"I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without disguise." (ch.10)
Chapter 10- Yogurt Day
After two weeks, Elizabeth began to fit in to her new job. There still was a random kid that would throw a chair or book across the room once in awhile, but you couldn't except the kids not to do that. So when the office suggested she have a volunteer come in and help, she was pretty eager to show off how professional and in control of the classroom she was. The school always had volunteers from a local agency coming in, especially for after school help. Most of the student's parents weren't available for homework help and this where a lot of the grades fell. Elizabeth could remember sobbing over her algebra homework every night in 10th grade, so she could sympathize.
A couple days later in the middle of a game of Popcorn Reading through Romeo and Juliet, there was a loud knock on the door. Elizabeth stopped reading and looked at the door as one of the kids, Frank, jumped up to get it.
"Thanks, Frank," and she turned to write something on the large chalkboard in front of the classroom.
She heard a low exchange between the student and the visitor. "It's for you, Miss Bennett." She turned around towards the door. "Darcy?" she took a double take, "Darcy?"
He stepped forward out of the doorway. Looking apprehensive in a nerdy blue blazer and a yellow shirt, Elizabeth almost felt tender towards him, like she was happy to see him after the long absence. But her annoyance that he was disturbing her class took over- they were already humming with noise and flinging the 'popcorn' ball at each other.
"Eliza- er- Miss Bennett, I guess. I'm sorry. I didn't know you had a class. Jane said you had a break now," he looked around helplessly at a group of boys now wrestling on the floor.
"Well they switched it all around- What are you doing here?" she turned to the boys and gave them a little kick, "Guys, in your seats. Come on now."
"Shit, Miss Bennett we weren't for real," a boy yelled out.
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, "Well, I'm for real. Get in your seat." She turned back to Darcy expectantly.
"I'm, umm, well, I came to volunteer. Just on Fridays. It's the only time I could."
"You- volunteer? At my school?"
"Wait- this is your school?" Darcy asked in mock surprise.
"Of course it's my- oh, your joking. That's a first."
Darcy scowled, "I joke."
"I guess I missed them all."
"I guess you did."
Elizabeth had more questions, but none that she wanted to ask Darcy in front of the class. Darcy just looked at her. Then he scanned the room, nervously. Then he looked at her. Then he looked at what she had written on the board. Then he looked at her. Then he looked at what she had written on the board. Elizabeth was becoming frustrated. He finally spoke up,
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet?"
"What?"
"You're teaching Romeo and Juliet, right?"
"Yeah, we like to teach here." One of the kids yelled, 'yeah right'. Elizabeth ignored him. "You like Shakespeare? Nice quote, albeit cheesy-- for a shipping heir."
"Hey, I read. I went to college just like you."
"So, you're here to be…?
"A tutor. A writing tutor."
"Then you're an hour early," Elizabeth pointed out.
"I know, but I wanted to see you first."
A group of girls who had been putting on lip gloss for the past ten minutes, giggled in the front.
Elizabeth huffed and walked out into the hallway with Darcy trailing her.
When they out in the hallway, the door to classroom cracked open, she spoke impatiently, "Darcy, I have a class."
"Well, I know that now," he said defensively.
"Well, I have to go and teach then."
"Ok," he answered back, but he looked a little disappointed, with his hands in his pockets. And something in her at that moment didn't want to disappoint him. Something in her relented and switched off the biatch mode.
She leaned forward and touched his arm, "But I can see you after school…In the teacher's lounge."
He smiled and turned away, "See you then. Good luck with Romeo and Juliet."
When she met him in the teachers' lounge, he didn't have much to say. She had thought he came to talk to her for a purpose, but their conversation seemed to lack one and Darcy never made it clear what he wanted to talk to her about. At first she couldn't get him to talk. He answered only in monosyllabic, black and white words. When he did have to talk in a complete sentence it was with long pauses in between the words. For example,
ELIZABETH: So why are you tutoring high school all of the sudden?
DARCY: Well….I've done….some…tutoring before. …..And I wanted to…….get my mind….off…..on….some good things.
Basically the whole conversation went like that. His answers became longer and more detailed but just as poorly formed. She had managed to get out of him that he had tutored in New York and when he found out she was teaching summer school, he requested her school. Elizabeth understood that part. It was always easier to teach somewhere when you knew the faculty. The surprising part was that the incredibly awkward conversation lasted over a half hour.
Finally, she went to leave, giving Darcy some pointers and tips with certain students, "And if Marco tosses a chair or something heavy or sharp give him a warning, but if it's at you then you have to call the office. If it's your head you have my permission to go to the ER."
