Chapter Four
"So, Libby...you looking forward to your English class today?" Jane queried innocently as she watch her roommate 'fluff' her long tousled girls and apply a final coat of nude lip gloss before straightening her pleated skirt and slipping on a pair of low mary-janes. It had been two days since they'd gone to town and Libby had been in a...strange state since. She'd point blank avoided both Chuck and Will all of Sunday and had refused to talk about it, no matter how much both Lottie and Jane had tried to ask her about it,
"Yeah, we're starting a new project, it should be good." she responded nonchalantly, grabbing her black leather bag and turning to her friend, "Ready?" She asked, Jane nodded, trying to hide the amused smile from her lips as she followed Libby out of the room,
"So it has nothing to do with who also happens to be in your class...?" She pried, and Libby turned to her with one eyebrow raised,
"I don't know what you're talking about, Jane." She replied casually as they walked into the breakfast room,
"Libby." She scolded, "Stop. Okay. I know that you don't like admitting you were wrong and the idea of changing you opinion of Will is scary but...you like him." She said the last part like an accusation causing Libby to turn and glare at her. Her, like Will Darcy? No. Just no.
"I..." She started, "I admit that I may have judged him too quickly but...that doesn't mean that I like him. He's tolerable."
"He was more than tolerable when you were holding hands on Saturday." Jane retorted knowingly,
"You saw that?" Libby demanded as they walked in the dinning hall filled with students, before shaking her head, "It was once and I did it out of habit." She noticed Chuck and Will sat at one table, caught Will's eyes as he smiled shyly at her. She didn't respond and instead roamed the room for Lottie,
"Look," Jane smiled, "Chuck and Will are over there," She grabbed Libby's hand before she had a chance to protest and dragged her over to the boys table,
"Jane," Chuck said standing and giving her a lingering hug before inviting her to sit next to him, leaving Libby next to Will. She shot Jane a glare, somehow feeling like she'd planned all of this before sitting down and grabbing a piece of toast,
"Morning, Elizabeth." Will said, also reaching out and selecting a piece of toast before pouring himself a cup of coffee, "Do you want coffee?" he asked and she nodded silently as he poured some of the steaming liquid into her cup,
"Are you alright, Libby?" he asked finally, she still refused to look at him, but she could tell that his clear blue eyes were probably filled with concern. Dammit. Ever since they'd said goodbye on Saturday, she'd been going through an inner struggle. Naturally, she was a very stubborn person, prone to making decisions and sticking with them even if she found out they were wrong. But this...this boy, was threatening to fuck everything up for her. She wanted to hate him. She'd been determined not to like him because she knew, she knew what guys like him were like. But that was the thing, the more time she spent with him, the more she realised that he wasn't like them, at all. She thought he was proud and aloof, when actually he was just trying to keep away from all of the Caroline's of the world, she'd determined that he was a misogynistic pig when, actually, he was one of the few real gentlemen out there these days - opening doors for her, pouring coffee for her. She'd been set upon his being arrogant and unsociable, when actually, he was just shy and unused to and uncomfortable in the large crowds he was often placed in. He was fundamentally a good guy. And she had been totally wrong about him. Because he was perfect. Completely perfect.
"I'm fine." She replied quietly, bringing her mug of coffee to her glossed lips and taking a sip. He was still watching her. He could feel the heat of his gaze as it came to rest on her lips.
"I have a favour to ask..." he said. Oh shit, what was he gonna ask? "Promise you wont leave me to the mercy of our dear friend Caroline today. I don't think I could stomach having to tell her for the hundredth time that we aren't attending Winter Ball together."
He was teasing her. William Darcy was actually teasing her. She looked up at him, her brown eyes a mixture of a thousand totally unreadable emotions as they met his gleeful gaze,
"I don't make promises that I can't keep." She said, enough of a smirk playing at her lips for him to know that she was joking. Her chuckled lightly before turning and starting talking to Chuck, leaving to Libby to wonder what the fuck he was playing at as she continued to munch on her toast and avoid Jane's eyes.
They'd avoided Caroline quite spectacularly all through breakfast, and it was just as they were all standing to head off to classes that their good luck finally ended,
"Will, Libby, we have English first period don't we?" She said, sashaying up and fluttering her (clearly false) eyelashes at Will. Libby nodded as she grabbed her bag and notebooks, "Fabby, wait for me while I go grab my books, kay?" She asked, not waiting for a response before she darted off. Will turned to Libby, that same imploring look on his face that he'd had their first english class,
"If we go now," she whispered, "then she wont be able to catch us up," he turned to her, a grin breaking out on his face as he nodded and the pair hurried towards the doors. Libby attempted not to notice quite how hot he looked when he smiled, or how good he smelled; like lynx deodorant, toothpaste and, as he leaned over to murmur a quick 'thank you' in her ear, she caught the smell of coffee on his breath, and just for a moment, she wondered if that was what he'd taste like if she were to kiss him. She quickly shook her head in order to clear it as they rounded the corner to English department.
