'Rewriting The Stars'

Author's Note: Thanks for the awesome reviews! Really glad you are all enjoying it :) Hope you enjoy chapter 3... a little spice to the sweetness :))


Chapter Three

Phillip was seated in an office inside of the local bank. He had been waiting for nearly twenty minutes. Phillip was beginning to become impatient as he kept tapping his foot to the ground in time with the ticking of the clock that now red 5.00pm. He looked at his watch and sighed. He didn't even know why he was needed at the bank. He had just received word that it was of upmost importance that he attend a meeting, for what he did not know.

"C'mon... how long is this gonna take?" Phillip whispered to himself. He should be at the circus helping to set up and rehearsing tonight's routine not waiting in a bank all day.

After another long ten minutes the door finally swung open and in came Mr Crayne. He was a high ranked man who worked for the bank and a family friend of the Carlyle's.

"Uh Good Evening Mr Carlyle, sorry to keep you waiting." the middle aged man said reaching out his hand. Phillip took it in his own and greeted him with a smile as he came through the door and only then his smile quickly faded at the shock of a second person trailing behind him.

"Phillip..." his father said to him closing the door behind him. Phillip was shocked and confused to see his father.

"What are you doing here?" Phillip asked him slightly angry. He hadn't spoken or seen his parents since their conflict at the theatre. They hadn't even bothered to visit him in hospital while he was recovering after the fire. It had been weeks.

"Mind your attitude and sit down." Phillip's father ordered him. Phillip sat scowling at his father still wondering why he was here. Mr Carlyle sat down in the seat next to Phillip as Mr Crayne sat in the one behind his desk. He began to pull out some files and documents from the top drawer and laid them out on the desk.

"Your father had arranged this meeting in order to discuss financial business." Mr Crayne said to Phillip. "You see Mr Carlyle... you are legally the heir to your father's inheritance in other words, fortune and it has come to my understanding that this is no longer what your father wants as he has stated."

"Fine. Tell me what to sign. I don't care he can keep his money." Phillip said. He could feel his father staring daggers at him.

"You don't care? You don't care what happens to this familie's fortune?" his father said to him.

"No I don't. It means nothing to me." Phillip said back to him.

"Disgraceful." his father called him. There was a short silence that filled the room with tension.

"Here's the thing Mr Carlyle. As the only son of Mr and Mrs. Bryan and Elizabeth Carlyle, you are the only person they have listed who can legally claim the inheritance. If you do not do so then the money your family has worked so hard to earn will be returned to the bank." Mr Crayne said to him breaking the silence. Phillip was now very confused.

"Wait... but, I thought you didn't want me to have any claim?" Phillip said to his father.

"I want it to go to my son. MY SON. Not this "circus showman" who hangs around with freaks all day and gets too close with spooks." Mr Carlyle said. Phillip was speechless, actually he had many things caught on his tongue that he wanted to scream at his father that involved a lot of cussing. Had they been alone he would have no hesitation to say what he wanted so desperately to. His father had never even seen a single show and yet he had a clear picture of how much he hated it. Phillip felt insulted.

"I'd like to leave." Phillip said rising from his seat.

"No stay." Mr Carlyle said grasping his son's arm. He sighed and cleared his throat.

"Fine, if you love the circus so much then so be it... that I can accept... but the spook... the girl, get rid of her. She must go. She is not good for you Phillip. I cannot believe you were so moronic as to risk your life for her in that fire. If you ask me she and all those freaks should have burned with the building... Find yourself a real woman up to your standards and the inheritance is yours." Mr Carlyle said finding himself pretty reasonable. Phillip was quiet, his blood silently boiling. He had never hated his father more then he did right now.

"Do we have an agreement?" his father said to him. Phillip leaned in close so that their noses were only inches apart.

"Never." Phillip said. He yanked his wrist from his father's grasp and stormed out of the office slamming the door behind him. He couldn't stand to hear another word from his father's mouth. He couldn't even stand to be in his presence. He felt like punching him for everything he had said about his friends especially when it came to insulting Anne. He felt extremely protective over her and wouldn't let anyone stand between them, ever.

