song credit: "Kissing You" – Des'ree (from Romeo + Juliet)

This chapter contains some disturbing content, so be forewarned! (Plus a cameo by Charity)

Meant to Be Together

Chapter 7: Paloma (by Kara)

Dancing is now my life. I am at Julliard, dancing my heart out, never thinking of anything but the dance. I sleep, eat, think, dream dance, except those lonely nights when I think about Jacob. I haven't heard from him....I hope everything's okay. Miguel moved in with me, also waiting for word from Charity. He mopes around a lot, always listening to the same, sad song.

~*~

Today I wake early and dress into my purple leotard with the ribbons that criss-cross around my torso and I go to the studio, dancing alone to the song Miguel is always listening to. I watch myself in the mirror, unaware of someone in the darkness.

Pride can stand a thousand trials,
The strong will never fall.
But watching stars without you, my soul cries.
Heaving heart, it's full of pain.
Oh, oh, the aching.
'Cause I'm kissing you. Oh.
I'm kissing you, oh.

Touch me deep, pure and true.
Give to me forever.
'Cause I'm kissing you. Oh.
I'm kissing you.

Where are you now?
Where are you now?
'Cause I'm kissing you.
I'm kissing you. Oh.

Suddenly he comes out of the darkness, strong and dark in a black unitard with green legwarmers, each muscle of his long, supple body clearly visible. His name is Roméo Marcofziwitz, the son of my dance teacher, Madame Danielle. He watches me with dark, fiery eyes full of passion, although he knows I'm in love with someone else. He grabs me and starts to kiss me.

"No! Romey! No! NO!" I yell. "Get off me."
"Oh, Paloma.....why can't you love me? Why?" He asks, his voice full of passion and pain.


Pride can stand a thousand trials,
The strong will never fall.
But watching stars without you, my soul cries.
Heaving heart, it's full of pain.
Oh, oh, the aching.
'Cause I'm kissing you. Oh.
I'm kissing you, oh.

Touch me deep, pure and true.
Give to me forever.
'Cause I'm kissing you. Oh.
I'm kissing you.

Where are you now?
Where are you now?
'Cause I'm kissing you.
I'm kissing you. Oh.

Over and over it plays, over and over. I struggle as he tears off the flimsy leotard and his unitard too. "No! Romeo! Get off me! GET OFF ME!" I cry, hitting him and trying to kick him in the place where I know he'll hurt. From this day, when I hear that song, I will think of this moment. Romeo's kisses are hard and hot, that hard male part of him jabbing into me, his eyes glassy white. I scream, hoping that someone will hear me, but no one comes. "GET OFF ME! STOP IT! STOP IT!"

"Oh, Paloma, I love you I love you I love you," he moans.

"No!" I resist, but he spends himself and leaves me sobbing alone on the floor, covering myself with the shards of my leotard.

~*~
(Charity)
Way far away... the ends of the earth.

"Jake....Jake....there's something wrong with Paloma. Something terrible has happened!" I say, waking my brother. "She's being hurt...."

"What?" He springs out of his chair, his eyes wild with fright. "What is it?" Then he puts his hands to his temples and closes his eyes. "Oh my God."
"What can we do?"
"I have to go. I can't let him do that to her."
"Jake, we can't leave here. Not now," I tell him. "It's too close to the time for the battle."
"I have to save her, okay, Charity? She's my life. I can't live without her. Would you do the same for Miguel?" he screams.
"Go, Jake, go. Fast," she says. "Hurry."

~*~
(Paloma)

Pride can stand a thousand trials,
The strong will never fall.
But watching stars without you, my soul cries.
Heaving heart, it's full of pain.
Oh, oh, the aching.
'Cause I'm kissing you. Oh.
I'm kissing you, oh.

Touch me deep, pure and true.
Give to me forever.
'Cause I'm kissing you. Oh.
I'm kissing you.

Where are you now?
Where are you now?
'Cause I'm kissing you.
I'm kissing you. Oh.

That song races over and over in my head. "No!" I scream in my sleep, nightmares about my rape. "Please, stop. Please."

Rough hands shake me. "Baby....oh, Paloma. Wake up!" I let him turn me so I can see his face.
"Jake? Oh, Jake. Take me away from here. Take me."
"I will. Are you alright? Damn that bastard. Just wait until I find him...."
"He raped me. Romey....he raped me." I say. "Take me away."

"We have to hurry. Wake up your brother. We need your help for this battle. It's going to be a lot harder than we thought." I get dressed and he runs to wake Miguel. Jake's kisses comfort me and stop the tears running down to drip off my face. "Don't worry. I'll protect you." He whispers as we leave for the ends of the earth.

Pride can stand a thousand trials,
The strong will never fall.
But watching stars without you, my soul cries.
Heaving heart, it's full of pain.
Oh, oh, the aching.
'Cause I'm kissing you. Oh.
I'm kissing you, oh.

Touch me deep, pure and true.
Give to me forever.
'Cause I'm kissing you. Oh.
I'm kissing you.

Where are you now?
Where are you now?
'Cause I'm kissing you.
I'm kissing you. Oh.