Clothes switch

The gymnasium stood silent now, empty echoes replacing the vibrant energy from earlier. Terry sat on the edge of the bleachers, his mind racing. The cheer uniform clung to him, a constant reminder of the tangled situation he found himself in.

"I can't stay like this," he thought. "I need to change back into my own clothes."

Determined, he headed back toward the girls' locker room. He hesitated at the entrance, ensuring no one was around. The corridor was quiet, and the distant sounds of classes in session offered some reassurance.

Taking a deep breath, he slipped inside. The locker room was empty, filled only with rows of lockers and the faint scent of shampoo and body wash. The fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow on the tiled floor.

He made his way to Sophie's locker, recalling the combination Emma had used earlier. His fingers trembled slightly as he turned the dial—left, right, left—and the lock clicked open.

Swinging the locker door open, he was greeted by neatly organized belongings. On the top shelf rested the blue hoodie he had mistakenly worn that morning. Relief washed over him momentarily.

"Finally," he murmured.

But as he searched the locker, his own clothes were nowhere to be found. Instead, he discovered Sophie's neatly folded school uniform: a crisp white blouse, a plaid skirt, and her regular undergarments.

"Where are my clothes?" he whispered, confusion turning into mild panic.

He checked the locker again, hoping he'd overlooked something, but it was clear his attire wasn't there. The only option was Sophie's uniform.

"Great. Just great," he sighed.

Realizing he had little choice, Terry decided to change. Staying in the cheer uniform would only raise questions, and he couldn't wander around in that all day.

He began by removing the cheer top, carefully folding it and placing it back in the locker. Next, he stepped out of the pleated skirt, leaving him in the sports undergarments. He glanced around, ensuring his solitude remained uninterrupted.

Picking up the fresh set of undergarments, he dressed swiftly. The underwear fit snugly but comfortably, and he tried not to dwell on the unfamiliarity of the garments.

He donned the white blouse, buttoning it up and adjusting the collar. The fabric was soft against his skin, and it fit him surprisingly well. The plaid skirt came next; he stepped into it and zipped it up, the hem falling just above his knees.

He looked at his reflection in the small mirror inside the locker door. With his long dark blond hair framing his face and Sophie's uniform fitting him perfectly, the resemblance to his sister was striking.

"This is surreal," he thought, running a hand through his hair.

He considered tying his hair back but decided against it. The more he looked like Sophie, the less likely anyone would question him.

Remembering the blue hoodie, he retrieved it and slipped it into his backpack. It might come in handy later.

Just then, distant voices echoed from the hallway. A group of students was approaching the locker room.

"I need to get out of here," he thought urgently.

Closing the locker, he quietly made his way to the side exit. He pushed the door open gently and stepped into the adjacent corridor, letting it close softly behind him.

The hallway was moderately busy, students moving between classes. Terry blended into the flow, walking with purpose to avoid drawing attention.

His mind raced with questions. Where was Sophie? Did she have his clothes? How was he going to explain this to her—or anyone else, for that matter?

As he navigated the corridors, he caught snippets of conversations, laughter, the clatter of lockers. Everything felt both familiar and alien at the same time.

A group of girls waved at him. "Hey, Sophie! See you in English!"

He waved back awkwardly. "Yeah, see you there!"

He realized he was expected to attend Sophie's classes. Skipping them might raise suspicions, but attending posed its own challenges.