Professional Documents
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F o r my mot h e r,
wh ose e n t h u s i a sm f o r boo ks i s co n tag i ou s,
an d my fat h e r,
wh o i n spi re s m e to b e a b e t t e r pe rso n
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It was amazing how two weeks away from campus could give
you a false sense of security. As the train pulled into the station,
I envisioned a force field, like an emotional shield, enveloping
my body.
I was smarter, wiser. And I knew better than to let any childish
taunts get the best of me. My barrier was up and there was no way
I was going to let anybody in.
There was only one person I couldnt wait to see when I got on
campus.
Lizzie! Jane greeted me as I walked into our room. Id visited Jane a few times in Manhattan over the break, since I lived
right across the Hudson River, in Hoboken, New Jersey. Jane
even came to a party one of my friends had back home, and
impressed even my most critical friends with her kindheartedness. I knew that someone, somewhere had to be looking out for
me to have Jane as my roommate.
After we caught up, Jane wanted to get down to business. So,
we have a very important decision to make. She went over to her
closet and pulled out three cocktail dresses. Which one should
I wear tonight?
My stomach dropped. Longbourn was hosting an upperclassman reception with Pemberley Academy. The official reason was
Jane and Lydias father had been laid off over Christmas when
his company had merged with another investment bank. Not that
it mattered muchhe got a huge payout and money didnt seem
like an issue. Although as word spread throughout campus, you
wouldve thought Jane and Lydia came back from the holidays
with leprosy.
As Jane and I finished getting ready, Lydia began whining.
No fair. Why cant I come? You better at least let me go promdress shopping with you.
Jane blushed. Slow downnobodys been asked to anything.
Yet, Lydia countered.
The reception tonight is just an opportunity for us to catch
up after the holidays.
Yeah, especially with a certain someone returning from
London! Lydia jumped up on my bed, acting years younger than
the freshman student she was, and put her hand up to her heart.
Oh, Charles Bingley, how I missed you so! She dropped onto the bed
with an exaggerated sigh.
Thats it! Jane started shooing Lydia out the door. Out!
We need to finish getting ready. She started nervously adjusting
her bracelet.
Charles Bingley had spent the previous semester studying
abroad in London. Before he left, Jane and Charles had started to
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get close. From what Jane told me, nothing really happened, since
they knew there was about to be an ocean between them. Jane
generally kept her feelings close to the vest, but with Charless
imminent arrival, she had become openly giddy. Especially once
her sister was out of the room.
Oh, Charles Bingley, how I missed you so! Jane called out,
laughing. But then she clearly felt that was too much. She examined herself in the mirror and added, I guess there is no reason
for me to get my hopes up. He probably e-mailed with a lot of
girls last semester.
One of the most wonderful things about Jane, besides her
kindness, was that she had absolutely no idea how beautiful she
was. She was completely void of vanity.
Im just excited to see him again, she went on. Im sure hell
have tons of girls fighting over him for prom.
Youre being ridiculous, Jane! Seriously! If Charles Bingley is
even half the guy you say he is, hed be a raving lunatic to not ask
you to prom.
Jane had promised me that Charles was different from the other
Pemberley boys Id met. Talking to them was like being placed
into conversational purgatory, with no hope of being released
without significant damage to ones self-esteem. The first time I
met a Pemberley guy, the first words out of his mouth were Which
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