Posted on Sunday, 25 November 2001
Lizzy Bennett steered her car into her family's driveway and shut off the engine. She rested her head against the steering wheel and closed her eyes, feeling much older than her seventeen years. November had been a hard month, full of nothing but exams, papers, and college applications. She made her way into the house and upstairs to her room where she fell on the bed, backpack and all. Lizzy's father, Rob Bennett, followed her upstairs after hearing the front door slam.
"Lizzy, what's wrong?"
Pushing her curly brown hair out of her eyes, Lizzy looked up at her father. "Nothing, Dad. I'm just tired, that's all."
"I'm not falling for that one again, young lady. There's something bothering you, and I'm not leaving until you tell me what it is." Rob leaned back against a bedpost and gazed concernedly at his favorite daughter.
"Honestly Dad, it's nothing. It shouldn't be bothering me anyway, so the less I talk about it, the faster I'll get over it."
"I hate to say this Lizzy, but this is one of the few times you're being incredibly stupid. Tell me what's wrong!"
"Fine, I'll tell you, but don't blame me if you think it's stupid. Lately I've felt really lonely and isolated from all the people at school. I feel like a 'freak of nature' half the time."
Rob looked confused. "Why, Lizzy? You're one of the most popular girls in your grade, or so Jane says. How can you feel lonely?"
"I'm sure this sounds conceited Dad, but everyone puts me on a pedestal. They think that because of my good grades, I can't relate to them on any subject. I guess I'm learning the truth of that old saying, 'it's lonely at the top.'"
"I knew this would be a problem sooner or later," Rob said, smiling at Lizzy affectionately. "but it does not make you conceited. You're going to do so many things with your life, sweetie, that most of your peers have never even imagined. Only now are they realizing why you've worked so hard for your grades. They don't know what to make of you, so they accordingly separate you into a different class."
"But Dad, I feel so alone most of the time. Besides you and Jane, I have no one to truly talk to. Jane doesn't even understand me at times! I'm just afraid that I'll always feel isolated and different from others."
"Not always. I think college will help somewhat, Lizzy. You'll meet so many new people, one of them is bound to be like you. So hang in there for now, and realize that this kind of loneliness doesn't last forever."
Lizzy sat up and considered her father's advice. "You're right Dad, and as always, I'll follow what you say. For now, the only thing I can do is simply enjoy my last year of high school and hope for closer companions in the future."
"That's my girl! Remember, I'm always here for you, no matter what. Unlike your mother, I don't threaten to banish you from the house when you dismiss yet another male admirer." Rob winked mischievously at Lizzy.
Lizzy laughed and pulled a huge textbook out of her backpack. "Thanks Dad. And now it's on to calculus."
William Darcy leaned back against the hospital chair as though a weight had suddenly struck him. At twenty-five years of age, he had suddenly lost his parents to a drunk driver and gained the responsibility of raising his fourteen-year-old sister, Georgie. He couldn't fathom anything at this point, let alone the enormity of what was actually facing him. Next to him was Richard Fitzwilliam, William's cousin and joint guardian of Georgie.
William broke the silence first. "Fitz, what am I going to do now?"
Richard stared at his cousin. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, both my parents just died in a car crash, I now have a multimillion dollar company to run, and I have to raise my little sister. What am I going to do?"
"Well, I know what we're going to do now. We have to tell Georgie about her parents."
William bowed his head as the tears in his eyes threatened to overflow. "You go on, Fitz, but don't tell her until I get there. We have to tell her together. She's going to need both of us in the near future."
Laying his hand on William's shoulder, Richard nodded and walked towards the hospital waiting room. William rose to follow him, but instead he sunk back down into his seat with his head in hands. The tears came, and he didn't try to stop them. After a few minutes he jerked his head up, dried his eyes, and headed down the hall. The last Georgie needed was to see him crying. His grief would have to be dealt with later.
Posted on Tuesday, 25 December 2001
Thank the Lord, Lizzy thought as she packed up her books. No more calculus for at least ten days! Christmas vacation is truly a wonderful thing! Running down the hall, she reached the door of the guidance office just in time to hear a deep male voice chastising Mrs. Gardiner, the guidance secretary.
"I don't care if she's the valedictorian of the senior class and the nicest girl in school! I was expressly told that Georgie would have a tour from a teacher, not some teenage girl who would get my sister lost! Can you fix this problem, or do I need to speak to the guidance director?"
Lizzy's green eyes flashed dangerously as she listened to this indignant speech. Of all the arrogant things I've ever heard! We'll just see who can't give directions... with a toss of her head, she barged into the office past the rude male.
