School Daze

Mush's POV

Ok, today definitely started strange. I woke up this morning, not to Kloppman yelling in my ear, but by loud noise blasting out of an alarm clock. I bolted out of bed. Then I discovered that I was a girl. A short girl in purple pants with frogs and a gown with a smiling face on it. It was winking and in a way, I think it was mocking me, like it knew something that I didn't.

Then I had to go to school, a place I had only heard of. The building was huge, so I was surprised when my feet decided to take over. I had no idea where I was going, but figured that they did. I was taken to this classroom with girls and guys everywhere, talking energetically.

Spot's POV

I can't believe this! I mean, I'm a girl. The first I thought when I woke up and found out was 'Who's responsible for this?' People just don't suddenly become girls without a reason, and whoever's responsible better have a good reason for turning me into one. All the power I had is gone now. What's so intimidating about a girl? And couldn't they at least let me have my cane? It feels weird without it.

Now, I'm at school. I tried to avoid it, but I was forced to. It's like I can't control this body until I've reached a specific place. I don't like being a follower.

Mush's POV

I rushed out of the first class, extremely embarrassed. Turns out that the class was theatre and this girl…Aqua, had a part in the play they were putting on. My feet didn't want to go where they were supposed to. I thought they were in charge, guess I was wrong. I must have tripped four times on stage. It took the teacher three times before I responded to my new name. At least this body seemed to remember her cues and lines, even if I did trip over them several times.

I was in the hallway when I saw someone who seemed familiar. She was around five foot and had auburn hair below shoulder length and hazel eyes. I approached slowly, "Do I know you?" She turned and glared at me. A glare that slowly became a smirk…and a very familiar one, "Spot?"

Spot's POV

"How did you know," I asked. Immediately, the girl grabbed me in a hug that felt much too strong for a girl. I struggled for a second to breathe.

"Spot, is it really you," they asked. I felt the grip loosen however, "Sorry about that." They stepped away, apologizing hurriedly and many times.

"Who are you," I demanded, starting to get angry. She stopped apologizing and looked down at me.

"It's Mush," she said, "or Aqua." He gestured with his hands at the girl whose body he was in. I looked up at him and then started laughing, "What?"

"Now I don't have to look up to you as much," I said, smirking at him, "It's Caitlin or Misery now."

Mush's POV

"How do you think this happened Spot," I asked.

"That your new nickname now," a voice joined in the conversation, "It suits you. You're no more than a spot in the universe anyway." The two girls behind her agreed, laughing.

"Mia," Spot said, a growl seeming to form in his voice. I felt a little nervous and something told me that Aqua had had a run-in with these girls before. They seemed to finally take notice of me.

"You scared," Lillian asked mockingly, getting up close to my face.

"No," I said evenly, even though inside I felt exactly the opposite. Something told me that I needed to stick up for this girl, "Get out of my face."

"She speaks," Aurora said in mock surprise.

"Leave her alone," Spot backed me up. I tried to say something, "Let me handle this Mush." By the time he realized his mistake, it was too late.

"Mush," Mia asked, "That's right, no one likes that stuff. It's fitting since no one likes you either." I was just about ready to punch her, but was stopped when the bell rang.

Spot's POV

Mush and I separated for our classes. It's not like we could control it. We just turned and walked away. I hope I don't run into those girls again…for their own sake.

Mush's POV

Next class was English. I was very surprised when I discovered that Blink had the same class. I was so happy to see him that I nearly tackled him, but I held in my enthusiasm. He was my best friend, at least one thing was going right today.

Blink's POV

I wandered through the halls of the huge school thinking about everything that had happened. I had met up with Mush in English class, which had been weird. There he was sitting by himself in the back of the room. He was so much shorter than normal and instead of his normal curly brown hair there was straight hair, much lighter, and the bluest eyes I had ever seen. He was Aqua now, which I guess was just about as weird as me being Emilia now.

