Clothes switch

As the final bell rang, Terry gathered Sophie's belongings and made his way through the crowded hallways. The afternoon sun cast a warm glow through the windows, and students chatted excitedly about their plans for the evening. Terry's mind, however, was focused on finding Sophie and ending this charade.

He pulled out Sophie's phone and sent her a message: "Meet me at the front gate. We need to swap back."

Minutes passed with no response. He tried calling, but it went straight to voicemail. Frustration bubbled up inside him. Where is she?

Determined, he decided to check their usual meeting spots. The oak tree behind the sports field was empty, and the cafeteria had already closed. He even swung by the computer lab, but there was no sign of her.

As he walked back toward the main entrance, he spotted Emma waving at him.

"Hey, Sophie! Are you heading home?" she called out.

"Actually, I was looking for Terry. Have you seen him?" he asked, trying to keep his tone casual.

Emma shook her head. "I saw him leaving with Jake and some other guys. I think they mentioned something about a study group or gaming night."

Terry's heart sank. A gaming night? Without me?

"Did they say where they were going?" he pressed.

She thought for a moment. "I think they were headed to Mark's place. Why, everything okay?"

"Yeah, just needed to ask him something," he replied, forcing a smile.

"Do you need a ride home?" Emma offered. "My car's just over there."

"Thanks, but I think I'll walk. The weather's nice," he said.

"Alright, see you tomorrow!"

As Emma walked away, Terry considered his options. If Sophie was with his friends, posing as him, she might not be coming home tonight. He tried calling his own phone, but again, it went straight to voicemail.

With a resigned sigh, he began the trek home. The neighborhood streets were quiet, the late afternoon light casting long shadows. The gentle rustle of leaves and distant sounds of kids playing provided a peaceful backdrop, but Terry's mind was anything but calm.

What is she thinking? he wondered. Staying over at Mark's place? How far is she going to take this?

Reaching their house, he hesitated at the front door. Entering as Sophie meant interacting with his family in her role. Taking a deep breath, he turned the handle and stepped inside.

"Hi, sweetie!" his mother called from the kitchen. The aroma of baking filled the air. "You're home earlier than usual."

"Hey, Mom," he replied, slipping off his shoes.

"How was school?" she asked, poking her head out to smile at him.

"Good, same as always," he said, trying to sound upbeat.

"Is Terry with you?" she inquired, wiping her hands on a towel.

He shook his head. "No, I think he's out with friends."

She sighed lightly. "That boy and his games. Dinner will be ready in an hour. Could you help set the table in a bit?"

"Sure thing," he agreed.

Making his way upstairs, he paused outside Sophie's bedroom door. Realizing that his own room was off-limits without raising questions, he entered Sophie's room. It was tidy and warmly decorated, with photos of friends pinned to a corkboard and shelves lined with books and mementos.

He sat on the edge of the bed, pulling out Sophie's phone again. Still no messages. He typed out another one: "Sophie, this isn't funny anymore. Please call me."

Setting the phone aside, he gazed around the room. Despite being twins, their personal spaces were quite different. His room was cluttered with game posters and gadgets, while hers was organized and filled with personal touches.

A soft knock on the door startled him. Tina, their younger sister, peeked in.

"Hi, Sophie!" she chirped, her big eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Hey, Tina," he replied, offering a gentle smile.

"Will you help me with my drawing? I want to make a card for Mom," she said, holding up a handful of crayons and paper.

"Of course," he agreed, motioning for her to come in.

They sat on the floor together, and Tina began to sketch clumsy hearts and flowers. Terry guided her hand, showing her how to blend colors and add details. The simple activity brought a sense of normalcy to the strange day.

"You draw so well," Tina praised. "I want to be just like you when I grow up."

He chuckled softly. "You already have more talent than me."

She giggled, not noticing the slip.

After a while, their mother called them down for dinner. Terry helped Tina gather her things before heading to the dining room.

The family gathered around the table. His father had arrived home, looking tired but content.

"Evening, everyone," his father greeted, taking his seat. "Where's Terry?"

"Out with friends," their mother answered, passing the breadbasket.

"That boy should be home for dinner," his father grumbled good-naturedly. "How was school today, Sophie?"

"It was... interesting," Terry replied cautiously.

"Anything noteworthy?" his father prompted.

"We started a new project in art class," he offered. "Self-portraits."

"Sounds creative," his mother commented. "I'd love to see it when you're done."

"Sure," he agreed.

Dinner continued with light conversation. Terry found himself slipping into Sophie's role more naturally than he expected. He listened attentively, helped clear the table afterward, and even assisted Tina with her homework.

As the evening wore on, he retreated back to Sophie's room. Lying on the bed, he stared at the ceiling, thoughts swirling.

His phone buzzed—Sophie's phone, he reminded himself. Sitting up, he checked the message:

"Hope you're enjoying being me ;) I'll be home tomorrow. Get some rest."

Terry frowned. She's taking this too far.

He typed back: "This isn't fair. You can't just leave me hanging."

A moment later, the reply came: "Consider it payback for all the times you've teased me. Don't worry, you're doing great."

Frustrated, he tossed the phone aside. He considered going over to Mark's place to confront her but realized it might cause more confusion.

Resigned, he decided to make the best of the situation. He found one of Sophie's novels on the bedside table and began to read. Immersing himself in the story provided a welcome distraction.

Before long, his eyes grew heavy. The day's events had taken their toll, and he drifted into sleep.