'Rewriting The Stars'

Authors Note: Chapter one picks up from the ending of The Greatest Showman...


Chapter One

The audience applauds swarmed from crowd to crowd as the show came to a spectacular finale. Cheers erupted from the standing ovation of excited men, woman and children looking on at the beloved oddities. The bearded Lady singing from her soul, The Irish Giant stumbling across the stage, General Tom Thumb firing bullets into the air, Elephants balancing on their two front legs and the Greatest Showman's apprentice Phillip Carlyle beaming at the audience. Next to him stood the beautiful trapeze artist Anne Wheeler. Phillip looked over to her and reached his arm around her waist pulling her close to him. She smiled as he did. He gazed into her eyes lovingly and pressed his lips to hers. He knew that it was unprofessional of him to pull such a stunt in front of an audience but he couldn't help himself. He was too in love with her to care. He locked his lips to hers not giving a single thought to what others would think. The only thing that mattered to him was what he and she thought, no, only what she thought. He could feel all the eyes of the audience on the two of them but it didn't matter. He loved her with all his heart and no matter how many scowls they would receive nothing could ever change that. When he finally pulled away still holding her in his arms he whispered "I love you." to her and Anne smiled with tears in her eyes. She pressed her lips to his then leaned her forehead against his gazing into his eyes.

"I love you too." she whispered back to him.

The crowd erupted into their loudest applaud for the evening as the show came to an end. Phillip clutched Anne's hand as they took a bow and smiled at each other realising that this was only the beginning of a long journey ahead of them.


"Thank you for coming! Be sure to tell your friends and neighbours!" Phillip said to people making their way to the exits. He looked over to Anne who was now out of her costume surrounded by a group of children requesting her autograph. He smiled as one little girl wrapped her arms around her and Anne looked up to smile back at him as she hugged the little girl.

"That was quite the show Mr Carlyle."

"Uh Mr Bennet." Phillip said reaching out to shake the critic's hand. "I'm glad you enjoyed it." Phillip said cheerfully.

"I didn't." Mr Bennet said bluntly. Phillip looked at him oddly.

"Ok..." Phillip managed to say. He subtly tried to look past the critics shoulder to see Anne but he seemed to notice as he too was soon turning his head to look at the stunning trapeze artist.

"Very talented isn't she." Mr Bennet said to Phillip.

"Very." Phillip agreed finding himself lost at the sight of her. She was still signing autographs along with Lettie and the others.

"I hope you know the risk you are taking by being in love with her and performing stunts like the one you did tonight in front of a crowd... how public that move was indeed." Mr Bennet said. "You must be very brave."

This broke Phillip from his gaze as he turned to glare at the critic.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Phillip demanded.

"A wealthy, young white man such as yourself associating yourself with a black woman... it would ruin your reputation." Mr Bennet said. Phillip felt the anger inside him build. He clenched his fist so tightly wanting to strike it across the critics face. It took all the strength inside of him not to.

"I don't care what anyone has to say about my relationship with Anne. I love her and no amount of protests could ever change that." Phillip stated.

"Mmmm... I just hope you know what you're getting into. Goodnight Mr Carlyle." Mr Bennet said and walked away. Phillip scowled after him and then Anne was suddenly by his side.

"You okay?" she asked him rubbing a palm against his shoulder. Phillip turned to her and smiled.

"Yeah... I'm fine." he said. He grasped both her hands and leaned forward to kiss her. Their kiss became passionate as their lips moulded into each others like two pieces of a puzzle that came together. Both could feel the love they felt for each other and it built with every moment they shared.

"Anne!" a voice called out interrupting their kiss. The pair broke apart to see W.D standing by the exit.

"I have to go now." Anne said sadly. Phillip pouted and grasped her hands tighter.

"You should come live with me." he said bringing her hands to his lips and placing a gentle kiss against the back of each palm. Anne smiled at his request.

"Maybe." she said. She gave him one last kiss goodbye before she departed and left to go home with her brother.

Phillip smiled after her and once she was gone he began to lock up the circus.


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