That Way Madness Lies

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That Way Madness Lies Page 16

by Dahlia Adler


  You have NO right

  Ben

  I’m not mad about that

  I’m only mad that u and Romeo BOTH HAVE BAD TASTE

  CAPULETS

  BOTH OF U

  GOD WHAT IS WRONG WITH U

  WHY R MY FRIENDS SO STUPID

  Tio

  Doesn’t matter now

  Ben

  Sure it matters

  And ur right I care in like a good way

  I want u to be happy

  Wait

  Was he one of the ones who chased us

  Tio

  I’ll talk to you guys later

  Ben

  Wait man

  Where r u

  I’ll come to u

  Let’s talk

  Tio?

  Tio?

  Romeo

  Did you see her though?

  I never saw before tonight

  I really didn’t understand

  I thought I knew what love was

  But now

  Oh god, now I know

  Ben

  My dude

  Not the time

  Tio needs us

  Where r u

  Romeo

  I’m staying

  Ben

  Whatever

  I’m going to find tio

  10:42 PM

  Cousin Rosaline

  Where the hell are you

  Juliet

  I’m still here.

  I’m on the second floor balcony.

  The air was too stuffy down there.

  I met someone.

  Yeah no shit you did

  He doesn’t go here

  He’s from the public school

  And he’s a creep and a weirdo

  He only talked to you because he’s obsessed with me

  He’s been stalking me

  Come down we’re leaving

  …

  Oh. I see. That’s okay. Thanks for telling me.

  I don’t need a ride anymore.

  My mom is picking me up.

  10:44 PM

  Juliet

  Hey, Mom! You’re probably wondering where I am.

  I should have been home by now, I know!

  But don’t worry. I’m safe.

  I’m with Rosaline. She asked me to spend the night.

  Isn’t that nice?

  Aunt Willa says hello.

  Anyway, so don’t worry about me.

  We’re having pizza and painting our nails.

  Okay, well, gotta go! The movie is starting.

  Love you! Hope you’re having a good night.

  10:46 PM

  Juliet

  Romeo?

  Are you okay?

  Where did you go?

  Romeo

  I can see you

  You’re like the sun

  I could find you anywhere

  Wait, you can see me? Where are you?

  I’ll come to you!

  No, stay there

  I want to look at you

  God, you’re so beautiful

  It makes me want to die

  I could honestly die happy tonight

  Having met you

  Looked at you

  Touched your hand

  Um. This is awkward. But I talked to Rosaline.

  …

  …

  …

  Why would you talk to her?

  She’s my cousin.

  She said some weird stuff about you.

  How well do you even know her

  Not that well, actually.

  I think she only invited me because her mom made her.

  She ditched me as soon as we came in.

  Yeah, that sounds like her

  We hung out a few months ago

  As soon as she found out I wasn’t rich she ditched me

  I haven’t even thought of her since then

  Weird that she’d say stuff about me

  So you don’t like her?

  I mean, like-like. Like romantically.

  Nope

  And she really ditched you just because you go to Montague?

  People get so stuck up about going to Capulet.

  Like they’re roses in a garden of weeds because of the name.

  They tried to beat me up just for talking to you

  But they don’t care about me!

  No one is friendly.

  No one even sees me. No one ever sees me.

  Not really.

  They’re jealous

  I wish you could see yourself the way I saw you tonight

  You’re like the sun

  And everyone is the moon

  Pale and cold and sad

  They really tried to beat you up?

  Can you really see me? What am I doing right now?

  Leaning on the balcony

  Stealing my heart and my breath

  Now you’re covering your face

  As though that could dim your beauty

  But what if they find you?

  I don’t care

  I couldn’t leave without seeing you again

  Besides

  If you don’t feel the same way I do

  I’d just as soon they beat me to death

  Oh my god, don’t say that!

  …

  …

  …

  I do.

  I do feel the same way.

  Then nothing can hurt me

  Not ever again

  But …

  But how do I know you really feel that way?

  And I …

  Well, I’ve never had a boyfriend.

  But I do feel the same way! And we only just met.

  Am I a fool?

  I swear by the moon

  Oh, the moon you just said was pale and cold?

  No! I mean, I swear by the sun

  So you’re swearing to me, by me?

  You are impossible

  What should I swear by?

  What will you believe?

  Because I have never been this serious

  This sincere

  I feel you in every inch of my soul

  I don’t care that we just met

  There are some things you can never know

  Until you know them

  Never feel

  Until you feel them

  And I was changed the moment I saw you

  Swear by yourself, then, because it is yourself that I love.