"Lizzy!" Mrs. Gardiner looked up, alarmed. "I didn't see you come in! May I introduce to you Mr. William Darcy, Georgie Darcy's older brother and guardian. You'll be showing Georgie around school after Christmas vacation. We were just discussing..."
"It's okay, Mrs. Gardiner," Lizzy interrupted. "I heard you down the hall before I came in." Turning to Mr. Darcy, she added, "It's a pleasure to meet you, and I can't wait to meet Georgie in two weeks. I'm so glad you have confidence in my ability to show her around the school." And turning on her heel, she disappeared out the door.
"Do you still have doubts about her now, Mr. Darcy?" inquired the secretary. "I can guarantee you Lizzy won't lose track of Georgie."
"I've never seen such an insolent girl!" the dumbfounded Will stammered. "How could you let her interrupt you like that?"
"It's not insolence, it's her temper, and you, Mr. Darcy, unlike most sensible people, have the nerve to set it off. If you want to go up against her 'insolence' as you call it, be my guest. But leave me out of it!" the woman retorted.
Will left the office in a daze. People in general rarely stood up to him, let alone a seventeen-year-old girl! Normally he fought against those who questioned his judgment, but something he saw in the eyes of that girl told him he wouldn't win the battle.
Back in the office Mrs. Gardiner chuckled. Lizzy's done it again; that one won't be countering her anytime soon! she thought.
When she came home from school, Lizzy sought her sister Jane, who was home from the university. She found Jane sitting on the sofa in the living room with her battered copy of Northanger Abbey .
"Jane, you would not believe what happened to me today!" Lizzy sighed as she flopped down beside her sister.
"The only way to find out if I believe what happened is for you to tell me about it," Jane laughed. "So, tell me about your 'dramatic' day."
So Lizzy recited the story of Mr. Darcy, his incredibly rude comments, and her incredibly bold comeback. Jane looked pensive, but she tried to comfort her sister.
"Lizzy, I'm sure he didn't mean his comments in a personal way. He was probably nervous and just looking out for his younger sister. You said she was fourteen, right?"
"Yes. Mrs. Gardiner told me about her yesterday, and I agreed to show her around school. She said Georgie's parents had died recently in a car accident, leaving her in the care of her older brother. I understand that Mr. Darcy is only trying to be protective of his sister, but why does that give him the right to doubt me?"
"It doesn't, Lizzy, but you need to be careful about your temper! Now he may have a reason to doubt you! However, your short fuse is your only fault, so perhaps this entire thing will blow over, and you two will reconcile your differences."
"Dear Jane, always the optimist! I wish I were as perfect as you; then I wouldn't ever be in messes like this! I must say, though, for an extremely rude man, he is also extremely handsome."
"Elizabeth! The man is over thirty years of age!"
"I never said that; you implied that from his status as Georgie's guardian! He looked twenty-six, at most. He has short, curly brown hair and brown eyes. His good looks would be perfect if only he wasn't rude."
"He's only twenty-six?" echoed Jane. "Poor man, he's probably grieving over the loss of his parents, and now he has to raise his sister as well! You must have some compassion for him, Lizzy."
"I do once you present his situation from that perspective. I hadn't considered what he must personally be going through. However, sympathy never pacifies my temper, so I must still be on the watch whenever he's near me."
Lizzy looked out the living room window at a starlit sky. It was Christmas Eve, and her entire family was sitting around the Christmas tree after church.
Lizzy's face brightened as she thought of something. "Dad, may I go outside for a few minutes?"
"Sure," her father replied, "but don't go far."
"I won't!" And Lizzy threw on an old jacket and shoes and disappeared out the front door.
"I will never understand that girl!" cried Mrs. Bennett. "It's habits like that that drive the eligible men away."
"Speaking of men," put in Lydia, "did you happen to see the fine specimen in front of us at church? Not only was he good-looking, he was in uniform too!"
Rob rolled his eyes. "Good to know you listened to the sermon," he muttered.
Lizzy sat leaning against the garage, mesmerized by what she saw above her. Thousands of twinkling dots illuminated a sky of black velvet. Ever since she was little she had always gazed and marveled at the stars. They seemed so tangible, yet so far away. She had often wondered why this fact amazed her so; then one night when she was still dating George Wickham, she figured out why.
