Foreign Exchange

Nicoles POV
It’s been five days. Five days since Harry brought up the fact of me being adopted. Turns out that even though Nick didn’t approve of what Harry said, he still was more pissed off at the fact that Gage showed up with me. Nick had already talked to Harry and forgiven him as easily as I did. The only thing is, Nick has been talking to Harry while I haven’t been.

“Nikki, c’mon. Gage is just an annoying prick. You’ve got to understand that” Nick tried to convince me for the thousandth time today since we’ve arrived home from school.

“No Nick. Weren’t you mad at Harry on Friday too? Why are you acting like Gage is the bad guy and Harry did nothing wrong?” I said, glaring at him. I was trying to get my homework finished when he decides to just waltz in here, lounge in my room and piss me off.

“Yes, I was. But I’m not now. I understand where Harry is coming from.”

“That doesn’t give him the right to bring up the fact that I’m adopted” I said, raising my voice. I set down my pencil in my Chemistry book that was in my lap and flopped down on my bed.

“I know, but Gage went to fa-”

“Harry went to far!” I grunted in frustration, frowning at the ceiling.

“Nikki, are you struggling with the fact that you are adopted?” Nick asked, and I could hear him moving around on the couch in my room. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to answer his question.

I understand that I am, so I wouldn't exactly consider that I’m struggling with that fact. All I want is answers..but I don’t want to know them. I’m afraid to ask...maybe I am struggling with it. It’s no big deal that I’m adopted. It really isn’t. It’s just that, you don’t keep that a secret from someone.

“Because when you found out, you were upset one minute, then the next, you’re completely fine. It’s obviously something more than Harry” Nick said.

“Maybe” I shrugged as if it was no big deal.

“At least talk to him. I know that you’ve already forgiven him and it’ll be good to talk about what happened” Nick said.

“We’ve talked about this before, Nick. I’m just not ready yet” I said, basically talking to the ceiling. I’m not ready to face him. It’s stupid, yes I know, but I don’t know what to say or do and I really don’t feel like talking to him. I don’t feel like even seeing him right now.

Actually, that was a lie. I miss his green eyes and dimples. It’s hard enough walking around school and spotting his curly hair everywhere. But, I feel like somehow, he started this; this feeling that I’ve kept down. Then again..it’s been there for a while and was bound to come out.

“When will you be ready Nikki. You can’t wait forever” Nick huffed. I didn’t answer him and continued to lay there on the bed. “You know what” I heard Nick say in frustration and I sat up to look at him. “I’m just going to stay over at the boys for a while” Nick said sternly.

“Okay” I said, hiding the fact that I would miss having him around for company.

“Ugh” Nick groaned in frustration and left my room. “You’re so freaking stubborn!” he yelled and I sadly nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. I picked up my chemistry book and set it on my nightstand next to my bed. Anjelica wasn’t here since she was at work, and I won’t see her until after she attending her college classes for the day. And Nick is leaving me to go hang out with the boys. Not to mention that it’s a Wednesday, so we got out of school early today. Great, that just gives me more time.

More time to sit here and be all alone.

Sure, I could just ask Liam or one of the other boys, or even a friend from school to come over and hang out, but I don’t want to be a burden to Liam or the boys and I don’t feel like hanging out with someone from school. I’m not very close with a majority of the people I go to school with. They’re just people that I know, nothing much more to it.

I ditched the idea of finishing my homework and pulled out my drawing notebook. I quickly skimmed through some my artwork before flipping to a fresh page. Lately, I haven’t had a lot of time to draw and frankly, I miss drawing. It was my passion and the fact that I’m not doing my passion isn’t uplifting. I grabbed the pencil from my chemistry book and immediately put lead in pencil. I wasn’t drawing anything specific, just letting my pencil go with the flow.

“I’m leaving” Nick said to me, and I didn’t give him much acknowledgement. I gave him a short hum in response and then he was gone. I sat alone in my house, in my room, on my bed, and just drew. I only stopped when my pencil marks got smeared by an unexpected tear.

“Wha..?” I said as I wiped my cheek. I looked down at my drawing, bringing more unexpected tears to my eyes. It was a picture of the butterfly. My mother always loved butterflies.

.Everyone has that thing that represents them, and a butterfly was my mothers thing. It was like her signature. I brought my hand to my lip to try and calm down the sudden gasps escaping them.
I just want my mom right now.

At this point, I don’t think I’m mad at Harry. I’m mad that what he said unlocked a box inside of me that I didn’t want to be opened. In that box lied so many things that I just brushed off too quickly and acted like it was no big deal. I didn’t ask questions about it any more when really, I had more questions that would have to be answered by more than just one person. Like I said before, I don’t want to think about it.

“Knock Knock” someone softly said and I looked up to see Liam, Nick and Zayn in my doorway. I sniffed and roughly wiped my eyes with the heel of my hand, causing white shapes to blind my vision.