Jack's POV

I couldn't believe what was happening to me. To me of all people. Waking up as a dang girl. In fuzzy pants and a huge shirt, in a warm bed, without Kloppy calling me. It was weird but also kinda nice. But school? I hate school. I entered the huge building after the woman who seemed to be my mother drove me in an automobile, one without a horse. That was crazy. It seemed so weird, all these things that were so new to me were old hat to everyone else. And the school, oh how I hated the idea, but this seemed so different than the school Davey told me about. I knew my way around the building, which was so weird. And I was this girl, this Rebecca, this girl people called Scribble.

Blink's POV

Somehow I knew where all my classes were. Somehow I knew other people on my classes, or Emilia's classes. And I guess not only do us newsies have nicknames, I got called Emi and Nova today. Making my way through the crowded hallways was something I wasn't used to but I was managing. I was almost to my next class when something made me stop in my tracks. Coming down the hall towards me was a girl who seemed so familiar. She was tall with short blonde hair and blue eyes and she was smiling at me. I tried to continue on my way but something made me go over to her, "Rebecca!" I found myself calling out to her.

Jack's POV

I was making my way around the school, finding out that I knew people. That people knew me. Then I saw someone whom I instantly recognized. Subconsciously I smiled at her. Then she called my name, "Rebecca!" She was a really pretty girl, with blonde hair, almost the same color as Dutchy's and green eyes that kinda sparkled when she smiled.

"Hey Nova," I found myself calling back, that was weird. I tilted my head to one side, something I wouldn't normally do. "Um, I know you."

Blink's POV

"I know," I replied. "I know you too." We tried to continue on our separate ways but just couldn't seem to move. I took a few steps in one direction but turned my head to look at Rebecca, "Jack?"

She turned her head quickly in my direction, "Blink?" I don't know how we knew, we just knew.

Jack's POV

I looked closer, it was him. Good old Blink. "You have two eyes."

Blink nodded and smiled a huge smile. Which was weird, it was the girl smiling but it looked so much like the same smile Blink was always sporting. "It's so cool," Blink said. He reached up to touch the skin just below his left eye. "It's so different to have two working eyes." He stopped smiling and crossed his arms over his chest, "do you have any idea what's going on?" He sounded so worried and a little scared.

"I, I don't know Blink," I answered truthfully, sounding a little scared myself.

"Blink?" Someone called, breaking into the conversation. Blink and I turned to face three girls.

Blink's POV

I found myself turning to face the voice, with a glare on my face. "Mia."

"Is that some sort of new pet name you two have for each other?" Mia laughed, and her groupies laughed too. "Blink," she smiled, looking at me. "And I'll say you're Wink?" She laughed, turning to Jack.

"Well what else rhymes," I said slowly. "I could call you Think, but that would be an oxymoron." Mia gave a little cry and glared at me, her nose almost touching mine.

"I think you're an oxymoron," Aurora stepped in, smiling smugly.

"You don't even know what that means," Jack spoke up. Even though I don't think he knew what it meant. I wasn't even sure how I knew what it meant. Aurora sulked back to stand behind Mia.

"Oh, baby got a mouth now?" Lillian remarked with a laugh. "Didn't know you even knew how to speak." I looked over at Jack, obviously Rebecca is shy. I could see the blush forming on her cheeks. I almost laughed, Jack never blushes. Just then the bell rang, signaling the start of next class. Mia huffed and turned on her heel. The other two followed and they walked out of sight.

"I hate being shy," Jack groaned. "I hate being a girl."

Becca's POV

I leaned over in my seat when I knew Mr. Neals wasn't watching, "hey Jinx." My friend Rochelle looked up from her work and then over at me. "Guess what?"

"Flit," she whispered, calling me by my nickname. "Be quiet. You're going to get detention, again, for talking in class."

I shook my head, "No way." I looked up at the teacher, who still had his back to the room. "Guess what?"

Jinx sighed, "what?"

