That Way Madness Lies
Page 16
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
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