Juliet & Romeo

4. Sparks Fly.

Romeo

“Thank you, for saving me from Paris.” – Her voice was so soft, her breath tickling my neck. Just the reminder of the cruel man’s hands on her had me tighten my hold around her waist. How could he touch her? He better not come near her ever again.

“Why is he here?” – I demanded a little too harshly. I hugged her closer when she cringed from the anger in my voice. “Sorry. I just want to know why.” – I whispered into her hair.

“Juliet! JULIET! Where are you?!” – came an unfamiliar, yet unpleasant, high-pitched female voice.

Juliet pushed me back, making me stumble out onto the balcony, but not before I saw her horrified face. 

She then turned around and almost ran behind the corner, towards the voice. I followed, though stayed out of sight.

“Oh, there you are darling! I’ve been looking for you the whole evening. Have you decided on a dress yet?”

“Hello, Mother. What dress are you talking about?” – came Juliet’s suspiciously calm response.

“What dress?! Your wedding dress, of course! You’re marrying Paris in three days, and you dress isn’t ready yet! What were you thinking?” – shrieked Mrs Capulet.

Wait… Juliet was marrying? Paris? Doesn’t she know who he is? I didn’t get my chance yet… No, you never had a chance, Montague. You killed her cousin, remember? Still, why Paris?

“Mother, did you really expect me to spend the whole night choosing a dress for this wedding? I only found out yesterday! You could’ve at least told me that I got engaged last week! You and Father didn’t even ask if I was alright with it! Now, I have only three days to enjoy my freedom – I am not going to spend a second for the white dress. Why don’t you choose it, you were going to do it anyway. Just like everything else.” – Juliet hissed angrily, so that the guests won’t hear her outburst.

Only I did. I know it’s wrong to eavesdrop, but she looked so stressed when she left me, I couldn’t help myself.

“And so I will.” – I never heard a voice as cold and icy as Mrs Capulet’s.

Hurried footsteps echoed on the walls around me, and I hid behind some party decoration, just before Cleopatra herself came from around the corner where Juliet spoke with her Mother. Actually, Cleopatra turned to be Mrs Capulet.

A moment later, after the Cleopatra disappeared in the party crowd, Juliet came back. I stepped to her side and lead her to a balcony nearby.

Closing the doors, I turned to her and murmured “So, you’re marrying Paris, huh.” – Juliet winced, and turned away from me. I sighed. This just isn’t working. What do you want from her, Montague? I don’t know.

“Not if I can help it.” – She whispered the words so low, I almost didn’t catch them. Almost.

“What are you going to do?” – Based on her conversation with Mrs Capulet, Juliet wasn’t asked, more like told of her engagement.

Juliet shivered against the wind, so I walked up to her, and wrapped my arms around her from behind. She was so small and fragile in my arms, and then I grinned wide, remembering our first meeting yesterday. She didn’t look fragile with Tybalt’s gun in her small hands. What does the real Juliet feels like?

“I don’t know, I just…I need more time.” – Her whispered words carried over the wind, and I held her tighter, wanting to protect this girl from the cruelty of the world.

The name Tybalt Capulet hit me like a sucker punch. Why is life so cruel? Why Juliet has to be related to Tybalt? Why Tybalt had killed Mercutio and then go after me?

I gently turned Juliet in my arms to face me. My hand automatically went to her face, and my knuckles slowly caressed her cheek, barely touching the perfectly smooth skin. I looked into her deep sapphire eyes, noting the unshed tears that have glazed their surface. With my other arm that was wrapped around her waist, I pulled her even closer to me. I was mesmerized yet again by her beautiful face. Leaning down, I softly brushed my lips across her left cheek to her earlobe. There I murmured “Please, don’t cry.”

Juliet sniffed and buried her face in the space between my neck and shoulder, her warm breath sending pleasant shivers down my spine. I couldn’t stop myself if I wanted to, so I just buried my nose in her beautiful, wavy brown hair and inhaled the scent of blooming roses mixed with warm caramel.

Something gripped tight inside my chest. I want her. I want Juliet. I want her to be mine, and mine alone. I don’t want her to be with Paris. I won’t let her marry him.

Where those thoughts had come from? Juliet. I think I might be falling in love with her. Love at first sight? Yeah, I think I know what that feels like now.

I want to see her smile again, like she did when I took her away from Paris. I never imagined she’d ever smile at me like that. But she did.

And right now, I want another smile like that. I want to make her happy, and this time, I want to know for sure that I was the reason she smiled.

Sounds of a slow song came from the partly open doors of the balcony, making the decision for me. “Dance with me.” – I whispered just above her ear, and then smiled when I felt her shiver. Juliet felt the same way as I did. That’s a start.

Juliet looked up at me and smiled happily. My chest tightened even more at that look on her face. I was the reason for that smile. I grinned back at her, and then my gaze slipped down to her lips as she replied to me with a shy “Okay.”

Through the whole song I couldn’t take my eyes off her face. And Juliet had looked right back at me. We were both smiling like fools, and that was one of the best moments of my life. The number one best moment came a minute later, when I oh-so-slowly leaned down towards her upturned smiling face, letting her know that she can turn away. She didn’t. When our lips touched, I felt fireworks go off in my blood. Then, Juliet opened her mouth beneath my lips, and sparks flew.