In my English class, we are reading Romeo and Juliet. For most of us, it is our first time reading Shakespeare. I kind of get why our curiculuum goes with the most famous love story of all time as our introduction to Shakespeare.

But, is it the best love story of all time? Hell no. (That award belongs to Clannad and Clannad: After Story.) It suffers from what some call Instalove. I call it Romeo and Juliet Syndrome (RJS for short.)

Strip away all the fancy words from Romeo and Juliet, and you have a rushed love story. If you write it in modern English, you have a Wattpad story written by a teen girl (no offense to teen girls- I am one myself.)

Romeo and Juliet is a bad boy/good girl love story. Sure, it doesn't scream it at first glance, but think about it.

Romeo and Juliet is the origin of RJS. We will take an in depth look at this disease of stories.

Do you have a love story? Or even a story with romantic subplots? The following is an RJS diagnostic quiz. You can take any form of media and put it through this. Answer these honestly.

Note: this quiz is mainly focused on teen romances.

En guarde!

1. How long were the characters friends with each other before they started a romantic relationship?

A) Friends? Who has time for that? Let's get the frickle frackle rolling.

B) Around two weeks, give or take a few days.

C) More than a month but less then six.

D) More than six months.

2. What do the character and SO (significant other) mainly do together?

A) Go around the bases, if you know what I mean.

B) Talk about how much they love each other.

C) Complain about how slutty the ex is

D) We just have fun together, hanging out, going to the movies... whatever is normal in the story.

True or False time!

1. The characters are in the same social circle.

2. The characters have lives beyond their SO.

3. Characters who are in the dating stages of a relationship would die for each other.

4. The characters can name three things about their SO that they like that has nothing to with appearance or objects.

Answer Key

1.

A- 4 points

B- 3 points

C- 2 points

D- 1 point

2.

A- 4 points

B- 3 points

C- 2 points

D- 1 point

True and False

1.

T- 1 point

F- 2 points

2.

T- 1 point

F- 2 points

3.

T- 1 point

F- 2 points

4.

T- 2 points

F- 1 point

Add your score up.

Under 8: Clean Bill of Health

The relationship is fairly well developed.

9 to 12: Carrier

The relationship is showing signs of RJS. Keep an eye out for it.

12+ Infected

This is not a healthy relationship, nor is it realistic. The story is endangered now, especially if the main characters are afflicted.

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If the relationship is a Carrier or Infected, how do you solve it? Tune in next time for the answer!