Written by user Lhian_Ackerman

The Beginning

Let's start with the beginning, shall we?

Our first meeting was nothing special.

What? Did you expect it to be worthwhile? Something memorable? Something so sappy and romantic you'll melt right off your seats?

This is a real story. This is not a romance novel wherein the boy and girl just fall in love at first sight nor do they kill themselves in the end. No, this is a real life story with a real boy and girl who did not fall in love at first sight and certainly did not kill themselves in the end.

Our first meeting, as opposed to what the majority of you must be thinking, happened to be in a playground near my neighborhood.

As a child, I was - shall we say it, very timid and shy. The only friend I had was called Christa, and even then I was still reserved around her.

It was my parents' idea to drop me off in the playground. Charming as they were, I didn't need any friends, or any more acquaintances for that matter. As you can see, we don't... really see eye to eye, hence the trip to the playground. In fact, due to their busy and somewhat demanding schedule, they entrusted me in the care of Christa's parents, and left in good spirits. My parents trusted them wholeheartedly (I kid you not), seeing as they had known each other for years and years on end.

Family friends, I assumed.

I admit, I was completely and utterly terrified back then. I was not good with strangers, even more so with people around my age. I was this socially awkward penguin who had no idea what to do in a playground. So when my parents expected me to make friends... well, it wasn't a good day for me.

It was not a rare sight to see me sitting on a swing, hands clasped at the cool and rusting chains with my stubby legs dangling, staring off blankly into space.

Even though Christa was my only friend - and I admit, she was more that what I could have asked for - that didn't mean she had no other friends than me. In fact, she was quite popular in our age group. To put it simply, she was exact the opposite of myself.

I sighed as a cool breeze blew past. What a boring day.

I swung slowly, not wanting to fall off from the swing and fall a horrid death.

Whoosh!

And it was then when a ball came zooming in my face and knocked me out of the swing. I was lucky that the impact from the ball wasn't that hard, if anything it just took me by surprise.

Let me remind you that I was a child back then. When a ball just randomly hits you in the face and knocks you off your seat you tend to get scared. Not only was I the very definition of timid and shy, I was also the world's biggest scaredy cat.

"Hey you! Are you okay?"

A small hand obscured my vision, and despite my reluctance and complete and utter fear, I gingerly clasped my hand around his (judging from his voice he was in fact a boy) and allowed myself to be lifted from the ground.

Hazel eyes met brown.

I was not aware that I was still holding his hand, and it was only when he tried to get it back did I release it.

I did not fall in love with him right then and there. If anything, the only reason why I stared at him so long was because he had strange eyes. You don't get to see hazel eyes up close these days, it seems.

"I'm sorry about the ball hitting you." The black-haired boy said sheepishly, initiating the conversation.

I stared at him. So this was the one whose ball hit me in the face.

You better be thankful I didn't die back there you big jerk.

"It's nothing." I finally replied, averting my eyes from his strange ones.

I can't even look at him in the eye...

"My name's Gerome!" He said, apparently glad that I was able to forgive him so easily. If only he knew... "What's yours?"

I lowered my gaze to the ground. Typical behavior for me when talking to a stranger. "Juliana Yvette." I said quietly, hoping to God that he wouldn't hear me and find someone else to talk to.

Gerome's eyebrows furrowed in distaste. "That's a really long name." He remarked. "Can I call you something else?"

Why God why?

I shuffled my feet uneasily, feeling pressured. "How about Ivy?" I suggested as I looked at him.

He grimaced. "Too girly."

"Julia?"

"Too plain."

"Lina?"

"Too weird."

I huffed quietly. "You're so picky."

He laughed a bit. My face burned at the way I chastised him earlier. The more I looked at him, the more I felt the need to apologize for my lapse of character.

I gulped, quickly gathering my wits to ask for forgiveness. "I'm - "

"Juliet!"

I cringed at the sound of my name. Turning away from Gerome, I waved at the approaching Christa.

"Hey Christa." I said weakly, deciding to ignore her use of my horrid nickname.

She eyed Gerome curiously as she stood beside me. "Who's this?"

Gerome gave her a friendly smile. "I'm Gerome! Nice to meet you...?" He trailed off uncertainly.

Christa smiled just as easily. "I'm Christa." She greeted cordially, but the curiosity still shone in her eyes.

Gerome, however, paid her no mind and turned to me. He grinned mischievously as he spoke in a teasing voice, "Juliet huh?"

My ears turned red. Not this again... "Please don't call me that." I pleaded, flustered. I absolutely loathed that nickname.

"Juliet Juliet Juliet!" He said tauntingly as he neared me, making me turn fifty shades redder.

"Hey!" Christa snapped as she stood in front of me, arms raised. "Stop that!"

Gerome shrugged, seemingly unaffected. "You call her Juliet, so why can't I?"

"That's because I'm her friend!" Christa replied hotly as she sneered at him. "And you're not!"

Gerome eyed the both of us, and my, it must have been a sight to see me, who was actually taller than Christa, to be cowering behind her. "Alright." He said finally.

I blinked. Was he giving up that easily? My eyes narrowed in suspicion as I puffed up my cheeks. This seems fishy...

Gerome grinned. It was then did I realize with a growing horror that he hasn't given up yet, if anything, he looked even more determined. "That just means I'll have to be your friend right?"

My breath escaped me when he quickly avoided Christa and leaned towards me, his grin becoming more pronounced.

"So what do you say Juliet? Wanna be friends with me?"

And that was how our story began.

.

.

.

"Uh..." I said uncertainly, not sure on how to respond to his inquiry. "Sure?" I said hesitantly.

He gave me a winning smile. "That's settled then! I get to call you Juliet right?"

I grimaced. Over my dead body