“Oh, no!” Dustin threw up his hands as if surrendering. “They’re back — the Double-Trouble A’s.”
There was so much to talk about. Since the Montgomerys wouldn’t miss me for a few hours, we got in my car (they were both very impressed with Leah’s cool wheels) and headed for our favorite hangout, Grumpy’s Grill.
When Alyce watched me slop through the Giant Grumpy Burger, oozing sauce all over my hands and licking it up, she joked that there was no doubt I was the real Amber.
Of course that led to questions about Leah. Since I was in her body, why wasn’t she in mine? Where was she? Would she ever come back?
“I have no idea,” I admitted with a twinge of guilt. “When I saw my real body, I hoped to find her there and that we’d switch back. Only it didn’t happen … and now it can’t ever.”
“There’s always hope,” Alyce insisted, chewing on a fry. “And you had a very nice memorial. It was cool to hear people say all those nice things about you. I took notes so I could tell your family everything people said.”
I grinned — she was such a great friend. Who else would take notes at a memorial and rush after a thief to save a mostly worthless bracelet?
Looking down at my wrist, I wondered if the bracelet really was lucky. Well, I had my friends back — which was a great start.
Alyce kept staring at me, as if she was still getting used to my borrowed body. But as we talked, joking about shared experiences like nothing was any different between us, it all felt so normal.
Dustin was still worried about my staying with the Montgomerys. “You need to move out of there,” he insisted.
“We already discussed this and agreed it’s best to wait. Don’t forget the GPS system in my car. I don’t want to be picked up by the police again.”
“Tell your parents — your real ones,” Alyce suggested. “We’ll make them believe, and then you can move back home.”
“Even if they believe I’m their daughter, Mr. Montgomery won’t let me leave.” I glanced at Leah’s pink leather watch and frowned. “I’ll have to go back soon.”
“Not so soon!” Alyce objected.
“I guess you have to,” Dustin admitted. “But it won’t be long. We’ll call when we find a way to help you.”
“I’ll keep Leah’s cell phone close,” I promised. We got in the car and I dropped them back at school.
The Montgomery house was quiet when I stepped through the door. I smelled something coming from the kitchen and guessed Luis was busy cooking dinner. Otherwise, no one was around.
Shrugging, I went upstairs and tackled the computer again.
I managed to get into some of the programs this time, and found some games to play, but I still couldn’t read any of Leah’s personal email. One of the games looked cool, so I created a character and went off to slay some bad dudes.
Luis showed up a while later with a hot dish of food. “Your parents and brother haven’t returned from the lawyer yet,” he explained. “I thought you’d like to eat in your room. I’m headed to my apartment but if you need something just call on the intercom.”
I nodded, sniffing the hot covered plate appreciatively. “Thanks, Luis.”
Dinner was delicious and since no one was checking on me, I skipped my evening exercise. When I tired of game playing, I shut down the computer and watched some TV until my eyes grew heavy and I drifted off …
* * *
A dog was barking.
I opened my eyes and found myself somewhere else … with clouds rather than walls and a foggy sense of unreality. I turned my head — and there was Cola, bouncing toward me with his tongue hanging out and his tail wagging.
“Cola!” I exclaimed. “And you’re happy to see me this time!”
He barked, and in my head I heard, You’re my mission.
“I am?”
I’m your escort.
And then the scene changed. Cola was still there, but I was walking on air or bubbles or clouds. I wasn’t really sure. I knew I hadn’t died again, so this must be a dream.
An awake dream, I heard Cola explain in my head. Come.
I followed him from light clouds to a dark sky twinkling with endless stars. And there was Grammy Greta. I didn’t see her arrive; she was just suddenly there, smiling with those knowing eyes I loved so well.
“Amber,” she murmured as she enfolded me in her arms. “It’s so good to hold you again. I’m sorry it’s taken this long.”
“Am I me?” I asked, looking down at myself and hoping for chunky legs and a big booty. Instead I saw long athletic legs and perky boobs. Damn.
“Don’t be disappointed,” Grammy told me gently. “You’re meeting me in a dream state, so just imagine anything you want to appear differently.”
I concentrated a moment, and then looked down again.
“I’m Amber! And I’m wearing my favorite butterfly pocket jeans.”
“It’s doesn’t matter how you look — I can always see you clearly.”
“Then why haven’t you helped?” I complained. “I tried to switch back and nothing happened. Cola was at the hospital but wouldn’t even help me.”
Cola hung his head and tucked his tail between his legs.
“Now don’t blame Cola,” Grammy chided. “He had a job to do and no time for you. When he returned here, he told me you needed my help.”
“But I also wanted to tell you about the Dark Lifer.”
Grammy gasped. “You’ve met a Dark Lifer?”
“Yeah — the hospital security guard, Karl.” I thought about mentioning my suspicion of Mr. Montgomery, but it just seemed too crazy.
“I’ll notify the Dark Disposal Team,” she told me. Then she apologized for not contacting me sooner. “But I’ve been busy with the Leah Montgomery situation. The switching of souls is a complicated affair, especially when suicide is involved.”
“You mean … Leah’s really dead?” I asked, afraid.
“No, thank God — and I do mean that literally. She decided to live. We don’t have time in this dream state for lengthy explanations so I’ll make it simple. Leah committed suicide, but thanks to your mistake, she was given a second chance.”
“My mistake saved her?” I asked incredulously.
“Yes. Instead of recycling into a new life, she went into a cocoon where she could consider her options. Ultimately, she asked for another chance at life. But that caused problems.”
“I don’t understand.”
“My job as an Earthbounder Counselor involves something called Temp Lifers. These are souls who temporarily step into someone’s body when they’re in crisis. When you switched into Leah’s body, you accidentally did what Temp Lifers do on purpose.”
I just looked at her.
“Okay, I can see you’re still confused, so here’s an example,” Grammy continued. “There’s this young girl, Jamie, who witnessed the drive-by shooting of her father. She was so traumatized that she needed a break from her body. So a Temp Lifer lived her life for a while.”
“Where did Jamie go?”
“Into a relaxing cocoon sleep. When she returned to her body, she was stronger. Her replacement had gotten her through the toughest moments — with enough memories merged so she can remember some of the experience.”
“Is that what’s happened to Leah? Is she sleeping?”
“Well … it’s different for suicides. But because you stepped into her body, fulfilling the same duties as a Temp Lifer, Leah didn’t die. Good for her, but not so good for your body, which was left at risk. I managed to delay the organ harvesting by causing your hand to move. But getting clearance to transport Leah’s soul into your body was more complicated. Finally I succeeded, and your parents received the good news a short while ago.”