Moon Lantern & RichardIII1955 - Thanks for both your reviews! I hope you enjoy Anne's arrival just as much!
So, Anne escaped! But did she make the right choice? And what will happen once she arrives in Verona?
Meanwhile, Beatrix and Hermia have a gossip about Benedick, and Tybalt gets kicked out of his room! Who here thinks he totally deserves it? ;-D
Hermia straightened up from where she had been bending over the car engine, and the strain on her back just seemed to intensify.
'I ache. I might grab some oil and stuff on the way home and make Benny give me a massage tonight,' she thought grumpily.
Glancing over at the clock, she was pleased to see that it was five minutes until her shift finished. But then, of course, she had to walk home, since Tybalt had been a dickhead and parked his car right in front of hers, so she couldn't get out the driveway. He wouldn't even get out of bed this morning to move it, so Hermia had had to walk into town.
God, she hated her cousin sometimes...
'Maybe tonight I can put some laxatives in his food. Then he won't be able to go anywhere five metres away from the bathroom. Since he loves sitting around so much, it ought to make him pleased!'
Hermia snickered and closed the lid of the engine. She wiped down oily hands on her overalls, and went to grab her bag.
"See you later, Dino!" she called over her shoulder, signing the out book.
"See you later, Herms!" he called back. Hermia slung her bag over her shoulder, and started to walk down the street. Dimly, she was aware of something vibrating against her hip.
'What the heck is that? Is that my phone? Is someone ringing me? Why?'
She yanked out the phone, and was startled to see Anne flashing up on the screen.
'Why on earth is Anne ringing me? We usually Skype with the laptop!'
Hermia pressed the little green button, "Hello?"
"Hermia!" Anne sounded utterly delighted to hear her.
"Hello Anne, what matter? Why you ring?"
"It's a long story," Anne sighed, "But basically...I'm in Verona."
"You? Verona? Now?"
"Yes. Right now."
"Why? This surprise? My birthday in August!"
"Well, it's a surprise to me too. When I woke up yesterday morning, the last thing I expected was to have to grab a last minute flight to Italy the next day. I'll tell you about it later, if..."
"If what?"
"If you don't mind," Anne's voice dropped to a squeak, suddenly worrying that maybe Hermia and Juliet wouldn't want her staying with them, or were too busy, or didn't like her anymore, "Could you come and pick me up? It's just...you're the only people that I know and trust...who'll look after me..."
"Anne, is pleasure to have you!" Hermia exclaimed, "We love to see you. Which airport you at? I there as soon as can."
"Oh, thank you! I'm at Verona Villafranca."
"I be there soon. You go cafe and have drink."
"I don't have any Euros..."
"You have no money?"
"I have money, just not Euros. I don't mind. I can wait on the seats."
Hermia breathed heavily, "I be there soon. Talk no strangers and go nowhere with weird person. You understand?"
"Yes, Hermia."
"I be with you soon. You come Capulet Manor, and you have Tybalt room. He can sleep in garden."
Anne giggled, "Ok then..."
Hermia put the phone down after another minute of reassurances and goodbyes. It would take her another twenty minutes to walk home from town, half an hour to drive to the airport...all the while Anne sat on her own. What on earth could have made her run away from home like that and come to Verona? Was it that alcoholic Clarence person? Hermia had heard some stories about him stirring up drama about Anne's inheritance from her parents, but just assumed it was typical family squabbling when a relative died. God knows there was enough of that in the argumentative Capulet family whenever some poor sod kicked the bucket.
Up the road, Beatrix's familiar pink clad figure moved into focus up ahead. By the looks of things, she, like Hermia, was also leaving work for the day.
Yesterday, Beatrix had interrupted Hermia when she was trying to have some 'play time' with Benvolio. Later on that day she called him fugly. Hermia never liked hearing Beatrix insult the love of her life like that, even if Beatrix was his twin sister, and on the picture long before Hermia, and so she decided that now was an excellent time for Beatrix to atone for her crimes.
"Beatrix!" called Hermia, "Oh, Beatrix! Can you do me a favour?"
Beatrix glanced up, startled, looking around for her, "Oh, it's you. What are you after?"
"I need to go to Verona Villafranca Airport," said Hermia.
Beatrix raised her eyebrows, "Why?"
"To pick up my friend."
"What friend?"
"You know. My English friend! Anne."
"Who's Anne?"
Hermia rolled her eyes, "She was one of the guests at Countess Helena's wedding last year. Prince Edouard's wife. Widow, now. She's at the airport, and I need to get her. Fast."
"Can't you drive there?"