She and George had been standing underneath a sky similar to this one when he turned to her and whispered, "I love you." Lizzy's breath was taken away; she had always dreamed of the day when she would be close enough to someone to hear those words spoken sincerely. However, in her speechlessness she did not fail to notice George's hands beginning to unbutton the waistband of her jeans. She told him to stop; when he didn't, he received a hard slap on the face. Thus ended Lizzy's romantic relationship with George.
Lizzy was quick to realize George's status as a first-class creep, but the hurt he had caused ran deep. Later that same night, she looked up at the sky through her tears and, as usual, noticed the stars. She realized their situation in life was hers as well: she was close to those around her, but she was still so far away from achieving any meaningful connection. She hadn't yet found someone who could bridge the abyss of loneliness that separated her from those she knew. Loneliness enveloped her and saddened her more than George Wickham ever could.
In time the loneliness faded, but it never went away completely. Now, a year after the incident with George, Lizzy was accustomed to essentially being alone. She could even call herself happy, save for the fact that she knew something was missing. She knew she needed someone who could destroy her identification with the stars and give her a new understanding of life.
"Will, dinner's waiting!" Georgie called through the window.
"I'm coming, Georgie," Will replied over his shoulder. He turned back to the sight before him. Thousands of stars lit up the night sky with their incredible brilliance. The stars reminded him of his mother's eyes, always full of emotion and vivacity. The effect her eyes had had on Will and his father was amazing. Both men were prone to being over-serious about life, and Anne Darcy had always managed to somehow find a way past that seriousness. Georgie had the same talent, but it had disappeared after the deaths of her parents five months earlier. It was slowly coming back, but Will still worried about his younger sister. He knew she needed a little prodding to regain her spirit, but he wasn't the one to give it because he needed some prodding as well. This was just one of the reasons why he missed his mother: there was no to tell him to lighten up a bit, as she always had.
"Will! The ham is getting cold!"
"Alright, I'm coming in now!" Will walked into the kitchen to meet his sister and Mrs. Reynolds, their housekeeper. "What else is there besides ham?"
"You men, always thinking about food," complained Mrs. Reynolds. "All you see is the stuff on the table, and you don't even notice your sister's new dress."
Will looked up, embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Georgie. That is a nice dress, though. Where'd you get it?"
Georgie blushed and replied, "Mrs. Reynolds bought it for me. I'm wearing it to church tonight."
"Church? Oh no, I almost forgot! Wait, what time is it?" he glance at his watch. "I have forgotten. We missed the 7:00 service!"
"Will, I'm not ten anymore, we can go to the 11:00 service. I think I can stay awake until then," Georgie laughed. "And don't give me any speech about my bedtime. It's Christmas Eve, and I'm allowed to stay up as late as I want."
"Okay, okay, we'll go to the 11:00 service. But let's hurry up and eat, so I can get dressed."
After dinner Georgie rushed upstairs to finish wrapping gifts. Will stayed in the kitchen to help Mrs. Reynolds clean up. "Can you believe how much she's grown up in the last year?" he asked.
"No I can't," replied Mrs. Reynolds. "I hope you know, sir, how proud your parents would be if they could see how well you're raising her. You'll never know how much of a blessing you've been to Georgie these past few months."
"And she'll never be aware of how much of a blessing she's been to me," Will said wistfully. "If I didn't have her and the firm to look after, God knows what I would have done."
"Just what you ought to have done, I'm sure. But your life shouldn't revolve around just her and your father's firm, sir. Someday she's going to grow up and move away, and the only things you'll have to keep you company are stocks and mutual funds."
"I can always count on you, Mrs. Reynolds, for good advice," Will smiled. "Do you need any more help with the dishes, or am I free to leave?"
"Go get dressed, sir; cleaning up is what you pay me to do."
"All right, all right!" Will automatically headed down the hall towards his study. Sitting down in his favorite chair, he meditated on the advice of his housekeeper. I know I'm missing something in my life, he thought. Hopefully when I find it, I'll have enough sense not to let it slip away.
He then heard Georgie calling him from the top of the stairs. "Will, it's time to go!" So he picked himself up and headed to his bedroom, thus breaking his solitary reverie.
Posted on Wednesday, 27 February 2002
Two weeks later
Lizzy rushed into school, trying desperately to catch her breath. She was an extremely organized and responsible person, but punctuality was a skill she had never quite developed. The last bell rang as she slipped into the guidance office.
"Hello Mrs. Gardiner," she greeted the secretary. "Is she here?"
"No," the woman replied. "Her brother is driving her, so I guess he's running late as well."
