Beginning, Section II, Section III
Chapter 8 Posted on Sunday, 28 May 2000
You'll be in my heart.
Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
from all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small,
you seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
Why can't they understand
the way we feel
They just don't trust
what they can't explain
I know we're different but,
deep inside us
We're not that different at all
And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Don't listen to them
'Cause what do they know
We need each other,
to have, to hold
They'll see in time
I know*
Elizabeth felt tears well up in her eyes as the choir finished singing the graduation song. Her speech already given, her diploma already received, Elizabeth had time to reflect on her four years at high school. Some times were sad, and some times were happy, but Elizabeth knew she was going to miss all her friends. Realistically, she knew that most likely she won't see most of her friends again until high school reunions.
This was a turning point in the road; at the end of the summer, Elizabeth was to enter life on her own without her aunt and uncle supporting her with everything. She and Charlotte were off to Miami University, both to earn degrees in History, while Jane was off to Bowling Green University to become a music teacher.
The whole graduation ceremony was a blur to her, along with all the congratulations, hugs, kisses, 'good-lucks', and 'good-byes' that came afterwards. Elizabeth was just beginning to walk towards the car with her aunt, uncle, cousins, and sister, when she heard her name being called.
Turning around, she saw William hurrying towards her. Stopping just in front of her, the two didn't say anything for some time; they didn't know what to say. They knew this was 'good-bye,' but they didn't want to admit it. The year went by too quickly for them, with not much time together, and suddenly they were going to be separated again.
Finally, William broke down and hugged Elizabeth whispering, "I'm going to miss you."
Squeezing her eyes shut so the tears wouldn't spill out, Elizabeth returned, "I'm going to miss you, too." They stood there for a moment, hugging each other, until Elizabeth pulled back.
"Where are your parents?"
"They're inside talking to some of my friends' parents."
"Do you realize that since we got reunited, I haven't met your parents or Georgiana since?"
"Do you want me to go get them?"
"No, that's all right." Elizabeth looked back at her family. "We were just about to go now, anyway."
"Oh. Okay," William said dejectedly. "Well..."
"I guess this is good-bye."
"Yeah..." William looked at his shoes. "Keep in touch. 'You'll be in my heart,' " he said as he pulled Elizabeth for a hug again.
Elizabeth smiled at his quote. "I will," she whispered. But she didn't believe they would. They grew too apart in that one year without seeing each other. This time it was good-bye for good.
Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married.
March 2011
Bring! Bring! Elizabeth groaned as she was the farthest away from the phone as she could be in the apartment that she shared with Jane.
Almost 27, Elizabeth was already a successful lawyer. After majoring in History, surviving through law school, and passing the bar on her first try, Elizabeth found a job in a law firm right in Columbus as a corporate lawyer.
"Hello?" Elizabeth answered the phone.
"Lizzy! This is your Aunt Elaine." Elizabeth cringed at her aunt's voice. Once well educated and calm, Elaine Bennet turned 'nervous' as her daughter and niece became closer and closer to age thirty. She had this fear that they would never get married, or that they would, but the man wouldn't have money.
"Yes, Aunt, I know what your voice sounds like by now."
"Has anything happened lately?"
"You mean, did I meet any nice, rich men yet," Elizabeth smirked into the phone.
"Well, that would qualify as something happening."
"Well, I haven't. Unless you count one of the sixty year old partners of the firm I work for."
"They're not young enough." There was silence over the phone for a few moments. "Well, is Jane there?"
"No, she's not. She's out getting some groceries." Come on, Aunt. I was actually doing something before you called.
"Why do you make her go out? She's a busy music teacher, you know."
"I know, Aunt. But we take turns grocery shopping. This week was her week. Besides, she may find some wealthy, young, divorcee while shopping."
"Ooh! You do have a point there. Well, tell her to give me a call when she gets in."
"Okay. Bye, Aunt."
"Bye, Lizzy."
It wasn't as if Elizabeth didn't like her aunt; she loved her and would be forever grateful to her aunt and uncle for taking her in after her parents' deaths. However, she began to get annoyed by her aunt when she took it upon her to find a husband for Elizabeth. And Elizabeth wasn't even sure if she would ever get married; she never found one man that complimented her personality and that she could love.
Furthermore, her aunt caught Elizabeth during a bad day. It was cloudy, it was rainy, it was chilly, and she had the busiest day at work ever. It wouldn't have been as bad if the winter wasn't so long in Ohio.
But Elizabeth just sighed and went back to doing the laundry.
"Lizzy!' It was an hour later when Elizabeth heard her cousin walk through the apartment's door. Jane found Elizabeth in her room, folding some clothes. "Lizzy, we have something here from Charlotte. It looks like some kind of fancy invitation. Here. Open it."
Elizabeth took the invitation and read it while Jane looked through the other mail. "Bills, bills, and more bills."
"Oh my gosh!"
"Geez, Lizzy. You know we always had bills, why would it be a surprise?" Jane teased.
"Not the bills! Charlotte's getting married!"
"What!?" Jane asked dropping the other mail.
"She's marrying Joseph Fitzwilliam, a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. Isn't that the man she has been talking about for the past year?"
"I think so. I can't believe she's tying the knot."
"Me neither. I'll have to call her later."
"And find out everything you can."
"Charlotte! Why didn't you tell me?" Elizabeth didn't even greet her friend properly once she answered the phone.
"Hello to you, too, Lizzy," Charlotte laughed.
"I'm sorry! But you didn't even tell me you were engaged. I had to wait until I got the invitation!"
"I didn't want to tell you! I wanted to surprise you with the invitation."
"Well, it was a big surprise! But I'm happy for you! I remember thinking, after the first time you mentioned Joseph Fitzwilliam's name, that you were going to marry him. I just thought I would get a warning. Isn't he the one you met on base?" While the girls were in college, Captain Lucas was promoted to Admiral Lucas and was now based in Newport, Rhode Island.
"Yes, he is."
Tired of listening to one end of the conversation, Jane turned on the speaker phone.
"Hello Charlotte."
"Hi, Jane!"
"So what's all this talk about you getting married?"
Charlotte giggled, "Lizzy has to tell you all about it. Joseph's coming to pick me up in a few minutes. But I want you to come to a party my father's throwing us at the end of June. The 29th, I believe, and I want you to come and spend a week or two up here."
"We'll definitely be there, Char," Elizabeth replied. "We'll let you go now. Have fun!"
"Bye Lizzy. Bye Jane."
The cousins heard the click on the other line and hung up. Turning to each other, they both grinned, "Road trip!"
* "You'll be in my heart" by Phil Collins. (from "Tarzan")
Chapter 9 Posted on Tuesday, 30 May 2000
All I'm ready to do is have some fun.
June 25
It was six o'clock in the morning when Jane and Elizabeth started for Rhode Island in Elizabeth's old Honda Accord. Her friends always wondered why she never bought a new car because she made enough money to, but Elizabeth was a type of person who didn't buy a new version of something unless her old one completely broke.
Elizabeth thought that the car still got her places, so she kept using it.
So Elizabeth and Jane were driving on the highway with the windows wide open, because the air conditioner was broken, singing on the top of their lungs to the radio.
Ready, ready, ready, ready, ready to run,
All I'm ready to do is have some fun.
What's all this talk about love?
Listening and singing to the Dixie Chicks, Elizabeth noticed a BMW passing her up with the driver giving her a weird look. I wonder what he's staring at. I think I know him from somewhere. Oh well. Elizabeth didn't try to catch up again to see who it was; the car was running out of gas desperately, and she wasn't about to risk missing the next exit.
Later on that day, Elizabeth noticed that she caught up to the same BMW. Turning up the radio, Elizabeth passed the car, singing,
I don't care what my teachers say
I want to be a supermodel.
