1 - First Day
You can do this, Olivia. I know you can. Look at you. You got to JFK by yourself. You boarded two flights and arrived at Bristol Airport by yourself.
You got in the weird, steering wheel on the right, driving in the right lane taxi cab by yourself. All you have to do now is walk up to the door and knock.
Stop psyching yourself out. They'll be nice. Just knock.
Before I can even raise my hand to attempt to knock on the door, it opens. On the inside of the frame stands a man, possibly in his mid 40's. He looks at me funny before raising his eyebrow.
"Hi, my name's Olivia Bass. I'm the American exchange student." I exclaim happily.
"Shit, you meant to come today?! Hi, my name's Mark. I'm one of your parent hosts. Come on in." the random host urges.
I walk in through the door and as I look around, I quickly take in how English homes vary drastically from that of an American one.
"Sid, come down! The foreign exchange student is here!" Mark shouts up the stairs.
After a few clanging noises and some questionable grunts, an awkward looking boy comes down the stairs.
Don't get me wrong, I love an awkward looking boy. They're my guilty pleasure. But, this one seems genuinely awkward and nervous. And he's taking a long time staring at me.
"Hi, I'm Olivia. Most people just call me Liv." I stick my hand out to him.
"M-My name is Sidney. Most people just c-call me Sid." he stammers.
He softly shakes my hand and his palms are a little sweaty. Once he pulls his hand away, I discreetly wipe my own on my low rise jeans.
"S-Sorry. My palms get sweaty when I'm nervous." Sid apologizes.
"No, it's fine. It happens to the best of us." I assure him.
"Well, that's enough chitchat for right now. You need help getting your bags, no?" Mark queries.
"Yes, I do. I actually have one on my back so if Sid could show me to my room, I'll take this one off and come help unload the rest." I suggest.
"Yeah, that's great. Sid, show her to the room. Now, please." Mark instructs.
Sid hurriedly rushes up the stairs, having me trail behind him. We go all the way up to the attic but I quickly realize this was someone's room.
It's decorated with pictures of women with little to no clothes on. There's a computer desk by the window. And to top it off, a halfway decently made bed is smack in the middle of it.
"Seeing as this was a last minute placement, Dad said we didn't really have anywhere to put you. To help with your uneasiness, we put up a divide." Sid mumbles.
I look over and there's a pink curtain halfway across the room. Walking up to it, I push past it and there's a nice bed on the other side. I lightly sit my bag at the bottom of it.
I plop down onto the bed and the duvet is surprisingly soft. I feel a wave of sleepiness wash over me and I yawn.
"Sid, you don't mind helping your dad bring my bags up and unpacking them for me, do you? I've been up for hours and I could really use a nap." I explain through the curtain.
"O-Of course. I'll head down now." he stutters.
"Thank you."
———
I slowly stir from my nap, which turns out to have lasted all night. I look over and I see my suitcase emptily sitting in the corners.
I tug off my jeans and my tank top before throwing them into the bin in the corner.
Since Sid was nowhere to be found, I rush into the bathroom before shutting the door. I grab a towel and a washcloth off the linen rack.
I sit the towel on the pole by the door as I step into the shower and run the water. I wash myself up and after I wash my hair, I step out of the shower.
I hurriedly run into the room to get dressed, hoping I'll be finished before Sid comes back.
Grabbing some short shorts and a crop top from the drawers of the dresser, I pull them as I hear clattering on Sid's side of the room. I slightly pull the curtain open and Sid is also getting dressed.
"Where you heading?" I question.
Sid jumps heavily becoming falling backwards on his bed.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." I mutter.
"It's fine. But, I am heading out to me my best mate." Sid tells me.
"Oh, can I come?" I inquire.
"I don't think you'd like it. We really won't be doing anything." he starts.
"Nonsense. It'll be fun to meet some of the people you're close with. Please." I plead.
He stands and looks over at me softly. I poke my lip out at him and he sighs.
"Fine, you can come. Why the bloody hell not?" Sid exclaims.
I smile to myself as I run over to grab my wallet. I may as well after the hassle I had in the airport trying to switch my American dollars for European ones.
Sid leads me down the stairs and we walk out the front door. We begin walking in silence until we reach the corner. We cross the street and I groan lowly.
"So, what made you sign up to be a foreign exchange student?" he asks.
"I needed a change in scenery. New York got a little too familiar for my taste." I lie.
I can't tell him why I'm really here. I barely know the guy. Why would I divulge on the darkest parts of me not even 24 hours into knowing him?
"Oh, that's cool. Well, Bristol doesn't really have much. But, I hope it gives you that change of scenery that you're looking for." Sid says.
"Thanks." I respond.
We turn the corner and walk into this diner. Sid sits down at the table and orders for the both of us.
After a few minutes, the waiter brings our food over to us and Sid quickly begins eating his fries. As he stuffs his face, I realize his friend still isn't here.
"Are you sure your friend said he'd meet you here?" I question lowly.
"He's coming. The fucker is always late." he groans.
