Loving You (ManxMan)

Chapter Four

It's been a week and everything was going according to plan. It's Saturday and its three hours until the show begins. Alfie stands by the side door, beside the Big Top where three huge security men in all black were stationed. He sees Arjun and Fatima before they see him. When they do, they wave and he waves back in return.

Arjun had on a pair of jeans and a white button down shirt, his hair fell to his shoulder and his one week old bear trimmed neatly. Fatima, looked beautiful as usual. She had on a grey hijab, lip gloss on her lips, loose blue jeans and a flower print shirt that matched her hijab.

"You keep looking beautiful every time I see you."

Fatima laughed and shakes her head. She smiles before replying. "You keep flattering me every time we meet. I've got to say, Alfie, I'm an engaged woman and I can't leave Arjun for you." Fatima teased as she playfully glared at Alfie.

"Bro, you better back the f**k up."

"How many time do I have to tell you never to call me that?" Alfie whines. "Never mind, why don't you and the lovely lady, go and have your seat while I get ready."

"Is Dan going to be here?"

"Dad is on his way. Do you think he'd really miss any of my shows?"

Fatima and Arjun laugh. They talk for a few more minutes before they were ushered inside. Alfie still waits outside, he wanted to see his dad before the show began. He spots his dad weaving between the crowds and smiled giddily when his dad waved back.

"Why are you still out here? Isn't the show about to start?" Dan asked as he pulled Alfie into a tight hug.

"I wanted to watch you go in."

"Are you okay? Do you want to talk? We can find a qu-"

"I'm okay, dad. I just wanted to see you before the show started. I'm fine. I promise."

Dan doesn't believe it. He runs his eyes over Alfie's body, checking for injuries or any sign that he was or had been hurt. Everything seemed okay.

"Is this about the boy who shall not be named and the kiss from last week?"

Alfie lets out a chuckle. "Dad, this isn't Harry Potter and Crisanto isn't Voldemort."

Dan huffed at his son. "A couple of weeks ago, you didn't even want to hear his name and now," Dan spreads his arms wide and gives Alfie a pursed look. "here we are."

Alfie laughed and shakes his head. "Dad. I've got to get ready. Why don't you go to your seat?"

"Fine! But you're going home with me today. It's been long since you came home. I'm a lonely old man and I need company."

Alfie lets out a snort as he bursts into laughter. "Dad, you're 39. You're still young and a couple of performers have told me a disgusting amount of times that they'd do anything to get into your bed." Alfie makes a face of disgust and shakes his head as if the thought would fly out and be blown away by the wind.

"Nah. I'm okay. I have you, Netflix and the farmer's market."

"It's okay if you want to date. I'm okay with it."

Daniel shakes his head. "Why don't we talk about this later?"

"Fine but don't think I'll forget."

--

Alfie rolled the thigh high nude sock up his leg and stands up. He had on a pastel blue wig, a pair of contacts the same color as his hair and a white body suit. He looked so different. But yet, yet he still looked like himself.

"Five minutes until show time!" someone yelled as they passed the small corridor. Alfie takes a deep breath and lets it out. He was ready. He slides his socked feet into white flipflops and made his way towards the back stage.

"You're gonna do great!" Ryan says as he passed him by.

Standing by the edge of the stage was Callum Scott himself. He looked even better than he was in the papers. He gives Alfie a smile and a wave, the mic still in his hand. Alfie gives him a friendly nod and climb up the stairs. Like he had told his father, this show was going to be a bit different. They weren't going to perform songs but instead, a couple of celebrities would come and entertain the crowd.

Immediately the audience saw Callum walk up to the stage, they went wild. When he started to sing though, they fell silent. Immediately he starts singing, Alfie jumps of the ledge and grabbed his hoop, just as he had practiced. Half way through the song, the lights went out and the candle which had been given to the audience upon entrance were lit. It was breath taking.

Alfie tries his best to do as he had done in all his successful practices. When he does his double flip through the hoop, the crowd goes wild and Alfie could help but smile brightly. It was quite an invigorating feeling. He moves in time with the song and spun his hoop around at the right time.

Time flew by as he performed and before he knew it the song had come to an end and he was swinging upside down by a leg. He was panting, his chest rising and falling with each breath he took. It felt like his heart was about to burst out of his chest. During his performance he had decided to keep his head blank, just like he had been doing during practice for the last week and it had worked, he had only managed to smile because of the crowd. The standing ovation he had received had made his heart swell with pride.

He drops onto the net underneath and goes to stand near Callum, the two of them giving a bow to the audience. He quickly walks back stage and waited. Everyone always performed together at the end of a show, it had been what had made BlackBorne the most talked about. The circus was also one of the most popular attraction for tourists and people from other countries. The fact that no show was ever the same also prompted BlackBourne to be the number one and the best of the best.

A couple of hours later, Edwin walks into the arena with his elephant, Jerome with his lions and Precious with her snakes. Everyone walked out and they had sang in their loudest voice, thanking the audience for coming today. Alfie had waved and kicked at the sand a little as he danced. He pushed his hands into his hair and moved his waist from side to side, earning a bunch of wolf whistles.

--

Cleaning off make up took time and energy. Alfie doesn't have that and he has half the mind to sleep with it on. He grabbed another wipe and rubbed his cheeks again, the foundation and powder coming off. Like always, he had gotten flowers delivered to him after the show. They were not as much as Rowena –the tallest woman or Tutu –the bearded lady but he loved them anyway. He had a large number of flower bouquet sitting in his small dressing room and it was making the place smell heavenly.

He finally got his face cleaned, pulled off the body suit and socks and slid into a pair of black Capri pants and a black shirt with Sixx AM on it. He had pulled off the wig and the contacts and put them in their respective places. He waved good bye to everyone and simultaneously congratulated them for having a great show. Like he had promised, he found his dad waiting for him at the car park and beside him were Arjun and Fatima.

"You were amazing!" Fatima gushed as she pushed a bouquet of flowers into his hands.

"Thank you." Alfie replies, a light blush on his cheeks and tip of his ears.

"You really were amazing!" Daniel nods as he pulled Alfie into a tight hug again.

"You were gorgeous up there, especially when you did that thing with your hand grabbing your toes. You've got to teach me how to do that." Arjun teased, a warm smile on his face.

"It's just yoga."

"I can't believe you just called that just. Even Fatima can't do that."

Fatima playfully hit Arjun on the arm, earning a round of laughter from Dan and Alfie. Someone cleared their throat behind them and Alfie stared at the security standing behind them with his flowers. He had forgotten the man was there. He quickly stuffed the flowers into the car and thanks the man for helping. Alfie, Arjun, Daniel and Fatima talked for a little while before they parted ways.

"I'm so proud of you." Daniel says softly when they were halfway home.

"Thank you, dad."