Monday
[Cybil]
It’s sort of creepy having everyone in school noticing me again. I mean, I don’t mind having doors held open for me, and guys smiling, and girls giving me hopeful hellos. It’s the so being totally checked out by everyone again that is kind of unnerving. It’s like living under a microscope. Jillian/ Francey/Bethany/Samantha giving me the evil eye every time I get within fifty feet of them is no thrill either.
And then there’s Erin. When I “was” Darcy, I could see Erin talking behind “my” back, and then there was that thing on the stairs with Devon. And, oh, there she is now, all shoulder to shoulder and elbow to elbow with Devon.
I thought about it last night and decided I’ll have to forget her. And Devon. Meanwhile it’s good to be back with Vanna and Rachel, and it’s good to be me.
The thing is, what did the whole trading faces thing do to my chances of getting the part of Eliza? There’s only one way to find out. I have to check the list. Mr. Ash will have hung it outside his office by now.
Ack, at this point I can only pray Darcy didn’t blow it for me. I mean, I know she, like, tried her best. But.
[Darcy]
Things are mostly back to normal. The only people who notice I’m alive are Winston, Malcolm and Pammie. The thing is, I’m more aware of Winston and Malcolm, especially Winston, than I was before. How’d I miss the signals? Were there signals? It’s weird, but it is interesting to know that “I” kissed Winston. It’s weirder that I’m wondering what it’d be like if I really kissed him. He’s a goof, but a smart, loyal, funny goof.
First things first, though. I have to find out if I got a part in My Fair Lady. I don’t know what I’ll do if Cybil is Eliza, based on my audition.
Malcolm and Winston are trying to act as if it’s no big deal, but I can tell they’re having did I get a part fits too. Pammie, being the good friend (and now Malcolm’s girlfriend???), is rooting for all of us.
My heart is doing a drum solo in my chest. Will I even be in the play?
[Cybil]
Ack. There’s Joey, reading the list. Maybe I should just totally turn around and look at it later. Too late! He sees me!
“This is so exciting!” Vanna says.
“You’re Eliza,” Rachel says. “I just feel it.”
We’re there, just inches away from The List, and from Joey. I’m so not sure which is making me more nervous. “H hi, Joey. Did you … are you Henry Higgins?”
Joey shakes his head.
My heart drops to my stomach.
“I’m Colonel Pickering.” Joey gives me a small, shy smile.
Suddenly I am so hoping I have a part, not only to be in the play, but so I’ll be spending all that rehearsal time with Joey. “G guess I’d better check the list,” I say, trying to sound all casual and no big deal.
I take a deep breath and look. My heart sinks all the way to my ankles. “Jillian is Eliza.” I feel tears pricking at the back of my eyes, but I am not going to cry. I’m not.
“Bummer,” says Vanna.
“That’s so not fair,” Rachel says.
“You, uh, missed something.” Joey points to the list.
I follow his finger. Understudy for Eliza—Cybil Sheffield. Understudy? For Jillian? No!
But. Wait. Why should I suffer? Jillian will hate it that I’m her understudy! She’ll freak if she gets even a little cough or sore throat, terrified that I’ll take over for her. I can live with that. I try to hide my evil grin. In fact, I’ll be excruciatingly nice. That will so kill her.
“Hey,” I say with a big smile. “I’m understudy for Eliza.”
Rachel and Vanna squeal and scream and hug me. Then their radar or sonar or something picks up some signals, ‘cause they suddenly remember they have to go to their lockers and they run off, leaving me alone with Joey.
“I’m glad we’re both in the play,” I say. “Maybe we’ll even get to rehearse a couple scenes together some time.” Funny, if I hadn’t “been” Darcy I never would’ve even noticed Joey. So being, like, in her bod for a couple days was a good thing.
“Yeah,” Joey says, giving me that bashful smile of his. He rubs the back of his neck. “And if you need a ride to rehearsals, well, most nights I can get the truck or van.”
“Thanks, that’d be great,” I say. And, inside: yes!
[Darcy]
Joey and Cybil are standing right there in front of The List—and they’re looking happy. Yikes! Did they get the leading roles? I am just going to be sick if my audition got Cybil the part of Eliza. I mean, I’m glad I did such a good job, but I wish I’d done it as me! Of course, if I’d been me, I wouldn’t have auditioned for Eliza. I even might not have tried out for anything. So, I guess I’m sort of grateful to have been her for a while.
Stop jabbering to yourself! Just suck it up and go look at The List. Get it over with!
Big, brave talk. We get within a few feet of the The List and I say, “Winston, Malcolm, you go first.”
Either they are way eager to see if they got parts, or they realize how nervous I am. Whatever, they go ahead and check The List.
“Blimey!” Winston says. “I don’t know ‘ow I did it, but I’m Eliza’s dad!”
Suddenly everyone—Joey, Cybil, Pammie, Malcolm, me—congratulates Winston. There are handshakes and pats on the back and, can you believe it, a little hug from me. This is just too weird for words.
Malcolm’s next. There’s a flicker of disappointment when he says, “I’m not Freddie,” but his face brightens and he adds, “Hey, I’m one of the guys at the pub! I get to sing, ‘Get him to the church on time!’ to Winston.”
There’s another round of congratulations.
