“Stephanie, it is time to get up. You have 30 minutes to get to the bus!”

My body seemed to recognise the voice and the urgency of it. A clock in my head switched on and somehow I crawled out of the bed, not noticing the pink decor or the fact that I had pyjamas with a kissing lips motif. Amazingly didn’t really notice the slight swaying on my chest or the fact that my body put on knickers, a bra and a thigh length gingham dress. Hands that were mine, but not mine, brusheing the long brunette hair until it glowed and adding a barrette.

Ten minutes to get the bus, and ten minutes to get some breakfast.

Mum had toast and cereal on the table. She hardly noticed me and I was too concerned about getting cereal swallowed and getting out to the bus stop to engage in any meaningful conversation.

This body seems to know where the bus stop was, and to gather up a variety of books for the day ahead, so I let it get on with it.

As the bus drew up, I rushed to the stop and got on and plonked myself down next to a girl.

“You do cut it fine, Steph.”

“I don’t know how I knew that this was my bestie; Mary, but I did.”

Sitting on the bus was the first time I had been able to give any thought to my predicament. I went to sleep as a boy who attended the same school as Stephanie and Mary, and woke up occupying Stephanie’s body.

The new body didn’t feel very different. Roughly the same height. Dress and blazer rather than blazer, shirt and trousers but it all felt much the same. The constriction round my chest was a bit unusual, but within minutes I had habituated the feeling of a bra. and long hair.

Mary chatted away about school work and a variety of chitchat about who was going out with whom, and it wasn’t long before the rather tired school building hove into view and we all piled out and through the gates.

I saw Graham Platt from the distance. He looked bewildered but was in a stream of students being chivvied along by teachers to get to form rooms on time for Registration. There was no time to catch his eye and arrange a meeting to discuss our unusual situation. I answered Stephanie’s name at roll call, and within minutes we were out of the room, and in a mass of students pushing their way to the various subject rooms. My bag contained a timetable, so I knew that I have English for the first hour, then Geography for the following hour until Break. I couldn’t hope to find Graham until then, so I settled down to the lessons which were at the same level as Graham would have been having.

I knew that Graham would be in the Humanities suite when I did Geography, and I managed to catch him as he came out of one of the history rooms.

“Steph”, I almost whispered from just behind him.

Graham turned round and looked in shock at his body occupied by me.

“What has happened to us?” was his anxious whispered reply.

“I don’t know, but we need to meet to discuss it. No time now, but meet me in the park as soon as you can after school. I will be on the bench near the bandstand.”

He nodded and we were away with a surge of the crowd to all the necessary things that fill the fifteen minutes of the midmorning Break.

I hadn’t really thought about it, but there were eight groups of about 30 students in each year group, and it seemed that the teachers covered the same lesson with all eight groups each week. My lessons were with a different group but the lesson carried on from where my old group had got the week before, so nothing was confusing and none of the students or teachers noticed that anything was amiss.

Different groups had different areas of the school set aside for eating lunch, and my new red area was different from the green area that my old body would need to use, so there was no chance of meeting Graham before the end of school.

The final two lessons held during the afternoon were my favourites, Maths and French. I perhaps had my hand up to answer questions rather too much and the French teacher raised her eyebrows a little too often when my hand went up yet again.

“Must be careful, not to be too obvious.”, I said to myself.

“It was odd.” I thought. “I don’t feel strange in this new body. Everything seems to work as expected. We are much the same height and weight. We are achieving much the same grades and have chosen the same options, even though we are in different classes. When I write, my body memory makes the writing appear very similar to Stephanie’s previous writing. I seem to know her computer passwords as long as I type them without thinking. It almost seems as if they are typed by her muscle memory. I have memories of her past as well as my own. It seems almost incidental that I am now in her body and she is in mine.”

I hurried to the band stand in the park the instant I was released from the final class of the day. Stephanie was already there. One couldn’t mistake one’s own body, after all.

There were only twenty minutes to talk before our bus arrived at the stop outside the school. Time was of the essence, to use a well known phrase.

“How did you find out about waking up as a girl?”

