[The events of this morning have barreled on without Keith's consent at light speed. His heart's been beating like his body thinks he's in full sprint as every passing second only adds fuel to an increasing need to scream. He doesn't have a single fucking clue why the hell he woke up like this, but every moment that affirms to him that this isn't some freakish nightmare has him so on edge that everyone around him -- all the people whose names he never bothered remembering who are his friends have noticed.
Well no. Everyone's noticed something's wrong including "his" parents who seem to have found his "dream" quaint and amusing, though quickly irritating when they'd decided it was simply the worst excuse not to attend school that day. In a nervous, jumpy state it takes him a long while to compose himself and actually come up with some kind of plan.
As much as one can plan when the impossible happens.
The second school's out, Keith dodges and weaves through all of James' friends and immediately settles on the first of his private hideaways in school to send a text.]
[ One time James forgot to cram for a test after he'd been home with the flu for most of the unit. That had been the most horrifying day of his life so far, but today would be giving it a run for its money - if only he could decide whether or not it counts as his life at all. HIS life doesn't start in a bed this uncomfortable, for starters. He'd demanded to know where he was and the guy sharing his room had only given him a dubious look before alerting an adult. Usually adult authority presence is comforting, but James quickly finds it is less so when the adult is suspecting you of having a psychotic episode. It was then that he caught a glimpse of "himself" in the mirror and found an old familiar face looking back at him.
Figuring out who he was supposed to be had been both the most horrifying and most convenient thing in the day. Keith... that's a role he can play. Badly. But he can convince people he's not lost his marbles, he's just had a really disorienting dream, panicked a little, he's fine now, this is fine.
It's not fine. He gets lost thrice that day, each time getting scolded for an attempt at playing hokey. James hates being scolded. Hates the way it makes his heart race with guilt and his fingers shake with nerves.
By the time he's out of class (thank god he even found the school), James feels completely dissociated. Just kind of drifting along in a way he never has before. The phone's message tone startles him. He hadn't even considered checking that...
The number that is texting isn't saved, but that doesn't matter, because James knows it by heart.
because I was sleeping and just woke up like this you saying i pulled off some crazy ass magic IN MY SLEEP?? and yeah your parents forced me to go your dad's a giant asshole by the way
James is ready to wake up any time now, because this is the most surreal text he has ever received from his own phone number while holding Keith's phone in Keith's hand. ]
You've met him for ONE morning, you don't get to decide this.
And also, I went to sleep myself. No magic, no nothing. Just a normal day. I didn't do this, wrap your head around it.
[His next reply comes back after a short delay. As tempting as it is to keep sending angry accusations because if nothing else it's proving to be slightly cathartic, even Keith doesn't think James is secretly some kind of bullshit wizard.]
newsflash. i dont need your permission to tell me who i can or cant judg how is this even possible? why is this happening to US specifically? have you been thinking about me or something
[And then another minute later there's this lovely nonsequitur:]
wait. did you take the knife under my pillow to school
[ James is forced to change locations while they have this conversation, because some kids keep staring at him and he's not sure if they know Keith or what - he doesn't want to stay and find out. So he moves through the town that is largely unfamiliar to him as his eyes remain glued to the text window. ]
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no subject
Well no. Everyone's noticed something's wrong including "his" parents who seem to have found his "dream" quaint and amusing, though quickly irritating when they'd decided it was simply the worst excuse not to attend school that day. In a nervous, jumpy state it takes him a long while to compose himself and actually come up with some kind of plan.
As much as one can plan when the impossible happens.
The second school's out, Keith dodges and weaves through all of James' friends and immediately settles on the first of his private hideaways in school to send a text.]
WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY BODY?
no subject
Figuring out who he was supposed to be had been both the most horrifying and most convenient thing in the day. Keith... that's a role he can play. Badly. But he can convince people he's not lost his marbles, he's just had a really disorienting dream, panicked a little, he's fine now, this is fine.
It's not fine. He gets lost thrice that day, each time getting scolded for an attempt at playing hokey. James hates being scolded. Hates the way it makes his heart race with guilt and his fingers shake with nerves.
By the time he's out of class (thank god he even found the school), James feels completely dissociated. Just kind of drifting along in a way he never has before. The phone's message tone startles him. He hadn't even considered checking that...
The number that is texting isn't saved, but that doesn't matter, because James knows it by heart.
... oh. ]
I should ask you the same thing. Give mine back.
no subject
if i could I would! I don't want your fucking body what the hell did you do?! where are you? we need to fix this NOW
no subject
Behind your school.
I didn't do this.
I didn't do ANYTHING.
no subject
people don't just wake up in other people's bodies
you definitely did SOMETHING
no subject
[ And then as a frantic added thought: ]
Did you go to school?
no subject
you saying i pulled off some crazy ass magic IN MY SLEEP??
and yeah your parents forced me to go
your dad's a giant asshole by the way
no subject
Just. Wow.
James is ready to wake up any time now, because this is the most surreal text he has ever received from his own phone number while holding Keith's phone in Keith's hand. ]
You've met him for ONE morning, you don't get to decide this.
And also, I went to sleep myself. No magic, no nothing. Just a normal day. I didn't do this, wrap your head around it.
no subject
newsflash. i dont need your permission to tell me who i can or cant judg
how is this even possible?
why is this happening to US specifically?
have you been thinking about me or something
[And then another minute later there's this lovely nonsequitur:]
wait. did you take the knife under my pillow to school
no subject
Wait, you have a KNIFE under your pillow??
[ So that answers that. ]