“I thought you said that you were going to stay with the boys..” I mumbled and tried to compose myself.

“I can’t leave my stupid best friend alone” Nick said and I smiled a little.

“It’s not nice to call your best friend stupid” I pathetically said and Liam came over to sit down next to me on my bed.

“How are you?” he asked and I bit my lip. I wasn’t doing the best right now and we all knew it. Liam set his hand on my shoulder, making me look at him face to face. “Angels shouldn’t cry” he said. It was so gentle and caring, it could make the devil have a heart. My bottom lip quivered and Liam pulled me into a tight embrace. “No no, it’s okay” Liam said. I harshly bit my bottom lip and crushed my cheek against Liams soft one.

Harrys POV
I pressed my body quietly up against the wall next to Nikki’s room.

“Knock Knock” Liam said and Nick gave me a side glance.

“I thought you said that you were going to stay with the boys..” I heard Nikki say and I sucked in a breath. She sounded so sad, and it sounded like she had been crying. This just made me feel even worse.

I know that I should have never said what I said on Friday. How could I do that? I can’t believe that I get so jealous over her tennis partner. He’s gay for goodness sakes! I shouldn’t have been so angry and I should have been more understanding, but she also should have told me. We could have worked something out.

“I can’t leave my stupid best friend alone” Nick said and I softly smiled at him.

“It’s not nice to call your best friend stupid” she said. I looked down and bit my lip. She sounds lost now.

I was so tempted to just go walk in there right now and hold her tight. Apologize for how stupid I was, but I have to do it when the time is right.

“How are you?” I heard Liam say and I slightly leaned off the wall. I waited for Nikki to say something. “Angels shouldn’t cry” he said and now I was gnawing at the skin on my bottom lip, most likely going to draw blood soon. He’s right about that, Nikki is an angel. I heard Nikki’s muffled cry and just couldn’t do it.

I walked away.

I wanted to see Nikki today. I wanted to talk to her today, but just hearing her cry makes me weak. I can’t face her when she has tears in her eyes. I’m not sure what to do anymore. When I was on my way here, I was determined. Now, for some reason, I’m not. I’m weak and I can’t face her.

“Harry!” Nick whisper screamed to me after closing Nikki’s bedroom door. I ignored him and walked over to the couch in the living room. I set my elbows on my knees and sighed heavily.

“Damn it” I cursed under my breath and put my head in my hands.

“Harry, what are you doing?” Nick said in a quiet voice.

“I don’t know” I mumbled and squeezed my eyes shut. I can’t handle this right now. It’s amazing how this girl can make me feel so weak.

“Harry, you didn’t do anything wrong” Nick said.

“Except for hurt her in a way that we don’t understand” I heard Zayn say, practically scolding Nick.

“But she needs to understand that she shouldn’t be mad at Harry and talk about what’s going on” I heard Nick counter back and I looked up at them.

“It still makes me feel bad. I’m the one who triggered it. You know, started her tears, started her hurt” I said, looking back and forth between the two.

“Harry..” Nick sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“Then go in there, apologize, and talk about it” Zayn shrugged and said as if it wasn’t hard at all. I glared at him before looking down at my hands.

“Maybe I should give her more time..” I mumbled to myself. Maybe she just needs space, a breather from all of us. Maybe this was me running away since I don’t know what to do. Maybe this was me needing space and take time to sort out my behaviour. But heck, what do I know.

Usually, I’m one to take thing by the reins and finish the ride. Meeting Nikki changed all that.

“The last thing she needs is more time, Harry” Nick said, sounding irritated. There was a sudden knock at the front door and the three of us froze. Nikki’s bedroom door opened.

“I’ll get it..” I heard Nikki say in a strained voice. Nick and Zayn stared at each other while I was mentally freaking out. I made a quick decision to jump behind the couch and hid, making the couch move slightly out of place in the process. I heard her footsteps coming closer to the three of us. “Oh, I thought that you guys left” I heard Nikki say.

“Uh, um..” I heard Nick say, probably trying to pretend that I wasn’t hiding behind the couch.

“Nah, just wanted to give you some space” Zayn said in his bradford accent, playing it cooler than cool. He was always good at that.

“Well alright” Nikki said, followed by a sniff.

“I wonder who’s at the door” I heard Nick say awkwardly. Anyone would be suspicious by the sound of that..

“Yeah, I was just going to check it” Nikki said, stating a fact. I heard her footsteps walk further down towards the door and I peaked over the couch to see Nick and Zayn staring straight at me.

“Don’t say anything” I mouthed the words to them.

“Harry, what are you doing!?” Nick whisper shouted at me, walking over to the couch.

“I panicked..” I whispered and lowered my eyes like a coward.

“Calum!” I heard Nikki say.

“Nikki, Miss. Katherine has run away again!” Calum frantically said as Liam walked into the living room.

