Chapter 1: The Most Awkward Phone Message Ever
Lizzie Bennet
That was the most awkward phone message ever. How was it that every time my world and Darcy's collided it became 'the most awkward (fill in the blank) ever'? That couldn't exactly be a good sign could it? I sighed as I re-watched the video Charlotte had posted. My mind spun, going over every single interaction between the two of us. It had been days. And still nothing. Radio silence in fact. But I couldn't focus on that right now. It was my birthday tomorrow and that meant I needed to start planning an elaborate gift to send my number one bestie.
"Hey Lizzie?" Lydia's voice peeped in through the doorway.
"Hey Lydia! What's up?" I responded, happy to see my baby sister out of bed, showered, dressed and looking like her old self.
"Mary's guitar gig-thing is tonight and mom and dad and I are about to go. Are you sure you can't come?"
"Yeah. I've got to stay home and work on my final independent study. But tell Mary good luck for me!" Lydia nodded and grinned before running after mom and dad and jumping in the car. I smiled as she left and typed a quick message to Charlotte before hitting send. I got up and made for the kitchen, ready to get a quick snack before starting to write my proposal when I heard three sharp raps at the door. I smiled. What had Lydia forgotten now? I swung open the door ready to ask her just that but I was not prepared for who stood before me, leaning casually against the doorway. "George." I sputtered awkwardly. My mind ran around blankly, searching for something. An emotion to feel, a word to speak, or the courage to slap him the way he deserved.
"Hey Peach. What's new?" Without waiting for an answer he strode past me and practically kicked the door closed behind him.
"George." I shook my head, clearing it and finding my voice. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Looking for you, Peach."
"Stop calling me that. You need to go. You are not," I paused, glaring at him to emphasize my point. "Welcome here. Get out."
"Nah, Peach. I don't think so. You and I need to have a little talk."
"What? George, no. You need to leave."
"How could you do this to me, Lizzie?" I sputtered indignantly.
"Excuse me? How could I do what to you? And how dare you come here after what you did to my baby sister!"
"I didn't do anything to her! The tape was stolen from me. I had nothing to do with that incident. And as for the other bit-Lizzie!" he grabbed my arm and looked at me intently. "I am telling you. I didn't do anything to Lydia. Someone took the tape from me. And yet you went on and on about me on your stupid web show. Do you know how many people see that? It's following me around everywhere! I can't get a job and no matter where I go, someone is pointing or yelling at me."
"If you honestly think I am going to believe you, you are seriously insane!" his hand gripped my arm even tighter and he pulled me closer to him, anger filling his eyes.
"Lizzie, I love you! It's always been you! I went to Lydia when you rejected me because she reminded me of you! I need you and pretty soon you are going to realize that you were wrong about me and that you need me too!" I could feel my eyebrows raise so high that they nearly lifted off my face.
"You are insane!" I yelled reaching for my phone in my back pocket. "You…" I was cut off when a white cloth appeared in my field of vision and his arms wrapped around me. I struggled against him but my vision was going blurry and my legs were weakening beneath me. My eyes wandered shut and I saw a face before me. I drifted into sleep with a smile.
That was the most awkward phone message ever. How was it that every time my world and Darcy's collided it became 'the most awkward (fill in the blank) ever'? That couldn't exactly be a good sign could it? I sighed as I re-watched the video Charlotte had posted. My mind spun, going over every single interaction between the two of us. It had been days. And still nothing. Radio silence in fact. But I couldn't focus on that right now. It was my birthday tomorrow and that meant I needed to start planning an elaborate gift to send my number one bestie.
"Hey Lizzie?" Lydia's voice peeped in through the doorway.
"Hey Lydia! What's up?" I responded, happy to see my baby sister out of bed, showered, dressed and looking like her old self.
"Mary's guitar gig-thing is tonight and mom and dad and I are about to go. Are you sure you can't come?"
"Yeah. I've got to stay home and work on my final independent study. But tell Mary good luck for me!" Lydia nodded and grinned before running after mom and dad and jumping in the car. I smiled as she left and typed a quick message to Charlotte before hitting send. I got up and made for the kitchen, ready to get a quick snack before starting to write my proposal when I heard three sharp raps at the door. I smiled. What had Lydia forgotten now? I swung open the door ready to ask her just that but I was not prepared for who stood before me, leaning casually against the doorway. "George." I sputtered awkwardly. My mind ran around blankly, searching for something. An emotion to feel, a word to speak, or the courage to slap him the way he deserved.
"Hey Peach. What's new?" Without waiting for an answer he strode past me and practically kicked the door closed behind him.
"George." I shook my head, clearing it and finding my voice. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Looking for you, Peach."
"Stop calling me that. You need to go. You are not," I paused, glaring at him to emphasize my point. "Welcome here. Get out."
"Nah, Peach. I don't think so. You and I need to have a little talk."
"What? George, no. You need to leave."
"How could you do this to me, Lizzie?" I sputtered indignantly.
"Excuse me? How could I do what to you? And how dare you come here after what you did to my baby sister!"
"I didn't do anything to her! The tape was stolen from me. I had nothing to do with that incident. And as for the other bit-Lizzie!" he grabbed my arm and looked at me intently. "I am telling you. I didn't do anything to Lydia. Someone took the tape from me. And yet you went on and on about me on your stupid web show. Do you know how many people see that? It's following me around everywhere! I can't get a job and no matter where I go, someone is pointing or yelling at me."
"If you honestly think I am going to believe you, you are seriously insane!" his hand gripped my arm even tighter and he pulled me closer to him, anger filling his eyes.
"Lizzie, I love you! It's always been you! I went to Lydia when you rejected me because she reminded me of you! I need you and pretty soon you are going to realize that you were wrong about me and that you need me too!" I could feel my eyebrows raise so high that they nearly lifted off my face.
"You are insane!" I yelled reaching for my phone in my back pocket. "You…" I was cut off when a white cloth appeared in my field of vision and his arms wrapped around me. I struggled against him but my vision was going blurry and my legs were weakening beneath me. My eyes wandered shut and I saw a face before me. I drifted into sleep with a smile.
