My reply was almost instant, something I didn’t even have to think about. But now that I was getting into the rhythm of this strange, new, nighttime reality, I found my body relaxing, unwinding. However strange, this was…… nice.
JULIET: Dark chocolate ice cream. And cherry ice cream. You?
ROMEO: If Im being honest, I didn’t even know there were flavors beyond chocolate and vanilla.
I reread her message, somewhat bewildered.
ROMEO: I was going to say fresh sugar cookies out of the oven. But they’re only really good when I make the dough and everything.
JULIET: You live in the country that invented gelato, how the fuck do know his little about ice cream???
It was basically the equivalent of a Frenchman asking what a croissant was. Or an American not knowing that McDonald’s existed. In other words, unheard of.
JULIET: But cookies are good.
A smirk formed on my lips out of amusement. My addiction to Juliet was certainly being fed into at the moment.
ROMEO: I’ve been on diets and shit since I was little. My parents wanted an athlete, not an ice cream connoisseur. I’m sort of sheltered when it comes to foods besides fancy protein diets and cafeteria pizza.
JULIET: I mean, I eat a shit ton of ice cream and I can still easily beat you in a fight
I paused, blinking at the text message he’d sent a second time.
JULIET: But still. Sheltered Canadians know what hockey is, so you should know more about gelato
I chuckled, but quickly stifled it. After five minutes of silence I knew I was safe and texted Juliet back.
ROMEO: Feel free to educate me.
Baffled by the enigmatic response, I twisted my lips into a frown.
JULIET: How would I do that?
ROMEO: You’re a screenwriter aren’t you? Describe it to me.
I waited for her reply, admittedly excited.
((I think I’m going to get some rest. Night Topaz!))
(Gnight, sleep well!)
JULIET: Lmao you’d be better off getting some actual gelato from one of the millions of ice cream stores in Verona than listen to me ramble about it
(Good morning!)
A shot of warmth buzzed through my veins, dulling the ever present ache I had grown accustomed to. A dopey grin escaped my lips as I stared at her message. I made Juliet smile again, and that’s was probably the best feeling in the world.
ROMEO: Wish I could, but I’m practically on house arrest.
(Lmao I just woke up, sorry, good afternoon)
JULIET: When you get better, then.
I was grinning now, for some stupid reason. After days of trying not to break down, I was finally smiling. Because of Romeo Montague.
JULIET: Please don’t tell me you’ve never had anything other than margarita pizza.
(Glad you slept well! XD)
ROMEO: Well…
(Lol
How’re you?)
JULIET: And you call yourself Italian???
Strangeness of the situation aside, the fact that he’d never sampled more than one flavour of traditional Italian food was unbelievable.
(Good! I have family coming over in an hour or so to meet my puppy, so that’ll be exciting. How’re you today?)
Romeo felt his cheeks burn red with embarrassment.
ROMEO: I don’t think I can express this to you without giving you an example. Breakfast is fruit with some kind of protein, lunch is pizza and milk, dinner after practice is more protein plus a few vegetables and carbs. Thats it. E v e r y day.
(Have fun! I’m pretty good)
JULIET: And you never once rebelled? Never once snuck out with friends to get a goddamn ice cream??
ROMEO: Usually too tired. I wake up, go to school, go to practice, and sleep. Somewhere in between I learned how to drive and show up at parties. I live in a state of perpetual exhaustion.
JULIET: You mean that you’ve never snuck out with a friend?? What kind of an Italian teenager are you???
ROMEO: Apparently not a good one. I’ll have the chance more often now. My parents want nothing to do with me now that I’m “broken”.
Pain suddenly flared in my chest. It was as if, suddenly, Romeo and I understood each other. We had something more in common than murserous families and drama class.
JULIET: Welcome to the club
I found myself smiling at the text, a pang of fear for the both of us hitting me as well. I shook it off the best I could. Tomorrow I’d have to face all my problems again, but right now? Right now everything was alright.
ROMEO: Can we actually start a club? I’m desperate to get out of this house.
JULIET: We’ve already got to work on our project, I think that’s enough. And I’m desperate to get out too, but Angelo has restricted the number of hours I spend away.
ROMEO: I guess that means no’s drama, then. That’s unfortunate.
JULIET: no, there’s enough time for me to work on the project with you. Just not for much else.
ROMEO: Ill take what I can get… Who’s turn was it to ask a question? It takes too much energy for me to scroll up.
JULIET: Idk. You ask. Something not as stupid as what we were doing before.
I paused to think. I didn’t want to bring up anything too serious at the moment.
ROMEO: Least favourite family member?
JULIET: Easy. My dad. What about you?
ROMEO: I was going to say Benvolio since he’s a prick. But I guess my mom since she bashed me with the lamest possible weapon.
JULIET: Ouch. But who’s Benvolio?
I found myself wincing, filled with sympathy for the guy on the opposite side of my screen.
What on earth…?
ROMEO: He’s my older cousin. Wants to be an English teacher. Rats me out to my parents every time I do something wrong. Massive prick. He’s an assistant teacher at our school.