And everyone will wanna dress like me
Just wait and see
When I'm a supermodel.
Elizabeth winked at the driver as she passed him and saw him smile and shake his head.
It was eight o'clock that night when Jane and Elizabeth finally made it to the Lucas's house. Switching on and off throughout the day, going as fast as they can without speeding, and stopping minimally, the girls were able to make it to Rhode Island in good time.
Parking on the street in front of the house, Elizabeth got out of the car and looked at the house. "Wow. What a beautiful house."
The Admiral's house was a beautiful house. Situated on a hill, the big, white, colonial style house was a sight to behold. The house had a porch with a swing sitting on the left side, and from the outside, one can tell it was a big house. Standing on the bottom of the hill, Elizabeth could hear the ocean and smell the salt air, so she knew that the house was right on the ocean.
"It is," Jane agreed, stepping out of the car. "It's making me think about marrying a Navy officer that has the potential of becoming an Admiral, if I get to live in a house like that."
"I know what you mean." Elizabeth looked at the house for a moment longer before turning to Jane. "Come on. Let's get these suitcases out of the car."
Before they could even open the trunk, however, the front door to the house flung open and Charlotte stepped out. "Lizzy! Jane!"
Charlotte ran down the hill where she hugged Elizabeth first, and then Jane. Elizabeth smiled at her friend's apparent happiness.
"Apparently being engaged is good for your happiness, Char." Charlotte smiled at her friend's comment. "One can only hope that marriage doesn't ruin it," Elizabeth teased.
"I doubt marriage to Joseph can do anything but make me happier," Charlotte grinned while Elizabeth rolled her eyes at the 'mushy' statement.
"When do we get to meet this Joseph?" Jane inquired.
"Tomorrow, if it's nice, he's coming and we're going to spend the day at the beach. He's bringing his cousin and another friend, too."
By this time, Charlotte's father and brother made their way to where the girls were standing. Mr. Lucas greeted both girls with a friendly smiled and turned to his daughter.
"Daddy, Jonathon, can you bring their suitcases in?"
"Sure, honey. Whatever your highness wants," Mr. Lucas teased.
"Char!" Jonathan whined. "Why do I have to do it?" Even at twenty-four years of age, Charlotte's younger brother still liked to put up a fight to anything his older sister said.
"Just do it!"
"I don't want to!"
"Jonathan," Mr. Lucas warned. "If you don't do what your sister says, I'll make sure you don't see the light of day until you go back to school." Jonathan was currently working on his masters in music.
"I'm over twenty-one, you can't make me!" Elizabeth smirked at the scene Charlotte's brother was making, while the sister was hiding her eyes in embarrassment.
This time, Mr. Lucas became angry. But he didn't yell like others did; his voice became like steel that could make anyone afraid of him. If Elizabeth and Jane never saw Jonathan making trouble ever, they would've tried to leave, but being used to seeing Jonathan getting yelled at, they stuck around for the show. "As long as you're under my roof, provided by the very country that protects you, I recommend obeying my rules. Or else you can find somewhere else to live with your own money and your own responsibilities."
Finally, Jonathan gave in under the fear of having to use his little money he had left over from paying college loans and his father, and grabbed two suitcases. Upon entering the house, Jonathan dropped the suitcases, turned to Elizabeth and exclaimed, "How many things do you need for a few weeks?"
Elizabeth only smiled and said, "Hey! We're females. You have a sister and a mother; you should know that women don't travel light," before turning to Mrs. Lucas and greeting her.
The Lucas family gave Jane and Elizabeth some dinner before Charlotte showed the cousins up to their rooms. Upon looking out the window, Elizabeth fell in love with the sight of the ocean, and to the right, the Newport bridge. I don't think any room has a sight like this in Ohio.
Settling into bed, Elizabeth fell asleep thinking that this was the place to be for a relaxing vacation.
"Lizzy!" Elizabeth looked up from her book to see her friend walking towards her on the beach. "Joseph is here, and I would like you to meet him."
At this, Elizabeth got up off her towel and brushed the sand off her. I don't even know why I bother tanning. My skin is so light, that I either get a sunburn or a very light tan. Shielding her eyes against the high noon sun, Elizabeth watched as a well built man made his way through the sand.
He was taller than six foot, that was obvious from where he walked next to his fiancée. He had sandy blonde hair and blue eyes that squinted into the sun. His skin was tan, a result of spending much time outside.
"Joseph, I would like you to meet my oldest friend, Elizabeth. Elizabeth, this is Joseph Fitzwilliam." The two newly introduced people shook hands and greeted each other.
"Isn't there a title that goes along with that name?"
"Yeah. I got promoted to Lieutenant Commander earlier this year." Joseph Fitzwilliam was thirty years old and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in the class of 2003. Due to excellence in his field, he was promoted rather quickly to the O-4 standing. When Elizabeth looked at Charlotte, she could tell her friend was proud of her future husband.
"Charlotte, I always knew you were going to marry a Navy man, even if you did complain of moving too much."
Her friend teased back, "I think we long established that you're always right, Lizzy."
The sound of two male voices caught the attention of the two women and the man. Even though they were still too far away to make out, Joseph knew who they were. "That's my cousin and friend. About time they made it."
From a distance, Elizabeth could see two men; one was a bit taller than the other with more of a muscular build. As they walked closer, she could tell that the taller one had a mop of dark curls on his head and was dressed rather stiffly for a day at the beach in a pair of khaki slacks and a polo. The shorter man had straight, blonde hair, and was dressed more casually in a pair of shorts and T-shirt.
As they got closer still, Elizabeth swore she knew both of them from somewhere, but could not put her finger on where she did know him from. It wasn't until one of them spoke that she realized who they were. "Joe! There you are! We stopped in the house but Mrs. Lucas told us you were out here."
That voice. She knew it anywhere. Even if it did deepen after ten years of not hearing it. But Elizabeth decided not to say anything until he noticed himself.
"William! Charles! I believe that you did say, William, that you knew my fiancée from high school."
"Yes, I did." William stretched out his hand and formally spoke, "I was happy to hear of your engagement, Charlotte."
"Thank you," she replied.
Joseph introduced Charles to Charlotte, but still, William did not notice Elizabeth who was standing off to the side.
Finally, Joseph turned to his cousin and friend, and introduced. "William, Charles, I believe you don't know Charlotte's friend, Elizabeth."
Charles greeted Elizabeth in his friendly, open way. After greeting Charles, Elizabeth turned to William and met his eyes. What she found there was only cold formality.
"Actually, we do know each other, Joseph," William said to his cousin. "Elizabeth. We haven't spoken in a while." His voice was businesslike; not like the friendly tone he had as a youth.
Elizabeth quickly changed herself to meet her old friend's tone, and replied, "No, indeed. It must be ten years, at least."
William only nodded and turned his attention back to Charles, while Elizabeth stood fuming at his back. What happened? Can ten years really change somebody so much?
At dinner that night, Elizabeth sat between William and Charlotte, while across from Jane. But, even though she was so close to her friends, she didn't get any conversation out of them. Charlotte was engrossed in a conversation between her father and fiancée, while Jane was intently talking to Charles who sat next to her. So, for the first half of dinner, Elizabeth barely had any conversation. Finally, getting tired of the silence between her and William, she spoke up.
"How's Georgiana?"
"Fine. She just graduated high school."
"And where is she going to college?"
"Northwestern."
"Really? I almost went there, but decided to stay in the state."
"Where'd you go again?"
"Miami University."
"I went to Harvard."
Elizabeth's eyebrows went up at this. She thought she was supposed to be impressed by this. "Really. And how'd you like the teacher's assistants' ways of teaching?"
