The Circus Girl

Chapter 18

Chloe's POV

"Cut?" I ask confused as Ryan stops rubbing my shoulder, but keeps his hand on my shoulder.

"Jack go get mr Hosterman" my mother says as she stands up and takes the rope from holly, I was still sitting on the mat. Ryan stays kneeling beside me.

"Someone cut the rope" Mitch says as jack leaves the tent

"Why would they do that?" I ask at the same time Ryan asks "why?"

My mother shrugs as my father comes in

"Chloe you alright?" He asks me, I nod and Ryan helps me stand up. Careful of my wrist

"Yeah fine" I say as dad takes the rope

"You don't think we have been sabotaged do you?" Jack asks making me look over at him, before back at my parents

"Who would do that?" Holly asks as my father sighs

"One of the ponies have gotten sick, we have the local vet here coming to take a look at her" my father says calmly, I look at Ryan before down at the ground then back at my parent. Our animals are always healthy, now one is sick and ropes are being cut?

"Who?" I ask as Ryan just looks confused, we all are.

"What about the Leonard's circus?" Mitch asks looking between us all, the Leonard's circus is our enemies. I've never seen any of them nor have they seen me, the owners used to work with my family's circus before I was born. Then they wanted their own circus, tried to buy our circus from my grandfather. When he refused they became our enemies, always trying to steal our business. Our acts even.

"They wouldn't go as far as hurting someone?" My mother says but it's more of a question, who knew riviera between circuses could be so harmful

"it's probably not them" I say as I try stretching my fingers out, my wrist stung like hell.

"Chloe they are in this town, preforming. Thankful not on the same nights we are" my dad says clearly worrying now

"Honey" my mother says monitoring for him to go out of the tent with her, it was clear she wanted to talk to him alone. Once my parents are out of the tent we all exchanged looks

"I'm confused, who is this circus?" Ryan asks, we all look at Ryan before exchanging looks

"They are out Rivalry, assholes" jack says making me smile as I shake my head and look at Ryan

"We haven't even met them, my parents have tho" I tell him making him nod

"Hey why don't we go investigate, like you said they've never seen any of us." Mitch says making me smile

"Yes! we can go see if they really are sabotaging us!" I say as Ryan takes my hand, the one that isn't sore.

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea, we could get caught" Ryan tells us, holly looks at me then at Ryan. Before smiling

"Oh my god" she gasps making us all look at her, she's crazy. Probably lost it

"What?" Jack asks as we all look at her waiting for her to continue

"I have the perfect idea!" She says with a smile as she looks between Ryan and I again, oh god what is she planning. This can't be good

"Okay?" Mitch questions, it was clear he was confused. I was confused. Pretty sure we all are confused as heck.

"Chloe and Ryan you guys will fake being engaged, Chloe you'll need to fake being pregnant"

***

"This won't work" I mumble as I'm getting changed in the caravan, holly is in here with me. Yes I've changed in front of her before, we are best friends.

"It's going to be perfect" she tells me as I slip the baby pink tank top on, I wasn't sure on this. But we needed to know if they are planning something against us or not.

"Faking pregnant, how do I do that?" I ask as I slide denim shorts on

"Just say you are pregnant, hold your stomach a bit. Once Ryan calls we will know it's clear" she tells me, I nod. This does sound like it will work, my parents would flip if they found out what we are doing tho

"Okay" I say as I take my hair out and leave it down, I was ready. Fake engaged to Ryan, why did I like the sound of engaged to Ryan?

"I just met Ryan and we are already fake engaged" I say with a laugh, holly laughs as she stands up.

"Lets get this show on the road" she says clapping. I hope we don't get caught