Beginning, Section II, Next Section
Charles
The countless numbers had blurred into nothing but black spots. I rubbed my eyes. Will had been right. I should've never been an accountant. I didn't have the patience for it. Why was Will always right? Why was I always the one screwing up?
I closed my books and shoved them across that table. Picking up my coat, I left my apartment. It had been too long since I last talked to him.
"Hey."
Will looked up from his desk. Surprise was written across his face. Thankfully, there was no anger burning in his eyes but I still lingered at the door. He hadn't respond. He continued to stare at me and I had to avert my gaze. I hated it when he did that. Back at Harvey Mudd, Will did it all the time for the kicks and people would literally squirm. But I was never on the receiving end before.
"Hey..."
I snorted. "So, how long has it been?"
"Over a month, I suppose." He murmured as he waved me in. "I guess that's why my apartment's been smelling better."
I sighed with relief. Knowing Will as long as I have, I knew he had forgiven me. If not, he would have thrown me out. I sat down across from him. There was still a part of him which would hold onto his pain and anger for a long time coming. It was up to me to heal this breach.
"I heard you got a new project on board," I commented vaguely. Will always had some new project going. He liked the variety of doing three or more things at once. He had perfected it in college when he would listen to a lecture, write notes, doodle on his paper, wink at that cute redhead across the room...
"Yeah, it's a new commercial for this up and coming company, but I don't think you want to hear the details. C'mon, let's get some ice-cream."
I grinned. Ice cream. The world's cure all.
Elizabeth
"Hey, pretty."
I smiled at the sound of William's voice. "Hey yourself."
"Want to go for a ride?"
"Excuse me?" I picked up a stack of books to be reshelved but he came up and took half of them from me. As I watched his progress, I laughed, "You should have been a librarian."
"I don't think I look good with my hair in a bun." At the end of the pile, he turned over a pink paperback. He made a face.
"What?"
"Britney Spears."
"You don't like her?" I asked hopefully. I always tingled all over when I found we shared a common interest, or in this case, dislike. Over the last month, I had discovered that we had many similarities (or maybe it was my deep infatuation which was making all these conjectures) but I treasured every one of them. I even had a list on my refrigerator.
"I can't believe you carry this junk." He threw it in the rack.
"That junk sells well to thirteen year old boys."
He laughed and pulled me out of shop as soon as the lights have been turned off and the door locked.
"You've got to be kidding!"
I shook my head and refused to budge.
"Where's your sense of adventure?"
"On the ground!"
"You are on the ground."
"Correction. The horse is on the ground. I'm on the horse, which makes me not on the ground." I pouted.
He only laughed at me. He leaned down and offered me his hand, but I still refused to get on that thing. "I hate horses."
"Oh, c'mon, don't tell me when you were little, you didn't want your own pony?"
"That's different!" I retorted. "Ponies are small. Horses are not."
He rolled his eyes at me. Suddenly, as though it were some sort of afterthought, he looked at me intently. It made me feel nervous. He had a funny expression on his face.
"What?" Somewhere deep inside of me, I was hoping he would declare his love for me but as it was, I was only going off with one of my fancies.
"Maybe some other time." He slid off the horse and started to lead it back to the stable.
"What?" I ran after him but he didn't respond. He spoke a few words with the stable manager and handed him the horse.
"Let's go to the park."
"Why?"
As we slowly progressed back to his Expedition, he stuck his hands in his pockets. I could tell he had something on his mind with the way his eyebrows furrowed. He took a deep breath and turned his back to the car so his eyes were on the darkening stables.
"How's Jane?"
I stumbled forward. I stopped as well but my eyes were fixed in the opposite direction. Well, I glanced at him from time to time but mostly, I just looked at the expanse of dirt with its multiple tire tracks.
"How would I know? Is that why you took me out? To talk about Jane?" I spoke bitterly though I had no reason to. I mean, he was Jane's ex-boyfriend, wasn't he? Of course he would be curious about her.
"No, I wanted to talk about Charles."
My eyes widen in astonishment. I turned toward him. That name hadn't been brought up in over a month. "Why?"
"Because I talked to him two days ago and..." He paused as he turned toward the car again and walked leisurely toward it. I didn't follow.
"You know, you and I have become good friends, haven't we?"
"Yeah," I replied as I kicked the dirt.
"We wouldn't have met each other if it weren't for him."
"What are you trying to say? Thanks to Charles, we're friends and miserable. We're miserable friends." I laughed with an edge.
"He's sincerely sorry."
"Yeah."
"I've known him for years and I don't believe that he would hurt anyone-"
"Are we going to stand here all day?"
He disarmed the car and climbed in. As I shut my door, he locked both sides and turned toward me.
"Are you locking me in?"
"Yes." He paused. "You said we're friends so let's discuss this as friends would."
"Friends don't lock friends in their cars." I looked out the window just so I wouldn't have to look at him. I didn't know why we had to talk about it. I thought we sorted everything out at the coffee shop that day, and he had been the one who was reticent about the subject.
I felt his hand on my cheek. He turned my face toward him but I still wouldn't look in his eyes. I felt his warm hand slide away from me and it was all I could do to stop myself from reaching out and stopping him.
"I want you to know that Charlie and are working on healing the breach that was made."
"That's great," I replied with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm.
"Have you talked to Jane since then?"
"Sure, all the time," I lied.
"Liz..."
"Look, she betrayed me. She betrayed you! And Charles did the same."
There was silence. After awhile, I looked up. William was looking through the windshield at the gloom. He suddenly laughed. He turned to me and smiled softly, "It sounds like you're more angry with her because of what she did to me than what she did to you."
I didn't respond. So, he finally noticed?
"That morning, when we got your wedding dress, you were about to break it off with Charlie weren't you?"
I stared back at him. What was he thinking behind that beautiful face of his?
"I think I was the only one who was out of the loop. Let's see, you and Charles realized that you weren't meant for one another after all. I mean, that's a given."
"A given?"
"I never got the chance to pass judgment. If he had only asked me, I would have noticed right off that you weren't fit for him."
"I wasn't fit for him?" I asked incredulously.
"Of course not," he responded matter-of-factly. "I mean, you're just not Charlie's type. You seem more like the wife of a pro-wrestler."
It took me a minute to register the fact that he was messing with me. He looked at me and rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Liz, the two of you had been going downhill for awhile."
I was a statement more than a question. I nodded my response.
"And then there's Jane. Obviously, she and Charlie were attracted to one another. When did they meet?"
"After you two had begun to date. It might have been a few days after you first went out with each other," I shrugged.
"You know, it really hurt when I saw the two of them together, but I don't like standing in the way of something great. I already decided not to but I haven't acted upon it yet. So, I'm going to follow my instincts and save a few important relationships to me and perhaps some other people. It's up to you what you want to do."
He started the car and drove me home to the gray stone condo. He didn't say a word on the way back. He was thinking but I had no idea what it was all about. It got me thinking too though and I suppose that was his entire purpose.
