Chapter 5

When I walked inside my house (after watching a dazed-looking Romeo walk toward his), I was surprised to find my parents sitting in the living room. Rather, my dad was sitting and my mom was pacing. It was close to five o'clock in the morning.

The scene that played out next was not fun for me. When my mom and dad heard the door shut, they froze and looked over. I knew they were worried, and that I should have called, but I couldn't stop smiling.


"I'm sorry I didn't--" I began, as I slipped off my shoes. I stopped when I was enveloped in a hug. "Mom, I'm sorry I didn't call. I thought I'd be home sooner, but we--I--lost track of time."

"It's okay, Julie, but are you?"

I sighed and tried to get the dreamy smile off of my face. But I couldn't. It was there for good.

"I'm wonderful," I said, sinking down on the couch. My parents exchanged glances. "Oh, next Saturday I'm not gonna be able to stay for the whole barbecue. I can help you cook and stuff, but then I'll have to leave."

"Juliette, everyone we know will be there. "Tybalt's bringing Meredith, and Paris and his little girlfriend are coming. The Montagues will be here."

"Romeo won't."

"Of course he will. He's always--Juliette, you and he aren't . . . going somewhere next Saturday, are you?"

"Uh-huh," I said, still grinning. "To the matinee."

"Why don't you go there some other time? You can still be together. You'll just be here."

"Mom, it's our first official date. Both of us are willing to go this time. Besides, the purpose of a real date is to be alone."

"You can be alone here. There will just be other people. Like at the movies."

I sighed and walked up to my room. Why did she always have to ruin everything? I thought she wanted Romeo and me to like each other.

Suddenly I wondered how Nick and Monica Montague had reacted--or if Romeo (sigh) had even told them yet.

~*~

The next day after church (where Romeo and I had been forced to sit on opposite sides of both sets of our parents), I was sulking in my room. My phone rang.

"Hello?" I answered, sounding more upset than I'd meant to.

"Somebody sounds enthusiastic this morning. Not enough sleep?" said Romeo, and I could tell he was smirking.

"Shut up," I said, smiling. Only Romeo. "So what's up?"

There was a pause. "Are--are your parents against us?" he said, suddenly serious.

I sighed. "Yeah. Romeo, I'm sorry. I don't know what their problem is. It's like, they wanted us to get along, and now that we do, they want to go back to the way things were when neither of us was happy. Not that they noticed."

"Yeah, I understand. They're parents; nobody knows why they do the stuff they do."

"Well what do your parents think?"

"Well, actually, Jules . . . they're not exactly ecstatic." After a pause, he added, "But they aren't completely against it either."

"This is so messed up, Romeo. We gotta do something. What did they say about missing the barbecue?"

"They don't like it. They said we can do what we want, but I know my mom will guilt-trip me if I don't go."

"Well you don't have to worry about it, because I'm not gonna be able to go out anyway. At least your parents are being decent about it."

"It'll be okay Jules. Don't get so worried you make yourself sick. You know I'll take care of you if something happens."

"I know. Wait. You will take care of me? Not you would? And what could happen?" I asked, beginning to get a bit concerned.

"Jules, I will take care of you, no matter what. Even if nothing happens. Forever. And I don't know what could happen. It's a hypothetical thing. I just don't want you to worry yourself sick. We'll go to the barbecue. But nobody said how long we had to stay."