He could feel a lot of eyes on him as he walked through the lobby and into the elevator. People didn't even try to keep it subtle as they stared at him. He knew it wasn't because of how heated he was. It was because word had spread around ear to ear about the interracial couple who attended a show at the theatre together last night. It seemed every one knew and every one disapproved. Phillip didn't care of course. Any comment or scowl that came with his relationship with Anne he knew they would tackle together.

"Phillip..." Phillip heard as he exited the bank.

"Mother?" he said. His mother was standing at the end of the stairs that lead to the bank just outside a carriage. Next to her stood a young woman. No matter how angry he was at his father he couldn't resist saying hello to his mother. He had missed her over the past few weeks and he ran to greet her with a hug.

"Oh son..." she said to him hugging him back.

"How have you been?" she asked him worried for her son's health. She had heard about the incident at the circus and she stroked her finger above a small cut just above Phillip's brow.

"Great... how are you." Phillip said a part of him infuriated and another calm.

"You're not great, my poor boy." she said saddened by his faded bruised eye that you could barely notice anymore.

"Really mother it's nothing." he assured her.

"Where's your father? Did you speak with him?" she asked him.

"Yes." Phillip grunted.

"And?" his mother said.

"And what mother? I'm not agreeing to what he wants me to do. I could never. I don't care about fortune or inheritance or whatever he has to offer. I would rather die then be without Anne." Phillip said beginning to raise his voice.

"Shhh, shh!" his mother said placing a finger over his lips looking around at people who had begun to stare. She was bewildered and never predicted in a million years to ever hear her son confess such love for a different kind of woman.

"Listen son. You're not thinking clearly. You've taken too much smoke in your lungs and don't know what you're saying." his mother said.

"No mother I do know what I'm saying. Don't you understand? I love Anne." he stated.

"No. No you don't. You don't mean that. You were foolish to take her to the theatre with you... but overtime people will soon forget and with the help of marriage I'm sure they will forget fast." Mrs Carlyle said.

"Marriage? What are you talking about?" Phillip asked. His mother licked her lips and gestured to the solution standing next to her. The woman had skin that glowed and hair the colour of honey. She was dressed in expensive finery and had small pierced lips. Phillip had almost forgotten that she was there for she hadn't said a word or really done anything, not even react to what was going on. She was only listening and watching. His mother brought her forward.

"This is Vianca. Isn't she lovely dear? She has travelled all the way from France to be your bride."

Phillip's jaw dropped a little. Now he felt sick, angry and bewildered all at the same time.

"Now she doesn't speak much English thank goodness, if she had understood everything you had just said I'm afraid it could have jeopardised your engagement... luckily for you..." Mrs Carlyle said.

"Vianca this is Phillip..." she spoke in French.

Vianca said nothing but gave Phillip a small smile as she reached out her hand. Phillip didn't dare to touch it. He was speechless and at the verge of tears. He felt hurt and betrayed. Had his parents truly lost all respect for him? Society, he didn't care about but his own mother? How could his parents do this to him he thought. Without a word but a quivering lip Phillip walked away not turning back to his mother's calls after him.


It was around 8.00pm when Phillip finally arrived at the circus and the show was nearly over. Phillip stood by the entrance watching the rest of the show from afar.

"THIS IS THE GREATEST SHOW!" the oddities sang in unison. They paraded their stunts while singing every note to perfection. Phillip couldn't help but smile as he watched. He had contributed to create this show to be what it was today and he felt so proud of the oddities he was glad to be able to call his family. Phillip felt a tear slide down his cheek as he watched Anne swing back and fourth then leap while reaching for her brothers arms which received a standing ovation from yet another sold out audience. Phillip had forgotten what it was like to be apart of the crowd, to enjoy the show from this point of view. It was truly spontaneous.


The show ended and Phillip remained standing by the entrance of the tent watching as usual the oddities give autographs to excited little children. People walked past him and he didn't bother to thank them for coming this time.

"And where were you tonight Mr Carlyle?" Mr Bennet the critic asked.

"I was right here." Phillip said still feeling emotional about everything that had just happened to him.