Jane
I pulled the covers over myself but the ringing still persisted. I fumbled for the phone and managed to knock it off the stand. Cursing under my breath, I slid from my warm covers onto the floor where I could reach the receiver.
"Hello?" I managed groggily.
"Jane?"
It was William. I stared at the phone for a moment. "Yes?"
"I'm outside."
I involuntarily choked. I hadn't heard from him since the disaster between me and Charles. "You're outside?!"
"Do you mind letting me in?"
"Um, sure." I put down the phone and grabbed a robe. Passing the mirror, I tried to fix my hair. As I tried to straighten my flying strands, I realized I was taking a long time. I ran to the door while trying to look presentable.
As the door swung open, I saw him looking as handsome as the first day I met him. He had a pot of dandelions.
"Weeds?" I pondered out loud.
"I always considered them very resilient flowers."
I smiled. "What are you doing here William?"
He walked in and placed the flowers on the counter. "I was in the neighborhood."
"So you took a walk from California to Seattle?"
"Nah, I took the trolley."
I didn't know what to say.
"You know, those red ones with the bell."
"Uh..." I pulled at the knot on my robe unconsciously.
"I think we need to talk."
"I'm surprised," I replied with pure honesty.
He looked at me.
Blushing a tomato red, I bet, I explained, "I thought you would never speak to me again."
He sat on one of the stools. "I thought about it but your cooking brought me back." He paused. "I've been talking to both Charles and Liz."
"Oh."
"You haven't talked to them, have you?"
I sat across from him and fingered the weeds...flowers. "No."
"You should, you know."
"Why would I talk to Charles?"
We were quiet, lost in our thoughts. True, I've been curious about Charles, but it was a road I shouldn't travel. One I couldn't...
William broke the silence. "I was really angry at what happened between the two of you, but if I've learned anything about you when we were together, it was..." He stopped and took the flowers to the sink, adding water to it. "I had this entire analogy prepared about us being both a weed and a flower. How we were delicate on the surface, wearing our hearts on our sleeves, pretending we were something that we're not."
He smiled, "But, deep down we return to what is true and real. It sounded much better in my head." He placed the dandelions down again and stuck out his hand. "Hi, my name is William Benedick Rinaldi Darcy."
I looked at him, confused. Cautiously, I shook his hand. "Jane Rochelle Bennet."
"You're a nurse, aren't you?"
"Yes, but I also freelance for the 'Seattle Times.' What about you?" I still didn't understand what he was doing but I decided to go along with his game.
"I'm in advertising."
"Don't you have a B.S. from Harvey Mudd and a Master's from some school in Massachusetts?"
"Oh, you mean that obscure school, MIT?"
"Yes, that one! I found it odd that someone with your credentials and brilliance in mathematics would become an advertiser."
"Well, ma'am, I full of surprises."
"I've noticed..." I replied.
"I thought we could start over," he explained. "And I thought of a way we could fix things between you and Liz...and you and Charles."
Elizabeth
I watched William hum a Matchbox Twenty song as he licked his fingers of Danish crumbs. He had been gone for a week yet he hadn't said a word about it. I was dying of curiosity but I didn't want pry into his life. Okay, so that wasn't exactly true. I wanted to be his life but seeing as that wasn't working out, I would like to know what he was up to. But that didn't mean I had a right to either...
"I'm going riding," he said as he waggled his eyebrows.
I shot him a look. "Have fun."
"Or I might go sailing if you want to come."
"I don't sail."
"You're boring."
I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Have you read the 'Seattle Times' lately?"
I eyed him suspiciously. "You know Jane works there, right?"
"Oh, does she?" he replied too innocently. "I thought she only freelanced."
"Um, yeah, she works there occasionally," I corrected myself.
"What kind of articles does she write?"
"She does local headlines," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. This was the second time he brought Jane up in the last two weeks. Was he still interested in her?
"Oh, really? Because she wrote an editorial a few days ago. You should look at it..." He stood up and handed me the paper. I made no move to take it from him so he left it on the table and put on his coat. "I'm going to the harbor now."
He turned to go. Then, he stopped and said mockingly, "Where I'm going to ride a horse along the seaside and then, straight into the sea where I'm going to board a boat and sail the high seas. I'll be back in eighty days."
Charles
I didn't have the stomach for sailing but since Will suggested it, I went along with the idea. I was probably turning a yellow green as I clutched onto the mast. Will had that hero look going. You know, standing at the front of the ship, against the wind. Not holding on to dear life due to the stupid rocking of the ocean. I guess the guy who asked me to go sailing with him today was the one who still resented me because the last time I was on a boat, I spent the entire time vomiting over the side.
He started pulling some riggings and we slowed down. I fell on my knees as I heard him say some nonsense to me. "Wh-at?"
"I was just saying it would be better if you look at the horizon." His voice seemed muffled to me and he continued to speak but I was too sick to notice.
"C'mon, Charles, how about a Martinelli?"
"You want apple juice right now?"
"Apple cider," he corrected.
I struggled to get up and instantly leaned toward the left to heave my breakfast into the ocean's expanse. Apparently, I leaned a little too far because the next thing I knew, I was surrounded by sharp icicles of pain. I had fallen overboard.
"The ocean's bloody cold!"
"I'm glad you noticed, Charlie. See, due to the unique composition of water, specifically, the hydrogen bonds, H20 requires a lot of heat to rise even 1 Kelvin. Considering the vastness of the ocean, the temperature in this area is usually around 28 degrees." Will leaned against the side of the boat as he gave me the chemistry lesson. Or was it bio? I didn't know and frankly, I didn't care.
"Could you help me out a little?"
"Need a lifesaver?"
"Yes!"
My eyes widen in surprise as Will pulled out a roll of Peppermint Lifesavers from his pocket and threw one at me. I watched it drop down into the deep black bottom of the sea. I stared at him and he smiled back at me smugly. Then, he got up and went to the other side of the boat. I didn't know what he was doing but I waded in the water, wondering if he planned to leave me out here or simply teach me a lesson of betrayal.
"You have no faith in me, do you, Charlie?"
"What?" I was still confused and my legs were beginning to feel heavy.
"You thought I would leave you out here, didn't you?"
"Um..." Did this guy have some mutant ability to read my brain, or what?
"The look on your face, Charlie," he explained, which by the way, did not provide a negative to my previous pondering. He pulled out a camera from his pocket and took a quick snap before tossing me a real lifesaver.
I grasped onto that thing for dear life, which was ironic since I was doing the same when I was actually on the darn boat. He leaned back to pull me in. When I got to the side of the boat, my fingers gripped the railing, turning my knuckles white. My chest heaved in relief. Will came over and I put out my hand. He picked up the lifesaver. Turning his back to me, he began to wind up the string and put it back in its original position. I stared at him in wonder. When he turned back to take another picture, I glared at him. He took a picture of that too.