English class passed uneventfully, they got their a little early so they had the choice of seats. Libby didn't even think as she followed Will to the two seats in the back corner. Thankfully, by the time Caroline got there most of the class had already taken their seats and both Libby and Will had apparently been quite popular for people wanting to sit with them.
She walked in, spotted Will and Libby in what looked like a heated conversation about...something she almost threw her book. What was Will doing looking at her? She wasn't pretty. Not really. She had good teeth, but her hair was a mussed and she barely wore any makeup. She clearly could afford all of the designer clothes and stuff...she just...didn't want them. And why someone like Will Darcy would even look at her twice when he could have someone like her, someone who really cared about their appearance, who was on the football team, friends with Ana. Ana would hate Libby, of that Caroline was sure. She continued mentally slamming Libby all throughout English as the pair continued talking.
"Shakespeare is not boring!" Libby whispered, looking affronted at Will's declaration as class neared it's end,
"He was a good writer, don't get me wrong...I just think he's a bit..." he paused, searching for the words as he glanced down at his copy of 'Twelfth Night', "everyone studies Shakespeare, everyones heard of him, everyone knows he was good. That's boring. Take Hemingway, or Daphne De Maurier, they're less known and aren't studied as much, but they're extraordinary writers." Libby considered this for a moment,
"I must admit, I do love Hemingway and De Maurier, but I prefer something a bit lighter. A lot of De Maurier especially is incredibly dark, take Jamaica Inn, for example, it's dark. Something like Twelfth Night is far more enjoyable to read."
"I see your point but-"
"Mr Darcy, Miss Bennet, I do hope you're paying attention." Miss Simmons asked, interrupting their debate, "Now, as I was saying, you'll all be working in pairs. Erm," she looked about, "Well, considering the two of you seem so delighted in debate, Mr Darcy, Miss Bennet, you two can go together. Caroline, you and Michael," She continued to pair everyone up and Libby wasn't sure if she should be thrilled or horrified at the prospect. There would be no avoiding Will Darcy now; this project was to see them until the end of the semester. Will beamed at her, "You need to pick a play by William Shakespeare to study and then you have to write and perform a short piece inspired by it." The bell rang out signalling the end of class, "Class dismissed, I want to hear what play you've selected by Friday."
"What class do you have next?" Will asked Libby,
"Phycology." She responded as they walked to the door, completely ignoring Caroline as she waved at them, "What about you?"
"Will!" Caroline called, coming up behind them, "I need to talk to you about Winter Ball." God her voice was so nasal,
"Yes?" He asked,
"What colour tie are you wearing because-"
"It doesn't matter." He said bluntly, and she looked confused,
"Of course it does, we're-"
"Not going together. Caroline, I never asked you and-"
"Then ask me now," She said sweetly, Libby could see Will struggling and, quite frankly Caroline was starting to piss her off,
"Caroline, I'm not-"
"He can't ask you because he already has a date." The words were out of Libby's mouth before she knew she was saying them. Fuck. Both Will and Caroline turned to her, Will with a look of shock and, maybe...was that joy in his blue eyes? No, of course not. And Caroline with a look of pure, blinding fury.
"He what?" She demanded, advancing towards Libby, Will turned to see Libby's fine eyes burning with anger, hurriedly he stepped between the two girls,
"Sorry, Caroline. I'll see you round." And then, he grabbed Libby's hand and dragged her away. He pulled her round the corner and into an empty classroom,
"Fuck, I am so sorry!" Libby said, "I don't know what came over me, I just..."
"Don't worry about it." He replied calmly, "Thank you."
"Jesus!" Libby groaned, running her hands through her hair, "You know what this means, right? All the bloody rumours that are going to be circulating. I can guarantee that-"
"It doesn't matter." He murmured, "I mean, we'll have to actually go together now. But I can think of worse things." She looked at him, her eyes wide.
"I seriously need to learn to think before I speak, god, I have to go to my next class...I'll see you later, Will." sHe said as she dashed out of the room.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck fuck and fuck. Not only had her whole plan to stay the hell away from him completely gone to shit curtesy of Miss Simmons, she was now accidentally his date to winter ball. And...he didn't seem that bothered about it. She wasn't sure if that made her feel worse or better to be honest.