So this is yet another new story and yes the idea is completely stolen from the film of the same name. I thought it would be a really good Spashley story, so read, review, add but most of all enjoy.
Loves me xx
Letters to Juliet Chapter 1
Spencer Carlin had been a fact checker at the New Yorker for the past 2 years since graduating from Brown with a degree in English and Journalism. She loved her job and the people she was able to talk to. As much as she enjoyed fact checking for one of the greatest publications of all time Spencer always wanted to write but she had never been given the encouragement she needed.
Heading up to head editors office Spencer knocked politely as she eyed the pieces she had been working on. She had spent the last working twice as hard as she was leaving for Verona in the morning with her boyfriend/fiancée.
"Come in" A loud voice called from behind the door. Spencer pushed the door opened and smiled her nicest smile to her boss.
"Good afternoon Carlin you got it all for me?" The short dark haired man asked signalling for Spencer to pass the work to him.
"Yes Don, both articles are checked and confirmed"
"Confirmed by somebody who was actually there?" Don asked checking over the information.
"Don I'm a fact checker, it's kind of my job to check the facts" Spencer joked getting a kind smile from Don.
"Well good work Carlin, as always. So you finish today?"
"Yes, we fly out in the morning and I'll be gone for 2 months"
"Wow, ok well have fun"
"Actually I wanted to talk to you before I leave" Spencer said finally getting the courage from somewhere.
"What's up Carlin?"
"I was thinking that maybe when I get back, I could erm, maybe write an article or story for you" Spencer stuttered her way through the sentence losing her normal Carlin charm.
"You're a great fact checker Carlin but you're not a writer, I'm sorry"
"How do you know I'm not a writer? You've never read anything I've written" Spencer challenged getting her confidence back ever so slightly.
"Have you written anything?" Don responded smiling smugly but only in a playful way.
"Not exactly no but I can write something for you"
"k I like you Carlin so I'm going to give you a shot, put pen to paper and come see me when you get back from your Italian adventure" Don smiled sweetly as Spencer let a slight squeak escape her lips. She nodded and left the room before Don could change his mind. Walking back to her office that she shares with a few other people she closed the door and let out an excited yelp causing everybody to look at her.
"It's not 5 o'clock yet Spence don't get too excited" A smiling Latino girl said looking up from her computer at the over excited blonde girl.
"He's giving me a shot Maddy" Spencer squealed again.
"Who?"
"Don, he said I can write something and he'll read it. I need to start now..." Spencer started flapping around her desk much to everyone's entertainment.
"Chica you need to get your ass home and pack so you on your pre-wedding honeymoon with your beautiful boy" Madison reminded Spencer.
"Right, yes. Ok well I'm going to go and I'll see ya'll when I get back" Spencer announced grabbing what she needed from her desk. She shared hugs with everybody and then headed back to the apartment she shared with her boyfriend/fiancée.
Entering her apartment she smelt the familiar scent of fresh food been created in the kitchen. Dropping her things in the living room Spencer made her way to the kitchen only to be stopped in her tracks by the mess.
"Jesus Aiden we leave in like 12 hours for Verona and you've turned the apartment in a pasta factory" Spencer snapped as she continued to eye the huge mess. A tall dark haired guy turned to smile at the angry blonde. As soon as his sparkling green eyes met with Spencer's light blue her heart melted.
"Spencer, I promise you that this is worth it. Check out this noodle" He instructed placing a long noodle into her mouth stepping back and waiting for her opinion. Trying food had become a huge part of Spencer's life since she started dating Aiden. He was insanely passionate about food and drink which is why he was opening a new restaurant in the city.
"It's a good noodle" Spencer replied smiling hoping that would be the right answer so she wouldn't have to stand there all evening trying pasta or noodles or whatever when she should be packing for their holiday.
"Grazie la mia bella regazza!" Aiden said kissing Spencer passionately and picking her up carrying her towards the bedroom, Spencer figured they could pack later.
Verona...
Spencer looked at the apartment that Aiden had organised for them and it was exactly how she had imagined it would be. Spencer had been in love with Italy since reading Romeo and Juliet as a child. She loved the passion that Italian people had which is probably why she fell for Aiden. He was half Italian from his Mother's side which where he also got his passion for cooking from. Spencer loved Aiden's passion and respected him so much for putting everything on the line to open a restaurant but along with his great passion came an arrogant streak that often caused slight rifts between the young couple.
They had been in Verona for about a day now and Spencer was dying to do all the touristy stuff. Entering the apartment she found Aiden on the phone talking in Italian and no matter how much Spencer tried but she couldn't grasp the dialect that was used by Aiden and his family.
