I quickly slipped into the clown's costume which was a whacky, rainbow coloured outfit with frills at the end of the sleeves and pants. The makeup artist coloured my face with white paint and a bright, red ball was fixed on my nose. He pulled my hair into a right bun, setting it neatly with hairspray. My skin felt chalky, my head hurt for the tightness of the bun and the ridiculous clothes were itchy. Still, I felt like I was on top of the world.

"Georgia," I heard Clark's voice and I whirled around.

"How do I look?" I wiggled my eyebrows confidently, inwardly cringing at the feel of the crumbling paint.

Clark just nodded and said, "Ian and I'll be in the audience, you just have to appear on stage."

"What should I do? Maybe juggle with knives or play with fire---"

"That's what you're not supposed to do. You can dance around or make faces like you usually do. Just don't do anything stupid, okay? I don't want you doing anything that will hurt you," he said with a hint of sincerity in his voice and my eyebrows rose high up.

He cleared his throat and quickly added, "I meant that I don't want you to . . . Just don't do anything stupid."

"But---"

"Listen to me for God's sake, don't make me regret allowing you to do this shit. Just don't," he warned me and I scowled.

* * *

I ignored Clark's warning because it was mundane if I did not seize this golden opportunity. That was the purpose of me being a clown. Besides, it would be fun seeing Clark's reaction when I would do something extraordinary. But, I didn't know what extraordinary I had to do. So, I finally decided on doing a somersault as the entry act and cartwheel as the exit act which was lame as compared to what I earlier thought- riding on a lion.

I entered the stage while doing a failed attempt of somersault which made everyone laugh since I looked comical with funny music going on. They thought my failure was on purpose, but believe me, it was not. Still, I was happy they were laughing, so I laughed along too merrily and straightened myself while doing a thumbs up. All people applauded and my eyes landed on Clark.

Ian was cheering me by clapping in awe, but Clark glared at me when I continued grinning at him. Now, all the spectators' heads turned towards Clark, to see who was the special one I was grinning at. Clark was clearly embarrassed by all the attention. He glared, shooting daggers at me and sank lower and lower in his chair.

"So my dear ladies and gentlemen, I would need a volunteer for what I'm going to do. Who's ready to volunteer?" I asked loudly and everyone raised their hands enthusiastically. All except for Clark.
"That man in the corner seat, come down please," I deliberately pointed at Clark and he looked mortified. "Yes, you sir. Come down, will you?"

Ian gave a little, encouraging shove to Clark who was glaring at me intensely which nearly made me freeze. I cracked a huge grin as Clark sulked when all the audience cheered him to go on stage. Slowly, he got up and strode towards me.

"What is your name, sir?" I asked Clark and he scoffed when a microphone was handed to him.

"Clark," he muttered unwillingly.

"So Brownie-uh Clark, I want you to help me with a tongue twister. Isn't that fun?" I exclaimed and people whistled.

"No," he cut off the cheers due to which a very uncomfortable silence surrounded us.

"Well, you're a grumpy old cat, aren't you?" I awkwardly laughed and stomped Clark's feet to which he remained unaffected. "Now, let us start with our tongue twisters, shall we?"

"Yes!" Once again, the boisterous audience encouraged us.

"Okay, I want you to repeat this after me, but a little faster," I explained to Clark who shook his head.

"No," he denied in a hushed tone, so only I was able to hear.

"Come on, please. It's my birthday present," I whispered desperately and slowly he nodded in defeat.

I smiled triumphantly and said, "I'm not the fig plucker. Nor the fig plucker's son. But I'll pluck figs, till the fig plucker comes."

He sighed and murmured bitterly, "I'm not the fig plucker. Nor the fig plucker's son. But I'll---"

"It has to be faster!"

"Fine. I'm not the fig plucker. Nor the fig plucker's son. But I'll fuck pigs, till the---"

"You nasty!" I interjected and everyone burst out laughing. Although it was not that funny, Clark's priceless expression was worth making a meme.

Clark flashed a tight smile and went to sit back. I continued with some of my jokes and finally, it was my cue to exit. I bent down to do a cartwheel and halfway through my exit, my hand twisted, my neck tilted, my legs wobbled and pain shot through my body as Clark and Ian came rushing towards me. Apparently, I got myself a ticket to the hospital.

* * *

"Ugh . . . Where am I?" I rubbed my eyes and stretched my body.

"Hospital," I heard Clark's raspy voice and my eyes fluttered open.

"What happened? We were in the circus, right?" I asked feeling groggy and woolly-headed.

"Right, but then you pulled off a stunt and you got a catch in your body. It was nothing serious, but the way you were reacting was . . . " he trailed off, but from the expression on his face, I could see how exhausted he seemed.

I looked outside the window, the sunlight spilling in the room. "What time is it?"

"It's ten in the morning," Ian announced as he entered the room.

"What? Ten! I slept the entire night here! No, no, no. I missed my eighteenth birthday evening and it's never going to come back," I cried out, realizing how bratty I sounded.

"You were really in pain yesterday with that catch, so we thought you could just rest here. How do you feel?" Ian asked in concern and I snorted.

"I feel like crap, but thank you guys for looking after me. I just need coffee and I'll be fine - shit, no!" I cursed as I realized once again that I had to meet my brother and his girlfriend Ally in an hour.

"What happened?"

"I have to go," I said hastily, getting up with little effort.

Ian caught my arm. "Are you sure? Does it hurt now? And where do you have to go?"

"I'm alright, a simple catch can do me no harm. I have to meet my brother at the coffee house near his university," I said, washing my face in the sink. It took me more than ten minutes to rub off the makeup. I could see my skin looking bumpy from the harsh chemicals.

I was still in my clown's costume and imagined what the doctors might have thought when they treated me yesterday.

"Okay guys, let's go. I hope you two don't mind dropping me off. And after that, I'll be living with my brother and his girlfriend at their apartment before returning home." I wiped my face with a spare towel and stretched my body again.

"Good riddance," Clark muttered and walked out.

* * *

The coffee house was an enormous place like a canteen basically. Clark went to grab coffee for us and Ian insisted to tag along with him as if he was avoiding something. All the way till here, Ian acted a bit shady. It almost convinced me that he was not keen on entering the coffee house. I shrugged those thoughts away and stood by the door, eagerly waiting for Zach and Ally.

"George!" I heard a high-pitched voice and I looked up to be engulfed into a hug by Ally.

"Finally you guys are here," I mumbled against her silky hair and pulled away.

"Hello dipshit," I greeted Zach and did a cool fist bump.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't---"

"Save it, I'm not hurt that you ditched me," I said dismissively and they smiled apologetically.

"Ally?" Suddenly, I heard a hoarse voice from behind me and coffee cups rolled beside my feet, spilling all the coffee on the polished floor and staining my sneakers.

I whirled around and my jaw hung wide open. Clark fervently cupped Ally's cheeks and she froze. Zach's eyes were also wide in shock and I glanced at Ian who stood beside Clark. A flicker of regret and guilt passed his face and my eyebrows knotted in confusion.

What was going on? Did Clark and Ally know each other? But how? Did they have a long history? Then there was Zach and Ian in the picture? Did Ian know what was going to come? Why didn't I know about this?

Find out in the next episode of Keeping Up With Lying Assholes.