Love at the Fair

One week

Blake

It’s been a week since thunder field and I've purposely kept my distance from Clarissa so I can finish my jobs. With the first spot down we have the power rolling and I was in the building doing all the custom paint work we had planned on our rides I finished tilt, swings and bumpers today because they all had the same premise of paint work being done and it was more cost effective to spray it in one swoop.

I’ve learned over the last couple years my parents lost a lot of money trying to repair and fix items that weren’t worth the time and energy. I taught myself to weld and basic electrical work to cut cost of hiring outside sources for minor repairs to our generator trucks and rides. My dads really great at rehabbing old rides that’s seen better days and he was starting to teach me how to do basic repairs on Bally cloths and resign horses because we still have an old school merry go round that’s almost all original pieces

My father takes a lot of pride In our merry go round and he loves to put it front and center with the classic midway tunes to draw in the crowds hearing that music makes you think of the fair.

I watched with pride as my father shows it off to committee after committees for the souls purpose of bragging.

Our shows small but we manage it well all our rides are annually inspected and treated with pride our off season every ride sits in a well insulated cubby on our shop property for easy access for repairs and elements of harsh winter weather rusting it down.

My dad got me a tilt a whirl when I was 12 because I said it’s what our show was missing he had no plans to add more stuff to our company but I learned everything about that ride the first year we owned and am the only one who repairs it paints it and puts it together every season it’s my favorite thing ever gotten.

Clearly I love my life most carnie kids leave to explore other things but I feel morally obligated to this place and honestly I’m happier here it’s the same thing every season and I know our route well.

I miss Raquel though but I understood her need to leave especially after my parents had issues with her self identity I decided to text her while I was sitting by myself behind the shop and see what she was into.

Hey poot where you at today? B

Booger is that you your not shoved up satans ass today? P

Har har your hilarious actually just finished the customs paint work on three rides taking a breath thought I shoot you a text..B

I’m in a airport got about 45 minutes before my flight going to England again for a shoot it’s actually a reshoot but it’s a free trip score ..P

Wow you still sending me your current work I keep everything for you so you can come get it when your ready..B

I don’t think I’ll ever be ready Booger they need to apologize to me before I’ll ever step back in town and yes sent a box yesterday with latest work ..P

Poot I still love you regardless of how they feel…B

WhAts gotten into you carebear says you got eyes on someone what’s that about …P

Oh bullshit she didn’t tell you that who you talking too…B

Seriously carebear she says a new girl came on this season from another show and has worked everyone under the table and you can’t take your eyes off her…P

Has she also told you that she’s been up her butt basically since she’s arrived carebear has an actual friend and I’m not making eyes at her she’s a terrible distraction and I find myself drifting off when I’m around her what do I do I avoid her she’s a plague…B

Lol booger are you crushing on a actual female coworker wow I bet Satan and her royal highness are living for this your so uptight …P

Listen poot it’s not like that when I get over whatever this is I can refocus my energy and get back into the swing of s**t …B

Booger don’t fight it embrace it maybe you need to release your energy into her wink wink !!!…P

Omg I’m so done with you text me when your back from England Poot love you …B

Clarissa

Today marks a week after Blake grabbed my wrist and express interest in me. My heart nearly dropped out of chest when he apologized and spoke to me. As long as I’ve lived and done this work the men don’t apologize or show appropriations for the crew they work with. So many things this small show did wasn’t cost efficient or even balanced to get the most of they’re resource’s, my knowledge and know how seemed to really help at least from my perspective.

Kelly took me shopping Monday to get some basic essentials I came with clothes and a couple things but with my new bunk room I needed everything like I was starting over. We went to target Tony and Ronnie tagged along and I felt like they were my best friends immediately we went to a really nice sit down lunch and had time to just be a girl and it was nice. My dad refused to let me hang with the crew so I naturally assumed it was normal but here on this show the owners enjoyed my company and they praised my work ethic. I felt happy and welcomed.

I got back to the lot and walked around and met a few more of the crew I hadn’t met yet along with some of the girls I work with husbands and boyfriends a couple of the guys stared me down and made me feel extremely uncomfortable but I learned a long time ago trust my gut and walked away with little to no words spoken to them. The years I’ve been doing this you just know. Mellow became a fast friend but she wasn’t in being a food or game girl she ran her kiddos coaster and was perfectly content doing it.

So you really don’t do food or games mellow

Nah I’ve been here since I was 17 they tried putting me there but I couldn’t keep up and I just felt out of place so they let me loose in kiddie land and I tried running all the rides and the coaster and I became a thing and now I’m mellow coaster

That’s awesome i replied as i walked with her around the shop.

it became our thing we put on our leggings and oversized and wrapped our hair in buns and walked the shop lot to exercise. Ive always been conscience of my body and what I put into it and what I need to do to not get mushy working on the road, for a carni kid i cannot do fast food it makes me beyond sick.

Mellow do you think they let me put a mini fridge in my bunk room I cant do all this fast food Ive been so sick and I hate to be a burden to anyone.

oh Clarissa its ok they dont mind its very family homey atmosphere seriously just talk to kelly or tony about what you need and they pretty much get you whatever or take you where ever.

i like that its actually really nice change of pace.

I got a phone call about two days later from Granny Gene , she's the only one from my Floridian show who had my personal number in case something happened to my dad and I've literally only been gone 12 days today.

Clarissa baby its granny

Hi granny I know I had your number saved in my phone so if you called me I knew to answer

That's right I forget that stuff sometimes, Boss been looking for you he got wind you left the show and didn't let them know and he is on a war path cause he said you cant join other shows without his permission.

