Chapter 3

The bell for the end of first period had just rung. I was sprawled out on my desk, wondering where to eat lunch. The cafeteria would be a madhouse, but the school store was highway robbery. Suddenly, my phone buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts.

James: [Are you free after school?]

I stared at the screen for a couple of seconds, stunned.

I replied: [Yeah, what's up?]

James: [Wanna eat together?]

It was crazy. We'd been swapping bodies for over a decade, and we knew each other's routines better than our own parents did. But we'd never actually sat down and eaten together in person.

Every time we switched back, it was like we were two parallel lines, each heading back to our own world. If we passed each other in the hallway, we'd just nod, never even exchange a word.

To everyone else, we were from totally different worlds: the heir to Carter Holdings and a scholarship kid from a regular family. Like, what would we ever have to do with each other?

I replied: [Sure, what time? Where?]

James: [Five o'clock. Third restaurant on the right after the school gate, called Retro Bistro.]

I asked: [Isn't that place pretty expensive?]

James: [My treat.]

I said: [That's really nice of you, but I feel kind of bad.]

James: [Come on, drop the act.]

I couldn't help but laugh, making the person in front of me turn around and give me a weird look.

I replied: [Alright, thanks.]

James: [Deal.]

The bell rang for the end of the day, and I was still packing up my bag when my phone buzzed again.

James: [You out yet?]

I: [What's the rush? The bell just rang!]

James: [...]

I: [Wait, are you already there waiting for me?]

James: [No.]

I: [Well, you totally are.]

James: [Whitney!]

I: [Okay, I'll run faster.]

I shoved my phone in my pocket, holding back a laugh, threw my backpack over my shoulder, and dashed toward the school gate.

I actually knew Retro Bistro pretty well. I'd been here a few times when I was in James' body. The place had this retro vibe, with weird paintings on the walls that I never understood. One plate of pasta here would cost as much as three days' worth of meals for me.

But this was my first time coming here as Whitney Brooks.

The moment I walked in and pushed open the glass door, I immediately spotted James sitting in the corner.

He'd changed into casual clothes, wearing a plain white T-shirt under a black jacket. His hair was messier than usual, with a few strands falling over his forehead. He was looking down at his phone, and under the warm yellow lights, his profile didn't look so icy anymore. In fact, he actually looked... kind of attractive.

Why was I thinking he looks good? I'd literally seen that face in the mirror my whole life.

"Hey." James looked up as I walked in, his brows barely twitching. "Why are you rushing? I'm not going anywhere."

"You're the one who kept nagging me." I rolled my eyes. Geez, he hurried me, then acted all innocent.

After we ordered and the waiter left, I was about to ask how he'd been when I caught a glimpse of three suspicious figures lurking outside the window.

Alex had his sunglasses on, practically glued to the glass. Ryan was behind him, pretending to scroll on his phone, but his eyes kept sneaking glances at us. Ethan was the most dramatic. He whipped out a newspaper and held it up to his face, except it was upside down.

I stared at them, speechless.

James followed my gaze, and his face turned stormy.