See? Quick, right?

Benvolio couldn't see the school from his hotel room. He had found the closest building and paid for the highest room, but he still couldn't pick it out. That was the first place he had gone to since leaving the airport, but the only thing he had courage enough to do was to sit on a park bench and stare at the front gate. He paid no mind to the armed guards. They couldn't possibly scare him, not after what he'd lived through. He supposed he had been intelligent by using a fake name, but he still felt exposed.

Now, lying restless on his bed, he thought back to what his family, and wondered what they were thinking of him. All through the week between Christmas and New Years, he had tried to drop hints about his imminent departure, but he was sure nobody had picked them up. At 5:00 a.m. on January first, while the party seemed to be running on life support, Benvolio had slipped out of the house to the waiting cab. He had left notes to both his parents and Alessia, containing no information about where he was going and strict orders not to try to interfere, cautioning against another family embarrassment. Retrieving the small suitcase he had stashed under a willow tree at the front of the property, he packed into the cab and rolled away from his life.

For some reason, today felt special to Maria. Something was going to happen, and soon. She just wasn't sure what. Trying to squelch the feeling, lest it led to disappointment, she threw herself into the school chores, never able to sit still.

After a painful day filled with hope, something interesting finally happened; a sign, she hoped. She was delivering coffee and pastries to the guard's lounge, but dropped the bakery box beside the door. The wisps of conversation she could hear made her stop and listen.

"You never finished telling me about that lurker."

"Oh, yeah, it wasn't anything big. Some guy – American, by the looks of him – was staring at the school from across the street. He must have sat there for hours. He didn't move. It was hilarious."

"Yeah?"

"I even showed him my gun, to see if he was still alive."

"He didn't react?"

"Not a flinch. And then, he just got up and left."

The subject changed, and Maria carried in the food. She had a strange feeling about this… lurker.

The next day, Benvolio worked up the courage to approach one of the guards at the gate.

"English?"

"Yes" The guard rested one hand on his gun, his eyes narrowed.

Benvolio smirked. "It's fine, I'm not trying to get it." But the hand stayed on the gun, and Benvolio shrugged. "Do you know the headmaster of the school? Montoya, right? Tulio Montoya?" The guard nodded slowly. "What's he like, is he a nice guy?"

The guard's English was practiced and precise. "Mr. Montoya is a firm but fair man."

"But you've met him, right? You've talked to him?"

"I have."

It was driving Benvolio crazy, knowing how close he was to Maria. "Is he ome now?"

The guard's face grew sterner. "I can't tell you that."

"Right. Sorry. Of course. Do you think you could possibly open up the gate or me?"

"Do you have a card?"

"A what?" Benvolio thought for a minute. Then, he fished for his wallet. I know this isn't the card you were talking about…" out slipped an American $100 bill, "But maybe it would work?"

Finally, the guard's demeanour cracked, and he smirked as he gestured above their heads. Benvolio followed his fingers and came face to face with a security camera. He cursed softly, gave a shaky smile to the guard and speed-walked away.

"Maria, come in here for a bit." Maria had been passing by her father's office holding a clipboard, and walked in gingerly at his command. There was no doubt that the relationship between father and daughter had shifted dramatically. Often, Maria felt more like a disgruntled but fearful employee.

"Yes, father?"

"Maria, there was a man trying to gain entry to the school grounds today." Maria's interest peaked. "He tried to pay his way in, but the guard stopped him. I'm sure it won't be a problem." He grabbed an envelope and slid out a sheet of paper. "The camera got a picture of him. Make sure you know his face, just in case."

For some reason, Maria couldn't look at the paper in front of her dad. Instead, she folded it into quarters, slipped it into her pocket and made her exit. She dropped the clipboard off to the intended person and ran back home, needing to open the paper in the comfort of her own room. The bed rose to meet her, plush and springy, and she waited until it stilled before she pulled out the paper. She took a few deep, preparing breaths, opened it and forced herself to look at it.

It was like a bomb had exploded inside her. She fell back onto her bed and felt the blast through her entire body. She was trembling, ever so slightly, and Benvolio's picture rattled in her hand. Tears ran down into her ears, but she couldn't have said whether she was laughing or crying. Adrenaline rocketed through her body and she began to move, writhing, and then bouncing, then standing and jumping, planting her hands on the ceiling before her downward descent.