"No, because Tybalt is a prick who won't move his car. I need you to give me a lift. Pretty please."
"Can you not get Juliet to take you?" Beatrix asked, disgruntled.
"No, she's busy revising."
"My puke-faced brother."
"Ditto."
"Your dad."
"He rarely gets out his armchair these days unless it's to play golf with Angelo or yell at someone. I'll give you a hug!"
"I don't want a hug," Beatrix looked at Hermia's grubby overalls.
"Hugging time!" Hermia grinned, reaching out with her hands outstretched.
Beatrix recoiled, "All right, fine!"
Five minutes later and they were on the motorway. Another five minutes later, after a call home to Capulet Manor, Tybalt was being forced to deep-clean his room and move onto the sofa. Hermia grinned to herself. It would probably give Anne a giggle. She'd probably need cheering up after this ordeal.
"I don't understand. The war is finished. The armies are all on their way home. Why is she coming here?" asked Beatrix.
"I don't know yet. She seemed pretty upset on the phone," replied Hermia, "I think it's something to do with her inheritance and George is trying to nick it. I'm going to find out more and get to the bottom of it. George might think he can push Anne around, but I want to see him try it on me."
"She and her sister are their parents' only kids, right? And they're girls? So according to English law shouldn't it just be split?"
"Yeah, exactly," replied Hermia, "But from what I've heard, George is being all 'Isabel's older, she should get the majority, blah blah blah.'"
"What an ass," agreed Beatrix, "So, what do you think of Amparo's new inheritance laws? I think they're great!"
"I suppose they're rather useful. Should keep Uncle Tancredo at bay. Why do you like them? Hold on a sec, since when did you care about politics?"
"Since I realized how it affected me," admitted Beatrix, "And I like them because finally the eighteen minutes between me and Benny count for something!"
"Why do you don't you like him? He's a great guy!" scolded Hermia.
"He's my brother, and he's gross. Anyway, you're supposed to hate your siblings. Just because you share parents and a childhood, it doesn't create any bonds."
"Harsh."
"It's true!" insisted Beatrix.
"Well, I suppose it's true if your brother is a dickhead like George, but not if they're nice like Benny!"
"He's not nice! He just puts on a cutesy and sweet persona to the world when really he's a pain in the butt."
"All right, whatever you say," Hermia rolled her eyes, "You know, I think you seem to have a vendetta against anyone who's name begins with Ben. You don't like Benvolio, and you don't seem to like Benedick."
"He's an ass," Beatrix cursed, although she felt herself choking on the words.
"Why?"
"He spilt cappuccino on me!"
"Unintentionally," pointed out Hermia, "Then you threw it over him…deliberately!"
"He deserved it!" shrugged Beatrix, "And he's always intent on proving me wrong and...bantering with me."
"What's wrong with a bit of banter?" asked Hermia.
"It's annoying."
"No, that's the thrill of the chase! When you meet someone, and you like them, the bantering is best bit. Apart from the actual sex, of course, but once you do that, the banter stops. Unless there's real chemistry right there, and then, that means..."
"Thanks, Hermia, that's great," Beatrix wrinkled her nose with disgust, "Anyway, where the hell is the arrivals terminal?"
Hermia peered out the car and guided her future sister-in-law to the terminal. The Capulets had spent over half their summers waiting here for Uncle Tancredo, Aunty Celestine, and their cousins to arrive from Paris, and Hermia knew it well. Due to Benvolio's phobia of flying, the Montagues rarely left Verona, and so it didn't surprise Hermia that Beatrix didn't know her way around the airport.
They parked, and Hermia jumped out. There was a short red-headed man standing with a case, looking back and forth at the cars outside the terminal. He seemed vaguely familiar, but Hermia had no time to dwell on it, as she frantically looked around for Anne.
When she did find the English girl, she was sitting hunched up over a case, her eyelids drooping. She looked exhausted.
"Anne!" shouted Hermia, shoving aside the crowds of tourists, come to Verona to poke and ogle at all the sights.
"Hermia? Oh, I'm so glad to see you!" Anne leapt up, and hugged her Italian friend.
"You grown. You taller now!" Hermia pretended to be cross.
"Everyone is taller than you!" Anne teased back playfully, "What are you? Four eleven?"
"Five one!" Hermia corrected, "How rude!"
Anne laughed, and picked up her case.
"I carry that," Hermia grabbed it, "You relax. Benvolio sister drive us home, hopefully she not drive me nut."
"Beatrix is the same as ever?" asked Anne, hoping she had the name right.
