Circus Summer (Circus of Curiosities Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

getting a little too long, so that I’ll have to cut it again soon, and big blue eyes. He’s small, even for his age, but he’s smart, too. Even now, he’s sitting at the small table he has by the bedroom’s window, working on math problems for school. His teachers say that he’s able to handle problems kids twice his age couldn’t do. I know because for the last couple of years, I’ve been the one who’s had to go talk to them when they want to speak about him. Mom can’t manage it.
                “Mason,” I say.
                He turns around, looking at me. He’s quiet like that.
                “I need to go into town. Mom’s sicker than usual. I need to get help for her. Watch her until I get back, okay?”
                “Okay,” he says, nodding and following me downstairs. I take the little money we have, hoping that I won’t need all of it for the doctor, and then head into town to find Doc Mitchell.
                I have to go past Frank’s restaurant to get to his house. The sign is still up outside it. I think about the tiny amount of money in my pocket, and how sick Mom is. I think about the things they say still exist in the Center; advances in technology most people just don’t have, thanks to the Invaders. I stop next to the sign, reading the names. There are ten of them, and I know all of them. Kids I’m at school with, or I’ve seen around town. It’s the last one that really catches my eye though. Zachary Niles has signed up after all. I thought he wasn’t going to.
                I thought I wasn’t going to.
                I stand in front of the list for what feels like minutes, trying to think. I know Thomas thinks this is a bad idea. I know that Mom tried to warn me away from it. What else can I do though? If I get Doc Mitchell, he might help Mom for a little while. If I make it through the circus’ performances and get to the Center, I might actually be able to find a cure for her. And we need the money. We need the money a lot .
    Who else is going to help our family? Mason? He’s too young. We haven’t seen Caleb since the drafters took him. Dad… they decided he was dead a couple of years back, because he’d been away so long. Maybe they thought it would let Mom find another man, someone else to help with the family. Instead she just got sick. No, I’m the only one who can do this. I write my name and sign where the form says. I’ve entered.
    I’ve just done it when I feel someone standing close to me. I turn, and see the same steel grey eyes and deep black hair that I got to see up close in practically this spot yesterday. Zachary Niles is standing just a couple of feet away. He smiles, and it’s all I can do not to blush.
    “You signed up too?”
    “Yes,” I manage, and it’s all I can manage. It’s Zachary Niles . I can’t be cool this close to him. I can barely even think. All I can do is stare into those powerful grey eyes, with that direct stare that seems like a challenge to the whole world. He’s so unbelievably handsome that it’s hard to be this close to him, in a way. In other ways, of course, it’s a very good place to be indeed.
    At least until I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around to see Thomas there. I think in that moment that if any of the girls from school were to pass by right then, they’d feel so jealous, with me standing right between two of the best looking guys in Sea Cliff. Though maybe they wouldn’t feel so lucky if they could see the expression on Thomas’ face.
    “I should go,” Zachary says. “I guess I’ll see you around.”
    I wave slightly in response, but Thomas is still glaring at me like I’ve done something wrong.
    “Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask.
    “You have to ask?” Thomas demands. He sounds furious. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him angry like this before. For a moment, it’s actually frightening, but then I remember