William gave her a look, and said, "Not too bad, really. Why'd you go to Miami? You could've picked any school in the country."
"Because my aunt and uncle still had to put three other children in school. They insisted on paying for at least part of my college education, and I didn't have a lot of money, either. Miami had a very good education for the price. I wouldn't complain."
"Hmm...I guess money does have its advantages."
Elizabeth had nothing to say at this, and so she went back to eating her dinner. Fine, if you want to play proud rich snob, I really don't care.
Unlike other nights in high school, Elizabeth still slept soundly that night. At her age, she learned to deal with people like William and learned to ignore them. And after that night, she didn't care if she ever saw him again.
songs: "Ready to Run" by the Dixie Chicks and "Supermodel" by Jill Sobule
Chapter 10 Posted on Thursday, 1 June 2000
Lost as can be.
For the next two days, Elizabeth didn't see William at all, although both Joseph and Charles visited often. So on the day of the engagement party, Elizabeth didn't know what to expect. She was determined, however, not to let him get in the way of her having a good time.
Little by little, the guests started arriving to the house. A beautiful night in June, most people stayed outdoors on the back porch and walked onto the beach. As Elizabeth mingled with the guests, she met new acquaintances, including Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam and Joseph's older brother, Mark. When William arrived, Elizabeth was surprised to see who was with him.
Mrs. Darcy, now fifty-three years old, but still looking in her early forties, and Georgiana, who just turned eighteen walked onto the porch just before William. It was obvious to anyone that the two were mother and daughter. Both had curly blonde hair and blue eyes, and were about the same height.
Elizabeth watched as the two went over to greet Charlotte and Joseph, and wondered where William disappeared to. A few moments later, she saw who she thought to be her old friend until she saw the gray streaks in his hair. Apparently the elder Mr. Darcy arrived, too. Elizabeth would usually go and greet them, but she doubted if they even remembered her. She was also partly afraid that they turned just like their son, and she couldn't bear it if they did.
As the evening wore on, people started dancing on the patio. While walking around, she was happy to see Charles and Jane dancing and talking, enjoying themselves. Not really acquainted with anyone, Elizabeth didn't dance much, not that she minded. Never was she one for much dancing, and sometimes, she was so set against it, her friends had to force her to go on the dance floor.
During one particular song, when she was tired of 'mingling,' Elizabeth stood against the house in the shadows where she wouldn't be noticed. Soon after situating herself there, she noticed William standing not ten feet in front of her. She was about to make leave her spot when she noticed Charles Bingley leave her cousin and talk to his friend.
"William why are you standing here not doing anything? People will think you're a terrible snob."
Ha! Too late for that!
"I don't feel like socializing tonight, Charles. Why don't you go back to Jane?"
Yeah. Go back to Jane and leave the old crab alone.
"I'm not going until you agree to ask someone to dance."
"Forget it. I don't feel like it. There are only a few reasonable aged women here, and out of them, there are only two who I would consider pretty. Currently, one is engaged to my cousin, and the other has taken up all your attentions."
At least he didn't insult my friends.
"What about Elizabeth?" Elizabeth's back went stiff at the mention of her name. "She's Jane's cousin, isn't she? I remember in high school, you were actually good friends with her, and she's not that bad looking either."
"Forget it, Charles. First of all, we were only friends for a couple of months. Second, she's not nearly good enough looking for me. And lastly, she really hasn't been asked to dance by many men which must mean something."
"Fine, William. Have it your way. I'm going back to Jane."
Elizabeth knew she was supposed to be furious with William for saying those things, but she couldn't find any anger. Just amusement. Actually, she felt like laughing at his absurd comments. Walking out of the shadows, she went to stand beside him.
Sensing somebody was there, William turned to look down at her. Looking straight into his eyes, she raised her eyebrows and said, "Really, William! A couple of months? Not good looking enough for you? Strangely, I'm amused by you, and you never amused me before. Things have changed, huh?" Giving him an impertinent smile, she walked away before gauging his reaction.
Walking back onto the porch to find something to drink, she heard a voice calling, almost questioning, her name.
"Lizzy Gardiner?"
Elizabeth turned around to see Mrs. Darcy walking up to her. Brightly smiling, Elizabeth greeted, "Mrs. Darcy! It's been a long time!"
"Indeed it has! My son informed me that you were here, and I've been looking for you all evening, but I could never catch you at the right time. I can't believe how you've grown. You look just like your mother."
At the sight of Elizabeth's fallen eyes, Mrs. Darcy embraced who was once like her own daughter. "I'm sorry, honey. I didn't mean..."
Elizabeth pulled back and reassured her, "No, it's okay. I just sometimes get like that when somebody mentions my parents."
Seeing her husband walk towards her, Mrs. Darcy waved him over to where she was. Trailing behind him was Georgiana. "George, darling, look who it is."
Mr. Darcy immediately smiled and greeted Elizabeth and asked her how she was. "William told me that you're a lawyer now."
"Yes. I work for a corporate law firm." I didn't even know that William knew I was a lawyer. Hmm...
The three stood talking to each other for a few minutes, until Mrs. Darcy soon noticed that her daughter was still hidden behind her husband's back. "Georgiana, come meet Elizabeth again."
Georgiana shyly stepped out from behind her father. Although graduated from high school, she could still pass for a freshman or sophomore. Her shy poise, and her youthful looking face with her hair kept up in a ponytail made her look younger than what she was. "Elizabeth, you remember Georgiana, surely. Although she was a toddler when we moved."
"Georgiana, I doubt if you remember Lizzy, but she held you as a baby."
Elizabeth gave a friendly smile at her old friend and greeted her. It took a while to get Georgiana to start talking, but as she grew more comfortable with Elizabeth and her friendly manner, Georgie started opening up and talking more.
Soon after, however, guests began to leave, and Mr. Darcy declared that he was tired and that it was time for them to leave. The good-byes were made, and soon, the house was empty and the Lucas's, along with Jane and Elizabeth, were sleeping soundly in their beds.
Earlier, at the party
Standing aloof on the edge of the crowd at the party, William was not having a good time. Always a reserved man, William never liked parties, whether they be of the higher class society parties, or parties like the one he was attending at the moment. And barely knowing anyone at this party made it worse than others he attended. His outward appearance usually dissuaded anyone from voluntarily introducing himself, unless it was a woman who was after his looks or money, and he didn't have the personality to introduce himself.
Standing off to the side, William noticed Elizabeth. Lizzy. Although Elizabeth couldn't be called beautiful, she wasn't ugly either. This night, she was wearing a long, black skirt, and a fitted pink blouse. The outfit was completed with a pair of black flip-flops. Her wavy, light brown hair that just reached her shoulders was let down, and she didn't wear any visible make-up, giving her the appearance that she cared about what she looked like, but not enough to spend too much time getting ready.
No, society wouldn't call her beautiful, but William would.
Ever since graduating college, William was discontent with his life. It seemed that every day was just routine for him with no change. Day in from day out, William felt as if his life was a machine. And he was lonely. The only person he was ever able to really talk to was Elizabeth, but he didn't see her since graduation. He had Charles, but it wasn't the same kind of friendship.
The trouble is, though, that William wouldn't admit that he missed Elizabeth. And when he saw Elizabeth at the beach, he was, in fact, very happy. But like any other feeling, he covered it up with the stoicism he learned while working with his father, and persuaded himself that he didn't care about seeing her again, causing him to close up.
William groaned as he heard a Celine Dion song come on the stereo. Probably the result of Elizabeth, he smiled softly. She always had an unnatural liking to her Celine Dion c.d.'s.
