Foreign Exchange
Stay
Nicks POV
“Have fun you lucky duck” I said on the phone to Nikki.
“I won’t when my bestfriend isn’t there” she said and I smiled a little.
“Yeah right, you have five gorgeous boys to distract you” I stated and I heard her chuckle.
“But no one compares to my best friend” she said and I heard Anjelica gasp in the background “And my sister also, goodness.”
“Yeah that’s right! I’m the one doing your hair and helping you change!” I heard her say, causing me to chuckle.
“Yeah yeah, I hear ya. Well, I gotta go get ready, Nick. Call me later and tell me about the “important” announcement” Nikki said.
“I’m telling you, its probably not even important!!!” I sighed. “Bye.”
“Tell your parents I say Happy Thanksgiving” she said before hanging up.
“Such a suck up” I mumbled at the phone. Nikki always sucks up to my parents, always super sweet and polite. She is genuinely sweet and polite, but shes also most of the time genuinely crazy. When my mom used to not be so busy, she would be around the house when Nikki was. She loves Nikki and used to ask her to live with us and teach me a lesson about being respectful to your parents and blah blah. Also, back then, me and Anjelica were closer than how m and Nikki are now. She used to tell us how Anjelica and I are going to get married. Of course that dream was killed when my older brother announced to her that I was gay.
I sulked all morning, sighing in the shower, sighing as I got changed, sighing as I set the table. I just couldn’t believe that the one time my parents decide to have Thanksgiving together, Zayn invites me over to have Thanksgiving with him and the boys. And why can’t I go? Because my parents decide that they want to announce something “important.” It’s four british guys and Zayn for pete’s sake!!! I may never get this opportunity again and it’s all because of a stupid announcement. I bet that it’s not even that important. Probably just my parents boasting about how such good nurses and businessmen they are.
“Stop that sighing, boy” my grandmother said from the living room.
“Sorry..” I mumbled, placing the forks and knives on the fancy napkins. My little sister, Madison, ran up to me. Her big blue eyes looked up at me, her round cheeks peppered with a light blush that covered her freckles.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing...”I grumbled.
“Is it those boys you always talk about?” she asked. I nodded and she smiled a toothy smile.
“I knew it!” she squeaked. “Grandma! I know why Nick is upset!” she yelled and ran back to the living room.
“Madi-ugh” I groaned and just shook my head. My sister and Grandmother didn’t know that I was invited to go have Thanksgiving with the boys, but now they do know that I’m upset and it involves the boys. My mom walked in with a big tray piled with vegetables. My mother is a woman in her 40’s with dyed blonde hair. Her hair is naturally brown, so it’s predicted that my hair will eventually turn brown. It happened to my brother.
“Nick, can you go help get the other platters” she said, placing the one she was holding in the middle of the dining table. I walked off to the kitchen where my dad, or my stepdad, I should say. My mother and my birth father got a divorce a few years back, and she got remarried, like Nikki’s dad did. I don’t call him dad, I call him by his name, Brian. But to most people, I’m just like “he’s my dad.”
“Hey Nick” he said, grabbing two wine glasses and a bottle of wine.
“Hey Brian” I said, taking two platters and balancing them on my hands. I continued doing this until I had gotten all the platters in the table. I took my seat next to my sister and we all just started passing food around and plopping food on our plates.
“This is very good” my grandmother said to her daughter/my mom, Lisa.
“Thank you” my mom smiled.
“Yes, very delicious honey” Brian complemented. My mother smiled at him and I went back to playing with my food. I just picked at it and swirled it around. I wasn’t really in the mood to eat and I just wanted to get this over with. I wanted them to announce what’s so important already. After twenty minutes of small chatter among the adults, I couldn’t take it anymore. I slammed down my fork, causing everyone to look at me.
“Nick? Are you alright?” my mother asked.
“No, I’m not. What is so important that you just had to keep me from the most awesomest people in the world?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows at them. My mother and Brian looked at each other, small smiles creeping up on their faces. “Well?” I asked.
“Nick, don’t be rude” my grandmother said.
“No, no. It’s alright” my mother said and Brain stood up, holding the wine glass in his hand.
“As you know, we brought you all here together” Brian said. “The only reason why we didn’t invite your siblings is because they already know” he continued. Know what!?!? I screamed in my head. “I got this great job offer down in Texas” he said.
“Congratulations” I said a little sarcastically, already knowing that it wasn’t that important.
“I’m not finished” he said, sipping his wine.
“Than what?” I said, my frustration getting close to the edge.
“We’re moving their with him next week” my mother said. “We have some family down there, so it will be nice” she said, but my mouth was hanging open and my mind was blank.
“W-what?” I said, my heart stuttering in my chest.
“She sai-” Brain started to say, but I cut him off.
