A/N: Hello lovely readers! Thank you for taking the time and energy to click and read, it's very much appreciated! I'd love to know what you think of it; this is my longest story so far!
Disclaimer: in case you're under any illusion, I am not a 237-year-old English novelist. I do, however, enjoy her works very much.
What a Difference
Chapter Three
Nothing like being the fifth wheel, Elizabeth contemplated as she stood waiting. Charlie and Jane were chatting animatedly, while Will seemed determined to take his relationship with his phone to the next level. He'd not glanced up from the bright screen once since Charlie had finished the introductions.
Elizabeth stood on tiptoes to try and spot Charlotte; she'd lost sight of her as she'd joined the throng around the bar. The boys trying to fix the sound desk were still running around like rabbits, unplugging and replugging cables. She grinned; at least the lack of music meant it was easy to have a conversation. All she needed now was someone to talk to…
As she cast her eyes around for someone, anyone else she knew, Jane caught her attention.
'I just can't agree with that,' Jane was saying, good naturedly to Charlie. 'I'll grant you that it's popular, but I can't see it ever gaining the status of the classic love stories like Gone with the Wind, Pride and Prejudice, The Time Traveller's Wife -'
Elizabeth groaned. Jane looked around at her sister and shook her head; 'Oh, I've done it now.' Looking back to Charlie she mouthed, 'Sorry!'
'Jane, we've been over this; The Time Traveller's Wife' is not a love story!' Elizabeth cried. 'It's a story about two characters conditioned from their earliest meetings to 'fall in love' and never given much of a say in the matter!' To Charlie she added: 'I think it's borderline barbaric.'
'As you can see,' Jane said to Charlie, 'Lizzie has some opinions on this matter.' Turning back to her sister she continued. 'But surely, the notion of falling in love and getting to spend your life with that person without having to go through all the duds first is romantic? Isn't that every girl's dream?' Elizabeth didn't miss how Charlie's eyes flicked to Jane and back, but it wasn't enough to curb her rant.
'Sure; we're supposed to believe that it's every young girl's hope to meet the man of her dreams and live happily ever after, but Claire's never given the opportunity to make that choice! Henry pretty much just appears out of thin air, announces himself, and forever seals her romantic future, not to mention the course of her life as she follows the plan he tells her so she can find him when she's supposed to. Her life is signed away in pursuit of a man she can never really have. Please, tell me when the romance starts.'
Elizabeth was surprised to hear a low chuckle coming behind. As she turned to find its source, her dark eyes immediately locked with a pair of bright blue.
'I take it,' Will offered, his face solemn once more, 'that you don't believe in soul mates, then.'
'In that two people can be well matched for each other, sure,' Elizabeth retorted, staring defiantly into his blue eyes. 'But I'd like a chance to find him, rather than have a man just appear – literally out of thin air – and say, 'I'm everything you want in life'.'
Charlie jumped in; 'But wouldn't that save a lot of heartache? If you could just find the one then you wouldn't have to worry.'
'I think you have to go through getting to know people to know yourself,' Elizabeth replied, almost more to Will than Charlie who was still staring her down. 'Surely you need a bit of life experience to figure out your likes and dislikes and what you're actually looking for in a friend or partner. Having someone step in front of you one day and simply say, 'here I am, I'm exactly who you're looking' – surely your first thought would be something along the lines of 'what makes you so special'?'
Will smiled wryly. 'I imagine you're not a fan of fate, either?'
'No, not really.' replied Elizabeth. 'I prefer to make my own choices in life.'
'That means you have to be prepared to take on the responsibility of choice, too.' He replied, thrusting his hands into his pockets.
'Of course; you'd have to be pretty narrow-minded not to accept that by preferring choice you are accountable for them.' She folded her arms.
'Or incredibly selfish.'
Elizabeth paused, unsure how to take that remark.
Charlie looked between the two, intrigued by the change this girl had brought about in his usually withdrawn friend. The pair were staring at each other, a slight frown mirrored on both faces.
Taking advantage of the pause, he said: 'well, I'll give you one thing, Lizzie.'
