A collection of intricately painted backdrops were scattered at the edge of the path, each depicting a different scene. One showed a sweet looking mermaid in an underwater paradise, one pale hand extended toward the viewer. Another showed a large castle, edged by a wide moat rippling with ominous shadows. A dragon hung in the sky above it, jaws parted to release a wave of flame upon the highest towers of the building.
The one that pulled at her was neither of these, but a depiction of a circus. The backdrop was in the shape of a sprawling tent, coated in thick layers of bright colors. Molly reached for the scene, letting her fingertips dance across the rough surface of chipping paint spread over splintering wood.
"Attending the circus?" A voice drifts from behind her, low and edged with a hint of teasing laughter. Molly spun to face the speaker and found herself meeting an almost familiar gaze. He was tall, though nearly everyone was compared to Molly. Strands of shaggy black hair spilled across his features, almost obscuring his eyes before being shaken away with a toss of his head. She had seen him before, but she couldn't quite place where. A smile spread across his face as he spoke again. "Can I ask you a question?"
Molly found herself nodding before she could stop herself. Her gaze tripped across his features, taking in every last detail of his face as he parted his lips to speak again. Perhaps it was his proximity or maybe it was just a lack of sleep, but Molly suddenly felt a bit light-headed.
"You're at a festival, right?" Another nod from her, this one a bit slower as a faint hint of confusion spread across her face at the question. "What are you doing over here in a dark corner in front of a picture of fun instead of actually partaking?"
A blink, and then Molly gave a shrug of her slim shoulders. Her gaze drops away from his, returning to the circus beside them. She stayed silent despite his question, her shrug her only response to his banter.
“I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you. You just looked so… I don’t know. Forget it.” For a moment his confident expression faltered, giving way to one of embarrassment as he began to turn away.
“Wait, no, I’m sorry.” Molly reaches to catch him before he turns, fingers wrapping gently around his wrist to stop him from moving away. “I was just heading home, and the pictures distracted me. That’s why I’m over here.” She tacked a smile onto the end of the sentence, the faint curve holding a hint of apology.
It takes a only a moment for a forgiving grin to break out across his features and he turns to face her once more as she releases her grip on his arm. “Headed home so early?” His gaze flicks to the still darkening sky and then back Molly as he waits for an answer.
“I was supposed to meet some friends but they bailed. I enjoyed the activities, I ate the food, I’m going home.” Sarcasm tinges her voice as she rattles off her list for the curious stranger. His face cracks into a grin at her words before he barks a laugh. “Can I convince you to do one thing, at least?”
Molly felt an eyebrow rise at the question and she took a slight step back from him. Her arms lift to cross defensively over her chest as she narrows her eyes into a sharp glare. “What do you want, exactly?”
“Wait, no. Nothing like that, I swear.” His own hands lift, though his gesture is one of protest. “I just want to show you something. It’s known to make even the roughest days better.” He offers a reassuring smile to Molly as his voice tapers off. He reaches out a hand to her, stretching towards her without actually making contact as if to leave the few final inches up to her.
Her head tilts to the side as she considers his offer. Go with him or stick with her plan to return home? Her teeth catch the soft flesh of her bottom lip, sawing at the skin for a moment before Molly lifts her hand to meet his.
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