B2. Romeo & Juliet: Part 2

Chapter 3: A Party Turns Cold

Suddenly, a loud voice made them turn around! "MONTAGUE DOG!"

Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, burst into the garden. He looked like he wanted to kill someone. "How dare you come here!" he growled.

"I mean no harm, friend. I only want to enjoy the party," said Romeo.

"Friend?" Tybalt laughed darkly.

The garden went silent. Guests appeared at the doorway, drawn by the shouting. They formed a half-circle around the scene, watching. Waiting.

Tybalt took out his sword. He rested the tip on Romeo's chest. "Leave immediately, or I'll stain these roses with your blood."

Suddenly, a powerful voice cut through the tension. "TYBALT! Lower your weapon!" Lord Capulet pushed through the crowd. Juliet's father was a large man with white hair and fierce eyes.

"Uncle, this is Romeo Montague!" said Tybalt. "He sneaks into our home like a masked thief!"

"I know who he is," said Lord Capulet. He was in a jolly mood and holding a glass of champagne. "And he's behaving himself. Better than you right now! Stop embarrassing yourself, boy! Or you'll leave my house instead!"

Laughter came from the crowd.

Lord Capulet turned to the crowd. "This is a night to be merry!"

Tybalt's face turned red. He stared at Romeo with poison eyes. "This isn't over, Montague. Soon, we'll meet again." He put away his sword and quickly walked away, pushing through the crowd.

Lord Capulet turned to Romeo, his voice quiet but firm. "You are brave to come here, young Montague. Or perhaps a fool, which wouldn't surprise me. You should leave now. My nephew has a long memory."

Romeo bowed. "Thank you, my lord. I will go."

Lord Capulet turned back to his guests. "Come now, friends! Wine! Laughter! The night is still young!" Everyone went back inside.

Romeo looked at Juliet once more. He whispered, "I'll see you again soon." Romeo had to leave quickly, before he saw Tybalt again.

Juliet watched Romeo disappear into the night. Above them, a cloud covered the moon, making everything dark. Juliet shivered, though the night was warm.

After Romeo had left the party, he couldn't stop thinking about Juliet. He knew he had to see her again, as soon as possible.

As he walked home, Romeo made a decision. He turned around and walked back to the Capulet house.

Romeo climbed into the Capulet garden. Then, he quietly walked to Juliet's bedroom window, in the darkness.

Chapter 4: The Balcony

Later that night, Juliet walked onto her bedroom balcony. The candles and moonlight made her shine divinely. Romeo watched her from the shadows.

Juliet looked up at the stars. She said, "Romeo, oh Romeo! Why do you have to be a Montague? If you weren't, we could be together without fear."

"Romeo, Romeo! Where are you?" Juliet said, already missing him.

She leaned over the balcony ledge, staring out into the garden's darkness.

Then, Romeo stepped out from the shadows. "I'm here."

Juliet jumped in shock! "Romeo! If my family sees you here, they might kill you!"

"I needed to see your face again."

"Quick! Come up here!" Juliet said. Romeo climbed onto her balcony. "Shhh!!" said Juliet. A light flicked on and off in the window next door. "My nanny," Juliet breathed. "If she sees a boy here..."

They both hid behind a curtain until the nanny's light went dark again.

They sat together on the balcony floor, in the shadow. They sat close, but not touching. For a moment, they just looked at each other.

"You came back," Juliet said softly.

"I keep my promises." Romeo smiled.

Juliet thought for a moment. "I've never left Verona. Not once. My whole life in this city, in this house." She looked out at the dark rooftops. "Sometimes I stand here and wonder what's out there. Past the walls. Past the hills."

"Where would you go? If you could go anywhere?" asked Romeo.

"The sea." Juliet's eyes lit up. "I've never seen the ocean. Can you imagine? All that water, going on forever?"

Romeo watched her face. "We could go. You and me. Just leave."

"Where?"

"Anywhere. Everywhere." He leaned forward. "We could see the ocean. Walk on beaches. See sunsets in a place no one would know our name."

Juliet's heart ached. "If only dreams like that could come true."

They were quiet. The dream hung in the air between them, beautiful and impossible.

"What about you?" Juliet asked. "What do you want? Really want, not what your father wants."

No one had ever asked Romeo that before. "I don't know. I used to think I wanted adventure. Excitement." He paused. "But tonight, sitting here with you? This is better than any adventure."

Juliet felt her face grow warm. She looked away, but she was smiling.

"Tell me something you're afraid of," Romeo said.

"What?"

"Something you're afraid of. I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

Juliet pulled her knees up to her chest. "I'm afraid of becoming like them. Like all the people at that party. Smiling and dancing and pretending everything is fine while people die in the streets."

Romeo nodded slowly. "I'm afraid of waking up one day and realizing I wasted my whole life on things that don't matter. Following rules I don't believe in." He reached for her hand. Juliet's fingers wrapped around his. They sat in silence, hands intertwined, as the stars moved slowly across the sky.

Then, in a perfect moment, they kissed on the balcony.

They sat together all night. They shared their hopes and fears. The night was magical for them both. They held each other close, as the first light of dawn touched the sky.

Juliet looked into his eyes with wonder. "Oh Romeo, do you love me? If not, please tell me."

"I love you, Juliet Capulet. How can I prove it?"

"But our families will never let us be together," said Juliet worriedly.

"So we'll get married without them knowing."

"Then ask me," she whispered. "Ask me properly."

Romeo knelt on the balcony floor. "Juliet Capulet, will you marry me?"

In an instant, Juliet's world changed. "Yes." She laughed and cried at the same time.

Romeo stood and pulled her into his arms. "I will arrange everything for today. I promise! Tonight, we'll be husband and wife."

"Promise me this is real!"

Romeo kissed her forehead, then her lips. "I promise this is the most real thing I've ever felt. I will send a message of the time and place."

As the sun rose, Romeo climbed down from the balcony. Juliet leaned over the railing. "Romeo!" she whispered. He looked up.

"The ocean," she said. "One day, we'll see it together."

"One day soon."

"Keep your promise, and I will follow you wherever the Lord takes you," said Juliet.

Romeo quickly left. They were thrilled for a future together where no one could keep them apart.

That morning, as the city began waking up, Romeo walked quickly through the quiet streets. He searched for his priest to make the wedding arrangements.