McKayla headed back to her desk after watching Jenna pull away to explore her new life. She couldn’t help but be a bit excited to continue to fill in pieces of hers. The texts and Instagram had revealed some good friends but no boyfriend. She knew which car was hers, it had been the one Jenna had driven in this morning. Her apartment had also switched from Jenna to her during the course of their changes. She lingered while she still heard voices in the hall, making sure all the kids got out before she made her way to the lounge to get her coat. “See you tomorrow Kayla” another of the teachers, Robin Hartley said as she was heading out too.
Mrs. Hartley was the 6th grade Social Studies teacher and McKayla had liked her when she was one of her students.
“See ya” she responded easily.
“You going out this weekend?” Robin asked.
“Um…I don’t know yet but…”
“Oh come on, I’ll buy you your first Tequila ya cheap ass” Robin joked with her.
“Well now” McKayla thought “That escalated quickly” She smiled though and said “Fine, you talked me into it”
“Knew I would” Robin said heading out with a smile on her small face.
McKayla just shook her head “Partying with Hartley…ok…still getting used to this world and reality”
She let her mind go into automatic mode to drive to her apartment despite never actually sitting behind the wheel of a car before in her life. She knew everything she needed, had the touch developed after nearly 10 years of driving and knew right where to park even “Thanks Jenna” she said to herself.
Once inside and behind the door, she looked around and smiled. It was decorated like she thought it would be “My place…”
She reached down and unzipped her boots, feeling the slight release of heat from wearing them all day long. She slipped her feet out and smiled as she wiggled her toes. It was her first look at them and she was happy to see they had been treated to a recent pedicure as evidenced by the very nicely done maroon polish on them “Wider…slightly bigger…maybe a size bigger in some fits of shoes” she knew.
It felt good to be walking in her bare feet; she had gotten used to the heels but now appreciated being out of them.
She bypassed the living room and kitchen and headed for her bedroom “Oh My Gosh” she said upon stepping inside.
Her closet doors were open and it quickly became apparent that she spent most of her money on clothes. Dozens of pairs of shoes in every style lined the floor. A wide variety of colors and styles of tops and dresses and skirts and pants while her dresser was stuffed with even more items.
The bathroom counter was overflowing with scents and lotions “Single with no student loans…” popped into her head.
Standing before the full length mirror in her room, she cocked her head at her reflection and smirked. She lifted the sweater up on off and unzipped her skirt letting it drop to the ground. “Uh…” was all she could say as she took in her changed and mature body.
McKayla ran her fingers underneath the hem of her panties as they clung tightly to her round ass before finally dipping them down as well. She reached up and unhooked her bra and allowed her breasts to fall free. “I really did get a good deal of this…” she decided taking in the sight of her naked form “Wow”
She decided to shower and she enjoyed the time just letting the warm water run over her, letting her head fill and clear at the same time.
“Everything feels so real” she thought “Maybe it was a dream; maybe I’ve always lived this life and I just had a really lucid dream about when I was 12 again”
She caught herself smiling and laughing in the shower “No…it wasn’t a dream; this is real though as hard as that is to believe that I started out today as an arrogant little 12 year old brat and I’m ending it as a 25 year old teacher. Roles reversed today between me and Jenna; I just hope she’s adjusting okay”
Jenna was just sitting down to dinner with her Mom and Dad and siblings. “So how was school today?” her Dad asked innocently enough.
“Um…it was fine” Jenna lied. “Just another day”
Liz started talking about her choir practice and how she had landed a solo in their upcoming show which took the pressure off of Jenna. She dug into her spaghetti and salad and didn’t look up much as Chris told them about his day at work. Chris was finishing up his apprenticeship as a mechanic and was telling his parents about a job he got to do that morning.
Jenna knew to help her Mom clean up the dishes once everything was done. While part of her was horrified to have to be 12 again, another part of her was strangely comforted by it. She was back home; her parents took care of her again and were looking out for her. As she made small talk with her Mom, it felt natural and comfortable and she simply felt loved and protected again.
Jenna made her way up to her room; in the next room over, Liz was singing along to Yesterday. Jenna smiled; the Beatles had always been a part of the house growing up but she hadn’t listened to them much after she moved out. They were her parents’ favorite and she had been exposed to them all her life.
“Maureen and I bonded over our love of 60’s music” popped into her head. “Knew I wouldn’t be at the top of the picking order” she thought as she knew who her friends in school were and more importantly, who her enemies were.
