The Exchange Student ➵ phan

Chapter 10

"Where the hell have you been?" Mrs. Lester snaps, not giving Phil a second to answer when her eyes dart to me. Widening considerably.

I blanch, staring intently at the floor and stuffing my hands back to my jacket's pockets. Beside me Phil scoffs, hitting my arm lightly. Whatever it was to soothe my nerves or beckon me into the spotlight I stepped away from the touch almost instantly.

This does not look good. Both your underage teens come home smelling like beer and sweat with one drenched in water. I run through a million excuses through my head, trying to settle on a really good one so we can escape this whole mess we're slowly jumping into.

"Well. I uh, wanted to see the town so Phil let me head out with him after dinner and we were at the pool when this random drunk bachelorette party-I think it was-and they played a little prank by pushing me in and Phil had to help me." I take huge breaths after my explanation; praying the Lester's wouldn't see through the many plot holes thanks to exhaustion and let us up with a wrist slap.

"Hey, I believe that. Bet he let you ride in the car with him too." Harold crosses his arms, nostrils flaring.

Dammit Phil, it wouldn't have killed you to show me some form of kindness to get us out of this? I mentally snap, shuffling from foot to foot uncomfortably. I flash Phil a 'help me' look and go back to studying each strand of the carpet.

"In fact I did. Why is that a fact you can't seem to grasp? Sometimes I actually do take a shining to people." Phil snaps, falling back to his normal facade.

I would be lying if I said the yelling didn't make me cringe. Not as bad as before but definitely enough for Lyda to take notice.

"Boys, do we really have to fight right now. It's 3am and look at Dan! He's terrified!"

"I'm not terrified," I mutter mostly to myself, blanching and inching towards the stairs.

"We'll talk about this tomorrow but right now everyone just go to bed. And Phil you aren't allowed to go off to anything else tonight. I know what people get up too at your parties." Harold points us all up the stairs and rubbing his temples with a free hand.

I speed walk up the steps, grabbing the wall to stand upright and praying I don't smell like wet dog or beer. It was a considerably strong drink.

"Hey nice save back there." Phil whispers when he passes me in the hall. Bumping my arm and smiling.

"Welcome." I smile, opening the door to my room and closing the door with my body.

Why do people always think of anxiety as a parlor trick?

-~-

"We're leaving!"

I didn't bother answering Lyda, instead setting down my jacket for the 70th time and wondering what England's weather is like during the summer.

It's significantly colder than L.A. that's easy to tell but is it cold enough for somebody to need a coat in the middle of summer? Probably not, I should stop fretting about this before my brain pops.

Opting to leave the coat behind I walk into the hall and run directly into Phil. Wearing his signature leather jacket and all black attire.

"Aren't you going to overheat in all that?" I ask him, looking down at my short sleeved gray shirt and black skinny jeans, not exactly summer dress.

"Maybe, maybe not. I've made it a game, will I die or live. Great fun." He shrugs, heading down the stairs and straight to the front door where Lyda was waiting for us in a tank top and shorts.