I made my way to the dining area, food sounded good right about now; you wouldn't believe it but walking around the place entertaining a hyperactive adult is quite exhausting. The area should be empty at this time of night and I was grateful for that, I always preferred being alone. I walked up to the counter and got some leftover fries and a bottle of water. I sat at the first empty table I found and started munching on my food in solitude, until someone sat across from me.

"Hey" They said; it was Nate, he was the magician, I didn't actually know that much about him, he was the only one who never talked about his life before the carnival; he was a mystery and for some reason I always got a little nervous around him, like there was something wrong going on around him. Nevertheless I was always civil whenever I bumped into him, I tried at least.

"Hi." I smiled, then stopped because I didn't know what to say, but like most people he knew how to fill the silence.
"Nice night, isn't it?"
"Hum yeah, it's lovely." Silence again.
"So, how was your date?" He asked, I frowned in confusion.

"Date?"
"That guy you were hanging around with who just left, I just assumed..."
"Oh no, that wasn't a date, that was just...a friend, he needed help with something. It was my day off so..." I trailed off, and he looked at me with his eyebrows raised.
"I also saw he made you cry just now." I wish he hadn't brought that up, it was already embarrassing when just one person saw me.

"He didn't make me cry, and I wasn't crying. It doesn't matter, I felt kind of foolish actually, I mean, he must think I'm some sort of freak now." I rambled on.
"You are a freak, we all are in some way, that's why we're here, to entertain people who think they are normal. Besides, why do you care what he thinks anyway?" He asked narrowing his eyes. I honestly didn't know how to answer him.

I never cared what people thought about me, all they ever wanted to know was stuff they already knew but just denied, and then they left and I would never see them again, so there was no point in worrying if they were thinking something about me. But Gerard seemed different, maybe it was because he came back, or maybe I was still fascinated by the fact that I couldn't get more than a few details from a first impression.

I just didn't want him to think anything bad about me.
"You don't like him or anything, do you?" Nate asked and once again I didn't know how to answer him.
"I don't know - I mean, no, I don't like him, he's a detective, he just needs help with a case. Besides he seems more interested in hooking up with random people at bars." I told him, Pretending that what i just said didn't bother me, not one little bit. "Today he just happened to have some time off, coincidentally, and i guess he had nothing else to do except walk around here. He probably won't ever come back." I continued.

And once again, as soon as I had finished my sentence, the same sinking feeling of before came over me and I felt sad.
"I hope he doesn't; I don't like those kinds of people." He spat.
"Not that it's any of your business but you don't even know him." I pointed out.
"I don't have to, I know what kind of guy he is and he's trouble. Just stay away from Gerard."

"I never told you his name." I said. He looked at me and for a few seconds he was silent.
"I...heard him tell you. Just before he left." He quickly explained.
"Oh..." Was all I said and for some reason I didn't believe him.
"Just...trust me, he's no good." I just nodded. I didn't trust him. "What did you do with him all day anyway?" He asked.

"He just wanted to see the carnival; and we talked, about everything it seemed." I said with a small smile, remembering our day; now that I think about it , it did seem like one of those cheesy movie dates, but I didn't mind. I actually don't remember being this content in a long time; I say content instead of happy because I don't think I could ever truly be happy again.

I didn't expect Nate to understand as he just scoffed at what I said.
"Frank" he started in a warning tone. "I don't think it's too difficult for you to understand that you'd be crazy to hang around this guy."
"And i don't see how difficult it is for everyone to understand that I'm not fucking crazy!" I snapped and got out of my seat; I started marching off, ignoring his stunned face.

It always surprised people whenever I had a small outburst like that, it wasn't anything serious, I would just get fed up of everyone implying that I was mad because of the things I could do. I mean I never chose to be this way, all my life I've been struggling with it, trying to make the best of it. I was also a pretty docile person, I didn't like attention so I never made any kind of scene that would put me on the spot, bur I would still feel angry or upset just like anyone else.

Nate didn't follow me or make any attempt at apologizing, nobody did anymore, I think they just gave up, I guess I became inconsolable when I was upset. I made it to my caravan and once inside I decided I would just go to sleep, so I just collapsed heavily on the mattress. I didn't fall asleep right away, I was still a little hungry but I wasn't about to go back and retrieve my food, I didn't feel like eating anymore anyway.

I also couldn't stop thinking about Gerard; I kept wondering who he was, I felt like he was important, I just couldn't figure him out. We spent the whole day talking - he talked, I listened - but he still remained a mystery, wrapped around an enigma, swimming in a sea of secrets...because that doesn't sound dramatic at all.


~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - Time laps - next day - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~


It turns out I was wrong, Gerard did come back the next day. It was quite a surprise actually; there I was just sitting in my tent reading people's futures when suddenly he came in and practically dragged me out.
"But wait, there's still people here." I had protested, but he just kept dismissing my objection with "Nope you're done" a smile forever present on his lips.

And so against my better judgment I followed him, and that's where I am now, wondering where he was taking me as we crossed the whole carnival; I noticed we were getting closer to the entrance.
"where are we going?" I asked him.
"I want to take you out." He said nonchalantly. Out where? I wasn't leaving the carnival.
"Out where?" I asked, slowing my pace.

"Just out, maybe see the town." He mumbled, turning to face me. I stopped, frozen on the spot.
"I can't." I said looking at the ground.
"What? Why not?"
"I can't leave the carnival, Gerard." He stared at me with hurt in his eyes, or maybe he was just disappointed.

"Why not?" He asked again.
"I just can't, I haven't left in years." That was all I could tell him, no matter how much i felt i could trust him I could never tell him the real reason.
"Well that's even more of a reason to go out and see the world." He answered coming closer, I was suddenly afraid he was going to grab me and drag me out so i quickly backed away; he frowned at that and seemed even more hurt.

"I've already seen the world and I don't like it; I don't fit in out there, I'm better off just staying here." I told him, he just stared at me with that same sad face I saw on him yesterday, I didn't understand why this was so important to him.
"It's not all bad you know, there are some good things out there." He said quietly. I didn't say anything to that.

Eventually he took a deep breath and seemed to recompose himself.
"Well, if we're not going out, then what do you want to do?" He asked smiling once again. He should smile more often, it made his eyes light up. I smiled back, content by the fact that he didn't seem sad anymore.
"I have to get back to work, I missed a day already and if my boss finds out I'm not in the tent, he will gut me. You can still hang around if you like; my brake is at noon, so if you're still here we can maybe hang out...only if you want." I ranted.

He just smiled at me.
"okay, I guess I could walk you back to your tent; it's the least I can do since I kidnapped you." I giggled at what he said and we made our way back.

Notes

I want some fries now....
Anyway another filler, these are getting worse I'm sorry
I hope it's ok anyway fill me in on what you think I love getting comments.