The next task Will set out for himself was to talk to Charles at school. He saw Charles practically floating in the hallway. If he went through with this then he would definitely be crushing Charles. His determination wavered and was beginning to doubt himself.
"Will! Glad I caught you. Are you going to London for Christmas?"
Will said yes and saw Charles smile waver then return, "I was going to ask if I could stay with you if you weren't going."
Will knew all too well why he would. He was about to tell Charles about his doubts in Jane when Richard came and put any chance of that away.
"Will, you're still going to aunt Catherine's house this Easter?"
"Doubt I have any choice. I'm just glad I could get Georgiana out of there every year, why?"
"Ricky and his family were invited to come by aunt Catherine." The boys both inwardly shivered at the thought of a whole week with Ricky and his butt-kissing to their whole family. "I also heard he is bringing his girlfriend too. Talk about an unfortunate girl."
Will's eyes shot up to met his cousins, hoping to get a name. He needed to know the name, but it would only hurt the more by hearing it.
How could they be dating? It had only been one night? Did he ask her at the party? Why did she say yes? Will tried not to look affected by the information but he was sure his face showed that it did. To know a girl had this much affect on him is never good.
The rest of the day he forgot about Charles and left him to continue on floating. Right now he had to deal with Ricky and Lizzie. Maybe he could talk Ricky out of it. Thoughts about talking to Ricky and how the little boy would talk the entire time, gush over Lizzie with ridiculous pet names and would be texting her long awkward flirting messages. Wait, if they were dating then he might have her number and he could get it from him and talk to Lizzie.
When lunch came he was practically sick. He heard Ricky's words with disgust as he tried to compliment his girlfriend. Will finally decided to interrupt, "Do you have Lizzie's number, I want to ask her a question about last night." Which was true. He had several questions for her.
"You aren't going to ask her out are you?" The question was so forward Will straighten himself and was stoic. He was glad he could at least control his features when around Collins.
"The number, Collins. Do you have it?"
"The two older Bennets share a phone."
That was enough, if they had the same phone he could ask Charles who wouldn't take years to do it.
He got up and found Charles at their usual table.
"Wishing Collins joy, you're probably the first. Most people don't believe it, but I'm truly happy for him."
Since Charles words were more of a statement he didn't feel the need to answer. After lunch he asked Charles for the number.
Charles only smiled and gave it to him. He hoped Charles didn't think it was anything to do with him and Lizzie. He only wanted to find out the truth and stop anymore pain she would suffer by this relationship.
After school he decided he would talk to Lizzie. When he was back home he realized he didn't know what he was going to say.
"Hey Lizzie, do you know you're dating a complete weirdo? Why would you say yes? Last night it looked like you didn't care for him, so what happened after I left you? I can help you get out of it. That can be your favor."
"Will," Will spun around, he hadn't notice his sister staring at him in the doorway, "If you're going to talk to or about Lizzie, shouldn't you do it behind a closed door so aunt Catherine can't hear you."
Will colored and asked his sister to close the door.
"Why do you want to talk to Lizzie about the guy she is dating. I didn't even know she was." Georgiana said the last part with regret and sympathy.
"I don't know how he spun it but she is dating Collins." The words felt disgusting in his mouth and he drank water to wash it out. He hadn't eaten all day and was feeling weak. But to eat would be to ignore the relationship, and Will couldn't. He was getting a headache and it was all her fault.
"Ricky isn't dating Lizzie."
"They aren't dating. Ricky is dating her friend Charlotte."
A light seemed to shine down on Georgiana as she spoke and little angels with trumpets sounded. Will stood up and fell to the ground exhausted.
Winter break came and the Darcys and Bingleys traveled together to London. After hearing the news that Ricky wasn't dating Lizzie, Will was overwhelmed with relief. His sister probably thought something was wrong with him after he collapsed on the floor. It took some time for him to recover and put his sister at ease. With this new information, Will could go to London with little to no worries.
He still had to deal with the subject of Charles and Jane, but he felt that could handle itself if Charles behaved as he normally did. He would soon find a pretty girl and fall for her.
While they sat on the plan, Georgiana sleeping and Charles busy thinking about Jane, Caroline spoke to Will for the first time on the trip. He was surprised at her silence towards him, but her conversation explained why.
"You haven't given up on my poor brother I hope."
Will thought her asking out in public disgusting and wished that she would show some discretion.
"I haven't, but seeing how we're going to be away for Christmas I felt no need to kick a dying animal."
"Just because they are separated by water doesn't mean he isn't still in danger. She will still be there when we get back."
Caroline had a point, but Will didn't want to do something that was unnecessary. And to put confidence with Caroline had them together more than he liked. The best way would be to end all of this.
When they finally landed in London and piled into the car waiting for them. Charles asked Will of his plans.
"Since I figured this will be as good of time as any, I decided to buy something for Caroline."
Will couldn't help looking at the girl they were talking about. She was busy on her talking on her phone. To think Charles was going to buy her something nice when she and Will were scheming to break up his relationship with Jane. No, he had to change
His perspective or else it sounded like he was doing something bad. This was to save Charles from any future hurt.
