/Read and review please! And everyone who left a review: thank you so much/
JaysHeartsDesire: I was planning to update sooner, but I got the flu... but here you got another chapter!
RoseOfTheGate: thank you, thank you, thank, thank you! Your compliments make me flush, really ;)
GeeAMouse (an.): Hm, I understand. I put a lot dialogue in it to keep up the pace, but I'll try to give some more background.
A (an.): It was really difficult to write about Mr Bennet, so I'm glad someone liked it! And Darcy's showing up again in chapter 10...
/This story is going to be 14 chapters long, by the way./

8. Let's Get Started

"Please, don't tell me you've forgotten the shopping list..." Jane looked amused and angry at the same time.
"I'm sorry!" a desperate Lizzie said, searching everywhere. "I swear I put it in my pocket!"
"Yeah, yeah, and now it's gone. Well, then we've got to go back, I guess. I don't know what mum wants us to buy."
"O, but I do! A few things, at least. I mean, there were like eight things on it, and I can remember... eggs, carrots, flour, Russian salad and meatballs."
"That makes five," Jane frowned.
"I know, but we'll manage. It such a waste to go back."
"You've got a point," Jane smiled, and they walked into the supermarket. "I guess mum also needs potatoes, eh?"
"Potatoes, that's it!" Lizzie exclaimed.
"Look out, Lizzie, you almost hit me," a voice behind them said. They spun around and saw a grinning Charles Bingley.
"Charlie!" Jane also grinned, and they kissed each other. Lizzie coughed and they let go of each other.
"Why don't you go to the post office, Liz," Jane said emphatic.
"Are you sure you'll manage? Carrots can be really heavy," Lizzie answered with an innocent look on her face.
"Then I'll carry them," Charles laughed.
"While you're carrying them, you can explain to me what you're doing in Longbourn," Jane smiled.
"William's parents have been married for fifty years, so there's gonna be a big party tonight."
"Right. Bye," Lizzie quickly said and she left the building. On the street she looked around. What next?
"Liz!"
For the second time this day, Lizzie spun around and this time she saw Eve.
"Hey," Lizzie slowly said. She remembered the laborious phone call and she guessed Eve also did.
"What are you doing here?" her friend asked.
"O, eh, Jane and I were going to score some carrots, but then we ran into Charles Bingley..."
"Ah," Eve grinned. "Your sister's still in love with him?"
"Yes, she is," Lizzie smiled, "she's quite happy."
"That's nice. And... well, no shit anymore, Liz. What's going on with you? Our last phone call, yesterday, was so weird, like we were strangers," Eve frowned and it was as like she was trying to look right through Lizzie.
"I was just... I'm sorry!" Lizzie whispered. She felt horrible. She wanted to tell Eve all her troubles, but it felt like she had to solve them on her own.
"Things aren't going well," Lizzie continued, "and I guess I need some time for myself. It's not that I don't wanna tell you, but my head needs some rest, you know. Every minute there's this chaos at home and-"
"It's okay, you don't have to render account," Eve smiled, "take your time, and if you need me, I'll be there."
"You're the greatest," Lizzie softly said, and they hugged.
"Eh..." Eve looked at her watch, "Actually, I was on my way to the hotel and if you would excuse me..."
"Sure, no problem," Lizzie smiled, "bye!"
"See ya, girl!" Eve waved and she walked away. Lizzie waited a few more minutes and then Jane and Charles came out of the supermarket.
"There you are," Jane smiled, and Lizzie winked.
"Well, I think I should go," Charles said, and he gave Jane a kiss on her cheek, "as I said, we'll talk to each other soon, honey," and then he left.
"Honey?"
"Yeah, honey. There's nothing wrong with a good honey," Jane blushed, and while they got their bikes, Lizzie thought she also wanted someone who called her 'honey'. She didn't like the nickname, but it meant that there was someone who cared for her and... loved her. Did Charles love Jane? Was love not a too big word for that? Although... they had met so many times, they had been on so many dates... Lizzie didn't know.
Did she love William? She barely knew him... Although... They had talked in the class, before George had told her all the lies... They had laughed together... But love? No, that was a too big word. She had fallen head over heals in love with him, but loving him was a different story.
Where's the line? Lizzie thought, when does being in love become loving? She didn't know, and she realized she would never know. Her heart would tell her, when the time was right.
She sighed. Feelings were so difficult. They make your life a misery, but also a paradise.
"Lizzie? We're here," Jane smiled. "You looked like you were thinking about other things."
"Yeah, I was," Lizzie slowly said. They were home, and they parked their bycicles in the garden.
"How are you and Charles doing, actually?" Lizzie asked.
"We're doing great, to be honest," Jane eyes twinkled and Lizzie started to laugh.
"I'm glad you're so happy, Jane."
"Me too. And I hope you'll find also someone who makes you just as happy. I guess you will, you're still young," Jane smiled.
"Still? And you aren't anymore?" Lizzie roared with laughter, "you're two years older than me!"
Jane also started to laugh, "you're still attending school!"
"So what? I'm seventeen years old!"
"And I'm nineteen," Jane grinned.
"Jane... Do you love Charles?" Lizzie suddenly asked. Her sister looked her in the eyes.
"No, I don't," she said quiet, "I'm really in love with him, but it's no love. Not yet, anyway."
"Good for you," Lizzie smiled.
"Hey," a voice said.
"This is the third time I've got to spin around," Lizzie said, without looking up.
"Third?" Jane asked, "second, right?"
"No, I met Eve on the street."
"Ah..."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Lydia said, "but I've decided."
Lizzie slowly turned around and saw her younger sister, standing with her hands on her hips. She had a determined look on her face.
"I'm going to keep my baby."