“”Your Mum shouted up to me that I only had half an hour to get to the bus. I was half asleep and did all the necessaries without really taking it on board that my body was substantially different. I had a quick shower without really thinking. It seems strange washing a female body without thinking, but your body memory seemed to provide all the answers. Showering, using the loo, putting on your uniform and so on. I couldn’t say anything to your Mum. She was on her way out to work and every time I wondered what to say, she made me hurry up. It was all such a rush. Then Mary just treated me as you, and I knew I had to find you to see if our experience was reciprocated.”

“It was much the same for me. I woke up a bit earlier than you and realised that I looked like you and put all thoughts about what had happened until we could meet. Like you, I don’t feel terribly different. I am not sure about novels on your bookshelf. They are not my taste, but who knows whether that will need to change, or perhaps we will change.”

“So, do we tell anybody that this has happened?”

“I don’t know what I would say to anyone. There is no proof that the change has happened to the outsider. I probably know some things about your life that I couldn’t know except by experiencing them, but I could have been told.”

“OK., so we keep quiet until we can make some sort of sense out of this.”

“Yes, agreed.”

“We also need to find a time where we can talk at more depth. Five minutes after school really isn’t enough.”

“May I make a suggestion.”

“By all means.”

“I have always regarded my school work as the most important at this time in my life, but I always fancied you from a distance but could never pluck up the courage to ask you out. I know from your memories that you have always liked Graham. Might I suggest that we go out on a date together and see if we can make some sort of sense out of this situation.”

“That sounds like a good idea. Cinema and some fast food on Saturday evening.

“Leave more discussion until Saturday evening I think, but if something turns up where we need to meet then I think we need a sign.”

“In the subjects we have chosen we do not use blue exercise books. If one of us sees the other holding a blue exercise book, then we will come here to the bandstand after school.”

“That is a good suggestion.”

“One thing you will have to do is go shopping with my Mum on Saturday morning with my cousin who is getting married, and I am one of the bridesmaids. Serena has firm ideas for the bridesmaids dresses and accessories and she is paying, so you shouldn’t have to do much except be a clothes horse.”

“Will I have to get undressed in front of your mother and Serena?”

“Yes, without doubt. you will be in a thong and probably a push up bra.”

“I might get very embarrassed.”

“Don’t be. Girls dress and undress in front of each other all the time. Mary will want to go clothes shopping with you at least once a month. You will see her without a stitch on as much as she will see you.”

“This will take rather a lot of getting used to.”

“It will be just the same for me in some ways.”

“Will you be sad, not to be invited to Serena’s wedding?”

“Yes, I hadn’t thought of that. The invitation came with a +1. I can come ay your boyfriend and we can dance the evening away together without anyone suspecting anything.”

“Aren’t you rather expecting this to last indefinitely?”

“I don’t know, but neither of us seems to mind if that was the case. Am I right?”

“Yes, I think you are right. I have never had a need to be very masculine. Both our bodies are attractive, but neither of us are stunningly beautiful or handsome.”

“I think you make a very attractive girl. I looked after that body very well over the years. It looks good on you.”

“I found you very attractive, and tried to look my best in the body you now occupy, but I repeat, I don’t think either of us is stunningly attractive so that the modelling agencies will be falling over themselves to employ us.”

“Sadly, I agree with you. An average girl and an average boy. No one will notice us, which is probably a good thing.”

“What do we say to our parents.”

“I don’t think we say anything at the moment. We will have to say we are going out on a date, but I don’t think cinema and fast food will need a chaperone. Neither of us can drive, so there is no chance of things getting too intimate without us needing a parent as a chaperone.”

“I hadn’t thought of us being intimate. I am sure that it would be quite easy to explore each other’s bodies. I guess we both know what these bodies enjoy, after all we have lived in them for nearly sixteen years! They are after all, a bit of a novelty at present!”

“ I agree, it would be very easy to get exploring, but Stephanie’s body is not on the pill, so things cannot go too far. Steph’s mother, your mother now, would have a blue fit if you asked her to go on the pill.’

“That is something we must guard against. I am certainly attracted to you, Graham, and a bit of intimate exploration would be a big turn on.”

“I now know why girls say they get wet when the conversation become raunchy.”

“That happens all the time. If I see a sexy scene on the TV, I have to go and change. It can be a bit embarrassing.

“Have you noticed how similar we are in all respects except the obvious. Same height and build, same age. Same interests at school, even the same shoe size I think. Both with dark brown hair and brown eyes, and both in families with single children.”

