Chapter 26 Pt. 1: Pay No Attention to The Transparent Chick Behind the Curtain

*REAL HADLEY'S POV*

Before I can let out an resounding Yes!  Capital Y, Capital E, Capital S...Mason blurts out, "No!  Absolutely not!"

I look at him like he's nuts, "Why?  So I have to die again...been there...I can handle it."

"What if something goes wrong?" He brings up, "Baby, I can't lose you again..."

"I'm only going to be dead for a little bit, right?" I offer looking at Melody for some back up.

"Hadley, you know I told you there is always a risk.  I have developed a potion that has a toxic cocktail designed to kill you but I added some "reboot juice" that should move you and Briana back into the bodies you were supposed to be in the first place, then after a little bit of time, you will re-inhabit your original bodies naturally."

"All I hear is risk," Mason interjects.

"Mason, please..." I look at him desperately.

He has an extremely serious look on his face.  I would make fun of him if I weren't pleading for his support.

He shakes his head, "No...no...I can't do it...I...baby, when I thought I lost you the first time...do you realize what that did to me?  I was lost without you."

I turn and look at him sympathetically.  I understand because I would be a broken shell of a person without him too, but I trust Melody...and damn it, I want my body back.

"I have to try babe," I tell him, tears welling in my eyes, "don't you miss me?  The real me?  I hate living in this crap body..."

"So you would rather not live...at all?" He interrupts.

"I have to try, I hate living in this little twig body," I start and then come up with an idea.  It's playing dirty, but...

"I think I know what this is," I start.

He raises his eyebrows, "If it's anything but me trying to keep you in my life, you're wrong."

Shit.  He knows me.  Oh well, gone too far already...

"No, it has to be something else," Cue the hysterical jealous wife:  "I think you have gotten used to me in this blonde skinny body and you like it better than..."

He rolls his eyes and throws his hands up in the air, "You've gotta be kidding me."

I hang my head, "No, I guess I underst..."

"These games are not going to work on me, sweetie," he says, "not this time.  There's too much at stake."

I sigh.  This is getting frustrating.  "So you're being selfish.  You would rather have me here and miserable than back to myself and happy."

"I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE RISK!" He yells.  "If I'm being selfish because I'm trying to SAVE YOUR LIFE, well then I'm selfish."

Melody interjects at this point, "Whoa, guys, let's cool off, shall we?  Hadley, can I talk to Mason alone?  Briana needs to be fed something anyway.  You don't want your body to expire before we can even do the spell, do you?"

"Fine." I glare at Mason as I walk by, but of course it's not as effective as I would like it to be.

*MASON'S POV*

"Am I crazy to be concerned?  Really?" I ask Melody after Hadley heads out of the room.

"Of course not Mason.  I have told her that these types of spells are dangerous, but she has been unrelenting about wanting to get into her old body."  Melody replies.

"If these things are so dangerous, why did you agree to work on a spell?" I am confused.

"Here's the thing Mason," she starts, "there are really several ways to go about this and this way is by far the safest."

"Making her die?" I find that hard to believe.

"Well, you could always kill both women, take them back to the science lab, and hope it works itself out, but that plan is riddled with instability."

"Is there anything else?  Maybe just a switch spell?  Anything..." I plead with her.

She shakes her head, "No, I'm sorry Mason, but both of them have to become completely detached from the body they are inhabiting, then they have to make it back into their original body."

"That adds another concern...what if Briana doesn't want to go back in her body?" I ask.

"I have actually planned for that.  I'm not sure if it will work, but I have bonding spells I might be able to convert that will bond each woman to their right body."   Melody tells me.

Even knowing these things, I don't know if I can do this.  I start shaking my head, "I still don't know..."

Melody looks me in the eyes and says, "Believe me, Mason.  I don't want to lose her either.  I wouldn't be trying to do this if I thought it would kill her permanently, but as prepared as we can be, there comes a point where we just have to learn to have faith."

I sigh, "She's not going to let this go."

"No, I don't think she is," Melody agrees.

I wasn't really asking because I know my wife.  She will spend the rest of her life trying to get her body back, if it kills her or if that's all she does for the rest of her life.

Being married to Hadley is sometimes more trying than anything.  I know when she really has her mind on something there is no changing it no matter how much I fight - and we have had some major fights.