Laugh and cry, live and die
Live is a dream we are dreaming
Day by day I find my way
Look for the soul and the meaning
Then you look at me
And I always see
What I have been searching for
I'm lost as can be
Then you look at me
And I am not lost anymore
The lyrics to the song suddenly caught William's attention, and he started looking through the crowd for Elizabeth. He finally found her talking to a man, and suddenly felt jealous. Why should I feel jealous? I lived without her all these years, and it's not as if I can freely associate with her. I will eventually own a pharmaceutical company, and she'll just still be a lawyer.
People run, sun to sun,
Caught in their lives ever flowing
Once begun, life goes till it's gone
We have to go where it's going
William smirked at the verse. For once she's right. Live goes on, and we just have to go along with it. Whether we're happy with it or not.
Then you look at me
And I always see
What I have been searching for
I'm lost as can be
Then you look at me
And I am not lost anymore
Glancing at Elizabeth again, he saw her look over at him and then quickly look away, but William kept looking at her, pleading with his eyes to turn her head around again. Observing that Elizabeth wasn't going to look back at him, he felt disappointed, but wouldn't admit it.
And you say you see
When you look at me
The reason you love life so
Though lost I have been
I find love again
And life just keeps on running
And life just keeps on running
You look at me and life comes from you*
Love? No, it wasn't love. William didn't give his heart away that easily, even to a girl he knew all his life. But his heart knew that he needed Elizabeth like his other half, as a friend at least, while his brain said that it was no use; she was below him, and he was probably never to see her again after his cousin's wedding.
Later that night, William couldn't fall asleep as he kept tossing and turning in his bed. Pondering on the last half of the party.
When William refused to dance with Elizabeth, he had no idea she could hear him. And when he realized she overheard the conversation between himself and Charles, he was almost sorry. Almost. Until he saw she was laughing at him. At him! Nobody laughed at him!
The feelings he had earlier, of loneliness without her, quickly dissolved in anger at her ridicule.
And yet when he saw the familiarity between her and his parents, and the way she brought out his sister, the anger was almost forgotten.
In the end, William did not know what to think. About her, about him, or about the desire to see her again.
The sun was just about to rise over the ocean by time William fell asleep.
* "Then you look at me" Music by James Horner and Will Jennings (yes, the "Titanic" guys) Performed by Celine Dion
Chapter 11 Posted on Friday, 2 June 2000
Girls just wanna have fun.
"Hi Lizzy." Elizabeth opened her eyes and sat up to see Georgiana sit down beside her.
"Hi Georgie!"
"I hope I'm not disturbing you." Georgiana almost looked scared of offending Elizabeth.
"Not at all! You're always welcome."
"I saw you here, so I thought I would come by you. My parents went into the house to talk to Charlotte's parents, and I noticed that Charlotte and Joseph, and Jane and Charles are walking on the beach.
Elizabeth smiled at the couples who were farther down the beach, each having their own conversation. "Yes, I haven't seen much of my friends these past few days. The gentlemen keep stealing them away from me." The comment sounded serious to Georgiana, but when she saw Elizabeth's smile, she knew she was only teasing. "How are you today, Georgie?"
"Good, thank you. I'm looking forward to this day at the beach. I haven't seen the ocean in at least a year!"
"I know what you mean, except I haven't seen the ocean in four years! But I drove up and saw Lake Erie last year; does that count?"
Georgiana laughed, "Not quite!" The teenager paused for a moment. "Did you really hold me as a baby?"
Elizabeth looked over to her and replied, "Yes. I was only eight when you were born, and I remember my mother being paranoid about holding you, but your mother put Mom at ease."
"I'm sorry I don't remember much of you..." Georgie began.
"You were only two when you moved! How are you to remember me?"
"Were you and my brother close?"
"We were, but time separated us."
"Oh."
Before either girl could say anything more, a deep voice was heard calling Georgiana. When they turned around, they saw William walking towards them wearing swimming trunks, a T-shirt, and sandals. "Speak of the devil," Elizabeth murmured.
When he reached them, he bent down and kissed his sister on the head and nodded to Elizabeth, "Hello Lizzy."
Elizabeth nodded back, "Will," and then turned her eyes towards the ocean.
"Georgie, aren't you going for a swim?"
"No, William, not right now. I saw Elizabeth and I wanted to talk to her."
"Okay, then." To be polite, William also asked Elizabeth if she wanted to go swimming.
"No, thanks. I'm afraid of jellyfish," Elizabeth teased looking straight into William's eyes. She knew that the ocean was too cold for the jellyfish to be there yet, but she wanted to see William's reaction.
Looking into Elizabeth's laughing eyes, William almost smiled, but held back and just raised his eyebrows in amusement. After holding her gaze for a moment, William looked away, took off his sandals, his shirt, and then headed towards the ocean.
At the sight of William's bare torso, Elizabeth's mouth went dry. My God! I thought businessmen like him didn't have time to work out. And I think I have been just proven wrong. Elizabeth's eyes unconsciously followed William as he made his way towards the water, but was woken up out of her trance with Georgiana's voice.
"Lizzy!" Elizabeth turned to see Georgie laughing at her. When Georgie got her older friend's attention she asked, "Do you find my older brother attractive?"
Elizabeth didn't know what to say. "Umm... I don't...no...umm.. yeah?"
Georgiana only laughed harder at her friend, but soon took pity as Elizabeth's face soon turned pink in embarrassment. "So, how old are you?"
"I'm twenty-seven. Oh! And happy belated birthday to you!"
"You still remember my birthday?"
Elizabeth grinned, "Yep! The twenty-first of June."
"And you're a lawyer?"
"Yeah. What are you going to study in college?"
"I would like to be a doctor, so I think I may major in Biology."
"Eww. Never liked Biology. Too much memorization and not enough work."
"I thought you majored in History!"
"I did, but it interests me, so it stays in my mind easier." Elizabeth paused and then asked, "Do you still live around Columbus?"
"Yeah, we still live in Olentangy School District."
"I still live in what used to be that district. Now it's divided, and I live in the Powell City Schools district. What side of the district do you live in?"
"Near you, actually. We live on the western side of the Olentangy River, but we're considered Delaware. Our house is in one of the subdivisions off of 315."
"We should get together then, sometime in the summer before you go off to college." Elizabeth scrunched her nose as she thought of what she said. "To college. Now I'm feeling old. My little baby friend is all grown up."
Georgiana laughed at this and teased, "You're not old yet! You still have three more years before you reach that point!"
The statement only made Elizabeth groan loudly, but soon she joined Georgiana who was laughing at Elizabeth's expression. When William walked up to them a few minutes later, their laughs were toned down a bit, but they were still giggling.
"What's so funny?"
Elizabeth looked up to him and whined, "I'm old!"
"Why is that funny?" William asked with a confused look. But Georgiana only started laughing again. William looked at his younger sister and wondered at the change in her. Usually she was quiet and shy, but Elizabeth brought her out. And he felt somewhat grateful for Elizabeth for that.
Suddenly Elizabeth got up and wiped the sand off of her. "I have to go before I look like a burnt lobster. I'll see you guys later." Elizabeth turned to William and said, "Bye Will." And turning to Georgiana, she laughed, "Bye Georgie!"
"Bye Lizzy," Georgiana waved.
But William just stared after Elizabeth as she walked leisurely away.
Fourth of July
Elizabeth looked outside the window as she slipped on her sandals. On the bottom of the hill, people were already gathering for the annual Fourth of July celebration. Everybody in the Lucas household was already down there, but earlier, Elizabeth by accidentally fell asleep, and woke up late. Fortunately, it wasn't too late when she woke up, and she managed to get ready in record time. She managed to slip on a sundress, twist her hair up, and put some make-up on before the part really got started.
