A/N: Here's the next chapter! I really hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 3: The Last Day

Summary: There is only one more day until Elizabeth leaves. She thinks it will be a quiet last day at school, but she gets an unexpected visitor, and an even more unexpected end to her final day in London.

On the morning of the eighth, Elizabeth found herself lying in bed, wide-awake. The night that had ended on a low note had dissolved sometime throughout her slumber. There was only one day until she left for America, and it couldn't come any faster. She was sad to leave the place that she had spent half her life at, but was excited to begin a new chapter, whatever it might hold in store for her.

School was officially over now, but the girls had two weeks to stay in their dormitories before the campus closed for the holiday. This gave time for parents to arrive from out of country, or for one last chance of relaxation before going home. Elizabeth knew that during the next two weeks parents would pop in and out and girls would leave on their own or with their family by train, or in Elizabeth's case, by ship.

While she lay in bed, Elizabeth thought about the previous night's events. Her whole night seemed to have been ruined at the thought of losing her freedom. On this side of the morning, though, those thoughts seemed far away. In fact, she couldn't even think of where they had come from. She knew what was in store for her when she got home, and she had always known. But was there something deep inside of her telling her that she did know where that feeling came from? Elizabeth sighed. She just wouldn't think about it. She did, however, feel a little bad for the way she acted for the rest of the night. She had been distant and was afraid that her episode had spoiled Liam's time at the party.

Elizabeth glanced at the clock on her dormitory wall. When she saw the time, 9:30, she jumped out of bed and headed for the bathroom. She was happy to see the W.C. unoccupied, along with the large, footed bathtub. She smiled, and prepared herself for a nice, long soak before starting her day.

Three-quarters of an hour later, fully bathed and clothed, Elizabeth emerged from the bathroom, where she was shocked to see a short line of girls queued behind the door.

"Took you long enough!" one of the younger ones said.

Elizabeth grimaced. "Sorry," she said. "I didn't realize I would hold you all up."

"Not all us are leaving on the Titanic tomorrow, you know," the girl scoffed. "We've got places to be today as well."

"I'm sorry," Elizabeth repeated, and scampered off quickly so she would not anger them anymore. A part of her felt a little bad, but the other felt a tad superior. She was the one who had just finished school, after all. Shouldn't she get a little time to herself before going back home? Yes, Elizabeth thought, I should.

Elizabeth left the dormitories and continued to the dining hall, where breakfast was being served. The hall was rather large and had three long tables in the middle, with enough sitting room to hold all two hundred girls who attended the school. The head of the hall had another long table, but this one had food on it, à la carte style. Now that the school year was officially over, the tables weren't all filled and there was an ample amount of breakfast food to choose from. Elizabeth decided on kippers and eggs, along with a goblet of orange juice. She chose a seat next to one of her fellow graduates and good friend, Hadley Rittenhouse.

Hadley was British and from a family with old money; her father owned several railways (including the one the Elizabeth would travel tomorrow to Southampton) and her mother was a rather notorious socialite with a penchant for large, expensive soirees. Hadley was a pleasant girl, one of Elizabeth's first and best friends at the Hampton School. She wasn't very tall, but she had a charming face: heart shaped with hazel colored eyes and pretty pinks lips. Her hair was a deep shade of mahogany and when she wore it down, it flowed around her shoulders in elegant waves. Hadley's parents had also already picked out a fiancé for her, which Hadley preferred not to talk about.

"Good morning," Hadley said with a smile on her face as Elizabeth took a seat next to her.

"It is, isn't it?" Elizabeth replied, closing her eyes and smiling.

"I don't think I've ever seen a more excited girl in my life," Hadley said with a laugh.

"I just can't believe it's tomorrow. I can't believe I'm going by myself!"

"Well, not technically," Hadley said.

"My impression of Brently Carrington is that he won't pay me any attention unless I fall overboard. It would take my impending death for him to care an ounce about me, and it's only because my death would mean a ruined reputation with my father," Elizabeth said bluntly.

"Surely he can't be that bad?" Hadley asked.

"Oh, I assure you, he is. I don't think I've ever met a more pompous, arrogant man in my entire life. And I've met most of my father's friends, mind you."

Hadley shook her head. "What will your husband do with you, Elizabeth?"

The two girls laughed cheerfully, and continued with their breakfast, sprinkles of light conversation about ending school and starting a new adult life popping up every so often.

After breakfast, Elizabeth went back to her dormitory, where she finished packing. At the end of every year she was surprised at how much she actually had and all of the places it managed to get. And as she got older, the more of it she seemed to acquire. All of her garments had been washed and pressed within the past few days, and she piled them into her two trunks, separating her undergarments from her dresses and petticoats. It took a good hour and a half to make sure everything was in its place. Everything had been packed and her bed and its surroundings seemed awfully bleak and bare, which made Elizabeth sad.

The packing had made Elizabeth rather hungry for lunch, but before she could even leave her dormitory, one of the maids entered the room.

"There's a young man downstairs looking for you, miss," she said.

Elizabeth tilted her head, confused. Had Brently come a day early? Was there a change in plans? Elizabeth followed the maid to the entrance hall, where, to her surprise, stood her escort from the previous evening, Liam Flannery. Elizabeth smiled and walked over to him.

