He had asked her not to come too often, even though he longed for her presence more than anything. For the first time in his life, he tried to think two steps ahead, for the first time he truly cared about something, for the first time something really mattered to him...

They had met when she bumped into him after one of his evening shows. She smelled of expensive perfume, cotton candy, and warm sunshine. Her dress screamed 'Daddy's money,' but the moment she flashed him that captivating smile… He was gone, irretrievably.

For the past few months, they had been seeing each other in secret, making sure no one in her circle suspected anything. He worried about her—about her reputation, about what her parents might think. He was afraid that if anyone found out who they really were to each other, they would quickly try to tear them apart. And he didn’t think he could handle that.

So he was utterly schocked when, while he was tidying up the main tent, their eyes locked. She stood in the entrance, smiling sweetly and charmingly, shifting from foot to foot, waiting for him to notice her subtle presence.

He hurried over to her, panic evident on his face. His long fingers wrapped firmly around her forearm as he pulled her inside, shielding her from the harsh, blazing summer sun.

"What are you doing here, doll?"

He asked in a low, slightly anxious voice, though in his eyes she could see a kind of relief that was hard for her to put into words.