DetectiveRed

  No password on his phone; an odd choice in this day and age. Anyone could snoop. Not that I'm going to. That would be an invasion of privacy. I'm only going to distract myself. He has to have games or manga or books or something to pass the time. The few times I've seen him at school, his phone is all he looks at.

  His home screen is a lot more boring than I expected: an e-reading app filled with goofy sci-fi novels, Minecraft, some generic match-three game, and his contact list. It wouldn't be too bad if I slipped my contact in there and took a look at it while I'm there, right? I mean, he doesn't even have Messenger, so it's not like I could contact him any other way. We'll need to talk about this after, anyway. It's probably fine.

  The pages are mostly empty. Family members and a couple of extremely online usernames imported from a social media app that doesn't seem to even be on his phone. I input my details. It's not like we can just go back to our daily lives, even when we do switch back. We’d need to talk. What the hell happened to him needs to be expined.

  A notification appears at the top of the screen as I finish punching in the st numbers.

  BunBun: @Server Mum, you okay?

  A Discord notification? He didn’t have that installed, did he? I probably shouldn't check. That would be a massive invasion of privacy, but the tag… It can't have been directed at him.

  Against my better judgement, I tap the notification and am brought to a Discord server. Bunnies Anonymous is the title. His icon sits in the corner, a cartoon rabbit nibbling on some grass. His server nickname is in fact Server Mum, the notification was from the vent channel.

  Reading more is not a line I'm willing to cross.

  The idea of him having a cute side is endearing, though. He loved cute things when we were younger, he pushed me to try wearing cuter clothes. I “made him” (read gave an excuse for him) to dress up back then, and the gap moe of someone who looks so tough and annoyingly unexpressive looking at a bunny like it's the most precious thing in the world, is a tooth destroying cute idea. One that I just can't see happening anymore. It’s not just his face.

  The Server Mum title does make it a tad more possible, but beyond my fantasy of him holding bunnies, I don't remember him being particurly cuddly. Even back then, he refused to touch small animals, the people around him, or me. Maybe it's an in-joke. Dudes being dudes and making fun of each other with girly nicknames.

  Percy runs back through the dividing walls. The night will be ending soon. It's ten. Is he getting ready to swap back? His panicking doesn’t fill me with confidence. Not that I can really get up and check on him. Even as I just sit here, people act like I'm about to explode into a fit of rage. His eyes lock on to me and he bolts over.

  "What time is it?" he asks breathily. His eyes dart around. I want to shield him from whatever he's scared of.

  "Percy, what's wrong?" There's nothing he should be scared of it's a school dance.

  "What time is it?"

  "Around ten." I answer.

  "My parents will be here soon. We need to swap back. Now."

  "What happened?"

  "Nothing. Look, you need your body back. I need to go home. It's a win-win. Let's make a break for it," he says. I can't argue with his logic, but that can't be all there is to it. He looks like he's seen a ghost.

  "But Miss Jackson--" I don't want him to get in more trouble. His reputation is awful enough as it is.

  "Don't worry about that. I'll be the one taking the fall for it."

  "And if it doesn't work?"

  "Then we are screwed anyway."

  He runs faster than I knew my body could. Damn it. I put his phone back into his pocket and take off after him. It's remarkably natural now. Fiddling around with apps and games has done wonders for my dexterity. I catch up quickly. A little too quickly. Percy's body doesn't react to my commands to stop; my body is within arm’s reach, but I can't stop the legs from moving. I'm on his heels, he hasn't noticed; he's too distracted by something. Probably whatever made him bolt for it. Tackling him in front of everyone is not how this is meant to go. How do you even stop yourself from running. That’s just meant to be instinct, right? Swerving to the right doesn't work. If I force a stop, I’m going to just end up on him. This body is bigger. I need to grab him and protect him; if I'm going to end up bowling over anyway, we need to both be safe.

  I scoop him up, wrap him in my arms, and we head towards the ground.

  ---

  For a second I'm weightless, lifted off the ground and unsure what's going on, the next I'm tumbling in what feels like a dryer. I hit the ground and the world goes bck.

