As he stepped aside, a smoky fog rolled in with a thunderous drum roll. There was a flash of flames as music began to vibrate through the tent. The fire eater danced out, followed by the acrobats, and the clowns.
Just as I was beginning to doubt that Kieran was supposed to be in the magician in the poster, there was the proof of smoke and Kieran appeared in the center of the ring. He bowed as the applause grew louder.
As fast as they all entered, all but the clowns exited the tent again. I craned my neck, but Kieran disappeared from sight.
I tried to watch the performances, but at the end of each act, I caught myself watching the opening for a glimpse of him. I clapped methodically for each new act, but I didn’t really pay attention until Kieran’s father stepped back into the center of the ring.
“And now, ladies and gentlemen, the part of the night you all have been waiting for,” he said with a sweep of his hand. “Prepare for some Irish magic...”
He stepped aside as the black haired girl wheeled the table with a bright green box on top of it to the center of the ring. She opened the front and the back to show that there was nothing inside.
As she moved away the fire eater stepped up with her flaming torches. She danced and spun around, lighting the box on fire.
The black haired girl stepped forward again and held up her fingers as if she were counting.
One... Two...Three....
The box burst apart and there stood Kieran as the flames at his feet died away. He bowed again and again as the crowd cheered.
As he straightened, Kieran scanned the crowd and our eyes met.
I didn’t move, I barely even breathed, as the cheering crowd faded away. I couldn't hear them anymore. It was like when I was little and used to slide partially under water in the bathtub, all I could hear was the sound of my beating heart and the echo of my shallow breaths.
Kieran...
He snapped out of it just as his father and assistants noticed his distraction. He went on with his act, but again and again our eyes met and each time I got that same underwater feeling.
What’s happening to me?
Chapter 11
As the show came to an end, a cloud of smoke and flames that lit up the inside of the tent and heated the faces of the audience.
The performers took their bows in the spotlight of the center ring. They join hands and stood in a straight line, bowing deeply altogether and then separately. One by one, each stepped forward and took another bow.
I wanted to look for Kieran in the line and watch him take his bow, but everyone around me stood up to applaud the performers. I tried to see over people, but even as the crowd was still clapping, other people were lining up to leave.
I sat back down, letting the crowd go ahead of me. I saw no point in rushing to the exit just to stand in line to get out.
A feeling of disappointment hung over me as I sat there. Everyone else was making their way down the bleachers with happy smiles on their faces, but I just had this overall sense of disappointment.
What am I doing? What did I expect to happen? I’m just being silly...
“So how did you enjoy the show?” A voice beside me asked.
I jumped to see Kieran sitting beside me.
“How did you do that?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
He smiled and with a wave of his hand, produced a single white daisy.
“Magic,” he said with a wink.
I took the flower from him and rolled my eyes, “That’s your excuse for everything.”
“So it is.”
“You’re not going to tell me how you did it, are you?”
“No,” he said with a laugh. Standing, he offered me his hand. “But I will buy you dinner.”
“Dinner?”
“Yes dinner, traveller style.”
I looked up at his handsome face and glittering green eyes. I didn’t hesitate.
“Sure,” I said, taking his hand. “Why not?”
Kieran led me down the bleachers, walking easily from row to row while I struggled to maintain my balance. He guided me out of the tent and into the dark night.
Outside, most of the people that came to see the show were already gone. There were just a few families, struggling with their sleepy children. What people were left moved a little faster as a rain scented breeze blew through the fairgrounds.
Kieran didn’t let go of my hand, he pulled me along to where the food vendors in their odd service caravans were cleaning up and shutting down for the night.
“Frankie,” Kieran called as we approached a hot dog stand. “Got anything left in there?”
The burly man poked his head out the window smiling wildly. “Twas a grand night Kieran, I haven’t even a crumb left.”
“Best get to the grocer then,” Kieran said with a wave.
“First thing in the morning,” the man said and then slid the window shut.
Kieran led me to the next vendor, knocking on the side of the caravan as we walked up. I tried to hang back is another gruff man peered out at us.
“Who’s out there?”
“Just Kieran, have you got anything left?”
“I have a burger and some chips.”
“Could you see your way to make it two burgers and some chips?” Kieran asked as he pulled me forward. The vendor looked me up and down, and then looked back at Kieran.
“Gorger?” The man asked.
I had never heard the word before, but Kieran seemed to know the meaning.
“Yes,” he said simply.
The man’s expression remained solemn, but he nodded and handed out a cardboard basket of two burgers and a heaping mound of fries. Without being asked, he also handed out two cans of soda.
“Thanks mate,” Kieran said.
He led me back toward the main tent and took a seat on the platform at the entrance. I sat down beside him and took the hamburger and soda he offered.
I looked at his profile, handsome even in the flickering light of the strings of bulbs overhead. How did I ever get such an amazing guy to notice me?
