Moon Lantern - Maybe you'll start feeling Beatrix/Benedick in this chapter?
RichardIII1955 - As you will see, Gabe does not leave Angelo alone!
A long chapter today! The gang go out to cut loose some steam, and a tonne of stuff happens. When I'm with my friends, I usually find that everything happens on a night out. Probably because of the alcohol!
By the way, just to be clear, I do not advocate getting fake IDs to take your underage cousin and friend to the club. Clubs are a lot of fun, but they can also be dangerous. Whilst some young people become more mature and ready to deal with that environment sooner than the age limit dictates, it's still not the greatest idea in the world.
I also hope I've managed to make it clear enough that Anne misunderstands Richard's meaning, and that Gabriel and Mercutio cut him off by being annoying before he can explain himself fully, hence the reason she decides not to contact him anymore.
"Have you heard? Gabe's bringing Angelo!"
"What? Angelo? But he's old," stated Benvolio.
"I know, right?" Hermia grinned, zipping up her hot pants.
"And who invited Gabriel, anyway?" asked Benvolio.
"I did," replied Hermia.
"I thought you don't like him?"
"I don't like him particularly," admitted Hermia, "But he promised to bring me something."
"Bring what?" frowned Benvolio, "You better not be smoking weed again, it's completely disgusting and I-"
"It's not weed, dipstick! Gabe's not a stoner. It's Anne's, or I should say, Annagrazia's ID," replied Hermia, bending down and pulling on her shoes.
"Oh, I see. Hermia, are you sure this is the right thing to do? I know you mean well, I know you want to protect her, but surely it would be better to-"
He was interrupted by Allegra opening the door, "If you ask me, I think we all need to go out. Everyone's been so pent up revising for their exams and we haven't had any fun. Me and Wooshy-wo are hoping that it's going to be the foam party."
"Yes! It better be," Hermia cheered.
"Oh no, not the bloody foam party!" groaned Benvolio.
Allegra just laughed, and bounced off to finish getting ready. Downstairs in the dining room and the kitchen, Mercutio was already getting the drinks on, and entertaining Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, and Don Pedro's shady half-brother, Don Jon. Juliet was in her room still getting ready, and Rosaline and Tybalt and the Capulet boys were pre drinking in Rosaline's room away from Mercutio's silly antics downstairs.
The door went.
"That'll be Gabe," said Hermia. She ran down the stairs two at a time, and flung open the door.
"Are we ready to party?" sang Gabriel loudly, "I brought Angelo with me! I thought we could crash a couple of gay bars so he could get some-"
"Gabriel, that's enough! I've told you, I'm only coming for a couple of drinks," Angelo blushed.
Hermia laughed and pulled them both in. When Angelo looked away, Gabriel dug in his pocket and pulled out two passports.
"I've got the IDs."
"Cheers, Gabe. You're a babe," announced Hermia.
"Don't call me Gabe! Just be grateful I can still access these," Gabriel snapped.
Hermia paid him no heed, and yelled up the stairs in English.
"Annagrazia! ANNAGRAZIA! You ready? I have ID for you!"
Soon enough, the newly red-haired Anne came down the stairs, where Hermia presented the fake ID to her. Allegra also came downstairs, where Hermia gave her the other fake ID. The last couple of times Allegra had gone out with the gang, she'd used Rosaline's ID since they looked similar. But as Rosaline was coming with them, there was no chance of doing that. She'd be caught in minutes.
"Ah, Beatrix!" greeted Benedick, as Beatrix came tripping down the stairs in her heels, "What a pleasant surprise!"
"What on earth are you doing in my brother's house?" asked Beatrix, parroting his words from their last meeting.
"Mercutio kindly offered to show us the clubs before we leave next week." explained Benedick, "Isn't it sweet of him?"
Mercutio pulled a face that was supposed to be coy. Beatrix grimaced. Soon enough, everyone was ready, and drinking downstairs, spread across the living room, dining room and kitchen.
"Oh, Tychon might be coming out tonight too," announced Don Pedro, looking at his phone.
"Is that the one who told Paris off for being a dickhead to Merc?" asked Allegra, as she poured together a Cuban.
"None other," replied Don Pedro.
"Well, then I like him already!" Allegra announced. Mercutio grinned at her.
"Angelo, drink," insisted Gabriel, tipping a shot of vodka in Angelo's glass of coke.
"I don't want a hangover," Angelo pushed Gabriel's bottle away.
