Clemens stood waiting in the garden. He knew he was early, but he had waited all day for this moment. He did not want to be late for it. Eventually he got bored and started walking around the garden. Then he saw the most beautiful flower. It sparkled in the sun that shined on it. The pink and yellow popped out against each other. Then he decided that he should make a bouquet of flowers for Lucia. He picked the best flower off of the bush, but the stem fell of and all he had was a stem-less flower. As he was figuring out what to do with it, Lucia came into the garden. When Clemens saw Lucia, he realized what to do with the flower. He tucked back Lucia's hair and tucked the flower in it. "Oh, Clemens! Thank you! It's beautiful!" Lucia said.  Then they awkwardly stood there for a bit. Then Lucia grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the nearby bench. "Clemens, I  have so much to tell you!" Lucia said, still holding onto his hand. "I've decided that we should keep this a secret from everyone else. We don't want Mother or Father to get in a fuss!" Clemens just nodded, not saying a word. Most people wouldn't like this, but Lucia does, because then she can talk. A lot.
Just then then heard footsteps. "Quick, get down!" Clemens said, helping Lucia hide behind the bench. They were crouched behind the bench, and could feel each other's  breath on their necks. "So, Grumio, these bushes need to be cut back, and you need to add some dirt here." It was Caecilius and Grumio!
They crouched closer together, and tried not to make a sound. The footsteps were getting closer and closer. Under the bench, they held their breath as the adults walked by them. But the feet stopped moving. They stayed in that spot. Clemens and Lucia held each other close, scared that they would be found out.
Then the feet moved. Clemens and Lucia let out the breath they were holding. But the feet didn't move far. Caecilius and Grumio sat down on the bench! Lucia and Clemens looked up and saw, well, the chair areas of Caecilius and Grumio.
Over the bench Grumio and Caecilius talked about important, manly stuff.
"So, Grumio, I  . . . uh . . . I  heard that you were quite the ladies man. And I   . . . uh, you know how Metella hasn't been, you know, all that into me, and I  was wondering if you could help me out with her." Caecilius said.
"Ah, yes, I  see." Grumio said, "You need to flatter her, and give her presents. That's what I  do. "
"Thanks, dude. I  knew I  could count on you!" Caecilius said. Grumio stood up, and left the garden. When Clemens and Lucia saw Grumio leave, they thought that they had both left. Lucia and Clemens came out of their hiding spot.
"What are you doing?" Caecilius asked them, with his arms crossed.
"Uh, we were just, um, uh, playing hide and go seek!" Clemens shakily said.
"Okay?" Caecilius said, then muttered something about flattering Metella and left. Then Lucia dragged Clemens into her room.  She wrapped her arms around him, and he hugged her back. Then they started kissing.
Then Caecilius walked by Lucia's room and saw Clemens and Lucia, arms wrapped around each other and kissing.
"LUCIA! How dare you be kissing a filthy slave! No offense, Clemens." Shocked, they pulled apart from each other, but their hands were still twined together as they turned to face Caecilius.
"None taken." Clemens mumbled, then he left the room.
"Lucia, you will not be with a slave, ever! Your mother and I  will find a fine gentleman for you to marry." Caecilius yelled.
"But Father, I  love Clemens!" Lucia pleaded.
"Well, I  cannot keep you from loving each other, but I  can keep you from seeing each other! I  will make sure that you and Clemens will not see each other ever again!" Caecilius yelled. Lucia started crying, and ran out of the house.
Lucia ran through the streets, her tears making is hard to see. She didn't even know where she was going, she just ran. Eventually she got to the countryside. There was a hill that was covered in grass with one tree at the very top. She walked up the hill and sat down next to the tree. There she looked out over the city and thought about this problem. She knew that it would be very hard to see Clemens now that her father was keeping them apart, but still possible. She also knew that if Caecilius saw them together again, he would probably sell Clemens to another family. She could not let that happen. Being in the same house, but not seeing each other was definitely better than not ever seeing Clemens again. She would have to try to forget her feeling for Clemens if she wanted to help him.