"Okay, I'm going to put my faith in you Melody." I tell her.

She gives me a friendly hug, "Don't be afraid, Mason.  If I know Hadley, she will come out of this."

I hope so.

*REAL HADLEY'S POV*

When I get back inside after throwing Briana some slop, I find Mason still talking with Melody.

"So what have we decided?" I ask, almost not wanting to know.

"Melody has convinced me to let you try it," Mason tells me.

I start to argue about his use of the word "let" but I decide not to push it.

"Really?!  Oh, thank you baby!  When are we going to do this?" I ask, throwing my arms around Mason.

"I have the potions in injection form.  I figure we won't be able to get Briana to drink this.

Mason sighs deeply, "Okay, so what happens now?"

"Someone needs to administer the potions to both of them."  Melody instructs, "I suppose I will inject either Hadley or Briana and you can inject the other Mason."

"Mason needs to inject Briana," I tell them, "I know my body, he's stronger than it for sure."

So it's settled.  Mason goes down to the cubby hole and brings Briana up restrained in my body.

"What are you all doing to me?  You can't do this!  You won't get away with this!" She keeps screaming.

"Yeah, whatever, bitch." I say as I hand Melody my arm.

"Are you ready Mason?" she asks my husband.  He holds up the syringe in response.

"On my count," Melody continues, "the closest proximity we get to giving them the injections at the same time, the better."

"What is this?  What are you doing?  Stop it, look, I'll stop talking...just..." Briana is yack-yack-yacking away until all of a sudden she's not and I don't hear anything.

"Baby?  Is that you?" I can hear Mason faintly, "Which one is she?"

"Her astral form will look like her actual self - so the one that looks like Hadley." Melody is explaining.

My eyes flutter open and I look around, a bit confused, but feeling okay.  I stand up and see Mason and Melody looking at me - and a very transparent Briana - looking like her old self - or the new me...wow...

She is looking around frantically, "What did you all do to me?  Am I dead?  What the...?  Why do you look like yourself?"

"Your time inhabiting Hadley's body is over Briana," Melody tells her, "in a matter of moments, you will return to your own body and she will return to hers."

"We're going to make sure of that," Mason interjects.

Mason.  I look around and see him, standing there, looking so...gorgeous...

I walk up to him, "Hi...do I look weird?"

"No weirder than you've looked over this last year," he answers.

He stares at me grinning with his wide smile for a few minutes before looking over at Melody, "Hey Mel, how solid are they right now?"

"More solid than you would think," Melody responds.

"Good," he replies.

Before I know what's happening, he is grabbing me and wrapping his arms around me.

...and he gives me the most amazing kiss I've had all year. 

Even though I'm not completely solid at this point, this feels as close to real as I can imagine.

Melody is talking to Briana, trying to calm her down.

"Where's my daughter?  Where's Keely?  Is she alone?  Is she with her father?" Briana is asking a million questions, but they are all about her daughter, so I guess I can't get too mad about that.

Melody brings her a sleepy Keely from our bedroom, "Keely is right here, and I'm sure she misses you."

Keely grabs on to her mother and holds on tight and Briana starts crying, "You know she hasn't been as responsive to me as Hadley...and...I've missed her..."

"That's what happens when she loses her mother,:" I tell her.

"I know *sniffle*," Briana replies, "I was so *sniffle* stupid.  I had *sniffle* everything before...*sniffle, sniffle*...because I had her *sob*."

"Are you going to try and get back into Hadley's body?" Mason asks her.

"No," she replies, "I swear, I'm sorry...I was wrong...you can have your body back.  All I want is Keely."

Even though the entire time I have known her I doubt she has said even one sentence of truth, I somehow believe her.

I look over to Melody and ask, "What now?"

"I'm going to bond each of you to your own bodies." She replies.

As Melody chants and sprinkles crap around me and Briana and our respective bodies, I begin to feel a strange pull.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Don't fight it," Melody instructs, "just let it lead you to where you need to be."

Same process, I all of a sudden didn't hear anything, then start waking up and fluttering my eyes open.

I can hear Mason sign in relief, "I think it worked."

"I know it did," Melody agrees.

