Chapter 7: Freshers
Exeter Train Station
September 2002
Jane squeezed Lizzy so tight she could barely breathe. Her big sister was being surprisingly clingy.
The Bennets had all come down to drop Jane at uni on the weekend. Their parents had to go back straight away – Thomas and Dad had school – but Lizzy had stayed a few days. They had set up Jane's room, met some of the other people in her halls and a few on her course, and explored Exeter together. Lizzy had even gone to the first Freshers' club night. She had stayed longer than she intended to provide Jane with support, and was dying to get back. She hadn't wanted to admit how much she really missed Will. Jane was particularly sad about being away from Jamie, and it was unkind to remind her of Lizzy's own luck. She felt like a bad sister for missing him more than she would miss Jane.
"Janie, are you ok?"
"I'm fine. I just, well, it feels like a bigger deal than I thought it would."
"Oh, Jane. You've been so excited about uni! I'm sure it's just nerves. Everyone in your halls seems lovely." One of the girls, Lily, had even come to the station with them and was waiting at the coffee shop to walk back with Jane. "And you'll be getting involved with your sports clubs tomorrow, you'll love that."
"I know. And I am looking forward to it all. I just didn't realise how sad it would be without you."
Lizzy gave her a lung squishing hug right back. "I'll miss you too, Janie."
"Lizzy, remember what Dad said about Mum leaving notes in his pidge when he was at college?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't you think that would be nice? Having little notes to read?"
Was this about Jamie?
"I suppose it would be nice. Dad made it sound quite romantic."
"But not just romantic, don't you think? It would be nice if I wrote you notes, wouldn't it?"
Lizzy realised what Jane was getting at, but was too nice to ask for. "Oh I'd love to get notes from you Jane. I bet Thomas would too! It would make you being away so much easier to bear. Can I write back too? Would you mind?"
"Of course Lizzy, that would be lovely. Are you sure you have time? We could just email?"
"No Jane, I want a pen pal now! Quick, I've got ten minutes, shall we pop to WH Smith and get some stationery?"
Jane excitedly picked out some pretty paper and envelopes with Lizzy. Lizzy carefully took down Jane's address and resolved to write the first letter on the train.
Lizzy dropped a happier Jane with Lily at the cafe, instructing her to have a hot chocolate, and jogged to catch her train feeling much less guilty.
She text Darcy her details and was happy to hear he would meet her train at Oxford.
-x-
Didcot Parkway
3 hours later
"Will!" She stopped short on the platform.
"Hello you."
"What? I..." she was half laughing, half teary, and a little embarrassed at her reaction as she grabbed hold of him. It was clearly the day for breathless cuddles. She pulled back. "I thought you were meeting me at Oxford."
"I couldn't wait", he admitted, a little embarrassed himself. "I considered coming to Bristol, but I thought I probably wouldn't make your train."
The strength of her own feelings sometimes scared her, but she was thrilled at this proof of his.
"I love you."
He kissed her. They missed at least one train.
xXx
New College, Oxford
October 2002
"Mum, Will can help me, I don't think you need to come in really. Dad's not even here."
"Nonsense. You won't stay at home, but I at least want to see your room."
Lizzy was worried that her Mum really meant she wanted to be able to find her room, for future occasions, when Lizzy was least expecting it. She resolved not to tell her where Darcy's rooms were.
"Ok, well let me go to the lodge and find out where I'm supposed to be."
"Oh, I hope you're in the same staircase as your Dad was! Of course the rooms have all been done up since then, but wouldn't it be nice?"
"Will!" Lizzy called. He came over and greeted her with a quick kiss, while her Mum nabbed a hug. "Can you help Mum for a bit? I need to go to the lodge."
"Oh actually, I was able to tick you off the list. You're in Holywell Cottages." He held out a key.
"Isn't that stalking?" Lizzy teased.
"Lizzy!" Mrs Bennet was scandalised.
"Don't worry Fiona, I'm a Fresher's Rep; it's a little perk of the job if you know someone on the list. Of course," he added to Lizzy, "I could just go help check in some other girls instead."
"If you're happy to let another boy carry my boxes..." retorted Lizzy, with a hair flick.
She was lucky her Mum was there, thought Darcy, the little tease. He took a box and Lizzy grabbed her case, somehow managing to surreptitiously pinch his bum while her Mum wasn't looking.
"Where did you say Lizzy was, Will dear?"
"It's the Holywell Cottages, Mum. The little pink buildings at the end."
