Chapter 35
After Lizzie left with Charlotte, Darcy looked around his hotel suite. It felt quiet and empty now that Lizzie was gone. Lizzie had been adamant that she wouldn't take any more prescription meds with him. He had wanted to carry Lizzie to Charlotte's car but Charlotte pointed out to him Lizzie's ankle would heal better if she put a little weight on it as long as it wasn't too painful. So he hadn't even gotten to enjoy holding Lizzie in his arms one last time. He knew he could try and get some work done but didn't feel very motivated. He felt lonely. He had almost an entire weekend with Lizzie and now the thought of eating dinner without her and working seemed almost painful. His phone dinged with a text message. He looked at screen hoping it was Lizzie, but his sister's name appeared.
G: Don't mope, you'll see her tomorrow. Lydia says Lizzie likes mint chocolate lattes.
Darcy smiled he could find a coffee house that would make a chocolate mint latte.
D: Is there any type of coffee Lydia prefers?
G: The kind with Baileys ;)
D:Tell her no. Something alcohol-free.
G: She says caramel macchiato. Put it in the company fridge she'll have it cold when she gets to C and C tomorrow.
F: Gigi's flight is at 8 AM. Don't bother putting it in the fridge. We will be there shortly after you.
G: Fitz says they are going researching tomorrow. Get Lydia a venti size, she doesn't function before 10.
D:S She would have had to function well before 10 to arrive here when she did this morning at 9.
...
"I'm totes not waking up that early," Lydia said defiantly.
"You 'totes' are," Fitz shot back, emphasizing the use of her word.
"Why do you care so much about my college choices?"
"I consider Lizzie my friend, Darcy my brother, they care about you ergo I care about you, even if I don't know you that well, yet. "
"Darceface doesn't care about me."
"Wrong. You've been planted on his protective radar now," Fitz said.
Lydia rolled her eyes.
"It's true," Gigi chimed in with. "If he just wanted to get on your good side he wouldn't have vetoed the Bailey's."
"Lizzie thinks I'm just an irresponsible party girl. I don't need to do career research."
"Surprise her. Show her you are an adult," Fitz said.
"Unless you don't think you can," GiGi suggested innocently.
"I see what you're doing Gi," Lydia said narrowing her eyes. Reverse psychology won't work."
"See you already are familiar with a psychology term. Tomorrow we explore more and turn you into a future psych major," Fitz told Lydia. "I'll take you to lunch. Somewhere you choose."
"Fine if you totes get off my back I will go on your little field trip Fitz."
"That's all I'm asking."
"And I want sushi for lunch."
"Deal."
...
Once settled onto Charlotte couch Lizzie sighed.
"Miss him already?" Charlotte teased.
"What am I going to do about Lydia?" Lizzie wondered.
"Lydia?" Charlotte ask her setting down a glass of water and Lizzie's medication.
"She came up here, skipping school."
"If Jane was hurt, you'd go to her, no matter the expectations are consequences. Even if you had to walk three miles in mud."
"Yeah but - - "Lizzie protested.
"And if Lydia found herself in a bad situation, even of her own making, you'd drop school, your shadowing, everything to be there for her."
"I was fine though."
"You claimed to hate Darcy forever, and then he started appearing in your videos, charming you. She was worried. Remember how she tried to be there for you when Wickham left?"
"Yeah," Lizzie said thoughtfully.
"You don't want to hear this, but Lydia is a lot like you."
"Excuse me?"
"A loud, crazy, unfiltered version of you. Protective of those she cares about, loyal, smart - -"
"Lydia? The poster child for irresponsibility?"
"You were wrong about Darcy. Couldn't you also be wrong about Lydia? Give her a chance to show you. She acts how you expect her to, so expect more."
"More?"
She's seeking your attention Lizzie. She applied to be your sidekick, your best friend. So far the only successful way to get your attention has been by being a party girl. Let her grow up. She might surprise you."
"You really think?"
"Trust me. Haven't you learned people don't always fit your boxes this year Lizzie?"
"When did you get to be so smart, you successful business lady, you?"
"A lifetime of experience, take your pills Lizzie."
"Oh my God Char, I agree to let Fitz, Gigi and Lydia shoot my video. After being completely unfiltered. We have to reshoot."
"Actually the footage they sent over was really good. Your viewers will love it. You can see it, after you take your pills."
"Here's my phone," Lizzie said holding it out to her. Charlotte looked confused. "Don't let me call Darcy after I take this," Lizzie said picking up her medication.
