Runaways: A Romeo & Juliet Story

Chapter 3

"'Cause you make me feel like

I could be drivin' you all night

And I'll find your lips in the streetlights

I wanna be there with you,"

- Run Away with Me by Carly Rae Jepsen

ROMEO

We're on the road again and my lady's flipping through a magazine. We're really doing this. I don't feel as scared as I probably should. I look at her and all I know is I'll do whatever it takes to be with her.

She gets this huge smile on her face. I try to peek over at the magazine and she pulls it away.

"Come on. What's so interesting?"

"Okay fine. It's a quiz called '10 questions to get to know your man better'. It's stupid."

"Those things are stupid."

"But we do need some entertainment. How far is the Montague property?"

"Fine. Let's see what these questions are." I say.

She gets excited, kicks off her shoes and crosses her legs on the seat and settles in.

"First question: What's your most worn item in your wardrobe?"

"Oooh, interesting, are shoes considered wardrobe?"

"Sure."

"Then these Jordans." I point to my feet.

She looks down at them.

"Do you have a big sneaker collection?"

"You never heard?"

"Heard what?"

"I have the largest and rarest collection in Verona. They wrote about it in the paper this year. Those shoes are everything to me."

"Well I see that Montague money is being put to good use."

I reach over and tickle her and her legs kick out. She bangs her toes on the dash.

"Ouch!" She reaches forward and rubs her foot. I lean forward and direct her stubbed toe toward me. She turns and I kiss her foot.

"Better?"

"A little."

"Only a little." I kiss it again.

She pulls her foot back and then leans towards me and kisses my cheek.

"I love you."

"I love you." I say and I mean it. This time is unlike any other. Not even Rosaline. It's weird how quickly you realize the difference.

"Next question. Which family member are you closest to..." she trails off. "You don't have to answer that."

"No it's ok. It's just...I considered Mercutio my family. Can I say him?"

She reaches across and brushes my hair with her fingers. "You can say whoever you like."

"Mercutio is the one I am closest to." I feel tears rising up and want to hold them at bay. "Next question."

She's unsure if she should move on, she can tell I'm this close to crying. But she returns to the magazine.

"Ummm," she looks at me and then back at the magazine and takes a deep breath.

"What?" I ask.

"How many people have you said 'I love you' to?" Her eyes are focused on the magazine. I think she's scared to look over at me. To be honest I'm scared to look at her too. I know I'll tell her the truth and the truth is not entirely accurate looking back.

"Do you really want to know this?"

She nods.

"Including you, three." I look over at her and she's still keeping her eyes glued to the magazine.

"Ok great. Next question..."

"You don't have any follow up questions?"

"No. I mean of course you've had other loves. You're far more experienced than me. I heard things. But it's no big deal. Unless you think it is?"

"I just want you to know, I know now that what I felt for those girls wasn't love. It was lust. Infatuation."

"How do you know this isn't any different? We moved so fast."

I don't know how to reassure her.

"Look!" She points ahead in the road. A hitchhiker with a duffel bag holds his thumb out.