Face Down
Disclaimer: If I owned Pride and Prejudice, it would NOT have taken Elizabeth 300 pages to realize she loved Darcy.
Chapter Twenty-One—It's Time We Part Ways Forever
--
And honestly, I have been begging for answers
That you and only you can give to me
A voice crying loud
I've been crying for days now
And as I start to run, I stop to breathe
-You Be The Anchor That Keeps My Feet Off The Ground…—Mayday Parade
--
By the time a student reaches high school the only thing they really want is to speed away three years so that they could graduate.
And personally, I don't blame them. You spend four years trapped in hell (or something equivalent to it) doing the same damn thing everyday, listening, sleeping, homework, tests, bitchy teachers, students you just want to strangle, and the normal roll-your-eyes-how-fucking-stupid drama.
And at the end of four years you have your fifteen seconds of fame when you walk across the stage, shake your principal's hand and receive a sheet of paper that sums up the last 12,000 hours of your life that you wasted in the American school system that says 'Congratulations, you graduated!'
But when you're a senior you tend to overlook this, especially on graduation day.
Caps and gowns had been distributed at the Senior Breakfast in mid-May and had been put away in closets until the afternoon of June third.
After the rehearsal at ten a.m. all the graduating seniors had to do was wait impatiently until five thirty when they would drive to the auditorium where their commencement was being held and then remain until seven when the actual ceremony would begin.
--
The Bennet household was in a flurry of excitement on the third of June. After Janie had returned home from the rehearsal Mrs. Bennet had gone Nazi on them. Shrieking that all her children needed to be "scrubbed from scalp to toe nail" she shoved them off one by one towards the shower until all five Bennet girls had wet hair and smelled like Dove body soap. After a light lunch she ushered them upstairs to again to fix their beds and prohibited Janie from taking out her cap and gown until it was time. Francesca
Bennet did not want a speck of dust on Janie's canary yellow robe so she made sure that the garment was hung up in her bedroom.
"Here's a good one," Lizzy shouted over the screaming of Janie's hair dryer. "My worst graduation experience happened when I was walking on stage," Lizzy read, the corners of her lips twitching. "And my heels got stuck on my long robe and just as I was about to shake my principal's hand I fell right into him! I was so mortified!" Lizzy snorted and marked something in the magazine. "Well any asshole would know that you do not wear uberly high heels with that sack. AND if you do, you hold up the robe as you climb."
"Well it's not like they expected to fall." Janie explained as she ran a hand through her tangled and slightly damp hair. "They're not psychic."
"Well they should be prepared." Lizzy said as she twirled a piece of her frizzy hair around her index finger and snapped her gum in her mouth. "Always expect the inevitable."
"Nobody expected the World Trade Towers to be bombed on 9/11." Janie argued back.
"Oh yes they did. Bushie just didn't take up on the hints." Lizzy said flippantly as she sprawled on her stomach and flipped through the magazine. "So anyway, what's the ensemble for tonight?"
Janie set down the hair dryer and went to her closet. Tapping her lip, she pulled out a pretty blue dress and held it against her body. "What do you think?"
"Pretty." Lizzy agreed as she closed the magazine and studied the dress. "And it's a pity that no one will see your nice form under that thing they call a gown. But hey, there's always the graduation party tonight."
"Oh God," Janie moaned as she put the dress back. "I forgot about that. Mom's going to be there."
Lizzy laughed as she popped another bubble. "Sucks for you," she said cheerfully. "Better for me. Maybe then she won't come to mine."
Janie snorted in disbelief as she rumpled her hair one more time, finally satisfied that it was dry. "Please Lizzy. Mom's only coming to mine because I'm the eldest child. I think she's afraid that you'll get insanely drunk at your grad party or get high."
"I love the faith that woman has in me." Lizzy said sarcastically as she tossed the magazine onto Janie's cluttered desk. "I truly do."
--
"Do I honestly have to wear this?" Will whined as his mother helped him with his tie. "Seriously, this thing is like a choker."
"You have to wear a tie Will." Anne said as she expertly pulled the smaller part of the tie down and smoothed it. "There. You look very handsome son."