“Can you dance because we will need to dance at the wedding.”

“I can shuffle about, but cannot do formal ballroom dances like a waltz or foxtrot.”

“I think your body certainly knows how to do both from your muscle memory, but I will have to teach what was your body how to dance. I think it would be good if we had a few lessons before the wedding in six weeks time. It would give us more time to spend alone and get to know more about each other.”

“Yes, good idea. Where do you go?”

“There is a class held in the primary school assembly hall during the evenings. I have been there before and the teacher will recognise you, and you can introduce me.”

“Is it expensive?”

“Not very. About £6 for a 30 minute lesson in a group.”

“That sound OK. What about our money. I cannot imagine that our savings accounts have the same amount in, with all the other things that are the same about us.”

“Stephanie, has a savings account with about £150.00 in it. My Mum, Stephanie’s mum, puts £30 dress allowance into the account every month for the necessaries, like shampoo, face cream and the tampons you will find essential. There is a new pack under the sink in your bathroom by the way. You will need those in a couple of weeks time.”

“I hadn’t thought of that part of being a girl, but millions of women cope with that every month for years so I don’t think I should expect to be an exception, do you.”

“Not at all.”

“I think I have about £50 more than you, but if I need clothes my mum or dad, give me some money or I go online and use one of their credit cards to put an order in.

“I think we should get used to calling each other by names of our bodies. It will get awfully complicated particularly if we are in company.”

“Ok”

“We should go for the bus now. We will get off at my old stop. My parents will both be out at work until about 7pm. so I can show you around more. After that I can walk to your house and carry on with your Mum where I left off this morning. If there’s a strange man there I guess he will be my new father.”

“I can show you a picture of my Dad. There is a photo in the side pocket of my purse which is in your backpack.”

“What do we do about phones? We both have iPhones, but Stephanie’s is cream, and Graham’s is black.”

“I think you can change the covers. Keep the working parts the same and just change the covers.”

“I am not sure that that will work because people will phone your number for the new you, and vice versa. I think we have just got to bite the bullet and swap phones entirely. After all I have seen you use your finger print to activate your phone. You have my finger prints and you have mine now.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Let’s try.”

“I cannot open my old phone with a finger print, but I can open yours. It is a swap then and whoever pays the bill will pay it just as they always did.”

“Seems funny to hand over my phone just like that. I am glad that we seem to trust each other. It is less than a day that we have got to know one another and we are now, literally, inside each other’s underwear.”

“Although we both feel comfortable with this radical change, we must be aware that we might change back either tonight or any other night.”

“Of course.”

“Stephanie and Graham looked round Graham’s room. If this change becomes permanent I think I will need to change your clothing style a bit. It is not to my taste even as a boy. This body seems to know where things are in the room”

“If we stay this way you are welcome. I will probably do the same. I like stronger colours than you, but all those things can wait.”

“How is it we are so relaxed about such a major upheaval in our lives. It just feels so natural to swap bodies. Really weird!”

“I think it is even more weird that neither of us find it weird!”

“If we are going to be seen as boyfriend and girlfriend, do we want to work together in the evenings on schoolwork?”

“I would be happy to do that. Do you feel the empathy between us that I am feeling even after such a short time?”

“Yes, I think I do. It is strange to trust someone so totally after a few hours, but I have all your memories as well as mine. I doubt if there is anything we could hide from each other.”

“What do we do now? I can ring my Mum (your Mum) and say that we are working together here for an hour, then I will walk home before your parents arrive to share dinner with the people I must think of as my parents from now on.”

“Wait here until at least one of my parents is home. That should be my Mum. You can be introduced as my study companion.”

“OK, we will settle down now and get the homework done. I will ring my new mum and say that I will be a bit later than usual. If she wants she can come round here to pick me up and see that is all aboveboard.”

An hour and a quarter later and most of the homework was done with two heads rather than one, and both mothers had got chatting in the few minutes it took until the teens finished their work.

“How is it that Graham never mentioned Stephanie before. They seem to be getting on really well. Graham has never had a girlfriend before so I am really pleased.”

“I haven’t heard of Graham either. I understand that they are in different teaching cohorts. I don’t know how they have met up and have clicked as it were. Stephanie hasn’t had a boyfriend before but she and Graham do seem like kindred spirits.”

