The Scars of Your Love (Ch. 1)

CHAPTER ONE:

Juliet Montague hugged the hollow body of Romeo to her chest as her head rapidly shook back in forth in denial of the friar's words.

"Your husband lies there in your bosom...dead." He told her gently. "Paris, too."

The tide of grief threatened to overtake her once more but she shook it off refusing to believe.

"Come. I'll place you among a sisterhood of holy nuns," the friar began.

But she paid no attention to his words as she gazed upon him, her Romeo who was dead and gone. Never to look at her the same way again–with love in his eyes. Never to touch her again, never to smile, never to laugh.

"Do not wait! The watch is coming," pressed Friar Lawrence.

A loud clatter from outside reached their ears and when Juliet made no motion to move he finally understood what she meant to do.

"Come! Go, good Juliet," he begged, his voice becoming tainted with the hint of hysteria.

There was another loud noise and he jumped. Please, he was pleading, "I dare not stay any longer!"

She shook off his arm. "Go. Get out of here then," she snapped hotly, her eyes only for Romeo. "For I will not away.

The friar had been about to argue when there was another noise from outside. He stood up and hurried to the doorway. He threw Juliet a look of regret and fear over his shoulder before he disappeared down the hall.

She paid him no mind. "What's this here?" She whispered, kneeling at the side of the one who was her everything. "It is a cup closed in the hand of my true love."

Her eyes wide she turned the cool metal cup over in her hands as she realized what he had done. "Poison," she breathed as her voice broke.

Juliet tried again. "Poison, I see has been the cause of his death."

She gasped as the pain and grief hit her like no force she had ever known. It was pressing against her ribs, her chest, suffocating her so much that she couldn't breathe. Wanting to be ride of the feeling she rapidly she pressed the cup to her mouth, trying to drain whatever was left but nothing touched her lips. Juliet pulled back and peered down into the cup.

"Drunk all," she realized at its dry emptiness, instantly casting it aside now that it no longer had a use. "And he didn't leave me any to help me afterward?" Desperately she bent over him. "I will kiss your lips. Perhaps there's still some poison on them to make me die with a medicinal touch." She pressed her lips against his for a long moment just as her tears began to fall. Startled she pulled away and with a trembling hand touched her own lips. "Your lips are warm.

Suddenly a noise broke the night. "Boy, which way?"

"Oh, a noise?" she whispered realizing she didn't have much time. “Then I'll be quick." She glanced around searching for what would make her end. Her eyes lied upon her beloved and saw his dagger. "O happy dagger," she whispered softly as she snatched it from his side. "My body shall be your sheath. Rust inside my body." Her hands were shaking so she gazed at him, only him and nothing else.

She thought of him, only him and no one else and she was not afraid.

Then–before she could lose herself to her fear of the unknown-Juliet used all her strength and plunged the dagger straight into her chest. Crimson red blood blossomed over her bodice, spreading like the stain of split ink against the fabric of her dress.

"And let. Me. Die." She finished weakly before her eyes closed just as she crumbled over the corpse of her true love.

And it was finished.

x x x x x x x

"Princessa?" I heard someone say as they shook my body back and forth.

"Ugh." I groaned, shoving my head under a pillow without opening my eyes, "five more minutes."

"But, A-lex-ie!" the person whined, shaking my bed as they jumped up and down slightly. "Bliss said that if you didn't get up, none of us would get birthday pancakes."

Birthday pancakes? I thought, mentally sitting up.

Little sis, if you don't get down here soon, Gabe says he's coming up there. And you know what that means, my twin brother Alexander told me, his words telepathically popping up in my brain like an IM message on a computer.

Oh crap, I did know what that meant.

Quickly I sat straight up, knocking my younger brother Frankie off of me and onto the floor just as my door burst open and my older brother Gabe appeared in the doorway with the mop bucket full of (probably freezing cold) water on top of his head.

"Dang it," he cried, realizing that I was awake. "I was actually looking forward to dumping a gallon of water on you."

