That night, as we're getting ready for bed, Elsie, who's already become a fast friend, sits cross-legged on her bed and asks me, "So tell me, what's it really like in America? And I don't mean it like how Lily does. I don't care about Los Angeles or New York. I want you to tell me about... where was it? Coeur d'Alene?"

I fluff my blanket on the twin bed before sitting on the edge and staring at her. "Um. Well, it's a city. But not a big city. Not anything like Los Angeles. I mean, I've never been, so it's not like I'd know. But it's kind of small. Very touristy, especially in the summer. There are a lot of trees. And lakes."

She nods her head enthusiastically. "Okay, but what are the people like? Are they nice? I always hear about how people in America are not very nice. I was a bit nervous when we learned we were assigned an American, to be honest. You know, you hear all these horror stories. Is it true what they show on TV?"

I shrug my shoulders. "I don't know. I don't watch a lot of TV. But I'd assume that Americans are not at all what they show on TV. Or at least, not to my knowledge."

"Okay, but what about the boys?" she asks, scooching a little closer to me. "Are they cute?"

A smile pulls at my lips as my mind falls on Baker's stormy blue eyes, dark hair, and light pink lips. "Some of them, I guess."

Her smile falters a bit. "I don't think any of the boys in my school are that cute. Well, Harry is a bit. He has a nice smile, anyway. We flirted a bit before break, but I've never had a boyfriend before, so I don't really know if that's where it's going. I hope so though." She pauses for a second as I turn around to fluff my pillow. "What about you? Do you have a boyfriend?"

I shake my head. "No. I had one last year. But he turned out to be a total asshole. It's a long story," I say, and I hope she doesn't ask more about it, because I don't feel like telling it again right now. "And he was the only boyfriend I've ever had. Honestly, I don't have a lot of time for boys. When I'm home, I'm usually too busy studying to even consider dating at all."

She nods her head. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I don't have a lot of experience in that department either." She falls back on her bed and stares up at the ceiling. "Summer, why did you decide to come to England? Why not France or Spain?"

"Well, I kind of wanted a country with a language I could understand," I reply simply. "I know some French, but not nearly enough to have a full conversation or even begin to understand one." This answer isn't necessarily untrue, but there's a lot more to it. I chose this country because it's where my real dad was from. When he died, I would never have admitted it to anyone, but I felt a pull toward England. I wanted to know him better in my own way. See things he saw so that maybe I could understand why he chose to leave me like he did.

"See, I would love to do the exchange program," she says. "But I'd want to go to a country that speaks another language. The best way to learn is to fully immerse yourself in it. Or at least, that's what my mum says. I know so many different languages, but I've never actually been outside of the country. I've told my mum and dad that I want to be a translator, and that's partly true. But I also want to see the world. Get out there and experience what life is like in other countries. I think that's why I asked my parents to be a host family for the program. I knew they wouldn't be comfortable with me doing it, so this was the next best thing."

I rest my head against my pillow and roll over to face her. "Your mom was telling me about how much you love learning new languages. When she told me how many you know, I was kind of shocked. I've studied French for years, but I wouldn't say I'm even close to being fluent."

Her eyes brighten. "Oh, I would love to go to France. I think the French language is absolutely beautiful. I wish we could go on holiday there. We aren't even that far. But mum and dad are always busy with work. The only holidays we take are in England." She sticks out her tongue. "Boring."

I laugh. "Funny, I'm actually excited to see England."

She giggles. "Well, yes. You've never been here before. But I've lived here my whole life. I've seen everything there is to see. Twice, probably. When I was nine, we took a trip to Stonehenge. But it's not even two hours away. I mean, it was cool, sure. But I can drive there myself now. And I have, a number of times. Not all that exciting."

My shoulders lift in a shrug. "I guess it's all a matter of perspective," I reply, and she nods her head. A silence falls between us, and it goes on for so long that I start to fall asleep. But then my phone bings with a notification. When I check it and see it's a response from Baker, I sit straight up in bed and pull the email up on my phone.

Summer,

Is that all I am to you? A distraction for when you're bored? I see how it is. But also, I get it. I've flown once before, and I remember being so bored that I considered beating my head against the window just for something to do. That wasn't a very long flight. Only a few hours. So I can only imagine how you felt. Bring more books for the flight home. Which is... when, exactly?

Also, sorry you had to endure a sick kid. Hopefully it was just motion sickness or something and not some weird stomach flu. Don't want to get sick your first few days in your new temporary home. If it wasn't clear by now, I'm already missing you. It feels like years since I last saw you, but really it's only been since Christmas.

