A/N: Hello! This chap is kinda cute. YAY!
Thanks to : for reviewing chapter 10. & I think there is a happy ending to this story…we'll see. =D
Toni America: thanks for the review. And yes, I thought of the letters as old school iming as well. Haha. & Mary will realize…and learn…a few things very soon. ;)
Mary had once, when she was very young, fancied herself in love with Mr. Singleton and even as a young teenager had an attachment towards him. But those feelings had died almost two years ago as their friendship grew and there was no evidence he held interest in her. She felt silly ever thinking he did. She knew her sisters would always overshadow her and that such a kind and handsome young man would have his sights set on someone prettier and more amiable, like one of them. Her two younger sisters, particularly, liked to flirt with him and she had always thought that one of them would perhaps end up with him. And so she forced such silly thoughts from her head. Now, however, she didn't know what to think. Mr. Singleton's letters had been odd, especially the second to last one. Upon Mary's scrutiny of the letters she discovered there was always a statement or two in each that struck her as strange, betraying possible feelings not brought to light. Mr. Singleton also seemed to enjoy her company more than the company of her sisters. She also marked how particularly flirtatious he seemed to be as of late. Mary, however, did not want to dwell on such thoughts in fear that she was wrong and tried to convince herself that her imagination was getting the best of her. Mr. Singleton was close friend, practically a brother to her; that was all. However, fate refused to allow Mary to convince herself of this.
One Saturday after Lydia had finally left for Brighton Mary came upon Richard in the bookstore. After talking for some time he mentioned most awkwardly something of a surprise for her. Mary, feeling about as nervous as he appeared, followed him to his house where the supposed surprise was located. Richard nervously tried to direct a conversation somewhere.
"And how are things, Miss Mary, without your favorite sister Lydia around?" Richard asked as they ventured to his house.
Mary snorted.
"It's been wonderful!" She said. "The house has been considerably quieter and happier, at least in my opinion."
Richard laughed.
"But Mr. Singleton something is bothering me."
"What is that?" he asked in concern.
'Well...the truth is, and I can't believe I am saying this, but I'm actually beginning to miss Lydia." Mary said.
Richard mocked a gasp and then feigned a sentimental smile.
"Why Miss Mary! That is terribly sweet! I do declare, I think you actually love your sister!"
Mary laughed.
"I suppose so. I just never really thought about it because she irritates me so."
Richard laughed and patted her on the head.
"My dear, little Mary, all grown up and loving her family."
Mary rolled her eyes.
"First I'm grown up for being rebellious, and now I'm grown up for loving my family?"
"Precisely." Richard said. "It's alright Mary. Love isn't such a terrible thing."
Mary and Richard looked at each other and then at the ground as they finished their walk to his house.
"Here we are!" Richard said nervously in voice a bit higher than his own. "Wait right here!"
Richard ran into the house and Mary picked up Rascal Junior. Mr. Singleton returned with a package in his hands and Mary looked at it with nervous expectation. Richard stared awkwardly at Mary for a moment.
"Uh...come on I want to show you something." He said.
"Alright." Mary said as her anticipation grew. They went to the side of Richard's house and stood in front of Richard's carriage. Mary looked at Richard as he stood there stupidly.
"Um...Voila!" He said and held his hand up toward the carriage. Mary looked at Richard in confusion.
"It's...your carriage...how amazing." she said sarcastically.
"Yes...my carriage...whose wheel I FINALLY fixed." He said proudly.
It was time for Mary to feign a sentimental look.
"Why Mr. Singleton! I am so proud of you!" she said. "My dear little Mr. Singleton, all grown up and fixing his carriage wheel."
"Oh do be quiet. Come, I'll give you a ride home." He said.
Mary felt slightly disappointed. She was really hoping the package was for her, but all he wanted to show her was his stupid carriage. Mary inquired about the package as they settled into the carriage.
'Oh...this..."Richard said with a blush. "It is just something I need to drop off…somewhere."