I glared at him then at Frankie. "It is my birthday, guys." I screeched. "And even on my birthday you have to wake me up before noon by jumping on me and drenching me in water!?"

Quickly Franklin, acting like a startled turtle jumped off my bed and scurried towards the door.

"Well." I heard Gabe smack his lips together loudly as if he'd been greatly offended. "Somebody's grumpy." He bent down to stage whisper in Frankie's ear. "She must be PMS-ing."

He could not be seriously messing with me now. Just because a girl is cranky or angry does not automatically mean she's on her period! "Ugh!" I shouted throwing a body pillow at the door managing to slam it close instead of smacking him like I wanted.

But whatever; this was just as good.

With a groan I fell back into the fluff of pillows and blankets that was my bed. I am so not a morning person. Closing my eyes, I tried to go back to sleep but there was no use; I was up and here to stay. I groaned again as I sat back up and my eyes painfully adjusted to the sunlight streaming through the glass doors that served as an entrance to my balcony.

It’s my birthday.

I sucked in a deep breath and closed my eyes.

It’s my eighteenth birthday, I repeated to myself, the sixth without my parents. Keeping my eyes closed, I tried to draw on the connection I had to them so that even if they couldn’t be here, they could be in spirit. But of course it wasn’t the same.

After a moment, I opened my eyes and went back inside. I pulled on a pair of red snowman pajama bottoms on and fluffy Curious George slippers before grabbing my phone. I planned to check Facebook as I heading downstairs. I already had a bunch of Happy Birthday posts on my page from both fans and friends alike and replied to a couple before updating my status.

Alexyne Skylie de Luca

September 16. 10:23 a.m.

STATUS: "Nothing says happy birthday than your older brother trying to wake you up with nothing but a bucket of cold water..."

I would've used Twitter but right now it was too much of a concept for me to be able to grasp. It took me from 6th to 8th grade just to switch from MySpace to Facebook. That shows you just how technologically impaired I am.

I stuffed my phone into my pajama pocket before rounding the corner of the hallway and stopped in the doorway of the dining room, gazing at the scene with a smile. Looking like he'd recovered from my morning wrath, Frankie was beating on his chest like Tarzan and belting out some kind of Indian battle cry while Kyle Simon (his best friend from next door) shot Hot Wheels across the table.

My best friend, Kohl (also Kyle's sister) was flirting with my older brother Mick who is too clueless to realize it. Gabe's girlfriend, Samantha was trying to brush flour off her skirt while texting her best friend, (who's also Alex's girlfriend) Bianca, who happened to be sitting across from her. On Samantha's left side was Gabe, checking out his refection with a giant silver spoon. I tried to ignore the pang of envy in my heart as I noticed all the pairings. Everyone had someone whether they knew it or not and I wanted that too.

Just then our EBC (Everything but Cook) Gabrielle walked with Bliss, who was going from plate to plate, kissing cheeks and making a few comments here and there as she spooned out blueberry and/or chocolate chip pancakes. My godfather obliviously sipped his coffee from the World's Most Star Struck Dad mug Frankie and I made him two Father’s Days ago as he read the morning paper.

The smile grew and I focused on the scene at hand. This was my family.

Happy Birthday, Twin, I heard Alex say.

I turned and looked at him over my shoulder.

Everyone expects that just because I'm the sister of all three members of MAGNIFED or Alex's twin that I'm just like them. I mean, I know I look like them.

Alex and I both have the dark brown glossy curls like Frankie's although his hair is straight like our dad's whereas Gabe and Mick's hair is black like our parents. And my dad and I are the only ones with hazel eyes, unlike Alex, Frankie and our biological mom who all have dark brown eyes. Except for Gabe who has amber colored ones and Mick has pale green ones.

And then there are our personality differences. Alex and I are fraternal twins, born only a couple minutes apart, making me the youngest of us two. And while he's sensitive, brooding and content to be alone and in silence, I'm the opposite. I'm more outspoken and more people-oriented. Kind of like Gabe, only he's like our conceited class clown with Frankie as his ultimate prank partner in crime slash Mini-Me. Then there is Mick who is the smart, older mature one.

