Page 45 of Juliet & Her Romeos

When Swan twirls around the statue, which is the center of the courtyard, I turn back to watch him. His coat, which is the same as mine, flutters behind him. Somehow, he manages to make it look badass.

The marble statue depicts the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is kneeling and holding his Juliet up in a beautiful pose above him like he’s worshiping her or trying to allow her to fly free.

Roses and their thorns strangle the tragic lovers, however, as if it’s inevitable that they never will be free, apart from in death.

It’s beautiful and haunting.

Since I arrived here, I’ve been drawn to the statue but also, filled with dread every time that I glimpse it from the windows.

“It’s Ari’s trick.” Swan tosses his hair out of his eyes. “She’s determined to win. So, she’s roped Rem and her gang in to mass book the practice rooms. We should have risked sneaking into the abandoned studio again.”

I narrow my eyes. “We shouldn’t. It’s daytime. Unless you enjoy having your balls busted.”

“I don’t know. We could try it.”

I blush. “Feathers…”

Swan laughs. “Uh-huh? Or is there something else that you want to try tonight?”

I bite my lip. “I want to rehearse.”

“Not what I was talking about but okay. Then we risk breaking the rules and going out after curfew again. And for now…” He throws out his arms, dramatically. “I present the one place that Ari can’t book: The courtyard.”

I smile, as Swan explodes into a breathtaking series of pirouettes, before stopping with a smirk on his face that does funny things to me.

Swan may have an astounding level of technical skill, but it’s his personality that makes me wet.

I clap.

Swan’s smirk widens. “And the audience are throwing roses.”

“Are you sure that it’s not tomatoes?”

Swan grimaces, clutching his stomach. “Fuck, I wish that itwastomatoes. I’d open my mouth like a baby bird. That knothead, Dimitri, has put me on a punishment ration diet.”

I ball my hands into fists. “He’s trying to weaken you, so that we lose.”

“He doesn’t know how strong I am.”

“How strongweare.”

Swan has already shoveled the snow to the side and gritted the floor with salt. If Dimitri thinks that starving Swan is going to stop him physically, then he truly doesn’t know how much of a fighter Swan is.

“Are you frightened about Friday?” Swan studies me, closely. “Is that why you’re always awake, when I fall asleep? Or do you get a kick from watching my handsome sleeping face?”

“Perhaps, I’m making the most of being able to snuggle in the same bed with you at last. But I am nervous,” I admit. “I do have fears. I’m scared that the stunts that Ari and Rem are pulling will stop us performing at our best. I’m fucking terrified that they’ll become the principals, rather than us. What about you, Feathers?”

“I don’t care about what happens to me.” Swan avoids my gaze. “The only thing that truly scares me is the thought of dropping you.”

My breath catches. “I trust you.”

Swan tilts his head, meeting my eye. “Don’t worry, JuJu. These arms are like steel. I spend longer in the gym and do more push-ups than the other male students combined just to be certain that I’ll never drop you.”

I believe him.

My gaze slips to the high, iron gates that stand open. I can only see the beginning of the forested road that leads down the steep mountain.

It’s been four years, since I’ve been outside those gates.

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