Dawnstar94 - Oh, that's good. I'm glad you had a good birthday! Is your birthday on the 9th? Because that's my birthday too!
iluvshinjimina - 'Montague Club' I love it!
Sorry for the delay, everyone, went to go and see Wicked yesterday and the day before, I was busy. Also, please don't be offended the 'special' bit with Hermia later. She just likes being silly and messing around, no offense meant by that.
Juliet was disturbed from her computer game as Hermia barged in the room, wearing crumpled party clothes.
"Guess what, guess what!" Hermia shrieked, jumping down onto her bed. She grabbed a cushion and hugged it to her chest.
"What? You scared the life out of me!"
"But guess what!" Hermia cried excitedly, throwing the cushion away and sitting upright.
"Get your Doc Martin's off my duvet! You'll get mud all over it and mum and nurse will get mad at me"
Hermia swung her legs down the edge of Juliet's bed obediently "Now guess what!"
"What!" cried Juliet.
Hermia beamed delightedly "You know our ugly cousin Tibby?"
"He's not ugly! And he's not that bad, honestly. It's all Rosaline"
"Exactly!" exclaimed Hermia "Which brings me onto my guess what"
"What!" shouted Juliet, getting up to tackle her. Hermia giggled, as she knew they were only play fighting.
"Tybalt and Rosaline are together!"
"What?" asked Juliet, suddenly stopping her game.
Hermia nodded eagerly "They're together. Mercutio and Benvolio were waiting outside the cinema for Benvolio's girlfriend Rose, when they spotted them across the road in the bakery. Rosaline was still wearing the dress she wore to the Chastity Ball, Tybalt was wearing the clothes he wore yesterday, and he was buying croissants, and Benvolio and Mercutio. Saw. Them. Kiss!"
"Really?" asked Juliet, sitting up eagerly.
"Yes!" Hermia jumped up, waving her casted arm about "They kissed! And they were wearing yesterday's clothes – they obviously spent the night together. Not so virginal now!"
"What kind of a slut does that? Make a chastity oath in the name of God and then break it a few hours later?"
"I know, right!" Hermia nodded "Mercutio said he couldn't believe it. I mean, I know they're always flirting and cuddling and the other day Tybalt had his hand on her leg under the dinner table, but I mean, after ten odd years of keeping us guessing, they're together!"
"This is hilarious...but dreadful!" cried Juliet.
"Why?" asked Hermia.
"Because now Tybalt is going to turn evil! You know what a bad influence she is on him. Well, what a bad influence they are on each other. Rosaline encourages him to get into trouble, and then she stands back and doesn't get her hands dirty"
"Really? I thought it was that Rosaline was a squeaky clean goodie two-shoes to the adults and who let Tybalt drag her down a little"
"Whatever. This is bad news" said Juliet, going to stand by the window.
"No, it's funny news! Because you know Romeo Montague"
"No. I don't know Romeo Montague. I'm not allowed to talk or even look at them. Is he the dorky guy?"
"No! That's Benvolio. Romeo is the one who falls in love all the time. And I mean, all the time. Anyway, he is 'in love' with Rosaline and Mercutio rang him to tell him all about Tybalt and Rosaline being together. He still didn't believe either of them! It was so sad. I mean, I wasn't there but Mercutio told me it was"
"So what's going to happen?" asked Juliet.
That's where Hermia faltered. She slumped down "No idea"
"So now what? Tybalt can't be with her! She's a money-grabbing user. He deserves better" said Juliet firmly.
Hermia raised her eyebrows. Neither of them deserved the other, really. It mystified her as to why Rosaline was bothering with Tybalt in her quest to climb the social ladder. Tybalt wasn't in line to inherit anything. He wasn't important or anything. For all his bravado, he only had the name. He'd have to work for money and status throughout his life, and knowing Tybalt, he wouldn't do that unless he took up drug dealing or something.
"We have to warn him before she cons him out of everything!" fretted Juliet.
Hermia would have dearly loved to have seen Tybalt conned out of everything and living in the gutter so that she could laugh at him along with the Montagues. Big, powerful, tough guy Tybalt, who thought he could fight and beat up people as he pleased, reduced to nothing.
