"you know I want you, it's not a secret I try to hide. But i can't have you, we're bound to break, and my hands are tied."
In which Iris Michaels finds her home within a circus of outcasts and finds herself in a forbidden love.
Phillip Carlyle x oc
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Iris Michaels was the only one in the stadium as she worked her hands and legs almost raw on the silk. She had made a minor mistake during today's show and she was hating herself for it. She practiced over and over again until she feels she got it absolutely perfect.
She walked over to the pit as she started to pat her hands with flour to help her hands stick to the silk better. She was almost done when her whole body jumped at the sound of a deep voice behind her.
"Iris? Is that you?"
A chill ran down Iris' spine as the all too familiar voice spoke her name. She closed her eyes and took a huge breath in to keep herself calm.
"I know you remember me, Iris."
"How could I forget you."
"She talks." Phillip spoke stepping into the pit from the opposite side of the room as Iris. He slowly made his way across the pit, making his way to Iris who stood frozen on the edge.
"What do you want, Phillip? Why are you even here!?" Iris half yelled at the man in front of her. She had finally felt she found a new, better home with these people and Phillips presence has just reminded her of her dark childhood.
"Mr. Barnum invited me to be his partner." Phillip responded.
Iris and Phillip were face to face now. The fragrance coming off of Phillip was so familiar and brought her back to when they were little kids running around the fields and abandoned buildings hoping not to get caught by Phillips crazy, racist father. Iris' eyes were glued to the ground. She couldn't bring herself to look at Phillip. She didn't think she would be able to without bursting into tears. She had ruined his life.
"I'm so sorry, Phillip." Iris said quietly, her eyes remaining on the floor.
"What? What are you talking about Iris? What do you have to be sorry for?" Phillip said grabbing Iris' chin forcing her to look into his eyes. His eyes were filled with sadness. She wondered if it's because of their reunion or the fact that she had blamed herself for their falling out.
"I'm the reason you had to go to that behavioral corrections school. I'm the reason your father hated you for so long. I'm the reason you were forced into your dads profession." Iris said, tearing forming in her eyes.
"Iris, don't you dare blame yourself for that!" Phillip grabbed Iris' hands into his, rubbing his thumbs along the tops of her hands. "My father is a racist jerk who saw I was in love with a beautiful brown girl and he couldn't bring himself to accept that. This is my dads fault for not opening his eyes to the fact that the world is heading to equal rights for people of all colors."
A single tear ran down Iris' cheek.
"You loved me?" Iris said with a slight smile, glancing hopelessly up at Phillip.
"I never stopped loving you Iris. I never stopped thinking about you. About how badly i missed you. And how badly I wished to make things right with you." Phillip said with a slight whisper. "I believe it was destiny that we have found each other again, Iris."
"It sure is, Phillip"
"Can we catch up? Recreate old times? Without my father this time though" Phillip said with a slight giggle at the end.
"I'd love to" Iris said with a bright smile on her face.
Phillip wiped the tears off of Iris' face as he grabbed her head, pulling him closer to him, engrossing her in a hug and kissing her forehead.
