cotton candy girl

“I’ve never thought of it that way. Isn’t a bicycle a bicycle anywhere to begin with though?” Devlyn asked, not quite the language scholar despite having to take two different language classes when she was younger. She laughed at Ellie’s statement and nodded. “Maybe we can learn together and just embroider pillows for each other all the time.”

“Okay, good point there, I think bicycle is bicycle anywhere. That I know of. Maybe Australians call it something weird. But see, the dilemma of what to call carbonated drinks — pop, soda, fizzy juice, that’s real!” Ellie laughed, making her point. “That sounds awesome. Maybe I can get Pip in on it too and we can be this badass, embroidering circle of ladies.”

Addy hummed for a second thinking what it would be like if her circus family finally got to see her real home. The idea felt almost uncomfortable as the two seemed so different. It would be like her past and present meeting for the first time. “If it ever did happen I’d wish it’d be during dey festival. It’s something I really miss when I get dey lonely feeling for home. Dey costumes we wear den are dey most beautiful.”

"Oh man, I would love to see that. Maybe I’d put the idea to Lydia, and get her to pass it along to the Ringmistress? The Cirque’s never been to the Caribbean islands, and I’m sure they’re famous enough by now people wanna see it there too. Going there during festivals would be so awesome. I’d love to go to Jamaica, too. They all just seem such cool, uniquely different places.”

“Not going to lie to you but that would be quite a sight for people to see.” She couldn’t help but let a laugh escape from her lips. “I have been told that I have a…’butt load’ of imagination and creativity,that’s how my old friend put it.”

“A sight for them to see and record on their phones, probably. I’m sure the Cirque loves any media attention it gets, but not something like that,” she said, laughing along and shaking her head. “You do! You definitely have a buttload of that,” Ellie laughed. “And skills too. I don’t know for how many years I’d have to practice to get to draw like that. How long have you been doing it for?”

“I believe it’s called The Force awakens. Its set after the original ones. I mean it was alright but I wasn’t too impressed. I remember me dad took me to go see A New Hope in the cinema when I was about 2, of course I didn’t remember much of it but all I know is that it was absolutely amazing and it sort of had me hooked. Well if we ever get like a full day off, I’ll take you to the cinema. I’m sure there are some interesting films playing.

“Oh yeah! That’s what it was called. I still wanna see it though. I never saw the original ones in the cinema but my family would have movie nights all the time, it was fun. I don’t think I’d survive in a world like that for too long, but it’s always fun to pretend, you know? Me and my cousin used to run around chasing each other with brooms, pretending they were lightsabers,” she said with a laugh, recollecting the memory. “Ohhh yes please! Let’s go. I wanna do the whole cinema, popcorn and soda, all that good stuff. Feel like one of the normies for a change.”

Pouting, she glared over at the toaster, wondering if she had secret fixing powers to make their toaster work. But she didn’t. She plopped down and looked at the parts, knowing that if the two of them worked together that they could get somewhere. Pippa really didn’t know anything about fixing hardware, especially a toaster. There were so many bouncy parts and she was so confused. Scrunching up her nose, she picked up a squiggly piece. “This makes it bounce, I assume.”

As her friend asked about her crush, she could feel her face flush. It turned a bright red strawberry color, one she didn’t think she could really ever blush like that. Pushing her hair behind her ear, she looked down at her hands. Pippa couldn’t sit straight. She kept fiddling, squirming and just down right not sure how in the hell she was going to even talk about his. “Yeah, I do. I don’t do crushes, El.” The small brunette picked at her fingernails before finally answering, “He’s an animal handler. And I don’t know… It just clicked. We were cute and he’s cute, but not in the normal kind of way, but he’s so sweet and I think he’s cute, but I ain’t ready for this.”

"Oh yeah, that definitely does.” She put the springy contraption aside, hopefully praying that she would remember how to put it back together even if she didn’t manage to fix it. But at the same time deep down, knowing she might have to call one of the handymen anyway.

“Me neither,” Ellie could only agree, knowing that crushes only spelled trouble. Especially in a tight bubble environment like the Cirque. “Well that doesn’t sound so bad!” she tried to encourage, still picking away at metallic parts, placing things here and there. “Aww, that’s cute Pippa, honestly. I’m already rooting for you two. I could talk to ‘em if you want? I know pretty much everyone.” She’d never tried being matchmaker, and honestly it sounded almost as scary as flirting with someone herself, but maybe it could work. “So...does the mystery animal handler have a name?”

“Wha’ is why I booted you out– me being sober?! I- NO! I… ‘oly fuck, no! I never… Sorry if I made it sound tha’ way, but no. Tha’s not–” Charlie huffed. Now he was getting frustrated and rubbing his face, running his fingers through his hair. “No, Ellie. Yer no like any other girl I’ve been with bu’ tha’ jus’ makes me feel like I some’ow… Like I grabbed a pretty white flower in me hand and squeezed an’ squeezed until– ye know wha’ I mean? Ye deserve so much better and life took a bloody pass on ya, and put ya wit’ me tha’ night an’ I didn’t even try t’ make it any better.” Charlie took a breath and looked down at his feet. “Ye think we can? Put it behind us?”

Though the night had been all hazy, the fact he’d booted her out of his caravan just stuck in Ellie’s brain. Though maybe his reasons had been different, could have been anything, maybe he just didn’t let people stay over because he had a thing about personal space. And half of her frankly was happy she had woken up elsewhere instead (though waking up in Jackson’s caravan of all places had been a whole new reason for panic). “I don’t know what you mean,” she said, chuckling now and shaking her head. “I’m not some pretty white flower or whatever you think and anyway, I’m a big girl. I can handle myself. It’s really fine.” Was it though? She was still going back and forth about that one. “I don’t know. I ...honestly don’t. It’s never happened to me before, and much less with someone I call a ...friend, so. Maybe it’ll be a bit awkward at first, but I guess...it’s better than just never speaking again, or something? Right?” That seemed impossible in a tiny place like the Cirque anyway.

