The Exchange

Chapter 35

Harry's mild concussion cleared up in a few days.  The day after the accident he was moving around the house again but did everything slowly and carefully and didn't go outside at all.  We all breathed a sigh of relief when the doctor said it was cleared and Harry could go back to his normal routine but will have to be careful from now on.  

With Harry's concussion cleared up I got busy preparing for the nearing holidays.  As Niall said, these next few weeks will go by quickly.  After school I feel the sudden urge to bake cookies.  Thankfully, my teachers are also getting into the holiday spirit and our homework load has been cut down to barley anything.  Tonight I have nothing.  

I drop my bag in front of my bedroom door and waltz into the kitchen.  The house is oddly quiet so I check the notepad Louis sometimes scribbles notes on.  

Dear Mira,

Our manager called us in to talk about emergency boring stuff we won't be listening to.  Should be back around 4:00.  

Love, Louis. 

xox

I recycle the note and look at the time.  This means I have about an hour and a half to bake without anyone getting in my way.  I pull out my ipod and blast my playlist on shuffle while I pull out the ingredients to my mothers holiday shortbread.  

Mix butter and sugar with a mixer, add in an egg or two, fold in flour and baking powder and roll into a ball to be refrigerated for about an hour.  

I slide the doughy ball into the fridge while singing the lyrics to Gotta Be You.  It feels like it's been forever since I've listened to One Directions music but it still brings me to the sweet world their taped voices have always brought me to.  

 Next I pull some fresh ginger out of the fridge and grate half of it into a small bowl for ginger bread cookies.  A classic favourite Hayden always loved.  Once my mother made them for him for his birthday, in April.  

The giner bread cookies become a sticky ball which doesn't seem right.  I try adjusting the recipe by adding in more flour which helps and the ball rolls across the counter with ease.  

"You don't know you beautiful!"  Harry and Niall scream in unison making me jump.  I didn't realize the time and was not expecting them yet.  How did I not hear them come in?  

"Oh, oh!  That's what makes you beautiful!"  Niall takes my floury hands and dances with me around the kitchen singing the lyrics loudly over my phone speaker.  

"Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na!"  He sings with his own recorded voice.  spinning me around.  By the time we stop spinning I realize I'm in Harry's embrace and he's singing the rest of the song.  Why are they doing this?  

"Baby you light up my world like nobody else, the way that you flip you hair gets me overwhelmed, but when you smile at the ground it aint hard to tell..."  He continues staring into my eyes.  I try to lock our gaze but it seems harder these days.  

The song finally ends as Harry dips me and my hair falls out of it's clip.  I giggle, and turn down the volume on my ipod.  I realize now that all four boys were watching Harry and I through the doorway.  

"Thanks that was... random."  I giggle making sure the next song isn't by them, "But fun."  

"Does this mean you're a One Direction fan?"  Louis teases coming up behind me and holding onto my waist.  

"Maybe."  I state wrapping my arm around his neck and looking up into his eyes.  Louis chuckles and looks over at the counter.  

"So what were you doing?"  Niall asks standing on the other side of the island.  I side step away from Harry back to my position in the kitchen.