Georgiana and Richard had agreed that they would try and give the two time alone as much as possible. Richard suggested that the three of them should show Lizzie around. When they reached the grand hallway, Richard would get a phone call that would take him away; leaving Will and Lizzie together.

"Excuse me, my friend was supposed to give me a call about a project we're doing together. I'll be right back." Richard fled down the hall and rounded the corner where Georgiana was waiting with her phone still at her ear.

"You forgot to turn off your phone."

"You think that would be convincing if I ended the call in front of them?"

"Point taken. Now onto part two of my plan."

"Is that really necessary?"

"Do you think it's too much?"

"I don't know, maybe locking them a room together is a little extreme. Plus they'll know it was us."

"That's why I've requested the help of Mrs. Reynolds." Georgiana said with a huge grin and her hands on her hips.

"Oh god, this was bad of me to encourage you."

"Nonsense, just go back and remind my brother of the haunted room."

Richard sighed and went to catch up with the couple who were looking at a few pictures on a table.

"Sorry about that." Richard huffed as he came up to them.

"No worries, we waited for you." Will said.

Great, now how am I going to sneak away from them this time?

"Hey Will, why not show her the haunted room?" Richard innocently suggested.

"There's a haunted room?" asked Lizzie who seemed actually excited.

"It's not really haunted, I just used to tease Georgiana that it was haunted when she was little."

They climbed the stairs to the farthest room that looked like it hadn't been disturbed in years. Will remembered all the pranks he used to play in here as a kid. He especially liked to use it during Halloween. The door creaked open and it looked every inch of a haunted room. The layers of dust collected over the room and cobwebs invaded the corners and windows. The bed was still undisturbed and the curtains were open to show a full moon.

"Wow this room is pretty creepy." Lizzie laughed as she walked in.

Will let Richard go first and the boy inwardly sighed. He needed it to be just the two of them and that didn't look like that was going to happen.

After Will was in and he started talking about the different parts of the room that were especially creepy, they all heard the door close and lock. They each exchanged looks and Richard did his best to look surprised.

Will tried the door but it wouldn't budge.

"Mrs. Reynolds must've seen the door open and closed it up. I'll call her and tell her were inside." Will pulled out his phone and tried to call her, but it went to voicemail. "She must have it off. I'll try Georgiana."

"Hello?" came a voice from the other end.

"Hey Georgie, were locked inside the haunted room by accident, can you come and let us out?"

"I'm not home right now."

Richard knew that was a total lie. "I'm out with Mrs. Reynolds grocery shopping."

Will talked to his sister a bit longer while Lizzie kept exploring the room.

Richard felt he needed to act now if his and Georgiana's plan was going to work. Over his years of forced acting classes, Richard thought that he would ever have to use it. For a guy to do it seemed pretty humiliating, but he had no choice.

Will and Lizzie jumped back as Richard's body crumpled to the floor.

"Did he seriously just faint?"

"Apparently." Will said; lifting an eyebrow.

"That's pretty pathetic, but I guess not all of us can be scare resistant."

"You don't get scared? I find that hard to believe."

"No matter how many times my dad tried to scare me, he never could."

A slamming noise came crashing against the window that looked like a bird. Will flinched and he saw Lizzie's eyes widen.

"Well you don't see that everyday." Lizzie grinned, but her face held a bit of uncertainty.

"No, you don't." Will agreed and looked around the room.

"Whatcha looking for?"

"The light." He found it by the door and flipped the switch on. Nothing happened and Will frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"I think the bulbs are dead. Which would make sense because I tried to make this room as scary as possible. Guess I have to do it the old fashion way."

He knelt down by the fireplace and tried to find the box of matches he kept hidden there. A bunch of dust fell down from the chimney and he was covered in soot. Lizzie tried to control her laughter but she gave in.

"You look like that character from the Christmas Carol."

"Very funny." Will coughed.

"Here let me help you." Lizzie said as she began dusting the soot off Will.

"I think you're making it worse and you're just getting it on yourself."

Lizzie smeared the soot across Will's face leaving a hand print. She burst out laughing and screamed as Will came after her; ready to put soot on her.

"I wonder when Mrs. Reynolds and Georgie are coming back." Will said looking at his watch.

"Are you getting worried?" Lizzie teased; pushing him a little.

"Hardly, but don't you have to get back to your aunt and uncle soon?"

Lizzie stared straight ahead. "I guess, but this is pretty fun."

Will smiled and leaned back on the bed. For a brief moment, their hands touched. Will drew his back and apologized. Lizzie laughed.

"You don't have to apologize if it was an accident."

Will felt himself lean forward and pecked her on the cheek.

"Was that an accident too?" She mused.

"At first I was going to call it that, but it really wasn't."

Lizzie blushed and turned away. Will thought he had went to far and that she was drawing back. Suddenly he felt a peck on his cheek and he looked at her in surprise.

"Was that an accident?"

"No." she said with a smile. Their hands came together and laced their fingers.


Richard laid on the floor with his eyes closed. It was humiliating to pretend to faint and he heard Lizzie make some comment about it. He strained to not breath in the dust that was being kicked up by the others and the dust that was already around him.

He silently cheered as he heard Lizzie laughing and then scream as Will chased her around the room and finally slapping soot on her forehead. When they sat on the bed, he could barely see them when he dared to open his eyes a little to see what they were doing. He saw Will kiss her on the cheek and then Lizzie turned away from him. He closed his eyes and then he heard Will say something and he opened his eyes again.

Their plan had worked, but for some reason he didn't feel happy with the couple.

A few minutes later Mrs. Reynolds opened the door and began with her fake apologies and excuses. Mrs. Reynolds attended Richard and helped him to where Georgiana was waiting.

"What happened to you, and why are you covered in dust?"

"You had a flaw in your little plan; how was I supposed to slip out of there without it being suspicious?"

"Maybe I should've saved the phone call excuse for that."

"You think." Richard said; dusting himself off.

"So what did you do instead?"

"I put my acting classes to use and pretended that I'd fainted."

"Wow, I can't believe you sacrificed your man card for the cause."

"Yeah well you owe me."

"I can set you up with someone." Georgiana said with a huge grin and grabbed his arm,

"Heck no, I'm done with playing cupid and romance for a while." Richard pulled his arm away and climbed the stairs to his room.

He knew he shouldn't like Lizzie since his cousin liked her and his sister was so determined that they get together. Richard felt he would just be in the way and would only make things complicated. He'd already gave her to him and he knew he shouldn't try and woo her back to his side.

At the window, he saw Lizzie and Will walking in the garden together; holding hands. Richard sighed; tomorrow he would go and see her one last time. He would tell her congratulations and that would be the end of it.


A/N: Talk about taking one for the team. Poor Richard, I know that feeling. Gave a little kiss in here. I'm not for all that non- dating mouth action Speaking like a true single person I am.

Review and guess: what part of P&P is coming up next. Polls are open if you wanna try. Never did them before so I don't know how they work. My post maybe short and sweet, but they will hopefully be frequent.