2nd Round of NYC Midnight's 1000-Word Fiction Challenge 2019
NYC Midnight puts on these fun writing challenges where you are given a genre, a location, and an object. You then have a weekend to write a story with those things featured prominently in them. This one was very fun, and I really enjoyed playing with the bits of Romeo and Juliet for the advertisement.
2019 - 1000-Word Challenge - Round 2
Genre: Romance
Location: A Courtyard
Object: Shampoo
“O, that I were a glove upon that hand that I might touch that cheek! O, that I - Wow. That hair is really amazing. So luscious and soft. What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and thine hair is the sun.” Romeo said.
“O, Romeo do you really like it? I started using new Elegant Moisturizing Shampoo, and since then my hair shines like a twinkling star. It’s taught me to forget to even think about other shampoo brands. Ladies, if you want guys fawning all over you like this bozo, then try new Elegant Moisturizing Shampoo. It’ll make your hair to die for!” Juliet said as she held a bottle of purple shampoo.
“And cut. That’s the one. Great job everyone. Let’s wrap it up. Oh, and Jenny? Do you have a moment?” Harry said.
The morning sun faded into a stage light, and then went out. The camera crew packed up their gear and left the studio. Jonathan Shallow stormed off to his trailer as he muttered about the deplorable things he had to do for money. And still Harry just stood mesmerized by Juliet Capulet, really Jennifer Langdon. She sat on a bench in the set of the Capulet Mansion courtyard. Fake trees, bushes, and hedges gave the scene a picturesque view. He took a moment to fix the image in his mind, and filed it away with the other moments that made him love her. He waited until everyone else had left, and he was certain they were alone.
“Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight, for I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” Harry said as he walked into the courtyard. She smiled and his heart beat a little faster.
“Oh Harry, cut the crap. It’s bad enough you make me read this drivel. Does this stuff really work on people?”
He sat next to her and grabbed her hand. Gently, he brought it to his lips and gave it a soft kiss.
“Sadly, it really does work. People want love. And what better love than Romeo and Juliet? I mean, who wouldn’t want to look as good as you do?” He pulled her into a kiss. She pulled him in for a moment, and then pushed him away.
“No. Not here. What if someone sees? I’ll lose this job. You’ll get fired too. Then what will we have? Nothing.” She squeezed his hand. “Just a few more months. With these commercials and your pull at the studio, I’ll be able to star in a movie. Then we won’t have to hide it anymore.”
His heart slowed, and he nodded.
“You’re right. I’ll be flying to New York later tonight to discuss casting for our next blockbuster. I’ll make sure you get the job. I’ll be back Thursday night. Can I see you then?”
“Of course.” she whispered as she kissed him.
He watched her walk off the set, and then he wiped the red lipstick off his face.
“This is a breaking news story from TMZ. One of our sources recently obtained pictures of famous producer Harry Cahill kissing newly announced star of the upcoming film Night Angel, Jennifer Langdon. We reached out to JW Studios for comments, but they said they were still investigating the matter.”
He shut off the TV in his room and dropped his suitcase. It’s over. My career. Her career. My life. She was probably just using me. And now she’ll leave me. And then I’ll do it. I’ll just jump off the roof. No one will miss me.
The vibration of his phone snapped him out of his contemplations. A text from Jenny.
Come over tomorrow when you get back. Wear a disguise. Paparazzi everywhere.
He snuck into the lobby of her condo building and past the paparazzi dressed as a delivery driver carrying two large pizzas. The paparazzi didn’t even give him a second look. Sometimes filming commercials came in handy. He took the elevator up the 42nd floor. She quickly let him into her condo and closed the door. He set the pizzas aside and she grabbed him in a vice like hug. She kissed his neck, and he could feel her warm tears on his skin.
“Oh Harry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I can’t believe they fired you. Now what are you going to do? What am I going to do? What are we going to do?” she rambled on as she tried to fight back the tears.
He held her until the tears stopped. Slowly, she calmed down, and they spent the night talking about their options. But after hours and hours of ideas, they were still in the same place. Neither had a job. And they would never work in show business again. Harry opened up the door and walked out onto the balcony holding Jenny’s hand. Despite the late hour, the bright lights shone like thousands of little suns.
“You know, we could be like Romeo and Juliet. One last kiss, one last step, and then it’s all over. We’d be together forever.” He said.
He looked into her tear streaked face, and his heart beat a little faster. He took a moment to fix the image in his mind, and filed it away with the other moments that made him love her. He took a step up onto the ledge and beckoned her to join him.
“No. I won’t. We can figure this out. I love you and you love me and that’s all that matters. I don’t care about money or fame or my career. All I care about is you. I want to wake up every morning and see your face next to me. I want you to be the last thing I see before I go to sleep, even if your feet are always cold. Romeo and Juliet is a terrible love story. We’ll write our own story. Together.”
She pulled him off the ledge.