  …

  …

  Oh my god. I didn’t mean to say that.

  It’s okay

  I feel the same way

  I could fly right now

  No, don’t turn away!

  Let me look at you

  I should go.

  I shouldn’t have said that.

  Are you taking it back?

  No.

  But I’m scared.

  I’ve never felt this way before.

  …

  …

  Tonight was my first kiss.

  That can’t be true

  I dance all day. Every day. It’s my whole life.

  My father wants me to be the best.

  And my mother does what my father wants.

  Everyone does what he wants, because he’s rich.

  That sounds lonely

  It’s complicated.

  They had three other kids.

  They all died as babies. My mom still cries a lot.

  And she drinks.

  I shouldn’t have said that.

  And my dad—well, I’m his only daughter.

  Sometimes he doesn’t know how to love me.

  I mean, he loves me!

  He just doesn’t always express it in normal ways.

  He wants me to be the best.

  To reflect well on them. You know?

  Not really, no

  My parents don’t care what I do

  But anyone who doesn’t love you

  Doesn’t deserve to know you

  Juliet, are y
ou crying?

  No.

  Maybe.

  Listen, I should go.

  When will I see you again?

  I have to see you again

  11:03 PM

  Father

  Where the hell are you

  Juliet

  Hi, Daddy! I’m at Rosaline’s. My cousin’s.

  I texted Mother. She knows. She said it was okay.

  She dropped me off.

  To celebrate the audition, because it went so well.

  We went to dinner after.

  We missed you.

  I heard from the school.

  I’m sorry. I tried. I really did.

  I promise I tried.

  I worked so hard to make you proud.

  I’m sorry, Daddy. Please don’t be mad.

  Why are you being stupid?

  They accepted you. They had a student drop out.

  They can take you immediately. You leave in two days.

  …

  …

  …

  Oh. Wow. Two days.

  Have your cousin bring you home. You need to pack.

  But … Paris. It’s so far away. I’ll miss you.

  And Mom.

  Maybe we could just wait until the next semester?

  Are you kidding?

  Do you know how much money I paid for your lessons?

  For that stupid school your mom insisted on?

  How much it cost to get you in front of those French bastards?

  Can we at least talk about it?

  11:06 PM

  Mother

  What did you say to your father

  Fxe it

  Fix it

  Juliet fix it now

  11:07 PM

  Juliet

  Okay, sorry. You’re right.

  I was just overwhelmed.

  Thank you for this opportunity, Daddy.

  I’ll be home soon.

  Thanks, Daddy.

  11:07 PM

  Romeo

  Why are you crying?

  What happened?

  Juliet

  I got into a ballet school.

  That’s great though

  It’s in Paris.

  No

  No you can’t go

  We just found each other

  I know. I don’t want to go.

  My father’s making me. I don’t want to leave.

  But he controls everything.

  And he hurts

  Sorry my finger slipped. He pays for everything.

  I can’t say no. He’d just send me anyway.

  And once I’m there, what could I do?

  You can’t leave

  You can’t

  He’ll make me.

  Don’t cry

  Please stop crying

  We can fix this

  We can

  How?

  Marry me

  What???

  Marry me!

  If you marry me, you have legal rights

  You’re emancipated

  Is that even legal?

  I’m googling

  Just a sec

  Oh my god

  We could do it

  In Utah the minimum age is 14

  But there are some rules

  You have to

  Uh

  What?

  Well, if you were pregnant

  …

  …

  …

  I leave in two days.

  Okay that’s out

  Ha ha I was kidding anyway

  But if we have a parent’s signature

  They would never.

  Actually …

  I could trick my mom.

  And I have an uncle who’s a judge in Utah

  If we explained the situation

  But he might not do it just to keep you here

  Unless there was another reason

  …

  …

  …

  My father isn’t a nice person.

  Oh god, Juliet

  I’m coming up

  We’ll figure this out

  Not tonight.

  I have to get home.

  He’ll get worse the longer it takes.

  Come and get me tomorrow.

  I’ll have my mother’s signature.

  Okay

  Okay

  God, I know you’re scared

  But I want this

  And I swear I’ll take care of you

  We’ll be together and I’ll take care of you

  You promise?

  I swear it

  Tomorrow then.

  Tomorrow

  I feel like I could burst

  Tomorrow is infinitely far away

  And yet I float through the night toward it

  Tomorrow, my love

  Tomorrow, my love.

  Wait, what time?

  9 am

  I can’t possibly wait longer than that

  Okay.