"Yes," Hermia rolled her eyes, "Well, not completely. She ask me about politic in car and she dye hair back brown though after accident with bleach on birthday of Mercutio. Very funny day. It was...icing on cake, you say?"
"The icing on the cake, yes."
"Ah, good. My English better?"
"Your Italian accent is still very strong."
"Damn! And Gabe Fulgencio do no work and learn language in year. I swear he Asperger's or something, how else anyone get that good?"
Hermia led Anne over to the pink car. Anne's eyes popped at the sight of it.
"Beatrix speak no English, so say what you like of her, she not know," said Hermia. She opened the car door, and spoke in Italian to Beatrix. Anne peered in, and did a double take at Beatrix's new hairstyle. She looked much prettier, more natural, and more like herself. She opened her mouth to say so, but then remembered Beatrix wouldn't understand a word.
They climbed in the car, and Beatrix drove out.
"So what been go on?" Hermia immediately rounded on her, "Why you in Verona?"
"It's a long, long story," Anne sighed.
"Well, I want know!"
"Ok," Anne sagged back onto the seats, tiredness creeping up on her from lack of sleep, "It all started when I went back to England."
"Knew there be trouble," Hermia rolled her eyes. Beatrix said something in Italian, and Hermia replied, before turning back to Anne, "Beatrix want know what we talk of, I tell her shut up. I make her drive me today as punishment for being bitch to Benvolio. She call him fugly and interrupt our sexy time."
"Oh. Right," said Anne.
"Well, you carry on! I want know. I tell Juliet when get home. She sort out room for you. Allegra at Manor too, you remember my cousin? Blonde hair, half-French, girlfriend of Mercutio and have baby with him."
"Yes, I remember Allegra. She gave Tybalt a wedgie in front of everyone last year."
"That is my cousin!" Hermia laughed delightedly, "You carry on."
"Basically, I got home, and it was agreed that I could live with my sister. At first it was good. Her place was nice, I could relax, and I could see Richard whenever he came round to see George. Around Christmas, I wanted to start getting my life back on track. I started talking about going back into higher education. I started asking about what would happen to our mother, who's in rehab. I was worried about her, you know? And I started asking about money, because I'd need some if I wanted to go back to education. But George was so vague about it. Everything I asked, he'd brush off. He stopped letting me out the house, telling everyone I was recuperating. He even tried to stop Richard coming round, but Richard came round anyway and made excuses to stay. Sometimes, he'd climb up the wall to my window at night to talk, usually we'd end up cuddling and kissing and then sometimes we-"
Hermia's eyes widened and she grinned, "You get busy?"
Anne blushed.
"You did! You get busy!" Hermia delightedly laughed, "Did you have fun?"
"I'm not saying!"
"You can tell me!"
"Later!" Anne cried, "Anyway, I think he knew something was up, but at first we just thought George was having one of his jealous sprees. He's always been jealous of Richard and Edward, you see. A few weeks ago, I put two and two together and realised it was something to do with the inheritance. George wanted more for Isabel than she was entitled, claiming that because she was older, she got more and got first dibs. Even then, I still just thought it was normal family legal squabbling when a relative dies."
"So did we," added Hermia.
"Then, the other night, Richard came round to tea. I decided to try kicking up a fuss whilst he was there to see what would happen. I didn't really have a lot to lose at that point, and I knew he'd stand up for me if things got worse. But George tried to kick Richard out, and I got sent to my room. I thought there would be an argument once Richard left, but there wasn't. It was quiet...too quiet. I went downstairs, and George and Isabel were having a whispered argument. They were going to send me away! They were going to send me to boarding school, and they were going to send me to a strict one, where I couldn't even communicate with anyone outside!"
Hermia's green eyes narrowed, "Then what happen?"
"I stole their money," Anne sighed, with a trace of guilt in her voice, "I took their cards and took their money out at ATMs. I got a train to London Gatwick, and then got a plane here. If they want their plan to work, they need me there to be locked up and be forced to sign papers. If I'm not there, they can't catch me, and they can't make me sign anything, can't step in as a so-called guardian. I left no traces, so they can't follow me. You are the last people I trust."
"Stupid George," Hermia spat angrily, "Never like him."
"I think I feel more sorry for him than anything."
"Sorry? Why?"
"With Isabel...he was saying some stuff about how he hated seeing Edward being all happy with Elizabeth, and seeing Richard lapping up to them. I think he feels left out. I think he has a really bad case of Middle Child Syndrome."
Hermia laughed mirthlessly, "That no excuse."
"No, I suppose not."
