3.1 | Complete Me ✔

No Letting Go

Zain, Conner and Ezio stood outside the circus grounds, peering inside at the bustling couples and their children. Ezio chanted excitedly while Zain and Conner gazed at each other in confusion.

"You got the message, too?" Conner asked.

"Yup. Looks like we're the only two," Zain replied. "But where the hell is Scarlett?"

As if she heard them talking about her, they all received a message from her simultaneously.

[S. Rose: Come right in~ Give the ticketmaster your names and you'll be escorted to your seats]

They exchanged another confused look before heading in. They were immediately escorted to their seats, front and center. Ezio was ecstatic. They sat for a few moments as the house slowly filled, accepting complimentary food and drink courtesy of the 'Honorary Ring Master of the Day'.

"What the hell is going on here?" Zain whispered.

"Magic!" Ezio exclaimed. 

Then the show officially began. They watched a few mildly entertaining acts - things of Ezio's fare - but still no sign of Scarlett.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen! Leading our very own Snake Eyes motorcycle gang, please welcome our Honorary Ringleader of the Day: Scarlett Rose!"

"What?" Conner snapped.

Suddenly, riding out on a blue Carbonin, clad in all leather, hair fanning behind her like wild fire, was Scarlett.

"What the hell is she doing?" Conner hissed as she entered a steel cage with five other riders.

The three of them watched with suspended breaths as the six riders were enclosed inside and slowly hoisted into the air. Everyone screamed and cheered as Scarlett performed the death-defying stunt, but Conner was paler than a sheet of paper.

Fifteen painstaking minutes, and the stunt was over. Everyone came out unscathed, but Conner couldn't slow his racing heart.

"That crazy woman!" Zain laughed, standing and clapping with the rest of the audience.

The show went on for a while longer, Scarlett making one more appearance with the clowns and inviting Ezio onto the stage. They danced and frolicked for another fifteen minutes before the children were ushered back to their seats.

After a few moments, the lights died down, and a single spotlight shone down on Scarlett, dressed in a glittery, pale champagne leotard, being carried across a trapeze bar by a strapping man in an equally glitzy suit. He deposited her on a 50 foot tall pedestal, where colorful lights began to strobe to upbeat music. Conner's heart dropped as she jumped.

She spun through the air gracefully, being caught and flung like a professional athlete. Ezio and Zain stared in wonder while Conner sat tensely, dreading the possibility of something going wrong.

"Isn't she amazing?" Ezio beamed.

"I didn't even know she could trapeze. Or ride a motorcycle!" Zain replied.

Conner had to admit: she looked mesmerizing. She was clearly having the time of her life.

Just as he was beginning to relax and enjoy the show, she spun to grab the next acrobat's hands and missed them by mere centimeters. Gasps exploded from the audience as Conner sprang from his seat and raced onto the stage. As if materializing out of the shadows, two security guards restrained him before he could get far.

Just then, Scarlett landed in a safety net he hadn't previously seen, laughing like an absolute maniac.

"Get her down!" Conner roared as security wrestled him back to his seat.

Once she was rescued from the safety net, the show was concluded. Conner paced around angrily as they waited for Scarlett to emerge from the back. There was a commotion of people when she finally did, trying to get her autograph and pictures. She looked dazed, flushed and glowing as she sailed through the sea of people. That is, until she was snatched up and dragged out.

"Conner?" she asked in alarm. "What are you doing?"

He grabbed her face and kissed her, all his anger, fear and love infused. When he pulled away, she was breathless.

"We're going home," he said, and before she could say a word, he scooped her in his arms and stormed out, completely abandoning Zain and Ezio.

Scarlett stared at his profile in utter shock, but soon resorted to wrapping her arms around him as he silently carried her to his car.

Normally, she'd be fighting him tooth and nail to go back, but something about the way he kissed her . . .

She didn't know what had gotten into him, but it was probably best not to push his buttons this time.