---FLASHBACK----
He LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME… That was all she could think of that night. And though it brought her great joy, bigger happiness than she ever felt in her life, it didn't stop some new questions to arise. Does she really love him? Love is such a strong and powerful word in a situation like this. Though she knew it was probably going to become quite uncomfortable if new time he tells her so she has the appropriate amount of time to answer, and if she did not say it back to him, everything can be ruined… However, she also knew that saying it without meaning it could bring even more trouble.
She definitely cared for him… A lot answered a voice in her head… But was it truly love? Can love exist after an acquaintance so short… yet so meaningful? Did she even know enough about him to say she loved him?... Did knowing the person really matter in love?
She was a firm denier of 'Love at first sight', and especially in this case that couldn't exist… then what was the proper definition for this?
It is believed by some tat extremes bring about extremes; whether it is feelings, actions or people, Lizzy was starting to believe what these 'some' preach. Her extreme joy brought her extreme worries; and though she had everything anyone could ever wish for, now she felt lonely. She felt she couldn't really confide in Jane or Charlotte, let alone her dear Papa… No, this is something I have to solve myself. I am old enough to realize what I want, I hope!
She finally fell asleep, deeply troubled but with high hopes and expectations for the next day.
"Lizzy, could morning! Or should I rather say 'good evening'?" greeted her her mother, as she slouched down at 1pm.
"Mom, please, my head hurts!" it was true; though sleeping may be the medicine to many, mostly emotional, illnesses, overdoing it brings about even worse symptoms.
"Well, pull yourself together, young lady, we are going to visit your cousins in Arequipa. We are leaving in ten minutes."
She had to change, bath, pack and take her pill in a matter of seconds; she couldn0t even think about what consequences this meant concerning her decision whether or not to go with Will.
Finally they were ready, all waiting for her to come out. Lydia, as usual, was out at the car flirting with the driver, closely admired by Kitty; Maria was warming up her vocal chord, her mother was stressing over nothing and hurrying everyone; and of course, her father, who had absolutely no intention of visiting his brother in law and managed to stay home at the excuse of work on the weekend, was reading a book in the library.
"We have an hour until the flight leaves, Lizzy, HURRY!" and even though everything was done at the most complicated way possible, somehow they managed to make it in time for boarding.
Throughout her flight, Lizzy considered her two options; staying, or leaving? She knew the opportunity was only to be given to her once, and never again, so she wanted to make sure she chose right. She observed her family; her 4 sisters, her mother, and saw them all in a completely new light.
Lydia was flirting with the Business-class flight attendants, with Kitty by her side; she could hear her giggling, her hushed chatting and even heard the way her smile turned into a pout once in a while only to later metamorphose into an even larger grin and a wink. On the other side she saw her mother, talking to the passenger next to her, and could almost hear what she was saying over the monotonous humming of the plane "Oh yes, my Jane is delightful, such potential! I always said she had the figure to become a great super model; she needed C-cups already at the age of 12! Yes, quite so. But no; my dearest wants to be learned, to go to university and all that. I never know why, I always thought that with a beauty like hers, she could marry the King of Great Britain! Why would she need education, if she has beauty? And it is quite natural, you know, she inherited it all from me, if I may say so. I have 4 others…" Her rambling went on an on, letting out more and more family secrets, embarrassing her entire family at almost every word. Elizabeth felt herself blush and look away; if she were to decide now, she was sure of her answer. Sometimes, she just couldn't tolerate her family, one seemed worse than the other. But then…
Jane. Her older sister was sleeping peacefully next to her, and Lizzy couldn't find a fault in her. Jane would never leave her family; no matter how many obstacles are put against us, Jane would always choose family over anything; even with Mama, even wit Kitty and Lydia, and everything they do to bring out image down. She… But I'm not her answered another voice. She has the sweetest, purest of dispositions, and somehow she was given the patience to tolerate this kind of behavior, but I wasn't so blessed; I have very high expectations for my life, I cannot settle for average. I… I don't know what to do!
She was still unable to decide. However much she loved her family, or Will… it always seemed she loved the other more.
Arriving to her uncle's house, she was grateful fro the break politeness meant for her flow of thoughts. They lived in a simple house, with a precious little garden for the children; she loved those children. She loved playing with them, laughing with them, but most of all, she loved feeling she was 5 year-old with them.
