Chapter #68Swimming In Possibilities by: rugal b.   Much as you think something like that would help her, you're left to conclude that proposing it would probably be pushing an issue that Melanie clearly doesn't want pushed.
Besides that, her own mind is telling you that while she's okay with the masks in theory in practice she doesn't like the idea of just stealing someone's life. If she did it, you realize, she'd probably want to tell the person she was replacing so that they know what's going on and all swapping is consensual. You're not sure if you like the idea of telling anyone else about the book either, your group's already big enough and that's more by accident than design.
So wanting to respect her boundaries and her own sense of morality you decide that it'd be a bad idea to keep pressing the issue and put it aside for now. Melanie would probably rather win Justin over without having to use deception anyway.
"Yeah," you finally say in response to her. "sorry."
"It's whatever," she states. "You don't have anyone you like?"
"I did," you sigh. "But that ended at the start of school year."
"Well what about now?"
"I haven't really thought about it," you answer. "I don't really have a lot going for me anyway so it's not like anyone would've been interested back."
"That's not true," she states. "I'm sure there's probably some people out there that wouldn't mind being with you. You're not terrible or anything."
"Yeah? Who?"
"Not me if that's what you're thinking," she laughs. "I just mean in general. There's definitely girls out there for you. It probably would've been better if you were a guy so you could, you know, take advantage of that."
"Maybe," you reply, "but I guess I just don't want to worry about it right now. I'm fine with where I am."
"That's true I guess," she says after a moment.
You note the tinge of disappointment in her voice. Having her mind you know what she's getting at and there's a suspicion, an inkling on her part, but it's not something that you want to focus on. You know she herself has no interest in you -- if her words weren't enough her mind is -- but she wonders... ah, but it's too much for you to want to think about so you let the thought drift and indeed brush off any thoughts of romance or your love life. Getting settled in is going to be more important and take up too much of your mental faculties.
There's tomorrow too.
"Thanks for sticking around today," you say with real sincerity.
"Well someone had to," she replies. "You really did do a lot for us. Even beyond getting Evie back. I don't think Paulina and Bhodi would've actually been able to stop being all awkward without you forcing their hands like that."
"Well it's not like I meant to do that."
"Even still." Melanie's quiet for a moment but she gets playful look on her face. "So there's probably gonna be a party tomorrow with some Eastman people. You wanna come?"
"Eastman? Wouldn't that be kind of awkward?" you ask.
"No?" she replies. "I mean I'm sure there'll be some Westside people too. It's not, like, freakin' West Side Story or something."
"I'll consider it I guess."
* * * * *
Back at the Donna you give your new phone's number to Melanie and tell her to get in touch if she needs anything. Without prompting on your end she tells you she's going to pass it on to the others too since you're probably not going to have their numbers. You thank her again for helping you out as she leaves to go home. You're left feeling really glad that it was someone like her you were with all day. Not that you have any issue with Evie or Paulina or the guys but Melanie's easygoing and has enough social awareness that everything went much smoother with her around. You're even starting off in a good position thanks to her.
Well, potentially starting off anyway.
But you've still got plenty of time until tomorrow and with nothing to really do you get to work on making some masks and bands. For what you're not actually sure but you figure that it's probably better to be prepared just in case something does come up.
That something happens to be later in the night when Kim drops by.
"Oh my god, that's you Will?" she says as she closes the door behind her. She makes her way over to you, her face showing copious amounts of amazement as she looks you over. "If I wasn't already aware of everything I wouldn't believe you weren't this... this girl!"
"You already saw Justin and Andy in their disguises," you tell her.
"I know, but this is different because it's not just, you know, someone who already exists," she marvels, "or a guy turning into another guy. I'm pretty amazed that they can do something like this. It's still hard to believe. If I really didn't know better you couldn't tell me that this wasn't some real girl."
"Well she is now," you reply. "She even has a name and everything."
"Really."
