Section I, Next Section
Part 1
William Darcy was nervous. He had risen to the top of the waiting list for student housing, and now his name had been passed on to housing units with vacancies. Those units would then call several of the names they received for interviews. The interviewing business was called 'hospitating', and William had gathered from fellow students that hospitating was a dreadful thing. He'd heard stories about as much as twelve people being interviewed at once, with the result that the one with the biggest mouth always got chosen. William hoped he would not have to compete with any others, because talking was not his strongest point.
"I need to get out at the IBB," he said to the line 12 busdriver, "but I don't know which stop that is." William had looked at a map, but he preferred to be warned so he could be sure this was the right stop.
"Rubens Lane, I'll give you a call."
"Thanks."
"Rubens Lane, IBB," the driver called through the intercom, and the bus practically emptied.
William got out and crossed the street towards the collection of buildings that were termed the IBB student housing complex - IBB being the initials of the writer the street was named for. He walked past the first two shabby four storey buildings, and felt glad that he was going to the highrise, because that looked a bit more respectable. He glanced into the lowrise kitchens full of dirty dishes and with walls full of junk and stolen traffic signs, and he was suddenly not so sure he was up to the task of living in student housing.
He wondered what Caroline would think of it. She was thrilled that he was moving out on his own, because maybe he would invite her to stay the night, rather simplistically thinking that he had not done so before because he was living with his Aunt Catherine. He guessed that she would not be so enthusiastic after seeing this though.
But it was his own wish to move out. He lived with his aunt Catherine, his cousin Anne, and his little sister Georgiana. His parents, who worked for a multinational company, lived abroad and preferred that their children were educated in the home country. His snobby Aunt Catherine and her friends were beginning to get on his nerves. When he said that he wanted to move out, she had offered to buy a townhouse for him, Anne, and a happy few selected by herself. No, then he'd rather live in something like this.
Next to the highrise's waste container there was a heap of bicycle wrecks, and he saw a huge bike shed with dozens of bikes thrown against it, and chained to street lights. In short, the place looked a mess. An obscure door that looked more like the entrance to a maintenance room, proved to be the entrance to the highrise units. He rang the downstairs bell of number 165, and a buzz sounded when he could open the door. William was glad that he didn't have to speak through the intercom, to tell them who was calling.
The lift was full of boxes and furniture. Someone was obviously moving. "You'd better take the stairs," a girl said apologetically. "This might take a while. I hope you don't have to go to the 18th floor!"
All floors had a front door with nine bells next to it. Arriving at the fifth floor, he rang the bell that read 'kitchen', and sighed.
Part 2
"Well, people, that was it for today. See you next week." The lecturer put down his microphone and collected his papers. After the first few words, everybody in the lecture hall started shutting their notebooks and talking.
"Are you going to the drink on the Westtraverse?" a friend asked Elizabeth.
"No, I can't. We're choosing a new roommate tonight. I really have to be there for the first two interviews because some of us really can't make it. I suppose they'll be nerds anyway, they always are." She gathered up her things, stuffed them into her bag, and walked to her bike.
On her way home she stopped by the supermarket to buy pancake mix, milk, raisins, bananas and treacle. She was going to make pancakes tonight, and that was another reason to be early. Making the mix was so noisy that she had to do it before the interviews.
There was only Elizabeth, Charlotte, Rob, and Jane to do the first two interviews. As Elizabeth had predicted, the two candidates were both nerds. Their other roommates happened to all come home at the same time, and they were naturally curious.
"What did we miss?" said Maria, entering the kitchen, which was their only common room.
"Oh, don't worry. Not much!" Elizabeth giggled. "The first one's biggest hobby was his girlfriend -"
"He looked so bad that it makes me wonder what his girlfriend looks like!" Rob cut in.
"And the second one didn't even know his own telephone number!"
"So we did not miss much," René stated in his usual sarcastic tone.
"I hope the others are better," Jane said with concern. "Otherwise we'll have to go and get a new list, and call everyone just to find out they already have a room."
"Maybe we should take a girl instead of a boy," was Marko's opinion.
"Yeah, all the boys we get are nerds," Elizabeth cried while baking pancakes.
"Whoa! Hold it! Do you mean to say I'm a nerd?" Rob, the latest addition to the house, cried indignantly, and everybody laughed.
A new pot of tea was made, because common practise was that an interview lasted as long as a cup of tea, or maybe two cups of tea if the prospective roommate was really fun.
Charlotte looked at the list. "So now we are waiting for Max at 18.30, and William at 19.00. By the way, Eric of 19.30 called to say he wasn't coming."
Half past seven came, a quarter to seven came, but no Max. The teapot was getting cold.
"I guess he's not coming, our Max," said René, and he crossed out Max's name.
The latest candidate, William, was very punctual. He was even a few minutes early. As one of the boys went to open the door, the girls peered around the kitchen door to take a look. It was almost fifteen meters to the door, but even from that distance they could see that William did not look like a nerd.
"Well, he looks okay."
"Yes, finally a normal looking one."
"Do you call that normal? I'd call that good looking."
"Ooops! They're coming," and with angelic faces they sat down, suppressing smirks.
"I showed him your room, Elizabeth. You happened to have your door open," Rob said.
"Oh no!" Elizabeth wailed. "It's a mess, how could you?"
The door was opened by a boy who introduced himself as Rob. They passed a room with an open door, and Rob stopped. "Oh, look here, this is what the rooms are like."
William looked curiously. The room was not very big, but it would be all right to live in, he supposed. It was a girl's room, and he liked it, despite its untidiness.
He followed Rob through the corridor, past an overturned bicycle that someone obviously was trying to fix, and a pile of boxes with old newspapers to arrive at the kitchen. Six faces were looking at him, four were girls who looked like they were sharing a joke. They introduced themselves to him, and he looked around. There were lots of dirty dishes near the sink, in William's eyes at least - compared with some other houses it was no big deal - four people had washed there dishes before he arrived, so it had been much worse. To his left there were dozens of pictures on the wall, of the roommates in various situations. The eight of them having dinner together, Rob behaving like an idiot, something that looked like four people in one bed...he swallowed. Am I supposed to sink to this level?
They asked him the usual questions, questions he had anticipated, about his studies, his hobbies, and whether he smoked or played an instrument. They seemed pretty nice, considering. People in student housing probably all screwed around, and drank beer all day. At least, that was what he had heard. Noone rose before midday, and noone went to bed before midnight. All they ate was pizza and takeaway. All in all, they would be very different from his sophisticated friends.
After he had left, the roommates conferred. "So, what do you think?" Rob said, "I vote for the last one. He was normal."
"He's with the Corps, but I guess we don't have much choice. The first two were a disaster, and I really don't want to go through all this again. You know how hard it is to pick a night that everyone is here," practical Charlotte said. The Corps was an elite fraternity that was seemingly open to all, but those whose parents drove Lada's wouldn't enjoy their time there. The stereotypical Corps member had rich parents, played field hockey, studied law, and spoke with a posh accent. He'd also frequently wear neat expensive clothes like jackets and ties. His main objective at university was having fun and drinking, being certain of a top job in daddy's company no matter what the results of his studying were. A Corps member was immediately recognizable in looks, speech and attitude, and not exactly popular with the rest of the student population.
