Switched Read Online Free PDF Page A

poked his head out, his face pale in the porch light, his blue eyes wide with surprise.
    â€œPlease—help me,” I stammered.
    His eyes studied me, locked on to my eyes. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.
    I gazed past him, into the house. “Are your parents home?”
    He shook his head. “No. They’re in Waynesbridge. Why? What’s the matter?”
    I could feel the tears welling in my eyes, could feel the sobs building in my chest.
    Nicole, don’t cry! I instructed myself. You’ve got to get the story out. Don’t cry. Don’t cry now.
    Save the tears for later.
    You’ll have plenty of time to cry when Lucy knowswhat has happened and you are back in your own body.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Kent demanded. “You look terrible!”
    â€œCan I come in?” My voice trembled. A single teardrop slid down my right cheek.
    He stepped back and I pushed past him into the front room. I grabbed on to the back of the couch, squeezing the soft leather, holding myself up.
    He followed me into the room, his handsome face tight with concern. He had straw-colored hair, wavy and thick, down over his collar. He had blue-gray eyes, serious eyes. He was tall and athletic looking.
    I’d always admired him because he seemed so comfortable with himself. I don’t think I ever saw him nervous or in a bad mood.
    Now he narrowed his eyes at me, waiting for me to explain.
    I glanced around, unsure of how to start. I saw a single place set at the dining room table. The house smelled of tomato sauce.
    â€œSit down and tell me what happened. I put a frozen pizza in the oven,” Kent explained. “Did you eat yet?”
    And then it all burst out of me in a flood of words. I started at the beginning—when I met Lucy after school—and told him everything.
    â€œLucy took me to Fear Street,” I explained. “Her grandfather told her about the Changing Wall. Weswitched bodies, Kent. We both wanted to, and we did it.”
    His mouth dropped open. He raised a hand as a signal for me to stop.
    But I couldn’t stop. Not until I had revealed everything. “We switched bodies,” I repeated. “I know it’s hard to believe. But you have to. You have to. I know I look like Lucy, but I’m really Nicole.”
    â€œListen, Nicole—” he started.
    But I wouldn’t let him talk. “Lucy went to my house, and I went to hers,” I continued, talking fast, faster than I had ever talked in my life. “But when I got to her house . . . when I got to her house . . .”
    â€œWhat?” Kent demanded impatiently. “What happened?”
    â€œOh, Kent!” I cried, letting the tears flow now. “Oh, Kent, it was so horrible! Both of her parents! Both of them were murdered. Slashed to pieces. I found their bodies on the living room floor. And I ran out. I’ve got to tell Lucy. I’ve got to. But she wasn’t home. She wasn’t at my house. She doesn’t know, Kent. She doesn’t know. I—I—”
    The sobs leaped from my throat. My shoulders heaved up and down as I started to weep.
    I felt Kent’s hands on my shoulders, tenderly, trying to calm me. He held me and brought his face close to mine to whisper in my ear. “It’s okay, Nicole. It’s going to be okay.”
    I struggled to stop sobbing.
    He was being so gentle, so kind. I knew he would be. He was such a good guy.
    â€œNicole, I’ll help you,” he said softly. “Don’t worry. I’m going to help you.”
    He led me around to the front of the couch and helped me lower myself onto the cushion. Then he stayed with one hand on my shoulder, talking to me softly until I finally stopped crying.
    â€œThanks, Kent,” I murmured, wiping my soggy cheeks with both hands. “Thanks.”
    â€œI’m going to get you some water to drink,” he said, stepping away from the couch.