Paul McCartney’s voice drifted through the walls along with Liz’s steady alto voice. Jenna smirked when she saw an old school record player on the top of her dresser with Beatles albums next to it. “Let’s see how she likes this…”
Jenna put on a 45 of Strawberry Fields Forever and began to sing along as she turned it up, her voice blending with that of John Lennon made her sister stop singing in the next room.
As the second verse began, Liz joined in with her sisters’ higher soprano voice as they sang in harmony.
Jenna had sang some when she was growing up but never seriously, just playing around the house or singing to baby Liz when she would watch her but this time it was different; singing with her sister had awakened a feeling of excitement in her “That sounded really good” she thought.
She waited, expecting Liz to come in and tell her off for interrupting her but instead, she heard Penny Lane kick in from Liz’s room and the two sisters began to sing along.
Jenna was curious so she pulled out her Sgt. Pepper album and as soon as Penny Lane ended, she put on A Day in the Life. Liz let Jenna sing the John part and then Jenna sat back to listen to her do Paul’s lyrics.
By the end of the song, Jenna looked up and saw Liz smiling in her doorway “I love it when you sing with me sis” Liz said with a smile.
Liz was fairly tall at 5’7”. She had been just a tad shorter than Jenna at her full height but now towered over her little sister. She kept her dark hair cut relatively short with bangs that swept sideways with a quick slash of purple in them. She adjusted her black plastic framed glasses and smiled a wide smile. All the girls in the Farris family had big mouths, it was a trademark but eventually they grew into them and Liz was just now coming into her own in looks. She was already bigger in the chest than Jenna had ever been or even hoped to be again.
“Thanks” Jenna said smiling back up at Liz “Congrats on getting a solo”
“Thanks” Liz shot back “Maybe when I’m a senior and you’re a freshman, we can duet on stage for real”
Jenna blushed with pride realizing how much it meant to be complimented by her big sister.
“Put on Abbey Road; I want to practice Golden Slumber” Liz said heading back out to her room with a comforting smile over her shoulder to her kid sister.
Chris came ambling by Jenna’s open door “Can’t you play a George Harrison song once in a while?” he said with a grin as he kept going on towards his room “He’s the best one!” he shouted only to get a natural shout back from both of his sisters on their opinions on the subject.
McKayla fixed herself dinner, chatted with some friends online and quickly found herself getting very tired “I guess it was a big day” she admitted sarcastically “Just try growing 3 inches taller, 13 years older and two whole boob sizes in a day” she laughed.
“Queen sized bed all to myself!” she announced happily as she climbed in and was fast asleep.
The 6 o’clock alarm was very rude to McKayla’s ears “Christ” she mumbled as she slapped at it, her mind foggy and disoriented “Where the hell am I…oh yeah…” she chuckled to herself and grabbed her large breasts “Proud member of adulthood reporting for duty”
She got ready and dressed in a pair of black pants, a black and white polka dot blouse and black ankle boots. “First full day as a teacher” she thought as she headed out with her purse and her work bag slung over her shoulder.
Once she got there, the school just looked different to her. It was no longer just a big building that smelled bad, it was her workplace. She also felt something new to her; pressure. She knew she hadn’t been on the job long enough for any real protection from the union; she still had to perform and produce and workplace stress made its first appearance in her life.
McKayla now had a master key on her ring to get into the building and into her room and she used both before settling in to her room before most of the rest of the staff arrived.
“You’re here early” Mike Taylor said as he stopped by on his way to his room “You sick or something? You never beat me in”
“Ha Ha…very funny” McKayla replied “I just wanted to get a few things done this morning”
“Sure whatever” Mike said. “So are you going out with Robin on Friday?”
“Um, yeah” McKayla answered. Her heart jumped up a bit “What don’t I know about this yet?” popped into her mind.
“Maybe I’ll see you two out” Mike responded.
“Yeah, I don’t know where we’re going…Robin makes that call” McKayla answered trying to sound innocent instead of dumb.
Mike turned his head as someone came walking down the hallway “Well good morning Miss Farris; are you feeling better today than when you missed my awesome class yesterday?”
McKayla’s heart jumped again hearing the particular name Mike had used “Did she turn back?” she thought in a panic. But then, standing in her doorway was 6th grade student Jenna.
Jenna smiled at Mr. Taylor “Sorry about that” she said to him.
“Don’t worry about it, just teasing you” he replied. “Hey I’ll talk to you later” he said as he headed off to his own room.
Jenna stepped in “You know he likes you don’t you?”
“What” she replied? “How do you know…”
“It’s obvious that he has a crush on you. I’ve known him for 2 years and he never stopped to chat with me once, let alone smile at me” Jenna informed her as she closed the door behind her.
