After a period of though, Marcus finally replied "I always considered Whitman as a last resort. Since I actually found someone whose career I like, I don't want to pass up the opportunity".
Steel grinned and growled "Atta boy! Tho I do wanna make sure yer certain. This ain't sum week-long tagalong, ya swap wit' me, yer in for da long term."
Marcus felt a little apprehensive. But the thought of having Mr. Whitman's fat, stodgy body for a full week was enough to put him off ever considering it. He nodded his head. "I'm definitely certain!"
Steel rubbed his hands together. "Alright! We betta find somewhere more quiet-like 'fore we get on wit' the swap. Dere a closet or summin' close by?"
Making sure nobody was watching, Marcus led Steel to the nearest corridor. It was silent outside of the auditorium. It allowed Marcus to think about the upcoming swap. He hadn't swapped bodies with anyone since he started high school, not even for health class. And there was something else nagging at him. He wondered aloud "I do have a few questions before we-"
"Shhh! Wait until we're somewhere secure..."
The restrooms were just around the corner. Marcus watched Steel in awe as he ducked to get inside the cramped room, then casually stuck his head over every stall to make sure nobody was with them. Finally feeling safe, the man pulled out a cigarette pack and swiftly lit up. He sighed and grumbled "I needed dat... I tried wearing one'a dose nicotine patches and it weren't helpin' a bit!"
"Uhm, I don't think you're allowed to smoke in here..."
Steel snorted, a puff of smoke escaped his nostrils. "Whadda dey gonna do? Gimme detention? Gimme a break, kid!"
There was silence as Steel continued to smoke, until he stubbed the cigarette out in the sink. "OK, now it's obvious nobody's watchin' us or dey'd be runnin' on in here. Hit me wit' yer questions."
"Well, you were going to go undercover as a student, why do you need me specifically?"
"This is a delicate, time sensitive matta. Kid bodies don't come cheap, ya know. Den I'd hafta enroll, gain yer principal's trust, and stuff. It's easia' to find someone on d'inside already."
"OK... But how did you know to trust me? I could've easily blabbed to Mr. Whitman." Not that he planned to. He wasn't a snitch.
"Dat whole trust fing was to get ya t' accept my offa! I don't trust nobody, kid. I'm aware y'could turn on me anytime, and I'm prepared fer it. Tho I guess y'remind me'a me at yer age. A bit shorta', mind. But still."
Way to make a guy feel special... Marcus' pride slipped a little. Next, however, was the big, burning question. "You also said you had a way to pretend to be me. No offence, but you don't exactly look like a teenager."
The man snorted. "None taken kid, I ain't winnin' no beauty contests fer sure. I reckon we just let nature take its course, allowin' our heads t' adjust t'our new bodies"
Marcus gaped at the older man. "But that could take months, even years! We're only supposed to do this for a week!" he whined with a frown.
"I warned ya y'd be in it fer the long run! Lucky fer you, I gotta little ace in my pocket..." He tapped the side of his nose and nodded his head towards the restroom door. Marcus looked outside to see the halls were as empty as before. Steel, meanwhile, closed all the windows and even checked the air vent for anything suspicious. "Y'can't be too careful..." he grumbled before sticking his hand into his breast pocket and pulling out a small pouch. Inside of which were two vials of purple liquid.
Marcus stared quizzically at the vials. "What is that, some kinda medicine?"
The man smirked and said "S'more of a drug than a medicine. Good ol' Adaclimatin Triconfomite. AC-3 or Ace if yer feelin' colloquial. It ain't exactly street legal fer reasons you'll understand..."
Marcus shook his head and backed away. "Wait a minute, you never mentioned anything..." he paused and whispered "illegal..." He scratched the back of his neck and pointed at Steel. "What does it even do?"
"Ahh, don't be sucha pussy, it ain't dang'rous or nothin'! S'just a handy tool fer concealment. I don't get the science of it, but it basic'ly alters ya brain chemicals n' such to make yer head more susceptible t' change. It gets ya more accustomed to yer new body quicka'n the usual. We take these beauties, and we'll be lookin' like each otha' in no time!"
"So it's a head acclimation drug..." Marcus said softly. He'd heard of such things before, mostly in the form of conspiracy theories like Paul McCartney being replaced in record time after he was killed in a car accident. He always thought it sounded bullshit, but now... He was intrigued yet still worried. "How long does it take?"
"A week, tops! Trust me kid, I've dun this many a time. The only reason it ain't legal is 'cause dere's some heavy sanctions on head swappin'. If yer like me, ya probly fink it's chaos what with everyone switching bodies all willy nilly. If this stuff went public, that chaos'd be tenfold. Howdja know who's who if ya can become anyone in a week? Dere's a reason nature made it so's it can take years t' fully become anotha person... But we don't have dat kinda time."
Marcus leaned back against a toilet stall. This was a lot to ask of a high school freshman... "So in a week's time, I'll look like you and vice versa?"
"Dat's the plan! 'Course, we won't look exac'ly alike. We take on each otha's charictaristics. I'll get yer pimples and yer nosiness. You'll get my frown lines and my intuition. Y'know, a mix'a looks and brains. We won't be identical-like, but we'll change enuff t' fool most lookie-loos. Den while disguised as you, I can infiltrate Whitman's life, get the evidence I need to bust 'im, and bish bash bosh we swap back, no harm dun!"
Marcus stared at the man wearily. Exchanging bodies for a career fair was one thing, but actually becoming a middle aged man in both body, head, and mind? It was more than daunting. Then again, puberty hadn't exactly been kind to him. School was a nightmare, and this man had the coolest job around. He also wasn't the worst looking guy to become. In fact, the unshaven cragginess had a certain charm to it. "So this body, it's actually yours? Like the original you?"
"O'course it is! I ain't letting nobody keep my body in da long term! That includes you too, pipsqueak. Dis is a contract o' keepin' peace."
Marcus nodded in agreement. He was a traditionalist. His body might not be perfect, but it was his. However, getting to spend any amount of time with a body like Steel's would be anyone's dream come true. It's no wonder he wasn't willing to give it up so easily. Marcus stuck his hand out. "Alright then. Let's do this!"