Soul Swap: Straight-A Student or Bad Boy?

CHAPTER 3: LEXI WILSON

LEXI

“Hey… River! Wake up, man!”

My eyes fluttered open to darkness, interrupted by dim amber light, and just then, the male voice returned, and I registered it. What was a guy doing in my room?

The disorientation cleared immediately, and I jolted up just as he spoke again. “Dude, are you okay?” I froze.

I wasn't on a bed. I was on… a leather bench? And Cyrus, what was he-? I didn’t finish the thought as I took in my hands; they were big, with short, bitten fingernails.

My breath hitched, and I slowly looked down and felt the blood drain from my face. That’s when I caught the mirror across the room. And I saw… a guy. His face… River Lane’s face and I screamed.

The sound was masculine, and... wrong, and Cyrus jumped, stepping back as I bolted past him, feeling as if I was losing my mind.

I ran blindly, my heart pounding against my ribs like a trapped animal, as I shoved a door open and collided with something wet. I froze, my hands flying to my eyes at the horrifying sight of naked guys staring at me with questioning expressions, water running down their chests.

Another scream ripped through me as I pivoted sharply and nearly fell, hitting my head on the doorframe before stumbling out. Laughter erupted behind me as my body began to numb, my head spinning as I scrambled for an explanation of what was going on.

Crashing into the next door, I barely managed to close it behind me before realizing I was in a stall. I was dizzy and felt like my legs would give out on me at any moment, so I leaned against the wall, panting, fighting the urge to pass out.

I was myself, and I knew who I was, but the body was wrong, and just then, the face I saw flashed before my eyes. Unruly brown hair and green eyes. "No. No. No," I whispered, but even the sound of that whisper sent shivers down my spine.

It was also then that I realized I was only wearing trunks and shivered, disgusted by the thought of someone else's trunks on my body. My inner voice spoke up right then, reminding me it wasn't my body, and as if on cue, Cyrus's voice returned, accompanied by a knock.

“River? Hey, man… are you okay?”

I snapped. “Get away from me!” I screamed. “I am not River!” My knees gave out for a moment, and I fell to the floor. But I pushed myself up, and my hands moved on their own as I pushed the door open, desperate to get out of here.

Cyrus was still standing there, looking completely perplexed, mouth open, and I pushed past him. More guys appeared, half-dressed in towels, boxers, and hoodies. Some laughed, while others looked at me as if I had lost my mind. But I didn’t care.

I ran, opening doors and crashing through locker rooms and hallways until I burst out into the cold morning air.

That was when I realized where I was, the hockey block, and I continued down the road. I needed to get home.

••••

RIVER

The door slammed open with a loud bang against the wall, jolting me upright. "Lexi!" a woman's voice called out, and I blinked, confused. The room was flooded with soft daylight, and the pale pink walls glowed around me. I had no idea where I was.

Then the voice came back, closer, yelling about being late, about a test, but I could not hear her; my heart began to race, confusion washing over me as I wondered what I was doing here and how I got here.

I didn’t even register she had gone as I took in the soft sheets and plush comforters, and that was when I realized I was a girl. I screamed, startled, and immediately slapped a hand over my mouth.

The door creaked as footsteps returned. “Lexi?” the woman’s voice came again, concerned now. “It’s… nothing!” I called out, my voice, like hers, shrill and foreign to my ears.

I didn’t dare look away from the mirror. I stayed locked there, eyes wide as I slowly pushed the covers off and stepped out of bed on shaking legs. “This is a dream,” I muttered. “This has to be a dream.”

The reflection shifted as I did. My-her long, wavy blonde hair caught the light, cascading over slim shoulders. Her eyes shone like blue glass. I had full, pink lips and a soft, perfect face.

“I’m a girl,” I whispered but my voice barely registered over the pounding in my chest. I turned in place and let my gaze sweep across the room.

The room was in cream and gold tones, like something out of a magazine. There were soft rugs, books neatly stacked on white shelves, a full-length mirror with lights, and a cozy vanity adorned with perfume bottles and framed photographs.

It was a rich girl’s room.

A far cry from mine. My room had peeling paint, a creaky bed, and a comforter faded from too many washes. There were no framed photos; only curling posters and cracked tiles.

With a shuddering breath, I noticed the wall above the desk. A full-length photo of Lexi Wilson in her school uniform, a medal around her neck, and smiling. More photos, competitions, trophies, and smiles were displayed beside it.

“What?” I breathed, stepping closer. “No way.” I couldn’t believe this was real and just then, the memories rushed back like a flood… my stepfather, the shouting, the fists, the meteor, the wish.