"I think we had enough fun for one day, don't you think?"
"Yeah," I replied.
"So, let's go." He started pulling at the riggings to my utter horror.
"You want me hanging onto the side of the boat the entire way back?" I choked.
"Oh, I knew I forgot something," he replied good-naturedly while smacking his forehead. He leaned over and offered me his hand.
Will reclined against the side of "Moonlit Glory," his prized boat which he himself renovated and polished since he was 17. As I was pouring out the sea from my shoes, he read a newspaper and did not look up despite the fact I kept throwing algae at him.
"What's caught your interest?"
"The personal ads."
I rose an eyebrow. "Seriously, Will."
"Single female, voluptuous, likes to have fun, goes by the name of Coco."
I snorted. Now, I knew he was kidding. I looked up as he stood and stretched his legs. Yawning, he walked pass me and threw the paper in my lap. "I think you should call."
I was about to set the paper aside when I caught the name of the newspaper along the header: 'Seattle Times.' Jane worked there. Sure enough, I looked at the article that Will had been reading. It was a editorial titled, "Behind Every Soft Petal," by Jane Bennet. Looking down the dock, I could see that Will was no longer in sight. I unfolded the daily and began to read.
Elizabeth
"...never my intent to hurt those that I loved the most. But I did. And now I am forced to face the consequences of my actions and swallow the bitter pill of my sister's resentment and that of two very important men in my life. For over a month, I was too afraid to speak to any of them and bring forth hurt feelings and confusion buried deep within all of us. Due to the estrangement, I became a miserable creature who went through the motions just to avoid reality. I have to admit I was holding onto the belief that one of us would step forward and bring us back together, as though nothing had happened at all. As the weeks went by, none of these fancies materialized and I did not have the courage to be the one who would step into the lion's mouth. Then, one miraculous day, there was a knock on my door..."
He went to Seattle! William went to Seattle! I paused in my reading and called the waitress over. I needed a big bite of chocolate before I could continue.
Charles
"...he was holding a fresh pot of dandelions and the first thought that crossed my mind was he despised me so much that he decided to drop off a pile of weeds and leave. That way, I could dwell on my guilt even more. I found it a fair punishment but learned that I had offered him a deplorable assessment of his character and worth..."
I was reading every word in the article and going over some of them four or five times. So, Will had gone to Seattle to patch things up with Jane... He had forgiven me and remained friends with Elizabeth. I wondered if he was trying to bring us all together. Of course he was. But, what about Jane and I? Was he willing to let us date? I shook my head. Jane didn't even want to see me. Well, she called me important...
Elizabeth
"...I had to admit his analogy fell sort of flat though the essence of it bore its way into me. During his departure, he polished it and I knew I had to share these words with the world."
I took a deep breath. What did he say to her? Did he want to start over?
"We shouldn't be afraid of being either a weed or a flower but we have the realize that we are both..."
Charles
My eyebrows shot up. A weed or a flower? What was Will thinking?
"...there are times in our lives where we need to fight stubbornly to retain our own ground and refuse to be anything less than courageous and noble, but there comes a point where you're no longer fighting for the cause but simply due to the fact that you're actually too scared to surrender. You don't want to be the one who gives up. You don't want to be the failure. And it's because of that, we do fail. And there are other times when we wear our hearts on our sleeves or back away because we don't want to deal with a confrontation. We live in the shadows. We become a wallflower and allow everything to dissipate into nothingness. Because we can't step forward, we cause regrets which can only be blamed on ourselves..."
Elizabeth
"...We don't go both ways because we can't. One thing we always do is return to our roots. They are what is true and real in this world. My sister, whom I have alienated because I acted upon two extremes, still keeps me standing. She will never be any less in my eyes than what she is: a wonderful and beautiful person who has discovered what she wants in life and strives after it with sincerity and honesty. She would've never hurt me in the way I've hurt her..."
I could feel the tears forming at the corner of my eyes. Oh, Jane! I'm so sorry!
Charles
"...I only hope one day that my sister will be able to forgive me for my betrayal. I know I ask a lot from her but I believe in her compassion and love. As for these two men I think about everyday, I only wish to convey my love to them. If you're reading this, Charles, I do want to make it work. I believe that you have the ability to affect my future happiness. I hope this message gets to you and you receive it with an open heart..."
The newspaper dropped from my hands. She wants to make it work! She wants to make it work! With squeaky shoes, I ran up the dock. I had to call her!
William
"Last but certainly not least, my flower/weed bearing friend, you have been the light in my life. I never appreciated you enough and I doubt I could ever possibly do so. You are someone I respect and admire beyond anyone that I've ever met. You took that leap of faith and reached out to all of us. You let us see what it really meant to be noble. Yet, you had the delicacy to bring us back to the world we belong without opening the rush of wounds which we created for ourselves and you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart though I can never repay you for everything you've done. I suspect that one day, you'll receive all that you deserve..."
At the end, Jane made a note to her readers about embracing the world and not holding back. Not being afraid to love and take chances. Not holding onto pain and resentment. And most of all, returning to what was true and real. And what if that's you, Jane? What if that's you?
Carol
"Today is their six month anniversary, and he's flying all the way up to Seattle so he can take her out to dinner!"
William's secretary nodded at me eagerly. Oh, what was her name? Maggie? Madeline? Mildred?
"Now, if my brother is this serious about her, then she's probably giving him something he can't refused," I said pointedly.
"Love?"
Love? I couldn't believe the incompetence of this girl!
"No, not love. Whatever gave you an idea like that?" I snapped.
"Well, I just thought-"
"Look, this girl was with your boss not too long ago. Then she just dumps him and starts another relationship with my brother. Now, William was too smart for the likes of her. He knew that she was only interested in the things he could give her. But he wouldn't give it to her so she moved onto an easier target, my brother."
"But I thought you said that she dumped him? From what you said, it sounds like Mr. Darcy was the one who moved on."
"Ah..."
Just then, my knight in shining armor walked in. "Any messages, Maria?"
"Oh no, sir."
"Well, it's been nice talking to you, Mary," I quickly said before turning my attention to William. I put my hand on his arm to stop him from entering his office. "Are you okay, darling?"
"Carol, what are you talking about?"
He sounded bothered. Well, why wouldn't he be? After all, Jane and Charles had betrayed him. I know how to make you forget all about them! "Well, you know."
"If you're going to waste my time..."
"Oh, William!" I pressed myself against him. "You must be in so much pain. I can't believe my brother would do something so awful to you. And Jane! I knew she was a slut and a gold digger since the beginning. Let me take you out to dinner and I could make you forget about your worries."
"I would love to."
"You would?" This was easier than I thought!
"But I have a date tonight," he turned and shut the door.
William
I reached across the table with my fork, but before I could reach the meatball, she slapped my hand.
"Hey, stop that."
"But it looks good."
"Maybe you should've ordered it."