When she arrived at the bottom of the hill, she immediately found Georgiana standing with her parents and went over to greet them. Pretty soon, Georgiana and Elizabeth were having their own conversation, so Mr. and Mrs. Darcy left them to go greet other people.
A little while later, an officer came up to Georgiana and asked her to dance. Retreating into her shy self again, Georgiana looked to her friend with frightened eyes. Elizabeth only silently said, "Go!" and lightly pushed Georgiana away from her towards the officer.
Georgiana hesitantly took the man's hand and allowed him to lead her to dance floor. Elizabeth smiled at her success in bringing Georgiana out at least a little bit as she watched her talk with her partner.
One the other side of the party, however, somebody frowned. When William, who was watching Elizabeth, saw his 'baby' sister get taken to the dance floor by an older man by Elizabeth's persuasion, a frown immediately came to his face. He didn't like that his sister was dancing with a man at least in his mid-twenties. Quickly, he made his way over to the other side where Elizabeth was standing.
"What do you think you were doing?"
Elizabeth looked over to William, raised one eyebrow, and then looked to where Georgiana was still dancing. "Talking to your sister?"
"I don't mean that! Persuading her to dance with that officer!"
"What's so wrong about that?" Elizabeth questioned, turning her attention to William.
"He's probably much older than her!"
"I doubt older than thirty..." Elizabeth trailed off as she observed Georgiana's partner, trying to determine his age.
"That's too old for her!"
"Will! It's not like they're having an affair! It's only a dance for goodness sake!"
"But I don't like it!" The two stood glaring at each other, neither one willing to back down.
Soon, the current dance ended, and the arrival of Georgiana transferred the attention from their argument to the younger woman. "What's wrong?"
William looked at his sister and then back at Elizabeth and snapped, "Nothing." William then stalked away.
Georgiana turned to Elizabeth with a question in her eyes.
Guessing what the question was, Elizabeth sighed, "Your brother is just being the typical overprotective older brother. Don't worry about him. He'll get over it."
"Do you think I shouldn't dance the rest of the night if he doesn't like it?"
"No! Don't deny yourself fun because he's trying to protect you. He's probably just scared because you're growing up."
"All right, then..." Georgiana trailed off.
"Believe me, Georgie," Elizabeth smiled. "He won't hate you because of it."
The rest of the evening, Georgiana was asked to dance many times, and she accepted them all. Little by little, she became more comfortable around strangers and she had a lot of fun.
Elizabeth even danced a lot as men asked her to all evening. The evening went by quickly as she had fun meeting new people. The only thing that disconcerted her was that when she looked towards William, he was always staring at her, although she couldn't understand why.
When the last song of the evening was announced, Elizabeth was standing off to the side. As the introduction played, she suddenly recognized the song and sighed.
Twenty feet away, William also recognized the song and looked over to Elizabeth where he saw her sigh. What the hell.
Elizabeth started as she noticed William walk towards her. He didn't even have to ask her; all he had to do was hold out his hand as they both could sometimes still read each other's thoughts.
"Don't they make the cutest couple?" Mrs. Darcy sighed to her husband.
"Anne..."
"When they were young, I always believed that they could marry."
"Anne..."
"And now they've met each other again. It must be fate."
"If that is so, then just leave it to fate," Mr. Darcy warned. "You can't force two people together."
"No, you can't," his wife admitted. "But you can nudge them a bit."
Mr. Darcy only sighed and shook his head in resignation.
On the dance floor, William held Elizabeth close to him, resting his chin on her head. For that song, they both forgot anything that happened between them. Elizabeth felt that she belonged in William's arms, and he felt as if he found his other half.
I tip my hat to the keeper of the stars
He sure knew what he was doin'
When he joined these two hearts
I hold everything
When I hold you in my arms
I've got all I'll ever need
Thanks to the keeper of the stars
As the song ended, fireworks started flying into the sky. William and Elizabeth separated and stood next to each other watching the display. Turning towards her, William saw Elizabeth's chin raised and a slight smile quivering on her lips. Afraid of what he was feeling, William quietly left her side without her noticing.
When the fireworks finale ended, Elizabeth turned to where she thought William was standing.
But he was gone.
Chapter 12 Posted on Wednesday, 7 June 2000
Scaramouche, scaramouche will you do the Fandango!
Two days later saw the departure of Elizabeth and Jane. They were packing Elizabeth's car when the same silver BMW that Elizabeth passed on the way to the East coast pulled up to the house. Elizabeth laughed when she saw that it was William who was driving it. I thought the driver looked familiar when I passed him.
Elizabeth, Jane, and Charlotte were amused at how many people came out of the car. William and his father were in the front seat, and Georgiana, Mrs. Darcy, and Charles Bingley came out of the back.
"I hope you're not planning to drive all the way to Ohio with everybody in the car," Elizabeth commented to William with one eyebrow raised.
William smiled to her and replied, "No. I'm on my way to drop off my parents and sister at the airport then Charles and I are driving back."
At the mentioning of the airport, Georgiana's face went white with fear. Noticing this, Elizabeth asked if anything was wrong.
Georgiana swallowed and answered, "No, nothing." William and Elizabeth could tell that she was lying though.
"What's wrong, sis? You're not afraid of flying, are you?'
Mrs. Darcy replied for her daughter, "She got sick on the way here. I don't know what was wrong with her. She never had trouble flying before."
"You can come with Charles and I, Georgie," William offered. "But I don't know how you'll stand in being in a car with two men for ten hours."
Georgiana stood up straight and courageously put her brother at ease. "I'll be fine, William. It's only while it's taking off."
Feeling sorry for her friend, Elizabeth offered, "Why don't you come with us, Georgie. Jane and I would love to have you with us to keep us company."
Georgiana smiled with relief and was about to accept when her overprotective brother jumped in. "Is your car even safe?" he asked incredulously. "It's so old!"
Stepping forward with her eyes flashing and her hands on her hips, Elizabeth defended her car, "There's nothing wrong with it, sir." William flinched at being addressed so formally. "It may not be a brand new BMW, but it runs, and it's not going to break down. The only thing that's really wrong with it is that the air conditioning is broken. This may be too much stress for your rich self to handle, but as long as Georgiana doesn't object to that, I don't know why it should be a problem."
Elizabeth saw Mrs. Darcy put her hand to her mouth to stifle the laugh that was to escape as her son put his hands up in defeat. Turning to Georgiana, he said, "It's your decision."
"Yes! Thank you, Lizzy." Georgiana ran up and hugged Elizabeth before removing her suitcase from the trunk of her brother's car.
Looking at his watch, William declared that they had to go as to get his parents to the airport on time. The Darcys and Charles said their good-byes to the Lucas' and the two cousins before leaving in their car. Five minutes afterwards, Elizabeth, Jane, and Georgiana set off for Columbus.
The three girls were about an hour away from Columbus when Elizabeth, who was driving, sighed. "We need a c.d. in. I'm sick of the radio. Jane, can you look through my c.d.'s and see if I put the Queen c.d. in there?"
Picking up the big binder full of c.d.'s, Jane complained, "By time I find it, we'll be back already."
Elizabeth looked sideways at her cousin and laughed, "Jane. Think about it. I always alphabetize my things. It won't take that long. Trust me!"
Jane laughed as she flipped to the "q" section of the binder and found the Queen c.d.'s. "Which one do you want me to put in?"
"Volume I of the greatest hits. The only good song on Volume II is Bohemian Rhapsody; we'll listen to that one later."
"Who's Queen?" Georgiana's tiny voice asked from the back.
Elizabeth almost slammed on her brakes in surprise. "Are you kidding me? You probably would recognize their songs, though. Queen rocks!"
