The Exchange

Chapter 13

I slide the Banana Bread I made on the metal rack in the oven to cook. I cried silently while making it but I just hope the boys didn't notice anything.

I return to the living room before remembering that three new people are there. I stand in the doorway awkwardly, feeling like I shouldn't sit down in the middle of such a close group. It's like when you try to eat lunch with friends that aren't your own.

"You can sit down Mira." Louis encourages and I realized everyone is staring at me.

"Umm no thanks I'm okay." I stutter still standing in the doorway.

"Come on." Zayn says, patting the couch cushion beside him on the loveseat.

"Uh," I stutter searching my brain for something.

"We won't bite." Liam smiles. I just feel so uncomfortable around them.

"I know you won't but..." I tried to think of something quickly but thankfully Liam interrupts.

"We won't hurt you."

I take a deep breath and nod, forcing a smile and school-girl giggle like I do so often when I feel awkward and uncomfortable in situations.

I silently cross the room with my rehearsed smile and sit on the loveseat. Zayn extends his arm and rests it behind my shoulders on the back of the couch.

"So, how do you like London?" Liam asks from the couch.

"It's nice." I say honestly, "Busier than where I live. I find it more lively."

"Where do you live?"

"Canada." I say quickly, looking at Liams hotness. I realize I am surrounded by total sexiness and I look like an ugly high school freshman.

"Where in Canada?"

I stop, mentally freaking out inside before answering Liam's question, "Ottawa." Something about this feels like deja vu but I don't know what it is right now because I am talking face to face with my favourite boy band ever. Am I the only one who is like going insane on the inside right now?

"Oh the capitol right?" I bring myself back to reality and repeat Liams words until they make sense. He knows?

"Umm yeah actually." I say feeling like a weirdo.

"It's not as big as London?" Niall asks from the end of the couch.

"No way." I reply checking the timer on my iPod for the banana bread. "Well, it's big, but not as big as London." I take back, realizing I made my home sound like a small town where everyone knows each other.

"So what do you want to do while you're in Londond then?" Liam asks making polite conversation.

"Oh, I haven't really thought of doing anything."

"Well, there's lots to." Liam replies and I see the boys nodding at each other. Hmm, I didn't realize I could do more while I'm here than study.

"Hey," Liam exclaims, setting down his mug of tea, "We should show you around London a little bit. We know enough about it."

"We could make a day out of it on Saturday!" Niall offers excitedly.

"Yeah we don't have anything to do." Zayn shrugs, agreeing with the plan.

"And it would be good for you to know your way around." Harry adds in. Louis sits in his chair looking uneasy.

"Wait, how are you guys going to leave the house all together without anyone finding out who you are?" I ask. Clearly that is the set back on my mind.

"Oh we've got disguises picked out. It's just until someone notices our disguise that we're in trouble." Harry explains clearly excited about this plan.

"But no one's going to notice them this time, right Harry." Niall leans from the left end of the couch to look at Harry on the opposite end who looks guilty of something. Whatever.

I can't help the giggle that comes out of me from my spot on the love seat, watching them make plans so excitedly. This is fun to watch, especially since they're all quite attractive...what?

Just then the timer on my phone beeps for the banana bread and Niall jumps at the sudden noise.

I get up and rush to the kitchen to check on the loaf. Grabbing the knife I left on the counter, I open the oven door and stick it in the middle of the pan. I pulled it out slowly. It comes out clean and steaming. Perfect.

I grab a cloth on the counter and fold it so I can remove the hot pan from the oven. Carefully, I put it on top of a tray I laid out previously to bake on. Bananas scent the kitchen and I smile. A perfect execution of an old recipe. Yumm.

I clean off the knife and return to the living room where my alarm is still going off. Zayn, Niall, Liam, Louis and Harry stare at it as if willing it to turn off.

I cross the room and type in my password. The alarm turns off immediately and I see half the boys lay back again and relax.

"Smells good." Niall says, glancing into the kitchen.

"It's a banana bread." I shrug sitting down and hoping we can go back to talking about the excursion they were trying to plan.

"Banana bread?" Niall asks excitedly.

"Yeah, it should be cool in..." I look at the time and try to remember when I usually dig into the first slice, "I don't know like 20 minutes."

"It smells delicious." He says, glancing through the doorway again.

"Thanks." I feel my face blush at the compliment and pray it isn't noticiable. How embarassing would that be?