Chapter 4

After Pomni left the night before you decided to take the time to truly get some shut eye. At least in your dreams you were able to partially escape and visit the real world. Even if deep down you knew that your dreams weren't reality. It was comforting in an odd way once you woke up from them in the middle of the night. Like returning from an escape or vacation only to mourn it when you realized you were right back in the circus each time you woke up. Despite tossing and turning you had a restful sleep. One that calmed and soothed the nerves.

That is... until you truly woke up.

Your door slammed open making a loud thud,"Rise and shine my budding star!! It's time to get this show on the road."

You groan as a booming overly enthusiastic voice spoke above your sleeping form. You rub your blurry vision until you see Caine floating above you, "Caine?" you look at him confused. You wondered why he'd barged in so suddenly. That question drifted out your mind as a groggy anger from being suddenly woken up took over your mind.

"Wh-WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM?" You abrasively clutch the covers over your half naked form, only for Caine to yank them off.

You gasp at the cold air that meets your skin. And your nipples slightly hardening at the sudden change in temperature, but he doesn't have time to react before realizing you'd taken off your dress. His eyes wandered over your form as he pieced together the fact you were only in underwear. Almost lingering longer than they should've.

The realization hit that he was mere inches from you in this current state. Both of you blushed and he began glitching out. His eyes twitched in blue and red hues before reverting to normal. Once he semi regained composure out of embarrassment he immediately teleported away.

You scrambled to get dressed, tripping over your dress as you run out haphazardly. Running into several objects on the way out the door. You pause for just a moment after running out into the hallway and yell, "Caine???"

After receiving no reply your shoulders slump forwards in defeat.

You whisper to no one in particular, "Where'd you go?"

Pomni and Jax walk over from their rooms, both looking around for Caine as well slightly confused. Assuming he was nearby after you called out for him. Jax shrugged after not finding him from a quick scan and Pomni looked back confused and slightly concerned, "Is everything alright, y/n?"

You sigh, "Yea it's just Caine woke me up for something then disappeared on me. I'm gonna go check the main area for him if you guys wanna join."

Jax, "Sure why not, got nothin' better to do around this dump." The purple bunny rolled his eyes. Pomni lightly punched his shoulder and he held it while looking away grumpily.

The three of you wander into the main area of the tent. You spot Zooble and Gangle in the main seating area with Kinger. They seemed to all be talking about something... they were...playing a game of charades? You began to hear their conversation after getting a bit closer.

Kinger waved his hands around in the air excitedly, "OOO OOO !! I know what it is." He puffed up proudly about to announce his guess.

Zooble looked over at Kinger with slight annoyance, "It's not a—"

Kinger, "lightening bug!!" His hands shot in the air.

Gangle sighed as she buried her face in her ribbon hands. As the three of you approached they all looked over. Gangle panicked at the sight of Jax. Instantly feeling the need to protect her comedy mask. She scooted a bit further down the couch towards Zooble for protection.

Zooble noticed the three before returning back to the game at hand, "For the last time it's not a bug!!! Why do you always think it's a bug?"

Kinger let his hands fall to his sides, "Awww" he looked disappointed once more. Clearly having had this discussion several times already. Ragatha placed a hand on his back to comfort him. She smiled gently, "it's okay we can keep guessing, don't give up yet!"

Jax strolled over stepping in front of you and Pomni, "I hate to interrupt your oh so thrilling game, but have you guys seen Caine?"

Zooble leaned back on the couch and threw her arm over the back side behind gangle, "Not sure if we can say saw him or caught a glimpse with how fast he was flying. Bubble wasn't too far behind yelling something about 'well how was it? Did you last long?' Caine just yelled something back about the circus being age appropriate. That it was just an accident, and how he just wanted to go on some adventure."

Jax laughed, "What the hell?"

You grumble, "I think... I might know why. This morning —" you suddenly get cut off by a loud enthusiastic voice yet again.

"WHY LOVELY DAY WE ARE HAVING YES. YES. YES INDEED."

You jumped back startled at the sudden intrusion. Only to realize Caine was now floating beside your head and practically yelling in your ear.

Zooble tried getting up to leave before he suggested an adventure. Ragatha screamed at the sudden appearance, "Where did you come from?!!"

You rubbed the temples of your head to soothe the ache starting to form. Jax side eyed Caine, "So what's this about you not lasting long Caine?"

Pomni giggled trying to stifle her laugh with her hands and looked away. Jax smirked after getting a reaction out of Pomni.

Ragatha hopped of the couch, "Jax!!" She tried to shut him up before saying anything else to upset their ring master. Not trying to make today's adventure a torturous one. "Shut up!"

Bubble popped into existence, "If you didn't do anything does that mean you chickened out of—" Caine immediately popped bubble before they could even finish their sentence. Everyone now looking at Caine with their eyebrows raised.

You begin to speak again, "Why did you come into my—" sadly Caine interrupted AGAIN.

"ANYWAYYYSS back to today's thrilling adventure!!!" Caine waved his wand making bubble text appear spelling out road trip chaos.

"Hey you can't just—!!" Caine zipped your mouth shut making you unable to speak. You began grabbing at the zipper now over where your lips used to be. Frustration growing by the second. Jax just began laughed while Ragatha began telling Jax this was his fault.

Caine then tipped his hat as he opened a portal forcing everyone in. You all get sucked in and land on top of one another next to a ten lane highway. One by one you all got up and dusted off the zipper on your face now gone. Before you could begin yelling the loud blaring horn of a truck driving by drowned your voice out. A few feet away in the closest parking spot was a singular charter bus. (Large traveling bus similar to a tour bus for road trips for anyone who doesn't know what that is.)

Caine was floating above the bus and pointed to the roadway, "Todays adventure calls for all hands on deck!! Yooouuu'rreee taking a great roadtrip across the old good ol' US of A!!! And you have to make it from the east coast to the west coast while taking as many pictures and videos as possible to appease your loyal fanbase, meeee!! ( And bubble.) You have until this hour glass runs out. And your journey staaaarts!!!" He randomly manifested an hour glass and flipped it upside down on the dash of the bus, "now!!"

And just like that Caine was gone. You furrowed your brows in frustration as he disappeared once more, "What is up with that guy? It feels like every interaction we have is on his terms."

Ragatha sighed and Zooble chimed in, "Because it is. And how did I even get sucked into this?"

Gangle smiled, "This actually sounds kind of nice though." Zooble thought for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Jax hopped up in the drivers seat and slammed his hand over the horn, "Hahaha heyyy!!!! This is AWESOME!!!" Pomni sat in the passenger seat closest to him smiling at his excitement.

You board the bus with the others as Kinger messes with the intercom system, "Next stop!!!! Florida!!!" Pomni smiled nervously, "Uhhh we're already in Florida." Kinger stared ahead with an empty look, "oh." His eyes drifting in different directions.

You all giggle as a group. Everyone seeming to look forward to the trip ahead.