"Why not? You don't have to get up tomorrow morning."
"I do if you want me to give your son his breakfast."
"Raiden can, it's the weekend!" Gabriel cried, "I want you to have a good time."
"Hmm," Angelo replied. The music suddenly cut out in the living room, and was replaced by some bleeping.
"Hermy, your laptop's going!" called Juliet.
"Oh, is it?" Hermia made her way from the kitchen into the living room, and opened it up, "Ah, Skype! Incoming call from...Richard?"
"Answer it! I want to show him my sexy outfit!" shrieked Mercutio, running in excitedly.
"Wait, no, not until I know George isn't there too!" exclaimed Anne, but it was too late. Hermia answered the call. Anne darted out of sight.
Mercutio barged in front of the laptop, waving a bottle of wine around above his head.
"HEY RICHARD!" he screamed.
Onscreen, Richard winced and covered his ears.
"Hello Mercutio..."
"How are you doing?"
"I'm fine...how about you?"
"I'm good! I'm getting ready to go out. Do you like my outfit? Am I sexy?"
Richard blinked, taking in Mercutio's flamboyant ensemble of gold trousers, a neon purple shirt, and matching purple boots.
"Ummm...sure. It's very…you."
"I knew you'd love it!" sang Mercutio, "Anyway, why did you block me on Facebook?"
"Block you?" repeated Richard.
"Yeah, I wanted to post some more llama pictures on your wall but I couldn't find it! Then, Ned tagged you in something, and your name came up without a hyperlink. Why'd you block me?"
"Uhhh…I think my nieces were playing with my iPad the other day…they must have accidently done it," lied Richard quickly.
Hermia grabbed the laptop back from Mercutio.
"That enough, he like not your stupid picture, no wonder he block! Anyway, what is matter? Why you ring so late?" asked Hermia.
"I was just wondering if you could help me," replied Richard.
"Yes, sure, what is matter?"
"Have you seen Anne lately?"
"Anne?" Hermia blinked.
"Yes. Anne. She's gone missing. I'm really worried about her. She just ran off from George's place in the middle of the night. No note, no calls or texts to say she's safe. We're trying to track her, but there's no bank records of her using her card, and we can't trace her phone because it's pay-as-you-go. Everyone we try to talk to says that it's all confidential, or we'll have to talk to this person, or this other person, so we can't find anything out there," Richard sighed deeply. There were bags under his eyes, as if he hadn't had any sleep, and his long dark hair was lank, as if he hadn't been taking care of himself.
"What can we do?" asked Hermia.
"I was just wondering if she'd called you. I know she took a shine to you last summer. I thought she might have called you guys at the very least."
Hermia looked over at Anne.
In a blind panic, Anne froze.
What should she do? Reveal herself and ask for his help? Stay hidden for now and then contact him privately at a later time without everyone around? Or leave it completely?
And if she was to reveal herself…what if George was skulking in the background? What if his nieces were around to accidently overhear things they shouldn't? What if it was bad news from Edward and she wouldn't be getting her inheritance? What if Richard was mad at her for running off? What if he was upset at her for running off?
She frantically shook her head.
'Not now, not yet, I need more time to think...'
"I am sorry, I not see her," said Hermia, "But I keep my eye out for her."
"What?" frowned Tybalt in Italian, "Are you kidding? She's right over there!"
"Sta zitto!" Hermia put her middle finger up at him.
"What was that?" asked Richard.
"Tybalt ask if letter for him about refer for diarrhoea special doctor come, so I tell him no," replied Hermia, "Anyway, we go out tonight, I Skype you tomorrow to talk, ok?"
"Ok," sighed Richard defeatedly. He bent his head and covered his face with his hands, "I just hope she knows how much I'm worried about her...and how much I care about her. I thought once Edouard was dead we could be together, but my dumbass brothers have been interfering and being complete prats."
Anne exhaled slowly. Yes. Later on, she would contact him. Not now, with everyone watching. This needed to be a private discussion.
"Ignore stupid brother, they nothing to do with you and your relationships!" instructed Hermia.
"If only it were that simple," Richard shook his head, and then placed his head in his hands.
"It is simple!"
"No, it's not! My brother Edward almost destroyed our entire family by running off with that Woodville woman, I'm not going down that road! I want to make sure everything is right before I settle down. It's not fair on everyone otherwise."
Anne gasped.