You'll have to let me know how the New Year goes over there. I mean, you'll experience it first. You're eight hours ahead of us, so tell me what the future is like. Are there flying cars? Talking animals? Affordable groceries? So many questions!

Can't wait to hear all about your host family. I know you're probably asleep right now, so I don't expect an email back right away. But just for old times' sake, what elements are ionic bonds formed between?

-Baker

Oh God. I'm smiling so wide that my face hurts. My eyes glance over to Elsie, who seems to have fallen asleep during the lull in our conversation. Quietly, I reach down and pull my laptop out of my bag. Then I open it up and begin typing out a response.

Baker,

Metal and nonmetal.

Also, I didn't even consider the idea that the kid could be actually sick, so thanks a lot for putting that in my head! Now I feel like I need to take a shower immediately. Which I've been dreading, because taking a shower in a new place feels so intimate. I only just got here. I'm not sure I'm that comfortable yet. Is that weird? That's weird.

The months will fly by, I promise. And just think, when I get home, you'll get to tease me about picking up an accent. Which I definitely already have. Pretty sure I'm already using words like 'jumper' and pronouncing scone like scawn.

And are you kidding me? There were flying cars zooming around when I got here. My host family's dog and I had a conversation earlier today. But no on the affordable groceries, I'm afraid. That's a bit of a reach, even for the future.

What is a negatively charged ion?

-Summer

I hit send and rest my head against my pillow, smiling to myself. Elsie is lightly snoring in her bed, and I know I should be tired. But I'm not. Not as much as I should be anyway. My adrenaline is still pumping, keeping me from falling asleep. So I send a text to Beth to let her know I'm alive in Oxford and already missing her. Then I text my mom, because she's sent me almost a dozen messages since my plane landed, and I've ignored almost all of them due to being busy getting to know my host family.

I text my mom that I'll call her tomorrow and that I love and miss her. Right as I'm hitting the send button, a new notification pops up. A text message from Baker Scott. I pull it up immediately to read what he has to say.

I didn't expect you to reply to my email so quickly. You must be really bored.

My eyes read over his text several times, and every time my smile grows even wider. Everyone's asleep here now. But I'm not nearly as tired as I should be. I hit send and wait for his reply, which comes just a few moments later.

Are you asking me to entertain you, Lumen?

Dance, monkey, dance. I reply, and it's all I can do not to laugh out loud.

He sends me a GIF of an orangutan dancing, and I giggle quietly to myself, trying not to wake up Elsie. Sharing a room is going to be harder than I thought.

Stop making me laugh. My new host... sister? I don't know what else to call her. But she's asleep, and I don't want to make a bad impression by waking her up.

Okay, sorry. I'll try not to be funny anymore. So your host family. What are they like?

My eyes flit over to Elsie, her auburn hair strewn across her pillow now as she continues to quietly snore. So far they're very nice. I'm sharing a room with the oldest daughter. Her name is Elsie. She's a polyglot.

For a moment I wonder if he's going to know what that word means. I know I didn't just a few hours ago. But of course, he writes me back and says, How many languages does she know? Aside from English?

Too many. An impressive amount considering she's only seventeen and has never left the country. Also, how did you even know what a polyglot was? I'd never heard that word before today.

I have this incredible new app on my phone. You've probably never heard of it, but it's pretty fantastic for searching things. It's called Google. You should check it out sometime.

What did I say about making me laugh?

Sorry, sorry. Are you getting tired yet? he asks.

Why? Are you getting bored talking to me?

Lol you wish, Lumen. I just don't want to keep you up if you're tired.

Never stopped you before. I close my eyes and remember that night on the phone when we talked until we fell asleep.

Can I call you?

Elsie's snores get louder for a second as she turns in her bed. I watch her carefully, waiting for her to wake up. I really want to hear his voice, but I don't know if she's a light sleeper or not, and I don't want to be rude and wake her up. I sit in bed, indecision plaguing my mind for a couple minutes. Then I look back down to my phone and say, Yeah, hold on. Let me just sneak out of here for a minute.

Carefully, I slide out of bed and tiptoe out of the bedroom, quietly opening the door and sneaking off to the only place where I know I'll have full privacy: the bathroom. Closing the door behind me, I sit on the edge of the bathtub and find Baker's contact in my phone. I hit the call button and press the phone to my ear, preparing to turn down the volume in case it's too loud.

He answers on the second ring. "Hey," he says, his voice deep and soft, a breathy whisper in my ear that sends my heart leaping in my chest.

"Hi," I reply, my smile stretching ear to ear.

A few moments of silence falls between us as I think of something to say. But he beats me to it. "So you're really not tired?" he asks, and I shake my head, forgetting he can't see me.

