Romeo And Julian (Part Two)

Chapter Eight

The academic team won the state finals without much of a challenge, and Mr Levi was taking us out to some pizza place (again), but with karaoke included.

"You know, we're allowed to hold hands now. Everyone here knows about us." I told Julian. "I'd like to hold your hand."

He lifted his arm for me to take, not looking up.

"Thank you..."

"I'm sorry." Julian said quietly. "I'm a little distracted. Just some stuff I've been thinking about."

I lifted his chin up to look at me. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

The shy, embarrassed smile that he gets is so cute, it almost makes up for all the mean things he says. Who am I kidding, I don't care that he says those things, he's too cute to hate.

"It's nothing to worry about." He laughed. "But hey, if you wanna make me feel better, a kiss could help."

And when I actually do as he tells me, I get slapped? What kind of love is that?

"What are you doing!?" Julian hissed quietly, looking to see if anyone saw me kiss him.

"Are you really that worried, or are you just embarrassed?" I asked, rubbing the side of my face.

He frowned at me. "Sorry, it was a reaction."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're kinda aggressive?" I asked.

"Oh, you love it. And if you don't, it doesn't matter, you're not going to complain." The boy laughed. "Actually, about that... I'm gonna need to talk to you later."

I couldn't help but laugh. "What? Is there a problem with me being devoted to you or something?"

"No, that's not it, it's jus~"

"Julian! I need help with this dance machine! I convinced those dicks from Westerburg to go against me and I need a second." Henry called from the arcade area. What is it with pizza and arcades in America?

"I'll be right there!" Julian replied, then turned to me. "So, talk later?"

"Of course." I said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Dork..." He muttered before running over to Henry.

"You my friend, are whipped." Florence told me as he walked over.

A smiled forced its way onto my face. "That I am."

"So, has the master told you why he's so out of it?" The pyro asked.

"That he has not..."

Sasha came up to us and smiled. "I'm sure it's nothing." She said, but something was wrong with her tone of voice.

I looked at Florence and he nodded back, walking away to get something to eat.

"Sasha, are you ok?" I asked now that we were alone.

The short girl didn't make eye contact, but nodded quickly. "I'm great. How are you? Good?"

"Sasha."

"Romeo has a crush on Julian, and with Julian being so out of it, I think he found out." Sasha burst out.

Romeo has... What? "What do you mean? Romeo likes Julian?"

"Yes, and I think that's part of the reason that Julian is so out of it." She said again. "But if you tell Romeo, I will probably die."

"I-I can't tell Romeo. It's his choice on when to come out, I can't make him feel like everyone knows already." I said quietly. "Would it be a bad idea to talk to Julian..?"

"That's your move to make, not mine. Julian would probably be kinda upset that people were digging into his life, but he'd probably feel better having you around." Sasha told me. "I can image that it was a shock to him."

"Right..." I muttered. "Do you... Do you think that Julian would leave me for Romeo..?"

"He's not going to do that. I know that nerd, and he wouldn't turn his back on someone he loves just for someone he has only known for a few months."

"Ok..." I said quietly. "Thank you."

"Hey, don't sweat it, bro. But again, don't you dare say anything to Romeo." She added.

I made my way to where Julian and Henry were completely destroying two big guys from Westerburg High.

"You're cheating!" One of them cried, barely able to keep up.

"It's basic pattern recognition and prediction. Find the beat and the repeating sections and it's quite easy to break all the highest scores." Henry explained.

"That, and have some sick dance skills." Julian added calmly, high-fiving Henry as they crushed the top score. He stepped off the dance machine and smiled at me. "You enjoying the show?"

"I am, thank you for asking."

"Hey, can we go to your house? It would give us a chance to talk in private." Julian asked.

"Of course, you're always welcome. You know my parents love you, and you of course know how I feel." I joked.

"Shut up, doofus. You don't need to remind me that you think I'm a butt head or whatever non offensive term you'd use." He laughed.

"I'd never call you a butt head! I mean, I'd call you cute, and I might tell you you've got a nice butt, but I'd never call you a butt head."

Julian burst out into adorable giggles, but they just slowly faded away into a sad, almost guilty expression. "Jerk." He chuckled out dryly.

I drove us to my house after the celebration, and as we pulled into the driveway, I couldn't help but smile.

"Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?" I asked.

Julian looked down, trying not to grin, but failing. Even with his smile, something was wrong. "You have... That's why this is hard." He sadly whispered.

"What are you talking about?" I asked as he was getting out of the car.

The boy walked to my front door and waited for me. "I don't know, I'm not really thinking straight I guess. I'm pretty tired."

"Henry would say that you're never thinking straight." I reminded Julian.

That addictive laugh of his seemed colder. Hollowed out. "Just come on."

I opened the front door and Julian went straight to my room. When I got there he was sitting on the bed and looking down at the floor. Sitting next to him, I put my arm around his waist and smiled at him.

"What's on your mind?"

"Warren..." He started. "I'm breaking up with you."

The air went cold and my heart stopped. "What?"

"I'm breaking up with you." Julian said again.

"W-why? Did I do something wrong? Did I... Is it because of Romeo..?" I asked.

He looked up at me, confused. "What are you talking about? Why would Romeo be involved?"

"If it's not because of Romeo, then what did I do? Please, don't do this..." I pleaded. "I need you..."

"Warren, you don't need me. You're fine without me. It'll be ok." Julian said.

I crashed my lips into his, feeling the tears burning my eyes. "If it's because I wasn't as affectionate as you wanted, I can change!"

"No, Warren, it's not~"

"We can do anything you want to..." I said, crying into his shoulder. "M-my dad made me keep condoms in my dresser, so we can~"

"Warren, this has nothing to do with that. It just time for us to move on." Julian whispered.

"Please..." I said, my voice barely escaping. "Please... I love you..."

His arms wrapped around me and held me close, letting me just sit there and cry.
"Don't worry." He said to me. "You'll move on."