“Whatever, that’s not important right now” McKayla said as she stood up from her desk. The 3” heels again accentuating her height difference over the short and skinny Jenna who was wearing jeans, sneakers and an aqua green sweatshirt. “How did you do last night? Was everything okay being back with your parents? How did you manage with your brother and sister?”
Jenna smiled and shoved her hands into the front pocket of her shirt and looked down at the ground “It was good; as good as it could be I guess” she shrugged her shoulders.
Jenna didn’t want to admit feeling intimidated by McKayla now but she was. McKayla was an adult and she was just a kid; teacher to student, someone important who could control a part of her life versus someone who couldn’t do anything in return.
The facts of being a kid were returning to Jenna the longer she remained in her current state. No one would believe her over an adult if she said something and she knew that.
“You find your apartment okay?” Jenna asked back.
McKayla smiled and pushed her thick blonde hair back out of her face “Yeah I did and my car too” She smiled and tried to stay as upbeat as possible.
Jenna looked up and they locked eyes now “What is it?” McKayla asked. She could see that Jenna was about to cry.
“I don’t know if I like this Miss Monroe” she said.
“Well it hasn’t even been 24 hours yet; this is a lot to get used to. Really…a lot” McKayla told her.
“It’s not that; it’s not what I meant to say” Jenna said. “I mean…um…I mean that part of me is actually preferring being young again is what I meant to say”
“Oh! Okay…” McKayla answered.
“I don’t want you to think I’m weird or anything, you know like why would she be happy to give up years of intelligence and being an adult because part of me still wants to be an adult but not like, you know” Jenna said truly sounding like the 12 year old she had become.
McKayla smiled reassuringly “I do understand and I don’t think you’re weird either”
Jenna smiled as McKayla put her hand on her shoulder. “Do you think you’re ready to teach all of your classes?”
“Do you think you’re ready to take all your classes?” McKayla shot back.
“Yeah” Jenna nodded, her long brown ponytail bouncing up and down “I mean, it’s not like I was left with any extra knowledge so I don’t have any advantage over anybody else”
“Then I guess I’m ready to teach today too”
More footsteps and noise were filling the hallways “I’m going to go to my locker okay Miss Monroe” Jenna said.
“Sure, I’ll see you in 5th period if nothing else” McKayla said. “Good luck”
“You too” Jenna said as she headed out.
McKayla saw Jenna smile and heard Maureen Johnson’s voice mingle and combine with Jenna’s as they headed off together.
“I might need it” McKayla admitted as students began to come into her room. All the faces were familiar to her but her feelings for all of them had changed.
A boy who had picked on her through elementary school she know knew was from a home that had gone through a very messy divorce and she had made sure he was okay just about every day “How was last night Stephen?” she asked him.
He expected her question and answered “It was an okay night”
She caught of few of the other boys lingering eyes on her chest but brushed it off “I would and did do everything possible yesterday to have them stare, now it’s just kind of sad but sadly normal” she thought.
“Well, well, well” she thought “Here comes the three headed monster now”
Lauren led the way as she and her two acolytes came strutting in “Oh my…was that what I looked like yesterday? Was I really that full of myself and that annoying?”
Lauren looked Miss Monroe up and down from head to toe and gave her a savage eye roll, head bob and “Tsk” combo as she headed to her seat with Grace and Kendall giggling behind her.
“Ugly shirt” she added audibly enough for McKayla to hear.
McKayla actually felt her cheeks begin to burn at the putdown before she composed herself “What do I care? I’m a freaking adult now, not some little 12 year old”
She smirked at the new order of things that had been created in her void. Grace and Kendall were a couple of kids who had tried to latch on to her early in the year but she had blown them off; they hadn’t been cool enough for her. Kendall was a ginger and Grace was a klutz so the fact that they were now at the top of the food chain was interesting to McKayla.
Kendall sat down first and began to dig into her backpack. She was a short girl and her feet dangled just above the floor, kicking back and forth aimlessly. Her pale complexion, red hair and heavy freckles had been a source of teasing for McKayla but since her move up, her hair looked a bit darker and tamer. “Must have talked her Mom into treatments for it”
Grace actually reminded McKayla a lot of what Jenna had turned into. Grace was a skinny girl who tended to not sit very lady like. Her knees were apart despite the fact she had on a skirt today and she had a wide mouth along with braces and blonde hair that she usually pulled back into a ponytail.
Her hair was down this day and the thing she had going for her over Jenna was that she was a starter on the basketball team, which was a good fit for her since she had a mean streak in her a mile long. There was always a cutting comment from Grace’s mouth for everything and everybody.