"Baby I have organised a perfect day for us" Aiden beamed as he put his phone down scooping Spencer up again in his muscular arms.
"Really? I have so many places I want to see"
"And you will baby but first let me take you somewhere"
"Where are we going?" Spencer asked excited mostly because she would get some of Aiden's limited time.
"To this beautiful Vineyard about 20 miles from here, the gentleman who owns may be one of my new suppliers for the restaurant" Aiden explained causing Spencer to lose interest quite quickly.
"Why do I need to be there if you're going to be doing business stuff"
"Because Spencer I need to do my business 'stuff' and you want to spend time with me, it's win win really honey" Aiden answered kissing Spencer's forehead. Spencer smile politely and agreed to the day out figuring that it would be fantastic to see some other parts of Verona as well as tasting some lovely food.
How wrong Spencer was, she spent the day following Aiden around as he got stupidly excited about cheese and wine. Spencer had tried her best to be interested but cheese was just cheese to her and they weren't even supposed to drink the wine, they just wasted it by spitting it out. By the third vineyard Spencer had given up and fallen to sleep in the car while Aiden went ahead and made stupid noises about olive oil that just tasted the same as the ones they used in New York.
Spencer woke up the next day feeling refreshed and ready to go see everything on her list. She was excited about the art galleries, the parks and most of all Juliet's house. Entering the living room she saw Aiden on the phone once again and he gave her the gorgeous Aiden smiled that had melted her heart so many times.
"Morning Bella" Aiden whispered hugging Spencer.
"Morning baby, look Aiden I was thinking today that we could do a few things on my list like we discussed before we came" Spencer went straight in for the kill knowing that you had to be blunt with Aiden to get his attention.
"About that Spencer, I can't today, I'm really busy"
"Aid you promised me before we left New York and you promised me yesterday that if I came with you we could do these things" Spencer snapped hoping guilt would work.
"Spencer this is a business trip that I asked you to come on. At no point did I say that we would be able to do all this tourist stuff. I want to see these places with you but I can't at the moment. I promise we can work something out in the next few days, just let me get all the business crap out the way and then I will give you the holiday you deserve" Aiden smiled sweetly turning on his charm which wasn't hard.
"Fine, I'm going out" Spencer moaned grabbing her purse and slamming the door for effect.
Spencer had enjoyed her afternoon of sightseeing and she had saved the best until last. Entering the small court yard Spencer's breathe hitched in her throat. It was everything she had imagined as a child, the balcony, the vines and the sheer beauty of it. In the middle of the court stood a golden statue of Juliet that tourists would rub for good luck when it came to love and relationships. Spencer stopped as she approached the wall that was beneath the balcony. The wall was covered in hand written letters, tucked into holes in the walls, stuck with tacks. There were a few women that were sat writing letters looking at the wall for inspiration or just reassurance as they wrote their letters. Spencer watched in amazement as these women sealed the letters and added them to the already full wall, and then they simply left some in tears, some looking more hopeful than when they had first arrived. Spencer felt inspired by the raw emotion and romanticism that surrounded the wall so she took out her book and starting jotting down thoughts and feelings.
After a while Spencer's writing was disturbed by a woman who was removing the letters from the wall with extreme caution. The rest of the court yard was empty apart from Spencer and this woman with the wicker basket full of letters written by all these women from different walks of life. Intrigued by the woman's actions Spencer followed her to see where she was taking the letters and hoping to god that they didn't just get thrown out. Spencer followed the lady down the street and into a seemingly empty restaurant with the journey finally ending up stairs next to a kitchen. Knocking on the door Spencer entered the room which was populated by 5 women from different age brackets.
"Ciao lei parla inglese?" Spencer asked feeling a bit awkward as the women stared at her for a moment.
"Can we help?" The woman who had removed the letters asked smiling kindly at Spencer who was happy that they spoke English otherwise the conversation would have ended after establishing names and where the disco is.
"Yes please accept my apologies for intruding but I just needed to see what you were doing with the letters?" Spencer continued.
"Why are you concerned by this?" The dark haired middle aged lady asked.
"Erm, I just saw the emotion that so many people put into those letters today and I would be heartbroken to think that they were just thrown away" Spencer admitted feeling stupid for being so sappy.
"Sweetheart we are Juliet's secretaries" An older lady giggled much to everyone else amusement.
"Juliet's secretaries?" Spencer asked lamely
"Si, we take the letters and we write back"
"You reply to all those letters on behalf of Juliet Capulet?"