"He was not that unfriendly?" René asked.
"Yes, he was!" Elizabeth answered. "Didn't you see the look of contempt on his face when I put a banana in the microwave and then spread it across my pancake? He obviously thinks pancakes are vulgar food or something. And also, he looked obviously disgusted when he saw those pictures. Living here is going to be a major shock to his system."
Like Charlotte had said, they did not have much choice, and so they voted unanimously in favour of William.
Part 3
It was Saturday morning, ten o'clock, and Elizabeth, who had just returned from her swimming practise was in the kitchen having breakfast with Jane, who had just got up.
"William is coming to paint today," Jane said as she took a sip of her coffee.
"Oh really?" Elizabeth seemed more interested in the newspaper's sports news.
"He called to say he was coming at ten."
"No, really! Why would he call? To make sure we lay out the red carpet?"
"He is just being considerate. He asked if it was okay to bring some friends to help him."
"Oh he's got friends?" Elizabeth said sweetly. "I'd better clean the kitchen then, as it's my turn this week. The probably won't want to set foot in it in this state."
Jane thought Elizabeth was being a bit hard on people she did not know. "They may be very nice."
The bell sounded, and Elizabeth switched the tv from the Discovery Channel onto The Music Factory, put her feet up on a chair, and placed an empty beer bottle by her breakfast plate. "Too bad there are no soaps on Saturday morning, we'll have to make do with TMF to give an impression of student life."
"Elizabeth!" Jane said with shocked amusement. "Noone is going to think you just drank beer with your breakfast! Don't be ridiculous."
"Don't keep them waiting at the door," Elizabeth said with a grin.
Jane disappeared down the corridor. Elizabeth heard the sound of voices, but Jane did not return. Obviously something was interesting enough to keep her there. She was immensely curious, but didn't want to go and look. She was forced to watch and listen to two stupid videoclips before Jane returned, with a broad smile on her face.
Elizabeth eyed her with suspicion. "What's up?"
"Oh nothing. He brought some friends with him, and they are very nice," Jane said innocently, but blushing slightly.
"Ah."
At that moment, one of William's friends appeared in the doorway and Jane's blush deepened. Now I see why you're blushing, Jane. He looks nice. "Hi, my name is Charles, "he said for Elizabeth's benefit. "I was wondering if you had some old newspapers we can use."
"There is a whole pile of boxes right behind you."
He turned. "Oh, I didn't see that! Thanks."
Elizabeth giggled. Obviously Charles had just needed an excuse to see Jane again. Noone could be blind enough to miss those boxes.
A female voice carried down the corridor. "Charles!" it said commandingly. "Will you hurry with those newspapers? I haven't got all day! I have an appointment at the hairstylist's at one."
"That's my sister. Well....I'd better go....see you," he said to Jane.
"That sister sounds like a dragon," Elizabeth whispered to Jane. "What was she like?"
Jane shrugged. "Oh she was nice. And his other sister too."
"Nice? How many people are there anyway?"
"Charles, William, Caroline, Charles' sister, Louisa, Charles' other sister, and her boyfriend whose name I forgot."
"What is Charles to William?"
"His friend, why?"
"Because...well, why does he bring his sisters when he goes to help a friend paint his new room?"
"I think Caroline is William's girlfriend," Jane said doubtfully. "I don't know. They could all be friends."
"I would not take Lydia with me if I was going to help a friend out." Elizabeth's younger sister Lydia was a bit wild.
Another person appeared in the doorway, a girl this time. One of Charles' sisters. She was not dressed for painting, in cream coloured trousers, an expensive white blouse and a little shawl around her neck. She surveyed the kitchen with an appalled look, and rested her eyes on the empty beer bottle with disgust. Elizabeth felt a sudden urge to raise the bottle to her mouth, but she did not like beer, and besides, the bottle was empty.
"Excuse me," the girl said, "where is the...." she hesitated.
"Through that door right behind you, the second on the left," Jane said.
"You're in luck, it's been cleaned last week," Elizabeth called after her, and grinned when she saw the other pause before opening the door.
Part 4
While Louisa was gone, the guys were painting with Caroline observing it all, standing in the middle of the room.
"You missed a spot, William," she informed him.
He took a step backwards to get a better look. "I did not."
"Yes, you did."
"Where?" he challenged her.
"Here," Caroline was eager to point out as she tapped her finger on the wall. "Eek! There's paint on my finger!" she cried, and tried to wipe it off on a newspaper.
"I told you I didn't miss a spot." William resumed painting without paying attention to Caroline's distress about the paint on her finger.
"It won't come off!" She walked to the wash basin but still the tip of her finger was white. She looked at it like it was some nasty injury. Louisa came back and closed the door behind her. "Louisa, look!" she stuck out her white finger, but Louisa was not impressed. She had much to tell.
"Have you been to the kitchen, William? Your new roommates are absolute slobs!"
"Jane was very nice, and she was no slob," Charles protested.
"That other girl! She was drinking beer!"
"Beer!" Caroline temporarily forgot about her stained finger.
"You drink beer too," William said.
"Yes, but not at this hour!" Louisa said with disgust.
"Girls don't drink beer at this hour," William said decidedly. He wasn't so sure about guys though. Louisa's boyfriend seemed te be quite the beer-type.
"And also, they never clean their bathroom!"
"Noooo!" Charles feigned surprise.
"Yes," Louisa began, "and that slobby girl told me I was in luck because it had been cleaned last week!"
Caroline shuddered. She had looked forward to staying here with William, but the idea was not so exciting anymore. She remembered her finger. "Do you think they have any soap here?"
"Go and ask," William told her.
Elizabeth had switched the television onto a children's show when Caroline came in and looked around curiously. Inwardly she giggled. Obviously Louisa's comments had given much food for thought. Caroline was dressed almost identical to Louisa, only she wore a light blue blouse.
"Hello."
"Do you have some soap? There is paint on my finger." Caroline didn't bother to say hello, and it sounded like she did not expect her to have any soap in this pigsty. Elizabeth instantly disliked her attitude.
"I think you need something stronger than soap," Jane said, "I'll get it for you."
You are too good, Jane. She really deserves to keep that awfully big spot on her finger all week! Elizabeth got up, and walked to her room. She passed William, but he didn't even look at her. Ugh! You could at least have said hello. She hesitated between turning on her radio very loud, or blocking the corridor with her bike. Oh, what the heck. I'll do both. This way I can listen to the radio when I work on my bike.
She was just taking her rear wheel off when Caroline and William walked back to his room. They both gave her contemptible glances. Yes, yes, I know. You probably have your bike repaired at a shop. Oh no, wait. You don't have a bike at all. You probably have a car. Well, I don't, and it's cheaper to fix it myself.
William had looked at the sight of Elizabeth taking her bike apart with considerable surprise. He had seen the bike of course, but somehow he had assumed that it belonged to one of the boys. He honestly didn't know any girls who did this. All of his friends had it done for them, some did it for fun, but never out of necessity. He chided himself. That was a very macho assumption. Is there any reason why a girl couldn't do it? No. Idiot, you probably can't even do it yourself.