“Oh my God,” I whispered, stumbling back. “It worked. It actually worked.” But it didn’t change my situation; it swapped it… with Lexi Wilson.

“Where is Lexi Wilson? Is she at my house?” I stared back at the mirror, heart pounding as I gave myself a slow, terrified once-over. My hands were small and soft. I turned them over, my fingertips grazing my cheeks, Lexi's flawless face.

My hand trailed lower, down my neck… chest and I paused there, my heart racing even faster. She was perfect and my breath caught before my hand took a life of its own, sliding down my stomach.

Looking around, I hesitated, then slipped it into the waistband of the pajama shorts. My heart felt like it was about to beat out of my chest, and just as I grazed the final piece of fabric, the voice came, and I jumped like I’d been electrocuted.

“What is going on? You are going to be late?!” My face burned as I spun around, hand yanking out of my shorts.

“N-Nothing!” My voice cracked, and the alarm on the bedside table went off. I scrambled for it, unable to look back at Mrs. Wilson, and as I struggled to turn it off. I realized it had already gone off several times and it read math test day.

Fuck. When I pivoted, she was gone, and I went to the door I suspected was a shower instead of marching to Mrs. Wilson and informing her that there had been a mix-up and that I was not her daughter.

But part of me wanted to know what a normal morning in a normal home was like. So I entered the shower.

I should have rushed because I knew I was late. But I could not bring myself to move quickly as I peeled off the pajamas and caught another glimpse of my reflection.

My heart thudded as I looked down, and it didn’t stop, not even as I stepped into the shower. The hot water hit my back and shoulders, and I froze for a moment, taking myself in again.

My hands fumbled as I grabbed the body wash from the rack, something sweet and floral I couldn’t identify rushing up at me as I lathered, and I hesitated again as my fingers skimmed over skin that wasn’t mine. My face instantly turned red.

I told myself that this was wrong and that I should’ve scrubbed and gotten out. But I didn’t.

I couldn’t stop staring before I moved carefully. There were moments when my hands lingered too long and I caught myself staring too hard, and my chest burned from heat, feeling like a pervert.

"This is so messed up," I muttered, my hand pausing just before the belly button. I tried to convince myself that I was doing nothing she wouldn't be doing, that the least I could do was make sure her entire body was clean.

But who was I kidding? The sponge fell, my fingers flying solo as they slipped between my thighs and then I felt them... her warm folds and a strangled grunt tore through my lips.

“Stop it!" The decent part of my subconscious intervened, but my hand only shook in response as I continued to explore. She was silky soft and warm, and I shuddered, my toes curling against the wet tiles.

“Lexi!"

The haze vanished instantly, and I scrambled for my sanity. “I'm coming! I'm done!"

I rushed out of the bathroom, towel half-tucked around me and water still dripping from my legs. The mirror was foggy, my skin flushed from the heat, and I yanked open a drawer to retrieve a blow dryer to deal with the mess of hair stuck to my head.

But I didn’t know how to. The blonde waves frizzed and tangled as I ran my fingers through them, and the heat did more harm than good. I gave up halfway through, tossing it on the counter and grabbing another towel to dry my hair as best I could.

"This is insane," I muttered under my breath, staring at my reflection one last time before bolting to the closet.

Lexi’s closet was ridiculous, like walking into a boutique. Racks of clothes, shelves of shoes, and color-coded drawers. I didn’t have time to be impressed. I grabbed the first thing that looked halfway normal, an oversized hoodie and track pants.

They smelled like perfume and fabric softener as I threw them on and I couldn't help but inhale.

I hurried down the stairs two at a time, trying to remember how Lexi walked: straight, shoulders back, and confident. I could not pull it off. My steps were too rigid.

Mrs. Wilson was already standing at the front door, heels on, coat over her arm, and car keys in hand.

"Breakfast is on the counter," she stated, pointing without looking. “I’m leaving now. Good luck today, not that you’ll need it.” Her gaze finally met mine, and her smile faltered for a half-second as she scanned my damp hair, clothes, and awkward posture.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her brow furrowed.

I nodded quickly. “Y-Yes.”

She moved closer and leaned in to kiss my forehead. I stiffened instinctively. The gesture was gentle and familiar, but not to me. It felt wrong, like something stolen but she didn’t seem to notice the awkward tension as she pulled away.

I couldn’t meet her eyes.

"I will see you tonight," she said warmly, turning toward the door. I opened my mouth to say goodbye, but the front door burst open before I could say anything.

“Mom!”

The voice hit me like a jolt of electricity and I froze. I knew that voice all too well.

Shit!