“Harry?” Liam mouthed, tilting his head to the side.

“It’s okay Calum, I’ll help you” Nikki said. I put my finger to my lips as I shook my head to Liam, indicating that he doesn’t say anything.

“Oh thank you, thank you!” Calum cheered as Nick was forcing me to come out from behind the couch.

“No problem, Cal, just let me go get my jacket and some slippers” Nikki said just as I was stepping over the couch.

“Go back! Go back!” Nick frantically whispered and shoved me back behind the couch. Wait, one minute Nick wants me to talk to Nikki, the next, he’s pushing me behind the couch to hide from her. I fell back and my head hit the wall.

“Ow!” I yelped, then covered my mouth. My heart beated against my chest as I heard Nikki’s footprints get closer.

“Are you guys okay?” I heard Nikki say. I wanted to move in a more comfortable position, but I was afraid that I would accidentally move the couch, thus giving away that fact that I’m hiding from her.

“Yeah, why?” Nick said nervously.

“Well, I heard someone say ow” I heard her say and I mentally face palmed.

“That’s because...I stubbed my toe” Zayn said and I could picture his calm and collected smile.

“Y-yeah! That’s exactly it!” Liam said and this time I face palmed, as quietly as I could. Not only is Liam not the best at lying, but put on the fact that he absolutely cannot lie to Nikki. Liam couldn’t fool a baby.

“Okay” Nikki said slowly and I held my breath, waiting for her to march over to the couch and drag me out from behind it. “I’m going to help Cal look for his cat, so I guess you guys can hang out here” she said, and I didn’t move a muscle as I listened to her walk back and forth. “Oh and fix the couch will you? The couch is all crooked” Nikki said before the door closed, making me freeze.

“Harry, get out here” Nick said and he moved the couch over. My body sprawled out once the couch wasn’t cramping me and I looked up at Nick.

“Ow” I said in annoyance to get my point across just how bad my head hurt and let Liam help me up. Zayn pushed the couch back, but not perfectly in the right position.

“Mate, why were you hiding?” Liam asked and being the nice man that he is, brushed the dust off of me.

“He thinks that he should give Nikki some more time” Nick huffed.

“Hey, you where the one pushing me back behind the couch” I said, looking at him through green slits. I wasn’t mad at him, just frustrated with everything. Nick fumbled to answer.

“Guys” Liam said in a fatherly tone “All Nikki needs right now is her friends” Liam said and looked at me “All of them” he added. I sighed and nodded.

“I just..” I ran my hand through my messy curls. “Don’t make fun of me for saying this but..she makes me feel..” I sighed and looked down, shielding myself from their eyes.

“Feel..?” Nick said, encouraging me.

“Weak...” I said, my cheeks turning a light red. When no one said anything, I took a peek from under my curls. Nick looked in awe, Zayn had a smug smile on his face and Liam..his expression was oddly blank.

“Harry! Do you know what that means?!” Nick said, smiling big. I relaxed a little and shook my head.

“No..” I said, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Haz, it means that-” Zayn was cut off by the front door opening.

“Calum, next time just wait for her. I can’t believe she was right there in front of your door” Nikki said and I was the only one that stiffened.

“Yeah, but good thing got her fast!” Calum said. Liam leaned back to look down the hall at the front door.

“Oh for goodness sakes, Nikki!” Nick said and I pounced on him.

“Yes?” Nikki said from down the hall and I covered Nicks mouth.

“Hmm!” Nick said, glaring at me and pulled on my arm, but I was stronger than him.

“Well, okay” I heard Nikki say and I was glad when she carried on talking to Calum. I let go of Nicks mouth, which wasn’t a good idea at all.

“Nikki!” he yelled again and I dramatically threw my hands up in the air.

“Hold on!” she said and I covered his mouth again.

“Harry, all of her friends, remember?” Liam said in a quiet, fatherly tone. I still kept my hand on Nicks mouth as I looked at him.

“I’ll see you later kiddo. Tell your mom about coming over for dinner” Nikki said before listening to Calums reply and closing the door. I let go of Nick and retreated behind the couch for the third time today.

“Yes Nick?” Nikki said and I held my breath.

“Nothing” Nick ended up saying after a short pause. I silently sighed in relief and mentally thanked him for not ratting me out.

Notes

My beauties! I'm sowwie!
I got caught up in looking at colleges and spending time with family. Sorry about this chapter, I know that it wasn't the best :/
I would like to thank you all for your continual support and patience! I would like to specially thank Miss LBD
JessCee
daily5sos
Thank you for commenting my loves! You are truly awesome and you are the three that have lately made me want to write! The next couple of chapters are for you babes!
Hope to update soon, more comments and votes means more updates, keep that in mind!
Oh and please spread this story around to your friends! It would be nice to have more subscribers :) I love you my fellow directioners!

I've been digging Narry lately xD So cute