Back in his room, Caroline immediately began to talk about it. "Did you see that? How...." she searched for the right word.
"...good of her?"
Caroline glared at him. "You haven't really landed in a sophisticated house, have you? It's a pigsty that's being used as a pub, a junkyard and a bicycle repairshop. I'm willing to bet that noone here owns a bike that isn't stolen. How are you ever going to invite friends here? They would be so shocked!"
William knew she had a point, and he agreed with her. To anyone who came from where he had come from, the place seemed seedy and sordid. But he had wanted to get away from Aunt Catherine, and this was the way. "I don't know it yet. Maybe I won't invite friends at all. Maybe I'll do it at home."
"How are your roommates?" Caroline continued. "Are they the least bit decent?"
"They are quite ordinary," William replied.
"Except Jane, Jane is a sweetie. I'm going to visit you a lot," Charles grinned.
"You think half the world is a sweetie," Caroline told her brother. "I have to go. I have an appointment. William, walk me to the lift, will you?"
William complied with this request, and they squeezed past Elizabeth. Caroline looked annoyed that her passage was blocked and muttered something under her breath.
They stood waiting for the lift, the front door open so Elizabeth could see everything. The lift arrived. "Kiss!" Caroline demanded of William, lifting her mouth. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, and Caroline did not look pleased. Elizabeth turned her face away so they wouldn't see the expression on her face. She had trouble keeping a straight face when William walked past her again.
Part 5
It was already Monday and Elizabeth was supposed to have done her cleaning turn yesterday. She took advantage of the early hour, it was nine o'clock, and filled a bucket with water to clean the kitchen. She began to clean. William entered the kitchen.
"Good morning," he said rather stiffly.
"Morning!" she replied cheerfully, and resumed cleaning.
"Can I...?" he asked.
"What? Oh, your cupboard. Sure," she moved aside to let him get some food out of his cupboard. I know I'm in the way, there's no need to look at me like that.
He took out his breakfast things and sat down. He seemed to have his eyes fixed on her, because whenever she glanced in his direction she saw him looking at her with a frown. It annoyed her a little.
Why is he staring at me? Am I not cleaning well? That must be it. He doesn't think I do it well obviously. Well, stuff him! I'm not a professional cleaner. Oh, and of course I'm also a day LATE. Capital offense. Well William, you'll find out when your turn comes up that sometimes you just can't do it on a Sunday. The kitchen may be full of people, YOU may be too busy, or you may not feel like doing it. I won't wait until he finishes breakfast before I start vacuuming. It's his own fault.
She went to get the vacuumcleaner and saw what she interpreted as a look of horror on his face. Since he was watching the news, she waited with turning it on, and shook the crumbs out of the toaster instead. As soon as he had finished his breakfast, he got up and left, but not before he washed his plate and cup and returned them to his cupboard.
Wait a minute. He has his own plates? "We have common plates and cups too, you know," Elizabeth said, opening a lower cupboard to show several stacks of unmatching plates. There is really no need to waste cupboard space with plates and cups and pans. Unless you think that food from your plates tastes better."
"I didn't know they were for general use."
Elizabeth thought that it was quite obvious that they were for general use. Who would own fifty plates? "They look ugly, but that's because everybody got them from their grandma's. And if you're making a fancy dinner for friends, it would be very hard to find more than two plates that are alike, but then, our friends don't mind. They come for the food," thinking that over, she corrected herself, "I mean, the company. I don't want to pretend we're masterchefs here, although...no, we are not."
William looked a little taken aback at her speech, not sure of her meaning. "Well, thank you for informing me. I will keep it in mind. Good day."
Elizabeth stared at him. "Keep it in mind?"
"Yes."
"Like thinking 'there's a whole lot of plates in there but I'm not going to use them because I have my own'?"
"No."
"Like what then?"
"Do you have something against people using different plates or something?" William asked.
"Yes, we do," René had just arrived and began to unload his shopping bag. "And we also have something against guests staying the night. We charge 5 bucks per night, but that includes a shower in the morning." René was always saying things like that, and a lot of people didn't know when he was being serious or not.
"5 bucks per night?" William managed to blurt out.
"Yes, it's only fair. They do use our electricity, heating and water. If we wouldn't charge, this place would be full of profiteurs."
William stared at him. This was certainly the first time he had ever heard anything like this.
René carried the joke even further. "We're also considering to charge more for girls. We've been timing how long they shower, and it turns out they shower far longer, so it's only just that they pay more."
William was totally baffled. One could almost hear him thinking. Timing how long people shower?
Elizabeth let out some weird sounds and disappeared down the corridor. She couldn't take it any longer. She fell on her bed and laughed until her stomach ached.
Part 6
William realized that he'd been fooled, and that Elizabeth was laughing at him. He wasn't used to being laughed at. He went to his spotless, tidy room and looked around for something to do. There wasn't really a lot he could do, so he lay on his bed and let his thoughts wander.
His turn to clean the kitchen was next week, and he had no idea how to handle such a thing. He had never given it much thought really. Aunt Catherine had a cleaning lady who came in three times a week, but since she always came in during the day when he was away, he had not had the chance to observe her. So, when he happened on Elizabeth cleaning the kitchen, he'd thought it an excellent chance to see how it was supposed to be done. William did not want any of his new roommates complaining about him, and he was too proud to ask how it should be done. Only, Elizabeth had looked a little curiously at him, but he guessed that was because he was new. It was only natural that she should be curious.
And when she'd shown him the plates, he felt very silly. She was right of course, it was better not to keep those things in your personal cupboard. He had peered into the other's cupboards and had seen that they were packed full with bread, pasta, rice, tea, coffee, bread spreads, soup packages and things like that, and that in most cupboards there was no space left for plates and mugs. That morning, he had also found his mail in his cupboard, so they were also used as mailboxes.
I handled that situation pretty badly. Why can't I ever think of anything smart to say? She must think I'm some kind of idiot now.
The phone rang. William heard it, but he did not move. It's probably not for me anyway. I hope there's someone else to answer it.
Someone else did, and banged on his door. "Phone!"
He got up and walked to the phone, which was on the wall next to the kitchen. He saw 'they' were all assembled there, and imagined that he heard them chuckle. He answered the phone. It was Caroline.
"Hi, William. Are you doing anything tonight? I thought not, so I took the liberty of reserving a table for us at the Taj Mahal, I heard from someone that it was the place to dine."
"Are you certain? About it being the place, I mean."
"Absolutely positive. Besides, I overheard some nice-looking people who were going there too."
It took quite a lot for a person to be labelled nice-looking by Caroline, so William trusted her that this was a classy place.
Caroline talked on. "Louisa and thingy are coming, and Charles is coming too, he will be bringing a date though. I wonder who. I hope she has table manners and that she uses her knife and fork in the proper way."
Charles' date turned out to be Jane, and everyone was relieved, even Caroline. Jane was a pretty, welldressed and wellmannered girl, and that was quite enough to recommend her to Caroline. She smiled politely at everything Caroline said, even at her boring stories about golfing.
"Let's go to the Woolloomoolloo," Caroline suggested after dinner. The Woo was the fraternity and sorority nightclub.