"I'm starting this new story about the newsies," I covered my mouth with my hand to stifle a laugh. "I can't find my other notebook with my stories in it. I had to start a new one." My room was a huge mess, I could never find what I was looking for.

"That's not new," Jinx smiled. "You've got maybe fifty newsies stories in the making."

I smiled, it was true, "This one's different. It's about this..." I trailed off, suddenly not feeling so good. I tried again, "about this girl..." I held my stomach with one hand and raised the other. When Mr. Neals finally called on me I choked out, "I need to use the bathroom." He excused me and I left, Jinx watching my worriedly as I went.

Race's POV

I hopped from one foot to the other as the horses raced around the track. My horse almost broke away but seemed to stumble as three other horses passed him. "Dang horse," I shouted, raising my fist. Third time I've lost today. I hopped around a little more and then took off for the bathroom. I had to pee, had to since the second race. I ran around the corner and right into an older gentleman. From the ground I asked, "Buy a pape sir?" He shook his head in disgust and walked away, rubbing his arm as he went. I scrambled to my feet, today hadn't been the best selling day. I paused to count my money and then remembered I really had to get to the bathroom.

I was washing my hands in the little sink when I suddenly felt dizzy. I grabbed onto the sink for support, waiting for the dizziness to pass.

Becca's POV

I looked at myself in the mirror, my face pale. I gripped the sink as a wave of dizziness washed over me. A tear ran down my face and I groaned. My vision started to close in on me, and then everything went black.

Race's POV

I almost felt better and straightened myself when another wave of dizziness made me fall to the floor. I tried standing up but everything went black.

Becca's POV

Suddenly my vision cleared and I felt completely fine. I smiled to myself. Wanting to get back to class, I stood carefully and took a look in the mirror. I shrieked. Staring back at me was a boy. I looked closer, it was Racetrack. "What's going on here?" I shrieked again as I watch Race mouth the words along with me. I reached up and touched my face. Race did the same. I started to cry and then looked down at my hands, then at my clothes. How did I become Race?

Race's POV

Finally my vision cleared and I stood. The next race would be starting soon. I stood and then almost fell over again. The bathroom was so clean. And so much bigger. I shook my head, I must be dreaming. Or unconscious. I looked in the mirror and a girl looked back at me. She was short, like me. But unlike me she had dark brown hair and paler skin than me. Plus, she was a she. I was a she. "I'm a girl," I cried. How did this happen? One minute I'm sick, the next I'm a girl. Plus, I'm in a girl's bathroom. Suddenly the door swung open and three girls entered.

"Poor Becca," the one cooed. "Is somebody sick?"

"Shut up Mia," I snapped back. How did I know her name? She knew mine, or this girl's. I was so confused. She opened her mouth to speak again but I rushed passed her and out into a big hallway. There were doors on either side and a lot of other kids around. I looked carefully at them. Am I in the future? I laughed a little and then something seemed to tell me that I was right.

Skittery's POV

It seemed to take forever until lunchtime. Finally, a time without any teachers getting on my case. Too bad the food looks horrible and tastes even worse. I'm serious, the pizza is like cardboard and paper. The 'dessert' as they call it is like glue and sawdust. I won't even get started on the drinks. That's what I get for not bringing a lunch. I was sitting alone at a table near the front of the room, by the doors.

My day went horrible. The teachers kept asking if I was okay and that I was being too quiet. Seriously, I wouldn't be calling attention to myself if I had just recently turned into a girl. Evidently, Shakes does so all the time, since she's supposedly constantly loud and hyper. People seemed to steer clear of me however, I guess seeing a serious Shakes has gotten them nervous. They seem to think that I'm plotting something.

One of Shakes' friends approached me earlier, wanting to know what was wrong. Her name was Schiz I believe. She had reddish-brown hair and hazel eyes wide with excitement. She was worried about me being so quiet. I kinda lost track of what she said after that, she wouldn't stop talking. I finally managed to get away, she was getting kinda scary. I was so grateful when the bell rang for lunch and found myself running out the door and coming here, considering that I didn't know where the cafeteria was.

