The Exchange Student // Camila Cabello

Chapter One

Noah's POV
My backpack was old and worn. It stuck out like a sore thumb in the middle of the overhead compartment. That and the skateboard crammed in next to it.

When I got off the plane I found myself at a crowded gate. The Miami International Airport was fast paced and busy. I couldn't help but get nervous as I thought over what was to come.

I paused for a moment and remembered what Mom told me before I left. She said that the family I was staying with would be waiting for me by the baggage claim—now I just have to find where that is. I scanned the airport for anything that would point me in the right direction.

Various black signs pointed the way, and within minutes I had arrived.

A large black duffel bag came through the baggage carousel. I pulled it to the floor then lifted it into my arms. People crowded around the carousel and I backed out of the way.

My eyes fell on the area by the water fountain. There was a small family standing to the side with a large white sign in their hands reading:

Welcome to Miami
Noah!

Gulping, I walked forward. My eyes studied the family as I closed the short distance between us.

The dad was big in stature and had salt and pepper hair combed back to a clean haircut. He looked kind, but intimidating. I wasn't quite sure how to feel about him.

He stood next to his wife who was much shorter than him. She had brownish-blonde hair with wisps of grey pulled back into a small bun. Her glasses perched on her nose right above her bright smile. She seemed a lot more approachable than her husband.

Next to them were two girls. The youngest was sitting on the floor playing a game on her mom's phone. She didn't look like she could be older than seven.

The older girl looked to be my age. She stood a little to the side and was staring at her phone, completely unaware of what was going on around her. Her lips pulled to a smile every few seconds when she would receive a text.

My heart beat loudly in my chest. I worried they would hear it if I got any closer. I took a short breath and cleared my throat.

"Um . . . hi, I'm Noah," I said hesitantly, watching the mom's face light up.

She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off when the younger girl threw her arms around me, her surprise attack nearly taking me to the ground.

"HI, I'M SOFIA!" she shouted and gave me a tight squeeze.

"Sofi, you don't need to yell," her mom scolded and pulled her off of me. Her face was red with embarrassment. I couldn't help but smile as Sofi looked at her parents with a confused expression.

"But I thought he can't understand English." She studied me with a scrunched brow.

"No, I can," I smiled. She had a look like everything she knew was a lie.

"I'm sorry about her." The mom sighed. "But we've been so excited to meet you! My name is Sinuhe and this is my husband, Alejandro." She pulled me into a big hug and I laughed. I practically towered over her small frame. It reminded me of when I would hug my mom and I started to feel more comfortable.

"Nice to meet you, Noah." Alejandro smiled and shook my hand firmly. I nodded in agreement and looked to the older girl who still hadn't acknowledged my presence.

"Camila. Be polite." Alejandro stared at her. She rolled her eyes and set her phone down.

"Hi," she said with a small, forced smile, clearly annoyed that I was interrupting her texts.