  I wake up with Max, the real Max in her real body, in my arms. My body feels battered by the fall; the basketball floor is much harder than the grass, but at least she looks okay. Her eyes flutter open, revealing their normal green hue. Perfect. This nightmare is over.

  "Sorry, your legs are longer than mine." Her voice is louder than normal.

  "They are. Sorry about that."

  "Sorry for what? It’s not your fault, I’m used to it."

  "Sorry that it ended with you getting hurt."

  "You have to deal with the consequences." My body feels like it's going to be covered in bruises. "Anyway, I should be the one--"

  "Percy Baxter, you get off of her this instant," Miss Jackson shouts. I shuffle away. Right. I'm me. They already think I attacked her tonight, and there's no expining that as anything but a tackle.

  I can't feel garbage about that now. The door. I just need to make it out and then I can start walking home. Readjustment is going to take a second. It's hard to tell if this is a concussion, or whipsh or just the result of my body smming against the ground.

  "I always knew you were trouble." I shuffle faster. My limbs feel too long and my torso too heavy. There's not enough adrenaline to get me to my feet. I push my hands into the ground and try getting up. Other students are starting to gather. Max is just watching as Miss Jackson stomps towards me.

  My hands get grip on the floor and I stop shuffling enough to get to my feet. Two tumbles and at least one concussion mean my vision and body are swaying and aching, and… I shouldn't have come tonight. I should have just stayed in bed. Hoping something would be different was stupid.

  The door is open. Miss Jackson is walking towards me. This shambling body of mine should be enough to let me get past her. I probably look like a horror movie serial killer at this point. I stumble my way forward, eyes locked on my target.

  "Don't you think about attacking me, Mr. Baxter," Miss Jackson says as I walk towards the door.

  "I won't, Miss Jackson." She moves out of my way. My horrifying form finally comes in handy.

  Max calls out to me, but I ignore it. I need to get home. The cool air batters my face. I should be fine, though; this suit is warm enough. I make it out the school gate; they can't do anything else without calling the cops and this school wouldn't bother. Home's only twenty minutes away. That should be long enough to readjust to my body.

  The smell of beer and cigarettes fills my nostrils. Home is quiet as always. My parents told me they'd probably be asleep. Or out drinking at the pub. I don't really care which. What matters is there are no questions about why I went, no mockery about having no friends, and no stupid TV shows keeping me up as I wallow in my self-pity.

  I'll get out of here soon. I've applied for schools in the city, and schorships to help pay for it. I've got good grades and an impressive attendance record. I should be able to get at least one of them. If I can get into somewhere, I can leave and forget this horrible night, this awful school and these shitty people. I'll never have to think about Charley or Miss Jackson or Max again.

  My phone buzzes. That shouldn't happen. I only have push notifications on for Discord.

  Max :) : Did your Mum pick you up?

  When did she get my number? Why is she texting me? Did she add herself as a contact?

  Percy: She did. How did you get my number?

  Max :) : I sent myself a text from your phone.

  Percy: Why????

  Max :) : Because we swapped bodies. That's why! You think we can just forget about this?

  This doesn't need to be difficult. It's just pity. She'll come to her senses and leave me alone soon and I can get back to my escape.

  Max :) : My body feels weird.

  Percy: I didn't do anything to it.

  Max :) : I know you didn't. I think it has something to do with what happened.

  Percy: I don't feel anything, aside from the bruising.

  Readapting has been difficult. Even the walk didn't help, but she doesn't need to know that.

  Max :) : Sorry

  Percy: Not your fault.

  Max :) : I let Miss Jackson know you were just protecting me. It should be fine

  Percy: I don't really care as long as she doesn't expel me.

  It's really the only thing that could stop me leaving at this point, I should probably thank her, but it should be my first warning anyway. I have friends in the city that can help me move up there if I get a schorship and keep saving.

  Percy: Don't worry about me, Max. Just go back to your normal high school life. I'm fine. As long as we stay away from each other this shouldn't happen again.

