Learning to Breathe Read Online Free PDF

too?”
    Mr Deacon gave me a concerned look. “Are you okay dear? You look rather pale. Do you need to sit down?”
    I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak again. Mr Deacon threw me another worried glance before he shook his head at me.
    “To answer your question – no, you just have to watch over them. They get lessons from Mr Fletcher from 10 – 11am. Is that okay with you?” He threw me another anxious look.
    I nodded my head, feeling much calmer. “That’s fine. Thanks Mr Deacon.”
    He frowned at me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    “Positive.” I assured him, praying that he wouldn’t read too much into my minor panic attack.
    He nodded at me but I could still see that he was still concerned by my reaction earlier. Nevertheless, he walked me to the hall where twelve noisy kids were waiting for me.
    After introducing me, he wished me good luck and left me to it. I was then immediately bombarded with questions from two particularly excited-looking girls. I vaguely wondered what I had gotten myself into.
     
    I eventually managed to fend off the girls’ question s and glanced at my watch – 9.45am. I needed to be at the pool in fifteen minutes and had no idea how I was going to round up such a noisy group of children.
    It was then – in my moment of deep thought – that I remembered something that Mr Deacon had said and I felt faint all over again. I distinctly remembered him saying the words ‘Mr Fletcher’ while I was having my mini freak-out. That could only mean one thing … Danny.
    I tried not to dwell on the fact that I would soon be face to face with him again and instead focused on getting the kids to line up in a straight line. This proved to be a lot easier when a little dark-haired girl named Ellie decided to help me out. She told everyone to listen to me and stop talking.
    I was amazed when this seemed to work and I instantly enlisted Ellie as my new helper. I managed to get them all down to the pool changing rooms and waited while they changed into their suits. While I waited, I wondered how I should act when I saw Danny. I really didn’t want to talk to him at all but I was feeling guilty about how I was constantly rude to him.
    I still hadn’t made my mind up when we walked into the pool ten minutes later. The girls all ran up to Danny squealing excitedly while the three boys stood off to one side trying to look cool. I glanced over at Danny but he hadn’t seemed to notice me yet. I tried not to stare at him standing in just his swimming shorts – I would have been lying if I didn’t say that he looked good … really good. However, I managed to put my eyes back into my head when I realised that Ellie was now dragging him over to meet me.
    “Danny!” she shrilled excitedly, “T his is Darcie, she’s our new Youth Group Leader … you’ll like her, she’s got pretty hair!”
    I had to laugh when I heard the last comment, I smiled down at Ellie and she beamed back as she wandered back to her friends – her mission was completed now that Danny was standing in front of me.
    “Cute kid,” he commented and I nodded my head. He gave me a small smile and I found myself tongue-tied.
    “First day?” he enquired, looking at me curiously.
    I nodded. “Yeah, my mother got me the job. Everyone’s been really nice and the kids seem okay. I just hope it stays that way.”
    He nodded but his hazel eyes seemed to study my features intently and I felt slightly uneasy. He seemed to notice my discomfort as he then broke eye contact and glanced over at the kids.
    He nodded his head towards them. “I suppose I better get back. It was nice seeing you again.”
    I gave him a small smile and then went to sit on a bench that was located near the entrance of the pool. I watched him teach the kids various strokes and I found myself fascinated by all the movements they were making. I had never learned to swim and – like I had told Danny – I didn’t intend to.
    However, after watching a