“Oh, I know what she said” I said a little breathless.
“We’re moving?” Madison asked. She was born here in this town after we moved here, so she’s never moved in her life.
“Yes Maddie” my mother said.
“Well, I’m happy for you” my grandmother said with a smile.
“No” I said.
“What?” Brain said.
“I said no. I’m not going with you” I said, grinding my teeth together.
“Yes you are” my mother said, a little puzzled.
“No!” I yelled. “You can’t just take me away from my friends!!”
“Nick” my mother said. I stood up, tears in my eyes.
“Mom, they’re my family!!!” I said, referring to Nikki and Anjelica, even the boys.
“We’re your family” she said, reaching out to me.
“My friends are around me more than you are!!! They even tell me that they love me everyday!!” I screamed, my vision blurry.
“Nicholas Edwards, do not raise your voice at your mother again!” Brain fiercely spoke. My heart was breaking. The thought of not seeing Nikki and Anjelica everyday, and not laughing with Zayn was horrible. And it was sad, because Zayn’s going to leave eventually to go back to England. But I just wanted more time with him, and to stay with my friends. I looked around the table, my grandmother looking on in horror, my sister shrinking back in fear, Brian fuming and my mother just drinking her wine.
I did the only thing I could do, I ran. I ran out the house, but no once called after me, no one ran after me. It’s not the first time I’ve run out the house. I ran when my brother told them that I was gay. I choked on my sobs as I ran, stumbling along other peoples lawns. I have to get there, I needed to get there, I chanted in my head, motivating me to keep going rather than crumbling and curling up in a ball. I ran and stumbled the whole 20 minutes it took to get there. I didn’t see Anjelicas car in the driveway, reminding me that I may never see it again. I rang the doorbell and turned my back to the door, trying not to throw up from the sick feelings inside. I felt like breaking, I felt sick.
“Nick?” I heard Louis high voice ask. I turned around, bursting into more tears than before. I looked at my foreign exchange friends. I caught Zayns puzzled and worried expression.
“Zayn” I cried out to him.
“What’s wrong?” He asked and I just shook my head. The boys exchanged worried glances and Zayn held open his arms. “C’mere” he said and I ran into his arms. I buried my face in his nice shirt, no doubt ruining it with my tears. I heard a car in the background, followed by some footsteps and sisterly bickering.
“I’m just saying, it involves me t- Nick?” I heard Nicole say. “What ha-”
“We don’t know” I heard Niall say. Zayn pulled me into the house, I stay snuggled in his arms. I can’t think about it. Leaving them, it’s just too hard. I stopped crying, but I still felt horrible. Zayn sat me down on the couch with him.
“Nick, please, tell us what’s wrong” Zayn said, rubbing my back. I pulled away and wiped my red, teary eyes. I wasn’t sure how to break the news to them. Nikkis phone rang and she gave us an apologetic smile as she reached in her bag to get her cell phone. Her eyebrows furrowed as she answered the call.
“Mrs Knotts?” she said, looking at me. Knotts is Brains last name, my mom changed it to his last name when they got married. My name stayed Edwards, the last name of my birth father. She listened to the end of the line in brief silence. “Yes, he’s with us” she said before asking “He’s very upset, may I ask why?”
“It’s gonna be okay” Zayn whispered to me, but all I felt was dread.
“What?” Nikki gasped and covered her mouth, looking at the ground. I cringed, knowing that my mother told her the important news. “Mrs. Knotts-” she stopped talking, like my mother interrupted her or something. “But, ma’am, I’m sure that we could work something out” she said, tears building up in her eyes. Everyone watched her, itching to know just what’s going on. “Alright, I understand. Goodbye” she said before hanging up the phone. She dropped the phone and buried her face in her hands.
“Well?” Louis asked impatiently.
“Nicks moving” her voice came out muffled. Everyone gasped and I felt everyones stare on me, especially Zayns. I looked over to him and watched his features cloud over. He frowned and his bottom lip quivered slightly.
“What’s going on?” Simon asked, walking in and taking in our upset expressions.
“Nicks moving” Liam sadly said, looking at him.
“What?” He said, shocked. He looked over at me and I sadly nodded, tears making their way down my cheeks again.
“You can’t move” Nikki said, almost crying.
“He’s not going to” Anjelica said with determination.
“Have fun you lucky duck” I said on the phone to Nikki.
“I won’t when my bestfriend isn’t there” she said and I smiled a little.
“Yeah right, you have five gorgeous boys to distract you” I stated and I heard her chuckle.
“But no one compares to my best friend” she said and I heard Anjelica gasp in the background “And my sister also, goodness.”
“Yeah that’s right! I’m the one doing your hair and helping you change!” I heard her say, causing me to chuckle.
