Chapter 2

Hannah woke up early that morning. Padding quietly out of the trailer that she shared with one of her fellow performers, she winced at the wet grass. Why was it always raining in northwestern America? She'd have to find somewhere inside to practice.

She passed the first two tents, settling on the smaller one in the back. It housed many of the costumes and sets that the circus required, but she knew that there would be extra room in the back. Maxine kept her one allotted tent extremely neat, and Hannah didn't need too much space. Unsurprisingly, the small seamstress was already at work, her light showing through the canvas side of the tent.

"Morning, Maxine," Hannah murmured as she passed by her.

"Morning, Hannah," the older woman said, barely looking up from her sewing machine. "Don't move anything around. I just got all the fabric where I need it."

"You need a trailer so you're not unpacking all the time," Hannah shot back, their same old argument.

Maxine wrinkled her nose. "They smell. My fabric would smell. And the trailers are moldy and wet."

The dancer shook her head and let herself into the next "room," just a small area partitioned off with more cloth. She settled onto the dry ground and started her stretching routine: first her legs and feet, then her back and center, and finally her arms, shoulders, and neck. She moved onto small basic ballet exercises. Just because she was off with the circus didn't mean that she could let her technique go. Almost an hour later, her light tee shirt was stained with sweat and she was pleasantly stretched out and loosened up.

As she moved on to the more advanced moves, her mind wandered to the boy who had found her after the performance last night. It had been a long time since the last time a guy had asked her out. She had never had time for such things in high school, had never been the carefree and flirty girl that had gotten asked out. A part of her had been tempted to say yes, just out of pure desperation and curiosity. What would it be like to be the girl that was walking down the street with her hand tucked into her boyfriend's hand? What would it be like to stay up all night talking on the phone about stupid things?

But then the real world had slammed down hard on her. She couldn't stay up late talking to a boyfriend, because she had to get up early, like today, to get in ballet practice before morning acrobatics practice. By the time she had cleaned up after the night performance, she barely had the energy to stay up with her friends and coworkers for an hour or two.

And a relationship was out of the question. The troupe would be moving to a new place in a few days, and she would have to go with them. What kind of relationship starts out as long distance? The kind that is built to fail. It was a frivolous, impossible dream, and she needed to forget it.

Just as that thought came, she landed the turn she was practicing wrong, and stumbled out of it. Blowing her bangs out of her face in frustration, she pushed all thoughts of boys out of her mind, and concentrated on her dancing.

Seth was waiting quietly outside of Jake's house the next morning. Jake came out still dressed in his pajama pants, not wanting to put this conversation off. "You want some breakfast, man?" he asked out of consideration. They both knew that Seth was not there to eat, that they had more important things to get out of the way.

Seth shook his head. "Did Quil already tell you?" he asked.

His Alpha shrugged. "I did want to know why you weren't back last night." He paused and studied the younger man's face. "How'd it go?"

The Beta sighed. "I blew it and came off as a major creep. Quil told me to just introduce myself and ask her out. It didn't work well."

Jake's eyebrows twitched. "Quil has barely talked to any girls since he imprinted three years ago."

Seth scowled. "I remember that—now. They're moving on to San Diego tomorrow night." He closed his eyes for a moment. "I'm going with them."

Jake nodded. Seth wasn't asking permission; he knew what he had to do, and he was just telling his leader as a courtesy. Still, a part of Seth needed his validation. Jake clapped a hand on Seth's shoulder. "It's been great running with you, brother. Go do what you have to do, and then come back to us. You know you'll always have a place in my pack."

Seth forced a smile onto his face. "Thanks. Watch Leah and my mom for me?"

"Of course." Jake watched his friend shift restlessly. "What are you going to tell them?"

The younger boy shrugged. "The truth, I guess."

Jake snickered. "Good luck with that." He grew more serious. "I could talk to the council about your job. They'll understand."

Seth frowned. There were lots of people looking for work, even just his crappy job at a construction business. He was making a bit of money on the side teaching kids to play the guitar, though, so he could afford a few weeks looking for work. "I don't know when I'll be back," he said honestly.

His former alpha nodded. He didn't necessarily approve, but he understood.

Seth packed up everything he thought he might need for a month or two on the road. He was hoping it wouldn't be that long, but who knew what would happen. He wasn't even really sure what he was doing. Trying to convince his soul mate that she belonged with him and give up her job? He didn't think that was the right thing to do, but wasn't sure what else to do.