Jane laughed and turned around and explained, "Don't mind her! Elizabeth belongs in the previous generation. Look at these c.d.'s! Frank Sinatra, Chicago, Simon and Garfunkel. Paul Simon?" Jane asked her cousin with a weird look on her face.
"Hey! Paul Simon rocks, too! I always loved him when I was younger, and I still love him now!" Georgiana and Jane laughed at the defensive tone in Elizabeth's voice.
The three drove on in silence through the c.d. Jane and Georgiana both had to admit that the c.d. was excellent and Georgiana recognized some songs, too. ("See! I told you!" Elizabeth replied to her when she admitted she knew some songs.)
As the c.d. ended, Elizabeth suggested, "Let's stop in Max and Erma's to eat. I'm famished!" As the others agreed, Elizabeth also suggested, "Jane, put in the second c.d. I want to listen to Bohemian Rhapsody."
As the song started, Elizabeth sang along with the serious beginning verses while the other two just listened to it. Suddenly Georgie exclaimed, "I know this song! Caroline and I actually walked in on Charles, William, and other friends watching a movie during the part where the guys were in the car and listening to the song. Caroline took me out of the room, though. She said it wasn't a good movie."
"You're kidding me?! 'Wayne's World' is one of the best movies of all time! Do you remember the words they were singing while in the car?" Georgiana nodded. "What do you say we do the same thing?" Elizabeth was in a weird mood from driving all day. Not seeing anything wrong with it, the other girls agreed. After the guitar break and the verse that deviated from the previous tone of the song came on, the girls started singing along with it.
I see a little silhouetto of a man,
Scaramouche, scaramouche will you do the Fandango-
Thunderbolt and lightning-very very frightening me-
While Jane and Georgiana sang, Elizabeth noticed that William and Charles caught up with them, where they were stopped at a light at the exit to Polaris Parkway. "Ooo," Elizabeth commented. "This will make it much better," she laughed, "for them to observe us."
Galileo, Galileo,
Galileo Galileo
Galileo figaro-Magnifico-
But I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me-
He's just a poor boy from a poor family-
Spare him his life from this monstrosity-
As Elizabeth and her friends sang, she noticed that indeed, William and Charles were looking at them, laughing. Not a mean laugh, but like they were laughing with them. Elizabeth winked at them as the last part of the verse came on.
Easy come easy go-will you let me go-
Bismillah! No-, we will not let you go-let him go-
Bismillah! We will not let you go-let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go-let me go
Will not let you go-let me go
Will not let you go let me go
No, no, no, no, no, no, no-
Mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go-
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me-
Any way the wind blows...*
At the cue, all three girls started head-banging. It didn't last very long, as the girls couldn't stop laughing. When the light turned green, Elizabeth sped around the corner and then into the restaurant's parking lot. A second after she parked, the silver BMW pulled into the spot next to her.
As the occupants of the cars climbed out, Elizabeth inquired to the men, "You're eating here, too?"
Charles only replied, "Yeah," as he quickly made his way to Jane's side, but William gave a longer answer.
"We were hungry and saw you pull in here, so we decided to eat here, too."
Elizabeth nodded as the group made their way to the doors of the restaurant. Once seated, she commented, "You two made it here awfully quickly."
"No, Elizabeth," Jane teased. "We made it here awfully slowly. We would've made it much quicker if you didn't drink so much coffee!"
Elizabeth huffed, "I can't help it! I doubt you would've wanted me to drive if I didn't have something to wake me up. Besides, the rest room breaks didn't take so long!"
Georgiana smiled, "No, they didn't. But there were so many of them!"
"Haha," Elizabeth replied sarcastically as she looked down at her menu and nervously tapped her fingers in front of her.
Feeling somebody's hand over her nervous one, she looked up to see William grinning at her amusedly. "You always had a nervous habit of tapping your fingers when you're embarrassed or stressed."
Elizabeth smiled in return, "At least I don't bite my nails! My nails always looked presentable!"
William defended himself, "I don't do that anymore!"
"Of course you don't!" Elizabeth sarcastically teased as she looked back down at her menu as William looked at his.
It wasn't until the waiter came with the drinks that William realized his hand was still on Elizabeth's. Without saying anything, he withdrew his hand, but he could see a faint blush on Elizabeth's cheeks as she realized that they were practically holding hands across the table for a couple of minutes.
The rest of the dinner passed pleasantly as the five young men and women talked. When dinner was over, Georgiana switched her suitcase to her brother's car and went home with him, while Elizabeth and Jane drove away.
After dropping Charles off, he and Georgiana drove home to find their parents already asleep. Saying goodnight to his sister, William went back to his old room where he found it just the same as it was in high school. William had his own apartment, but was too tired to drive there. Figuring that his parents wouldn't care, William fell asleep where he slept as a teenager.
When Elizabeth and Jane reached their apartment, they were met with many messages from Mrs. Bennet. Obviously she wanted to make sure she called her when they got back since every message hinted that she wanted to hear from them.
"Ha!" Elizabeth said. "She just wants to know if we met any eligible men in Rhode Island."
"I'm sure she just wants to make sure we got back safely."
Heading towards her own room, Elizabeth looked back at her cousin with her eyebrows raised. "When was the last time that she was worried about us taking a road trip. Believe me. At our next family get-together, she'll want a description of every man we met."
*Part of "Bohemian Rhapsody": words and music by Freddie Mercury
Chapter 13 Posted on Saturday, 10 June 2000
I want to be a supermodel.
Two days later, Elizabeth and Jane were walking up the driveway to the Bennets' house. "Well, Jane. Are you ready to be thrown to the dogs?"
Jane laughed, "Are you?"
"Hey! I'm not the one who hooked up with a rich, handsome man! You'll have more questions to answer."
"What about William? You two seemed pretty cozy at dinner," Jane looked sideways at her cousin.
Elizabeth blushed, "I don't know what to think about him. One day he's rude, the next he's sweet. So, he's not an available topic until I find out what's up with him."
The two girls walked through the front door where they immediately smelled onions frying in the kitchen, and meat cooking on the grill out back. "Hello?" Jane called through the house.
Mrs. Bennet peeked out of the kitchen. "Hi girls! How was your trip? I have to hear everything about it at dinner!"
Elizabeth looked at her cousin with an 'I told you so' look before greeting her aunt. "Hello, Aunt Elaine. What's for dinner?"
"Just burgers and macaroni salad. Although goodness knows you two don't need any more fat."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, I know. Never mind that pants won't fit me any better since my hips won't shrink no matter how much I try to shrink them. And don't forget that we have to keep Jane at a size negative two." Ever since Jane was a teenager, she had been trying to gain weight. She was one of those people who could eat and eat and eat and never gain an ounce. Elizabeth thought it was sickening.
"Yes we do!" Mrs. Bennet replied, not getting the sarcastic tone of her niece's reply.
When Mrs. Bennet turned around to go back to cooking, Elizabeth walked across the house to the back door. Through the house, she heard Mary practicing the piano, Cathy typing on the computer, and Lydia talking really loudly on the phone. Elizabeth sighed as she pushed open the screen door and found her uncle at the grill, flipping the hamburgers.
Walking up to him, Elizabeth kissed him on the cheek. "Hello Uncle Steve."
"Hello, Lizzy. I missed you." Mr. Bennet paused to look into the house again. "Has my wife started questioning you two yet?"
"She only told us that we had to discuss the trip over dinner, although she may be already questioning Jane as we speak since I left Jane at the kitchen."
"Well, do you have anything to say that would excite your aunt?"
Elizabeth smiled mischievously, "I don't, but Jane does."
"Oh, really?" Mr. Bennet laughed, but didn't ask anymore about the subject. "Can you tell your aunt and the rest of the family that the burgers are done?"
