7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
Lizzie
“What?” I exclaim once I hear the news about Edward and Will joining the wedding party. “Well, I guess it’s official then.”
“What’s official?” Jay asks.
“We really have two new members of the crew. Well, three if we’re counting you, Gatsby.”
Jay looks offended. “I thought I was already a member of the crew.”
Nic reaches over and touches his hand. “You are, Jay.”
“Technically,” I say, holding up my finger to make a point. “The crew is just us three girls. The guys make up the extended crew, I guess.”
“Extended crew?” Jay laughs, not really hurt by this revelation after all. “But I was part of the original friend group. We grew up together, Lizzie.”
I laugh too, adding, “Look, just be happy we let you in now, okay?”
“I’ve always wanted to be part of a crew,” says Edward.
Jane smiles, saying, “We are glad to have new members join our sacred space.”
“Do we have room for one more?” I ask, leaning my head on my hand, thinking of George and how he kissed me last night.
“Um,” Jane says, looking from me to Nic.
“Oh no,” Nic says, shaking her head. “Please don’t tell me you mean Officer Wickham.”
“Don’t say it like that. We know him. We’ve known him since we were kids too.”
“Are you interested in giving up my spot?” asks Edward.
“No, Edward. Calm down,” I say, reassuring him. “I just kind of like George and, well, I was thinking of bringing him to the wedding.”
“Liz,” Jane starts.
I hold up a hand to stop her. “I know everyone thinks he’s a flirt, but he was so sweet last night. He came over for dinner at my parents’ house. He was able to make it through an entire meal with my crazy family. And he kissed me goodnight. It was so romantic.”
Last night was interesting, but I’ve been trying to convince myself that things went well with George.
The guys are attentive, listening silently and letting the girls lead the conversation. Will is eyeing me as if he wants to say something, but he hasn’t yet.
When I look over at him, I think about how he remembered my favorite flower when George and Billie didn’t last night. But I can’t dwell on that, so I look away from him and push the thought out of my mind.
“But what if you only see him as being this super sweet and romantic guy because you’re trying not to focus on Billie?” Nic asks, not in a mean way, but with caution and care.
“What if he’s a good guy and you all are jumping to conclusions?” I ask, challenging my friends.
“What if you are too good for him?” Will asks, finally jumping into the conversation.
We look at each other. He waits for an answer. I sigh and give in to this crazy question. I ask him, “What makes you think I’m too good for him? You don’t even know him.”
“I know you.” Will says it like a fact, not a jab.
“Barely,” I say, laughing it off. But his words bounce around in my mind, because I know it’s true. “We met months ago. And you don’t know what’s best for me.”
“Whoa,” Will says, hands up defensively. “I thought I was in the crew now. You have to listen to a member of the crew’s advice.”
“I can listen to your advice, but I don’t have to take it.
I remember what you said the other day about me not being your type.
I may not be your type of girl, but maybe I am George’s type of girl.
Which goes back to what I was saying about you not knowing him and not really knowing me.
I am the type of girl. The blueprint. The masterpiece. The one and only.”
“So, what I’m hearing is that you both were talking about being each other’s type?” Nic asks, breaking the tension.
“Exactly what I heard too, Nic,” Jay says, backing her up.
“I think I heard that too,” Jane says, joining in.
“Same here.” Edward nods.
“All of you would be very wrong then. Because that is not what happened at all. Would you care to explain Darcy, or should I?”
Will smirks at me, taking the bait.
“Fine. If you must know, I was telling Wolfsheim that you and I aren’t right for each other for many reasons. He had it in his head that we have chemistry, and I told him we don’t. Was I lying?”
Looking around at the table, no one jumps in to say anything, but their facial expressions say it all: Really? Don’t you see it?
And I don’t. I really don’t. I cannot let my mind go there. I shake my head at them.
“I have to admit that I asked Will to fake date me so that I could get Mama off my back, to keep Billie at bay and to have a date to the wedding. I panicked after seeing Billie. It was a lot to deal with on top of everything else. I don’t think that means we are meant to be together or anything.
Darcy is a great guy, just not the guy for me.
And I’m okay with that. But no one else seems to be okay with the guy I am choosing, which sucks. ”
“We both bonded over not having dates to the wedding. But hey, we’re both in the wedding party now. We both don’t have a date so you won’t be the odd one out.” Will comforts me with his words.
“We don’t have dates either, remember?” Jane asks, gesturing between herself and Edward. “Let’s be dateless together.”
“You’re right,” I say, groaning. “I can’t believe I freaked out like this. I cannot be boy crazy again.”
“Again?” Will asks, intrigued. “When was Lizzie Bennet boy crazy?”
“There was a phase in middle school…” Nic starts, but I cut her off.
“We do not need to go down memory lane. I’m redeemed, saved, delivered and recovering.”
“Here’s to being in the present and appreciating the past,” says Jay, lifting his mug for a toast. I glare at him, and he stifles a laugh.
We all lift our mugs and toast, laughter breaking out across the table, and relief settles inside me.
The crew makes everything better…including my boy crazy problems.