Cirque du La Terre
Chapter VIII.
Suki observed Longshot as they patiently sat in chairs outside one of the many circus tents, waiting on Alice to arrive at their established meeting point. Well, Suki waited patiently. Longshot's left knee was bouncing rapidly up and down and his arms were crossed, pressed firmly against his chest. Suki honestly didn't know why Longshot was in such a rush.
She began to play with one of her sparkling gold earrings, silently congratulating herself on assembling such a boss outfit. Green was the primary color- her shoes were green, her pants were dark green, and even her headband was green. Over a neon green tank top she had a loose-fitting white shirt that hung off one shoulder. Gold chains dangled from her neck and her ears were donned with gold hoops. She looked quite like a diva if she had to say so herself. She averted her eyes to Longshot and analyzed his choice of wardrobe for the day.
He wore a simple pair of dark-wash jeans, tight fitting, and a mustard yellow graphic tee that donned the Beatles on the front. On his feet was a pair of worn red converse. He was obviously dressed for comfort today. But he did do his hair. Instead of the normal messy mane of black he had gelled it back out of his face. Suki thought he looked quite dashing with his hair like that, but he seldom had the time or the reason to do anything with his unruly mop of raven hair. But of course he had to put on that ridicules hat on. She needed to buy him a new one.
Longshot continued to bounce his knee. He wasn't quite sure why he was so impatient today. It's not like they had a real plan to stick to. Maybe he was just eager to get out of the Cirque for a few hours and feel like a normal teenager. He looked down at the watch on his wrist. It was 10:28. Suki, Bee and him had decided to meet at 10:30 and drive into town together. Longshot would be the one driving since he knew exactly how to get into town- having to go and hang up fliers a few days prior to the circus opening.
10:29. Longshot bit his lip in anticipation. He hoped that Smellerbee wasn't one of those "fashionably late" people. Yes, she was fashionable, but to be late was to be sloppy. And that was very unattractive.
As if she had heard Longshot's thought, Longshot looked up to see Smellerbee walking towards the duo. The first thing was the bright electric green leather jacket she wore tight around her torso. The second thing he noticed were the matching green converse that stretched all the way up to her knees to match.
"Whoa," he said, entranced by how high the shoes went up her legs. Smellerbee gave an inquisitive look before looking down, as if noticing her shoes for the first time.
"Heh, yeah," she said, rotating her right leg to give Longshot a better look. Suki was also ogling at the beasts, staring at the crossing laces, which were a lovely shade of dark green. "They actually zip up in the back. Imagine trying to lace them!" She gave a nervous laugh.
"Yeah," Longshot said, almost distantly, still trying to figure out why they'd make a pair of such kick-ass converse. Smellerbee must be a god.
"Well," Suki said, breaking Longshot out of his knee-high converse induced trance. "We better get going. Longshot?" She cleared her throat. Longshot snapped his head up and looked at Suki, grinning sheepishly.
"Uh, right," he said, slapping his hands on his knees. "We're taking the truck so uh, just follow me." And with that he stood up and began to walk in the direction of the vehicles. Smellerbee looked to Suki with an arched eyebrow. Suki just shook her head and laughed, trailing behind Longshot. Bee paused and looked down to her shoes again, from the zipper in the back to the laces, before shrugging and setting off to join her two friends.
"So, what's on the agenda?" Longshot asked as they whizzed down the road. Paramore could be heard in the background as he, Suki, and Bee rode in the much too small red truck. Bee was in the middle, hands clasped in her lap as she stared silently ahead of her. Suki was absently staring out the window, twirling a lock of auburn hair in her fingers.
"How about lunch?" Suki said as she leaned over Bee to switch the station. The song immediately switched from "Misery Business" to "Forget You" by Cee Lo. Bee bobbed her head to the beat. "I know it's early but I'm starving!" Longshot nodded in agreement.
"Me too," he said, starting to think of all the restaurants he had seen while in town. There was this nice little diner he'd stopped in to ask the owner if he could put up an advertisement for the Cirque in his window. The old man was more than happy to comply. "I know this great little diner. Are you up for brunch Bee?" Alice seemed to consider it for a moment before nodding her head.
"Sure, I could go for coffee anyway. And don't call me Bee or Smellerbee around any of the towns! It is kinda my stage name now and I don't want it overused!" she said, moving to change the radio station once again. She went through a few stations: pop, country, gospel, talk radio, before setting it on a song that made Longshot suppress a laugh of amusement.
"Really?" he asked, listening to the belting voice of Avril Lavigne drift from the speakers. Bee furrowed her brow.
"What?" he asked defensively. "How can you not appreciate the superb vocals of Avril?" Suki laughed as Longshot's eyebrows shot up to his hairline.