Less than a minute later a tall, slim, blonde-haired girl slipped into the office, followed by the infuriating man Lizzy had encountered just before the start of Christmas vacation. The girl was exceptionally pretty; she had large china-blue eyes, slightly tanned skin, and delicate features. The only resemblance she shared with the man behind her was the shape of her nose and mouth. Lizzy looked up at their entrance. Seeing the girl, Lizzy gave a large smile and began to welcome her. Then she saw the girl's brother come in behind her. When his eyes met hers, Lizzy's smile turned into a frown, and no words came from her mouth.
The girl misinterpreted the change in Lizzy's expression as something to do with her and openly showed her fear of disapproval. Mrs. Gardiner quickly rectified the situation. "Georgie, I would like you to meet Elizabeth Bennett. She will be showing you around school today."
At this introduction Lizzy forced herself to smile at Georgie in spite of the presence of Overbearing-Big-Brother in the background. "Are you ready to head to your first class? I'm sure you don't want to miss too much of today's lesson."
The other girl smiled shyly and replied that she was ready. Turning to her brother she said, "I'll see you after school then?"
He nodded yes and stepped aside to let the girls pass. As Lizzy walked by him, she felt his eyes on her. Why did he persist in staring at her? It only made her uncomfortable, and she was sure he was only finding more things about her of which to disapprove. Lizzy ventured to stare back. What she encountered were two deep, foreboding brown eyes with an unreadable expression in them. They gazed at her intently, and she could hardly stand what she thought was their unfavorable scrutiny of her. She quickly followed Georgie out of the office and down the hall.
"Georgie, it's 7 o'clock already! We were supposed to leave five minutes ago!" Will cried up the stairs. If there was one thing about his younger sister that aggravated him, it was that she had no sense of time in the morning.
"I'm coming, Will!" she yelled down. "Just five more minutes, and I'll be ready!"
Her brother sighed and glanced at his watch. At this rate Georgie would be lucky to catch the tail end of her first class. The absence of punctuality in his sister was something she inherited from her mother. Will's father was always on time, and Will was the same way. Georgie always teased him about being so insanely early for everything.
Ten minutes later, Georgie finally appeared downstairs, and the siblings were ready to leave. Will noticed the extra care his sister had put into her appearance this morning and suddenly realized how important this day was to her. After the death of her parents, Georgie had been taken out of school so she could recover from the trauma of losing two loved ones. Will let her choose between returning to her former private school or going to the public high school. Georgie chose the public school, and as she knew none of the students there, her first day was extremely important.
Georgie was silent for a few minutes, then asked, "Do you think I'll make friends there?" She betrayed her worry in a diffident and unsure expression.
"Of course you will," Will reassured her, taking hold of her hand. "You'll make at least one friend today. Another student will be showing you around the school."
"Yes, I know, but I want them to like me. What if they don't?"
"They will like you; you just don't believe they will. Have faith in yourself, Georgie. I know for a fact that you are a very likeable person." Will wished he could say something more original to comfort his sister, but he did not know what else to say. He had experienced the same self-doubt in high school, and even now he could never be sure whether his so-called "friends" liked him for who he was or for his trust fund and generous salary in his late father's company.
He pulled the car into a visitor space in the school parking lot and turned off the ignition. "Ready to go in?" he asked.
"You're coming in with me, right?" Georgie answered, the worried look appearing again on her countenance.
"Yes, of course! Let's go." They headed into the building and after a few wrong turns, found the guidance office. He immediately perceived the brown curly-haired girl sitting next to the secretary. With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he recognized her as the student he had insulted a few days before Christmas. He watched as her bright smile turned into a frown. He was certain she was angry with him, and oddly enough, he was beginning to think she had a valid reason for being so. The girl's dark look faded, however, once the secretary introduced her to Georgie.
"I'll see you after school then?" Will heard his sister ask. He nodded his head in reply and stepped aside to let the two girls pass. As the curly-headed one slipped by him, he stole a long glance at her, and was startled by what he saw. She was not a very pretty girl, but he could tell simply by her expression that she was intelligent and by no means lacking in self-confidence. In fact, those two traits seemed to make her more attractive. Her eyes stared back, surprising him in their boldness. Their staring match ended almost as soon as it began, as she followed Georgie out the door. Will remained where he was, wishing to speak to Mrs. Gardiner.
"What did you say that girl's name was?" he asked.
"Elizabeth Bennett," Mrs. Gardiner replied suspiciously. "Why do you want to know?"
"I was just wondering. She looks like a competent girl. I'm sure she'll take good care of my sister. Thank you, Mrs. Gardiner," he said as he left the office.
