The last thing Lizzie was expecting the next day was Will standing on the doorstep. Yet there he was, looking a bit confused as her.

She gave him something to drink since it was pretty hot outside. Even though they were technically enemies she could still be nice enough not to let him dehydrate. Especially before she got a whack at him for the day.

He sat with his glass in hand and Lizzie watched him from her seat. She thought he was about to say something but then thought better of it.

Lizzie looked out the window. What were the chances that the others should leave her behind just when Will came by.

She looked back and saw him eyeing the door and Lizzie frowned.

Oh no you don't. If you're going to stop by then you're going to have to talk!

"So how was your Christmas in London?"

"Fine, thank you."

Ugh still proper even when he's acting like a statue.

"Did you spend it with your British friends? I hear Charles is quite popular there."

"He is."

Lizzie frowned at his response.

"I was surprised to hear of your friend's relationship with Collins." he said quickly.

Aren't we all. "You aren't the only one."

"I thought him to be looking at someone else."

Lizzie wondered at his question, "Yes well men can be frivolous in their attachments."

"Not all guys are the same."

"Maybe it's just the guys I've met so far, but really, it's been a recurring theme."

Will looked ready to argue with her when the door opened to the front door announcing Charlotte and the other's return.

Will got up and said a quick goodbye before escaping through the door.

"What the heck?" muttered Lizzie to herself.

She decided that Will was just too complex to be bothered how he functioned. Really though, the boy could pass as a robot.

The following days Lizzie would see Will during her outings. At first she thought it was bad luck that would bring him where she would hang out to find solitude. Mostly it was to get away from Ricky who even though was dating her good friend, still liked to talk to her.

One day when she was hanging at the pond, she spotted him watching her. It creeped her out a bit and she stood up when he looked to be coming to meet her.

"I didn't know you went this way." she said with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't have a general route when I walk."

The guy was lying so loud that his teeth might as well be chattering. She had seen him three times in the past three days.

"I found this place on a previous walk and often come and read here."

There was something in his expression that made it look softer, almost friendly.

Lizzie shuddered at the thought. Whatever he was thinking wasn't good. The next couple days proved her right. Will would find her and then not just stand there and stare at her, which she was getting used to, but would come and talk to her and ask her about her vacation like he was really interested in talking.

She wondered if he was trying to be like the Gino's Will and try to be friendly. Lizzie guessed that wasn't too bad of a thing if he was trying to be a better person. She just wished he wasn't trying to do is with her.

One morning she ran into the other cousin to her relief.

"I thought we were going to meet a long time ago." she smiled.

"Sorry, my aunt wanted me to spend time going over college options."

"Shouldn't you have decided already." Lizzie frowned.

"I'm kind of a procrastinator." Richard laughed.

"Me too." grinned Lizzie.

"So can I show you my favorite spot then?"

Lizzie nodded and the two walked to the middle of the hedge maze where there was a little bench set up.

"This is pretty nice."

"Right. It took me a week to find this. I know it's kinda sad, and doesn't seem long but I get lost in mazes pretty easily."

Lizzie laughed and the two sat down together.

"I thought I was going to run into your cousin again today."

"Why?"

"For some reason he seems to know where I am. He didn't bug me did he?"

"Not that I know of." Richard chuckled.

"Well it's getting to the point where I think he feels the need to talk to me."

"It can't be that bad. I mean he's a pretty cool guy."

"I would describe him as cold not cool."

"Ouch, why?"

"I think he ruined my sister's relationship with Charles."

"Bingley?"

Lizzie nodded.

"I mean I heard him talking about it, but I don't think he was trying to destroy their relationship." Richard scratched the back of his head.

"What did he do?"

"I don't know. All he told me was that he talked to Charles. Next thing I know is that you're telling me that they broke up."

"My sister is pretty torn up about it." Lizzie frowned.

"I'm sure there's some explanation. Why would he want to break them up?"

"He thinks we're inferior."

"That doesn't sound like Will."

"He acts like that all the time around me. You literally have to pull his fingernails out for him to be nice to us."

"Well even if he did say that. I don't think he feels that way now."

"Not even."

Richard sighed, "Well believe me when I say I don't feel that way. I think you're wonderful and great to talk to. I've never had so much fun visiting my aunt before."

Lizzie let herself laugh but she was still upset.

She left Richard early after getting a headache.

She wanted nothing to beat Will up, but physically that was impossible so she traded his face for her pillow and screamed into it.

Charlotte knocked on her door.

"Is this a good time or should I come back?"

Lizzie sat up, "What is it?"

"We're about to head over to Mrs deBourge in a bit."

"I don't think I should go. I don't feel well and I think seeing Will's face will only make things worse."

Charlotte nodded, "I'll tell Mrs and Mr Collins then that you're staying."

"Thank you, Char."

Charlotte closed the door and Lizzie stared at the ceiling. She could see Will's smug face and she closed her eyes.

She was positive that he was behind Jane and Charles's break up.

Richard only confirmed it, or at least didn't deny it.

If she saw him trying to approach her and attempt making small talk it would be too soon.

While she was alone, Lizzie decided to think over the instances where Jane was really depressed. She called her sister to see how she was doing and knew that Jane was still hurting.