"Oh..." Mary said. She wistfully petted Rascal Junior, whom she had brought along for the ride. They rode on for a few minutes in silence.
"Miss Mary." Richard said nervously.
"Yes." Mary said looking toward him.
"Well...I..."he stuttered. "Would you like to play a game?"
Mary snickered.
"What sort of a game?"
"Err...the uh...the alphabet game!" Richard said.
"The...alphabet game?"
"Yes. Starting with the letter A we have to look for something that begins with each letter of the alphabet. Whoever reaches Z first, wins."
Mary laughed.
"That's silly." She said. Richard frowned.
"Perhaps you're silly for not knowing the alphabet!" Richard exclaimed.
Mary glared at Mr. Singleton.
"Oh really?" she said. "We'll see who doesn't know the alphabet after you lose!"
"I'd like to see that happen!" he said.
"As do I, and I'm sure neither of us will be disappointed."
The carriage drove on as they childishly peered out of the windows looking for objects that began with each letter of the alphabet. They continued in such a manner until they reached Longbourn.
"Oh drat!" Richard said. "I've been stuck on Q for the longest time. I was really hoping to see a quail...but to no avail. Oh, that rhymed!"
Mary laughed.
"You're still looking for Q? I passed that awhile ago, but I've been having trouble with X for quite some time."
"X! How did you find something starting with Q?" Richard asked.
Mary laughed.
"Oh, I don't know." She said. "Perhaps I went with that quilt sitting next to you."
Richard looked down to see a quilt on the seat next to him.
"Would you look at that'" he said. "I do wonder how that got there."
Mary laughed.
"Yes, whoever is responsible for putting that there?" she said looking at Richard.
"I suppose I've left it there since the winter." He said. "I do not like cold carriage rides."
Mary's face scrunched up in confusion. If he had his carriage wheel fixed in the winter, why was he making such a show of it in June? Rather, why was he making such a show of it at all?
Mary, deciding not to question him, stood up and put Rascal Junior down. "Well, thank you for giving me a ride home in your carriage."
"You're very welcome Miss Mary." he said. They said their farewells and Mary turned to leave the carriage.
"Mary, wait!" Richard said.
"Yes?" she asked, turning around.
"Um...well" he said. He thrust the package towards her. "Here!"
"What's this about?" She said.
"It's for you." he said nervously.
Mary looked at the package and read the tag.
"To Mary: For simply being the Middle child. And, of course, for simply being Mary."
Mary smiled at Mr. Singleton nervously. Richard blushed and looked at the floor.
Mary opened the package. In it was a music book full of Bach's compositions.
"Mr. Singleton!" she exclaimed. "Bach! He's my favorite. How, why?"
Richard smiled nervously.
"It was my grandmothers," he said. "I have no use for it, but I thought that you might."
"Your grandmothers!" She exclaimed. "Oh Mr. Singleton, I cannot accept this."
"Please do. I want you to have it." He said. "It's alright, do not worry. My grandmother never used it, neither my mother nor my sister. They never cared for the piano. It's about time it found a home where it would be appreciated."
"Oh, I don't know." Mary said.
"I-it's not as if it will leave the family." Richard said.
"What do you mean?" she asked, furrowing her brow.
"I-I am like a brother to you after all." he said.
'Oh..yes..that." Mary said quietly.
"And if you feel too guilty you could always put it in your will for it to go back to my family." he said.
"Yes. I suppose so. I will make sure it finds its way back to your family."
"I have every hope it will..." he said with an odd smile.
"Well, thank you very much."
"You're welcome. I'm glad you like it." Richard said.
"Yes...I do."
They looked at each other for a few moments.
"Well...I'll see you tomorrow." she said.
"Tomorrow?" he asked.
"Yes...at-at church."
"Church?" Richard said with a blush. "Oh, yes! Church."
Mary smiled and turned to step out of the carriage.
"Uh...Mary." Richard said.
"Yes?" she questioned, turning around again.
"I...well...I'm glad you like it." Richard said.