Chapter 2: Missing
Lydia Bennet
"Lizzie?" I called for the millionth time desperately. Her phone and keys lay abandoned on the floor and there was clear signs of struggle. The police were refusing to do anything-saying that we had to wait 24 hours to file a report. This was complete bullshit. My mother got on the phone then and let me tell you, she may be every single one of those things Lizzie portrayed her as in her videos, but that woman could guilt a starving man out of a steak dinner and she got the police man to promise he would come by as soon as he could. However, as soon as he could, still wasn't for a few more hours, apparently. My older sister was missing and no one was doing a thing about it. I tried Jane's phone again but once again I got sent to voicemail. "Come ON Jane! Answer your freaking phone!" There was a pounding on the door and I ran to get it. I swung it open and saw…Charlotte. Okay, not what I was expecting.
"Charlotte. What are you doing here?" she held up a bag and grinned.
"Movies and food. Where's Lizzie? We need to start celebrating our birthday." Her grin slowly disappeared as she saw the look on my face. "Lydia? What's wrong?"
"Lizzie's missing. We think she was kidnapped but the police say that they are really busy and they won't be here for a few hours yet." She rushed into the house and threw her arms around me.
"Oh my God! When was this?"
"We just got home an hour ago and she was gone."
"Okay, are we sure she didn't just run out to get something, or visit Jane or go for a run or something?"
"Her phone and keys are still here, there was a broken vase in the front hall and none of her shoes are missing, so unless she's out on barefoot errands I don't see how."
"You know all of her shoes?" Charlotte looked vaguely impressed.
"Please, I know both my sister's wardrobes," I brushed past this. "Do you know who would do this?" Charlotte shook her head as she thought about it and I reached forward and clung to her as a few tears dripped down my cheek. The telephone rang and I jumped to it.
"Lizzie?" I practically shrieked into the phone.
"No, Lydia it's Jane, you've called like 14 times in the past hour. Are you okay? Is it George?"
"No, no, it's," I broke off. "Oh my God. Of course. George."
"Lydia? What about George? What's going on?"
"Charlotte!" I screamed over my shoulder. She came running to my side as Jane quietly complained about me screaming in her ear. "Charlotte, George Wickham. I bet you anything it was George Wickham!"
"What was George Wickham?" Jane's voice finally matched mine in the worry department. "Lydia, what's going on?"
"Jane its Lizzie. She's missing."
"What? What do you mean she's missing?" A sharp knocking on the door startled me. I motioned for Charlotte to get it and continued to fill Jane in as she ran for the door.
"As in mom and dad and I got home from Mary's concert and her phone and keys were lying on the floor next to a broken vase and none of her shoes are missing and the door was open a bit and Jane, I bet you anything it was George Wickham." Two police officers filed through the door and my mother and father rushed to tell them everything. "Jane, the police are here and I need to go talk to them. I'm sure you're busy but Jane if you can get home get here. I don't know what to do."
"Okay Lydia. I have to get this dress to my boss and then I will get the first flight home, okay? I will be there soon. I'm sure she will come home soon! I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding."
"Jane, hurry." I hung up the phone and ran to my parent's side my hands shaking. If I was right and this was George I would never forgive myself.
"Lizzie?" I called for the millionth time desperately. Her phone and keys lay abandoned on the floor and there was clear signs of struggle. The police were refusing to do anything-saying that we had to wait 24 hours to file a report. This was complete bullshit. My mother got on the phone then and let me tell you, she may be every single one of those things Lizzie portrayed her as in her videos, but that woman could guilt a starving man out of a steak dinner and she got the police man to promise he would come by as soon as he could. However, as soon as he could, still wasn't for a few more hours, apparently. My older sister was missing and no one was doing a thing about it. I tried Jane's phone again but once again I got sent to voicemail. "Come ON Jane! Answer your freaking phone!" There was a pounding on the door and I ran to get it. I swung it open and saw…Charlotte. Okay, not what I was expecting.
"Charlotte. What are you doing here?" she held up a bag and grinned.
"Movies and food. Where's Lizzie? We need to start celebrating our birthday." Her grin slowly disappeared as she saw the look on my face. "Lydia? What's wrong?"
"Lizzie's missing. We think she was kidnapped but the police say that they are really busy and they won't be here for a few hours yet." She rushed into the house and threw her arms around me.
"Oh my God! When was this?"
"We just got home an hour ago and she was gone."
"Okay, are we sure she didn't just run out to get something, or visit Jane or go for a run or something?"
"Her phone and keys are still here, there was a broken vase in the front hall and none of her shoes are missing, so unless she's out on barefoot errands I don't see how."
"You know all of her shoes?" Charlotte looked vaguely impressed.
"Please, I know both my sister's wardrobes," I brushed past this. "Do you know who would do this?" Charlotte shook her head as she thought about it and I reached forward and clung to her as a few tears dripped down my cheek. The telephone rang and I jumped to it.
"Lizzie?" I practically shrieked into the phone.
"No, Lydia it's Jane, you've called like 14 times in the past hour. Are you okay? Is it George?"
"No, no, it's," I broke off. "Oh my God. Of course. George."
"Lydia? What about George? What's going on?"
"Charlotte!" I screamed over my shoulder. She came running to my side as Jane quietly complained about me screaming in her ear. "Charlotte, George Wickham. I bet you anything it was George Wickham!"
"What was George Wickham?" Jane's voice finally matched mine in the worry department. "Lydia, what's going on?"
"Jane its Lizzie. She's missing."
"What? What do you mean she's missing?" A sharp knocking on the door startled me. I motioned for Charlotte to get it and continued to fill Jane in as she ran for the door.
"As in mom and dad and I got home from Mary's concert and her phone and keys were lying on the floor next to a broken vase and none of her shoes are missing and the door was open a bit and Jane, I bet you anything it was George Wickham." Two police officers filed through the door and my mother and father rushed to tell them everything. "Jane, the police are here and I need to go talk to them. I'm sure you're busy but Jane if you can get home get here. I don't know what to do."
"Okay Lydia. I have to get this dress to my boss and then I will get the first flight home, okay? I will be there soon. I'm sure she will come home soon! I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding."
"Jane, hurry." I hung up the phone and ran to my parent's side my hands shaking. If I was right and this was George I would never forgive myself.
Chapter 3: Just a Stupid Keychain
Jane Bennet
"Oh my God." I said out loud to the empty room. I hurriedly finished stitching the hem on the dress I had designed for the cover actress on next week's magazine and shoved the dress into a garment bag. With tears streaming down my cheeks I threw a bunch of clothes in my suitcase. I heard a key turning in the lock and turned my head to see Bing walk through the door.
"Hey Jane I thought you'd be sewing still!" He began with the sweetest smile I'd ever seen. That smile faded quickly as he took in my tears. "Jane?" He ran to my side and pulled me into his arms. "Jane what's wrong?"
