Bruno hurriedly shoved the envelopes into his gym bag, dressed without showering and headed out to find Chad.
"Hey, Chad, thanks for offering to give me a ride home," Bruno said as he approached the blond athlete at the locker room exit.
"Bruno?" new Chad asked. He had seen Bruno and Chad talking at lunch. Chad must've agreed to give Bruno a ride, they were neighbors. "Oh, no problem, Bruno. You live practically next door."
Bruno grinned. Something was definitely up. The last time Bruno had tried to bum a ride, Chad had said, "In your dreams, swimfag." He put his arm affectionately across Chad's shoulders. Chad tensed noticeably, but did not bodily remove Bruno's arm.
The new Chad unlocked Chad's car, and got in the driver's side. Bruno tapped on the passenger door glass. New Chad reached across and opened Bruno's door. New Chad seemed flustered, and unfamilar with the controls in Chad's car.
Bruno asked, "so anyyhing unusual happen today, Chad?"
"Not really," chad lied, and flipped on the radio. The news broadcaster reported that Mark Sukz had died after being struck by heat lightning while on the high platform at the college pool. Bruno glanced at his bag. He needed to read the contents of the envelope msrked Mark Sukz.
New Chad changed the station to heavy metal.
"Last time we listened to music together, you would only listen to Country Music. Glad your tastes have broadened, Chad."
"Uh, well, I remembered you like Metal, Bruno. Thought I'd give it a shot."
Bruno couldn't resist. He put his hand on Chad's thigh, and said how thoughtful Chad was. Then he added, "It's great having such a good friend." Chad's bulge shrank slightly. Bruno's hand moved and squeezed Chad's bulge. It swelled under his grip.
New Chad said, "Uh?"
"Great to be best friends with benefits," Bruno added.
Oh, fuck thought the New Chad. He knew Bruno and Chad hung out together, but Chad had a rep as a lady's man. Actually, people said he'd screw anything with two legs. Bruno did have two legs. How had he missed this?
New Chad repeated, "Best friends with benefits."
Bruno didn't know what was going on, Bruno figured that he was going to finally pop Chad's cherry, whatever else transpired.
As they pulled into the street where Chad's house stood, they saw a fire truck and ambulance blocking the street. There was a gurney with a sheet over a body in front of the house next to Chad's.
"You can park here, Chad. I'll walk the rest of the way. We're still on for 9 tonight at the usual place? I've got your favorite beer on ice."
"Okay, can't get passed all the emergency vehicles anyway. Uh, usual place tonight? Where?"
"Silly, you know, my pool house! You just go through the back gate. Our pool house backs on to your backyard. Just remember to bring your swimsuit this time. Remember your bro Brad caught you coming back into your yard naked?"
Chad's life was full of surprizes. He wasn't really into guys, but the transference spell could be broken if he was found out. Maybe he could feign a headache? Chad watched Bruno's waggling butt retreat as he walked the rest of the way home. The new Chad was hard. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad?
In the meantime, Bruno's mind was racing. Who was the blond guy wearing Chad's body? No way was that Chad! He saw a couple neighbors on the sidewalk talking in somber tones. Then he remembered the body on the gurney in front of old Mrs Phelps house. He had assumed it was her.
"Mrs Phelps?" Bruno asked nodding toward the gurney.
"Oh, no. She's fine, but had quite a start," said the first woman.
The second woman took up the story, "It was that nice Peter Prick. He was jogging and tripped and fell. He's dead."
"I don't think he tripped. I think he had a heart attack. He was always running or lifting weights. Too much exercise is unhealthy," said the third.
"Unhealthful," corrected the second.
"Unhealthy or unhealthful same difference. He is dead all the same," replied the third.
Bruno walked home in silence, while the women argued. Peter Prick was one of the envelopes. He was dead. Mark Sukz was one of the envelopes. He was dead too.
Not just dead, but just had died. Were all the envelopes belonging to people who died or would die?
New Chad parked his car, and walked home.