Background info: Big Time Rush attends the New England-styled boarding school Palm Woods Academy in Duluth, Minnesota.

One year ago

"Oh hey Mara, where are you going?" asked Nina.

"The study abroad meeting," Mara responded. "I heard our school's doing an exchange program with a partner school in America."

"Oh, I didn't know we were doing an exchange program," said Nina. "Here, you mind waiting for a few minutes? I'm gonna grab my stuff and go check out the meeting as well."

"Hey Neens, what's the rush?" asked Amber.

"Mara just told me that our school's doing an exchange program with a school in America, and I'm gonna go check out the meeting," Nina responded.

"America?" asked Amber. "Cool! I'm gonna check out the meeting too. Maybe you can show me around once we're there!"

"Amber, America's a huge country," Nina chuckled. "They didn't even say which school or which state."

Nina, Amber, and Mara ran into their other friends, who all decided to check out the study abroad meeting.

"Pupils, welcome to tonight's meeting regarding our exchange program to America," Mr. Sweet announced. "We are absolutely delighted to announce that our generous partner school all the way in America, Palm Woods Academy, is offering an exchange program with Amun Academic Boarding School."

Amber found herself mentally dozing off while Mr. Sweet was explaining the details of the exchange program. Wait, was there something along the lines of exploring the city for a day before heading to their partner school? Eh, she'll read through the packet later.

...

"Palm Woods Academy is like, the most prestigious school in America!" Nina exclaimed. "Almost everyone I know has dreamed of going to that school, including me!"

"Well your dream could come true," Amber teased.

"I'm definitely signing up," said Patricia. "Nina's always talking about how amazing America is."

"Well, I've never really been to Minnesota, but we're both Midwest, haha," said Nina.

"Me too, I can't wait to meet hot American girls," Jerome insisted, and high-fived Alfie.

"It's an educational-slash-cultural exchange program," Patricia rolled her eyes.

"I'm in too," said Fabian. "A lot of the greatest world leaders have attended that school at some point. Plus, I've always wanted to learn more about education the American way."

"Sign me up," said Mick. "I've heard a lot of their athletes end up playing at NCAA Division I universities. Some even end up playing professionally."

"Mick! We're you even paying attention?" asked Mara. "We're only gonna be there for a few weeks, we won't have time to try out for sports."

"Actually, if you read the information in the packet, you'll see that during those few weeks, exchange students will be given the opportunity to temporarily participate in school sports given that they make tryouts," Nina pointed out.

"Oops, my bad," said Mara.

"Well I'm signing up too," Joy announced. "I've always wanted to attend an American high school."

"Anyone interested in going to the study abroad meeting tonight at 7:30?" asked Logan.

"Count me in," said Kendall. "I've always wanted to travel abroad."

"Me too," said James.

"Me three," said Carlos.

"Ooh, exchange program!" said Jo.

"Do you know where we're going?" asked Camille.

"No idea," said Carlos. "But I hope it's somewhere cool, like Japan!"

"Or Antarctica!" James squealed.

"James, no one lives in Antarctica," Logan pointed out. "Well, not permanently at least."

"I'm hoping Australia or New Zealand, I could really use a break from all this cold," Jo teased.

"I'm hoping somewhere in Scandinavia," said Kendall. "It would be interesting to learn about one of my ancestral homelands, which also happens to be the ancestral homeland of 32.1% of the population of the state I live in."

"I'd be cool with England," Lucy remarked. "No language barrier, well, except for the accents and local slang, and I get to learn about the culture that greatly influenced my country."

"Hey, I have an idea!" James announced. "Let's make a bet! Whoever's guess is where we're going can get out of doing kitchen chores for a week."

"Bad idea," Camille insisted. "The point of kitchen chores is to help us develop skills and bonds with each other. How about whoever wins the bet gets to choose the Saturday afternoon activity they want and we all have to participate in it?"

"Sounds good to me," said Jo. "Deal!"

"I'm in," said Kendall.

"Me too," said Logan and Lucy.

"James? Carlos?" asked Camille.

"Fine," James and Carlos agreed.

After dinner, instead of heading back to their dorm, the friends stopped by the auditorium to attend the meeting.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen," Mr. Griffin announced. "Welcome to tonight's meeting regarding our exchange program. First of all, I am beyond delighted to announce that our partner school in Liverpool, England, Amun Academic Boarding School, is offering an exchange program with Palm Woods."

"Ha! I win!" Lucy whispered. "Looks like y'all are doing archery with me this Saturday."

"Fine," James pouted.