"Uh, no. Um, that's okay, they're not that interesting," Max sputtered as he jerked back to the dull reality of his maths class.

"Well then I suggest you save them for a later time or else you'll have to bore the whole class with a detailed explanation."

Some of the other boys sniggered. This was not the first time Max had been caught day dreaming.

After the final bell rang Max was quick to scurry down the corridor and out through the main entrance. Daisy was already there waiting for him.

"Hey, what took you so long?" she said playfully. No one else had even left the building. Daisy hooked her arm through his, “Have you done that painting of me yet?" She had requested that Max paint her portrait, she thought he was an amazing artist but Max kept putting it off in case she was disappointed.

"No, sorry."

She rolled her eyes, "Let's go dreamer boy."

Before the pair could leave the school grounds there came a familiar shout, "Hey, Fairy boy!"

Max groaned, it was his classmates. Max and Daisy turned to face the sneering boys.

"Daisy why do you hang around with this guy?" asked Tom, one of the boys. Everyone knew that he liked Daisy.

"Shut up. Max is the nicest boy here," she said, her cheeks flushing with anger.

"Don't you mean the gayest?" Tom jeered. The other boys laughed loudly.

"At least he's not a jerk!" she yelled and punched him in the face.

Max was looking down at his feet as he and Daisy trudged back towards his house. She was supposed to be coming over for a study session.

"You shouldn't have done that" he said quietly.

Daisy grinned, "Yeah, might get expelled for breaking that idiot's nose."

"No Daisy, I mean it. Those guys are never going to take me seriously if you keep defending me."

Daisy stopped walking. "Fine then. I guess from now on you'll be the one with the black eye." She turned around and began to walk away.

Max didn't try to stop her.

That night Max dreamt he was in the woods. A beautiful girl stepped out from the shadows. She wore a long flowing gown; upon her head was a crown of wild flowers.

"Who are you?" Max stammered.

"The Faery Princess of course," she laughed.

"Oh, of course."

The girl took Max's hand, "Come now. We'll miss the dancing!" They went farther into the woods and soon Max could make out the sound of music and the twinkle of lights.

Max let himself be led by the strange girl farther into the woods.

Soon Max could make out the sound of music and see the twinkle of lights up ahead.

"Won't you dance with me?" the faery asked grinning. He nodded as she led him into the midst of a faery gathering.

"I truly love to dance," the Princess sighed when the music had finally stopped.

"I truly love to dance." The Princess sighed when the music had finally stopped.

"I love it too," Max admitted "but painting is more my thing."

Her eyes widened. "Really? Could you do a painting of me?"

Max bit his lip. "I don't know. What if you hate it?"

"I won't," she promised.

The faery led Max away from the festivities to a secluded part of the woods. Everything he needed was already there. He painted, capturing every detail, every glimmer of light. In the background was the darkened woods and the faraway silver moon.

"I've finished," he mumbled at last.

She smiled and walked around to see. "I love it... but that is not me you have painted."

Max looked closely at his work. His heart thudded. "It's Daisy," he said in wonder.

Suddenly a group of faery guards leapt through the trees.

"Step away from the Princess!" one of them shouted.

"Princess, are you okay? Everyone was so worried," said another.

The first guard grabbed Max roughly. "The King is not going to be pleased with you," he said gleefully.

"I demand you release..." the girl began but Max held his hand up to silence her. This was his fight. Max took a deep breath. Then he spun, his balled fist connecting with the guard’s jaw, sending him whirling to the ground. The other guards looked on in horror. No one defied the King!

Everyone watched silently as Max took a deep breath. Then he spun, his balled fist connecting with the guard’s jaw, sending him whirling to the ground. The other guards looked on in horror. No one defied the King!

"Run!" the Princess yelled, her eyes wild with excitement. “You’ll know what to do!"

Max ran as fast as he could until he fell exhausted to the ground.

The next day at school Daisy avoided Max, letting him know just how upset she was. When the bell rang signalling the end of the school day Max rushed out of class to catch her before she left. "Daisy wait up!' he called.

"Daisy wait up!' he called.

She stopped. When he approached her she snapped, "What is it Max?"

"Daisy, I'm really sorry about what I said yesterday."

Daisy rolled her eyes. "Fine, but you need to stand up for yourself."

"Sure..." Max started.

"What are you doing Fairy boy?" It was Tom.

Max looked up at him calmly.

"Gonna get your little girlfriend to hit me again or you gonna do it yourself?" Tom asked, smirking.

"Come on Daisy, let's not waste any more time on this loser," Max laughed, taking her hand.

Daisy couldn't believe it.

As they reached his house, still holding hands, Max looked over at Daisy who was grinning. "I was wondering," Max said after a while. "Do you wanna, maybe, go out some time?"

"I was wondering," Max said after a while. "Do you wanna, maybe, go out some time?"

"Yes!" Daisy blurted. "I mean, yeah, whatever." She blushed.

They smiled shyly at each other.

"Wait here, I've got something for you." Max ran into his house and returned with a canvas. It was an exquisite portrait of Daisy but she was in the woods; there was a full moon in the distance and there were flowers in her hair.

"Wow Max! It's amazing. When did you do this?" Daisy asked.

"Last night I guess."