Mrs. Gardiner chuckled. High praise indeed, she thought.
After her fourth class of the day, Lizzy went to wait for Georgie. She found the other girl wandering down the third floor hall, searching for her locker.
"What are you looking for?" Lizzy asked as she approached her new friend.
"My locker," Georgie answered. "I have the number of it, but I can't seem to find it."
Lizzy took the paper and looked at the number printed on it. "Oh, I know where that it! It's at the other end of the hall."
The two girls walked to Georgie's locker, and Lizzy waited while Georgie dumped her books inside. "Would you like to eat lunch with my friends and me today? I figured you might want to, as you don't know many people yet."
The younger girl smiled with relief. "Thank you! I was hoping I could sit with you. Are you sure it won't be a problem, though?" she asked politely.
"No, not at all! There's plenty of room at our table. So, have you just moved to Meryton?"
"Actually, no. My family owns a house here, but I used to attend the Rosings Boarding School for Girls. Then, I..." Georgie stopped, her voice catching in her throat.
"It's okay. I shouldn't have questioned you like that. I'm sorry about your parents."
"Thank you. I miss them a lot, and it's still very hard for me without them around." Tears came to the blonde-haired girl's eyes. She regained her composure quickly, however, and smiled. "But my brother, Will, takes care of me now. Without him, who knows where I'd be."
"You're lucky to have a brother. I have only four sisters!"
"Four? I'd settle for just one! What are their names?"
"Jane, Mary, Katie, and Lydia. Jane is at the university, Mary is a sophomore here, and Katie and Lydia are twins in the eighth grade." Though more often they act as though they are in fourth grade , Lizzy added mentally.
"Wow! In my family it was always just Will and me. And Will was an only child for a long time; he's eleven years older than me."
Their conversation ended when they reached the noisy and crowded cafeteria. Lizzy deftly weaved her way through the crowd of students to a table in the far corner of the room. Sitting at the end was a reddish-haired girl who looked about seventeen or eighteen years old. She radiated maturity, and Georgie instantly liked her for it.
Lizzy introduced Georgie to her best friend, Charlotte. The latter was a pleasant girl with a friendly expression. She welcomed Georgie and invited her to sit down.
"Thank you," replied Georgie. "I'm so lucky to have met two nice people already. I was afraid I wouldn't meet anyone I got along with."
Lizzy laughed. "Well, considering the student body in general, one couldn't help thinking as much! But there are intelligent species lurking around in the corners."
A few minutes later a tall, rather scrawny, dark-haired boy approached the table. He caught Georgie's eye immediately, and Georgie immediately caught his. Gesturing to her, he asked Lizzy, "So who's your new friend, Lizzy?"
Lizzy looked up and found the person she hated most in this world standing in front of her. "George," she said icily. "What do you want?" She followed his line of vision and saw that it landed on Georgie. In George Wickham's eyes she wasn't a fourteen-year-old freshman; she was a fresh catch.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" he simpered. "Wouldn't want your friend to think you're rude or anything, now would you?"
"Georgie, this is George Wickham," Lizzy mumbled. She was not about to help her creepy ex-boyfriend hook up with a girl two years too young for him.
"Wow, our names match!" he exclaimed to Georgie, flashing a cunning smile. Oh please!, Lizzy thought. When he met me he was amazed we both had curly brown hair!
Georgie was not sure what to do. How does one respond to such a good-looking guy?, she wondered. "Wow, that's neat," she replied shyly.
"Here's my number; call me tonight." Winking at an astounded and flattered Georgie, George found his friends and left the cafeteria.
Lizzy was furious. She knew about George's games, having been the victim of one herself. She was not about to let an unsuspecting freshman become the victim of one as well. "Georgie," she warned, "don't trust that guy. He doesn't have the greatest reputation around school."
The younger girl nodded dazedly. With her mind stuck on George Wickham, she had not heard one word Lizzy said.
"Hey, sweetie! You ready to head home?" Will asked as his sister climbed into the car. "How was your first day?"
"Wonderful!" Georgie replied. "The students here are so nice! I think I've made at least two friends already." And I met an incredibly gorgeous guy who likes me!, she added mentally.
"Did you like the girl who showed you around the school? She seemed nice enough. Did she help you out?"
"Yes, I did like her, very much. Thanks to the shortcuts she showed me, I actually made it to class on time. She even let me eat lunch with her and her friend Charlotte!"
"That's good. I originally wanted a teacher to show you around the school, but now I'm glad she did instead."