“She must have intimidated her way to the top” McKayla thought. “That and rode her Mom and Dad’s money there as well…”
As she was taking inventory of the new mean girls, a student named Connor came up to her with a note. “I need to leave early today for a dentist appointment” he said.
“Oh thanks…no problem Connor; I’ll make sure this gets to the office for you” McKayla responded. She went around her desk and sat, putting together her envelope to go to the main office as kids dropped off various things first thing in the morning. Her routine was coming to her naturally as Maureen Johnson came in.
McKayla looked up but tried to not be obvious about watching her. Maureen was known as the Mouse because she was quiet, had stringy brown hair and an overbite. McKayla had been the one who had anointed her with the name and now she felt awful about it but at the time, everyone had laughed at her great wit.
As she headed to her desk, McKayla caught the quick motion of Kendall’s arm coming up and swiping Maureen’s books and folders out of her hand. “Whoops” Kendall said “You need to be more careful”
“See me after class Kendall!” McKayla found herself saying with daggers shooting out of her eyes.
As Lauren and Grace giggled, she added “You two can join her! We need to have a little discussion about manners around here”
She got looks of anger from Lauren and Grace but Kendall looked a bit scared at being caught. McKayla had to hold her temper and her tongue but took a few deep breaths as Maureen picked her books up and swiped her hair back as she made her way to her desk in the last row.
Homeroom only lasted the first 10 minutes of school; just enough time to pass out basic sheets and listen to the daily announcements. The group of three talked amongst themselves during the announcements and after the bell rang for first period they made their way up to McKayla’s desk one by one.
“Kendall” McKayla began. “I saw you knock Maureen’s books out of her hands. That was mean and that was wrong and if I ever see you do something like that again, it’s a week of detention, do you understand?”
Kendall swallowed and nodded “Yes” she said.
“As for you two, you can lose the attitudes. I don’t need and I won’t tolerate your type of bullying in my class”
“What did we do?” Lauren asked genuinely surprised “I didn’t do a thing”
“You know exactly what I mean. The laughing at someone else’s misfortune this morning was just the most recent and the most obvious example of your attitudes. Don’t think I don’t hear you rude comments and snide remarks about everybody. You are no better or worse than any of your classmates, do you two understand?”
“Yes Miss Monroe” Grace said flatly.
“Yes Miss Monroe” Lauren replied in a much more sickeningly sweet tone which was in and of itself mocking.
McKayla sighed “Get going to your classes so you won’t be late”
The three stomped off and the second they were out the door, McKayla could hear them mocking her once more “Your snide remarks” Lauren said deepening her voice before laughing “What a joke” she heard her add.
“I bet Monroe was a loser just like the Mouse back when she was in school” Grace added before they moved out of hearing range.
Kendall saw her next target dead ahead, dipping her shoulder, she ran it directly into Jenna Farris’s upper arm.
Jenna never saw her tormentors coming. She had just stepped around a group of boys who were talking in the middle of the hall when she stepped directly into their path. Before she knew it, she felt a hit in her right upper arm as a hand flipped out and smacked her books free from her hand. “Ugly bitch” Kendall sneered without breaking stride.
“Uh!” Jenna said surprised that her books were now spilled over the floor. The boys all turned and looked and most began to laugh.
“Farris the Fossil can’t control herself” Lauren laughed.
“Yeah Big Mouth Bass dropped her books” Grace shot out as she gave Jenna a quick shove.
Jenna registered two of her nicknames; Farris the Fossil for her love of Beatles music and Big Mouth Bass for her oversized mouth. She also got Bueller for being part of her name, Hater for her dislike of modern music and most of the popular singers, as well as the various iterations of being skinny and flat chested.
One of the boys, Dominic, broke away from the group and came over. He bent down and helped Jenna pick up her books. He didn’t say anything but he smiled at her as he handed them to her.
“Thanks” she mumbled; the heat of embarrassment in her cheeks making her lips swell and hit her braces even worse than usual.
Dominic had only moved into town last year; he was a good football player but he didn’t seem to make many friends. He was more of a loner but Jenna noticed him now.
