The Switch

Chapter 10 | British Etiquette

c h a p t e r  1 0

BRITISH ETIQUETTE

LIV.

"HE CALLED YOU LOVE!" Piper squealed. "We're going to London! We're going to meet Harry Styles!"

"Piper, chill," I couldn't help but giggle at her antics. "It's not that big a deal."

"Are you kidding?" Reagan asked. "Of course it's a big deal! He's even paying for you!"

"Okay, maybe it's a little bit of a big deal," I said.

I walked to the kitchen and attempted to explain to my mom what had just occurred.

"Wait, so what you're telling me is that Harry Styles, a famous singer in that boy band, is paying for you and Piper to go back to London?" she said in disbelief. "All so you can get you can switch your suitcases back?"

"Yeah, that's pretty much it," I nodded. "So can we go?"

My mom sighed. "Well, I don't see why not. I'm only saying yes because your other trip got ended early." She pointed a finger at me. "Remember that."

"Yes! Thank you!"

"Piper, are your parents okay with this?" my mom asked her.

"Yep! They're cool with it!" she replied sweetly.

"Alright then," my mom said, shaking her head in amusement. "When do you leave?"

"I haven't checked my email yet," I told her. "I'll go do that now to see if Harry sent us the information."

I opened my laptop and pulled up my email. I refreshed the window to see if I had received any new emails. Sure enough, there was an email from h.e.styles@gmail.com. I clicked on the email and read what it said:

Hi Ms. Thomas,

My management was able to get you and your friend two tickets to London, your flight leaves at 12:45 in the evening, Portland time. I hope this won't be an inconvenience of any kind, it seemed the best flight option. I've arranged for you to be picked up from the airport once you land. I would do it myself, but there are always lots of fans in public. There is a link for the tickets below.

Yours,
Harry E. Styles

I smiled at his email and how formal it was. I decided to reply and typed:

Mr. Styles,

Why so formal? Please call me Olivia, not Ms. Thomas. You sound like my grandfather. Again, thank you very much for arranging all of this. I will make sure to not forget your limited edition boots.

Sincerely,
Olivia

I giggled and pressed send. After going back to his email, I clicked on the attached link. It pulled up a page with information on how to receive our tickets at the airport. I quickly printed in out, and brought it into the kitchen to show Piper and my mom. They both looked it over and I grinned. "Ready to go back to London?" 

Piper gave me a look. "Do you even need to ask?"

__________

4:30 pm

Piper and I went to the hospital to visit Leah before we left. We explained everything that had happened over the course of the day, and after we finished, Leah's jaw was dropped so far it looked like it had fallen off it's hinges.

"You what-- you ... talked to Harry Styles? You-- have his suitcase? You're going back to London? To meet ... Harry?" she mumbled, her brown eyes wide.

"Can you even believe it?" Piper peeped.

"I wish I could go with you," Leah said sadly.

"I wish you could too," I told her as I sighed. "It would be awesome."

"You're not going anywhere, anytime soon," Leah's mom said as she came into the room. "Doctors orders, you need to stay in bed."

Leah rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed. "Mom, I know."

"We gotta get going," Piper announced. "We need to pack-- again."

"I'll see you when you get back!" Leah waved enthusiastically. "Tell me everything!" 

I laughed as we walked out the door. "We'll get you an autograph!"

__________

6:00 pm

Bored, I opened my laptop and checked my email. To my surprise, I had an message from h.e.styles@gmail.com. I opened it, and it said:

Olivia,

Please don't call me Mr. Styles, you sound like my grandmother. And I was only being so formal because I don't know you well enough to call you just Olivia. It's simple British etiquette. But I will call you Olivia if that's what you want.

Yours,
Harry

I just laughed and put my laptop away. I realized a nap might be helpful, considering that our flight was leaving past midnight, so I got under my covers and fell asleep.

__________

10:45 pm

I yawned as I woke up. Checking the clock, I saw I needed to start getting ready to leave. I dragged a brush through my hair and grabbed my backpack, which had the basic necessities. 

__________

12:27 am

By the time I had left the house, arrived at the airport, gotten our tickets, and been through security, it was almost time to board the plane.

"I'm so tired," Piper complained. "I mean, I love Harry and all, but why did he get us a flight that left so late?"

"Don't ask me," I shrugged.

__________

12:38 am

"Group 2, now boarding," the intercom said.

"That's us! Let's go," Piper chirped as we headed into the plane.

We took our seats, and a few minutes later, we took off. "I'm having a feeling of deja vu," I said to Piper.

Luckily, we were seated together this time, not to mention in first class. It seemed Harry had really come through.