Granny did you tell him where i went.

baby he don't even know we were friends so don't worry about that, however i cant take it anymore your daddy and boss man been going ape s**t since you walked away thinking you got kidnapped. Couple of the new guys told him that wasn't the case they saw you willingly walk away a few days ago with duffle bags and a backpack.

granny do you feel safe or do you need me to send you a bus ticket to join me.

I'm ok for now baby but chances are granny going to go home or come find you on my own i cant do this s**t here that's for sure.

Granny they wouldn't know how to handle this dynamic duo of Florida crew.

hehehe that's funny love you little girl save me a spot granny might be there sooner then you think.

love you too granny most defiantly ill talk to boss lady now and see if you can be used.

thank you baby but i already called them and warned them too that boss man was calling shows looking for you talking s**t saying your a thief and drug addict.

WHATTT that's horse s**t that really puts a bad vibe out about his show that he hires that type of person who does that granny seriously.

its ok baby I already told them none of that was remotely true your boss he already knew that your literally the most kind hearted calm person his met to date and was really glad his wife decided to hire you i took that as a sign to ask for a job and he said absolutely if I work anything like you and i tooted my own horn and said who do you think trained her. Made him laugh he is getting me a ticket Sunday to get there after we make it Greenville so I can leave I'm laying low until then.

I cannot wait granny I miss you so much your literally the only person I miss too.

bye baby companies present walking the midway

I hung up the phone without saying goodbye because my voice alone would give granny away and she has her ways of making her business her business and anyone who bothers her she goes the hell off making them feel sheepish for appraoching her thats how she became my friend in the first place.

I walked the grounds again alone for my nighttime walk thinking the crew had left for dinner and walked up behind the shop and sitting behind it was Blake in all his shirtless glory focused on a conversation he was having in his phone he had a small smile on his mouth and seemed relaxed. I wanted to approach him but kept pace with my run and ran past him and acted like i didnt see him. he looked up just as i passed smelled the air and looked in my direction he adjusted his pants and watched me run the rest of the route around the shop. he leaned against the building and just watched me. His eyes are so sinster as they stare in my direction i miss stepped tripped and rolled my ankle. I dropped to the ground to grab my ankle and within seconds he was standing over me

guess I'm not the only one who gets distracted by someone else presence

I snared at him and tried to stand up shittt s**t shit

ohhhh you ok you look like that might hurt a little

I'm fine just rolled my ankle when I tripped

try to stand up new girl

I blew out my breath and said under my breath my names clarissa I stood up shakily and started to walk towards my bunk hobbling along next thing i knew two very strong muscled arms grabbed my legs out from under me and picked me up

how about i take you to your bunk and get you some ice

as soon as my body hit his chest i melted and sighed, what the hell is that reaction stupid body this boy is not going to get my attention. he walked me to his house trailer instead of mine set me down on his picnic table and walked into his house and returned with a ice pack and some Tylenol a bottle of water and some chocolate

he smiled widely at me chocolate fixes everything Clarissa

my name on his lips sounded eerily seductive and my body reacted again, jebus Christ body what the hell I looked down immediately as the blush crossed my cheeks at the terrible thoughts that crossed my mind.

Thank you Blake I'm sure I'm fine I'm a runner twisting my ankles comes with it when I loose concentration.

His smile widened again So im creeping into your thoughts huh intresting intresting

Cicily told me to stay away from you

She's just salty I don't find her attractive that's what happens with people my parents have working for them a long time they think they can tell me what to do or try to help by over stepping employee employer boundaries

Oh , Im not use to having five seconds of anyone's attention so I'm not really sure how to act here

Well you could look at me first of all and I incited the conversation so maybe lets just talk and get to know one another while you rest your ankle.

my heart flutter the minute i looked at his face and saw genuine fascination with me, i stammered as my words lef tmy mouth and i couldn't stop them

jjjjjebus Christ your so hot

his wicked smile and his eyes glazed over so you think im hot got it feelings are mutual ris feelings are mutual

Llllort your going to get me into trouble your my boss technically i cant be into my boss is crosses all kinds of boundaries

Ris I'm not your boss until your ready for that for now I want to be your friend so maybe I can focus and walk past you and not loose all train of thought.

Ris huh so your already giving me pet names fascinating i can do friends but your still my boss

his sinister smirk and laugh came out of nowhere

Your funny everyone keeps saying your a riot to be around and my sisters tell my im uptight

Why

I take being in charge very serious and my parents expect a lot out of me so I expect a lot out of myself I never relax or hang out Im always working on machines checking everyone its, its mind numbing familiarity

I get that its why I left my Florida show I couldn't take it anymore between my dad and his crew I had no privacy and was constantly chastised for not doing more work even if I done everything

his jaws clenched and anger flashed across his eyes

Did I upset you Blake you seem angry

You didn't do anything Ris we went from light hearted conversation to deep really quick and Im angry for you at how you were treated

I reached out and grabbed his forearm and just lightly caressed it to calm him down he didn't jerk away but he stiffened at my touch he growled at me and said How can a week of getting to know someone affect me so much I don't understand it and all i can think now is at all cost I'm protecting you.

tears ran my cheeks and i responded by grabbing him around the neck and pulling him to me for a hug he grabbed me hard and didn't let go for a long time he relaxed his muscles into my body and i in return did the same

my god you smell good what is that smell

I smiled into his shoulder and whispered lavender and vanilla