They were nearing the end of the trip, and the siblings would soon be thrown back into their original bodies, over a decade into the future.
“Can you believe it’s almost over?” Gemma asked softly as they lounged on the balcony, the sun dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and pink.
“I know,” Ryan replied, tracing patterns on his thigh –Gemma’s thigh, “Feels like we just got here. And yet it feels like I've had this body forever…”
Gemma let out a soft sigh, her elbows resting on the railing as she watched the sunset, “I thought this would be a nightmare, but it’s been… surprisingly nice. And who would have thought my brother could pull off being a teenage girl so well?”
Ryan snorted but felt a swell of pride at her compliment.
Gemma laughed softly, turning to him, “At least you won’t have to deal with the pressure of being a teenage girl every day.”
“That’s true,” Ryan sighed.
“Kind of sad, though. I’m going to miss being you,” he admitted, a hint of regret in his voice.
Gemma raised an eyebrow, “You’re not just saying that because of my boobs, are you?”
Ryan grinned sheepishly, “Not entirely.”
“Seriously, though. I’m going to miss this too. Hanging out like this.”
“It’s been amazing,” Ryan said, sincerity in his words.
They sat in silence for a moment, the sounds of distant waves mingling with their thoughts.
“What if we could stay like this?” Gemma mused, the words lingering in the air like a challenge.
Ryan’s heart skipped, excitement tingling through him, “You really mean that?”
“Maybe,” she replied, “You know. I had that tomboy phase? I think there was something more to it.”
“Wouldn’t you miss being a girl?”
Gemma shrugged, a playful smile teasing her lips, “Maybe not as much as I thought I would. Could be fun being the older brother for real.”
“It’s not impossible, right?” Ryan pushed, his voice edged with hope, “We just... find a way to keep it going?”
The idea of being Gemma, of living inside her skin indefinitely, thrilled him more than he wanted to admit.
“What about you? Never thought you were curious about being a girl.”
“I used to wear your clothes in secret when we were younger,” Ryan confessed, the words tumbling out before he could second-guess them.
Gemma’s eyes widened, but not with shock. There was a glimmer of understanding, something warm and kind behind her smirk, “Oh my god! Little Ryan in my dresses?”
Ryan laughed, his cheeks pink with embarrassment and relief, “Yeah. I guess this whole thing just... makes it okay.”
“Wow,” Gemma shook her head, “I never would have guessed.”
“So maybe this really is perfect for us?” Ryan said, his voice tinged with excitement.
“Kind of like we’ve been waiting for it all along,” Gemma agreed, her smile wide.
They fell silent again, comfortable in the realization that this impossible situation might actually be the answer to questions they hadn’t even realized they were asking.
“Ugh, I’m gonna have to go to college again! And do high school!” Ryan groaned, feigning anguish.
“Don’t worry,” Gemma said, soaking in the last of the sun's warmth, “You'll breeze through it. As me.”
The thought of redoing high school with Gemma’s confidence and charm filled him with anticipation. He could reinvent himself, recast his entire life.
“What about you?” Ryan nudged, “Ready to be the new big brother?”
Gemma nodded, determination in her gaze, “It’ll be an adventure. And I can finally get rid of those stupid old band shirts.”
“Hey!” Ryan protested, laughing.
The sky faded from vibrant colors to a deep indigo speckled with stars. The soft rumble of the ocean played a soothing backdrop to their unspoken thoughts.
They lingered a moment longer before heading back inside, buzzing with the shared secret that maybe—just maybe—this would be their reality.
Comments
Post a Comment