The Foreign Exchange Student // h.s.

Night, England

Chapter 31:

Olivia's POV:

The girls and I piled into the car after bowling. I sulked in the backseat. Why? I lost terribly. Marisa won first place with over a hundred points. AJ was close behind while I had around 60. Pathetic, I know.

I sighed and stared out the window. I tuned out Marisa's gloating and AJ's cries that she cheated. It has been a while since we have been here and I was beginning to miss privacy.

I like being alone sometimes. It just gives me time to think. About everything. With this exchange student program, I feel as if I had to be with someone always. I couldn't leave for some reason.

A hand snapping I'm front of my face brought me out of my thoughts. "Hmm?" I asked the two girls. "Your phone is ringing," Marisa laughed soon joined by AJ. They thought it was hilarious I did not hear my phone.

I rolled my eyes and took out my iPhone and listened to the ringtone. I could easily identify who was calling by the ringtone. It was like caller ID for me.

The music coming from the phone was the drab one that comes on the phone already, which means I did not know this person. I glanced at the screen and read an unknown number. I shrugged. Might as well answer anyway. I pressed the green accept button and held my phone up to my ear.

"Hello?" I asked. "Yes, is this Olivia?" A woman questioned me from the other side of the phone. "Yes this is Olivia," I told her and she slightly chuckled. "Oh good! This is Anne Styles, Harry's mum," She explained. "Oh, hello," I told her politely.

"Yes, I understand that you and the other girls are becoming close friends with my boy?" She asked. All of the outcomes of saying yes flashed through my head. What if she tells us to stay away? What if she doesn't like me? What if she tells Harry bad things about us that makes him hate us? I just have to take a shot. "Yes," I squeaked into the phone. She lightly laughed. "There's nothing wrong with that," she chuckled. I sighed in relief.

"I was just calling to ask you for help with something," Anne told me. "Sure, what can I help you with?" I asked back. "Well," she sighed. "Since Harry will be in America during Christmas, we were going to celebrate it before he leaves. I was wondering if he mentioned anything about what he wants for Christmas..." She trailed off with hope in her voice. I thought back to all the conversations Harry and I have had.

"I'm sorry, but we never talked about that," I answered her honestly and she let out a big huff. "Tomorrow do you think that you can try to get some ideas out of him with being obvious? Every time I ask the boy what he wants, he says nothing! I swear that boy is like no other his age," We both laughed. "I'll be sure to get some ideas out of him tomorrow," I assured her.

"What about after school? I can pick you up in my car and we'll go shopping for him," Anne suggested all excited. "What about Harry?" I pointed out. She was silent for a moment, probably thinking. "I'll have Louis stall him. And those other girls?" She suggested. "Sounds like a plan," I agreed. "Thank you so much, Olivia, Anne squealed and I chuckled. "You're welcome," I told her then hung up.

"What was that about?" Marisa asked me. "Yeah, I kept hearing Harry," AJ wiggled her eyebrows at me. I laughed and mocked her face. "That was Harry's mom. She was calling to ask me for Christmas ideas for Harry that he might have said now that we are friends. I told her I didn't know, so tomorrow I'm going to get a few out of him, and go straight to shopping with his mom," I explained. "What is Harry going to do?" Marisa pointed out. "Anne is going to call Louis and all of y'all are going to stall him," I answered.

"Sounds like a plan," AJ laughed. We pulled into Marisa's driveway and got out the car. One thing that surprised us, was that her mom's car was there too. "I thought you weren't being serious," I whisper-shouted in Marisa's direction. "I thought I was too," She held up her hands in defense before we made out way up to the front door.

Marisa unlocked it and we all stepped inside. "Lets go straight to my room," Marisa instructed. I nodded as we quickly but quietly made our way up the stairs. As soon as we reached the top, AJ checked both ways like they do in spy movies. I had to hold my hand over my mouth not to laugh out loud.

Marisa did the ninja roll into her bedroom, followed by AJ. I was sitting at the top of the stairs trying not to laugh. My face was warm, meaning it was probably red, and I had tears forming in my eyes. Laughter threatened to escape my hands so I held them against my mouth tighter.

AJ and Marisa were in the same state as me, but were trying to motion me into the room. I finally was able to take my hands off my mouth and stand up. I didn't ninja roll, I just crawled across the floor. Once in the room, I hopped up of the ground and shot over in the bed where I buried my face in the blankets, and laughed. And laughed. And laughed. All of us girls were laughing for no reason.

The door sounded with knocks so we all sobered up. "Come in!" Marisa called. The door opened a crack and her mom popped her head in. "Hello girls," She smiled. She came fully into the room and gave us all hugs. She then sat on the chair in the corner of the room. "How's school?" Claire asked. I smiled. That's one of the things I like about her. She acts like a teenager, even though she brings us to museums. 

"It's really great," AJ answered and we nodded in agreement. "Where were you after school today?" Claire asked. "We went to the park, Target, and bowling," I told her. "Why target?" She asked confused. "We looked at the Halloween costumes for fun," Marisa answered her mom. "Ahh," her mom smiled.

"Any plans for tomorrow?" Claire continued. "Actually, tomorrow we are helping out Harry's mum with a favor," Marisa told her. She raised her eyebrows as signaling to go on. "Tomorrow I'm going to talk to Harry about what he wants for Christmas, and then I'm going to shop with his mom while AJ and Marisa stall Harry," I explained. "So you are going to be with an adult?" She asked me. "Yes, Anne Styles." I told her and she nodded. "While you two stall him?" Claire pointed at AJ and Marisa. "Yep. With the help of his friend, Louis." AJ clarified. "Well, I'm glad you are helping others," her mom said then left them room.

We sat there for a few seconds in silence. "I thought she was going to be mad at us for helping out a boy and me going off with his mom," I admitted. "Me too, but I guess she has moments," Marisa shrugged. "What do y'all want to do now?" AJ asked. We all shrugged.

The rest of the night we spent playing poker. Not betting money of course, but little metal cubes. We pretended as if that was money as we played and bet throughout the game. Marisa's mom even joined in at one point. Overall, AJ won with Marisa and I close behind.

I yawned. "Looks like someone is tired," AJ joked. I shot her a sarcastic look. "I don't have time for you," I sassed and stood up off the floor. Marisa giggled and they both followed my movements. "Good night girls," AJ hugged us both. "Night, England," I hugged Marisa and she laughed. "Good Night, America," she joked back.

I made my way into AJ and my room. I slipped on my pajamas and slipped into my side of the bed. AJ was showering because her hair is thicker than mine which means it takes longer to dry. If she tried to shower in the morning, it would take a while.

I shut my eyes and tried to fall asleep. So many thoughts were running through my head. How am I going to get Harry to tell me what he wants without being obvious? I sighed. "Just clear your mind," I whispered to myself. I probably look like a retard right now, but I need my sleep. And that's when I slowly drifted off.