Snippet #2191749

Ester was beginning to lose focus again when Mark said he had just fallen off his board. That would explain why it was broken, and his drunken speaking could be because of his nap. Oh good, he was fine. When he patted the boards they fell to the ground and for some reason they reminded her of a dog. Obedient and playful, what a silly way to think of it. Wooden boards being dogs, it was absurd to even compare the two.

At the mention of Mark tusseling Ester felt a little something in her. It was a nice feeling, and she couldn't help but wonder what it was. Happiness? Maybe, she didn't know how that felt anymore. Mark in a tussle? She was sure that he didn't seem like the fighting type. He was rather, extremely stick slender and just had this look to him that made it seem like if he had to fight a fly, he would let it win. She put a fake smile on her face that was as believeable as any of her best. She had gotten quite good at fake smiling. It wasn't that difficult, just a curve of the corners of your mouth and their it was, a beautiful and real-looking smile. "Oh Mark, you're my knight in shining armor aren't you? No, there wasn't a tussel, just a bit of words and thoughts tossed around here and there. Nothing to make a fuss about."

Her schedule! She completely forgot that she had to perform today. Oh no, what act was she? She knew what she was going to do but what if she had already missed her performance? A crease of worry formed on her forhead but was quickly, and forced, to disappear. No need for Mark to know she might be late. But to make sure none of the staff overheard her she spoke to Mark in the most secretive way she knew how. "Sure you can tag along, I have to get to the performance tent like yesterday though. Before the Big Cheese finds out I'm not there anyways." She almost reached out to grab his hand to pull him along but stopped herself. She had moved it towards him slightly but hardly enough to get too close.

As she moved out of the tent she could pretty much feel his breathing on her neck as he followed. Normally he wouldn't even dare to get that close. She had never been near him so much as to even feel his breath. "I gotta bad feeling about today, love. Something's different." She almost stopped but thought twice about it when he said it. Did he mean a premonition? She hadn't dreamnt of anything. Then again she probably wouldn't have noticed if she had. Such vague visions they hardly told her anything. ’But what if he- they… were to-… No Ava, that’s silly, leave that thought alone. … But what if….’ What did that mean? She dismissed it as she pushed through the curtain and into the performance tent. Happy was performing, blindfolded, while charming snakes. Didn't Happy hate charming snakes? Ester couldn't remember. She hardly talked to Happy, not that she didn't read her mind a few times.

She passed the aquatic tent without even looking twice but did give a second glance to a girl she saw just as she found the performance tent. She was holding onto the bars of Ezekiel's cage. Ester frowned and read into her thoughts without stopping moving. ’But what if he- they… were to-… No Ava, that’s silly, leave that thought alone. … But what if….’ What did that mean? She dismissed it as she pushed through the curtain and into the performance tent. Happy was performing, blindfolded, while charming snakes. Didn't Happy hate charming snakes? Ester couldn't remember. She hardly talked to Happy, not that she didn't read her mind a few times.

Looking at the acts she sighed in relief. She was next. Good, she hadn't missed her part. But that had been to close, if Mr. Torture had found out...she didn't want to think of that. She made it and that was all that mattered.