I gave her my very best pout but she only smiled back at me.
"Are you sure you don't want any wine?"
"You know I don't drink."
She shrugged her elegant shoulders and took a sip from her glass. "So, how are you really holding up?"
"What do you mean?" I replied knowing that she was referring to Jane and Charles.
"C'mon, Darcy, don't play games with me."
I leaned back in my chair and gave a little puff of frustration. "You would think after all this time I would kick all these doubts and resentments to the curb."
"But you haven't," she stated.
"I should be happy for them. I mean it was my handiwork that got them together," I noted as I pushed the food around my plate. I finally put my fork down and placed my hands in my lap. "Well, back together. They've been inseparable for six months. I mean, Charlie flew all the way to Seattle, after screwing his clients over, so he could have dinner with her before he comes back down tomorrow for his deal with the bank." Under my breath, I muttered, "He's being completely irresponsible."
She didn't respond, and I didn't expect her to. She was going to let me stew in my own juices long enough to get some sense into myself. But I thought that would be a waste of time. I didn't have much sense in me before this whole mess started seven months ago and I didn't see any being inserted in my head anytime soon. "I'm just waiting for them to announce their engagement."
She sighed heavily. "You're pathetic."
I smiled wanly as I focused on the dark red carpet, "Thanks."
"Let's dance."
I rose my head slowly, not surprised that she asked me to dance (Correction: commanded me), but at the music playing softly in the background. I hadn't noticed it before, being absorbed in creating stick figures of Jane and Charles with my breadsticks. I leaned to the side so I could catch the words. She was looking at me funny but she always did that. "I don't think we should come here anymore."
"Why?"
Standing up and placing my napkin on the table, I looked into her eyes and said as solemnly as I possibly could, "Mixing country music with an Italian restaurant? It's simply unheard of!"
"I thought you liked country."
"I won't admit to such an accusation," I replied curtly. Then, I leaned forward and added, "Especially in public."
She took my hand and we danced slowly beside our table. For awhile, we just strained our ears to hear the music.
"I bet you know all the words."
"Only the chorus."
"Oh, really?"
"And part of the beginning."
She laughed into my shoulder.
"She'll watch me drive around her block. Gettin' courage up to stop."
My serenade only caused her to laugh even harder. I wondered if I could get her into hiccups. "To make her one more promise that I can't keep... The way I love the rodeo, I guess I should let her go before I hurt her more than she loves me."
"Darcy, stop..." She started giggling like a school girl. The waiter looked over at us and I gave him a little wave behind he turned his back.
I lowered my voice to get a more 'country' quality. "Wild horses keep draggin' me away..."
I received a hiccup for my effort. "And I'll lose more than I'm gonna win someday. Wild horses just stay wild and her heart is all I break. Wild horses keep draggin' me away.*"
She was into full hiccups by now. Smiling, I said, "I think we should get ready to leave."
"You know, hiccup, Darcy, I can see, hic-, you coming to this rest-, hiccup,-aurant for a long, hic-, coming."
"You think so, Anne?" I looked over to her.
"Yeah, it's perfect for..." She stopped to swallow the rush of air coming from her diaphragm though, to my amusement, it was still audible. "...the country loving Italian in all of us."
"I'm half-Irish."
"You lean toward the Italian side, Darce."
"No, I lean toward the country singing Italian side."
We paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant. But not before I bit Charlie's head off and maybe one of Jane's arms... or maybe it was the extra tail I added. One could never be sure.
*Wild Horses by Garth Brooks
Author's Note: Will may know his country but he's still a hard rock punk in his own way!
Elizabeth
I had a smile plastered on my face for so long that my cheeks had begun to hurt. I wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time. Laugh because I was being completely ridiculous. Cry because I wanted him to be mine. Mine, mine, mine!
I chewed on my hot dog with determination. I had been completely overjoyed when William asked me to come to a family barbecue. I even went out to buy a new outfit. Now, I don't want to sound conceited but I was dressed to kill and he was over there laughing with some freckled redhead. Looking at my watch, I had determined that I had been here for four minutes and 36 seconds and he still didn't know I was here.
I put down the hot dog that was shoved in my direction the moment I had arrived. Lost in a sea of bodies, I supposed I passed for some relative or family friend. My eyes immediately scanned the area for William, hoping that our eyes would lock among the crowd. When I found him, my hopes were dashed. Maybe she was his cousin or something. When I prodded the man next to me, who had the oddest salt-and-pepper eyebrows, and asked him her name and relation to the Darcys, he replied, much to my disappointment, "You mean Anne De Bourgh? Don't you remember when she used to date Will, Sascha?"
Sascha? What a name! Did I look like a Sascha? I shook my head and turned back to the figure across the lawn. My attention was more focused on William than any odd quandering of his relations. Well, if he wasn't going to come to me, I would go to him. Pulling my red leather skirt up a notch, I sauntered over as best as I could, though heels and grass make a horrible combination.
Richard
Oh, baby, break my heart! I eyed the petite brunette crossing the grass. Boy, did she know how to wear a miniskirt. Making my excuses, I made my way over as fast as I could. Please don't tell me you're some unknown cousin!
"Hey doll!"
She turned around while I took a better view of her. I nodded approvingly of the black halter-top which showed an inch of her midriff. She blushed deeply when she looked at me. But then, again, why wouldn't I make any woman blush?
"What's your name?"
"Um, Elizabeth."
"Well, Liz, do you think I could get your number?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Don't call me that."
Oh, the cold shoulder act, I see. "Call you what?"
"Don't call me Liz."
"Do you like baby better?"
"Ugh!"
"What?"
I watched her turn away and took much pleasure in it.
Elizabeth
The insolence of that man! I couldn't believe he would hit on me like that. For all he knew, I could've been Cousin Sascha! I was fuming by the time I reached William and his laughing Anne De Bourgh. I stopped a few feet short of him waiting for him to respond as I tapped my heels. He stared at me for a moment and impatient as I was, I blurted out, "Well, aren't you going to introduce me?"
William
I was sure my chin was grazing the grass the second I saw Liz. I couldn't believe what she was wearing. It was a far cry from her casual jeans and pastel blouses to say the least. She stared at me as I tried to tear myself from...uh, as I tried to look her in the eye without appearing like some adolescent who didn't know how to control his testosterone. Much good I was doing!
"Well, aren't you going to introduce me?"
She wasn't in a good mood. I shook my head in confusion. What was wrong? Maybe the cold was bothering her! "Uh, are you okay, Liz?"
Before she could respond, Anne put out her hand. "Hi, you must be Elizabeth Bennet. I'm Anne De Bourgh, an old friend of Darce."
