The Circus isn't a Love Story (COMPLETED)

Chapter 3

"Hey Remy?"

Remy looked up. "Oh, hey Pat. What do you need?"

"Well, you know my brother Emile?"

Remy felt his cheeks go a little red at the word 'Emile'. "Yeah? What about him?" He asked, trying very hard to keep his voice even.

"Well, he's come to join us on this trip around England and I thought that maybe-"

Remy was out the circus tent before Patton could even finish his sentence. Patton heard a laugh from near the top of the tent.

"What's so funny Virgil?"

"Oh, nothing." Virgil snickered again. "That works every time."

Patton giggled slightly. "Yes, I suppose it does."

"But is Emile actually coming? Remy'll definitely take his humiliation out on someone if Emile isn't here."

"Yes, Emile's coming. He was also really excited to see Remy."

"It surprises me that they aren't together yet." Virgil laughed, sliding down a rope. Patton giggled again. "What?" Patton smiled and drew a hand across his lips to show that they were sealed. Virgil sighed. "The only reason I'm not suspending you from the tent and interrogating you now is because you're the ringmaster."

"I know!" Patton said cheerfully. "Now come on. We've got a show in two days. Bed. Now."

Virgil rolled his eyes. "Fine."

"And I don't want to hear reports of you not sleeping!" Patton yelled after the retreating figure.

"Got it!" Virgil yelled, not turning around as he exited the tent. Patton jumped up and down, clapping his hands.

"Oh! This is going to be so good!" He squealed.

***

Roman sighed. He couldn't sleep. His first performance was in two days and he didn't feel ready. Patton said that this was a normal reaction but to Roman it just felt... wrong. Maybe joining the circus was a mistake. Roman sighed again and decided to leave his thoughts in the caravan, going to the tent to get some extra practice.

There was someone in the tent already. Roman could hear the sound of ropes creaking as someone swung from them and of wooden boards clattering as someone landed. Poking his head through the tent, he saw who it was.

It was Virgil. He was swinging from a trapeze, not looking up or down, just looking straight ahead. He swung once, twice, three times before letting go of the trapeze in mid-air. He seemed suspended in mid-air for a few seconds before plummeting to the floor, only to catch hold of another trapeze and land safely on a wooden platform. Roman wanted to clap but thought it best not to disturb Virgil's concentration. As Virgil kept practicing, Roman sat down on one of the chairs in the dark, mesmerised.

Eventually, Virgil stopped and sat on the ground, tired. "You can come out now, Princey. I know you were watching." He said, smirking.

"I-I didn't mean to intrude-"

"It's fine, Princey. You don't need to be so tense and formal all the time." Virgil got up and pulled Roman into the ring. "You're one of us now." He grinned as Roman blinked in the bright spotlights. "What's your act?"

"Hm? Oh! Well, it's sorta like a show battle between me and Remus."

"What's the back-story behind the battle?"

"Um... I don't know. Probably something to do with a love triangle or something. Patton said that it would be best to leave the audience to decide the story."