"I don't have a card," Jane told her apologetically.
Caroline looked at her with pity. "Oh, that right. You do not belong to the sorority of course. William! You can get Jane in, can't you? You see," she told Jane proudly, "William knows everyone there. He's very popular and they will be glad to do him a favour by letting one of his friends in."
Jane knew that Elizabeth would have made a comment, but she merely smiled and said, "thank you, that's very nice of you, William."
They all stayed with Charles that night, or whatever what was left of it. Jane slept on a mattrass in Caroline's room. In the morning, Jane felt really ill. Her head ached and she felt like throwing up.
"You'd better stay here and lie down," Charles said with concern. "I don't think it would be good for you if you went out. It looks like it's going to rain."
"But I don't have any things with me, no clothes, no pyjamas..." Jane said weakly. She had borrowed a t-shirt from Caroline for the night but she didn't want to impose on her any more.
"We can call your house and maybe they can bring your stuff over," Charles suggested.
"If you say that's best..." Jane felt too ill to take the train home.
Charles called Jane's house and got Elizabeth on the line. He explained the situation to her, and she said she'd be right over with Jane's things.
Elizabeth went into Jane's room and collected all the things she would need. She put them into a bag and pulled on her coat. First, she had to ride to the station, and then she had to take the train to where Charles lived. He had explained that it was not far from the station, and she felt glad, because the sky was pitchblack. Unfortunately it started raining before she reached the station, so she was already soaked through before she got on the train. When she got off the train, it was raining even harder. In a very pitiful state she arrived at Charles' house.
Part 7
William opened the door and he gave her what she interpreted as one of his funny stares. Instead of letting her in, he just stood there looking slightly disapproved at her wet look.
Elizabeth became a little impatient. "Aren't you going to let me in?" she asked sweetly.
He stepped aside. "I'll take you to Jane."
Jane had been transferred to Caroline's bed. Even Caroline was not so heartless as to make her lie on the mattrass. She talked to Jane briefly, and then returned downstairs to the others.
"Do sit down, Elizabeth. Have you had breakfast yet?" Charles asked.
"Why yes, about four hours ago," she said in an amused voice.
"Wait!" Caroline screeched. "Don't sit down. You're all wet. You'll ruin our furniture."
"Uh oh, I wouldn't want to ruin your furniture, Caroline. I'll remain standing, if that is alright with you?" She have Caroline a questioning look. "You see, I'm also dripping on the carpet," she said innocently.
"Caroline, why don't you get her something of you to wear and hang out her clothes to dry," Charles suggested.
"You hang the clothes," Caroline retorted. "Why do I always have to do everything here?" She took Elizabeth upstairs nevertheless, but returned immediately to talk about her. "I don't see why anyone should have to get soaked through just because a friend is ill. You'd have thought she'd take an umbrella or a taxi."
"I think it's very nice of her," Charles shrugged.
"Didn't you see how her clothes clung to her body and how her hair was all messy?" Caroline shuddered. The thought of anything like that happening to her was too disgusting.
"She was wet, I didn't notice anything bad about that."
"William, you must agree with me. I know you share my opinion of people who are not welldressed."
William was not very quick with his reply.
"You would not want Georgiana to go call on other people in such a state," Caroline stated.
"No, I wouldn't," he said slowly, obviously thinking of something else. But Elizabeth may call on me many more times dressed like that.
"What are you smiling at, William?" Caroline cried, feeling left out.
"Nothing," he blushed. "Just that you would never do anything like that."
Elizabeth returned, dressed in Caroline's least favourite clothes. Caroline had given her trousers that were just a little too tight. Caroline obviously wants to point out that I do not have the excellent figure she has, but I must not complain, at least it's dry, and I would not expect otherwise from Caroline.
The rest were playing a card game and they invited her to join, but she declined. "I don't know the game so I would only be spoiling your fun. I'll read a book." This earned her a few surprised looks from the card table. She suspected that Louisa's boyfriend, whose name she still did not know, was allergic to books. She doubted if he ever even opened his textbooks.
"Georgiana is a great reader too, isn't she?" Caroline asked. "I admire her so much."
Elizabeth wondered who this girl was that Caroline could admire. She had thought that Caroline admired noone but herself and William.
"Yes," William said curtly as he played a card.
"Georgiana is so talented in so many things. She's an excellent student, she reads, plays music, plays sports, draws and I don't know what else," Caroline said with audible amazement, and Elizabeth became very interested in the mysterious Georgiana. She must be related to William to provoke such a reaction from Caroline.
"It always surprises me that so many people have the time to do all of those things," Charles remarked.
"Really, Charles! There are only a few girls who can do all of those things."
"I hear girls are so talented all the time," Charles said.
William interrupted. "But very few actually are. I could count all the accomplished girls I know on one hand."
Caroline was happy with the support. "I agree!"
Elizabeth was curious about his definition of an accomplished girl if there were no more than five who met his standards. "How does one qualify?"
Caroline was eager to answer in William's place. "She have a good taste in food and clothing, she must be musical, be good at dancing, elegant, have excellent manners, good at drawing, speak several languages, be good at maths, and always get the top grades in her studies."
William added, "and she must be wellread."
Elizabeth looked amazed and then giggled. "Now I know why you can count them on one hand! But I'm surprised that there even enough girls to count at all!"
"You don't think such girls could exist?" Caroline cried.
"Certainly not. And if they do, I never saw one."
Part 8
The day was quickly coming to an end, and they were still playing cards. Elizabeth read, watched and went up to check on Jane now and then. William wondered if she was going home. It was not his place to ask, since he did not live there, and Charles hadn't thought of it yet. Caroline had, but she would rather not have Elizabeth stay the night too, so she didn't bring up the subject. Elizabeth had called Jane's mother, who was also her aunt, earlier.
"I'm hungry, what do you all say to some takeaway?" Louisa's boyfriend suggested.
"Oh Heini, not fries again, please! We've had them yesterday already," Louisa objected.
"Heini. That's an unusual name," Elizabeth said.
"It's short for Heineken. He won the beer marathon last year," Louisa said proudly.
"What on earth is a beer marathon?" Elizabeth said, with a slight note of disgust in her voice. William was glad that she didn't seem to think it was something to be proud of, because he thought it was a disgusting event too, although he had never said so. Louisa and Heini started explaining all about the beer marathon to Elizabeth, while Caroline began whining about the lack of nutritional value of takeaway food to William.
"Do you want to cook then?" he asked, a little annoyed.
Her eyes bulged. She never cooked; one of the advantages of still living at home. "No! Besides, I'm sure we haven't got enough food to cater to all our guests."
William decided not to take the let's get rid of Jane and Elizabeth hint. "What have we got then?"
"Only pancake mix," Charles answered.
"Then let's eat pancakes," William suggested. "I know Elizabeth can make pancakes."
"Pancakes!" Caroline wrinkled her nose.
At that moment, the doorbell rang. It was Jane's mother, along with Elizabeth's mother, who had come along for moral support, and to see Charles and the house he lived in. They stayed with Jane for a while, but they were obviously not so alarmed by her illness as to take her home with them. This was largely Mrs. Bennet's doing, who had a fine eye for wealth and who tended the bar at the hockey club on Saturday afternoons for the sole reason of scouting the men's teams for suitable sons-in-law.
