Chapter 9: That Awkward Moment When…
Headington, Oxford
January 2003
Lizzy hadn't thought life could get more awkward than December, but it definitely had. Listening to her Mum effuse about Jamie and Jane after watching their midnight kiss was cringe-worthy. She had spoken to Jane, who had confirmed what Jamie said, but things were little strained between the sisters, as well as the friends. It was just such a difficult topic for them all to navigate, all while keeping it secret from everyone else.
Jane still felt guilty over cheating and was embarrassed that her sister knew about it. Lizzy was convinced that it would all end in tears. She tried to explain to Jane that it wasn't \a judgement of her relationship; she knew other people with open relationships, like their cousin Steph, but Steph was much more laid back. It was that Jane's situation was messy and because Jane herself was a very devoted girlfriend, even a bit clingy; Lizzy knew there was no way she had the right personality to cope with sharing. Jane knew how Lizzy felt and didn't want to hear it, especially not from the person who knew her best. She certainly didn't want to know anything about Jamie's "other people". Will was worried, and Lizzy agreed, that they hadn't discussed rules up front. Jamie basically had two girlfriends: Caroline and Jane. Neither Lizzy nor Will thought that was what Jane had meant. They both tended towards a "helper" role by nature, and found it extremely difficult not to interfere.
She glanced at Will now. He was happily ensconced in a corner with her Dad, once again listening to the story of his meeting Mr Darcy at the hospital. She loved how well her two favourite men got on. And Darcy's joy in hearing anyone talk of his parents tugged at her heart.
The kids were running wild and Lizzy thought she should put them to bed. It was already 1am! She checked on her grandad too, in case he was being naughty. She was sure she'd seen him pinch Mary's bum earlier, but Darcy's Nan had held her own. She was currently giving knitting tips to Rose and Daisy. Grandad was fast asleep. Onslow seemed to be in the garden with her dad's telescope, so she let him be. Aunt Victoria had thankfully gotten an invite to a Don's party (she had contributed to the awkward December) because Lizzy couldn't imagine what she'd make of Onslow!
xXx
Exeter
February 2003
Jane sobbing her heart out was not how Lizzy wanted to regain their close bond.
The situation with Jamie had come to a head yesterday. Caroline had posted Jane a letter and some very compromising photos. Darcy's opinion of her had been, unfortunately, spot on. She wasn't content to only have a piece of Jamie, and had decided to tackle the problem directly. Jane had called Jamie in hysterics and they had a huge row that ended everything. Lizzy took the first train to Exeter, though she would have to return almost immediately to attend her next tute.
She felt a little guilty at being relieved. Jamie and Jane clearly weren't good for each other. She only hoped that he and Darcy could stay close, and not feel awkward because of her being Jane's sister. Lizzy hated the thought that her being in Will's life would diminish it in any way.
-x-
New College, Oxford
February 2003
Darcy might have been studying Psychology, but he was still a bloke.
"I suppose you'll say you told me so?" Davies asked him.
"No point. Did you dump her?"
"Yeah. It's not on, what she did. She knew how it was with Jane, I was upfront I swear. There was no need to hurt her."
"Lizzy says that's definitely over too."
"Yeah." He sighed.
"To be honest mate, I'm glad. It wasn't a good situation."
"You're a judgemental wanker."
"I'm right though."
"Yeah."
"Pint?"
"Pint," Jamie agreed.
And that was it; friendship was restored.
-x-
New College wasn't the smallest college, but it wasn't huge. Jamie was more than punished for his actions, being required to see Caroline (and Caroline's angry friends) on a daily basis. Everyone was talking about it, for a while. There was a reference to it in the gossip section of the College paper, the Newt. Even Lizzy and Darcy got some dirty looks, not that they could work out what they were supposed to have done about any of it. Darcy had to prevent Lizzy from slapping Caroline's smug face at at bop. But in time, life moved on and most people forgot about it.
