The past four hours had been a long one as everyone eagerly waited until midnight. They tried passing the time by playing more games but none were sure what Zachary might do. No one could agree on a movie to watch either, they couldn’t even agree on a streaming service. Molly had been moved to the couch for now as everyone else found their own thing to do.



Caleb had chosen to go home as he lived nearby. He promised to be back before midnight if not the next morning. Zachary had disappeared, which annoyed Rodney as he didn’t trust whatever it was that was now in their body. Opal was in her room trying to relax by reading a book. Tara had taken this opportunity to show Rodney how to properly care for her body, including doing her hair and such. She also took this time to sort out a wardrobe for the week, grabbing the least revealing things in her closet and putting together a few outfits.



“You have too much hair,” Rodney complained as he brushed it off his shoulders. He appreciated Tara’s looks but didn’t like the effort that he was being asked to put into it. “Why are you getting me to do this anyway, we’re going to swap again shortly,” Rodney asked as he managed to tie his hair into a bun.



“You might get me again later, and you could use this knowledge if you get Opal or Molly,” Tara said as she looked up at him. “Thank you for going along with it and not being such a perv,” she gave a half smile.



“I’ve got nothing better to do,” Rodney shrugged as he turned back towards the mirror. He tilted his head and wondered if he could do his task knowing how upset it’d make Tara. “It’s nearly midnight,” he stated as to not give his own thoughts away.



Tara nodded and followed Rodney out of her bedroom and down the hallway. Opal was already waiting and had taken off Zachary’s coat. They heard a knock on the door and opened it to Zachary. Then they waited for Caleb, who never arrived.



“I guess I’ll take my turn then,” Tara suggested, not happy about Caleb’s absence. Playing a swap game with an absent player could lead to swapping at a terrible moment but she was willing to risk it tonight. She drew the top card and revealed it to be Molly. Opal’s body slumped over as Tara woke up on the couch, feeling a bit stiff and sore.



Everyone was getting tired now as they waited for Caleb to show up, but he never did. Eventually Opal’s phone buzzed as she got a text from him saying that something came up and he’s quite busy tomorrow and won’t be around until 11pm the following day.



“I knew we shouldn’t have let him leave,” Tara was speechless. “I guess it means we can get Sunday’s swap done at the same time…” she conceded. She was now glad she had taught Rodney a thing or two, though she was now in a body she had little information for. All she knew is she was vegetarian and where she lived.



“I guess we should go home now,” Zachary smiled as they wrapped their arm around Tara, using Rodney’s size to move her towards the door. As much as she didn’t want to leave, she was feeling tired and they didn’t have a place for guests to stay.



“No funny business,” she warned Rodney as she begrudgingly left with.



“I’ll stay and keep an eye on things,” Opal promised, looking over at her body. That made her feel a little better but she couldn’t keep an eye on him the whole time.



Tara reluctantly followed Zachary to Rodney’s car and as they went for the driver’s seat Tara paused. “You do know how to drive right?” she asked.



“Of course, I’m only playing to balance out the body pool,” Zachary answered as they opened the door. “I don’t have any special tasks to complete and have the ability to live out each of your lives as if you were still living them yourself.” They sat down and started the car. Tara opened the passenger door and sat inside.



“Am I allowed to bring up the special task with you?” Tara asked as she looked down at Molly’s pink outfit.



“Now that no one else can hear,” Zachary grinned as they sped off down the road, causing Molly to hold on.



“Slow down!” Tara shot back.



“I’m only driving how Rodney would,” Zachary grinned as they didn’t listen to Tara’s demand. With how reckless they were driving Tara couldn’t get out another word until they finally got to Rodney’s place.



Once there, Zachary went inside like they owned the place and waited for Tara to follow. “Molly doesn’t live here,” Zachary reconfirmed the little information Tara got about Molly. “She does have enough of her stuff here for you to live comfortably for a couple of days.” Zachary took off Rodney’s top right in front of her and threw it onto the floor. “Anyway I’m off to bed, I’ve stayed up way later than I usually do.” Zachary left Tara standing in the living room alone to work out what to do next.

Tara was pretty tired herself and felt stiff and sore from Molly’s body being left on the couch. She didn’t want to sleep in her dress so she approached the bedroom where Zachary was, they were out cold and very much naked. She tried to avert her eyes as she looked around for Molly’s belongings and found a satin nightgown. She grabbed it and entered the bathroom to get dressed. She couldn’t help but admire the shape of Molly’s body but it wasn’t as fit as hers. She removed her makeup, put on the nightgown and then realised the only bed to sleep in was the one Zachary had claimed. So she begrudgingly slept on the couch instead.

* * * * *



Around 2am that same night, Caleb approached the front door of Opal and Tara’s house. He held the stolen keys in his hand and unlocked the door. Quietly he shut the door again and approached the deck as he was instructed to do.



“Deck oh powerful and mighty deck. I humbly request that I become Tara.” Caleb said as he drew the top of the deck. Caleb smiled as the deck revealed the card he had asked for, giving him control over the next turn as well.

Rodney blinked as he was suddenly awake standing in the dark room looking down at the deck, in the discard pile he saw Tara’s card before looking down at his new body. “That little shit…” Rodney stood there in Caleb’s body. “Though now he can take the blame…” he realised. “Opal?!” He approached the couch and shook her awake.



“Caleb?” She opened her eyes not even feeling tired. “What are you doing here?”



“He snuck in,” Rodney explained. “He played his turn in the middle of the night and is now Tara.”



“Why would he do that?” Opal asked, recalling a conversation she partially overheard between Zachary and himself earlier, something about making a deal.



“I don’t know but you better go check in on Tara’s body, make sure he hasn’t done anything,” Rodney suggested giving himself another witness.



Opal nodded and approached Tara’s room. She knocked on the door and slowly opened it. “Caleb?” she whispered before turning on the light and saw Tara’s body sleeping. “Caleb what did you do?!”