Juno’s boots clicked softly against the pavement as she walked away from the school, the chill of the afternoon air biting at her skin.

  Her scarf was wrapped snugly around her neck, but it still didn’t seem like enough to beat the cold that was starting to creep in. She pulled it tighter, her mind already drifting to the shift waiting for her at the Green Tea Cafe.

  It was the place Celia had been working at for over a year, according to the journal. Juno hadn’t heard of it before, but from what she could gather from Celia’s notes, it was one of those up-and-coming coffee spots near the main shopping alley. The kind of place where people would stop for a quick pick-me-up and maybe a slice of something sweet.

  But just as she reached the corner, a sudden flash of memory hit her, like a snap of fingers. She froze.

  A note. Celia’s neat, looping handwriting, scribbled on a scrap of paper in one of the journals that Juno had been flipping through.

  Check in on Aaron in classroom 4-B. Share a new cup of cocoa with him. Only do this when you feel that he’s having a hard time. This is part of Project 365, but it should be rare.

  It didn’t make sense to her. How was she supposed to know when Aaron was having a hard time?

  The guy, at least from the short time she had known him, seemed so... guarded. He was still a stranger to her.

  She glanced down at her watch, then back at the school. She wasn’t due at the cafe yet, and the seniors didn’t get out for another hour. What could it hurt to swing by?

  Her feet, almost on autopilot, turned back toward the building. She could do this. It was a part of the project, after all.

  The hallway was starting to buzz with life as she walked past the classrooms. Students were trickling out, forming groups, chatting with each other about their plans for the evening.

  Some were laughing, others huddled together, heads bent close, their voices low as they made last-minute plans. The air was filled with the shuffle of feet, the soft clang of lockers closing, the murmur of voices blending together as everyone tried to make their way out and head home.

  When she reached classroom 4-B, she stopped outside, peeking through the glass window in the door.

  Inside, Aaron was standing with three other boys, laughing at some joke one of them had cracked. He was right in the middle of it all, grinning like he didn’t have a care in the world.

  The weak afternoon sunlight filtered through the frosted windows, catching his dark hair and giving it a soft, golden-brown glow.

  There was a flutter in Juno’s chest as she watched him. Cute, she thought, before immediately scolding herself.

  They were step-siblings. That was weird. She couldn’t think of him that way. But there was something about him at that moment. Something that felt... comfortable.

  And then, just like that, Aaron turned his head. His gaze met hers through the window. Juno’s heart gave a little leap as he broke away from the group, striding toward her with the same calm, composed expression he had the first morning she woke up as Celia.

  “Hey,” he said, his voice neutral but warm.

  Juno felt an unfamiliar wave of nervousness. She hadn’t expected him to approach her so directly. “Uh... I made you some cocoa,” she said, holding up the tumbler. “I meant to give it to you this morning, but you weren’t around.”

  Aaron raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “I was at school early for a project,” he replied, his tone casual. But his eyes seemed to be searching hers for something, figuring her out, piece by piece.

  Juno couldn’t quite meet his gaze for long. She unscrewed the tumbler lid and poured the cocoa into a small paper cup. “I would’ve made more, but I’m heading to work soon,” she said, pushing the cup toward him.

  Juno watched, holding her breath, as Aaron took the cup from her hands, his fingers brushing hers for the briefest moment. He raised the cup to his lips, eyes flicking down at the steaming cocoa, and took a slow sip.

  The warmth spread across his face, but it wasn’t just from the cocoa. Something in the taste hit him in a way he wasn’t expecting, and for a second, it felt like the world had slowed down.

  This was exactly like Celia’s. The rich, velvety texture. The sweetness, not too overpowering, just enough to melt the edges of a tired soul.

  Only Celia could make cocoa this good.

  For a moment, the swirling thoughts in his mind paused. The conversation from yesterday that morning with the officers was still fresh in his mind. The information about that dead girl with Celia’s school ID. All of it disappeared with one more sip of cocoa.

  Aaron pulled the cup away from his lips and looked at Juno, blinking as if waking from a trance. “This is... really good,” he muttered softly in awe.

  He was still processing the warmth of the drink, but there was something in the back of his mind that he couldn’t shake. It was like he was suddenly seeing Juno in a new light.

  He stared at her for a second longer than he meant to, as if looking for a clue, a sign that maybe... maybe she really was Celia.

  She stood there, awkwardly shifting her weight, trying not to meet his eyes. He watched her, his expression softening a little.

  “Thanks for the cocoa,” he said, smiling gently at her. His hand reached up instinctively and patted her head. He hadn’t meant anything by it, but the warmth of the moment, combined with the cocoa, made him feel... better.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Juno’s face flushed the second his hand touched her head. Her entire body went stiff, and she looked like she was about to evaporate into thin air.

  He noticed it instantly, the pink creeping up her neck, the way her eyes avoided his.

  “Be safe,” Aaron said, his voice soft but firm. “And text me when you get home, okay?”

  Juno nodded quickly, like the words were more of a command than a suggestion. She mumbled something under her breath, but he couldn’t make it out.

  Then, before he could say anything else, she turned sharply and rushed down the hall.

  She looked flustered, completely out of her element. He watched her go, the awkwardness in her movements only making him smile more.

  He couldn’t help it. Something about the way she tried to hide her blush was endearing, and despite everything else running through his mind, he found himself thinking, Maybe she really is Celia.

