PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!

Everything inside of me ached for sleep. All I wanted was to lie down on my little twin bed and sleep forever. The walk back to my trailer somehow seemed longer under the weight of my fatigue.

After the police had found us in the woods the already long night extended further.

Moments after I alerted Jimmy that the other clown was gone hoards of policemen swarmed the clearing. Seeing Thomas leading the way gave me such a relief that could have mimicked when he first found me at Buchenwald.

We ran towards each other but as soon as we stood in front of each other we stopped. Unsure of what to do. Finally, without thinking I jumped into his arms and squeezed him tight.

"Thank god you are here." Whispering into his coat, "I knew you would come."

Thomas hugged me tight not saying a word.

It took awhile but Jimmy and I had told him the full story of what Esmeralda hastily told him. We showed him the body of the dead clown on the floor of the trailer. Thomas inspected him and noted the stab wound to his chest.

Before Jimmy could even put together two words I blurted out that I was the one that stabbed him. They both looked at me with wild, unbelieving eyes. I showed them the knife that Edward had used to stab the clown, telling Thomas it was within reach when the clown pinned me down onto the floor.

I told Thomas it was self defense and that I was scared for my life when he pulled his own knife against me. Thomas looked at me, then to the clown, then back at me before nodding and ushering both of us out of the trailer.

Jimmy's eyes were turning with questions but I just shook my head telling him not to argue and not to say a word. Mouthing to him that we would talk about it later.

All that mattered was that everyone was safe.

"You helped get these kids back to their parents. You're a hero." Thomas told me as we joined the policemen again.

I shook my head, "No, Jimmy is the real hero. He did it all, that is what you tell them." Smiling at him but he averted my gaze, knowing he questioned my actions.

Jimmy, Esmeralda and I had to inform Thomas and the other officers that there was another murderous clown still out there. We provided little help in identification because he was wearing a mask.

After our statements were taken we were all free to go back to the camp and I believed I would be able to get some much needed rest. Only I was wrong. The three of us were then ushered into Miss Elsa's tent as she demanded to know what happened tonight.

We told her everything. That Edward Mordrake killed the clown, and not I the person who claimed too.

"You did what?" Miss Elsa and Esmeralda yelped at the same time.

Scrubbing my face over my hands I sighed. I just wanted to sleep.

"Why in God's name did you do that huh? Saying you offed the clown." Jimmy huffed out rubbing the back of his neck.

"What was I supposed to tell Thomas? That a psychotic ghost stabbed the clown? How would that have looked?" My voice rising in a shout.

"You should have let me take the fall." He angrily responded.

"No I should not have. If you had taken the fall what if something had gone wrong? What if the Chief decided you just killed an innocent clown, and that maybe you were the one who kidnapped and killed all those people." Snapping at him.

"We are both easy targets, but you are easier to hold Jimmy. I took the fall for everyone's sake. They are less likely to pin some sinister motive on me than you. By saying I killed in self defense it is harder now for anyone to question me." Explaining to all of them.

Staring at Jimmy I questioned him with a look that said, prove me wrong.

I thought he was going to start yelling and arguing again but he did the exact opposite. He reached over and pulled me into a hug. At first I was startled but then the anxiety went away and I hugged him back.

"Than you for saving my neck." He whispered into my ear.

"Anytime." Smiling back.

We pulled away and I gave him a kiss on the forehead and I could have sworn I saw him blush.

Miss Elsa said thank god we were all okay and then sent us back to our trailers to sleep.

Right now I was cursing the fact that my trailer was on the edge of the camp grounds. I thought my legs would buckle underneath me at any moment. As I slowly made my way past the prop tent a pair of arms circled around me and pulled me inside.

The scream was almost past my throat when I heard his voice, "Don't scream love it's only me."

Twisting myself out from his grasp I turned around and found Paul staring at me, "God Paul! I have had a very long night and that did not help!" Screeching at him in a whisper, "What were you thinking?"

"Me? What the hell were you thinking Madalina? What in God's name made you run off into those woods tonight?" Paul questioned in annoyance.

His inquiry stopped me. Truthfully I did not know why I was pulled into the forest tonight, I just was.

"I...I do not know?" Answering in confusing, "Something in me told me to go to the forest and I did." Giving him the honest truth even if I did not understand it myself.

I like to think that maybe it was my mama and papa that led me there. To help save the people that were becoming a family to me.

Paul recognized the sincerity of my answer. He let out a long breath and turned away from me. He shook his head, "You could have died out there tonight...and we might never have known." His voice became so small and quiet.

My heart lurched in my chest at the pain in his voice for me, "I could have but I did not. Paul I did not survive the Nazi's to die at the hands of a killer clown." Softly smiling at the absurdity of it all.

Surviving Hitler and the concentration camps only to be struck down by a man who did magic tricks for a living.

Paul turned back around and looked at me, "I am okay Paul." Trying to reassure him. Awkwardly we looked at each other for a few moments, unsure of what to do or say.

I broke the air, "I really should go to bed. It has been a long night." Speaking to him and I received a nod in return.

"Goodnight Paul." Turning my back to leave the tent only to be stopped again.

"Lina." Paul questioned behind me. Slowly I turned back around not up for anything because all I wanted in the world was to lie down.

Without saying a word I made my way over to him yet again.

I wanted and wanted for him to say something but he did not. Paul just keep staring into my eyes and for some reason that warm feeling flooded my stomach again as I felt a blush heat onto my cheeks.

Then without word or warning Paul leaned forward and he pressed his lips to mine.

An electric jolt shot through my body. Yet I stilled. I did not know what to do. My first kiss! I did not know how to kiss a man!

He lips were soft and warm as I hoped they would be. My stomach exploded into butterflies.

Paul broke away.

I was sure I was as red as a tomato.

