Four months have gone by and Lizzy still felt Will's absence as strongly as she did when he left. She was still a frequent visitor to the Darcy home. Learning how to play the piano with Mrs. Darcy, playing Mr. Darcy in chess when she managed to challenge him before her father did, and playing with little Georgiana. Even Pepper missed Will and followed Lizzy step for step in his absence. Pepper fell into this habit when Will had gone away to camp the past summers, he would follow her everywhere and even follow her home to sleep on the end of her bed. That is until he heard Mrs. Bennet's footsteps in the hallway, then he would jump down and hide under the bed till the all clear. Will had laughed so hard when he read Lizzy's letter that first summer marveling at the brilliance that Pepper had in being aware of who was and was not a person he wanted to be around.
With Pepper by her side the ache that she felt in heart was bearable. It still hurt but it was a physical connection to Will, the only physical connection. She was counting down the days till she would see him at Thanksgiving. Will wrote to her, as she did to him, pretty much every day…but it just wasn't the same. He would always be her best friend but she was beginning to wonder if she was strong enough to bear this long distance friendship. I guess I will just have to wait and see how it goes at Thanksgiving.
Rrrring
"Hello?"
Her father replied to whoever was on the phone after laughing. "Oh hi George, Lizzy didn't break anything while she was there did she."
Lizzy looked up when she realized that it was Mr. Darcy on the other end of the phone. She crossed her fingers hoping that he was going to say that Will was home earlier than expected.
"Oh…ok. Well that's too bad. We were looking forward to seeing him. So your whole family is going?"
Wait, what…going where?
"Ok, well I will talk to Lizzy about it and see that she understands. It really is a shame that they are missing each other this time but hopefully they can see each other at Christmas…Yea I will, take care George."
Not even waiting for her father to hang up the phone Lizzy began her inquisition. "Dad, what happened?"
"Well, it appears that the Darcy's are not going to be here for Thanksgiving after all."
"WHAT?"
"Now Lizzy, calm down…it's not the end of the world. They'll be back soon."
"But Will?"
"Yes, unfortunately you're not going to be able to see Will this vacation but he'll be here for Christmas."
"Where are they going?"
"They are going to spend Thanksgiving at Anne's sister Catherine's home. They want to have a big family Thanksgiving before…uh, well they just want a big to do and that is going to happen at Catherine's. So George and Anne are leaving tomorrow morning early and will pick up Will on their way since Pemberley Prep is about 20 minutes away from Catherine's." Seeing the anger spreading on Lizzy's face Tom asked "Lizzy…are you okay?"
She replied harshly "Yea…just fine." With that said she pushed back from the table hard startling Pepper and stomped her way up the stairs ignoring her mother yelling for her to stop all that ruckus.
HE PROMISED! HE PROMISED THAT WE WOULD SEE EACH OTHER AT BREAKS AND THIS IS THE FIRST ONE AND THIS HAPPENS! Sinking down onto her bed feeling depleted of all her energy she rolled over and cried. She was so anxious to see Will, things were just not right when he wasn't around. Everything felt wrong. She was sure that he needed her too, and here he was at a brand new school alone without her. She knew that his parents had made this decision and that he probably didn't even know yet but she was hurt. Hurt because this was the first promise he made that had ever been broken even if it wasn't by him.
The next afternoon at Pemberley Prep…
"MOM? DAD? What are you doing here? I thought that Aunt Catherine was driving me home at Thanksgiving!"
His mother replied not realizing that he needed to know this plan had been made by Aunt Catherine and that they felt there was nothing they could do that would please everyone. "Well, that was the original plan but then we decided it would be nice to surprise you and have a nice big family Thanksgiving here at Auntie Cat's."
"What about…what about Lizzy? I promised her that we would see each other at Thanksgiving break."
His father said, "Will…it will only be a few more weeks and you will be back for Christmas. You'll see her then. You can wait a little longer and do this for your Mother, can't you?"
Feeling guilty for selfishly worrying only of seeing Lizzy he realized that he hadn't even hugged his parents hello or see that Mrs. Reynolds was standing behind them holding his baby sister. "Yes, of course…that's fine. Would you take something back to her for me?"