Mary smiled softly.
"You already said that." she said.
"Yes, yes of course...well...goodbye." he said.
"Goodbye." she said and exited the carriage. Mary watched the carriage as it drove out of sight. Mary looked down at the book and smiled.
"Oh, what am I thinking!" she said. "I am being silly. I'm sure he just gave it to me because he had no use for it."
And yet, as she all but skipped to her front door she couldn't help smiling. She entered into the house and saw her father crossing in the hallway.
"Hello papa!" she greeted, and kissed him on the cheek. Her father watched in surprise at his normally grave daughter's retreating figure. A small smile spread across his face.
It must be noted that a certain sense of awkwardness snuck its way into Mary and Richard's friendship, and yet it was an awkwardness of a certain nature that was welcomed by the two parties. Of course, it was more from Mary because Richard's perspective hadn't been the one to change. The next day, Sunday, brought an encounter with Mr. Singleton of a different kind. Mary was walking into the sanctuary when she almost collided with Mr. Singleton.
"Hello Miss Mary." Richard said, blushing a little.
Mary looked up at him but her eyes quickly darted to the ground.
"Oh, hello Mr. Singleton." She said. Richard frowned in confusion.
"Are you well this morning?" He asked. Mary quickly looked up at him and then back at the ground.
"I'm alright," she answered with a faint blush on her cheeks and small smile on her face. "Yourself?"
None of this escaped Richard's notice. He gave a small smile as his eyes soften.
"I'm wonderful." He said quietly and Mary's shyness became contagious. They both stood there looking anywhere but at each other.
"Well…I suppose I should go sit down." She said.
"Yes…yes of course." He said stupidly.
"Well, I'll talk to you later."
"Yes, of course. Talking, that would be wonderful." He babbled.
"Alright."
"Alright."
"Well, good bye."
"Good bye."
Mary smiled, bowed her head, and walked to a pew. Richard stood there staring after her. Mr. Jenson suddenly appeared next to him.
"Well?" he asked.
"Not yet, Fredrick, but soon." Richard said, still looking at Mary.
"Oh bother."
"I have to figure out how to go about all this." Richard said, focusing his attention on Mr. Jenson
"Oh heavens, it can't be that complicated!"
Richard looked at his friend.
"It's more complicated than you realize."
Mr. Jenson snorted.
"Yes, I forgot. It's complicated because you are a complete idiot." He said. He started to speak in mock high voice. "'Oh, look at me! I'm Richard and I'm so pathetically stupid that I don't know how to be honest! I'm not even sure if I know what honesty means. I think it means "not telling someone the truth but instead moaning about it constantly to my closest friend until he's ready to suffocate me to death". I'm not entirely sure though because I'm a complete moron.'"
Richard glared at Mr. Jenson.
"I do not speak like that!" he said.
"Yes you do."
"No I don't!"
"Yes you do."
"No I-" Richard stopped himself from continuing in the childish argument. "At least I'm not the one who can't admit to himself that he has feelings for a girl."
"Well neither am I!"
"Oh…so you've finally admitted it to yourself?"
"I have not!"
"So you're still in the process?"
"What process? There is no process because there is nothing to admit! I have no feelings for her." Mr. Jenson said irritably. "Do not look at me like that; you have no right to do so. You're the one who can't admit the truth because you're a cowardly idiot."
Richard was about to retort but stopped himself. He realized that Fredrick's insults were a clue that their bantering may escalate into an argument at church of all places. Richard mulled over Fredrick's words and knew there was much truth to what he said. Richard looked over at Mary and frowned.
"I don't deny it." He said.
Mr. Jenson smiled triumphantly, knowing he had won the battle.
Awwwwwwwwwwww!. LOL! , sorry if anyone thought that the package contained a ring. Haha, that wasn't my first intention as I wrote it but when I read I realized people might think that. So, since I'm evil, I decided to let people think that as opposed to describing the size.
Things will start going somewhere next chapter. ^_^ O.o