PART II - SOFIA

Looking back, yes, I had worried that my different groups of friends would clash.

Did I think it would have those effects? Hell no.

Until now, I couldn't really make sense of it.

Was it my fault they split up?

No, of course, it wasn't.

It was a little bit, though.

It was Maria's fault too, I guess.

And Jamie's.

And Helen's.

The party had started great, everyone kind of knew each other because they were all seniors and at one point or another, they had been in the same class. The atmosphere was great. My mom and I had made typical Mexican food, there was even a vegan option because I knew at least Helen was vegan, and I believed Jenny was a vegetarian.

Santiago had bought us alcohol; one bottle of tequila, one bottle of rum, a few beers. He made sure Mom didn't see it when he handed me the bag with a wink.

Helen had been drunk. Well, not drunk, tipsy. We all were. But it was the weirdest on Helen.

Seeing her loosen up was something different. She laughed, she was loud, she made jokes. We all were. But it was the most beautiful on Helen.

I looked around a lot. For one, it was great seeing my friends sitting there in a circle, talking, joking. It also gave a reason to look at Helen. My heart skipped a beat, every time my eyes fell on her. And they on her and Jamie's entangled fingers, my stomach felt like I was falling a thousand feet.

"Where do you guys know each other from?" Jenny asked, meaning Helen and me.

"We're in the school play together," I said.

"That is so cool," she said pointing with a beer in her hand on me. "What are you playing?"

I laughed. I couldn't even say it.

"Rosaaaa and Juliet," said Helen, dragging the a.

Jenny giggled. "Rosa as in - oh, you're Romeo," she realized, again, pointing with a can of beer on me.

"Play something!" Maria requested.

Helen laughed and buried her face in her hands, but she stood up. Until now, we had only read lines, not actually acted them out. Here goes to nothing, I thought. She got up on a chair and said,

"Ay me."

The balcony scene. I crouched behind Baker and looked up at her. Her gaze wandered around the living room's walls.

"O Rosa, Rosa, wherefore―"

"You sound like Doug Judy," Bonnie chimed in. I giggled, Helen rolled her eyes and started again.

"O Rosa, Rosa, wherefore art thou Rosa?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name,

Or if though wilt not, be but sworn my love,

And I'll no longer be a Capulet."

I could not believe how she stood there, drunken, on a stool, and recited Romeo and Juliet perfectly. It went completely still. I whispered:

"Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?"

She went on:

"What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,

Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part

Belonging to a woman―"

At that point, everyone lost it. We all laughed, Maria put her hands on Jenny's boobs, and Helen nearly fell from the chair. Only Jaime sat there, unaffected, staring blank at her.

"―O, be some other name!"

She stepped down from the chair, with her hand on an imaginary handrail.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other word would smell as sweet.

So Rosa would, were she not Rosa called,

Retain that dear perfection which she owes

Without that title. Rosa, doff thy name,

And for thy name―which is no part of thee―

Take all myself."

I got up, took a step in the middle of our small circle, so I stood right behind her.

"I take thee at thy word."

Helen gave a little shriek and turned around to me.

"What woman art thou that, thus becreened in night,

So stumblest on my counsel?"

I stood so near to her that I could smell her perfume. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I waited for a second too long.

"By a name," Baker prompted.

"By a name

I know not how to tell thee who I am.

My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself

Because it is an enemy to thee."

She eyed me suspiciously.

"Art though not Rosa, and a Montague?"

I smirked.

"Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike."

I heard a faint "Aww" from Bonnie and Jenny.

"If they do see thee, they will murder thee.

I would not for the world they saw you there."

She had put both hands on my upper arms in an attempt to push me away. I took both of them and held them between us.

"I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes,

And but thou love me, let them find me here.

My life were better ended by their hate

Than death proroguèd, waiting of thy love."

At that point, we stared at each other, apparently, both forgot our lines. We stood there, her hands in mine. For just a moment, I let myself enjoy this feeling, then I turned to Baker for help.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know what comes after that, but at some point, you go like 'Oh, why do you leave me unsatisfied?' or something."

Helen turned to leave, and I went after her.

"O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?"

She turned around, her face hilariously shocked.

"What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?"

I reached my hands in her direction.

"Th'exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine."

She ignored my hands, and instead―

―kissed me.

Then she leaned back, her hands still on my neck, and said:

"I gave thee mine before thou didst request it,

And yet I would it were to give again."

The next thing I know was applause and wolf whistles from our audience. And that Jamie was gone. And that Helen, after taking another bow, went after him.

The others told me how great we were, that the play was going to be so good, that they loved our chemistry.

I smiled gratefully, but all I could think about were her hands on my arms, her hands in mine, her hands on my neck. Her mouth on mine. I had known it would come at some point―we put on Romeo and Juliet, for God's sake―, but I was not in the slightest prepared for the effect it had on me.

Baker patted my knee, probably knowing exactly what went on inside my head.