About a half an hour later she heard the door.

The others must be back already.

There was a knock and Lizzie quickly got up to open the door.

To her dismay it was exactly the person she wanted to avoid.

She didn't hold the door wide enough for him to enter, but he still side stepped passed her inside.

He made himself comfortable which annoyed her more and she stood behind him and watched as he turned around to face her.

His face was a little flushed and he turned away again and walked around the room.

Lizzie frowned, not understanding what his problem could be.

Maybe he finally malfunctioned.

She sat down and crossed her arms, waiting for him to finally work.

"It's useless to lie to myself anymore that I have unwillingly fallen head over heels in love with you."

It was Lizzie's turn to break down. His words hit her like a ton of bricks. Did he just say he liked her? No, he said love. Did he even know what that word meant?

"The fact that you're from the worse part of the city, your family's outrageous behavior in public are just the beginning of my unwillingness to form any real attachment."

This was the guy she knew. The hurtful, insensitive jerk that loved to cut you down with his words if he thinks you're inferior. How did his cousin not see this side of him?

"My family expects me to move in certain circles which you being from the hood, the ghettos, well I'll just say that this relationship will be benefitting you as it will be putting me out of my misery."

What, did he feel it was his duty to love her? Did someone say he had to like her? Well she didn't need their love or his.

"You'll accept me of course." he said finally.

I will not!

He didn't even ask. All he did was say he 'loved' her then continued to insult her. There was nothing to accept. What his 'love'?

She was ready to erupt with anger and tell him off, but she knew she couldn't like she was a wild woman with her head chopped off, or crazy like her younger sisters when they got upset.

With anger lacing her words she finally spoke.

"Who the heck do you think you are!" despite herself her voice rose with every word.

Lizzie stood and got up in his face. "You come here saying you like me, do you ever expect me to accept the guy who ruined forever the happiness of a dearest sister! What has she ever do to you to deserve your hate? Can you even try to deny it?"

First she needed to know about Jane. Jane was foremost in her mind.

"No, nor would I want to. I did what I thought was necessary. It was a bittersweet victory but I still rejoice in my success. Towards him I have been more strict than with myself."

"It isn't only in this that I find fault with you. Your character was unveiled to me months ago by George. Now what have you to say or what friendships do you plan hide your excuses."

She needed to know if George was telling the truth or not, but by this point she wouldn't believe anything he said.

"What did I do to George? Tell me, I'd love to know." he said in a mocking tone.

"You kicked him out after your father died. Just because you were jealous because he had your father's love. You stripped him of his inheritance and left him to fend for himself!"

Will laughed, "If you really accept Wickham's lies than you really are stupid like the rest."

Lizzie was fuming and she slapped him. It felt so good. The sting in her hand of after pain. The red mark left behind on his cheek that he covered with his hand in shock.

"So this is how you see me. I thank you for explaining your thoughts. In your eyes these are heavy accusations. Maybe you would have ignore them had I flattered you into the belief that these great evils between us don't exist. But willful ignorance is disgusting to me. Nor am I repentant of the words I said. Do you expect me to be happy to be connected with such inferior people to myself?"

"You misunderstand me if you think that this had any effect other than spare me the concern of refusing you had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner."

Will started.

"You couldn't have asked me in anyway that would have tempted me to accept you."

He looked actually mortified by her words. She knew she needed to stop, but she couldn't stop herself.

"From the day we met. Your behavior enlightened me on your vanity, narcissism, and your disregard for the feelings of those around you were to form the outline of my dislike for you. And I had not known you a month before I looked at you as the last person I would ever be with."

"Please, you said enough to make me understand your feelings. I'm sorry I made you upset and I hope that you feel better."

He quickly left, almost stumbling to get to the door.

Lizzie sat down and just stared.

What did she just do? What did he just do?

He said he like her and then said he hated her because he liked her.

She heard the pitter patter of raindrops beginning to fall.

He'll get stuck in the rain, she thought.

Shaking her head, Lizzie went back to her room to think about what happened. Her migraine had increased and she needed to lay down.

A knock came to her door and she woke up. She didn't even know she fell asleep.

"Yeah?"

Charlotte walked in and closed the door.

"You ok?" she asked rather uncertain.

"I don't know what I'm feeling right now." confessed Lizzie.

Charlotte sat down on her bed.

"Want to talk about it?"

Lizzie looked at her friend, she probably knew much of what was going on. She sighed.

"Will came over while you guys were away."

"Did you guys fight?"

"I hit him."

"What did he do?"

"He said some hurtful words, but I guess it didn't deserve getting slapped in the face."

"If it's Will then I think it probably did. He doesn't really have good social skills to begin with and if he was trying to ask you out then-"

"Wait, you knew he liked me?"

"It was pretty obvious from where I was sitting." Charlotte shrugged.

"Well I wish I knew where you were sitting. He said he liked me then told me he regretted it."

"Oh honey, yeah he really needs some help."

Lizzie laughed, "Yeah I really don't care one way or another."

She thought about her sister and George.

No, she didn't care. As far as he was concerned, they lived in different worlds and that should never mix.

A/N: Nothing much to say I guess