Desperation.

Chapter 70

Our exchange students are already waiting for us when we arrive at the playground of the Irish school.

After everyone got his or her luggage Mrs. Smith greets the Irish teacher and he has the same accent that Niall has.

"My name is Mr. Miller and I'll call out some names and these people should come to the front so they can find their exchange students. The order is alphabetic, let's get started!"

"Alana Barkingson" the teacher calls out and a small girl with brown loops and light blue eyes raises her hand.

"Come to me!"

When she goes to him he says "Rose Blackman is your exchange student. Come to me, Rose"

She goes to him and Alana shows Rose her parents' car.

"Julien Byron!"

A tall blonde boy comes to him, he has nerdy glasses and is Enrico's exchange student.

It takes a while until Mr. Miller says James' and my name but after he did, I expect James to show me his parents' car but we just go to the bus stop and wait for the bus.

Why does everyone go by car but James and I have to go by bus?!

"How are you?" I ask politely but James does not answer.

"When does the bus come?" I question hoping that he will answer but he stays quiet.

Maybe he is deaf?

I put my finger on his chest and then behind my ear as if I want to say 'Do you hear me?'

James shakes his head "You are so fucking stupid."

Wow, he can speak!

"Thanks" I say ironically.

"I thought you were prettier."

"Do you mean I'm ugly?"

"Yes" he nods.

Is he kidding me?!

"I thought you were nicer." I remark and wait for his answer.

"Okay, I have an idea. You stop talking to me and I stop insulting you."

"Okay" I sigh and text Rose.

---------Texting-----------

Diana: James is such an asshole!

Rose: Y?

Diana: he's insulting me and he said i should stop talking 2 him

Rose: wtf what did he say

Diana: he said i was ugly and stupid

Rose: omg he doesn't know u?! do u wanna move to alana and me?

Diana: how is alana?

Rose: She's really nice! we're watching pirates of the Caribbean right now

Diana: oh sorry for disturbing u

Rose: np , i've watched the film for at least 10 times

Diana: lol

Rose: r u already @ James' house?

Diana: no we're waiting for the bus

Rose: ??

Dians: yes, we have 2 go by bus

Rose: oh no

Diana: oh yes

Rose: what r u gonna do 2moro

Diana: idk

Rose: u wanna come over after school?

Diana: k

Rose: great!

Diana: the bus is coming

Rose: cu 2moro xxx

Diana: bye xoxo

-------------------------

We get on the bus and James buys a ticket for me.

That is the first polite thing he has done yet!

"Thanks" I smile when he hands it to me.

"Shut up. My mum forced me to pay for your ticket" James groans.

Oh god, he is so silly. I am his exchange student and it is our task to talk to each other!

Twenty minutes later we arrive at James' house.

It is not even a house, it is a really small flat...

James' mother looks tired but nice.

"Hello Mrs. Simpson! Nice to meet you. I'm Diana!" I introduce myself and she shakes my hand.

"Call me Marilyn! Welcome to our family, Diana!" she smiles and shows me my room.

"This is your stay for the next two weeks, I hope everything is okay. We have two cats and I hope they won't disturb you. If you wanna know anything else- just ask me. Sorry for my son's behaviour but he's a bit... um... in a bad mood. I hope you'll get used to it. Are you hungry or thursty? The water is in the fridge, my son loves cold water and you can eat anything you like. I'm afraid I don't own a car so you have to go to school by bus but James is gonna buy the tickets for you. He's very reliable. Do you have to know anything else? Um... the toilet is next to the front door and please don't be too loud. The neighbours are a bit difficult... Well, you can go out whenever you want but we have dinner at 7 o'clock if you want to eat with us. You can stay out until... um... let's say 11pm, is that okay? Great! But please call me when you're gonna be back 'cause our door bell doesn't work. My mobile phone number is in the address book on your bed. Next to the chocolate. I hope you like it! I'll go to bed now, I've had an exhausting day. I'm a nurse and sometimes I have to work at night so please don't wake me up when I'm asleep. James and I are the only people who live here, my husband died right after James' birth, so don't be confused that he never talks about him. Your school starts at quarter to eight so you have to take the bus at quarter past seven. You can use our bathroom, we don't have a second one! Good night, Diana!"

Wow, that lady never stops speaking! She is the opposite of her son!

"Good night, Marilyn" I smile and look around the small room.

I remember about um... two sentences of what she said and I barely understood her because of her thick Irish accent!

I do not know how I can stand living in this small flat with an impolite exchange student who does not talk and a mother who never stops talking. She seems to have really, really big lungs!

Oh gosh, I hope I am gonna survive this exchange...