Runaway Read Online Free PDF Page B

hot!” The crowd burst into cheers and applause. The tent opened and the performers came out, walking on stilts and twirling fire. Carolyn took my arm and led me behind the booth she had just purchased her lion from.
    Once out of sight she started demanding the details. So I told her as simply as I could, including the quip he had made about beautiful woman normally asking for a private show and my attempt at a suggestive response.
    “… and then he asked me to stick around after to find out what I thought of his next act, which was that aerial performance at the end.” Carolyn was visibly shaking with excitement.
    “Do it,” she whispered.
    “Yeah, right,” I huffed and rolled my eyes. “I just look easy Care Bear, or he was just being nice.”
    “Do it ,” she repeated, not even flinching when I used her hated nick name. Man, she was taking this seriously!
    “Really Carolyn, let’s just go,” I started to turn away, but she was quicker and whipped around in front of me.
    “DO IT!” she demanded, eyes sparkling with mischievousness. Why had I even told her? I groaned inwardly. Because you wanted to be talked into it, said a treacherous voice inside my head.
    “I don’t even know WHERE he is!” I yelled back. Wrong move. That snapped her into action. She had ahold of my arm again and before I knew what was happening we were in the thick of the crowd.
    “Damn it Carolyn,” I muttered to her, but she only winked and kept us moving. The performers from the stage, and a few others, where making rounds through the remaining audience. There was a woman dressed in leather draped with a live albino snake, a man on stilts that dropped bead necklaces on unexpecting people, and there was even a fire breathing couple wearing, well, not much.
    Carolyn came to a halt not far from the tent the show had been performed in. Outside its entrance stood the ringmaster and Priscilla with a small group of people, which looked like audience members. They were taking photos and laughing at something the ringmaster said. I could practically see his nipple rings glinting in her eyes from staring so hard at him.
    “Looks like I’m not the only one with eyes out for a little carnie hook up,” I laughed. She turned; mouth opened in reply, but quickly snapped it shut. “What’s got into you, just messing with ya Care Bear,” I joked.
    “These days we prefer to be called traveling thespians, instead of carnie, much more professional sounding, don’t you think?” said a very male and recently familiar voice behind me. My face must really be something because Carolyn burst into laughter.
    “Er, sorry.” I turned, he was standing much too close to think clearly, I backed into Carolyn but she wasn’t giving me any runaway room.
    “No worries,” he winked. “Who’s your friend?” he asked politely.
    “Who?” I asked, getting me elbowed in the ribs. “Oh, this is Carolyn Jones,” I offered.
    “Hello, I’m Luke,” they exchanged courteous smiles. He was still wearing his finale outfit but had opted to mostly cover his bare chest with an unzipped black hoodie. “And this is my brother, Noah.”
    Carolyn and I both turned as the ringmaster came to a stop just behind her. Her eyes went round as they swept over him, he had not opted for any additional clothing.
    “Who’s your friends Luke?” he asked. His voice was all smoke. I watched as Carolyn melted and couldn’t help the victory giggle that escaped me. Luke introduced us, and with the pleasantries all made, there seemed nothing else to say.
    “I hope you enjoyed our little show,” Luke finally broke the silence.
    “Oh yes! It was really wonderful,” I sounded like a nervous school girl, earning another of Luke’s easy smiles. Noah had apparently caught on to Carolyn’s interest, he winked and I watched as she blushed. My fashion forward, confidant best friend was actually blushing.
    “Did you know we actually have a lion as part of our day act?” he asked