When? If I was being honest, I doubted he would get that far, a prospect that frightened me. "I'll learn to draw violets, then. How are you getting to America?" Suddenly, I was struck by the slight irony of the situations. Roses are red, violets are blue. I already drew roses to remember someone, now I would be drawing violets. And the line 'violets are blue' seemed to indicate to the Montague family colour, blue.
“I’ll steal a bunch of cash before I leave. Sneak onto some second rate cruise ship that’ll take me across the sea to Croatia, buy myself a plane ticket and head straight for the states.” I explained my voice hardly above a whisper. “I’ll land right in New York City. I have to pick a new name for myself still and all of that.”
"That's………. much easier said than done," I tried to reason with him. "How do you know your mafia family won't catch up to you? And how are you going to fake an identity once you land?"
“I don’t now they won’t catch up to me, and I have no clue.” I turned my head to gaze at Juliet, a bit of a goofy smile on his face.
"…… Oh. That's not a very good plan then, is it?" His smile….. once again, it was too much to bear. I let my eyes fall shut, shifting unconsciously closer to his warmth.
Juliet had moved close enough to me now that I could feel a little bit of heat radiating off her, helping me start to warm up. “It’s a terrible plan, but it’s a plan.” I whispered faintly. I shifted closer to Juliet for extra warmth, being carful not to touch her.
"One that could get you killed………" My eyes remained firmly shut—I didn't open them for fear of seeing that lovestruck expression again.
“I risk that everyday here.” I felt my eyelids start to drop, liking from gaining a source of warmth. My nose had started to run, and I’m pretty sure I have frostbite. I startled myself by sneezing, yelping in pain when I moved my cast too fast.
The sneeze took me by surprise, causing me to tense and flinch back as my body instinctively took the sudden sound to be a threat. After I'd relaxed, I gave Romeo a concerned look. "You should go inside.."
“No way.” I sniffled, adjusting until I was comfortable again. “I’m doing good right here.” I shut my eyes again, curling up next to Juliet.
"No, you're not," I argued, poking his shoulder a second time. "You're going to catch a cold. Or frostbite. Or both."
My eyes flew open as she poked my shoulder. Juliet knew exactly how to make my heart race. “I’m warm here.” I lied, refusing to move.
"Liar.." I muttered, poking him again. "Come on. What do I have to do to get you inside?"
“You’d have to come inside with me.” I pouted dramatically, sniffling again. “I like spending time with you. Feels safe.”
“Romeo, I can’t come inside…. I’ll be caught and killed,” I protested, sighing.
“Exactly. So I’m staying here with you.” I insisted, my teeth practically chattering.
“Romeo. Please, don’t be more of an idiot than you already are and go inside.” Finally, I opened my eyes, giving him a long, pleading look.
I felt my heart melt on the spot, my brain short circuiting. “I, uh…” I blinked once or twice. My heart hammered against my chest, almost painfully so. My dopey smile had returned at the cost of my resolve. “Yeah um… whatever you want, I guess.” I sat up, sneezing again.
I blinked at his sudden change of heart, propping myself up on my elbow. “That was easy.”
I looked away, my face burning a bright red from reasons other than the cold. “I’m only going in there if you take my pillow.” I grumbled, flustered and embarrassed.
“Fine..” I relented, brow furrowing in slight confusion. “Leave your skylight slightly open, though. In case I… need you.”
“You should sleep by it anyways. That’s where the most heat will be.” I looked reluctantantly over there, unwilling to leave Juliet now that I had agreed to.
“Alright…” Suddenly, every molecule in my body was protesting the very thing that I had ordered—For some strange reason, I now wanted him to stay with me. “Wait—“ The word has tumbled from my mouth before I could stop it. “Wait, um, a minute longer.”
“Please just let me stay out here with you. I’ll grab more blankets so I won’t be cold if that’s what you want.” I pleaded, moving closer to her for warmth.
“But what if we’re caught?” A million different possibilities raced through my mind, all of them ending horribly. “What if your parents find that you’re not in your room?”