"Not even if you beg Lizzie Bennet," Charlotte said taking the phone.
Lizzie swallowed her medication and said darkly, "I just might."
" I can't wait to hear all about it," Charlotte said gleefully.
"Video first," Lizzie said. "Then I'll tell you all the embarrassing details."
Charlotte pull up the edited video on her laptop.
The video opened with all three wearing a blue plaid shirt similar to the one Lizzie used for herself in costume theater.
"I totes make the better Lizzie," Lydia said. "My impression was spot-on."
"Yeah if Lizzie was on painkillers," Gigi argued. "My Lizzie was better."
"Ahh, guys she kind of is right now," Fitz broke in with. All three look at the camera and said together, "Our name is Lizzie Bennet and we are unfiltered today."
After an intro music played, Gigi popped up on the screen in the center. She put on a newsboy hat and a bow tie. She squealed, "Guess who I am!" She took off the cap and bow tie and said, "I'm Gigi Darcy, Darcy sister."
Lydia popped into the frame saying, "and she is totes cool."
Fitz slide into the frame on the other side of Gigi and said, "Now you might be wondering what these two adorable creatures - -"
"Fitz, I'm the adorbs," Lydia interrupted him.
"Yeah, Fitz she is," Gigi added. "I get to be, - -"
"The class. You can be the classy one. Adorbs and class, together a force to be totes reckoned with. Let's get matching tats," Lydia said winking.
"These two lovely ladies," Fitz began again. "Are both here - -"
"Fitz, you take too long. Lizzie got hurt so I rushed up here. GiGi was already here because she wanted to help Darcface," Lydia said in a rush. "And now we get to make Lizzie's video because she is totes doped up on painkillers. Love ya"
There was a jump-cut to Lydia in the blue plaid and Gigi wearing the Darcy costume over her blue plaid.
"Lizzie I'll save you," Gigi said dramatically.
"OMG, that's a terrible Darcy. Switch," Lydia demanded.
There was another jump-cut. This time Lydia had the Darcy costume over her blue plaid.
"You have been injured. Let me use my manly muscles to pick you up and carry you around cuz I like touching you," Lydia said in her Darcy voice.
"Oh Darcy," GiGi as Lizzie sighed dramatically. "You're so strong."
Lydia tried to lift Gigi but couldn't. "Fitz," she called out.
The scene jump cut again this time to Fitz holding Gigi. Lydia stood next to them. In her Darcy voice Lydia said, "If you stay injured I can carry you around forever."
Gigi as Lizzie said, "You can carry me around when I'm not injured too. You smell so good. I want to lick you."
"I like the way you smell too," Lydia as Darcy said.
The video jump cut to all three sitting in front of the camera together.
Fitz said, "Lizzie B has a sprained ankle so she couldn't be here today. But don't worry our favorite vlogger - -"
"Fitz," Gigi said elbowing him and glancing at Lydia.
"Pardon, one of our favorite vloggers," he said and glanced at Lydia who nodded, "is hurt but she'll be okay. Darcy is seeing to it."
"She is in totes good hands. So instead of taking care of her I get to party with these you. Say what!" Lydia added.
"If by party, you mean career research," Fitz told her.
"OMG, Fitz. You are obsessed with me right now," Lydia said rolling her eyes.
"You need my guidance. I'm not giving up on this. Let me be your Obi-Wan."
"The green guy?"
"That's Yoda," GiGi told her. "My brother likes Star Wars," she explained defensively when Lydia gave her a look.
"Nerds. They're both nerds," Lydia announced. "Lydia out."
"Actually if we're all Lizzie right now shouldn't it be Lizzie out," GiGi pointed out.
The video jump-cut. Together the three looked at the camera and said simultaneously, "Lizzie out."
The end credits played.
...
"That was surprisingly good," Lizzie said. "I expected it to be much more embarrassing. How much did you have to edit out?"
"Not a lot. It did take them a few tries to get the Lizzie out and the intro done together," Charlotte said.
"They didn't try and use where I said that I was falling in love with him?"
"You said what? To Darcy?" Charlotte exclaimed.
"It was the medication," Lizzie said groaning."
"No it was all you, the medication just made it easier to say."
"I know, but I still feel embarrassed. And uncertain. I'm scared Char."
"Lizzie he already told you he loves you. He'd do anything for you."
"He ate pizza with his hands for me," Lizzie said happily.
"That is oddly sweet," Charlotte told her.
"I know it was. He was so determined yet so uncomfortable. I was a little turned on."
"God your pain pills are hilarious," Charlotte laughed.
