Me too. I didn’t say those words though, just nodded because, for some reason that I couldn’t understand, I didn’t like the fact that Charlotte was attracted to Zach. I also didn’t really like the fact that lots of young girls were now hanging around the entrance to the performers’ tent, giggling and obviously waiting for them to come out.
I shook my head, trying to clear it. Seriously, what’s wrong with me?
Luke stepped to my side then, smiling his dazzling smile down at me, and I felt my face flood with heat because my insides were still quivering, and for once it wasn’t him that had caused it. “Hey, we’re gonna go hit the refreshment stand and get a burger or something. Coming?” he asked, nodding over his shoulder at his friends who were already making their way to the line for the burger van. Charlotte nodded eagerly and trotted off after them.
I was conflicted. Part of me wanted to go with Luke, but part of me wanted to go and congratulate Zach on his performance. I didn’t know what to do. “Um…” I chewed on my lip, looking back at the tent, seeing that the crowd of teenage girls was growing larger by the second. I knew I should probably stay away from Zach for a while so that I could let this feeling disperse, but I longed to run there and see him right this very second.
My mouth made the decision that my brain and heart were struggling with. “I’m not that hungry. I’m gonna go tell Zach well done.”
Luke frowned, but nodded. “Alright. Don’t go anywhere on your own though,” he instructed.
I nodded, waving a dismissive hand. “I’m only going into the tent and then Zach will be there.”
He squared his shoulders, taking a step back. “Go on then. I’ll watch and make sure you get in there okay before I go get my food,” he replied.
I sighed, loving how sweet that was. “See you in a bit.”
I turned and made my way over to the tent, hobbling a little on my ankle because I’d been standing too long on it today and it was now starting to ache again. When I got to the mouth of the tent I had to squeeze past the excited gaggle of fangirls that were standing around. I pulled back the rough material and went to step inside, but a guy with a black security T-shirt put his arm out to block my way.
“I’m sorry. Performers only. Wait outside with the others,” he grunted, nodding back at the other girls.
I smiled and shook my head. “I’m friends with them. I just want to talk to Zach,” I replied, peeking in to the tent and seeing them all standing around, chatting and grinning as they drank from bottles of water.
The security guy turned to look in too, waving me forward a step. “Guys, this one with you?” he called.
Newt and Zach looked up. A smile crossed Zach’s face as he nodded. “Yep. That’s mine,” he chirped. I couldn’t help the scoffing noise that escaped my throat at his words.
The security guy nodded, stepping to the side and pulling the cloth doorway back further and waving me in. I ignored the grumbling and whining from the girls behind me as I walked in.
“That’s mine?” I repeated distastefully as I made my way over to where Zach was standing. He grinned, shrugging nonchalantly as he chugged some more water. “You’re a pig,” I scolded, but I couldn’t help but smile at the same time.
“So, what’d you think? Like the routine? I saw you screaming like a fangirl out there. I’m surprised you didn’t throw me your panties with your number written on the back,” he joked.
I chuckled, feeling a blush creep up my neck. I had been shouting, so that was true. “If you didn’t already have my number then I might have done,” I joked. Wait, am I flirting right now? Stop it, Maisie! I decided to change the subject and hopefully that would stop my insides from squirming. “You did great. I loved it. It scared me a little in places, but it was awesome,” I gushed, looking at him in awe. “You were incredible.”
A huge proud smile stretched across his face as he dropped his eyes to the floor, almost seeming embarrassed by my praise. “Thanks,” he muttered. He turned and took hold of the back of the white plastic chair that was beside him, pulling it out. “Here, sit down. You’re limping again.” He took my hand, giving me a gentle little tug in the direction of the chair, so I sat obediently, smiling gratefully. He definitely did treat me like a princess, even if he didn’t want to admit it. He would make someone a fantastic boyfriend - if only he’d let go of his fear about his condition. “I’m just gonna change then we’re out of here. I’ll buy you a cotton candy, how about that?” he offered, already yanking his vest over his head.