“I understand that Stephanie would like Graham to come to Serena’s wedding as her ‘Plus One’. Are you happy for that?”

“ Yes of course. Graham has a smart suit, but a new formal shirt and a matching tie would be a good buy. When is the wedding?”

“Six weeks tomorrow. We are getting Stephanie’s bridesmaid dress and accessories sorted out tomorrow morning. She is not terribly keen on pastel green, but it is what Serena wants and she , (or her mother), is paying, so we don’t have much choice. With the dress and accessories the budget for each bridesmaid is £800. It is going to be one of those Society weddings. I hope Stephanie does not want a hugely expensive wedding when her time comes.”

“I am sure she will be sensitive to the various costs involved, but many couples today, save up and pay for most of the wedding themselves.”

Two “Hi Mum’s” greeted the mothers from their offspring. It seemed natural for Stephanie to give her new mother a peck on the cheek, so she did!

“Can Graham and I go to the Cinema late tomorrow afternoon after we get back from the bridal shop? We would like to get a burger after the show and get home about nine.”

The two mothers looked at each other and nodded imperceptibly.

“Yes, I think I … or we, can live with that.”

Stephanie and her mother left shortly afterwards.

Graham sat with his mother as they shared dinner. His father would eat separately when he could escape from work.

“Stephanie seems like a really nice girl. How did you meet and decide to work together?”

It was simple really. We knew that we were doing the same subjects and got chatting. We seem to like the same sports and music, and we are both in the top cohort academically. We live close together and the school encourages us to have a work partner for project work and the like. It all kicked off from there.”

“I think you like her more than just as someone to share your work with.”

“Yes, I do. I don’t know where it will lead, but we seem very comfortable together. Neither of us was looking for a partner, but perhaps that is the best way to meet.”

Graham’s father arrived at that moment, and all talk of Stephanie and her mother went by the wayside until Claire said that Stephanie had been asked to attend a wedding in six weeks time and Graham has been asked to go as a Plus-One.

“Whose Plus-One are you going as? … was Nigel’s next question.

“Graham has a new work partner called Stephanie. They are going to complete projects and do homework together.”

“I don’t think I have heard about Stephanie before. Is she nice?”

“Need you ask, Dad. Of course she is nice. Would I choose a partner who wasn’t?”

“No of course not. What I was really asking is what sort of person she is?”

“She is quite like me. She is slim and my height, about 5’ 7”. She has dark brown hair like me and brown eyes. Our birthdays happen to be on the same day and we are interested in the same things. Our subject choices were the same a year ago, but we are in different teaching groups. She enjoys soccer, and reading and we have similar tastes in music.”

“She has asked if I can take some ballroom dancing lessons in the six weeks before the wedding. I have said yes and we are going to the lessons in the primary school so I can shuffle about during a waltz and a foxtrot without making too much of a fool of myself.”

“Stephanie is occupied all Saturday morning getting sorted out with her bridesmaid dress and accessories, so I wondered if one of you will come with me into town to get a shirt and tie that will match my suit. I also wondered about some new shoes. Most of mine are fairy scruffy.”

“Yes, I will come with you. You don’t get through much in the way of new clothes. I think this Stephanie must have made a real impact on you to want to get dressed up and take ballroom dancing lessons, although I don’t think you will get very good in just six weeks.”

“Thanks Dad. We have to be back in time for a 6.30pm showing at the cinema.”

“Something else I don’t know about. Is your mother ok with this?”

“Yes, she and Stephanie’s mother agreed half an hour ago.”

“That’s fine then.”

“When do you want to go into town? It would be better for me to be early rather than later.”

“We can go at nine.”

“That is very early by your standards. Teenage boys are not noted to be early risers.”

“This is special, so getting there early seems the right thing to do.”

“Do you know what you need?”

“I know that Stephanie’s dress is pastel green, so I thought of a dark green shirt and a matching tie. If we can manage some cufflinks with a green colour I would like a shirt with double cuffs.”

I would also like some new shoes. My trainers are not appropriate and I don’t fit into the shoes I had for my Great Uncle’s funeral over a year ago.”

“New shoes, then.”

“We will take your suit into the dry cleaners and you can pick it up from there after school at the end of the week. Have you tried it on to see that you have not outgrown it?”

