So, Gabriel's in the know. I wonder how Anthony and Beatrix are feeling. This will probably be my last update for this week, as I have an exam on Monday and Wednesday. Might be able to update tomorrow, so I'll see how it goes.
After salvaging what they could of their belongings, Anthony and Beatrix slumped down on the sofa of the Montague Ranch. Beatrix looked up at her dad. She was shocked. How could he have gone bankrupt? To her, he'd known everything and could do anything. He'd helped her manage her money, and so Beatrix had just assumed that he was doing ok with his. He'd never let on that he was doing badly, and it just stunned Beatrix.
"What are we going to do?" asked Beatrix, hesitatingly.
"Do?" replied Anthony.
"Where are we going to go? We've lost everything, haven't we?"
Anthony bent his head, embarrassed "Yes. We've lost everything"
Beatrix began to cry. She barely understood any of what was going on. Her knowledge of money was childlike, really.
"You're going to be ok" Anthony said firmly "You have a job. You have an income. You're going to save up, get your own place, and meet some nice chap and settle down"
"But Robert Pattinson doesn't live here"
Anthony growled.
"So what are you going to do?" asked Beatrix, quickly changing the subject.
"I guess I'll have to stay here" sighed Anthony.
"But what about Benvolio? How's he going to stay in Venice? He hasn't even started his university course yet"
"I don't know" admitted Anthony "I just...don't know"
His brother, Lord Montague, walked into the front room "Dinner's nearly ready, by the way. Paulina says your rooms are made up for you so you can go and put your bags away. And Anthony, someone is on the phone for you. Shall I leave you in private?"
"Who is it?" asked Anthony, expecting it to be his son.
"Somebody called Shylock"
Anthony's stomach plummeted. He accepted the phone, and cleared his throat.
"Hello?"
"Well, well, well" said Shylock deliciously "I heard about your unfortunate news"
"Yes. I'm bankrupt" sighed Anthony.
"You have absolutely no money, whatsoever?"
"None. Nothing"
"Hmm...well, I just wonder how you're going to pay me back" said Shylock.
"I can't" replied Anthony, through gritted teeth.
"But we made our deal"
"I know. But I can't pay you. I have nothing to pay you with. There's nothing I can do"
"Nothing? I won't be getting back my three thousand Euros?"
"No. Not for a while"
"Oh. Well. I guess I'll just have to settle for my little bond then, won't I?"
"Wha..."
"Yes. My bond, Anthony, my bond. You remember our deal, don't you? You should, because you signed it. Or maybe your ugly fat jock brain has forgotten it already. That wouldn't surprise me. You and your friends were woefully ignorant of a little thing called 'religious tolerance' when the rest of our generation back in the eighties was catching up"
"Uh...that was back in the past!" spluttered Anthony "We were just kids. Kids can be cruel"
"And don't we know it" Shylock rolled his eyes "So, how are you going to pay me back? I know you can't exactly magic three thousand Euros out of thin air, so that does just leave the pound of flesh. When am I going to get it, Anthony? I've cleared a space on the window sill to keep it"
"I...beg your pardon?"
"I said, I've cleared a space on the window sill to keep your pound of flesh"
"You...you psycho!" Anthony yelled.
"Dad? What's going on?" asked Beatrix, from where she was now pouring over a copy of Twilight.
"Nothing, Beatrix, it's nothing" Anthony lied. He grabbed the phone, and hurried outside into the courtyard. It was empty, besides one of Paulina's dogs mooching around in the grass.
"Who were you talking too?"
"My daughter, Beatrix" replied Anthony.
"Oh, yes, the other one. I've heard about your Twilight-obsessed little freak. I'd never let Jessica act like that, you know"
"Whatever, it makes her happy. And look, I'm not giving you one pound of my own flesh. What is this, some sort of sick joke?"
"You signed the deal" Shylock said carelessly.
"I was desperate. I was worried I'd...become like this. Bankrupt. I'm living in my brother's house with my daughter, and my son will probably have to drop out of university if I don't find some more money. I didn't realise you were...whatever. Whatever this is, please, just stop"
"Please, just stop" mimicked Shylock "Isn't that what I said to you when you stole my kippah and threw it on top of the bike sheds?"
"Said what?"
"Do you have long-term memory loss or something? You ruined my life in high school. And now, I'm going to ruin yours. I want my bond. And if I don't get it...hm, then I think I'll contact a financial lawyer, and see what they have to say about it. Or, since you don't like legitimate loans, I'll just set my heavies on you. And I don't mean little blond ballerinas, or danseurs, as he keeps trying to get me to say, I'm talking thugs. How would you like that?"
Anthony dropped the phone. In a stupor, he wandered back into the house. Beatrix was still reading Twilight. Claudio had settled on the sofa next to her, and Paulina was kneeling on the floor, grooming her dog. Romeo was sulking in the corner. He appeared to do that whenever Anthony and Beatrix saw him, especially when Venice was mentioned.
"You all right, dad?" asked Beatrix, looking up "You look as if you've seen a vampire or something – Oh my God, was it Edward?"
"Shut up, Beatrix!" groaned Romeo.
"Can I get you anything?" asked Claudio.
"Venice" said Anthony.
"Ssh" hissed Paulina, jerking her head in Romeo's direction.
"Venice" repeated Anthony "I have to go to Venice"