A/N: Hey, so here's part two, as promised. Unfortunately, after this I can't promise anything until after December 10th when my exams are over. Once the semester is over I have six weeks of Christmas break, and I intend to finish this during that time. So hold out through my hiatus because I promise I'll come back. I tried to mix up my style a bit, as you'll notice, and I hope the result is good. Thanks to everyone for reviewing, following, and favoriting. I am also going back and cleaning up the previous chapters, so those will be better, but the plot will stay the same. Also, I haven't had a chance to proofread, so please let me know of anything that is wrong. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy.
Chapter Seven: Part Two
"Charlie, this is ridiculous, come back." Will called out after his friend who was hurrying along the sidewalk.
"Jane what happened?" Lizzie tried to comfort her sister as best she could, inhibited by her ignorance of her situation.
"You're being childish. Why can't you talk to me about it?" Will tried again, Charlie seemed to ignore every attempt. He was clearly very angry, and Will wanted to help him, but was inhibited by his ignorance of Charlie's situation.
"Lizzie, I messed up" Jane sobbed into Lizzie's shoulder, not knowing how to properly articulate what had happened between her and Charlie, and she feared her actions had severe negative consequences.
Eventually, Charlie reached a small, dimly-lit park that offered the perfect setting for late night reveries; Charlie had all but forgotten its existence until happening upon it this night. He soon found a suitable bench, planted himself on it, and placed his face in his hands.
"Will, I messed up."
"He was drunk, and he told me he loved me." Jane tried to explain through her cries, "I didn't want the first time he told me that to be when he was drunk."
"I didn't lie, you understand," Charlie was soon followed to the bench by his friend and attempted to explain to his friend so Will could give his opinion that Charlie valued so much, "I do love her, and I wanted to wait for the right moment."
"I mean, I love him too," Jane had finally consoled herself with her sister gently stroking her back and comforting her presence, "I just think that because he was so drunk that I didn't believe him, so I tried to get him to understand."
"What did she say?"
"When he said that he loved me I just told him that he was too drunk, and didn't understand what he was saying," Jane told Lizzie, "I told him that we could have a real conversation when he hadn't had so much to drink but he…" Jane was once again compromised to her emotions.
"I told her that I did know what I was talking about," Charlie sighed loudly, "I guess I let what you told me get to me, you know, about Jane not being as into the relationship as I was,"
"He said that I didn't love him the way he loved me,"
"and her reaction to me confessing my true feelings is conformation that you were right."
"Lizzie I do love him, but I didn't want to have such a personal conversation when he could barely control himself, and probably wouldn't remember it in the morning," Lizzie replied that she understood her sister's feelings completely.
"I don't know what to do,"
"I don't know how to fix what I've done," Jane confessed to Lizzie.
"There's nothing to fix," Lizzie replied honestly, "You acted in a way that you believe in and you shouldn't change for anyone,"
"I was so happy, I honestly wished that I hadn't asked," he turned his face to Will, "what should I do?"
"I think you should just call him in the morning, explain yourself to him when he's sober, and I'm sure he'll understand where you're coming from,"
"You should leave," Will told him boldly, "You need time away from her to get a feel for yourself, and heal,"
"You two will be fine," Lizzie patted her head, trying to seem more maternal than she felt, "I've seen the way he looks at you, there's no way he'll leave because of this."
"Remember that offer from New York City you got a few days ago," Charlie nodded in recognition. The position was much better than at USC's hospital, he turned it down, wanting to stay close to his family, friends, and the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, "You could call them back, and take the offer. It's the perfect opportunity to start over."
"You really think I should do that?"
"Yes, of course, Jane," Lizzie stood up with Jane, "we can leave if you want," Lizzie had truly wanted to leave much sooner, but put her selfishness aside for her clearly hurting sister, "I'll leave a note in the kitchen,"
"If it were me, yes" Will replied honestly, "if I thought the girl didn't like me as much as I like her, then I would end it. You deserve to be with someone who is committed as you are."
"The weather is perfect tonight," Lizzie tried to get her sister's mind off of Charlie, but it had no effect, "Jane everything will be okay, I promise." Jane looked up for a brief moment and smiled slightly at her sister.
"I am really going to miss this weather," Charlie leaned back on the bench and stared up at the sky.
"Will what the hell did you do?" Caroline prodded upon hearing her brother's news about moving to New York City, "You and I both know how he feels about Jane,"
"Jane didn't feel the same way," he replied, half-interested.
"Are you out of your mind?" Caroline thought this was the first time in her life she was seeking an argument with the man she had wanted for so long, "it was as plain as day that she was crazy for him."
Will looked up, clearly annoyed, "Caroline, their relationship was detrimental to their emotional health, I simply gave my opinion. It's not my fault Charlie decided to follow it."
"I have to call him and tell him to come back," she was already reaching for her phone, and dialing his number when Will reached up and took the phone from her, "What the hell? Give it back, I have to undo what you have done."
"Think about it, Caroline," Will tried to convince her, "we both love him, and want what's best for him," Caroline simply nodded, overwhelmed by his serious expression and the proximity of his face to hers, "and I think we would both agree that this is best for him,"
"How is it—"
"Charlie's position at the New York hospital is much better than here, and he will have the chance to heal from whatever wounds Jane made,"
Caroline wasn't entirely convinced, but recognized Will's logic. She knew Jane's adoration of her brother, and although she scoffed at their financial situation, she knew that Jane would be in pain. She then made the difficult decision to compromise the sweet girl with no career outlook, in effort to spare herself from Will's disappointment and anger.
"Fine, I will let him go to New York," Caroline replied, "however, you will regret this decision." She finished and walked out of the nearly empty house. Leaving Will alone in the living room, not for a minute second-guessing his decision.
"He still hasn't called?" Lizzie gave a sad gaze over to her sister, who shook her head. She looked absolutely miserable. Lizzie had no idea how to help her, and then decided to take matters into her own hand. She grabbed Jane's phone from the counter and dialed Caroline's number. She pressed the speaker icon, and sat it down on the table in front of Jane, who barely noticed her movement.
"Hello?" Caroline's voice sounded from the other end.
"Hey, Caroline, sorry to bother you," Lizzie began, "but I was wondering if you knew where your brother is?"
"Oh, you haven't heard," she responded, voice laced with a disappointed tone, "He's moving to New York. A hospital there offered him a position, a better position, and he decided to take it."
The color in Jane's face drained out, and Lizzie looked over to her quickly. Her face was stony, and she bit her lip to keep her from crying.
"Oh, okay, well thanks, anyway," Lizzie now regretted her attempt to make her feel better, "Tell him that we'll miss him,"
"Will do," Caroline tried her very best from revealing the truth, "I'll talk to you later, Lizzie,"
The call ended and Jane curled herself around Lizzie, "This is all my fault," she sobbed.