BRIDGETTE

When my eyes opened, I was confused. I didn’t know what time it was. The touch of the sun against my skin was different. When I looked at the clock across my bed, I jumped. Every sleepy cell in my body became alert. It was already 1 o’clock in the afternoon!

It took me more minutes to realize the situation I was in. Everything that happened to me before the accident flashed across my mind until I remembered my hours in the hospital. I wanted to think it was just a dream, but I could not deny Cara’s face when I looked at the mirror. I was still trapped in her body and it was real. It was not just another long dream. I was living it.

I sighed in defeat and went to the kitchen to fix myself a cup of coffee. When I opened the fridge to look for something to eat, I saw a note.

Went to meet Natalie. Call as soon as you can. I don’t think it’s very important. But call.

Obviously, Cara was here earlier. Confusion struck me. I thought I remembered when she told me about Natalie calling and I wasn’t sure if it was just a dream or not. Now, I think it really did happen.

What did Natalie want? I was not able to make solid recommendations for her yet. I took my phone out from the bag I used last night, realized it was nearly out of battery, took out my charger, plugged it in and dialed my number.

Cara did not answer immediately. I had to call three times before she finally managed to answer, “Hello.”

“What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing. I’m with my client right now. He is talking about changing the venue of the wedding.”

“What the hell are you talking about? He? Are you with Quinn?”

“Yes.”

“Where’s Natalie.”

“I don’t know.”

“She’s not there?”

“Yes.”

By the sound of Cara’s answer, it only meant that she was face to face with Quinn and that he was hearing everything she was saying. “Is everything really alright?”

“Yes.” There was a little hesitation in her voice, but she managed to repeat the word in a stronger tone. “Yes.”

“Okay. Ring me twice if you’re in trouble.”

“Okay.”

I hanged up the phone and continued stood in the middle of my kitchen, waiting for my coffee. Quinn wanted to change venue? What for? How was Cara handling the situation? She was still obviously not over him but I just hope that after their talk last night, he would be gentler. Cara was not the type who could withstand prolonged emotional pressure. I knew that from experience.

CARA

I wanted to take a step back and then another and then more until I was out of the damned coffee shop. But it was too late. Quinn was already eyeing me like a tiger. He was ready to pounce on his prey any moment and one wrong move could be fatal for me.

Instead of doing what my mind was screaming for me to do, I ordered it to walk forward where the danger zone was. I took my precious time walking slowly, my knees almost numb. They wouldn’t freaking bend! But I had to do this. I had to make Quinn see that I was not the old Bridgette he learned to hate. Maybe if he realized that, he might also think that the Cara he knew was not what he thought to be and that she had regretted everything she did ten years ago.

“Good afternoon,” I greeted mustering a genuine smile. Looking at him made me yearn once more. He looked like he aged really well. He was still the handsome man I had always been dreaming about in high school. The only difference was that he was now looking at me like I was his mortal enemy. “I thought I’ll be meeting Natalie?” I took the seat across from him. He didn’t move a muscle.

“She can’t make it. She asked me to come instead.”

I nodded. “What for? I thought our next meeting is next week. I haven’t had the chance to put together some plans.”

He did not answer immediately. He just sat there, looking at me and I had to lower my gaze. “She wanted to talk about the cake’s design. But since I’m the one here right now, I’d rather talk about the venue.”

“What about it?”

“I want it changed.”

I frowned. “I thought Natalie wanted the beach?”

I eyed me without expression. “I don’t. I want a garden wedding.”

“What’s wrong with the beach?”

“I knew someone who loved the idea of a beach wedding. It reminds me of her. I don’t want that.”

I paled. My eyes started to water and I knew I was about to cry. I remembered telling him years ago that I dreamed to be wed on the beach.

“What’s wrong?”

Before I could answer, my phone rang. It was Bridgette.

I decided to take the call and made every effort to talk casually. Quinn was silent as I talked with Bridgette. When I placed my phone back on the table, he raised his eyebrow.

“My secretary,” I lied.

He was still looking at me and I didn’t realize my fingers were playing with my ear. I always did that whenever I was anxious.

“Does Natalie know you want to change the venue?” I said, taking my hand back on the table.

He shrugged. “She wouldn’t complain.”

“I think it is best if you tell her first. To get her approval.”

Now, both of his eyebrows were raised. “Am I hearing you right? You are actually concerned what Natalie would think? As far as I can remember, you were never a person who would think what others might feel so long as you get to your goal.”

It felt like a thousand arrows were shot through me. “I thought we already talked about this? Are you still holding grudges?”

“It is not easy not to after everything you and your friend did to me.”

I nodded. It hurt me to know that he was marrying someone else and even more to know that he still hated me and Bridgette. Without a word, I stood up, my eyes welling up again. I couldn’t take it anymore. If Bridgette’s career had to suffer because of losing a client, I didn’t care. I would handle ten more as long as it wasn’t Quinn Carter.

“Where are you going?”

