Swapadopoulos

Sometimes I'm.... somebody else.

“So what is it you wanted to talk about Martin?”

“Ummm hey Mr. McLeod-”

“Please, call me Jeff.”

“Ummm ok, Jeff. You're a guidance counsellor person, right?”

“Yes Martin, that's what it says on my desk.”

“Well, I have a bit of a problem...”

“Ok, well... you can tell me anything Martin. There's no judgement in here.”

Martin paused and started drumming his knees nervously, “Not really sure how I can explain this to you...”

Jeff rolled his eyes.

“... I should, I should just go — I have homework and stuff.”

Jeff reached out and held the boy's shoulder to stop him from running out, “Please, Martin. A problem shared is a problem halved.”

Martin sat back down cautiously, “Ok, here's the thing... I.... Sometimes, I'm not myself.”

Jeff reclined on his chair and raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?” he questioned.

“A few days back I made a sort of discovery.... The reason I've missed so many classes is.... sometimes, I'm not me.”

“Not you?”

“Yes, sometimes I'm.... somebody else.”

“I....” Jeff was speechless, “I'm just not sure what you mean by this Martin?”

Martin groaned and looked up at the ceiling, “Look, I don't know the science behind it but basically I turn into someone else, and I lose all knowledge of who I really am OK!?”

Jeff sighed, “Ok Martin, supposing you're not just bullshitting me here — How did you find this out, if you 'lose all knowledge' of who you really are?”

“See I told you this was too hard to explain, I'm just gonna go home.”

Martin walked home, attempting to hold back the tears but failing. Why was he cursed with this? Will it ever stop? How could he make anyone believe him?

“Martin you're late AGAIN!”

“Sorry Jane, I had a meeting with the school guidance counsellor.”

“Well, what was it about? You don't really need a counsellor you know, we're all perfectly qualified to help you out!”

Martin lived in an orphanage. It wasn't so bad, but he was forever waiting for when he turned 18. He so desperately wanted to live on his own, instead of with a bunch of other rejected kids. He still had 2 years to wait for that, though.

“It was nothing.” He faked a smile.

“Very well, come in then before your dinner gets cold.”

Dinner time in the orphanage wasn't quite like in Oliver Twist, it was a lively hub of good food and laughter, and you didn't have to beg if you wanted some more.

Tonight, Fish-fingers were on the menu. Which Martin saw as perfect, he could eat them quick then charge up to his room and escape from the madness.
There was one person in the home he could stand to be around for an extended amount of time. It was a she, of course, and the pair had been friends since they were only toddlers.
Martin watched Lucy as she ate her dinner from across the room. He was hoping they could chat tonight, if anyone was going to believe him it would be her.

“So, let me get this straight.” Lucy was pacing around Martin's room, her blonde curls dancing on her shoulders. “You just magically turn into someone else?”

“Yes...”

“Well, I guess that would explain why you keep missing so much school. Ok, I believe you, I can't see why anyone would lie about something so crazy like this.”

Martin smiled, he knew he count on his beloved Lucy.

She smiled back at him awkwardly before averting her gaze, “So... how did you find out about this?”

“I get my own thoughts back occasionally, for like a few seconds. It really only gives me time to panic.” Martin found himself yet again fighting back the tears.

Lucy put her hands on his, “It's ok, it's going to be ok. Have you told a Doctor about this?”

“NO!” Martin backed away, “It's embarrassing, I'm hoping this whole thing will just blow over. And besides, what's a Doctor going to do about this? Other than diagnose me as 'crazy'.”

Their conversation was cut short by the unwelcomed enterance of Jane, “Ok guys, time to get some shut-eye, tomorrow is afterall a school day.”

Martin rested his head against the window of the bus, Lucy was talking with a bunch of her girl friends on the backseats. He was fine with it though, it gave him time to think.

“Hey Marty.”

Martin turned towards the aisle to find his best -male- friend, Quinton.
Quinton was your chubby, glasses wearing, short, nerdy kid. Every school had one, and most people would either bully him or simply ignore him. But he was such a nice guy, Martin didn't care about his appearance or intelligence — It was just nice to have a good friend.

“Hey Quinton,” he patted the seat beside him, encouraging his friend to sit, “How's things?”

“Amazing!” Quinton exclaimed.

