Chapter 1

When I first found out that my family was receiving a foreign exchange student, I was amazed. My family? I had never been anywhere outside of the United States, except a couple places in the Caribbean and Canada. My family didn't know anyone who lived abroad. Then I found out some things.

He and his family had been given a list of families that were willing to accept exchange students. I never knew my parents had signed up for this list in the first place! I also found out that I would be spending a term abroad in his home. In Australia. Sydney to be exact.

Then it clicked. Him. Not her.

"Charlotte Rowe! We are leaving in fifteen minutes whether you are ready or not!" Mom yelled up to my room.

I jumped off my bed. My hair was still wet, and I wasn't even dressed.

I quickly dried it, and dug around in my closet. We were picking up the foreign exchange student today. His flight was coming in at twelve fifteen, and my dad insisted that we leave an hour earlier than we needed to "just in case."

I found some dark blue jeans, and put them on with some flip flops. I also put on a white tank top. We lived in Malibu, California, and today was one of those cold days. Where you could get away with jeans, but not with a sweater or jacket.

I grabbed a jean jacket on my way downstairs just in case. I stuffed a few things in my purse, and slipped my arm through the strap.

I found Dad already waiting at the foot of the stairs, waiting for Mom and I to be ready. He was wearing slacks and a short sleeve button down shirt. Mom came down, wearing a skirt and blouse, with nice sandals.

Mom looked at the jeans, "Oh well."

"What? We are just going to the airport!" I said, nervous because she thought I shouldn't be wearing jeans.

"Well, I just want him to have a good impression of us."

"Mom! This is California! Just walking down the street gives you a good impression. Chill out!"

"Okay honey, I'm sorry. I'm just really nervous about meeting him. I have heard that he may be a tad bit difficult."

"Where did you hear that?" I asked, rolling my eyes as we walked out.

"Oh, they sent us some information on him," Dad said, as we got into the car.

"How come I never saw this?"

Things were just not working out today. "Oh, well, we just forgot about it."

"Well, do you have it with you?"

Mom took it out of her purse, "Here you go sweets. I was working and preparing for him, so many things have just slipped my mind."

"Thanks."

I read the papers inside. Supposedly, he was subject to being short tempered and attitudinal. I laughed at that. He liked to play soccer and tennis, my two favorite sports, and also liked watching horse back riding, while I rode! He was sixteen, like me. He had blond hair and blue eyes, and dark skin, so it said. He was also tall. They had a profile of him in the folder, but they did not have an actual picture. That was really weird in my opinion. I figured Mom had it, and forgot to give it to me.

I gave her back the envelope, "I see what you mean now."

"Exactly. I hope things work out."

"I'm sure they will Mom. And besides, we have a lot of the same interests, that could be a big plus."

"You are right about that. Let's hope so."

Before long, we were pulling into a parking place in the airport parking lot. I got out, letting the warm breeze flow over me, and I slipped on my sunglasses.

I glanced at my watch, twelve o'clock exactly.

We went to the gate, through, and soon we were watching the flight come in. I looked at the flashing sign above the door. It read Sydney, Australia, and then the time that it would come in.

I stood up, and walked over towards the door with my parents as the door opened, and people started coming off the plane. I watched and waited, standing a little bit behind my parents.

Then there was a voice, with an Australian accent. "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Rowe. I'm Kyle Davis."

"Well Kyle, it's great to meet you. I know we haven't really talked or anything, but welcome to the U.S. and to Malibu, California," Dad said.

"Yeah, thanks." I could sense a very small bit of sarcasm in his voice.

Mom spoke up, "Oh, and this is our daughter Charlotte, she's about your age too," she moved aside, gesturing to me.

I swear, my jaw almost hit the floor. He was totally hot! He had really dark skin; light, feathery blond hair; and even from a distance away, I could see the blue eyes. I managed a small wave. "Hi."

"Hey," he grinned. He was wearing a short sleeve shirt that was from the Olympics, and also some shorts that came down to his knees like most guys' shorts do.