I feel a little heavier than I have in awhile (damn it), but I know it's my body.  All of the right joints ache a little and my hair feels the same, thick and dark like my father's.  I feel my face and feel my eyes and skin where my freckles are and for the first time in my life I wish my freckles had some relief to them so that I could feel them on my skin.

I stand up and feel so much better standing at the right height and I look over and see Briana and glare.

For the first time, I can punch the bitch and make it count because I'm not worried about messing up my face.

"Hadley," she starts begging, "I'm so sorry...for everything...I was stupid..."

"Here's the problem, Briana," I tell her, "the damage has already been done.  Mason's reputation is ruined and we have lost all this time of normalcy because of you."

"I know, and I'm sorry.  I don't know what I can do to make it up to you.  I don't have anything...other than Keely." she grovels, "but I am so sorry."

I sigh.

"Look Briana, I just don't want to see you anymore.  I'm done with dealing with you, are we clear?" I ask.

"Of course, I'm probably going to have to leave town anyway," she says, "I don't have anywhere to go..."

"No, you and Keely are going to live in this house...and you're taking that horse..." I tell her.

"What?" she's confused, hell, so am I.  I really don't like the bitch, but I just want to go home and be done with all this crap.

"I'm serious.  I don't want you running around the streets having to look for a place to live with Keely...and I quite frankly don't like horses, so you'd be doing me a favor if you took Pepper off my hands.  We'll have all her crap delivered.  There's plenty of room in the back yard."

Briana tries to hug me, but I pull away, "this doesn't mean I want to be buddies or anything.  I just want to leave.  Just tell people Mason and I got back together and now it's just you in the house."

"This is so generous...more than I deserve." Briana looks at me with awe.

"Yeah, I know, just get out of my face.  We're going home." I tell her as Mason and I walk out the door.

Getting home, I have never been so happy.  I can't believe all that crap is behind us.  Maybe now we can just work on being an old married couple.

Thank heavens for Melody.  I'm going to have to send that chick a fruit basket or something.

Chapter 24: Just As Free, Free as We'll Ever Be

*REAL HADLEY'S POV*

...Over time...

Ugh...I have never been a big fan of all these rags, but now I can't stomach them at all.

Mason has really taken the majority of the heat for the "Madley Split" as the paparazzi has dubbed it.  He has been called a cheater, philanderer, a liar, a bad father, a bad person, an asshole, pretty much every name in the book.  I have been called a home-wrecker, a tramp, a slut, pretty much any derogatory name you can think of as well, but I didn't have as much notoriety, so I have been able to avoid the paparazzi - at least a little bit.

"Hadley" on the other hand has been all over the media - giving interviews, articles, television shows, she has become the jilted divorcee' turned Phoenix rising from the ashes and overcoming adversity.  After everyone got over the initial shock, of course they wanted to hear what happened, and she was so kind to oblige.  

Huh, best of luck to her is all I can say.

We might not have much, but this is what we have to look at every evening - and that's what we do.  We sit out on our back porch in the quiet, calm, serenity of nature and be together.  After all that has happened, that's really all we want.

Aunt Z found us a great little plot of land that overlooks the river and we are more than content to live in a little one bedroom, one bath house.

We have become boring over time, Mason still goes to work, thank goodness all the bad publicity has done wonders for fans in the stadium, even though they all hate him, they all want to see him and when the wives are booing, the husbands are realizing what a kick-ass football player Mason is and are secretly cheering - which is enough for me.

Even though it was shaky at first, our sex life has returned with renewed life and fire.  I'll admit it was weird for Mason being with me because I'm not in my old body anymore, but he got over it after awhile.  I would say he got over it a little too quickly, but what at least I'm the one benefiting.

I guess it's safe to say we're pretty happy in our life and we have been content to just keep going as is.

Until one day, we have a visitor...

We normally never have anyone visiting and certainly no one rings the doorbell.  Our family has a strict "walk right in" policy - even our threats of walking around the house naked haven't deterred them, so it was startling, after not hearing the doorbell in months, suddenly hearing it one afternoon.

"Who on the planet could that be?" Mason asks as he heads to the door.

I just shrug.

"Mason, it's so good to see you," I hear a familiar voice ringing like a pleasant song.

"Oh, uh, hey," he replies.

I peak out the window and see that it's Melody Sky - a challenge mother friend of mine, or of the old me.

