Runaways: A Romeo & Juliet Story

Chapter 19

"When you're all alone

I'll reach for you

When you're feelin' low

I'll be there too"

- Apocalypse by Cigarettes After Sex

ROMEO

Juliet wiggles out of answering me when Hammer interrupts us.

"Evana, the tutor, can come by tomorrow. Does that sound good?" Hammer asks.

Neither of us speak at first, just staring at each other, stuck.

"Um," I say, clearing my throat, "Tomorrow is good for me. Juliet?"

"My schedule is wide open." She says and then walks by us both and out of the room.

"Did I interrupt something?" Hammer asks.

"Nah, man. You're all good. Have the tutor come by, it'll be good for us."

Hammer agrees and leaves me alone.

I spend the rest of the day in that storeroom in the basement sorting through our heirlooms wondering what I might be able to (in good conscience) sell. What would be worth the scolding from my parents one day maybe in the future. It is possible we would never see each other again or spend time together again so maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe I have no choice.

I'm also here avoiding Juliet and giving her space at the same time. I don't think it's a good sign that she won't tell me what she really felt and thought when she heard I killed Tybalt. She has to tell me or we can't move forward.

When I told her I killed Paris she had a different response. But this is her cousin, her kin. It's finally sinking in for her that she's married to her cousin's murderer.

She doesn't come down for dinner and when I go up to bed she's asleep or pretending to be. She really doesn't want to talk about Tybalt. I go to bed and I don't say anything. I can't push her. I don't even know if I'm ready for the truth.

In the morning she's up before me. I get ready and join her downstairs. Hammer is already with her.

"Morning Romeo, Evana is almost here." Hammer says, as Juliet hands him a plate of toast with jam.

"Good morning." I say.

She looks up and smiles. Wow she can't even open her mouth to say 'good morning'?

Hammer leaves us alone and Juliet starts to tidy up.

"We can't do this." I say.

She keeps tidying and I get closer. "Please, Juliet."

"I don't want to talk about Tybalt. I'm sorry. I don't think I'm ready. That's all I can tell you."

"What are you afraid of?"

Hammer knocks on the open door and presents Evana. She's tall and maybe thirty. Reminds me of my mother's aunt, her youngest sister.

"Lovely to meet you both." Evana says, shaking our hands.

"Thanks for coming here." Romeo says, "And for following the security protocols."

"Ah yes, the blindfold. That's new but I understand. And Hammer has a good reputation in town so I figured why not." Evana says with a shrug.

♡♡♡♡

We set up our classroom in the study.

I haven't actually been in here much. It reminds me too much of my father. It's his style. Cold and with a lot of hard edges.