Skinny • Book 1 In The Reality Series

Katy

Sitting in the backseat of Calum’s Jeep which Gracie was driving, I watched in amusement and second hair embarrassment as Gracie head banged so ferociously at the red light where we were stopped that the entire vehicle shook.

“You’re going to ruin the shocks.” Calum grumbled from his perch beside her in the passenger seat.

Straightening up and pushing her hair out of her face she tapped the breaks along to the song.

“You’re going to ruin my car.”

Tightening her grip on the steering wheel, she bounced in her seat, until the light turned green and she lurched forward like a rocket on its way into orbit.

Looking quite green, Sierra who was sat beside me,  closed her eyes and white knuckled the door handle.

“What even is this song?” Calum sighed.

“Joan Jett!” Gracie gasped, sounding personally offended, “The freaking queen! She put girls on the map!”

“I thought that was Beyonce?” Seirra spoke up.

“Sierra,” Gracie sighed, “Sweetie do me a favor and take a minute to think about what you’re going to say before you let it ooze out of your mouth like puss.”

“Gracie.” Calum chided, “Don’t be rude.”

Glancing in the rearview mirror he offered Sierra a sympathetic smile.

“Where are we going?” I asked, watching out the window as we turned off the main road and onto a dirt one.

“Wherever the open road takes us.” Gracie replied.

“I have to be home by ten.”Sierra worried.

“So you’ve said.” Gracie sighed.

“My baby is going to be filthy.” Calum groaned as we jolted and jerked down the bumpy, uneven road.

“Take one for the team Cal.” Gracie replied, “This is for the greater good.”

Neglecting to use her turn signal she swung a sharp left and started down an even narrower road which, as we progressed,  I began to suspect was not  a road but some sort of pathway. Watching out the window was the trees lining the path on either side of the car thickened, then thinned, then thickened once again before giving away to a giant, open field where a sea of cars was parked infront of a city of tents.

“The circus!” Sierra shrieked, “Is this where we’re going! I love the circus!”

Smirking in way of reply, Gracie pulled to a stop beside the bored looking clown who was collecting parking money.

“Thirty-five.” He muttered.

“Good evening to you too.” Gracie laughed, unbuckling her seatbelt and propping her elbows up on the door.

“Thirty-five.” The clown repeated.

“Cal, give me thirty-five dollars.” Gracie called over her shoulder before turning back to the clown and smiling flirtatiously.

“I don’t have thirty-five dollars.” Calum replied.

“Ladies?” Gracie questioned.

“My money is in my locker.” Sierra said apologetically.

“I don’t have it either.” I mumbled.

Sighing, Gracie turned back to the clown and pouted.

“Thirty-five,” He sighed, “Or you can hit the road.”

Ignoring him, Gracie tossed her hair over her shoulder, “Has anyone told you that you make white face paint and a red rubber nose look downright Sexy? What am I saying, of course they have.”

His eyes narrowing, the clown looked down at himself, “No, they haven’t?”

“They haven’t?” Gracie gasped, “I don’t believe that. You’re a catch dude….I mean look at the size of your feet! You know what they say about guys with big feet don’t you?”

“They have big shoes?” Calum muttered.

Reaching behind her, she swatted his arm, not taking her eyes off the clown.

“I love the circus.” She sighed, “And I drove so long to get here, I wish there was some way I could get in.”

“Listen.” The clown sighed, eyeing Gracie like she was a piece of stake, “I’d let you in but I’m not allowed.”

“Really?” Gracie asked, “There’s nothing I can do?”

“Nope.”

Sitting back she reached down and slipped her fingertips under the hem of her tank top, “Nothing?”

Swallowing nervously the clown shook his head slowly.

Smirking, Gracie raised her shirt and bra giving the clown the show of his life. My own eyes widening at the sight of a breast that wasn’t my own, I watched as the clown’s jaw dropped.

“We’re going to go park now okay?” Gracie said slowly, lowering her shirt and placing her hands back on the wheel.

Still staring her chest as if his eyes were glued there the clown nodded robotically.

Blowing him a kiss, Gracie put the car in drive and pulled into one of the few empty parking spots.

“What the heck was that?” Calum demanded.

“That my friend.” Gracie laughed, pulling the keys out of the ignition and tossing them to Calum, “Is how broke girls get what they want.”

“Isn’t that stealing?” Sierra questioned.

“Normally, yes.” Gracie sighed, pulling her hair into a sloppy ponytail, “But this is a circus.”

“So?” Calum asked.

“So, I’m not supporting their barbaric mistreatment of animals with my money.” She scoffed, reaching into her pocket and pulling out two twenty dollar bills.

“If you don’t like circuses why are we here?” Calum questioned.

“This is phase one of Gracie’s you only have one life so ending it is ignorant program.” She replied hopping out of the car.

“What are we doing?” Sierra asked, scrambling out of the car behind her.

Smirking evilly in a way which made most movie villains look tame, Gracie pulled a pocket knife out of her back pocket.

“What the heck is that for?” Calum yelped.

“Have fun kids.” Gracie replied kissing him on the cheek, “Mama will meet you back at the car in twenty minutes.”

“Where are you going?” I asked.

Ignoring me, she saluted before tugging the sweatshirt which was wrapped around her waist on. Pulling the hood over her head she melted into the shadows.

“I think she’s crazy.” Sierra mumbled.

“Crazy.” Calum scoffed, “More like criminally insane.”

Stunned, the three of us watched after the mysterious girl with the blue hair.