"Oh couldn't you get one of the nicer ones… how about the one with the turret there?"
"It's alphabetical, Fiona, to make it fair. Bs are usually in the cottages unless there's a lot of them. Lizzy can do the draw for a different room next year."
Darcy and Davies had won a coveted double set in the Garden Quad in their draw.
"Oh, well, if that's how it works. Let's see it, then."
The cottages were old and crooked, with tiny hallways and low ceilings. Lizzy was a little disappointed that she wasn't in one of the fancier college rooms, until Will stepped behind her and whispered "cosy", making her shiver in anticipation. Plus, she had an en-suite.
"Oh Lizzy, it's got a duvet already, what about the nice one we got you?" Her Mum interrupted.
"It's ok Fiona, the scouts change the sheets every week but if you want your own they take the college ones away."
"It's all in the handbook, Mum, don't worry. Let's get all the stuff in, so you can move the car. I'll unpack later."
"Won't you want to give me some boxes back? It's a bit poky."
"Maybe. Let's see. You can always come back."
"Good idea. I'll come back tomorrow."
Lizzy sighed.
It took another 45 minutes to get her stuff to her room and satisfy her Mum she was okay. Darcy had other people to help so he had left her to it. The Fresher's guide said there was a meet up event this afternoon, so Lizzy decided to unpack now, so she could relax later. Jane's room had looked much better once she made it her own.
-x-
Fresher's Tent, Holywell Quad
That afternoon
There was a huge white tent in the middle of the quad where all the freshers' stuff was happening. Lizzy went in and met some of the other students milling around. No one seemed to be using last names yet so she was able to avoid the Pride and Prejudice questions for now. She really wasn't looking forward to that. Everyone seemed nice, if a little awkward. She had seen both Will and Jamie running around, but they were a little busy to talk.
Lizzy joined a group of girls standing out on the grass.
"Some of the reps are pretty fit, aren't they?" said a girl called Caroline, "I wonder if they're available?"
Lizzy didn't want to do the jealous girlfriend act quite yet, but she hoped someone else would ask her about Will so she didn't have to bring it up herself.
"I've got a boyfriend at home, well actually, he's at Edinburgh."
"Mine's at Keble."
"Lucky you! My girlfriend is in London, which feels really far. Not as bad as Edinburgh though... sorry, Sam."
"It's ok. Hopefully it'll work out but we've tried to be realistic. How about you Lizzy?"
"My boyfriend goes to New College, actually. He's a second year."
"Really?" asked Caroline, "How did you meet?"
"I'm from Oxford. We met after his friend started going out with my sister. He goes to New College too, but she's at Exeter Uni."
"My cousin is at Exeter!" Alice exclaimed, "I wonder…"
"Are either of them reps?" Caroline interrupted Alice, but was herself interrupted by Jamie.
"Lizzy!" He bounded up, full of enthusiasm, and hugged her. "Freshers! Are you ready for the New College experience?!" Will wasn't far behind him, and stood beside Lizzy.
"Jamie is the Entz Rep on the JCR Committee," Lizzy told them, "and this is Will. He's helping with Fresher's Week, but he's not on the JCR."
"Hi," Will smiled at them, "I helped Alice move, but I don't think I've met anyone else."
As everyone introduced themselves, Lizzy felt her heart sink. Caroline was looking at her with clear dislike. Will was obviously the rep she had her eye on. Lizzy trusted Will implicitly, but she didn't want to start the year with a stupid rivalry.
Caroline turned away from her. "Jamie, I think you're my JCR Dad, is your surname Davies?"
"Yes! That's great. We do need to collect our little families, we have to bring you all on a tour later and get you your Bod Cards, show you where to pay your battels, that kind of thing. The JCR President will be giving a talk later, as well as the Dean."
"What does Entz include?" asked Sam. Jamie began giving her a rundown of the clubbing schedule for the week.
Lizzy could feel Will run his finger up and down her back. She wanted to make friends, but she was also really tempted to ignore Freshers and take advantage of the fact that she now had her own room and no parental supervision.
"What else do you have to do today?" she whispered to him.
"I have to help with all the stuff Jamie said." he replied in a low voice; "I'm not sure being here during Freshers was worth how much I'll have to be away from you..." he moaned, "and speak to other people."
The first years were here before term started and most of the older students weren't back yet. Being a rep meant Darcy could move in at the same as Lizzy, and join in the Fresher's activities.
"Poor baby," she murmured, "I'll have to make it up to you later."
