Chapter 42: Conquering A Fear

"May, how about you watch me swim first and then you can try to join me in the water when you can?" Drew asked.

"Umm...okay." May said.

Drew released her shoulders and walked to the water again, stepping into it. May walked closer to the edge of the island. She watched Drew continue walking deeper into the water until his feet no longer touched the ground. May stood at the edge of the island, looking at Drew.

Drew spun around in the water, looking at May. "See? Everything's fine-!" Drew said, but got cut off immediately because he made a quick drop into the water. He managed to take one quick breath, puffing up his cheeks with air before he went under. He just stayed floating underwater as part of his plan to get May in.

May gasped when she saw Drew plummet quickly underwater. "Drew!" She called worriedly. She saw Drew manage to swim up, smacking the water harshly, but then he plummeted back down. He kept repeating that process, so that it looks like he's drowning. May managed to hear a "help" in his voice, but it faded out when water entered his mouth.

Without thinking, May put a foot into the water. Drew is drowning. At least, that's what she thinks. She put her other foot in the water. "Don't worry, Drew. I'm coming!" May called, walking further into the water.

When she couldn't feel the floor beneath her, that's when fear struck her again. She struggled to stay floating and soon, she was doing the same thing as Drew. Only for real.

Drew immediately stopped pretend drowning and he swam over to May, grabbing a hold on her arm. May felt an arm on her and she moved her hand to Drew's shoulder, holding it gently. Drew released her arm and she placed her other hand on Drew's other shoulder, stopping drowning completely. May is now floating while holding onto Drew.

"You're okay now." Drew said.

May pulled herself closer to Drew, in almost an embrace. She rested her head on Drew's chest. "Drew." She whispered. "I'm scared."

Drew could hear that her voice was soft and shaking a little bit. He felt her hands shaking. He's starting to think that maybe this plan was taking it too far too soon. He wrapped his arms around May's back and hugged her while he kept them floating in the water.

Drew gently pet May's hair to calm her fears down. She started to relax in Drew's embrace. "I'm here." Drew whispered in her ear. "Everything will be okay."

Drew released the hug and May placed her hands on Drew's shoulders again. "Drew, I can't do it." May said sadly, eyes getting watery.

"Do you think you can get behind me while holding my shoulders?" Drew asked.

"I could try…" May started doing as she was told and she carefully released one of Drew's shoulders, moving around Drew's body while carefully grabbing onto him at times. She was now behind Drew with both of her hands on his shoulders.

"Just hang on." Drew said.

"Mm hm." May held onto Drew's shoulders tighter.

Drew started moving toward the island with May holding onto him. When they got to the island, May let go of Drew and sat on the edge, hanging her feet down. Drew sat on the edge of the island next to May. Their feet are in the water.

"My biggest fear…" Drew started. May looked at Drew. "Is losing you." He finished.

May's eyes widened slightly. Drew looked at May. "And that means by anything." He said. "Losing you to another boy, losing you because you leave me, or even losing you because of possible...death. I just can't bear to lose you to anyone or anything. You're my whole world, and that's why that's my biggest fear."

"I...had no idea that...I really mean that much to you." May said.

"Of course you do. Which is why I wanted you to know that I'm all yours, right?" He asked, taking May's hand and gently rubbing her ring with his thumb.

"Right…" May agreed, smiling and staring at her ring.

"Listen." Drew said. May looked up at Drew. "I won't force you to go in the water if you don't want to. That plan of mine...was taking it too far too soon. If you're not ready, then we could just dry off and eat those strawberries. It's your call."

"I…" May started. She looked at the water. After a moment, she looked back at Drew. "I want to learn how to swim." She answered.

"Are you sure?"

May smiled and nodded. "I trust you to save me if I nearly drown. You'll keep me safe, right?"

Drew smiled and nodded. "Absolutely. Let's get you in the water." Drew stood up in the water, still holding May's hand. He stood in front of May and took her other hand. "Just take it slow. There's no rush."

May looked down at the water and she stood up. Drew released one of her hands and she looked at him. "We're going to walk deeper, okay?" Drew asked.

May nodded. Drew walked to her side. Holding her right hand, they started walking further into the water. Drew made sure to watch May's every move in case she falls. While they walked, May continued staring at her feet in the water.

The water was now up to her chest and she froze. Drew stopped as well. He saw her just staring at the water and he felt her grip on his hand tighten.

"Drew…" May said, voice full of fear. "I...I…"

Drew walked and stood in front of May. "Look at me." May looked up at Drew. "It's okay." He assured. "I won't let you drown."

With those words in May's mind, she took another step forward with Drew taking a step back. Drew took her other hand and held onto it tightly. They took a few more steps further into the water and they were on their tiptoes to keep their heads above the water.

"Umm...Drew?" May said, more fear taking over her.

"Shhh…" Drew hushed. "It's okay. Just focus on me and paddle your legs towards the ground to float up."

May gave a slow nod in understanding. She stayed looking at Drew and she took a deep breath. She jumped slightly toward Drew, swinging her legs back and forth to keep her up.

"I'm going to move you further in, okay?" Drew asked.

May just nodded. She loves how Drew is basically asking for her permission before he takes her in the water further. He's fully making sure that she feels safe enough to continue. And he's letting her know that he won't ever leave her side until she's ready to swim on her own. She smiled in her head as she started floating further in the lake with Drew floating too.

"Just keep swinging your legs." Drew said.

"You won't let go, right?" May questioned.

"Of course not." Drew answered, tightening his grip on her hands. "Not until you're ready." May smiled at Drew's answer.