She stood up and hurried off to Science class “Stupid!” she thought to herself. “If I was still a teacher, I’d make them all pay so much I’d send them to detention! I’d send them to the principal’s office with…”
Jenna stopped where she was, frozen for a moment “I’m not a teacher anymore. I didn’t do anything to any of them when I was a teacher. Was I actually afraid of them even as an adult? Did McKayla and Lauren intimidate me even then into doing nothing that would stop them from being the little bullying bitches that they are?” Tears welled up in her eyes but she quickly brushed them aside. “Stupid! I can’t even separate my feelings now from my feelings yesterday when I was on the other side and actually could have done something. Now; I’m just another loser”
Jenna moved again and went to her class, shaking her head and still cursing herself in her mind. “Too late now Jenna. You’re going to have to put up with them and more just like them for another 7 years until you graduate high school”
She recognized that she was at least in class with one of her friends; Kyleigh Morris came in and sat down next to her “Hey” was all she said.
“Hey” was all Jenna replied.
Kyleigh was Jenna’s other best friend but her group of three never stood a chance compared to the big three. Kyleigh was another naturally quiet girl; smart as could be with long brown curly hair and wire rimmed glasses that she had need since she was 2. She always dressed in dresses due to coming from a strict religious family but she was fun to be around and liked to rebel a bit when she was away from her parents.
Jenna got out her supplies and got ready for class. She surprised herself when her heart jumped into high gear when Dominic came in and sat two rows and one seat up from her.
“What is going on?” she thought. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. Her heart was racing, she felt warmth on the back of her neck and across her forehead “Do I? No! I CAN’T…Can I?”
“Earth to Jenna?” Kyleigh said waving her hand in Jenna’s face.
“What?” Jenna said “What? I’m fine”
“Whatever…” Kyleigh said shaking her head and smiling.
Jenna sighed in shock and surprise at herself. “I can’t have a crush on Dominic Ross, he’s just a kid” She drummed her fingers up and down on her desk while running her other hand through her pulled back hair.
She looked at her small and skinny fingers with their chipped off nail polish “I’m just a kid too…” she thought “…Now”
She stole another glance at his profile. “I can’t believe I’m crushing on some 12 year old boy now” but as she ran her tongue over the braces in her mouth, saw her teacher come into the room and stand in front of it, slamming home the fact that she was definitely sitting in the student section from now on.
Jenna had a few boyfriends in college but nothing overly serious. She tried to think back to them and the experiences she had shared with them in the now past tense adult part of her life. Nothing came to her.
Dominic had never stood out to her when she was his teacher. He was quiet, sat towards the back and got decent but never spectacular grades. Never one to get in trouble, he was more or less just another face in the crowd for her few remaining adult memories as a teacher but now…Jenna noticed him.
Class started and she tried to pay as much attention as she could; it was really her first class now back as a student but she found her concentration level wasn’t what it used to be. Her mind jumped all around, she felt antsy at times for no reason, no reason other than being a preteen girl.
Second period found Jenna heading straight across the hall to Social Studies with Mrs. Hartley. She used to hang out with Robin on weekends, drinking and partying with her and her husband and some other friends but now, she was just another teacher who held her fate in her hands.
“Didn’t I…?” popped into Jenna’s mind when she saw that Mrs. Hartley had on a pair of strappy brown heels. “Those were mine and she borrowed them from me!” she realized. “Guess they’re hers now”
Mrs. Hartley was the fun teacher; she danced and made jokes and was bitterly sarcastic at times; Jenna loved having her for a teacher but kept looking at her feet the whole time.
Jenna slowly made her way through her day, navigating what was now her world. She sat with her friends at lunch and saw the popular girls laughing it up a table away.
Jenna’s first class after lunch brought her back to her old classroom and a meeting with Miss Monroe.
Their eyes locked when she entered and both looked slightly worse for the wear. McKayla thought Jenna looked tired and Jenna thought McKayla looked stressed out.
Neither gave any indication to anyone else that today was so significantly different for them in their new roles and lives. McKayla picked up right where Jenna had left off the day before but with her own style of course.
To Jenna, the material was new. She didn’t remember the ending of the book and had to read it along with everybody else in class.
McKayla kept looking at Jenna sitting in her seat. They made eye contact several times and each time, one or the other or both would smile or nod. As Jenna walked past McKayla leaving class, McKayla whispered “See me after school okay”
Jenna smiled but never broke stride as she headed to Mr. Taylor’s math class.
A full 24 hours had passed; they had both spent a full day at their new ages when they met up briefly after school. “So; how was your first day teaching?” Jenna asked as she came into her old room and saw McKayla with her head down reading something at her desk.
McKayla popped up with a bright smile “Hey Jenna! It was…” she hesitated but continued smiling “…interesting and challenging. How was your first day as a student again?”
