ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜʀɴ

Soleil bowed to the audience, and yet again another great performance was completed by following what was rehearsed. By doing that, her father has to let her go to the arcade now. Aerial silks weren't easy but, Sol made them look flawless.

Once the curtains closed, Soleil followed the Ringmaster backstage. Desperately asking for his permission to go out.

"Dad, please—Cassandra can come with me, I won't be alone!"

"No Soleil."

"Why not?"

"What? My word isn't enough now?"

"You didn't even give me a good reason."

The Ringmaster placed his top hat on a vanity table backstage, he turned to face his daughter. His gaze intimidated her, ever since childhood. "Listen to me, no means no understand? I will let you know when you can go out but right now it is not an option."

"Dad, I-I gave my best out there and I thought—"

He raised his voice. "You thought wrong again, Soleil I'm very busy here, we cannot keep doing this."

"Okay. I get it, not today..." She lost her confident posture and now drooped her shoulders.

"Good." Her father looked at the floor, a bunch of sequins from her magician-themed leotard trailed behind her. "Looks like you have a wardrobe malfunction, you should go see the designer." Now, her father walked far from her.

She threw down the sparkly black top hat she had on and sat down on the ground, against some random light fixture backstage. Soleil ran a hand through her hair which was formed into an afro that framed her face well. The girl felt like storming out right there and then but before she could, she saw a hand in front of her.

When she looked up, she saw Cassandra, or Cassie as she affectionally called the woman who was like her mother. She took her hand and Cassie pulled her up.

"Cassie. What are you doing?" The woman pulled Sol away from backstage where many performers still were. Cassie took her to the back of the main Circus tent. Soleil thought Cassie's hearing aid had died for a quick second till the woman spoke.

"Last night I went on my nightly walk and guess what I saw?"

Sol's face lost all color, well this was it. Her fun with Eddie was over before she knew it and so was her entire existence.

"You dressed up, hoping over the fences. Explain Sol."

"I, uh, damn. Look, Cassie, I was just tired of being here all day, all I do is sleep, eat, and work myself half to death with barely a moment to even listen to some music. That's why I wanted to ask my dad if I could go out today but he says no like he always does." She felt her jaw lock. "All he does is try and prevent something we all know is gonna happen so what then? I don't deserve a good life till then?"

"Oh, Sunny..." Cassandra pulled Sol into the best hug she'd had in a while.

"You're not mad?"

"No, not at all. I understand the frustration. I know you just want to see the world, I just want to be safe about it."

"Oh, that's such a relief you have no idea."

Cassie smiled, her deep dimples showing. "You're carrying your piece?"

"Every time I go out."

"No close encounters with your powers?"

"Nope."

"Alright." She dug into her jacket pocket and pulled out a ten-dollar bill. "I heard you were going to the arcade. You can exchange this for some quarters. Have fun."

She pocketed the bill. "Thank you so much, Cassie."

"Don't mention it kid also—wear that sparkly purple dress you have with the v line with that big leather jacket."

Sol looked dumbfounded, why would Cassie even make such a specific comment like that? "Wait why?"

"You'll see." Cassandra gave a knowing smile before walking off.

That went better than expected. Soleil was no longer feeling like her head wanted to implode. She felt like strutting back to her trailer instead of storming and that's what she did.

Once she got inside. She laid out her outfit. The glittery indigo dress with a deep v-neck Cassie suggested, matching knee-high platforms, and an oversized black leather jacket. Now that the combination was laid out in front of her, she found it to suit her style a lot. Cassie knew her well.

Soleil made her way over to her makeup table and she looked at herself in the mirror. Speaking to herself.

"You are gonna go out and you're not gonna think about what your Dad says."

—㋛—

The young performer finished applying purple eyeshadow and picking at her afro. She turned around, admiring herself in the mirror. How the leather jacket hung off her shoulders was just perfect.

"I. Look. Good." Even though she was just going to the arcade, she was going to make sure she would turn heads on any occasion. And she was bound to do that at what was a hotspot for guys her age.

Soleil grabbed her handbag and bolted out the door, locking it, and jogging lightly towards the iron fence as she usually did. It was the same routine over and over again. She even saw Eddie parked in the same spot.

"Eddie!" The girl waved to him with a smile that showed her shiny teeth. Eddie nearly thought his heart stopped. Soleil looked like a rockstar to him, he barely knew what to say.

"Sol, yo—you, look great! I didn't really dress for the occasion, where we going?"

"Just the arcade Eddie."

Now the Munson boy was even more confused. Soleil dressed up this nice just to go to an arcade? And she liked playing arcade games? It was like every bit of information that he got about Sol was a shock to him.

