NOTES:
Hi y'all! It's Vinny
It's been almost a week since I started the medicine, and although I haven't got the benefits just yet, I'm still hopeful. I found it in me to get excited about something: coming up with new plot ideas and character sketches (the story after this one is gonna be a DOOZIE, complete with murder and romance). My posting schedule is still gonna be a little spaced out, but hopefully it'll get better soon.
I wanted to thank everyone who wished me well— you have no idea how much of a difference one comment can make to a person. I'm so grateful I have y'all to support me, and that you are each so understanding and kind. It really made me feel good, to know that I wasn't alone ❤️
Anyway, hopefully soon I'll be okay again! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the story, and please remember to stay safe out there! I love each and every one of you :)
(And don't worry, some sweet Darcy/Lizzy fluff is coming soon)
Elize was out the Playpen doors before she could process what happened. And even when it hit her, she felt.. numb. Why did it feel like she just broke up with someone? Why did she just feel like she ended a friendship?
Did she want to?
She didn't.. she didn't want to think about it. She didn't want to see him, or think about him. Nope. Not right now.
Belatedly, Lizzy realized that she should probably call Rosa Jane; let her know what was going on. She clicked onto favorites and watched it ring.
Finally, she picked up. "Hello, Lizzy?"
"Hiya Rosie J," Lizzy said, attempting to smile, even if it wouldn't be seen. "How are you?"
"I'm fine…," Rosa said, hesitating, "Is.. everything alright?"
Lizzy coughed a little. Her nose was congested from holding back tears. "Yes. Well, no, not really, but it's.. fine."
"Tell me what happened," her sister commanded in her best no-nonsense voice.
Lizzy hiccuped. "Will and I.. we… we had a thing."
"A thing?"
"A fight. I- I don't wanna talk about it." Lizzy drew in a shaky breath, and leaned against a wall. "I.. I just had to get out of there."
"Oh, hermanita," Rosa cooed sadly, "I'm so sorry that happened. Do you want me to come over?"
"No, no, it's fine," Lizzy smiled into the phone. She wiped at her eyes, laughing a little. "I'm sorry for messing up your time with Charles. I- I just— I'm sorry—"
"Elize!" She cried into the phone, before lowering her voice, "Escúchame. You didn't mess up anything. ANYTHING. ¿Me comprendes? If y'all had a fight— sucede, no big deal. But if you're upset, I will comfort you. Soy tu mejor hermana, es mi trabajo ayudar with this sorta thing. OK?"
Lizzy sniffled into a smile. "Okay," she said softly, then shook her head. "But it's cool. I'm fine."
"You sure?" Rosa asked, unconvinced.
"Yeah," Lizzy said, a bit stronger. "But thanks for that. I love you."
"I love you too, Liz. Cuídate, hermanita— don't beat yourself up. Call me later, yeh?"
"I will. Bye."
Lizzy rubbed her eyes as she continued walking down the tired sidewalk. There was a chalk drawing of a flower off to one side. Lizzy took care not to step on it.
Why was she so hung up on William Darcy anyway? Yes, she had feelings for him, but did that really mean he should control every part of her life? She couldn't even remember the last time she had come into work.
Oh shit!
Lizzy quickened her pace to a run, switching routes so that the familiar shape of the QuickaSnack loomed in front of her. She burst through the doors, out of breath and frantic.
She was greeted by the sight of Mr Gardiner leaning casually on the counter, smiling over at Dr Jenna Lawrence, who was holding Ronnie on her hip and cooing. All three looked over at her when she entered the room.
"I'm here!" She gasped, putting a hand to her chest as she fought for breath, "I'm here!"
"So you are, Lizzy," Mr G said with raised eyebrows.
Lizzy walked over and clasped her hands furtively in front of her. "Mr G, I am so sorry I didn't show up for my shift. I- I've been having a lot going on, and it slipped my mind to—"
"Sounds like excuses," he smiled, his eyes twinkling as he glanced at Jenna (who covered a smile with her free hand).
"It won't happen again," Lizzy swore.
Mr G laughed easily, waving her off. "Oh, sweet girl, s'fine! Jenna here has been helping me out since you've been gone. Actually," he leaned over, and stage-whispered, "I might appreciate you forgetting your shift a little more often."
Jenna chuckled, and slapped his arm playfully. "Don't listen to Don," she said, her pale pink face getting even pink as a blush overcame her aging beauty, "He's been stressed lately. He needs some more help."
"And who better to help me than me than my two favorite women around?"
