Why Romeo Hates Juliet (4 page)

Later that afternoon, Romeo, Tommy, and Chace, dressed only in shorts and dark sunglasses, were all sprawled on lounge chairs by the pool, drinking beers and working on their tans. The three girls they had brought with them to the island were inside the beach house. And the rock music continued to blare all around.

still sporting his long hair and full beard, Romeo Boyd was completely unrecognizable. Blond-haired Tommy, who had been Romeo’s friend since grade school, gave a low chuckle as he watched his best buddy take a long swig of his beer, burp and then proceed to wipe his mouth with the back of his hand, caveman-style.

“Gee, Romeo, you’ll never get invited to meet the Queen again with manners like that,” he shouted over the deafening music.

Romeo took another long sip of beer and turned to his friend. “I’m on vacation from life, Tommy. Manners don’t exist in my world anymore,” he yelled.

Chace, who was sitting in a lounge chair to Romeo’s right, let his gaze wander over the beautiful PEI scenery that surrounded them. It was mid-afternoon and the sun was brilliantly shining high, the sky was peacock blue and the ocean gently pounded the sandy shoreline that was a stone’s throw away. “Man, this is awesome. How long have you owned this place, Romeo?” Chace was an up-and-coming young actor who had a distinct, curly, red-haired look to him. He’d appeared in several small roles in independent films of late and his career had begun to take off when the press had labeled him as a talent to watch. He’d known Romeo for a couple of years and it had been his friend who’d helped him get his first acting job in a movie.

“Since Vampire of the Dark gave me my first big movie paycheck,” Romeo clarified.

“But why did you buy this place with another house so close next door? Couldn’t you have bought something a little more private?” Romeo shrugged his shoulders. “When I first came down here to help scout locations for Vampire, I saw this beach house and loved it. I had to have it. But then the producers decided not to shoot here and when that stupid movie went straight to video, it made a killing. Since I had points on it, I scored my first big acting money and so I got on a plane, came right back down here and bought this place on the spot. The one next door wasn’t for sale at the time.”

Chace took a swig of his beer and readjusted his sunglasses against the glare of the sun. “So when was the last time you vacationed here?”

“Never,” Romeo grinned.

“What?” Shocked, Chace sat upright in his chair and faced his friend.

“Yeah,” Tommy nodded. “Romeo and I have been friends since we were kids and this is the first time I’ve been here.”

“I don’t know,” Romeo mumbled as he reached for a new beer bottle and twisted it open. “I was just a kid when I bought this place; and right after that, my career took off and I started doing picture after picture. I was working all the time, the money started rolling in, and then I just wasn’t that kid anymore.” Suddenly annoyed, he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Look, do we have to talk about this? We‘re here to party, not psychoanalyze my behavior. That’s what I pay Dr. Greenberg for back in ll.A.”

Chace gave a quick laugh as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a marijuana joint. “Hey, the conga line starts behind me,” he chuckled, as he lit the ill egal smoke.

Romeo’s face grew dark as he suddenly jumped out of his chair, snatched the lit cigarette from Chace’s lips and threw it into the pool. “Not in my house, Chace. You know how I feel about drugs. Why did you bring that shit in here?” he yelled, his voice trying to compete with the blaring music still going on.

“Calm down, dude. It’s never bothered you before when we were out partying in ll.A.”

“Not in my house, okay?” Romeo stormed off into the cottage.

“What’s up his ass?” Chace mumbled, taking off his sunglasses as he watched the movie star disappear through the sliding patio doors.

Tommy sighed. “Romeo grew up in a house where his dad was an addict. He was around it 24/7 and he watched his mom go through hell. He doesn’t care if you do it, that’s your choice - but not in his house, okay? Respect his house.” Tommy slid off his chair and followed his best friend into the house. Chace mumbled a “whatever” before plunking his sunglasses back on and re-positioning himself on the deck chair to better catch the hot, summer rays.

~ ~ ~

The interior of Romeo’s beach house was the exact same configuration as that of Juliet and Sara’s next door. But, unlike the girls’ house, this one was not really decorated and the furnishings were sparse. It had none of the charm or coziness that the sisters enjoyed and the entire look was one of utilitarian masculinity.

In the living room, the walls were beige, the couches were blah and the end tables were two small beer fridges stocked full. There was a massive entertainment/TV setup against one wall which gave the room a futuristic look. All the latest techno gadgets were on display to be enjoyed.

On an opposite wall, was a long row of closed cabinets which housed a huge array of liquor bottles that they’d purchased on first arriving to the island.

As Tommy walked into the living room, he found Romeo partially hidden behind the open cabinet doors, rifling through the booze collection.

