Back with Jake and the others.
Jake tried calling his uncle again, but the line rang and rang without a response. Carl's dad—a scientist often away for days—had said he'd be home by mid-March. It was now March 24th. Still no sign of him.
"Carl!" Jake called.
"Coming," Carl's voice echoed from the kitchen as he appeared, trailed by the girls.
"Your dad's not picking up. Have you tried calling him lately?"
"No, I haven't," Carl replied, his expression sharpening as he pulled out his phone. He dialed. No response.
"Who are you calling?" Carly asked.
"My dad," Carl said, raising an eyebrow as the line continued to ring.
"Ah, right. I should call my mom," Carly said, taking out her own phone. She dialed.
Jake peered over curiously. "A lot's been similar between us. I won't be surprised if it's the same number."
Carl glanced at Carly's phone. Same digits. Same call. Same silence.
"Well... you're not wrong," Carl muttered.
"Thought as much," Jake said. "Maybe he's just busy."
"She's," Jane corrected him flatly.
Jake sighed. "Yeah, not getting into that argument again."
He checked the clock. "Damn, it's already 7 a.m.? Better get ready for school."
Carly nodded. "Yeah."
"Same 15-minute walk?" Jane asked Jake. He gave a silent nod. They all retreated into their respective rooms.
Thirty minutes later, Jake sat in the living room, dressed in his uniform. He wore glasses and had a headset around his neck. His ash-black hair, messy as usual, contrasted sharply with his dark green eyes. He scrolled through his phone, waiting.
Jane appeared, already dressed. Her hair mirrored Jake's in color and messiness, but she didn't wear glasses. Her uniform skirt stopped at her knees, and black leggings ran down to her ankles. She noticed Jake but said nothing.
Jake didn't notice her until he yelled toward the staircase. "Carl! Would you get your ass down here already!"
He quickly grabbed his bag, slinging it over one shoulder. "I'm not going to be late because of you," he snapped as he walked out the front door.
"I'm off, Carly!" Jane called, following. She spotted Jake still standing outside and walked past him, then turned to see him still standing.
"W-Weren't you waiting for...?"
Jake didn't reply. He walked past her, removed his headset, turned slightly. "Don't bother," he said before slipping the headset into his bag.
Jane caught up beside him. "I'm only walking with you because I'm not used to walking alone."
"Never asked."
"Could've just shut up."
"Still didn't ask."
Behind them, Carly's voice rang out. "Wait up, you two!"
She and Carl jogged to join them. Carly fell in step with Jane, Carl with Jake.
"Good morning, guys!" came another voice. A student in the same uniform approached. Dark-skinned, black hair tied in a top knot, brown eyes—friendly, familiar.
Jake nodded slightly while the others responded more warmly.
Jane and Carly eyed him suspiciously.
"What's up, Oliver?" Carl fist-bumped him.
Carly squinted. "I knew he looked familiar. Guess this weirdness got to everyone."
"Where's Olivia?" Jane asked.
"Uhhh... What're you talking about, Jane? Who's Olivia?" Oliver blinked.
"Your female version. Or whatever," Carly said. "Wait—how do you even know us?"
"What do you mean? Everyone knows the 'double twins'—Jake and Jane, Carl and Carly."
"Wait, what? Twins? With this one? Not happening," Jake and Jane said in unison, pointing at each other.
Oliver looked even more confused. "I'm just saying what everybody else knows."
They reached the gate of their school.
Graymont Academy.
One glance at the front entrance and you could tell—this wasn't your usual high school. It screamed elitism. The kind of place where you only got in if you were born into power, scored near-perfect grades, got unnaturally lucky, or had connections high up the ladder. Not the most famous school in the country, but within New York? Top-tier.
It was known for brutal exams, pristine uniforms, and students who either cracked under pressure or climbed their way into leadership. Every hallway reeked of ambition, caffeine, and quiet desperation.
Jake sighed as they passed through the gates. "Yay. Prison with better lighting and happy faces."
They all stepped in—and froze.
Jake and Carl looked around, eyes wide. Students they'd seen for years now looked... different. Some boys were now girls. Some girls now boys. Only a handful remained the same.
Jane and Carly shared the same realization.
"Well, guess that answers my earlier question," Carly muttered. "Fantasy world confirmed."
Jake pushed his glasses up with a sigh. "Yep," he muttered. Then, without another word, he walked toward the school building—into whatever reality awaited them inside.
