AN: OK, I've never been to the circus or a carnival, so I wasn't sure if the events I described actually take place at a circus. But go with me on this, OK? I'll be doing a few chapters on this. It's too much to describe in one chapter, but maybe I'll finish it off in 3 or 4.
Any guesses as to who the girl Tommy saw was? And who her mother might be? I really don't know, but I do know that I'm done ranting. You can look now.
Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Instant Star or any of the characters. If I did, our favorite punk princess and her beloved blue-eyed prince would live happily ever after in their rockin' realm.
Chapter 11: Predictions…
"So where did you say this place was again?" Tommy said to Sadie and Kyle as he drove. Jude was following in the Viper with Speed and Wally, so naturally Tommy was grumpy that he couldn't be in the same car as Jude.
"Just go down by the docks, you can't miss it. All those bright lights, sounds, the big Ferris wheel…" Kyle said, trying to look impressive in Sadie's eyes.
"Yeah, I got it," muttered Tommy, squashing the urge to get back there and toss Kyle out the door. If only he could stop at a red light, but just his luck, every traffic light he passed happened to be green.
In no time at all, they arrived at the circus. They got out of their cars, and walked up to the entrance. They got their tickets, then walked inside.
"Come and see the world's most amazing acrobats," someone called out, while another said, "Now's your chance to see dancing elephants and skating bears. Step right this way!" The group was jostled along as the crowd pushed forward to get a better look at everything.
Tommy grabbed my hand, and I smiled at him. Kyle tried to grab Sadie's hand, but she shoved him away. Speed and Wally were too busy looking at the fortune-teller's booth, while I looked at the hot-dog vendor.
Tommy laughed as my stomach rumbled, and he said, "You're gonna put me in the poorhouse with your appetite, girl."
I pretended to be upset with him, even though I really wasn't, and feigned being angry. "I can't help it if I'm hungry. I'll be right back." I made as if to walk over there, and Tommy's grip on my hand tightened.
"Oh, no, you don't," Tommy chided gently. "I'm sticking to you like glue. I don't want to lose you, not in this crowd."
Sadie and SME trooped over, and we all had a couple of hot dogs each. Kyle, Speed, and Wally ate at least 4 each, and by the time we left, the hot-dog vendor put up a sign that said temporarily closed. He shook his head as he put more hot-dogs in to cook.
After our hot-dog binge, we walked over to the big top, where the main event was going to be held. I got a program (well actually Tommy got one for me), and I flipped through the pages to see what we'd be watching. There were tightrope walkers, contortionists, the usual lion/tiger/elephant acts, and clowns juggling and riding around on unicycles.
Then there was a clown act where 30 of them fit into this small car. In the next act, tigers leapt through burning hoops, elephants danced, bears skated, acrobats tumbled, and the trapeze artists flew through the air. It was like poetry in motion, and there were some tense moments where I couldn't bear to watch.
At the intermission, I said I wanted to get some snacks, and Sadie said, "You're a pig, you know that? Didn't we just eat?"
I replied, "Yeah, but I guess you didn't keep it in, Ms. Anorexic/Always checking to see if you've gained a hundredth of a pound…Gasp! I did! I guess that means I have to run 50 miles and do 500 situps before I can eat a kernel of corn."
Tommy pulled me away before Sadie could come up with a witty comeback, and SME followed, hungry once again. We raided the popcorn guy, the peanuts guy, the ice-cream guy, and the pretzel guy before we were temporarily sated, then Speed blurted out, "I wanna see the fortune teller!"
"Why? Are you afraid something might happen to you?" Wally teased.
"No, just come on already," Speed was off like a bolt of lightning, with Wally close behind.
"OK, but I want to go on the Ferris wheel later," Kyle said, hoping to get a ride with Sadie.
"Yeah, and I want to go in the fun house," I said. I looked at Sadie, and she shrugged in indifference. "Fine, but we meet back here in an hour."
"OK," I agreed, and Kyle echoed a second later.
"Come on," I said excitedly as I pulled Tommy behind me.
I guess my excitement was infectious, because Tommy cracked a smile when we ran over to the fortune teller. I really wanted to go on the Ferris wheel, since it'd give me some time alone with Tommy, but I also wanted to see what the fortune-teller would tell Speed his future was.
We made it over there just as Speed and Wally got there, cotton candy in hand.
"Dude, I was hungry, OK?" Speed said defensively as Tommy shot him a look that said, "You just ate, and you're eating again?"
