Chapter One: Ever Since Then…
"Where's my tea?!" I heard the master, Maestro, shout from the kitchen. I flinched at the sound of his voice, which was something I'd never done before. He usually sounded so friendly and kind whenever he talked or shouted across the room. Now his voice had a sharpened edge to it, which I had rightfully deemed as "strange".
"I-it's almost done, master! I'm just trying to figure out this Keurig machine! I've never dealt with this contraption before!" I stammered. I had the K-cup in my hand, but I wasn't sure on where to place it. I'd lived in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet play since the day it was made, which was a very long time ago. New-age contraptions were SO not my forte!
"Well, hurry it up! You're not a human anymore. You're a floating spirit, so you can float around and get things done!" Maestro shouted back. Panicking, I hurriedly tried to see if I could open any flaps. Once I found one that fit the K-cup, I shoved the cup into the hole. Then I shoved a cup underneath the pourer-thingy and hit the BREW button. Not bad for a first attempt.
When the tea was finished, I brought the steaming-hot cup over to the kitchen, where Maestro was sitting at the clear-glass table. His arms were hugging his head, which was pressed firmly on the glass surface.
"Hey, the tea's finished. Hope you like English Breakfast," I said, nudging him with my finger. Maestro looked up, and when I saw his face, I reeled back a little bit. He looked terrible now. His hair was dull and flat, and his face wore slightly dark bags under his eyes.
"Hmm? Thanks, Juliet. I appreciate it," he muttered, taking a small sip of the K-cup tea. I waited to see what he thought of it, but all I got was his head clunking against the table instead.
"Maestro, why have you been like this? Ever since the confrontation with the mayor, you've been…," I started to say, but before I could finish my statement, Maestro jumped up from the table. The tea on the table spilled a little bit at this sudden movement.
"Juliet Capulet, don't you DARE bring up that day! I may have made peace with the townspeople, but that evil mayor still taints my mind!" he shouted. I looked at him in shock when he said those words. He was usually quick to forgive and forget. I know it was a more serious matter this time around, but still. Maestro always found some way to forgive people.
"I'm sorry. I won't bring it up again. Why don't you go upstairs and take a nap? I'll see if Romeo wants to finish the tea," I said, gently taking the teacup. Maestro groaned and stood up, staggering out of the kitchen. I sighed and brought the teacup into the ballroom, which served as the main room for the inhabitants of the house. My lover, Romeo Montague, was floating on his back, not giving a damn about anything in the world. When I approached him, he stopped floating and smiled at me.
"Hi, Juliet. Ooh, you brought tea for me? Thank you!" he exclaimed, taking the barely-touched tea from me. But instead of drinking the tea right away, he started eyeing me with great concern. I guess he saw my growing depression.
"Hey, what's the matter? Did Maestro light into you?" Romeo asked, taking my transparent hand. I nodded, which made him drop the cup to the ground. I heard it shatter into a million pieces, but I really didn't care at the moment.
"He's not himself anymore. Ever since that day with the mayor, Maestro has been acting weirdly. His hair's gone flat, and his face is completely dismal. Not to mention the fact that he only yells at the spirits instead of talking to them now. Romeo, what are we going to do?" I asked. I was desperate now. If there wasn't a way to fix Maestro, then I might as well just go to the afterlife with my Montague lover.
"Let's just wait, Julie. Let's just wait and see if everything will look up later," Romeo suggested. I sighed and put my hand on his chest. Only time would tell. Only time would tell.