"That is not what I thought you would say."

She cleared her throat. "I mean I'm going to England to meet with the Queen."

Eddie shook his head as they both got into the van. "The arcade it is Lady Sol."

The drive consisted of Eddie ranting to Soleil about the song Master Of Puppets, apologizing for going on a tangent, and Soleil telling him funny stories about her times at the Circus. They got to the local arcade, The Palace, in a knick of time. Sol hopped out of the van, her heels hitting the concrete.

"And that's how dyed my dad's favorite jacket green. On purpose."

"I can't even picture you doing that. What are you? The good girl gone bad?"

"You could say that, I'm not sure I was ever good in the first place."

Eddie slightly smirked. "I'm gonna go park, you got any quarters?"

"No, but, I can exchange some money for them."

"Alright, if you didn't I could've given you some."

"I always come prepared Eddie, always."

"More power to you, I'll go park the van. Be right back."

Once Soleil closed the car door, Eddie drove the van away, going to look for a parking spot. Soleil looked at the arcade. Inside, there were plenty of games she hadn't seen in over a year (when her dad would let her go and play games). She was ready to go in already.

Outside of the building, she noticed a few guys around her age that kept gawking at her, must've been wondering if she had gotten lost or something but, she embraced it, walking into the arcade-like she owned the place. 

At the front, there was a guy with the arcade's uniform on, eating Cheetos. His name was Keith as the tag on his shirt showed. Keith didn't pay much attention at first when he heard the door open but, when he heard her walk towards him he spoke.

"How can I..." Keith paused once he looked up, not even picking up another Cheeto to put in his mouth. He was instantly transported by the gaze of Soleil and that damn sparking purple dress.

"Are-are you lost miss?"

Soleil flashed a smile, which almost made Keith drop his snack. "Huh? What, no. I just want to exchange this bill for some quarters."

Keith just stared at her again. "Hello?"

"Quick, favorite arcade games."

"Uh, Super Mario Bros., Pac-Man, Duck Hunt, and Dig Dug." She paused. "Not in that order."

"So this is what love feels like..." Keith mumbled to himself, his previous crush on Nancy Wheeler had been thrown out the window.

"What?"

"Oh—ha, I said—"

Suddenly, the door opened again and this time, Eddie stepped into the arcade. To Keith's dismay, Soleil turned her attention to him.

"Soleil, did you get the quarters yet?"

"Almost," She placed the bill into Keith's clean hand and then folded his fingers over it. "Could I please get those quarters now?"

He couldn't speak anymore as he just profusely nodded and went to the back to get the girl some quarters.

"Now I understand why Cassie told me to wear this..."

Eddie stood next to her. "I think you broke that kid."

"Eh, he'll live."

Eddie couldn't help but laugh at Sol's deadpan face throughout that whole altercation. She was sick of Keith playing 21 Questions when all she wanted to do was play Pac-Man again.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing, ignore me. What are you gonna play first?"

"Pac-Man." Then, Sol's face brightened, like a lightbulb appeared above her head. "Bet I could beat your ass in Pac-Man and Duck Hunt."

"Oh c'mon! I haven't played those in a minute."

"What's that? Do I hear whining Eddie Munson?"

Eddie looked at her in disbelief. "Oh, you are on. We'll see who's the best."

In a few seconds, Keith came back with a whole Ziploc bag full of quarters that he handed to Soleil without a word.

"Thanks, Keith! C'mon Eddie, the sooner I get to beat you the happier I am."

"I will make you eat your words, Sol!"

The pair acted like two kids fighting over candy and they scrambled for the Pac-Man arcade machine. Keith lingered in the distance, admiring Sol from afar and giving a sarcastic comment to some random kid that was asking him something.

Soleil pushed two quarters into the machine and shoved the bag of quarters into Eddie's arms. She entered her name as "SUNNY" into the machine.

"Sunny?"

"It's a nickname this woman at the Circus I'm very close to calls me."

"...Can I call you that?"

Sol stared at Eddie for a moment, he didn't know what was running through her mind. "Not yet." The turned away and started to play the game as she left Eddie trying to figure out what the hell she meant by that statement.

Soleil maneuvered Pac-Man throughout the game trying to avoid those multicolored little shits that were named Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde.

"Only 4600?! There's no way I'm that rusty." She groaned and took the tickets the game gave her. Eddie reached into his pocket but Soleil spoke.

"Use my quarters, I have way too much to spend on my own anyway."

"Thanks. Still gonna beat you though." Sol rolled her eyes as Eddie reached into the plastic bag full of quarters, giving the rest to Sol, inserting two into the machine, and entering his name as "FREAK."