No. No, she wouldn't contact him. Not if all she'd be was a catalyst for trouble…like Elizabeth…
"Hey, what's going on here?" asked Gabriel, barging in front of the laptop, and staring at the screen, "Any gossip? Because I totally want to hear it!"
"Oh look who it is..." grumbled Richard, rolling his eyes.
Mercutio shoved Gabriel out of the way of the laptop, "We have to go party now, Dickon, so we'll call you tomorrow when we're pissed and hungover."
"Ok, you do that. Have fun," Richard sighed.
"Oh, I will! And unblock me and refriend me so I can send you some more llama pictures!"
"Bye, bye Richard!" sang Hermia, closing the laptop. She glanced up at Anne, who was white-faced and fiddling with her nails, "Why you not want talk him?"
Everyone in the living room turned and looked at her. Thankfully, Don Pedro, Don Jon, Benedick and Claudio were still in the kitchen, playing 'Ring of Fire.'
"I-i-in case George was hiding in the background! If he knows I'm here, he'll be on the first plane to Verona to lock me up and steal my inheritance!"
"Bastard," seethed Mercutio, "Shall I Skype call him and tell him he's a good for nothing drunkard?"
"No, spam his snapchat with loads of scary selfies," said Gabriel. Mercutio snickered, and took another swig of his drink.
"Ok, is everyone ready to go and hit the clubs?" asked Hermia, standing on the coffee table so she could be heard and seen. The resounding cheer echoed around the Manor.
"I don't know if I'm up for this," Angelo repeated once again to Gabriel.
"It will be fun!" insisted Gabriel, "I want you to have a good time and enjoy yourself, instead of sitting in the house all day. It's not good for you."
"All right, I'll come to one, but then I'll head back. I'm not sure this is my scene anymore."
"Well, like said, we can always sneak off to the gay bars, so you can get some-"
"What was that about a gay bar?" asked Hermia, as everyone got up, and started to make for the door.
"I was just saying again that since Angelo plays for both teams, we should sneak off to the gay bars, so he can get some-"
"Gabriel!" hissed Angelo, "Will you please stop embarrassing me?"
"Are we going out or not?" asked Allegra.
"We're going out!" announced Mercutio, "Come on everyone!"
The group staggered upright and began to leave the Manor. They walked into town, since there was so many of them and they wouldn't all fit into a cab.
"Remember the first time I took you clubbing?" asked Mercutio, his arm linked with Allegra's.
"Of course I do!" beamed Allegra, "When you nabbed me Rosaline's ID, and then we went to the foam party, and built the foam man!"
"Do you wanna build a foam man?" sang Mercutio, to the tune of the song from Frozen. This soon led to the entire group singing Disney songs as they danced down the road. Finally, they lined up outside the club. With their fake IDs, Anne and Allegra stood in the middle of the group to avoid suspicion. Hermia waited behind them to diffuse any awkward situations if the bouncers didn't accept them. Allegra calmly handed her ID over, and Anne copied. Her heart hammered as the bouncer's eyes scanned it. But, the IDs Gabriel had procured were deemed acceptable, and both the girls passed through.
"This first time in club?" asked Hermia, as they stepped in.
"Yes," Anne nodded, nervously, not sure what to expect.
"You never sneak in club in England?"
"There weren't really many clubs in Middleham..."
"Why not go Newcastle? Lot of club there! Me and Mercutio watch Geordie Shore and see lot of English people in club!"
"Er, I don't really think Geordie Shore is a realistic portrayal of English people..."
"Well, never mind. I show you good time! But stay close with me. If idiot try grab you, I punch him."
"What?" Anne frowned.
"You be fine," assured Allegra, joining them, "Mercutio scare them away."
Glancing over at Mercutio already charging around the dance floor like a madman, Anne didn't doubt it.
"I heard that you used to live with Amparo Duarte," said Don Pedro to Gabriel, as they stood in line to get drinks.
"Yes. What's it to you?" asked Gabriel.
"I went to the same school as she did."
"Really?"
"Yes. We were in the same class."
"Oh," Gabriel turned away.
"What is your relationship with her now?"
"Excuse me?" Gabriel turned and glared at the prince.
"I asked what your relationship with her was."
"I...we...we're...on a bit of a hiatus, while we try to..."
"So it isn't serious anymore?"
"I beg your pardon?" Gabriel raised his thin blond eyebrows.
"So it's not a serious relationship anymore," said Don Pedro firmly.
