Chapter Eleven

Jane and I were spending quite a bit of time at the Bingley house and I found that Louisa and Caroline became good friends to Jane and I, despite the absurd jealous glares I received from Caroline whenever Will talked to me. My mother and Mrs. Bingley had many of the other charity planning members over at our house this evening so Jane and I had escaped to the Bingley house as we had done many nights that week. Louisa, Caroline, Jane and I had a first to third season Friends marathon and without the boys around the two sisters were very nice and likeable. Caroline treated me as if I was one of her best friends and I could tell that they both really liked Jane. Louisa was in the kitchen making more popcorn when Charles, Will and Malcolm walked in the door.

"How was the movie?" Caroline asked Will rolling over on the floor to look at him as he took off his shoes. Charles immediately made his way over to where Jane was sitting on the couch and began telling her about the movie and asking about her day. I was lying on the floor next to Caroline and winked at Jane and she smiled back at me.

"The movie was alright," Will answered Caroline's question, "but if you'll excuse me I have some work to do." He went to the dining room table and began opening and spreading out his books.

"Take a break Will," sighed Malcolm plopping himself on an empty couch, "You can do your essay when you go home. You're on summer vacation!"

"What are you writing an essay for?" I asked sitting up and crossing my legs on the floor.

"He is applying for some major league scholar university thing," answered Caroline in a bored voice before Will could say anything, "Will's a genius." Her statement caused Will to snort but he didn't look up from his page.

"So what are you guys watching?" yawned Malcolm stretching out on the couch.

"Friends, would you like to join us?" asked Louisa coming back from the kitchen with another bowl of popcorn in her hands. She set it down on the coffee table and snuggled into Malcolm's side on the couch.

"No, I have to go soon," declined Malcolm sleepily, "my mom's picking me up in like half an hour. I think I'm just going to take a nap, I haven't been sleeping well lately." He closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep. Louisa clicked on the next episode and pressed play. Jane and Charles continued to talk while Caroline got up from the floor and joined Will at the dining room table. I turned my head to watch the show, but I couldn't concentrate on Ross and Rachel's dilemma because I was distracted by Caroline and Will in the adjacent room. Caroline kept asking him questions, making remarks and trying to start a conversation while Will replied with short clipped answers foiling her attempts at a conversation. Finally giving up, Caroline got up and joined me on the floor listening in on Charles and Jane's conversation. Since I wasn't really paying attention to the show I decided to give up and listen to their conversation as well. By the sounds of it, Jane and Charles were talking about the next charity event our mothers were planning.

"I would much rather have an intellectual discussion than dance at these events." said Caroline giving her opinion louder than necessary trying to attract Will's attention and win him over. She glanced over at him to see his reaction but he continued to write and her face fell.

"But that would be boring!" protested Charles turning back to Jane and ignoring Caroline. Giving up on them as well Caroline stood up and stretched before pacing around the room, ignoring the T.V while continuously glancing at Will who did not look up once as she walked by each time.

"Lizzie," she said calling me as she paced near me, "why don't you stretch and walk around with me, it feels good after sitting for such a long time." I was surprised and confused by her suggestion but I got up and joined her walking around the rooms. The muscles in my legs were stiff from sitting on the floor for such a long time and I found as we paced around the dining room and living room, I loosened up. Will kept looking up at us every time we walked by and after a minute he put his pen down.

"I feel like an elegant lady taking a turn around the room like this." I remarked in a posh voice as Caroline and I slowly walked past Will.

"Would you like to join us Will?" asked Caroline slyly as we walked slowly around the table arm in arm, "I'm sure you must be stiff as well; sitting at the movies for so long and then sitting at the table."

"No thanks," declined Will with a smirk on his face, "I can admire you both from here."

"Oh!" said Caroline with false shock in her voice, "What should we do to punish him for being so cheeky?"

"We could laugh at him," I suggested playing along, "but you know him better than I do, what do you propose?"

"You can't laugh at Will," said Caroline gravely as we walked around the back of the T.V, "teasing and laughter doesn't affect him." This caused Will to roll his eyes.

"Well that's unfortunate," I shook my head smiling, "because I really love to laugh."

"To be teased is a weakness," stated Will, "and I hope to be unaffected by it."

"So what do you think of Will?" asked Caroline, "What conclusion have you come to?"

"I think Will has no faults," I answered looking at him as we passed him again walking slowly, "and I think he is well aware of it."

"I have many faults," argued Will closing up his books, "for example, I have a terrible temper, I can hold a grudge and my first impressions of people do not ever change."

"Those are great faults!" I exclaimed but my smile faded as I continued, "But I can't laugh at them."

"Well everyone has a natural fault or two that can never be corrected." said Will looking up at me, his eyes boring into mine and sticking him arm out to block our way as we were about to pass him again.

"Your fault is to hate everyone!" I said glaring down at him annoyed.

"And yours is to misunderstand people." Will argued back standing up and looking down at me. Caroline suggested that we finish watching Friends and she walked with me back over to the couch. Will followed us and was about to sit next to me but shook his head as if to clear it, then slowly sank down onto the floor with his back to me. A few times it looked as if he was going to turn his head to look at me or say something, but he stopped himself and looked back at the T.V.