“Can I ask you something?” I said as I opened my soda.
He didn’t answer me, as he was taking a huge bite of his burger, but he nodded as he chewed.
“What does “gorger” mean?”
Kieran stiffened and swallowed. It took a long drink of his soda before he answered me.
“A gorger is you,” he said softly.
“Me?”
“Yes,” he said as he examined his burger, picking off the onions and throwing them to the ground. “A gorger as an outsider, someone that is not a traveller.”
“Oh,” I mumbled and went back to eating my burger.
Kieran bumped his arm against mine playfully, “Don’t let it bother you. It’s just something the travellers say.”
I nodded but I couldn’t help thinking that the message was very clear, there was them and then there were the gorgers.
Kieran collected our garbage and threw it into the nearest trash barrel, “Twas good, wasn’t it?”
I tried to push my negative thoughts aside and nudged him with my elbow when he sat back down.
“So, I’ve had hamburgers before,” I teased. “How was that traveller style?”
Kieran shrugged, “We were hungry and they fed us without question.”
“So, it was free and that made it traveler style?”
“No,” Kieran said with a smile. “We were hungry and they fed us, and someday I will return the favor.”
“It seems so simple.”
“It is,” he said as he sipped at his soda. “Only outsiders make it complicated.”
Ouch...
Realizing what he had said, Kieran ran his hands through his dark hair.
“Sorry,” he said apologetically.
I nodded, but I still felt the sting of his words.
We were silent for a while, drinking our sodas and watching the last of the vendors close up their caravans. A few wav
ed as they walked toward the campground. It seemed darker without the lighted signs advertising funnel cakes and Polish sausage. I crossed my arms as another rain cooled breeze blew through.
“Are you cold?” Kieran asked.
“No,” I lied.
He nodded, maybe sensing my change in mood. “Okay. Well, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“How did you get your name?”
“What?” I asked, “Seriously?”
Kieran smiled, “I’m just curious. I mean for us travellers names have meanings and that is not a name that one hears that often.”
I glanced up at him. He was watching me, that I knew, but in the shadows, I couldn’t really see his expression.
I looked back down at my can of soda, grateful that in the dim light he wouldn’t be able to see how bad I was blushing.
“My mother came up with my name,” I said softly. “She wanted me to have like a rock ‘n roll name or something.”
“A rock ‘n roll name.”
I nodded, “My mom was something of a wild child.”
Kieran was still watching me, “So where is your mother now?”
“Dead.”
I wished I could take back the word as soon as it was out of my mouth.
Well that will leave a lasting impression...
To my surprise, Kieran remained unfazed.
“I’m so sorry,” Kieran said like any sane person would. “How old were you when she died?”
“I was about nine,” I said, reminding myself that normal people weren’t so blunt about such things. “But even before she died, she wasn’t exactly the mothering type.”
There...That was a generous way of putting it...
“How did she die?”
It was a perfectly normal question, but I of course blurted out the very un-normal, unfiltered answer.
“She died in a car accident. She got drunk and flipped her car out on Highway 150.”
Oh my God... What the hell is wrong with me?
“You seem angry,” Kieran said calmly. “Are you angry at her for not being a good mother or are you angry at her for dying?”
“Both,” I said simply, not seeing the point in trying to lie about it.
Kieran sat straighter and looked up at the night sky so that I could make out his handsome profile.
“I know how that is,” he said. “I wasted a long time being angry at my mother for dying.”
“Oh,” I said. “I’m so sorry. When did she die?”
Kieran lowered his face and looked down so that he was again hidden in the shadows.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “It’s getting late, I should walk you home.”
He stood and offered me his hand again. I took it without hesitation. I knew that it was just simple politeness that made him do it, but I was thrilled at any opportunity to touch him.
How pathetic is that?
As we made our way out of the fairgrounds, someone flipped a switch somewhere and the strings of lights overhead went dark. Now, with only a few street lights in the distance to light the way, we walked the dusty path to the exit.
The entire town was still and quiet with only a few windows reflecting the bluish light of a television. It was an odd feeling, like we were the only two people left on earth.
We crossed the empty street slowly, taking our time to reach the front door of my house.
Don’t say good night yet... I’m not ready for it to end...
I didn’t want to, but I pulled out my keys and unlocked the door.
This is the awkward part... Do I kiss him...? Does he kiss me...? How am I supposed to know if he even wants to?
I turned around, about to tell him how much I enjoyed the show or something equally predictable when a breeze came up behind me and blew my loose hair out about.
Kieran stepped forward and pushed some of the wayward strands out of my face.
“Lord in heaven, you are beautiful,” he whispered softly.
He still held my face in his hands. I looked up at him with the light from the streetlight shining in his face and tried to think of what it was I should say.
Before I could say anything, Kieran lowered his face to mine and our lips touched. The flutter of excitement raced through me so strongly that I actually shivered.