"I feel ridiculous." Will grumbled as he loosened the tie slightly to let air into his lungs. Hearing snickering coming from his bedroom door he turned to see Fitzie leaning against the wall, a touch of a smirk playing on his lips. "And shut up Fitz. You'll be doing the same thing too in about a year."
"Doesn't mean I still can't make fun of you." Fitzie remarked, making sure to keep a respectable distance between them. Will found out that Fitzie had told Lizzy about the dare and Fitzie had spent three hours hiding out because Will had been angry enough to kill. "And there's no way my mom would make me wear a tie. I can't even figure them out to begin with."
"That's what girlfriends and wives are for." Giana announced poking her head under Fitzie's arm. "We can figure out ties faster than you guys can."
"Nothing wrong with that."
"You're such a goober."
Will sighed and rubbed his face with his hand. Ever since he and Lizzy went kaput his patience level was drastically low. "What time is it?" He asked wearily.
"Four twenty-five." Fitzie announced glancing at Will's SpongeBob alarm clock (the one he bought when he was seven and refused to throw away).
"Go get ready." Anne told her daughter and nephew. "Now."
Will sighed again and smoothed down his hair quickly. "Alright Mom, I'm good to go."
Anne's eyes started to mist slightly and Will wanted to groan out loud. Oh no, the water works were going to start.
"My baby boy is graduating today." Anne gushed as she enveloped her son in a hug. "It seems like just yesterday you were peeing in the kiddy pool—"
"Mom."
"And now look at you. You'll be eighteen years old in five days." His mother's eyes continued to water up. "I can't believe how much time has passed."
"Please don't tell me you're going to cry at the ceremony." Will winced at the thought.
"You're my baby. Of course I will." She continued to hold her son in an embrace for another few seconds until she let go, wiped her eyes and said, "Will Lizzy be coming over for pictures?"
It was as if his mother had punched him in the gut. He forced out a smile and said tightly. "I don't think so Mom. Her sister Janie is also graduating today too. I think her mom wants her to stay home."
"Oh." Anne looked disappointed and Will knew it was wrong to not tell his mother that he and Lizzy were over with. Anne loved Lizzy and heartily approved of the relationship saying that Lizzy was Will's 'smartest decision ever'. "Well, I'm sure I'll see her at the ceremony then. I'll grab a picture then."
Will squeezed his eyes shut in frustration. How in the world was he supposed to get a picture with Lizzy when the girl wouldn't even come within ten feet of him?
--
At five twenty, after fifteen minutes of pictures, the entire Bennet family packed up in their car and left for the auditorium where Commencement was taking place. Janie had her cap and gown in the box still, refusing to put it on until she got to the designated area.
"Is there a reason why we're all going to the ceremony right now?" Lydia grouchily asked. "Because I was in the middle of a very important phone call."
"Oh yeah," Lizzy said sarcastically twisting her body sideways to look into the very backseat where the twins and Mary were sitting. "Because saying 'like oh my god' five million times makes it uberly important."
Lydia glared at her sister. "Shut up Lizzy."
"Hey girls?" Ben called from the driver's seat, staring at his girls in the mirror. "How about we play a game?"
"What kind of game Dad?" Janie asked her outfit clutched to her chest like it was the Holy Grail.
"The Quiet Game." Ben quipped, jabbing his wife in the shoulder with a sardonic grin on his face. "See who can stay the quietest for the entire ride."
"What do we win?" Katie called from her position next to Lydia.
"Not making me pay for another bottle of headache relievers." Ben grinned at his own little joke but his own daughters found nothing funny about it.
"Wow Dad." Lizzy said sarcastically. "You really are a born comedian. I'm hysterically laughing right now."
"Are we almost there yet?" Lydia whined from the backseat. "It's really uncomfortable back here. How come Janie and Lizzy get to sit in the captain seats?"
Lizzy let her head fall backwards onto the small cushion of the head rest and closed her eyes. Honestly, this is why she hated car trips with her entire family in the now cramped mini van. The car had been ideal when the Bennet children had been young but as they grew the automobile just became obnoxious, especially when all their legs would hit each other.
"Because Janie and Lizzy are older." Francesca said from her sanctuary seat in the front. "And this is Janie's graduation day too. Now please be quiet."