To my surprise, Liz looked at Anne with narrowed slits. She seemed ready to pounce and tear her into shreds. Boy, what was brewing behind those shrewd eyes of hers, would I like to know! Just as I was about to pull her aside, Richard came up to us. His eyes were focused on Liz and I didn't mind keeping it to myself that his saunter looked more feminine than the old grade school walk we used to practice. Much to my embarrassment, yes, Richard and I actually did that... And turned around in the mirror to execute a smooth exit though I never had the courage to put it into use.
As Richard scooted up next to Liz, Anne couldn't resist telling him what she thought. Could she ever? "I think you're using too much hip in that, Richie."
Laughing, she left the three of us to ourselves.
"Hey baby."
Something swam inside of me. What right did Richard have hitting on Liz? Okay, so she was free as a bird since the catastrophe with Charlie but I still didn't like it. This was the one heart I would not let him break. For some odd reason, Richard could attract women like he was made out of clear-cut diamond. Not to say I would want to be in his place, but you have to understand him the way I do. I can't say he's any better looking than I am. To tell you the truth, I've thought about it but I can't really assess myself properly and I flat out refuse to check out his butt to see if it's any firmer than mine.
Anyway, we both got our share of girls throughout the years but it was Richard who usually had a different one each week. Hey baby, let's have some fun. See you later. I suppose I was more of the steady boyfriend material while he was Mr. Playboy. He had an endless string of them though some I would have done well without. You would think I would envy him but he seemed to be more worried about quantity than quality, and that wasn't my style.
I looked at the two of them. Liz was still sour but Richard was his old crass and charming self. What did she think of him?
Elizabeth
Who does this guy think he is?! Richard Fitzwilliam hadn't stopped ogling me in the last ten minutes, and we've been sitting down for seven! Will conducted a maddening whirlwind of introductions to his sweet cousin Georgiana, his sour Aunt Cathy, his salt-and-pepper eyebrowed great uncle Stewart (was he the one who liked to barbecue in the nude?), to his pierced and tattooed cousin's wife's ex-husband's new girlfriend Lydia, and on and on until my head had begun to spin.
When we finally settled down, I was happy to see Anne far away from William, but my joy was short lived when Richard took the seat next to me with a confident smile.
"How are you doing, baby?"
"I don't like being called that," I muttered.
"Do you prefer honey?"
I could feel his hand on my exposed thigh. I flinched for a second but I didn't remove it. I thought with bitterness and anger that William never so much as looked at me, as Richard was ogling, that he never touched me, as Richard was doing. He placed his other hand on my shoulder, trying to pull me toward him. What a jerk! A jerk who noticed me. A jerk who paid attention to the outfit I wore. A jerk who would ogle me.
Posted on Monday, 26 February 2001
Anne
William's plan to set me up with Richard had failed horrendously. I had been in love with that stupid All-American boy since the day I met him. And he never noticed. Of course, he was the big man on campus, though I believed that during Will's time, his popularity, in general, was less than his cousin's. Richard had appealed to any girl with eyes and all them big boys (you know, football players and such) when he was a senior. However, when William was in high school, he was favored by just about everyone. At the time, he had been somewhat shy but it only added to his charm. While all the other girls, with the exception of the seniors such as myself who could not step down to a freshmen no matter how hot he was, forgot about Richard to trip over one another for this doe-eyed boy, I was still pining away for blue eyes and sun bleached hair.
William shifted in his seat. I tore my eyes from the screen. It didn't matter. I wasn't paying attention either. All I saw were insignificant pictures dancing in front of my eyes and meaningless sounds assailing my ears. Usually, when we needed cheering up, we would pull out ice-cream, the world's cure all, and a Mel Brooks movie which would have us cracking up and making imitations until we were fresh out of worries. Not tonight. A frown creased his beautiful face. I used to think it odd how beautiful it was but it just seemed to work so well for him. I always thought things worked out very well for him. Apparently not.
Here he was working over his infatuation with Jane and getting past Charles' betrayal when he hit a brick wall. I shook my head slowly. I never got a chance to spend much time with Will over our twelve-year friendship. He had a life. He went out and took action, hung out with his friends, found enjoyment in solitude, went out with girls, involved himself with hobbies, laughed at the incredible oddities of his family and himself, lived a social and personal life I envied. But whenever we got together, he always gave me his undivided attention. It made me feel special, and afterwards, guilty for having thoughts and hopes concerning Richard spin through my head due to association.
I slapped his hand. He was unconsciously picking at the cross-stitch on my pillow. He did many things unconsciously, like stare at a piece of lint floating in the air, snap his heels together when he was bored, or recently, talk about Elizabeth Bennet.
Goodness, he didn't even know he had fallen in love with her! And now, she was dating Richard. Ha! Two mix-matched relationships! Poor William. Perhaps his life had been too smooth till then. It all got pent up until it burst into these unintentional treacheries of the heart. It would boil down and result in his happiness. I was sure of it, but how was I suppose to tell him that? How could I, when I didn't even have belief in my own future?
Elizabeth
You've reached a new low, Liz! I noticed recently that I didn't refer to myself as Lizzy anymore but Liz. William had called me Liz since the moment we met. My heart wrenched in my chest as I thought of him. Every part of me missed him; yet, I didn't have the courage to pick up the phone or stop by. Since the barbecue two weeks ago, it was as though something had severed our bond irreparably. It was me. I, who spent the past few months thinking of nothing but his breath against my skin, sent our relationship tumbling down a steep slope.
I had grown tired of our friendship. I wanted more but how could I expect more when he was pining over Jane? But he had moved on! To Anne De Bourgh. Not me. Oh, I burned with jealousy and rage and the only way I could retaliate was move on myself. But I didn't want to. My heart refused to separate itself from the beating of his. By sheer will, or perhaps stupidity, I played nice with his cousin that afternoon. And since then, no more phone calls during his lunch break, no more walks in the park, no more stops by the store at the end of the day, and no more teasing about horses or boats. It was only Richard who called me and stopped by.
I have wondered for fourteen days straight why William, who went out of his way to know the fiancée of a friend who betrayed him, had decided I was no longer worthy of his attention but soon concluded that he was too busy with Anne. He probably didn't know I was going out with his cousin! Looking at the clock, I knew it was almost time for my date with Richard. I still had a half hour at least. He never failed to be late. My eyes met my reflection in the mirror. I tried to smile but I couldn't. Pulling out bright red lipstick, I applied it liberally. I hated the color as I had despised the wedding dress I bought over six months ago.
William
"I'm taking a walk," I mumbled more to myself than Anne. She didn't seem to care anyway. Pining over Richard. Again. Taking my coat off the rack, I pulled it on and slipped into the coolness of the night. It didn't matter whether I turned left or right. I was not going anywhere in particular and while I continued on my path, I forgot which way I had decided to go.
