Romeo and Juliet

[Georgia]

Type of story: One shot

Rating: T

Main Characters: Nicole&Geoff

Genre: Romance, drama

Warnings: nope

Is Story being proof read: No

Spoilers?: nopee

Summary: They love each other, but she's made a mistake. How do they come back from it ?

You never realise that you love someone until it’s too late. I grew up believing in morals and beliefs and she was completely different to me. It’s a bit like the scientific charge law: opposites attract. I never really believed that was true, but everything changed when I met Nicole Franklin. My world turned upside down, and suddenly, she was the one reason for my entire existence. We may not have had a smooth run of it, but none of the greats did. Take Romeo and Juliet for example. They both died in the name of love. I know it may seem a bit weird to compare myself, Geoff Campbell and my high school girlfriend to the biggest couple of all times, but to me, it seems appropriate. Plus, Nicole always did have a dramatic flair...

We had been broken up for a while, and I thought we had both moved on, but then Belle died. Nicole had lost one of her best friends and I had lost my other sister. I tried to comfort her but she took it the wrong way. She kissed me, and I wanted to kiss her back. We were both hurting but I knew what she wanted. Nic wanted comfort; I wanted the only girl I’ve ever loved back in my arms. I could tell she wasn’t taking it seriously; it was a bit of fun, a heat of the moment kind of thing. But I’m not that kind of guy. I tried to tell her how I was feeling, but before I could, she was gone. Running away, like she had done so many times before.

The night was dark, like all the light had been sucked out of the world. Belle was gone, and I had just pushed away Nicole. The beach seemed quiet for once. It was normally crowded by people, even at night, trying to escape their lives and figure out their problems. Tonight, though, it was just me. I think someone realised that I needed some time to myself. All I could hear was my own thoughts and the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore, erasing all the footprints, all the memories that had been etched into the sand. Tonight, pacing on the beach, I was creating new footprints, new memories, of pain, heartbreak and desperation.

The next day dawned bright and early. I had spent the night on the beach, not wanting to go home to Irene and Annie, but not wanting to intrude on Aden’s grief either. I had never realised before, but the sand can get awfully cold, and the dunes can get awfully itchy. I wasn’t complaining though. It had given me some time to think, and I had come to the conclusion that I had to talk to Nicole. After everything that had happened with Belle, I should have known that life is too short to waste on regrets. I could die tomorrow and Nic would never know how I felt.

I went round to Aden’s house first, but I couldn’t hear any voices from inside. I didn’t want to go in and check, because it would be a really upsetting conversation if Nicole wasn’t there. Instead, I decided to head towards the high school, to the little courtyard around the back. Not many people actually knew it existed, but Nic and I had stumbled on it will trying to come up with school spirit ideas. It was quiet and quaint, and it suited us. It was an escape.

She was there. I had known, deep down, that she would be. Sometimes, if it’s really important, you can just tell where someone is, or what they’re hiding. Today was an important day. Nicole needed a friend, anyone could see that. Tears were pouring down her face, and she wasn’t even attempting to hide them.

“Nic”, I whispered, “you can talk to me. I’m here for you, no matter what it is”

I didn’t get an answer. Instead, she turned to me, and buried her head in my chest. Unsure what to do, I cautiously ran my hand through her hair, not sure if this would make it better or worse.

“Geoff,” she sobbed, “I don’t know what to do anymore. Everything seems to be falling apart and I’m standing here. I feel like I’m frozen, and everything is moving so fast. I just want to catch up to all of you guys. I want to be normal again Geoff”

My heart broke. She had been putting on an act, that only a few people had been able to see through. I had no idea this was how she was feeling. She was usually so independent, so keen to be an individual.

“Aden barely even talks to me anymore and I’ve screwed things up with you. You’re one of my best friends and I kissed you. How are we supposed to get over that?”

I just held the sobbing girl tighter to my chest, eager to let her know that someone was there for you.

“Nic, you haven’t messed things up. Belle just died and you need someone to be there for you. Nicole, I’m here for you, no matter what happens.

And when you’re ready, I want to give us another chance, because life is too short to be without the one you love”

The tears slowly subsided, and hiccups took over. Nic slowly lifted her head off my chest and looked at me.

“You love me?” she asked, disbelieving

“Is that so hard to believe? You’re beautiful Nic, inside and out. You make me feel complete; you fix up all the wounds. Every time someone has hurt me, you’ve been there to help me. I want to do the same thing for you, Nicole Franklin. I want to be the one to wipe away your tears; I want to be the one that makes you laugh. I want to be the one to hold your hand as we walk down the beach.”

I expected a smile, but instead Nic burst into tears.

“What’s wrong Nic? I thought that would make you happy?”

“Geoff, I’ve done something really bad and I don’t know how to fix it.”

“Nic, we can fix anything. I’m here to help you.”

“I slept with Aden”

“Nic, that was a long time ago, before Aden and Belle got back together. You don’t have to feel guilty about that.”

“I slept with him yesterday Geoff. That’s why I was so sad on the jetty. He wanted comfort. He misses Belle so much. He needs someone there to fill the gap. I love you but I have to be with Aden right now. He needs me.”

Nicole loves me, but needs to be with someone else. I had lost out to a guy who was clearly in love with his wife. I should’ve sat down, and comforted her, assured her that I would always be there for her. Instead, I stood up and walked away.

*

It was two weeks later when I finally saw Nicole again. She was walking with Aden, down the beach, side by side. It looked like a perfect picture, until you looked closer. There were a couple of metres between them, and they weren’t touching or holding hands. Aden was looking out towards the ocean, tears pouring down his face. Nicole was fiddling with her hands, a habit that betrayed when she was feeling nervous, scared or sad.

That’s why I compare us to Romeo and Juliet. They loved each other more than life itself, but they couldn’t be together. Juliet sacrificed everything, hoping it would still be there when she awoke. Romeo was destined to life without her.

Nicole gave up love, to be there for her best friend, the one who couldn’t love her back, as he would forever love Belle Taylor. I just wait, hoping, that one day she will realise that this isn’t the life she deserved.

One day ...

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