Jenna’s smile faded some as well “It was, how did you put it, interesting and challenging”
McKayla stood up and as she did, Jenna slouched down some naturally making herself smaller in McKayla’s presence. “I know I’ve done this all before but the work isn’t there anymore Miss Monroe, so it’s like I’m a student again for the first time”
“That’s probably for the best in the long run” McKayla admitted. “It was weird being in charge of all my former friends and classmates”
“Weird? You want to talk about weird; think of it from my side. I’m now the same age and size as my former students. My friends are now my teachers…”
“I know, I don’t know how you did it today; it took strength and courage for you to make it through all of this today. It took a strength that I don’t think you even realize you have or give yourself enough credit for” McKayla told her.
Jenna looked up and stood up a bit straighter.
“You’re the bravest person I know Jenna. You took changing back into a kid again in stride and faced it head on. If you think about it, it’s easy for me; I got the lucky hand in this switch. I grew up and got college knowledge handed to me while you lost it and for that I apologize. I get to teach and the kids have to listen to me and while I have some different challenges; negotiating the adult world of jobs and relationships; you’re back in the mind field of middle school”
Jenna’s back straightened even more. Part of her became mad again at being tossed back 13 years in age but part of her was becoming emboldened. “I can do this” she realized. She smiled up at her teacher “Thanks Miss Monroe” she nodded “I can do this”
“Yes you can; we both can. Don’t be afraid. So much of being an adult is having confidence in your abilities and your choices. Stand up for yourself and be the person you want to be” McKayla said.
“My brother is waiting for me, I have to go but thanks…it means a lot to me that you think I can do this” Jenna said.
“I know you can do this” McKayla corrected her.
Jenna was beaming when she left the room. She saw just her brother Chris waiting for her and remembered that Liz was staying late for choir practice today. “What’s up shrimp?” Chris asked with a smile.
“Nothing” Jenna replied.
“Good day today?”
“Not bad” she replied.
“That’s the best you can hope for some days” Chris replied.
Once at home, Chris took off his jacket and started working on his car. Jenna stayed nearby watching him work. “If you want to see what I’m doing, come on over and look, you can’t see anything over there”
Jenna hopped down from her perch and bounced over to watch her big brother at work. She had never taken an interest in his obsession with cars before, but now, she wanted to see what he was doing.
Chris was changing the brake pads and Jenna took it all in as he explained what he was doing to her. They were still there when their Mom got home from work.
“Learning something Jenna?” she asked curiously.
Jenna just smiled “Yep” she piped up “Learning a lot actually”
“It’s always good to know the basics; when you get to driving, I’ll have Chris teach you how to change a flat tire” she told her youngest daughter.
The next day was Friday and it meant two entirely different things to Jenna and McKayla now. For Jenna, it would be a weekend stuck at home, doing homework, listening to music, reading and playing video games but for McKayla, it was her introduction to an adult social life.
The day passed in what was becoming normal for the two of them. 48 hours as a kid had revealed a hard routine for Jenna and while McKayla’s day could be a bit more unpredictable, she was absolutely looking forward to the night.
Jenna stopped by on her way out and reminded McKayla “Don’t get too caught up in anything tonight and don’t do anything you’ll regret later”
McKayla smiled at the wise advice from the 12 year old “You haven’t forgotten everything about being an adult have you?” she asked. Jenna just gave her a sly smile as she left the room.
McKayla headed to her apartment to get changed. She grabbed some left over pizza that was in the fridge so she could have something to eat as she stripped down.
She saw a silver and black blouse and paired it with a skin tight black skirt and black heels. She redid her hair and makeup and headed right back out to meet up with Robin at the club.
The noise and lights were what she expected as she walked into the club, the smells of alcohol, people and various foods were unexpected. “Act like you’ve been here before Kayla…” she reminded herself.
Robin was dancing with her husband Chad. She squealed with delight and threw her arms up when she saw McKayla coming her way. “You made it!” she shouted over the crowd.
“Yeah!” McKayla replied.
Robin had to take tiny little steps because of the height of her heels to make it over and embrace McKayla. McKayla could already smell the whiskey coming off her friend but didn’t care much.
Chad came back with a Vodka and Red Bull for himself and a Moscow Mule for her. McKayla took it and could already anticipate what it should taste like even though it was technically the first drink she had ever had.
She smiled as the ginger beer and lime flavors enhanced by the vodka trickled over her taste buds “Perfect!” she said. She recognized another couple who were coming over as friends of Robin who they often hung out with. After a few more sips and some small talk, Robin was dragging her out onto the dance floor.
McKayla let the music and her body move her. She didn’t think about it too much, she just let it happen. She loved the way her hips felt as she moved around the floor; her hair whipping and flowing in rhythm. Her shoulders and arms worked in perfect time with her legs and feet and she was surprised she was as good as she was. She found herself laughing and dancing with Robin for most of the night.