“Yeah yeah, I hear ya. Well, I gotta go get ready, Nick. Call me later and tell me about the “important” announcement” Nikki said.
“I’m telling you, its probably not even important!!!” I sighed. “Bye.”
“Tell your parents I say Happy Thanksgiving” she said before hanging up.
“Such a suck up” I mumbled at the phone. Nikki always sucks up to my parents, always super sweet and polite. She is genuinely sweet and polite, but shes also most of the time genuinely crazy. When my mom used to not be so busy, she would be around the house when Nikki was. She loves Nikki and used to ask her to live with us and teach me a lesson about being respectful to your parents and blah blah. Also, back then, me and Anjelica were closer than how m and Nikki are now. She used to tell us how Anjelica and I are going to get married. Of course that dream was killed when my older brother announced to her that I was gay.
I sulked all morning, sighing in the shower, sighing as I got changed, sighing as I set the table. I just couldn’t believe that the one time my parents decide to have Thanksgiving together, Zayn invites me over to have Thanksgiving with him and the boys. And why can’t I go? Because my parents decide that they want to announce something “important.” It’s four british guys and Zayn for pete’s sake!!! I may never get this opportunity again and it’s all because of a stupid announcement. I bet that it’s not even that important. Probably just my parents boasting about how such good nurses and businessmen they are.
“Stop that sighing, boy” my grandmother said from the living room.
“Sorry..” I mumbled, placing the forks and knives on the fancy napkins. My little sister, Madison, ran up to me. Her big blue eyes looked up at me, her round cheeks peppered with a light blush that covered her freckles.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing...”I grumbled.
“Is it those boys you always talk about?” she asked. I nodded and she smiled a toothy smile.
“I knew it!” she squeaked. “Grandma! I know why Nick is upset!” she yelled and ran back to the living room.
“Madi-ugh” I groaned and just shook my head. My sister and Grandmother didn’t know that I was invited to go have Thanksgiving with the boys, but now they do know that I’m upset and it involves the boys. My mom walked in with a big tray piled with vegetables. My mother is a woman in her 40’s with dyed blonde hair. Her hair is naturally brown, so it’s predicted that my hair will eventually turn brown. It happened to my brother.
“Nick, can you go help get the other platters” she said, placing the one she was holding in the middle of the dining table. I walked off to the kitchen where my dad, or my stepdad, I should say. My mother and my birth father got a divorce a few years back, and she got remarried, like Nikki’s dad did. I don’t call him dad, I call him by his name, Brian. But to most people, I’m just like “he’s my dad.”
“Hey Nick” he said, grabbing two wine glasses and a bottle of wine.
“Hey Brian” I said, taking two platters and balancing them on my hands. I continued doing this until I had gotten all the platters in the table. I took my seat next to my sister and we all just started passing food around and plopping food on our plates.
“This is very good” my grandmother said to her daughter/my mom, Lisa.
“Thank you” my mom smiled.
“Yes, very delicious honey” Brian complemented. My mother smiled at him and I went back to playing with my food. I just picked at it and swirled it around. I wasn’t really in the mood to eat and I just wanted to get this over with. I wanted them to announce what’s so important already. After twenty minutes of small chatter among the adults, I couldn’t take it anymore. I slammed down my fork, causing everyone to look at me.
“Nick? Are you alright?” my mother asked.
“No, I’m not. What is so important that you just had to keep me from the most awesomest people in the world?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows at them. My mother and Brian looked at each other, small smiles creeping up on their faces. “Well?” I asked.
“Nick, don’t be rude” my grandmother said.
“No, no. It’s alright” my mother said and Brain stood up, holding the wine glass in his hand.
“As you know, we brought you all here together” Brian said. “The only reason why we didn’t invite your siblings is because they already know” he continued. Know what!?!? I screamed in my head. “I got this great job offer down in Texas” he said.
“Congratulations” I said a little sarcastically, already knowing that it wasn’t that important.
“I’m not finished” he said, sipping his wine.
“Than what?” I said, my frustration getting close to the edge.
“We’re moving their with him next week” my mother said. “We have some family down there, so it will be nice” she said, but my mouth was hanging open and my mind was blank.
“W-what?” I said, my heart stuttering in my chest.
“She sai-” Brain started to say, but I cut him off.
“Oh, I know what she said” I said a little breathless.
“We’re moving?” Madison asked. She was born here in this town after we moved here, so she’s never moved in her life.
“Yes Maddie” my mother said.
“Well, I’m happy for you” my grandmother said with a smile.
“No” I said.
“What?” Brain said.
“I said no. I’m not going with you” I said, grinding my teeth together.
“Yes you are” my mother said, a little puzzled.
“No!” I yelled. “You can’t just take me away from my friends!!”
