Finding Me

chapter nineteen

Sahara splashes water on her face in the school's girls' washroom. It is twelve minutes until she had to do her group presentation and she already has a lot of built up nerves.

She looks at the pale and dishevelled girl in the mirror. "You can do it! Just inhale and exhale, and you'll be just fine."

After she dries her face, she grabs her stuff and exits the washroom. She begins walking towards the drama room, where her English class was being held today; seeing all of her group mates -- the boys already  in their tight costumes-- there.

Daniel watches as Sahara approach. "You okay. You're not lookin' too good?"

Sahara nods her, blowing out a breath.
"Peachy," is all she could get out, finishing it with a weak, close lipped smile. Daniel knew she was shy girl, but the girl standing in front of him looks as if she was close to her death.

"Like, its no big deal to admit that you're scared." Sahara opens her mouth wanting to oppose, but that was exactly how she felt. Her knees wobbles slightly, and she taps the sides of her legs repeatedly, urging it to stop.

"Or nervous," Daniel adds after watching the shutter of emotions passing Sahara's face. "We all get nervous."

Sahara wasn't too sure what to say. He could see right through her weak demeanor of being okay. Not trusting her voice at this moment, she gave a small smile, nodding her head.

"Hey CJ, can you help me set up the rotation set?" Rachel began grabbing CJ's arm before he even could answer.  She pulls him to the steps that led to backstage.  Sahara was about to follow them, but Daniel quickly put his arm out, blocking her pathway. Her lips tightens as she swallows her gulp.

"Do you wanna switch roles?" He asks simply, his eyes requesting her attention. She looks up at his arm, her stomach doing a flip. "Since you wrote my part anyways, you should be able to do it, right?"

Sahara shrugs, unsure if this could make things better or worse. "Yeah...I guess." He turns her around and leads her to the girl's costume room. Sahara's mind begins racing, as she notices he was entering with her also.

Once in there, he begins raising the hem of his sweater, and the shirt is off in one swift movement. Sahara isn't too sure what to do. If she should act nonchalant about it or whip herself away from the half naked guy that stood in front of her.  Daniel throws the top at her and she stumbles to catch, trying to remain as calm as possible on the exterior. Sahara is surprised to see that his torso wasn't as pale as she imagined.

Daniel could see the fingers of Sahara  fidgeting with the costume in her hand. He could almost feel the heat radiating off her cheeks. She looks as if she was going to explode. Daniel was pretty comfortable  in his birthday suit, but he isn't gonna take it to that level.

"Umm... I-I can wait outside... Till you're done," is all Sahara is able to stammer out, gripping the shirt that Daniel's aroma settled into.

Daniel has his left arm slinging over his right hip, tucked under his right arm as he shook his head, waving away Sahara with his right hand. "Nah, it's s'all good."

Sahara nodded her head, glancing towards the ceiling. The atmosphere began to settle with Daniel, the hairs on his forearms stood tall and still.

"So, your costume?" Daniel's hand stood out, waiting.

Sahara blinks rapidly, her mouth forming an o. She shuffles into her duffle bag pulling out the rolled up costume.

"Here you go," she mumbles, placing sheen material into his hand.

Daniel places the dress over his head, carefully. The hem was tighter than he expected. His head is not even through the neck hole yet. Sahara tilts her head to the side as she watches his torso sway side to side.