take a deep breath, but that doesn’t really help because she smells like—

  Man, she smells beautiful.

  “So, Elle,” she says. Her eyes are, like, gorgeous. “This is the changing room.”

  “Um, I don’t need to change,” I tell her, and try not to stare. “I’m good.”

  “Trust me,” she says as she hands me a fluffy white robe. “This will feel really good. Relax. Take all the time you need.” She glances down. “Oh, and exchange your shoes for these slippers.” She points to a pair of fuzzy white slippers set neatly by the bench. “Slip into those puppies and leave all your worries behind.”

  I won’t lie. When I first put on the robe and the slippers, I feel pretty stupid. But then I walk out and I see Devon and I don’t have time to be all weird and shy.

  “Comfy, right?” she asks.

  I nod.

  “You are adorable, Elle.” She takes a big deep breath and smiles at me. “Soooo, let me escort you to the treatment room.”

  I follow her into a big room with wood floors and a wall of windows with light pouring in. It’s pretty much empty except for a sink and two big leather chairs that remind me of Geno’s, except nothing about this place is like Geno’s, only the chairs.

  “Welcome to my little paradise!” says Devon.

  She moves over to the sink and pats the chair.

  “Okay, lady, just sit right here, recline and relax.”

  I drop into the seat.

  “Good. Now, let’s scoot you forward.” She pauses. “That’s it, lean back into this little dip in the sink, just rest your head. Perfect!”

  I do exactly as she tells me. The chair is comfortable, and every time I breathe in, I smell Devon.

  “So, we’re going to start with the scalp treatment, okay?”

  I look back up at her. She’s even pretty upside down.

  I find myself staring.

  She smiles down at me. “Wow, you have gorgeous green eyes!”

  Wow. You do too, I think but don’t say.

  I hear the water turn on.

  “Your mom totally hooked you up with the chakra deep pressure-point scalp massage ritual treatment. Aaaaamazing. You will love it. Close your eyes, Elle, that’s it. Nice. Just relax.”

  I shut my eyes. The warm water feels good. I feel her fingers massaging the shampoo into my scalp. This is weird. But, like, really, really good weird. I take a deep breath. “That smells so good,” I let slip.

  “Oh my gosh, right?” Devon sighs. “So. Good!”

  I squint and catch a glimpse of her. She’s still smiling, even though my eyes are closed.

  “It’s a blend of essential oils. Rosemary, lavender, jasmine. Love, love jasmine. Super nourishing.”

  The more she massages, the less we talk, until this dreamy hush comes over the room and my eyelids feel heavy. I never would have thought I’d be sitting in a chair with the hottest chick I’ve ever met massaging my head. I usually don’t like anyone even touching me.

  But whatever. It’s just crazy how nice it feels. It’s just like—

  My whole body has goose bumps. I feel a ripple of good. My shoulders, my neck. I take a few deep breaths. I kind of, like, just surrender.

  “How you doing?” I hear Devon.

  “This is amazing,” I say in a whisper.

  “Yeah, this is everybody’s favorite part. Totally opens up your chi, harmonizes your chakras. Have you had a rough couple of days?” she asks.

  “Yeah.” I nod. You could say that.

  “Well then, this is exactly where you need to be,” says Devon.

  I don’t even have to say anything back. She’s cool like that. I feel her slip a towel under my neck and drape it lightly around the back of my head.

  “Okay, Elle.” Devon speaks really quietly, easing me back to life. “You can just slowly sit up and come on over.”

  Next thing I know, I’m in
this barber-type chair, the sunlight pouring in the window like a spotlight. Freckles’s long, wet hair is brushed out and hanging down around my shoulders, and Devon’s standing directly behind me.

  “So, Elle.” She’s running her fingers through my hair as she talks, smiling at me in the mirror. “What are we doing today?”

  Luckily her eyes get all wide before I have to answer. “Wow,” she starts, picking up a strand and examining it up close. “How long has it been?”

  “Has what been?”

  “Since you had a trim?” she asks.

  “Oh, uhhh,” I stammer, and wish I knew how to not sound dumb.

  I watch her study my hair in the mirror. “Let’s get the ends cleaned up first, then we’ll bring up the layers.” She pauses and looks at me. “Sound good?”

  “I guess.” I grin.

  “Okay, so short layers? Long layers? We can go blunt with some bangs just above the brows?”

  “Umm—”

  “Okay, let’s try this.” She winks. “Are you a ponytail ’n’ go kind of girl? I don’t want to give you a cut for someone you aren’t.”

  “Yeah,” I say, laughing softly, “wouldn’t want to do that.”

  “You want to keep it long?”

  I nod right away. I mean, I don’t want Freckles to kill me! Plus Ellie does have great hair. It’s really pretty, like Summer’s.

  “Okay, see, we’re making progress, Elle.” She smiles big. “I’ll just bring the length up a tiny bit, and that will lift your features, give your hair a lot of movement, and let the natural texture come out. Sound good?”

  “Sure.” I smile shyly.

  I have no idea what the heck she just said.

  For the start I kind of watch in the mirror. She moves like a pro, holding up pieces of wet hair and snipping. Every so often she’ll pause and her eyes will get all big and she’ll say something really nice.

  “Wow, you have fabulous color, Elle. It’s like dark, rich, copper-red, super vibrant!”

  “Thanks,” I say back.

  “Seriously, Elle, I know a lot of people who would kill for this hair! It’s gorgeous.”

  I watch Devon. . . .

  Snip, snip, snip.

  After a few more minutes, I kind of shut my eyes. It feels good to do nothing. I’m not at all used to this.