Diana: 4 months in the UK

(5)

Songs of the chapter: 
 -Ass Back Home by Gym Class Heroes ft Neon Hitch
  -Not Alone by Linkin Park
   -Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye and Kimbra

The drive is quite pleasant. We make small talk about school and hobbies once again. Maura and Bobby take the front seats while Niall, Calum and I take the back seats. Me being the smallest person took the middle seat with Calum and Niall either side. 

We turn the radio on to bypass time. Songs like Summer Love by Justin Timberlake, Don't Lie by the Black Eyed Peas and Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars blast through the speakers and we start to sing. Well I try but I can hear Calum and Niall's amazing voices overpowering my out-of-tune tone. 

We end up singing some more songs together before arriving in a small town called Mullingar. It's a small but boy, does it have countryside. The night sky covers the land like a blanket so it's a bit hard to judge on the landscape and surroundings but I have a feeling it will feel like home. 

Maura begins to show us some parks and some places they love to go and promise to take us with them while we're here. I have only known her for a very short hour but I have come to the conclusion that she is much like my mother. She is very giving and selfless. 

"Oh and I forgot. We have 3 more students staying with us who will be doing the same UK tour as you two." Maura explains. "All from Australia I think." Calum's head immediately shot up with interest. 

"Australia? Where? Do you know?" His voice is much like a child's wanting candy or chocolate. 

"Well ask them. Look." Bobby points out the window to see 3 boys standing outside, waiting for our arrival.  One had faded blonde hair, another had a strawberry blonde, could pass for a brunette and the other one had bright blonde hair and looked much too mature to be standing with them. 

The car comes to stop and Niall jumps out of the car to join the 3 boys. Calum seems interested too so he leaves the car but stops in his tracks. "Dee, come on. Up you get." He reaches for my hand and pulls me out into the night. 

The cold air is startling compared to the warm heated car. Goosebumps rise and I instinctively shiver. Calum wraps a lanky arm around me. He is always so warm while I on the other hand is the opposite. I am Queen Elsa. 
I go to the boot to get my bags but Bobby has beaten me to it and towed it to the front door. 

"Diana! Calum! Come meet the boys!" Niall calls over to us with his booming Irish accent. We scoot on over to where they stand, frozen in place. They are all towering over me which is quite intimidating, considering they look much too punk to be on an exchange. 

"This is Ashton." Ashton is the brunette/strawberry blonde one. I hold out a hand but he brings in a welcoming hug. "It’s nice to meet you." He gives a bro hug to Calum who is more than happy to interact with males. 

"This is Luke." Luke is the other blonde. His hair is blonde like the sun or Pikachu. He is the tallest out of all 3 strangers. He also hugs me. I notice he has a lip piercing which only confirms my theory of being punk rock. "What's up, man?" He gives Calum a bro hug along with a hearty pat on the back. 

"And this is Michael." Michael is the scariest. He has pale skin and very dark hair. He may not be as tall as Luke but he is still a skyscraper compared to my minion size. He also gives me a hug and a smile? Whoa, wasn't expecting that. Maybe he isn't as bad as I thought he would be. 

"Michael." Calum shakes his hand, not taking any interest in him. 

"Calum." Michael does the same. I can sense some strong tension in the air and so do the other boys. 

"Right, well let’s get inside before we freeze to death, yeah?" Niall steers Michael, Luke and Ashton away while Calum and I remain outside. 

"What was that all about, huh?" I nudge Calum. 

"Never mind, come on. It's freezing out here." Calum drags me inside before I could question him any further. 

Once we got inside, the warmness hit me. My goose bumps died down slowly and my body began to take in the heat. We walked down their hallway to where Niall and the boys were seated at the table, munching away. 

"Niall, are you serious? We literally just ate." I am flabbergasted. This boy has the appetite of a sumo wrestler or worse. 

"I know, my food baby just can't resist all the delicious things the world has to offer." He pats his stomach proudly. Wait what stomach? 

"Well, good thing you’re taking good care of it." I acknowledge his food baby and he thanks me. 

"Boys, let’s show them around. It is easy to get lost in wonderland, Alice." Niall rises from his chair as do the other boys.

"It's Diana." I fire back at him.

"I know, love. I’m only joking round. Vamos." He takes off faster than a jet plane down the hallway. Ashton and Luke follow along, happily walking past Calum and I whereas Michael shares a death glare with Calum. The two are at it again with the silent confrontation. I leave them to sort out whatever issues they have with each other and try to catch up with the others. 

They show me the basics of the house like the bathroom, the kitchen, the lounge. The house is much bigger than I had imagined. There were at least 6 bedrooms yet there were only 3 permanent members of the family who live here which confused me. We make small talk and create a few inside jokes as we walk to mine and Calum's room. They then leave me to tend to my belongings and get settled in. Calum walks in with a pissed look on his face, not noticing that I'm in here.

"Hey Cal, you okay?" His head shoots up immediately. 

"Oh, Dee." He takes in a sigh of relief. "It's you. You gave me a fright." He is still standing with a slightly less pissed expression. 

"Who else would it be?" I ask.