Cassandra's POV
Upon returning to the family room, I found David standing between Sarah and Amelia as they glared at each other with Mark sitting on the couch, looking uncertain and frightened. Mom saw them as well and planted her hands onto her hips. "You all have one minute to get to the dinning room table before you have me to deal with." sternly, she said.
Amelia, David, and I knew mom was serious when she took that stance and quickly moved to the dinning room as Maria gently took Mark's hand. "Come, dear." softly, she said. "We need to have a little talk." she turned to Sarah. "That means you too, young lady."
Sarah nodded then followed her to the dinning room. Once everyone was seated, dad spoke. "Dr Thompson is looking for more volunteers for his body swap experiments and he will pay handsomely for those who step up." calmly, he said. "However, there is no way to reverse this procedure so, if you decide go through with it, you will be stuck with the body you get for the rest of your life."
"Its a huge decision," turning to Mark and Sarah, Maria said, "one that will completely change your life."
"Anything is better than this body." quietly, Mark muttered. "It's small, weak... broken."
"If you think that, you are a loser." crossing her arms, Amelia blurted out. "You're practically dripping with cuteness and don't even know it."
"Amelia..." giving her a look of warning, mom said.
Mark blushed. "You- You think I'm cute?" the hint of a smile forming, he asked.
Amelia immediately turned red with embarrassment. "No! No; that's not what I meant!" waving her hands, she said. "I'm not trying to imply that at all!"
David and I struggled not to giggle but Sarah could not contain herself as she laughed. "You two do look like you'd make a cute couple." teasing, she said.
"Enough, Sarah." sternly, Maria said. "This is serious."
"Careful with what you say, Amelia." firmly, mom said. "I'm warning you all; don't start anything."
Dad cleared his throat, silencing the room. "Back to the subject at hand," politely, he said, "there are more options other than a body swap to solve Mark's inferiority complex."
"What kind of options?" hesitantly, Mark asked.
"Well, I seem to remember Amelia offering to help you gain some social status." motioning to his daughter, dad said. "As you seem to think everything about your life is wrong, her way of helping just may be the answer."
"Dad, you can't be serious!" surprised, I protested.
"I know you do not approve of Amelia's approach to things, David." serious, dad said. "However, I feel it important to explore all options before suggesting the Harris family subject themselves to the body swap procedure."
I sighed then turned to Amelia who gave me a smug look as if she had achieved a victory over me. "Just give me an excuse, sis." whispering, I hissed.
Mom placed a firm hand onto my shoulder then turned to Amelia. "If Mark accepts your offer to help, I expect you take that task seriously, young lady." looking her daughter in the eye, she said. "Do I make myself clear?"
Amelia looked at mom in surprise. Sure she had offered to help but I suspected that she did not expect it to be taken seriously and blinked, not responding. "She's trapped by her own words." hiding a smile, I thought. "Its about time she was made to put her money where her big mouth is."
"Do I make myself clear?" her face hardening, mom repeated.
Amelia gulped before slowly nodding. "It- It's clear, m-mom." stammering, she answered.
Now it was my turn to give a smug look as Amelia threw me a death glare. Only dad placed a firm hand onto her shoulder before she could respond. "That's my brave little girl." with a hint of sarcasm, he said. "I knew we could count on you, Amelia."
"So what do you say, Mark?" looking her son in the eye, Maria asked. "Will you let Amelia try to help you?"
Amelia was visually nervous as Mark paused to think. Finally, he replied...
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