Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight! Really!
A/N: Hello!!! So…I'm sorry if this chapter is a little insane, I was listening to the song "Heffalumps and Woozles" from Winnie the Pooh while I was writing this. I don't know why. Then again, it might have been insane without the song, so who knows? Anyways, hope you like it!
Bella P.O.V.
I shimmied down the thin ladder, my plum colored robe billowing in the light wind. I tucked in my elbows, getting ready to jump off the bus ladder onto the ground. But, of course, my robe got tangled on the rungs and I went hurtling awkwardly onto the muddy ground. I spit out a chunk of sludge, making a mental note to brush my teeth later. Then I jumped up, shaking out my robe.
I was so exited!
Today was my first time in the circus as Edward's assistant, and I was determined to be the best I could be.
"Magic or death!" I screamed, rocketing off toward the big funky circus tent.
I'd attempted to convince Carlisle it would be cooler to have the circus underground, or maybe in a huge box draped with pink cheetah-print napkins, but Carlisle had insisted they stay "traditional".
Whatever.
I strolled backstage and was hit by the strong scent of peanuts.
But not just any peanuts, oh no.
Circus peanuts.
I grinned, soaking in the atmosphere of the area. Jasper was having one of his daily fights with the lion.
"Roar!"
"You don't want to do the show?"
"Roar!"
"I knew I shouldn't of let you watch "The Lion King", now you're depressed!" Jasper muttered, slapping his hand on his face and sighing. I rolled my eyes and continued on. They needed therapy.
Alice was on the ceiling beams, stretching out and touching her toes, a look of concentration on her tiny features. But she kept sending sympathetic glances over at Jasper, who was becoming exasperated.
"Hey Alice!" I called.
"Hi Bella!" she swung down lithely so she hung from the lower beam and gave me a high five.
"Good luck!" she called as she swung off into the prop closet. I smiled. Emmett was lifting weights, his muscles bulging. Then Rosalie strolled over, swinging her hips.
"Hey there strong man." she murmured seductively. He grinned at her.
"That's not gonna work this time babe." he said smugly. She raised her eyebrows.
"Oh no?" she asked. She slunk over and wrapped her arms around his waist, rubbing her beard on his exposed neck.
"Dammitt, you know I can't resist your beard." he muttered, throwing down the weights, and pulling her into a passionate embrace.
The members of the acrobat troupe were chilling against the wall, bobbing their heads, listening to some rock and roll. I wandered over to say hi.
"Hello, boys!" I said brightly. A chorus of "Hi Bella" rang out.
"Bella, I have something to tell you." Jacob, my favorite of the group, stated solemnly.
"What would that be?" I asked curiously.
"I love you Bella!" he shouted.
"Jacob, you don't love me. You love Jessica." I stated calmly.
"What? Who's Jessica?" he asked, confused.
"Don't lie to me Jacob, I see how you look at her. How the love and adoration leak from your eye sockets like a trickling water hose."
"What?"
"I know you love Jessica, Jacob, don't deny it! Embrace your devotion!" I shrieked. He just stood there.
Just then Jessica, the head of stage crew, ran out from the prop room.
"Oh Jacob, I never knew! I love you too!" she cried, leaping into his arms.
"What? No! I mean, who are you? Ahhh!" Jacob mumbled incomprehensibly.
"Come on Jacob, let's go talk about our wedding!"
"What?"
"Just go along with it, you know you want to." I whispered in his ear. He nodded, dazed. He walked away with Jessica in his arms, mumbling something about artichokes.
I'll never understand men.
My face lit up as Edward walked around the corner, decked out in a purple robe matching mine. I giggled, running toward him with my arms outstretched. He opened his arms wide and I jumped into them, home at last. The clash of our purple robes made us appear similar to violets. Or plums. Or lilacs. Or anything purple, really. I inhaled his scent of tangerines and sweat socks. It was heavenly.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Hell yeah!" I yelled, whooping and pumping my fists. I started boxing an invisible punching bag. Edward looked worried.
"You alright there Bella?" he asked skeptically. I clasped my hands together calmly, nodding.
"Yes, I'm fine. Sorry about that." He grinned, hugging me tightly. Then we walked over to the entrance, listening to the rest of the acts and mentally preparing ourselves. Deep breaths. A while later we heard Carlisle's strong voice call out from the middle of the stage.
