Things started to go back to normal. My brothers making me do all the work in the house and I'm still complaining but what can I say I'm in love and when you fall in love there are some sacrifices you have to make. Sacrifices that include your freedom. I put on my mother's red scarf and walked out the house for work after serving my brothers and my uncle their breakfast. The leaves on the trees started to turn many different colors. So many red, yellows, and oranges. They look like a sunset or a fire. A fire that doesn't spread destruction or havoc but a fire that spreads peace and serenity. With this beauty I was looking for a good day with Romeo. Only problem was Romeo wasn't here at all and so was Josephine. They weren't here at all at the deli.
When I was just about to leave Race came up to me. "Race what's going on? You're not here to challenge me again are you?" Race still can't get over the fact that a girl beat him. "No I came here for Romeo. He wanted me to tell you that he still loves you and he doesn't mind the injuries as long as he's safe." I was so relieved to hear that news. Romeo and I are still going strong. "Is he ok? How bad are his injuries?" I asked. "They're not bad but we wanted him to get some rest."
With that good news in mind I thought it was the perfect time to go to my personal spot by the lake. When I got there the big tree was already starting to lose it's leaves. I sat down letting the leaves fall down on me. "I wonder if you're out there mother. I know you expect my life to be all pleasant and wonderful but it's anything like that. If you're alive or up in a better place with father I just hope somehow this message gets to you. My brothers are cruel and they're making me marry some guy I don't like. I guess they're just doing it to get rid of me but what have I done to deserve this?" Out of nowhere I felt hands covering my eyes.
I turned around and it was Romeo. I screamed and I hugged him and it felt so joyful for him to spin me around. "What are you doing here? I thought you were at the lodging house." I said. "I wanted to see you but the boys insisted that I get some rest after the beating but I really wanted to see you and check up on you after what I put you up through. I snuck out after all the boys are out." I can't believe he's blaming himself for what I did yesterday. I made my own decisions and I made that heart wrenching decision. "Hey don't blame this on yourself. I made that decision and it was made to protect both of us even if it meant coming at a greater cost."
"I also got something for you. Jack drew it for us." Romeo gave me a picture of both of. Both of together. "Wow this is amazing. Thank you."
Ever since that day I vowed to keep my love a secret I also vowed something else as well. I vowed to protect my love as safely as I can. I'm not gonna let my brothers or Everett get in the way at my one and only chance at love and happiness. I'm gonna keep on fighting but soon I'll know some fights are best won when they're left alone. As the weather started to get colder so did my situation. My brothers found out that I've been still seeing Romeo and that I still slept with him on some occasions. And you can guess who told them.
It was the start of winter and that was when I was faced with the ultimate test. I was thrown around the room and beaten around. "We told you to stay away from that boy. But yet you still have a wish to die." said Oscar as Morris did all the beating. "Go ahead kill me. It'll only fuel Romeo's desire to avenge me. That way people will know you were the ones that did it." I was ready for Morris to kill me when he put that knife on my throat. But for some reason he didn't do it. Oscar told him to stop. I wondered why. "What? Aren't you gonna do it? Or are you too much of a coward to do it."
Oscar motioned Morris to let me go. "No since you're our sister we'll give you a choice. We're generous people so we'll leave your fate up to you. You can be a good little girl and marry Everett like we planned for you or you can continue seeing your little newsie but just know that if you do we'll make your life harder than even before you met him." I scoffed at that remark. How can they make my life harder if they already have made it harder.
"You don't understand your life is gonna be miserable if you decide to be with that newsie because what if suddenly he just disappeared?" I looked back at Oscar with shock. I don't like where this is going. "What are you talking about?" I asked with fear in my voice and in my eyes. "What if your little newsie were to get into an unfortunate accident." I now know what they mean. I almost fainted and I crashed into Morris and he held me up making me face Oscar. "If Morris and I have to go to that limit and speak to Romeo and do it the hard way. Your newsie could get hurt or possibly gone." said Oscar as he raised my face up with his hand.
"No you can't! I won't let you!" It's common for my brothers to threaten my life but to threaten another person's life and a person I really love and hold dear to me then that just takes it to a different world. "If you want your newsie alive then I suggest you take some time to think about it choose wisely so you can save your newsie." I sadly nodded yes and later after that incident they threw me down the basement and locked me in. Thanks to being the maid of the house I know some ways to get out. I also know there's a little window in the basement that's loose and it's big enough for me to sneak out of.
I can't make my decision in the basement. I have to walk around and take some time to myself. I really need some to myself in my private spot. But what I really wanted most was my mother. I really wished she was here right now. I longed for my mother's arms to wrap me in her warm embrace and for her to tell me everything's gonna be ok even though I know it's not. But all I have is her necklace and our private spot by the lake with the big tree. I cuddled in that big tree for hours I think but I needed to think about this.
Whatever I choose will greatly affect me and my life. If I choose to be with Everett then I have to sacrifice everything I worked for and everything I dreamed about. But if I choose to be with Romeo then he could possibly get killed… Because of me. Everything is complicated now. Why? Is it because I chose to go down the path of Romeo and Juliet? Just why? I started walking as snow started to fall from the sky again. I tried to avoid any newsie I saw on the streets I really don't want to talk anyone right now. I just needed to think of a way to save both me and Romeo.
I ignored the cold of the snow and even though I'm shivering the hurt and pain inside myself doesn't compare to the freezing cold temperature outside. Right now I just feel conflicted. I want to make things right and I try to make things right but every time I try to do so I just end with conflict and trouble every time. I just don't know what to right now. As the snow and the wind started to get crazy it was time for me to go inside and to face my brothers and to give them my decision.
I walked inside with my brothers talking to each other in the kitchen. "Where the hell have you been? You were to stay in the basement and you were to think about your decision until we got you. We've had people combing the streets looking for you." I looked at Oscar with a look of disdain. "I'm sorry I don't do as I'm told. Maybe you just wish you had a sister who would just do everything you say." I really wasn't in for it because the decision I finally made isn't gonna be the right one I'm making for myself but it's gonna be right for Romeo. This will be the decision to to keep him safe and alive.
"What? Don't be ridiculous. That's what you always are a ridiculous little girl and that's what you'll always be. Now have you made your decision?" I nodded sadly to myself almost coming to tears. "Well?" asked Oscar. "I'm… I'm… I'm gonna marry Everett. I'll tell Romeo to go away and leave me alone." Oscar and Morris grinned and smiled their evil smiles once again and Oscar started to stroke my hair as if I was a dog. "Good girl. You see I told you she come around there was no need to resort to violence. But it would've been easier if you said yes from the beginning. So the next time you'll see him you're going to tell him off?"
"Only to protect him. I don't want me to be the cause of his death. But just know one thing you can lock me up in a room forever but I will never stop hating you." I said. Morris was about to hit me and I was about to let him do it but Oscar stopped him. "Well you'll see it differently when you're living the life of upper class." I highly doubt Everett is even upper class I don't think there's any class that can distinguish men like my brothers and Everett. But I made my decision and I know what I'll have to say will be painful and unforgivable but it's the best to keep Romeo safe. But I will never stop loving Romeo. Winter really is here for the city and for my troubles.
*Listen to Helium by Sia when you read the part where Scarlet runs off to think about her decision in this chapter. Helps sets the mood.