Surprisingly, classes here are not really all that different from classes at home. I have a few morning classes, a lunch break, and a few afternoon classes before the day ends and it's time to go home. Most days, Elsie stays late for her linguistics club, leaving me waiting by myself for her to get finished so we can go home together. A couple weeks of this and I find that I cannot take the boredom. So I decide to join her in the club.

It's actually more fun than I originally thought it would be. When I first join, I half expect it to be just a bunch of kids playing language games or talking in tongues I wouldn't even be able to begin to understand. But it's much more than that. We play fun games, learn about cultures from all around the world, and even listen to a couple guest speakers. I can see why Elsie loves this so much.

A month after my first day, we're having lunch in the commons together with Harry, who has his arm around Elsie's shoulder, and Graham, who keeps trying to put his arm around mine, when I realize I completely forgot to meet up with the headmistresses this morning. "Shit," I groan, catching everyone around me by surprise.

"What is it?" El asks, her eyes filling with concern. "What's wrong, Summer?"

I set my sandwich down and wipe my mouth with my napkin before saying, "I missed my meeting with the headmistresses this morning."

Harry's brows furrow in confusion. "Why were you meeting with the headmistress?" he asks.

I wrap my sandwich back up in its wrapper and ball up my empty bag of chips... no wait. Crisps. So weird. "I'm supposed to meet with her every Monday morning before class starts. She just wants to make sure I'm doing well and that I'm not having trouble with anything or... anyone," I say, shooting a little glare at Graham, who has been trying to hit on me almost nonstop since my first day.

"Headmistresses Kant's name fits her so well," Graham says, his tone light as always. I look at him questioningly, and he smirks. "You know, because she's such a—"

"Do not even finish that sentence," Elsie interrupts, her cheeks turning red. I shake my head in exasperation as I brush the crumbs off my skirt and get to my feet. "You're going now?" she asks, and I nod my head. "Oh, all right. See you in class then?"

"See you," I reply, and then scurry off to the main office, hoping the headmistress is still here. When I get there, I find Jill sitting at the front desk, eating what looks like some sort of potato dish for lunch. She freezes when she sees me and sets her spoon down.

"Hullo, Summer," she says, and I smile politely at her. "Here to see the headmistress?" she asks. I nod. "Right. She's in a meeting at the moment, but she told me to tell you if you stopped in not to worry about missing your meeting with her."

My eyes widen in surprise. "You mean I'm not in trouble?" I ask. Jill smiles and shakes her head. "Oh good. I thought for sure—"

She cuts me off with a tiny little laugh. "The headmistress is just happy that you seem to have found your footing here. All she really wanted was to make sure you were comfortable. If you want the meetings to end, then I'm sure she'll understand. As long as you know her door is always open for you."

"Thank you," I reply as I take a little step backward. "I appreciate it. I... umm... I think we can safely end the meetings. Things are going well, and if anything changes I'll definitely come back."

"That sounds just fine, Summer," she says. "Now get out of here. Go back and enjoy your lunch with your friends."

I nod my head, give her a small, awkward wave goodbye, and bolt out the door. But by the time I get back to Elsie, Harry, and Graham, I find that they're all finished with their lunches and are getting ready to go back to class. I follow Elsie, saying goodbye to the boys as the two of us walk toward our next class together. And as I sit listening to the afternoon lecture about The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I start thinking about the missed meeting. Or, more importantly, how I could've missed a meeting with the headmistress of the school.

Granted, we've met every Monday morning since I started, but that almost makes it worse. Or better? Maybe Jill was right. Maybe missing the meeting was a sign that I don't really need them anymore. That I really am getting comfortable here. Strange how quickly that can happen. How fast a routine starts. And I can't explain why, but I suddenly have this odd feeling of homesickness. Because knowing I have a routine here is making me miss the old one. And I feel guilty almost, like I replaced my old life with this new temporary one.

Which is why, as soon as I get home, I run up to my room and call Beth. We've texted here and there, but the time difference has made it exceedingly difficult to chat on the phone. The only person in my life who seems to be up at all hours of the night is Baker, and I'm beginning to think he's an alien who just doesn't need sleep. Because the alternative to that... that he just wants to talk to me... is a little too much for me to think about.

Beth answers just as Elsie enters the room and plops herself down on her bed. "Hey, hey, hey," she says as she huffs out a few pants. It's eight in the morning in Coeur d'Alene right now, which means she's probably out for her morning run. "How's my bestie doing on the other side of the world?"

