Lunch

by Julie Elizabeth

September 2002, Firthness Challenge Entry

Rated G

Author's Note: Here is a last minute entry. It's probably not quite what you're expecting but I hope everyone likes it. 

Will watched Lizzy, as he always did, while he ate lunch. He found her fascinating, though he knew it was inappropriate for him to like her. They were from completely different worlds. But she had long, bouncy, curly brown hair and big sparkly brown eyes. And she had so much spunk and energy, he just couldn't help himself.

The first time he saw her, that energy had frightened him. She had been moving down the hallway, practically bouncing with excitement. Shy Will had been so startled by her exuberance that only his strong sense of dignity kept him from cowering against the wall. But gradually, as he watched her every day, he came to appreciate that in her personality which was different from his.

He loved to watch her eat her lunch and interact with her friends. So much so that often his own lunch was neglected. He found himself jealous of the girls she ate with. He wanted her to smile and laugh with him. Her smile was so pretty revealing two rows of perfectly white, though slightly crooked teeth. And her laugh sounded like the tinkling of bells to him. Several times he had tried to join her table but his courage always failed him and he ended up at his usual place with his friend Charlie and his cousin Ricky.

They teased Will over his fascination with Lizzy in their different ways. Ricky thought it contemptible and goaded him about it. He was always telling Will that such a lowly creature was unworthy of him. Charlie was more encouraging. His light, good-humored teasing was meant to help Will build up his courage and go talk to her.

Today he was going to do it.

He left his own table and slowly approached hers. Twice he almost turned back but he gathered every ounce of courage he had and made it to Lizzy's side.

"Hi, Lizzy"; he said.

She looked up at him surprised. "Oh, hi, Will"

"May I sit here, please"

"Um, okay."

Will sat down beside her and Lizzy turned back to her friends. Will listened to them talk not really hearing the conversation but enjoying the sound of Lizzy's voice. After five minutes he resolved to do what he had always wanted to. Another five minutes went by while he gathered his courage.

"Lizzy?" he finally said.

She turned to him. "Yes, Will?"

"Can I give you something?" he asked nervously.

"Okay." Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Very quickly, Will leaned in and kissed her lips. When he pulled back the excitement in her eyes had changed to anger.

"Eeewwwww," chorused the girls at the table.

"I hate you, Will Darcy," cried Lizzy as she punched him squarely in the eye. She then ran from the table followed quickly by the rest of the girls.

For a moment, Will was stunned. But that quickly turned to embarrassment. Soon, he too ran from the room and hid in the bathroom where he cried for half an hour. After that he pulled himself together and determined that Ricky was right. He would find himself a nice girl in the Second Grade. Kindergartners were too much trouble.

Seventeen years later

Will stood with Lizzy outside her apartment. They had been dating for two weeks now and he felt that they would never stop.

"Lizzy," he asked tentatively, "may I kiss you?"

"I'd like that, Will," she whispered.

Will leaned in, then hesitated as a memory flashed through his mind.

"What's wrong, Will?" Lizzy asked, sensing his hesitation.

"Will you promise not to punch me?

"What?! Why would I do that?"

"Don't you remember our first kiss?"

Lizzy looked puzzled for a moment then began to laugh softly. "I'm sorry, Will. Did I hurt you?"

Will grinned. "Yes, quite a bit. But I recovered a long time ago."

"I promise I won't punch you."

"Good" he whispered then softly kissed her.

Copyright held by Julie Elizabeth - 2002