I rambled along the streets, prowling the pavement like a caged animal. I suppose I was, with the bars coming in on all four sides and me, stuck in the middle, trying to keep myself sane by thinking of Anne and Richard. Richard and Anne. Anne and Richard. I had known her for twelve years. Or so she thought. In actuality, I first saw her before she even knew of my existence. Her mass of red curls was under my observation when Richard was a senior. Anne had been a year under him, yet they were in the same English class. Richard never noticed each glance she sent his way as he flipped through his little black book, letting her work for an A which only one of them deserved but both would receive. I watched her from the stairs. I thought she was pretty and found myself attracted to her, being an older woman and all and me being nothing but a scrawny eighth grader back then.
We officially met my freshmen year. Despite our age difference, we became close friends. Don't get me wrong. I knew her only interest in me was my relation to Richard but I liked her enough not to care. I allowed her to tag along with me to family events so she could talk to Richard, but he didn't even remember her. I had saw the tears gather at the corner of her green eyes when he didn't recognize her or even recall an Anne De Bourgh in his long list of acquaintances. They had spilled over when he went on to a more appealing object. Between junior and senior year, she had changed in appearance much. New hair cut, new clothes, makeup and such. Oh, but it was not enough to catch his attention for over a second.
I shouldn't have encouraged her but I thought a good wholesome girl such as Anne would have done my "I'm a god" cousin good. I even let her pretend she was my girlfriend just to make him jealous. It didn't work. He was juggling too many girls to worry about anything he wanted from me. Recently, she had been gone for the hard-to-get routine by ignoring him. What a surprise, it didn't work. He went after Liz. And now my attempt to stay off what was foremost in my mind has circled back to my current despair.
I was at the park. Walking down those windy paths made something inside of me ache. I wasn't in love with Liz. I couldn't be. It was Richard I wanted to protect her from. Oh, Richie wasn't such a bad guy. It was his belief that he was the epicenter of the world, which led him to leave a long line of girls in agony, and I just didn't want her to be one of them. I sat on a lonely bench. To me, even the bench looked sad with its peeling paint and rust along its curling arms.
I really didn't know what to think. If I didn't have some sort of feelings for Liz, then why couldn't I bear myself to call her or stop by the store? Why did I spend so much time ignoring Richard? I clenched my fists. Stupid Richard. I was building a storm against him as I began to blame him for everything. He was supposed to be with Anne! Now she was sitting in her apartment staring at the television with dead eyes. He's not worth it. I had it all set up for him to take her to a Madonna concert in my place, though I never intended to go. Instead he spent his time chasing Liz. At the table, he had the audacity to put his hand on her but when she didn't move it, I got worried. I wanted to scream at her, "Why are you letting that jerk do that to you?"
She had continued to eat, almost as though she didn't notice. But how could she not? Richard made sure girls paid attention to him. So infuriated was I by the entire situation, I had left the table. I made sure I wouldn't encounter them for the rest of the afternoon. Let them do what they want! And a word has not changed hands between me and the two of them since.
Anne keeps giving me these apologetic looks and it makes me sick. Funny thing, though. She's the only company I have had for awhile. Misery loves company... I've turned down pizza and bowling with the boys. I've turned down Charlie's offer to play pool. I've even turned down a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert. Now, according to John, there's something extremely wrong with me when I do something like that. Maybe I just figured my upcoming birthday, which would render me twenty-six, made me too old for bashing my head out to the tunes of "Parallel Universe." Yeah right. I went trick-o-treating last year.
I looked at the moon shadowed by dark branches, reaching toward the sky, swaying slightly by a wind that could not be seen but heard like a whisper across the night. The pain I suffered at the hands of Jane and Charlie was not the same that I now suffered. That pain I had held onto with resentment until I knew it was time to let it go. It had boiled within me until the steam had risen and dissipated in the air. Gone. Evaporated into nothingness.
Oh, this wasn't the same. Not at all. It was more of a dull ache. As though there was a void I never knew existed and now needed to be filled. But with what? The wind whispered in my ear; it whispered with an ageless wisdom, supported by the shedding of autumn leaves, the falling of gentle snow, the burst of green under rich soil and the blaze of glory by the sun. And I failed to understand it. Standing on that sorrowful bench with its peeling paint and rust on its curling arms, I looked at the moon. Face to face. Without swaying branches in the way. It was full and almost translucent against its dark drapery, shining in a dull way but burning brighter than the stars themselves. I sighed, broken at the bends.
Elizabeth
I resisted the urge to spit in his face. Not because he was being a creep, but because he had the ability to be surprisingly entertaining at times. I supposed that was where William and Richard shared a connection, beyond the devastatingly good looks that is. I must've been turning red with laughter as I tried to swallow my drink at the same instant.
"So, he's screaming, 'What's the big deal about underwear?' And who turns the corner but Mrs. Healthdale. She's so red in the face but you should've seen Charles! Man, the rest of us were cracking up."
As champagne dripped down my chin, I stuck my face in a napkin, hoping to spare myself from the embarrassment that had once befallen Charles. I leaned back with a sigh after I had completely recovered, my mind tumbling over the differences between the two cousins.
Night and day. Yes, a mundane comparison but true to the objects of observation, nonetheless. William was dark, with brooding eyes and brown hair, which was combed with care, while Richard had an irresistible pair of laughing blue eyes and a messy mop of dirty blonde hanging over him. Like, I said, night and day. And that was only the physical aspects.
When it came to everything else, these two had an even greater disparity. From what I gathered, Richard and William attended the same high school, just at different times. Richard had been the star quarterback and Prom King. After he left Weston High, he continued on to a party school. What a surprise... and did everything a truant eighteen year old on his own would've done. Meanwhile, Will proved to have an impressive record in academics and popularity. He never told me himself but Charles (we're on speaking terms now) relayed to me his career as yearbook editor, captain of the soccer team, captain of the intramural hockey team, lead guitarist of his own band, Valedictorian, and, beating out Richard where it counted, Homecoming King.
While Richard ended up roaming around for a bit before working for his father, a successful banking executive, William studied at some of the highest ranked scientific and mathematical institutes in the nation. And decided he was sick of numbers. He settled on the advertising business for goodness knows what. I always considered him a starving artist who got trapped under his own intellect and revolting against the black and white lines of constants, numbers and equations, shed his own overbearing understanding of them to let his creative juices flow. Of course, that was how I considered him. He would've probably laugh in my face and said he just was tired of numbers.
"Hey, baby!" Richard was close to me, waving his hand in front of my face. "Oh, Elizabeth, are you in there?"
I blinked. So engrossed I was with thoughts of William, I forgot all about Richard. And what a disappointment to see him instead. I couldn't help but frown.
"What's the matter, babe?"
As I opened my mouth to reply, Richard pressed his lips against mine. Here we go again! Not that Richard was a bad kisser but I never felt anything worth the trouble to continue with this charade when I was with him. It was all too fake, like I was in drama class in high school. Richard was this hot shot Casanova who thought he could sweep every girl off her feet when all I really wanted him to do was pull back so I could get some air.