Now, I'm beginning to wonder if they'll allow you to get your money back for the food. I'm thinking that they won't, it's not worth as much as you pay for it.

My attention was drawn away from the disgusting food suddenly. Two girls were walking through the cafeteria doors. One was tall, around five foot seven while the other was about five inches shorter. They talked together excitedly and burst into laughter every once in a while. I feel like I should know them from somewhere, but I can't figure it out. Then, their eyes were suddenly on me. They immediately walked over.

The taller of the two whispered something to the other after looking at me for a minute. The other nodded in agreement at what she said. Slowly, they came to stand beside me.

"Skittery," the taller asked hesitantly, "Is that you?" I barely glanced in their direction. She sat down and the shorter one followed her example, "It's me, Blink. And Mush."

"That's Skittery all right," Mush said, "I don't know anyone else who acts like that."

"You figured that out on your own," I finally said sarcastically, "I'm so impressed. Yeah, it's Skittery. Seriously, if I wasn't, I would be giving you two some very strange looks. Who else has turned into a girl?"

"Well, I've seen Jack," Blink said, "and Mush said that he found Spot earlier today. We don't know if there are others."

Mush suddenly turned when the bathroom doors opened in the cafeteria's short hallway. I didn't pay any attention, but Mush kept staring off in that direction, "Race," he whispered. A girl who had been walking by stopped suddenly at the name. She walked over slowly and glanced around at the table.

"Mush, Blink, Skittery," she asked in surprise. All three of us nodded, "I thought I was the only one. It's Race." By now, I wasn't surprised to hear this kind of news. He sat down at the table, "What's going on?"

"What's it look like," I questioned, "We're all girls in case you haven't noticed…and we're in the future."

"I got that part," Race shot back, "but how did we get here?"

"Believe me, if I knew, I wouldn't be here right now," Mush commented, "I'm just as confused as the rest of you." All of our attention was drawn away when two more girls entered. I guess Mush and Blink recognized them, because they waved the two over. One of the girls appeared to try and calm the other down. It was obvious that it wasn't working though.

"I don't get it," the shorter said, "Why am I the only one from Brooklyn that's here? I don't even live with you guys."

"I don't know Spot," the one, who I guessed to be Jack said, "All I know is that we're here now and there's nothing we can do about it."

"Not if I can help it," Spot said, "I'm going to figure out what's going on." They sat down and everyone was reintroduced, as both themselves and the girl they were.

"One thing you need to know," I spoke up, "Don't eat the food here. It's worse than Kloppman's cooking." The group groaned at that.

Crutchy's POV

I was practically skipping down the halls all day. I had to keep moving. With both legs working, I couldn't help but do everything possible to use them. It felt so good to be like the girls and guys of the school. I finally felt like one of them. It took a lot to make me sit still.

Sure, I had a little run in with some bullies, but I didn't let it get to me. I mean, I could walk! Nothing they could say could ruin my day. As long as I had with two legs, I was going to use them.

By lunchtime, I hadn't run into anyone else. Still, I had a feeling that I wasn't the only one who had traded places. As soon as I stepped into the lunchroom, I found my gaze wandering to a group sitting nearby. They were whispering to each other and I found that very strange. Most people didn't care to keep quiet in a cafeteria, because everyone else was so loud.

Deciding that something seemed familiar about the group, I walked over. They didn't notice me until I was standing right next to them. When I looked at them, a flash came out of nowhere and I could see my friends all sitting there. Then the flash ended and they were girls again, "Hey guys!"

"Crutchy," the one I believed to be Jack said. He almost shouted it, but brought his voice down quickly.

"You can walk," Mush, I think, said in disbelief. Yes, that had to be Mush. I always thought that he was one of the more caring and sensitive ones, "How's it feel?"

"Great," I replied, "I feel normal for once in my life."