When it Happens

Chapter 19

After our big talk, Nate and I continued to be friends, and soon enough, we were back to normal. I couldn't ignore the throbbing pain in my heart whenever I saw him, wanting him again so bad. It was just like last year when I didn't know if he liked me so I kept my feelings all tied up and tidy in a little box. However, this time around, I knew he felt the same way for me. I was just hesitant to put myself out there, in fear of getting hurt again.

Soon enough, May came and senioritis started to kick in for most of us. Finals had already passed, why did they have to hold us here just until the end of the month? Everybody found it stupid. We didn't need to know the stuff we were learning to prepare us for the next stage of life- that's what college was for!

I walked into History that Wednesday to find Nate scurrying to finish the book our English teachers had assigned to us- the classic, Romeo and Juliet. 

"Shame. We were supposed to finish that yesterday."

He looks up from his reading. "I know. Ms. Dickey gave me until today, but I forgot. This book's stupid. It must've been a piece of cake to get famous back then. Anybody could've written a sappy love story and become a legend in those days."

"But-" I say. "It's Shakespeare!"

"But nothing! He got famous from a lack of talent from the people of his time."

I decided not to argue with him on the subject anymore. If we're being honest, he had a point. I take a seat in my chair in front of him. "Whatever. Lucky for you, I'm a big reader and understand the whole thing. Want a summary?" 

He answered by closing his book, a big, goofy grin coming across his face, and I started. "So, In Italy, set in the old days, there's this ongoing feud between Romeo and Juliet's family: the Montagues and the Capulets. Romeo's in love with this other chick but he goes to Juliet's masked party anyways, unaware of who Juliet is. So he goes to the party, meets Juliet, confesses his love for her-"

"Woah, he confessed his love for her and he only knew her for a night? That's ridiculous."

"It was love at first sight, and times were different back then. Back then, couples didn't have to deal with the embarrassment and lack of confidence teens nowadays do."

"No way. I'm still not buying it. You don't know who you love as soon as you look at them."

I shrugged. What did I know about that? "Well then yadi-yadi-yada, their parents forbade their love, so they decided to elope, but there were problems, so the friar suggested that Juliet use a potion which makes her fall asleep for two days. So, she takes it but Romeo doesn't know this. He goes to Juliet thinking she's dead, and he's so heartbroken, that he kills himself. But then get this: When Juliet wakes up from the potion, she finds Romeo really dead, so then she for real kills herself."

"What the hell! Kinda makes me wish I had read it."

That following Friday was another party at Fryer's, which would basically be our last hoorah before we all graduated. I knew this wouldn't be the party that brought out all the emotions, for everybody knew it'd be the end-of-summer one that would bring tears to almost all's eyes.

For this get-together, I had chosen something subtle but eye-grabbing. I chose a pink short-sleeved metallic dress with my converse and I blew my hair out straight. I grabbed my hand wallet and began to head downstairs after I applied perfume, cherry red lipsticks, and mascara.

Once Shannon beeped on her horn, I yelled goodbye to my mother and ran to her car.

For the past few days, I felt like I had been pushing Mom out of my life. I didn't know why either because she was basically all I have. Apart from her and Bobby, my father was dead, my mom's parents died and my dad's parents don't talk to us anymore, my parents were both only children so I have no aunts or uncles... It was just us.