Finally, some of her energy worked off, she landed in a sitting position and began to plan. She had to find him. Where would he be staying? In a hotel? Close by or far away? The nearest one she knew of was a Novotel three blocks away. She could start there. How to get out of the grounds? Her father would probably more protective than usual now. She would have to sneak out.

The Novotel lobby was homey. That was the only way to describe it. The decorations were stereotypically Spanish. A computer screen winked from one corner, and a pair of video game machines was propped against the wall. English-speaking high school students reclined in chairs and the floor, talking and laughing. Maria approached the front desk. She was running on borrowed time, but that wouldn't matter once she had Benvolio in her arms.

"Good evening, Señorita."

"Good evening. I'd like to know if a man by the name of Benvolio Montague is staying in the hotel?"

The concierge's smile faltered for only a second. Then, he typed the name into the computer. Maria waited anxiously as he scanned the list.

"M-O-N-T-A-G-U-E?"

"That's right."

"I'm sorry, he's not checked into this hotel."

Maria's face fell. "OK. Thank-you." She supposed she had been expecting too much. It was too late try the next hotel. As she walked towards the lobby doors, her face crumpled, and she bent her head as she walked, thinking only of the box of chocolates and the bed that waited for her back in her room.

An all-too-solid object halted her path. A couple of shopping bags hit the ground, the canned goods rolling in all directions. From the angle she was looking, Maria could see a pair of well-worn running shoes, dancing to avoid stepping on the goods. "Shit!" yelled a familiar voice, and it was then that Maria looked up, trembling. Their eyes met.

After what seemed like hours, he broke the silence. "Maria."

She smiled. "Hi." She couldn't bring herself to say his name to his face. She felt like she would melt.

Another awkward silence settled before both of them began talking at once.

"I tried to get in…"

"They said you weren't…"

They broke off and laughed uneasily.

This was so wrong. Maria wanted to hug him, to touch every part of his body to make sure it was real, but he looked so… guarded. She didn't want to have to try to make conversation with him.

"They said you weren't registered here."

Benvolio blinked, and then nodded. "I didn't use my real name."

"I see. Smart. What name did you use?"

Benvolio looked like he was about to say it, but he changed his mind. "Would you like to come up?"

Maria nodded politely. "Yes. Yes, I would."

Benvolio grinned. "Ok."

The first few seconds in the elevator were torture. Benvolio was amazed that he hadn't exploded with excitement. For some reason, though, he couldn't touch her. He had to break this silence.

"So…"

"I'm sorry I left." Maria was staring at him earnestly, and he could have sworn he saw tears in her eyes.

"What?"

"Ben – Benvolio – I'm sorry I left. I'm so, so sorry. I just… I was worried…"

Benvolio couldn't stand it. He silenced her with a long, full kiss on the lips.

"I forgive you," he whispered.

By the time the elevator had dinged open on his floor, the two buttons Maria had missed had popped off his shirt. He pressed her up against the door, working on her zipper with one hand and fiddling with the keycard in the other until he could open the door, and they collapsed into the room. He backed her up against the bed, and they fell on top of it. By this time, Benvolio had noticed that salty tears were flavouring their kiss,his and hers.

"Oh, God, Maria, I missed you. I missed you so, so much."

"I missed you too. I hated leaving you."

Ten minutes later, they lay entwined in each other's arms, saying nothing yet communicating everything. Maria dully thought of the time, how her parents must have been going crazy, but she couldn't muster an appropriate emotional response. Then, she remembered that which had seemed so trivial before.

"Benvolio?"

"Mm?"

"What name did you use to check in?"

Benvolio smiled, but squirmed self-consciously. "It's dumb. It's the only thing I could think of at the time."

Maria giggled. "What was it, then?"

Benvolio sighed. "It was… I told them my name was Ben Magli."

Maria shrugged off the awkwardness. "Well, what's in a name? It's not your hand…" She laced her fingers through his, "or your foot…" She playfully massaged his instep with her big toe, "or your arm…" she ran her cheek over the muscle, "or your face…" she kissed his forehead, his two cheeks, his nose, and his lips, "or any other manly part you may have."

Benvolio grinned widely. "Ok." He rolled himself over so he was balancing on top of her and lowered himself until his lips had met hers.

The feeling of ecstasy was wearing off. Maria glanced at Benvolio and could tell that he was thinking the same thing. What do we do now?

...But I can't promise how quickley the next update will come.