Chapter 26
It ended up being a few days before Lizzie did indeed see Darcy again. It happened on the day she had decided to stay inside her dorm and study for an important exam she had the next day. She had her head buried in a text book, yet to her frustration nothing would sink in. She was too distracted, had been for days. In one way she was relieved when she heard a knock on the door and she could get away from the maddening books.
Flinging the door open she caught her breath as she recognised instantly who it was
"Will?" She asked in confirmation as the man turned
"Hey Liz" Will answered, uncertain of what to expect from her, "Did you get my e-mail?"
"Yeh" Lizzie replied, she glanced down
"I'm really sorry about Jane and Charlie" Will repeated
"You were an idiot, but it's okay – they're back together now." Lizzie tilted her head to the side, "Which I'm sure you already know. I'm sorry I misjudged you and blindly believed Wickham."
Darcy nodded "I heard you had a run in with him the other day."
Lizzie blushed, "Doesn't take long for word to get round this place hey"
Will shook his head, "Toby told Charlie and Charlie told me."
Lizzie nodded, not sure what to say next. Luckily Darcy did it for her
"When I heard what you'd said about me, it taught me to hope." He took a deep breath before asking, "Liz are we okay now?"
Lizzie raised her eyes and looked into his, something fluttered inside her. Since when had she become a girl who felt uncontrollable fluttering? She was normally so in control of situations- but when they involved Will Darcy it seemed the rules didn't apply.
"Yes" was all she managed to say, but it seemed that that one word was all it took to make Darcy's face light up into a smile
"Can I come in?" He asked
Lizzie nodded and moved aside to let him pass. Will remembered the first time he had been in her dorm, when he had carried her books back and she had barely acknowledged him. He had known he was hooked on this girl from that very moment.
"Is anyone else home?" Will inquired, glancing around
"No" Lizzie confirmed, a wry smile turning up the corner of her lips, gaining control of the situation once more she moved closer to Will
"I missed you" He announced
"So you should." Lizzie quipped
Laughing for the first time in a long while Darcy reached out and pulled her to him, kissing her lips – softly at first, then gradually with more hunger.
Lizzie pulled back and studied him, "I'm meant to be studying" she declared
"Oh yes?" Will replied, kissing her again
"I have an exam tomorrow" Lizzie murmured, her lips still on his
"Good luck" Will wished
Wrapping her arms around his neck Lizzie squealed as he picked her up off the ground and carried her towards her room.
"Oh stuff it!" she exclaimed as he kicked the door shut behind them.
Later in the day Jane turned her key in the lock of her dorm and walked in with Charlotte
"She's definitely in here" Charlotte advised, "I haven't seen her go out."
"Then why isn't she answering her phone?" Jane asked
"Maybe she's fallen asleep" Charlotte replied, walking to Lizzie's room. Charlotte opened the door and then just as quickly shut it again.
"Oh my God!" She exclaimed
Jane ran up behind her, "What is it?"
Charlotte gulped before explaining, "She's in there, but she's not asleep and she's not alone."
"What!" Jane yelled, as Charlotte firmly clamped a hand over her mouth
"Can't we just come back later?" Charlotte asked
Jane shook her head, "No, this is important. Lizzie has to know."
"Well then," Charlotte proposed, "You can be the one to interrupt."
Sighing Jane stepped forward and rapped loudly on the door
"Elizabeth Bennet! Put some clothes on – I need to talk to you."
Charlotte started to giggle as they heard Lizzie reply breathlessly, "Can't it wait?"
"No" Jane insisted, "Don't make me come in there!" She threatened
A few bumps, thumps and swear words later Lizzie opened the door, hair tousled, wearing Darcy's sweat shirt and a pair of boxers. Darcy appeared behind her wearing jeans, sans shirt as Lizzie had gotten to it first.
Jane smiled, "I should have known that you'd be in there William Darcy."
Darcy merely shrugged.
"What is so important Janey?" Lizzie asked, running her fingers through her hair, "And may I just add that you are sounding more and more like me every day."
"Scary isn't it?" Jane agreed, looking her sister and her boyfriend up and down before going into her own room, grabbing one of Charlie's spare shirts and throwing it at him.
"No one will be able to concentrate while you're half naked, and you're never going to get that one back off Lizzie now." Jane explained
Lizzie turned and smirked at him, "She's right."
Darcy rolled his eyes and pulled Charlie's shirt over his head, "I don't suppose we can move this into the kitchen?" he asked, "I'm rather thirsty."
"I bet you are" Charlotte giggled
Lizzie pushed her bestfriend and sister out into the kitchen and poured both herself and Darcy a drink. Jane and Charlotte merely stood and watched
"Are you quite ready now?" Jane asked her sister
"Go ahead" Lizzie replied with a cheeky smile
"Mum's been trying to ring you for half the day, how long have you two? No, scratch that I don't want to know." Jane shook her head trying to get rid of the mental image before continuing, "It would seem that Lydia has run away from home. Mum was wondering whether she's come to the campus because she left a note mentioning something about being with Wickham."
"Wickham!" Lizzie exclaimed, her face turning pale, but not as pale as Darcy's as his glass hit the counter and shattered into pieces, forcing the girls to jump back out of the way.
"Shit!" Darcy swore, followed by a hasty "Sorry! I've got to go. Jane is Charlie back at the apartment?"
"Yeh, I think so" Jane concurred
Darcy nodded and ran out the door.
Jane and Charlotte turned to face Lizzie "Liz what on earth is going on?"
Darcy jumped in his car and speed to the apartment, jumping out he ran up the stairs and flung open the door.
"Darcy! How'd it go with Lizzie?" Charlie asked, before looking puzzled and asking "Is that my shirt?"
"Charlie get in the car, we've got to go." Will ordered
"What? Why?! Go where?" Charlie asked as Darcy pushed him out the door
"Wickham's done it again" Darcy stated simply
"What!" Charlie exclaimed in surprise, "With Georgie?"
"No" Will clarified, "With Jane and Lizzie's sister Lydia."