Sparkling tears prick the corners of my eyes as a lump forms in my throat. "God, it's good to see you," I say, unable to control the smile spreading across my face. "What are you doing?"

I hear what sounds like a few gulps (she's probably drinking water) before she says, "Getting myself in shape. You come back in a few months, and I have to make sure I can still whoop you on the track field."

A laugh escapes my throat. "You act like I'm actually competition," I reply as I rest my head back on my pillow.

She takes another gulp of water. "Hey, I don't know what you're doing over there. Maybe this whole student exchange thing was a ruse. Maybe you're out there training, getting stronger. Because let's face it, babes, we all know who the real competitor is between the two of us."

I shake my head and roll my eyes. "I'm going to put you on video chat," I say, because I have this sudden urge to see her. To feel like I'm there with her. A few seconds later and Beth's sweaty face fills my screen, her caramel colored skin glazed over, her dark brown hair pulled back in a ponytail with a few strands sticking to her cheeks. She smiles when she sees me as she goes to find a spot on the bleachers to sit and chat.

"What time is your first class?" I ask her, realizing that she probably can't talk too long.

She shrugs her shoulders. "In five minutes." I shoot a glare at her. "What? Oh come on, I haven't ditched once this whole semester."

I scoff. "It's only been a month, Beth."

A mischievous smirk stretches across her lips. "Which you know is actually a record for me." I glare at her again, and she sighs. "Seriously, I haven't seen your face in so long, chicka. I was starting to think you were just a weird figment of my imagination or something."

"That would explain a lot, actually," I reply, and she sticks her tongue out at me. And for a brief second, it feels like I'm there with her, running the track as the crisp winter air slaps me in the face, burning my chest with each painful breath I take. But then I look up and see Elsie sitting on her own bed, her phone in her hands as she tries to keep her eyes away from me. Like she's trying to give me space. "Oh, hey, do you want to meet my host sister?"

"Sister?" Beth asks, confused.

I nod my head. "Yeah. Elsie. She's the girl I'm staying with this term. Here." I flip the camera around so that it's facing El. "There she is. My new best friend."

"Oh thank God," Beth says, playfully relieved. "You can take her, Elsie. Seriously, keep her. She's nothing but trouble anyway." Elsie laughs as I turn the phone back to face me. "My parents keep asking me when you're coming back."

"Why, so I can help you get your grades up?" I ask.

"They aren't that bad right now," she says defensively, and Elsie and I both laugh. "No, I think they just know I miss you."

"You miss me?" I ask incredulously, because I can hardly believe she's saying it out loud.

She scoffs. "Hell yeah I miss you," she replies, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "You're my best friend, Summer." Hearing her say this... I mean, I know it's true. But Beth has a lot of friends. She's way more social than I am, and she always has been. But hearing her say I'm her best friend... even though I know it's true, it still makes me feel so emotional. I feel the prickle of tears again as that lump reforms in my throat.

"I'm touched," I say in a way I hope comes out teasingly but is secretly sincere. "Guess I'll have to leave more often then, huh?"

She shakes her head. "You are never allowed to leave again." She pauses for a second before saying, "Baker misses you too."

The sound of his name does something to me. Heat floods my body, and I squirm uncomfortably in my seat. "Beth, stop," I say warningly, because I can't talk about Baker right now. Because the truth is, I miss him too. We text all the time, and we email almost constantly. But I haven't talked to him on the phone since that first night, and I'm craving the sound of his voice.

Beth grins, knowing she's struck a nerve. When I look up, Elsie is staring at me wide eyed, and I know we've got her attention as well. "Is this the same Baker that you keep texting all the time?" Elsie asks, and I throw a pillow at her head. She dodges it, then uses it to rest her head against before smiling and saying, "So what's the story, Beth? On this Baker guy? Is he into her?"

"That is not the right question," Beth replies, and I can't believe we're having this conversation right now. Beth looks at me pointedly, and I cringe, knowing what's coming next. "The question we should be asking is if she's into him."

And there it is. The million dollar question. I groan and cover my face with my blanket since my pillow is now being used by Elsie. "Can we please change the subject."

Elsie shakes her head. "No, no, curious minds want to know," she says, and I hate her a little bit right now. "And by curious minds, I mean Graham."

"Graham?" Beth asks as I uncover my head and glare at Elsie. "Who's Graham? What's this all about? Summer, how are you getting all these boys to fall in love with you?"