"Lizzie. Lizzie's gone missing and Lydia says there are signs of a struggle. She thinks George Wickham is behind it." Saying it out loud made it so much more real. I burst into tears. I never worried about Lizzie. I worried about Lydia all the time but never Lizzie. Apparently I had made a serious mistake with that. Bing held me in his arms until my tears slowed and then he immediately went online and bought me the next ticket home. I took the dress to my boss and explained the situation. Unlike what had happened at my last job when a family emergency had occurred, my boss was extremely understanding. She gave me time off until the situation resolved itself and threw in a hug to boot. She offered to reimburse me for my plane ticket home and when I refused she insisted. I hurried back to Bing and my apartment and Bing hopped into the passenger seat of my car holding my suitcase. I drove to the airport and pulled into the drop off lane. We both jumped out and he handed me my suitcase and kissed me goodbye before taking the keys from me.
"Hey, Jane. It's gonna be okay. They are going to find her." I nodded despite my disbelief in his words. He hugged me tightly one final time and I ran to security pulling out my phone to let Lydia know my travel plans. I didn't know what I could do but I had to be there, I had to do something.
Bing Lee
Holy Shit. Watching Jane crying was the most heartbreaking thing I had ever seen. I absolutely hated when she was hurt and this? This was the epitome of hurt. If George Wickham was really behind this I was going to murder him. I was going to rip his limbs from his body. And don't even get me started on what Darcy was going to do to him when he found him. Oh my God Darcy. The Bennet's probably wouldn't have thought to call him but I knew that he was still in love with Lizzie. The minute I parked Jane's car in the garage I grabbed my phone and hit Darcy's number on my speed dial. He answered after two rings.
"Bing, I'm about to step into a meeting, can I call you back in an hour?" I could hear a large amount of chatter in the background and his voice was breaking up a bit.
"Darcy it's an emergency." I spoke quickly.
"Hold on." The chatter became more distant and I heard a door slam after which there was silence. "What's going on?"
"Lydia just called Jane, and I dropped her off at the airport. Darce, Lizzie's gone missing." There was complete silence. After a few minutes he responded, his voice sounding crisp and clipped.
"What do you mean, like she's run away?"
"No man, like she's been kidnapped." I could hear him inhaling sharply. "Look man, Lydia thinks George Wickham might have had something to do with it." There was a long pause and finally I heard him swear violently.
"Bing I'm going to have to call you back."
"Darcy, the police are at the house right now I'm sure they will find her."
"Call Fitz. Let him know what's happening. Don't tell Gigi. I will call her later. I'll call you back later."
"Darcy what are you…" Click. He hung up on me. Shit. I punched in Fitz's number and waited as the phone rang.
"Bing, my man! What's up?"
"Have you heard from the Bennet's today?"
"Nah, man. I spoke with Lizzie a week ago but nothing since then, why?" I sighed and took a deep breath. Here we go again.
Lydia Bennet
The police were about to leave when I tripped. I realize what that sounds like but that trip was extremely important. While I was getting up off the ground I happened to see something under the front hall table. "Wait!" I yelled after them as they walked out the door. I grabbed the offending object in my hand and chased after the men. "Wait! I found something!" they turned and I thrust the object into the tall one's hand. "This pendant. It belongs to George Wickham. It's from his keychain. He was here." The man squinted at the object and sighed, placing it back in my hand.
"Look sweetie, we can't even verify that this belongs to Mr. George Wickham. And even if it is his we can't verify that he left it here on this particular trip here. If could have been here for months. We'll look into it but we can't be sure that he's done anything." And with that they turned around and walked back to their car. Bullshit. This was utter bullshit. Jane would be here any minute now and I couldn't wait. Jane always fixed things. I knew she could make this go away. She had to bring Lizzie back. This was George. This was my fault. What if he hurt her? What if he did-anything to her? It was my fault. I looked at that pendant in my hand and my knees went weak. I sunk to the ground and cried. The little heart poked my fingers. The little heart that I had bought for him.
"Oh my God." I said out loud to the empty room. I hurriedly finished stitching the hem on the dress I had designed for the cover actress on next week's magazine and shoved the dress into a garment bag. With tears streaming down my cheeks I threw a bunch of clothes in my suitcase. I heard a key turning in the lock and turned my head to see Bing walk through the door.
"Hey Jane I thought you'd be sewing still!" He began with the sweetest smile I'd ever seen. That smile faded quickly as he took in my tears. "Jane?" He ran to my side and pulled me into his arms. "Jane what's wrong?"
"Lizzie. Lizzie's gone missing and Lydia says there are signs of a struggle. She thinks George Wickham is behind it." Saying it out loud made it so much more real. I burst into tears. I never worried about Lizzie. I worried about Lydia all the time but never Lizzie. Apparently I had made a serious mistake with that. Bing held me in his arms until my tears slowed and then he immediately went online and bought me the next ticket home. I took the dress to my boss and explained the situation. Unlike what had happened at my last job when a family emergency had occurred, my boss was extremely understanding. She gave me time off until the situation resolved itself and threw in a hug to boot. She offered to reimburse me for my plane ticket home and when I refused she insisted. I hurried back to Bing and my apartment and Bing hopped into the passenger seat of my car holding my suitcase. I drove to the airport and pulled into the drop off lane. We both jumped out and he handed me my suitcase and kissed me goodbye before taking the keys from me.
"Hey, Jane. It's gonna be okay. They are going to find her." I nodded despite my disbelief in his words. He hugged me tightly one final time and I ran to security pulling out my phone to let Lydia know my travel plans. I didn't know what I could do but I had to be there, I had to do something.
Bing Lee
Holy Shit. Watching Jane crying was the most heartbreaking thing I had ever seen. I absolutely hated when she was hurt and this? This was the epitome of hurt. If George Wickham was really behind this I was going to murder him. I was going to rip his limbs from his body. And don't even get me started on what Darcy was going to do to him when he found him. Oh my God Darcy. The Bennet's probably wouldn't have thought to call him but I knew that he was still in love with Lizzie. The minute I parked Jane's car in the garage I grabbed my phone and hit Darcy's number on my speed dial. He answered after two rings.
"Bing, I'm about to step into a meeting, can I call you back in an hour?" I could hear a large amount of chatter in the background and his voice was breaking up a bit.
"Darcy it's an emergency." I spoke quickly.
"Hold on." The chatter became more distant and I heard a door slam after which there was silence. "What's going on?"
