When we got right to the barrier, Beth smiled with satisfaction and sat down on the grass just behind the ribbon that signalled the line we weren’t allowed to cross. I sat down next to her, ducking my head and trying to ignore the people whining behind us that they now couldn’t see very well and were going to have to move.
I flicked my eyes around, looking for Zach, but there was no sign of him. Instead though, staff were helping put the finishing touches to the area by bringing in cars that they parked on the grass, and checking the bolts on the large pieces of scaffolding that were dotted around. The staging area looked fantastic already, and I was excited to see what Zach and his boys would do with the ropes that hung from the trees and the massive trampoline was off to one side. Just as I expected, there were no safety mats or equipment.
“So what kind of thing do they do then?” Beth asked, looking around at the crowd that was starting to form around us as people took their places ready for their performance. Charlotte sat down next to me, frowning distastefully at having to sit on the grass.
I shrugged in answer to Beth’s question. “I have no idea how to describe what Zach does. You’ll just have to watch it and see.” Luke and a couple of his friends sat down behind us. He tapped me on the shoulder, and when I turned around he held out a bottle of soda. “Thanks,” I smiled gratefully and got a beautiful, straight teethed smile in return.
We made small talk then; all of us listing the rides that we wanted to go on. The boys were whining that they were hungry already. After a few minutes a guy with a microphone walked out into the middle of the arena and smiled at the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to be entertained by this next act. I first saw them perform a year ago, and they blew my mind. I’m so excited to introduce this team of guys to you today. I know you’re going to love this and will be talking about this for days. Please put your hands together for Equilibrium.” He waved his hand to the side, and Zach and his team emerged from a large green marquee that I hadn’t even noticed.
People clapped, but not very enthusiastically. Most of them, like Beth, probably didn’t even know what they were going to witness today. I clapped loudly, putting both my hands above my head, not caring that people cast weird glances at me. Zach’s gaze roamed in my direction, and he gave me a slight nod of the head as a little smile pulled the corners of his mouth. I hadn’t seen him all morning, but I had sent him a quick message this morning wishing him good luck and telling him that I’d meet up with him after.
I grinned, dropping my hands down as they all stood in a semicircle in the middle of the arena. They were all dressed the same today and actually looked quite smart. They donned black sweatpants and a black vest that bore the name Equilibrium across the chest.
Reggie took the microphone from the announcer guy and smiled out over the crowd. “Okay guys. I hope you enjoy the show that we’re about to put on for you. As you can see, we perform without safety mats. Some of the stunts are very dangerous, so please ensure that you stay behind the ribbon at all times, that’s for your safety mostly, as well as ours. I just wanted to say, please don’t try any of these stunts at home. We train for hours every week, and still some of these stunts are dangerous even for us,” he stated confidently, as if he’d given this speech a lot of times and knew it word for word. “Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.” He handed the microphone back to the announcer guy who slapped him on the shoulder and ran out of the arena with an excited smile on his face.
Zach smiled at me one last time before walking over to the edge of the arena, the other boys doing the same to different, obviously predetermined spaces. One by one they all seemed to crouch down onto one knee and give a thumbs up signal to show they were ready. When the last guy had given his signal, the music started and then it began.
Just like the last time I saw it, the freerunning was mesmerising. I sat there, transfixed, as did everyone else. The routine was polished, daring, inventive, exhilarating and frightening all rolled into one. People around me gasped, clapped, held their breath and, on more than on occasion, shrieked. The pride that swelled inside me was enough to make me feel like I would explode with it.
My heart was in my throat the whole time, my eyes glued to one person. Zach. He looked so happy, so free. I loved the passionate look on his face and his smile of enjoyment. I watched the way he moved, so fluid and easy. I found myself noticing the rise and fall of his chest and the flex of muscles in his tanned forearms. I gulped as a wave of something seriously inappropriate washed over me. I had never been attracted to any guy other than Luke, so the feeling was incredibly alien to me. I didn’t quite know how to deal with it.
For the big finale they all did something different. Zach and Jase did some huge synchronised gymnastics style floor routine that involved so many somersaults, backflips and spins that I could barely keep up. By the time they were done I was breathless with excitement and on my feet whooping and shouting excitedly.
When they all joined hands and did a bow at the end, Zach looked out over the crowd, catching my eye and sending me one of his cocky little smiles. I chewed on my lip, watching him in awe, before he gave me a little wave and disappeared off with his group through to the performers’ tent at the back.