I averted my eyes, looking at the side of the tent, but I hadn’t done it quickly enough so that I didn’t catch a glimpse of his tight, sculpted abs. Another wave of that unfamiliar attraction washed over me again, and I shifted in my seat, swallowing and fighting the urge to just turn and watch him dress.
“Sure,” I agreed, my voice barely above a whisper. At my side I could hear him fumbling around, the sounds of clothes rustling and a zipper being fastened, but I didn’t allow myself to turn around.
After a minute a hand was placed on my shoulder. “I’m done. You ready?” Zach asked. He tossed a carrier bag across the tent towards where their other gear was stacked. “Guys, I’ll see you in the week. Someone collect the money from the organiser guy before you leave. I’m now off,” he informed his teammates as he held down a hand to help me up from the chair.
As I put my hand into his, the other boys all bid their goodbyes, congratulating each other on a job well done and agreed who was going to go and collect the fee from the person that booked them. “I’m not an invalid you know,” I muttered, allowing Zach to pull me to my feet.
He smiled sweetly, dropping my hand. “I know. Just being my usual helpful self,” he replied. “So, how are you with fairground rides? Scaredy-cat I bet,” he mused, taking a couple of backwards steps towards the entrance to the tent while he smirked at me cockily.
I raised one eyebrow at the challenge in his voice. “Actually, I like them. Bet you scream like a little girl though,” I joked.
He grinned. “Let’s go see. You up for it?” I nodded in agreement, following him out of the tent. “Okay to walk? I could give you a piggyback if you want,” he offered, looking down at my ankle worriedly.
“I’m fine. I might take you up on it later though,” I agreed, knowing that it would only feel worse and not better the longer I walked on it. He smiled, and we slowly wove through the crowd, heading towards where they had a waltzer ride set up at the end. There was a small line waiting for the ride so we joined the end and I perched precariously on the metal fence that cordoned the ride off at a safe distance, lifting my foot off the floor for a while. We would be waiting for a few minutes anyway.
“I bet you’re tired after all that running around, huh?” I asked, looking up at Zach’s happy, smiling face.
He shook his head in response. “Takes a lot more than that to wear me out.”
A group of pretty, giggling girls walked past, accidentally bumping him as they did, smiling flirtatious smiles. “Oh I’m so sorry,” the one at the front gushed, chewing on her bottom lip and looking at him through her long fake eyelashes.
He smiled and shook his head, barely even looking at her or her chest that was obviously being given a helping hand by a padded bra. “No worries.”
“Hey, aren’t you one of the guys that just did the freerunning presentation?” the same girl asked, faking shock as if she hadn’t just followed him over here and bumped him on purpose just for an excuse to talk to him.
“Yeah,” he agreed, smiling awkwardly.
She stepped closer to him, putting her hand on his arm and placing her other hand over her heart. “I have to tell you, it was incredible. The stunts you did were great. Do you perform a lot? Where can I see you next?” The suggestion in her voice was blatantly obvious; she didn’t mean that because of his freerunning, she meant when can she see him next.
Zach missed it though. Grinning and digging in his pocket, he pulled out a flier for the village
fair that was happening in a couple of weeks. “We’re performing here in a few weeks. You should come along. Our routine will be different there because there’s less space there than here,” he replied, handing her the flier and turning back to me. I grinned as the girl frowned, seeming thoroughly confused at his knock-back. Zach cocked his head to the side. “You hungry? Want to get something to eat while we wait for the ride?” he asked me.
“I’m fine,” I refused, chuckling because the girl and her friends were still standing there waiting to be acknowledged some more and he hadn’t even really noticed. “Maybe you should do the girls an autograph?” I suggested, chuckling wickedly as she shot me a dark look.
Zach looked at me like I was crazy and the girls turned on their heels, marching off, probably whining about me. “I don’t think they were after an autograph,” he muttered, shaking his head and laughing under his breath.
“Oh you did notice then?” I joked, rolling my eyes.