My insides were going crazy and my heart was pounding so hard in my chest.

In a fluster I fled from the tent. My exhaustion gone as I ran to my trailer not stopping til I was inside with the door locked.

Panting I sat down at the vanity and studied my face. Did I look any different? Would people be able to tell I had received my first kiss? And not just from any boy, but a man.

Not just any man, but Paul.

Biting my lip I watched the blush redden my cheeks once more.

Paul.

My first kiss! I felt so exhilarated but I also felt like a complete fool. What if I had done it wrong? I mean I had not moved my lips the entire time, but then again I do not think it lasted that long?

Or maybe it lasted a lifetime.

How was I to act now? Would Paul kiss me again? I had a feeling he liked me but now I knew. I mean you kiss a girl if you like her right?

Staring back at my face again I began to giggle like a little girl. I got up and changed out of my clothes into my nightgown. As I crawled into bed I did not think of the horrible things that had been seen and done tonight.

No.

I fell asleep repeating that kiss over and over in my mind.

I awoke from a surprisingly peacefully, much needed nights rest. I stretched and smiled thinking about last night with Paul.

Biting my lip I broke into a fit of giggles flopping back onto my bed just thinking of him.

Staring out the window a few minutes more I watched the sun trickle through and fill the trailer. Finally I rose from my bed and began my morning ritual of showering and dressing myself.

As I put on my dress I stared at my numbers, and for a moment the word murderer flashed back into my mind where I quickly pushed it away. I would trust my papa's word over the words of Edward Mordrake any day.

A thought passed through my conscious and I wondered if I would ever tell the people here about me. Then it was gone as quick as it came into my mind. Shaking my head I thought I would probably never tell them.

I just could not.

Exiting my trailer I made my way over to the kitchen to make breakfast. Subconsciously I found myself looking for Paul everywhere and my heart began to beat a little faster at the thought of seeing him.

But I did not see him and my smile fell just a tiny bit on my face as I reached the kitchen and began preparing breakfast. Reminding myself I would see him when everyone came for their food.

Like clockwork everyone started filling into the kitchen grounds as soon as I finished cooking. Setting down the plates I saw Paul come into the area. My stomach fluttered at seeing him.

Except he did not seem to see me at all. He did not look up when he came into the kitchen area, nor did he look up as he sat down. We briefly exchanged glances when I set the food down on the table, and while I gave him a wide smile he quickly glanced the other way.

The fluttering sensation was now replaced by a awful gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Was Paul upset with me? Was he mad at me?

Through breakfast I remained quiet and reserved, barely touching my food. Only offering small snippets of conversation to the others.

Getting up I was about to start cleaning up when Meep ran from the main camp towards us. He was in quite an excitable as he ran straight towards me.

"Meep! Meep!" He grabbed my hand and began tugging at my body to follow him. I barely had time to glance back at the others who were getting up from their places to see what was going on, before Meep pulled me into a run.

He led me towards the main gate where there were cars pulling up everywhere.

Oh my God! Have they come to blame us somehow for what the clown did?

"What the hell?" Hearing Jimmy question as he came up next to me, "They've come to run us out of town." His reply full of dread.

People started getting out their cars coming towards us. Instinctively I pushed Meep behind me.

"What will they do to us?" Asking Jimmy with fright. Before he could answer Miss Elsa came barreled in a charge to the front gate meeting them all.

"You Jimmy?" One man asked.

"What do you and the rest of this mob want?" Miss Elsa fiercely questioned them.

"We wanted to thank you." The man replied and that caught everyone by surprise.

"You saved our son." One woman spoke to Jimmy. She is the mother of the boy in the cage.

"You saved our town." The woman's husband said to him. Staring at Jimmy I broke out into a smile. He deserved this. Even if he did not think so, "I wanna shake your hand." The man extended his hand towards Jimmy and even Miss Elsa could not hold back her astonishment. All of us looked to Jimmy, waiting what he would do.

Jimmy was obviously apprehensive but Miss Elsa told him it would be alright and I watched Jimmy shake hands with that little boys father. Tears of happiness slipped down my face.

A little girl stepped forward and offered Jimmy a plate of sweets, "Homemade brownies? I only ate one." She smiled at him.

Jimmy took the plate and smiled thanking her. Then all at once everyone came forward with flowers, food and well wishes to everyone in the camp.

Quietly I stepped back a bit and watched the scene unfold. I knew Jimmy had questioned why I had claimed him the hero but I had done it for this reason. My heart swelled to see Jimmy, everyone being treated as an equal like they were meant to be treated everyday.

They were finally being treated right, even if it did only last for a short while. They deserved to know what being treated equally felt like, and I was glad I had a small part in giving it to them.

I believe even Thomas knew that because otherwise he would have told everyone that I had 'killed' the clown. He knew they needed this.

Esmeralda quietly came up beside me, "You are not joining them?" Asking her, "You helped those children as well. If you had not gone for the police, who knows what would have happened."

She shook her head, "No. This is not my moment but theirs." Smiling earnestly.

"What about you?" She questioned back.

"It is like you said, it is not my moment but theirs." Matching her smile. Jimmy looked up and caught eyes with Esmeralda and gave her the widest smile I had ever seen on him, before someone grabbed his attention again.

I looked back at Esmeralda's face knowing that look, "Just be careful okay." Quietly telling her.

"Ladies and gentlemen! One and all." Miss Elsa stood grabbing everyone's attention, "We would like to invite you to our grand command performance tonight." She gleamed at the crowd. "Here in our big top. Tickets are available over there at the box office." She gave a graceful bow and everyone clapped.

Smiling I scanned through the crowd and caught Paul's eyes. Again I smiled and again he ignored me. My face dropped in disappointment and confusion.

"You be careful too." Esmeralda softly speaking to me.