SWAPPED

d, "Race you to the cove! Loser pays for ice cream!" With a loud grunt, Kelly ran for her closest companio

ed and puffered as she came to the surface of the ocean a minute later. She went over to Mark and imm

actually stand a chance at winning," she joked. Mark took a seat next Kelly and en

ly objected. "I s

thought, keep surfing. I like

her arm. "Stingy best friend," she muttered to her

that reason alone," M

t was for charming personality." "I f

led, "but mostly it's for y

. I knew I shouldn't have shared my Gus

wryly. She spoke a soft "You know I am a suck

ecame engrossed in their own thoughts. They heard th

finally ended, Mark

half sleep

r arms. She confided in her best buddy, "I think we should

n?" a bewildered

ut to sea. "You applied to only East coast colleges. I applied to only West

d turned to face Mark. "Like what? A road

cking trip across Europe." She took a brief

sked, double-checking her understanding. Her ex

ark nodded

riefly, Kelly said, "I would love to visit Paris, London, and Venice! Could you imagine al

. We could stay in hostels and travel by bus between cities," she said. "The worst would be the pla

She sprinted up to the water and put her hands about her lips, saying, "Just tell me where to sign

ompanion. "Now we just need to find

rk. Snatching Mark's hand, she said, "There's always shops along the board

r possessions. They strolled along the lengthy boardwalk, which was home to more t

ered and made her way to the front desk, saying, "It has a Help Wanted sign in the window." She turned to look a

work here," as soon as

eached over the desk to look into the

tered mockingly. "Maybe because we

red her fist against a nearby wall and exclaim

She makes it seem like its learning how to flip a pancake!" Mark tipped her gaze to t

will think you escaped from an insane asylum. Besides, you

ly," Mark stated angr

his brilliant blue eyes and shaggy hair bleached by the sun, he resembled a model su

herself, looking like she would rather be anywhere

he questioned, looking surprised. He gazed at the females for a few more m

st her gaze down. Unable to l

d to walk back where he had come from, saying,

ait!" "Please, please

pivoted once again. He said,

always on time. We may not know anything about surfing but we can work the cash register and clean." She held one up and po

stared. He asked, "Why do yo

aving money so we can backpac

d in jest. His gaze shifted from the girls to the disorganized table.

? Don't we need to fill out applicat

out his hand and said, "Don't do paperw

females winced as they glanced around the space. It was a complete farce. In the far corner, there were heaps of damp, moldy beach towels

ning." "This is your schedule for the month. You won't be working together because we need one person who's an experienced surfer," he apologized to them. He dem

the store. They shrieked, "We're going to Europe! We're going

igh-pitched voice. The voice mockingly said, "If

the face. Bella had detested Kelly for as long as she could remember.

to lie," Kelly responded. She made it clear to the aggressor that she

d you enough to teach you anything," she said. Bella fe

response. "Oh Bella," with condescension. "I'm

s to flare up. And she insis

ered sweetly, "Because I never attack anyone who's unarmed.

he ran after her. Kelly froze in place as she heard the tone of her v

t. When? Eric was never romantically involved. He was often reminding her that,

ed?" "I guess brother d

She murmured, "Don't let her get to you.

rd, but Bella interrupted. "It's going t

th malicious intent, she muttered, "My br

house," she exclaimed. Bella held up her immaculately groomed hand and waved condescendingly. She brushed by Kelly, making c

eve that girl," as they made

nically, "It's Bella

d lounged on their beach towels for the remainder of the day. They made

t down and gave the happy dog a scratch. She questioned him, "Want to go for a walk buddy?" as she attached the le

king at a squirrel that was sprinting across the grass

ously, "Why hello, baby doll! H

nd sunk her heels into the earth. "Look, I'm kind o

eisty as ever, I see. I

ker from the branch the squirrel had scaled. "Why are you even calling me? S

strate anything," Tess boastfully

r better judgment, "Where are you?" after hearing lo

ver the phone. He gave a vague, "I'm at the sto

?" "You're at football camp. All you need

about my equipment are we? Oh Kelly, I

noyance. Her scornful wor

And you're uptight but you don

mounting annoyance. She asked sharply, "Is there a rea

ng to mind the tone of her voice. Tess questioned at random, "Hey, do you k

rows. "No. Why?" she

n," he remarke

rehensibly. She demanded, "Well then, why would you ask m

Gotta go. It's my turn in line. Ta

God that all men are not like that," she whispered to herself. Tucker

, when she came inside. Kelly silently made her way to her room in order

t to check her bank account balance. Kelly lamented the hassle of being without her phone. She downloaded an app about three months ago that allowed her to load her debit card and bank account in

disbelief as she viewed her bank statement. "A condom worth thirty do