Pride and Prejudice and Teenagers.

Chapter 8.

Elizabeth.

I snap out of my angry thoughts about William Darcy when I realise I'm still holding onto George's sleeve.

"You okay there?" He asks teasingly. I blush and apologize.

"Sorry. We just met. I don't know why I'm already dragging you across carparks." I laugh. He continues to walk beside me. I notice a lot of other girls walking home keep turning to look at him and I'm surprised that he hasn't left to walk with them instead of me. He asks me where I'm walking to, and when I reply he mentions that I live along his route.

"So how are you finding the school?" I ask him.

"It's alright. Everyone's been really inviting." I'm not surprised. I think to myself. He's both attractive and extremely affable.

"That's good." I reply. I want to ask him why Will was giving him a death-stare but I don't want to come off as interfering. We talk for a little while more until I can't hold in my curiosity any longer. Luckily, George brings up the topic of Will himself.

"So." He begins. "Why didn't you accept Will's offer for a lift? He seemed pretty insistent on driving you home."

"Why would I accept his offer?" I ask incredulously. "Let's just say I'm not Will Darcy's biggest fan. Besides, he can't drive anyway, I don't even know what he meant by that-"

"He can drive. But we'll talk about that later. I want to know why you don't like him - most girls swoon over him. It'd be biased for me to tell you my opinion of him before I hear yours."

I'm caught off guard by George's words. I wonder how Will can drive when we're only sixteen, but I'm more interested in knowing why his opinion is biased first. "What's there to like about him? I spent the weekend with him at Charlie's house (long story) and I've never met a guy more rude, conceited and argumentative before." I admit quickly.

"God, you're honestly the first girl I've met who can see people for what they really are." He replies, looking at me with admiration in his eyes. I blush. "I can't believe he moved to the same school as me." He says shortly after, frowning.

"Don't let him ruin it for you. You were here first anyway." I say.

"I won't, trust me. He's ruined too many good things for me already. It always shocks me how different he is to how his father was."
"You know his father?" I ask.

"Knew." He says, looking down at the pavement. "He died just under a year ago."

"Oh god." I say, suddenly feeling guilty for the way I behave around Will.

"He was my step-father. In fact, he was the closest thing to a real dad I ever had." George says quickly. My pity for Will soon dissolves as I look at George's sad eyes. Losing one father must be hard, but for George to have been without one, gained one and then lost him again must be terrible. "He was the one who got me into that grammar school, he wanted me to go on to do great things. If he was still around my life would still be perfect, not crumbled and broken like it is now - thanks to his son."

"What?" I ask, horrified.

"As soon as his father died, Will kicked me and my mother out. He took away my inheritance and then eventually cancelled my payments to the grammar school. That's how I ended up here. I should be in the year above, but I missed the exams last year because I had no school to attend." George admits.

"What the hell!" I exclaim. "Why doesn't anyone know about this! People should know what a monster he is!"

"I agree. But I can't expose him. I couldn't do that to his Father. Until I get over his Father's death, Will will always have his life the way it's always been - perfect." He sighs and kicks a rock. I stare up at his face, finding him a thousand times more attractive now I know he's so loyal to his step-father.

After a short time of walking in silence, I ask: "But why would he do that to you? What made him so cruel?"

"I don't know. I think he was always jealous that his father liked me. He couldn't come to terms with the idea that he might have to share his parent - probably a product of having everything handed to him since he was a child."

"I feel sick." I say. I can't believe anyone could be so hateful because of jealousy. George seems to be so kind and caring. It makes me feel sick to think Will get's to live his high life while George has suffered through so much. I knew there was something about Will that was off, and now I know what it is I cannot even bare to speak to him again. "He actually mentioned at Charlie's the other day that he's very unforgiving and has a bad temper. I get what he means now."

"Don't remind me of his temper." George mutters. I raise an eyebrow at him and he leans into me, showing me his cheek-bone. We stop walking and I immediately spot a scar on it and I gasp.

"He didn't do that." I state. "He couldn't have!"

"Oh he did. And he caught me off guard, so I didn't even have a chance to defend myself. He's a very volatile character sometimes." As he speaks, I gently reach up and run my finger tip over the imperfect mark on his almost-perfect face. I snap my hand away from his face when his eyes meet mine and we continue walking home.

"What is his sister like?" I ask when we've walked in silence for a long time.

"Oh, she used to be really sweet and kind, but she grew up to be just like Will. We used to be really close and I really liked her, but she's nothing to me now. She must be 15 now. Unfortunately, she's blessed with being beautiful like her brother, which means people can't see her faults."

"I don't get how he's such good friends with Charlie. Charlie's so sweet and kind - he can't know of Will's faults." I say after another pause.

"I don't know Charlie. Will must have manipulated him." George says. "He's good at that. Do you know Cathy Bourgh?"

"No. I know of her, most people do. She's practically famous around here right?"

"Yeah. She's also another person who Will got to. She's actually his ex-girlfriend." Of course his ex is a model. I think to myself.

"Colin was talking about her earlier. He thinks she's great but to me she sounded kind of conceited and mean." I admit.

"I didn't talk to her much at our old school, but she always did come off as quite bitchy and full-of-herself. Probably the consequences of spending too much time with Will."

We stop outside my house quite suddenly when I realise where I am.

"I really liked talking with you, Lizzy. Can I call you Lizzy?"

"Of course." I say, smiling up at him.

"Anyway, we should walk together more often. I'll see you around. Maybe I'll even see you at the dance." He winks at me and turns to continue his walk with Denny. I enter my house with nothing but George and his words about Will floating around my head.

The next day, I tell Jane all about my walk with George. She insists that George and Darcy have been deceived. But that's Jane for you - she can easily see two sides to every story.

"There's no way he could do something so despicable to his step-brother for no reason. No one could do that." She insists.

"I don't know Jane. You didn't see the truth in George's eyes-"

"Oo, staring into his eyes were we?" She teases. I blush but I don't bother denying that I'm not at least a tiny bit into him already. "But seriously - I don't know what to think about it all."

"Speak for yourself, I certainly know what I think." I state. Jane sighs. We drop the topic and fall into conversation about the dance on Friday and Charlie's after-party. I smile as Jane admits her excitement about going to the dance and seeing Charlie there. My mind drifts to the idea of dancing with George....