Jamie, along with his faithful sidekick Richard, led a number of supposedly official Entz outings to Brookes' Student Union where they tried to outdo each other in charming the local ladies. Jane brought home a new boyfriend at Easter. Lizzy and Will stayed out of it.
xXx
Oxford
February 2003
Valentine's Day was falling on a Friday this year and Sam's boyfriend was coming down from Edinburgh to spend the weekend her. Some of the girls were gathered in her room to help her make Valentines decorations. Lizzy was cutting out little hearts for a banner, glad to be focused on a happier romance than her sister's recent disaster.
"He must really love you!" sighed Alice, "It's almost a whole day on the train to get here."
"I don't think it's love that motivates him!" laughed Sam, receiving some very ribald comments in response.
"What about you Lizzy, are you going to wrap yourself up in a bow for Will's enjoyment?" Nisha asked.
"Oh, she should get him to wrap up in a bow for her! Mmm...I would!"
"Rachel! His girlfriend is sitting right there!" Alice said, shocked.
"So is hers." added Jo, sardonically. Rachel gave her a one arm hug.
"You know I adore you baby, but I'm just sayin'..." She looked around for support "Am I right?"
Murmurs of agreement went round the room. Lizzy was uncharacteristically silent. Alice moved the conversation on, but thought she should check up on her later.
-x-
"Are you ok? You seemed a bit weird earlier. Was it Rachel?
"No, I know she was only messing. It was the idea."
"You really are going to tie yourself up in a bow?" Alice giggled.
"No, I, erm... well it's… um, that I've never been… er… tied in a bow. If you know what I mean."
Alice raised both eyebrows. "You and Will haven't...?"
"I haven't with anyone."
"Oh. Well, you know that's ok? You don't have to. Lots of people haven't."
"Have you?"
"Not with a boy!" quipped Alice. Lizzy laughed.
"You seem surprised I haven't."
"It's just that you've been together since before college and you're always staying over. I just assumed..."
"Well we only got together just before, so it's only been 6 months. And we've done some things, just not that. But I was thinking, well I think we're ready, but I don't know how to say it to him. How do you say it?"
"Erm, I don't think I ever did say it. It kind of...just...happens, to be honest."
"But I want to talk about it first and prepare ourselves. Make it special! Maybe Sam's right about the bow..."
"I think you're overthinking it Lizzy. I've never seen you so awkward. This is Will, you tell each other everything! Can't you just ask him?"
But Lizzy wasn't listening.
-x-
Jamie and Richard had been taking the piss out of Will because he had let slip he wanted to do something special for Valentines. He realised they would get no peace in the double set, so he asked his Aunt for advice. Victoria told him that a man cooking her a fancy dinner was her idea of real romance. She suggested Darcy could cook at the house, and even promised to make herself scarce for the evening, and he happily agreed. His Nan told him to get her flowers. Fiona text him with a reminder that Valentines should be a surprise. He was relieved he had so many people to help him out.
-x-
The big day arrived and Lizzy was half excitement, half nerves. She had dropped some hints to Will and he seemed to understand because he had told her he had planned a surprise trip away from college. She couldn't quite bring herself to try the bow, but Sam had suggested some pretty underwear instead. They found something nice in Debenhams, plus a wrap dress for her to wear over it.
Will had his car so she went to meet him on Holywell St. He was standing beside it, holding a huge bunch of flowers.
"Will! They're lovely!"
She was feeling so grown up and romantic, this is exactly what Valentines should be!
He kissed her cheek and, holding up a scarf, said, "I want to surprise you, so can you put this on?"
"Really?" She felt a little breathless.
"Please? I want it to be special." Fiona had been insistent. He had spent all day cooking and he didn't want to mess up now.
She settled into the passenger seat and let him tie it on her, before he drove off. It wasn't far until he stopped the car and helped her out. He said the blindfold had to stay on.
"Will, can anyone see me?"
"No, it's just us."
"Oh!" She was intrigued. "I can't wait to see what you've got planned!"
He lead her down a paved path and up some steps. She could hear him unlocking a door, and then he steered her down what seemed to be a hallway. Their shoes sounded very loud on the wooden floor. Something smelled amazing. Where were they?
"Can I take the blindfold off yet?"
"Not just yet!"