"You have a very nice house," she complimented Charles.
"Thank you."
"What does your father do? He must make a lot of money to be able to live in this neighbourhood."
"This neighbourhood is not as special as that," William felt compelled to say. And it was true, the houses were nice, but really, it was not the elite neighbourhood in this town.
He cringed when he saw Elizabeth's mother narrow her eyes. She had obviously misunderstood him.
"Are you suggesting that we come from a vulgar neighbourhood? You probably come from something even grander." Her tone was bordering on the impolite.
What a good impression am I making on my new roommate's mother.
"Mum! He did not mean that. I'm sure he only meant that there are even nicer areas in this town." Elizabeth looked embarrassed.
"But I still think he was looking down on where we live, and you haven't even been there! We happen to have a house with six bedrooms!"
William was glad that Elizabeth changed the subject before Caroline, who had already begun to smirk in a superior way, could say something damaging.
Part 9
Elizabeth had shown her mother and her aunt out, and immediately went upstairs to talk to Jane. She didn't want to hear whatever Caroline had to say about her relatives.
"Jane, what did your mother say? I'm surprised she didn't want to take you home. That time you were ill at camp she came over immediately and escorted you home."
Jane looked embarrassed. "It's because of Charles."
Elizabeth closed her eyes. "Don't tell me that our mothers are letting you stay here because Charles' family is obviously wealthy and they're hoping that you'll marry him one day?"
"Exactly."
"How awful."
"Honestly, I like Charles, for himself, and not because he is rich."
"I know, I know," Elizabeth grinned. "And he likes you too, cousin."
Jane blushed.
"Shall I bring you something else to read? You must have leafed through all of Caroline's fashion magazines by now."
Jane shook her head. "No, thank you. Could you get me a little bit to eat though?"
Elizabeth walked downstairs again, to find Charles and Heini playing Who Is It? with Louisa making silly suggestions. William was on the phone, and Caroline was very eager to interfere in his conversation. She went into the kitchen area to prepare something for Jane, and listened to the sounds from the living room.
"Ask if his name starts with a J, Charles," Louisa urged her brother.
"No! That will only eliminate two people. It's much better to ask if he's got glasses. See, there are four cards with people with glasses left."
"But he hasn't got glasses! I told you in the beginning that Heini had Joe, he always has Joe, and Joe doesn't have glasses."
"I have already eliminated Joe, see?" Charles flipped Joe back up.
"Then you must have done something wrong."
Elizabeth giggled to herself. Louisa really made no sense.
"Ask Georgiana if she'll be coming to stay with me in August," she heard Caroline screech.
She couldn't hear William's reply, so she moved a little closer to the door to the living room.
"...already asked that a minute ago," she heard him say indifferently.
"I know! But I wanted to make sure she doesn't forget! Ask her how she's doing in school," Caroline pressed. "Did my private tutoring help her a bit?"
Caroline as a private tutor? What subject could Caroline possibly be good at? Elizabeth wanted to laugh out loud, especially when William ignored her completely. Since William hung up soon after that, Elizabeth took the food upstairs to Jane and sat with her while she ate it, telling her what happened.
Coming down again, Caroline and William were gone out to get some food. Elizabeth had a feeling it might take a while for them to return. She could well imagine that Caroline was very picky and would not want to go to the snackbar or the Chinese on the corner. She'll probably have him go to a fancy restaurant where you pay twice as much for the same dish.
She was right. William and Caroline returned an hour and a half after they had set off, according to Heini, who had already started on a bag of chips because he couldn't wait. "What took you so long?" he complained.
"Caroline could not make up her mind," William answered, glaring at Caroline, who looked not very satisfied with herself.
Oooh! They've been fighting! Elizabeth guessed that Caroline had been a pain and that William had done something about it.
"What have you brought?" Heini practically dove into the bags, and unwrapped one of the plastic boxes. "Ah, nasi, love it."
By the look on Caroline's face Elizabeth could tell that nasi had definitely not been her idea.
Heini unwrapped another box. "What's this?"
"It looks gross, but William insisted that we take that," Caroline said irately.
"It's pisang goreng," William said, looking at Elizabeth.
"Oh yummy," Elizabeth exclaimed. "I love that too."
"And exactly what is pisang goreng?" Caroline asked, annoyed that William and Elizabeth seemed to know what it was while she, with her infinitely superior culinary knowledge, did not.
"Baked banana," William and Elizabeth said in unison.
Part 10
Caroline did not look happy, she made it very clear that this was not what she would have chosen, and the fact that William had chosen something that Elizabeth liked, was even more upsetting. She poked her spoon into her baked rice with a pouting face.
"Hey, didn't this come with chopsticks?" Heini asked.
"They don't give you chopsticks at the takeaway counter because noone in this country can eat with those things anyway," William said.
Caroline, seeing her chance to prove herself very sophisticated, said immediately. "I'll get our own, I can eat with them." She got up and rummaged through a kitchen drawer.
"Who was talking about eating with them?" Heini chuckled, and looked around. "Where's the beer? No, not that!" as Charles handed him a can of malt beer, "are you crazy? Malt beer is for weenies. Those Heineken cans we bought yesterday."
Caroline returned with a handful of chopsticks, laid some on the table and started trying to eat her rice. Everybody pretended not to notice that she was having a very hard time trying to get more than one rice grain up to her mouth, provided that she didn't lose her grip on the sticks alltogether. They were all so caught up that they didn't notice Heini at all, until suddenly he cried, "ha! I'm Wally the Walrus!" referring to the wellknown walrus that featured in commercials for the marine mammal park.
He had stuck two chopsticks up his nose and looked as if this was a very good joke. Only Louisa laughed hysterically, the rest was too disgusted to reward him with a comment. William saw that Elizabeth was disgusted too, and he hoped she didn't think they were all like that.
Elizabeth and Charles had started building a chopstick tent by sticking the remaining chopsticks in one of the rice boxes that was still full. They were having a good time, and William was a little jealous. Now why can't I ever have fun like that with anyone?
Heini, disappointed that noone appreciated his joke, had laid his two chopsticks were the others had been, and he attacked his plate energetically.
Caroline was still stubbornly trying to eat with chopsticks, but so far she had only managed to eat about a mouthful of rice whereas everyone else had almost finished their plate, or in the case of Heini, had already started on their second helping.
"Snap!" said the chopsticks, who broke under Caroline's overtight grip.
"Rotten things! Such bad quality," Caroline fumed as she threw the broken sticks on the table. She reached for a new set.
Oh no! She has just picked up the ones Heini stuck in his nose! William choked on his babi pangang. He battled with his conscience, but he couldn't bring himself to say it before she started eating with them. Sorry Caroline, but I have to see this.
Elizabeth had also noticed. William gave her a conspiring 'do you tell her or do I' look, but it was already too late. They both stared at Caroline lifting the chopsticks to her mouth in fascinated disgust. Elizabeth snorted rather loudly.
"Really, Elizabeth, do you have to make such disgusting noises during dinner?" Caroline asked, annoyed.