"Lizzy dear, would you help me in the kitchen please? Oh no, Jane, you have worked enough, you deserve your rest!" her aunt Gardner asked Lizzy. Once alone, she asked "Now, Lizzy, why don't you tell me of this beau of yours, is it true you have been spending every free time with the Prince?" Trust Aunt G. to always come to the point
"Well,not every free time… and, he is not my beau. He is just a friend, and that is it."
"As you wish… but you know, should you wish to confide in anyone, I am all ears. Now, tell me, how was that salad of yours…"
Elizabeth was thankful for her Aunt for her care, but even more for her trust in the decisions she knew she was capable of making correctly; she did not insist, only showed her support and offered her advice and help if, and only if, needed. Now, however, she felt more the weight of her decision than ever; now that she was shown respect and was treated like a mature adult, she was more anguished in her internal battle.
She had one day left to decide.
Next morning, she saw the miracle of the free computer (which was, in fact, a miracle, being the only one computer of the family of 2 children, two parents, and guests of 5 women and a mother… though, it was most common to see the younger generation furiously hitting the keys either in a murderous attempt of some beat in the monitor, or entering a daring, flirtatious comment fro someone thousands of miles away) and she instantly went online. She only just realized that she hasn't talked with Will when she saw his sister's name being marked 'Busy'.
LizzyB:
Gerogiana?
Georgi90:
Lizzy! How are you! My brother was so worried.
LizzyB:
Please let him know I am fine, just visiting family in Arequipa, but I will be there later this evening.
Georgi90:
You do realize I am not a post dove you know!
LizzyB:
I'm sorry Georgiana, but it's really important… Please do this? For me?
Georgi90:
All right, all right.
I can't wait to see him again!
LizzyB:
Do you know when does his flight leave? Please say late, please say late, please say late!!!
Georgi90:
Really late, like, 10 or something. He has to be here in the morning to sign this document about globe warming or something.
LizzyB:
Document? Why hasn't he mentioned this?
Georgi90:
Yeah, something about a person that is saying lies to terrorize our population…
No way! He's signing… no, no, that can't be! He would have mentioned something… He wouldn't do this to me… Would he? Someone was calling her, and it sounded urgent.
LizzyB:
Well, thanks for everything. I have to go, ttyl!
"LIZZY!!!" she realized it was her mom. What now??? To tell the truth, mornings were not her things; bad news in the morning she took even worse, but dealing with her mother after receiving bad news in a morning, was recipe for Apocalypses multiplied by the Third World War.
"What?" she shouted back grumpily. She slouched into the kitchen, sat down and… "WHAT?!"
"…that apparently a lucky Peruvian has won the royal jackpot; not only was she caught in an intimate embrace with the Prince-" No friggin way! HOW did they find out?? "… but according to our source (which will remain unidentified), the Prince is quite serious about this 'fling', so much so that perhaps people worldwide can be looking at the back of the future Princess of England-" Did she say back? Wait, there is no actual detailing picture? Maybe not everything is lost after all! "… though we were not able to identify her." Her aunt put the newspaper down; there was a huge picture of them in the park, in a lip exchange, though the only one recognizable was the Prince himself. Journalism has stooped to a new low if this can make the headlines! Was her first thought, but she wasn't allowed more time before her Aunt commented with sparkling eyes "Well, Lizzy, maybe you were telling the truth after all. They seem quite serious in their intimacy; I am sure they cannot be only friends."
"Who, Aunt?" asked Jane yawning as she walked in, dreamy eyed and sleepy.
"The Prince and his new girlfriend… from Peru." Would she just stop this emphasizing and insinuating already?!?!
"Oh…" Jane took a frightened glance at Lizzy, though brought back her eyes to the papers instantly as Lizzy looked back at her. "Uhm… I'm sorry, Lizzy…?"
"Whatever for? The Prince and me are just friends; I have said so a million times. Though I agree, he should've told me about her." She added, looking expressively at her aunt.
They were to leave that day in a matter of hours, and Elizabeth successfully avoided her aunt during that time. She didn't really want to discuss the matter of the Prince which soon everyone in the family learnt, and a mutual yet silent agreement was made to respect that. Even Lydia kept her gossiping to the minimum.
They arrived on time and took their seats on the plane via Lima; Lizzy made the maths and realized she would have barely enough time to catch Will before it was too late on the airport. With the flight taking an hour and a half, and leaving half an hour late…
…she had 3 hours left.