A/N Hey everyone,

Just a quick note beforehand. I'm not really sure how old Harm and Mac are so I kind of guessed. I'm also not really sure how many years American high schools have and how old you are when you graduate so if anyone can help me out with that it's greatly appreciated. Last, I have no idea in what town Mac grew up so I found a small town in Arizona and used that instead. Thanks and enjoy.

The exchange

Part 1

Wilhoit High School, English classroom
Wilhoit
Arizona
Friday 21 September 1984

"Okay guys, put your books away for the moment, please"

'Oh no, what now, we still have 15 minutes to go, as long as it is not another assignment,' a 16 year old Sarah thought.

Once everyone had put their books away the teacher started speaking again: "Listen up everyone, this class has been selected to be part of an exchange programme for students. The idea is for all of you to fill in these forms, hand them in to me and according to these you will be partnered with another student from La Jolla High School in California. You will all go there for two weeks in November and stay with the student you are partnered with. Then, in February they will come here for two weeks and stay with you. This is an opportunity of a lifetime so go home, fill in these forms as good as you can and get them back to me on Monday."

Wilhoit
Arizona
Friday 21 September 1984

Sarah was sitting in the bar, waiting for Chris to bring her a vodka. She was still thinking about the exchange programme. They were supposed to go but how could she let someone stay with her and her abusive father. She wasn't sure what to do yet. Just then Chris arrived with their drinks. She wasn't really looking forward to spending the night with him but he paid for her drinks and being with Chris meant not having to be at home with her father so she did what he wanted her too, even if it meant sharing his bed …

Wilhoit High School
Wilhoit
Arizona
Friday 9 November 1984

Sarah and the rest of her class were waiting for the bus to arrive. They would leave for La Jolla in about an hour. Sarah had tried everything not to go but her teacher wouldn't hear about it. When she didn't hand her form in he had made her stay after school and fill it in after all. A few weeks later she had gotten a letter from the exchange programme with an address and a description of her partner. Unfortunately there were less girls in the class that was participating in the programme in La Jolla than in hers so her partner was a guy. They had already written quite a lot of letters to 'get to know each other'. He seemed like a nice guy, she just had no clue what to do in February …

La Jolla High School
La Jolla
California
Friday 9 November 1984, 1 PM

When the group of students from Arizona entered the auditorium there was already a group waiting for them. They were asked to take a seat and a teacher welcomed them to the school. After that the students from La Jolla took their partners for a tour of the town and after that home for dinner. Sarah found her partner fairly quickly since he had send her a pile of pictures with his letters. He was tall and handsome with dark hair and blue eyes. When their eyes met he smiled a beautiful smile and started towards her. He greeted her with a handshake and a cheerful: "Hi, I'm Harm, you must be Sarah."

She couldn't help but smile and answer him: "Yes I am, how are you?" Sarah studied his face while he asked her: "you ready to get out of here, I thought we could take your gear home and have a bite to eat and then I show you around town, sounds okay?" "Yep, sounds good lead the way". They walked to his car chatting about the trip over and the exchange. Sarah was really amazed at how at ease they were with each other. During the drive she kept taking glances at him, hoping he wouldn't notice. He was attractive, with dark hair and blue eyes.

All too soon they arrived at his home. She was kind of nervous about meeting his parents since she had no idea what to expect. When they started up the driveway of his home the sight took Sarah's breath away. The house was huge, especially compared to the trailer she lived in, and right on the beach. They got out of the car and brought Sarah's luggage inside. He showed her her bedroom, it was big as well, with a king-sized double bed and separate bathroom. She put her bags down and they made their way to the kitchen.

"Do you want anything to eat? I could make us some veggie sandwiches if you want." Harm asked.

"You mean no meat?" And she looked at him as if he were crazy.

"Well, I can put some ham on it if you're really sure that's what you want."

"Of course I want meat on my sandwich."

"So where are you taking me?"

"Well, I thought I could just show you where the shops are and stuff."

"Sure, sounds good, let's go."

They spend the afternoon walking around town and just talking. Harm told Sarah about his dad, who went MIA over Vietnam 10 years ago and about how his mother married his step dad, Frank Burnett. Sarah told him a little about her life in Arizona, careful not to give away too much. Harm wondered how this girl could be so amazing and still look so sad, he made a vow to himself to try and make her happy.

At 5:30 they went home again for dinner.

As soon as they entered the house Harm's mother came to greet them:

"Hi, you must be Sarah, I'm Trish, Harm's mother"

Sarah took the offered hand: "Thank you Mrs. Burnett."

"Please call me Trish. Dinner is about ready so have a seat at the table."

"I'm sorry Frank isn't here yet but he has a working dinner"

"Wow, steak, my mum only makes steak on my birthday" Sarah exclaimed happily.

"well, it's a good thing you like it, I wasn't really sure what you would like and what not, what do you normally eat at home?"

'Uh oh' thought Sarah before answering: "Oh, you know, just normal stuff."

After dinner Harm and Sarah watched a movie after which Sarah claimed to be sleepy from the trip and went to bed.

After entering her room the first thing she did was opening her suitcase. There it was, ever since she left home she had waited for the time to be alone. Carefully she unwrapped the bottle, opened it, and took a big gulp, already starting to feel the effect the alcohol was having on her…