Gabriel flushed red, "How do you know all of this?"
"Let's just say, I want to offer her a job in Aragon, and I want to make sure she has no ties here," said Don Pedro.
"Of course she has ties here, she already has a job, and she has her sister and her niece!"
"I could give her a better one. Do you really think she'll get a majority party in the next election once the coalition breaks apart after the way she ousted your father out of power last year? And do you seriously want to be in a relationship with a woman like that?"
"I..." Gabriel flushed an even deeper red, "We understand each other. We just need time-"
"If I remember Amparo rightly, she always put her career and further advancement before anything else," said Don Pedro, "You'd just be hindering her to make her stay in Verona where there's nothing for her, and especially when you don't even have a proper relationship."
"What do you know about me and Amparo?" snapped Gabriel.
"Everything you've just told me," said Don Pedro. He turned to the bar, and ordered three drinks for him, Benedick and Claudio, "If you truly do care about her after all, then let her go."
Gabriel was left shaking with rage. He turned to the bar, and ordered the strongest drink they had. He downed it, and then ordered another. By the time he made his way back over to the group, he was tottering.
"Hey, Angelo! I want to dance with you!" he slurred, "I want to have fun!"
Angelo frowned, "How much have you drunk?"
"LOADS!"
Across the room, Rosaline, Tybalt and the Capulet boys had sat down at a table with drinks, Mercutio was dancing like a lunatic with Allegra, Anne was dancing with Juliet, whilst Romeo talked to Claudio and Benedick. Hermia was dancing with Benvolio. Beatrix found she had no one to dance with, so she went and sat down with Romeo and the other two guys.
"Are you having a good time?" asked Romeo, handing her a drink.
Benedick was listening, so Beatrix lied, "Sure! Of course I am! I love coming out."
"I'll come and dance with you in a bit, I'm just letting Anne have someone to dance with for a bit. It's so tragic that those brothers of his keep interfering with her and Richard's relationship. They are such a cute couple. But it's like Lysander always used to say. The course of true love never did run smooth. But, unfortunately for him," Romeo glanced over at Hermia jumping up to plant a kiss on Benvolio's lips, "He never did find true love."
"Why are you bringing this up now?" Beatrix rolled her eyes, "Ben's happy. At last. Especially after Rose."
"Who's fault was that?" asked Romeo, looking over at Gabriel, as he tried to make Angelo dance.
"Why are we talking about this?" asked Beatrix, as a new song began to play. It was a typical club song, which had barely any words, just a pulsing beat, and a chorus that repeated itself over and over again. 'Sigh no more, sigh no more, sigh no more...'
"I'm telling the guys all about what's happened in Verona over the past few years," replied Romeo, "I've just got to the bit with Demetrius-"
"Oh, that psychopath? Thank god he's dead," stated Beatrix.
"I haven't got to that bit yet!" protested Romeo.
"This song is awful," Benedick frowned, "It sounds like a howling dog."
"No, it doesn't," Beatrix scolded her head, "It's club music. What's wrong with club music?"
"Everything," Benedick rolled his eyes, "It's meaningless. There's just a beat, and occasionally an 'ooh' 'aah' 'yeah' and if we're lucky 'come on.'"
"But if you just want to come and dance, do you really care what the words are?" asked Beatrix.
"There are plenty of songs that you can dance to that have words, and are meaningful."
"And? I don't think it matters whether music is meaningful or not. As long as it serves its purpose and makes people happy, then there's no problem. If you want to sit and listen to something meaningful, fine. If you're in a club and just want something loud and catchy, then that's fine too. Some things were not made to be over-analysed, some things were just made to be enjoyed."
"Seriously? Then why are our charts full of recycled auto-tuned shite?"
"Please don't tell me you're a music snob," Beatrix rolled her eyes, "Because if you are, then you're the one missing out. You're the sad lonely person sitting in the corner whilst everyone has a good time."
"No, I have taste," retorted Benedick.
"So why did you come here then? Why don't you go home and listen to your 'meaningful music' on your own, and have an absolutely wonderful time," said Beatrix triumphantly.
Romeo was falling on the floor with laughter.
Lost for words, Benedick thought for a moment.
"Well, it sounds like a good plan, but I'd like to know what you do when you're not in the club being 'made happy' by recycled auto-tuned crap."
"Plenty of things," said Beatrix, "I watch TV, I listen to my music, and I read-"
Thinking he was being helpful, Romeo interrupted.