"It's not that!" he said, glancing from the road to Bee. "I was just surprised by the song selection is all. Not many people I know would switch from pop to punk." Smellerbee crossed her arms.
"Well welcome to my world Liam," she said, staring straight ahead. Longshot chuckled at the name she had used for him. Liam. His real name, a name he hadn't heard in years. The only person he ever told was Suki which meant someone had been talking about him. She turned the radio up, Avril now filling the three teens' ears with a haunting melody. Bee wore a look of satisfaction. Longshot periodically glanced at the girl's reflection in the rearview mirror, making sure he hadn't offended the girl and admiring the way Bee's eyes sparkled when she got her way. The smug look on her face was something he wouldn't mind seeing often.
As they pulled into town, Longshot was shocked to see just how crowded the place was. Apparently he'd missed the memo that they were having some sort of festival this weekend. The entire stretch of road between the main parts of town were blocked off and covered in various booths displaying crafts and beautiful artworks. Longshot pulled into a nearby church parking lot, unbuckling his seatbelt after pulling the key from the ignition.
"What's going on here?" Suki asked as she slid out of her seat. Smellerbee followed her lead, straightening her jacket after jumping out of the truck. Longshot made sure to lock the door before they set off down the street, weaving through patrons of all ages.
"It must be some sort of festival," Longshot speculated, the smell of funnel cake and hot dogs clouding his senses. "What a lucky day to visit!"
"I agree," Smellerbee said, eyeing a rack of multicolored scarves. "Perhaps we'll leave with a few souvenirs."
"But before that," Longshot said, holding up a finger. "We get food." Smellerbee and Suki nodded and gestured for Longshot to lead the way. Longshot held a hand out for each of them. Suki interlocked her fingers with his. Smellerbee stared at Longshot's other hand apprehensively.
"It's so we won't get lost," Longshot assured her. The shorter girl sighed and placed her pale hand in Longshot's, feeling the rough, calloused fingers rub against her soft skin. Longshot tightened his hold on both of his companion's hands before leading towards what he hoped was the direction of the small diner.
They passed many people: giddy children, gluttons with a variety of condiments smears across their faces and clothes, cranky teens who didn't want to be there, and people of all ages with outlandish hats made of balloons positioned atop their heads. Suki and Longshot were accustomed to sites such as these of course, they graced their vision all the time back at the Cirque. But they were here to get away from the circus, not to be reminded of it. Longshot's eyes scanned each shop they passed, looking for the familiar door that read "Soda Fountain" in old fashioned scrawl across the glass doors.
Alice looked around, surveying all of the little booths donned in bright colors of green, pink, orange, and yellow. She saw everything from pottery and jewelry to photography and toys. It seemed that the citizens of this town occupied the booths to sell their trades. She looked to Suki. She seemed to be having a great time looking at all the little knick-knacks displayed in the shop windows and laughing at the little girls and boys who peered inside them, noses pressed hard against the window panes.
"Aha!" Longshot exclaimed when he found the diner. Bee jumped at the sudden noise. "Here we are!" He let go of Bee's and Suki hands and opened the door. Bee sighed at the loss of warmth that radiated from Longshot's palm, not even noticing the heat until it was gone. She trailed in behind Suki and thanked Longshot for holding the door for them.
The diner was very charming, set up almost like an old soda fountain with black and white checkered floors and pink vinyl seats in front of a counter and at booths stationed by the large glass windows. Suki claimed the booth closest to them, sliding in and immediately grabbing a menu. Bee slid in beside her, leaving Longshot to sit across from them. Longshot grabbed two other menus and handed one to Bee.
"Thanks," Bee said, immediately flipping to the beverages. She eyed a few yummy sounding coffee concoctions, finally deciding that she didn't really want coffee anymore. She averted her attention to the milkshakes and smoothies, settling on a lovely sounding mixture of raspberry and chocolate swirl.
"What are you feelin' like Longshot?" Suki asked without looking away from her menu. She herself was eyeing French toast smothered in strawberries and powdered sugar- the breakfast of champions.
"Hmm," he mused. "I think I'm going to order some fries and a chocolate shake. What about you Alice?"
"I think I'll be enjoying a raspberry chocolate swirl milkshake today," Bee said, gesturing towards a picture of the tantalizing beverage in the menu. It made Longshot's mouth water.
"Maybe I'll get one of those too," Longshot said. "It looks yummy!" Bee laughed as a waitress approached the table. She was thin and blonde, her gold curls framing her brilliant green eyes that were lined in dark eyeliner. Her waitress dress uniform was powder blue, contrasting with her cherry red lips. She looked like a pin up girl straight out of the 50's.
"Good morning! My name is Kori," she said cheerily. "What can I get for you all today?" Suki moved to speak first.