Okay, that's it. "First of all," I say as I sit up straight in my bed. "They are not in love with me. Baker and I are academic rivals and sort of friends. Nothing else. And Graham I can barely tolerate." All this is true. I think Graham is a pompous asshole, and if it wasn't for the fact that my only friend here was dating his best friend, we would never talk again.

"I don't know about Graham," Beth begins, a small smile pulling at her lips. "But Baker has not been doing well since you left. Seems like he's been getting into more and more fights. Keeps coming to school all fucked up. And he always looks so... I don't know. Sad."

My heart drops just a little. "You're lying," I say, hoping it's true.

She shakes her head. "I'm not. I've been paying attention, because I have this sneaking suspicion that he's into you."

I roll my eyes. "He's not. I told you, it's not like that. If anything, he wants me to think he's into me because then I'll let me guard down around him. It's all about the grades, Beth. You know that."

"No, I don't know that," she replies. "In fact, I think you are the only person I know grade obsessed enough to believe that at all. And think about it. What good would it really do for him to act like he's attracted to you to stay at the top of the class? Like, how is that going to help anything at all, Summer?"

I refuse to even consider her words. "You don't get it. He's toying with me. Trying to get in my head."

"Summer," she sighs, shaking her head exasperatedly. "Have you even considered the fact that maybe, just maybe, for him it's not all about the grades? That maybe he really does like you?"

"No," I reply, and it's true. I haven't considered it. I can't. "He basically said it's all about the grades when he texted me back on New Years. He said he was going to make it hard for me to get the top spot back."

"That doesn't mean anything," Elsie says, and Beth nods her head. "All he's saying is he's not going to make it easy on you. Not that he doesn't like you. Maybe the two things are unrelated? Maybe he does like you, but he also isn't going to just give up the top spot in the class for you?"

They're wrong. They have to be wrong. Baker doesn't like me. He can't. This is all about the grades. I know it. He knows it. And I refuse to admit otherwise. Because admitting otherwise would be admitting that I've thought about the possibility. That I've imagined being with him as more than what we are right now. And I don't even really know what we are right now. Friends? Sure. Yes. I'd say we're friends. But more than that? God, I don't even know.

"You're so stubborn," Beth says, and I hear a tiny bit of frustration in her voice. "You'll see sooner or later." The sound of a bell rings from behind her, and she frowns. "Shit. Okay, I really should go. My next class is Chemistry, and I'm not doing so hot. My mom says if I bring home anything less than a C, I'll be grounded all summer."

"That cannot happen, Beth," I say sternly.

She rolls her brown eyes. "I know, I know. I'll get better. Maybe Baker can help me study. He is top of the class, after all." I glare at her, and she laughs. "Bye, babes. Nice meeting you, Elsie!"

"Likewise!" Elsie calls, and a moment later Beth ends the call. I stare at the black screen for a moment, willing her to come back and talk more. But when she doesn't, I sigh, toss my phone on my bed, and close my eyes. A few moments of silence pass when Elsie says, "So hey, Summer. Do you have... like... a picture of this Baker?"

"No," I snap, even though I'm sure if I looked hard enough I could probably find one online. "Don't listen to Beth. She always sees things that aren't there. And there is nothing, and I repeat, nothing going on between me and Baker Scott."

Elsie nods her head, but there's a teasing smile plastered on her face. "Okay, but in a would you rather situation... would you rather be with Graham or Baker?"

I wrinkle my nose at the question. "Elsie...." But I know the answer. It's not even a competition. Graham is someone who I can hardly tolerate. Baker is so much more than that. But it's complicated between him and I. She's still staring at me a few moments later, waiting for me to answer. I sigh. "Okay, the truth?" She nods her head, and I sit up again. "The truth is I was very nearly sexually assaulted last year by my ex-boyfriend, so the thought of being with any guy is repugnant right now. There. That's the truth. Now please, can we stop talking about Baker and Graham and any other male out there who may or may not have a thing for me? Because I'm not here for it right now."

Her jaw falls open, and she quickly nods her head, horrified. "Oh God, Summer, I'm... I didn't know. I'm so sorry. I won't bring it up again, okay? I promise."

I release a breath of air as I lean back again and whisper, "Thank you." But as I say it, I know that the truth I told her wasn't the whole truth. The whole truth is that Baker saved me from that awful situation. And then he became the only person I feel like I can ever talk to about it. Is there more between us? I don't know. I really can't answer that question. I mean, I'm halfway across the world right now. I haven't seen him in over a month. If I feel anything for him beyond the obvious friendship, then there's no way to know until I get back.