Kieran paused, his lips still barely brushing mine. He was gasping, as was I, each of us breathing in the others breath.
Slowly he pulled away, letting his hand slid from my face. “Good night then.”
Without looking away, I reached behind my back for the door and pushed it open. I didn’t look away until I backed inside and shut the door.
I went to the window and watched him walk back across the street. Just as I lost sight of him among the campers, I reached up and touched my lips with my fingertips, that same flutter of excitement came over me as I remembered the feeling of his lips on mine.
Chapter 12
I couldn’t concentrate the next day as I opened the store. Again and again, my mind went back to that moment when Kieran’s lips touched mine and every time, a shiver raced through me.
I was lucky enough that it was a slow Sunday morning with only a few random customers coming in from time to time. That gave me plenty of time in between to fantasize about the kiss.
I expected everyone to be talking about the travellers and the performance the night before, but no one said anything about it. A few elderly ladies were whispering to each other while they were waiting in line, but they never spoke loud enough for me to hear their conversation. For the most part, people talked about the much-needed rainstorm overnight and what it meant to area farmers.
I could have cared less about the weather. I just kept going back to the way the Kieran held my face right before he kissed me.
Every girl should be kiss like that once in her life...
Across the room, Alec slammed down a bag of bird seed, making me jump. I came out of my reverie and saw the busted bag spilling all over the floor.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked as I came around the corner with a broom and dustpan.
“Nothing,” Alec snapped as he snatched the broom from me.
“Okay,” I said sarcastically. “Then what did the bird seed do to tick you off?”
“I’m fine, okay?”
“Well, you're obviously not fine”" I snapped back. “So what’s the problem?”
“You really want to know?” He huffed, “I saw you walking home with that gypsy last night.”
My heart skipped a beat before I could stop it. What did it matter if Alec saw Kieran walking me home? Half the town probably saw us together.
“So what’s wrong with that?” I asked, trying to regain my composure.
Alec shrugged, but didn’t look up.
“Tell me Alec,” I demanded. “What’s so wrong with him walking me home?”
“You just need to be careful that’s all.”
“Why?” I asked even though I was losing my patience.
“I’ve just heard some things,” he mumbled with only a quick glance in my direction.
“Like what?” I asked, preparing myself for anything.
Alec swept up the last of the birdseed into the dustpan, “I don’t think I should get into it with you.”
“Too late,” I snapped. “You’re already into it.”
He emptied the seed into the trash and shook his head.
“My uncle just told me some stories from the old country about the travellers and their kind,” he said.
I gripped the edge of the counter, trying to fight the urge to claw his eyes out.
“Their kind?” I hissed. “What would your uncle know about their kind?”
“Don’t get mad,” Alec pleaded. “I was just trying to warn you.”
“You don’t have to warn me about anything.”
“But I –“
I turned away from him and waved my hand toward the door.
“Why don’t you jus
t take the rest the day off?” I told him, unable to imagine even trying to finish the day with him.
“Harmony, I –“
“Just go,” I snapped.
He didn’t say anything else. He propped the broom against the wall and left, slamming the door behind him.
I spun around and stuck my tongue out. I knew the door was closed and that Alec couldn’t see me, but I needed to do something.
I didn’t do anything wrong... What is it with people in this town...? Why can’t they just mind their own business?
At five o’clock, and I came out from behind the counter to lock up for the day. The setting sun coming through the windows intensified the heat of the building held from the day.
I stopped at the dilapidated air conditioner. The unit wheezed and sputtered, barely blowing. I twisted the knob back and forth, only succeeding in shaking a few drops of condensation ways.
Perfect... One more thing I don’t have the money to fix...
The door opened with a ring of the bell and a gentle knock. I looked up just as Kieran walked in looking too good to be true.
How does he do it? How does he make a jeans and tee shirt look so good?
I smiled as if he could somehow read my thoughts by my expression.
“I just stopped by to see what you were doing tonight,” he said.
My heart jumped at the idea that he had even been thinking about me. I knew it was silly, but I couldn’t help the way that my pulse quickened.
“I thought you’d be performing tonight,” I said in an odd, controlled voice.
“No,” Kieran said with a shake of his head. “Most people don’t come to a carnival on a Sunday. I guess they think that it’ll make God angry or something.”
“Oh,” I mumbled. “I hadn’t thought about that.”
Did I imagine everything? Why is he standing so far away and why is he acting like he never kissed me?
Kieran went on as if he wasn't torturing me with this normal and polite conversation.
“I don’t know why they worry so much about making God angry,” he said. “I’m sure he put your little town directly on top of hell.”
“What?”
“I was referring to the heat.”
“Oh,” I mumbled and looked down at my feet.
Faery Realms: Ten Magical Titles: Multi-Author Bundle of Novels & Novellas Page 108