He brightened. She smirked at Will, until she was distracted by something Jamie said. She jumped forward and grabbed his arm to get his attention.
"Did you say Park End? Classy!"
"Yes, a true Oxford institution." Jamie laughed, "And tomorrow is Thursday so we follow up with 'Filth'"
"Mmmm, sticky floors!" interjected Lizzy.
"Cheap booze!" retorted Jamie.
"I'm sure Jamie has planned to take us to all the best student places Lizzy," put in Caroline. "You'll have to forget your townie ideas now." Yep, Caroline definitely hated her.
The rest of the day passed in quite a whirl. Lizzy met so many people that their names were a blur, and she did all the admin tasks Jamie had mentioned, and more besides. She was glad she knew the college from her Dad and Will, as well as the interview, or she would be lost. They had a talk from the Dean and some other college officers, and Darcy had stood beside her and held her hand; when the Dean said many people met their spouses at college, he squeezed it. Now she was walking to the College Bar with Sam, who happened to live beside her (her surname was Barros), to meet up with some people before Hall.
-x-
Park End, Park End Street
That Night
Lizzy was having a surprisingly good time. She could already imagine being friends with people she'd met today, and dinner had been fun. She loved her College Mum, who was the JCR's LGBTQ Rep, and friendly with Darcy. A few people had asked her if her name was real, but no-one had worked out that Will was Fitzwilliam Darcy so she hadn't been hassled. She had done some very cheap green shots with Sam and Alice. Even better, they had, thankfully, lost that horrible girl Caroline. And the music was awesomely cheesy. Life was good!
"I love cheese!" she shouted at Will. "I looooove college!"
"You're drunk", he laughed affectionately.
"I know! On a Wednesday. It's awesome!"
"You're such a fresher!"
"Shut up! You love it! As if you're so old, anyway!"
"I love you", he whisper-shouted into her ear (the music was very loud), as he pulled her closer to sway against him.
"I love you too", she beamed back at him. Yep, life was fantastic.
xXx
Author's notes:
The legal drinking age in the UK is 18.
Oxford terms
Pidge: Short for Pigeon Hole. Basically individualised post boxes, for both external post and internal notes/gifts etc. Very necessary when Mr Bennet was at uni, but less important in 2002 when people had email and room phones.
Staircase: Student Dorms. At Oxford, student rooms are directly off a staircase which goes up 4/5 floors. The staircase opens directly, via a doorway, into the quad. There are multiple staircases in each College building. I assume it's an old buildings thing (New College was opened in 1379). If you google Holywell Quad, New College you can see the doorways of the staircases where first years live. Rooms are individual, not shared.
Double set: There are only a couple of these and they are for second years. 2 people share a sort of flat, with a large living room, study areas, bathroom, and a separate bedroom each. You agree who you'll share with before applying. No couples, only friends.
Lodge: Porter's Lodge. The gated main entrance to a college. Those huge wooden doors (gates) on the front of colleges, with a tiny door in them – the Lodge is beside/behind those. The Porters have a little office at the gate and do various tasks including security and a kind of reception role, handing out keys, checking in visitors etc. The gates close at 11pm nightly. Nowadays students can come in and out, using their pass (Bod Card), but originally gates closing was the curfew.
Scouts: Cleaners employed by the College/University. The name is a throwback to when students were all male and had a set of rooms; the original Scouts were also men and had a kind of butler/housekeeper role.
Bod Card: Short for Bodleian Card. The University card. Runs your whole life at Oxford. College/University ID. Allows access to Bodleian Library, as well as the various Faculty and College libraries, and records book checkouts etc. Has a chip to record purchases in the pantry (College shop) and in Hall. Allows swipe access to college side gates or at the lodge when closed.
Hall: Refers to both the physical room where you eat meals, and the specific meal of dinner (evening meal). Given the age and importance of the College buildings, the staircases don't have kitchens and students can't have hotplates or other fire hazards in their rooms. Kettles and fridges are allowed. Anyone who "lives in" in the main College automatically has meals included. Those who "live out" (in private accommodation) or in external college housing can opt to eat in Hall on a per meal basis and pay via Bod card.
Battels: College bill. Rent, meals, pantry purchases, library fines, etc. If you work for the College or get a bursary, you gain a credit on your Battels. Must be paid at the beginning of every term.
College Mums & Dads: A friendly face at College in the year above. You get 1-1 subject parent, and 1 JCR committee parent who has multiple children. Some people take it quite seriously and lifelong friendships are made, others not so much.
