Here We'll Stay |Gnomeo and Juliet Short Story|

Part VII: Secrets, Lies, and a Broken Promise

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

The couple was paralyzed as their eyes landed on the person who had caught them. They never expected the day to come when someone from either garden would discover them. How he even got here was beyond them, but that didn't matter right now. He saw them here together, he saw them kiss. Judging by the look on his face, he wasn't going to take it well.

Gnomeo felt himself starting to panic, but he tried not to let it get the best of him. He couldn't just sit there in silence while his best friend stared at him in horror. He had to do something, anything.

"Benny, mate, listen." He spoke, outstretching his hand to his terrified cousin. "I— I can explain!"

But Benny wouldn't have it. He had seen enough, he didn't need to stick around any longer. Of all the Blues that could've betrayed their garden, he never would've expected it to be Gnomeo. He was the son of their leader for christ's sake! After everything he'd been through, after all these years of fights and retaliation, he still chose to be with a Red.

In Benny's eyes, he was now nothing but a traitor. By hiding here with this girl, he chose his side. He chose those bastard Reds over his own family. After everything they did to him, to their garden and to his own father, he was still choosing them. Benny couldn't handle this. If he couldn't trust Gnomeo, who could he trust?

Still in shock, Benny darted away, leaving the couple to take in what just happened. Gnomeo tried calling out to him, but it was no use. He was gone, running off to do who knows what with the information he now had.

Juliet quickly scooted off of his lap, breathing heavily as the realization hit her. That they had just been seen, and their secret was out. The one thing they tried so hard to prevent finally happened, and there was nothing they could do to change it.

"What do we do now?" She asked, desperately hoping he knew a way out of his—even though she knew he was just as lost as she was.

There was no doubt Benny was going to tell the other Blues what he had seen, and possibly get the Reds involved as well. Gnomeo knew he couldn't let that happen, he just couldn't. He had to stop Benny before he opened his big mouth and ruined everything. Convincing him to keep quiet wasn't going to be easy, but he had to try.

Deciding not to waste any more precious time, Gnomeo stood up, "Just wait here, I'm gonna sort this out with him."

Juliet wasn't so sure she was on board with his plan. She didn't know Benny, but she did see the look in his eyes when he saw the two of them together, and she knew that was the look of a person who wasn't going to listen to reason. "But Gnomeo—"

Before she could protest, she was silenced by a quick kiss to the lips. "I'll be back, I promise." He assured, gently caressing her cheek before running in the direction his friend disappeared to.

Juliet stood up as she watched him leave. Sounds of thunder tormented her as she wondered what she should do now. She wanted to trust him, but she knew he didn't have much control over the situation that was about to occur and if anything bad happened to him, she would never forgive herself, especially if she wasn't there to try and stop it. He shouldn't have to deal with this alone. It was their relationship he was trying to protect, after all. She was involved in it, too.

With no time to lose, she ran towards the shed, deciding to get some help. "Featherstone! Shroom!"

—

Benny ran as fast as his legs could carry him, feeling a tornado of emotions sweeping him away from rational thought. He couldn't even begin to comprehend what he just witnessed. Why, just why did it have to be Gnomeo? His own cousin, who was more like a brother to him. They grew up together, pulling pranks on the Reds and swearing vengeance on them for what they did to Lord Bluebury. He would've never imagined Gnomeo would turn that all away just for a girl.