"Sure," Elizabeth agreed. Elizabeth opened the door and yelled inside, "People! Food's ready!"
"Do you have to scream so?" Mrs. Bennet complained. "You always could never talk in a civilized voice."
Elizabeth feigned being offended and whined, "I thought that's what you liked about me!"
"No. That's what they like about me. With you, it's just annoying." Lydia replied pushing past her older sister as Elizabeth scowled.
As Mary went past her, she greeted her cousin with a nod and went back to her book, and when her other cousin passed, Cathy kissed her cheek in greeting. Turning around, Elizabeth sighed at the family. Both Mary and Cathy looked like Jane and their mother with their tall height, and blonde hair. With Jane's help, Cathy was able to put her looks to good use, but somehow Mary got left behind. Where Mary could've used a little make-up to enhance her face by covering up the under-eye circles caused by reading late at night, or at least use a brush to pull her hair back, she chose not to.
Then there was Lydia. Lydia looked almost exactly like her elder sister, with light brown hair and rosy skin, but she, unlike Elizabeth, chose to wear revealing clothing and bright make-up. The two sisters didn't look anything like their cousins. They took mostly after their mother without much visible physical attributes of Mr. Gardiner. Elizabeth, however, had the personality of her late father while Lydia took much more after her aunt.
Walking to her seat at the table, Elizabeth pulled Lydia's headphones off and then pulled Mary's book out of her hands. At their objections, Elizabeth scolded, "It's not respectable to read, nor listen to a walk man at the dinner table. You'll thank me later for learning some manners."
"Where do manners get you?" Lydia returned. "Look at you and your perfect manners. They never got you a boyfriend through high school and you still don't have a man now. Then look at me. I already had five boyfriends this year. At the same time, too! And neither of them found out," Lydia praised herself.
"Wow. That's something to be proud of," her sister sarcastically remarked. Elizabeth sighed and put her head in her hands. I give up. I just give up. She didn't have as close as a relationship as she would've liked with her sister. She felt as if she was a failure at not getting a hold on her younger sister before her aunt did. Once a well mannered, educated lady, Elaine Bennet suddenly allowed free-reign on her younger daughters and Lydia. Thankfully, Cathy was at least saved by her elder sister's and cousin's influence, but Lydia would have none of it. She wanted to be independent, and neither Mr. nor Mrs. Bennet did anything about it.
"So, girls," Mrs. Bennet began once everybody was seated and dinner was served. "Let's hear about your trip to Rhode Island!"
"Jane met a man," Elizabeth said bluntly while her cousin blushed. However, Jane didn't mind talking about Charles Bingley and his good looks and charming personality. And Mrs. Bennet definitely didn't mind hearing about him.
Since most of the conversation was centered on Jane's new, wealthy boyfriend, Elizabeth phased out and didn't even follow the conversation until she could tell Jane was actually starting to get annoyed. When Jane started getting red out of anger instead of enthusiasm, Elizabeth conveniently made a comment about a new clothing store opening at a mall. Always one for new fashions for her darling younger niece, the conversation turned to mostly between Lydia and Mrs. Bennet about the new store.
"Thank goodness that's over," Elizabeth remarked as she and Jane waved to their family while pulling away.
"It wasn't too bad until Mom started to ask too many questions about Charles. I don't think she knows when to stop."
"I doubt she does either," Elizabeth responded. "Oh well. We just have to make the best of things. Just be thankful we don't have to spend every evening with them."
"Yes, we do have that to be thankful for."
"AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!" At the sound of her cousin's frustrated scream, Elizabeth suddenly stopped what she was doing and went to Jane's room.
What Elizabeth found there caused her to burst out laughing. It seemed like Jane's whole closet full of clothes was scattered all over her room in different piles. Leaning against the doorway, Elizabeth smirked, "Tornado season already?"
Jane looked up from where she sat in the middle of the mess. "I'm going out with Charles tonight and I can't find anything to wear!"
"How can't you? I think you just about bought out Gap last month!"
"But nothing seems right to wear!" Jane whined.
Uh oh. Jane's whining; this must be really bad. "I'll tell you what. I need a new pair of slacks and jeans anyway, so let's go to the mall."
Jane sniffed and looked up to her cousin with a baby look on her face. "Really?"
"Really. And let's invite your sisters, my sister, and Georgiana. We can all help you decide."
"My sisters? Your sister? I mean, Cathy's all right, but Mary and Lydia?"
"I know. But if we invite Cathy, we have to invite the other two."
"Yeah, you're right. Oh well. Hopefully they can't come."
"Jane, you're so mean!"
"I know! But I need the outfit to be perfect!"
Elizabeth laughed and went to call the girls. Lydia didn't want to be associated with people who dressed so conservatively, besides, she was going out with a 'really hot guy'; Mary was too busy reading her latest book, and Cathy already had plans, but Georgiana was eager to go out.
When the girls picked up their young friend, Jane was fascinated by the huge house, but Elizabeth didn't blink an eye. She still had the memories of being a young girl and knowing every step of the huge house in Connecticut.
"Hello!" Elizabeth could tell Georgiana was excited to go out. She figured that her shyness held her back from doing much outside of school.
Soon, the girls were happily walking in the mall. It didn't take as long as they thought it would to find an outfit for Jane. She found a dark blue, ankle length skirt with a slip up the side and a fitted white blouse. She didn't need shoes because she had a pair of white strappy sandals at home.
Once the outfit was purchased, the girls set out to find some pants for Elizabeth. After the fifth pair she tried on, Elizabeth was mad. Stepping out of the dressing room and going to the mirror, Georgiana and Jane just amusedly looked on at their friend's tirade.
Elizabeth hated going clothes shopping, especially for pants or dresses. Average in height, barely five foot four, and not small in stature, she could never find pants or dresses that fit her right. Her torso was long and thin, making it hard to find dresses that stayed comfortably on her shoulders, while her hips were curvy and her legs were short, causing her to have trouble finding pants that fit her thin waist, 'big' hips, and short legs.
Finally, she found a pair of khakis that fit her right, and Georgiana even found a shirt that she wanted and soon the girls were on their way back again. At the apartment, Georgiana and Elizabeth helped Jane get ready for her date, and when she was, it was a job well done. When Charles came to pick her up with flowers in his hands the girls could see the look of appreciation on his face as he drove away with Jane in the car.
When they were gone, Georgiana turned to Elizabeth and offered, "Since you're alone this evening, why don't you come over my house and have dinner with us. My family would love to have you."
Elizabeth smiled and replied, "I would love to. Thank you. Just let me change from these clothes. I've been in them all day."
After she changed into a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved cardigan set, the girls drove back to Georgiana's house with a stop at a store. "I feel bad," Elizabeth explained to her friend, "I'm coming over without anything. I'll just buy a case of wine coolers."
When they arrived at the Darcy's house, Elizabeth went in with Georgiana and greeted Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, who, of course, seconded their daughter's invitation. It wasn't until they offered Elizabeth a drink that she remembered she remembered the case of wine coolers in her car.
After reaching into the back seat of the car for the case, Elizabeth turned around to come in contact with somebody. Caught off guard, Elizabeth let a small scream escaped her mouth until she realized it was William.
"Will! You scared me!"
"I'm sorry, Lizzy! I saw you, and I just came go greet you."
"I was invited by Georgiana to eat with your family, and I forgot this in the car. I just came out to get it."
William reached out his hand and offered, "Let me take it for you."
"I didn't expect you to be here. Don't you have some beautiful girl to take out?" Elizabeth teased.
William blush, but also made a grimace, "No. What's the use? All women want is money."
"Oh."
William offered his arm, "Shall we?"
