The Freak| Jimmy Darling

Chapter Seventeen.

I walked to my caravan and opened the door. I sat in front of a mirror and looked at my naturally red face.

"What causes something like this to happen?" I wondered and I looked at every inch of my face.

After a few minutes of pondering, I got up and walked towards my suitcase of clothes. I tore through every option until I got to the last dress at the bottom. This specific dress I had bought a long time ago. I had never worn it because I never liked the color and how it looked on me.

But tonight I think I'll wear it.

I slipped the dress over my head and put on my nicest pair of shoes (which I also never wore). Then I let my hair down and brushed it out. When I was done, I walked out of my caravan and out onto the fields.

"Oh. My. Gosh!" I heard someone exclaim. I turned around and saw Ethel.

I smiled and waved. She ran over and gave me a twirl.

"You look fabulous, sweetheart!" She said.

"Thank you. I figured I'd wear something nice if I'm gonna be doing a different act," I said with a smile.

"Well you look amazing. Are you ready to sing tonight?" She asked.

"Yes. I've been wanting to sing for awhile. But you already know that," I said with a laugh.

She laughed. "Well good luck, darlin'," she said.

"Thanks! You too!" I said and walked into the main tent.

Everyone's eyes went to me. I awkwardly waved as everyone watched in awe. Eve walked over to me.

"Holy shit! Look at you!" She said.

I laughed. "I hope that was a compliment," I said.

"Of course it was! You look amazing!" She exclaimed.

"Thank you. I'm gonna go put some makeup on backstage. I'll see you for the show, okay?" I asked.

She nodded and walked to see Ma Petite, who was practicing the violin.

I walked on the stage and then to the back, where some makeup was sitting on a table. I started looking through the bag for some eye makeup. I applied some mascara and a small amount of eyeshadow. As I finished applying, I heard a voice from behind me.

"Mells?" Jimmy asked.

I got up and turned around. His face looked shocked. I looked down at my dress and smiled.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"You're wearing red. You said you'd never do that," he whispered in shock.

"Yeah. I am. I figured that tonight was special so I got this dress out from the bottom of my suitcase," I said.

He smiled. "Well you look great," he said.

I smiled back. "Thanks," I responded.

An awkward silence and tension filled the room.

"Well I'm gonna go-" Jimmy said.

"Oh yeah. Go ahead," I said with a smile.

"Uh- good luck!" He exclaimed.

"You too!" I said.

He turned around and I cringed at that awkward conversation. Before he walked away, I grabbed his arm.

"Jimmy wait," I said.

He turned back around. "Yeah?" He asked.

"I want you to know that if you go with Maggie, I'll never forgive you. And we'll never be best friends again. But I'll try to understand how much she means to you and I'll try to be happy for you. It might happen right away or maybe it'll never happen. But just know that I'm here for you. Always," I said.