Read One Word From You: A Pride and Prejudice Adaptation for Free Online Page B

asked.
     
    “ No, but take her this,” I selected a chocolate bar, took it from the machine, and then pushed it into his hand. She would probably prefer it if Charlie was delivering it. In fact, she would forget all about the sweets if Charlie was going to see her, I was sure.
     
    Chantelle linked arms with her brother, and led him away at a brisk pace. She must have thought that spending too much time in my company would be a bad influence on him, And she’d have been right. I would teach him all manner of terrible habits, like thinking for himself, and disregarding class divides.
     
    I was a demon in a teenager’s body, for sure.
     
    There wasn’t a lot to do in the hospital, and I was thinking about heading back to the school. That was when I turned, and noticed that William had lingered. Awkwardly, I rubbed at the back of my neck. When he continued to stare, I demanded to know, “What are you looking at me for?”
     
    “ No reason,” he said, “What are you planning on doing?”
     
    “ None of your business.”
     
    “ Fine. I guess we’ll both sit here in total silence then, shall we?”
     
    “ Who said I was going to sit here with you?” I asked, “I’m going to get a coffee. Do whatever you want.”
     
    I was becoming something of a regular in the hospital cafeteria. I smiled at the young man behind the counter, and he knew immediately what my poison was without so much as a word. As he clattered the porcelain cup into a saucer, I dared a glance over my shoulder. Upon seeing William had followed me, I rolled my eyes pointedly.
     
    “ You said I could do whatever I want,” he reminded me, “And I wanted to go here.”
     
    “ You wanted to follow me,” I muttered.
     
    “ What was that?”
     
    “ Nothing.”
     
    “ No charge,” the man said as he handed over my drink, “You’ve bought enough the last few days that you deserve one on the house.”
     
    I smiled, “Thanks, are you sure?”
     
    “ Yeah, it’s not problem. What about you, kid?” he asked William, “You want anything?”
     
    “ No,” he said, “And don’t call me kid. ”
     
    I didn’t want to linger and hear anything else William might have to say, and picked out a seat on my own. The annoying boy trailed after me, and settled down in the empty chair at my side.
     
    “ Really?” I asked.
     
    “ What?”
     
    “ Can’t you just go and see Jenny? You’ve all been hanging around each other, lately. She’ll be happy to talk to you.”
     
    “ She’s Chantelle’s friend, not mine.”
     
    “ God, you’re such a bloody snob.”
     
    “ Says the girl in a private boarding school.”
     
    Well, I couldn’t argue with that. Although I didn’t enjoy the same advantages as my peers, I was enduring the same education. I felt like it was a blessing and a curse. I would have excellent recommendations when I left the school, but it was a world away from reality, and from any career paths I might seek out when I had to make my own way. The school was more of a bubble that we were raised inside, protected from whatever lay beyond.
     
    “ I’m not really like the other girls there, though.”
     
    “ True. Most girls wouldn’t threaten a total stranger the first time they met.”
     
    I nearly choked on my coffee.
     
    So he had managed to pick up on the hint. I had wondered. Still, he didn’t really need to bring it up at that moment. He’d probably waited until I was swallowing to make that comment. I was sure I saw him smirk as I hurried to cover my mouth with the back of my hand.
     
    Git.
     
    Not to lose face in front of him, I asked, “Do you know a lot about girls, then? I guess you were popular at your last school.”
     
    “ It was a boy’s school.”
     
    “ My assumption still stands, just with the opposite sex.”
     
    “ I’m not gay,” William said a little louder than was necessary.
     
    I giggled quietly. As much as I loved to laugh, I felt like I ought to stifle it in front of