Georgie fidgeted as she waited for the car to reach home. She really wanted to call George. So, when the car finally pulled into their driveway, Georgie raced into the house. Throwing her backpack on the bed, she sat next to her phone and dialed George's number with shaking fingers. After two rings an angry-sounding voice answered the phone. "Yes?"
"Hi, is George there? This is Georgie."
The voice at the other end immediately softened. "Oh, hi angel! How are you?"
"I'm okay, how are you?"
"Fine. Say, did you want to go to a movie with me on Friday? I know it's short notice, but I can't wait to go out with you."
Georgie nearly dropped the phone out of excitement. "This Friday? Sure, I can do that. I need a ride, though."
"I can pick you up. Where do you live?"
I don't want Will to know I'm going to a movie with George, she thought, because he'd flip out if he knew. I'll just tell him I'm going to Lizzy's house. He's in his study all the time, so he won't know who's picking me up. Georgie gave George her address, and they decided which movie they wanted to see. After saying goodbye, she hung up the phone and fell back on her bed. Drifting asleep, she thought of George.
The week dragged along, much to Lizzy's dismay. The homework never seemed to end, and her free time was completely filled by scholarship applications and extracurricular activities. Friday finally came, however, and Lizzy was thankful for it. She had plans that night to go bowling with some of her friends, and she was just about to leave when she got a call from Georgie on her cell phone.
Lizzy smiled as she answered the phone. "Hey, Georgie! What's up?"
"Lizzy, I need your help," Georgie sobbed into the phone.
"What's happened? Where are you? Are you okay?"
"Come get me, please. I'm at the Dairy Queen on Pine Street. George left me here, and I have no way of getting home." Lizzy could hear Georgie crying between sentences.
"I'm coming, Georgie. Stay right where you are." Fifteen minutes later Lizzy found a shivering, red-eyed Georgie in front of the closed Dairy Queen. It was a cold night, and Georgie had obviously not prepared for the weather. Lizzy helped her into the car and turned the heat to the highest setting.
"Before I take you home," she said, "I want to know what happened. Why were you out with George, and why did he leave you here?"
Georgie began to cry again. "He asked me to the movies, and I said yes. He picked me up at my house an hour ago, but instead of going to the movie theater, he took me here. I noticed the place was closed, so I asked why he had taken me here. He said he didn't want to see a movie; he wanted to 'do other stuff' with me. Before I could say anything, he started to kiss me and unbutton my shirt. I told him no and said I wanted to go to the movie. He laughed at me and said I wasn't worth the effort, and then he made me get out and left me here. I didn't know what to do, so I called you."
Lizzy empathized with the younger girl, but she was also proud that Georgie hadn't let that creep take advantage of her. "Shh, don't cry. It's okay. I'm going to take you home now. Why did you call me instead of your brother, though? If he knew where you were, he would be worried to death about you."
"I didn't exactly tell him the truth about where I was going," Georgie admitted. "He thinks I'm at your house."
Great, Lizzy thought. Now when I take her home he's going to think her present state is my fault. Let's just lower his opinion of me a little more! She waited a few moments before answering. "Georgie, you shouldn't have done that. You've put us both in an awkward situation, but I know what to do. When we get to your house, you let me explain, okay?"
"I don't think that's such a good idea, Lizzy. There's no sense in making Will mad at us both. He'll be angry enough with me as it is."
"No, I think I know how to deflect his anger away from both of us. Let me explain the situation."
Georgie was still too distraught to put up much of a fight about the issue. "Okay," she said. "It's your choice."
She directed Lizzy to a well-to-do neighborhood in the north of town. Lizzy lived in the west section, so she hardly ever traveled to the northern end. She stopped her car in front of a large house with a well-manicured lawn. Georgie's family obviously had money. The two girls made their way to the front door, Georgie leaning heavily on Lizzy. The latter rang the doorbell and waited anxiously. Georgie's brother himself answered the door. Of course, Lizzy thought, he has to be the person we encounter first . Brushing past him she deposited the younger girl on the nearest chair. Georgie's eyes were still red, and she looked awful.
"What happened?" her brother asked. "What did you do to her?"
Lizzy replied sharply, " I didn't do anything." Her voice then softened. "Look, you can ask me all the questions you want, but let's help your sister first."
Georgie consented to being helped to her room, where she changed into her pajamas and went to bed early. Lizzy waited downstairs for Georgie's brother to return from helping his sister. Hearing his heavy footstep on the stairs, she stood up and prepared herself for the onslaught of questions sure to follow.