“Really? How so?” Martin hadn't seen his friend this excited in a long while, not since Lord Of The Rings 3 came out anyway.

“It's a girl Marty! A girl who'll actually talk to me, and she's... just, AMAZING!”

“Woah, hey, good for you buddy!” He was honestly proud of Quinton, he'd never been able to talk to girls. He'd usually waddle off when even Lucy came near.

“Hey Martin,” Lucy approached, “Could you help me out with my Maths Homework? I can't afford to get another D.”

“Oh I ummmm.... gotta go.” Quinton ran off the bus, his giant bag forcing him to sprint with a hunch.

Martin sniggered, “Sure!”

“How are you coping, by the way?”

“Yeah I'm fine, no wacky transformation for me today.”

Lucy grinned, “Good.”

Another night of honest talking between the pair passed by, before Jane sent them to bed.
'At least tomorrow's Friday', Martin thought.

Martin and Quinton placed their lunches down on a small table in the corner of the cafeteria, they knew here they would likely not be bothered by anyone. Lucy had gymnastics training so Martin knew he would have his friend for the full hour.

“So... How's things going with Lucy? I can't believe you still haven't asked her out on a date.”

“Look man, there's no point. She's way out of my league, I'm lucky enough to have her as a friend so I'm not going to ruin that!”

Quinton shrugged, “Whatever man, I'm thinking of asking that girl out myself.”

“What, Lucy?” Martin raised an eyebrow.

“No, no, no. Marina, she's the girl who talked to me the other day, I think she's Lucy's friend actually. HEY! WE COULD GO ON A DOUBLE DATE!?”

Martin sighed, “Actually... if it's a double date Lucy might say yes.”

“Exactly!” Quinton yelled.

“Dude, quieten down a little yeah? We're getting some odd looks.”

“Oh right, sorry. So what do you think? I'll ask Marina and you can ask Lucy?”

Martin paused, “Ummm.... yeah go on then, what the hell! Why not aye? A date would be just what I need to cheer me up.”

“What are you so down about anyway?”

“Ah it's noth-”

“Excuse me Mr. Parker.”

Martin looked up to find Mr. McLeod crouched beside their table. “Could I see you in my office?”

“Ummm yeah ok.” Martin almost chocked on his pizza, this probably wasn't going to be nice.

Mr. McLeod drummed his desk, “Ok Martin, after our little 'discussion' I looked into the matter.”

“Oh, right...”

“Yeah and ummm...” Mr. McLeod skimmed through a pile of papers on his desk, “It seems there IS actually someone who has missed all the lessons you have and attended all the ones you have missed.”

“Yes...”

“Infact while you are sat here in this room right now, this other student is absent. So this tells me that, either this is all just a massive coincidence or....” The bearded man leaned forward, “You're telling the truth.”

“Well of course it's the truth! I wouldn't make up such a freaky thing would I?”

Mr. McLeod grunted.

“So... what's his name?

“HER name is Marina. Marina Papadopoulos.”

Martin laughed, “Nah that can't be right. I'm pretty sure that in my split seconds of awareness, I was still a bloke.”

“Well, we'll see.” Mr. McLeod shrugged.

“No, no, no!” Martin leaped out of his chair, “I saw my hand, that's how I knew I was someone else. And, and, and it was just more tanned, and smaller, and the nails were...”

Mr. McLeod folded his arms.

“...Longer.” Martin's eyes widened, “....No, no, no. That's just silly. I've got to ummm go now. Bye.”

Mr. McLeod remained silent as he watched the boy run out of the room. He then reached for the phone, “Hello? Principle Stewart? ......Yes...... Yes......... Ok........ No he just ran out............ Yes, I'll keep an eye on him........ Yes, and Marina too.”

Martin bumped into Quinton charging down the corridor, who walked speedily behind him “Hey have you seen Mari-”

“NO!” Martin shouted back as he pushed his way past the door, leaving Quinton cursing at him.

Martin walked behind the gym, where there was no-one around, with his hands in his pockets. Once again asking himself questions like 'Why me?' and 'How did this happen?'

Just as he turned the corner, he ran into Lucy. “Oh my god!” she shouted, “You are so late!”

Before he could even say hello or ask what he was late for, she grabbed his hand. Which he noticed seemed more tanned than usual, as well as smaller and...

“Oh.”