Main Cast:

Benvolio Montague 17

Tybalt Conti 18

Romeo Montague 16

Juliet Capulet nearly 14

Mercutio Prince 19

Escalus Prince 45

County Paris 14

POV Benvolio:

It had been a good night so far, I had lost track of Romeo but I didn't care, he could handle himself and he had seemed happy when I last saw him. I had been enjoying myself, something I had been having trouble doing the last few months. It might have something to do with the great music, that it was a masquerade, or because of the punch Mercutio spiked, most likely a combination of all three. The mask defiantly helped, for this one night I felt I could be myself, that I didn't have to worry about my family thinking I am not responsible or masculine enough. I danced in the ridiculous way that I enjoyed and was even getting some people cheering me on when out of the corner of my eye I notice a dark figure coming towards me fast.

I turn and see someone with black hair, a dark navey blue bejewled mask, and pitch black cape coming in my direction. I take a step back to get out of there path but just as they are about to pass me they trip over there own feet and fall right on there face.

"Ahh!"

"Oh my goodness, are you ok?"

He manages to roll over and I realise that whoever this is he has had way more to drink than me and that I should take him out of trampling range. The dance floor of the Capulets was surround by decretive curtains and on the other side were benches, I decided to try to get him over there.

"Do you need help up?"

"Yes."

He put out his hand and I take it. He has a strong, firm grip. When I take it I get my first look into his eyes behind the mask, his eyes are crystal blue with black eyeliner around said eyes, they are soft but familiar.

I pull him up and guide him by the hand through the curtains and sit him down on the wooden bench.

"Are you sure you are ok, do you have any friends here I can get?"

He shakes his head, and than speaks.

"No, my uncle is mad at me. He was yelling at and insulting me and if he sees me he'll probably get me through out."

With horror I finally realize why I recognized his eyes. I am staring into the eyes of my family's sworn enemy's nephew, Tybalt Conti. Only that morning, instead of helping me break up a fight between our families staffs, he attacked me and we had exchanged blows until Captain Escalus Prince showed up and let us off on a warning. He gave me a black and blue bruised face and I just helped him to a safe place.

I am about to leave and get as far from him as possible when words I didn't think possible come out of his mouth.

"Thank you, by the way, without your help I probably would have been trampled."

I had never heard Tybalt be polite before, not at GHS, and certainly not outside of school. The alcohol must have really changed him for the moment. This gratitude catches me off guard and I turn back around to face him. I just say the first this that comes to mind.

"Um, you are welcome."

He looks me up and down, with the mask it is hard for me to tell if he realized who I was, if he is trying to figure out if I'm trust worthy, checking me out, or something else. I just stand there, thinking about leaving again when he finally speaks.

"You wouldn't happen to know what it's like for your family to put all there expectations on your shoulders, would you?"

A loud chuckle just escaped my mouth without me trying. 'Do I know what it's like for my family to put all there expectations on my shoulders?'

"Sorry, yes, yes I do. I must literally be perfect every day of my life or they let me hear it."

"I'm my parents only son, and all my uncle's sons died as babies, so I am literally the only male left in our family line. They never let me forget that."

Benvolio never knew that, he didn't quite know how to respond so he just sat down at the other end of the bench.

"Trying to preserve our line my uncle and his cousin are arranging marriages for there daughters when they come of age, I have to keep fighting my mother to not arrange one for me. Do you know my uncle literally has my 13 year old cousin meeting her betrothed tonight, the police chiefs nephew."

This shocked me, I know the police chiefs nephew he was much older than the girl Tybalt mentioned.

"Mercutio is marrying your cousin?!"

Tybalt let our a loud laugh.

"Hell no, my family hates that jerk. No Mercutio and his brother Valentine are the chief's nephews through his sister, County Paris is his wife's nephew. I think he goes to CHS, he's a bit of a nerd and a dork, but I think they could have done way worse than him, he genuinely seems like a good kid."

I didn't like hearing him call me and my cousin's best friend being referred to as a jerk, but I have to admit it was true. We liked to hang out with him for how crazy and comedic he is, but he could go to far sometimes. I don't know what was coming over me, but I was starting to enjoy this conversation with Tybalt, I had never had such a genuine conversation like this in a long time.

"Can I tell you something."

He looked hesitant, but gave a little nod.