"Not as much as I should be," I say. "I mean, it's been the longest day ever. I didn't get much sleep on the plane because of the kid puking behind me. And I was kind of afraid to fall asleep anyway. The girl sitting beside me did not like having a seatmate. I was a little afraid she'd rob me if I fell asleep."

He laughs in my ear, and I'm momentarily dizzy at the sound. "Sounds like a crazy plane ride."

"You have no idea," I whisper back. And I'm suddenly so overcome with the simple fact that, out of everyone back home, I think I might be missing him the most. "Talk to me until I'm tired?"

"How about you tell me about your day," he suggests. "Like, about your trip and your host family? You said you're in Oxford?"

I nod my head again. "Yeah. Just a little over an hour away from Stonehenge, I guess."

"Oh, did you learn that from that app I told you about? Google?" he asks teasingly, and I roll my eyes.

"No. Elsie told me. She said she went there once on a family vacation."

"Sounds like a nice vacation," he says. "I always wanted to go to Stonehenge. Think you'll make it while you're there?"

"If my host family is willing to take me there. Elsie has been there several times, and it doesn't sound like she's too impressed by it."

He scoffs. "Well, I'm not impressed by Lake Coeur d'Alene, but that's because I've seen it a thousand times. It's all a matter of perspective, you know?"

"I guess," I reply. We sit in silence for a minute, and I close my eyes, pretending I'm sitting beside him. "Do you really miss me?" I ask finally, because I know I'm missing him.

I can hear his smile in the phone as he says, "The world definitely feels a little dimmer without you here, Summer Lumen." And there it is again. That somersault in my stomach that seems to only happen when I talk to him. "Is that what you need to hear right now? That you're missed at home?"

Tears prick the corners of my eyes as I shrug my shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe." I hesitate, unsure of how much I want to tell him. My eyes skim the bathroom, which is old farmhouse themed. There's a painting of a cow on the wall, and some decorative milk bottles sitting on the bathroom sink, standing out against the soft yellow walls. "It's just weird, you know? Being here. Away from everyone I lo... um, care about."

"Nice recovery," he breathes into the phone. "Would hate to get the wrong impression about how you feel about me."

"Ha, ha," I reply, but my face is flushed now. Kind of glad he can't see me. "You know what I mean."

"I definitely know what you mean," he says, and I smile at his words. "It's late there, Summer. You've had a long day. Maybe you should try to get some sleep."

He's right. "Fine. I'll try." I pause for a second before saying, "Thanks for talking to me, Baker. I needed it."

"Any time, Summer," he says back. "Now go to bed. I'll email you back tomorrow. Goodnight. Don't let the bed bugs bite. Seriously, I think the ones from the Old World cause the plague."

"Cute. Well, if I die before May, you'll know why."

He laughs, and I blush. "Sleep well."

"You, too," I reply, and hang up the phone. Then I set it on my knees and run my fingers through my dirty hair. Only five months until I'm back home. I can do this. I can do this. I take a few deep breaths, jump to my feet, and make my way out the bathroom door. But I nearly jump out of my skin when I find Amelia standing just outside it.

She presses her hand to her heart. "Oh, Summer, dear, you scared the life out of me."

"I'm sorry," I whisper, my pulse racing from running into her unexpectedly. "Um, did you need the restroom?"

She grins at me and shakes her head. "No, I heard you in here, and I was wondering if you needed a lesson on how to use the shower. They're all different, you know, and I'm sure El didn't show you how the pipes work. Ours can be a bit finnicky, you know. Old house. Oscar has been meaning to change them."

It'd be weird to say no, so I let her show me how to use the shower. She's right, it probably wouldn't taken me a while to figure it out on my own. She reaches into the linen closet and hands me a clean towel, then leaves the room, giving me space to finally wash away the airplane germs off me. Once I'm all clean, I wrap myself up in the towel and slink off to the bedroom, where Elsie is still lightly snoring away. Quietly, I put on a pair of pajamas before texting Baker.

Be proud of me. I just took a shower in a strange place.

Was it weird?

Definitely different. But at least I'm clean now.

Good. Goodnight, Summer.

Goodnight, Baker. Once I hit send, I curl up in my bed, my wet hair sticking to my face as I turn over and try to get some sleep.

Author's Note:

I had so much fun with the banter in this chapter. I hope you guys enjoy reading these little scenes between Summer and Baker. So cute! As I said before, we'll be in the UK for a bit, getting to know Elsie and Lily. Be back soon with the next chapter! Stay safe and healthy until then, my dears!
XOXO,
~Aly