Chapter 8

(Wills POV)

A couple of days later Will was hanging out with the band at Charlie's place and Caroline was also visiting. Of course she mentioned that she had seen Lizzy and Richard together out in Cambridge at night. Will already knew this as Lizzy had mentioned on the phone that she had bumped into Richard in the pub and he had offered to walk her home. Will was glad that Richard was looking after her he only wished that he could be there to look after her. Caroline was just trying to cause trouble. She still had this crazy idea that Will should be hers. He did have a feeling that Richard had really liked Lizzy when they met but who wouldn't like Lizzy? He knew he could trust Richard with his life and Richard knew how much Will loved Lizzy but was Richard better for Lizzy. Was Richard more likely to make Lizzy happy? That's all Will wanted, he adored her but he was a grumpy so and so and he didn't think that was good for Lizzy. He didn't think he was good enough for Lizzy.

(Lizzy's POV)

Richard and Lizzy agreed to meet up to Friday night. The band was recording this weekend so Lizzy wasn't seeing Will which made her sad so she thought a night out with his cheery cousin would lift her sprits. They went for dinner with some of her uni. friends and then to the pub where a local band were playing. Richard was good company, easy to talk to and he also appreciated good music. Lizzy's friends were also enjoying his company, in particular one friend Rachel had taken quite a shine to Richard. The girls were in the ladies and Rachel was asking all about Richard and Lizzy thought they would make a good match but Richard didn't seem to be showing the same interest. Lizzy couldn't understand it; maybe they needed to chat to each other a bit longer. Lizzy tried to encourage conversation between Rachel and Richard but Richard still offered to walk her home again. He gave her a hug, kissed her on the cheek and gazed into her eyes.

"Goodnight Richard, thank you for a lovely evening" said Lizzy.

"I had such a great time Lizzy you and your friends are wonderful company" said Richard.

"Thanks I love the girls they have become such great friends I feel like I have known them for years especially Rachel, I would really love her to come and meet Jane one weekend but I am trying to give Jane some alone time with her husband!" said Lizzy.

"Yes they were all lovely" said Richard.

Lizzy was hoping he might try to find out more about Rachel, but he didn't ask, she thought that they would have to take him out again so he could get to know her a bit better or maybe he wasn't interested at the moment as he was going away soon. Lizzy couldn't help wanting her friends to be as happy as she was but she would have to be patient and see if anything was meant to be. Suddenly she realised that she had got the situation completely wrong as Richard moved towards her and tried to kiss her.

"What….. are….. you….. doing….. Richard?," Lizzy said as she pushed him away.

"I'm so sorry Lizzy I just couldn't help it, I know it's wrong but I'm falling for you and I had to take a chance".

"Well you know it's your cousin I love and that's not going to change, I am very fond of you as a friend but that's it" she said shaking her head.

"Wills going to kill me, I'm so sorry" said Richard his head bowed down low "and you are never going to invite me out ever again".

"Don't be daft Rich, we'll forgot it ever happened and go on as before, you are becoming a good friend and I don't want to lose that" said Lizzy.

"Thanks Lizzy I am so stupid, I knew how you felt about Will!" said Richard sadly.

"Well it's been an eventful night, see you soon Rich, take care" Lizzy said as she punched his arm gently.

"Are we okay Lizzy?" said Richard.

"Yes we are okay, Rich" said Lizzy "goodnight".

The next weekend Lizzy was back down in London with Will and the band hanging out at Charlie and Janes as they had finished their recording. Lizzy was a bit worried about Will, he was even quieter and moodier than usual. The rest of the band were full of excitement as the recording had gone really well and their new album was just about finished. Lizzy couldn't wait to hear it but the band were keeping it under wraps til it was finished. Caroline was also hanging around and asking Lizzy about how much time she had spent with Richard since she met him. Lizzy told her about their nights out with her friends and how Richard got on with her friends really well. Lizzy knew Caroline was trying to cause trouble but it wasn't going to work, although what was wrong with Will?