His hands were all over me. Like usual. I tried to control them without much success. We were in a public place, for Pete's sake! I could imagine what Jane and William would've done on a date. I could picture them sitting across the room, looking at this overwrought display of 'affection' with disgust. They would've turned back, into their own seclusion, and quietly whisper into each other's ears and hold hands under the table. Then, in a flash, I saw Anne. Anne was beside him now and Jane was never there. She and William were laughing and he reached up to touch her hair. As though I were avenging myself, I leaned into Richard. When we finally pulled back, he had this stupid grin on his face. I was practically panting for breath and as my eyes traveled the room, who should I see staring right back at me but Anne De Bourgh.
Anne
The second I walked into the restaurant, I saw them. I mean, everyone was either glancing in their direction or staring openly. It was only natural for my own eyes to follow the crowd's gaze. At a fancy table meant for business transactions and special anniversaries, Richard Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Bennet were going at it. It was as though I was being transported back to high school where I was a nobody in the hallways, watching the star quarterback, the man of my dreams, suck face with some bimbo.
Except...except a lot of things. As I stood there in my designer gown, with my hair pulled back with jeweled pins, watching them defy the laws of human nature (really, how could you breathe?), I found myself laughing at my own absurdity. Since the day I saw him. Since I arrived at Weston in the middle of my freshmen year. Could it be sixteen years?! Yes, I was thirty now. So much time wasted on that All-American boy. Oh, sure, it wasn't as though I spent my days following him around, hoping he would notice me without stepping on my tail and sending me on my way (though it would've been good for me). In the interim, I became relatively successful, went sky diving (and sworn never to do it again), got up the courage to talk back to my mother, and I even married a stockbroker. But how much did everything mean to me when I was all alone? How long did my marriage last when I was always dreaming of someone who was out of reach? For so many years, I aspired to mean something to Richard Fitzwilliam. The result? Ashes to ashes.
"Ma'am, your table is ready."
I turned to the man in the tuxedo. "Could you give me a moment? And if my date arrives, could you please direct him there?"
He nodded in reply, and I made my way over to Elizabeth who caught sight of me and was staring at me in utter surprise. Sucking face with some bimbo. I didn't think Elizabeth was just another bimbo. Everything I learned about her indicated quite the opposite. She was probably a sensible sort of girl who was falling fast and hard, grabbing onto Richard so she could survive the fall. I had thought William was the reason behind her tumult but I couldn't be sure. Not yet, anyway.
"Well, if it isn't the happy couple!" I said with a cheer I actually felt.
Elizabeth averted my gaze, blushing deeply. Meanwhile, Richard let out a slow whistle. "Anne..."
I raised my eyebrow at him. So, he finally remembered my name. Sometimes, I wasn't too sure. "Richie, don't you look splendid... That particular shade of lipstick is quite becoming on you, a favorite of mine too but it looks much better on you."
William always told me I could be brutally blunt but I think it who he who taught me to speak my mind. He could teach Elizabeth a few things too, I thought, looking at her messy hair and low-cut dress. Suddenly, I felt that it was time for me to leave before I burst into laughter. For some reason, I found the entire situation hilarious. It felt like we had been pulled into some modern day drama and none of us knew our lines. We just ad lib everything to the best of our ability and fell flop on our bellies. Even though I was going to have dinner with my lawyer, I couldn't help smiling sweetly at Elizabeth and saying, "Well, can't keep old Darce waiting now, can I?"
Charles
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Why was this so hard? C'mon, Charles, what's wrong with you? I could feel the sweat on the palm of my hands, my grasp slipping from the bouquet of flowers in my hand. As I rose my fist to knock on the door, I felt myself hesitate. Oh, good Lord, I felt like I would vomit any second now. I put my head between my knees as I closed my eyes tightly. Hearing some movement, I quickly sniffed the area under my arms. All clear. I prepared to smile brightly as Jane opened the door.
"I was expecting you!"
Her beautiful face was all I could focus on. Everything faded away as I looked at her.
"You're so gorgeous..."
She giggled, "Charles, you say that all the time."
"It's true," I murmured, unable to do anything but stare at her.
She took me by the hand and pulled me in, while disengaging the flowers from my other fist. Closing the door, she left me where I stood to put them away. I followed her.
"White roses."
"I thought you would be tired of wild flowers," I replied quickly, shifting my feet as she filled a vase with water.
"Oh, but when you come visit me, you always bring wild flowers."
"I've missed you."
She stopped pulling the plastic from around the roses to smile brilliantly at me. "It's been a week."
"Seven days too long."
Coming up to me, she placed her soft hands on the side of my hands and kissed me. Heaven itself. I wanted to stand there and kiss her all day but I courageously told her to put her flowers away.
"Don't worry, Charles," Jane replied. "I take good care of everything you give me!"
She turned back to the flowers, trimming them and arranging the stems in the vase one by one, like she always did. It was a constant process which involved me standing on the kitchen tile for at least ten minutes, waiting impatiently for us to continue with our evening. Yet, I never ceased to get her flowers.
Snip. Snap. Snip. Snap. She started on the outside and one by one the flowers filled the vase. Snip. Snap. Snip- I watched her intently. Her face had turned from a quiet serene to a flushed surprise. Her eyes were focused on the diamond and sapphire ring in the center of the bouquet.
Slowly, she picked it up with shaky fingers. I didn't think she was prepared for a proposal and I wasn't sure how she would react. Say something! Just say something! Jane remained motionless, her hands enclosing the ring with its glittering circle of jewels. I couldn't take it anymore. Walking up behind her, I wrapped my arms around her waist. "Jane, this may be too early, but these past seven months have been the most amazing..."
I felt tongue-tied. It had been so easy with Elizabeth! It had been so easy because she hadn't been Jane. She hadn't been the one I wanted to grow old with and wake up beside every morning. Jane was. And now, the only thing standing between destiny and me was Jane's acceptance. I got down on my knee. Taking her hands, I kissed them and said with more confidence than I actually felt, "Jane, will you marry me?"
Her eyes brimmed with tears as she nodded her reply.
Carol
I couldn't believe I was going to spend the evening with my brother and his snotty girlfriend. I figured it would've been better than eating take-out at home, but he could at least have the courtesy to amuse me while I was here! And where was William? Charles said he was suppose to be here and I made sure I was wearing my best orange dress (as in the lowest cut along the neckline and highest cut along the hem).
Ugh! I certainly wasn't going to sit around while Charles and Jane cozied up. At least she's not pulling William along anymore. No, sir, he's off limits! I left the dining room and entered the hallway, heading toward the living room and the TV. Just then, there was a sharp knock on the door. Well, well, well, he's finally here. I pushed my chest up, smiling at their firmness (these were worth it!), and opened the door to see not him but the next best thing. Or, maybe, an even better thing! Hello, baby... Wow, was this guy gorgeous! And he had a better body than that lanky frame of... oh, what's his name? Oh yeah, Darcy. Whatever.
Richard
Nice! I like the assets!