"Thank you," Elizabeth smiled as she took his arm and they made their way to the house.
Chapter 14 Posted on Sunday, 11 June 2000
It's all coming back to me now.
When William walked into the house, they found his parents and sister in deep conversation, but they stopped suddenly when seeing the two.
"There you two are," Mrs. Darcy greeted. "Dinner's almost ready. The cheese is just melting on the ziti."
That's what Elizabeth liked the Darcys. They may have enough money to afford several cooks, but they acted just like a regular family; one of the members of the family usually always cooked for the others.
The dinner passed pleasantly, with lively conversation on all sides. But Elizabeth was still confused. She couldn't understand why William kept changing personalities. Maybe he's more comfortable at home. Before, he was around other people.
William, on the other hand, was fighting with his feelings. Earlier, he decided that for a friend, it didn't matter how rich Elizabeth was, or what she did for a living.
The problem was that he knew he had feelings other than friendship for her, and that made him uncomfortable. What if he were to fall in love with her? That would be insupportable! I would never be able to marry her! She wouldn't know how to act among the higher classes.
But as he watched her laughing with his sister as he walked behind them to the living room, he forgot all those thoughts. He suddenly wanted to walk next to her, but he also didn't want to break up the conversation that his sister was having with Elizabeth.
Before he knew it, they were in the music room and his sister was asking Elizabeth to play something, causing Elizabeth to blush at the choice. And when William recognized it as another Celine Dion song, he blushed at his sister's supposedly 'horrid' taste in music.
But when you touch me like this
And you hold me like that
I just have to admit
That it's all coming back to me
Suddenly, he realized what his sister was doing and gave her an angry look at her attempt at matchmaking. Georgiana only smirked at her elder brother and signaled for him to listen to Elizabeth.
When I touch you like this
And I hold you like that
It's so hard to believe but
It's all coming back to me
(It's all coming back, it's all coming
back to me now)
When William did turn his attention back to his friend, he was drawn to her performance. She still had a beautiful voice (Even better than Caroline Bingley, he thought with a grimace at the thought of that woman) and she still played the piano flawlessly with expression. He was drawn back to high school when he did like her more than a friend, but never got the nerve up to ask her out for a date. And he was drawn to the memory of the first year of college, and how he regretted never asking her.
But now she was in his life again. And he was happy.
But he wouldn't admit that it was because of her; not even to himself.
(It's all coming back to me now)
And when you kiss me like this
(It's all coming back to me now)
And when I touch you like that
(It's all coming back to me now)
If you do it like this
(It's all coming back to me now)
And if we...*
When Elizabeth concluded the song, she was relieved. She realized what Georgiana was trying to do, but she was embarrassed that the song implied that she and William had a different kind of relationship. But when she turned towards William, she saw him looking intently at her and applauding. Catching his eyes, the two locked eyes while they smiled at each other. An action that did not go unnoticed by the other occupants of the room.
Breaking the gaze, Elizabeth turned towards the piano. "This is a beautiful piano. A Steinway. I could only wish with all my might for an instrument like this."
Georgiana smiled, "My parents bought it for me for my eighteenth birthday. They bought one for William, too, for his last birthday. But that's at his apartment." Thinking of a good idea, Georgie turned to her brother and asked, "William, why don't you and Elizabeth do a duet together? You could play, and Elizabeth could sing."
Both parties involved objected, but Mr. and Mrs. Darcy quickly agreed with their daughter. So, there was no way to get out of it.
William walked over to the piano and sat down on the bench. Looking to Elizabeth, they both knew which song to sing. Soon, Elizabeth's soprano voice was singing along with William's arrangement for the first time since they were children.
I tip my hat to the keeper of the stars
He sure knew what he was doin'
When he joined these two hearts
I hold everything
When I hold you in my arms
I've got all I'll ever need
Thanks to the keeper of the stars
Their duet was met with eager applause by the audience while William and Elizabeth smiled at each other. Suddenly, William took Elizabeth's hand and kissed it. Caught off guard, Elizabeth was in shock at first, but regained her teasing nature quickly and playfully slapped him on the head while he laughed.
Looking at her watch, Elizabeth suddenly declared, "I need to get going. It's getting late."
"Can't you stay over here?" Georgiana asked. "It's Sunday tomorrow, so you don't have to go to work, and I have two beds in my room. It's too late to drive home."
"I really can't impose on you. Jane would be worried if I wasn't home."
"You could always call your apartment and leave a message, and it really wouldn't be any trouble."
"Indeed, it wouldn't," Mrs. Darcy added. "We would love to have you."
"Pretty, pretty please," Georgiana begged. "I would like to have company. It gets boring being the only child living at home."
Elizabeth smiled, "Fine, you talked me into it. I'll be happy to stay over."
Mrs. Darcy looked at her son. "And you, William? Are you going to stay here tonight? I would be awfully nervous if you were to drive back at this time of night."
At his wife's declaration, Mr. Darcy cleared his throat and gave his wife a look, which she immediately ignored.
"Nah," William answered. "I might as well stay here."
"Lizzy, get up." Elizabeth faintly heard William's voice through her sleep. But instead of waking up, she only mumbled something, rolled over, and pulled the covers over head.
"Lizzy."
"Go away."
"I made breakfast and I thought you would like some."
"I don't care. Where's Georgiana?" she asked with one eye open.
"She's up already. She always was an early riser."
"Oh. Now you can go away," Elizabeth replied as she closed her eyes again.
"No, I'm not, and you're getting up," he teased. "Besides, I know where you're ticklish." As he was saying this, his fingers reached towards the back of her neck and proceeded to tickle her.
"Ahhh!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she started to laugh uncontrollably. But she wasn't allowed to let that go. Through the covers, she kicked William in the stomach before jumping out of bed.
"Ouch! Why'd you do that for?"
"You deserved it!" Elizabeth stated in a matter-of-fact manner. "You knew I used to do Karate," she included while stepping into sparring position. "Wanna go at it?" she asked with laughter in her eyes.
"No thanks," William laughed. "I'm not in the mood to get beat-up by a girl this morning. Now go get ready; I made you your favorite."
"How do you know it's still my favorite?"
"Scrambled eggs with ketchup, bacon, and toast?"
"Mmm. I'll be down in a minute."
William laughed as he walked out of the room.
Stepping inside the apartment, she found Jane waiting for her.
"Well, how was your date with Charles?"
Jane sighed happily. "He was the perfect gentleman, and we have so much in common. First, he took me out to dinner, and then we saw the movie. Afterwards, we went to a coffee shop where we talked for a couple of hours." Jane finished her summary with a dramatic swooning scene as Elizabeth laughed.
"I'm glad you finally found somebody worthy of you, as it seems. Are you going to see him again?"
"Of course! We're going out later this week. Oh! And he's having a party next month, and he invited you to it, too. You'll go, right?"
"I don't know. I don't know if I'll know anybody there."
"The Darcys would probably be there. Speaking of them, how was your evening?"
"It was fun. It felt nice to be involved in a nice, peaceful, family dinner. Afterwards, Georgiana forced me to play piano, and, this morning, I managed to beat William up."
"What?!"
"I kicked him when he tried to force me to get up before eleven o'clock in the morning on a weekend."
"How dare he!" Jane mocked.
"Oh, I know! So I kicked him!"
"What do you think about him now?"
"I think I'm willing to be friends with him again. He seemed like his old-self; nothing like he was in Rhode Island. I'm thinking that he just acts differently in public."
"Probably. Anyway, I'm glad you're willing to be friends with him again."
Little did William and Elizabeth know that so many of their friends and family were determined for them to not only be friends, but eventually man and wife.
*"It's all coming back to me now" by Jim Steinman