"Of course, she is over at the house pretty much every day so I am sure we will see her."
"Thanks. Hi Mom, I am happy to see you." He said while stepping forward to give his mother a big hug.
"You too Sweetie. I love you so much and have missed you. Thank you for writing to me so much."
"Your welcome." He left unsaid that she was not the only woman who he was writing to so much and that those letters were not any trouble at all.
Peeking over Will's shoulder now that he had grown quite a lot since leaving she asked "Who is that, Sweetie?"
Looking back to see who she meant he saw his roommate watching the small family reunion. "That's my roommate, George Wickham. He's here on a scholarship but I don't really understand what scholarship because he hardly does any of his homework."
"Well he must do his work in the library or something, darling. If he is here at Pemberley on scholarship, he must be an extraordinary student."
"I guess."
Back at the Bennet home…
"LIZZY! Where is that girl? She will be the death of me one of these days and then she'll be sorry."
Lizzy peeked around the corner of the kitchen with Pepper's head peeking around her leg. "Yes, Mama."
"You have a letter. Why is that dog here again? That is the Darcy's dog and I am sure they know how to keep their own dog company."
"I know but Pepper likes to be here. He won't be in the way, I promise."
"Very well, off with you. But if I find one accident in this house, it's gone. You hear me?"
"Yes M'am." Taking her letter she and Pepper ran out of the kitchen and Lizzy found she had the desire to visit their tree. This was another place where she could feel Will's presence. Making her way around the lake she looked down to see the return address on her letter. It's from Will! He probably wrote to me the second he saw that his vacation plans were changed for him. Breaking into a run she had just made it to the tree when she felt she couldn't contain her excitement anymore. She just had to know what he had said. So she sunk down leaning against the trunk and opened his letter. It was written on the stationary that she knew his mother had given him when he left for school.
Elizabeth,
I know this is difficult to read but I feel that you need to know. This can't go on anymore. We can't keep acting as children. I have grown up a lot here but you have not had this experience and are still a child. I need to be free to live my own life and I can't do that when I am stuck to you. So this is goodbye. I hate to say this so clearly because I know it must hurt you but we can't be friends anymore. You're not good for me. Good luck with everything in the future.
Fitzwilliam Darcy
What the…? How can he write this? How can he say we can't be friends? What does he mean I am still a child?...
Not noticing that she was crying until her tears fell onto the letter that was becoming even harder to read, she stood and balled up the letter and threw it into the bushes by the lake. She was aiming for the water but Will had always told her that her aim sucked. Not having the strength to go and search for the letter that broke her heart and throw it into the water she turned and ran for her bed. She had not noticed that Pepper was not following her but at that moment she didn't care. Pepper found the balled up letter and brought it back to the tree. There was a little hole above a knot in the tree and Pepper stood on his back legs and nudged the paper into the hole where it would remain safe. Turning to follow Lizzy, Pepper arrived outside her bedroom door to find it closed. He scratched to be let in but when Lizzy did not answer the door he curled up into a ball and lay in front of her door.
Inside Lizzy's room with her head covered by her blanket tears steadily fell down soaking her pillows. Every time she thought she was gaining some control over herself the tears would start again and she would suck in a shocked breath that would cause her to choke on her tears. Fine! 'Fitzwilliam Darcy' is to high and mighty now to be friends with me then so be it! He has made the decision and he will be the one to realize what he missed out on! With her resolve in place Lizzy got up and packed up all the things that reminded her of Will including all of his letters. She packed them in a shoe box and headed to the door where she found Pepper waiting for her. She made her way outside and having grabbed her mother's gardening shovel, dug a hole big enough to fit the shoe box. Placing the box in the hole, she stared at it for a few moments before she lifted the shovel with dirt. Holding the shovel above the box she said "Goodbye Will Darcy. I hope you're happy." She filled the hole and returned to her room. Trying to find something to distract her thoughts she threw herself into her homework that was not due until break was over. She finished her homework and decided to keep going, unconsciously beginning her love for knowledge. Learning has rescued her from her pain and she will dedicate her life to learning in return.