“That is a good point. I will go and try it on now.”

Graham went upstairs and found the suit. It was a pale grey and would match almost anything. It was a little tight, but would do, Graham thought, but he went downstairs in the suit to ask his parents’ opinion.

“What do you think? Will it do?”

“You are getting a broader chest. I think the suit is at the limit so we will get you a new suit as well. I know grey is a bit boring, but it does serve for all eventualities.”

“Grey is fine, but I might like a shade or two darker.”

“Is Stephanie having a wrist corsage provided or is that up to you?”

“All the flowers are being provided by Serena’s family I understand. Buying a corsage for Stephanie will have to wait for another occasion.”

“You seem to have hit it off with Stephanie. I shall look forward to meeting her.”

“I can bring her in to meet you on our way back from the cinema and burger.”

“Do we know her parents?”

“I don’t think so. Her mother, April, is a nurse at the General Hospital in town, and her father, Tom is an engineer with one of the big water companies.”

“If this sharing goes well I think Stephanie and I will be in and out of each other’s houses almost every day. I hope you will be happy with that?”

“Absolutely fine. Just let us know if she wants feeding at any time.”

“Will do.”

“I am off to bed shortly, to make sure that I am ready by nine!.”

In fact Stephanie was absolutely exhausted after such a strange day in a new body. It was only a little after nine that she/he had a shower and had a good look at the new body he had been ‘given’. It was pretty much the body of any boy in his mid-teens. Lightly muscled. Only downy body hair and moderate growth in his penis. Having an erection from his examination was not unpleasant, and that thought was stored away for another time.

After Graham had gone upstairs, Claire and Nigel chatted about the day and of course, the surprise of Stephanie coming into their lives. They had wanted a second child but it had never happened.

“Stephanie is really nice. It will be so good to have a girl round the house. I do hope this arrangement is a success.”

Stephanie was also getting ready for bed. The clean girly pyjamas with their ‘love hearts’ pattern didn’t seem so strange now. April had sat on her bed for a few minutes. Tucking her in was a thing of the past of course. They chatted about Graham and what Stephanie hoped would come of the partnership.

“I know it will help us with our studies. We are both in the top cohort, and have such strong similarities that we should help each other at school. We are both young and have very little experience with relationships. I will not allow anything to get out of control.”

“Neither of us are on the list of most desirable partners. We are both regarded as swats and fairly boring. The next step would be for us to be seen holding hands and eating together. That will set the tongues wagging, but that is not a bad thing of itself. It means that we would be asked to parties as a couple. We can also ask for us to be moved to the same colour group so we will be in the same sets. That is possible, but means going to our Year Group heads before the new school year to ask for the move together.”

“You have certainly thought about this a lot for such a short time. I think your ideas are very positive.”

“On a final point. You know I do not approve of pre-marital sex, but human drives sometimes get the better of opinions and expectations. If you think there is a danger that you will lose your virginity with Graham, then I would far rather get you the pill that have your future compromised by an unwanted pregnancy.”

“Thanks Mum. I have no intention of losing my virginity but I do appreciate your confidence.”

Stephanie leant over and gave her mother a kiss before snuggling down.

April went downstairs. Tom was waiting for her.

“I have never seen Stephanie react so positively to a boy. I am sure I am being silly jumping the gun, but it does seem that those two were almost made for each other. We always wanted that second child. If Graham is in and out of here as if he lived here, then it might almost be the same.”

“I do think you are being silly; but nicely silly. We cannot get our children to fulfil our hopes and aspirations. That ship has sailed … but like you, I hope you are right.”

…………………………….

The following morning April and Stephanie were at the bridal shop for their ten o’clock appointment. Stephanie was a little uncomfortable in a wired and padded bra that gave her modest development more form. She was also struggling with a thong that seems to have mind of its own. Only the tracksuit worn for comfort was familiar.

The dress was hanging in a bag in one of the changing rooms of the Bridal Shop. A helpful shop assistant had already matched the dress with some accessories. Particularly some shoes in white satin finish. The shop assistant said straight away that the shoes would eventually be dyed to match the dress, but it was the style that was important at this stage.

The shoes were a simple court shoe with a modest heel. Comfortable enough for a whole day’s activities. Stephanie liked them straight away. They were taken away to be sent to the dyers.