I brace myself because we have had a couple friends of mine that didn't realize what was going on show up and clock Mason good, but nothing like that happens.

"Melody, how have you been?" He asks, obviously surprised at how not piping hot angry at him she is.

"Well, I was wonderful until I came into town, Mason," 

Her we go...

"Who is that wretched woman in Hadley's body?"

Chapter 20: Just a Small Town Girl, Living in a Lonely World

*MASON'S POV*

Did I just hear what I think I heard?  Surely not.

"What did you say?" I ask again, just to be sure.

"Hadley, our Hadley, is really Briana - and Briana is in Hadley's body - that's why she hasn't been able to remember anything."

Suddenly, I bust out laughing.

"That has to be the craziest joke I have ever heard." I tell her, "Where do you come up with this stuff?"

Evie looks at me and she's not laughing.  I sigh.

"I wish it were a joke, Mason, it's not." she says.

"Ev, come on," I say, "listen to what you're saying...it's crazy."
Evie glares at me, "Crazier than bringing her back from the dead in the first place?  Why is it so hard to believe that her body was switched somehow?"

I can't accept this.  I have been working too hard with Hadley...
"Mason, think about it...you were saying yourself how she wasn't like herself...maybe this is why."

"Okay, even if this is true, why hasn't Hadley in Briana's body said anything to me?  She's been living in my house now for almost a month."
Evie raises her eyebrows, "Probably because of how she knew you would react.  There is no way you would have accepted that coming from some chick you didn't even know."

"I can't believe this," I just keep saying, "this is impossible..."

"Just think about it, bro," Evie starts in again, "why would you even let Briana come stay with you?  You don't normally just let strangers stay in your house.  Why have you been so drawn to her?"

"Evie, I can't accept this...I just...can't..."

"Mason, please think about it.  Hadley needs us."

"I don't know." It's all I can say...because I genuinely don't.  I know that Hadley has been different, but that doesn't mean anything...necessarily...she lost her memory...but...

She hasn't been the same...she's a lot bitchier than she was, and whiny, and all of a sudden she's in love with a horse when she was never a big animal person...her temper is gone...her sense of humor has been gone, she's fixated on being famous and how much the paparazzi loves her...and she's more flighty than she ever was...maybe...

But what if I'm wrong?

What if Briana is Hadley?  What then?  How in the hell are we going to get them back to where they belong?  Why hasn't "Real Hadley" brought this up with "Real Briana"?

Well, I guess as long as I don't know what's going on, both of them are staying in the house...

THE NEXT MORNING....

*REAL HADLEY*

Evie told me she spoke with Mason and even though he acted like he didn't believe her, he is probably thinking about it, so...I guess it's just a waiting game...and I don't want to do anything that might anger the wacko that's taken over my body.

I don't know what I'm going to do...damn, skinny bitch...I should get it really fat.
Pancakes it is!

  

As I put them down on the counter, I hear someone come up behind me.

"What the hell is this?"
Ahh, it's The Bitch.

"Pancakes, help yourself," I tell her.

"They're not poisonous, are they?" She asks, "You know, I'm a little smarter than that."

In response, I grab a fork and take a bite out of one of them.

"You could have poisoned the rest of them," she says.
"I'm hurt, you actually think I would drug you?" I can't keep my smart mouth shut.

"Actually, yeah," she replies.
"So fix a plate and take them to Mason, I hear him getting up," I say, "you know I wouldn't risk hurting him."

This seems to pacify her.

She grabs a plate and eats them standing up.

"These are really good..." she says between bites.
"Yeah...they're a secret recipe...they're m...*light bulb*...they're Mason's mom's famous recipe...his favorite."

"Nice try, I know his mom can't cook," she says.
"Aww, can't get one over on you," I say slyly, "...but it's true, they're pancakes, anyone can fix pancakes."
"I'm not an idiot," she says matter-of-factly.

Huh, matter of opinion.

"I know," I reply, "fine, don't believe me.  I'm sure Mason will realize you're not me when you never remember anything...so, fine, go ahead, give them to him...tell him I made them...that'll be sure to send him into my arms even faster."

"Whatever"

"Screw you too."

She picks up a plate and heads into the dining room calling for Mason all the way.  Now I just have to hope she takes the bait.

