Chapter 24 Its A Boy Girl Thing!
Claire's P.O.V
The sound of knocking awoke me from my sleep and I groaned as tried to bury myself into the duvet to block out the annoying sound.
'Claire open the window' I heard someone say and I frowned and lifted my head up...which was a really bad idea.
'Oh god' I said as I laid back down.
'Claire' I heard a voice again.
'What?' I asked not looking up.
'Open the window' The voice ordered and I sighed as I dragged myself out of bed and went to unlock the window, I then crawled back into bed and I heard Shane laugh.
'Hungover?' He questioned as he sat on the bed and I nodded as I wrapped myself in the duvets.
'I cant remember that much from last night' I say as I sat up and looked at Shane, who looked really amused.
'Man I miss those nights out, it much better then those sleepovers you girls have' He said.
I frowned at him 'How would you know?'
He shrugged 'I had one last night...with Gina, Jennifer and Monica'.
'WHAT?' I shouted and then groaned as my head pounded.
'I didn't want to go but...Jennifer practically insisted' He said. I stared at him not really knowing what to say, he actually went to a sleepover with Monica. I seriously hope she doesn't think me and her are going to be friends when me and Shane switch back...if we ever switch back.
'Anyway...we have a lot to do today' Shane says as he stood up and started looking through his wardrobe.
'Like what?' I asked him.
'Like teach you how to play football?' He reminded me as he placed a T-shirt and jeans on the bed.
'Oh right...yeah we need to go over some poetry as well' I told him.
'Yeah whatever...wear that today I still have a reputation of looking good'He winked as he climbed out the window and used the tree in the middle of our houses to make his way back to his own house. I sighed as I stood up and grabbed the clothes he picked up and began to get changed, playing football was the worst thing I could do...since I'm bad at it, but playing football with a hangover? I don't think I'm going to get through the day.
Shane's P.O.V
Even though Claire didn't think it,she was getting better at football. She is a fast leaner too which is even better, we had little time left and this game is the most important game of the year. I watched as she ran up the field with the ball and I sighed to myself...Claire isn't so bad really, at first I thought she was stuck up and I felt like she thought she was better than everyone else, but Claire's not like that. She's honest,kind and caring. She's not like those other girls who think they're better than everyone else and just want everyone's attention...she's different.
'Shane' She shouted and I looked at her 'Did you see that? How good was that?'
I grinned 'Yeah that was great'
'I think we can do it' She says as she runs up to me.
'Do what?' I asked her.
'I think we can get through this, I mean I'm getting good at this football thing and your getting good at the poetry' She tells me.
'I'm not that good Claire' I pointed out but she frowned at me and the threw the ball at me.
'Shane your good at it,seriously stop doubting yourself' She says as she sits down next to me. I watched her as she opened her bag and searched through it.
'Claire I wouldn't be so confident about this' I told her. She pulled her poetry book out and glanced at me as she started flicking through the book.
'What are you talking about?' She questioned, still flickering through the pages.
'You know what I'm talking about, there's a huge chance that this could all go wrong Claire' I told her.
'Well its going to go wrong if you keep thinking that way. Shane your good at this, I don't know why you cant see it' She says and then stares down at the pages in the book.
'I'm just saying-'
'Well we can try cant we? So are we doing this or not?' She asked me.
I stared at her for a moment and then smiled 'Sure'. Claire the turned back and began reading the poem to me.
She worried me, she was so fixated on everything turning out good that she didn't realise that this is a huge chance this is going to go wrong. We had a few days left to learn so much stuff and I don't think it going to go well. Claire was right about trying, it was worth trying for but she I don't think she realises that we could be trying for nothing. I just don't want her to be surprised if everything goes wrong.
That night...
Claire's P.O.V
Even though today had been long and really tiring I really think me and Shane made a lot of progress...with the football and poetry I mean. He really doesn't give himself enough credit and he should really, I think he's quite intelligent.
'How was your day Shaney?' Shane's mother asked me as I waked through the door.
'It was great thanks mum' I answered as I waked through to the kitchen where she was making some coffee.
'Was you with that girl again...Claire?' She asked me.
I nodded my head 'Yeah'
'I like her, she's a nice girl' She says as she sits down opposite me at the table.
'I think its good she lives just next door, have you ever spoken to her parents?' I questioned.
'I have done before, your father used to be good fried with her father' She told me.
I frowned 'Really? What happened?'
'Oh I don't know...I guess Claire's mother wasn't fond of us that much'. She says.
'But why?' I asked.
'I don't know Shane' She laughed and then grabbed hold oh my hand 'Anyway I want to speak to you about something'
'Whats wrong?' I asked.
'I've noticed you've been acting different lately and...since you've been hanging around with Claire recently I figured it might have something to do with your future?' She questioned...well guessed. Its not like I could tell her the truth about me and Shane switching bodies.
'What do you mean?' I asked, does she have something planned for Shane's future or something?.
'Shane I want you to know that, you do have a bright future and I know you think you don't but I know you do. As long as you work hard enough for something you can achieve it and I know your going to go on to do great things. You don't have to go to work at the spatula store with your dad, you can do whatever you want to do Shane' Shane's mother paused for a moment and then smiled as she squeezed my hand 'Ill always be proud of you Shane'.
