"All I'm saying is that if you're British, then you have an accent," Sam said, pointing a fork at Liam.
"And all I'm saying is that I like American accents, they're quite cool." His Englishness was rather cute.
"Actually, Liam, you're in America now. You're the one with the accent."
"Ah, but Sam, you must remember, I'm British. I'm not used to hearing the way you speak here," he responded. He was making sense, which was weird. No one ever made sense to me besides Silas, and I'm pretty sure that's just because we have that whole twin telepathy thing going on.
"Sam, I think it's time you head home. It will be getting dark soon and I don't think you parents would want you walking home in the dark," my mom said, filling up the kitchen sink to wash the dishes.
"You can just tell me to get lost instead of making up excuses, Mrs. M. You know my parents won't be home for a while." Sam brought her dirty dishes to the sink. I don't understand why my mom insists on washing out plates by hand when we have a perfectly fine dishwasher.
"Alright Sam, get lost. No, I'm only joking. But seriously, you should start heading home. I don't feel comfortable with you leaving in the dark." Mom got tired of Sam after a while. She was just too crazy for her.
"Okay, bye Mrs. M. Bye Melanie, bye Silas," Sam said, slipping on her shoes.
"Uh, you're forgetting someone," I pointed out.
"Oh, right! Bye Ren," She squatted down to pet my cat, which was linking between her ankles. "Just kidding; Later, Liam." And then she was gone.
"Erm, Fake Mum, I'm rather sleepy. You know, let lag and all. Do you think maybe I could go to bed?" Liam asked, all innocent and British.
"Of course, dear, go right ahead," my mom said lovingly. When I ask to go to bed early she's all:Melanie, not now. There's work to be done. And this kid comes along all: Oh fake mum, I'm so sleepy. It's from travelling. Well, kiss my ass newcomer. Once Liam left the room, my mom turned to me, "Melanie, can you go make sure Liam has everything he needs?"
"Why can't I do it?" Silas whined. "I mean, why does she always get to do everything? He's mine too!" That we possibly the most awkward thing I'd ever heard my brother say. He's mine too… what even?
"Because, she can me mature about it, and won't keep him up pestering him about 'hot British girls'"
"Mom, you are so not cool," Silas tossed his plate and glass into the sink. Soapy water splashed all over me.
"GAH! Silas!" I yelped, giving him an ugly look.
"Sorry Melly. Oh wait, actually I'm not." I stuck my tongue out at him in response. Silas stormed off to the living room, plopped himself on the couch, and turned on the Television.
I left the kitchen and walked down the hallway, sliding my sock covered feet on the hardwood floor like an ice skater. I stopped at Liam's door and knocked, hitting the wooden door quickly three times with my knuckles. I opened the door before he had time to answer. "Jeeze! Melanie! What if I had been naked or something?" He was smiling at bit.
"Oh, wouldn't that be quite a sight?" I just wanted to get out of there. Not only was I completely uncomfortable having a stranger sleeping in the room next to me, but there was something about him. Maybe it was his face, I don't know. But it was giving me that weird bubbly feeling in my stomach.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"I err… My mom wants to know if you have everything you need." I was stammering again.
"Melanie, why do you always talk to me like you're frightened?"
"I don't know." I was wringing my hands, looking down at my feet.
"Is it because I'm new? Or is it something else?" He furrowed his eye brows together like he was contemplating whether or not to tell me something important.
There were so many questions I wanted to ask. I couldn't find the right words to say. "I just… I don't understand why you don't want my family to know about you and that whole X Factor thing. I don't know how long I can keep your secret because Sam, well Sam was the one who first told me about that show so I'm pretty sure she knows who you are. I don't know if she's made the connection yet, but she will. And it doesn't help that I don't know anything about you!" I blurted out. Liam just sat there on his bed, completely silent. "Just forget I've said any of that." I said quickly and tried to turn to leave.
"Wait! Melanie come back." He called after me. I slowly spun around to face him. "Come sit. Let's get to know each other." He patted the spot on the bed next to where he was sitting.
"I thought you were going to bed."
"No, this is more important. I feel like we've started off on the wrong foot and I want to set things right. Please?" He looked so sincere, like it would really mean something to him if I stayed and listened.
"Alright…" I walked over to the bed and sat down on the end staring intently at my hands, which were placed in my lap.
"Okay, let's just start over. From scratch, like making cookies or something," He said trying to lighten the mood.
I nodded. "That sounds good."
"Hi, I'm Liam, Liam Payne and I'm your exchange student." He offered his hand out to me. I shook it enthusiastically.
"I'm Melanie!" I smiled.
"Oh, I know where I'm coming for a hand job." His accent made what he said even funnier. I just stared at him for a second with an open mouth and I giggled. "Oh, I'm sorry. That was completely inappropriate, with you having a boyfriend and all…"
"It's fine, it was funny." I was still chuckling slightly.
"Say, you look familiar," I said continuing with our little act of starting over.
He knew where I was headed. "Oh, you've probably heard about my failed attempt at getting on the X Factor. People at my school still haven't stopped speaking about it, so decided to take a year to study in the US where I wouldn't have to have so many reminders of it. But, I guess I haven't been able to escape it, and that's alright with me." He explained.
"Simon said for you to go back and try again though…"
"Yes, and I plan on doing exactly that. Only this time, I'll make it all the way," He said simply. "But I still want to be treated like a normal kid here, not some minor celebrity wanna be. So I would greatly appreciate it if you wouldn't say anything to anybody. Let them figure it out on their own." He was being overly formal because of our game.
"Okay, I can do that." I agreed.
"Thank you, Melanie." I got up off the bed and walked to the door.
"Good night Liam."
"'Night, oh and Melanie, next time you come on my bed, it won't be to talk."