TWISTED

(first draft)

FIRST CHAPTER:

Two Households, Both Alike In Dignity

Juliet pressed her lips together, restraining herself from saying something stupid. She stared straight ahead, at the young man standing on the stage. That young man. Her lips twitched at the slightest thought of his name. Romeo. She watched as he cleared his throat and bent down, nearing his lips to the microphone. Every other pair of eyes was glued to him; he was a celebrity in his own way, anyway. Even Juliet's eyes were on him, not that she saw him as someone to look up to, rather, as someone she wanted to beat. The look in her eyes were evident: she disliked Romeo.

"Good morning, Schaeffer Academy," he said, his voice resounding with confidence and charm, though Juliet would never use those words to describe him. "Today is the very first day of our second year in high school. May this day be a great stepping stone for us as we venture into another phase in our lives. Welcome to Schaeffer Academy, sophomores." He flashed a smile as students showered him with applause.

How come he gets the praise and fame, Juliet thought, when we are technically of equal rank? Yes, he may have a bevy of girls hot on his heels but I also have my followers ready to drop dead when ordered. Why him? The question stayed on her mind forming a crease on her forehead. She was in an exceptionally bad mood today.

"Hey, Juliet," said a voice behind her.

Anger raging in her veins, she turned around abruptly and said, "What?"

A young man stood facing her, a smile along his nonetheless surprised face.

"Oh, Tybalt," she said, quickly turning red, "I thought you were someone else."

He shrugged, "It's okay." He fixed his bag on his shoulder. "I was just going to ask you whether you want to walk to class with me. I think we'll be together in first period."

Juliet smiled. "Of course."

Well, unlike other guys, Tybalt is a real gentleman, she thought, The kind that opens doors for you and stuff. Wouldn't the world be a better place if all men were like him?

First period: Biology with Mr. Wycoski.

"Ah, Juliet, Tybalt, there you are," said a bespectacled man with a cloud of snowy white beard on his chin, "You take the lab table by the window, Tybalt." Mr. Wycoski turned to Juliet, "While you take the third one from the front, Juliet. Right beside the aisle."

She took a seat as the bell rang to signal the start of the classes. Juliet glanced around, noticing that almost all lab tables sat two people. She was the only one alone.

"Well, as you all know," Mr. Wycoski began, "I'm--"

"Here!"

All eyes darted to the door, where a young man stood. His sandy hair was ruffled. Not a mess, just ruffled. And his eyes shone with enthusiasm. His blue blazer was unbuttoned, revealing the sloppily tied neck tie hanging on his neck. He smiled and said, "I'm here."

It took a moment before Mr. Wycoski finally said, "Oh, come right in. Let's see..." His eyes scanned the room for an empty seat. "Ah, you can sit beside Ms. Capulet."

The young man smiled again. "Okay."

Juliet's eyes stayed on the late comer as the whole time, even up to now as he wove his way to the seat beside her.

"Hey," he said, "Juliet."

Juliet's hand grasped her pen tighter. "Hello, Romeo. You don't look quite as pleasant as you did a while ago on the stage." She eyed his disheveled hair.

"Oh," he said, fixing his hair. "It was hard passing all those crowded hallways. It seemed that you were mesmerized with my speech, fair Juliet."

Juliet let out a soft laugh. "Please, don't make me laugh. I can never be mesmerized by a bratty, arrogant...boy like you." She turned to Mr. Wycoski and smiled. "And never will."

Juliet traced the creased spines of the books lined up on the shelves. She tapped her jaw, deliberating on which one is the best to use. She settled on the thick green book about earthquakes and headed back to her seat. The library isn't the greatest hang-out within the school grounds but it's the one that's worth staying at. She flipped the pages of the book and took down possibly useful notes. She chewed on her pencil thinking whether she should just check the book out or stay for a couple more minutes. What the heck, she thought, It wouldn't hurt for me to stay. It's the first day of school anyway.

