Circus (Harry Styles)

Chapter 5.

I plant my feet on the ground and sigh with relief. I am afraid of heights, and even something as small as climbing down a fire escape can rattle me.

I have snuck out before, but usually just to go on a walk and spend some time by myself. Never to go to parties or any of that stuff, I'm not interested in that anyway. I start to think about how Mom would be so disappointed in me if she knew I was doing this. I tell myself that I'm just going for a walk like any other night to push away the feelings of guilt that are making me want to turn around and slip back into my cosy bed.

It's around 10.30 at night, but the air is still warm. That's one thing I love about Rosalind's summer. At night, the temperature only drops a few degrees.  

I make my way down the street.  So far, familiar territory. Just another walk, I say to myself. I reach the end of the street and turn left towards the football oval. Feelings of excitement and nervousness flush over me at the same time as I pick up my pace.

I cross the road and reach a large gate with the Majesty Circus logo on it. There is a clown statue sitting above it. I'm sure it would usually look like an ordinary clown, but in the dark hours of the night, it is really creeping me out. I think twice about what I'm about to do, before I find a small gap in the gate and slide my body through it.

I look around to see lots of grass area. It is dark and I am unsure as to where the caravans and trucks are set up. The smell of sawdust is overpowering. I hear faint sounds of people talking with each other. I am confused, why do they sound so far away when I've let myself through the gate? Where am I then?

As I begin to ask myself this question, it is answered all too soon.

I hear deep, low vibrating sound behind me. I have never seen a lion in real life, but the sound of it's breathing is unmistakable. My stomach sinks and a chill pulses through every part of my body.  I slowly turn around, praying it is in a cage separated from me.

I see the beastly male lion standing a mere 10 feet in front of me, nothing between us. It's larger than I could have possibly expected it to be, I take in a deep, shaky breath as I register the size of the animal. It's mane is flowing with the wind and it's staring straight at me.  I instantly presume it has escaped from it's cage, but as my eyes adjust to the dark and I look around me, I see I am standing in a large fenced off area.  
"Oh my god" I whisper to myself, I have walked straight into it's cage.  The huge animal takes a few steps towards me and my heart begins to pound harder than it ever has before.  I want to cry, but I can't - I finally understand the expression 'scared stiff'.

The lion is staring at me with a look in it's eyes, I'm not sure whether it is hungry, angry or both.  I take a step back, hoping to somehow slowly walk out of the cage.  This appears to startle the beast as it snarls, shows me all of it's teeth and lets out a thunderous roar.  The lion's roar resonantes through me, echoing straight through the football field.  It returns to it's deep, vibratory breathing, slowly stepping closer and closer to me as I begin to pant.

"Keko" I hear a man call from my right, "Keko, quit playing" he says and I manage to momentarily take my eyes off of the lion to see who has joined us. A man, in his 20's I think, has walked into the cage.
"Help" I scream with desperation.
"Calm down" the man says, "you're fine, but you have to stay calm and quiet"
I try to calm my nerves but my heart is beating eratically, I just want to be back in my bed.
"Keko" the man repeats, and the lion turns around and starts walking towards him.
"Oh my god" I scream, "look out, he's coming toward you!" I try to think of something to do to save the man, but I'm still frozen in fear.
The man laughs at my warning and walks toward the lion, "that's a good boy" he smiles as he sinks his hand into the beast's mane, ruffling his fur as if it is a dog. The lion seems to enjoy it as it closes it's eyes and pushes it's head into the man's hand.
"What is happening" I say to myself as I begin to cry from the shock of it all.
"The door is over there" the man points and I make my way out of the lion's cage. The man gives the lion one last pat and tells it to stay as he follows me out of the cage.

"My name is Niall" he smiles a warm smile to me.
"Belle" I manage to get out between the tears.
"I can tell you're upset, so I suppose I don't need to tell you that you shouldn't have done that"
"I didn't know it was the lion's cage" I cry, "I just wanted to see your camp"
Niall nods and puts his hand on my back to comfort me.

"This is private property" I hear from behind me. I wipe my eyes and turn around to see that tattooed boy, Harry walking towards me.
"I'm sorry" I answer, "I just wanted to--"
"It's private property" he repeats as he walks past me to the lion's cage to ensure the padlocks on the door are secure. He puts a hand through his slightly curly hair and looks down at me, the intruder.
"Next time, you'll be Keko's dinner" he smirks to himself and walks away from us.

"Don't mind him" Niall rolls his eyes, probably feeling sorry for me, "he doesn't have the best people manners sometimes"
"I am really sorry" I repeat. Why did I think it would be okay to sneak into their camp? I feel so stupid.
"He's right though" he continues, "if you want to see us, you should come to one of our shows" he hands me five free tickets.  "It would be much safer than breaking into the lions cage again" he laughs and offers to walk me home.
I thank him for the tickets and politely decline his offer to walk with me, I just want to get home as soon as possible.  

On my way home, I count my lucky stars. I know this is the part where I should ignore my curiousity and go about my life as if they're not there, but I don't want to do that.

As I return home, I climb back up the fire escape and hop into bed.  I look down at the five Majesty Circus tickets in my hand and slip them under my pillow.