I smiled back at her 'I know...thanks mum'
'Any time sweetie, are you going back out or are you staying in for the night?' She asked me and I stood up and checked the time.
'Actually I told Claire I'd meet her so I'll be in later' I told her as I kissed her on her cheek, grabbed my bag.
'Ok well, see you tonight honey' Shane's mother says.
'See you tonight' I say back as I walk out the house. Shane was lucky to have a mother who was proud of him no matter what,my mother once passed out when I got a C on a test years ago, but I guess she just wanted the best for me even though sometimes it didn't feel like that.
Shane's P.O.V
I was sat at the table with Claire's parents and let me tell you...it was awkward. I mean its always awkward for me because I don't really know what to say, but tonight was different.
'So I'm going to be kinda late in tonight' I announced.
'Kind of' Claire's mother corrected me.
'Kind of late tonight' I repeated.
'What is up with you at the moment Claire?' Claire's mother asked me.
'What do you mean?' I questioned.
'You've been acting s strange lately, arriving home late, not studying so much...hanging out with Shane' She pointed out.
'I've been studying with Shane' I told her.
'Are you going out with him again tonight as well?' She asked me.
'Yes' I answered and then looked down at my plate.
'Again?' She questioned me.
'Yeah, you got a problem with that?' I asked her.
'No, but if you want to waste your time then that's your problem' She says as she picked at her food.
'Who says I'm wasting my time?' I questioned her, feeling my blood boil with anger.
'Oh Claire! You only have to look at him!' She told me.
I frowned 'Whats wrong with him'
'He's stupid, he's childish and he's pathetic...you told me so yourself' She tells me and I glared her. Claire's mother took a sip of her drink and then began to speak again 'I'm not surprised, I mean...look at his family'. I slammed my knife and fork down on the table and both Claire's parents jumped.
'I'm going out' I announced before leaving them at the table and walking out the house.
Claire's P.O.V
It felt like forever since Id been at the front door of my house and I felt at home for the first time in weeks. I couldn't help but feel excited when I knocked on the door, I couldn't wait to see my parents again. As soon as the front door opened I spoke as soon as I could
'Hi' I grinned.
'Oh...hi Shane' My dad said and looked down.
'Whats wrong? You seem stressed?' I questioned.
'Its nothing really, how can I help you?'
'Is Sh...I mean Claire in?' I asked realising that I just almost asked for Shane.
'No she went out...probably to school, she has a big day tomorrow so she might have needed some space' He told me.
'Ok, thanks, give my best to your wife' I said as I walked over and kissed him on his cheek, I then turned away and began to run to the school to hopefully find Shane.
By the time I arrived it had started to rain which is why it surprised me to find Shane outside on the field.
'Shane' I shouted as I walked over to him, he ignored me and kept on throwing footballs.
'Shane...what are you doing? Are you ok?' I asked him, but he still ignored me. I sighed and walked over to him and grabbed hold of his arm.
'Shane what's wrong-'
'Back off!' He snapped and he pushed me away from him.
'What are you doing?' I asked him.
'I'm throwing footballs' He answered.
'Why?' I questioned as I watched him throw another ball.
'Because this is what I do...this is what I'm good at. This is the one thing I'm actually good at and now I cant even do that' He says as he throws another ball.
'This isn't the only thing your good at' I pointed out and he stopped and turned around.
'I don't think you understand Claire' He says and I almost flinched at his cold tone 'People like you never do'.
'People like me?' I say repeating him Shane just stared at me and I suddenly felt angry 'What is it people like me don't get?'
'You don't get people like me!' He shouted at me and then he looked down and sighed.
'Then tell me so I understand you' I ordered and he looked back up at me.
'We like to play football, some of us are even good at it and maybe we could get accepted into some kicker college or even go work with our dads at some spatula store. But what we don't get is a fancy job and a big fancy apartment in the City and some Yale education' He tells me.
'So... this is about the interview?' I guessed and he shook his head.
'No...I don't know' He says as he throws another ball.
'Its ok to be nervous Shane' I told him.
'No its not ok. You know what I'm supposed to be doing tomorrow? I'm supposed to be playing to most important game of my life...not attending some college interview. That was supposed to be my life...the college interview isn't my life' He tells me.
'So we got our lives mixed up...but we can get through this Shane, everything will be ok.'I say and he laughed a bit.
'Whatever, save your inspirational speech for someone who actually cares. I know what I am Claire and so do you. I'm stupid, I'm childish and I'm pathetic, I cant help it...I mean look at my family' He says.
I frowned at him 'Where did all this come from?'. Shane didn't say anything instead he dropped the football in his hand and walked away from me.
'You know what Shane, I never had you down for a quitter' I shouted after him but he still continued to walk away from me.
Where had all this come from? I was confused, was he mad at me? or about the interview? I thought me and Shane were actually ok with each other but I guess not. I was happy with the thought that me and Shane were now friends and could actually be ok with each other but now I'm beginning to wonder if he had been mad at me all this time. Who knows what's going on with Shane any more, I thought I did but I guess I was wrong about him after all.
Just when they was starting to get along, what do you guys want to see happen next? Please comment your thoughts. Thanks for reading :)