1. Graduation
The smell of frying bacon wafted through the apartment, and lazy, cheerful tunes were lilting through the air. The coffee machine and kettle were stirring to life as one by one the other girls sauntered into the kitchen.
"Mm, I'm going to miss your breakfasts Elizabeth!" Said a sleepy eyed Catherine, yawning and reaching for a mug.
"Ow!" Cried Charlotte in protest as the spatula slapped her wrist. "It was just a tiny bit of bacon!", she protested, smiling at Elizabeth, while still licking her fingers. Elizabeth scowled in mock-disapproval.
"I love Saturdays" sighed Elizabeth happily. "Especially this Saturday! Exams are finally over, the air is warming up and things just seem more care-free!"
The girls readily agreed.
"I can't believe we're about to graduate..." Jane said softly. Her eyes welled up. "This has been so amazing, I wish we didn't have to move out of here. It just seems like an ending."
A sadness fell about the room.
"Well, I'm amazed that Charlotte's finally leaving Pemberley" Elizabeth quipped, to lighten the mood. "Miss 'I'm just going to defer for one more semester and intern blah blah'. Pemberley won't know what to do without you, Charlotte! You're practically a landmark here- like that Greek goddess statue in the pond!"
"Oh ha ha," Charlotte rolled her eyes as the other girls laughed. They were all used to Elizabeth's teasing, and since it had brightened the mood, no grudge was formed.
"Like you have any reason at all to be mopey, anyways, Jane!" Charlotte handed her friend a coffee. "I'm pretty sure you've got a countdown til summer anyways!"
"So, how long now, Jane?" Asked Catherine picking a piece of bacon.
Jane smiled dreamily, her sadness forgotten. "Two months today, actually! And there's still so much organising to do- mainly the little, last minute details. Weddings are such hard work! And Charlie is getting out of it all! All he has to do is fly in, get fitted for a suit and turn up!"
"Oh Janey," laughed Elizabeth. "Like you'd want it any other way! Can you imagine if Charlie had a say in this wedding planning?! It'd be chicken wings and ribs and cans of Miller lite! And you're such a sweetheart, Jane, that you'd go along with it!"
Jane grinned sheepishly. "I know- and really, I am enjoying it all. Plus, Charlie's taking care of the France side of things. He's been busy looking at apartments in Lyon, and has even found me a school I could teach English in."
"I can't believe you're moving to France, Jane!" Sighed Catherine. "What an adventure!"
"Yeah!" Said Jane, her voice faltering slightly. "It's very exciting!"
Elizabeth eyed her friend closely, but said nothing.
Later that morning, Catherine headed out for a run. She is really getting into her new exercise routine, Elizabeth thought. And the results are paying off. Catherine was no longer chubby, and her face now held a look of confidence, coming from several years worth of good friendships with her roommates. Lydia was practically an acquaintance now, the two rarely speaking. It wasn't that they were enemies, but rather that they'd grown and changed to the point they had nothing in common anymore.
"Hey Catherine!" Elizabeth heard a voice just outside the door. Patrick poked his head round the door. "Everyone decent?" He asked, before coming in, looking around. "Damn", he said, shaking his head mischievously. "One of these days I'd better stumble across you lot having a pillow fight or something!"
Charlotte shoved him playfully before kissing him quickly on the lips.
"What's the plan today, Pat?" She asked.
"Yes, how are you spending your first weekend free of basketball?" Asked Elizabeth brightly.
Patrick grinned "well, I slept in, for starters. Tonight, I'm taking my girl out for a big greasy burger, but right now..." He paused for effect before looking at Charlotte. "Right now I'm taking you to see what might just be our new apartment!"
Charlotte squealed excitedly. She'd gotten a job with a local engineering firm, and Patrick had finished his undergraduate degree and basketball scholarship, and was starting his Masters in Psychology at Pemberley in the fall. They were giddy with anticipation at finally being at a point that they could move in together.
"Well, good luck guys! I hope the place is perfect!" Jane looked up from her bridal magazine.
The pair left the apartment deep in happy chatter about the features of the apartment.
Once the place was quiet once more, Elizabeth sat down next to Jane. She looked up in surprise.
"Janey..." Elizabeth began slowly. "Is everything ok? You don't seem your usual self.."