Will had seen something somewhere (ok, it was in a women's magazine, not that he'd admit it to anyone) about feeding each other blindfolded being romantic. He had 'borrowed' a bottle of Victoria's champagne and thought he could manage that and some strawberries to get the effect.
Lizzy was impressed. Will had outdone himself! He had just fed her a strawberry and excused himself to get her "something bubbly" to go with it! This was exactly what she meant by special. She hadn't expected he would think to do this kind of thing without her telling him.
She was anticipating the pop of a cork, but instead she heard Will say "Oof" and, what sounded like his Nan say "Oh, sorry dear!"
Pulling the blindfold off quickly, she found herself in Will's family kitchen, with Mary standing by the patio doors looking amused.
"I am sorry to intrude, darlings; I didn't realise you were here yet. I was just in the garden. It all looks very interesting. I don't think that's how you're supposed to wear a scarf, Lizzy. But I'll just pop upstairs now and leave you to your dinner. Don't mind me at all!"
Lizzy looked at Will, completely flabbergasted.
"What the hell, Will? You blindfolded me and brought me to dinner with your Nan?!"
"Not with her! She was meant to stay upstairs!"
"But why did you have to blindfold me? I thought this was going to be a very different kind of evening, Will!" She put her head in her hands. "God, I'm so embarrassed!"
"Sweetheart..." He knelt in front of her. "I'm sorry. Nan wasn't supposed to come down. Victoria said that cooking was romantic. I thought you'd like it!"
"She's here too?!"
"No. Just Georgie."
"Georgie!"
"But she's asleep already. And Victoria will stay out late."
"And the blindfold?"
"Your Mum said you should be surprised."
"My Mum?!"
"Yeah. She text me."
Lizzy didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"How many people did you ask?!"
"Erm," Will looked sheepish, "just them. Oh, and Nan suggested flowers. But I knew that myself!", he added quickly. "Jamie and Dick had advice too but it wasn't every helpful; I thought it was better to be away from them tonight. Victoria said you can stay over."
"Will! You thought being in a double set was awkward but staying with your Nan and your baby sister wasn't?"
He was confused. "But you've stayed here before?"
"But it's Valentine's Will! I was blindfolded! You were feeding me strawberries."
"Was that not romantic? I thought it was..."
"It was until your Nan walked in!"
"I'm sorry! She's gone to bed now. She promised."
"But she's still upstairs! Tonight was supposed to be special! I thought you understood!"
"It is! I cooked your favourite!"
"Will! I bought a bustier!"
"I, er, you what?"
She just looked at him.
"Oh. Ohhhh."
"Yeah."
"I got this totally wrong, didn't I?" Now his head was in his hands. "I'm so thick."
Suddenly Lizzy found the whole thing hilarious. She could barely breathe for laughing.
"Oh...I thought...and you...and then your Nan...and...and...my...Mum..."
It was pretty infectious. Will was soon laughing as well.
When they calmed down Lizzy realised she might have but a bit too much pressure on, well, everything. Will realised he had missed his chance before he even knew he had one! At least they still had a wonderful meal to enjoy together, if not quite so romantic as either had planned.
"Is there really no chance of me seeing it?"
"Not tonight!" She laughed. Somehow the experience had taken away all her nerves, and she was back to being her cheeky self.
"I feel robbed!"
"You didn't even know until your Nan came in!"
"I'm never going to live this down am I?!"
"Nope! I'm going to be telling our grandkids this story!"
-x-
After Victoria came home and Lizzy was directed to the guest room, Will tried once more before heading to bed.
"Will I really not get to see it?" he whispered in her ear, as they stood close together on the landing. "I imagine you look beautiful in it."
"I do." She kissed him. "But you'll just have to keep imagining it...for now... at least until you make it up to me!"
How long it took Will to make it up to her can also be left to imagination, but let's just say he was very motivated (and so was she).
xXx
Author's notes:
Oxford terms
Tutes: tutorials. 1-1 sessions with your Professor for 1/2hrs, held weekly.
Brookes: Oxford Brookes, another university in Oxford, based in Headington.
