ROMEO: You seemed upset. Didn’t want to bother you with it. Rolling pin was only the first part. Got sent to an old fashioned Montague interrogation. Couldn’t exactly tell them about you so I lied a lot. Woke up here.
I couldn’t help but wonder if my parents would come back to get me. The worst part was that I don’t think I want them too.
JULIET: You didn’t sell me out….? Why? You got hurt and probably almost killed!
I finished off the last of my ice cream, hands beginning to tremble again.
ROMEO: Because you aren’t the one who wanted to break into my father’s office? Plus I like you. Not just in the gooey way. You’re a good person, and you shouldn’t be punished for me being dumb.
I had all my attention directed at the phone at this point, waiting for Juliet's replies.
JULIET: You of all people shouldn’t think I’m a good person. And I still can’t believe how stupid you were.
__
I bit my lip, realizing something.
JULIET: So…. you know what happened.
ROMEO: *Thats the worst part! I remember holding the file and then… nothing. Blank slight. Like when you rammed my head into that ball.
At first, I was flooded with relief, but soon after game guilt. He had a right to know…. didn’t he? I bit down on my lip, thumbs hovering over my screen.
JULIET: Oh. Guess I have to tell you now..
(I’m SO sorry! I fell asleep on you again😓)
I stared at my phone for almost a full minute. Juliet was upset yesterday when we talked about this. She downright refused to say anything to me…
ROMEO: You don’t have to. I don’t want to upset you. I’ve got a couple more tricks up my sleeve anyways, it’ll take a little more than a rolling pin and a hammer to stop me this time.
(Don’t apologize, it’s totally fine, I’m glad you got sleep!)
JULIET: You fucking idiot. What makes you think that more of what you did to land you in the hospital is a good idea?? I’ll tell you. When you’re out of there. But you have to promise to leave me alone other than when we work on the project.
I felt my heart sink in my chest. I shouldn’t have been surprised, I know she doesn’t want me around. Despite it all, it still hurt anyways.
ROMEO: Does that mean I have to stop texting you now?
JULIET: Depends on how pissed off I am at you.
He hadn’t seemed to have realized the fact that I was still worried for him, for which I was glad. How was I going to explain this to Marina?
ROMEO: You need to fill me in on the outside world while I’m trapped in here. Mercutio will just lecture me if I ask him. He’s the head of the Romeo Needs Glasses Committee and has betrayed me.
JULIET: Fine. Do you know when they’ll let you out?
I sighed loudly, leaning back in my chair. The longer I humoured him, the deeper the grave I was digging for myself.
ROMEO: Are you asking when the hospital will let me out? Or when my family will forcibly remove me? Maybe your family can kidnap me or something, that’d be cool.
I looked around my room, staring out the window. I have no desire to go home at the moment. Chances are when my dad gets back he’ll want to punish me again.
JULIET: I’m asking both. And if my family kidnapped you, you’d be dead within the hour.
ROMEO: Dont know about hospital. I apparently had to do some kind of surgery. Internal bleeding? Idk. Family will kidnap me by the end of today at the earliest, end of the week at the latest.
JULIET: Fun stuff. When will you be back at school?
(Sorry my replies are short, I’m at Greek school)
ROMEO: As soon as I’m forced to go home. I sort of don’t want to be at home right now so I’ll be out of the house as much as possible.
(Its Okay! I have work in a few so I’ll be gone for a couple hours anyways!)
JULIET: Good luck with that.
She sighed a second time, running a hand through her hair.
ROMEO: Thanks. I need all the luck I can get. Did you know they’re banning me from football? Possibly hockey too! It’s the worst thing that could happen to me.
(I’m on my way to work now I’ll be back in a couple hours!)
(Alright, have fun!)
JULIET: You need to get your priorities sorted. You were literally mauled by your family, and you care about football and hockey?? It’s not like you’d be able to play in your current state, anyways.
I had seventeen missed messages from Marina, Joe, and Matt, which I now opened with a twinge of guilt.
JULIET: I’m fine. Sorry. Just needed to clear my head. Oh, and Mari, my dad thinks I’m studying at your place.
(I just got out of work. I got put with a horse named Romeo today😂)
ROMEO: It matters! How else am I supposed to get any time away from the family that mauled me???
(Lmao really? Epic)
JULIET: Join a club. Study with Mercutio. Sneak out. There’s lot’s of stuff to do.
ROMEO: We have clubs at our school? Since when?
JULIET: Do you live under a rock?
Her phone vibrated, and a pop-up message appeared on the screen, indicating that Marina had replied.
MARINA: Gave us a fucking heart attack. Where r u?
JULIET: Walking around downtown.
ROMEO: I just go to school for sports. Never paid attention to anything else really.
“You really shouldn’t be texting.” Mercutio gave me a disapproving look, eyeing my phone distastefully. I rolled my eyes and waved him off.
JULIET: Just when I thought you couldn’t get more stupid.
I knew I was being harsh, but I also knew that I had to be eventually. Marina’s reply popped up on my screen, so I sighed and tapped on it.
MARINA: Liar, you think your best friend can’t tell when you’re telling the truth? ;)
JULIET: Haha.
ROMEO: Come on! You can’t blame me, I’m not getting to college on brains!
JULIET: You might if you tried. And now that you’re injured and aren’t allowed to play sports, you may not even get into college through that.
MARINA: i’m serious. Where are u??
JULIET: Outskirts of town.
MARINA: why??
JULIET: idk.
ROMEO: Are you telling me I have to study now? Haven’t I suffered enough today?