But there are enough signs for the both of us (Alex and I) to know we're split halves of the same soul. From the way we've always been able to feel each other’s emotions to being able to literally communicate in each other’s minds. Plus there's the fact that both of our lives including Frankie, Mick and Gabe centers so much on music. We are all singers while Alex and I can play the piano and all the guys can play guitar and bass. There's even a connecting room with a piano and mini-recording studio between Alex and I's bedrooms.

Not surprisingly enough Alex is already neatly dressed, compared to pajama clad me, in a plaid shirt, jeans and his man-purse.

It's not a man-purse, Alexie, he quickly broke in, annoyed.

If it’s a purse on a guy, it’s a man-purse, I replied.

He gritted his teeth. It is a satchel.

I rolled my eyes. Okay! Okay! Fine, don't get your pants in a wad. It’s just your...I paused....fanny pack.

Alex started glaring at me and I nearly burst out laughing. Okay. Moving on...I can't believe we're eighteen! I grinned reaching up and ruffling his curls.

At that he shook his head. Not until 3:25 PM for me and 3:32 PM for you, he replied pushing my hand away from his hair.

I rolled my eyes. Only you would get technical about something like that.

Alex smiled. Hey, when you're older, you're older.

By seven minutes! I exclaimed only slightly annoyed. But not with him, just that he was–and forever will be–the oldest of the two of us. I swear, it’s like you think it's equal to that of year! Do you even know how to do math?

He mentally scoffed. At least I didn't fail the first math test of the year.

I gasped and glanced around the room to see if anyone else had heard that revelation. So far it looked like I was home free. I pulled him into the hall. How do you know that? I demanded.

He rolled his eyes now. Alexie, we're twins. You're going to have to get used to the fact that I will always know these things.

I sighed before adding, Well, if someone wasn't too busy trying to give free mini concerts at the beach when every normal person is at school or work, rather than helping me, maybe I wouldn't have.

Alex's mouth dropped open. How do you know that? He demanded now.

I grinned smugly before responding. Oh, gee, I don't know. Maybe because we're twins. I mock-rolled my eyes. I mean, seriously, Alexander, you need to get used to the fact that I will always know these things. At his shocked expression I smirked before pushing past him and entering the dining room.

Bliss glanced up at us as we walked in and smiled. "Good, Alexander and Alexyne are up." She hurried over and started pushing us towards the seats next to each other at the table. She then strapped paper birthday hats on both our heads before she kissed us both on the cheeks. "Happy birthday, my children," she whispered to both of us, before heading back to the kitchen.

Gabby shot Alex and me a wink before she followed her.

As if we were generals calling their soldiers to their attention, everyone instantly stopped what they were doing and looked up at us. Alex pulled at the collar of his shirt, uncomfortable being under the center of attention while I grinned brightly back at them.

The room quickly quieted into....well, quiet.

Loving to be an awkward silence breaker I quickly blurted, "I love chocolate!"

Really, Alexie? Alex asked shooting me a how-sad-are-you look which was shared with nearly everyone else in the room. Really?

What? I shrugged defensively. It seemed to fit.

Our godfather's eyes widened and he looked up from the paper "What? Kids, I didn't realize your birthday was today."

Alex and I both rolled our eyes at each other. "Godfather!" We both said together, our faces both slack and serious.

"What? Can't an old man joke around in his own house anymore?" Grant demanded, managing to look the part of someone majorly outraged.

Alex shook his head. "Not when the jokes are as old–"

"–as the old man himself!" I finished.

Everyone especially Frankie and Kyle burst out laughing.

"Like you said I'm getting old." Godfather tried to say in defense. "My bones are slowly scrunching together and my brains becoming faulty. It's only natural that I forget a thing or two."

"Not after the year you forgot your anniversary and the twins' birthday." Gabe reminded him.

"The twins never let me forget it," he smiled as he shook his head chidingly at us.