"Yes"
"That's incredible, why do you do that?"
"Because that wall gives people hope, people that are heartbroken, lost, scared or alone"
"ORARIO CENA" An Old Italian woman yelled as she walked past Spencer holding a huge dish full of food. Spencer watched as the elderly lady and the letter writers conversed.
"Would like to stay to eat dear?" Somebody asked.
"That's very kind but I must get back to my Fiancée" Spencer admitted quite annoyed that she couldn't stay and learn more. Her words made the other ladies smile in the way that most old people do when they are told about a pending marriage.
"You're engaged but no ring?" The old chef asked in broken English.
"Erm, I didn't want a ring, seemed silly" Spencer lied, in reality Aiden had asked her but had spent the money for the ring on the restaurant, he promises that he will buy her one someday but it had never bothered Spencer.
"Take desert" The elderly lady instructed thrusting a brown bag in to Spencer's hands.
"Grazi"
"What is your name dear?"
"Spencer Carlin"
"That is a very unusual name for a girl but I like it. Well I am Maria, this Bella, Eva, Elizabeth and Sophia" The middle aged lady said kindly.
"It was lovely meeting you all, good luck the letter writing" Spencer took her desert and headed back to the apartment. She was so excited by the idea of Juliet's secretaries and the work they did. Aiden was already back and was cooking the evening meal. He greeted Spencer with a glass of red wine which she knew would be divine knowing Aiden.
"I had the most amazing day Aiden, Verona is incredible" Spencer gushed as she sipped her wine.
"Yes I know that's why I came here Spencer" Aiden interrupted which perturbed Spencer slightly.
"I went to Juliet's garden today and..."
"You went to a fictional characters garden?" Aiden interrupted again.
"Yes Aiden and anyway there is this wall where people leave letters to Juliet and there are these women who write back..."
"What is that smell?" Aiden asked sniffing the air, his eyes landing on the paper bag that Spencer had brought with her from the restaurant.
"So these women..."
"Spencer where did you get this from?" Aiden asked getting into foodie mode as he took a bit from the small cup cake that was once in the brown bag.
"I'm trying to tell you, I met these women and they work above a restaurant" Spencer explained as Aiden continued to bite into her gift.
"Try this Spencer"
"It's ok you seem to be enjoying it for the both of us" Spencer snapped.
"I must meet the person responsible for this"
"I can take you there tomorrow if you like?" Spencer gave up carrying once she established that this would be the best way to get to see the ladies at work.
"That would be wonderful Spencer, thank you" Aiden smiled kissing Spencer passionately before they fell backwards onto the bed.
The next afternoon once Aiden had finished on his phone speaking loudly in Italian Spencer showed him where she had been yesterday. Heading up the narrow stair case Spencer hoped that the ladies wouldn't mind her coming back and bringing Aiden with her. Poking her head around the corner she was greeted by a table full of smiles as all the women started to recognise her.
"Spencer, welcome back" Maria announced kissing Spencer on the cheek with her eyes landing on Aiden.
"And who is this lovely young boy?" Sophia asked from the table.
"Oh I'm sorry this is my Fiancée Aiden, Aiden these are Juliet's secretaries"
"Lovely to meet you Ladies, it seems you have captured Spencer's attention with you letters and whoever made that delicious pastry yesterday has captured mine" Aiden replied applying the charm that the older ladies loved.
"Well Aiden you should relay your compliments to my Mother who is right through there" Maria advised pointing at the little woman who was flapping around the kitchen waving knives and other utensils. Aiden smiled gratefully and headed into the kitchen.
"He is very easy on the eyes Spencer" One of the ladies said looking up from her writing.
"I suppose he is" Spencer smiled as Aiden came back into the room after a very loud interaction with Maria's Mother.
"Baby, Angelina would like to show me some recipes do you mind?" Aiden asked knowing that Spencer would be annoyed.
"But we were going to go to the gallery?"
"Ok...but I can learn so much from the lovely Angelina"
"And I will spend the rest of the day on my own?" Spencer snapped forgetting they were in company.
"I don't mean to interrupt but Spencer you could help us, you can be one of Juliet's secretaries" Maria offered picking up on Spencer's annoyance.
"Seriously?"
"Yes, you have a passion Spencer that our lost friends would be fond of"
"Wonderful you write your little letters and I will learn some tricks in the kitchen, it's win win baby" Aiden smiled and Spencer couldn't help but smile back.
