DANCE COMMITTEE

Thursday the 28th of November

The transition from dream holiday with Noah, to high school a million miles away from the ocean isn't glamourous but it comes with a second-hand car which bridges the gap between me and sweet freedom.

I can't believe I have a car, my very own car. I'm driving straight to Noah's after school because it's insane how much I miss him and his warm body. I could wear ten thick layers of clothing and still feel like I'm standing in a blizzard dressed in summer clothing.

I swing into a parking bay and tear myself out the car. I huddle under my thickest coat and trek towards school. I sigh with relief as I enter the building and escape the icy wind.

Percy is leaning against a locker dribbling shit to whatever girl will listen to it.

"I'm a natural surfer." He grins.

I keep my head down and slip past Percy to avoid endorsing any of his wild stories.

The bell rings on the way to my locker, so I turn around and walk to homeroom. I dump my bag beside the desk and slump into the chair. Percy saunters into the room and lounges on a plastic chair beside me.

"What's your bet that we'll have to write a paper about our holiday?" Percy laughs. "Our teacher is so predictable."

"Can't we be optimistic and say we won't have homework?"

"You're dreaming if you think that'll happen."

The door opens and an older woman with grey hair wanders in with an arm full of paper. She drops the paper on the desk with a thud and unbuttons her woolly winter jacket.

"Unfortunately your English teacher was in a skiing accident. I will be teaching the class until they recover. You can call me Mrs. Greene."

"I hope I'm wrong." Percy grins.

"Your teacher left a list of reading topics and assignments for you to complete."

"I think you spoke too soon." I frown.

We slump against our chairs and sigh; our vacation is officially over.

"Your first task is to write a paper about your holiday. It could be about self-discovery or a turmoil you've faced. This paper is due on Friday, no exceptions."

Some people grumble, myself included.

"You can have this class to work on it."

Mrs. Greene settles behind the desk, flipping through the large stack of paperwork. Percy taps a pen on the desk and I shoot him a glare.

"Sorry."

"Something on your mind?"

Percy slides his fingers through his hair and sighs.

"I have so many things to write about."

"What happened with your parents?"

"Two hour lecture about how I'm irresponsible and that my actions have consequences. I know this, but sometimes I can't be around them."

"You're her only child, it's hard for her to let go."

"I hate this."

"Have you talked to your parents about how you feel?"

"I've given up talking because they don't listen. What's the point anymore? I'm already grounded for the rest of my natural life." He rough exhales.

"You do understand that getting on a plane and leaving the country like that was horrifying for your parents? What were you expecting when you got home?"

"Can we please go back?"

"How are your parents supposed to treat you like an adult if you run away?"

"Shhh, I can't handle the truth right now." Percy waves me off.

"At least you have a topic for your paper. What am I supposed to write about?" I sigh.

"That problem sounds better than mine." He huffs.

"Certainly does, so I'll count my lucky stars." I chuckle.

Percy glances at the notebook before swinging back around. His eyebrows knit together and he loudly groans.

"Mum's acting like I vacationed in the middle of a war zone with a target signalling for me to be killed or kidnapped."

"Do you think your Uncle could talk to Lea?"

"I –" He huffs. "I need another holiday."

"Let's work on surviving the first week back." I chuckle.

Percy moans while I open my notebook to a new page. I don't have anything to write about because I can't exactly write a paper about Noah and our discoveries.

I rest my head against my palm and glance up at the clock. I can't believe it's only been fifteen minutes. Today isn't passing quick enough.

* * * * *

Rain spits as I follow Percy to our usual table outside. I huddle under my jacket but the wind blows straight through it. I roughly exhale and watch as my breath turns into a cloud of fog. We find seats on opposite ends of the table.

I shake my legs under the table and wrap my arms around my body. I thought I could brave the cold for a few days until I can make it to the shops, but I don't know if I can last another minute.

Samantha, too chirpy for this weather, smiles at Annika.

"Can you help with the snowflakes? I can't cut and hang them all myself, that's impossible."

"Why can't you rope some other poor soul into helping? You have boys tripping over their shoelaces to speak to you. Use one of them."

"Because I want it done right."

"I'll help but I'm not cutting billions of these things out."

"Thank you." She cheers.

Samantha adds Annika's name to the list, then looks at me with her puppy like eyes. I internally groan because I have no hope of winning. There's a reason Samantha is the organiser of these events.

"What about you Charlie, do you have time to spare?"

"With this weather, I don't think I'll have fingers to chop." I laugh.

"Do you want my jacket?" Percy offers.

"Keep it."

"Charlie, please help." She begs.

"You're about to turn blue." Percy frowns.

"If I'm wearing your jacket, how will you stay warm? I don't need you losing fingers from frostbite. How are you going to hold a football? I don't want to be murdered because your lifelong dream is ruined."

"Don't be dramatic and I'm used to the cold."

"I suppose I'll be resilient to the cold by the end of lunch." I smirk.

"You're an idiot." He shakes his head.

"When do you think it'll snow? I'm not freezing part of my ass off for nothing. I would love to build a mini Olaf and make snow angel."

"Snow is fun for the first five minutes." Annika rolls her eyes.

"Don't ruin my dreams, it's the only thing getting me through this weather."

"You'll love the snow." Annika plasters on a fake smile.

"Much better, thank you." I grin.

"I hope it doesn't snow because I don't want wet, muddy footprints trekked across the dancefloor." Samantha scowls.

"Wouldn't it be magical to have snow for the dance?" I laugh.

"Once you realise how annoying it is, you'll understand. Can you please help with the snowflakes?"

Is there a way to get out of this? Samantha's attention is snapped away. She bounces to her feet and frantically waves her hands in the air.

"Hi, Mr. East."

I peek over my shoulder and smile. Noah backtracks to us and forces a smile for Samantha.

"Is there something I can help you with?"

"Are you free to supervise us while we prepare for the snow dance?"

Noah is hesitant but he nods.

Is there anyone immune to her tactics?

"Thank you Mr. East, I knew I could count on you."

"Give me the details when you can."

"Now I need Charlie to agree and I'm done."

I sink further under the table, but there's no escaping Samantha. She casts her glance upon me and I shiver.

"Are you okay, Charlie? You look freezing in that thin jacket."

"Don't worry about me. I'm not used to the cold."

"Take my jacket before you freeze to death." Noah removes his large checked blue jacket and passes it to me but I shake my head.

"I can't take your jacket."

"I won't let you freeze to death. Borrow the jacket until you get something warmer."

"You'll freeze."

"Take the jacket, Charlie. I don't want angry parents burning my apartment complex down because a student almost froze to death." He chuckles.

"For the record, I'm borrowing this jacket because I'd hate for other people to lose their home from a vicious fire."

Noah smiles as our fingers brush and I take the jacket. I slide my hands into the sleeves and sigh as I wrap the warm material around me. Chamomile and peppermint fill my senses and it's hard to hide how excited this makes me.

"I have a few errands to run before class, enjoy the rest of lunch." Noah waves goodbye and slips into the nearest building.

"Mr. East is so cool." Annika laughs while Percy rolls his eyes. Samantha subtly frowns before redirecting her attention to me.

"Can I put your name down?"

"Fine." I sigh.

Samantha happily scribbles my name on the page. I could count this as a positive as it'll be more time I can spend with Noah.