  Max :) : Shouldn't we look into this?

  Percy: No, I'm not risking you getting hurt.

  Disguising my self-interest as selflessness is low. It should get her off my back, though . I don't want to see her. I don't want to think about her. Tonight proved that there's no point in hoping for a better high school experience. No reconciliation or comfort. Before the swap, Max looked at me like something she scraped off her shoe. Then she was scared of me.

  Max :) : We experienced literal magic and you are worried about getting hurt. What happens if we swap again and don't know how it happened?

  Percy: Then we should take precautions. I'll stay away from you and it'll be fine.

  I mute my text notifications and start going through Discord. A couple of people are worried. Good people. People who I care about and don't want to worry. I send a quick 'I'm fine.' message. The server is mostly quiet this time of night. Maybe I should study.

  BunBun: Don't give me that, hun. You were freaking out. Did you have a good time?

  Server Mum: Something weird happened. I don't want to talk about it. My body feels grosser than usual.

  BunBun: Does it have anything to do with what we talked about?

  Server Mum: I told you. It's just a nickname.

  BunBun: Surrrrrreeeeeeee

  Server Mum: I just ran into Max.

  Lee/BunBun had heard most of the story at this point, how we grew apart, how I missed her, how I had mixed feelings about everything and how everyone hates me woe is me, bh bh bh. Everything feeling gross in response to that should be enough for her to get the picture and end the conversation.

  BunBun: Oh. Shit. Are you alright?

  Server Mum: She doesn't hate me. Which is nice, I guess. I wish she did though. It would make avoiding her a lot easier.

  BunBun: You could talk to her.

  Server Mum: I did. And it just reinforced that I'm better off keeping my head down.

  BunBun: You know that's not healthy.

  Server Mum: I only have to survive another month + exams. When I get out of here I can make some friends, sort myself out, hell maybe when I get to the city I could get a boyfriend. It's just two months.

  The escape is so close. I just have to focus on studying and working and it'll be over before I know it.

  BunBun: Will you be okay that long?

  ---

  People start to swarm around me once Percy's gone. Each one supposedly worried that I'd done something to upset him. I could have; I don't know. He's confusing. The buzzing and talking all seem to come back to how big and violent he is, which doesn't seem right.

  It feels wrong letting him take the fall for tonight. I was at least as responsible, but no one will listen. All of them are just so worried about me, and each seems absolutely sure that if they keep insulting him I'll feel better. Everyone except Kait. She's at the back of the crowd, watching me. After the first fall, she'd been very intent on making sure 'Max' was okay.

  Everything feels off. My height most of all. As they surround me, it becomes more and more obvious just how short I've become. Or have always been. When I stand up, I feel like I'm not all the way there. My voice is coming out louder, like despite it only being half an hour swapped, I'd already acclimated to his body.

  I send him some texts. The likelihood of this happening again is slim, but if it does, we need a pn, and avoiding each other isn't one. Maybe I can convince him to meet up tomorrow. We need to talk. Not just about this, but about what's going on with him. Why was he crying? How did he think it was his fault?

  It would be easier to think without everyone chattering around me.

  Eventually my dad comes to pick me up. He's te, but that's expected of him. He's a busy man. The drive home is quiet except for a notification.

  Kait: Percy is that you!?!?!

  What?

  Kait: Did you and Max swap bodies? I won't tell. :) You dont look good. And he was crying and thats weird.

  Max: I'm Max, Kait. Something like that could never happen.

  Kait: what did we talk about in the bathroom?

  Max: You've been reading weird stories again.

  Kait: Maybe.

  Max: Besides, it was just a concussion.

  Kait: Percy was afraid of Miss Jackson. That's not like him. He's scary and tough and stuff.

  Max: Are you drunk?

  Kait: Maybe ;)

  I head to bed as soon as I get home. Eighteen years of using this body seems to mean nothing anymore. I'm stumbling and bumping into things. I can't even fall onto my bed right; I miss and hit the floor.

  I'm gonna have to talk to Percy tomorrow.