Hello readers! Whoever's read my story when I first posted it last year might not remember the final part of this chapter cause I changed it a bit and made it a little longer… enjoy!

15 – You're my Romeo

"You have to do something, you can't just stay at home all day long!"

"I don't feel like doing anything, Sophie…you and Julian go out and have fun."

"But…"

"Please, leave me alone!"

Sophie and I were talking about Christmas. She wanted to go out at night and celebrate it, but I didn't want to. Since Sodapop and I had had that fight, some days before, I wasn't in the best of moods.

My dad told me I shouldn't act like I was the queen of the world and apologize to Soda, but it wasn't my fault. Well, partly. Anyway, I wasn't acting like I was the queen of the world.

"Sybil? Are you okay?"

"Oh…sorry, Seth…I was just…thinking about some stuff. How are you spending Christmas?"

Seth looked startled, because I never asked him personal questions, but he answered: "I'm having lunch with my family…then I'll go out with my buddies. What are you going to do?"

"I don't know…yet. What did you say about this exercise?"

Seth looked at me oddly, then started explaining. I sighed. I wanted to spend a part of Christmas Day with Soda…but he didn't call me. And I didn't feel brave enough to call him…if he wouldn't talk to me, I'd seriously feel depressed. Even more than I already was. And Lewis didn't want to come for Christmas, either. I asked him, but he wouldn't stay in the same room as dad. So, consequently, on Christmas' Eve I was feeling sad. I was lying on my bed, staring at the present I bought for Soda right in front of me, and thinking about him.

"Sybil…" my dad knocked before entering the room. "Are you ready to go to church?"

"I forgot!"

My family used to go to church every Sunday, of course, but even for Christmas, at midnight, and it was eleven something.

"Don't you feel well?"

"No…I'll be ready in a couple of minutes…sorry, dad!"

He smiled and left. I tried to hurry up and was ready in less than ten minutes. "Here I am!" I reached dad who was waiting downstairs for me. Ten minutes later, we were entering the church. It was always different to go there at midnight, for Christmas, every year…especially when I started thinking about the past year, about the changes in my life. And the last months had definitely brought some very good and some very bad changes.

I wished Soda were there. He had told me once he didn't have much faith, but if only he could believe… he'd feel so much better. I knew. It was the same for me. There had been a couple of very difficult years for me and my faith had helped me a lot. It had made me feel hopeful, and stronger.

As dad and I left the church, after the usual greets with everyone we knew there, I felt sad. It was Christmas and Sodapop and I were still mad at each other…it was so wrong: Christmas was supposed to be a time when you forgive and forget, and we weren't definitely doing that.

But I was going to, if only he did the same. I needed Soda. That night, more than anything, I needed him.

Dad didn't go to bed immediately, when we got home. He sat in the living room and decided to watch some TV news. I told him news would only make him sad, because our world wasn't all rainbows and butterflies, but he said it made him feel thankful and very lucky, watching what was going on and knowing he and the people he loved were safe and well.

I was pretty tired, so I kissed him goodnight and went upstairs. After a couple of minutes I had been sitting there, on my bed, doing nothing but thinking about Soda, I heard knocking. I turned to the door. "Come in." But the noise didn't come from the door. I looked around and, in disbelief, I saw Soda standing outside. "Soda!" I screamed. "Are you crazy?"

I rushed to open the window: "Soda! What are you doing?" I helped him inside. "What…why…"

He grinned. "Hello, Sybil. I thought it'd be easier to reach your balcony, since it's only the first floor."

"What if you fell?"

"I'd only break some bones. You're worth that."

I stared into his eyes. "I didn't want to fight with you…"

"Me either. I'm sorry…I couldn't sleep well these past nights, because I felt guilty for the way I treated you."

"I feel guilty…I've felt guilty too…how did you reach my balcony without my father noticing?"

"I think he dozed off in front of the TV. I saw him from the window."

I laughed. "You're incredible."

"I take that as a compliment."

"It is." I couldn't help myself and I hugged him. "I missed you so much…"

"Me too." He whispered.

"Fighting like that was horrible…I don't want that to happen anymore…"

Soda came closer and started running his fingers through my hair. "I promise. I regret everything I said, I didn't mean that I don't trust you, it's just…"

"I know. You're jealous."

"What? I'm not jealous!"

I raised my eyebrows. He admitted it: "Alright, I am…a little…"

I laughed and kissed his head. Soda looked around. "So this is your room. It's nice."

"You think so?"

My room was quite large: in front of the bed where we were sitting there was one big closet and on its right there was the balcony from which Soda had climbed in. Next to the window there was one desk where I used to sit when I did my homework and on the other side of the bed, next to the door, there was my bookcase. I also had two bednight tables and one shelf full of cuddle toys.

"Yeah." Soda nodded. "I wouldn't lie to you. Hey, this is cute." He took one cuddle toy that resembled to a white horse and showed it to me.

"That one? My mom…bought it to me for my third birthday. It's real old…"

I thought about my mother. I missed her, especially on Christmas, and I used to pray a lot for her, even if I knew she was fine wherever she was.

I probably looked upset, because Sodapop wrapped his arms around me and grinned: "Hey, listen. I'll give my present to you tomorrow…if you feel like coming and visiting us…if your father doesn't mind, since it's Christmas."

"Of course he won't mind!"

Soda smiled and kissed me. I realized how cold he was. Well, of course, it was freezing outside. "You're so cold, Soda…"

"Aw, I'm fine."

"You're not." I wrapped a quilt around him and took his hands in mine. "How do you feel now?"

"Couldn't feel better."

"You're my Romeo." I grinned.

"What?" he looked confused.

"You climbed on the balcony to see me, just like Romeo did when he wanted to meet Juliet. And I've always thought that was incredibly romantic, since I first read their story when I was fifteen, and before knowing you I was sure such wonderful men couldn't exist, but I've been proven wrong." I smiled. "And I…don't think Juliet could be any happier than I am right now…I know it may not make sense to you, but I feel like I could be her."

"I get it now. But…I thought the two of them died in the end?"

"Yes, but that's just…well, I didn't mean we're gonna end up like that…"

Soda grinned. "I know. So what do they do when Romeo's reached Juliet on her balcony?"

"Well, actually, the first time he has to leave after she's told him she loves him back. Then, when he visits her at night the following time, he stays…" I trailed off. Soda was looking at me expectantly. "He stays and…you know…" I repeated.

"He stays and then?" Soda insisted.

"Then he…they…come on, Soda, you know what I mean!"

Soda started laughing. "Of course I do, but I wanted to tease you a bit!" I was blushing furiously. "Besides, you're so cute when you blush." He grinned.

"Stop making fun of me!"

"I didn't mean to." He smiled and kissed me. "Merry Christmas."