“Tommy, where’s the bourbon?” Romeo asked, as he heard his friend approaching from behind. He was frustrated with being reminded of his deadbeat father and all he wanted was to find the strong, goddamn drink to blot out the shitty memories.

“Chace finished it,” Tommy grinned.

“Shit, man, I told him not to touch what was left,” Romeo growled, as he grabbed a full vodka bottle and slammed the cabinet doors shut. He plopped onto the couch, reaching for an empty glass on the wooden coffee table in front of him. Unscrewing the bottle top, he poured himself a good measure of the clear liquid.

“I guess a bottle doesn’t go far with six partiers in the house,” Tommy laughed, as he sprawled his long, lean torso into an opposite armchair.

“Where are the girls?”

“In the kitchen eating salad or yogurt or some low-fat crap,” his friend drawled.

Suddenly, Tommy cleared his throat as if he was about to choke on his next words. He sheepishly looked at Romeo who was gulping down his vodka. “Dude - I gotta ask because we’ve known each other forever and you know I’ll always have your back. And if you don’t want to answer, that’s fine, just tell me to fuck off…” His voice trailed away.

“Just spil it.” Romeo closed his eyes as the alcohol began to course through his blood stream. This was the only time he seemed able to relax nowadays, when booze was coursing through his system; and that fact alone was beginning to scare him. He didn’t want to end up addicted to the stuff. Sure, he’d been partying a bit too much lately, but he still knew his limits and he could stop. But would there come a day in the future when he wouldn’t be able to stop anymore if he kept going like this? He didn’t know - and it was beginning to worry him.

Romeo wasn’t stupid. His father had been an addict and he knew addiction ran in families. Just because he didn’t do drugs like his old man had, didn’t mean he couldn’t become addicted to alcohol and end up like the wasted old fart his father had become just before he’d died. In the back of his mind, that scenario was always just one thought away. “What do you want to know?” he asked, when he realized that his friend was still hesitating.

Tommy cleared his throat again. “Is it serious between you and Carrie Ann? In the jet over here, I heard her hinting at something like that to Kristen.”

“Carrie Ann is in love with my money and fame, not me. We’re just having fun and if she said anything else to Kristen, it was probably to warn her off me to protect her meal ticket. I’m a stepping stone for her in Holl ywood, that’s all.” Tall, leggy blonde Carrie Ann was beautiful in a fake, over-processed, ll.A. sort-of-way. She had long bleached blonde hair down to her waist and a perfect but surgically-enhanced body that had gotten her a major part on a TV jiggle show. Filming was to begin on the new series in a couple of month’s time and it had all the earmarks of a hit, but it would never garner her the kind of A-list fame that Romeo had enjoyed. She knew that she’d never walk the Oscar red carpet on her own acting merits alone, but she could one day do it on Romeo Boyd’s black-tuxedoed arm, if she played her Holl ywood cards right.

Kristen and Rachel, the other two girls in the house, were twenty-something, model/actress wannabes who were friends of Carrie Ann’s. She had introduced them to Tommy and Chace a month ago and all three had been partying with the boys since. Rachel and Chace seemed to have hit it off and Kristen had gravitated towards Tommy. As long as Romeo Boyd was paying for everything and treating them all to VIP nights on the town and private jets to exotic places, they were happy.

Romeo gave his friend a steady glance over his glass. “Carrie Ann and I both know the score.” Tommy nodded in relief. “Sorry man, I had to ask. I love you like a brother and I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Romeo studied the serious expression on Tommy’s face then burst out laughing. “Gee Tommy, later on, why don’t we all build a campfire, hold hands and sing songs together?”

Tommy’s concerned expression broke into a grin. “Fuck you, Romeo Boyd.”

Romeo laughed even harder. At that moment, Carrie Ann came into the living room and plopped herself on the couch beside her boyfriend and like an octopus, wrapped herself around his slouched frame.

“Hey sweetie, how about taking an afternoon nap with me?” she purred and then proceeded to nuzzle his neck.

Enjoying the caress for a split second, Romeo let out a moan before pushing her away from him. “Baby, I’ve got so much booze coursing through my system right now that I need a nap for real. Maybe later.”

Carrie Ann pouted, “But we’re all going out later.”

“We are?” Romeo was surprised. This was news to him.

Nervous, Tommy jumped up. “Ahhh, we’re all going out, but not Romeo. He’s got a headache and is staying home tonight.” He let his words tumble out before winking at Romeo behind Carrie Ann’s back.

Quick to pick up on his friend’s hidden message and ever the actor, Romeo smoothly lied back, “Yeah, I need some sleep, darlin’, but you all go. I’ll be here when you get back.” He then reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wall et. Taking out five one hundred dollar bills, he squeezed them into Carrie Ann’s waiting hands and smiled, “Have fun.”

