（ʚɞ）ROMEO. . . !
˚◞ʚ♡ɞ﹅۰ ۰ ۰ 一 CHAPTER 16
REAL LIFE

❝ 𝙔𝙊𝙐'𝙍𝙀 𝙃𝙀𝙍 𝙍𝙊𝘾𝙆 ❞

april 26, 2021

juliette had yet to say a word. she just let matt hold her and whisper a sweet song of comfort. nick and chris watched with sorrow as juliette spilt out silent sobs. they soon joined the duo, embracing juliette with the reminder that they cared.

"we love you, juliette," nick spoke aloud, breaking the silent melancholic atmosphere. he rubs her back and pulls away, giving her a sad smile.

chris and matt mimicked their older brother, although matthew held onto her for a little longer. he wipes her tears and kisses her forehead, giving her one last hug before he pulls away. "let's go home, okay?"

juliette nods, making her way toward the passenger side of the car. matthew opens the door for her, and she smiles up at him. dennis never bothered with the small gestures. he never bothered with anything.

the ride home was quiet, with nothing but the silent sound of taylor swift playing between them. juliette kept her focus on the car window, while either of the triplets snuck small glances at her.

"do you want to stay with us tonight," matt suggests, pulling the car into his driveway. "we could have a sleepover." they each watch as she shakes her head, playing with the hem of her tear-stained shirt. matthew frowns and makes his way out of the vehicle, once again opening the door for juliette.

the two brothers watch them walk towards the house next door, giving each other a shared look of sorrow. "he's so good to her," nick frowns, earning a nod for his youngest brother.

"it's because he loves her," christopher responds, following nick into the house.

matt carefully helps juliette inside her home and up the stairs, not once losing touch with her. he's got her left hand in his own, and his right hand is placed on her lower back.

she looks so tired and broken, and the boy can't help but feel his heart continue to ache. he's seen her like this once before when her grandmother died. it was almost three years ago, and the gray girl didn't leave her bedroom for six days. she lost the desire to talk and feed the hunger that twisted up her stomach.

mostly, for the six days juliette spent away from the world, the girl would just sleep, but matthew visited her every day regardless. he would just lay with her, letting her know that no matter what happens, he would always be there.

his company was enough to bring the girl back to a sense of normalcy. so, when the boy turns on his heal to make us way out of the girl's bedroom, she grabs his wrist. she looks up at him with sad eyes, and she whispers out for him to stay.

he nods and slips off his shoes to lay beside her, pulling the duvet over the two of them. she turns towards him, holding eye contact, before her eyes slowly flutter shut. he kisses her forehead for the second time that night, before he too falls into slumber.

april 27, 2021

          matthew wakes up before juliette the next morning, and he carefully does his best to slip out of the girl's grip. he turns to look at her once more, before he exits her bedroom and makes his way toward the kitchen. he can hear the sound of her parents, and he approaches the room teadiously, standing in the doorway. "hey matt," isabella greets, noticing the boy and giving his a smile.

he returns the gesture and sits down at the island, fidgeting with a necklace juliette had given him. "um...," he begins, and it's enough to gain the attention of the two adults in the room. "i think something happened between lia and dennis," he announces, looking up at the couple.

"what do you mean," edward asks, looking at the boy while he placed down his third cup of coffee.

"she, uh... she called us yesterday. she wanted me to pick her up a block away from dennis' house. when we got there, she just— she looked so heartbroken." the boy frowns as he remembers just how small and vulnerable she looked. "i think they might've broken up."

"oh."

"she hasn't said anything since the phone call. i'm just really worried about her."

the boy looks down at the table top in front of him, and he ponders what could've possible happened yesterday. she was just going to tell dennis about the kiss. surely, it couldn't have been why they broken up? was it my fault?, he thinks. did i break them up?

isabella notices the boy's furrowed brow, and she places a hand on his shoulder. "she's gonna be alright," the woman reassures, "you're her rock, matthew. you've cared about her more than any guy ever has, and she needs you right now."

and she's right. isabella knows just how much juliette needs matthew, and vice versa. she was the first to realize that matthew and juliette were always more than friends. they were soulmates.

although they might not have seen it themselves, isabella recognized what the two shared together as love.

girl ౨ৎ
everyone knowing that matt
is in love with juliette, and
juliette in love with matt, BUT
matt & lia not knowing is so ❤️

i love that dennis is finally gone,
and i can't wait to write lia and
matty on dates, i have a few
planned already!!! so exicted
but... for now we have sad lia
and comforting matty 💔

thank you guys so much for
over 40K!!! ily all sm < 3

— van