Jane started to brush the observation off, then hesitated.
"I don't know if it's cold feet, or moving so far away, or Charlie being away so much, but every time I think about the future, my heart starts to pound and I can't breathe." Her eyes filled with tears. "What's wrong with me?! I love Charlie, he's wonderful!" A sob escaped Jane's usually serene face.
Elizabeth sat and rocked her friend, listening to all Jane's worries and rationalisations. Finally, Jane sat back exhausted. In a shaky voice she summarised. "I think I do want to get married, but I'm having trouble accepting so much change right now. Growing up, everything was so stable. Even coming here to Pemberley wasn't as scary, because I met you on the first day. You're like my rock, Elizabeth. And now we're leaving this place, and there are so many big changes ahead."
"There sure are," comforted Elizabeth, "getting a new job, moving house and getting married are three of the most highly stressful and emotional life changes you can experience. And you're staring down the barrel of all three! Plus, you're moving to a country not speaking English, without your support network of friends and family!"
"- that's not making me feel any better, Elizabeth!" Jane interrupted.
Elizabeth gave a small smile. "I know, I know. I'm just pointing out everything you have going on right now. It's no wonder you're freaking out about it all."
Jane looked up and spoke in a small hopeful voice. "So it's ok to be feeling like this?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Totally normal, hon."
Her face brightened. "Oh, that makes me feel so much better! I was so worried I was messed up- I mean, we're finally ending this horrible long distance relationship business, and I'm flipping out! What kind of a bride freaks out just before her wedding?!"
"A human one" Elizabeth hugged her closest friend warmly.
Jane sighed. "Thank you, Elizabeth, for talking some sense into me. THIS is why you're my maid of honour."
Elizabeth shrugged, and looked pointedly at Jane. "I just listened. You talked it all through yourself, I'm just a sounding board. And I'd be your maid of honour any day!"
Jane smiled back.
Elizabeth's eyes narrowed wickedly "Of course, if you're still wanting me to wear that horrible mint-green dress, I might reconsider..."
"It's a lovely colour!" Jane cried. "You look great in it! And even if you didn't, I like it, so you're wearing it!"
"I know, I know!" Laughed Elizabeth. "It's fine- I'm just teasing!"
"You can have your revenge at your own wedding!" Smirked Jane.
"Yeah yeah, whenever that'll be." Muttered Elizabeth, before perking up once more. "Besides, I think it will be revenge enough that I'll have to call you 'Matron' of honour, cos you'd be married!"
"Ooh, yeah, that does sound bad!"
The two girls dissolved into giggles, before Jane turned serious once more.
"Elizabeth, have you guys talked lately... About marriage and stuff?"
"Me and Will?" Elizabeth asked, stalling for time. "No, not recently. It's weird. When we first started out, there was always 'Will graduating' as our future point. Then it was the draft, then it was looking forward to him coming back from Australia. Since then, we've just been coasting. We both know that we see ourselves together in the long term, so it's not like I'm wondering on our direction or anything, but there's just nothing to look forward to right now. Especially since his contract at Philly is about to end. There's no plan, no certainty, just me here and Will coming and going between games."
Jane nodded. "Have you talked to him about it? About getting married, I mean."
Elizabeth bit her lip. "Not in definite terms. I don't really know how to without it sounding like I'm trying to pin him down to a wedding date."
"Yeah, I can see that." Jane looked concerned for her friend. Elizabeth gave her a reassuring smile.
"Janey, it's nothing to worry about! Besides, with him as Charlie's best man, and me as maid of honour, I'm pretty sure we'll be able to bring the subject up in a relatively innocent way. It's all good. Let's just get graduation done and dusted, hey?!"
"True!" Jane admitted. "Such a shame the guys can't be there at the graduation, huh?"
"Yeah, I know. Just another sacrifice to basketball!"
"Tell me about it!" Jane rolled her eyes.
Elizabeth and Patrick stood together for a photo in their graduation gowns, alongside some of their fellow psychology classmates. Most were excitedly chattering about where they'd be studying-and what specialty- next year. Only a few had chosen, like Elizabeth, to defer enrolment into post-grad work.
"You're so lucky you know what field you want to get into." Elizabeth observed to Patrick.