Her screeching sounds horrible on my voice, I have to say, "MASON!  Come downstairs, I made you something!"

*MASON'S POV*

"Baby, you made these?" I ask her.
"Yup," she replies.

Hmm, maybe it is her.

"Delicious...eating these always reminds me of being a kid." I tell her.  Is she starting to remember something?

"Uh, yeah, somehow I just knew how to make them," she says, "like I was remembering something...didn't...it's kind of fuzzy, but someone gave me the recipe."

He leans back and smiles, "That's right!  You're remembering...I used to get so excited when I would come downstairs and she would be in the kitchen making these pancakes."

Her eyes brighten and she smiles.  Oh wow, she is remembering something!  Evie is so crazy, she didn't know what she was talking about.

"Yeah, I didn't want to say anything, but I remember your mom fixing these." she says.

Huh?

"Uh, I have to go to work," I say and head out.

Okay, was she confused?  Maybe she just thinks that's who it was in her memories...

See, it wasn't my mom...my grandmother would fix pancakes for us whenever she would visit...and Hadley got the recipe from her...but...if she was remembering the pancakes, wouldn't she remember that?

Damn, how did my life get so confusing?
Unfortunately, I don't have time to think about it because I have a game.

*REAL HADLEY'S POV*

The bitch and Mason are at his football game, Keely is down for a nap, and I am bored...so I start exploring my house...

Ahh, my bath tub...I debate taking a nice bubble bath, but I don't want to freak Mason out, getting all Fatal Attraction on him....and I don't want the crazy bitch to try to drown me...*sigh* better not.

So I head downstairs...

I turn on the TV, but it doesn't help because there's some wedding show on and it reminds me of my wedding...
Am I ever going to be able to kiss my husband again?

This is too depressing.

Back to channel surfing...

I didn't even hear the door open and shut, but Mason comes in and he's staring at me.

"Hey," I greet him.  I'm not in the mood to try to pretend to be someone I'm not, so I hope he just leaves me alone.

"Hey," he replies, but he just stands there.

Oh-kay...
"Have a good game?" I ask him.

"Yeah, we won," he answers.

"Great," I reply...he's still standing there staring at me.  God, he's hot...ugh.  Cold shower, cold shower...

He's still standing there.  What is he waiting for?  An engraved invitation to sit on his own couch?

"Do I have something on my face?" I ask.
"No...uh...I need to talk to you..."

Exasperated, I ask him, "What is it?"

"What did you tell me the first time you saw me dressed like this?"

Wait, that's not a question for the "new" me...
I look at him and he's staring at me expectantly, then I look around for her....she's nowhere in sight...

I stand up...

"Well, first I said..it was different..." I say, walking toward him...
"Yeah?  What else?" he asks.

"...I told you you needed a purple hat with a feather and some gold teeth to go with it..."

He walks toward me slowly...too slowly...or not slow enough...

and before I know what's going on, he grabs me and kisses me...the deepest, most passionate kiss I think I have ever received from him...and we've had some good ones...

Thank God...

Chapter 10: Now I Remember Why I Can't Take You Anywhere

*BRIANA'S POV*

Waking up was extremely disorienting, especially since I am used to waking up in a dingy, mold-covered house in a bed with strings poking out of the mattress and sheets that are so thread-bare you would think an angel sneezed and made them.

I stretch to get my bearings.  Oh, what a glorious snooze.  Of course, then I think of Trevor.

I am sure he's waking up now, realizing I'm not there.  There's no telling what he will do.  

That thought terrifies me.

I have to get back and get to Keely...and find out what I'm going to do from now on.

I go downstairs and find Hadley in the laundry room.

Hadley: Did you sleep well?

Briana: Better than I have in ages.  Thank you so much for your hospitality, I must be going.

Hadley: Oh, at least stay for breakfast.

Briana: I'm sorry, I can't.  I really do thank you though...for everything.

Hadley: Oh...kay...at least let me give you a ride home...or get you a cab?.

Briana: Oh, no...I couldn't...

Hadley: I insist.

She grabs her phone and calls a cab company before I can argue anymore.  I guess my first stop is to go get Keely...but after that, I have no idea what I'm going to do.

*HADLEY'S POV*

After Briana leaves, I go outside to see Pepper.  She has grown up so much lately.  She's a big horse now.  I try my hand at riding her...