(Wills POV)

Could Lizzy have feelings for Richard? She is talking about him a lot. If that's the case maybe I should step back. Lizzy would be better off with Richard, he had a much cheerer disposition compared to my serious moody jealous temperament. It would break my heart but I want Lizzy to be happy.

(Lizzy's POV)

Lizzy and Will were going for dinner that night. Lizzy really wanted to get Will on his own to find out what was wrong. Maybe he wasn't as happy with the recording as the others were? They went to a cosy little restaurant not far from Charlie and Jane's and they sat in silence at first.

"Will, what's wrong?" said Lizzy gently. "Were you not happy with the recording, you seem so quiet and distance?

"The recording was fine, I'm happy with it" Will said in a flat voice.

"Then what is it?" said Lizzy trying to make eye contact with Will but he kept his eyes on his untouched plate of food. "Is it something I have done?"

Will was silent. After about five minutes he started to speak "I have something I have to speak to you about, I don't think we should be together any more. Your life is in Cambridge and mine is touring the world with the band".

"But I love you and my life is with you, where ever you are we both have independent things in our lives" said Lizzy, not wanting to believe what she was hearing.

"Its not working Lizzy, we both can move on with our lives if we are separate" said Will still avoiding eye contact with Lizzy.

"You don't want me any more Will?" Lizzy said a single tear rolling down her cheek.

"No" said Will "I have to go now" he said as he rose from his chair. He opened his wallet and placed a pile of notes on the table, took one last look at Lizzy and said "Go back to Charlies, I will clear my stuff from the room when you are back in Cambridge, goodbye Lizzy" and he walked out of the restaurant. Lizzy was in shock, she couldn't believe what had just happened. The love of her life had just walked out on her and she just wanted in fall into a black hole.

(Wills POV)

He had to get the words out before he lost the courage, but he couldn't look at her, he knew he wouldn't be able to say the words if he looked at her. He had to give her the chance to be with a happy normal person. It nearly broke his heart to see a tear fall down her cheek as he said goodbye. He nearly lost his resolve but he had to do this for her it would be better for her in the end, she would see. He left the restaurant but didn't go far he had to make sure she got back to Charlies okay before he left. He saw her leave the restaurant from across the street but she didn't head towards Charlies. Will followed her at a distance; he had to make sure she would be okay. He realised she was heading for Janes old flat at the zoo, he guessed she wanted to be alone. That's exactly how he felt. When she entered Janes flat he made a quick phone call to Charlie to let Jane know where Lizzy was and warned him to leave her until the morning and walked off into the night to grieve for the love of his life.

(Lizzy's POV)

Lizzy wanted to be alone so she headed to Janes old flat at the zoo. Lizzy was broken hearted, it felt like she had, had her right arm ripped off, part of her was missing. What had she done to stop him from loving her? She thought they were soul mates, she thought he had felt the same that they had a connection. She laid on the bed and cried herself to sleep. In the morning she was wakened by a gentle shaking of her shoulder by Jane and Jane held her in her arms while Lizzy wept. When she had managed to stop weeping she explained to Jane what had happened and Jane was as shocked as Lizzy.

Lizzy immersed herself into her work even more to try and get over Will, she wouldn't leave Cambridge and certainly wouldn't go and visit Charlie, Jane and the band in London. She couldn't have coped with seeing him. She was trying to keep herself together. She wouldn't go out. Steve and Dave came up to Cambridge to see her but they couldn't get her out of the house so they kept her company at home one weekend. They couldn't understand why Will had done this and it really didn't seem to be doing him any good. They had hardly seen Will since, it was lucky that they had finished recording the album. He had distanced himself from everyone including the band, even Charlie.

Finally Richard managed to persuade Lizzy to go out on a kind of date. He hoped for a chance with Lizzy but she was not interested in him in a romantic way. She agreed to go on a few dates with him but just because she is so broken-hearted she thinks it might take her mind off Will. Will hears reports of Richard and Lizzy being seen out together by an interfering Caroline Bingley and sinks further into despair.