They both continued swinging their legs slightly to keep them floating. Their hands are up, so that it doesn't pull them down. And their eyes are locked on the other's. May is slowly gaining more confidence as they slowly go further in the lake.

May took her eyes off of Drew for one second and fear instantly struck her. "Drew, stop!"

Drew instantly stopped upon May's request. May floated closer to Drew and buried her head in his chest. Drew could feel May breathing heavily and shaking slightly.

"Do you want to go back to the gazebo?" Drew asked.

May didn't answer for a moment. She then lifted up her head. "...Let's continue."

"If you're sure."

May nodded. "I'm sure."

"Okay. We're pretty far out in this lake. I think we should get you to go underwater."

"Go underwater?!" May practically yelled in shock.

"Only for a second." Drew said. "To get you used to it. And then we'll add more time as you get better."

"O...okay." May said.

"Now, when I count to three, you just float yourself down underwater and come back up immediately, okay?"

"You'll keep holding my hands, right?"

"Of course."

"Then...okay."

"Okay. Here we go. 1...2...3."

May took a deep breath, puffing her cheeks up with air. She pushed her entire body down in the water, eyes shut. Drew continued holding her hands and May immediately pushed herself back up to the surface, letting out her air in a big gasp.

"That was great." Drew said. "Want to try for longer?"

May nodded. "How about I stay under for as long as I can?"

"Are you sure about that?"

May looked down shyly. "I want you to be proud of me, so I'll do it." She said, a blush creeping onto her face.

"Oh May, I'm already proud of you."

May looked up at Drew. "You are?"

"Of course. You're facing your fear head on. That makes me already proud of you."

May smiled brightly. "Thanks. But I still want to show you that I can last longer."

"Then be my guest. I'll go underwater with you."

"Kay. Here we go." She took a deep breath and pushed herself underwater, eyes shut.

Drew took a deep breath and pushed himself underwater too, eyes shut. They're still holding each other's hands. Drew opens his eyes and looks at May. ("Her eyes are still closed…") Drew thought.

After a few more seconds, May pushed herself up to the surface, letting out her air. Drew did the same. "How much was that?" May asked excitedly.

"I'd say that was about 10 seconds." Drew said. "Impressive."

May smiled brightly. "Are you proud of me?"

"Of course I am." Drew answered. "But there's only one thing that you should work on…"

"What is it?"

"Opening your eyes underwater." Drew answered. "I know you're new to swimming, so I won't force you to do that. But just think about it, okay? You'll need to be able to see underwater if you're going to be swimming."

"Right. Thank you, Drew." May said. "You're an amazing teacher at everything."

"I don't know about everything…"

"You know what I mean." May said. "You taught me guitar and now you're teaching me how to swim. Why are you teaching me how to swim exactly?"

"So you can get over your fear."

"I know that, but why?"

"Oh. Because it might help you with the play." Drew answered. "Yesterday when I saw you all soaked and you had a surfboard...I knew that you were practicing the beginning of the play. And you also seemed sad which told me that it didn't go so well. And I just put two and two together, and ended up thinking about our conversation after we got the parts. You said that the only reason you pulled through the intro song was because I had faith in you. And I said that you would still pull through without me around. So that's why you wanted to practice, right? To see if I was right?"

May nodded.

"And so that's what I figured." Drew continued. "And then I came up with the perfect way to bring up your confidence for the Spring Play. We'd come here to our secret date spot and I'd teach you how to swim. And so I texted Kiara telling her to make you put on a bathing suit and to warn you before you left the castle that I was going to teach you how to swim."

May smiled. "You're amazing, Drew."

"I know." Drew said smugly.

May didn't even get mad at Drew's cocky attitude. She just continued smiling at him. "Drew, I think I'm ready."

"For?"

"Floating on my own."

"Wait, are you sure?" Drew asked.

May nodded and smiled confidently. "I'm sure. After all, it'll be way easier to teach me how to swim if I can float on my own, right?"

"Right. Tell me when to let go and I'll make sure you're still okay."

"Okay then." She took a deep breath. "Let go."

Drew released May's hands and backed up a little bit from May, giving her room. He smiled when he saw that she was still floating with her head above the water. Her hands were pushing downward, helping her float.

("Don't be afraid...don't be afraid.") May repeated in her head. ("Hope is one of the qualities that makes me a good future Queen...I must continue to have hope.") She looked at Drew and smiled. He returned the smile. ("With Drew...I can do anything.") May floated towards Drew.

"Wow, good job." Drew said once May was now in front of him.

"Can you teach me how to swim now?"

"Absolutely. Follow my lead."

And so Drew taught May how to swim. He only showed her the basics of course because she's only a beginner. May learned how to swim underwater with her eyes open. She could swim a little bit above the water, but she actually has an easier time swimming underwater. Drew and May would swim side-by-side, Drew watching very closely at May to make sure she doesn't breathe in water or start to drown.

May gained her complete confidence in herself while she swam with Drew. And it was like her fear of swimming completely disappeared. They spent a while in the water, Drew teaching May how to swim, and she forgot all about her silly fear. May could now float on her own, swim short distances above water on her own, swim slightly longer distances underwater, and she could even hold her breath underwater for 20 seconds. Drew has never been more proud of May. His plan worked. He taught her how to swim and she'd grow to love it.

After they were done swimming, they would dry off, and put on their clothes again. They sat back on the picnic blanket and ate the strawberries while talking and laughing. This is their longest date they've ever had and they both loved it while it lasted. Once they got to their homes, May knew that her fear was completely gone, and Drew would lay in his bed with the happy thought of helping his fiancé conquer her fear. And they both were officially ready for this school play that'll happen in 4 weeks.