It had been three years since Lizzie had been home. She had been stuck at the Meryton Airport for 20 minutes waiting for her luggage to finally come through. She totally regretted bringing it, but hey, a girl can never have too many "just-in-case" outfits. When she finally did get it, she made a beeline towards the sliding doors heading outside. She met the cold air and pulled her sweater closer to her.
Lydia, her younger sister was supposed to pick her up, but hadn't called or answered any of Lizzie's messages. She tried one more time, but it rang and went to voicemail. Lizzie was annoyed at Lydia and wanted to call her dad instead, but he was probably too busy at home to get her. She sighed one more time, until an unexpected silver car pulled up in front of her. For a moment she had thought it was Sugar Ray, Lydia's 16th's birthday present from her parents, then she finally realized the car was in deed Lydia's.
"Hey loser! I've been driving around for the last 15 minutes, how long have you been standing here?"
"A very long time." Lizzie answered.
"No you haven't!" Lydia frowned. It took all but one second for them both to laugh, and the anger Lizzie had moments ago evaporated when she embraced her sister. "Hi Lizzie, I've missed you." Lydia said, "How about we get you home?"
"Sounds wonderful."
"Dad wanted to come, but Mom made him stay and start putting chairs outside. He's been hiding in the garage all day."
"Sounds just like Dad." Lizzie laughed.
"How was the flight?" Lydia asked.
"It was just fine."
"Any cute guys sit next to you?"
"No, it was a shame too, I mean look at me, who wouldn't want any of this." She gestured sarcastically to her top knot hair, yoga pants and old college sweater.
"What happened to that boyfriend in Derbyshire? What was his name? Nicholas?"
"Nicholas isn't my boyfriend Lyds, he's my boss."
"Wait, you haven't had a boyfriend since Will?"
"Lydia."
"Have you at least gotten laid since? Three years is a long ass time."
"Don't be ridiculous." Lizzie said.
"So you have?" Lydia raised an eyebrow at her sister.
"I'm not having this conversation with you Lydia." Lizzie laughed over her.
"Fine, then don't!"
"Will Jane and Charlie be there when we get back?"
"They said they'll be over for dinner. Will might be coming over too. But I do know we're going out to lunch with them tomorrow."
Lizzie sighed; she would have been totally fine with dinner with just her family, but she didn't know how she would handle having Will there too. Thinking of him made her replay their last conversation over and over. It was burned into the back of her skull. No matter how hard she tried to forget it, she could not.
Will was standing in front of her, holding her shoulders. She remembered his touch and how she could not make herself look up at him. "I cannot do this anymore Will." Her eyes swelling with tears.
"Why Lizzie? Tell me and I'll change."
"No." She felt a lump in her throat, saying anything was so hard for her. "You are the hardest person anyone could love. I don't love you."
"Bullshit Lizzie!" He tried to kiss her, hug her, anything so that she wouldn't say those things to him. She pushed him away and she could remember the way he looked when he brought his arms down to his side in defeat. Lizzie said bye and left.
Two years later, he moved on. He was on the cover of the Meryton magazine and featured in the Derbyshire newspaper as one of the top ten eligible bachelors. William smiled for all the pictures, but it wasn't how he really smiled. When he was happy, he usually had more chink in his smile. The dimple on his right cheek was more prominent.
Lizzie too moved on with her life. She had taken a job in Derbyshire, which was 8 hours away, in a different time zone. Angie was a producer at one of the bigger news stations down there. She was totally content with her life, but there were times when she just missed Will. Lydia noticed how quiet Lizzie was being and let the radio fill the silence.
It was another hour from Meryton to Longbourn, a couple cities away. SHe was more than happy when she saw her father sitting outside with his mug of tea.
"My Lizzie is home!" He called out, getting out of his seat.
"Hello Papa!" She hugged him tight.
"Come inside, I hope when your mother sees you, she'll tone down the crazy."
Lizzie rolled her eyes, "I don't really think that's possible." She pulled her luggage behind her and followed him inside.
"Hi Mama!" Lizzie said walking into the kitchen. "What's for dinner?"
"We're having green bean casserole, it's almost done, we're just waiting for Lizzie and Lydia." he turned around and was surprised when she saw her middle daughter, "good god, you and your sister sound so much alike." Mrs. Bennet pulled Lizzie into a tight hug, "Hello darling."