He lights a cigarette and begins to smoke it. I look over in astonishment and began to wonder.
"You can smoke in here?" I query in a whisper.
"Yeah, of course." Sid responds nonchalantly.
"Can I get a hit?" I inquire excitedly.
He passes me the cigarette and I puff it. Sid takes a sip of his soda and burps loudly as a tall guy comes and sits his plate down. He takes a seat in front of Sid and shakes his head.
"I'm shit in the morning." Sid begins.
"You're always crap. No exercise. Rubbish food. And too much caffeine." the guy answers.
"Fuck off. I didn't have a Sociology test, did I?" Sid asks.
"No. But, who's this?" the guy queries, turning to me.
I take another puff of the cigarette and I blow it in his direction. Smiling, I pass it back to Sid.
"My name's Olivia." I state.
"Oh, this is the foreign exchange student? She isn't an uggo, Sid. Far from it, actually." he smiles.
"You think I'm ugly?" I quiz Sid.
"N-No. I said I thought you were going to be an uggo. At least, I hoped you'd be one. So, fuck you, Tony!" Sid exclaims.
"Anyways, I've suddenly grown bored. Why are we here?" I ask.
"This better be good." Sid warns.
"Trust me, Sid. Tonight, we're going to a party, and you'll finally pop the cherry. You finally get the VIP tour of Netherland. You finally-." Tony starts.
"Fuck off!" Sid whisper-shouts.
"You're a virgin? How sweet." I smile, taking another puff.
"It's embarrassing." Tony shakes his head.
"It's normal and quite common for someone who is 16." Sid argues.
"No, it's embarrassing." Tony says once more.
"We should've stayed home." Sid whispers to me.
I nod in agreement before turning back to Tony.
"We go to the party and we get a girl catastrophically spliffed up. In her moment of need, however momentarily, we get her to believe you are attractive enough to shag." Tony smiles devilishly.
"I-I think anyone would find Sid attractive. I mean, look at him. He has that whole awkward thing going on. I myself find it very attractive." I add.
"People in the States like that?" they wonder simultaneously.
"People here don't? Anyways, you're putting way too much effort into this. I'll do it." I offer.
They turn to me, confused. I raise my eyebrow at them. Surely it can't be this hard for them to comprehend.
"I'm not sure I heard you right. Did you just offer to have sex with Sidney? Without us pleading? Really?" Tony queries surprisingly.
Is there something genuinely wrong with Sid? Why is he so surprised someone will take a chance on him?
"I mean, why not? It'll help me just as much as it helps him. I need some type of release. Plus, you have to admit, the idea has crossed your mind. We'll be sharing a room for the next year or so." I remind him.
"J-Just because it crossed my mind d-didn't mean I thought you'd be down f-for it." Sid stumbles.
"You're right. I'm just joking. But, it's only because we don't know each other. I do think you're cute, Sid." I soften the blow.
"Oh." Sid frowns.
"That seems more along the lines of sane. For a minute there, I thought you were completely off your rocker." Tony jokes.
"Tony, has anyone ever told you that you're kind of a prick?" I ask.
"I've been called loads of names. Doesn't mean I have to listen." Tony replies with a shrug.
"Moving back to the topic, who's the lucky girl?" Sid queries as he eats his food.
"Well, I think you're going to like this, Sid." Tony smirks.
Sid looks out the window and his gaze stays fixated out there. I follow it and I see a pretty girl with the curliest hair walking across the street.
"You are a very, very lucky boy." Tony says.
"Michelle? I'm going to do it with Michelle?" Sid inquires nervously.
Tony finally looks out the window and sees the girl walking over.
"Now, hang on, Sid-." Tony starts.
"Oh, my God. I'm going to dock the ferry with Michelle? Oh-. Cheers, Tony. Fuck!" Sid looks down.
He begins to wipe himself off with a napkin as the pretty girl, who I'm guessing is Michelle, comes in.
"Hi." she tells Tony.
"Hi." Tony answers.
He leans up to kiss her and my mouth begins to fall open. Sid is still wiping himself off so I nudge him. He looks up and his small smile instantly drops.
They continue to kiss and I look over at Sid. He shakes his head and I shrug. I reach over, wipe the ketchup off of Sid's chin, and take one of his fries.
"Will we get me later or should I just start filming and take it back for private time?" Sid cuts in.
"Who's this?" Michelle wonders, looking over at me.
"My name's Olivia. Now back to Sid, please." I urge.
"Who's stupid enough to fuck Sid?" Tony questions.
"Cassie." Michelle's blurts out.
"She's still in hospital." Sid reminds them.
"No, she's not. They let her out. She's just not allowed to handle knives." Michelle corrects.
"All right, she'll do." Sid mugs as he eats another heap of fries.
"We'll need a lot of drugs. I tell you what, get an ounce, we'll sell it at the party." Tony instructs.
"What? I've got to get an ounce of spliff?" Sid groans.
"Sure. There's this guy on Bradley Stoke. He'll sell on take. Just say you'll pay him tomorrow." Tony says.
"Well, why don't you go?" Sid rebuts.