"I would have thought you-"

"I'm not in the mood for any of your comments tonight Mr B... so please... Thank you for coming to the show but please just... leave." Phillip said not unkindly. Mr Bennet was at first surprised but nodded and wished Phillip a goodnight and left as he was bid.

When autographs were finished Anne had spotted Phillip standing alone by the entrance. She noticed the solemn look on his face and instantly knew something was wrong and she rushed over to him.

"Hey... are you okay?" she asked a teary eyed Phillip staring off into the distance with a lot on his mind. She heard Phillip sob a bit and instantly wrapped her arms around him as Phillip began to bawl. Phillip hugged her tightly as he cried into her shoulder.

"What's wrong?" Anne asked him comforting him. A few of the oddities had began to crowd around and stare but Lettie was quick to usher them away. Even W.D left.

"Baby what happened?" Anne asked him stroking his back. Phillip held her tighter feeling confused as to why he allowed his parent's words and actions hurt him. He felt like he could face anything and anyone only a day ago and now he felt weak and fragile. He was meant to be the rock in this relationship, but now he was sinking.


Anne went back to Phillip's house and the couple sat on a sofa by a warm fire to have a chat. Phillip told her everything explaining to her that his parents had lost all respect for him because of their relationship. In no way did he ever speak as if it were all her fault, he never wanted Anne thinking that. It wasn't her fault or even his fault. It wasn't a fault at all, it was a choice and it was his parent's choice and their choice was made. Phillip told her everything... everything except for Vianca. It wasn't because he didn't want to, it was because he was too afraid. He was afraid to even mention her name or even picture her face. Only a few months ago he had imagined his perfect future with a perfect wife who looked like Vianca and now when he thought of that "perfect" future without Anne in it, it frightened him. He didn't know what was perfect then but he knew now, and perfection was sitting right next to him.

"And then I left..." Phillip said finishing the story. There was a short silence before any of them spoke. The fire crackled quietly along with the quiet. Phillip noticed a tear fall from Anne's eye.

"Hey... what's wrong?" Phillip asked her reaching his arm around her shoulder. She rested her head against his chest quietly sobbing.

"I'm sorry..." she said to him.

"For what?" Phillip asked her.

"It's my fault... it's my fault you don't have any inheritance or claim... and now not even a family..." Anne said. Phillip felt his gut wrench at her apology. He had tried so hard not to make it out as if it were her fault and of course Anne was too humble. His heart throbbed at the thought of her thinking it was her own fault.

"Baby it's not your fault." Phillip said as a statement. "Don't ever think that it's your fault because it's not and it never will be. I love you so much... inheritance... claim? That all means nothing to me... but you, you mean the world to me." he said meaning it and kissing her head. Anne smiled and sobbed. This only made her cry a little harder. Her eyes were wet damping Phillip's shirt.

"But your family... I know what it's like to lose a family... I could never live with myself if I took them from you." Anne said to him softly.

"And I could never live without you. You and everyone in that circus... you're my family now and always." Phillip said. Anne smiled, her chin quivering. She tilted her head and pressed her lips to his feeling so much love for Phillip.

"I love you..." she said. Phillip teared up and smiled. It was the first time he had ever heard her say those words to him.

"I love you." he said back and crushed his lips to hers. The couple shared a passionate kiss feeling the energies between them connect. The kiss was needy, both of them wanting more and more of each other until Anne was laid on her back atop of the sofa and Phillip was on his knees leaning over her. Their lips locked for a while until they were forced to break apart for air. They both caught their breath as they stared lovingly into each others eyes. Phillip caught a glimpse of outside the window and saw how late it was.

"Want me to walk you home?" Phillip asked her brushing her hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear.

"No. I don't think I'll ever be able to leave you again." Anne said wrapping her arms around his neck. Phillip smiled.

"Me too." he said before he pressed his lips to hers again. The night became darker and Phillip and Anne slept on the sofa holding one another in each other's arms. This night was wonderful for the both of them but particularly difficult for Phillip as he tried his best to distract himself from his arousal beneath the covers. It took him a while but he found a way to become de-aroused. He thought of himself holding another woman, someone like Vianca instead and he fell to sleep with no trouble.