Switched Read Online Free

Lucy asked. She must have seen my expression change.
    â€œI won’t want to change back,” I confessed. “My life is the pits. I—I think you made a bad deal, Lucy.”
    â€œNicole, don’t worry about it,” she replied. “I think—”
    â€œBut my parents are so awful!” I cried. “They’re like watchdogs. Always sniffing, always alert, always waiting to catch me in some kind of trouble. And . . . and David—”
    â€œWhat about David?” Lucy asked softly.
    â€œI told you he broke up with me,” I replied. “So you won’t have a boyfriend.”
    She smiled and brushed back her long, dark brown hair with the shiny red fingernails. “Maybe I’ll try to win him back,” she purred.
    â€œAnd now I have Kent,” I continued, still troubled and guilty. “Kent is such a great guy. How do you feelabout that, Lucy? How do you feel about me going out with Kent now?”
    She shrugged. “Nicole, this was my idea, remember? I knew exactly what I was getting into.”
    I opened my mouth to reply, but there didn’t seem to be any more to say. The sky above the trees darkened. The afternoon sun had started to lower itself. A warm breeze made the newly unfurled leaves shimmer and whisper all around us.
    â€œWe’d better get home,” Lucy said.
    â€œMy mom will be waiting for you at the door,” I warned her. “You’d better have a good excuse ready.”
    â€œI’ll just tell her we jumped off a wall and switched bodies, and that’s why I’m late,” Lucy said, grinning. My dimpled grin. She tossed back my dark brown hair as she started to laugh.
    We both laughed. I still felt so giddy, so strange.
    I stretched my arms above my head. I took a few steps over the tall grass in my new body.
    I felt awkward. The legs moved differently. The feet were smaller. It took an effort to stand up straight, to keep the head raised.
    Walking should be natural, I told myself. But I just wasn’t used to this body.
    A few more steps. I glanced back at the wall. In the fading light it appeared to be a gray blur. Just a dark cloud above the grass. If I didn’t squint, I couldn’t see it at all.
    As if it didn’t exist.
    Lucy and I didn’t say much as we made our way through the woods to the street. I guess we were lost in our own thoughts, thinking about our new lives. Getting used to our new bodies.
    A few minutes later we stepped back onto Fear Street. The old Fear mansion rose up like a dark creature against the graying sky. I saw two scrawny cats scampering along a row of graves in the cemetery.
    We walked on in silence. I said goodbye to Lucy about a block from my house. “Good luck!” I cried.
    â€œGood luck,” she echoed. Then she waved to me, turned, and jogged across the street.
    I stood and stared. It was just so weird watching myself run away.
    I watched Lucy until the trees blocked her from view. Then I turned and headed toward her house on Canyon Drive.
    Can I really fool Lucy’s parents? I wondered.
    Can I really make the Kramers think that I’m their daughter?
    And will I be able to fool Lucy’s friends? Will I be able to fool Kent? Will I be able to fool my own friends?
    So many questions as I hesitated at the bottom of Lucy’s driveway and stared up at her little white shingled house.
    Remember, Nicole—I warned myself—don’t be sarcastic. Lucy is never sarcastic. You’re the sarcastic one. Lucy is sweet and serious.
    I took a deep breath and made my way up to thehouse. The front door was open halfway. I pulled open the screen door and stepped into the small entryway.
    â€œHi! I’m home!” I called. “Sorry I’m so late!”
    No reply.
    The car was in the driveway. The Kramers had to be home.
    â€œWhere are you?” I called.
    I started into the living room.
    But stopped at the doorway with a loud