"Lydia just called Jane, and I dropped her off at the airport. Darce, Lizzie's gone missing." There was complete silence. After a few minutes he responded, his voice sounding crisp and clipped.
"What do you mean, like she's run away?"
"No man, like she's been kidnapped." I could hear him inhaling sharply. "Look man, Lydia thinks George Wickham might have had something to do with it." There was a long pause and finally I heard him swear violently.
"Bing I'm going to have to call you back."
"Darcy, the police are at the house right now I'm sure they will find her."
"Call Fitz. Let him know what's happening. Don't tell Gigi. I will call her later. I'll call you back later."
"Darcy what are you…" Click. He hung up on me. Shit. I punched in Fitz's number and waited as the phone rang.
"Bing, my man! What's up?"
"Have you heard from the Bennet's today?"
"Nah, man. I spoke with Lizzie a week ago but nothing since then, why?" I sighed and took a deep breath. Here we go again.
Lydia Bennet
The police were about to leave when I tripped. I realize what that sounds like but that trip was extremely important. While I was getting up off the ground I happened to see something under the front hall table. "Wait!" I yelled after them as they walked out the door. I grabbed the offending object in my hand and chased after the men. "Wait! I found something!" they turned and I thrust the object into the tall one's hand. "This pendant. It belongs to George Wickham. It's from his keychain. He was here." The man squinted at the object and sighed, placing it back in my hand.
"Look sweetie, we can't even verify that this belongs to Mr. George Wickham. And even if it is his we can't verify that he left it here on this particular trip here. If could have been here for months. We'll look into it but we can't be sure that he's done anything." And with that they turned around and walked back to their car. Bullshit. This was utter bullshit. Jane would be here any minute now and I couldn't wait. Jane always fixed things. I knew she could make this go away. She had to bring Lizzie back. This was George. This was my fault. What if he hurt her? What if he did-anything to her? It was my fault. I looked at that pendant in my hand and my knees went weak. I sunk to the ground and cried. The little heart poked my fingers. The little heart that I had bought for him.
Chapter 4: A Peach and a Twisted Mind
Lizzie Bennet
My eyes opened and I took in my surroundings. I was curled up in a ball and I could feel something scratchy binding my wrists and ankles. My lips were dry and my head was pounding. I was in a small room lying on a hard bed with thin sheets. There was a wooden door in the corner but I had no way of getting to it with my hands and feet tied up like this. "Help!" I called as loudly as I could. Sadly, due to the fact that my mouth was parched and dry and my throat was in severe pain that wasn't very loud. A few calls later, however, and the wooden door opened.
"Hey, Peach, you're up. How nice!"
"George, why am I tied up?" I hissed angrily.
"Because, Peach, you tend to be stubborn and I don't need you running off before you realize that we are meant to be together."
"Yes, because you holding me prisoner is going to make me fall in love with you!" I growled sarcastically. "That makes a ton of sense."
"Well if you don't, then I'm just going to keep you here. If I can't have you, no one can." He smiled angrily. "Peach, I am protecting you from him! He would destroy all the things I love about you. You need protection and soon enough you are going to realize that I am helping you and everything will be the way it was." And with that he turned on his heel and slammed the door behind him. My head was pounding, my throat was burning and my skin was on fire. I had been kidnapped by George Wickham. How could I ever have trusted him?
William Darcy
My car was speeding down the highway going at least 20 miles an hour over the speed limit. I would be going faster but my hands were shaking in anger and I didn't want to risk hurting anyone else. This was not happening. This was not happening. I had been about to wrap up my meetings in Chicago and then I was planning on going to see Lizzie. That phone call, the video that showed it in context a few days later, something had changed. I needed to know why. I needed to know why she called, I needed to know how she felt and I needed to see her. Face to face. I needed to see her and know what she was really thinking and feeling behind her words. To know if she felt as I did. It had seemed so important at the time but now? I didn't care if she hated me more than Satan himself as long as that bastard didn't hurt her. This was about me. I was certain. If he hurt her I would kill him. Rip him apart with my bare hands. I had never been this angry. I furious when he broke my baby sister's heart and livid when I heard of his acts against Lydia Bennet but this? This went beyond breaking someone's heart or even putting private moments in someone's life on display for the world. This man had just kidnapped someone and knowing him was about to hurt her to get to me. Because I still loved her, and it was obvious to everyone except Lizzie. I loved her and I would do anything to keep her safe. If George Wickham thought he had seen the extent of how far I would go to keep my friends and family safe, he was in for the shock of his life.
My phone rang and I let it go to voicemail but moments later it rang again. I ignored it again but on the third call I glanced down at the caller ID. Gigi. Bing had called her. I sighed before instructing my car to answer the call for me. "Gigi, I'm so sorry you had to hear about this from someone else. I swear I was going to call you and tell you but I needed to get all the answers first. I swear I'm doing everything humanly possible. I'm not going to let him hurt her."
"Whoa, slow down big brother. I was just calling to tell you about some scandalizing gossip. What the hell are you talking about?" Shit.
"Okay, don't freak out."
"Will, what's going on?" she was freaking out. As I was.
"Gigi, Lizzie Bennet is missing." Silence. "Gigi she was kidnapped. Lydia is certain it was George Wickham." More silence. "I'm driving out there now and I'm going to fix this."
"I don't know what to say. Good Lord Will, what can I do?"
"Gigi I am going to fix this and…"
"Don't give me any of that bullshit William Darcy! I helped last time and I am not about to sit by idly this time. I am stronger and this is bigger than last time. He kidnapped her! There has to be something I can do."
"I don't know Gigi. I'm still getting all the information. If you can think of where he might take her let me know. Look I'm pulling into their neighborhood now. I will call you back when I get more information." I hung up and practically slid into a parking spot on the street and jumped out of the car, practically sprinting towards the Bennet house. I pounded on the door and Jane answered in a moment. She had been crying and I knew she could tell that I was just as distraught. Without saying a word we both reached forward and wrapped each other in a hug. "Bing called." I explained simply.
"I figured he would. Darcy I don't know what to do." Her lower lip was quivering and I was a pleasantly surprised to find that she had been opening up to me more and more in the past few weeks.
"We are going to fix this Jane. We are going to get her back. And she's strong. She's a tough one and she's going to get through this."
"Darcy what if he's hurt her?" Jane's voice was quivering and I pulled her back in tightly.
"Hey, Jane. It's going to be okay." I promised, hoping I could come through for her.
"Mr. Darcy!" Mrs. Bennet turned the corner and saw me.
