All Fall Down by Ellie Marney

Author:Ellie Marney [Marney, Ellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Young Adult, Contemporary, Dark YA romance
ISBN: 9780648088547
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 41888928
Publisher: Bearded Lady Press
Published: 2018-09-30T23:00:00+00:00

Seven

Marco and I are walking to the Spiegeltent together.

We kissed, and now we’re walking, and this is all perfectly normal. I actually have no idea what is happening, because kissing Marco has temporarily short-circuited my brain, and I’m pretty sure Marco inhaled the scent of my hair as we left the laundry, but we’ve made it out onto the Parade Road before either of us did anything (else) crazy-stupid. But he insists on walking close, and my breathing jacks higher every time we make contact.

I squint against the light as we walk. ‘Marco, stop that.’

‘Stop what?’

‘That.’ Our arms brush again, in what could almost be a casual way, and I goosebump all over. ‘That. Ohmigod, stop it.’

‘I just kissed you. Don’t you think you’re being a little over-sensitive?’ He glances at me, the corner of his mouth twitching. Then he nods at Gordon, one of our resident sword-swallowers, who’s across the street.

‘I’m not over-sensitive.’ I yank the strap of my bag higher. ‘You’re doing this on purpose. People will notice.’

‘Settle, Petal.’

‘You are the most frustrating person in the world right now.’

Marco just grins. I somehow manage to restrain myself from elbowing him in the gut.

I try to get my lights chugging back on by asking obvious question. ‘So someone on the lot is the saboteur? You think it’s someone within this circus?’

‘We can’t be sure.’ Marco grimaces. ‘Not a hundred percent. But it’s certainly pointing that way.’

‘What’s the new information?’ It’s the same idea Mitch and Eugenia and Daddy and I had originally: that the sabotage is internal. I couldn’t wrap my head around it when Eugenia first suggested it, and I’m still having a hard time. ‘And…why would someone do that? Why would anyone deliberately destroy the carnival? Wreck their own livelihood?’

‘I don’t know, Petal.’ Marco shakes his head. ‘Let’s just get to the Spiegeltent, we can catch Mitch and Eugenia there and chat about it.’

‘Gabriella is sitting with Daddy. I should go back to the van and–’

‘It’s sorted. I’ve arranged for Ren Putri to take a shift with Terry. She said it’ll give her a chance to do some exam study.’

‘Oh. Well, okay.’ I’m touched that Marco has taken my new invalid-nursing schedule into account. ‘Thank you for setting that up.’

He shrugs, like it’s not a big deal, and somehow nudges against me again. I blush and stumble. This self-consciousness I feel around him now is making me as uncoordinated as a baby giraffe. Finally, we make it to the tent.

The backstage area smells of the midway: top notes of engine oil and the tang of fireworks layered over the lingering scents of greasepaint, performance sweat, and the smell of old popcorn. The sounds of people talking are muted by the stage curtains, and there’s a dull clang of equipment. Through a gap in the material, I see Lee conferring with Bennett as they check a practice area in the ring for the acrobat spot.

Marco guides me around to the right. Mitch and Eugenia are there, talking over the small table lit with a desk lamp that serves as Bennett’s station during performances.

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