I must be doing it wrong...my body bounces up and down so much I think Pepper will buck me off of her.  Thank goodness she doesn't.

After I think I've fully bruised my backside, I get down and my phone rings.  It's Mason.

Mason: Hey baby, my parents are having a party tonight.  Should I tell them we're coming?

Hadley: Um...

Mason: We don't have to...

Hadley: No, let's go ahead and go.

Mason: Okay, Mom told me to tell you to come over any time you want.  I'll be there after work.

Hadley: Okay...see you there...

Mason: Yeah...

Hadley: Bye...

Mason: Bye.

Just before Mason gets off work, I head over to Zoey and T-bone's.  I always feel a little awkward here.  I don't know why.

I walk through the kitchen and see Evie at the microwave.

Hadley: Hey!

Evie: Hey Hadley!  What's going on?

Hadley: Nothing much....what are you doing?

Evie: *laughs* My version of cooking.

Hadley: That's a microwave meal...

Evie: Exactly.  It's about done, come on with me in the dining room...

Hadley: Okay...

Even though I still don't like her all that much, Evie and I are getting along a little better, especially since she gave me Pepper.

As we head out to the table, my dad catches me and I chat with him for a bit.

Andrew: How ya' doin' baby girl?

Hadley: Can't complain...just the usual, me with a broken head.

Andrew: At least it's a cute broken head.

Hadley: *giggle* It looks just like yours.

Andrew: *blush* Oh...

My mother walks up behind him.

Amy: Don't let him fool you.  He knew exactly what he was saying when he said it.

Andrew: *to my mother* Are you implying that I'm vein?

Amy: I'm not implying anything, I'm straight up saying it.

She winks and pats him on the back and he smiles back at her before she walks off.  I guess that's a thing between them, but I can't help but glare a little bit.  I don't like her calling him vein.  It's times like these that I wish I could remember my previous life.  I'm sure that's the kind of thing I would have laughed at before.

Hadley: It's okay, Daddy.  I don't think you're vein.

I give him a big hug.

Andrew: Haha, she's called me worse than that, punkin'...don't worry a bit about it.

Hadley: Okay, I won't.

Dad walks off and I hear Zoey somewhere in the kitchen.

Zoey: There's a cheese plate in here if anyone wants some.

Evie: Mama, you made a cheese plate?

T-bone: She bought a cheese plate...ouch!

Zoey: You know good and damn well I can put cheese on a plate.

I sigh.  More jokes I just don't get.  I head into the kitchen and get a plate.

Hadley: This looks good Mrs. Pope.

Zoey: Ooh, damn, honey, please call me Zoey - or Aunt Z.  You're making me feel old.

Hadley: Oh, I'm sorry.

She pats my back.

Zoey: I'm just teasing you, call me whatever you want.

I am really starting to like Zoey.  She is not as blunt as my mother can be sometimes.

I head back to the table where Evie is sitting now and my brother, a male version of my mother, is just getting up.  Evie is teasing him.

Evie: Ice cream, Keaton?  Really?  Aren't you a doctor?

Keaton: Yeah, it's calcium...good for you.  Hey, Hadley!

I sit down as he's getting up.  I always feel a little shy around Keaton, and I'm not really sure why.

Hadley: Hey Keaton.

Keaton: Doing any better remembering things?

Hadley: Not really...I'm starting to think I'm never going to remember.

Keaton: I'm sure you will, those memories are floating around somewhere in there.

I smile at him and we chat for a couple more minutes, but then he leaves.

Mason shows up right after Keaton leaves.
Evie: Ooooh, look!  Mason is gracing us with his presence!
Mason: Nobody likes a smart ass, little sis.
Evie: So touchy.

After Mason eats, the three of us split up.  

I sit down with my parents and talk...I'm talking about dishes, and apparently my mother is talking about a disco ball...and my father looks confused.   That I understand.

Mason goes upstairs to his childhood bedroom and does some reading.  I'm not really sure why he needed to do that, but whatever.

We spend so much time there that all of a sudden, Zoey comes out in her nightgown.

Zoey: Y'all are still here?

We all take the hint and go home.

Now I remember why I don't like those parties.  I get really stressed out because I don't know how to interact with everyone.  It's like being in a different culture or something.  I do much better at home with Mason.