  But then, just as quickly as it came, the thought faded, and Aaron shook his head, trying to push it away. He didn’t have time to think about that. Not right now.

  He glanced back at the cocoa in his hands, feeling a quiet sense of calm settle over him as he took another sip, thinking that maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be okay.

  —----

  Juno stepped into the Green Tea Cafe, the bell above the door chiming softly. She could still feel the warmth of Aaron’s hand on her head.

  She quickly swiped a hand across her face, trying to hide the obviously flushed look on her face. She pushed the thoughts aside as best she could. Pretending to be Celia wasn’t over yet.

  Tony, who was behind the counter, immediately looked up when she walked in. His eyes softened slightly when he saw her. "Hey, Celia," he greeted her, but there was concern in his voice. "You okay? You didn’t show up yesterday. I was worried."

  Juno froze for a moment, her mind racing to catch up with Tony's words. "Wait, what do you mean?" she asked, her voice coming out sharper than she intended.

  Tony's expression softened even more, concern deepening in his eyes. "Two nights ago, remember?" he said, his voice gentle, "you walked home alone. On the coldest night in recorded history. I offered to give you a ride, but you refused. And then, you didn't show up for work yesterday. I was worried, Celia."

  Juno felt a strange, cold sensation creep up her spine as his words hit her. The coldest night in recorded history? Of course she knew that night. That was the night—the final night she spent in her real body. The next morning, she had woken up in Celia's body.

  The night her memories of her life had ended, and Celia’s had begun.

  Her pulse quickened as she realized the full weight of it. Celia had been out there, alone, in the extreme freezing weather, and Juno had no idea what had happened between then and when she had woken up in this new body.

  Had something happened to her? The thought hit her hard, making her stomach twist.

  Juno took a shaky breath, trying to push the thought away. "I... didn’t remember that," she muttered, forcing a smile. "I must’ve been really out of it."

  Tony frowned, still watching her closely. "Are you sure you’re okay?" he asked, his concern clear.

  Juno nodded quickly, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to steer the conversation away from the gnawing feeling of dread. "Yeah, just a little tired, I guess. Sorry about yesterday. I need a rest day. It won’t happen again."

  But deep down, she couldn’t shake the sinking feeling that something had happened. Something that was tied to that night.

  Tony gave her a skeptical look, his lips pressed in a thin line. "Alright, if you say so." He turned toward the counter, but not before giving her one last look. "If you need to talk, you know where I am."

  Juno nodded quickly, hoping the conversation was over. She quickly tied her apron around her waist and took her place behind the register.

  Despite the easy motions of settling into her work, her mind couldn’t stop racing. That night felt like a distant memory. But the more she thought about it, the more the weight of what might’ve happened to the real Celia pressed down on her.

  She grabbed the first order Tony handed her, trying to focus. But her thoughts kept swirling back to that cold, lonely night. What had happened to Celia? Why did she walk home alone, in a weather that would have killed her?

  Tony was keeping an eye on her, no doubt sensing that something was off. As the night wore on, he checked in on her more than usual.

  "You sure everything's fine? You've seemed kind of distracted," he commented, as Juno handed a cappuccino to a customer.

  She pasted on a smile, trying to stay focused. "Yeah, just... just a lot on my mind."

  Tony gave a slow nod, but his concern didn’t fade. He was quiet for a moment before speaking again.

  "Well, if you need to talk about it... you know, you’re not the only one with personal projects to work on. But I’ve noticed that you’ve been a little quieter than usual." He paused before adding with a lighter tone, “How’s that personal project going, by the way?”

  Juno swallowed, unsure how to respond. The project. Project 365. She wasn’t sure what to say. How could she explain the strange situation she found herself in?

  "Yeah," she said after a pause. "It’s... going well. I’m on the second day now. Challenging, but it’s keeping me busy."

  Tony gave a knowing smile. "Good. If you need a little break or want to try some new things, you’re free to experiment with new recipes after work."

  His voice was light again, but his eyes still held a soft concern, making Juno feel like he was seeing through the cracks in her facade.

  "Thanks," she said, trying to sound more cheerful. "I’ll keep that in mind."

  The night passed by in a blur of orders, small talk with customers, and the slow hum of cafe conversations.

  Juno could feel herself starting to slip back into the rhythm of this job, her movements growing more confident, though her mind was still clouded by what could have happened to the real Celia.

  As the evening wound down, the last order of the night was placed by an older man who walked up to the counter, his eyes sharp and observant.

  He was gruff, with a cold demeanor that made Juno feel slightly uneasy. His voice was low and serious. "One hot cocoa."

  Juno nodded, smiling as best as she could while preparing the drink. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something about this man was different.

  As she handed him his cup, he took it with a quiet nod, but instead of walking away immediately, he lingered for a moment. He looked at her carefully, his gaze assessing in a way that made her skin crawl.

  There was something about the way he looked at her. It was like he knew her. Or maybe it was the other way around. Juno’s eyes flicked to his waist, and she caught the glint of a police badge.

  The man turned and left without another word, but his presence still lingered in the air. Juno quickly tried to push the strange feeling away, but before she could, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

  She pulled it out, her pulse quickening when she saw Aaron’s name on the screen.

  "Head home right after work. Our parents are back."

  Juno’s stomach dropped.

  With a sinking feeling, Juno realized that whatever had happened to the real Celia, whatever had brought her into this strange, confusing life, it wasn’t over. And neither was pretending.

  It was only just beginning.