"I think I'd like the strawberry French toast," she said politely. "And a glass of milk please." Kori quickly scrawled Suki's order on her note pad and looked to Longshot.
"And you dear?" she asked, eyeing Longshot up and down. Bee squirmed in her seat, uncomfortable with the way their waitress was undressing Longshot with her eyes. Had she no decency? But Longshot seemed to be unfazed by the visual rape.
"Yes, I'd like two large raspberry swirl milkshakes, one for my friend here," he gestured to Bee, who opened her mouth in protest. "And an order of French fries please." Kori wrote down the order on her pad before assuring them that their order would be ready soon before winking at Longshot and strutting away, the movement in her hips exaggerated in a way no decent woman would do in public.
"What'd you do that for?" Bee asked as soon as the hooker/waitress was gone. Longshot looked at her with innocent eyes.
"Do what?" he asked. Bee sighed.
"I can pay for my own food you know," she said, holding up her bright green wallet. "I'm not a charity case. I do have money." Longshot laughed.
"I just wanted to be nice," he said, lowering her hand holding the wallet with his own. "Besides, think of it as a welcome to the Cirque." Smellerbee threw her head back in defeat, shoving her wallet back into her pocket.
"Whatever," she said, crossing her arms in a "please" fashion.
"Get used to Longshot treating you to food," Suki said. "When I came to the Cirque, he wouldn't stop buying me cotton candy. It's his way of showing affection." Bee rolled her eyes as Longshot nodded.
"It's true," Longshot said with a grin, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Well next time you feel the urge to buy me something," Smellerbee started, "Make it a scarf or other accessory. I don't want to get fat." Suki and Longshot chuckled. "Now, if you'll excuse me-"
She rose from her seat with the intention of heading towards the restrooms. As she walked away she could hear Suki and Longshot fall into comfortable conversation. She was so immersed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the two girls in red cheerleading uniforms follow her into the women's restroom.
"Lookie what we've got here Steph," said one of the girls as soon as the door shut behind them with a 'click'. Bee froze, every muscle seizing in her body. The girl was tall and lithe, with brown hair and cruel eyes. Her heart immediately began to beat hard and fast against her chest. Bee could feel her throat begin to close up in panic. She turned around to face her aggressors. "It's a boy who thinks he's a girl" The other girl, Steph, laughed. She was skinny and stupid-looking, with short blond hair and cold, ice blue eyes.
"No, Britt! It is a girl! A girl who thinks she's a boy!"
"Why are you wearing those gay clothes?" 'Britt' asked, approaching Smellerbee. "You some sort of fag?" She shoved her shoulder with her hand. Bee gritted her teeth as she stepped farther back. She could hear the blood rushing in her ears and creeping into her cheeks, staining them bright red with rage.
"So what if I am?" she asked, glaring with sharp eyes. "What are you going to do about it?" Steph and the other girl looked at each other. The other girl laughed and balled her hand into a fist.
"We don't like fags," she said, shoving her fist in Bee's face, inches away from the tip of her nose. Smellerbee swallowed but didn't flinch. "And we'll teach you exactly what we do about them." Steph came to the girl's other side, effectively trapping Bee like an animal against the bathroom wall. Bee balled her fists to her sides.
"I'm so scared," she said sarcastically. "What can two brainless hooters do to me anyway, punch me? That won't turn anyone straight, just like you sitting in a classroom probably won't make you smart!" Steph growled.
"Why you-" she started. She lunged at Bee, who sidestepped just in time. Steph collided with the mirror that was hung on the wall, almost causing it to fall from its place. The other girl tried to grab Bee's arm, but the smaller girl was too fast and dodged the girl's hand. Bee knocked over a vase as she tried to move around the two girls. It crashed, loud and echoing in the small bathroom. She felt one of the hooters grab at her collar, only to lose hold. She ripped the heavy door open and sprinted out into the restaurant. No one could see her, on account of the restrooms being in a hallway near the back of the diner. She looked around desperately for a place to hide, eyes falling on a janitor's closet to her right that was halfway opened. Bee stepped inside and closed the door, trying to slow her uneasy breathing. Suddenly she heard the bathroom door open. She held her breath.
"Where is that little faggot?" she heard the enraged voice of Steph say. The other girl sighed.
"Whatever Steph, let's get outta here," she said. She heard their footsteps fade away. Smellerbee slowly opened the door and scanned the area. It was free of the Twin Hooters. She slipped back into the bathroom, her hands shaky as she opened the door of the last stall. She sat down in front of the door and placed her head in her hands, letting out a shaky breath.
"I thought I could avoid this," she said to herself, trying to find the courage to walk back out to Longshot and Suki, who were no doubt wondering where she was. She blinked back the tears that started to burn behind her eyelids.
"Damn."