"I don't know what to buy her though. Since it's an important birthday it has to be great don't you think?"
"Girls think that turning fifteen in some countries as a significant day. Other girls think turning sixteen, eighteen, twenty and twenty-two are special days."
"They can be complicated for sure." laughed Charles.
"Yes they can." Will said in almost an inaudible tone. He was thinking of that one girl he would most want to forget.
The following days leading up to Christmas seemed to pass quickly. Many parties were attended, and they had been in company with some of their friends in that area.
Will had wanted to believe Charles's relationship with Jane had finally ended but Caroline wasn't convinced.
"It is better to do more than less for security reasons."
"I don't really think it is me necessary. They've been apart for sometime."
"Well I heard Charles say he was going to Skype her this evening. Do you still believe he is growing indifferent?"
"I will decide whether or not I should intercede."
Caroline satisfied herself with the answer and walked off to join her friend and her boyfriend, leaving Will to think alone.
As long as he was doing Charles a favor than nothing should deter him.
Charles was wrapping up the last gift for his family when Will entered his room.
"What do you think?" He asked holding up the poorly wrapped gift.
"You couldn't have wrapped it with more love." Charles smiled and set aside the gift. He gave a yawn and stretched himself out on the bed. "Charles, what do you think of Jane?"
Charles sat up and eagerly sang Jane's praise.
"But do you believe she feels the same way towards you?"
"I thought she did, why? Does it not look like it to you? I know you can see more than I can. What is your opinion?"
"She smiles at you and talks enough, but I can't see any real attachment on her part."
"Really?" Asked Charles, his expression now grave.
"I believe she was manipulated to like you by her mother who wishes the connection, not the daughter."
"Thanks for informing me, but what about the Skype? She will be calling soon."
"I trust your judgement on that head." Will git up and left the room.
He knew Charles wouldn't be able to take that call anymore, but to make sure, he disabled the connection between them so any calls between them would appear as blocked numbers.
The cheer the season usually brings was long done away. Only Georgiana, Richard and Caroline seemed in spirits. Charles tried to smile, but soon all attempts failed him and he wore a blank expression for the rest of the trip. When they returned to school Charles still wasn't himself. He didn't mention Jane or any of the Bennets. For Will this wasn't unwelcome.
Finals week arrived and all the students were busy studying last minute. Will had spent Christmas break studying while Caroline waited till the day before her test. It was important that he keep his grades. He was on the principle's list and couldn't afford a B. Will only had one more semester before he graduated. He only needed to focus this last semester and finish strong. His family stressed the importance of grades and more over his aunt made it her business to know if his or his sister's grades were slipping. Being the dean of Will's school felt a little overbearing, and to have a week with her and the Collins family only made things worse. His only comfort was that Lizzie wasn't Ricky's girlfriend. A second thought on this made him upset to even be thinking of the family, especially after what they tried to do to Charles who still hadn't recovered.
Weeks pass and soon weeks became months. Easter was approaching and eventually the dreaded day arrived. Their aunt went ahead to prepare before the others arrived. The Collins left next. Richard and Will waited to the very last day before break to leave.
Rosings, the name of the house was overly adorn with statues and countless amounts of windows. Richard would always say that it looked more like a greenhouse than a house whenever they came. A butler directed them into a room where his aunt was seated with Anne and her governess. When they were announced Will saw Anne blush and smile, hiding her face by looking down at her feet. His aunt must be feeding the poor girl with the ideas of them being in a relationship, and that he would be asking her this year. He sat down with his cousin on a couch facing the women. His aunt wasted no time in talking.
"I hope you boys got here alright. You should have had Henry drive you, he is a most excellent driver. You saw the new rose bushes when you came up I'm sure. They were put in last year and are in bloom. They only last for a week so it is fortunate that they are now. I was just telling Anne about them, I knew they should be in bloom this time of year when I ordered them. I spare no expense to know such things. Nothing is neglected."
Richard asked after the Collins family and the conversation turned to the occupants in the adjoining house.
"I think it a great thing to have a companion while traveling, and think it was incredible that she would have thought of one by herself. Girls from that area are not always wise in these areas."
Will was still trying to understand what she meant when Ricky came himself. He offered his usual greetings which were always longer than necessary.
"Hey Ricky, do you mind taking us to see your family?" Richard asked.
Will didn't understand why he wanted to until he realized that this was an excellent way to get away from his aunt. Will followed up his cousins request and all three set out. Neither cousin listened to a word of what Ricky said on the way there and they both walked fast to have whatever he was saying put to an end. They allowed for Ricky to go first to announce his companions then the boys followed. Will's chest tightened as he saw the one girl he had wanted to forget. The girl he had thought would never be in this part if the country. He now questioned the information he received earlier as his eyes locked with her green ones, which had lost most of its playfulness sparkle.
A/N: What! Who is this mysterious person Will is so disturbed by? I know you know but just play along with me. Will Charles move on? What of Jane in all this. Will Will finally succumb to his aunt's wishes and date Anne? Will I ever get my computer! Sorry, that last one was irrelevant. Stay tune for more Hood Loving. Review, leave a comment, tell me how this is all going to go down. I love reading your versions.