"Beatrix reads all the time. She used to leave all her Twilight books all around the house but now she's reading-"
"Oh, please don't tell me you're one of those Twilight people" Benedick rolled his eyes.
"There's nothing wrong with Twilight!" Beatrix nearly yelled.
"It's not real!" Benedick retorted.
"I know it's not real!" Beatrix snapped "It's a book! But even if it's not real, then it doesn't mean I can't fantasise. Sometimes, escaping somewhere, however pathetic it may seem, can make an unhappy person feel much better and keep them going through a hard time"
"What would you know about a hard time?" asked Benedick.
"I know plenty," Beatrix leant forward, "And if you don't believe me, ask my brother. He knows all about it too. And so does Romeo."
"What?" asked Benedick rudely.
Beatrix got up, and left.
"What's wrong with her?" asked Benedick.
Romeo leant over so that Benedick would hear him properly.
"When Beatrix was ten, her mother died."
"Oh," Benedick blushed, "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"Beatrix doesn't talk about it much. Benvolio does sometimes, then but he has me, Merc and Herms. Beatrix doesn't have anyone like that. I think sometimes that escaping into books like Twilight, however crap it is, or fangirling and obsessing over something, just...doing something...mind-consuming like that, is her way of forgetting about things that upset her."
Benedick looked remorseful, "Shit...I had no idea..."
"Not many people do. I think I'm the only person in our family who gets it. Sort of."
"Look, I'm going to go and talk to her," said Benedick, getting up, "You carry on telling Claudio about what's been going on and I'll catch up later."
He finished his drink and stood up, heading in the direction Beatrix had gone.
"Gabe, I'm going out on the smoking deck. I need some air," said Angelo.
"You won't get any air on a smoking deck, you mug!" giggled Gabriel, tripping over in his silly shoes. Angelo rolled his eyes and caught hold of him.
"I think I might go home afterwards. I'm too old for this."
"You are not too old, you're forty eight!"
"And you're just being stupid and pissing me off. I don't want to have an argument with you. I need to get out of here."
"I am not being stupid!" insisted Gabriel, "I'm just tipsy."
"Tipsy? Tipsy! You're off your face, Gabe!"
"Am not," Gabriel glared at him, his dark eyes fierce.
"I'm not going to argue with you about this, I'm going to go home," said Angelo firmly, "Have you got cab fare to get home afterwards?"
"I...think so?"
"All right, well, I'm going to give you a bit extra just in case." Angelo pressed a five Euro note to his hand.
"How will you get back then?"
"I'll walk. I need to clear my head."
Angelo ruffled Gabriel's hair, and then turned away, passing Beatrix as she stormed off in the direction of the smoking deck.
Beatrix barged through the doors, and then leant on the rails, looking over at Verona in the dark. Who did Benedick think he was, to just immediately start criticising her likes and dislikes? What was wrong with liking club music? When she was drunk and in a club, the last thing she cared about was what the words were. She just wanted a beat to dance too so she could forget about things. And what was wrong with liking Twilight? Of course Beatrix knew it wasn't real, but that didn't mean she couldn't fantasise, or use it for escapism, even if it was mediocre. And as a matter of fact, sometimes exposure to mediocre literature could actually help a person to distinguish between the highbrow and the mediocre. And how dare he say she didn't know what it was like to experience a difficult time? Her mother was dead!
"Beatrix! Hey! Beatrix!"
"What do you want now?" Beatrix didn't even turn around to face him.
"I was talking to Romeo just now. He explained some of it to me. I'm sorry, truly, I am. I had no idea. I'm sorry I was so blunt. That's just who I am. But you are right, you can enjoy whatever music and books you like, even if other people think they're crap, if they help you."
He reached out and gently touched her shoulder. Beatrix breathed deeply.
"I'm sorry," he repeated. He gently stroked her bare shoulder. Beatrix finally turned to face him.
Benedick was expecting a fiery retort, but what she did next surprised him.
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
Benedick smiled gently, and moved one of his hands to stroke her hair. She had lovely hair, a beautiful deep chestnut brown, and it curled softly at the ends. He wrapped one of his fingers in a ringlet, twirling it round and round.
'Why am I hugging you?' thought Beatrix, 'I don't even like you. You drive me nuts and piss me off with your blunt attitude and sarcastic jokes. You make me want to hit you over the head with a frying pan or something, but at the same time, feeling you hold me in your arms, stroking my hair, I've never felt more safe. What the hell is going on?'
