The Juliet Dilemma

I'm Done

"That looks like it really hurt." Julie said, pressing the ice pack up to Romeo's eye. He hissed in pain.

"It still kind of does." Romeo admitted.

"Sorry!" Julie handed the ice pack to Romeo to take control of.

They were currently sitting in the commons area of the school at their usual table, after being dismissed from the counselor.

"I'm really sorry you know." Romeo admitted.

"Yeah well getting in a fight was pretty stupid." Julie told him.

"No, not about that. Although you are right. I'm sorry about Avalon Creek." Romeo stated, blushing.

"I'm moving past that, Cameron." Julie told him.

Romeo smiled. Julie had the urge to fling her arms around him at the sight of his beaming grin, but she resisted. She still hadn't totally forgiven him. Romeo's grin disappeared and Julie took notice.

"What's wrong?" Julie wondered.

Romeo ruffled his hair as he scratched the back of his head, Julie knew was a classic Romeo Cameron sign. She waited for what he was going to say.

"You know how I liked you?" Romeo wondered, bluntly.

Julie blushed. "Yeah..."

"That's kinda why Troy and I were fighting. I'm sorry, but you don't have to worry about me anymore." Romeo told her.

Confusion crossed Julie's face. "What do you mean?"

Romeo sighed. "I'm done trying to get you. I can't do it anymore. I'm sorry it's taking me this long to figure it out, but I promise, I'm done making a fool of myself."

"You haven't been-" Julie began to disagree.

"Yes I have. I'm chasing some girl whose way out of my league and I haven't stopped even though she wants me to. Even when I hurt her I keep going after her. So from now on I'm backing off. It's not fair to you. You're not mine and you never were. I'm sorry it took me so long to figure out. I'm done." Romeo told her.

Julie watched in bewilderment as he got up from the table, gave her a small smile, and left Julie sitting there.

It was an odd feeling that bubbled up in her chest. Julie felt... Weird. It was as if she was disappointed by Romeo's words, but that didn't make sense.

"Huh..." She stated to herself, realizing an important but seemingly simple fact.

She still liked him.