"Hi, Jake." "Hello, Jake." "Good morning, Jake." The chorus of greetings followed him like perfume down the path. Every single girl Jake passed had something to say. Jake Carter—quiet, smart, and just the right mix of mysterious with that manipulator touch—was the most popular guy and also the universal crush of Graymont Academy. And for someone so withdrawn, he had unknowingly mastered the art of being a low-key heartbreaker.
Jake responded with a subtle smile, barely noticeable. The path to the main school building buzzed as girls whispered, argued, and swooned, convinced that smile had been meant for them. Jake, now expressionless again, just kept walking.
He paused in front of the door, took a deep breath. "Here we go again," he muttered before pushing it open.
He walked down the hallway, the greetings from outside a little breeze compared to the whirlwind of greetings here. He walked past his classroom and headed down the hall. Then stopped in realization. "Oops."
On turning, a hand blocked his path. Jake looked up to see Luis and his group—five guys who had transferred about a month ago. Luis, the self-appointed king of bullies, stood a bit too tall, a bit too muscular for a teenager.
"Hey man," Luis said.
Jake tilted his head, deadpan.
"Uh, Luis... that's Jake," one of Luis's guys whispered urgently, a longtime student who knew better.
Luis scoffed. "And how do I care?"
A small crowd began to form.
"Please don't tell me you don't know who Jake Carter is," the whispering guy tried again, but Luis shoved him aside.
Jake sighed. "If you idiots could let me be, I'd appreciate it."
The five boys encircled Jake. One of them snatched Jake's bag and tossed it aside.
Jake looked down at it, then up, expression still unbothered. Before he could fully turn to face Luis, a slap flew toward him. Jake ducked, like he'd been expecting it. He calmly adjusted his glasses.
Two boys grabbed his arms from behind. Still, Jake didn't flinch.
"You've been running your mouth for a while without consequences," Luis said, landing a slap across Jake's face. This time it connected. Then came a punch to the gut.
Strangely, nobody in the crowd intervened. Laughter echoed. Phones recorded. Everyone just watched. But they weren't really having pity on Jake but on the outcome of all this.
"See? Everyone knows you deserve this," Luis taunted.
Jake raised his face, still stoic. He turned to a nearby girl. "Hey Martha, could you help me take off my glasses?"
Then he looked at Luis. "Pardon. Just for the glasses."
Martha, cheeks flushing pink, nodded quickly and stepped forward. She carefully removed Jake's glasses.
"Thanks," Jake said calmly.
Outside the building, Carl, Carly, and Jane were arguing about something trivial before noticing students rushing into the hallway.
"Something's cooking inside," Carl said.
"What? Need an invitation to find out?" Carly grinned before dashing inside.
Carl and Jane followed. They pushed through the crowd to see Jake emerging from the center, casually picking up his bag. Martha followed him, clutching his glasses.
"Y-your glashesh," she said, braces flashing as she stumbled over her words.
"Thanks," Jake replied, taking them gently and winking before slipping them back on.
Martha giggled and scurried away, looking like she'd won the lottery.
Jake spotted Carly first, waved, and strolled off toward his classroom.
The others looked at each other, then decided to investigate.
Six boys—Luis and his crew—lay on the ground, groaning in pain.
"Who did this?" Jane asked.
A nearby girl turned. "It was Jake. Luis didn't realize who he was messing with. He thought everyone was quiet because Jake was weak, not because they knew what was coming. Did you know—"
Jane raised a finger to the girl's lips. "Zip it. That's enough, thanks."
The girl shrugged and turned back to the crowd.
Class began not long after the chaos settled. Despite the confusion, the day passed smoothly, and now it was time for the last class, History.
Jake and Carl entered the classroom first, followed shortly by Jane and Carly.
"Oh, you're all here," the History teacher said—Ms. Michelle. Once Mr. Michael. The change was still a bit surreal.
"Yeah, of course we are. The 'double twins,' right?" Jane said flatly.
"Not really. That's just what the world wants you to believe," Ms. Michelle replied with a curious look.
All four stared at the teacher.
"I don't think you're twins... at all," she added, tilting her head.
Then, before their eyes, she glitched—her body briefly flickered, masculine for a split second, before returning to her female form.
No one in the class seemed to notice, except for Jake, Jane, Carl, and Carly who stared, stunned.
Ms. Michelle smiled. "There's more to this world than you know. Welcome to the Merge."
To be continued...