As she danced, she noticed that she attracted quite a bit of attention. She could tell she had eyes on her and despite a bit of self-consciousness, she continued to have her own kind of fun. “Little boys have been ogling me all week; now I can see how men like it”
By the time she got winded and tired and headed back to their table, most of the ice in her drink had melted and it was warming up. McKayla didn’t care though and took down the rest of the drink in a few quick sips.
“Would you like another one?” McKayla spun when she heard a familiar voice behind her; a voice she wasn’t quite sure she would hear tonight.
“Thanks Mike, I’d love another” she replied to Mike Taylor who had come up behind her. He smiled and went to the bar.
McKayla eased herself up onto a stool at their table. She crossed her ankles and made sure she was sitting as ladylike as she could. “Your drink…” he said as he handed it over to her.
She took a sip “They make some of the best Mules in town here; I think it comes down to the brand of beer they use in it. You can taste the cheap shit at most other places”
“I know what you mean; life is too short to drink cheap alcohol or eat bad food” Mike told her.
McKayla raised her eyebrows and smiled just before dipping her eyes “He is into me! Jenna was right!” she thought “What do I do?!”
Mike sat down across from her and McKayla was suddenly very aware of her surroundings “Am I flirting with him? Should I flirt with him?”
They talked about work for a while but with the noise, it was slow going and basically trivial. Other people came and went; Robin sat for a time and all three of them talked about some of their students.
“You know, that Jenna Farris needs to stand up for herself” Robin said making McKayla’s heart jump.
“She’s a good kid and the little stuck up bitch Lauren needs to be put into her place”
“I know” Mike nodded. “That little pack of mean girls is straight up awful but taking them on just puts a big old target on your back and it’s probably just not worth it to her. She seems like the type to blow it off”
“Oh I don’t know” McKayla cautioned. “She might go either way. I can’t tell if she’ll stand up or just stay back”
“Well I hope she does something; I wouldn’t turn her in if she did” Robin laughed “I’d just look the other way”
“Me TOO” Mike agreed.
As the evening wore on, McKayla danced more and drank more. At around 1 A.M. she began to slow down and just ordered some water.
Mike was still there “It’s never going to happen between us is it?” he asked suddenly.
“What?” McKayla answered caught a bit off guard.
“Come on, I’ve been flirting with you for quite a while and just nothing in return” Mike said.
“I don’t want to hurt your feelings but…” McKayla said.
“Here it comes…”
“I’m just not looking for a relationship right now. I’m just not there at this point in my life. You’re a nice guy and I like working with you and talking with you…” McKayla said.
“But I don’t do anything for you do I?” Mike asked.
“Nobody is doing anything for me in that way right now. I know that sounds like a cop out” McKayla put her hand on top of his “But I’m really just trying to figure out what I want in life; if I want to be a teacher, if I want to live in this area…so many things that it just wouldn’t right to add something even more important into that mix right now”
“I understand” Mike said.
“Thank you…I’m glad you do. It’s not that I don’t like you but right now, I would be leading you on and that would be cruel and I don’t want to do something like that”
Mike smiled and McKayla smiled back. Robin and Chad came over then and the night began to wrap up. She sent for an Uber and said good night to everybody who was left around. Her feet hurt, she was sweaty and hot and stank of the club, but she had fun. It was the next morning that wasn’t as much fun.
On Monday morning, McKayla rolled into school at her usual time. Mike Taylor was getting out of his car at the same time “Hey” she called out to him.
“Hi” he called back “How was the rest of your weekend?”
“Fine; well fine after Saturday morning” she smacked her lips dramatically “Little dry mouthed and headache but otherwise…eh”
“I hear ya” he responded with a laugh gathering up his grading bag.
McKayla had hung out in sweat pants and an old t-shirt with her hair up in a messy bun on Saturday watching movies and drinking water. She had ran a few errands and cleaned her apartment on Sunday as well as graded some papers.
Monday morning found her with her hair and makeup done, dressed in a long floral print skirt, tan top and tan heels. Mike held the door for her as they chatted on their way to their classrooms.
McKayla was settled in and reading some emails when she could tell someone was standing in her doorway.
She began to smile at what she saw “OH My Gosh Jenna! I love your hair!” She stood up and rushed toward her to fuss over her. As she approached she noticed a few other details.
“I love the choker too!” she said as she fluffed out Jenna’s shorter and wavier hair.