That made it even worse. Elizabeth was almost hysterical by now. "Did you...did you like the green paste?" she hiccuped. William had a very hard time trying not to laugh. He knew what sort of green paste she was referring to.
"What green paste?" Caroline scanned the table, but all she could see that vaguely resembled paste was a container of red sauce.
"That snot!" Elizabeth blurted out.
"Snot?"
"You're eating with the sticks Heini had up his nose," William informed her gravely.
Caroline spat out the complete contents of her mouth and ran towards the toilet to throw up.
Part 11
It was already so late when they finished dinner that Charles invited Elizabeth to spend the night as well. She accepted the offer gladly, the weather was even worse now, and her clothes were still wet. Caroline made a problem of it, just as Elizabeth had expected. She had not forgiven Elizabeth for laughing at the chopsticks incident yet.
"Charles! Don't be such an idiot. You can't invite everyone to stay. Not that I have anything against you, Elizabeth, but we simply haven't got enough beds."
"What do you mean, Caroline? We have several spare mattrasses."
"Where would you put it?"
"In your room?"
"Charles! There's already two of us there. My room is simply not big enough and I refuse to move to another room..."
Charles thought it over. Louisa already had Heini, well, that only left his own room. William's mattrass was already there, but surely there was enough space to accommodate another mattrass? "I know!" he said brightly. "My room is big enough for another mattrass."
Elizabeth looked at Caroline, wondering what she'd say. After all, she had just said she refused to move.
"I will bring my stuff right over!" Caroline smiled, thinking Charles had been talking about her. Sleeping in the same room as William!
"What?" Charles looked confused. "No, not you, Caroline. Since you refuse to move to another room, I was referring to Elizabeth."
Caroline's face fell. She couldn't believe her ears. Am I not William's girlfriend? I will not have him spend the night in the same room as that Elizabeth! "No!" she said decidedly. "We shall all sleep in the living room."
Elizabeth looked amused. Ah...she doesn't want me to stay in the same room as William. Well, don't worry, Caroline, I don't want him. He's all yours, but somehow I don't think he wants to be...
"I do not want to catch Jane's illness," Caroline added, as if that had been her main motivation.
"Alright. We shall move all the mattrasses downstairs then," Charles gave in.
Elizabeth saw William looking sour. Oh dear. I bet he hates silly things like pyjama parties. I bet he hates to be kept awake by giggles and whispers.
All the mattrasses were laid on the living room floor, Caroline saw to it that William's bed was as far removed from Elizabeth's as possible. Elizabeth lay next to Louisa, and opposite Charles. Caroline was next to Charles, opposite Louisa, and William was opposite Heini, next to Caroline.
"I can't move in this sleeping bag," Caroline whined. Elizabeth wondered why she was in a sleeping bag and not under her duvet. "William, shall we zip our sleepingbags together so we have more space?" Oh, so that's why! Elizabeth made a snorting sound.
"Elizabeth, I hope you're not going to snore," Caroline said cattily, and in a different tone, "William?"
"No!" was the muffled reply, and Caroline pouted.
After a few more complaints from Caroline that noone paid attention to, it became quiet and they all fell asleep.
In the morning, Elizabeth woke early. She raised her head, but everyone was still asleep, it seemed. What shall I do? Get up and take a shower while it's free? No...I'll lie here for another while. Who knows when these sleepyheads might wake up. It's only eight o'clock. What's the use of being all dressed when they sleep until eleven?
She woke again at ten, just to see William standing up. Mmm he does look good in his pyjama's, was the first irrational thought she had. Don't be silly, that's William, she corrected herself. He was staring at her, as usual, and Elizabeth wondered if she had snored, or maybe slept with her mouth open.
William had not been happy with the idea of all of them spending the night in the living room. He was afraid he would be assaulted by Caroline in the middle of the night. For one thing, he was glad he had a sleeping bag--she would have a hard time getting into that. When she had suggested that they zip their sleeping bags together he had deliberately ignored her at first. How did she ever end up as my girlfriend? Wait a minute, we never came to any understanding on that subject! She just snuck up on me, very slyly, and suddenly she was always there and she had proclaimed herself to be my girlfriend. Why did I not say no? She's not even my type!
He wondered why Elizabeth had snorted. She's always laughing at everything. Unlike Caroline, who's always criticizing and complaining.
He opened his eyes and stared in horror at Caroline's sleeping face only a short distance from his own. Who's that? Caroline? Oh boy, is that what she looks like au naturel? No wonder she spends an hour in the bathroom each morning.
Quickly he stood up, to take advantage of the bathroom before Caroline had ravaged through it. He took a look at Elizabeth, who had just opened her eyes. Contrary to Caroline, she looked just as good as always, and he couldn't help but stare.
Part 12
Elizabeth waited until she heard no more water running in the shower, she collected her things and went upstairs. Quickly she showered and got dressed, because she was getting hungry. When she came downstairs, she saw William in the kitchen. Everybody else was still asleep, she didn't have much choice--she went into the kitchen.
"Good morning," they both said, and fell silent.
"Are you making breakfast?" she asked after a while, because he just seemed to be sitting there doing nothing.
"No," he said quickly, thinking that it would be impolite to make breakfast in someone else's kitchen, but Elizabeth mistook his reply. She thought he didn't want to make breakfast because it was a girl's job.
"Why not?" she could not resist asking, hoping to attack his reasons.
"I don't live here."
She was a little disappointed with that. There was no arguing with that answer. But isn't he Caroline's boyfriend? Surely that must allow him to use the kitchen? "I thought you were here a lot because you and Caroline...."
He looked angry.
Again she mistook him. She thought he was angry because she had just given him a valid reason to make breakfast, whereas he was only thinking he had to get rid of Caroline.
"Or do you want to wait until Caroline is awake? She does strike me as the kind who would be very upset if anything started without her, and if she didn't get breakfast in bed," she said sweetly.
"She doesn't eat breakfast," he said curtly. Caroline always woke very late, and by the time she had showered and dressed, it was lunchtime.
"Oh no, of course not," Elizabeth agreed innocently. "I do eat breakfast, but that's why I don't fit into Caroline's clothes, of course." She saw William open his mouth and close it, as if he had wanted to say something but decided against it. You were going to agree with me, weren't you, William? "So, what food do we have? I'm hungry, and I'm very willing to take the blame for using someone else's kitchen without permission." If I have to wait for everyone, I'm going to faint, and if I have to wait for you, I'm going to starve to death. "Or didn't you look yet?"
"I looked."
"Well?" she said impatiently.
"Only pancake mix."
"How many packages?"
"One."
Elizabeth frowned. "That's twelve to sixteen pancakes, depending on how thick you make them. Say twelve, because I make them thick, and there's seven of us--"
"Six," William interrupted.
"Oh right, Caroline doesn't eat. So we can all have two. That's not enough. I'd say Heini could eat twelve pancakes all by himself."
William nodded.
"I think we need to go shopping. No, what am I saying? I need to go home, I have a lot to do. I have a lecture at one. Don't you have lectures?"
"Yes, at one o'clock too."
"It's almost eleven! Let's make some pancakes and get out of here," Elizabeth suggested, and she began getting the ingredients together.
