Chapter 10: The End of First Year
New College Library, Oxford
March 2003
"Will, stop fidgeting."
"I'm bored."
"Go do something else then."
"Do you want to get dinner?"
"Go do something by yourself."
"But I want to spend time with you!"
"Well I need to revise for Prelims, so either study or go away."
He sighed. Deeply. Lizzy looked up.
"You're lucky no one else is in this reading room or you'd be a dead man! What did you do without me last year?"
"I can't remember! No, actually, I do. I messaged you on MSN."
She huffed a laugh. "You're very cute, but I really do need to study."
"How about a Hassan's?"
"I'm sure someone in the bar will go to Hassan's with you."
She gave him a quick kiss and sent him on his way. He made his way to the bar grumpily, and somehow ended up in Park End with Dick and his mate Adam. The library was closed when he got back, but Lizzy's light was still on, so he went to tell her he'd missed her. He might have worried about being clingy, but this was Lizzy. He loved her too much to be embarrassed. She just laughed at him, tucked him into her bed, and kept reading.
xXx
New College Boat House, Oxford
May 2003
Lizzy was hanging over the balcony of the Boat house cheering for, well, it was someone from New College.
In all honesty, she was only really here for the Pimms, and to avoid writing the lab report she had due on Friday morning. She vaguely recognised some of the rowers, but didn't know much about the sport at all. Will's friend Olivia was a cox, so he was a bit more interested. He had once considered trying out for the team, but lost enthusiasm when he found out practice started at sunrise. Will thought any time before 10am was an ungodly hour, so he stuck to playing Rugby.
It felt like the whole university was on the banks of the Isis, soaking up the sunshine. These were the days she loved best about uni. When she was little her Dad had told her stories about things like summer eights and the Magdalen Choir singing on May Day, and that more than anything had made her want to go to New College, as he had. She used to resent that her parents never did Oxford-y things with them, but this year she had loved having so many brand new experiences with Will and her friends.
Gemma bounded up with a full jug of Pimms and knocked her out of her daze.
"Bennet! Why is your glass empty?! Have some more!"
"Thanks! It's barely alcohol though is it? Mostly lemonade and apples at this point."
"Probably best." Gemma laughed, "Some of these idiots have been here all morning!"
"Do you know anyone rowing?" She asked as she took a sip.
"Eh, there's a guy on my staircase, but not really... Lizzy, can I check something with you?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"Is there anything still going on between Davies and your sister?"
"No, Jane has a boyfriend in Exeter now." She was also much happier. Greg was part of the Surf Club too, and they had much more in common than Jane did with Jamie. Lizzy had been a little suspicious of how quickly they got together, but she had warmed to Greg when he visited over Easter. Her and Will were even planning on joining Jane for week at his parents place in the summer. "Why?"
"Well, I'm interested. And he's been flirty, but someone told me he and Jane were a bit messy. I don't want to step on any toes."
Gemma hadn't spent a lot of time in college for the first two terms because her, now ex, boyfriend was at Keble. She'd missed out on some of the College drama.
"Honestly it's fine. That was all over at the start of Hilary." It had only been 3 months ago, but months felt like years at College. "It's cool of you to ask. You hardly even know Jane."
"I know you."
Lizzy gave her a hug and wished her luck. Then she went to find Will to let him know he might want to stay at hers tonight.
xXx
Broad Street, Oxford
June 2003
Returning from speaking with his thesis supervisor, Will caught up with Lizzy in Boswell's.
"It seems a shame to be buying a new kettle so close to the end of term."
"Like you could survive without tea for two weeks either!" She laughed.
He wound his arms around her waist and spoke low in her ear. "You could stay at mine, I'd make you tea every morning."
She leaned back for a quick kiss.
"I don't need a bribe to stay over, as you well know Mr Darcy. I do, however, still need to tea to study. And I don't always want to stay at yours. Does Gemma ever sleep in her own room?"
"I don't think she's even been to her own room recently. She's in the double set more than I am."
"Better her than Caroline!"
Darcy agreed. He quite liked Gemma, and it did seem to be serious between her and Jamie. He did worry though, after what happened with Jane. It was awkward.
"Did Gemma mention about them inter-railing?"
"Is that definitely on?"
They walked towards the tills.
"I think so. There's a bit of a group now. I'd like to go. Do you think Jane would mind?"
"She knows how close you are to Jamie. And she has Greg. She can hardly complain."
"So will you come?"
She paused to pay, and they went outside.
"I would like to, but I don't know if it's fair on my parents. Jane has a summer job set up in Devon you know, so she's paying for herself and she won't be home. I should have a job of my own I think, and stick around besides."
"You could work for part of the summer and come later. College will want help with the American summer school."
"It's tempting."
"And you get to keep your room. Or, at least you'll be given a room somewhere in college. I could apply too."
"Would we get any work done?!"
"Craig did security last year and he said it was a breeze."
"Security?"
"Just helping out the porters really, opening rooms, locking up, answering questions. They'll want someone to help in the library too, and the bar. You've done library shifts already this year."
"Doesn't sound like it would pay much."
"Probably not, but it's an easy job and then you can come inter-railing in September. I'll buy your train ticket as your birthday present. It won't cost your parents anything."
"That's an expensive birthday present, love."
"I really, really want you to come. What's the point of having money if I can't do lovely things with you?"
"I'll ask Dad."
Will beamed. "This summer is going to be amazing!"
"He hasn't said yes yet!" she protested.
He waggled his eyebrows. "Yet."
xXx
Rome, Italy
31 August 2003
Darcy sat outside a tiny trattoria, a glass of wine in his hand, his arm slung around his his beautiful girlfriend, silently taking in the table full of his laughing friends. A birthday gift, indeed.
Lizzy nudged his ear with her nose, whispering to him, "Are you alright, love?"
"I don't remember ever feeling better, sweetheart," he smiled. He felt at peace down to his very soul.
xXx
Authors notes:
Oxford terms
Hassan's: A takeaway van (aka street food truck) on Broad Street. An Oxford legend.
Summer Eights/Eights Week: A rowing regatta between Oxford Colleges. Takes places annually in the middle of summer term (Trinity).
Boswells: A little old-fashioned department store in Oxford that sells pretty much everything a student could need.
Summer School: During the long vac (i.e. the summer), Oxford colleges rent out their facilities to outside companies for conferences or educational purposes. It's why Oxford students often have access to en-suite bedrooms during term time – they were installed for the high paying summer guests! 2 or 3 college students are hired to work during these, though it isn't competitive so Will and Lizzy may have got the job as easily as I suggested.