Back inside, Romeo turned to Claudio and Don Pedro.
"They like each other."
"What? Them?" Claudio looked surprised.
"They do," insisted Romeo, "I see sparks flying off of them whenever they're in a room together. They've got it bad. They'll never admit it, but I think they're meant for each other."
"Are you nuts?" asked Don Pedro.
"No!" Romeo insisted again, "I know love better than anyone else!"
"What makes you think that?"
"Because I'm Romeo, ok!" exclaimed Romeo, "Those two...they're like Ron and Hermione. They bicker and squabble, but, they do have feelings for each other."
"Yeah, and look what JK. Rowling said about Ron and Hermione a few years later!" Don Pedro replied.
"I want my cousin to be happy," said Romeo, "Benvolio and I, we found love with our Capulets girls, but unfortunately, the Capulet boys are all douchebags and have a personal hygiene problem. It's my duty, as the heir to the house of Montague, to ensure my family's happiness. I definitely see something between those two there. Will you help me?"
"Well, why not?" shrugged Don Pedro, "We have a week left here. And then we have the wedding in Sicily. I think it would be interesting to find our own Benny a girlfriend. You're on."
Romeo beamed delightedly. Don Jon looked over at his brother, and raised his eyebrows. Not if he had something to say about it.
Angelo was relieved to get out of the club and into the fresh air. It felt good and clean on his skin after the dense sweaty atmosphere of the club. That hadn't been one of Gabriel's better ideas, but as Angelo stood thinking about it, his son's heart was in the right place, but his head certainly wasn't.
"Do you have a light?" asked a musical voice. Angelo looked down. It was Tychon.
Angelo hadn't smoked since he'd received his cancer diagnosis, but was still in the habit of carrying a lighter around.
"Sure," he flushed, handing it across.
"Cheers," Tychon smiled, accepting it, and flicking up a cigarette, "Are you out tonight?"
"I was, but now I'm leaving. This isn't really my scene," explained Angelo.
Tychon glanced around, "Yes, I have to admit it's all very...young, but some of my friends are younger than me and I planned to meet them here. And," he grinned boyishly, "I've always considered myself young for my age."
"Oh, where you looking for Don Pedro and his friends?"
"Yes, I was."
"They're inside, but I think I saw Benedick outside talking to Beatrix."
"I see," Tychon looked at the long queue, "You know, maybe I'll give tonight a miss. The queue is so long that by the time I actually get in, the club will be closing. I'll let them get on with whatever they're doing. I don't know them that well, just from our time together in England."
"You're in charge of the mercenary army from Athens, aren't you?"
"I am, yes. My family have owned and been involved in leading the mercenary army company for centuries."
"Are there many of you?" asked Angelo.
"There used to be," said Tychon softly, and Angelo saw a glimmer of sensitivity behind the man's hard warrior-like exterior.
"I'm sorry," said Angelo.
"Don't be. It was a long time ago," Tychon dismissed. Then he smiled, "This is a gloomy topic. Why don't we go somewhere nice and talk about something else?"
"What do you mean?" asked Angelo.
"Well, this place seems a bit young, and we're both a bit past it, so how about we go and sit down somewhere for drinks?"
'You know what, Angelo? Just go for it. Why not? You've got all night to yourself. You're not at that Palace anymore, where everyone judges and is out to get you, and Gabriel's not here making silly comments about things he doesn't understand. And admit it, he's cute. Those sparkling green eyes, vivid red hair and his playful nature...what is there to lose? You had cancer last year, and chances are you could be dead right now. Life is too short to wait around.'
"Sure. I haven't been out in ages, but I know a couple of nice places..."
Surrounded by so many people, hemmed in either side, in the very thick of the club, Anne felt like she should have felt like she was the centre of attention. There were friends and acquaintances either side of her, all dancing together, all wanting to dance with her. Anyone would feel delighted.
But truth be told, Anne had never felt so alone in her life.
All she could think about was Richard's Skype call...
Slowly, she stopped dancing, and swayed from side to side with her eyes half-closed, going along with the flow. Her ankles ached from standing so long. She felt exhausted and slightly sick. It was the same feeling she'd had when she arrived at Capulet Manor. Was it a hangover? Already? She'd only had a few drinks...
"Annagrazia! You look tired!" shouted Juliet.
"I am!" Anne shouted back over the music.
"It get late, you want go home?"