"Mrs. Bennet I heard what had happened through Bing and I came as quickly as I could. What have the police found?"
"Oh Mr. Daaarcy! The police have been absolutely no help at aaaall. My poooor Lizzie has been taaaaken from us. She is out on her own and is probably scaaaared and huuuurt. Who could have poooossibly done this to my baby giiiirl?"
"Mrs. Bennet you have my word that I will be doing everything in power to get Lizzie back safe and sound." Everything in my power and more.
My eyes opened and I took in my surroundings. I was curled up in a ball and I could feel something scratchy binding my wrists and ankles. My lips were dry and my head was pounding. I was in a small room lying on a hard bed with thin sheets. There was a wooden door in the corner but I had no way of getting to it with my hands and feet tied up like this. "Help!" I called as loudly as I could. Sadly, due to the fact that my mouth was parched and dry and my throat was in severe pain that wasn't very loud. A few calls later, however, and the wooden door opened.
"Hey, Peach, you're up. How nice!"
"George, why am I tied up?" I hissed angrily.
"Because, Peach, you tend to be stubborn and I don't need you running off before you realize that we are meant to be together."
"Yes, because you holding me prisoner is going to make me fall in love with you!" I growled sarcastically. "That makes a ton of sense."
"Well if you don't, then I'm just going to keep you here. If I can't have you, no one can." He smiled angrily. "Peach, I am protecting you from him! He would destroy all the things I love about you. You need protection and soon enough you are going to realize that I am helping you and everything will be the way it was." And with that he turned on his heel and slammed the door behind him. My head was pounding, my throat was burning and my skin was on fire. I had been kidnapped by George Wickham. How could I ever have trusted him?
William Darcy
My car was speeding down the highway going at least 20 miles an hour over the speed limit. I would be going faster but my hands were shaking in anger and I didn't want to risk hurting anyone else. This was not happening. This was not happening. I had been about to wrap up my meetings in Chicago and then I was planning on going to see Lizzie. That phone call, the video that showed it in context a few days later, something had changed. I needed to know why. I needed to know why she called, I needed to know how she felt and I needed to see her. Face to face. I needed to see her and know what she was really thinking and feeling behind her words. To know if she felt as I did. It had seemed so important at the time but now? I didn't care if she hated me more than Satan himself as long as that bastard didn't hurt her. This was about me. I was certain. If he hurt her I would kill him. Rip him apart with my bare hands. I had never been this angry. I furious when he broke my baby sister's heart and livid when I heard of his acts against Lydia Bennet but this? This went beyond breaking someone's heart or even putting private moments in someone's life on display for the world. This man had just kidnapped someone and knowing him was about to hurt her to get to me. Because I still loved her, and it was obvious to everyone except Lizzie. I loved her and I would do anything to keep her safe. If George Wickham thought he had seen the extent of how far I would go to keep my friends and family safe, he was in for the shock of his life.
My phone rang and I let it go to voicemail but moments later it rang again. I ignored it again but on the third call I glanced down at the caller ID. Gigi. Bing had called her. I sighed before instructing my car to answer the call for me. "Gigi, I'm so sorry you had to hear about this from someone else. I swear I was going to call you and tell you but I needed to get all the answers first. I swear I'm doing everything humanly possible. I'm not going to let him hurt her."
"Whoa, slow down big brother. I was just calling to tell you about some scandalizing gossip. What the hell are you talking about?" Shit.
"Okay, don't freak out."
"Will, what's going on?" she was freaking out. As I was.
"Gigi, Lizzie Bennet is missing." Silence. "Gigi she was kidnapped. Lydia is certain it was George Wickham." More silence. "I'm driving out there now and I'm going to fix this."
"I don't know what to say. Good Lord Will, what can I do?"
"Gigi I am going to fix this and…"
"Don't give me any of that bullshit William Darcy! I helped last time and I am not about to sit by idly this time. I am stronger and this is bigger than last time. He kidnapped her! There has to be something I can do."
"I don't know Gigi. I'm still getting all the information. If you can think of where he might take her let me know. Look I'm pulling into their neighborhood now. I will call you back when I get more information." I hung up and practically slid into a parking spot on the street and jumped out of the car, practically sprinting towards the Bennet house. I pounded on the door and Jane answered in a moment. She had been crying and I knew she could tell that I was just as distraught. Without saying a word we both reached forward and wrapped each other in a hug. "Bing called." I explained simply.
"I figured he would. Darcy I don't know what to do." Her lower lip was quivering and I was a pleasantly surprised to find that she had been opening up to me more and more in the past few weeks.
"We are going to fix this Jane. We are going to get her back. And she's strong. She's a tough one and she's going to get through this."
"Darcy what if he's hurt her?" Jane's voice was quivering and I pulled her back in tightly.
"Hey, Jane. It's going to be okay." I promised, hoping I could come through for her.
"Mr. Darcy!" Mrs. Bennet turned the corner and saw me.
"Mrs. Bennet I heard what had happened through Bing and I came as quickly as I could. What have the police found?"
"Oh Mr. Daaarcy! The police have been absolutely no help at aaaall. My poooor Lizzie has been taaaaken from us. She is out on her own and is probably scaaaared and huuuurt. Who could have poooossibly done this to my baby giiiirl?"
"Mrs. Bennet you have my word that I will be doing everything in power to get Lizzie back safe and sound." Everything in my power and more.
Chapter 5: The Rescue Party
Gigi Darcy
That bastard. How could he do this? I wracked my mind. He wouldn't go to any of his hideouts. He knows by now that I could find him at any of those. He would have left the country, I was sure of it. Where would he know someone? He would never go to a place where he didn't know anyone. That wasn't his style. I remembered his speaking of a Rachael Younge he knew from Winnipeg Manitoba. It was the only place I could imagine he'd go to. I reached for my phone to text Will. Poor Lizzie! Thinking of what she must be going through made me grimace and my fingers were shaking as I typed out a quick message. A simple 'thanks' let me know he read it almost immediately. Even more than last time I knew that Will wasn't going to be able to throw money at this. That wasn't about to deter my brother. He was crazy in love with her and he would do anything for her. Will really protected the people he cared about and he cared about her more than anything in the world. If I were George Wickham I would be really scared right now. This time, Will was going to ruin him once and for all.