"Now, will you please warmly welcome, the magical and wonderful, Edwardini! And his lovely assistant Bella!" he called into the crowd. I heard the roar of applause. Or maybe that was the lion. Nope, it was definitely applause!
"READY?" Edward yelled over the noise.
"YEAH!" he grabbed my hand, swinging his wand back and forth.
"Pork chops!" he screamed, and we were hurtling through what appeared to be a tube of lasagna. I felt the sauce smack my hand just as we landed safely on the stage floor. I held up my saucy hand, temporarily forgetting about the waiting crowd.
I heard a collective gasp, realizing too late the lasagna looked like blood. I hastily wiped it on my robe.
"Sorry everyone, it's just lasagna, no harm done!" I called. Nervous laughter filled the room.
There goes the flawless act I had planned! Dang it.
"Sorry, I forgot to tell you to keep your hands and feet inside the vehicles at all times." Edward whispered in my ear.
I just laughed breathily, dazed from his manly voice. Or possibly his bad breath. I made another mental note to buy him mints. Edward sent a dazzling smile toward the crowd. He went through his opening tricks marvelously, his hand always lightly brushing mine since I was the secret to his magic.
I just stood there, my mind empty except for a few casual thoughts prancing through like hectic gazelles.
Weird.
But I couldn't help but wonder…if Edward had been something else, like a doctor, would I have been the secret to his medical skills? Or if he was a plumber, would I be able to help him fix pipes? Unclog a toilet? I had no answers. But at least he wasn't a therapist, it would be hard to explain while I was always sitting in the room next to him if it was supposed to be a private conversation.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Edward ask for a volunteer. He said he still wanted to keep the audience involved, even though I was helping him.
A little boy raised his hand eagerly, waving it back and forth with a grin on his face. He was in cute blue overalls, and patches of freckles were dotting his adorable face.
"The boy up front, come on down!" Edward called. The little boy scampered up to us, a look of pure excitement on his face, waving back at the crowd.
But when he turned to us, his features turned dark and he scowled. I stepped back in surprise at the hostility. Edward was oblivious, and he reached out to shake the boys hand.
"What's your name?" he asked sweetly.
"James."
"That's a nice name." Edward held up the deck of cards and I quickly jumped forward so our hands were touching again. He held out the cards to the boy, fanning them out.
The boy smiled a sugar sweet smile.
I didn't trust it.
Then he dove forward, latching onto Edwards outstretched hand with his teeth.
"Yowwwww!" Edward screamed, trying to shake off the boy. The boy held strong, and I could almost hear the skin of Edward's hand ripping.
"He's like a piranha!" Edward screeched.
He plunged to the ground rolling around like he was on fire. The boy just rolled with him, teeth still fastened to his palm. I snapped out of my shock and threw myself at them, trying to wrestle them apart. That didn't work, so I grabbed onto the boys legs, pulling him forcefully. He was still holding on by his teeth. They were powerful, like a vampire's fangs!
I dropped the boy and just started to run in circles, screaming like a lunatic. Edward just kept shrieking. Emmett ran out, and I sighed in relief. He started to pull them apart, but even his huge bulging muscles didn't make a dent in the boy's apparent determination to chew off my Edward's hand.
I stared to sob.
The audience was still frozen in shock, when Rosalie, Carlisle, Esme, and Jasper came sprinting out from the side, a look of terror on their faces. Alice swung out, her head bobbing though the folds of tent.
"Jasper!" she called. I saw Jasper brace himself and she dropped onto his back soundlessly.
And then it was like a tug of war, Rosalie, Emmett, Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, Alice, and me against the boy's teeth. The acrobat troupe came jogging out and joined in, but even their muscles didn't help.
One by one the whole audience joined the tug of war, and it lead all the way out the tent entrance. By this time Edward's screams of pain were drowned out by the grunts of the people pulling all at once.
Then I glanced up and saw a business like woman strutting towards the boy. Everything went quiet except for Edward's whimpers. The woman cleared her throat and put her hands on her hips.
"James, what did I tell you about snacks before dinner? It's a no-no." she scolded.
James let go.
"Sorry mother." he said, looking down at his tiny feet.
And then they left.
I dove for Edward, taking his hand in mine. There were deep teeth marks. Very deep teeth marks.
"Are you okay?" I asked quietly.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine, good as ever." Edward stated woozily.
Then he passed out.
"Carlisle!" I shouted. He shook his head.
"I'll get the bandages and smelling salts" he muttered.
A/N : Please Review!