“Nick” my mother said. I stood up, tears in my eyes.
“Mom, they’re my family!!!” I said, referring to Nikki and Anjelica, even the boys.
“We’re your family” she said, reaching out to me.
“My friends are around me more than you are!!! They even tell me that they love me everyday!!” I screamed, my vision blurry.
“Nicholas Edwards, do not raise your voice at your mother again!” Brain fiercely spoke. My heart was breaking. The thought of not seeing Nikki and Anjelica everyday, and not laughing with Zayn was horrible. And it was sad, because Zayn’s going to leave eventually to go back to England. But I just wanted more time with him, and to stay with my friends. I looked around the table, my grandmother looking on in horror, my sister shrinking back in fear, Brian fuming and my mother just drinking her wine.
I did the only thing I could do, I ran. I ran out the house, but no once called after me, no one ran after me. It’s not the first time I’ve run out the house. I ran when my brother told them that I was gay. I choked on my sobs as I ran, stumbling along other peoples lawns. I have to get there, I needed to get there, I chanted in my head, motivating me to keep going rather than crumbling and curling up in a ball. I ran and stumbled the whole 20 minutes it took to get there. I didn’t see Anjelicas car in the driveway, reminding me that I may never see it again. I rang the doorbell and turned my back to the door, trying not to throw up from the sick feelings inside. I felt like breaking, I felt sick.
“Nick?” I heard Louis high voice ask. I turned around, bursting into more tears than before. I looked at my foreign exchange friends. I caught Zayns puzzled and worried expression.
“Zayn” I cried out to him.
“What’s wrong?” He asked and I just shook my head. The boys exchanged worried glances and Zayn held open his arms. “C’mere” he said and I ran into his arms. I buried my face in his nice shirt, no doubt ruining it with my tears. I heard a car in the background, followed by some footsteps and sisterly bickering.
“I’m just saying, it involves me t- Nick?” I heard Nicole say. “What ha-”
“We don’t know” I heard Niall say. Zayn pulled me into the house, I stay snuggled in his arms. I can’t think about it. Leaving them, it’s just too hard. I stopped crying, but I still felt horrible. Zayn sat me down on the couch with him.
“Nick, please, tell us what’s wrong” Zayn said, rubbing my back. I pulled away and wiped my red, teary eyes. I wasn’t sure how to break the news to them. Nikkis phone rang and she gave us an apologetic smile as she reached in her bag to get her cell phone. Her eyebrows furrowed as she answered the call.
“Mrs Knotts?” she said, looking at me. Knotts is Brains last name, my mom changed it to his last name when they got married. My name stayed Edwards, the last name of my birth father. She listened to the end of the line in brief silence. “Yes, he’s with us” she said before asking “He’s very upset, may I ask why?”
“It’s gonna be okay” Zayn whispered to me, but all I felt was dread.
“What?” Nikki gasped and covered her mouth, looking at the ground. I cringed, knowing that my mother told her the important news. “Mrs. Knotts-” she stopped talking, like my mother interrupted her or something. “But, ma’am, I’m sure that we could work something out” she said, tears building up in her eyes. Everyone watched her, itching to know just what’s going on. “Alright, I understand. Goodbye” she said before hanging up the phone. She dropped the phone and buried her face in her hands.
“Well?” Louis asked impatiently.
“Nicks moving” her voice came out muffled. Everyone gasped and I felt everyones stare on me, especially Zayns. I looked over to him and watched his features cloud over. He frowned and his bottom lip quivered slightly.
“What’s going on?” Simon asked, walking in and taking in our upset expressions.
“Nicks moving” Liam sadly said, looking at him.
“What?” He said, shocked. He looked over at me and I sadly nodded, tears making their way down my cheeks again.
“You can’t move” Nikki said, almost crying.
“He’s not going to” Anjelica said with determination.
Notes
Okay, please don't be mad at me, but this title is based of another song by Taylor Swift called Stay Stay Stay.On another note, poor Nick :( Makes me sad. What do ya'll think? Thanks for reading!!! VOTE IF YOU HAVEN'T!!! The only reason why I'm pushing you to vote is because I have 27 subscribers, but only 17 votes. That means 10 of you lovely people out there haven't voted, so go vote :) Sorry to those who have voted and I sound all naggy and annoying :/
I love you all sooo much!! You all motivate me to keep writing!! I want to make a shout out to hazzas_curls, BrokenAndBeautiful, EponineToZayn, Sofia Parente1D, CaliGurl714, Jackierenee99, LookAtMEENiallJamesHoran, alliewoohooo, Lov1D, Bea.xx and brooke20843 for commenting!! I love you ladies, and gentleman, the most!!! You are the ones that motivate me to keep writing!!!
LOVE!!!
5/23/14