Carrie Ann gave him a quick peck on his lips. “Well, if you’re sure…” she replied, before unwrapping her tentacles from his body. Getting up, she waltzed into the kitchen, holding on fast to the money in her hot, little hands.

Romeo turned to his friend, “What’s up?”

Tommy gave him a big smile. “Chace and I wanted to thank you in our own way for having us here, so we’ve arranged a little surprise for you tonight.”

Romeo sat up straight, suddenly very interested. Nothing of late really seemed to interest him anymore and he relished the feeling when it came. “Like what?”

“I’m not telling, but let’s just say that you’ll be getting a surprise visitor tonight and she comes very highly recommended. We had her fly in from New York this afternoon and…” Tommy let his last word hang in the air.

“And what?” Romeo prompted, practically salivating with anticipation.

“And - she knows how to put on a show, so expect the unexpected. That’s all I’m saying.” Laughing, Tommy got up and walked away towards the kitchen.

‘Hot damn’, an excited Romeo thought to himself, the boys had gotten him a stripper! He’d better go take that nap right now for real so that he’d be refreshed and ready for his own private show later on that night.

~ ~ ~

Juliet had spent one of the worst afternoons of her entire life. The ear-splitting, deafening music next door had not abated for one breath of a second all day and by dinnertime, she had developed a major headache. In fact, the pounding in her head began to match the pounding of the rock beat coming through her beach house walls.

Would those degenerates next door ever decide to quiet down and chil out for a change? Sara seemed to think that they would but Juliet doubted it. Those inconsiderate boobs were here to party - and party loud - and they didn’t seem to care whom they bothered with their wild antics.

By 7 p.m. that night, Juliet had reached her limit. Even though she’d taken two aspirins earlier, her headache was worse and her anger had reached the danger zone.

“That’s it, Sara! I’ve had it! I’m going over there right now.” She lunged off the couch just as Sara was coming down the stairs.

Sara winced, as she knew her sister very well. Juliet was usually a calm, rational person, but when her temper finally boiled over, there was no telling what she’d say or do. She’d probably march on over there, start World War I I and then it would be hell for all of them until finally either they or the group next door left the island. Sara did not want to spend her summer embroiled in an epic feud, which is what her sister would give her.

“We can always buy you some earplugs?” Sara cracked, trying to diffuse her sibling’s wrath.

“No way!” Juliet exploded. “I’m not changing my writing habits to accommodate their loser lifestyle.” She started marching towards the back door.

“Juliet, wait!” Sara ran after her, putting a restraining hand on her sister’s wrist just as Juliet was about to turn the doorknob. “Why don’t I try going over there first,” she pleaded. “I’m in a calmer frame of mind than you are and they probably just don’t realize that their music is too loud. I’m sure they’ll turn it down once I explain to them in a very pleasant, neighborly tone that it’s a bit much for us.”

“Come on, they know their party is way too loud, but they just don’t care who it bothers.” Sara sandwiched herself between her sister and the door. “Just let me go first, please?” she begged. “You’re the big-guns; I’m the little gun -

you know, the one that when you fire it, out comes the confetti and a laugh? Sometimes, that’s all you need. And our houses are too close together to start a war.”

“Sara…” Juliet began, but her sister stopped her.

“Please, Juliet, for me? Don’t ruin my summer,” she begged.

Juliet took in her little sister’s earnest face and her shoulders slumped in capitulation. It was hard to refuse Sara’s pleading eyes. “Fine, go see what you can do.”

Sara’s face broke into a wide smile. “I’m sure they’ll listen to reason and be nice about it,” she chirped, before walking out.

Standing at the windows, Juliet watched her little sister walk over to the pool where two of the guys, the red-haired one and the blond, were standing near the water’s edge, smoking cigarettes. The girls and the other troublemaker with the hobo appearance were nowhere in sight.

Juliet then saw Sara say something to them. They said something back to her, whereupon her little sister turned and proceeded to walk back to the house with a sour expression splashed across her face. She reached the backdoor and came in, giving Juliet a long look.

“So, do we bring out the big-guns now?” Juliet quipped, already knowing the answer.

“Big guns? We need a tank barrel aimed at those disgusting people,” Sara flashed, as she started to give in to her rising anger. “Do you know what those two bastards said to me? I introduced myself and then asked them very nicely if they could please turn the music down. Then that red-haired pig looked me straight in the eye and told me that I had two choices. I could either show them my - and I quote - ‘tits’ or I could ‘fuck-off’. Can you believe it?”

“What? How dare they say that to you! Nobody treats my baby sister like that, nobody!” Juliet gritted, as she marched to the backdoor, anger racing through her system like a rampaging wildfire.

~ ~ ~