Elizabeth blinked as she looked to Charlie, taking a moment to refocus. 'Oh. What's that?'
Charlie grinned. 'The way he talks to her is pretty creepy. I'm not sure how I'd feel if a forty-something guy started talking to my little sister like that.' Will's eyes darted to Charlie as he spoke.
Elizabeth smiled. 'I know how I'd feel; it's how I'd react I'd be more concerned about!'
Jane smiled, shaking her head as Charlie laughed. 'It certainly wouldn't be the first time Lizzie has come to blows over a book!'
'Who's doing what to a book?' A new voice chimed in as a tall girl joined the group. With bronzed skin, perfect nails, big hair and her designer dress, Elizabeth couldn't help but notice this girl seemed dressed more for a night out in the London's hottest scene than a night in Meryton's Rugby Club. The newcomer slipped her arm through Will's, curving her body along his as she did so. Elizabeth's curiosity was peaked as she noted how uncomfortable Will looked.
'Will, darling, it's been an age.'
'Caroline!' Charlie's warm greeting cut short any hello on Will's part. 'You're here – everyone,' he turned to the wider group, 'this is my cousin, Caroline.'
Caroline did not smile as Charlie made the introductions, looking mutinously at Charlie for distracting her attention from Will. Charlie continued, entirely oblivious to the daggers she was shooting him. Caroline was pleasant enough to Jane but Elizabeth felt as though she were being sized up as Caroline's narrowed eyes quickly flicked down to her flat shoes, stained jeans and her last-season top. Unimpressed by the attempt to intimidate, Elizabeth smiled slightly as Will continued to edge further away at each attempt by Caroline to press herself closer to him. Spotting her amusement, Will looked at Elizabeth, and, in an almost imperceptible movement, rolled his eyes, and – if she could believe her eyes - a small smile crossed his lips as he looked back at her. Once again, as their eyes met, Elizabeth felt her stomach swoop. She smiled in return and looked away, willing her cheeks not to blush.
'What on earth are you doing talking about books on a Saturday night?' Caroline laughed. 'Haven't you got anything better to talk about?' She looked pointedly at Elizabeth.
'We were talking about soul mates, Caroline,' supplied Charlie, 'Like in the Time Traveller's Wife?'
'Oh, I love soul mates!' Caroline cried, leaning closer to Will to rest her head on his shoulder. Will quickly ducked to re-tie his lace-less shoe.
Regaining her balance slightly, Caroline continued; 'I know that somewhere, out there' – she gazed at the back of Will's head as he remained crouched – 'there's the perfect guy for me – I've just got to find him!' She fingered the back of Will's collar.
'I mean,' she continued as Will straightened, stepping ever further away, closer to Elizabeth, 'he can't be that far away -'
'He's too far for my comfort.' Will muttered. Elizabeth slowly stared at him, torn between shock and amusement.
'- and they do say that love is often under our nose the whole time -'
'Plenty of space for him to hide, then.' Elizabeth bit her lip to restrain a smirk.
'- so we must simply be patient,' Caroline concluded, grandly with a not-so-subtle glance at Will. He, once again, pulled his phone from his pocket.
'You're lucky,' Elizabeth replied, clearing her throat to control her laughter, 'to be so sure of finding Mr Perfect.'
'Well, Elaine, you've got to have some optimism in life, otherwise you end up bitter and alone. And I see no reason why I shouldn't have the best in life.'
Elizabeth stared at Caroline, her dislike growing as swiftly as her tolerance was diminishing. Jane and Charlie were once again lost in conversation.
'You see -' But the rest of Caroline's opinion was lost as the sound guys finally figured out the speaker system and music blasted across the room as the rest of the party cheered. Elizabeth, tired of Caroline's arrogance, Will's rudeness and Jane and Charlie's complete immersion in the other, took advantage of the chance to slip away in search of Charlotte via the bar; she needed a drink. She weaved through the crowd, unaware of Will carefully watching her go.
So... thoughts? I'd really love to hear them!
