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Six

     "What's the meaning of this?" Phillip sat up on the bed, his body was sore, but he didn't care. "How could you not tell me?"

     "Phillip, please," Anne begged, urging him to lay back down. She didn't like the expression on his wavering face. "I'm fine. See? Look, I'm okay."

     "I shouldn't have let you go alone..." Phillip began hysterically, rubbing his fingers disheveled light brown hair. "God, why was I so stupid?"

    "Phillip, listen to me!" Anne pleaded, calming him down as she threw the newspaper in the trash. "I'm fine! Damian helped me! Everything's alright."

     Phillip turned to look at her. He leaned forward and held her waist. Anne sighed, their foreheads touching as they stood there for a moment. "I promised to protect you, didn't I?"

     "This situation shouldn't bother you, Phillip," Anne began softly, stroking his cheek. "Because no matter what, you'll always be my hero."

***

      Anne arrived at the circus accompanied by Phillip, both couples were sick. But Phillip refused to leave her side. He turned to look at her, kissing her on the nose.

     "I see Phillip's back," Barnum said with a smile, patting him on the back. "You look absolutely...terrible. Just saying."

     Phillip rolled his eyes as he sneezed loudly. "I'm recovering, I feel much better than before now. I'll be able to perform."

     "Oh, heck no you aren't." Barnum chuckled hysterically. "I won't let you perform while your sneezing and pale and sweaty."

     Anne looked sympathetically at Phillip, who had a worried expression on his face. "I'm sorry you can't perform, but at least you're strong enough to watch me perform."

    Phillip nodded vaguely, kissing her on the forehead. "I love you. Be careful when you're up in the air, you tend to be over the top."

     He winked at Anne, finding a front row seat on the bleachers. As the crowd filed in, fanning themselves and looking at the scenery, Anne rushed over to put on her pink wig, adding glitter and strapping on her costume. W.D greeted her kindly as she walked over to talk to him. He was accompanied by Damian.

     "Miss Anne," Damian said politely, smiling at her. It was weird hearing that name, she usually went by Mrs. Carlyle. "You look lovely, as always."

     "Thank you," Anne replied with a simple nod as her cape followed behind her. "You clean up nice yourself. C'mon W.D."

     He nodded, jogging up with her, plastering on a smile as they neared the stage arena. "Are you going to tell me what happened yesterday?"

     "There's nothing to talk about," Anne snapped, flashing a smile at the audience. "I don't understand why people care so much. I'm fine! I'm okay."

     "Okay, I'll back off, but be more careful..." W.D said testily, heaving himself up into the air.

     Anne fought back the urge to sneeze as she flew into the sky, spreading her cape as the crowd gasped in awe. Anne searched the crowd for Phillip, who had a smirk on his red face.

     Barnum emerged from the curtains, revealing himself and starting the music. The crowd roared and whooped. Anne stood next to Barnum, doing her special number. She intended on bowing and fleeing the stage when Damian wrapped an arm around her waist and tilted her. Anne's eyes widened as Damian leaned in to kiss her. His lips brushed against hers until she shoved him back, bowing and running off with her face red with shock and resentment. And panic.

     To her dismay, the crowd looked displeased when Anne pulled away. She turned and glared at Damian, who had a smug smile on his face. Nonetheless, she bowed, running off the stage, leaving Barnum speechless and Lettie bewildered. Damian ran after her. The crowd went crazy, cameras were clicking.

     Anne turned only to see Damian by her side, taking her hand. "Anne, hold on a minute! Please just wait!"

     Anne, filled with anger and shock, did the most sensible thing she could think of. She struck him in the face. "What the hell? Do you realize what you've just done, you idiot!"

     "Anne, it was just an act." Though Damian didn't look satisfied, he grasped her hand harder, he leaned in until their faces were inches apart. "Merely just an act for the public."

     Anne grunted, shoving him off. "What exactly do you want?"

     "You," Damian replied, looking at his nails, a look of pure evil in his eyes. He always looked innocent, and friendly. But now, he was a different person. "The press will know that I kissed you, it will become a scandal. They'll hate you, ruin you until you finally give in and marry me."

     "You're sick!" Anne yelled angrily, slapping him in the face yet again. "What makes you think I'll ever marry someone like you?"

     "The people won't believe you, Anne." Damian chuckled softly, looking at her eyes as he grasped her chin. "I'll make sure of it."

     Author's Note: Hey readers! Thank you SO SO much for reading Six! Stay tuned for the next chapter. Don't forget to follow me and SHARE this fanfiction. I'm OPEN to fanfiction recommendations, so feel free to PM me! Farewell!

- E.S.M (AuthenticBookworm)