Runaways: A Romeo & Juliet Story

Chapter 26

"You know I'll do anything you ask me to

But, oh my God, I think I'm in love with you"

- Sofia by Clairo

JULIET

As Romeo drove off for that meeting with the art dealer this morning, I started missing him the minute the car went through the gates. As soon as I lost sight of him my body felt strange. Nervous. Lost. Gosh, that seems over the top. But it's the truth.

Why is love so all-consuming like this? How are we supposed to think straight about anything when loving someone means you miss them like this when they're not with you. What is the point of letting your heart feel such pain at the sight of them getting further and further away? I guess this gets easier as time goes on, maybe you learn how to be apart? It's just different because Romeo & I spend so much time together. I doubt many people go from never knowing each other to living together and spending 24 hours together... It's just hard to be apart.

Something about this morning in bed was different. It was like we'd both finally realized we're going to be okay as long as we stick together. As long as we trust each other. As long as it's us against the world. I don't know what the future holds for us but I know we'll be facing it together. I think he does too.

Evana's lessons are just not getting through to me today. My mind is on the clock and how long it will take for Romeo to return safely. The fact that he had to do this without Hammer made me nervous the minute it was brought up. But I didn't want to suggest that he couldn't handle himself out there. We have to trust each other. And we need to make money where we can.

"I'm going to make something to eat," Evana says getting up, "You want anything? A break can help this stuff make more sense."

"I'm okay. You know where everything is."

She leaves and I sit there staring at the empty page of my notebook.

There's a knock and Lysander appears with a toolbox.

"Gotta check that phone line again if that's okay?" he asks.

"Yeah sure, please come in."

"How's the lesson going?" he asks as he gets to work.

"It's not going that great but it will be fine. I'm just not in a learning mood today."

"Why's that? Missing your fella?"

I feel so childish and amateur but it's true.

"He had to go kind of far so I just hope he'll be back soon. He's gotta be on the road by now."

"Unless he needed to stop for gas or rest." Lysander suggests.

Romeo was exhausted from staying up to watch me not die. Gosh, I hope he's okay out there. I know him, he wouldn't stop to rest. He'd be trying to get back to me. Even if his body was telling him to sleep.

I pull the rosary he gave me out from under my shirt and rub the cross between my fingers.

"Didn't realize you were religious." Lysander says.

"It's pretty common in Verona."

"Well, that's true. I just meant because your family conducts their business in the drug trade. Which inevitably leads to addiction and death. Surely not part of your values."

I don't know what to say. I know it's true because of what I saw with my own eyes at the club that night but I'm stunned that he just came out and said it.