“Alright, girls,” you shout to the swimmers. “Just one more lap to the buoy and back, and we’ll be done for the day!” You point at said buoy floating about thirty meters offshore.
As instructed, the girls make a bee-line for the marker before turning around and coming back. That is, they all do except one. A lone figure keeps going past the buoy, seemingly intent on going farther out onto the vast lake. Noting the girl’s swimsuit, you recognize her as Betsy.
“Ugh, seriously?” You mutter before blowing your whistle loudly. “Hey! Miss Queen! Betsy! You’re too far out!”
The girl ignores you. With an exasperated sigh, you put aside your clipboard and whistle and kick off your sandals. Now just in your bikini top and trunks, you jump in the water and swim after Betsy. Kicking your long legs and moving your body expertly through the water, you eat up the distance with ease.
I should’ve kept a better eye on her, you think as you follow the splashing of her legs. Does she really think she can get away when I’m here? I could out-swim her, like, any day of the week!
Sure enough, you soon catch up. Passing her up, you intercept her path, forcing her to stop in order not to collide with you. Treading water, she stares at you with wide frightened eyes.
“Betsy!” You gasp, catching your breath. Glancing over her towards the shore, you are surprised how far she made it. Perhaps, you had underestimated her. Despite being a bit impressed, you keep your face stern. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I…uh, wanted to see what’s on the other side of the lake,” Betsy answers, obviously lying.
You look behind you. “But that’s, like, a mile away!”
“Yeah, like, no big deal,” she replies stubbornly. “I can totally swim just fine. I can make it.”
No big deal, you think furiously. What would Mom and Dad say if I lost you? Then, you blink. Wait, Mom and Dad? Why would…
Then, it hits you that the girl had spoken in a valley girl accent just like yours. When you take a closer look at her features, they strike you as a bit similar to your own. Did she always look like this or did this happen just now? You really can’t tell.
Betsy’s face also shows a look of shock equal to your own. “B-Brooke? Sis?”
“Yeah, it’s happening to me, too,” you admit, finally dropping the charade. This has gone too far. “This place…It’s hella been messing with my mind ever since I got changed into a girl.”
“So, you’re also…”
You nod back. Instantly, her arms are around you, giving you a tight hug. “Oh, sis, what are we gonna do!? Hold on, I keep calling you-”
“Yup,” you sigh, hugging her back. “Looks like we’re family. Now, will you tell me why you’re trying to swim across the lake?”
“I just thought this lake was on the edge of the campground,” Betsy explains. “Like, I figured that maybe I could see if I change back if I go far enough.”
“So, you were all, like, ‘I’m gonna get myself lost on the water in the middle of a freaking huge lake?’” You ask in a scolding tone.
“Hey, I didn’t think it through, okay?” Betsy huffed. “I saw the opportunity, and I just took it.”
“Well, next time, tell me first, alright? I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
Betsy hangs her head. “Okay. So what do we do now?”
“We go back. Not much else to do. Just promise me you’ll tell me next time. Maybe we can help each other out, okay, sis?”
“Okay.”