Chapter Three
The first step of the rebellion began the next day. I woke up bright and early and got dressed in my usual skirt and apron. I decided that I was going to prepare Juliet for the meeting, whether she liked it or not. With confidence I strolled to her room.
"Juliet! They're going to be waiting for you," I called.
I walked into her room as I was suddenly hit with an intense feeling. Juliet was dressed already but she was at the mirror-- with a handful of hair pressed up against her sword.
"Juliet! What are you doing?!" She has never wanted to cut her hair before. Not ever. Why now? Juliet's looked troubled with her head bent. Her hands were trembling as she held the sword against her beautiful locks. I began to lunge toward her.
"Stay back!" she shouted at me.
I couldn't help but obey. My mind was panicking as Juliet stood firm, ready to slice off her hair.
"I… want to cut it off. I'm weak. I have to be strong," she said meekly.
I gasped horrified. Francisco suddenly knocked on the door.
"Lady Juliet, we have to leave soon," Francisco urged.
Juliet put her sword in her sheath.
"I'm coming," Juliet replied as she ran out the door. I didn't bother looking back. I was still in complete shock. I knelt by her dresser. My hands were numb as I picked up a few strands of her red hair from the floor.
"She never used to want to cut her hair, no matter how often Conrad asked. Juliet…," I said quietly to myself. Her beautiful red hair was our secret between the two us for 14 years. It agonized me that she was willing to cut it off just now.
Whatever happened last night, I'm sure affected her greatly, I thought. A few tears escaped. What was happening to my Juliet? I wanted to know exactly what was making her suffer so.
The reality hit me that I couldn't do much of anything. I was, in fact, just here for the household chores. After a few moments, I struggled to bury my feelings, succeeding after counting to ten. Reluctantly, I got up to tidy around the kitchen.
I washed the dishes for ten minutes and as I was putting the remainder of the dishes away, Benvolio peeked through the kitchen doorway. I was too utterly weary to even care.
"May I come in and help?" Benvolio asked shyly.
"Do what you want," I sighed.
Benvolio stepped into the kitchen. He sat on a stool and stared at me as if he was waiting for directions. I put the last bowl in the cupboard. I didn't know what else to do after that. Here, Benvolio was eying me like a toaster stroodle which made me unable to think straight. I finally managed to think of something.
"Why… don't you come with me to get some groceries."
He leapt up from his stool with a childish grin on his face.
"Yes ma'am!"
I shook my head, slightly amused at his reaction. This boy never ceased to entertain me.
Benvolio followed right beside me to the market. I was carrying my basket I always took for shopping while Benvolio agreed that he would carry the rest of the food. I showed him how to properly buy food, although it took him a whole five minutes to come up with the right amount of change to pay. For that moment, my worries instantly vanished.
"Benvolio, that coin is worth too much! Use this one," I said as I replaced his coin with a smaller one.
The owner laughed at Benvolio's stupidity with the money and thanked us for shopping. Benvolio leaned forward as he awkwardly picked up the paper bag of groceries. The long loaves of bread stuck out which obstructed his view. I sighed as I rearranged the loaves of bread so he could see.
"Thank you," he said embarrassingly.
"You're welcome," I said triumphantly.
We began to walk back to the hideout. Benvolio suddenly turned to study my face.
"You're worried about Juliet, aren't you?" he said.
I sighed. Deep down inside, I definitely was. With the person you cared the most going out and starting a revolution, how could you not worry?
"Yes, very much."
"She's going to be fine. She's a tough girl."
Benvolio was right. For her whole life, she's gotten into predicaments that she managed to survive somehow.
He looked at me again. "I sometimes get lonely too, since Curio's always away. You were right about him. He's not such a bad guy after all. He's rather kind."
I wondered what Curio did to make himself seem nice.
Benvolio put on his hopeful face.
"You can always talk to me if you want. This whole fight is a little hard for me to deal with too, but probably not as much as you. We could get through this together."
I oddly felt comforted by his words. Just the other day I was silently accusing him of being conceited, but now I felt at ease.
How ironic of me, I thought. I glanced at him. His deep stare cut right through me, but the rest of his face seemed shy and calm. If he was trying to soften me up, it was working. He won't fool me this time, I thought. I wasn't going to fall for his utter sweetness.
"Thanks, but I work alone," I said icily.
An alarmed look came upon his face at my comment. I pierced straight where I needed to. Exactly what I wanted. I concealed a hidden smug. As we neared the hideout I grabbed the groceries from Benvolio.
"Thank you for carrying these for me."
I ran inside through the secret door and slammed it shut.
Ever since that incident with Juliet and her hair, my thoughts were completely occupied with her. I was still worried about Juliet, even when she came back from the reunion. I was carrying firewood to the kitchen until I heard the sound of footsteps. Juliet was back.
I rushed to welcome them, until I saw Juliet's cold stare. I was instantly drawn back. She seemed more determined than sad. Instead of greeting me with a warm smile, Juliet silently walked to her room. I wanted to come after her but Francisco put a hand on my shoulder and shook his head. Tonight would be another night to leave her alone.
I put the supper on the table. Everyone had come back from their meeting and looked famished. As soon as everyone had been settled I asked Conrad what happened.
"Juliet did well, although she was impatient about attacking," Conrad informed me.
"She was a little disappointed that she didn't do anything tonight. I think she was prepared to fight," Francisco said.
"We have to wait. It's not the right time," Curio said.
We all looked at each other as we silently ate our stew. In my head, I feared that that day would come very soon.