But what Beth says sits with me the rest of the night. I toss and turn thinking about how she said he keeps coming to school with bruises. How he's getting into more and more fights. How he looks so sad. And while I know I can't see him right now, I want to. I'm worried, and I need to know he's okay. So finally, after several hours, I give in and decide to call him. The phone rings a few times before he picks up.

"Lumen," he says in a soft, whispery voice. "What's going on?"

"Oh nothing," I reply casually as I slip out the bedroom door to the bathroom, which seems to be the normal spot for me to call him. "What's going on with you?"

He's quiet for a minute, and I wonder if he has a place where he talks to me as well. "Uh... nothing. Just doing some homework at the library with Ian."

Well, that explains the whispers. "Ah. I see. Hi, Ian."

"Ian," Baker says softly to his brother. "Summer says hi." I hear a muffled voice in the background before he says, "He says hi back." There's a pause for a second, like he's waiting for me to say something. But my mind is spinning as I try to figure out how he really is. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," I say quickly. Too quickly.

Another brief pause. And then, "Summer, what's going on?"

"Nothing," I reply defensively. "I just wanted to check in with you." I hesitate for a second before I whisper, "I guess I miss you." It's not a lie. It's actually the farthest thing from a lie. I really, genuinely miss him. "Are you... um... okay?"

"Hey, Ian," he says to his brother. "Stay here for a sec. I'll be right back." More muffled sounds on the other end of the line, and I know it's Baker getting up from wherever he is at the library to find a more private spot to talk. A minute later his worried voice asks me, "Summer, what's up? Why are you really calling?"

"Why can't I call you to check on you?" I ask, bristling with annoyance.

"Because you don't," he answers, and I roll my eyes. "So what's going on? And also, isn't it like one in the morning there?"

"Oh my God, forget it," I growl, my irritation quickly turning to anger. He sighs. "I just wanted to check in with you. See how you're doing." A heavy silence falls between us before I finally cave and say, "Fine. Beth and I were talking on the phone earlier. And she said some things about you."

"What kind of things?" he asks.

I suck in a breath of air and close my eyes before saying, "She says you keep coming to school with bruises. And I just... it worried me. So I'm going to ask you again. Are you okay?"

The tension on the line is palpable half a world away as I wait for Baker to answer my question. "I'm fine," he answers finally. I don't believe him, and I know he can tell, because a moment later he says, "Really. I do keep coming to school with bruises, but it's not what she thinks it is."

"Then what is it?" I ask. "Where do the bruises come from?"

He hesitates for a fraction of a second before saying, "Football practice. It... comes from football practice."

"It's February, Baker," I snap. God, does he think I'm stupid? "I know you don't practice in the winter."

"I do," he replies, and I fall silent. "I do. Listen, I told you before that football is a means to an end for me, okay? I'm trying to get a scholarship, so I have to be good. Which means I have to practice year round. I get together with a few guys from the team a couple times a week after school, and we practice together. Sometimes I get hurt. But I'm fine. Really. I'm fine, Summer. I promise." He voice softens at these last few words, and my heart leaps a little in my chest. "Go to bed. It's late where you are."

I'm still not fully convinced, but he's right. It is late. And while I don't know if I believe him, his explanation does make sense. Sort of. "Okay. I'll talk to you tomorrow?"

I hear the smile in his voice as he says, "I can't wait. Goodnight, Lumen." He hangs up before I can answer, and bow my head, still feeling anxious but not sure why. I sit in the bathroom for a long time thinking about everything he said. It's not until I'm about to go back to bed that a notification goes off on my phone. A message from Baker.

"I miss you too."

I groan and rub my eyes with my balled up fists. Because I hate and love what these words do to my heart. Sending it jumping up, like it's doing some weird little dance that only hearts know how to do. I shake my head and text him back, "Goodnight." Before finally going back to my room and falling asleep at last.

Author's Note:
The last few chapters have been longer. I know, I know. I keep thinking I'll get back to my shorter chapters, but then this happens. I'm sorry. But I'm really excited for the next few chapters. Do you think Summer is ever going to realize how she truly feels about Baker? Or do you think she's too nervous to admit her feelings? Let me know in the comments!

Also, do you believe what Baker said about his bruises? What are your theories? Can't wait to read all your thoughts. Next chapter will be up as soon as I can finish it. I'm in Coupeville right now for a funeral, so it'll probably be a few days. Stay safe and healthy until then, my dears!
XOXO,
~Aly