--
"Nice job Charlie." Will said sarcastically as he watched his friend skid to a halt a few feet away from him, his cap and gown still in the now battered box. "What took you so long?"
"Caroline, who else?" Charlie breathed heavily noticing that everyone else in his class was staring at him in amusement. "Damn, am I supposed to put my robe on?"
"Yes Mr. Bingley." Mr. Greene said. "And you're lucky you are graduating today otherwise I would have lectured you for swearing."
"Yes Mr. G," Charlie said, quickly discarding the box, throwing on his blue robe and moved in line towards Will. "Does your mom have her cell phone on?"
"Yeah. She's not turning it off until the band starts to play."
"Good because Mom called asking if your mom could save seats." He ran a hand through his messy hair and jammed the cap on his head. "Where's Janie?"
"Up in the front with all the honor students. They've formed their own little group."
"Aren't we supposed to be up there too? Especially you Mr. four point oh Grade Point Average."
"Better than your lousy three point eight one." Will grinned and punched his friend on the shoulder. "C'mon let's go be nerds and go talk to them."
--
By seven o'clock, everything was ready. After the 2008 graduates walked proudly down the aisle to 'Pomp and Circumstance' the ceremony began. The superintendant of the school district made a speech and then let Mr. Maci make one which ended with his 'And the Class of 2008 says please, don't smoke,' slogan. Will, even though he hated hearing that every morning laughed and clapped along with the other graduates and found that he would miss that. Maci may have been erratic and a bit crazy but he was a good principal.
After Samantha Raupp (the valedictorian) and Chase Phillips (the salutatorian) made their speeches the band played one more song composed for the graduating class.
And then, before anyone knew it they started to read off names.
"Janie Marie Bennet." The superintendent called out and the tall girl, amidst cheers from her family and friends walked up the stairs, took her diploma, shook Mr. Maci and Greene's hands and accepted a rose. As she made her way across the stage Will studied her and felt a pang of sadness as he watched her curled blonde hair bounce around her back. Janie really was a sweet girl and he had been a reason why Janie and Charlie had broken up. Janie didn't deserve that.
"Charles Michael Bingley."
And there went Charlie, his best friend. The boy who had been there with him since Pre-K. They had countless memories together from themed Barney birthday parties as children to prom as near adults. It had been a stupid mistake on both of their parts to bet on Lizzy's feelings and Will realized that they should never have done that. But he had been stupid. He thought that any girl would fall at his feet and beg him to go out with him.
And then came Charlie's dare and he had taken up on it like a fool. Will kneaded his forehead as he watched Piper Addison Biphony get her diploma. He had hurt a lot of people this year—Lizzy, Charlie, Janie, Marissa (even though he didn't really want to admit it), and his idiot cousin Fitzie.
He had to apologize to Lizzy. He had to tell her that he loved her and didn't mean it at all.
But how?
The superintendent moved onto the C's and what seemed like seconds later, she moved onto the D's.
"William Jeffrey Darcy."
Wait, was it his turn already?
Standing up Will moved towards the stage and heard the cheers coming from the audience. Making sure not to trip on the steps (as Leah Anne Baker had done) he made his way across the stage. Shaking the superintendent's hand, he took the offered diploma with one hand and shook Mr. Maci and Greene's with the other. As he walked towards the rose area he looked into the audience and easily spotted his parents and the Bingleys. Both his mother and Claire Bingley were crying while Matt and Mr. Bingley looked extremely proud. Giana was beaming and Fitzie, in his true self, had stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly.
Just seeing his family and close friends there made a genuine and large smile appear on his face as he started his descent on the opposite stairs.
As he walked down the stairs it felt like the final chapter of the first part of his life was ending with his graduation.
And as he made his way back to his seat the first chapter of another book was opening and Will was ready to embrace it with open arms.
--
After another hour and a half graduation was over. Will felt strangely different now and he couldn't explain why.
"Congrats man." Charlie said as the two boys briefly hugged but pulled away just as fast. "We're finally done! Twelve damn years in this school system and we're out. Finally."
"I know, right?"