"Can't. Got Thai Chi, then my choir audition, and Psychology." Tony explains.
"Cassie's great in the sack. As long as she's not hungry." Michelle chimes in.
"Who says?" Sid quizzes.
"Everyone." Tony and Michelle say simultaneously.
"Okay. Fuck it. What's this guy's name?" Sid inquires.
Tony pulls a card out of his pocket and hands it to Sid.
"It's all on there." Tony tells him.
I get up out of the chair and Sid follows. I read the card and I raise my eyebrow.
"That's this guy's name? Mad Twatter?" I ask.
Tony doesn't answer because he's too preoccupied with Michelle. I wave my hand and nothing.
"This happens all the time. Just come on." Sid pushes.
He leads me out of the diner and I groan. I run my fingers through the front part of my hair.
"Do they always do that? In public?" I ask, disgusted.
"Yes, sadly. It's completely fucking looney." Sid groans.
We continue walking practically nowhere fora few blocks and I smile.
"Well, let's get a move on. This spliff, as you guys call it, won't buy itself."
———
"I feel so disgusted." I stare blankly through the halls.
Sid begins to pace back and forth across the hall as we wait for Tony to get out of class.
I slump against the lockers and I feel my ass hit the floor. Tony finally walk out of the room and stops when he sees us.
"Where the fuck have you two been?" he whisper-shouts.
"Doing what you said." I respond.
"Oh, I fucking hope this is still on." Sid groans.
"You? I had to let him touch my boob just to get him to give us an extension on the payment. Oh, I would've never been this desperate for weed in New York." I mumble.
"You let Twatter touch your tit for some spliff? Sid, how did they end up placing a druggie in your house?" Tony half-heartedly jokes.
"I am a not a druggie. A, he touched my boob through my shirt. B, I only let him because tonight is special for Sid. It's his birthday and I like to help. And C, fuck off!" I exclaim.
"You got Cass?" Sid inquires.
"Yes, but the thing is-." Tony starts.
"Great. Because like Olivia said, we got the spliff." Sid reminds him.
"Didn't you get my messages, you tit?" Tony stops in the middle of the hallway.
Sid pulls out his phone and flips it open. Almost immediately, his phone begins to beep. It beeps about 10 times before finally stopping.
"Problem?" Sid queries.
Tony sighs as Sid's phone beeps about 3 more times.
"There'd better not be a problem. Something like this would've never happened in New York. Crazy fucking Brits." I mutter under my breath.
"Oh, there's a big fucking problem. No one, besides Cassie and Michelle, are coming. Jal has some clarinet thing coming up so she's practicing. Anwar, Maxxie, and Chris are doing a big gay night out, whatever the fuck that is. And, I refuse to invite my little sister. Do you know how bomby that would look?" Tony rambles.
"There's more of you? Oh, I'm in for a year from hell." I groan.
"Wait a minute. So, you're telling me I have 3 ounces of spliff and only 5 people will be there? Oh, we're fucked." Sid whimpers.
"No, you're fucked. Twatter never said he'd harm me he wasn't paid. He said he'd harm you. And unless you're paying me to save your life, you are fucked. Not me." I reveal.
"What?! No, no, no. We're in this together. He saw your face, too. He touched your fucking tit! There's no bloody fucking way I'm going down alone. I promise you I won't, Olivia. No fucking way." Sid rambles on.
"Okay, I get it. You're not going down alone. But, blaming me gets us nowhere. Blame Tony. All of this was his idea." I remind him.
"It is not my fault Sid turned off his fucking phone! Since he has subtly made it clear that he's not in this alone, you two better clear this up. If not, you'll have a ton of spliff and a Mad Twatter on your ass. Figure it out!" Tony demands.
I jump up off the floor and lunge at Tony. Grabbing him up by his collar, I shove him up against the lockers.
Sid scrambles to get me to let him go but instead, I tighten my grip. Tony tries to push himself up against me but I slam him back against the lockers.
"You listen to me, Stonem. I will not be anyone's puppet or pawn in this sick twisted night. You either man up and help us or I cut your dick off and shove it so far up your ass, you feel it in your throat." I mutter.
He chuckles nervously and turns away from me. I grab his chin before forcing him to turn back towards me.
"Tony, we don't know each other. Better yet, you don't know me. I am not playing. This could affect my entire safety. I'm not from here. I don't have any parents or friends I could run to if I need to hide. I am stuck. This man has threatened my safety over some fucking drugs. I will not compromise myself because you forced Sid to go and buy the shit. You figure it the fuck out!" I shout.
I let go of his collar and he slouches down a little. After fixing himself, he smirks.
The smirk turns into a chuckle and I turn to Sid. Sid shakes his head in warning and I cut my eyes at the both of them.
"Sid, I'm going to walk away before I hurt this boy. Meet me back at the house in 20 minutes." I instruct.
I walk away and I hear Tony mutter something to Sid. I can't make out exactly what he's saying but I know I heard my name.
"Keep my name out of your mouth, Tony. I'm serious!"
