The Swap by Megan Shull Read Free Book Online Page A

the type of girl who skips class and doesn’t listen.
    â€œEllie. Ellie O’Brien?” Ms. Walker calls out. “Ellie, where are you supposed to be?”
    I don’t even turn around. I head straight to my locker and struggle to remember my stupid combination before I finally get it open. I jam the rest of my books into my backpack. I am a girl possessed. My face feels hot and my head is pounding and I’m so—
    Mad.
    So MAD!
    I shut the locker and look around, considering my next move. There is only one period left. I look up and down the hall and try to spot a place to hide. I could just, like, hide out, right? Wait for the bell to ring. Nobody will even know!
    This sounds like such a good idea in my head.
    I’m totally going to do this! I think. And there I am, with my backpack weighing down my shoulders, walking in my gym clothes toward the little gap of empty space between the band room and the hallway, when I hear a voice.
    â€œYoung lady?”
    I can tell without looking.
    Ms. Dean.
    And by Ms. Dean, I mean the principal of Thatcher.
    What made me think this would ever work out? I mean, really? This isn’t exactly my lucky day.
    I stand in the hallway, surrounded by a million orange lockers, and force a weak smile and act like I’m not skipping class, like I’m not having a nervous breakdown, like I’m not—
    Me.
    I have never said a word to Ms. Dean in my life. Before today I have never even been late to class, let alone skipped one. “You’re such a goody-goody, Ellie!” Sassy likes to say.
    I look at Ms. Dean and try to quickly think of the words that should come out of my mouth. But instead, I look down, fidget with the straps of my backpack, and swallow hard.
    â€œEllie O’Brien, right?”
    I look up and manage to nod. I have no idea how she even knows my name.
    â€œAnd where are you coming from, Ms. O’Brien?”
    â€œGym,” I answer. Right away, my voice is shaky.
    â€œAnd why aren’t you in gym, Ellie?”
    For just a split second I consider spilling everything, but something stops me. And that something is that I don’t want—on top of everything else awful about this day—to be a tattletale. I can’t imagine how happy that would make certain people.
    Sassy’s voice in my head is mocking me—“ You’re such a little suck-up, Ellie. ”
    So instead of answering, I just stare back at Ms. Dean with this dumb blank look.
    â€œEllie, something is obviously upsetting you, and if you don’t tell me what it is, then I’m not going to be able to help you.”
    â€œUm,” I say weakly. Have you ever talked to your principal, alone in the hallway? It’s awkward, all right, and I practically jump when Ms. Dean’s phone buzzes.
    â€œOne second.” She turns and holds the phone to her ear. I can’t really hear what she says into her phone. Something about a fight. Eighth graders. Something about her office . . .
    I stop trying to listen and start remembering how pathetic I must look standing here in my gym clothes. I try to stand up a little taller. I try to not seem like I have just been crying. I take my ponytail out, and slip the elastic on my wrist. I’m pretty sure my messy, crazy red hair hanging down around my shoulders doesn’t really improve things as I hoped it would.
    Get it together, Ellie! I tell myself.
    Ms. Dean turns back toward me.
    â€œEllie, I’m sorry, but I have to run and deal with—” She stops for a second and takes a long deep breath. “I’ll tell you what.” Ms. Dean begins again. “Why don’t you come with me to my office, and you can tell me what is going on.”
    That’s when I blurt it out.
    I don’t know what makes me say it! As soon as it’s out of my mouth, I wish I could catch up to the words and grab them and stuff them back down my throat.
    â€œI have my