Lizzy snickered at Mr G's lovesick exuberance. She raised an eyebrow at him. "Well, I sure can't think of anyone. Don."
Mr G ducked his head and grinned bashfully. Jenna laughed, and walked out from behind the counter.
"Actually Don, I should get going. See you tonight?"
"Yeah," he said, grinning hugely, "tonight."
She kissed him shyly on the cheek, and handed Ronnie over. Ronnie made a disgusted face at Lizzy, who mimicked it to make him laugh.
After Jenna left the store, Lizzy turned to Mr G with a slack-jawed smile. "Mr Gardiner," she said slowly, "is there anything you'd like to share with the class?"
He reddened, and busied himself with bouncing Ronnie up and down.
Lizzy poked him in the shoulder. "C'moooon. Are you two….?"
Mr G looked even more embarrassed, but he smiled as he expelled a long, slow sigh. "Yes," he finally said. "Jenna and I are together."
Lizzy squealed like a little kid, and Ronnie, excited by the outburst, jumped out of Mr Gardiner's arms to join in the fun.
"WHAT ARE WE HAPPY ABOUT?" He shouted, jumping around like a grasshopper, "IS IT WIZZY'S BIRTHDAY? WIWW THERE BE CAKE?!"
Both adults laughed, and Mr G affectionately rubbed his nephew's bristled head. "Nah, no cake today, lil' tyke."
The small boy affected a pout, which Lizzy copied. Mr G laughed again. "What do I do with you?" He chuckled, walking over to the pastry section and grabbing a half-slice. As soon as it was in his hands, Ronnie gobbled down the sweet.
"I'll man the counter then," Lizzy said. Mr G nodded appreciatively.
As Ronnie finished the cake, and Mr Gardiner led the boy away to get him cleaned up, a figure stumbled through the QuickaSnack doors, one hand pressed to his head.
Lizzy looked up, squinted, then smiled. "Hey, Wick."
Jorge Wickham peered at her from behind his fingers, his moss green eyes glancing her up and down. "Heyyy..," he eventually responded with a smile. "...buddy!"
"It's Lizzy," she said, amused. "From the bar?"
Wickham snapped his fingers and looked a little more jovial as his grin grew more friendly. "Ohhh right! Lizzy! You were the.. were the… you work here!"
"Yes," she grinned, "I do."
Wickham winced at himself. "Ouch. I'm sorry. I had too much that night. Don't really remember much."
Lizzy shrugged, saying, "Yeah, I can't really judge. I drank almost as much as you did last night."
"Riiight. Right. Oh yea! I remember now." Wickham looked at her sympathetically. "You got turned down by a guy, right?"
Lizzy bit the inside of her cheek, looked away, and nodded. She had wanted to forget about Will. Now AND then.
"Hey.. hey." Wickham sidled up to her, and put a hand on her arm comfortingly. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Lizzy looked up into his mossy eyes and wondered how much she should say. Finally she said, "Um, it's still kinda.. fresh."
"I get it," he shrugged, moving away from her. "I have guy troubles too."
He reddened, looking genuine for the first time as he tried to correct himself. "I mean, I'm not gay! Not that there's anythin' wrong with that, I'm just.. uh, I'm straight. Women. Yeah."
Lizzy covered her smile as Wickham floundered. Eventually, he groaned and pointed at her. "Oh hell, you know what I mean! But yeah, I've had problems with people too. Old friend who screwed me over."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. Wanna hear about it?"
Lizzy shrugged. "Sure!" She could use the distraction.
"Okay, well," Wickham cleared his throat, "My dad was really close to this family. I was too, I guess. The son especially. His name was William. Real stuck-up asshat, even back then. Never talking to anyone. Always saying the wrong thing."
Lizzy's eyes widened, and she leaned forward. "Was his last name Darcy, by any chance?"
Wickham looked surprised. "You know him?"
"Ummm…" Lizzy remembered how vehemently Will had reacted against her hanging out with Wickham. She didn't want to make her new friend mad at her. Better to play dumb.
"Not really," she said, indifferently.
At Wickham's look, she elaborated uncomfortably. "Uhm, my sister is dating his friend. I've.. uh, seen— heard his name passed around. A bit." God, she was a terrible liar.
But Wickham, at least, seemed to buy it.
"Well, if you ever meet him, just know: he's an asshole."
Lizzy nodded, and Wickham continued.
"We used to be friends, ya know? But then.. then his parents died, and he turned cold. He cut me off from his family— his sister Gina, especially, was my good friend. She was like MY little sister. I was closer to her than he ever was!"
"Really?" Lizzy asked, eyebrows raised. "Are you two still in touch?"
