Break the Distance

Chapter 14

Friday 26th of August, 2016

Toronto, Canada

Noah Williams

"Good morning," I say cheerful when I walk into The Next step dance studio, everybody else is there already. The others greet me back. "Finally," James says sarcastically. I look on my phone, it's 10:01 I'm not too late. "You were just all too early," I say, "not my problem."

"So what's the plan?" Michelle asks, "do we keep all the dances the same as the last tour?" "I wasn't there," Riley says, "and Taveeta is not coming, so we can switch some things up." "Yes,” Giselle says, "and Isaiah is only coming with us with the Europe part, so we have to figure that out too." "Let's do some new dances, and keep some dances the same," James says, "we don't have time to do all new dances." Everybody nods in agreement.

The rehearsal goes fast. We rehears the dances we'll do again, and figure out the music and stuff for the new dances. I'm really excited for it because I have a solo and it's just going to be awesome. We have a little lunch break at 1. We already did all the dances I'm in the morning, but I just stay since it's not like I've something better to do.

I sit against the wall and watch Eldon and Michelle rehears their duet when my mind drift off. Again to Richelle. I'm getting really annoyed by myself, I just don't know where it's coming from. Those little conversations we had felt like talking to a friend I've known since I was little.

I hear my phone buzz and sigh irritated at the fact that I hope it's Richelle. I was kind of disappointed when she didn't react anymore after Monday, but really surprised when I suddenly got a text from her yesterday evening.

I smile when I learn that it is indeed from her. 'And all you gotta do is put one foot in front of you,' I read. I'm starting to get really curious what those quotes mean. I mean, those quotes can mean something completely different to everyone else.

"What you're smiling at?" a voice cuts my thoughts off. I look up and see Giselle walking closer. Immediately I lock the screen of my phone. "Nothing," I say. "Didn't seem like nothing," she says sitting down beside me. "It was seriously nothing," I say, "just something I saw." "Alright," Giselle replies teasing, "what did you see?" I sigh. "Just something," I say. We starting to get others attention, and I'm not happy with it.

Just so you know normally I always share such things. My life is like an open book to my friends, But this is different. Something in me tells me to keep it for myself. Keep her for myself, she's something special. Wait did I actually just thought that?! I'm doomed...

" Noah," I hear Giselle say and she snaps in front of my face. "Where were you?" she asks. I look up and see all the others standing there. "Seriously guys it isn't that interesting," I say nervously. "Yes it is," Riley says. I sigh and let my head fall in my hands. "Don't you have something better to do?" I ask them. "Yea," Giselle says, "go rehears or something." I look to my side where Giselle sits. Why is she all of the sudden standing up for me? She's totally planning on something.

" Giselle," I say when the others are away, "I'm not going to tell you." "Why not?!" Giselle says offended. "Because it's none of your business," I say and smile. "But if you would tell someone you would tell me right," Giselle says and smiles. "Bye Giselle," I say and wave at her.

When I'm sure nobody is paying attention to me I grab my phone again. 'Friends...' I send to Richelle and start waiting for a reaction. Stupid friends, if they didn't annoy me she would still be online. I'm starting to lose hope when I feel my phone fibrate again. 'What do you mean?' she asks. 'They can be so annoying,' I type. Wait what did I just sent?! I can't just tell some random stranger that my friends can be annoying! I'm kind of freaking out when he fibrates again. 'Tell me about it,' she says, 'but in the end those are the people who know you best.' 'True,' I type, 'that's what makes them annoying.' 'So what did they do?' Richelle asks.

'Oh nothing,' I say, I kind of don't want her to know I don't want my friends to know about her. I'm ridiculous, what's going on with me?

'Good try,' I read as my phone buzzes again, 'first complaining about them and then don't telling why...' 'Okay you win,' I type and start to get nervous as I type, 'I was smiling at the quote and they were teasing me about it.' 'Yea, I woke up and had to get out of bed and that quote actually made me come out my bed, so I thought I share it with you,' she sends. Wait, it's almost 2 pm, I'm getting a little confused. 'Which of the two is it,' I send, 'did you lay in your bed for hours or do you live in some fancy country?'

To be honest I'm pretty curious to know. 'New Zealand,' she sends, 'it's almost 7 am here.' My jaw literally drops. New Zealand? That's the other side of the world! That means it's already Tuesday there right? That's so awesome! I'm so glad we're going with the tour to Australia and New Zealand, it has always been a dream to visit those countries.

" Noah!" Eldon interrupts my thoughts. I look up and see him standing on the other side of the room. "You're catching flies," he laughs. I instantly close my mouth, I didn't even notice my mouth was open. 'That's so cool!' I send when I turn my attention back to my phone.

I wait a few minutes and refresh the page a few times, but she doesn't answer anymore. Too bad, there's so much I want to know about New Zealand.

I take a deep breath and stand up to get my water bottle. My mind drifts away again to Richelle. Does they have vacation there too? In which grade is she? When does their year start and end? I realize I don't know much about New Zealand. I know they drive left, and that they've winter when we've summer and the other way around, but not much more.

"What's her name?" I hear all of the sudden close to my ear and I almost choke by fright. "Dude!" I say after I safely swallowed the water. "Sorry," James laughs, "I had to do it."

"Very funny," I say irritated and I grab my bag. "Where are you going?" James yells me behind. "Home," I yell back and continue walking. Seriously, someone tell me what's going on with me.