"Hi, my name's Katie Sharpe. I'm sixteen and my parents are photographers. I've lived in a lot of places but they recently took a gig overseas that was too good for them to pass up so I'm staying with Melanie's family since her parents and my parents are old friends." You flash her a bright, squinty-eyed smile and hold out your hand. "It's soooo nice to meet you!"
Kim doesn't shake but does laugh. "You even came up with a backstory?" she asks.
"Well, Melanie came up with most of it," you admit. "We needed one. The name's mine though."
"It's a little unbelievable don't you think?"
"I worried about that too," you say. "But we ran into some of her friends at the mall and they seemed to buy it so I guess it's all good."
"The mall?" she asks with amusement.
"I needed clothes and Melanie was the one who offered," you shrug. "She really helped me out a lot today. She even offered up her mind for the band."
"Good to know she's reliable then," Kim says as she she takes a seat. "So you're working on more masks?" she asks. "I can see them on the bed."
"I need something to do," you state.
"Well that's good because I'll need to take one of them," she declares as she picks one up. "Caleb and I figured out a way to get you enrolled. We just have to pay a visit to someone tomorrow."
"You're going to impersonate them?"
But Kim shakes her head. "We're going to use that paste stuff so we can order them around for a little bit," she explains. "Just long enough to do what we need, then we're taking it off of them. Oh, and before I forget," she reaches into her purse and pulls out a phone. "I had an old one so if you need it..."
But you show her your own phone. "Thanks but I'm good," you say.
It's at that moment that you get a text that turns out to be from Allison just confirming that she got your number from Melanie. She also makes sure to tell you that Andrea wants it done between eleven and noon. Then you get a few more texts from the different guys, Evie, Paulina... then Ava and Miranda and Alice. Did Melanie give your number to everyone?
"Looks like you're popular already," Kim titters. "I'll leave you alone for now then. I'll give Caleb your number too. Oh and text me what you want for a schedule when you get the chance. All goes well, you should be able to start Monday."
"Thanks," you say as you fall backwards onto the bed. "I've got a long day tomorrow."
* * * * *
"Oh god, my stomach's doing flips," you admit to Allison.
You're at Westside in the natatorium's own locker room changing out into your swimsuit as you're just minutes away from your impromptu tryout. Since Allison's the one who put your name forward she felt it appropriate to come by, watch and give you a bit of moral support. Otherwise the only other people here are Andrea Varnsworth, due to being team captain, and Rachel Burton, since she works with the underclassmen.
"You'll be fine," Allison states warmly. "I mean I know you're going to have nerves but it's kind of just a formality. Just show some basic swimming competence and you'll likely get in. Oh man though, I was just like you when I tried out so I totally know how you're feeling."
She turns her back to you as she says this. Your eyes go to your bag which houses everything you've brought with you, most importantly a blank mind band. Try as you might to do otherwise you're getting inside your own head. You're starting to worry that you'll mess up. But you never attached Melanie's band to the mask, you're wearing it separately. That's what's given you an idea, then, to ensure you make it: copy Allison's mind onto the blank band and swap her mind in for Melanie's.
It'd probably be enough to erase any worries you might have about not making it and you could always swap Melanie's back in afterwards. Besides, you're curious to know what happened to her over the summer if it's something so bad she doesn't want to talk about it. If you're going to be friends and teammates it'd probably be good to know.
But then your thoughts go to the other big item in the bag: the mask. Why swap out just the mind when you can go the whole way? Setting up a new identity is hard after all and you're worried something might go wrong. But if you're someone else, someone like Allison, what do you have to worry about? Your mind will be copied enough onto Melanie's band that you should be able to attach it and golemize the mask which would be enough to avoid any suspicion.
And if you wanted to know everything about Allison, what better way than to be Allison?
But what are you even thinking? Doing either of those would likely constitute a betrayal of Melanie's trust; of everyone's trust. Allison's right of course, you'll be fine. Do you really want to destroy everyone's trust in you because of small bout of nervous paranoia?   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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