Silas kept his eyes on Mateo, as Ellie made attempts to ease the tension. He didn’t like the look of the guy, something about his hair, his smile, just annoyed him. “Jokes aren’t really my thing,” he said, though he knew that Ellie was only trying to provoke him. Suddenly, the crowd roared, and his attention was drawn to the centre of the plaza.

It seemed that someone had finally emerged, victorious, with the coveted ham. The festival was about to begin, and Tucker was nowhere to be seen.

What a gosh darn grump, Ellie thought. How could she have ever felt anything for him? Though this was Ellie we were talking about, and if she followed the train of thought to the depths of her brain she would know she wasn’t really over it. But she didn’t want to dwell on it, and a klaxon siren went off.

Chaos erupted everywhere, Ellie almost a second too late in putting her goggles on. Shouts and screams as tomatoes started flying through the air and one already landed in her hair. “Oh my god!” it was a shout and a laugh all at once, as Ellie found herself under vegetable assault, and loving it.

“Damn.”She mumbled to herself before looking back up at her. “Well that’s a relief,thank goodness for Paris being a busy place.”She replied with a soft smile. “Of course you can.”She happily said,holding her notebook out to Ellie.

“Yeah. I bet we could just run down this street naked shouting and screaming and no one would pay any attention. Well, maybe not the naked part,” she said with a laugh, shaking her head. That would get attention even in Times Square, the busiest place she could think of. Taking a look at the sketches and drawings, Ellie’s eyes lit up. “Oh my gosh, they’re gorgeous! I don’t know how you do it, honestly.”

“You can get over him if you really want to, I think deep down inside, you really don’t.” She shrugged her shoulders as well. “Probably.. Let’s hope it won’t happen again.” Daphne teased, winking at her friend. “Hmm, that would be make a really funny sit-com but I don’t think that’s possible.”

Ellie started to shuffle away from the food table, away from people, not wanting to be having this conversation anywhere prying ears could hear. “But I do. I wish I was over him because dammit — it’s been three years! How long does it even take?” she sounded almost desperate, but that was only because deep down, she was. Or she felt it. “I think it’s totally possible. Why do you think it wouldn’t be possible?”

“That indeed. I hope I’ll be awesome and wise once I’m old and wrinkly and all. Tho knowing me I won’t really be that wise even if I’ll be old.”

"Did you just call her old and wrinkly? For shame, Fievel! If only Daphne could hear you. And who knows, maybe you’ll pick up some huge piece of wisdom along the way. And write a book about it.” Now that Ellie thought about it, she hoped that would be her too. 

Pippa: oMG. I WANNA HIRE YOU. That would be so much fun, let's do it.

Pippa: OK OK BUT THEY'RE WEEEEEEEEEEIRD. Like, if i'm in a skimpy outfit, the boys like, but what about when i look like a potato farm??

Pippa: Also, what if they get in my way and i accidentally chop off their arm?

Ellie: You'll find someone who will fall for your inner soul and true beauty, and he will love you even when you look like a potato farm (which you do not. ever.)

Ellie: Then you'll have an adorable, one armed boy who will love you just the same :D

“I don’t know how much slang I really know, my teachers used to say slang was for people with minds too simple to use proper speech, but I’ll teach you what I know if it comes up.” Devlyn offered, smiling and tilting her face up to the sun. “I suppose I never thought of it that way, tightrope and the circus just feels so normal. I want that embroidered on a pillow or something to keep with me, by the way. You are a slow, beautifully spinning hurricane. It’s inspirational, really Ellie.”

“I love slang though! It’s the only thing that separates all the English dialects, isn’t it? Otherwise a bicycle is still a bicycle anywhere.” Language fascinated Ellie, and she loved picking things up. Even if Devlyn didn’t know anything more than ‘fizzy juice’ it was all still wonderful to her. “You know what, I’ll get one of the costume girls to teach me how to embroider, and I’ll make a pillow just like that, just for you.” She meant it, too.

“I know who you’re talking about, just don’t remember his name. Great movie though, better than the other new one. Well thank you for inviting me, I can’t wait for it.”

“What other new one? Man, I loved the original Star Wars movies, me and my dad used to watch them all the time. I should really get on them since I do technically get a lot of free time?” What was she even doing with her life if she hadn’t seen the new Star Wars films? “Actually, I haven’t been to a real, honest to goodness cinema in so long, I think even before I joined up with Cirque Nuit. Wow.”

“Come on! What would a bird be askin’ a bloke about some other fit bird if she didn’t fancy him? Huh?” He answered honestly. She did ask, he thought to himself. “Well, me lips are sealed. Just like her lips over my cock last night.”

"I’m just nosy and curious! You know me!” Ellie cried out in her self defence. Which, she was. “Cillian! You— jesus, I didn’t ask for graphic details.”

Alisa hummed to herself,her headphones blasting music as she took a break from sketching costumes and make up ideas for the Cirque. She was out sketching the Parisian scenery around the Cirque. She was in her own little world when she felt a tap on her shoulder. “I wasn’t humming to loud,was I?”She asked,taking her headphones off.

"Just a little,” Ellie said with a returned smile. “Okay, a lot. But it’s OK, this is Paris. Everyone’s too busy in their own thing.” She craned her neck ever so slightly, eyeballs trying to catch sight of what was in Alisa’s notebook, but only if its owner permitted it. “May I see?”