every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.
November 20th
1 ½ months have passed since the dance and though he was cute and apparently had a fan-girl club, it did not change him in my eyes. He was still distant, he didn't talk, and he was cold with his looks. It was unfortunate that we all had English together. We were all in front of the SMART board, with the dry-erase board to my right. On my side of the room there are three rows of desks in five columns. Separating us was the walking space so we could file out, leaving space for at least two people- possibly three, to get by. On Bingley's side, they have the teachers' desk in front of them and four columns of desks with three rows extending to the very back, unlike ours which end halfway to leave room for the students to exit when the bell rings.
The way the desks are set up, line up our first row with their second row, so while Jane is in the first row, second seat, Charlie is in the second row, first seat. Jane is also in front me, putting me in the second row, second seat. But unfortunately that puts Darcy right beside me in the second row, first seat, like Charlie. Caroline was basically cut off from all of us, being seated in the far back, on Bingley's side. Thank God. Somehow after years of being 'pretty Jane's plain sister', Caroline and made me target number one with a bright red bull's eye.
And now I sit in English, zoning now as our teacher talks about To Kill a Mockingbird and how Harper Lee brings a beautiful light to racism and social class. Some would think Douglas was a girl. All I can think about is how in the end of the movie Scout and Boo looked like they were about to kiss and what if Boo had a cousin that came down one day when Scout was 16 or 17 in Maycomb, and they fell in love? Weird, I know, but ever so curious.
"Will and Lizzie." Mr. Douglas called out and my head snapped up from the doodles that were going everywhere and nowhere across my notebook, to the two names he just put together that should never, ever be put side by side.
"Wait, what?" I called out as he moved on, making him look back at me as the class laughed behind hands, only one of them speaking out of term.
"Looks like the daydreams have taken over, no? Are you sure you should really be in this high of a class?" The voice came from a fiery-red head, who didn't know when to shut up.
"Shut it, Caroline." Dar- Will shot over his shoulder as he wrote something down in his notebook.
The teacher cleared his throat, directing the attention from the squabble to himself once again. "As I was saying if you would so kindly pay attention next time, Miss Bennet, is that I am going to give you all a partner and a topic. As I have pared off the rest of the class by who is next to whom decrees partnership and yes Miss Bingley it is fair, and just because you think you run the school does not mean you run my room. So, William and Elizabeth, you are partners now." He looks over his glasses at me, and then turns to Jane. "Now, Miss Jane, is Alice here today?" I tune him back out as I slump in my seat. How fun.
I looked over at Will, who I now decided I would no longer call Darcy. Nicknames were for friends and we are not friends. I would have spent longer on my new found sense of names but Mr. Douglas interrupted my thoughts once again. "Class, please give me your attention! I know I'm about to lose you all to the last bell of the day in," he checks his watch. "In 5 minutes, so let me make this quick. You are all responsible seniors," mark me. "And all should be able to account for your topics. I am going to post them on my school website and they should be up no later the 5:30. Come to class tomorrow knowing them, for I will not tell you! We will go over the project assignment and you will need to know them. Have I stressed that enough?" A chorused yes envelops the class room. "Good, now plea-" The bell interrupts his last words and as the hustling of getting out and the noise of busy feet erupt, he still manages to holler over us all, "Check the website! Do not forget!"
Jane and I walk out arm-in-arm and reach at least half-way down the hall way before a voice comes at us. "Lizzie! Wait up!" My head spins as the speaker finally catches up with his voice, leaving Darc Will standing in front of me. Charlie catches up seconds later, a bit out of breath. Jane and he get talking over something within minutes, easy. I raise my eyebrow at him and it's like he is snapping out of a trance almost. "Yes, our topic project. I was wondering if you wanted to work on it later. I mean after tomorrow, of course, but later tomorrow?" He watches me through eyes that really are a pure green, no flakes of blue or gold, just a gem-like green.
"I'll see." I turn from him and walk toward Jane. I push my arm through her and try to hurry her up so we can go home.
"Oh will you two make out or something so I can go home already?" She looks away from one and to the other one, "You too, Darcy." Caroline snaps and that sobers everyone up. We all split into our respective groups and head on our own respective ways, picking up our freshman sisters. Jane's face is as bright as a rose and we head toward our car. My thoughts wonder to what Caroline said in the hall when she mentioned Dar- Will.
Did he like Jane, also?
