The Juliet Dilemma

In His Head

He was on the outside, looking in, watching through glass. The room he was peering into was almost completely white with an altar at the front and lilies everywhere.

Romeo was confused. What was he doing there?

All his friends sat watching the altar at the front. He saw Anthony, Ivy, Eric, Mark, Emily, Alicia and even Rosie. Why were they doing that? And where was Julie? Why was she missing from the group?

Out of nowhere it seemed, a nicely dressed Troy appeared at the front of the room. Romeo glared at him.

He felt music play. It was a familiar march of sorts. He couldn't put his finger on which. It made him uneasy. He couldn't understand why. It just did.

And then she stepped into the picture. Walking down the aisle, dressed in white was his Juliet. Even his subconscious didn't seem to realize that they didn't belong to each other. But she wasn't really smiling. She appeared to be happy without him, but the smile seemed a bit fake. Perhaps it was wishful thinking.

She walked down the aisle. He banged on the glass trying to get her to see him. Nobody noticed him. He attempted to scream. No sound came out. None of his friends noticed him.

She was with Troy now. They were standing at the altar now. Speaking words that he couldn't hear... All except two.

I do.

They leaned in. He refused to let it happen. His beautiful Juliet wasn't going to kiss that frog.

With a jolt he was awake. He was lying in his bed, sticky with sweat and breathing heavily.

Don't you hate it when you don't know you're dreaming and you have an awful, realistic nightmare? Romeo certainly did.

Jeez was that really that all his nightmares were nowadays? He used to dream of monsters or that damned car crash but now it was this? Why was it messing with his brain so much?

"UGH!" He groaned, clutching his head. Her smile, her laugh, her stubbornness, her drive, her passion, her ocean blue eyes... She was in his head.

He flopped back onto his pillow. Why couldn't he just get over her? They didn't have a romantic history. So why couldn't he turn off these feelings?

They did have a history though. Maybe they hadn't officially dated, but he had liked her for years. That wasn't just nothing. Every joke they had shared, every meaningful talk, every laugh had fueled his feelings for her.

He was never going to get any sleep at this rate.

Romeo dragged himself out of bed, hoping a trip to the kitchen and a glass of water might help him clear his head.

He crept downstairs in the darkness. He had just poured himself some water when the lights switched on.

The abrupt change in the lighting caused him to wince.

"It's almost one. What are you doing up?" Uncle Nick still had his finger on the light switch. He crossed his arms.

"I couldn't sleep." Romeo grinned sheepishly at being caught up. "I kinda had a bad dream."

Nick's shoulders slumped. His nephew had had some awful nightmares before. He just hoped that the car crash nightmares weren't back.

"Are you okay, kid?" Nick asked, his tone worried.

"Yeah... I think so." Romeo sighed. He had an awkward and somewhat sappy question on his mind. He paused, wondering if he should voice it. "Hey, Nick?"

"What is it, Romeo?"

"What is- what is it like to be in love?" Romeo asked, innocently as if he were a young child.

A cloud of confusion crossed Nick's face. He rushed past Romeo to the sink. Nick filled up a glass of water.

"What would I know about love?" Nick wondered.

"Don't give me that. You've told me the stories." Romeo stated. "You and Zera-"

"She was the only girl who could handle me." Nick gave a whispering laugh that was fake and hollow but had a hint of sincerity. "Why are you asking, kiddo?"

"I-I-I just want to know." Romeo blushed and looked away from his uncle. "That's all.." He mumbled.

Nick stared at his nephew. Slowly the disbelief and confusion upon his face turned into a smirk.

"Aw, kid, are you in love with someone?" Nick teased.

Romeo's face grew even redder and he scowled. "No!" His face softened. "I don't know... Maybe? I don't know! How do you know?"

"Kid, I don't know how it was for other people, but it was unforgettable. I mean you know I hate getting sappy," Nick grinned. "But with her it was hard to be sad. I found myself uncontrollably happy when I was with her, most of the time. Zera could always brighten my day. She never seemed to leave my thoughts either." Nick seemed lost in his memories for a long moment. Sadness flashed across his face. "And then I lost her."

Nick went quiet, reality of the past sinking in on him.

"Kid, you're young. I don't know if what you're feeling is love. Only you can know that."

"I don't know... She's on my mind all the time. I'm even thinking about her when I sleep." Romeo shrugged.

"I don't mean to put thoughts but maybe you do know. You're just afraid of saying it out loud."

"Nick," Romeo groaned. "I thought you said you hate being sappy."

Nick gave a knowing glare. "I do. Okay, you need to get to bed, you little scamp. You've got school in six hours."

Romeo groaned at the mere mention. School, dentition, a date... It was all waiting for him tomorrow, or he guessed, technically later that day.

Nick ruffled his nephew's hair, despite the fact that they were nearly the same height.

"Come on, kid. You've got to get some sleep." Nick lectured.

The youngest Cameron nodded. He rushed out of the kitchen only to be stopped by a question.

"Who is it?" Nick wondered.

Romeo knew exactly what he was referring to. His face grew as red as possible.

"Juliet Hunter..." He mumbled. He waited a moment for Nick to say anything else. When he didn't Romeo took off for his room.

Nick should have known. That girl... What was she doing to the poor kid?

Perhaps it was time to have a bit of a discussion with Odette Hunter.

Nick gave a smile that was in between glad that his brother's only kid was growing up and sad that it was happening at the same time. After all he had almost single handedly raised the kid since he was nine.

The boy was growing up.