"Lizzy, sweetheart. Get up." Lizzy refused and finished the box of Twinkies.
It had been five months since the boys had left the case. Jane had gotten a letter from Bingley explaining the whole thing in what he thought were apologetic terms. How it'd been a fantastic opportunity for them and really they had no choice besides and would she please forgive him. Lizzy told her to burn it.
"Jane, there's no point in getting up."
"That's bull and you know it."
"Bull?"
"Yeah, bull."
"Jane, you know we're adults here. You can say shit if you want to."
"I don't."
"Want to?"
"Swear."
"That's shit, pardon my French."
"You're just deflecting. We need to get up and go do something. You haven't been outside in three weeks."
"I don't need outside. I have tea and the BBC."
"Lizzy. Have you been seeing Doctor Gardiner?"
"As you so wisely stated, I haven't been outside."
"You should go talk to her."
"I don't want to talk to her. She's outside." Jane sat down next to Lizzy and opened up the waiting box of Thin Mints.
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Join me. Tea?" Jane took the mug.
"Lizzy, get up."
"No."
"Have you even showered?"
"What's the point?"
"That's disgusting."
"Fear me. FEAR ME AND MY TEENAGE BOY STENCH."
"Christ. I'm taking you out."
"You can't make me."
"Put these on."
"Help! Kidnapping! Murder!"
"Hilarious. We need to get out of the house. Maybe think about a job?"
"Pointless. We're on the dole since they shut our lab down. We'll be fine."
"At least come pick up the takeout with me?"
"Would I have to shower first?"
"How long has it been?" Lizzy scratched her head.
"You don't really want to know."
"Get in the shower."
"I'd rather starve."
"I'll let you." Jane opened the door. "I'll be back in twenty minutes, no fried rice for you." Lizzy stood up.
"Ok, just gimme a second."
"Lizzy! Get up. We're going places."
"Why the hell would we do that?"
"Catherine has been emailing me recently. She said she feels bad about the whole lab shutdown situation and wants to invite us to live with her for a few weeks and discuss other business things."
"I'd rather die."
"To be perfectly honest, we might at this point. You can't exactly make rent on welfare. Get yourself showered and dressed. I'll pack you. We're leaving tonight."
"I really don't want to do this."
"Doesn't matter. We're doing it. Get in the shower or I'll plunk you in there myself." Lizzy grumbled but acquiesced.
After rinsing out the few weeks worth of dandruff and grime from her hair, she put on a pair of yoga pants and a tank top. She threw her hair into a messy bun and dabbed a bit of eyeliner on. After poking her eye, she threw the pencil down and huffed out to the living room, where Jane stood with several suitcases.
"You want the Crocs too?"
"What?"
"Christ, you were serious. Lizzy, this woman might be giving us a job. She's our boss."
"We aren't working now."
"Change your clothes."
"What's the point?"
"God, you're an infant. I put a dress on your bed, which was perfectly made, by the way. Have you been sleeping on the couch?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"You're vile."
"I'm lovely."
"Change your clothes."
"Yes, captain."
"Hilarious. Change." Lizzy trudged away. She reappeared a few minutes later in a white-ribboned dress with lace straps.
"I hate everything."
"You look lovely. Let's go."
"I don't want to."
"Lizzy, get in the damn car."
"I got you to swear," Lizzy said, walking out the door.
"Shut up," Jane said, closing it.
"Are we there yet?"
"Lizzy, I will stab you in the neck." Lizzy huffed and looked out of the window. They had left the city almost an hour ago and were deep into some sort of forest. Lizzy had tried to fall asleep and couldn't. She was growing upset.
"I'm bored."
"Read a book. Listen to music. Do things people do. It's really not that difficult."
"I don't want to."
"You are clinically incapable of being an adult, aren't you?"
"Why do you say that like it's not a question?"
"It's rhetorical."
"I hate you."
"Love you too."
"Holy shit." The car passed through a tall gate with some sort of monogram in it and onto a gravel road.
"What?"
"Bumpy, is all. What's with the gate?"
"The property started."
"Hell, thanks for making me change." Jane smiled. After driving for a few minutes under impossibly tall oaks, they pulled up in front of a preposterously large house.
"Ok, Jane? That's not a house. That's just ridiculous."
"It's a house, and it's awesome."
"You've been here?"
"One of us has to keep up appearances." Jane pulled the car unto the front drive. A man in a blazer came and took the keys; another grabbed the bags. A third escorted Lizzy and Jane into the main room, where Lady Catherine was perched in a rather large armchair. She wore the requisite gray suit and was surrounded by a small army of adoring minions. She continued speaking her part to those sitting around her, gesturing a hand for the new arrivals to come join her. Jane made for the bathroom and Lizzy hung by the doorway. After speaking for a few more minutes on the minutiae of mortgage detailing, she paused and looked at Lizzy.
"What are you doing still standing? Come, sit."
"I don't see much place to sit, ma'am."
"Nonsense. Richard, stand up and give the lady your seat." A sandy-haired man stood. Lizzy thought he looked vaguely familiar. He smiled and gestured to the seat.
"Of course dearest, I was just leaving." He walked to the door, grinning as he passed Lizzy. He leaned over and whispered, "good luck," before skipping away. Lizzy liked him and accepted her fate. She walked to the chair.
"Lizzy, I was just telling Richard here how sorry I was when your lab was shut down. Really, such a terrible shame. I could have just—oh, Will! Will, do come sit." Lizzy turned to the door, where Darcy was standing. Lizzy's mouth fell open. Darcy grimaced and dashed out of the door.
Author's Note: Hey, it's a chapter. I consider it progress. I believe I should be wrapping this up in the next five or so chapters, much to the chagrin of absolutely no one. Don't worry, I have some cool ideas for some things in the future. I may go back to one-shots for a while while I write it. Apparently you're supposed to write the whole damn thing before you start posting. No one tells me anything. Thanks for reading and best wishes.
Zoe