"But Lizzie, do you think George could ever do such a thing?" Jane asked, her brow knitted in concern. They were on the bed the morning after her return and Lizzie decided to share what she'd learned about George with her sister before the events of the day caught up with them.

Lizzie shrugged. "I think so."

Jane lips thinned. "Do you think we should tell anyone?"

Lizzie paused for a moment. "I've thought about it, but I don't think so. As... insistent as the twins are, I don't think he'll bother us any more."

"But he came to visit not too long ago! What if he comes back?" Jane's question brought a small smile to her sister's lips.

"We just won't answer."

Jane shook her head. "You're sneaky, let's go down for breakfast." Lizzie grinned wider and they climbed off the bed and began to walk down the stairs. "You know mom's going to ask about Collins, right?" Jane whispered.

"Yeah, I'm not worried. He's just as creepy as ever, just in love."

Jane gasped. "So he is...?"

In response Lizzie shuddered. "Yeah, it's really weird. Charlotte likes him too, but he's really... attached." Jane made a face.

"Well, as long as they're happy."

Lizzie laughed. "Okay, Jane."

"What're you two laughing at so early in the morning?" Mrs. Bennet asked grumpily as she dropped a plate of pancakes on the table, her hair in rollers.

"It's ten in the morning, mom."

"You didn't have to listen to Lydia complain all night about how she doesn't go anywhere," their mother replied with a huff and slammed down the syrup.

"So is she going?" Lizzie asked worriedly. Now that she knew the truth about George she didn't want her family anywhere near him, and of all people it was Lydia who was bound to cause some sort of trouble.

"Of course. Even the strongest political couldn't hold up against her complaining. Now I'm going to get ready to take Kitty to the beach to hang out with her friends, so put the dishes into the dishwasher when you're done." She was about to leave before she turned around, tightening the robe around her. "And how is dear Will?"

"Fine." Lizzie refused to talk any more on the subject, so she went for the short teenage approach. Her mother realized this and went on her way, complaining about ungrateful children. When she left the room, Lizzie laughed quietly and poured syrup on her plate.

They ate in silence for a moment. "I have to leave in a week," Jane said quietly. A piece of pancake on her fork stopped midway to her mouth as Lizzie stared. She hadn't thought of Jane going to college in so long, it was almost as though she was never going to leave. School would be so different without her two best friends and Jane's quiet reminder set off an alarm in her head that she would be alone. Going through the hardest year of her school career alone.

She put the fork back on her plate and ran her hand through her hair. "I'm going to miss you."

Jane smiled sadly at her. "I'll be back before you know it."

The rest of the summer went as fast as lightning, Lydia was gone and back, Jane left, and school started. Lizzie did what she normally did, theatre, volunteer work, trying to cope with all of her homework, and trying her best to survive without the two special people in her life. It was hard to complain about much of anything, being so busy all the time, and before she knew it Christmas came and went. George invited Lydia to come over again the next summer and that was her youngest sister's fascination for a very long time. As her IB exams came closer and closer it was hard to focus on anything else other than passing her tests. She hung out with other people, but no matter how many times she went to the mall with her other friends, no one could make up for Charlotte.

It seemed long as she was in the midst of it, but before she knew it, it was time for summer to come again. She had been accepted to an art university in New York, and she'd finally decided to become a playwright. Graduation was a tearful ceremony for her as well as her parents, and when she reached for her IB diploma she felt as if a part of her was missing. Charlotte should have been there next to her, getting her diploma. As for this summer, she fully planned to have some fun before she went to college, and part of this fun was going to consist of another trip to Arizona.

Unfortunately, this was not in her parent's itinerary. "Your aunt and uncle, you know, the ones that live in California, want you to come and visit them!"

Lizzie was stunned, her Californian relatives never really talked to them, and so it was a bit of a surprise when they invited her and no one else.

"They thought that since you would be living there anyway in a few years, they might as well introduce you to it! Lydia will be in Washington again for a few weeks, and you'll be in California. It's all been settled," Mrs. Bennet sighed. "I thought you'd be happy."

"I am, I just was hoping I'd be able to see Charlotte again."

Her mother hugged her. "You will, just not this summer."

Her relatives picked her up at the airport and Lizzie prepared herself for one last adventure before she went to school again.

She was more right than she knew.