Free Once (Gypsy Fairy Tale) by Dana Michelle Burnett

tried to watch the performances, but at the end of each act, I caught myself watching the opening for a glimpse of him. I clapped methodically for each new act, but I didn’t really pay attention until Kieran’s father stepped back into the center of the ring.
    “And now, ladies and gentlemen, the part of the night you all have been waiting for,” he said with a sweep of his hand. “Prepare for some Irish magic...”
    He stepped aside as the black haired girl wheeled the table with a bright green box on top of it to the center of the ring. She opened the front and the back to show that there was nothing inside.
    As she moved away the fire eater stepped up with her flaming torches. She danced and spun around, lighting the box on fire.
    The black haired girl stepped forward again and held up her fingers as if she were counting.
    One... Two...Three....
    The box burst apart and there stood Kieran as the flames at his feet died away. He bowed again and again as the crowd cheered.
    As he straightened, Kieran scanned the crowd and our eyes met.
    I didn’t move, I barely even breathed, as the cheering crowd faded away. I couldn't hear them anymore. It was like when I was little and used to slide partially under water in the bathtub, all I could hear was the sound of my beating heart and the echo of my shallow breaths.
    Kieran...
    He snapped out of it just as his father and assistants noticed his distraction. He went on with his act, but again and again our eyes met and each time I got that same underwater feeling.
    What’s happening to me?
     

Chapter 11
     
     
    As the show came to an end, a cloud of smoke and flames that lit up the inside of the tent and heated the faces of the audience.
    The performers took their bows in the spotlight of the center ring. They join hands and stood in a straight li ne, bowing deeply altogether and then separately. One by one, each stepped forward and took another bow.
    I wanted to look for Kieran in the line and watch him take his bow, but everyone around me stood up to applaud the performers. I tried to see over people, but even as the crowd was still clapping, other people were lining up to leave.
    I sat back down, letting the crowd go ahead of me. I saw no point in rushing to the exit just to stand in line to get out.
    A feeling of disappointment hung over me as I sat there. Everyone else was making their way down the bleachers with happy smiles on their faces, but I just had this overall sense of disappointment.
    What am I doing? What did I expect to happen? I’m just being silly...
    “So how did you enjoy the show?” A voice beside me asked.
    I jumped to see Kieran sitting beside me.
    “How did you do that?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
    He smiled and with a wave of his hand, produced a single white daisy.
    “Magic,” he said with a wink.
    I took the flower from him and rolled my eyes, “That’s your excuse for everything.”
    “So it is.”
    “You’re not going to tell me how you did it, are you?”
    “No,” he said with a laugh. Standing, he offered me his hand. “But I will buy you dinner.”
    “Dinner?”
    “Yes dinner, traveller style.”
    I looked up at his handsome face and glittering green eyes. I didn’t hesitate.
    “Sure,” I said, taking his hand. “Why not?”
    Kieran led me down the bleachers, walking easily from row to row while I struggled to maintain my balance. He guided me out of the tent and into the dark night.
    Outside, most of the people that came to see the show were already gone. There were just a few families, struggling with their sleepy children. What people were left moved a little faster as a rain scented breeze blew through the fairgrounds.
    Kieran didn’t let go of my hand, he pulled me along to where the food vendors in their odd service caravans were cleaning up and shutting down for the night.
    “Frankie,” Kieran called as we approached a hot dog stand. “Got anything left in there?”
    The burly man poked