Laughing, Bliss (his ex-wife) shook her head to as she re-entered the dining room. "Now, Grant, don't leave me out of that equation."

We all laughed again just as Gabby dimmed the lights and Bliss set a pile of pancakes in front of Alex and me with a separate #1 and #8 candles on opposite ends from the center already lit. I grabbed Alex's hand under the table and excitedly squeezed just as the singing began.

"Happy birthday to you.

Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday..."

There's nothing quite like hearing your birthday song being sang by so many musically talented people at the same time, it seems like it's really a mini-choir. I laughed. There are so many people on the planet who would kill for MAGNIFIED along with Samantha Hawthorne and Bianca Montez to sing Happy Birthday to them and I'm just lucky that they were all a part of my family.

"...Alex and Alexie.  

Happy Birthday to you!"

Only Kyle and Frankie kept singing.

"And many more on Channel 4.

And Scooby Doo on Channel 2.

And the big, fat, lady on Channel 80..."

We all burst into laughter. "Make a wish!” Frankie and Kyle yelled oblivious to everyone else’s amusement.

Smiling, I closed my eyes and my thoughts turned back to what I was thinking of earlier. Everyone here has someone who they share something special with them and I want that too. So please–oh, please, send me someone I can love. I don't care who, just anyone...

Then I blew out my candle just as Alex blew out his and everyone cheered.

Smiling slightly Alex took off the candles and cut the pancake-cake into halves while everyone else dug into their own plates. Carefully, I reached out and picked up his half and then my own and set them on each of our plates. The pancake-cake consisted of 4 pancakes a blueberry pancake on top followed by a chocolate, then blueberry and another chocolate one. I slathered my half in butter and blueberry syrup before took a bite.

"So Kohl, what are you doing here?" I asked my best friend after following my bite with a sip of apple juice.

"Oh, I just came to pick you up. I'm taking you birthday shopping." Kohl explained. She turned and giggled at something Mick said and I rolled my eyes.

And to flirt with my brother, I thought, shooting her a meaningful look.

For someone who is the second (not counting me and Alex separately because we're good at opposite things, academic wise so it adds up together) smartest person in our family, Mick is kind of dumb when it comes to girls. Kohl has had a crush on him since the day we moved into this house. And everyone in our family including Frankie knows–and he's in that teasing-girls-to-show-he-likes-them stage–except for Mick.

But if the guys had never became MAGNIFIED then I guess he wouldn't be in her league. Not just because of her parentage (she's part African American and part Asian) but that Kohl's so pretty. Like Egyptian pretty from her dark, exotic looking skin, long dark hair and emerald green eyes. And Mick, well, is kind of a nerd.

We don't have anything planned, right? I mentally questioned Alex who is organized enough for the both of us.

He pulled out his Blackberry Curve and quickly ran through today's schedule. Nope, he shook his head stuffing his phone back into his "satchel" (man-purse!).

I turned to my god mom now. "Ooo, Bliss, can I go?

She nodded. "Yes. Gabrielle and I need to go to the ballroom for some last minute checks on the decorations along with some other last minute errands.”

Gabby pushed back her chair. "Speaking of which, I should probably go get ready." She smiled simply at Alex and me. "Happy birthday, mon cherie." She said.

We both grinned back at her. "Thanks, Gabs," we chorused as she made her way to her room down the hall.

Gabby only became our "maid" a couple of years ago when our godparents started getting caught up in the boys' singing careers and my modeling one as well as their own. There were times that I envied the prominence of their musical careers. But as much as I love singing, I don't want to seem like one of those people who record an album just because they can rather than actually having the talent. Anyway, so Bliss's hairdresser recommended his niece who had just moved to America from France to help us by cleaning the house three times a week and helping us in other ways too. I love Gabby, she's like the older sister I never had.

Our god mom, Bliss Wendolyn Hall is a fashion designer while our godfather, Grant Holden, is an actor, currently on hiatus. He was the star of former TV show Achilles, and...I don't know what else because he, Gabe and Frankie re-watch that entire series at least once a year despite it has over 200 one hour episodes.

