The Host

D R E I

Aimee's POV:

After Werner shows us the shack, we decide to head back to the house. I can't get the strange incident with the rearranged furniture out of my mind. That had to be what I heard last night. It only makes sense. But who decided to move everything around? And why? Was it some sort of joke?

Ilse serves us a quick lunch of sandwiches at the island in the kitchen. I eat as quickly as I can, eager to facetime my parents.

While Ilse and Alejandro converse, I can't help but notice how tired she looks. She smiles, as usual, but it's a tired smile. Maybe she was the one Alejandro heard getting up last night. She could've even been the one moving the furniture around. I can't really see her doing that, though.

"Und Aimee?"

I snap back into the present and my eyes find Ilse's.

"Ja?" I answer.

Ilse grins, knowing I was distracted. I blush with embarrassment. It's not like me to zone out. I guess I'm a little tired myself.

"Are you looking forward to schule?" she asks for, I assume, the second time.

Schule. School.

I smile assuringly.

"Ja bin Ich," I state.

"Das ist gut! You will both love it."

I lower my gaze for a moment before opening my mouth to ask.

"Ilse...darf ich entschuldigt werden? I've been wanting to contact my parents but it was too late last night," I explain.

Ilse's white smile fades briefly, the glimmer leaving her eyes before she replaces her less than enthused expression with one of what I assume to be forced approval.

"Na sicher! You don't even have to ask, Aimee."

I smile gratefully.

"Danke," I say as I slide off the bar stool and head off for the stairs.

I glance those swapped living rooms on the way by, still bewildered.

My excitement only grows as I reach my room and grab my laptop from the side of the bed. I notice it's unplugged, much to my confusion. The realization slows my movements as I pick up the computer. I know I plugged that in. It's too specific to be bumped out of the wall. I'm taken aback but, I don't have the time to worry about it right now.

I open up my laptop, frustrated when I see the limited battery life that would've been much more sufficient, had the device remained charging.

I quickly bring up my dad's contact and video call, ecstatic to tell them what's happened so far.

It only takes a couple rings before my dad picks up.

He's sitting on the family room couch and my mom's beside him. I smile in greeting and he returns it, tapping my mom to get her attention. Her eyes light up when she sees me.

"Aimee! Hi, honey!" she cries with delight. "How are you?!"

I laugh lightly.

"I'm good, mom! I'm a little tired but it's been amazing so far."

"Well, tell us about it, sweetie!"

"Maria, she's probably exhausted," dad reminds.

Mom quickly brushes his concerns aside.

"No daughter of mine will use tiredness as an excuse to not tell her mother about her trip!"

"It's been fantastic, mom. And you'd like our host mom."