A/N: I really don't own anything. I've been looking forward to writing this chapter, so please read and review! Enjoy!
Chapter 10
Rain had prevailed and, yet again, the coach had been forced to end softball practice early. Once it had started to rain hard, Will had taken refuge inside the school, and was pleased when Elizabeth soon ran inside, every inch of her dripping wet. He heard her sigh loudly as she released her long, dark locks from her ponytail and shook it, looking rather like a dog. He smiled to himself as he closed his book and slowly approached her.
"Elizabeth," he called softly. Her head whipped around at the sound of her name and she caught sight of him.
"Yes, Darcy?" she said, with precise cold civility. "What do you want?"
"I was just thinking," he said slowly.
"You think?" she sniped, smirking at him.
He remained unfazed by her remark and continued, "I can't take it anymore. I have to tell you how much I like you."
She seemed to be stunned into silence as she dropped her duffel bag and her bat onto the floor with a clatter. Encouraged by her lack of protest, he continued, "For some reason, ever since almost the first time I met you, I've had a thing for you. And you've grown on me. I've come to enjoy your company and treasure it. I like you despite my heart and despite what my mind tells me is right."
Still she said nothing, though his speech was beginning to stir anger in the pit of her stomach. Despite his heart? Despite his mind? What kind of proclamation of love was this?
Yet again egged on by her silence, he added, "I love you, Elizabeth. And I hope that you will do me the honor of being my girlfriend."
An awkward silence followed the conclusion of his speech. He observed the stunned expression on her face with a smirk, convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that she would accept his offer. How could she not?
However, in the amount of time it took him to blink once, her face went from shocked to angry. "No."
The monosyllabic word escaped her lips with such cruelty that he nearly recoiled when she spat it out. "What?" he asked, his lower jaw dropping in surprise.
"I said 'no,' you good-for-nothing son of a bitch," she spat, her eyes nearly sparking with the sheer force of her rage.
"But… why?" he asked dumbly, looking melancholy and extremely let down.
She laughed mirthlessly. "First off, you're the most arrogant, dick-headed teenage boy I've ever had the misfortune of meeting," she listed, holding up a single finger, just as she had done when the two of them were arguing about Derek not too long ago.
To this, he said nothing. He simply looked hurt.
"Second, I've never seen anyone treat others quite so abominably as you do. You treat everyone as if they are below you and as if they don't deserve your time," she said, holding up another finger.
After a few moments of silence, he said, "Is that all?"
"No," she said, shaking her head furiously. "There's one more thing."
"Well," he said softly. "You've had no problem abusing me so far. By all means, continue."
"You are indeed the most demonic person I have or ever will meet for interfering with Charley and Jane," she accused, lowering her voice dangerously.
"How did you know about that?" he asked, looking shocked at her accusation, though he wasn't denying it.
"I overheard you and Caroline talking about it this afternoon," she spat out. "I can't believe you would do something like that to Charley! To your best friend!"
"It was for his own good!" he snarled in defense.
"You didn't seem to sure of that earlier today," she retorted. "Besides, how the hell could it be for his own good? He clearly liked her!"
"Exactly! That's just the problem!" he said, throwing up his arms in frustration. "He liked her way more than he's ever liked any other girl before, I would know. It was so obvious to everyone and he was going to get hurt sooner or later!"
"How would he get hurt? Jane liked him just as much as he liked her, if not more!" Elizabeth cried angrily, glaring at him.
"It didn't appear so," he pointed out.
"Jane hardly even shows her feeling to me, and I'm her best friend. I'm practically her sister! But she was as good as in love with him! Have you not seen how dejected she's been ever since he's stopped talking to her?" she said.
"I'm sorry if I misjudged the situation," he said, sounding truly sincere. "I know I don't know Jane as well as you do, and it didn't appear to anyone else that she liked him."
"Well, she did," Elizabeth finished rather lamely. Biting her lip, a determined fire entered her eyes again. "That still doesn't excuse your interference, however."
"I know it doesn't," he said. "But I still think he's better off without her!"
"How could he better off without her if she can make him happy?" she asked in exasperation. "How could he possibly be better off without her if he's absolutely miserable without her? It can't be good for her either, she's been near depressed these past few weeks!"
"I… I don't know," he admitted meekly.
"That just makes you the most idiotic, demonic, arrogant dickhead that I've ever had the displeasure of meeting and sharing classes with!" she screeched shrilly. "If I never see you again, I would be content for the rest of my life! You are, without a doubt, the proudest jerk I know!"
Another awkward pause followed the end of her rant. "This is what you think of me?" he said softly, looking hurt and wounded.
"Yes," she said emphatically, nodding her head vigorously. "This is exactly what I think of you, Darcy."
"Well, then," he said quietly, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I won't waste any more of your time."
He walked swiftly past her, his shoulder brushing her for just a moment.
And then he was gone.
"Good riddance to bad rubbish," Elizabeth muttered.