246 23 Performance

"Oi, slow down!" Norio cried as Emersyn was tugging him along down the street. "I can see the circus, hurry up, Keren!" She hollered. "I'm walking as fast as I can, d.a.m.nit!" Keren shouted, from behind.

"We're here!" Emersyn cried, tugging on Norio's hand. "Mhm." Norio smiled.

As the three walked in to the big tent, they got stamped and shown to their seats. "Nori! Can I get a cotton candy!?" Emersyn cried, pointing to the snacks. "Yea, sure." They walked toward the counter. "Oi, get me a popcorn!" Keren hollered. "Noted!" Norio, due to the loudness shouted back.

"It's about to start!" Emersyn giggled, seated in between the adults. "See I can come in handy y'know!" Keren said, giving a triumphant smile. Then the lights dimmed. Norio's eye widened as he noticed the man who stepped on stage was the man yelling at Vera yesterday. So he's the ringleader... "Ladies, gentleman, and none of the above!" The ringleader cried out to the audience. "Are you ready for the main event!?" He cried out. The audience roared. "Here we go!" Canons puffed out colorful smoke, music began playing, and a tiny clown car came to the center of the stage.

As the show progressed, Norio kept his eye out Incase he saw Vera. However, she never appeared.

As the show came to an end, all of the circus members took to the stage and gracefully bowed. Vera, still had not made an appearance.

As the three exited the circus, Keren, and Emersyn were busy discussing their favorite parts. "Oi, what'd ya think of the circus, Nori?" Keren smiled over. "It was okay I guess." Keren frowned. "Oi Oi, don't be such a stick in the mud!" She cried. Before Norio could retaliate, he b.u.mped into someone. "Oh, sorry." He looked down to notice Vera, who was sobbing. She looked up quickly. "N-Norio...!" She whimpered. "Oi, Keren, Emmy, I'll be right back!" He shouted back at them as he went to go find a desolate spot with Vera. "Where are y-" Keren's voice faded at out.

"Now, be open and honest with me, what happened yesterday?" Norio asked, sitting on the ground across from Vera. Vera sniffled. "A lot..." Norio gave a slight smile. "Clearly." He sighed. "I was...sold into this circus when I was born," Vera began. "I was born with the ability to see ghosts, and a bit into the future." She frowned. "My real family gave me up because they didn't want to be 'cursed'." She looked up at Norio, making sure he was still following along. "I don't like my abilities, they're...scary." She sniffled. "What about yesterday...?" Norio asked. "Your fortune is accurate...sorry." Norio frowned. "No that's not really what I meant," He paused. "Why was the ringleader mad at you?" Vera quickly looked up. "Because...a customer complained about my fortune being inaccurate, and when I went to apologize, she yelled at me, and left..." Vera looked down. "He's not a nice man...he treats all of us like dirt." She narrowed her eyes. "The circus is just an illusion, we put our fake faces on, and he gets all the glory." Norio crosses his arms. "Why weren't you there today?" Vera looked at him. "Because of yesterday I got banned from being in this towns performances." She smiled sadly. "Not like I care, though." Norio nodded. "I see..." He got up. Vera's eye widened. This is the moment he- "Well, If you're not allowed to perform in the circus, what's the point of you bein' here?" He smirked. "Norio..." She looked up. He extended his hand out. She sniffled, quickly taking it. "I know...I know what's about to happen..." She smiled sadly. "Huh?" He turned. "You're going to try to get me out of here, but he won't let me." Norio looked. "Who won't let you...?" Vera laughed nervously. "The ringleader." Norio, quickly grabbed her hand. "I don't care, we gotta ask anyway, maybe there's a chance!" He cried. "C'mon!" He began walking, holding Vera's arm. Norio, thank you for not taking rejection lightly... She smiled, looking down.

"You want to what!?" The ringleader cried. "What's the point of keeping her here, when she's clearly of no use to you!?" Norio angrily shouted. "Well. she's a great extr" The man quickly stopped himself. "A great what, a great extra cash grab!?l Norio cried out. "That's not what I was going to s-" Vera glared. "Yes it was." She stared the ringleader down. "Whats this!?" He began. "Why are you suddenly being such an ungrateful brat!? I take you in for all these years, and this is the thanks I get!?" He cried out. "No...you used me for all these years..." she frowned. "Give it up, Marx, I already know the outcome, you won't win." Marx gritted his teeth. "You have some nerve...!" He turned to Norio. "And you!" He shouted. "Don't think you can come back to our performances, you're banned!" He cried. "Tch, like I care." Norio huffed, folding his arms. "Oh no...you'll care when that means you can't see precious little Vera again...!" He smirked. "Vera, to your room!" Norio looked up. "Yes, sir..." She sighed. "Ver" Marx let out a hardy laugh. "Good, now you! Get out of my sight!" He said, pus.h.i.+ng Norio out of the tent. Norio smirked. Exchanging numbers, acting like this is a dramatic goodbye? not bad kid.

"Hah!? Circus costumes!?" Keren cried out. "Relax," Norio began, but was quickly cut off. "I wanted to be an alien for Halloween though!" Emersyn cried out. "Both of you be quiet for a minute!" He sighed. The girls looked at each other, then back at him. "Keren," He began. "You're flexible, yea?" Keren frowned. "Yea, I took dance for years too, what's your point...?" Norio smirked. "Excellent."