Chapter 5

It soon became apparent to the student body that Chuck Bingley and Jane Bender were an item. Even official on Facebook. They were seen eating lunch together most days, usually with William Darcet and Lizzy Bender in attendance. The general opinion about THAT relationship was a bit fuzzy. They seemed to enjoy talking to each other, but there was no mention of them actually dating, other than occasionally acting as the third and fourth wheel when Chuck and Jane went out.

At the end of one of these unofficial 'double dates', shortly before graduation, William and Lizzy were trailing behind Chuck and Jane as they returned to the car after dinner.

"Lizzy, have you thought more about what you're going to do after next year?" William asked.

"I am definitely going to skip my senior year and graduate next spring. I'm looking into colleges that will accept me at age 17. I will have just turned 17 in August and some of the admissions officers aren't giving me a warm fuzzy feeling about my chances of being admitted. Some of them suggest to take a gap year and backpack my way around Europe. That seems like fun, but it's not in the works in regards to financial aid. I'll work full time this summer, as I did last summer, but I still want to graduate with the least amount in student loans that I can manage. Oxford has an interesting program for advanced students that I like, but the cost is prohibitive if I don't get a scholarship."

"Oxford! I didn't know you were considering going abroad."

"Yeah, it's my dream school, but I'll probably end up closer to home. I can get cheap tuition at Meryton College, since my dad teaches there. But, they don't have the major I want, so that's a no go."

"What major have you decided on?"

"Biomedical Sciences. Oxford has one of the premier labs in the world. Stanford was another option, but I don't want to live in California, too many people, although the weather is better."

"There is that. I gotta say, I'm not moving to England for the weather."

"Copy that. What we do for our educations!"

"My dad is thinking of moving back to England. My sister isn't really adjusting to school here and he thinks she would do better back in a familiar atmosphere."

"Yeah, she seems like a nice kid, although shy. Unlike her brother." Lizzy teased. He smiled. "Where did you live in England?"

"Mostly outside of London, but we have a home in the north, in Derbyshire. I think he will decide on moving back to our home in London; more choices of schools there. Hopefully Georgie will have had time to get over our mother's death by then."

"Oh, the poor girl. I'm glad she and I have had some time to get together. I think she had a lot of fun playing make-up model with me last week and I really enjoyed taking her to see Frozen 2 last month. I'm going to miss her."

"Just her?" asked William sheepishly.

"Oh, alright. You too." she looked up at him with a big grin.

"Lizzy, if I wasn't moving away after graduation, I, um, I think things could have been different between us."

"Yeah, I think so too. We don't always get what we want though, do we?"

"No. We don't." sighed William. "Four years is a long time. Five years for you."

"I know William, I know." Lizzy gently placed her hand on his arm. They stopped walking. He was looking at her with a look she thought she could decipher. But, then he looked away. "I suppose we should catch up to Chuck and Jane before they leave us behind." Lizzy offered as she fought back tears.