"This can only end badly. He already gets in enough trouble as it is. I don't want him getting in trouble. Remember when he got beat up for dating that girl who he wasn't supposed to do? Look what happened to Aunty Regina!"
Hermia didn't care what happened to her least favourite cousin. He was a bully who told everyone that she wasn't really Lady Capulet's daughter to anyone who would listen. But then, she did kind of like Regina. Sometimes. When she wasn't cooking 'Sausage Surprise!'
"What are you going to do, Hermia?"
Hermia rolled her eyes "Well, first of all, we need to find out if they really are going out. Let's ask Nursie"
Hermia swung out of Juliet's room, with her half-sister following in her wake. She reached the stairwell, balanced on the banister and hollered "Hey, Nursie! Get your butt out here, we need ya!"
The nurse appeared around the corner "Stop that! What has the lady of the house told you about silly behaviour and rude language! No, I'm not going to laugh at you! All right, it is a bit funny. You are quite humorous. What do you need me for?"
"Right, you know our ugly cousin Tybalt?" began Hermia.
"He's not ugly!" protested Juliet.
"Yes, I know Tybalt"
"And you know Juliet's bitchy cousin Rosaline?"
"I hate her" said Juliet.
"Yes, I know Rosaline"
"Well, according to Benny and Merc, they were spotted together this morning, kissing!" declared Hermia triumphantly "So, we want to know. Do you know if they're together?"
"Of course I don't!" replied the nurse "You'd have to ask your mother and father"
"Ok" Hermia walked calmly along the corridor to Lord and Lady Capulet's room, with Juliet hurrying after. She thumped the door "Hello? Is there anyone home?"
"She won't be in there, and she'll be cross with you for disturbing her" said Juliet.
Hermia raised her eyebrows "So she'll be cross with me for disturbing her whilst she's in her room, when she isn't actually in her room?"
Juliet was about to protest when Lady Capulet emerged from the bathroom "What is going on out here?"
"Wassup!" greeted Hermia.
"Egues! She's being...odd again!" called Lady Capulet.
"You remind me of Mercutio's mum. She thinks there's something wrong with him. Something not right in the head. Like he's...special" said Hermia in a silly voice.
"Stop that" said Lady Capulet uselessly "I don't understand you the slightest"
Lord Capulet's study door opened "What are you doing now?"
"She's being funny!" giggled Juliet "Isn't she funny, nurse?"
"No! I mean yes! No, I meant no. Hermia, stop that, you aren't funny. Don't pull that face or you'll make me laugh. No! Stop it!"
"Hermia Georgiana Capulet! Whatever you're doing, pack it in!" yelled Lord Capulet.
"Sorry" said Hermia, still using the stupid voice. Juliet was killing herself with laughter.
"So, Dadda, have you heard the news?" asked Hermia.
"What news?"
"Well, apparently, according to Bennykins and Wooshy-wo"
"Who the hell are Bennykins and Wooshy-wo?" scoffed Lord Capulet.
"A pair of sexy Montagues" replied Hermia "Anyway, you know Rosaline and Tybalt?"
"Yes, I do know Rosaline and Tybalt! And don't ever call the Montagues sexy again!" snapped Lord Capulet "They are a disgusting, good for nothing, immature and irritating family of shit!"
"Ouch" said Hermia "Well, anyway, apparently, they saw Tybalt and Rosaline together this morning!"
Lord Capulet rolled his eyes "Of course they're together. Regina tells me they've gone out for the day"
"No, together together! They're an item! Mercutio and Benvolio watched them kiss across the street"
"I can't say I haven't seen this coming" said Lady Capulet.
"Me neither" added the nurse.
"I thought Rosaline was taking this chastity pledge?" added Juliet.
"You can still date someone, just not have sex with them" added the nurse.
"Not when you're dating someone as randy as Tybalt!" snorted Juliet.
"That's enough! Juliet, you shouldn't think about things like that!" scolded Lady Capulet.
"You mean sex?" said Hermia bluntly. She turned to her dad "Have they spoken to any of you yet?"
"No" said Lord Capulet "And I forbid you from doing anything stupid. Like...making prank calls and crap. I had about seven last night! I have a good mind to lock you up in your room for once and for all!"