A set of hurried footsteps made her lift her head. Seated across from her was Cordelia. Her face was flushed and her breathing was quick. She spoke in a hushed voice, "Juliet, is it true?" Her blue eyes widened. "Romeo sat beside you? Romeo?!"

Juliet nodded."I know. Could you believe it?"

Cordelia turned a brighter red, "Well, actually..." She paused to gather herself. "I think it's kinda cute. I mean..."

Cute? Juliet thought. You use that of all words to describe this situation?!

"Your parents are good friends and all. And I think they are planning to..."

Juliet cut her off, mid-thought. "Our parents have nothing to do with this. What they have is far from what I and that Romeo have. I'm afraid their friendship doesn't run in our veins." She closed her book and stood up. "I'm hoping rumors won't start regarding this conversation, Cordelia. I must go now."

Juliet gathered her things and stacked the book back from where she got it from. She tied her hair into a loose ponytail as she headed to the school parking lot where a black sedan would be waiting, ready to take her home.

Romeo stared outside the tinted window of their silver sedan. His eyes were distant but a smile played along his lips.

His driver looked at him from his rearview mirror. "Is something the matter, sir?"

Romeo blinked. "Oh, no. Nothing at all."

The telephone wasn't on the desk again, Juliet noticed. Multiple sticky notes were all over the place: on the fridge, the lampshade, even on their dog, Max. And, the most noticeable of all, the door to her parents' room was opened. Juliet breathed a long, lingering sigh. They haven't been this busy since last summer. Well, at least she can make sure they were doing their jobs. She took a quick peek inside. Just as she expected, it was neat, with a few stacks of paper on the desk and the undrawn curtains keeping it dark. A pink sticky note was stuck on the top book. Juliet recognized it as her mother's handwriting. The note said:

We'll be having dinner with the Montagues. Sorry we have to miss tonight. Love, Mom.

She went to her room without anymore fuss. She plopped on her bed, facedown, her dark hair fanning on her soft mattress. It took her moments before she finally got up. She looked at herself in the mirror.

My mom's green eyes...she thought, tracing a hand under her eyes. And my dad's dark hair. Do those really make me a Capulet? "Capulet."

A soft knock at her door disturbed the silence. "It's dinner time, miss."

She turned her head towards the door and nodded. "I'll be there in a moment."

His shoes grazed the otherwise spotless floor as he dragged his feet to the living room. He spotted his mother, her hair in a fancy style, waiting for his father. He raised an eyebrow, setting his bag on the couch.

"Oh, Romeo," said his mother. "We're having dinner with the Capulets. Would it bother you so much to have dinner alone?"

He shook his head. "I'll be fine."

His mother smiled. "Great. Now, just what is taking your father so long?"

Romeo watched as his father emerged from upstairs. "Okay, now we can go. Oh, Romeo, you're here. The Capulets invited us for dinner and we're running late. See you, son."

Romeo sank on the couch as both his parents left. Montague, he thought, just what is it that makes me a Montague?

The Capulet and Montague households may very well be two of the most prominent ones in Minnesota. The Capulets are known in the finance world as well as the Montagues. They also have been very well connected throughout the years. So it's no wonder then that their children would one day be married. But that's not the likely case. Their children are far from that, actually.

The Capulets' daughter Juliet is fifteen, growing ever more beautiful each year. She is known in the whole state as a very excellent painter, having her first solo exhibit at the young age of nine. Her academic grades aren't that bad either and she is the vice president of her middle school student body.

Romeo Montague has done his parents proud with his equally laudable achievements. He turned sixteen during the summer, the same time he got another award in soccer. In fact, he juggles daily practices, maintaining straight A's and his responsibility as the student body president.

Both grew up attending the same schools. Their parents have long wanted them to get along but it's harder than it seems. The two have been constantly on each other's nerves since the age of five and competition is inevitable between them, though it wasn't always like that. Oblivious to them still, is the fact that their parents are determined to go against fate and make them like each other.