Eight years ago

After his disastrous conversation with Lizzie, William walked away and forced himself not to turn back.

George was already waiting for him in the parking lot. The Darcy's driver had stopped driving them to school whey the got their license and he instead picked Gigi up from her school.

Without saying a word, William got on his car and drove his friend to his house.

"Is everything okay with you?," George asked.

"Yes", William answered dryly. Since George was used to his friend's manners did not push for more.

After a relatively short drive, William dropped George and then he went home.

He knew that the only person who was home at the time was Georgiana, but she spent her afternoons in the pool until their parents arrived from work.

William entered his house and went to his room. He locked the door and laid on his bed.

Everything hurt, his heart and his pride. He felt he had made a reasonable offer to Lizzie and was really shaken up by her rejection. He had been probably too naïve to believe that Lizzie knew about his feelings.

He was forced to leave his room when his parents arrived. And although, he tried, it was pretty obvious to everyone that something had happened to him. William was cold and more silent than usual.

When he excused himself after dinner and went straight to his bedroom, William Sr. wanted to go after him to talk, but Ann reminded that his son needed space and would talk when he felt ready.

On Sunday night, his father went to his room and asked him if he wanted to talk. William nodded and related everything to his father.

"Wow, that was quite a proposition," William Sr. said.

"You are not helping…," William sighed.

"I am sorry, but you were really straightforward. Did you even ask her how she felt about you?"

"No, but she made it very clear at the end."

His father sighed, "Are you sure you are in love with her? Love can be very confusing at your age… at every age for that matter."

"I am not sure anymore. The more I think about it, I realize she was right. I don't really know her. Could you love someone without knowing them?," William said.

"Well… I fell in love with your mom the moment I saw her and I knew she would be the mother of my children," William Sr. said in response.

"You are not helping…"

"Yes, sorry. But before your mother, there were other women whom I felt I loved. That happens."

William collapsed into the bed.

"Son, this is your first heartbreak, and I totally understand how you feel. Just let it be but learn from this experience. And if you ever find yourself in this position again, you know you can talk to me," William Sr. finished.

William Sr. said goodnight and left. William thought about what his father had said and was not sure if he had helped. It was all very confusing.

He convinced himself that he had only been infatuated with Lizzie. That would make it easier for him to see her again, probably for the last time.

The next week was difficult for him. Fortunately, they did not have many classes so he did not have to fight the urge of looking at her.

When the day of their graduation arrived, he saw her walk before him and receive her diploma. The last time he saw her, she was walking towards her family.

A few weeks after, when he felt better, William told George and Fitz about Lizzie.

No one of them could believe what had happened. It was a greater shock for George, because he had been with them for a year in the same school and never suspected William's feelings.

That summer, William and George went to Europe to celebrate their graduation. They spent almost two months visiting different countries in the old continent.

William had started to forget about Lizzie and decided to follow his father's advice. He wanted to change the reasons why she had rejected him, he wanted to become a better person and learn from his mistakes.

George flirted with every girl they encountered, and even though he did not do that, William tried to be more friendly and nice and less franc about his opinions and take into consideration the feelings of other people. It turned out to be less difficult than he had believed originally.

By the time they came home, William had changed, for good.