  I wish we could be together now.

  I don’t want to be apart from you.

  It feels like a dagger in my chest.

  I can’t breathe.

  Tomorrow!

  Tomorrow.

  Wait, can you give me a ride?

  Oh dammit

  Let me see if my friends are still here

  We kind of got chased out

  11:18 PM

  Montague Mavericks group chat

  Romeo

  Hey tio can you give us a ride

  Ben

  U asshole

  U absolute asshole

  Romeo

  What???

  Ben

  U left him on his own

  They beat him up

  Romeo

  Who

  Ben

  Who do u think

  The capulets

  Because that’s what they do

  Romeo

  Where are you now

  Ben

  In his car

  I can’t find his keys

  I think they know where we Oh god they’re here

  Tio’s in bad shape

  He’s barely conscious

  Romeo

  I’m coming

  11:20 PM

  Juliet

  Romeo?

  Can you give me a ride?

  Romeo?

  11:25 PM

  Juliet

  Hey. Can you give me a ride home?

  Ros

  You said you didn’t need one

  I was wrong. Come get me?

  Just call a ride

  Who?

  Uber. Lyft.

  I don’t have either of those.

  Can’t you come get me?

  Please?

  Isn’t there anyone else you can call

  Like no offense

  I know we’re related

  But I barely know you

  And suddenly I’m your only ride

  Oh. Sorry. I just thought, since you invited me.

  God it was a school party

  It’s not like I invited you to a sleepover

  …

  …

  Sorry I’m a little high

  It was a weird night

  Listen I can’t drive right now

  But I’ll get a lyft for you

  You’re still at the school right

  Oh, no, it’s okay. I found a ride.

  The girl from my science class.

  Ok good

  See you around

  11:32 PM

  Juliet

  Romeo?

  Where did you go?

  Can you give me a ride?

  11:34 PM

  CAPULET’S GET IT ON group chat

  Ava B

  Omg the cops are here

  So many of them

  Ava C

  What’s happening?

  Ros

  Yeah we’re not there anymore

  what’s going on?

  Ava B

  Big fight
/>   In the parking lot

  Guys?

  Jaden

  Shiiiit

  Shit shit shit

  Did you guys get out

  Ava B

  What do you mean?

  Jaden

  Not you

  Chris? Ty? Liam?

  Dudes tell me you got out

  Ava B

  They’re carrying someone out on a stretcher

  Wait two people

  Omg

  It’s Ty

  He’s not moving

  Jaden

  Who else

  Goddammit ava who else

  Ava B

  The fairy kid

  Oh shit

  The cops are looking for the guy who did this to ty

  Ros

  Who?

  Ava B

  Give me a minute!

  Jaden

  Come on

  Ava B

  That Montague stalker

  Romeo

  Romeo stabbed Ty

  11:38 PM

  Romeo

  I need help

  Uncle Laurence

  What? Do you know what time it is?

  I’m in trouble

  What kind of trouble?

  I got in a fight

  …

  …

  …

  It was bad

  Were there any injuries?

  Yes

  Did you start the fight?

  No

  I was defending my friend

  They ganged up on him

  He was unconscious when I got there

  And I just

  I just went crazy

  I don’t remember exactly what happened

  And then the cops came and I ran

  You shouldn’t have run.

  If you were defending an unconscious minor, that’s good.

  Go into the station and give a statement.

  I can’t

  They’re rich

  The people in the fight

  They’ll have good lawyers

  I’ll go to jail

  I know people. I’ll get you a good lawyer, too.

  It will be okay, Romeo. Just go into the station.

  My friend’s in a coma

  What about the other boy?

  I don’t know

  Do as I said. Go into the station.

  There’s something else

  A girl

  She’s in trouble

  Because of the fight?

  No

  Because of her father

  I think she’s being abused

  She’s my girlfriend

  But we can’t get her away from her father

  Not safely

  Unless we get married

  You want to marry her.

  Yes! Yes yes yes

  I know it’s crazy but I love her

  And it’s the easiest way to protect her

  Her mother gave permission

  We just need a judge

  And a state where she’s old enough

  Romeo.

  Please

  God, please

  You know how things have been lately

  I love her

  I love her so much

  I need this

  She needs this

  Text me after you’ve spoken with the police.

  And then I don’t know, we can talk about the girl.

  Thank you

  I don’t know what I’d do without you

  You’re the only adult in my life who listens or cares

  I love you, kiddo. Please keep me updated.

  11:45 PM

  Romeo

  Juliet I’m so sorry

 

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