Prisoner 4-0-9 novel Chapter 25

Ocean's POV

"Have you read the story, Romeo and Juliet?"

"Who hasn't?" I snort and Meo shakes his head at me, a small smile on his lips as I cover my mouth.

We have been driving for a little over an hour now, and from what I've seen, this place is just something else. It was truly a city that was known for its beauty.

The way the people carried their language and culture with pride, each word rolling confidently off their tongues. They took extra care of their appearance, not one face made of sloppy paint, not one hair strand out of perfection. Suits tailored by the best and dresses designed to the thread.

It was obvious we were riding through a more luscious side of town.

"Well, today I'll be taking you to Juliet's house." He says and I gape. "Well, her balcony but still." I chuckle, already excited.

"It's in a city called Verona."

I stayed quiet as we entered a busier place, and the vehicle stopped in the center of the road.

"Come on, quickly, let's get out."

"Oh!" We run out of the vehicle quickly and we take off down a road, hand in hand. I was ensured of what we were doing exactly, but that didn't stop me from giggling like a madwoman, happy that I had worn my converse.

We stopped, where there was only a small group of people taking pictures.

"That's it right there." He points to the little balcony on a light brown building.

"It looks legit." Was all I could say as I couldn't believe where I was, and what I was looking it.

A year ago I would've been daydreaming of an experience like this in a kitchen as I made Dain dinner, afraid that if I didn't he'd beat me black and blue. Yet here I am. And it's all because of... Trevor.

Suddenly I wished that it was he that had brought me here, and not Meo, don't get me wrong, I'm grateful, but the experience would've been more intimate if it was with Trevor.

I push the thought away as Meo tugs on my hand.

"What're you thinking of?" He smiles softly from in front of me and I shake my head. "Come on, the crowd has disappeared."

"Do you believe in their love?" Meo asks me. "Do you think that love is so strong to have taken two people?" I'm sure he said that question incorrectly but I didn't say anything. The man was Italian.

"I think it was a bit... Strange. Well, love is strange on its own you know? So many barriers, so many forbidden things and I guess it's there for a reason cause wasn't Juliet like 13?"

"She was." Meo cringed slightly and I chuckled.

"I don't know really, Shakespeare was a crazy man."

"I think so too. But love is strong. Love is everywhere. Love is inevitable." Meo murmurs, and I nod.

"Love is inevitable," I repeat and we stand in silence, just staring up at the balcony.

"Let's do something." He says suddenly and I raise an eyebrow. "Would you like to be Juliet?"

"What do you mean?"

"I am Juliet!" I say dramatically as Meo sat on the wall staring at me with false infatuation.

Don't ask me how I got up there, but I was on the balcony.

"Oh, Juliet, my love for you is-,"

"Woah there Romeo, I'm only thirteen, I like you and all but I can already see this not working out. We're supposed to hate each other and-,"

"Alright alright yeesh." Meo waves his hand all over the place and I throw my head back laughing, causing it to hit on the wall. "I have another place for us to visit." He announces, and right on time, the car arrives in front of us.

"But first, you need a picture." He takes out his phone and snaps about a million pictures of me looking like a wannabemodel.

"Do you know that before, people used to come here to write their love notes on the courtyard wall?" He says as he helps me down

"That's sweet." I murmur, silently asking if we could go read some before we left.

We did.

"More than 5,000 letters a recorded each year,"

"Wow," I breathe, smiling at just how romantic some of these were. Not all of them were Italian, and some seemed to be from American tourists who fell in love here.

"Newlyweds can also pay to spend their night in Juliet's bedroom," he wiggles his eyebrows at me and I give him a flat look.

"Tis a shame sire, that we aren't married." He chuckles.

He places a plate on my lap and filled it with grapes, apple slices, and watermelon.

"I see you enjoyed them during lunch, I hope it's okay again now,"

"It's wonderful, thank you so much for this," I murmur sincerely.

"No, thank you," he says shaking his head. "It was nice to get out of the house, away from everyone else."

I hum.

"Can I ask you something?" He speaks up after a moment and I nod.

"Are you in love with Trevor?" I go still, meeting Meo's eyes.

"I'm not," I tell him.

"Oh, that's good, Aloria's been wanting to know?"

"Aloria? Why would she care about that?"

"Trevor never told you? They used to be engaged." My eyebrows shoot into my hairline.

"Are you serious?" I ask in disbelief and he nods.

"As could be." He shrugs.

"Why'd they break off?"

"Trevor decided that America was where he belonged, and Aloria thought the opposite. So he ended it."

"Oh." Unfinished business. This was unsettling news as it sank to my stomach.

"This is only your first day here, I'm sorry if I'm overwhelming you."

"No it's okay, today's been great," I say distractedly and he smiles.

"It was."