Lizzie Bennet
I was starving. There was a bottle of water on this bedside table that I had nearly emptied but I was famished. He always had some food for me when I woke up and another time later in the day but I had been here for two days now and I needed more than four dry sandwiches and a few bottles of water. This was ridiculous. I had tried to run away about four times already but Wickham seemed to know when I was making a break for it before I did. The room I was in was some sort of basement and there were no windows. A women lived here, some girl named Rachael and she had brought my food more than Wickham. Sadly this didn't keep me from seeing Wickham constantly. He came down and taunted me, sat and stared at me, and at times, even tried to flirt with me. How had I ever found him attractive? I had kissed him willingly but now I just wanted those lips as far away from me as possible. I thought about my family. What was the last thing I said to them before this craziness? When was the last time I had told them I loved them? Why hadn't I called Mary myself to wish her good luck? Why hadn't I hugged my mom and dad before they left that night? Why hadn't I called Jane back after I had gotten her message that morning? And Darcy. The last thing I told Darcy was that I wanted to chat? I should have thanked him. I should have told him…never mind. I wish I could have done it all over again.
William Darcy
I was going to punch Ricky Collins in the face. Any minute now, he was going to have a black eye. He kept droning on and on about the scenery out our window and the perks of living in Winnipeg Manitoba and how happy he had been to hear from Miss de Bourgh that he could be of assistance to me. Seriously? A girl you grew up with has been kidnapped and taken out of the country. How is it possible to remain unaffected no matter the depth of your affection? They could hate each other and he should still feel something. I had followed up on several leads over the past few days. Fitz had found several hotels that had rented out s room to a George Wickham on the day that Lizzie had been taken all over the country and there was no evidence or even support that Wickham could have left the country with an unconscious human being so I had decided to track down Fitz's leads before going after the loose straws Gigi had been clutching at. However when none of the hotels turned up anything, all of his hideouts ended up empty and his college buddies truly didn't seem to know a thing. One friend was able to confirm that he had a friend in Canada but he thought her name was Leila. They all said that they hadn't heard from Wickham in ages. So now I was here in Winnipeg Manitoba with Ricky Collins as we drove about to all the houses and apartments registered to a 'Younge'. There was a surprising number of people named Younge. But none named Leila or Rachael.
The police back in the USA were being absolutely no help at all. They were just now getting to talking to all of Wickham's friends. They were two days behind me on this investigation but I didn't care as long as one of us found Lizzie soon. We were pulling up the next house and I reached into the back seat to shake Jane awake. "Hey Jane, just two more here and then we can get some rest." She rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"So who lives here?" she asked quietly. I glanced down at the sheet of names and squinted to read the tiny print.
"Marcus Younge but he is older and has a daughter who lives with him. That could very well be the woman Gigi was referring to." I had been skeptical at first but now I was glad Jane had insisted on accompanying me on this venture. First because I was actually getting to know her like Bing wanted me to and secondly because it broke into Ricky Collins' constant monologue. Not to mention her positive attitude made me more and more sure that we would find Lizzie. The three of us got out of the car and Jane pounded on the door. A petite woman with long blonde hair answered the door with a grin on her face. It dropped off the minute she saw us.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes. We are looking for George Wickham, do you know him?" Jane quickly said with a grin plastered on her face sweetly. Now that I was getting to know her I could tell that the grin may have looked sweet but Jane Bennet was ready to hurt someone.
"No, I'm afraid not." She said completely too quickly for my liking.
"Really. So what is his swimming coach tee shirt doing on your couch?" Jane grinned again and brushed past the girl and into the house. "George? Lizzie? George Wickham I know you're here you had better get out here right now!"
"Hey! Lady! I told you I didn't know him and I don't! There's no one named George Wickham here! That shirt belongs to an old friend of mine George Hammond."
"Hammond?" My heart started pounding in my chest. "Did you say Hammond?"
"Yeah, why?" She said raising an eyebrow confusedly. I turned to Jane, my eyes wide with excitement.
"Hammond is Wickham's mother's maiden name." Jane turned around and stared furiously opening doors.
"George! Lizzie!" I pulled out my phone and flipped to an online still of Lizzie and Wickham from her earlier diaries.
"Do you know these people?" I asked hurriedly.
"Yes of course. That's George Hammond and his sister Elizabeth."
"No. With all due respect Miss, that's George Wickham and our friend Lizzie Bennet who he kidnapped."
"No, that's George Hammond. We met in college. Ages ago, really. And his little sister was trying to run off with some guy who was going to ruin her so he is bringing her home to their parents and making sure she can't destroy her life."
"Where is he?" I hissed. "Where is she?" I was yelling by now.
"They were here, but he left to take her home."
"Okay, where did he say he was going?"
"Montreal. He's from Montreal."
"And do you have a phone number or an email address you speak with him on?" She wrote down a phone number and handed it to me. "Beautiful. And I know that you are going to call him and tell him we were here so when you do, make sure you get the name right. Make sure you tell him that William Darcy and Jane Bennet are coming for him." Jane walked back to my side and glared down the women.
"Yeah. And if he knows what's good for him he will let her go before we get to him." She snarled before grabbing my hand and pulling me out the door after her. "She was here." Jane muttered as we got into the car. "She was here and we know that it's George who took her for certain."
"She is going to be fine. We are going to get her back." Jane nodded, and for the first time she actually believed me.
That bastard. How could he do this? I wracked my mind. He wouldn't go to any of his hideouts. He knows by now that I could find him at any of those. He would have left the country, I was sure of it. Where would he know someone? He would never go to a place where he didn't know anyone. That wasn't his style. I remembered his speaking of a Rachael Younge he knew from Winnipeg Manitoba. It was the only place I could imagine he'd go to. I reached for my phone to text Will. Poor Lizzie! Thinking of what she must be going through made me grimace and my fingers were shaking as I typed out a quick message. A simple 'thanks' let me know he read it almost immediately. Even more than last time I knew that Will wasn't going to be able to throw money at this. That wasn't about to deter my brother. He was crazy in love with her and he would do anything for her. Will really protected the people he cared about and he cared about her more than anything in the world. If I were George Wickham I would be really scared right now. This time, Will was going to ruin him once and for all.
