Chapter Sixteen

"Carey?"

Everything was white. I blinked a few times, and the whiteness began to dissipate until it looked more like tiny clouds of smoke, but still it was all I could see.

"Carey?" the voice called again. I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Are you all right?"

I blinked again, and slowly the world came into focus. Molly's eyes were peering into mine. She smiled, and I smiled back. "I'm all right," I said in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Thank goodness," she replied, pulling me into a deep embrace. I snuggled against her, deeply inhaling the faint scent of her perfume and the freshly-washed cotton of her shirt and the slight trace of mint in her breath.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice beginning to return to its normal strength.

"I'm not sure," she said. "You stumbled down the stairs about twenty minutes ago, started mumbling something about a mango tree, and then complained about a really intense headache. I went to go get you some Tylenol, but when I came back, you had collapsed on the couch and fallen asleep. I thought maybe you fainted, but I was going to wait it out a little longer before calling the doctor…"

"Thanks for taking care of me," I whispered, offering a small smile.

"You're welcome." She smiled back, then hugged me tighter. "I'm glad you're okay."

"So am I," I responded. Boy, was I glad. She had no idea.

A few days passed, and everything was back to normal. Well—almost. Jack and Clu continued to exchange secret glances more frequently, and everyone remained oblivious to their relationship except for Annie and myself. Annie was still acting insane as usual, and was constantly out practicing her ridiculous new songs for the recording studio. She had dyed her hair deep red and insisted that everyone call her Jude, although none of us did. I kind of liked the hair, though. I admit it. I even had a newfound respect for Annie—sort of. I mean, I had lived the world through her eyes, in her shoes, for an entire week.

Still, I was ecstatic to be the hell out of there. What a nightmare, seriously.

And of course, my undying affection for the beautiful Molly Phillips continued to go on unrequited. But that's okay. She'll come around eventually. I'm sure of it.

Maybe even tonight.

It was after dinner, and the kids (as I like to call them, since I'm so studly and mature and much older than Molly thinks I am) had all retreated to their bedrooms—well, Annie to Annie's, and Jack and Clu to Jack's (I still don't want to think about that). Molly and I sat on her couch, the same one where I had collapsed a few days ago and she sat by my side waiting for me to recover. I strummed my guitar, and assumed my brooding musician look (what girl can resist?) while she sang and we worked out the basics to her newest song.

"I'm thirsty," she said suddenly. "You want anything?"

"Water is fine," I said. "Thanks."

I watched her as she retreated from the room with delicate grace, and again when she returned. She handed me my glass and sat down beside me with hers. We sipped our beverages in silence. Then I spoke.

"Molly," I said.

"Hm," she replied absent-mindedly, staring into space.

"I've been wanting to tell you…" I began.

She suddenly shifted her gaze and looked me in the eyes. "Yes?"

"What you said the other day," I continued, "about Fi. And how she left because of you. It's not true."

She forced a weak smile. "I wish I could believe that," she murmured.

"Molly, listen to me," I went on, "you shouldn't think like that. I don't think you realize how much everyone cares about you… especially—"

"Molly! Carey! I was looking for you guys!" Annie shouted, instantly appearing in the doorway.

Especially me, I finished silently. God damn it. "Hey, Annie," Molly said warmly, clearly forgetting everything I had just said and was about to say. Damn it, damn it! Ignore everything I said before about respecting Annie. I should have known she would ruin this—who knew when I'd be able to summon up the courage again?

"I need to talk to Carey," Annie said quickly. "It's really important."

"We're in the middle of something," I responded.

"That's fine, we were just taking a break," Molly said at the same time. She then looked at me confusedly. I tried hard not to blush.

"Yeah… okay," Annie replied. She ran over, literally grabbed me by the arm and dragged me out of the living room and into the kitchen, shutting the door behind us.

"What the hell is going on?" I demanded angrily. "Couldn't you see I was in the middle of—"

"Carey, you gotta help me!" Annie nearly shouted. "I'm not Annie! I'm Jack! I got trapped in her body, and she's in mine! I know I probably sound crazy, but I don't know what to do… this is a nightmare!" Annie—or Jack—exclaimed breathlessly. "I'm not sure what set her off, but I think it has something to do with the fact that I left her for Clu…" he babbled.

And I just stood there, speechless, as he continued to ramble on. It was a struggle to stifle my laughter… I'm a horrible person, I know. But still. This was pretty funny.

Here we go again…

THE END