Chapter 3: Questions and Answers

It’s been about 3 months since school started, winter break is near, and Danny and I have gotten to know each other quite well. We’ve been pretty much inseparable since day one of school. He comes to my cheer practice often and shows up for the football games. Some of the cheer squad tease me about him being my boyfriend, even though I tell them we’re just friends. I know they are teasing but it’s gotten me thinking about it. After all if my suspicions are correct we may have more in common than we think.

We’ve even gone into the co-ed locker rooms together for gym class a few times, talking and laughing as we changed for class. The first time we went into the co-ed lockers we were talking. I had taken off my top and turned to talk to him, I had forgotten about being Paula even though I’ve been Paula for a while now. He turned around and stopped cold as his eyes stared at the small 32a breasts I have. I froze for a moment realizing what was happening, before turning around and both of us muttering an apology as we dressed for gym class. What I didn’t expect was a rush of excitement so powerful my knees nearly buckled as I realized I liked it when Danny had seen me.

Danny seems to excel at everything but the history and social studies like I am. Sometimes I can hear him mutter when we are working together that this isn’t how it turned out. I finally got up the courage to invite him over for more than just school work. I was going to confront him about all the weird mutterings and the necklace of Freya and hopefully won’t sound crazy to him.

“Hi Paula” Danny said as he caught up with me after the bus dropped him off.

“Hey Danny, when we are inside, let’s go to my room, I got a few things to ask you.” He looked a bit nervous as we walked up the stairs. Mom had left a note saying she had to go into the office and that Jake was at a friend’s house. So all alone in my room, I was asking myself how to start this off, and finally decided to ask about the necklace.

“So what is with your necklace you wear all the time? It looks exactly like mine” I said as I showed him mine.

“This?” he said as he took hold of it. “I found it when we were moving, it was in my room and I felt drawn to it, and yeah they do look alike.”

“This may sound weird, but do you talk to the Goddess Freya? Like does she appear to you?” asking nervously as this could make me look like I’m crazy.

“I ... uh ... I like and trust you Paula, and I hope what is said here doesn’t leave this room?” I just nodded yes. “Well ... she does. Does she appear to you?”

I was visibly relieved when he asked that. “Yes, she does appear to me. Can I ask you something else?”

“Ask away Paula.”

“Are you a swapper? Someone who has swapped bodies ... I keep hearing you mutter about how ‘this isn’t what happened’ in history class.” This was the moment of truth, either he thinks I’m crazy, or this is the one I’m to help.

“How did... ?” he sighed and looked at me dead pan “Yes I am a swapper as you call it. I died July 7th of this year, but was given a second chance by Freya saying I wasn’t supposed to have died” He went on telling me about his life before this, telling me he was a woman named Kristen Cottner and was a stay at home mother before her entire family caught the covid virus just like me.

“That’s too much of a coincidence ... Freya! Freya! Are you listening? We have questions!” Moments later Freya appeared to us both

“Yes my children? I see you finally met, I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you about each other, it had to be done naturally. What is it you ask of me children?”

“Danny and I were both killed by the virus, and both times we weren’t supposed to die then, what do you mean by that?”

Freya looked at both of us and sighed “You two weren’t supposed to die that young. That’s all I can say ‘‘ We looked at each other then back at Freya feeling like she might be hiding something, but trusting of our Goddess we’ve come to worship since getting our new lives.