With that, he loaded up Embry's truck with one duffle, packed with clothes and essentials, along with his trusty guitar. His father had taught him to play and he had inherited the instrument from him. Seth hoped it would give him good luck.

Embry waited patiently in the drivers' seat, trying to appear that he wasn't listening in as Seth turned to his mother. Leah was upstairs. She had stormed out of the room when he announced his plan. Sue offered him an apologetic look when she caught him glancing towards his sister's bedroom window.

"She'll come around," his mother said, gathering him in a hug. "We'll miss you."

Seth hugged her back. He had been taller than his mother since first phasing at fourteen, but today it seemed more noticeable. She seemed so short, so much older after Harry passed. For a second he doubted his plans. How could he leave his family alone?

"We'll be fine," Sue said, as if knowing his worries. "Be careful, son. Don't get hurt."

He wasn't sure exactly who or what she was warning him about, but nodded anyway.

"Did you pack a nicer shirt? You're going in for a job interview," she fussed.

Seth grinned. "I'm interviewing at the circus, Ma. I think they'll overlook my wardrobe." He paused. "I'll call you when I know what's happening. Love you, Ma." And with one last hug he was in the truck, headed away from everything he knew.

"I'd like a job, if you have one."

The older man that was running the show in the main ring looked at Seth disdainfully. "Doing what?" His eyes lingered over the younger man's muscles. "A lion tamer?" he asked sardonically.

Seth indicated his guitar. "I can play the guitar, drums, percussion, bass, violin, pretty much whatever you need."

The manager flapped a hand at him. "We've got a full band, already. Go home, kid." He turned around to supervise some workers taking down the tent behind them.

"Sir, I can do whatever. I'm a fast learner, and I work hard," he said desperately. The manager ignored him.

It was primarily Seth's heightened senses that let him hear the snapping of one of the cords way up on the main canvas roll. His head snapped up and he saw one of the poles start to collapse under the additional weight. "Hey!" he shouted at the guy standing underneath it. There wasn't enough time. He jumped the concrete barrier in front of the tent and raced forward, shoving the man backward. The heavy pole crashed to the ground right behind them, where they had been standing.

The worker looked from Seth to the pole, pale. "Thanks, man."

Seth grunted a response, before turning around. The manager was right behind him, giving him a thoughtful look. "We move around all the time. They're long hours and the pay's crap. Can't complain about the food, though. Still interested?" Seth nodded excitedly. The manager heaved a sigh. "Alright, I guess we could use you in the grounds crew, maybe a little security." He shook off Seth's thanks. "Thank me if you're still with us in a month."

He waved forward a younger guy that was standing by the side. "Mac has a spare bunk in his trailer. He'll show you around."

Hannah was eating dinner with her friends that night when her roommate nudged her.

"Isn't that new guy the same dude that asked you out in Seattle?" Silvia asked, craning her head around to see him.

Hannah's head shot up. "What?" She looked over, and sure enough, it was him. "What's he doing here?"

"Do you think he's like stalking you?" Silvia's dark eyes sparkled with mirth.

Hannah shook her head. "No, he's harmless." He just seemed way too naïve. He wouldn't hurt her, she believed for some reason.

Silva smirked at her quick reaction. "Ahhh is someone maybe rethinking their refusal of a date?" she asked slyly. "You do have plenty of chance now. He seemed quite smitten…"

"He seemed quite dazed." Hannah rolled her eyes. "He was probably on drugs or something, probably doesn't even remember me. It's for the best, anyway." She tried and failed to tear her eyes away from him. He looked so lonely, sitting there by himself. She was about to suggest that they go sit with him when she saw Kurt walk up to his table. Good, he already knew some of the guys. He'd be fine without her. "I'm going to go get a practice in," Hannah said, standing up abruptly.

"But you already had one today," Silvia whined. "We were going to hang out."

"We'll hang out later," Hannah said evenly, fending off her roommates' complaints as she left. Some girls dealt with stress with chocolate or by gossiping to their friends, but Hannah danced. It was kind of her standard answer to any situation, but she needed to lose herself in the music, to both get away from her thoughts and express her emotions. And right now she wasn't sure what she was feeling, but she knew how to deal with it.