I had rented a motel room outside the city, for Juliet and me. After we left the planetarium, with Juliet playing with her ring the whole way, I drove us to the Mantua Inn. It wasn't much, but we didn't care. They didn't ask questions there, they'd never even heard of our families. And they had rooms to spare.

I held Juliet's hand, leading her up to our room, number 23. We spent the night in each other's arms, limbs tangled in the sheets. I felt on top of the world, and nothing could bring me down. Love does that to you.

The next morning, I rolled over and found Juliet's clear blue eyes on mine. I kissed her nose, and she smiled sadly.

"Romeo… let's stay forever," she whispered, leaning against me. "They'll never find us. We can just live in the city and be happy together."

I left a trail of kisses down her neck, across her shoulders, onto her back.

"We can't," I breathed against her skin. "I wish we could… But it would never work…"

"Shh, Romeo." She turned around and pressed her lips to mine. "Let's just lie here a little longer, ok?"

I kissed back hungrily. "Ok."

I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her frail body against me.

"I love you," she murmured into my chest. Her ring sparkled in the sunlight from her hand's place on my heart.

"I love you, too." Then, half an hour later, "We really need to get going. Your parents will be worried."

"You sure know how to kill a mood, huh?" she whispered, but she dragged herself out of bed anyway and put her clothes on hurriedly. I watched her, then slowly got up, too. When we were both dressed, we left our paradise and headed into reality.

I bet, and you exploded in my heart…

When we finally pulled into Verona, it was like our private bubble popped, and we were left worrying and wondering what happened. Juliet started crying softly when we got off the highway, and I rested my hand on hers to offer what little comfort I could give.

"Can you just… drop me off at the mall?" she sniffed through her tears. "I'll walk home from there." We both knew I couldn't take her home, someone might see us.

"Yeah," I agreed quietly. "You sure you don't want me to take you closer?"

"No, it's ok," she answered, laughing a little. "I need to pick out my wedding dress, don't I?"

I grinned at her and turned into the parking lot. I parked in the back, where no one would see. We kissed again, neither of us ready to let go. Finally, Juliet shut the convertible door behind her and walked away, glancing back every few steps. I didn't drive away until she was inside, and even then, it was hard to go.

I turned onto my street and slammed on the breaks. In the middle of the road were Tyler and Marc, circling each other, something glinting in each of their fists. Ben stood off to the side, looking around nervously. I jumped out of my car, barely waiting for the engine to stop. I ran to where Ben was standing, but Tyler saw me.

"Hey, just the guy I was looking for!" Tyler sneered, turning away from Marc. "Come to get in on the action?"

I swallowed. "I don't want to fight you, Tyler." All I could think about was Juliet and what she would think if… if something happened.

"Scared, Montag?" Tyler took a step closer, his eyes murderous. He tightened his grip on his knife, and I felt hopelessly unarmed.

"Tyler, you don't have to-" Ben started, moving forward.

"Oh, I do," Tyler muttered. "You've messed with my family too often, Romeo."

"What have I done to you?" I retorted, anger rising in my bones.

"Just keep your hands off my cousin," he warned, raising his knife.

"What are you talking about?" I whispered, my throat closing in.

"Boys, can't we settle this diplomatically?" Marc said lightly, but I saw the fear in his eyes. He fidgeted with the knife in his hand, twirling it idly.

"Stay out of this, faggot!" Tyler shouted, lunging at Marc. Marc's eyes widened, and I rushed to get between them. But I was too late. Tyler's knife was lodged deep in Marc's stomach, blood spreading across his shirt. Tyler back away, pulling out the blade; even he was shocked at what he'd done. Ben and I ran to Marc's side, just as he fell to his knees, clutching his wound. Tyler sprinted down the street, never looking back.

"Marc, Marc," I cried franticly. "Holy shit."

Marc moved his hands away. They were soaked with blood, like the rest of him.

"It's ok, kid," he gasped, trying to smile. "It's just a flesh wound."

"Oh, God," Ben kept muttering, over and over. "Oh, God. Oh, God."

"Curse.. both of you," Marc whispered, his eyes getting hazy. He reached out and grabbed my shirt, smearing it with blood. "Curse you all."

"Marc…" But he was gone. He collapsed, falling back onto the pavement. Ben choked, burying his face in his hands.

"Marc! Marc!" I screamed. "Marc, oh, Marc…"

Something snapped in me, seeing him laying there in the road, covered in red, so much red. I stood up slowly, filled to the brim with rage.

"Tyler!" I yelled. "Tyler!" I shouted to the empty streets, breaking inside, while Ben stared sadly at Marc's body. I took off running, turning down the same street as Tyler. There he was, sitting on a storm drain, the knife in his hands. He watched it blankly, like he didn't know what it was, what it could do. What it had done.

"Tyler," I huffed, gasping for breath. "You killed him. You killed my cousin."

Tyler didn't move, just kept staring at the bloody weapon.

"Are you listening to me?!" I yelled.

I grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved him, but he was ready for me. Tyler jumped up and grabbed my arm, pulling me upwards, his eyes wild. He thrust the knife towards me, but I clutched his wrist and tried to wrestle it from his grip. His free hand swung into my gut, but I wouldn't let go, desperately vying for control. Finally, the switchblade fell from his hand, landing near the drain. Tyler continued to bombard me with punches, but I was able to reach down and pick up the knife, the terrible knife. The next time one of his fists came near me, I grabbed it and pulled him closer. Before I knew what was happening, I had stabbed him, in the same place he had stabbed Marc.

Tyler back away, coughing up blood. I dropped the knife, just as Ben came running around the corner. I could hear sirens. Tyler fell to the pavement. I didn't wait for Ben's reaction, didn't wait for the ambulance- I just ran. I ran as fast as I could, as far as I could, until my legs wouldn't move anymore. Then, I collapsed, waiting for the police to find me.

No, I don't wanna cycle, recycle revenge…