Lizzie looked around, "Where is he?"
"Your Boyfriend is upstairs."
Lizzie took off to go upstairs, as she did her mom called out, "Jane had said it would only be her for dinner tonight."
"Alright." Lizzie said a little relieved. She wouldn't have to put up with ex-fiance's and her brother-in-law. "Boyfriend!" Lizzie called out. She heard the jingling from a little bell come towards her. She dropped to her knees and let the small dog run to her. She petted him and picked him up, "hi Boyfriend!" She kissed his head.
Dinner was really nice. It was the first one where it was just the five of them: Papa, Mama, Jane, Lizzie and Lydia.
"Oh Lizzie, you should see the cute little goodie bags Caroline has made."
"Yeah, so cute." Lydia said under her breath.
"I cannot wait to see them Janie."
"Everything is going to be perfect Jane." Mrs. Bennet said. "You need to put out the tables tomorrow alright Allan?"
"I already did it sweetheart."
"You did?!" She turned around and looked into the backyard. "When did you do that?"
"Lizzie took a long time to get home."
"Papa!" Lizzie smiled. "Lydia is the one that drove right past me like seven times!"
"That's only because you didn't look like you. And if you want to blame someone, blame Janie!"
"Me? Why?" Jane asked laughing.
"Because you were too busy making the cute little goody bags… you could have picked up Lizzie from the airport."
"Would you have rather worked on them with Caroline yourself?"
"Nevermind, blame me." Lydia retreated. The whole table laughed.
"So do we get to find out what the little guy's name is going to be?" Lizzie asked.
"No, you have to wait, just like everyone else is going to have to."
She pouted, "fine"
After dinner, Jane followed Lizzie up to her room and sat on her bed, "I'm so glad you're here Lizzie."
"I wouldn't miss this for the world Janie."
"I know, but you've missed a lot of other things."
"I call and skype every holiday." Lizzie said, scratching Boyfriend's tummy. "I text you everyday."
"It's not the same Lizzie." Jane said.
"I know."
Jane opened her mouth to say something else, but stopped herself. "Just say it Jane." Lizzie finally said.
"Is it because of Will?"
"No." She answered immediately. She had trained herself to deliver that line perfectly. She didn't rush it, or sound defensive. "You know, work." Work was her excuse for missing Thanksgivings and Christmases and birthdays.
"I know." Jane said.
Lydia burst into the room and plopped onto the bed with her sister, she immediately turned and pointed at Jane, "you're out because you're married and pregnant." She turned to Lizzie, let's go out tonight."
"Out? Where?"
"Downtown Meryton. Come on Lizzie! I'm finally old enough to drink with you, and you're actually here. Let's go out…have fun," very quietly she added, "Get a tattoo."
"Tattoo?" Lizzie laughed. "Nope."
"Lizzie." Lydia pleaded, she used her puppydog eyes. "Please." She took boyfriend and held him up, "Pwease Lizzie."
"Goddamn it." Lizzie sighed, "fine. I'm going to call Charlotte, I haven't seen her in so long, she's always down for fun."
"Awesome! Thanks, I'm going to go get ready. Please look hot. We're going out in public Lizzie, don't be such a downer." Lydia left the room.
"Oh my god." Lizzie said laughing, "what was that?"
"That was you all of high school."
"No!?" Jane nodded, "Why did I just say yes?"
"Call me before you do anything stupid please." Jane asked.
Charlotte was ready to go out. "I cannot believe I finally have you back!" She hugged Lizzie for the hundredth time. "Good lord you look s hot."
"You look fantastic as well."
"Thank you my dear, I've been working out like a maniac trying to get my figure back. I hadn't realized how much I'd changed since being with Collins.
"Five years is a long time."
"Damn right it is. What is it about guys and keeping their hands to themselves? Why can't they just- forget it. Let's get shitfaced tonight!"
Lydia perked up when she heard the last part, "yeah!" Shots were passed out and they called for a cab. Everyone was dancing, grinding and sticking to each other. Charlotte had her hands up, holding Lizzie's hands as guys were dancing behind them. Lydia came over, three guys in tow. She gestured to them, "This is Tim, Jayson and George."
