Runaways: A Romeo & Juliet Story

Chapter 23

"Look into my eyes

Can't you see they're open wide?

Would I lie to you baby?

Would I lie to you? Oh, yeah

Don't you know it's true

Girl, there's no one else but you?

Would I lie to you baby, yeah?"

- Would I Lie To You by Charles & Eddie

ROMEO

I'm so tired. Even when I do fall asleep I wake up from another nightmare. Memories and visions of Verona come at me fast and I have to claw out of these nightmares every night.

I thought about taking those pills I had for my ribs, they knocked me out. But I think I have to feel this guilt. I deserve every second of it.

It's the afternoon and I'm making a sandwich. I'm making a mess actually. I lick some mustard off my fingers and notice my tattooed ring - it healed pretty quickly and the color is still pretty strong.

Juliet comes into the kitchen with this weird energy. She closes the door and we never close that door.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Look, I don't think it's true, which is why I'm just coming out and telling you."

"Okay...what is it?" I say, getting worried.

"Evana said that one of her girls from the other night said she made out with you at the club."

"They what?" I laugh.

She looks like she's going to cry.

I rush to her. "You have to know there's no possibility of that happening. I'm known for my numbers, sure, but I never cheat." I laugh, mistakenly trying to lighten the mood.

Her face says she's not impressed.

"Juliet, I would not risk everything in my life, my family, for someone I could betray like that."

She looks at me and I can tell she believes me.

"Okay."

"I love you." I say, hugging her, "What's Evana playing at? Why share stupid gossip? I'm going in there."

"No, don't. She's just being protective. I could tell she didn't want it to be true."

"We can't let these new people get between us. We have to be careful. Being out like that, it makes people think they can get to us. Maybe Evana's being a good friend but whoever lied to her is trying to mess with us."

"Everything is so intense."

"What do you mean?"

"I just mean, nothing's simple or safe. We can't trust anyone but each other." she says.

"That's what leaving meant."

"I know. I guess there's the act of leaving and then there's all the things we left behind."

"What can I do?" I say, because I really don't have the answers.

"I don't know. I'm sorry I ever considered you'd cheat. It didn't feel right. I do know who you are."