Spencer spent the rest of the afternoon reading letters from broken heart women from around the world and trying to pen the write reply. It was far more difficult than she had imagined but she enjoyed the challenge. Once they returned home Aiden was straight back on his mobiles boasting about the cooking lessons her had just been given by Maria's Mother. Once he finished his phone call Aiden sauntered over to Spencer rubbing his chin, she knew that this meant he wanted to ask something she wouldn't be happy with.
"So I can't do the galleries tomorrow honey"
"Shocking!Why not?" Spencer asked already knowing the answer really.
"I was going to head to a farm to see a guy about some cheese. I know I promised but I figured that as we are here for so long that maybe you could take the time I'm busy and write some letters to scorned women"
"They're not scorned, some of them are heartbroken beyond repair" Spencer argued knowing that it would be pointless as everything in Aiden land was black and white unless it was food related.
"Ok I'm so sorry, didn't mean to upset you sweetie"
"Will you at least attempt to keep your promise of spending some time with me?"
"Spencer Carlin, I promise you will have my undivided attention once I return" Aiden promised kissing Spencer again to which she responded with the same amount of passion. Aiden always had a way of stopping her from being mad at him although sometimes she thought that she had given up knowing that there was no use in arguing.
The following morning Spencer headed over to Juliet's garden to see that a fresh load of letters had been attached to the wall and there was Maria taking them down as she always did.
"Buon giorno Maria" Spencer said as she approached the wall.
"Good morning young Spencer" Maria smiled taking the letters from the wall.
"Can I help?" Spencer offered.
"Are you sure you don't have anything better to do with your vacation?"
"I'm here for 3 months and Aiden has gone away for a few days. Plus I really enjoyed helping yesterday so I was hoping I could maybe help you out for the next few days?"
"That would be lovely"
Spencer smiled gratefully and started taking letters from the wall, as she pulled on one that was wedged between two bricks one of the bricks came lose revealing a hole in the wall. Inside the hole was what seemed to be a letter so being a naturally nosy person, Spencer took the letter out and started reading it. Showing the letter to Maria they headed upstairs to show the others.
"This letter was written 50 years ago, god the woman is heartbroken, and her words are so beautiful. I need to write her back" Spencer said out loud after reading the letter for what seemed to be the hundredth time.
"Spencer she more than likely doesn't even live at that address anymore" Eva rationalised smiling kindly at the over excited American girl.
"But what if she is still waiting for Lorenzo to find her? I know it's probably too late but her letter should've been read 50 years ago" Spencer ranted passionately.
"Ok, ok, ok Spencer write to this Clare Davies and see what happens" Maria advised loving the young girls passion and drive, something that had led Spencer to that room in the first place. Spencer took her time and wrote the letter, putting herself in Clare's shoes, imagining how she must've felt when she left without seeing Lorenzo. Spencer put everything into the letter hoping her words would give the right sentiment if they were ever read by the right person. Dropping the letter into the post box Spencer left for home wondering if Aiden would actually be there, shockingly he wasn't.
As the first week in Verona came and went Spencer barely started to notice Aiden's absence and took the time to enjoy herself by spending time with Juliet's secretaries or sightseeing with locals rather than tourists. As a thank you for their kindness Spencer had purchased some fresh pastries for the women hoping Maria's Mother wouldn't be there until later when the pastries were truly gone. The ladies appreciated the kind gesture and took about eating the pastries with perfect coffee.
As they continued their writing they were disturbed by a knock at the door, all eyes shot up to see a small brunette girl, with dark, curly brown hair and incredible golden brown eyes stood in the door way.
"Can we help?" Maria asked politely.
"Yes I'm looking for whoever wrote this letter to my grandmother Clare Davies?" The brunette asked holding the pink envelope that Spencer had posted only a week or so ago.
"I did, did she get it?" Spencer asked over exited but the polite smile on the girls face disappeared.
"Oh so you're who I point my anger towards?" The girl snapped waving the letter about.
"Anger?" Spencer asked confused now standing in front of the angry girl.
"Yes because of you fake Juliet my Gran has come all the way to Verona to find some guy she met 50 years ago" The girl explained still no calmer but Spencer didn't care.
"Clare Davies is here?"
"Yes"
"I need to see her"
"Oh no you don't Blondie, consider this a friendly warning" The girl growled as she headed out the room leaving Spencer slightly dumbfounded for a number of reasons.
A/N
So I know this chapter is long and Splashyless but it will be worth it in the long run. I apologise for the bad Italian and hope I didn't offend anyone (assuming anybody reads this) Any questions or reviews you know what to do.
Jess x