"You stay here now," decided Hermia, "You stay in Manor. We hide you, for long as need. Here, you safe. If George come, I punch him in face. He is spoilt brat, want more than he get."
"That's true," Anne sighed again, and hugged her cardigan around her. It was warmer here in Italy, but where she was tired, she felt cold. All she wanted was to crawl into bed and cry. Suddenly, all of the flaws in her plan came back to haunt her. If she'd run away from George, erasing all her tracks, then she'd run away from Richard as well. How would he feel about that? Would he think she'd ditched him? Would he try to look for her?
Secondly, she was feeling weird. She felt queasy and nauseas. Was it the plane food, or something else?
Beatrix pulled up outside Capulet Manor. Capulet Manor was a tall, foreboding building. The brickwork was grey and crumbling, and a crooked tower pointed to the sky. Last summer, Richard whispered to Anne that it looked like an Italian interpretation of Wuthering Heights, which made her giggle.
Hermia hopped out, and grabbed Anne's case for her.
"Beatrix, vuoi entrare per un caffe?" asked Hermia.
Beatrix shrugged, "Va bene allora."
Anne followed the Italian girls up the pathway.
"Tybalt still not move car," Hermia pointed crossly, "Stronzo."
The door of the Manor was flung open, and Juliet stood there.
"L'ho preso, lei è tutto a posto," greeted Hermia.
Juliet rushed out, and wrapped her arms around Anne, "Anne, come inside, you poor thing. I have room set up for you, and everyone fine for you stay. Ciao, Beatrix, qui per vedere Benny?"
Beatrix raised her eyebrows, "Cosa voglio verderlo per? Hermia mi ha invitato."
The interior of Capulet Manor was exactly how Anne remembered it. It was loud, noisy, and chaotic. Eliseo was pressing the volume switch up on the television, so that the living room was shaking. Lord Capulet was sitting in his armchair, reading the newspaper and occasionally glancing up and shouting at someone. Tybalt was stomping around angrily, carrying a bin bag full of junk and a laundry basket. Allegra was bouncing on the sofa singing as he walked past.
"Ti sei perso un po!" she sang, pointing as he dropped a dirty sock on the floor. She stopped, and waved, "Ciao, Anne!"
Benvolio was scuttling around with a vacuum cleaner.
"Benny, il mio amore!" greeted Hermia, "Mettere che aspirapolvere giù. Tybalt in grado di pulire la sua stanza. Guarda chi c'è qui."
"Hello, Anne," Benvolio's English was stiff and formal. Anne could tell his vocabulary was limited to a few words, "How you are?"
"I'm all right, thank you," Anne replied politely.
"Since when did you speak English?" asked Beatrix to her brother, as Hermia and Juliet both fussed over Anne, and Allegra taunted Tybalt as he tidied up.
"Juliet and Allegra taught me some stuff to say to Anne," replied Benvolio.
"Allegra speaks English as well now?"
"Yeah, for her opera stuff," explained Benvolio, "You need to know a couple of languages as most of the famous ones are all in different languages. And since she sings as a soprano, she wants to be able to sing most of the main roles, so she's offered plenty of work."
Beatrix suddenly felt that old familiar feeling of being very far behind her peers.
"Anne, you tired?" asked Juliet, "Want put bag away?"
"Yes please."
"We go upstairs. This way."
Anne followed Hermia and Juliet along the halls of Capulet Manor. It was exactly as she remembered it, with the creepy devil statues carved onto the walls. One of them was wearing a lacy red bra and a blonde wig. Hermia snickered.
"Mercutio visit again...he do it all time. You look forward to see him?"
"Yeah, sure!" Anne lied, "He's so funny!"
'More like scary...' she thought to herself.
"This Tybalt room, but for you now," said Hermia, gesturing to a door that they were approaching.
"It normally dirty but we make him clean it," added Juliet. They swung open the door. The bed had been changed, the windows were open, and all of Tybalt's stuff had been dumped in a pile in the corner. A can of air freshener was sitting on the bedside table. Anne chewed her lip. She doubted that the usually grumpy and short-tempered Capulet was particularly impressed at having to vacate his room for one of his cousin's friends.
"He doesn't share a room with Rosaline?" asked Anne.
"No. He snore and make her mad. So she kick him out and say he sleep here, the best guest room. But now he sleep on sofa. Serve him right for snore! We hear him all round Manor!" replied Hermia.
They all flumped down on the bed.
"Is comfortable?" asked Juliet.
"Perfect," Anne smiled, her travel-weary body sinking into the pillows.
"Good. We want you happy," said Juliet.
The door swung open.
