The Exchange

Chapter 39

"Did you say you're a charity project?" Niall laughs sitting on the couch. I ignore him and pull a bunched, silver scarf from my closet. I grab a grey cardigan from the front of my closet and pull it on.

"Mira, can you come here a second?" I really don't want to. I don't want to go near Niall and I really wish I hadn't even heard his voice because the way he asked was so concerned and tender. It's his voice that makes me go to him and sit so close to his body. Close enough for him to wrap his arm around me and pull me even closer to him. Close enough for every word to be unmistakably clear. So close.

"What's this all about?" Niall asks, genuine concern in his voice. I think about how strange it is to know how someone is feeling by the way they talk but all this time I've been wondering how good actors people can be. Nialls question pushes to the front of my mind and I wonder how to respond to it.

"I don't know what to say." I respond so unsure. Should I trust him? Should I lie?

"Say what your biggest worry is."

"Spiders." I respond. He giggles but I know that's not what he wants so I try again, "Feeling alone in such a foreign place." I say looking around at the room.

"Why would you ever feel alone?"

"Niall, can you tell me why I'm here?"

"What do you mean?" He says but I know he kind of knows what I mean.

"Why am I here? Why am I in this house and with you guys?" I sigh realizing that didn't really prove my point. I go for something more obvious, "Why did Harry and Louis apply for the exchange? Why did they want a high school student?"

"I don't really know." Niall responds thinking about it himself. From his body language and through his eyes I can tell he really doesn't know but it's a good question.

"I can help you find out." He offers but I shake my head.

"It's not a big deal." I say but it kind of is. Why am I here? Am I really their charity project?

"What does this have to do with what just happened?"

"I'm not really sure, but it does." I respond.

"Do you want to start from the beginning?" He offers.

"It's long." I protest thinking back to the beginning. He looks over at the clock that says 12:15.

"I think we have enough time." I nod and begin

"I can't say she didn't warn me..." I start and everything flows out from beginning to end. It's so easy to talk to Niall that even when I know I should stop, I keep going. Everything she's said to me that has stung my heart and kept me up at night and every word that's stuck in my brain comes out as I tell Niall the whole story from the beginning.

"...So that's why I want to know why I'm here. Harry and Louis obviously don't need a roommate so why am I here?" Niall wraps his strong muscular arm around me and pulls me into his chest. I try to resist but he's just too strong.

"Mira." he whispers my name softly through my hair. As if to say it's okay again. As if he's trying to take away my troubles, and as if he's trying hard.

Liam and Zayn tiptoe into the room to see Niall trying to comfort me. Their expressions are a mix of horrified and confused.

"What's going on out there?" Niall asks. I can see Zayn shrug and sit down on the floor.

"The girls left. The only one still here is Eleanor and they're out there fighting." Liam replied.

It hurts to hear that Louis is so upset over all this. That's what I wanted to avoid all along.