"George Wickham?" Lizzie asked, he looked familiar.
"Lizzie Bennet?!"
"You two know each other?"
"Yeah, mutual friend I guess." George said. "How you doing?"
"Great, good." Lizzie smiled. George looked good. He was Will's college roommate freshman and sophomore year before he and Lizzie decided to move in with each other. He was basically his other best friend. "What about you?"
"Doing great, living life Lizzie."
Lydia was excited, "this is perfect. These guys know the owner of Ink Addicts and said they'll get us the hookup."
"I'm not nearly drunk enough for that shit." Charlotte said.
"Me neither." Lizzie agreed.
"We'll take care of that." Jayson said. They took more shots and danced some more.
It was more of a blur on how they got there, but they got to Ink Addicts. Drunk Lizzie loved to talk on the phone, more than she already did. Her finger hovered over her sister's name and pressed it.
"Janie, we're at Ink Addicts, and I'm going to get a tattoo."
"Lizzie, you're crazy! Who are you with?"
"Lydia, Charlotte, Jayson, George and Tim."
"We're going to come and get you."
"We're fine Jane. Totally fine! Bye!"
Lizzie sat next to George and started picking out her tattoo design. "Where should I get it?"
"On your hip. Right here." He pointed on her body and let his fingers stay on her. "Are you still with good old Will? I figured you two would have a bunch of kids running around by now."
"Nope. I live in Derbyshire. Will and I broke up a long time ago."
"Wow. Derbyshire? Shit." George's mind started turning gears.
"How about this one?" She pointed to a simple mandala design. "It's so pretty."
"That's hot Liz. It would be so hot on you."
The next thing she knew, Lizzie was on the bed, with her dress ridden up, so her hips were exposed. George stood by her watching. Lydia was adding small ones to her collection of random tattoos and Charlotte passed out on the seats by the door.
Lizzie understood why everyone wanted to go to Ink Addict, because they worked fast and tried to make it as painless as possible.
Soon, she heard the door open and turned to look over. Charlie came in holding a cart of hot coffee with Will standing behind him. She tried not to move, "holy shit!" she yelled out loud.
Charlie chucked and walked towards her. "Sup Lizzie. Where's Lydia?"
"Over there… somewhere." She pointed in the general direction of the other room. Charlie nodded and walked that way. "Look George, it's Will. Hi Will."
George Wickham smirked, and nodded towards Will. Lizzie hadn't noticed, but George's hands were still touching her. William looked at him, then at her, "get your hands off of her."
"Wow, someones still sensitive huh? Word is, you two aren't dating anymore, so I wouldn't get your panties in a bunch little Willy."
Will repeated, "Get away from her."
"What are you going to do about it?" George challenged stepping towards Will.
"If you bitches fight, it better be far away from here. Take it outside."
They hadn't noticed but Lizzie passed out on the table, and the artist kept buzzing away. The two guys had enough respect to take the fight outside.
George took a swing at Will, but Will ducked away. "I bet you've been waiting years to do this?"
"To kick your ass? I don't know why I didn't earlier."
Will and George started to punch at each other, never landing a clean hit. Will pushed George away and punched his gut, knocking the wind out of him. He then punched him again, "that is for my sister." He punched George again, making sure he stayed down, "That's for Lizzie." Will grabbed George and brought him inside. He stayed on the seats opposite of Charlotte, and Will walked over to Lizzie and Charlie.
"What the hell dude." Charlie asked.
"Don't right now Charles."
They both looked at Lizzie, her tattoo was coming along, and was almost done. "Where's Lydia and Charlotte?" Lizzie asked when she came to.
"They're in the car Lizzie.' Charlie said. "Come on."
Lizzie stumbled behind Charlie towards Will's car.
The three girls woke up the next morning with giant headaches. They were on the the couch of Charlotte's apartment. Next to her, Lizzie found aspirin and water. She quickly took it. She looked at the time, it was almost eleven. She woke Lydia up, and told her to make herself presentable. They were going to be late for their lunch date with Jane and Charlie. Lizzie, was sore, but she didn't know why until she looked down and saw a tattoo sitting on her hip.
She laughed at her stupidity, and groaned realizing that last night actually happened.