SWAPPED

Kelly, hurry up! Mark yelled to her best buddy, "I want to ride the Ferris wheel, you know it's my favorite." The county fair was closing for the final time that night before it was packed up and moved to a new location. Mark knew there would be a long line to ride the Ferris wheel as it got closer to closing time.

"Avoid getting tangled in your underwear. "We'll take a ride on the Ferris wheel," Kelly casually remarked as fumbling in her purse for her phone. "I know it's here somewhere," she whispered to herself. Her hands went through all the pockets and hidden spaces, but they found nothing. "Goddamn it. "Where is it?" she asked in a frustrated tone.

Mark sat down next to her, bored with waiting, and glanced over Kelly's shoulder. "You've already given me a headache from eating those chili cheese fries. She thought Kelly was looking for gum, so she quipped, "You don't need to freshen up for me."

Kelly was too focused on her work to notice her friend's jokes. "That's right. French fries. Yes," she repeated incoherently. She took another look at her purse and her heart raced. She sensed the panic beginning to build.

When Mark saw Kelly acting hysterical, he started to worry. "What's the hold up?"

"I can't find my phone," Kelly said in a nervous tone.

Mark scowled. "You had it when we were enjoying the deep-fried Oreos and fries. I recall this because Eric texted you repeatedly."

Recalling her quarrel with her twin brother, Kelly winced. He was giving Bella Campbell a lift home from the fair, so he urged she find another way. Kelly snorted in her head at the idea. She was fully aware of the kind of "ride" Eric was going to give her. She wouldn't sit in the backseat of his automobile for precisely that kind of ride.

"Maybe you left it on the table?" Mark recommended. After taking a quick glimpse at her watch, she craned her neck to obtain a clear view of the Ferris wheel line.

After they had eaten, Kelly struggled to recall if she had brought her phone with her. Her countenance turned pallid. "Shit, I think I left it there." Mark's expression fell in despair the moment she stated those words. Her closest companion was aware that the fair will close in ten minutes, and they wouldn't be able to cross the carnival in time to retrieve the phone.

Kelly sensed her friend's unhappiness right away and decided on a course of action. "Arrive in line. She called over her shoulder, "I'll see you there," and started racing in the other direction.

She moved as swiftly as she could through the crowds. As she got closer to the dining area, her heart raced, hoping her phone would still be there. With a deep sense of disappointment, Kelly hurried over to the table where they had previously sat and saw it was empty. Even though she was aware of the slim chance, it still ached to realize it was gone. She kicked the chair because she was angry and frustrated with herself for being so reckless. The folks around her stopped and stared as the chair fell down.

She mumbled a brief apology, embarrassed at her juvenile actions, and leaned down to pick it up. She saw a phone among the dirt and grass as she straightened the chair. She snatched it, hope bursting in her chest. It was, indeed, her phone! She sighed deeply, relieved to have it back in her possession. With a hurried shove into her handbag, Kelly dashed to the Ferris wheel, hoping that Mark was still waiting in line.

"Did you find it?" As soon as she spotted Kelly coming, Mark inquired.

An uncontrollable smile stretched across Kelly's face. She exclaimed with joy, "Got it!" To have a better idea of how long they would have to wait, she leaned around the pair in front of them. Kelly saw that Mark would grant her request after counting six people.

"So have you talked to Brent recently?" Mark asked, curious to find out how Kelly's relationship with the college boy she was crushing on was going.

Kelly had received tutoring from Brent during her first year of high school. Her teacher suggested Brent, a senior, to assist her since she had been having trouble with trigonometry. They discussed the topic every Tuesday and Thursday when they got together at a nearby café.

Brent had been hilarious, considerate, and kind. When Kelly didn't grasp a certain principle or issue, he never became angry or upset. They had become close over the semester and would stay together for a few hours after their tutoring sessions. He had become Kelly's major crush, so when he went off to college, Kelly was devastated. They continued to correspond via emails and texts, but their exchanges were typically brief and infrequent.

Kelly gave a disappointed shake of her head. "No," she glumly answered. "He's been busy with his internship." She was aware that having a crush on her instructor was ridiculous and cliche, yet she was powerless to resist. Her heart would beat faster every time she saw a message from him.

"I'm sure he'll write soon," Mark reassured her slightly. She detested seeing her so depressed because she knew how much her closest friend loves him. "You may send him a text to let him know you're thinking of him. He'll appreciate it, I'm sure."

Kelly gave a shoulder shrug. "I've considered it, but I don't want to come out as needy or impatient. Besides, it's not like anything will ever come of it. I'm a senior in high school, and he's a junior in college."

"Quit being so negative. One can never predict what may occur. I think you could text him to wish him a happy day or something. That wouldn't come out as needy," Mark said. As the line advanced, Mark began to jump with excitement.

Kelly chuckled at the enthusiasm of her buddy. Mark was a true fan of the Ferris wheel. "I seriously don't understand your obsession with this ride."

Mark appeared horrified. How are you unable to adore it? From there, the entire city is visible! It's also really romantic to be outside under the stars." Mark's eyes widened as she imagined herself cuddling up to a cute male in the distant.

Kelly rolled her eyes in her head at her friend's remarks. Mark was an ardent romantic who thought happily ever afters and fairy tales existed. Kelly was more grounded than that; she understood that love came with just as many challenges as joys. Her tone was dry as she asked, "You know you are going on this ride with me right?"

Kelly felt an elbow to the ribs from Mark, who narrowed her gaze. She commanded, "Stop ruining my fantasy!"

After hearing their conversation, a boy in the queue behind them moved forward. He scowled at Mark and said, "You can always ride with me, pretty thang." As he spoke, the air was heavy with the stench of cigarettes. Leaning forward, he swung his arm arrogantly over her shoulder.

Mark noted that guy was about their age and gave him a disgusted look. With her pinky up in the air, she caught his hand between her thumb and forefinger and flung it off her body."In your dreams, buddy."

The youngster seemed oblivious to the slight. Yes, you'll undoubtedly be in my dreams this evening. nude." Behind him, his pals chuckled as he grinned.

With a sneer, Mark moved away from their jeers and whistles. With a tone full of contempt, she told Kelly, "High school boys are disgusting."

Kelly chuckled. "I am aware. Remember that I live with Eric? Why do you believe I'm crushing on a man in college?" Eric and his pals used to argue all the time over which girls were the prettiest or the easiest to swindle. They even boasted a rating system that was far superior to Rate-This-Face.com.