"Get out," commanded Hermia to Tybalt in Italian.
"I'm just getting my stuff, it's still my room, you don't have to be a fucking bitch!" snapped Tybalt.
"Well, don't come in here when Anne is in here, you fucking perv!" Hermia shouted back.
Tybalt grabbed his x-box, and a couple of t-shirts, before sticking his middle finger up at Hermia and stomping back out the door. Hermia reached over, grabbed the can of air freshener and chucked it at him.
"If Tybalt come in and bother you, say he is cazzo," said Hermia.
"What's a cazzo?" asked Anne.
"Italian word for dick," replied Juliet, "And no call Tybalt name, he is good for giving room."
"If only we could get him out Manor..."
"There not enough room in Aunty Regina house!" retorted Juliet, "And no one want 'Sausage Surprise' every meal time..."
The door swung open again.
"Tybalt, fuck off!" yelled Hermia.
"We bring drink!" Allegra announced, with the twins following her.
"Ah, good, I think you Tybalt come be twat again," said Hermia. She shuffled up on the bed, so Allegra, Beatrix and Benvolio could sit down.
"We brought coffee and juice," said Allegra, "Is that ok?"
"Perfect. Anne you want coffee or juice?"
"Could I have coffee please?" asked Anne.
"While we all here," said Hermia to Anne, "We need talk how we going hide you, if that you want."
"I do," nodded Anne.
"Ok, so you live here, and we take care of you, but how we stop people find you?"
"I can throw away my phone," suggested Anne, "I turned it off as soon as I called you so they can't trace it with 'Find My iPhone'"
"I get you new one with new sim card. You need new ID, fake one so no one realize it you," explained Hermia.
"We could pass her off as Capulet," suggested Juliet, "Give her Italian first name and pass her off as cousin visit for summer."
Hermia chewed her lip, "That could work. She not look Capulet, we need disguise?"
Both of them turned and stared at Anne, examining her features. Anne suddenly felt self-conscious.
"Hair brown, we dye it red?"
"She short-average height, most Capulet tall…we give her heels?"
"I am short! So is Allegra!"
"Yes, but you two different."
"If hair brown and eye brown…maybe we give her fake tan…make look typical Italian and pass her off as Montague cousin of Benvolio and Beatrix, might be easier?"
"Can you talk in Italian so I can understand what you are saying about us?" asked Beatrix.
"We're not talking to you, we're talking to Anne!" retorted Hermia, "But anyway, you're a beautician, so make yourself useful and tell us how to disguise Anne."
"Uh uh. That's not a good idea. Not after she turned her own hair green. I don't want poor Anne having to suffer that," said Benvolio, "And anyway, what's going on? Why is Anne having to be disguised?"
"To hide from Clarence!"
"Ah, Hermia, I know you mean well, but in the long term, are you sure that's the right way to-"
"I hope I'm not too much trouble," said Anne.
"Anne, no, you not!" insisted Juliet, "We just think of best way to hide you," she turned back to Hermia, "You know, I think visit to Gabriel might help?"
"Gabriel? He never keep big mouth shut," dismissed Allegra.
"Not if I blackmail him," Hermia grinned.
"Oh yes. Of course," Allegra grinned back at her cousin.
"Gabriel perfect for what need," explained Hermia to Anne, "He can get fake ID, and he good at makeovers. He know what suit you and also make fit in with us. He also speak English so can tell him what you like."
"Herms, if we're planning going out tomorrow night, and Anne's coming too, shouldn't we see him today?" asked Juliet, switching back to Italian so they could talk quickly, and Benvolio and Beatrix could understand.
"Ah, yes, that's a good idea," said Hermia, "Could go now. Will he have finished work?"
"It's three in the afternoon, probably," said Allegra.
"All right. A small group would be best," said Juliet, "And if we need to blackmail Gabriel, then Hermia, you best go. You know he's terrified of you."
Hermia snickered.
"Shall I drive you?" asked Benvolio.
"You can't, Tybalt has blocked the driveway and is refusing to move his car. None of us can get out," said Hermia, "And now is probably not the best time to make him move it."
"He is such a tit," Allegra rolled her eyes.
"I can drive you," offered Beatrix, "I want to see Gabriel's supposedly amazing beauty tips in action."
"Ok, so me, Anne and Beatrix?" asked Hermia.
"Yeah. That's best," nodded Juliet, "Benvolio, Allegra and I will keep cleaning up in here. God knows what Tybalt has done to the en suite."
"There's probably a ring of ginger pubes all around the edge of the bath-"
"Hermia! No!" spluttered Benvolio.