In her shock from reading Will's letter she had missed two things that would continue to be unknown. She missed that he signed his name 'Fitzwilliam.' The only person who called him that was his Aunt Catherine. She missed that he addressed her as 'Elizabeth.' He had never called her Elizabeth, from the very moment they had met she had been 'Lizzy.'
Arriving at Aunt Catherine's house…
Will looked out the window to see the evil Auntie Cat and 'princess' Annie waiting for them, alone. Which could only mean that Geoff and Richie weren't here yet to protect him against the evil ones.
"Well hello Will, how are you?"
Will did not understand why Auntie Cat spoke to him first as he had just seen her when she came to Pemberley the week before. She was head of the school board and checked in very often at Pemberley which of course meant that she had to check on Will.
"Fine Aunt Catherine."
"Well that's good. Come Annie show Fitzwilliam to his room so that he can rest before dinner."
"Yes Mother. Come, this way William."
Following Annie, Will felt exposed without his parents around him and the Fitzwilliams not there yet.
"Here is your room. Mother set it aside especially for you. My room is right across the hall if you need anything."
"Yea thanks." Gratefully closing the door he sank onto the bed and felt relaxed for the first time since arriving here. But only for a second it seemed because not a second later he jumped when he heard a knock at his door. Opening the door carefully he saw his Aunt Catherine peering in through the crack.
"What are you doing Fitzwilliam, stop this playing around and open the door properly!" Opening the door fully he saw a letter in his Aunt's hand.
"Your mother is tired from the trip so I told her I would bring this up to you for her. She said some girl, can't remember the name she said, gave it to her to give to you when she saw you but she forgot." Thrusting the letter into Will's hand she turned and left. Will was shocked that the only reason Auntie Cat came to his room was to give him a letter, she usually had some ulterior motive that only Lizzy would be able to figure out.
Still very confused he opened the letter that he held in his hand. Nothing could've prepared him for what he read.
Fitzwilliam,
I know this is hard for you but I have to tell you that I don't want to be friends anymore. This long distance thing is not working and I have found someone else to be my friend. I hope that you are well and have a happy holiday.
Elizabeth
What is going on? What does Lizzy mean she doesn't want to be friends anymore, she can't possibly mean that! I don't believe this, I won't!
Hearing another knock on his door he swung it open and said harshly "WHAT?"
"My goodness William, what could possibly be the matter?" Annie was standing there with a small smile playing about her lips, one that in Will's anxiety he missed.
"Nothing. Nothing is wrong. It can't be."
"What happened. Bad letter?"
"It's just a small misunderstanding is all."
"Is it about your friend Elizabeth?"
Spinning around to look at her he said "What? Why?"
"Well, when were at your house I overheard her saying that she was glad that you were going away to school. She said she was relieved that she would not have to pretend to be your friend anymore. I think she was talking to her sister Jane. I wanted to talk to you about it before we left but I was unable to find a time when she was not around. I thought maybe that she had changed her mind. Was I wrong?"
In his pain, Annie looked like she truly cared. "No, you're not wrong. It seems that Lizzy and I are no longer friends."
"Oh that is too bad. Well there are other girls to be friends with, trust me."
"Yea, other girls." Fine! Lizzy if this is what you want then you've got it! I hope you're happy now!
"WILL! COME QUICK, HURRY!"
Hearing his father sound panicked Will dashed down the stairs to a horrendous scene. His sister was crying in Mrs. Reynolds arms, Mrs. Reynolds had tears steadily running down her face, and his mother was in his father's arms…unconscious.
"We have to go to the hospital, now. Come on Will. Help me with your mother." Coming up next to his father to open the car door he heard him whisper to his mother. "Anne, you can't leave me. I can't do this without you. Please."
Hoping into the back of the car with his mother's head in his lap, Will felt his heart breaking for the second time in one day. The first time being when he read Lizzy's letter, the second being… Taking a huge gulp of air he leaned down and kissed his mother's brow and whispered. "Please Mama, don't go. I will have lost Lizzy for nothing."
