Chapter 6

Chloe’s POV

Walking into school in Maya’s body felt different today. Yesterday, I was a victim. Today, I was a girl on a mission. I marched through the hallway with a stride that made the cheap sneakers squeak.

Everything feels strange when I'm not "Chloe." I noticed the way people didn't just ignore Maya, they actively avoided her like her bad luck was contagious. I saw Brittany, my own best friend, toss a gum wrapper toward a trash can, miss, and let it land near my feet. She didn't even apologize. All she did was laugh.

I’m going to kill her when I get my body back, I thought.

I spotted Tristan by his locker, looking like he hadn’t slept. He was staring at a textbook, but his eyes weren't moving. He was just a million miles away, likely replaying the way "Maya" had snapped at him yesterday.

I marched up to him. I tried to channel Maya’s sweetness, but it came out with a Chloe edge. "Hey."

Tristan looked up. "Oh hey, Maya."

"Look," I said, leaning against the locker next to his. I didn't cower like Maya. "About yesterday. I was having a total meltdown. I didn't mean to tell you to fuck off. I was just... stressed. Way beyond my limit. We’re good, right?"

Tristan blinked, clearly thrown by the bluntness. "Maya, you looked like you wanted to kill me. You’ve never spoken to me like that. And you hate swearing."

I reached out and patted his arm, the "Chloe Move." A subtle linger of my fingers that usually made guys melt. "I was just angry. Forgive me?"

He looked at me for a long time, it was a look of genuine concern. Then a small, confused smile finally appeared on his lips. "You're acting really weird lately, Nakamura. But yeah. We’re good."

"Great," I said, giving him a wink that made him blush.

I felt a weird spark of pride as I walked away. I'd fixed it. I’d given Maya a "cool" factor she never could have managed on her own. Now, it was her turn to play the game with Jaxon. I just hoped she didn't screw it up.

***

Maya’s POV

I pulled up to Jaxon’s house around 10:00 AM. My hands were shaking so badly I had to grip the steering wheel for a full minute after I parked the car. I still couldn't believe I'd actually skipped school. Maya Nakamura didn't skip, she had a perfect attendance record and a fear of the Principal’s office. Chloe didn't care about attendance and neither did Jaxon.

The street was quiet, and the driveway was empty. Jacob's parents were on a trip.

I walked inside, my heart thumping. I found Jaxon in his room, the curtains drawn lights off and the smell of energy drink. The glow of a TV screen was the only light.

He didn't look up when I walked in. "I thought you weren't coming," he said.

"I said I’d make it up to you," I whispered, stepping into the dim room.

He stood up, walking toward me until there was no space left, trapping me between him and the door. He didn't look at my face, he looked at my neck, right where the concealer was starting to wear thin over the mark he’d left.

"You've been acting different, Chlo," he said, his hand sliding behind my head, his fingers tangling in my blonde hair.

"You're usually so... loud," he murmured against my ear, his breath hot. "But today, you're quiet. I like it.

He leaned down, his lips brushing against my neck, and a shiver ran down my spine. It was romantic.

"Jaxon..." I started, my voice trembling.

"Don't talk," he whispered, his hand moving from my waist pulling me closer to him. "Just be here, with me.”

I closed my eyes. I was Chloe now. I had the boy and I had the life.

I leaned into him, letting the "Maya" part of me scream in silence as I finally surrendered to the role I had always wanted. If I was going to be her, I had to go all the way. I had to see this through, even if it meant losing the girl I used to be forever.