“I got about 4 inches cut off” Jenna said blushing slightly. “It was mostly dead split ends anyway”
“But it looks so cute on you, honestly, it fits you better” McKayla told the young girl.
“Thanks and I was just out shopping with my Mom and I liked the choker so when I mentioned it, my Mom, like bought it for me” she shrugged and bopped her head shyly.
“It’s a good look for you” McKayla said recognizing the fact that Jenna was putting her own stamp on this age and role now. She had on a green top with black leggings and the black flats that had been present on the day of their swap.
“Thanks” she repeated on her way out. She had to stop suddenly though as she almost ran into Mrs. Hartley. “Sorry!” she said quickly and in a higher pitch.
“No problem Jenna, don’t worry about it” Robin replied giving her a quick pat on the shoulder as she went past.
Out in the hall, Jenna went to her locker to get ready for the day when she heard “Nice collar Farris; you going for the dog look now instead of fish”
Lauren, Grace and Kendall all stood behind her as she turned around. Jenna blinked and hesitated and said nothing at first “Look at her trying to look as good as…” Lauren said before being interrupted abruptly.
“Shut UP!” Jenna said taking a fast step forward which actually made the three headed monster step back in surprise. “Shut the fuck up Lauren! Nobody cares what you think despite what you think about yourself”
“What?!” Lauren said gasping at the F bomb getting said to her face.
“You heard me. I don’t care what you think about me and why should I? You died and made you God of this school that you could walk around here criticizing everyone for every little thing that you don’t like about them. You know what? Shut the Hell up!” Jenna yelled in Lauren’s face
Lauren took a step back as a crowd began to form around them. “Why do you care what I look like? Why do you care what I wear? Does my existence cause you so much concern that you feel compelled to point things out to me? Why do I care? Why have I let you get to me?”
Grace and Kendall moved off in opposite directions as Jenna continued to back Lauren down.
“Move on with your life; nobody cares what you think of them. I don’t give a shit if you think I’m ugly or what you think of my clothes. This is so stupid and so petty. I have to go to the same school as you because our parents happen to live in the same town and happened to give birth to us at around the same time. That’s all. You mean nothing to me in my life. In a few years after we no longer have to be near each other, you’ll mean even less to me which isn’t saying much”
Lauren had no idea how to respond, especially once other girls began to chime in and the boys began to laugh.
Grace had an idea though. She got Kendall’s attention and began to move behind Jenna. She knelt down and Kendall surged forward quickly.
Jenna sensed something behind her knees and recognized what was about to happen. She sidestepped at the last moment and Kendall came rushing past her in a blur.
“OW!” Grace yelled as Kendall barreled into her putting one knee into her ribcage and the other into her nose.
Kendall, for her part crashed into the much larger Grace and flipped over her landing in a pile on the ground. Both were moaning and groaning as Lauren remained dumbfounded.
Now the laughter reached a roar and Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Hartley and Miss Monroe were suddenly on the scene breaking everybody up and sending them on their way.
Unbeknownst to all the main participants; all three teachers had fully heard the first exchange and had let it proceed. Robin and McKayla had stifled laughs and cheers of pride for Jenna standing up for herself and taking the mean girls down a notch.
Robin and McKayla had just been chatting in McKayla’s room when they heard the initial commotion. McKayla had sprang up to go out but Robin had stopped her “Shhh! Let them work this out, let’s see what happens…” she whispered.
McKayla’s heart had swelled with pride listening to Jenna. “She’s going to be just fine; better than the first time maybe” she thought to herself.
Once they had headed out after the crash, McKayla acted serious but had winked to Jenna when no one else could see. Mike broke up the boys as Robin got Kendall and Grace up. “Honestly you two, I should put you both in detention for the entire week for this little scene”
“But I’ll be late for basketball practice” Grace whined “My Dad will kill me if he hears about this!” Kendall cried.
“Too bad! You should have thought about that before you tried this little stunt young ladies” Mrs. Hartley told them.
Lauren swallowed hard, her cheeks were a bright red and she could feel what felt like a million eyes boring into her. She broke and stomped off down the hall without a word said.
Jenna finally exhaled. Her heart was racing and her adrenaline was pumping. She saw Dominic at the edge of the group give her a thumbs up and a smile as the boys continued to laugh as they headed off to homeroom. Maureen and Kyleigh now rushed forward smiling, laughing and talking a mile a minute.
McKayla came over “You okay?” she asked Jenna.
Jenna smiled shyly and ran her fingers through her hair “Yeah” she nodded “Yeah…I think I will be”
“So do I Jenna…so do I” McKayla replied.