My last straw of control flew out of the window. I sharply turned my head down at Quinn. His face was blank and I wanted to punch him. Punch him until he showed me what he really felt inside. If he was angry, then he better show it on his face. “You don’t know how the things we did ten years ago affected us. You don’t know the whole story. You think I wanted it? You think I never regretted it? Well, let me tell you now.” As I turned to face him with anger, his brows were knitted together. “I met Bridgette weeks ago. It was not a great meeting.

“What? What do you mean you met Bridgette?” He asked, still in that neutral voice free of emotion.

“Yes, I met Bridgette and something happened to us. We swapped bodies so yes, You are facing me, Cara.”

BRIDGETTE

I decided to use my free time to work on Natalie and Quinn’s wedding but I just couldn’t focus. I needed to do something.

Of course I went shopping. It was time for Cara to have a whole new wardrobe.

The mall was packed and I had to fight my way through to the counter. As I was lining up, I saw some stockings displayed on the rack. I left my cart behind the large lady and walked to the stockings. They were compression ones, one used to help the veins function well during prolonged standing or sitting. Since I was doing Cara’s job, I decided I should get some. But there were different sizes and I didn’t know what would fit Cara. I placed the stockings back. Maybe I should ask Cara first. She was the nurse after all.

When I turned to go back to my cart, I saw the lady before me at the counter and behind her was a man. I walked behind him and poked him on the back.

“You stole my spot,” I said as he turned around.

I caught my breath when I realized it was no other than Dr. Newman himself. His brows, as usual, were already frowning and when he saw me, they deepened.

“You stole my spot,” I repeated, regaining my composure.

“You left it open. It’s mine now,” he answered and turned around.

“Hey,” I said, walking around to face him, my hands on my hips. “I was here first. I just took a moment to see some stockings. So, if you please, move back.”

His eyebrows rose higher. “Are you giving me an order?”

I pretended to think for a moment. “As far as I remember, you order people around the hospital. It doesn’t mean you can still do that outside the hospital. Out here, you are nothing but a spot thief.”

He looked at me like I was crazy. “A what?”

“Spot thief. You stole my spot. So move back.”

“That is not going to happen.”

“Next!” The woman behind the counter shouted.

“Wait a minute!” we both shouted back, then faced each other again. Two people who wouldn’t back down. Two people fighting for their lives.

“Move back, Dr. Newman.” I said sternly.

He looked at my cart and then raised his hands, showing me three pairs of socks. “You have that cart full while I have this. These,” he shook his socks right in front of my eyes, “will take a lot shorter time to punch.”

“I don’t care. You stole my spot. Give it back,” I answered, pulling my cart to fight my way to the counter.

“I didn’t know you can be so narrow-minded,” he commented as I started to mount my clothes on the counter and the lady started to punch them in.

“You don’t know a lot of things about me, Dr. Newman.”

He just shook his head and waited impatiently as the lady continued with her work. “Take your precious time, girl,” I told her with a smile. “We’re not in a hurry,” I said that as I threw the handsome doctor a glance.

The lady surely did take her time because it almost took her a full five minutes to finish. I grabbed the paper bags with a heroic smile. “It was nice to see you, Dr. Newman. Enjoy your socks.”

He gave me a sarcastic smile as he threw his socks on the counter. I walked away without another glance. I scored three points with the guy since we met and I was ready for more.

CARA

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m Cara trapped in Bridgette’s body. We had an accident and we just woke up this way.” I didn’t care if he thought I was crazy. I didn’t care if everyone knew who I really was because I was sick of it. I wanted to go back to my body. I wanted to be able to hug my dad. I didn’t need more of this.

For the first time, I heard Quinn laugh. “You’re joking. Still that girl who always played around with people, right Bridgette?”

“We had our first kiss outside my home,” I blurted out.

That made him stop. “Cara could have told you that.”

“No, I didn’t tell Bridgette. I kept it a secret because I didn’t think you would want people to know.”

“You hoaxed a plan with Bridgette. Don’t ask me to believe you didn’t tell her everything because it would be very hard.”

“Okay, fine. Then let’s try this one. You never rode a bike in your life.”

“Cara could have told you.” He still didn’t believe me and by his amused look, I knew he was thinking I was going mad. That made me to even try harder.

“You hated football but you did it just so your father would be proud.”

He shook his head.

“You first talked to me in the library. Your favorite color is green. You hated yellow. You used to love drawing on your textbooks. You always gave me your apple during recess because you didn’t like it. You cried at your first day in kindergarten.”

“Don’t expect me to believe this, Bridgette. If you are planning something, just stop it.”

More tears ran down my cheeks. “You were the first boy I ever loved and I’m sorry I hurt you. I shouldn’t have said yes to Bridgette.”

That kept his mouth shut. He looked at me with confusion. I started sobbing uncontrollably. Whenever I started crying, I couldn’t hold it.

“Hey,” he said in a tone that almost sounded soft.

“I have to go,” I managed to say between sobs and then I left.

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