The Exchange

Chapter 4

"Hey Mira!" I turn to the direction of the voice and see Marley bouncing excitedly in her desk.

"Hey." I say sitting down next to her in the back end of the class. I choose the seat in the second last row which is different for me since I usually like to sit in the front so I can see the board more clearly. I glance at the people around me. A few of these people have been in my earlier classes but I still don't know their names. It is only a matter of time before I know everyone in all my classes though.

"Oh my gosh. Don't you think that guy is so hot!" Marley says looking at a tall, muscular blond on the other side of the classroom. Other than tall, built, and blond, he looks dumber than a doorknob and he still has a round baby face. I doubt his facial features have changed since he was a baby.

"Umm, no." I tell her and she looks at me in disbelief. I ignore her look and scout the classroom for someone who is attractive. My eyes bounce from boy to boy and I take a deep breath. They all look so childish and boyish but I figure Alex Renold is the most decent looking boy in our classroom.

Alex Renold. Tall, short black hair, dark skin and thin framed glasses that frame his face. A new kid from the other side of town. Glasses don't suit most people but they suit him. They make him look more sophisticated and mature and less of the boyish variety. What can I say? I like older guys. I met him briefly in my previous geography class. He sat next to me and spoke to no one when the teacher allowed us to pack up five minutes before the bell so I said hello. It wasn't hard to start up a conversation with him since he is a very decent looking guy.

"He's cute." I tell Marley gesturing over to Alex.

"Who's that?" Marley asks and I give her a brief description on everything I know about him. We always do this when one of us knows someone the other doesn't

"Alex Renold." I tell her in a hushed voice. "New from the west end, previously went to Sir. John A Mcdonald. In my geo class and doesn't know many people yet."

"Oooh, is that going to be the guy who takes you to prom?" She teases me and I roll my eyes.

"Mock my plan if you want, but it's going to work."

"What ever you say Mira." she says and she turns in her seat to face the front of the class where our teacher is trying to get everyone's attention.

"Hello everyone, my name is Mr. Laide and I'm your Religion teacher for this semester." Mr. Laide continues telling us about the rules and expectations of all students in the school. Why does every teacher tell us this? I have already heard this same speech three times today and I do not want to listen to it for a fourth time.

Obviously, I am not the only person not interested in Mr. Laides' lecture. Most of the class isn't paying attention either. Kayla Haring is playing Flow on her Iphone and Steve Franco is reading the inspiring posters on the walls. Even Marley isn't interested in what Mr. Laide has to say and is reading the One Direction magaine she has brought to class.

I cross my arms over my chest and stare at the chalk board. One Direction's single Live While We're Young plays in the back of my mind. They're beautiful voices dance in my head while Mr. Laide continues talking.

"...And finally, Welcome to Sir Wilfred Laurier High School." Mr. Laides' last sentence hangs in the classroom just as the classroom phone starts to ring.

"One moment please students." He says as he picks up the phone. Everyone in the classroom starts talking to whoever they knew.

"Well, this is fun so far." A girl behind me says sarcastically. I turned to see her.

"Yeah, so fun." I reply just as sarcastically to her. "I'm Mira."

"Julia." she says smiling. Marley jumped into our conversation obviously feeling left out.

"That's such a pretty name..." She starts a moment before Mr. Laide hangs up the phone.

"Is there a Mirabelle Fright in this class?" He asks. I raise my hand at the sound of my name.

"The vice-principle would like to see you in the office." Mr. Laide says.

"Mira, you already got in trouble?" Marley calls out grinning. She knows I am not the kind of person to get in trouble often. I get up from my seat and smirk at her making her believe I actually did something. Wow she's gullable. I close the classroom door behind me and make the short walk down to the office in the general commons area.

***

I sit in a blue waiting chair outside of my vice-principles office. I wonder why they could have possibly called me down. I haven't done anything wrong, at leat not that I know of. My schedule isn't messed up, I haven't complained about anything. My heart pounds in my chest at the thought of being in trouble. My palms start sweating, my adrenaline spikes. I'm suddenly woried

"Mirabelle Fright?" A short man walks out of ad office and looks straight at me since I am the only person in the waiting room.

"That's me." I say getting up from my chair. My vice-principle shakes my hand in greeting and leads me though a door marked Mr. Huffley. He sits down behind his desk and I take a seat across from him on the "student side." Mr. Huffley folds his hands on his desk and smiles at me.

"You must be wondering why I called you down." He says trying to be nice. I say trying because he is creeping me out more than anything. I nod my head and shift in my chair.

"Well Mira, you have been chosen to participate in an exchange trip to learn about international cultures." Mr. Huffley says smiling creepily.

chosen, exchange, international? Wait what is he saying?

"Umm, excuse me sir?" I say, asking for clarification on what the heck he is trying to say.

"You, have been chosen to participate in an exchange trip." He says again.

An exchange trip? As in go somewhere else, alone, for a year or so, which takes away from my high school years? No way!

"No!" I stop Mr. Huffley mid sentence. I just missed everything he said after he clarified why he called me down.

"I mean," I say trying to cover up my rude interruption, "With all due respect sir, no. I don't want to go to a foreign country away from my family and my friends and my whole life! I've never been away from my parents for over a weekend sir, I don't even know how to get on a plane!" Not to mention this would ruin my entire high school plan to have a better high school experience! Mr, Huffley looks at me like I am crazy.

"Mirabelle, do you understand this is an amazing opportunity and experience?" Mr. Huffley tries to convince me.

"Sir, I don't want to go!" I say slightly louder than I should of. Mr. Huffley looks at me shocked and I settle down again taking deep breaths through my nose.

"Well, there is one more thing..." he says trailing off. I look at him in anticipation. He doesn't know how stubborn I can be. There is no way I am budging. "...you don't have a choice."

Wait, what did he just say?