Switching Places

My sister Sara and I were always mistaken for twins. Even though I was two years her junior, we looked so alike. Brown hair, brown eyes and a very similar dress sense. So similar we would argue over who clothes were who’s. We would often change into each others clothes during the day and see how many times we could trick our parents. We would place bets and the loser had to buy lunch the next time we were in town.

One day we were playing our betting game, and it got me thinking. Instead of just our parents, I wondered how many people we could trick and for how long. Sara and I both went to a club on Thursday nights. My club was board games and Sara’s was debate. We rarely saw the people at the club outside of Thursday nights. We decided twice a month we would swap places and go to each others clubs. The first Thursday we would go to our own club, the second go to each others, the third our own and the last each others. Then when we got home we would tell each other about the night and see if we thought anyone had noticed. It would be perfect.

It would also be a good chance to show Sara the guy I was telling her about. There was this guy at my club who always watched me. He joined a month after I did. Compared to the other people at my club, we rarely spoke. I guessed he was shy as he didn’t speak to many of the others. But out of the corner of my eye I always saw him looking in my direction. At first I thought if of as a coincidence. But after a few Thursdays it felt less of a coincidence and more of an intentional act.

When I told Sara she giggled and joked that he had a crush on me. Maybe she was right, he was looking a lot, maybe he was too shy to talk to me. But still, staring at me near enough all night was a bit too much even for a crush. Sara was insistent I should talk to him again. She said if I didn’t want to, she would when it was her turn to go to my club.

The second Thursday of the month came around and it was my turn to go to Sara’s club. She told me a few hours before we left that today’s subject of this month’s debate was animal testing. We both had similar options so it wouldn’t be too hard when we swapped. I told her my games club would be playing Cluedo.

At 7pm we both left for our clubs.

I was eager to hear about Sara’s night when I got home. I wanted to know if she had spoken to the guy or not.

She had.

She told me he was one of the first people there. She said hi to the others, then noticed him looking. She gave him a small wave. He seemed a little taken aback that she had noticed him, but he smiled and gave a wave back. She left it at that, small steps and all. But she agreed that his stare was somewhat intense. She had set things in motion, next Thursday it was my turn to see if he made any moves.

That evening we were back to our normal clubs. Turns out Sara wasn’t too good at Cludeo, so I had to play a little dumb that evening. As usual, the guy was one of the first people there. Sitting in his usual space next to the window. I copied what Sara did and gave him a small wave after saying hi to the others. Again, he waved back. The night continued as normal. But this time something was different, Something felt different. It wasn’t until I got home and talked to Sara that I realized what it was. The guys stare had become more intense, or that’s how it felt. Before I was a bit uncomfortable with him looking at me, but it was bearable. But that night it felt like his eyes were burning into me. As if there wasn’t a second he would look away. Sara suggested he was trying to work up the courage still. But it had made me uncomfortable even so.

The fourth Thursday came all too soon. It was time to switch again. I wondered if Sara would feel the same way with the guys starer as I did. Or if it was all in my mind.

When we returned I immediately asked her about it. She smiled and told me I better get used to the intense staring as she spoken to him.

I was shocked. This guy had been at the club for about three months now and in that time I had only heard him say hi on his first night. After meeting him twice, Sara had gotten more words out of him. She told me she approached him and said she didn’t catch his name before. He told her his name was Liam. She smiled and told him her name was Christina, his eyes locked into hers, he smiled and said he knows. She found that was a little creepy, but still, each guy acts differently when they have a crush on a girl. Sara had more experience with guys than I had so I believed her.

It was the first week of September. We were back to our own clubs. Sara encouraged me to talk to him again and I did so. This month’s game was chess. I was pretty good at chess, but my confidence was knocked when it turned out my opponent would be Liam. He was a good opponent. Too good. I had lost every game. I wasn’t sure if it was because he was staring at me, or if it was because he always seemed to be five steps ahead of me. I made a joke about it and asked how he got so good. He replied with three words.

‘I always win.’

I looked at him when he said this, I tried to match his unnerving smile with a genuine one.

The second Thursday I asked Sara to not talk to him. Even if he did have a crush on me, last week had creeped me out a little too much. I wasn’t interested in him and after the creepiness of his smile, I didn’t want to make a habit of talking to him. She respected my decision and we left for our clubs.

Sara didn’t come back that night.

I tried calling her but her phone was off. This wasn’t like her. Worried I told my parents what had happened. I explained about swapping game clubs and how she should have been home by now. We were only late back if the bus was late and we would tell each other. My dad thought her phone had died and she had missed the last bus so had gotten a taxi. But it only took a twenty minute drive back home and it had been an hour.

Mum waited at home whilst dad and I we went to where the games club was held, thinking she was waiting there.

She wasn’t.

No one was.

I called Phoebe, one of the girls who went to the club from my dads phone and pretended to be Sara. I asked her if she had seen Christa. She told me Christa had waited to watch the last of a chess match, then left to get her bus. I told her she hadn’t returned home. Phoebe sounded concerned and said she will ask the others and message me later if she finds anything. I thanked her and ended the call.

When we got home, dad called a few local taxi companies. He asked if they had driven a young girl from spring road to our house. He gave them a description but none of the companies had gone that route.

My dad contacted police. Officers came to our house and asked us a few routine questions. I told them about switching clubs. I also told them about Liam. I told them how he stared at me and how uncomfortable it made me feel. They asked me for the contact details of this Liam, but I didn’t have them. So I gave them phoebe’s number and the address of where the club was held. They told me they would question everyone at the club and see if they can get more information.

The police returned later that day. They had questioned everyone at the club apart from Liam. Not one of the club members had his phone number or address and didn’t know his last name. No one remembered inviting him to joint he club either. He seemed to appear one day. Nobody thought anything of it, people come and go from the club all the time. They told us they would continue with their investigation and contact us if they find any more leads.

It was Monday.

Four days after Sara disappeared. The police returned and mum called me into the living room. The officer asked us to sit down as he had some news.

They had found a body, matching the description of Sara. They needed someone to identify it, but they were sure it was her.

My dad volunteered. He wouldn’t allow mum or me to see Sara like that. My dad left with the officers. I sat with my mum in silence for the longest time.

I turned on the TV for some background noise and made us a cup of tea. Neither of us drank it. We both sat next to each other in silence until dad returned. It felt like days.

When we heard the front door open we both ran to meet my dad. I only had to look at him to know, it was Sara. The body was hers.

My mum collapsed on the floor and my dad tried to pick her up.

I stood in shock as it all began to make sense. Liam didn’t have a crush on me and Sara wasn’t supposed to die.

I was.