Lizzie Bennet
I was starving. There was a bottle of water on this bedside table that I had nearly emptied but I was famished. He always had some food for me when I woke up and another time later in the day but I had been here for two days now and I needed more than four dry sandwiches and a few bottles of water. This was ridiculous. I had tried to run away about four times already but Wickham seemed to know when I was making a break for it before I did. The room I was in was some sort of basement and there were no windows. A women lived here, some girl named Rachael and she had brought my food more than Wickham. Sadly this didn't keep me from seeing Wickham constantly. He came down and taunted me, sat and stared at me, and at times, even tried to flirt with me. How had I ever found him attractive? I had kissed him willingly but now I just wanted those lips as far away from me as possible. I thought about my family. What was the last thing I said to them before this craziness? When was the last time I had told them I loved them? Why hadn't I called Mary myself to wish her good luck? Why hadn't I hugged my mom and dad before they left that night? Why hadn't I called Jane back after I had gotten her message that morning? And Darcy. The last thing I told Darcy was that I wanted to chat? I should have thanked him. I should have told him…never mind. I wish I could have done it all over again.
William Darcy
I was going to punch Ricky Collins in the face. Any minute now, he was going to have a black eye. He kept droning on and on about the scenery out our window and the perks of living in Winnipeg Manitoba and how happy he had been to hear from Miss de Bourgh that he could be of assistance to me. Seriously? A girl you grew up with has been kidnapped and taken out of the country. How is it possible to remain unaffected no matter the depth of your affection? They could hate each other and he should still feel something. I had followed up on several leads over the past few days. Fitz had found several hotels that had rented out s room to a George Wickham on the day that Lizzie had been taken all over the country and there was no evidence or even support that Wickham could have left the country with an unconscious human being so I had decided to track down Fitz's leads before going after the loose straws Gigi had been clutching at. However when none of the hotels turned up anything, all of his hideouts ended up empty and his college buddies truly didn't seem to know a thing. One friend was able to confirm that he had a friend in Canada but he thought her name was Leila. They all said that they hadn't heard from Wickham in ages. So now I was here in Winnipeg Manitoba with Ricky Collins as we drove about to all the houses and apartments registered to a 'Younge'. There was a surprising number of people named Younge. But none named Leila or Rachael.
The police back in the USA were being absolutely no help at all. They were just now getting to talking to all of Wickham's friends. They were two days behind me on this investigation but I didn't care as long as one of us found Lizzie soon. We were pulling up the next house and I reached into the back seat to shake Jane awake. "Hey Jane, just two more here and then we can get some rest." She rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"So who lives here?" she asked quietly. I glanced down at the sheet of names and squinted to read the tiny print.
"Marcus Younge but he is older and has a daughter who lives with him. That could very well be the woman Gigi was referring to." I had been skeptical at first but now I was glad Jane had insisted on accompanying me on this venture. First because I was actually getting to know her like Bing wanted me to and secondly because it broke into Ricky Collins' constant monologue. Not to mention her positive attitude made me more and more sure that we would find Lizzie. The three of us got out of the car and Jane pounded on the door. A petite woman with long blonde hair answered the door with a grin on her face. It dropped off the minute she saw us.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes. We are looking for George Wickham, do you know him?" Jane quickly said with a grin plastered on her face sweetly. Now that I was getting to know her I could tell that the grin may have looked sweet but Jane Bennet was ready to hurt someone.
"No, I'm afraid not." She said completely too quickly for my liking.
"Really. So what is his swimming coach tee shirt doing on your couch?" Jane grinned again and brushed past the girl and into the house. "George? Lizzie? George Wickham I know you're here you had better get out here right now!"
"Hey! Lady! I told you I didn't know him and I don't! There's no one named George Wickham here! That shirt belongs to an old friend of mine George Hammond."
"Hammond?" My heart started pounding in my chest. "Did you say Hammond?"
"Yeah, why?" She said raising an eyebrow confusedly. I turned to Jane, my eyes wide with excitement.
"Hammond is Wickham's mother's maiden name." Jane turned around and stared furiously opening doors.
"George! Lizzie!" I pulled out my phone and flipped to an online still of Lizzie and Wickham from her earlier diaries.
"Do you know these people?" I asked hurriedly.
"Yes of course. That's George Hammond and his sister Elizabeth."
"No. With all due respect Miss, that's George Wickham and our friend Lizzie Bennet who he kidnapped."
"No, that's George Hammond. We met in college. Ages ago, really. And his little sister was trying to run off with some guy who was going to ruin her so he is bringing her home to their parents and making sure she can't destroy her life."
"Where is he?" I hissed. "Where is she?" I was yelling by now.
"They were here, but he left to take her home."
"Okay, where did he say he was going?"
"Montreal. He's from Montreal."
"And do you have a phone number or an email address you speak with him on?" She wrote down a phone number and handed it to me. "Beautiful. And I know that you are going to call him and tell him we were here so when you do, make sure you get the name right. Make sure you tell him that William Darcy and Jane Bennet are coming for him." Jane walked back to my side and glared down the women.
"Yeah. And if he knows what's good for him he will let her go before we get to him." She snarled before grabbing my hand and pulling me out the door after her. "She was here." Jane muttered as we got into the car. "She was here and we know that it's George who took her for certain."
"She is going to be fine. We are going to get her back." Jane nodded, and for the first time she actually believed me.
Chapter 6: Something Concrete
Author's Note: I just want to clarify. I don't think that Wickham is normally like this, portrayed this way or THIS evil...but for the sake of the story-he is. Also in my mind Wickham has gone a little crazy since his horribleness has been outed for everyone via the internet. Enjoy and Please review!
Jane Bennet
"So are we headed to Montreal?" I asked Darcy, suddenly reinvigorated for the search ahead. Finally. We found something concrete.
"No. If he told her that's where he is going that's the last place he'd actually go. I'm going to try to track his new phone number and see if we can get ahold of any security cameras from the area, now that we know he entered and exited this house a few times, I think we can at least figure out what kind of car he's driving." Wow. Darcy was good at this. Like weirdly good at this. He had obviously thought all this out in the moment but managed to show very little of it to our lovely Miss Younge.
"Well, this is certainly some very helpful information. I think now would be an excellent time to involve the police in our little mission." Ricky Collins interjected grinning.
"No." Darcy and I responded simultaneously as we pulled open the doors of Ricky's car and sat down.
"Are you certain? I simply mean to say that they may have more resources than we and have more time and flexibility to continue this venture." Darcy turned and I found myself very glad that I was not on the receiving end of that death glare.
"If you find yourself short on time to continue this venture," Darcy hissed. "We would be glad to continue on our own."
"Not at all Mr. Darcy," he didn't seem to notice Darcy's intense tone. "I simply don't want to inconvenience you on this matter that does not involve you." Darcy completely turned in his seat and stared down Ricky.