Elizabeth
Oh, please! It was enough that his eyes roamed my body but now they were taking in Carol Bingley. William would've never looked at that stick without cringing, but who was Richard to resist a blonde with a big pair of... Oh my, did Carol get a breast job? She was practically falling over with the extra weight! I pushed past the gawking pair. Good, they deserved one another. I was going to dump him anyway. Trying to forget William and quelling my loneliness with Richard had left me incredible tired and frustrated. After Anne's remark in the restaurant, I realized that I had to fight for him. And that was exactly what I intended to do.
Before I went to look for Jane and Charles, I headed to the bathroom. I had to look perfect tonight. I was told to dress with semi-formality so I picked out a simple black cocktail dress. I had my hair pulled up by pins and a few gardenias. My make-up was almost neutral. Simple. Simple. He wasn't the type to be impressed by a bunch of fuss, which was good since it took me six tries to put on a layer of mascara. I was so nervous, I could barely stop myself from poking my eye out!
Looking in the mirror, I found myself rather disappointed. Perhaps Jane and I were sisters, but we shared little physical aspects. I may not be ugly but I wasn't as gorgeous as Jane with her willowy frame and light features that won William over in two seconds flat. And what about Anne? Sure, she was pretty but I could level against her, couldn't I? Smoothing out my dress, I took a deep breath. Anne De Bourgh, watch out, William's going to be mine!
Anne
I rolled my eyes at Charles, who literally had a grin on his face which stretched from ear to ear. C'mon, old boy, just tell us you're engaged! I leaned forward to tell him to get it over with when I felt a kick on the back of my leg. I turned around. It was William.
"Let him have his moment."
I made a face. "Alright, but you could've just tapped me on my shoulder!"
"I could've," he shrugged, turning away with a smile.
I picked up my foot and rubbed the back of my heel. Stupid boys! Don't they ever grow up?
"Hello, Anne."
I looked up and blinked. "Elizabeth?"
"You seem surprise."
"You could say that," I replied, noticing her seemingly aggressive stance. She was glowering at me under a thick fringe of lashes with her hands on her hips and feet shoulder width apart. If she had a rolling pin (and perhaps thirty extra pounds), she could play the part of an angry matron scolding a mischievous child.
"Could we have a talk?"
"Sure," I murmured as I followed her out to the hallway.
"It's about William." She looked me straight in the face.
I leaned against the wall, already aware of what she would say. It had been coming for some time, but I played along. After all, I could use a good ranting and raving tonight. The purpose of Charles' little get-together was as clear as an aluminum baseball bat smacking you in the head. I had been prepared to be bored out of mind, but if Elizabeth was willing to put up a scene for William, I was going to sit back and enjoy it as long as need be.
"I want you to know that you're going to be facing some competition." She paused as I patiently waited for her to continue. "From me."
I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised as I bit my lip, hoping not to laugh right out at her naivete. "Oh?"
"Now, don't say anything. I want to finish this." She began to pace with her hands behind her back. Letting out a sigh, she continued, "I know you and William share some sort of history. And in his time of need, you have comforted him... which would naturally lead the two of you to rekindle your relationship. But he doesn't need anyone who'll just help him along. He needs someone who will always be there for him. And that's me. I want to be there for him. Always. Now, I don't pretend I know anything about the state of your relationship but I know the state of my relationship with him. I know that I need him as he needs me. I know that he makes me happy and I hope to do the same for him."
"You're dating Richard."
She smiled weakly, "Not for long considering the way he and Carol have been getting along."
I remained silent. A part of me felt sorry for this poor girl. It wasn't long ago I had been blinded by my foolish infatuation for Richard who wasn't worth a sour lemon. But William was different. He was worth far more than he got. Was Elizabeth good enough for him?
"Why did you ever go out with Richard in the first place?" I crossed my arms, affirming my decision that Elizabeth Bennet had to prove herself.
She seemed astonished by my question. "Uh...I wanted more than a friendship..."
"With William, you mean."
"Well, yeah, with William."
"That doesn't explain anything."
"I don't know," she looked at me helplessly. A deer caught in the headlights. "I wanted to make him jealous, I guess..."
"You wanted to make him jealous?" I didn't wait for a reply. I don't know what drove me forward but I lashed out at her. Perhaps it was my own guilt for not truly appreciating William. Perhaps it was my desire to see him happy. Or it could be, for goodness sake, residual feelings for Richard. I stepped close to her and hissed, "Well, I'm sure a superficial relationship with his cousin will endure you to him! You did more harm to him and yourself than you would've done if you had been open about your feelings! Did you know how he felt after Jane and Charles betrayed him? It wasn't easy for him to get over the lost trust between them but you know what, he resealed the breach for the sake of each and every broken heart. You should stop thinking about yourself! If you truly have feelings for William, you would consider his feelings over yours. He deserves that."
Charles
"Everyone, I have an announcement to make!"
Jane
I hope William and Lisa are happy for us... What if they're not? What if they're angry at us. I began to fidget with the tablecloth. They didn't look particularly happy. What if they're mad? Maybe I should bake them a cake.
Anne
Oh, finally! I need to go to the bathroom so bad Don't think about it, Anne. You don't need to go. In fact, you're thirsty. You want another drink of water. Oh no, you don't!
Elizabeth
I should consider his feelings over mine. What if he loves Anne? I'll only complicate things by interfering. Does he love Anne? He doesn't look lovestruck. But he's been talking to her, not me. He's barely said three words to me all night! Okay, there was "Hello, Liz." That's two. Then there was "How are you doing?" That's four. Then he asked me to pass the potatoes...
Richard
Are those real?
Charles
I smiled at everyone around me and spoke from deep inside, "I've asked you here tonight because I wanted to share my joy with those I cared about most."
William
Let's see... There's Jane, Liz, Richard, Carol, Anne, and me. Didn't Charlie have any other friends? And Carol doesn't even count as a person! Does Richard?
Elizabeth
I'm not good enough for him! I'm not tall enough, I'm not pretty enough, I'm not considerate enough, I'm an awful cook (he needs someone who can cook!), I'm boring, I can't sail, I don't ride horses (oh, I bet Anne knows how to ride a horse!)...
I know about vegetables...
Carol
I crossed my legs suggestively at Richard and leaned back. What did you think about that?
Richard
Do I really care if they're real?
Charles
"Jane and I are engaged!" I looked directly at Jane, my eyes brimming with the love I felt for her. I was so happy. I could've burst with happiness!
Jane
All thoughts of William and Elizabeth faded from my mind. I stood up to kiss Charles. Oh, I was so blissfully happy!
Carol
They're so happy... It makes me sick!
Anne
Man, I need to use the bathroom. Maybe I could give them a quick congratulations and slip out without anyone noticing. Would anyone notice?
Richard
Plastic versus real... Plastic versus real... Oh, who cares!
Elizabeth
What's William thinking?
William
I could go for some s'mores right now...