"Will…wait for me!"
The 13 year old Will stopped and looked back to his bestest friend ever, Lizzy. "Come on, hurry up…this is so cool you won't believe it!"
Finally the 11 year old Lizzy reached where he was and he grabbed her hand without allowing time for a breath.
"I have been waiting and waiting for you to get here to show this to you. I found it when Richie, Geoff, and I were playing hide and seek."
Forced to turn when she stopped running he watched as her hands landed on her waist and glared at him. "Fitzwilliam Alexander Darcy…are you telling me you showed whatever this is to Geoff and Richie before ME!"
He allowed himself a small smirk as he watched her get furious, she was so funny when she got mad even though he usually paid for whatever he did for a long time. He was usually pretty pigheaded himself but Lizzy could make a run for his money when it comes to being stubborn. Her eyes flashed and revealed just when she was about to turn around and leave.
"Lizzy come on, do you really think I would tell them before you…you are my best friend, this is something that I will only share with you…"
She stared at him for a few seconds to make sure he wasn't pulling her leg. He wasn't! She let down her guard and started to move past him to continue towards the lake when he grabbed her arm and spun her around. She stared at him wide-eyed wondering why he was mad.
"…but only if you promise to tell no one." She smiled and nodded her head. "Pinky swear?"
She smirked and held out her pinky finger which he immediately hooked with his and shook hands. He smiled and grabbed her hand once again urging her to hurry. Within minutes the rounded the big oak that hid the entrance to their "secret" lake. She looked to him to demand him to reveal the surprise but she couldn't find him. She turned and there he was kneeling down on the other side of the oak.
"What is it?" She knelt down beside him and saw an opening that was hidden by lots of vines and brush.
"Check it out, this can be our secret fort." He pulled the last bit of vines away and she saw what looked like a ladder inside of the trunk. The tree was bigger than any tree they had ever seen. "I'll go first, come after me."
She watched as he ducked through the opening and started climbing the ladder. Pausing for a millisecond because of the darkness, she ducked and followed after Will. If there was one person she trusted, it was Will. The only person that came close was her sister Jane but she never had ANY secrets from Will having been best friends since she was 4 years old.
Reaching the top she gasped to find the coolest fort she could've ever imagined.
"How did you find this? How long has it been here do you think?" She turned to see Will leaning against one of the walls smirking. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just that you reacted just like I thought you would…it's funny."
"Whatever. Are you going to answer me or keep making fun of me?"
"I always make fun of you but I also always answer your questions…I don't know how long this has been here or who made it. I was tempted to ask my dad but I want a secret hide-away where the only person who will be able to find me is you."
"Sounds like a good idea to me. We'll have to bring some games and books out from the playroom when Mrs. Reynold's is not watching."
"Definitely. Let's go before my dad sends Richie and Geoff after us. We can come back when they go home in a week."
"Yea, they're too sneaky for their own good. Race you to the kitchen?"
He laughed "Lizzy…you're too short to race me."
She pouted as she made her way down the ladder. "You're right…except when I have a head start!" She laughed and took off.
Looking out through the branches of the fort he saw her round the oak and take off toward the house. He ran for the ladder, no way he was going to let her beat him…she'd never let him hear the end of it. He round the oak and took off. Smiling as he realized even with the head start she was too short to beat him.
"You won't ever be able to beat me…you're too short!"
She glanced behind her to gage his position, smiling to herself. "Yea, well you can't beat me because you're too cocky!"
Just as he was about to answer, his 3 year old dalmation came bounding out of the house. He saw her smirk as she stopped running and pointed at him.
"GET HIM PEPPER!"
He watched from beside the pool as Pepper made a mad dash for him. He made to run after Lizzy when he felt Pepper jump and grab onto him in a hug and they tumbled into the deep end. When he surfaced all he saw was Pepper dog paddling next to him licking him in the face. Lizzy was nowhere to be seen. He climbed out with Pepper fast on his heals, both drenched. Lizzy turned from the sofa in the den where she was watching Bugs Bunny. She smirked.
"What took you so long?"
He had to laugh at himself and concede, if only in his mind, that he may be faster physically but Lizzy was definitely a quicker wit. "Okay you beat me but not for long." He ran and jumped on her dripping all of the pool water onto her.
"AHHHHHH!"
Pepper taking this as an invitation to join in pounces on them bringing more water with him.
"And just what do you think you are doing?"
They all froze at the serious tone of the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds. Starring at her severe look with wide-eyes they began to stumble through the excuses. They looked so pitiful she couldn't remain stern any longer and started laughing with tears in her eyes.
"Okay okay it's alright but I think you should get to drying up while I clean the couch you just ruined. Lizzy you best be heading home unless you want to be here when the evil Auntie Cat gets here."
Laughing again at the identical expressions that came over their faces she shooed them out of the room. Stopping at the door to wave goodbye to Lizzy as she ran down the road Will tried to prepare himself for the dreaded visit from his Auntie Cat and annoying step-cousin Annie. Thankfully Richie and Geoff are still here and will receive all of her "suggestions" for their behavior and he can eat in peace. Wishing that Lizzy could've stayed for dinner he made his way up to his room to change. Passing his parents room he heard his mother crying. Leaning his ear against the door to better hear his parents hushed voices.
"Anne, it's time that we tell William. He needs to know, we shouldn't have waited this long."
"I know but I am scared. I don't know if I can handle if he starts to cry. I have never been able to withstand those sweet blue eyes in tears. You're going to have to be there to do the talking. I am serious about this, George. I can't do it."
"Okay, you're doing everything else…I will tell him. Will you be there when I tell him."
"No…I am not that strong, tell him that I will see him when before he goes to sleep. You can tell him when I head to my appointment."
"Okay, if that's how you want to do it…but I think it would be better coming from you. But I will do it the way you want."
"Thank you George. I am able to tell Georgiana, she's so young she doesn't know what I am saying at all."
Hearing nothing but silence, Will made his way to his room confused. Why was his mother crying? What about Georgie not understanding what she says? Dressing in silence he then made his way downstairs. Richie, Geoff, and Pepper come barreling around the corner from the den.
Richie said, "Hey Will, saw what you did to the couch…Mrs. Reynolds said 'Little' Lizzy pushed you in the pool…ha ha, classic."
Will looked at Geoff who remained staring at him. Being 17 years old, Geoff had the experience to notice the look in Will's eyes. "What's wrong Will? Everything okay?"
"I guess, I heard my mom talking to my dad…I don't understand what they were saying though."
Having already been made aware by his parents what his Aunt and Uncle were going through and what undoubtedly had Will so confused. "Oh that, it's nothing to worry about now…hey, you wanna play Call of Duty before Evil Auntie Cat casts flys in with her broom?"
"Uh….sure I guess. No teams though, Lizzy left and she's the expert sharp shooter."
"Deal."
Making their way into the den Richie glanced behind to see his Uncle George standing at the top of the steps with tears threatening to fall having heard everything. He produced a half smile for his 'favorite' Uncle but it wasn't enough to keep the tear from flowing over. Waving he closed the door to the den and sat down to keep his brother and cousin entertained enough not to notice that something was gloomy settling over the Darcy house.
