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“Grandirls--and guys--get fascinated with hi But he’s not relationship material”
“Minya likes him” Kelsey watched Theo’s partner do solanced at Minya, then away Kelsey studied theuage “So, are they a couple or what?”
Jason rolled his eyes “I’ll go with or what You’re probably better off not knowing”
“What does that mean?”
“I ether You, on the other hand, are very nore”
“Well-adjusted? Really?” Kelsey frowned “Thatto train at the Cirque, Kelsey had the sinking feeling she was hopelessly dull co focused and responsible had worked great for her in the world of coymnastics, but now
“Kelsey, you are a breath of fresh air,” Jason assured her “Too ets old” He finished with her other leg and shook his head “What is this place, when two Californians are the most nor her twist and warm up her arms and shoulders “While we’re on the subject, I would also avoid the parties he and his cronies attend”
Kelsey frowned “Drugs?”
“God, no You know they test here Thereforethey get their thrills in other ways, and Theo happens to be one of the ringleaders He’s not a nice guy”
“He doesn’t seem that nice”
“But he’s good at trapeze One of the best in the business”
“So I should admire him professionally, but avoid him socially”
“Like the plague”
Kelsey laughed “Okay, I’ly about this”
“I just think you should be concentrating on your training right now This is a transitional tih hopes for your future, but you have to give them what they want”
“Do you think I haven’t been concentrating ondamn hard Ow!”
Jason ruthlessly worked at a knot in one of her backLet’s keep it that way New people soe shenanigans I call it the circus underbelly I’ve seen o down”
“Really?”
“Yeah, way down”
Kelsey looked around at the asseer called out “Ten minutes to animation!” None of the performers looked especially dissolute or sealance at the object of her obsession
“Don’t worry,” she said, shrugging away fro chances with anything right now”
“Genevieve says you can take Marisol’s place in just a feeeks, if you feel ready How are things going with you and the other acrobats?”
Kelsey turned to take in the group of Argentinean tu the routines okay They were certainly within her physical skill set The greater challenge was growinginto the coentineans were a s spark plug She didn’t even speak their language She looked back at Jason and shrugged “I just need practice I don’t feel ready yet, but I’ll get it”
“Yes, you will” Hecareful attention to her joints “You can do all the things Marisol does Easily It’s just about getting into the rhythroup”
“And learning Spanish”
“Sí, querida It will come If you want to stay with Cirque du Monde, it wouldn’t hurt to learn French and Russian too Mandarin, if you’re really ah, then es
Kelsey lay back with a sigh and stared up at the bea ducts painted in red, orange, blue, and fuchsia Kelsey had on a si with her puffy blue plastic wig Her light blonde hair was tucked securely underneath Her makeup was just as involved as the h for now she was only an extra, cavorting during act changes and helping move equipment
Kelsey was anxious to get involved in one of the actual acts, but in the circus, you paid your dues and worked your way up In the world of gy it as far as a US Oly to step in fo
r someone else But she was here The Cirque du Monde Isn’t that what she’d wanted? She was tired of being the good girl, the disciplined Olympian She was as creative and passionate as anyone else, and she was eager to let that side of herself out into the light That’s what she’d said during her intervieith Genevieve, the director of the show
Now she just had to get it done
Kelsey sat up and looked around, noting that only Theo and Minya weren’t outfitted in rainbow hues He was stark black fro neededhis natural hair was black aswhite and yellow bodysuit studded with crystals and topped off by a wig of fiery orange hair For perforhts, to stunning effect
Theo took his partner’s hand, and Minya looked up at him sideways Kelsey couldn’t see her expression Was she s? Theo looked at her so intently What must that feel like, to be the object of his undivided attention?
“Three er’s voice booe area Kelsey shook off her horny daydrea, tearing off the edge and upending it A sue Across the rooer at her, but she didn’t care It was her pre-show ritual The tart sugar was the taste of her drea true
Kelsey pranced through her roles in the production, enjoying every er Spotter Minor roles, but each necessary A sler pull her stuff off the stage, Kelsey settled down in the shadows of the wings to watch Theo and Minya’s act at the top of the vast auditoriuether and a cable pulled thehty feet in the air to the bird’s nest They checked lines and the balance of the bar, and the act began