Bit short, but the next one will be longer, I promise. :) Let me know what do you think, please! :)

Chapter 4

Heart waited for Atlantis as she stepped down from the stage. Behind her, people were still applauding and cheering loudly.

"What's the matter with you?", Heart silently spoke.

"What do you mean?", Atlantis looked at her with innocent look as she poured herself a glass of water.

"You've done several mistakes out there! That didn't happen to you for years", she watched as blood ran into Atlantis' cheeks and quizzically raised one eyebrow "Atlantis?"

Atlantis let out a frustrated sigh. She wasn't in the mood for Heart's interrogating, she just wanted to get away from the circus tent as soon as possible and find Matthew "There's nothing wrong. I guess I'm just tired, that's all. Might need a walk."

"Do you want me to come with you? I mean if you feel poorly, you shouldn't go outside by yourself", Heart wasn't giving in that easily.

Just for a moment, Atlantis closed her eyes. She knew that Heart won't like it, she never liked anything to distract Atlantis from her circus career…but, she knew that Heart will bug her.

"No, I…", Atlantis pondered for a moment what should she tell her. Taking a deep breath in, she finally let out the words "I actually ran into an old friend and wanted to catch up. Alone."

"Oh", Heart was slightly surprised. Friend? In Denver? "But, this is he first time we are in Denver, how could you possibly have a friend in this town?"

Atlantis grew impatient. She didn't have time for this; Matthew could think that she won't come and go away. Therefore, she grabbed her coat and said "Look, I'll tell you everything once I come back, but I really have to go now", she quickly kissed Heart on the cheek and before older woman could protest, Atlantis was gone.

She quickly climbed uphill and frantically looked around. People were leaving the circus tent, talking and walking slowly which was driving Atlantis mad. In the whole bunch of slow moving men, women and children she couldn't see Matthew. With "Excuse me" and "Pardon" she tried to clear her way through the mass, looking around herself all the time.

He was nowhere in sight.

Desperate, Atlantis turned on her heel and literally bumped into someone, gasping in both surprise and fear. Two hands grabbed her lower arms, steadying her and she heard his voice "It's okay, it's me!", she looked up and her eyes collided with the blue orbs of Matthew's eyes. She wasn't sure why was her heart pounding – was it because of bumping into someone or was it because it was Matthew she bumped into?

"You shouldn't creep up like that, almost gave me a heart attack", she joked, trying to catch her breath. The sight of a smile gracing his beautiful face made her heart pound even faster and she slightly chuckled to hide her anxiety.

"I'm sorry", he offered with a smile "How about I take you for a dinner to make it up?"

She felt warmth creeping up her spine and nestling into her heart. There was something in his charming looks that she couldn't resist to. Atlantis gently scolded herself to get a grip. She wasn't a teenager anymore to have a crush on him. Besides, he was probably married. She slowly bit on her lower lip, pondering his invite. Should she accept?

"Atlantis?, he silently called her. He saw hesitation in her eyes and wondered what was the matter.

"I'm sorry, I…", she shyly looked at him "Is it, uhmmm…Is it okay that we go? I mean, don't you have to go home?", unconsciously she bit on her lower lip again.

Matthew looked at her confused "No", he tried to look her in the eyes, but she avoided his look "Is something wrong?"

Atlantis huffed in frustration at herself "No, I just thought that somebody is waiting for you to come home", she collected all the courage she had to glance at Matthew and panicked as she felt her cheeks getting crimson red.

It finally dawned at Matthew what was she thinking of and realization could be read on his face. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of a young woman in front of him and he softly smiled "No, nobody is waiting for me."

Atlantis swallowed hard and tried to chase away the thought that she just made a fool out of herself, first class, even bigger than the clowns from her circus were. "I talk too much", she whispered, looking down.

Matthew couldn't help but smile at her as his blood ran faster through his veins. Trying to put her mind at ease, he gently rubbed her upper arm and asked "Hungry?"

The simple touch from him send sparkles up and down Atlantis' body and she knew it – she was lost.

Was it a bad thing?

She looked up at him, a smile hidden in his sapphire blue eyes and in a moment she relaxed at the sight of him. If she was able to put a smile in his sad eyes than she will talk 24/7 if needed.

Therefore, she nodded and as blood ran into her cheeks again, Atlantis replied "Famished!" and watched as another smile lifted the corners of is mouth.

For now, that was enough.