"Want some?" Speed offered me, as I saw Wally eying it.
"Yeah," I said, taking a handful. "Here, Tommy," I gave it to him, and my suspicions were confirmed when I saw Speed shoot a hesitant look at me. I guess he was still jealous that I was with Tommy, but I'm sure he'll get over it sooner or later, right?
"Can I have some more?" I asked Speed. By now, Tommy and Wally were going in, and Speed shook his head.
"No, just share what you got for your producer, who just happens to be 7 years older than you," Speed said. "If you want more, just ask him to get more for you," he said bitterly, and stalked away.
My POV: I'd better get in there before Speed starts something with Tommy.
I rushed over to the booth where the fortune-teller was, and saw that Tommy was waiting outside.
"Come in," the fortune-teller sang out.
We looked at one another in amazement. How did she know we were waiting outside? I let Tommy go first, then I followed so that I'd separate them.
"How did you know we were outside?" Tommy asked, incredulous.
The fortune teller just smiled. "I have my ways. Come, sit down, and let me tell your fortunes."
Tommy went first, and she grasped his hand, trying to read the lines. A second later, she said, "You're a musician."
"Duh," Tommy said. "Anyone can see that. Calluses on fingers – a dead giveaway for a guitar player."
"True, but my daughter used to be a fan of Boyz Attack a while back," the fortune teller said. "Now that I know your name, let me introduce myself. I'm Madame Esmeralda."
"Nice to meet you," I said, shaking her hand. She shook each of our hands in turn, then said, "Ah, so you're all musicians. You must play in a band together. Am I right?" She smiled, and laughed when Tommy mused, "Yeah, your granddaughter must be a fan of Jude's and SME's."
Madame Esmeralda nodded, and resumed reading our palms. She looked at Tommy's first, then said, "You have secrets that you haven't told anyone, not even those closest to you. You will find love in the most unexpected of places, but this will have a major effect on you and everyone you know. And you will lose a lot of money."
Tommy looked away as we all looked at him. Then he asked, "Does it say why I'm going to the poorhouse?"
"No, that is uncertain at this point," replied Madame Esmeralda, frowning.
Then she took my hand next. She said, "You have faced unbelievable heartbreak at such a young age, yet you have managed to stay strong. You will face many trials that will test your limits, but you will overcome them all. As for love, there is one you love, but you must not tell him. Not yet, anyway. And when you do tell him, be prepared, for there are those who will not approve."
What could she mean by that? Tommy already knew I loved him, and I knew he loved me. There wasn't anyone else I felt the same way about, unless she referred to Jamie, but Jamie was always my best friend, and he'll always be my best friend, nothing more. I wondered what she meant by that. I listened in as she started on Speed.
"Hmm…very interesting. I see lots of inner turmoil, lots of conflicting thoughts. There's something you want, but you can't get it. You pretend to be something you're not, in the hopes of fooling people into thinking that you're what everyone expects you to be. You love to play jokes on people, but at other times you can be serious. Especially when it comes to those you love. You have found the woman of your dreams. Sometimes she's close to you, yet at other times, she seems so very far away."
Wally nudged Speed, silently laughing at him, and next it was Kyle's turn.
Madame Esmeralda frowned in concentration, then finally spoke. "Whatever you were planning to do, now is not the time. Going through with your plans will come back to hurt you, and you will never recover. You will, however, come into money very quickly."
Kyle thought for a second, then asked, "Is the money from Tommy?" He laughed as Tommy glared at him.
"Over my dead body," Tommy declared.
"Ooh, look at me. I'm trembling in fear," mocked Kyle.
"Dude, shut it," Tommy warned.
As we got up to leave, we thanked Madame Esmeralda, then made our way towards the door.
"Oh, one last thing," she said, momentarily stopping us. "Whatever you do, don't let it destroy your friendship. The bonds between the 5 of you are very strong, but they can be broken quite easily. Just think twice before you do anything. And something unexpected will happen, so just remember what I've already told you."
"Thanks, but I think we'll be OK," Tommy said confidently. We left her booth, and went over to the Ferris wheel.
"Hold on, all that food made me really thirsty," Speed said, "I'm gonna go get a Coke."
"Yeah, me too," Wally and Kyle chorused. They ran off, and minutes later were back with their drink in hand.
"Are we ready now, children?" Tommy teased, as Speed threw an empty straw wrapper at him.
"Ooh, there it is!" I squealed, then ran toward it, pulling Tommy behind me.