Soleil looked at him weirdly. "Freak?"

"I take it as a compliment now, means that I'm not just a photocopy of everyone else here."

"Fair point, show me how you'll make me eat my words."

"I will." Eddie started the game and leaned over the machine, focusing intently on beating Soleil. It was his sole motivation. He skillfully dodged and avoided the ghosts while leading Pac-Man safely and when he used all his life, Sol couldn't believe her eyes.

"You're kidding—5700?"

"I told you I'd win." Eddie gave her a grin, happy that his words weren't spoken in vain.

"We are having a re-match one day. Then, I'll beat you."

Eddie retrieved his tickets from the machine. "Whatever you say, sweetheart."

"You did not just call me that after you just beat me." Eddie started walking away from her as he died laughing. "Come back here! We're playing Duck Hunt! I know for a fact you can't beat me in that."

Soleil dragged Eddie to Duck Hunt by his hand while she didn't notice, being too blinded by her determination to win, Eddie's face was pure crimson and felt like a furnace. Life hadn't thrown him that many chances with girls before and when it did, they often weren't successful however with Soleil, with a girl who accepted him as he was—felt different, the good kind of different.

Soleil once again put two quarters into the Duck Hunt machine and turned to Eddie before she picked up the plastic gun that was used to play the game. "Watch and learn."

As the ducks on the screen popped up, Sol shot every single one of them with expert marksmanship. The constant sound of the dog in the back congratulating her for shooting the ducks brought attention. Some of the other people in the arcade, including Keith, even watched as she shot every single duck till she was finished with the game.

When Eddie looked at the score, he felt like he died a little inside. "15—15,000? Are you even a human woman?!"

Now, it was her turn for a smug smile. "Beat that Munson."

"No way, nope, not even gonna try."

"Oh come on! We had a deal!"

Soleil chased down Eddie until she finally convinced him to play Duck Hunt which, he didn't beat her in. However, Sol spotted a giant rainbow slinky for 500 tickets that she instantly knew she was going to work her hardest to get to. She ground in Duck Hunt while also playing some other games along with Eddie. Soleil even dragged Eddie into the photo booth with them both doing devil horns. The two were having a blast.

She slammed the pile of tickets on the counter at the prize collection area. Keith, who was now operating it jolted up at her sudden appearance.

"500 tickets, giant slinky, now, please."

Keith, with no hesitation, took her tickets and plopped the giant slinky in front of her. Sol scooped the slinky into her arms and started messing around with it, extremely happy with her prize. Eddie thought it was about one of the most adorable things he had ever seen in his life, Sol's almost exploding with joy made his face brighten up.

Eddie then put his 200 tickets on the counter. "Let me get the guitar figure."

Keith watched Eddie, trying to look over at Sol as he took the tickets then, he reached up on the shelf and sat a small figurine that was a replica of James Hetfield's guitar. Eddie eyed Keith as he left the counter.

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah." She said still playing with the slinky.

The two walked to the front door which Eddie held open for her, they couldn't leave without Keith telling Sol to come back soon. As they walked back to the car, Sol couldn't stop talking about all the fun she had.

"I don't remember the last time I laughed like that! I seriously can't thank you enough, Eddie."

"It's no problem..." He said a permanent smile etched onto his face.

"And even though I hate to say it, you are an okay Pac-Man player."

"You know what, I'll take what I can get."

They spoke joyously, all the way to the car even halfway through the drive back to the now-closed Circus. If this wasn't the time of Sol's life, she didn't know what was. Eddie had shown her more fun in only two days than she had seen the whole of last year. That was saying something.

"My uncle came home just as I had just broken that vase—" Eddie's speech was interrupted by a low growl coming from his stomach. He turned slightly pink as embarrassment started to grow. "Oh, guess it has been a while since I've eaten."

Soleil noticed Eddie's hand twitching as he held the steering wheel. His thumb was twirling a ring he wore on his free hand to calm himself.

"...If you want, you can come with me. I can make something. I haven't eaten in a while either."

Eddie rose an eyebrow. Now, this girl was inviting him to her house? He thought Sol had gotten sick or something.

"Are you sure? I'm fine—"

"Yes, I'm sure Eddie. C'mon, we can make some classic blue box mac and cheese while listening to Kiss or something." Soltied to get him to agree as she didn't want the night to end.

"Okay, I'll come with you."

"Yes!" She said to herself. "It'll be some of the best basic mac and cheese you will ever have in your life."

Once Soleil had finished her sentence, Eddie pulled up to the front of the Circus. The brilliant lights that were once on now were put out as most of the Circus performers slept in their mobile homes. Eddie pulled off to the side and parked the van in the trees. Sol and he then hopped out of the van.

