Zelda12343 - That review came just as I was getting ready to post!
I'm mentioning a pal of Tybalt's called Simon who doesn't belong to me, he belongs to Cornadopia from Merc and All.
Hermia's casted arm was a constant reminder of the girl's fight the next time the Capulets and their extended family gathered together. Mercutio had signed his name with capital letters and lots of kisses, as well as a drawing of a certain part of the male anatomy. Rosaline simply glared at her as she picked at it. Juliet sat between the two girls, wondering what on earth to say to them both. She didn't particularly like Rosaline because of the way she sucked up to Tybalt all the time or how she bullied her sister.
"We are going to sit down" said Lord Capulet "And have dinner together. With no fighting, no arguing, and no mentioning of the Montagues. Understand?"
"Yes, Uncle Egues" muttered Tybalt. His mother sat next to him. She was looking better today, which was a relief.
They leant over their food in silence.
"So, kids, how's school?" asked Camilla.
"Crap" answered Tybalt.
"Boring" replied Hermia.
"Ok" shrugged Juliet.
"Not bad" mused Livia.
"Very well, thanks mum" said Rosaline.
"Why's it crap, Tybalt? Have you got in trouble again?" asked Lord Capulet.
"Yeah" mumbled Tybalt.
"What did you do this time?" asked Juliet.
"I shoved someone's head down the loo and flushed it. And no, before anyone asks, it wasn't Benvolio, it was someone else"
"I said, no mentioning of the Montagues" growled Lord Capulet.
"Well, everyone has signed my cast and Mercutio drew me a picture of a penis" Hermia pointed it out.
"That is completely inappropriate" scowled Lord Capulet.
"It's funny!" protested Hermia.
"When are you ever going to grow up?"
"What, and end up like you? Urgh, no chance"
"He said there was to be no arguing" sniped Lady Capulet.
"Yes. That's correct. Hermia, be quiet. Well, Juliet, Rosaline, how about you two? You're both civilised young ladies. I don't expect to hear any of that disgusting behaviour from you two"
Lady Capulet sat up a little higher "Rosaline's teacher has asked her to be a speaker at the upcoming Chastity Ball"
Tybalt snorted, and quickly covered it up by taking a long drink from his glass of water. His left hand was resting on Rosaline's thigh under the table.
Hermia made a gagging noise. Lady Capulet scowled at her step-daughter.
"Oh, really? What's going to happen then?"
"Sister Agnes cornered me in the corridor and said she thought I should go, and make a speech. She says I could become Head Girl someday and that I'd be a good role model" explained Rosaline. Lord Capulet glowed with pride when she mentioned Head Girl. Regina beamed with delight.
"Oooh, you'd make a lovely Head Girl! I tell Tibby he ought to be Head Boy, since he's so popular and such a hard worker, even though he's not the best of them" cooed Regina.
The Capulets just glanced at each other. There was not a chance in hell Tybalt would ever be Head Boy. And he knew it. Eventually, Lord Capulet spoke up.
"That's great news about Head Girl – although I've never seen the point in these Chastity Balls. Parading around, making public declarations of something that should be private"
"I agree...but Sister Agnes asked me and I want to keep a good reputation at school. It doesn't mean anything. It's just words"
"Oooh" said Hermia, waggling her fingers.
"That's enough" snapped Lady Capulet. Hermia frowned to herself. That woman made her life hell for something that wasn't even her fault. Stupid cow.
"Sister Agnes called me an animal" grumbled Tybalt.
"I love Sister Agnes" replied Hermia.
"She called you a what?" asked Lord Capulet angrily. Tybalt sat up, delightedly.
"An animal" Tybalt repeated, for dramatic effect.
"Right" snapped Lord Capulet "I'll be on the phone to your school to complain about their treatment of you. Did you do anything to provoke it?"
"Nope"
"Even better. What they've got against you, I just don't know"
Hermia coughed "He set a bin on fire on his first day!"
"That was Simon!" hissed Tybalt.
"How's Simon, Tybalt? I haven't seen him lately" asked Lord Capulet.
"Fine" answered Tybalt.
"What is it with you kids? Everything is always fine when we ask you questions about yourself" said Camilla.
"Must be their age!" Regina chuckled "Tibby never tells me anything, do you sweetipops?"
"No mum" replied Tybalt, but secretly he was thrilled to bits that she was calling him 'sweetipops' again. It meant she was feeling better. It meant she'd be back to her usual irritating self before long.
"Mummy wouldn't want to hear what her little Tibby's latest criminal activity has been anyway" Hermia muttered.
"What are you planning on doing tonight?" asked Lord Capulet "I have work to get on with, but what about everyone else here?"
"I'm going out with my mates" replied Tybalt.
"See? He's so popular, my Tibby" clucked Regina.
"I've done most my homework anyway" said Rosaline.
"You can come with me if you want" said Tybalt "We're going to Sam's, you know Sam, don't you?"
"Yeah, I'm friends with his sister Kaila. I've been to a party at his house before. You were there, weren't you?"
"I was. That was the one where Greg made smores in the kitchen and then threw them over the fence at the neighbours because no one would eat them!"
Rosaline laughed "That was a funny night. We had such a laugh!"
"Mercutio made smores and tried to see how many he could cram in his mouth" snorted Hermia.
"That boy" grumbled Lord Capulet "It's so hard to believe that Paris is such a respectable young man, when his cousin is a complete and utter badly behaved freak!"
"Mercutio's not a freak!" argued Hermia.
"Yes, he is. Juliet, you get on well with Paris, don't you?"
"Yes. They do. They'd make such a cute couple, don't you think?" suggested Rosaline. Tybalt chortled with laughter as Juliet went red.
"He's ok" said Juliet.
"He'd make a good boyfriend" added Lady Capulet.
"Paris is not boyfriend material. He once bought a man eating plant" scoffed Hermia.
"Who told you that?" asked Rosaline.
"Gabriel"
"I wouldn't believe anything he says" Rosaline rolled her eyes.
"No, but it's still funny. Did you hear about the time" Hermia broke off to laugh "The time he..." she cackled some more "The time he told everyone about how Chiron sat on a pair of hair straighteners and had to go to A&E and couldn't sit down for a week?"
Both Juliet and Livia giggled along with her, whilst Tybalt and Rosaline rolled their eyes.
"When's dessert?" asked Tybalt.
"Soon" replied Lord Capulet.
"Good, 'cause I want to get out of here soon. I'm bored stiff and my leg has cramp"
"Tibby, remember your manners" said Regina.
"I can't help it if my leg has cramp! And anyway, I'll be late"
"Oh, I can't have you missing your fun with your friends" Regina wavered.
"Fine, you can leave" said Lord Capulet.
"Great. Ros, get your coat"
"I can come?"
"Sure"
"Mum, is that ok with you?"
"I don't mind. Have fun"