Hey Everyone! sorry about the hiatus, but I'm back and I'm going to finish this thing! Thank you all my loyal fans for sticking with me and I hope you enjoy!

The sun peaked over the houses just enough to shine straight into my eyes. I raised my forearm to shield myself from being blinded as a walked the 4 blocks from the bus stop to my house. It was my last day of my first year at a local Uni. I went straight to Uni after graduating high school to follow my dream of becoming a chef of a fancy gourmet restaurant. Remember the movie, Ratatouille? Yeah, I wanted to be the rat.

"Layla!" my boyfriend, Steve Leonard's voice pulled me from my thoughts. Steve and I have been friends since we were young kids playing basketball in the park. It wasn't until our 12th year did we start dating. Steve is possessive and controlling, but that's only because he loves me.

"What the hell?" he snapped, "I've been calling after you for two blocks."

"Sorry," I winced, "I have a lot on my mind."

"No doubt thinking about me, huh?" he chuckled. I just rolled my eyes and smiled, he was so full of himself.

"How about you come over to my place for awhile?" he offered, putting an arm around my shoulders. I bit my lip in thought, I knew what he wanted to do and what lengths he would go to get it

"I don't know, Steve…" I trailed off. Steve was sweet almost all of the time, but when it came to sex he would press the matter until he gets what he wants. Unfortunately for him, I haven't given in yet and I don't plan on doing so anytime soon. I felt really bad, though. Whenever I say no he feels like I don't love him, but that isn't the case. I'm just...not ready.

"Come on, Lay," he pleaded, "just for a few minutes? I bought some new posters that you'd love to see!" I couldn't tell if he was lying or not but I didn't want to hurt his feelings so I agreed to go with him. I texted my mom to tell her I was going to Steve's and would be home later. I entwined my fingers in his and let him lead me to his house.

He wasn't lying; he had new posters of old horror movies hung up on his wall. He showed me his new Arachnophobia poster and I laughed. When we first met, we watched that movie because he thought that I, like most girls, was afraid of spiders. Little did he know that I loved spiders! They're interesting and beautiful and sometimes dangerous. Steve like to say that I'm a spider because I'm thin and lanky and I like wearing dark clothes, but I could put down most anyone who stood in my way. After he showed me his posters, he sat on the bed and patted next to him to tell me to sit down. I sat on the bed and curled up next to him as he snaked an arm around my waist. It was nice, a lot different than being asked again and again to "take the next step". Steve lifted my chin so that his lips met mine and kissed me passionately. He's never done this before and I would've been concerned if he hadn't turned my brain to mush because of that kiss. His tongue grazed my bottom lip, begging an entrance and I parted my mouth to grant it to him. His tongue explored my mouth and he started kissing me with more need and hunger. It felt so good and so right; but everything was ruined when he started to take off my shirt. That's when I pushed him; not just away, but off the bed! He fell with a loud thump and glared at me as if I did something wrong. I didn't say anything; I just left. As a walked down the stairs, his mother asked if everything was alright. I didn't even make eye contact. I grabbed my bag off of the kitchen table and walked out there front door. My eyes were misty as my blood started boiling and anger flowed through my system. Why was I was denying what he wanted? Everyone has sex so why am I so scared? I wiped black streaks off of my cheeks, my mascara and my eyeliner hopelessly smeared. I looked like a train wreck, but, thankfully, nobody was on the street. It was dark out now, my phone said it was 8:46. I started to walk a little bit faster, I hated walking alone at night.

"Take one," A deep voice came out of nowhere. I jumped and let out an audible gasp. I gazed up at the man who was holding out a piece of paper toward me. He was tall…and I mean really tall, about a foot taller than me. He was wearing a cloak with a crazy top hat covered red and black stripes. I could've been mistaken but I could've sworn I saw a scar running down the left side of his face.

"I apologize for frightening you," he said solemnly, he gave me a sickening smile so I could see his almost too white teeth, "Please, take a flyer." He jutted his hand forward, in it was a purple and green flyer. I eyed him wearily and wasn't going to take the flyer, but curiosity got the better of me so I took it.

"Cirque Du Freak?" I wondered aloud, "what's that?" I turned to the man but he was gone! I looked all around me but he was nowhere in sight. I looked at the flyer again and only one thing crossed my mind at that moment: I am totally going to this show!