"My family constantly are comparing me to my cousin, but no matter what I do I never get much recognition. I work my but off every single day to get good grades and I've been accepted into Yale, and got my black belt in Karate, but they still are constantly expecting me to look after my cousin and keep my family safe, they never congratulate me on what I have already accomplished. I always feel like they just don't care, that everyone I know likes me but know one actually tries to know me for who I really am. Is that crazy?"

A smirky smile came across Tybalt's face. He moved closers to me and patted my back.

"No, I get that, my family is constantly trying to get me to be there definition of perfect and a man. To them I must be strong, tough, and protect my little cousin, but even when I do all that they hardly pay any attention to me. I guess I over compensate than, a fight here, an argument there, winning there fights for them usually gets there attention, just not always the good kind."

"Yeah, I am glad that I'll be moving out in a little over a month to attend school, although I doubt I'll escape there grip. Maybe I'll get just enough freedom to finally get a- haha, never mind?"

I can't believe I almost did that, I understand that Tybalt is really drunk right now, and doesn't know who I am right now, but that doesn't mean he won't remember or figure out who I am later. I don't want my sworn enemy to know this private part of me, I don't want to him to tell everyone I ever hated or loved that I'm gay.

He's now looking at me with those crystal blue eyes and I can't help looking into them back.

"What were you going to say?"

"It's nothing, private, you really wouldn't understand."

How could he, him and his family were just as Roman Catholic as mine is, Tybalt and his family had made it very clear in the past how they felt about homosexuality.

Tybalt took a deep breath, as if trying to make an important decision.

"The reason I don't want my mother to marry me off is because I am gay. I love working out and being strong, but I also love wearing makeup and I want to find a boy who will love me for who I am, the part I put forward to my school and family as well as my secret side. Does that make me a bad son, I have been living a lie for so long I am not sure what I feel is real or not."

I really couldn't believe what I was hearing now. I distinctly remember Tybalt bringing Rosaline to prom, she was even here tonight amongst the guests. But even despite that he sounds like he's in pain and needs an ally. I put my hand on his knee to show my support.

"Being gay doesn't make you a bad son or a bad person, if it does than I am as well. And also you can be gay and still be physically and emotionally strong. I know what it's like to be in the closet, I'm still in it, but the first step to acceptance is to accept yourself for who you are."

"You say that now, but you do not know my family, if they ever find out they'll disown me, I'll lose everything. I might be able to survive without my mother's love or financial support, but I don't think I could live if I looked into Juliet's eyes and just saw hatred for me in them."

"No, I completely understand you, my family would disown me and than kill me, I don't plan on coming out until after I finish my first degree and am completely independent, you could do the same, experiment expressing yourself in university and than when you are done come out. Or not, who am I too tell you what to do."

Tybalt put on of his hands on top of the one I hand on his knee. I didn't realize until later, but when his hand gently touched mine it felt like electricity went up my spine. He looks into my eyes as he speaks.

"I don't think I have ever met someone who hasn't judged me or told me what to do or how to look."

"Well, sometimes we all just need a little bit of kindness and forgiveness."

"Forgiveness?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean it to come out like that, I just know you can be rough on people."

"Oh, yeah, I got an anger issues, I am just trying to prove I am tough, that I'm not weak, you know?"

"Maybe, but there are otherwise to be tough, and everyone deserves kindness and a chance to be good, even you."

Those last few words seemed to spark something in his eyes, his face softened and continued to look into my eyes. He squeezed my hand a little.

"I am sorry."

I'm confused, is he apologizing for something he did in the past, or something now?

"For what?"

Before I could realize what was happening he closed his eyes and leaned in and gently pressed his lips against mine.

I just instinctively lean into it and kiss him back. This was the first time I had ever kissed another guy and I had no idea how much I craved this. I put my other hand on the back of his neck to pull his just slightly closer. With his hand he pulls my other hand that had been on his knee slowly up his skintight leather pants, only about halfway up his calf before he stopped, but this was enough to shock me out of it.

I remember that this is Tybalt, he and his family hate me and my family, and any time I have asked him to help me break up fights he just insults me and joins the fight. I pull both my face and hand away from him.

"We can't do this Tybalt."

It was heard to tell but I could have sworn he looked confused.

"Why? And I just realized how do you know so much about me, including my name, do I know you, what is your name."

I almost answer him, my mouth opens to speak, but I than close it and head for the curtain. I look back.

"Goodbye Tybalt."

I re-enter the crowd. And found my cousin Romeo talking to a rounder middle aged woman.

"Come on, let's go. This night is over."

"Yes, I fear it is."

And with that I left the house with Romeo not far behind me.