He shrugged. “I noticed. I’m just not interested. Blondes don’t do anything for me,” he said, faking sadness. The line moved then so we inched up a little further towards the entrance of the ride before stopping again. Suddenly Zach’s cell phone started ringing in his pocket. He pulled it out, answering quickly. “What’s up, Newt?” His eyes tightened as he listened for a few seconds. “Yeah? That’s great news. Yeah tell him we’ll do it for the same fee as today. Why can’t you deal with it? You have our bookings calendar there in that stuff. I’m in line for a ride; we’re almost at the front. Seriously, Newt, you just book it. You’ll see what days we’re already busy. Why does he want to talk to me?” He sighed deeply, closing his eyes. “Seriously? This sucks! Yeah fine I’ll be there in a minute.” He disconnected the call, looking up at me with apologetic eyes. “I need to go back to the tent. Apparently the guy who booked us today wants to book us for a series of six shows too.”
I gasped excitedly. “That’s fantastic,” I chirped proudly. “Congrats!”
He smiled and nodded. “Thanks. But apparently the guy wants to talk to me and for me to book it seeing as I was the one that dealt with him last time. I have to go back and meet him now.” He nodded over his shoulder back the way he came. “I’ll only be a few minutes and then we can come right back here and go on this.” His voice was slightly annoyed as he spoke, obviously not happy with having to lose our place in the line.
I looked back over his shoulder, seeing the tent about two hundred yards away. I groaned thinking about walking all the way over there again on my now aching ankle. “You go. I’ll wait for you here and then we can go on,” I suggested.
He didn’t look like he was going for it though. “No way. I’m not leaving you here on your own,” he protested.
I pouted, really not wanting to walk again. “Zach, I’ll be fine. I’ll wait right here for you until you get back. I’m surrounded by people; nothing’s going to happen to me. I seriously can’t walk all the way there and back again. I’ll wait here. Go, hurry up,” I insisted, waving my hand at the tent.
“Maisie,” he whined, his expression pained.
Placing my hand on his shoulder, I gave him a little push away from me. “Go talk to the guy. I’ll be right here. I promise I’ll be fine.”
He groaned, looking down at my ankle before he nodded and stepped closer to me, his eyes fierce and warning. “Stay right here. Don’t move,” he huffed.
I smiled and nodded. “You’re so bossy,” I joked, turning my nose up at him playfully. He chuckled and turned, running off quickly towards the tent. I watched him until he was out of sight, and then adjusted my weight on the fence to get more comfortable. I busied myself by looking around at the crowd. My friends were probably around here somewhere, but I couldn’t see anyone I knew. The line moved again, so I waved the people behind me on, telling them I was waiting for someone. The noise and laughter circulated around me; the smell of popcorn and hot doughnuts made my mouth water as I sat there, just enjoying the atmosphere.
After a couple of minutes my cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out, grinning down at it, expecting to see a text from Zach asking if I was alright. Instead, the screen announced that I had a message from an unknown number. My eyes widened before I even opened it. My skin prickled as the hair on the nape of my neck stood on end.
Not again, please!
I barely had the nerve to open the message. For a few seconds I just looked down at the notification, wondering if I didn’t open it whether that would somehow make it disappear. In the end my fingers got the better of me and I opened it, holding my breath as I read the words.
‘Comfortable, sitting there all alone? Want some company?’
The words weren’t sinister, but for some reason my heart plummeted down towards my toes. They could see me again. Had they followed me here, were they watching me all the time? I jumped to my feet, almost falling when my ankle gave way, making me lurch forward into a tall guy who swore and grabbed hold of me in a bid to keep himself upright. I gasped, looking up into a pair of angry eyes as he frowned down at me.
“Sorry. Sorry,” I muttered, shoving myself away from him. My eyes darted around quickly, seeing if anyone was watching me or paying too much interest in me or something. Was the person who sent it hidden in the crowd, laughing at my clumsiness?
My cell phone vibrated again in my hand, and I looked down at it in horror. I swiped my thumb over the message tab and up popped another one from the unknown number.
