Student Exchange

I

"Are you homesick yet?" Ally asked from the couch across the room.

"Not yet," I chuckled, locking my phone and giving my hosts my full attention. "It's only been a couple of days, Ally."

"New York is really far from Florida, Camila." Dinah pointed out.

Dinah and I were currently on the couch facing the television that was mounted on the wall above a fireplace and Ally was sprawled out on the other couch, perpendicular to us. However, this wasn't my house.

I applied for a student exchange program earlier this year. I was entering grade twelve and saw it as the perfect opportunity to exercise my independence. I ended up getting paired up with Ally's family.

I was relieved to find out that Ally's cousin, Dinah lived with her and her family. I figured that if Ally and I really didn't get along, I would have someone else to fall back on. Except that now, four days later, we're were all getting along extremely well.

"That's true but I'm having a really good time so far," I answered honestly.

"Are you actually? I feel like we're not doing enough for you, I mean we're literally sitting around watching TV together." Ally frowned.

"I am!" I reassured. "I've been to Florida before, don't feel obliged to take me around everywhere. I'm honestly having such a good time getting to know you two. I know this is super cliché, but I feel like we've been friends longer than four days."

"I didn't want to say it in case you didn't feel the same way," Dinah admitted and we all laughed. "I can't believe you're only going to be here for a month, though."

"Florida is far, I can't exactly borrow my dad's car and drive there," Ally explained.

"Yeah," I agreed. "But that doesn't mean we won't stay in touch and visit as much as possible, and who knows where we'll end up for college."

"That's true, watch us all end up somewhere together," Ally's voice trailed off as her phone began buzzing in her lap. "Guys, I think I found something to do instead of watch TV."

"Okay..." Dinah drew out the word and then looking at me.

"I don't think you met Normani but Camila, do you remember Lauren from Saturday night?"

"I'm going to be completely honest with you, I don't remember too much from that night." We all went out to some party on Saturday night, my second night in town.

Pre-drinks turned into us drinking at the party, and us drinking afterward. In hindsight, maybe it wasn't a good idea to get drunk my second night alone with people I barely know but I wasn't even that bad. I was always sober enough to know what was going on, where I was, and to stay safe but I met a ton of people that night and even if I was sober, I wouldn't have been able to remember all those names.

"I'm sure you remember Lauren, the one with the green eyes. You met her at the beginning of the night." Oh, her.

"Her and her best friend, Normani, wanted to know if we were free for dinner." Ally told me.

-Flashback-

"Dinah," I said over the loud music. "I'm getting tipsy, maybe this isn't a good idea."

"You did chug a beer at the house earlier," She laughed.

"Yeah, cause you dared me!" I groaned, I really hope I'm not making a mistake trusting these girls so quickly.

"Camila, there's only girls from our school here and if at any point you want to go back home, please tell me or Ally," Dinah reassured me. "I think once you start talking to people, you'll be fine. We're all nice girls and we're super close, it's a perk of being at an all-girls school."