Twenty minutes later they had baked four pancakes, and written a note.
We have lectures at 1pm, sorry! Saves us the trouble of reading the book an extra time. We're gone. Bye!E & W
PS. don't eat more than 2 pancakes pp.! or go shopping.
Part 13
Caroline was furious when she read the note. Only Jane's presence kept her from verbally abusing Elizabeth. It is all Elizabeth's doing. She lured William away. It was probably her too who left us with those disgusting pancakes. William knows I don't like pancakes. He knows they will make me fat.
"Why could they not wait until we woke up?" Caroline said angrily.
The others bore the departure philosophically. Jane knew Elizabeth hated missing lectures because going to a lecture was just as good as reading the book, and it saved you from reading the book an third time in your spare time. "Because they have a lecture," she tried to explain.
"Lecture? Man! Who goes to lectures? They are not even obligatory."
"I will drive you home, Jane," Charles offered. He wanted to get away from Caroline too.
"I want to come too," Caroline said.
"William has a lecture, he won't be there."
Caroline looked annoyed. "I need to do some studying in the University library, you idiot."
Elizabeth was sitting opposite William in the train, both looking out of the window, it seemed. Elizabeth was really looking at the brief bit of green pastures and tiny pieces of woodland between the towns, but William was looking at her reflection in the window, and trying not to make it obvious. She had the window seat driving forwards, the seat that was always the first to be taken when a group of four seats was occupied. William had the aisle seat driving backwards, the second most popular seat. Sitting in the window seat would mean you'd be touching knees with a fellow passenger, and most people avoided that. The third seat to be taken would be the aisle seat driving forwards, but most people deposited their bag on it to deter possible neighbours from sitting down.
The train slowed down at the next station and new passengers came on board. One person sat down on the seats across the aisle, but got up again when he looked at them. William put him down mentally as a pathetic figure.
"Elizabeth!" their fellow passenger exclaimed with delight, assuming she would be equally delighted to see him.
"Hi Colin," said Elizabeth, who looked less than enthusiastic.
Colin immediately stepped across the aisle and gestured at the window seat opposite Elizabeth. "May I sit there?" he asked William, obviously expecting a positive answer.
"I'll move over," William said, and took the window seat so Colin would not have to climb over either him or Elizabeth. He arranged his long legs with some difficulty. He could not help them touching Elizabeth's legs because he had no space to manoeuver with Colin sitting next to him.
"It's been so long since we talked. I was going to call you tonight! I called you six times this weekend but you weren't there and your mother didn't know where you were either."
Thank you, mum! This guy is beginning to get obsessed. "Oh," Elizabeth smiled politely, more concerned with the position of William's legs. He does take great care to insure we touch as little as possible. Does he really dislike me that much?
"I was thinking we could go swimming in the river tomorrow," Colin rattled on enthusiastically. "And Monday we could make some t-shirts."
What makes the idiot think I want to do all those things with him? "Sorry, I can't."
"That's too bad. Are you sure you can't make it?" It sounded like he didn't believe her--that she was saying 'no' out of politeness, and that a little pressure from him would make her say 'yes'."
Elizabeth frowned. She saw William look strange and wondered if he thought Colin was her boyfriend. Maybe even Colin himself thinks he's my boyfriend. Ugh! As if! "Quite sure," she said a little snappily. Gee! If I say I can't make it, I mean I can't make it, you dork!
"Oh," said Colin with some disappointment. "I thought you'd like it. Well," with renewed courage, "are you home on Wednesday? I'll drop in for lunch."
I need to do something, quickly! Elizabeth stared at him with a horrified look on her face.
Colin got up as the train slowed down again. "Sorry, I must go. Bye!" and he disappeared before Elizabeth had the chance to say that she did not want him to drop in for lunch.
"Who was that?" William asked curiously, hoping that it was not her boyfriend. He rather liked Elizabeth, but if that was her taste in men, well...
"Oh! Ugh! Ack! Eek!" she said with heartfelt distaste. "That was Colin. He's one of my nerds. I think he likes me."
"I feel sorry for you, he sounds obsessed."
Elizabeth was still agitated, and shuddered occasionally.
"It's my birthday next Saturday," William said tentatively, "is it alright if I hold some kind of party? I don't know what the rules are about that."
"That would be alright, provided you invite us too." I can't believe I'm saying that!
"Oh yes, of course," he said quickly. "I was referring to the sound level, rather."
"Who are coming?" she asked politely. Got you there! You probably did not want to invite us. I guess you don't want to expose your guests to us.
"My aunt, my cousins, and maybe some friends."
Can't wait to see them!
Part 14
Some time had passed since Elizabeth had spoken to William last. She had encountered him in the corridor a few times, but they hadn't exchanged more than a polite greeting. Now it was Saturday, the day of his birthday party. He had invited his roommates to drop in whenever they wished, saying that his guests would be there all night. Elizabeth told herself that she had absolutely no inclination to go for William's sake, but it would be fun to observe his guests. She wondered if Caroline would be there. She probably would. Perhaps she would say something about the note, that would be too funny. She was in the kitchen with Charlotte, standing in front of the window to look at a few neighbours making a spectacle of themselves on the roof of another building. They also saw an ice cream seller park his vehicle on the little square between the lower buildings, and starting to ring a very irritating bell.
"I wonder why he still comes here," Charlotte remarked. "I never see anyone buy anything."
"And on a Saturday afternoon too, doesn't he know that a lot of people go home on Friday night? Just like here, five people have gone home this weekend, I'm sure the other units must be quite empty too."
"Look at that car," Charlotte pointed at an expensive car driving slowly onto the complex. "I can't believe that belongs to a student." There were only a few students with cars anyway, and the ones who did have one, had an old one.
"Maybe someone borrowed his dad's car."
"If your dad can afford a car like that, he can also afford to buy you a house in the centre, and you would not live here."
"Yes," Elizabeth agreed. "Hey! Looks like they have business in this building."
A woman and a girl got out of the car. They were dressed up for a party and the woman shoved a bouquet of flowers into the girl's hand. Charlotte and Elizabeth were intrigued. There was nothing else to do, so any little diversion was welcome. Even up at the fifth floor where they were, the woman came across as being particularly haughty and authoritarian.
Suddenly it dawned on Elizabeth. She remembered something from their conversation on the train. My aunt, my cousins, and maybe some friends. That had to be William's aunt! And the girl must be his cousin. "Uh oh. We're going to have some high visitors soon, Charlotte."
"They're coming here?"
"That must be William's guests," Elizabeth said. She had not noticed William entering the kitchen behind her.
"Who are?" he said, startling her.
"Those people down there."
He walked over to look down at the woman and girl who were obviously trying to locate the door, not realizing it was at the back. "Yes, they are."
"Hadn't you better yell down and tell them to walk around the corner? They might stay down there forever."
"Yell down?" he looked alarmed. "No, my aunt will be horrified. She expects me to go down and greet her." He disappeared.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at Charlotte, glad that she didn't have an aunt who expected her to go down five floors to open the door for her while she could easily have announced her presence through the intercom and have the door opened for her automatically.
The phone rang. Charlotte answered, and came back into the kitchen after a few seconds to ask Elizabeth if she was in for Colin.