Joey announces that he’s Colonel Pickering and Cybil is understudy for Eliza. During that round of applause I manage to smile, thinking, Hey, understudy, not bad, even as I’m realizing without even looking that Jillian must have the part. Cybil looks pretty happy for being only understudy.
Then it’s my turn.
I already know I’m not Eliza or understudy for Eliza. If I’m lucky, I’ll be one of the maids. I take a deep breath and pray that my eyeballs find my name on The List.
“Woo! I’m Mrs. Pearce!” Next thing, I’m hugging everybody. Joey, then Cybil, then Pammie, then Malcolm. Winston picks me up and swings me in a full circle, gently places me back on my feet and this … this light passes between us.
Okay, I still wouldn’t mind having Cybil’s cute little nose, and I’ll probably always be in the background, but I don’t need everyone to notice me. In fact, it’s time I paid more attention to the people around me. If I do that, I think everything’s going to be okay. More than okay. It’ll be just fine.
[Cybil]
Joey’s eyes meet mine, and, like, my heart turns over. Okay, I’m not going to fade into the background, I’ll have enemies and I’ll be right out there for everyone to Notice and Criticize and Decide whether I’m wearing the right clothes or the right makeup or if I’m with the “right” guy. I’ll still worry about all that too, but not as much. So, everything will be okay. Well, more than okay. It’ll so be, like, just fine.
Rehearsals
[Darcy]
When I got the role of Mrs. Pearce, somehow I forgot that I’d have to be fluttering around Jillian. It might’ve been more fun, really, if Cybil had the part instead of being understudy. Oh, it’s not as if we’ve suddenly become the best of friends, but now that she and Joey are a couple she is sort of part of my life, and, of course, we have this weird kind of bond, having lived each other’s lives, even though it was for only two days—which is a good thing, because, for one thing, I’m not sure her grades are quite as good as mine.
“Mrs. Pearce!” Mr. Ash says, “Try to look more enthusiastic about Eliza’s transformation!”
I pretend Jillian is really Cybil, with maybe a touch of me in there too.
I guess that works, because Mr. Ash says, “Excellent, Mrs. Pearce!” He claps his hands. “Take five, everyone!”
[Winston]
I sidle up to Darcy and slip my hand around hers. “Nice job, ‘Mrs. Pearce.’“
It’s fully amazing the way she is so at ease on stage. Who’d uh thunk it? And the way she suddenly took interest in me as, ya know, a dude. I mean, I’m not complaining!
[Darcy]
“Thanks, ‘Mr. Doolittle.’“ I give Winston’s hand a squeeze. Who’d’ve thought I’d ever wind up with Winston? And be so completely glad I got the part of Mrs. Pearce instead of just one of the maids, and that I would love being on stage? I’m the one who’s making these experiences work, of course, but I have Cybil to thank for getting me to this point.
[Joey]
Good, Ash called, Take five!
Jillian clears her throat, and immediately Cybil is there with a cough drop. Jillian takes one, then scurries away to the lav, where I think she gargles, because her breath always smells like mouthwash after.
Cybil waits until Jillian is gone, then walks over to me. “Hi, Colonel,” she says with the most beautiful smile that is just for me.
To think I used to be too nervous to talk to her, and then for some reason she started to, well, flirt with me and I discover she’s so easy to talk to.
“Hi, Eliza.” I check to make sure Ash isn’t looking, then give Cybil a quick kiss.
[Cybil]
Jillian clears her throat. I go up to her, hold up a box of cough drops and say, “Would you like one?”
Jillian gets totally annoyed, because with everyone watching the only way she can take one is to speak to me, even though it is only to say, “Thank you.”
How majorly fun to bug her just by being polite.
The real fun about rehearsals, though, is spending time with Joey. To think I never, ever would have even noticed him if Darcy and I hadn’t traded faces. Funny, I know some people, Erin being one, act all snotty, as if Joey is not cool enough. I admit, I sort of thought that once too, but he so is nice and smart and kind and sincere that I don’t care if others think he’s a bit of a dork.
Now that Jillian has run off to the lav, the path to Joey is clear. I hurry over and give him a big smile. We say, “Hi,” and next thing, he’s sneaking in a kiss.
It so feels right. I really have Darcy to thank for getting me to this point. But with the sweetness of Joey’s kiss lingering on my lips, I’m totally glad I’m me and not Joey’s sister.
The End
All’s Fair in Love and Words
Hey, Nobody’s Perfect
How to Survive a Summer Romance (Or Two)
Life, Love, and Surviving High School
My Fake Summer Boyfriend
Snowed In Together
The Farewell Season
The Perfect Guy
The Real Me
Trading Faces
My Bad Boy Summer
The Next Great Rock Star!
Someone like Him
Ann Herrick grew up in Connecticut, where she graduated from The Morgan School and Quinnipiac University. She now lives in Oregon with her husband, who was her high school sweetheart. Their wonderful daughter is grown, married and gainfully employed, and has given Ann her only grand-dog, Puff, a bloodhound Rottweiler beagle mix. While she misses the East Coast, especially houses built before 1900, she enjoys the green valleys, fresh air and low humidity in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Ann loves cats, walking, the Oregon Ducks and working in her back yard. In addition to stories and books for children and young adults, Ann also writes copy for humorous and conventional greeting cards. She loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her web site http//annherrickauthor.com