Once he was out of sight again I swallowed loudly, trying to get a grip of myself. When I watched him perform he kind of put me in a trance, making me feel and want things from him that I shouldn’t even think about. But I couldn’t help it. There was some kind of attraction there for Zach, I couldn’t deny it – but I couldn’t quite understand it either because I knew I was still in love with Luke.
A hand closed over my arm. “That was seriously hot!” Charlotte hissed in my ear. “Who knew that guys jumping off of stuff and doing stunts could be such a turn on! Seriously, that was incredible, and it’s made me look at Zach in a new light.”
Me too. I didn’t say those words though, just nodded because, for some reason that I couldn’t understand, I didn’t like the fact that Charlotte was attracted to Zach. I also didn’t really like the fact that lots of young girls were now hanging around the entrance to the performers’ tent, giggling and obviously waiting for them to come out.
I shook my head, trying to clear it. Seriously, what’s wrong with me?
Luke stepped to my side then, smiling his dazzling smile down at me, and I felt my face flood with heat because my insides were still quivering, and for once it wasn’t him that had caused it. “Hey, we’re gonna go hit the refreshment stand and get a burger or something. Coming?” he asked, nodding over his shoulder at his friends who were already making their way to the line for the burger van. Charlotte nodded eagerly and trotted off after them.
I was conflicted. Part of me wanted to go with Luke, but part of me wanted to go and congratulate Zach on his performance. I didn’t know what to do. “Um…” I chewed on my lip, looking back at the tent, seeing that the crowd of teenage girls was growing larger by the second. I knew I should probably stay away from Zach for a while so that I could let this feeling disperse, but I longed to run there and see him right this very second.
My mouth made the decision that my brain and heart were struggling with. “I’m not that hungry. I’m gonna go tell Zach well done.”
Luke frowned, but nodded. “Alright. Don’t go anywhere on your own though,” he instructed.
I nodded, waving a dismissive hand. “I’m only going into the tent and then Zach will be there.”
He squared his shoulders, taking a step back. “Go on then. I’ll watch and make sure you get in there okay before I go get my food,” he replied.
I sighed, loving how sweet that was. “See you in a bit.”
I turned and made my way over to the tent, hobbling a little on my ankle because I’d been standing too long on it today and it was now starting to ache again. When I got to the mouth of the tent I had to squeeze past the excited gaggle of fangirls that were standing around. I pulled back the rough material and went to step inside, but a guy with a black security T-shirt put his arm out to block my way.
“I’m sorry. Performers only. Wait outside with the others,” he grunted, nodding back at the other girls.
I smiled and shook my head. “I’m friends with them. I just want to talk to Zach,” I replied, peeking in to the tent and seeing them all standing around, chatting and grinning as they drank from bottles of water.
The security guy turned to look in too, waving me forward a step. “Guys, this one with you?” he called.
Newt and Zach looked up. A smile crossed Zach’s face as he nodded. “Yep. That’s mine,” he chirped. I couldn’t help the scoffing noise that escaped my throat at his words.
The security guy nodded, stepping to the side and pulling the cloth doorway back further and waving me in. I ignored the grumbling and whining from the girls behind me as I walked in.
“That’s mine?” I repeated distastefully as I made my way over to where Zach was standing. He grinned, shrugging nonchalantly as he chugged some more water. “You’re a pig,” I scolded, but I couldn’t help but smile at the same time.
“So, what’d you think? Like the routine? I saw you screaming like a fangirl out there. I’m surprised you didn’t throw me your panties with your number written on the back,” he joked.
I chuckled, feeling a blush creep up my neck. I had been shouting, so that was true. “If you didn’t already have my number then I might have done,” I joked. Wait, am I flirting right now? Stop it, Maisie! I decided to change the subject and hopefully that would stop my insides from squirming. “You did great. I loved it. It scared me a little in places, but it was awesome,” I gushed, looking at him in awe. “You were incredible.”
A huge proud smile stretched across his face as he dropped his eyes to the floor, almost seeming embarrassed by my praise. “Thanks,” he muttered. He turned and took hold of the back of the white plastic chair that was beside him, pulling it out. “Here, sit down. You’re limping again.” He took my hand, giving me a gentle little tug in the direction of the chair, so I sat obediently, smiling gratefully. He definitely did treat me like a princess, even if he didn’t want to admit it. He would make someone a fantastic boyfriend - if only he’d let go of his fear about his condition. “I’m just gonna change then we’re out of here. I’ll buy you a cotton candy, how about that?” he offered, already yanking his vest over his head.