"CHARLIE! WILL!" Anne Darcy came speeding towards her son and his best friend, squashing them both in a hug.
"Ow!"
"Anne!"
"Congratulations boys!" Mrs. Darcy sobbed as she tightened her grip around the two boys. "I can't believe it! It feels like a week ago when you two were graduating from kindergarten and now look at you two."
"I think you're choking them to death Annie." Matt Darcy said striding towards his family with Giana, Fitzie, and the Bingleys in tow. "We're proud of you son." Matt drew his son into a hug, watching the Bingleys exclaim over Charlie.
"Aunt Anne and Mrs. Bingley were bawling their eyes out." Fitzie said as he shook Will's hand, not comfortable giving his cousin a hug. "Mrs. Bingley started to tear when Janie went up there and then full on blubbered when Charlie went up and didn't stop the entire time. I should have brought an umbrella."
Giana rolled her eyes as she shoved her cousin out of the way and gave her brother a hug. "Shut up Fitzie we all know Aunt Alice will do the same thing when you graduate next year. And Janine and Robert will too."
"Did you cry Gee?" Will asked curiously, laughing when he saw a grin unfurl from Fitzie's face and seeing his sister's face turn red. "Aha you did."
"Shut up." Giana shoved her cousin.
Will laughed again and looked up suddenly to see Lizzy standing only a few feet away from him.
His heart thudded and he swallowed nervously not sure what to do.
--
After hugging and kissing her sister, Lizzy let her family swarm around Janie and admire her diploma while she watched them on the sidelines, smiling slightly. She was deliciously happy and felt at peace with the world at the moment.
She scanned the large room full of yellow and blue colored graduates crowded around family and friends, most of them beaming or being attacked by family members. Letting her green eyes continue to wander she spotted a tall person wearing a blue robe stand about ten feet away from her. Cocking her head to the side she looked at the person until he looked up and stared directly into her eyes. The cerulean robe accentuated his already gorgeous blue eyes and it didn't take a rocket scientist to realize who it was.
Feeling her chest tighten she offered a tentative smile. Normally she would have ignored him but it was graduation day and he didn't need anyone, especially her ruining his day.
She realized then and there that her past with Will was now officially over. Will was going to college in August across the country and he would be cut out of her life forever. Lizzy would always love him too but she knew that she had to move on. Sighing and shaking her head, she crossed her arms over her chest and looked in the opposite direction fixing her eyes upon the large 'Congrats 2008!' banner.
"Hey Lizzy."
Lizzy's heart nearly stopped beating and her mouth went dry. She recognized that voice and a part of her did not want to turn around but another part of her demanded that she did.
"You know Lizzy, I never realized it but that banner really is interesting."
Lizzy recognized the voice and whirled around to see Will standing in front of her, eyebrows raised and arms crossed over his chest.
"Isn't it?" Lizzy said sarcastically. "I really enjoy how they made the eight so round and full. Feels like I'm back in the sixties."
Will laughed softly and shook his head in amusement. "Always mordant weren't you?"
"Nothing wrong with it." Lizzy shrugged not knowing what to say to him. I mean, what would you say to the boy that took your heart, ripped it, and stomped on it?
There was an awkward silence between the two and Lizzy ached for the times where the two had an endless amount to say to each other. Now it was like they were complete strangers.
After a few minutes of unbearable tension Lizzy finally blurted out, "Congrats."
"Huh?" Will wasn't expecting Lizzy to say anything to him.
"Congrats on…graduating." Lizzy finished awkwardly, tossing her long hair over one shoulder not sure what to do with her hands.
"Thanks."
There was another long and awkward pause and Lizzy snuck a peek at Will to see that his eyebrows were furrowed in contemplation. What the sixteen year old didn't know was that Will was having an internal battle with himself not knowing what to say to Lizzy.
But it wasn't like Lizzy minded staring at Will. She enjoyed the way his dark brown hair fell into his blue eyes and admired the cute way in which his slightly large nose was scrunched up and the way he would catch his bottom lip between his teeth as he thought.
Finally, Will turned to her and Lizzy instantly dropped her eyes not wanting him to know she had been looking at him. "Hey Lizzy, can I talk to you about something?"
