As an exchange student from Scotland, a whole new world opens up to Darren Green when he moves to the United States. He'll live with a host family, start at a new school, and he'll have to make new friends. However, what won't be a part of this new...
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DARREN AND DAKOTA WENT HOME separately, Darren joining Isaiah in the family's car and Dakota taking Dom's car home.
"Who's she?" Isaiah asked once Darren had closed the car door and Dakota drove away from them in her white Kia, waving at them one last time through the side window.
"Dakota," Darren said, following the girl belonging to that name with his eyes until he could no longer see her in the side view mirror.
"Are you...?" Isaiah looked to the side with a meaningful glance.
Darren rushed to shake his head. "No, no, we're not together." That was the last thing on his mind right now; his thoughts were preoccupied with Dakota's surprise visit last night, the party, the fight, their night under the stars, and Dakota's news about her parents.
"Okay." Isaiah pressed his lips together and fixed his gaze on the road ahead. Only the sound of the engine running was heard underneath them when their conversation went quiet.
Darren stared out the window, his face fully turned away from Isaiah to hide his flushed cheeks that had gotten their color since Isaiah had brought up the idea of him and Dakota being a couple. He tried to get the thought out of his head. Instead, he thought about the inhabitants of the house they just drove past, and how they weren't aware of how Darren's life had changed in one day. They lived their own life, completely separate from his. He imagined the family to be similar to the McCostas: living in the States all their life and having built their home here, close to family.
The McCostas... Their faces appeared in Darren's mind. Liam, Aimee, and Adelaide. By the way Liam's voice had sounded over the phone, Darren could tell they'd been worried, and only because Darren had screwed up by forgetting his phone or forgetting to even let them know he was leaving with Dakota in the first place.
"I'm sorry," Darren said. His voice broke the silence. "About last night, and this morning, and that I didn't–"
Isaiah waved his words away. "You're safe, that's all we needed to know."
Darren's chin fell to his chest. "Still..." When Isaiah immediately shook his head, Darren steered the conversation into a different direction. "You didn't have to pick me up. I could've gone home with Dakota."
"The girl that caused you to be out all night without telling us?" Isaiah started speaking faster, and his American accent became stronger. "I wouldn't have it any other way than me pickin' you up."
"It wasn't her fault..." The words came out as a whisper.
Isaiah agreed. "You're both responsible for what happened. I hope you realize that."
Darren nodded. "I do."
That answer seemed to satisfy the father. "That being said, let's forgive and forget." He turned to Darren, and his honest eyes smiled at him. The gesture immediately calmed Darren's nerves. "We need to get you home."
