The Day Dreamer

Chapter 3

"Fear and panic are two separate emotions.

Fear is healthy.

Panic is what gets you killed."

-Chasing Mavericks

"So, what are we going for here?" Julian asks as we walk away to a corner in the room. Everyone had split up into pairs and I could feel eyes burn into my back as some of the girls watched me walk away with Julian.

I didn't blame them.

There was so much potential to have a boy for a partner.

First of all your duet will stand out. Second, there is so much more partnering tricks you can do and tricks a guy can do. And you can do lovestory duet which would be completely new for this class.

"Well, it needs to appeal to primary school kids because that's who we are performing for." He nods his head as we sit on the floor. "I was thinking maybe something Disney," I say nervously but he doesn't reject the idea.

"We could do 'Someday' from Zombies, my sister wont stop singing that song," he says and I'm surprised by the idea but I like it.

"You have a sister?"

"Yeah, I have six."

SIX! Oh my.

"I know," he says.

He seems like he's tired of people making a big deal out of it so I just move on from it and I don't ask any follow up questions. "The ballad or the more upbeat version?"

"I think the ballad. Can you sing?" He asks and I find the question quite random.

I mean, I'm in the school rockband as a singer and I do school choir.

"Yes, I can sing," I decide.

He smiles, "do you wanna sing the song whilst we dance? How cool would that be?"

I nod my head. "That would be cool but how, we'd need microphones."

"Does your school have those microphone headsets?"

"I think I've seen the music department use some," I say uncertainly.

"Perfect! Do you want to do that then?"

I nod my head and he smiles.

He goes off to the teacher and I watch as he explains out idea. She seems to like it and he comes back beaming.

"We officially have permission to start rehearsing."

"Are you sure you want to do that?"

I look up at him with my eyes crossed.

"I do riskier things every weekend." I stand to the side of him and take his hand.

I take a deep breath.

I hop off my left foot, into a side ariel and land on the other side of him. Still holding his hand I twirl into his chest. His arms go around the side of my waist as he lifts me to slowly flip backward and I land back on the side I started at.

"See? Not scary."

"I've never just tried that one before, my sister never let me."

"Yeah, yeah. Just remember, fear is fine, panic is bad. Panic is what kills."

He smiles and lets go of my hand. I noticed that he had held onto it longer than he needed too.

"Where did you hear that?"

"Surf movie I watched with my dad. I used to panic when I was in the water, not realising that panic would do more harm than good."

"You surf then?" He asks curiously and I nod my head.

"Since I could walk."

Surfing was as natural as walking for me. Every weekend me and my dad took the van to Llangennith to surf. When it was windy we went to Mumbles to windsurf. We have a good life. I love being in the ocean. It makes me feel alive. My dad always told me that the ocean fixed all problems. Magic blue juice he calls it.

"Maybe you can teach me sometime."

"Maybe, but for now, lets try the trick again."

"How do you know Julian?" Maya asks me in the change room as I put my school shorts on. It feels like the whole room is listening to our conversation. Maya was easily the meanest one of the lot so I was reluctant to talk to her.

"He just started talking to me in English," I explain quickly and pull my school shirt over my head.

She doesn't even reply. She hears me answer then turns away from me and starts talking to her friend Mia.

'Ok then' I think to myself and roll my eyes.

I couldn't wait for the weekend but it was only Monday. I pull my phone out of my bag, careful to hide it in my hand. I check the swell and swear to myself. The wind isn't good for windsurfing or surfing today which meant no after school session.

I wait in the dance room for the bell to go for recess as I sit on the floor and read. The enemies are just realising that maybe they have feelings for each other. I love every second of it.

"Ready to go?" Julian asks and holds his hand out for me to take it. I look up from my book, not taking his hand.

"Go where?"

"To recess, where do you sit?"

I look down at my book to hide my blush. It would be nice for him to sit with me at recess, Luca is probably sitting with his girlfriend and Rachel left after English for an appointment for her dodgy knees.

"I'll show you," I say and take his hand.

He pulls me up and follows me out of the class as the siren goes for recess.