"Depends on what said subject is about." Lizzy deadpanned, still looking at the ground and not willing to look him in the eyes.
"May twentieth." He sighed knowing that it wouldn't be easy to talk to Lizzy about this.
True to his thoughts he watched Lizzy's face turn stony and she crossed her arms over her chest. "That subject is off limits." She stressed not wanting to relive that horrible day over again. "You of all people should know that."
"I know. But I never got to explain my side of the story—"
"I don't know why you even brought this up." Lizzy said, dying to get away from the uncomfortable subject. "Especially on Graduation Day. You know what? I don't have time for this." She tried to move past him but Will wasn't having this. With lightening speed he grabbed Lizzy's arm and she froze.
"Just hear me out Liz. Please?"
She seemed to hesitate for a moment before she stopped in her tracks and turned towards Will an exasperated look on her face. "You have two minutes."
Shit. He had to make this fast.
"When Charlie first thought of the dare I will admit, I was just in it for the glory. No strings attached," Will said hurriedly knowing that Lizzy would keep to the time limit. "And yes you were a bit of a puzzle. You wouldn't look at me or talk to me and if you did it was something snarky or condescending."
"I'm not here to listen to you berate me about my behavior." Lizzy snapped.
"It's not! Just—listen and don't interrupt." Will took off his mortarboard and ran a hand through his hair. "And then I realized what was wrong. I wasn't acting like I should be. I was arrogant, conceited, rude, the works!"
Lizzy nodded and waved her hand signaling him to continue.
"It was after we first kissed at Anne Bourgh's party when I realized that I didn't consider this a game anymore." Will explained, feeling all the bit more desperate. "But I just thought I was stupid. It wasn't until our first date did I fully comprehend that you just weren't another 'fling'. I truly liked you and I wanted to end the dare. Hell, I must have started a thousand IMs and texts to Charlie but I never sent them. Why? Because I was stupid and I didn't want my pride to be severely damaged.
"And as I got to know you more I found that you were the kind of girl that I wanted to be with," Will explained not liking how Lizzy's stoic face stayed the same. "I promise you Lizzy, I wasn't going to break up with you and I realized it that night at prom when I sent that text to Charlie—"
"That he never got." Lizzy interjected coolly. "And you couldn't prove it either so how do I know that you're not lying?"
"You don't." Will said simply hating how it sounded. He wanted to prove to Lizzy that he sent that text message but he couldn't. "You just have to trust me."
Lizzy snorted and rolled her eyes. "You're asking for a lot. I stopped trusting you after Fitzie informed me of your game."
Will scowled at the mention of his cousin and had 'accidentally' let it slip to Katlin that Fitzie was the reason why he and Lizzy were no longer together. The yelling that had ensured from the freshman made Will feel better about himself.
"I know." He said. "And I'm not asking you to forgive me and I'm definitely not asking you to go back out with me. But I am asking for a second chance."
Lizzy couldn't hold it any longer; she snickered and glared at him. "You're kidding right? You want me to give you a second chance, after all the shit you've done to—"
"I love you Lizzy." Will said effortlessly and ignoring the look of shock on the girl's face. "And I'll scream it to the roof tops if I could. Yeah, I made a mistake. A huge mistake and I know you are still angry about it. I would be too. But I'm asking you to start over. I'm not asking you to give me a second chance or to go back out with me but I feel as if we got off on the wrong foot at first. I want to start over from the beginning and get to know each other better. Y'know, no secrets this time—no hidden bets that you or I don't know about. What do you say?"
He waited impatiently for Lizzy's answer, his heart thumping because he knew this was the most important decision of his young life.
Lizzy stared at him for a second before she broke eye contact and looked away. Will bit his lip and fought the urge to tell her to hurry up. Instead he clenched and unclenched his fists.
Finally, just finally, Lizzy slowly turned her head back towards him.
And she smiled.
--
THE END.
Well, no, not really. (:
Attention too. Remember how I said there was only ONE chapter left after this one? Well, I lied. There are TWO more left! Yay! I know.
These next two chapters are going to be epic and I'm more than halfway done with both of them so stay tuned—they'll be to a computer near you soon.
--GC