Darcy looked at her open-mouthed.
Elizabeth smiled, "Relax, Darcy, they usually don't throw stuff towards you. But chucking things in general, they're big fans of. Just take give them a warning. A real one. Act like you upset and use an authoritative voice. But don't yell or act really mad, they'll just make fun of you. There are other teachers in the building if you get in trouble, though. Okay…have to go. See ya," She went out the door.
Darcy stood up swiftly, "Wait- Elizabeth,"
She popped her head in and she looked at him expectantly.
He looked her straight at her, in the eyes, confidently. This threw her off. He had seemed so…well, not confident the whole time he was talking to her.
He cleared his throat and then broke his gaze, "Oh…I just wanted to say…have a good day." Whatever he had just mustered up was gone.
Elizabeth smiled weakly, "Umm, you too, Darcy."
She left that day, more confused about him then ever. She felt like she had seen so many different sides of him and heard so many conflicting accounts of his personality. He was a walking contradiction. She was convinced one of these sides had to be an act. Jane and Bingley had both stressed how kind he was. And sometimes, including now, she had witnessed some of his acts of kindness. He almost seemed a little shy today, too. But what about the first time she met him and all the weeks following? He was a complete jerk and so rude and so stuck up. And then there was George's almost heartbreaking story about Darcy stealing his wife- whether George was a flake or not, having your wife run away with your best friend was a terrible story.
'That's probably why George is the way he is.' She thought suddenly. Darcy had broken his heart so terribly; he was now a major commitment-phobe. Just that had to trump everything else, even the tutoring. Fidel Castro has a yogurt day for the kids of his country, but that didn't erase their lack of freedom or opportunity. Or maybe it did. She was confused.
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After that he was there to tutor every week. And the kids actually seemed to like him. Whether it was because he brought candy every week or he was good tutor was another question. But he was so adorable with the kids, laughing and teasing them. If only he could be like that with grownups, she thought. This new side of him (she had to admit), did push everything George had told her to the back of her mind, at least temporarily.
After a few weeks, Darcy and Elizabeth became comfortable with each other, if not a little friendly. Whether it was because he brought her candy every week or because she liked him was another matter. But one day he seemed to revert to his old, strange self. Darcy happened to get to the school earlier then usual and Elizabeth had let the kids go a little early and was talking to Jane on the phone. Jane was a little panicked because it was time for her to renew her visa and this was the first time she was doing it as a non-student.
When Darcy came in she nodded at him and pointed to her phone. He nodded back and turned to look through the fridge.
"Now, Jane, don't worry about anything. Of course you'll get a green card. Just wear something tight and skimpy," she held the phone between her shoulder and her ear, correcting a paper.
"What if it's a girl? Then she'll think I'm a hooker and send me right back."
"Wait- you're not a hooker?" Elizabeth laughed out loud at her joke and notice Darcy turned to look at her over some tabloid he had picked up. She looked away quickly.
"Lizzy! I'm in real distress!"
"Okay, okay, how about this- tight but modest...or loose and skimpy. Your choice."
Jane groaned, "Will you come live with me in France if I'm deported?"
"Sure. That would be fun. But I want a new career. Like...painting or….nude modeling."
"Only nudes?"
"Of course. I'm not a prude that gets painted with her clothes on, "Elizabeth accidentally let the phone slip on to the phone. She reached down to pick it up, Darcy already there to help. 'It's okay, I got it," she whispered and put the phone next to ear again. Darcy retreated to his chair.
"Hello?"
"Sorry, I dropped the phone. And what about your boyfriend? Don't you think he'll go with you? Paris is the city of love."
"Maybe, I don't know if we're that serious yet. I'm too shy to ask."
"Well, I think you're that serious. Actually being serious would solve all your problems, if you know what I mean."
"I'm not marrying Charlie to get a green card. Well…if it comes down to it…it's good backup," Jane laughed.
"Exactly. I thought that was the only reason you were keeping him around anyway."
"You saw right through me, Lizzy."
"I always do. But I got to go. I have a ton of papers to grade."
"Have fun."
"Bye" Elizabeth snapped her phone shut. Darcy looked away and then looked back her.
"So did you bring any food for me today?" she asked him.
"Umm…no. Just enough for the students." He looked agitated. "I'll leave to your papers."
"Gee, thanks," Elizabeth smiled up at him, right as he left, not looking at her. She shook her head, 'He's bi-polar. He has to be bi-polar.'
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The chapters should be longer now, after this one. Thanks for the reviews, I really appreciate them, I do! So, review some more! haha