"Perhaps you are unaware, Mr. Collins, but I am in love with Lizzie Bennet and I would go to the ends of the earth if it meant bringing her back safely. I don't think a trip to see a man about some security cameras is going to kill me." And with that he stepped on the pedal and we were off. Internally I was freaking out a little. He still loved Lizzie! I had suspected this of course but to hear him say it, with all that intensity and passion in his voice melted my heart. My sister deserved the best and I think he just proved that he could be the one for her. He glanced back at me in the rear view mirror and I smiled at him happily. The corner of his lips twitched upwards and his eyes refocused themselves on the road but I knew he understood what I had been trying to communicate in that smile. We were going to find my sister, and then she and Darcy were going to sit down and talk and then they were going to live happily ever after nearby Bing and I and everything was going to be perfect.
Lizzie Bennet
We had moved. I didn't know where we were but as the car went down the highway away from that last disgusting hovel I caught a sign wishing us farewell from Winnipeg Manitoba. What? As in where the elusive fiancée of Ricky Collins lived? And I didn't even get to meet this woman? I was outraged. Or at least that's what I pretended to be worried about as I tried not to focus on the fact that I had been kidnapped.
I was exhausted but I didn't feel comfortable falling asleep with in front of Wickham. "Hey Peach," He said, voice oozing with sweetness. Okay, so this was going to be one of thoseconversations. "We need to talk."
"Oh, is that why you kidnapped me? So we could talk?"
"I'm doing what is best for everyone Peach. You don't understand how horrible it would be if you were with him. You wouldn't be happy Peach. I'm protecting you."
"Yes because I am so happy here, kidnapped, with you, the man who nearly ruined my sister's life, broke one of my best friend's heart, and pretty much stole from a person who is really dear to me." The car slowed drastically as Wickham slammed on the breaks.
"He's dear to you? You have got to be kidding me! He's arrogant, vain and rude! You said so yourself! All that and more!"
"It was my first impression Wickham. I've come to realize that he isn't anything like the person I painted him as. He may be shy, and a bit socially awkward but he is also one of the strongest people I know and he really takes care of the people he cares about." I threw Fitz's words back at Wickham without hesitation. And it was so true. "Wickham, when you tried to tear my family apart and destroy my baby sister he did everything in his power to stop it. He protected me and what did you do? You kidnapped me and took me into Canada. Who sounds like the bad guy here?" Wham. Wickham's hand met my face as he backhanded me. My eyes watered as the sting from the back of his hand spread across my cheek. Without another word he pulled back on the road and continued driving without a word. I also remained silence. I had to remember, this wasn't the George Wickham I knew long ago; this was a new, insane and spitefully vindictive George Wickham. I had to watch my tongue.
Jane Bennet
"So are we headed to Montreal?" I asked Darcy, suddenly reinvigorated for the search ahead. Finally. We found something concrete.
"No. If he told her that's where he is going that's the last place he'd actually go. I'm going to try to track his new phone number and see if we can get ahold of any security cameras from the area, now that we know he entered and exited this house a few times, I think we can at least figure out what kind of car he's driving." Wow. Darcy was good at this. Like weirdly good at this. He had obviously thought all this out in the moment but managed to show very little of it to our lovely Miss Younge.
"Well, this is certainly some very helpful information. I think now would be an excellent time to involve the police in our little mission." Ricky Collins interjected grinning.
"No." Darcy and I responded simultaneously as we pulled open the doors of Ricky's car and sat down.
"Are you certain? I simply mean to say that they may have more resources than we and have more time and flexibility to continue this venture." Darcy turned and I found myself very glad that I was not on the receiving end of that death glare.
"If you find yourself short on time to continue this venture," Darcy hissed. "We would be glad to continue on our own."
"Not at all Mr. Darcy," he didn't seem to notice Darcy's intense tone. "I simply don't want to inconvenience you on this matter that does not involve you." Darcy completely turned in his seat and stared down Ricky.
"Perhaps you are unaware, Mr. Collins, but I am in love with Lizzie Bennet and I would go to the ends of the earth if it meant bringing her back safely. I don't think a trip to see a man about some security cameras is going to kill me." And with that he stepped on the pedal and we were off. Internally I was freaking out a little. He still loved Lizzie! I had suspected this of course but to hear him say it, with all that intensity and passion in his voice melted my heart. My sister deserved the best and I think he just proved that he could be the one for her. He glanced back at me in the rear view mirror and I smiled at him happily. The corner of his lips twitched upwards and his eyes refocused themselves on the road but I knew he understood what I had been trying to communicate in that smile. We were going to find my sister, and then she and Darcy were going to sit down and talk and then they were going to live happily ever after nearby Bing and I and everything was going to be perfect.
Lizzie Bennet
We had moved. I didn't know where we were but as the car went down the highway away from that last disgusting hovel I caught a sign wishing us farewell from Winnipeg Manitoba. What? As in where the elusive fiancée of Ricky Collins lived? And I didn't even get to meet this woman? I was outraged. Or at least that's what I pretended to be worried about as I tried not to focus on the fact that I had been kidnapped.
I was exhausted but I didn't feel comfortable falling asleep with in front of Wickham. "Hey Peach," He said, voice oozing with sweetness. Okay, so this was going to be one of thoseconversations. "We need to talk."
"Oh, is that why you kidnapped me? So we could talk?"
"I'm doing what is best for everyone Peach. You don't understand how horrible it would be if you were with him. You wouldn't be happy Peach. I'm protecting you."
"Yes because I am so happy here, kidnapped, with you, the man who nearly ruined my sister's life, broke one of my best friend's heart, and pretty much stole from a person who is really dear to me." The car slowed drastically as Wickham slammed on the breaks.
"He's dear to you? You have got to be kidding me! He's arrogant, vain and rude! You said so yourself! All that and more!"
"It was my first impression Wickham. I've come to realize that he isn't anything like the person I painted him as. He may be shy, and a bit socially awkward but he is also one of the strongest people I know and he really takes care of the people he cares about." I threw Fitz's words back at Wickham without hesitation. And it was so true. "Wickham, when you tried to tear my family apart and destroy my baby sister he did everything in his power to stop it. He protected me and what did you do? You kidnapped me and took me into Canada. Who sounds like the bad guy here?" Wham. Wickham's hand met my face as he backhanded me. My eyes watered as the sting from the back of his hand spread across my cheek. Without another word he pulled back on the road and continued driving without a word. I also remained silence. I had to remember, this wasn't the George Wickham I knew long ago; this was a new, insane and spitefully vindictive George Wickham. I had to watch my tongue.