He eyed her quizzically. "You're telling yourself that's the reason you deferred?!" He smirked. "It has nothing at all to do with a freakishly tall guy who-"
"Who happens to be standing right behind you?" Came that familiar voice that Elizabeth loved.
"You came!" Elizabeth practically leapt into his arms.
"Mm-hmm!" Will said, smiling through her kisses. "Our flight got in early morning. I may have told you the wrong time. Good surprise?"
"Hmm, you're making a habit of that," laughed Elizabeth, "but I'll let it slide."
Will shook Patrick's hand. "The gowns a good look for you. Congrats, man. Now time to enter the real world!"
"What do you know of the real world?" Countered Patrick good humouredly. "You get paid to bounce a ball. Wait til you get a nine-to-five office job!"
Will shuddered theatrically. "Always good to see you Patrick!" He called, as Patrick went over to talk with some classmates.
"He and Charlotte found a place to move into, did I tell you that?" Said Elizabeth, watching Patrick laugh with the group. "They're over the moon. It's only about five minutes from campus. And Jane pretty much has everything sorted for the wedding now. Charlie's very lucky he just gets to turn up!" Her eyes turned back to Will with a smile.
"I'll say." Laughed Will. "That's great for Patrick and Charlotte. I'm really happy for them." His face quickly clouded over. "I heard what Patrick said. I thought you're deferring because you're still choosing what field to go into? You wanted more work experience to help you decide?" His eyes caught Elizabeth's and were full of worry. "I don't want you to be doing -or not doing- things for me..." His voice trailed off.
"Will, what I told you was the truth. I've got some great work positions lined up for the next year to give me a taste for where I want to be. The fact it keeps me flexible is just a bonus, I swear."
Will nodded. "I know it's hard when I'm up for a new contract. It's-" he stopped and sighed. "Let's not do this now. This is YOUR day." He pecked her on the cheek. "I'm going to find your parents. I'll see you after the ceremony. I love you."
Elizabeth watched him casually saunter away towards the seating area. She still marvelled at him after all these years. He was just so masculine, so smooth, so confident, without an awareness or arrogance about him. A few girls turned to watch him walk past too, causing Elizabeth to chuckle to herself. It never ceased to amuse her that people ogled her boyfriend.
She did look forward to the flexibility of the next year, for professional reasons, but her personal life factored heavily too. Elizabeth had been offered a PhD opportunity at Pemberley in organisational psychology, but the field didn't wow her, and the thought of tying herself to Pemberley for an additional two years when Will was up for a new contract was the deciding factor. Had the opportunity been Elizabeth's passion, or if Will was definitely staying nearby for those years, she may have considered it.
This left Elizabeth feeling unsettled. There was a part of her that didn't like making choices based on a guy, especially when there was no definite agreement between them. The only solace she found was in telling herself she just needed to be sure. The deferral bought her time.
After the graduation ceremony, Elizabeth found Will deep in conversation with her parents.
"Elizabeth!" Cried her mother happily.
The men whirled around, and each engulfed her in hugs after Fran had finally let her go. That Elizabeth's parents were proud was an understatement. Their only child had graduated with top marks from a prestigious university. The fact was loudly proclaimed all around Elizabeth's childhood neighbourhood, as well as here.
"I am just so proud of you, darling!" Exclaimed Fran Bennet with tears in her eyes. "So smart! Gosh knows it didn't come from me!"
"Oh mom", Elizabeth chided her mother gently and wiped away a tear from Fran's cheeks.
"Isn't that Jane?" Asked Tom Bennet, effectively ending the awkward moment.
Hugs and congratulations flowed all round as Jane and her parents joined the group. Fran was eager to hear the latest wedding plans, excitedly exclaiming to Jane's mother that she couldn't wait to help to do the same things for Elizabeth's wedding.
"Mom!" Hissed Elizabeth in horror, her face bright red. She glanced over to Will to see if he'd heard, and couldn't help noticing how mortified Will looked. Their eyes met for a brief second before Will looked away quickly. Elizabeth's only consolation was that her mother was equally if not more mortified than Will at her outburst. Her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes went wide at her faux pas.
Ever true to her angelic self, Jane quickly continued telling the ladies about her wedding dress, and the awkward moment passed.
But Elizabeth had not forgotten the look in Will's eyes at the mention of marriage. It was one of terror.