Juliet & Romeo

1. Thirsty for Revenge

Juliet 

“Are you sure this is safe? Tybalt was killed less than a week ago.” – Sara, asked nervously for a hundredth time. Sara is, as my parents put it, my ‘personal maid’, or, as I prefer, my closest friend.

“Yes, I know that Tybalt was killed not so long ago, Sara, but no one will recognise me in this part of town. So, yes, I am sure this is safe enough!” – snapped. We were walking along the street which was in the part of town belonging to the Montague family.  My parents would be furious if they knew that I was hanging out here, just after Tybalt had died at the hands of Montague, but I can’t just sit in my room in my over-protected but mostly empty house, while Romeo Montague, the bastard that killed my cousin is somewhere out here. Besides, I like dangerous adventures from time to time.

I looked over at Sara, remembering that I was a bit too harsh with her, and noticed her damp eyes and wet trails of tears on her cheeks. Sighing, I said “Sara, look, I’m really sorry for snapping at you. I know that you’re worrying about me, and,” – I paused, deciding whenever I should continue or not, choosing to go with it, “I do know that you had a crush on my cousin, but right now, let’s concentrate on a matter at hand, which is getting my revenge. On getting our revenge.

“I know that this is very dangerous for us to be here, but, Sara, I am armed with Tybalt’s gun.” – I patted the front pocket on my jeans, which contained the said gun, hiding it under my mid-thigh long jacket. “If you’re afraid and you do not trust my shooting skills, than I think that you should go home now.”

“No, no way, Miss, will I ever leave you here all alone by yourself! I may be a coward, but I ain’t gonna leave you as long as I’m able to breathe!” – Sara cried.

“Hush, Sara, someone might hear and then we will be in trouble…” – I warned my friend, who was immediately silent.

It was when we crossed yet another street, walking aimlessly, that I heard smirks and male laughter behind me. Sara then began to turn around, but I nudged her forward and mouthed “Keep walking.” After all, we weren’t that stupid to get into trouble for nothing.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here? What do Capulet’s housekeepers are doing in this part of town? Oh well. Come here, we have something for you to pass to your ‘Sir’.” – said a low and a little slurry voice, pronouncing ‘Sir’ with pure hatred and disgust.

I swiftly turned around and saw a group of drunken men, in their early 20’s.

“Who do you think you are to tell me what to do? And don’t you dare to talk about my father like that!” – Mostly because of his disrespect towards my family – and me – not because I really cared about his feelings about my father, I yelled at the guy closest to me and Sara. He had shaggy red hair, nice brown eyes, broad shoulders and pretty looks, but he was really short – shorter than my 5’9. That’s when I noticed the gun in his right hand.

Sara tugged at the sleeve of my light blue denim jacket and whispered into my ear very quietly, as not to be heard by others “That’s Benvolio Montague. Romeo’s cousin.”

“What? Juliet Capulet herself? No freakin’ way!” – He dropped his jaw so low, I truly thought he could swallow a whale.

Benvolio Montague? Perfect. An eye for an eye.  

I looked over my shoulder at Sara, and mouthed to her “Go. Now.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Benvolio. But if you want to leave past today, know this – I do not take orders from anyone.” – I warned him, quickly taking out my – no, Tybalt’s – gun. No, this was not the right time, nor place for a duel, but I was sure he’ll shoot me before I could move a foot. So I shot him first, without aiming – getting a bullet into his leg.

I didn’t wait for his friends to shoot me back. Instead, I run in the opposite direction from where Sara had went, taking a longer way. Sara knew where to go if something like this happened. After all, I was the only one carrying a gun around – though I think she had some kind of a pocket knife, but what good will it do in a gun fight?

I didn’t stop running until I reached the church house belonging to Father Laurence. There, Sara and I would be safe from Montagues’ guns. I hope.

I hesitantly pushed the back door open a fraction and glanced inside. It was suspiciously dark and quiet in the back hallway. I opened the door wider and stepped inside.

Moving through the hallway, I suddenly felt a pair of strong arms locking around my middle, stopping me cold. Before I could cry out for help, a gloved hand clamped over my mouth. My eyes widened in horror, as I realised that I can’t reach my gun. Panic shot through me, as I felt the unmistakable barrel of a gun pressed against my temple. Has Benvolio found me already? My blood froze in my veins as an unfamiliar husky voice, hot against my bare neck, whispered, "Don't move."