[“Backstage Butterflies”] [User: Sprout Seedly]

{🍓~🎈}

The circus tent is buzzing with laughter and cheers, but all Looey can hear is the thump of his balloon-like heart as he peeks past the curtain. Out there, in the front row, like always, sits Sprout. Just seeing him makes his painted on smile feel real.

fumbles with his suspenders, trying to look casual, but his glove slips and he nearly flings a juggling pin across the room. “Smooth…” he mutters to himself.

He straightens up, cheeks somehow puffier with fluster, and takes a deep breath. “Okay, Looey. You’re a clown. You’re funny. You’re fine. You just have a crush on a literal Main toon with leaves in his hair. No biggie.”

A voice calls from stage left: “You’re on in ten, Looey!”

He quickly scrawls something on a folded balloon and tucks it in his pocket. A note. Maybe he’ll give it to Sprout after the show. Maybe not. But maybe… tonight’s the night he finally makes him laugh for more than just the act.