Next the three women crowded into the cubicle. Any sense of modesty was forgotten. Stephanie was required to remove the tracksuit and stood rather uncomfortably with her arms up as the dress was lowered over her head. It wasn’t an unpleasant green. Just a bit insipid for Stephanie’s taste. It proved to be a beautiful fit over the padded bra and her slim hips that were enhanced by the lacy thong that clung to her like a second skin. The Empire line allowed the fabric to fall in waves until the hem was about 5cm above the floor. A layer of elastic gathered the fabric together under her bra and Stephanie liked the accentuation of her chest.

The dress was comfortable and flattering and very suitable for a mid-teen. Pretty but not intended to outshine the bride.

Both Stephanie and Serena’s approved.

“That’s good” said the shop assistant. The other two bridesmaids also like the dress. A green lingerie set with a wired and padded bra was added.

The shop assistant got out a pack with sheer green tights, but Stephanie felt strongly that she would prefer a suspender belt and stockings.

“I think I would prefer stockings and a suspender belt.” She said to her rather surprised mother and the shop assistant.

“I never though you would want that, but if that is what you would like then I am happy with your choice.”

The shop assistant returned with a pretty lacy suspender belt and stockings in the same colour as the tights had been.

A small clutch bag in the same green was added to a growing pile.

Serena had to rush, but an account had been set up at the shop for the bridal party so no one would have to pay that day. Serena was given a chaste kiss by both Stephanie and April.

“How about jewellery the assistant asked?”

“You have that 18” gold choker you were given by your grandmother. That will go well with this dress with its scalloped neckline and I have got a pair of emerald green studs I inherited from my grandmother. I don’t wear them at all now. I believe they are Victorian cushion cut emeralds. If you like them they can be yours. There is only one problem. You do not have pierced ears.

“You have shown them to me before. They are pretty. I think it would be nice to wear great-grandmother’s studs so please can I have the piercing done.”

“You are not sixteen yet, so your mother will have to sign, but we can do it now. It only takes a few minutes. We need to go to a different room to do that. I will get some sleepers.”

The bags were all packed up and Stephanie sat down in the special part of the bridal shop that was set up for piercings. The cold spray and the click of the piercing tool was insignificant, but Stephanie she knew instantly that she had changed Stephanie’s body permanently and in doing so there was no way back to her old self. All the uncertainty had gone.

“Perhaps it is for the best.” she said to herself, but how do I tell Graham?”

Graham had bought a new mid grey single-breasted suit, Connaught green shirt with double cuffs, and a silk tie. All had been put carefully in a large carrier. The enamelled green cuff links were in his pocket in a box lined with velvet. As he and his father were walking through the shopping arcade they saw Stephanie and her mother walking a little ahead of them equally laden with bags.

“Stephanie”, Graham called out.

Stephanie and April turned round an saw Graham and Nigel and the two parents were introduced to each other.

“Shall we go and have a coffee together?”

“Yes, why not.”

The nearest coffee shop was a hundred metres away in the Hypermarket. Stephanie grabbed Graham’s hand as they walked down the arcade. The parents hardly noticed. Graham knew that something had happened and squeezed Stephanie’s hand in support.

“I must go into the stationers and buy a blue exercise book” Stephanie whispered.

“OK dear, we can wait outside for you.”

Graham was towed into the shop and at the back amongst the lever arch files, reams of printer paper, and blue exercise books, Stephanie leant in and their lips brushed.

“I know”, Graham said into Stephanie’s ear. ”Its fine.”

The kiss was noticed by a number of other shopping teens. Heads turned, social media focussed for a minute or two on this new juicy snippet of information. There was no way back now.

“How has this happened to us?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps it happens all the time, and they all know they would not be believed, so they keep quiet!”

“We cannot cheat on each other. We both know what the other is thinking.”

Stephanie and Graham walked home hand in hand that evening after the bus had delivered them home. They kissed briefly at Stephanie’s door and Graham walked the quarter of a mile to what had become his house only a few hours ago.

As they parted Stephanie had whispered; “What shall we do on our joint birthday next year?”

“You know what I am thinking don’t you? We will be sixteen. Isn’t that a good time to lose one’s virginity?”

“It’s a deal.”