"Nah," he dismissed. "Darcy never let me see her again, after the funeral. He also made sure I could never get into college, AND— cherry on top— got me kicked out of the company."
"How?"
"He was jealous."
Lizzy rolled her eyes. "No, I mean, how did he get you kicked out?"
Wickham's face took on the look of a tortured hero, remorseful and brooding and innocent in every way. "Darcy made up some lie, making it seem like a lawsuit was my fault. That I was irresponsible and drinking on the job or some shit like that. But really, he just wanted me gone. Didn't think I was 'good enough' to work with him."
Lizzy nodded at all the right times, but she really didn't believe a word. Will would never do something like that— but also, she couldn't believe Wickham was totally in the wrong here. She chose to go the middle route.
She laid a hand on his arm. "I'm sorry that happened." Lizzy willed her eyes to widen in sympathy.
"It's okay," Wickham murmured nobly, "I've learned to live with it." He seemed to shake himself off, and turned to her with a grin. "Anyway, enough of the pity party for ME. It's your turn."
Lizzy laughed nervously, and took her hand away. "Really, I don't think.."
"No no," he chuckled, "no escaping it now. Spill, baby girl!"
"Don't call me that," she frowned playfully, then sighed. "But fine. I GUESS I'll tell you."
Wickham clapped enthusiastically, and rested his elbows on the counter, ready and eager to listen. Lizzy was less ready to talk, but she did anyway.
"So.. there's, um, this guy. Named.. Archie. Yeah." Lizzy could feel herself faltering under Wickham's piercing green gaze. But she mustered her strength, and pushed on.
"Anyway, Archie's great, he's really.. really sweet. Very smart. Serious, but likes to banter. Awkward— really, REALLY awkward. Ahm. And he's also new to town, I haven't really known him that long. But I thought.. I just got the vibe he may have liked me, ya know?"
Wickham inclined his head. His eyes were very dark, and very green.
Lizzy cleared her throat. A blush was creeping up her neck. "A-anyway," she said, "turns out.. I was wrong. He hardly even likes me. Or, if he does, I'm just a pleasant distraction— just a friend, and barely even that! He thinks I'm dumb and ugly and immature and… and… and I really liked him."
"I'm so sorry that happened," Wickham said, his voice bringing her back to the present.
Lizzy blinked. Her eyes were suddenly prickling. Had she been about to cry? She offered Wickham a watery smile. "Thanks, Wick."
"And hey— if he can't see you for the gem you are, fuck him! He's not worth your time— so don't waste it pining after him, okay?"
Lizzy bit her lip. "Yeah, I guess."
"In fact," Wickham said, his eyes lighting up though his face was serious, "you shouldn't waste ANY time on this guy. I'm guessing you had a fight?"
Lizzy nodded.
"Well, you shouldn't make up if there's no chance for anything more! If you want to be more than friends— DON'T BE FRIENDS. Cut that sonuvabitch off, that's my advice."
"Okay," Lizzy said, hollowly.
"Good," Wickham patted her shoulders. "I hope it all turns out peachy for ya, Liz."
"Me too."
She didn't say anything more. For some odd reason, her throat had closed up. Wickham shuffled his feet, and unsuccessfully tried to catch her gaze.
"Well.. uh, I'll be going then."
That snapped Lizzy out of it. She looked at him, a ghost of a smile on her face. "Wait, aren't you gonna buy anything?"
Wickham glanced around him in surprise, as if only now realizing he was in a convenience store. "Oh, right!"
Lizzy snickered to herself, and rang up the cigarettes he snatched from a display. "Anything else?"
"Nah. Maybe come in later, but for now, nah."
"Kay. See you later then, Wick."
"Later, Liz. Good luck with the whole Archie thing!"
"Yeah," Lizzy said quietly as the door swung shut, "thanks."
Then she was all alone in the store. There was nothing to distract her from the utter mess she'd made of things. She didn't.. she didn't want to just be friends. But then again, the thought of cutting Will out of her life completely made Lizzy's chest ache. She didn't want to lose him. She wasn't strong enough for that, yet.
So the only question left to ask, was what happened now?
ROUGH TRANSLATIONS: (Rosa's phone call with Lizzy)
"Elize! Listen to me. You didn't mess up anything. ANYTHING. Understand me? If y'all had a fight— it happens, no big deal. But if you're upset, I will comfort you. I'm your big sister, it's my job to help with the sorta thing. OK?"
"Love you too, Liz. Take care, little sister— don't beat yourself up. Call me later, yeh?"