"Is that ok?"
"It fine! If you tired then I not make you stay!" Juliet clasped her hand, "Come while I round everyone up and say we go."
"Gabriel, what are you doing?" yelled Rosaline.
Gabriel looked at his half-sister with glazed eyes from where he sat on the floor.
"Ugh, you're hammered," Rosaline rolled her eyes, "Looks like it's time for you to go home. Have you got cab fare?"
"I did...but I drank it!" Gabriel giggled. He slid further down on the floor. He looked back up at her and giggled even more.
Rosaline shook her head, "Well, then I guess Tybalt will be carrying you home tonight."
"He can...fuck off..." slurred Gabriel.
"What on earth have you been drinking?" frowned Rosaline.
"Vodka, jagermeister, absin-stuff, and piss!"
"Time for bed," decided Rosaline. She grabbed him by the elbow and pulled him up.
"Yes, mum," Gabriel taunted.
Rosaline ignored him and dragged him through the club, "Tybalt! Hey, Tibby! Gabe's off his face, so you have to carry him."
"What? Can't the twat handle his booze?" Tybalt turned around and scowled.
"Clearly not."
"Is everyone leaving or something?" asked Mercutio, shimmying over to his friends, "But the party has only just started!"
"Anne's tired!" said Juliet, "I mean, Annagrazia! And I want us to at least get Hermia through the front door before she starts crawling on the floor or puking."
Rosaline rolled her eyes, "Not again."
"Fucking brat! She always has to do this!" cursed Tybalt.
Benvolio stumbled towards them, with Hermia hanging in his arms.
"Hey, look, it's Dribbly-Tibbly!" she sang loudly.
Tybalt threw her a disgusted glare.
"We should go before there's trouble," said Benvolio.
"You lot are losers!" yelled Mercutio.
"Well, you stay out by yourself then, and we'll go home!" Benvolio shouted back.
"I'm not going anywhere without Merc," said Allegra firmly.
"Hey, if they're staying out, I'm staying out too!" declared Hermia.
"You're in no fit state to be out!" cried Benvolio.
"Yeah I am!"
"You can't even walk!"
"I can...fly!"
"Yeah, tell him, Herms!" encouraged Mercutio.
Hermia broke free of Benvolio, "Bye bye, Benny! Go tuck yourself in bed with a cup of warm milk and a bedtime story!"
Mercutio howled with laughter.
"I'm not hanging around," grumbled Tybalt. He scooped up Gabriel, who shrieked.
"Put me down! Put me down now! I fucking hate you! Let go of me!"
"Gabriel, shut up," said Rosaline.
"You're so horrid to me!" Gabriel wailed, "You're all horrible! You all hate me! No one loves me!"
"Oh, here we go. The hysterical sobbing begins," sighed Rosaline.
"No one loves me apart from Alexei! My baby! I want my baby, I need him," sobbed Gabriel, "Where the hell are you taking me?"
Tybalt looked to Rosaline for the answer.
"We'll take him home with us. I highly doubt Angelo wants to be woken up by this," replied Rosaline.
"Bye Gabriel!" waved Hermia, "Sleep tight now!"
"Come on, Hermia, you really ought to come home too," said Benvolio, "Benedick, Claudio and Don Pedro have gone back to the palace. The club will close in half an hour."
"I think that's a good idea," agreed Juliet, "We can get a takeaway!"
"No to your boring takeaway. Me, Herms and Allegra are staying out!" said Mercutio determinedly.
"You can put the takeaway food on your head!" said Romeo.
"Ok, great, let's go and get a takeaway!" beamed Mercutio, "Come on, Herms!"
"Takeaway food fight! Wooo! I'm there!" cheered Hermia. She tried to take a step forward, but landed on her face. Anne gasped with horror. Mercutio howled with laughter.
"Hermy!" Benvolio cried, bending down to help her to her feet.
"I'm good!" Hermia put her thumb up, "Here, don't worry about me, I'll crawl along."
"I knew this would happen," groaned Benvolio. Slowly, he helped her to her feet, "We'll go back to my family's house, it's nearer and quieter. You'll be able to sleep this off better. Allegra, you're an English speaker, you tell Annagrazia what's happening and take her back to Capulet Manor."
Supporting Hermia's light weight, he followed the group as they stumbled out the club.
"How was first night in club?" asked Allegra, to Anne.
"It was..." Anne thought for the right word, "Interesting."