"What are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked him.

"Don't act so happy to see me," he replied, smiling.

"Oh stop," Elizabeth said. "But really, what brings you here?"

"I was hoping I might take you to tea," Liam said.

Elizabeth paused for a moment, pursed her lips playfully, and then grinned. "I would love to accompany you to lunch."

"Wonderful!" Liam said, and he took Elizabeth's arm.

Now that school was out, Elizabeth didn't have to ask permission to leave, and she could come and go as she pleased. Liam guided her out the front doors and to a large car parked on the street. Elizabeth raised her eyebrows.

"Impressive," she said, resting her hand on the hood of the black car.

"You like it? It's my fathers, brand new. Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, this year's model. She's a beauty. Only my father doesn't know I have it," Liam said with a laugh.

Elizabeth pulled her hand off the hood and looked at the spot where it was apprehensively.

"Don't worry, he won't notice a little smudge," Liam told her, and opened the door so she could get in.

Once the two were in the car and on the road, Elizabeth looked over to Liam, a small smile on her face.

"So where are you taking me?" she asked.

"Claridge's," he responded. "Have you ever been there?"

"Several times, yes. When I was younger. Sometimes my parents stay there when they visit me here. It's a lovely place."

"I think so, too," Liam said.

After that it was quiet for a few moments as he drove. Elizabeth wasn't too fond of quiet moments.

"I'm sorry if I acted distant last night," Elizabeth said, the silence getting to her.

"It's quite alright," Liam replied, smiling in her direction. "I could tell something was wrong. Was there?"

"I just…I don't even know. Something got me thinking and it kind of spoiled my night. And I'm sorry if I made the night terrible for you. That's why I was a little surprised to see you here."

Liam laughed softly. "Not at all. I thought you were charming. That's why I came today. I know you're leaving tomorrow, but I didn't think it would hurt seeing you one last time."

"Then I promise today will be much more fun than last night," Elizabeth said with a smirk.

Liam pulled in front of Claridge's and left his father's car with the valet. Liam took Elizabeth's arm again and the two walked to the front doors of the hotel, where the doormen said good afternoon and opened the doors for them. Once inside, a concierge scuttled over to them.

"Can I be of any service?" he asked, with a small bow.

"The foyer for tea, please," Liam said. Elizabeth noted the attempt at great formality in his voice and couldn't help but smile.

"Right this way, please," he said, directing his arm forward.

The concierge led them to a large room where Elizabeth had been before, but not in some years. It was filled with many small tables and had a quartet playing in one corner. The foyer was fairly crowded, mostly with women wearing big hats, which made Elizabeth remember that she had forgotten her own. She blushed at first, realizing her faux pas, but tried to shake it off.

It was only minutes after they were seated that a waiter brought them little finger sandwiches and their tea. During this time, Elizabeth and Liam talked more freely than they had gotten to the previous night. In a short time, Elizabeth had found out that Liam was only eighteen and came from a long line of businessmen. She also learned that he didn't really want to go into business, but that his father would no doubt force him into it.

"And what about you?" Liam asked, after he was finished telling about himself.

"What's there to tell?" Elizabeth asked. "Aren't we rich girls all the same?"

"I know there's more to you than that."

"Well, I grew up in Boston, but you knew that already. My father is an entrepreneur and my mother is the daughter of a banker. I'm an only child, which might seem nice but it does get rather lonely. I'm so excited to be going home tomorrow and to be going on the Titanic, but I'm really going to miss London," she explained.

"And what about the people in London?" he asked mischievously.

"I have so many dear friends here that I'll miss terribly. Not to mention new friends that I wish I would have gotten to spend more time with," Elizabeth replied.

Elizabeth had a very enjoyable time with Liam that afternoon. After the sandwich the waiter brought out little deserts, a tray filled with cookies and cream puffs and other confections.

"This is delightful!" Elizabeth cooed, taking one of the small cream puffs. "These are my absolute favorite."

Liam laughed, and filled his own plate with the assorted treats.

After tea was over, Liam escorted Elizabeth out of the hotel, and the valet brought back the car. The ride back to school was pleasant and full light conversation. Tea with Liam was nothing like tea with Brently.

Liam parked the car in front of the school and walked Elizabeth to the doorstep.

"Thank you for that wonderful afternoon. I'm very glad you decided to invite me to have tea with you," Elizabeth said gratefully.

"I'm very glad that you obliged," Liam replied. "It's been a complete pleasure meeting you. If only you were staying. Then I might have pursued you further," he said softly, his bright green eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

She let him kiss her then, but only softly, and it last just a few moments. After he broke away, she smiled, and felt completely warm inside.

"Good luck at home. Write me sometime," Liam said, kissing her hand a final time and then slipping a small piece of paper into it.

"I will," Elizabeth said, and watched as he got back into his father's car. She waved as he pulled away.

What a way to spend her final day in London. Elizabeth turned to the door and touched the tip of her fingers to her lips. She was smiling again, this time to herself. It had been her first kiss, and she knew she would remember it for the rest of her life.

A/N: I hope you liked it, and it would be really, really awesome if you left me a review to tell me what you thought!