"No!" Elizabeth shook her head wildly.
"She is not in," she heard Charlotte say. "No, sorry. No, I can't. Maybe. No. No, I don't think so. No, I have a party. Well, bye then. Yes, bye."
Charlotte returned, slightly agitated. "He's after me now. What have you done to steer him in my direction? He said you have a boyfriend?"
"You know I don't," Elizabeth looked puzzled.
"He said he saw you on the train with your boyfriend, you were practically sitting on his lap."
Elizabeth turned red. "No!" she cried. "He was not my boyfriend and I was not sitting on his lap. I'm not Rachel! It was William and I was sitting across from him. Geez, that Colin must be totally blind. As if I would sit on William's lap, I would rather sit on Colin's or any stranger's!"
Charlotte thought Elizabeth showed a pretty vehement reaction, and wondered why. She looked out of the window again. "That stranger down there, for example," she remarked, looking at a tall figure with army boots on who was walking across the parking lot.
Part 15
"He looks alright, but he won't be coming here," Elizabeth said.
"No, I suppose not. They all pass us by..." Charlotte sighed.
"Hmm...what about Colin? I wish he would pass us by...Tea?"
"Please!"
"Tea, please? Or please let Colin pass us by?"
"Both."
Elizabeth giggled. "He's just desperate. It's a pity that he lives directly below us, we meet him all too often. I never open the door when he comes to borrow sugar."
"Don't talk to me about it! Jane and I were just leaving when he came to borrow coffee filters, he looked so disappointed that we were leaving. They're all excuses."
The doorbell rang. The girls looked at eachother. "Salt? Toilet paper? Curry? You go, Elizabeth. You're safe now, he thinks you're taken."
Elizabeth groaned, but she walked to the door anyway. It wasn't Colin, but it was the person with the army boots they had seen from the kitchen window. He's not exactly ugly up close. The stranger smiled in a very charming manner. "I came to see Marko."
"He's not in."
The stranger bit his lip. "I guess I'm a little early then. Do you mind if I come in and wait?"
He looked very nice and respectable, so Elizabeth didn't see why he couldn't wait in the kitchen with her and Charlotte. She showed him into the kitchen.
"My name is George Wickham by the way," he smiled.
George proved to be a very pleasant person, and Elizabeth and Charlotte enjoyed talking to him while they all had tea, until Charlotte had to make a long phonecall. After that, it was just Elizabeth and George.
At one point, William came in to fetch something from his cupboard. He looked surprised, gave George a withering stare and left without saying a word. George had stiffened slightly. Elizabeth wondered what it was all about. It was as if they knew eachother.
She dared not ask, but fortunately George began about it himself. "Has he been living here long?"
"No, a few weeks."
"You will be surprised to hear that I know him."
"Yes, very! Where do you know him from?" Elizabeth's interested was awakened fully.
"I used to live next to him."
"So you must know him very well!" Why did they not speak to eachother?
"Yes." It sounded like a regret.
"That doesn't sound too good."
"I hate to speak ill of people, but I wish I could call them friends."
"Was it that bad?"
"Yes...I lived next to him, and I was on very good terms with his father. He always allowed me to play in their garden, and things, but William didn't like it. He always tried to make me look bad. If someone shot a ball through a window, he'd tell his father it was me--"
"How mean!" Elizabeth cried.
"And when his father wanted to help me out financially when I wanted to go to university, he talked him out of it, so I went to the Royal Military Academy instead."
"He talked him out of it? But why?" This is amazing!
"Because he doesn't like me. He told his father I would not graduate anyway, so it would be a waste of money."
Elizabeth was speechless. Marko arrived home soon after that, and he and George went away, leaving Elizabeth to think it all over. She called Jane to tell her about it. Jane wasn't convinced of William's bad character though. She insisted there had to be some misunderstanding, but Elizabeth would not give up her beliefs so easily.
"Charlotte, what do you think?"
"I'm not sure. I'd have to spend more time with them both," said Charlotte diplomatically. I'd say William likes you. Give him a chance, and don't be so silly to believe someone you just met. From what I've seen of William, he's very correct. She did not want to start any discussion, so she said nothing to let Elizabeth cool off before they were due to put in an appearance at William's party.
Part 16
"Charlotte, shall we go?" Elizabeth asked. "The sooner we get this over with, the better."
"His aunt is still there."
Elizabeth shrugged. "We don't have to speak to her, do we?"
They walked down to William's room. The door was open, and Elizabeth paused in the door opening. "Hello." She looked around the room. There were five people present. His aunt and his cousin, Charles and Caroline, and William himself.
"Do come in," William said.
They stepped into the room, and shook introduced themselves to his aunt Catherine who was sitting regally on the couch, with her mousy daughter, whose murmured name sounded like Anne, beside her.
There was only one chair left, and Elizabeth let Charlotte take it while she sat down on the floor, not really feeling like sitting on the bed next to Caroline. It wasn't very long before she discovered that the conversation was being dominated entirely by aunt Catherine, with occasional polite replies by William.
Caroline gnawed on a carrot, and Charles had a bowl of chips on his knees. Originally it had been standing on the small table in the middle of the room with the other snacks, but since Charles was the only one eating from it, he had put it on his knees.
"Get those girls a glass of fanta, William," his aunt ordered. "And Anne would like some cassis."
"Actually, I would like something without bubbles if you have that," Elizabeth asked William.
"Yes, I have orange juice?"
"That will be okay."
"You too?" he asked Charlotte, who nodded.
"It's much better to eat an orange than to drink orange juice because there are more vitamins in an orange," declared aunt Catherine, who did not like to be excluded of the conversation.
William was busy pouring the drinks when the intercom started to buzz. "William!" his aunt said in a shrill voice. "That must be for you. How many people have you invited? Are you sure they all fit in here?"
"I'll get it," Elizabeth offered. She got up and went into the corridor, glad to be away even if it was only for a minute. She took up the intercom receiver and yelled hello into it. It wasn't always working properly, so if you didn't yell, there was a chance that the person downstairs wouldn't hear you.
"...William," said the person downstairs indistinctly.
Elizabeth pressed the button that opened the door downstairs, hung up, and opened the front door. It could be a while before people arrived at the fifth floor, especially if they had to wait for the lift. Not many took the stairs.
She lingered a bit in the corridor and was just about to re-enter William's room when someone came in through the front door. He was tall, fairhaired and a few years older than she was, she guessed. "Did you just ring downstairs?" If he did, he was awfully quick.
"Yes," the visitor grinned. "I took the stairs."
Three steps at a time, I bet, Elizabeth thought, looking at his long legs. "I'm impressed."
He laughed, and he seemed very pleasant. "I have come for William, I'm his cousin."
"Richard, stop chatting up William's roommates and come in," aunt Catherine's shrill voice rang out.
"Oh dear," Richard said under his breath. "The General's here."
William came out of his room, "Colonel!"
"Darcy!" Richard replied, while they shook hands in some intricate way. They were obviously very good friends.
"Colonel?" Elizabeth asked with her eyebrows raised slightly.
He gave her a mock salute. "That's the highest rank Darcy thinks I will attain in my military career. My nickname."