One Word From You: A Pride and Prejudice Adaptation by Natalie Penna Read Free Book Online Page B

of a way to agree without coming off as conceited. He wasn't going to find any such way of saying it. I knew exactly how he felt about people like me. I was just a normal girl, who he wouldn't look at twice if I wasn't in the same school as him. Actually, I didn't think he'd look at most of the people he was now stuck sharing classes with, regardless of their fortunes and families.
     
    “ The only thing I think I'm not better at -”
     
    “ You mean there's something?” I asked in mock horror, “Seriously?!”
     
    “ Is,” he narrowed his eyes and continued, “That I hold grudges. Well, that sounds a little worse than it is. I just don't have patience for people if I have a bad impression of them. And once I've lost faith in them, then I won't ever have time for them again.”
     
    “ You shouldn't think of that as a bad thing,” I said, “Because those people are probably pretty happy you don't have time for them.”
     
    “ Maybe we should talk about something else,” Chantelle suggested.
     
    “ By all means,” I muttered, “And elsewhere, if you want.”
     
    “ I don't think Jenny would be happy if she knew you were spending time all by yourself,” Charlie told me.
     
    “ I really don't think she'd mind.”
     
    “ You know,” Chantelle said, “I was just thinking that we should go to the library. You haven't really had time to appreciate it yet, have you?”
     
    “ They're books,” Charlie said, “I appreciate all books the same. Which isn't very much at all. I mean, I like books,” he laughed as he tried to explain to me, “But I have so many other things I want to do, that it's hard to find the time to read them.”
     
    “ It's fine,” I said, “It's not for everyone. Why don't you let your sister take you away? She's just looking for a good excuse, and that's the best she can come up with.”
     
    “ I – I wasn't,” she blushed, and glanced at William. It was so stupid that she was trying to be nice in front of him. He hated me just as much as she did, so they should have both been honest about it. They could bond over how stupid I was, for all I cared. Just so long as they weren't in my face about it. Chantelle cleared her throat gently, “You're welcome to join us, Blake.”
     
    “ I politely decline,” I said, “I think William made it pretty clear just now that he doesn't have time for people like me. Bad impressions, right?”
     
    “ I wasn't talking about you,” he said.
     
    Yeah, he really was.
     
    Rather than spending my time coming up with more inventive reasons not to be in their company, I got to my feet, and was fully prepared to forgo the sunlight to lock myself in my dorm room. I didn't offer any parting words, because I didn't care whether or not I offended at least two thirds of the group before I left.
     
    I heard the crunch of tyres on gravel as I walked back to the building, and took a detour to the entrance. It could have just been a visitor to the site, or one of the teachers, but I knew the sound of that engine. Jenny's parents had a taste for classic cars, and none of the sleek new models really rumbled like them. The vehicle came to a halt, and the driver hopped out to open the rear passenger door.
     
    “ Jen'!” I called as I jogged over.
     
    She smiled when our eyes met, and held her arms out to catch me in a hug. I had never been so happy to see anyone in my life. With her back, William and Chantelle wouldn't feel obliged to seek out my company in her absence.
     
    Oh, and I was glad she was feeling better.
     
    “ Miss. Jennifer,” the driver said as he took her bag from the boot of the car, “I will deliver this to your dorm.”
     
    “ I can carry it, Bentley,” she assured him.
     
    He looked nervous at the idea of forcing the luggage on someone who had just walked out of hospital. That being the case, I held out my hand for it, “Give it to me. I won't break a nail.”
     
    “ Thank you, Miss. Blake,” he said, and bowed his