I turned to Kohl. "Okay, cool. We can leave as soon as I finish eating. I don't have to be at my hair appointment until six anyway."

"Kohl, are you sure you wouldn't like something to eat?" My god mom asked sounding concerned as she motioned around the table at the various dishes of fruit, bacon, sausage and toppings at the mini-breakfast buffet. "Because we have food to spare."

Just as I knew she would, Kohl shook her head. "Thanks, Bliss, but I have a shoot tonight and I'm trying to stay away from carbs."

"Wait, you're missing the twin’s masquerade?" Mick wanted to know looking up from his food to look at her.

Looking solemn, Kohl nodded, only her eyes were shining with ecstasy that he even cared. "Yeah, I tried to beg my mom to let me out of it, but you know how moms are." She shrugged before our eyes met and we exchanged a look.

However it wasn't just a matter of how moms are but rather how Kohl's mom is. Kohl's mom is Kate Simon who used to be the spokes model for Bliss’ fashion company, Bliss Kisses. Anyways, now that Kate’s career is over, she wants Kohl to be a model just like her. Which would be fine, only that’s not what Kohl wants to be; she wants to major in political science. But telling that to Kate is like asking a hurricane to wreak havoc somewhere else. She won't pay attention then terrorize you until you give up/in. Every time I run into her, I give thanks that Alex and I were born to our parents and not someone like Kate.

I shoved my last bit of pancake-cake into my mouth before scooting back my chair and stood up. "I'm going to go get ready."

Quickly, I ran upstairs and took a shower and brushed my teeth before I walked through the door to my closet to figure out what I wanted to wear today. After a bit I pulled on a white lace dress and a pair of black slouch boots. I quickly applied a coat of mascara and sheer gloss. Since it felt cool outside, I grabbed a mini leather jacket and plopped a white beret over my messy curls before pulling on hot pink legwarmers over neon-paint splattered tights under my boots. After checking out my reflection I grabbed my red tote and walked back into my room.

"Is Reed coming with us?" I asked Kohl who, upon walking out, I discovered was sitting on my bed, texting. "Or is she still caught up with The Chosen gang with their last script run through?"

Yes, my other best friend is none other than Reed Butler who rose to fame as a child in movies and progressed to being half of the four teenagers chosen to save the world in The Chosen . The only reason that I even know that is because I went to the movie premieres in support of her. Not that I don't have anything against action-sci-fi but I'm more of a romance or romantic comedy type. Reed and I didn't become friends by bonding over that kind of stuff. Even though we all are celebs or at least COBR (Celebrities Only By Relation) we meet people in regular ways. Kohl and I became friends because she confided in me about her crush on Mick while Reed and I met at school where we're both cheerleaders.

Kohl nodded as she slid the keyboard of her Droid close and tossed it into her clutch. "Yeah but she's going to meet us in town. The director is only letting them have a couple of hours off until they have to go back. She said it looks like she can't make the party. Sorry." She shot me a sympathetic look before adding, "I feel like we're both blowing you off, Lex."

I shrugged as I headed to the door as she got up and followed me. "Oh, don't worry about it. I thought this might happen even before I invited you guys.”

Normal people would be upset that their two best friends couldn't go to their birthday party, but it came with the territory of having famous friends. I was lucky that the guys were even at home. Instead they could've been on tour, recording, promoting their music or filming their TV show. But most likely I wouldn't have gone. Not because I couldn't but rather, that I hate tour buses.

One of my worst birthdays was the year I went on the first MAGNIFIED tour and just after everyone got done singing Happy Birthday to Alex and me, the tour bus hit a pothole. I ended up with face full of cake. The boys still don't let me forget that. They took a picture and added "Got Cake?" at the bottom to be funny.

"So what'd you wish for?" Kohl demanded as we started down the stairs. She was the type of person who has no problem speaking her mind...hmm sounds familiar.

Smiling I shook my head. "Sorry, Kohl. But you know what they say. If you tell, it won't come true."

And I really wanted this wish to come true.