"Follow me," Sol said as she slung her bag over her shoulder and looped the slinky around her arm. Eddie let her take the lead as she hurried off to find the iron fence that ran along the Circus. Once she was in a few of the fences, she prepared herself to climb them. Eddie was baffled by how she had managed to do that in heeled boots. He followed after the girl when she started to creep across the forest green patch of land till they got to Soleil's trailer. She rustled through her bag till she found her keys and then, she opened the door, letting herself and Eddie in.

"It's so colorful in here," Eddie said as Sol locked the door and turned on one light, he took in every aspect of Sol's living space.

Sol went over to the kitchen sink to wash her hands. "Isn't it great? Alright, wash your hands then we can get started."

Eddie did what he told her to as Sol went over to grab a record from her collection. It was a Kiss album, Dynasty to be exact. She took the record and placed it into the player, turning the volume down to a quiet but still enjoyable level. I Was Made For Loving You played again just like when she did her performance. Then, she washed and dried her hands.

She started to hum to it. "I don't know how anyone can physically dislike this song." She dug into her mini-fridge for cheese, milk, and butter. She took the box of mac and cheese from the small pantry and a cheese grater.

"This your favorite song?"

"How did you know?"

His eyes followed her movements. "What do you want me to do?" Eddie asked her almost clueless about where to start, it wasn't like he hadn't made box mac and cheese before but for whatever reason, it was like all information had gone blank from his mind. Just like that.

"Grate the cheese. I'll boil the water." And so, the two set off to work on making some quick late-night dinner, adding in all the ingredients, and finally when the food was done. They sat down and ate with Kiss playing in the background. Soleil studied Eddie as she finished her last bite of food.

"What? Something in my face?"

She snapped out of it. "No, just thinking about how you'd look really good with Kiss-style face paint."

Eddie's mouth parted a little thinking about what she just said. "Seriously?"

"Yep, mhm, you look like a rockstar for sure. Like you were the lead vocal and guitar player of a world-renowned band."

"I am in a band."

"No way!"

"Yeah, it's called Corroded Coffin."

Soleil got up from her seat and crouched down to Eddie's side. "That's so cool! What kind of music? I know it's metal but is it heavy or thrash? Or maybe it's not metal—"

He slightly laughed at her eagerness, Eddie was charmed that someone was so interested even more so, this girl who looked like the opposite of a would-be metalhead was here asking him the type of metal his band played.

"We do a little bit of both and some rock."

"Okay, now I need to what you look like with Kiss face pa—" Sol calmed herself down, feeling like she was laying it on way too thick. "Uh, that's only if you want to."

Eddie now got up suddenly. "You know what, let's do it."

Soleil could hardly contain herself as she rushed Eddie to her vanity table, sitting him down. Then, she dug through her vanity drawers to pull out the white, black, and silver face paint along with a couple of brushes.

"Someone's well prepared, hey were you secretly planning to start a band inspired by Kiss?"

"You're on a roll tonight." She laughed as she opened up the white face paint and started to get to work. First, she covered Eddie's face fully with white paint then, she painted two black lighting bolts that ran down his face, and finally, she highlighted the bolts with silver paint.

"Done!" Eddie looked at himself in the mirror, he couldn't stop staring at his face—he loved it.

"Sol...I love this. Oh my God, I look amazing!"

"Like Paul Stanley in the flesh." She laughed as Eddie started to impersonate Paul Stanley on the guitar, singing Detroit Rock City. She looked over at the table where she left her giant slinky and the photos the two took at the photo booth. She got an idea.

While Eddie was goofing off, she ran to her bed and pulled a big empty shoe box from under it. She put the box onto the table and then put the giant slinky and the photos they took into the box. Eddie now gazed over at her, not understanding what was happening.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"You'll see." She went over to get the vanity drawer and looked for a black marker. Using the marker, she wrote on the top of the box, "MEMORIES OF THE BEST MONTH EVER"

"Now, I can hide this stuff for my dad and keep all these good memories in one place."

"So...that means you wanna do this again?" Eddie came up to her side.

"Eddie from what I've done with you, I want to make so many good memories that I can barely remember them all."

"...You want me to be the person you spend all that time with?"

Soleil didn't answer she just simply smiled at him, that was answer enough. Eddie's face hurt from all the excitement that was pent up inside of him. He felt like he could do seven laps in an Olympic swimming pool.

"And I've been meaning to ask you."

"Ye—yeah?"

"Can you show me how to play D&D?"

For a second there, Eddie thought he was gonna melt into one big puddle.