‘If I were you, I’d run’
Run. The word echoed in my head. Run. Run. Run. I didn’t think twice, I took off in the direction of the tent, knowing Zach was there, silently scolding myself for suggesting that nothing could happen because I was surrounded by people. Wrong again it seemed.
Tears built in my eyes as I did my best to dodge around people, wincing with every step because my ankle was burning and almost giving out with each movement. People scolded me and griped as I narrowly avoided bumping into them as I stumbled past. The tent was getting closer and closer, and I could feel my hope building up. Zach was in there; once I got in there everything would be fine again.
But as I burst through the door at full speed, I was greeted by nothing but the empty chairs and a few empty water bottles. My eyes widened. Where the hell is he? “Zach?” I shouted, spinning on the spot, hoping he’d materialise from somewhere, but no such luck.
My cell phone started ringing in my hand then. A little squeak left my lips as I dropped my phone onto the floor in my surprise. I clamped my hand over my mouth as I stood there, staring at it, seeing that it was a private number calling me. There was no way I was answering it. I didn’t know what to do, the phone seemed to be deafening as it continued to ring and ring.
My thoughts shot to Luke. I wanted Luke – no, that wasn’t quite right, I needed him. My need for Luke suddenly made things clearer for me. I needed to call him and get to somewhere where he could find me. I shouldn’t be standing on my own in a marquee where anyone could come in and no one would be any the wiser.
I bent and snatched the phone from the floor, instantly rejecting the call as I bolted back out of the door and into the middle of the crowd, not stopping until I was right in the centre of the attractions where it was busiest. I knew that if the guy was watching me that he’d be able to see me right now, but at least he wouldn’t be able to do anything while I was surrounded by people. I kept darting my eyes around for anything suspicious as I hit speed dial one and called Luke’s number. As the line connected my phone battery beeped, signalling it was about to die soon. I whimpered, praying it would hold out enough until I spoke to Luke.
Thankfully he answered after a couple of rings. “Hey, baby. Where are you?”
The sound of his voice brought a lump to my throat. “Luke, oh God, the phone, a message, please,” I rambled.
“Message? From the person that’s harassing you? Damn it! Where are you? Tell me where you are and I’ll meet you there. Stay with Zach!” he barked angrily
.
My chin trembled as I looked around quickly, trying to find something I could describe to him so he’d know where I was. “The shooting stall next to where you won my crocodile,” I muttered, not having the will to explain that I was on my own.
“Okay, I’ll be there as quick as I can.” He disconnected the call. I let my hand drop to my side as I walked further into the crowd and just stopped in the middle of the walkway, not even apologising when people walked into me or bumped me because I was in the way. The crowd made me feel slightly safer, but not as safe as I knew Luke’s arms would make me feel.
An hour and a half later I’d given a full report to DI Neeson. Luke had called them after he’d finally managed to calm me down. He’d also called Zach, laying into him down the phone about leaving me alone and how he was lucky I was alright and hadn’t been hurt. The happy atmosphere had died out almost straight away; the fun had been sucked out of the night. Luke and I had left the others at the fairground to continue with the merriment, while Luke drove me to a McDonalds close by so I could give my statement to the police. He’d arranged with Charlotte that I was just going to stay at his place tonight instead of going to hers. I was actually extremely grateful for that. Being in Luke’s arms tonight was just what I needed. I hadn’t informed my dad of the change of plans. He would probably say no and insist that I go home, but I couldn’t be alone right now. Staying at Luke’s was what I desperately wanted.
I swallowed the last of my coffee, looking up at him now. His expression was a mask of concern as he looked back at me with those big brown eyes that I fell in love with so deeply. He reached out, taking my hand across the table and interlacing our fingers. DI Neeson had not long left and we’d just been sat in silence for the last few minutes. I didn’t even know what to say. I longed for life to go back to normal, for us to be normal and together, for me to stop being terrified all the time. I hated everything about my life at that moment.
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