Most Ardently
Page 9
“What does that have to do with—oh.”
“I think you’ll be surprised at how agreeable Mom can be, under the right circumstances.”
…
Elisa and Bobby arrived back at Longbourn Apartments less than a half hour later. After seeing Netherfield Park, she felt somewhat embarrassed at her neighborhood, though that was ridiculous. He had been there before and clearly didn’t mind. It wasn’t a slum, exactly, but most of the houses were boarded up, and the only businesses still operating within walking distance of the apartment complex were two liquor stores, a gas station that ran out of gas to sell with annoying frequency, a thrift store, a strip club, and one surprisingly amazing food cart. She had never been thrilled with the neighborhood she called home, but being outright embarrassed by it was new to her.
Alejandra came to the door almost immediately after Elisa unlocked and opened it. She did a double take when she saw Bobby and forced a charming smile. Evidently, she’d decided to wait on throttling Elisa until he was gone.
“I was wondering when you’d get back. Thank you so much for giving her a ride home, Bobby,” she said. “How’s Julieta feeling?”
“She’s better, but still pretty sick,” Bobby said. “Actually, Ms. Bello, I invited Elisa to stay until Julieta’s feeling better.”
She stared at him for a split second before her eyes flicked to Elisa, saying what the hell are you doing.
“You don’t have to do that,” she said quickly.
“Please, it’s my pleasure. Julieta said she’s been missing home, and I think Elisa staying would help a bit.”
Julieta, you absolute genius.
“Elisa’s in school,” Mom said, clearly thinking on her feet.
“Oh, that isn’t a problem. Darcy commutes there all the time from the house, she said the drive isn’t bad at all. In fact, Elisa can even commute with her on the days they have that class together.”
Elisa froze for a second. She really, really needed to quit forgetting about Darcy. She guessed that the college was a half hour’s drive from Netherfield Park—which was actually shorter than her normal commute, so fine. But a half hour in a car twice a week with Darcy? And she hadn’t even thought about how she’d be living under the same roof as her.
If she’d thought this through all the way, she would’ve said no. It was one thing to come over for a couple of hours, avoid Darcy during that time, leave, and return the next day. Actually living there would make avoiding her outright impossible, even without counting the commute.
She couldn’t change her mind and disappoint Julieta or let her mother win.
Ah, karma. You’re a bitch.
Bobby was still talking.
“I promise, Ms. Bello, I’m happy to have Elisa stay with us. And I’m sure Darcy will be glad to have some company that isn’t me or my sisters.”
Yeah. No.
Mom’s eyes flicked between Bobby and Elisa. Elisa had to give Julieta some credit; she definitely knew their mother. She would never refuse Bobby’s very generous offer, especially not when he was her eldest daughter’s kind-of-sort-of-maybe-almost boyfriend.
“If you’re sure. Elisa, I’ll help you get a bag together.” Her tone was pleasant, but her eyes said “murder.” Bobby didn’t seem to notice.
Once they were alone in Elisa’s room, her mother’s smile dropped off her face, and she gave her most withering look.
“Clever,” she said. “I’ll give you that. But understand that if you screw anything up for Bobby and Julieta, you are grounded until the third coming of Jesus.”
“You mean second.”
“Oh, you wish.”
Elisa barely repressed an eye-roll. “Mama, they invited me, remember?”
“Why didn’t you say no?”
“Because Julieta hasn’t seen any of us in days, and she’s obviously lonely over there. I mean, Bobby’s been great, but she’s been stuck in bed for a week.”
Alejandra threw up her hands. “Julieta should know better.”
“Maybe love is clouding her judgment,” she said dryly.
“One can only hope.” She sighed and began picking out clothes for her to bring with her. “You know, your other sisters are gonna miss you.”
Elisa rolled her eyes as she grabbed some books to bring. “Oh, come on. A few days with no nagging older sisters? They’ll be thrilled.”
“I’m gonna miss you.”
Her expression softened ever so slightly. “You know you could always come over to visit Jules,” she said. “I know she’d be happy to see you.”
Mom sighed, shaking her head. “Believe me, I’d like to. But I’ve been working all these extra hours, and then next thing I know it’s nighttime, and I’m exhausted and in no state to be talking to anyone… I call her, though. I can usually manage that on my lunch break.” She sighed, running a hand through her messy hair. “I’d love to take the afternoon off some time and visit, but it’s just not doable.”
“Mom, don’t beat yourself up. You work hard to support us. Julieta understands that. We all do.” Elisa pecked her on the cheek. “And I promise to call you, too. It’s not like I’m moving across the country. Just staying across town for a few days.”
“Netherfield Park may as well be a different planet.”
She nodded. “You have no idea.”
“Listen—if you’re gonna be there, then you’re gonna help, okay?” Mom said. “I mean it. Imply that he should ask Julieta to be exclusive, give him tips on what kind of presents she likes, arrange a private candlelit dinner for them as a surprise, pop in a Beyoncé CD when they’re alone in a room, lock them into closets together—the whole nine yards.”
Elisa chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do.”
…
Elisa overslept and missed breakfast the next day, but that was okay, since that meant she’d missed spending a whole meal with Cora, Louise, and Darcy. When she went to check on Julieta, she found her curled up on her side, groaning. The trash can was within arm’s reach, though it luckily looked like she hadn’t hurled. Yet.
“It’s always the worst in the morning,” she mumbled half to herself as Elisa came to sit in the chair next to her bed.
“I’m sorry, Jules,” Elisa said, biting her lip. “Want me to get Bobby?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s not that bad,” she said. “It just feels like there’s a rock in my stomach.”
“That sounds bad.”
“Earlier this week it was a snake. I’ll take the rock. Besides, I don’t want Bobby to spend all day fussing over me.”
Elisa went to push a lock of Julieta’s hair behind her ear. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Keep me company. I’ve been going a bit stir-crazy in here.”
Elisa fetched some food from the kitchen to make up for missing breakfast, and then she was content to spend the day in her sister’s room, watching TV while Julieta typed on her laptop—once the pain had lessened enough for her to sit up. It was almost like being at home…if home had a huge TV and the occasional maid popping in to see if there was anything they needed. Elisa wasn’t sure what would take the most getting used to; being called “Miss Benitez,” or being asked, “Can I get you anything?” every couple of hours.
Eventually, Julieta drifted off to sleep, still sitting up. Gently taking the laptop and setting it on the table, Elisa pulled a blanket over her older sister and tiptoed out of the room. She shut the door behind her just as Bobby came down the hall.
“Shh,” she said, raising a finger to her lips. “Julieta’s asleep.”
“Oh, good,” he whispered. “The past few days, her stomach has been killing her so much, she hasn’t been able to get much sleep. I was just coming to see how she was doing.”
“We should probably head someplace farther from her room,” she said, glancing back at the door. “She’s a light sleeper.”
“Believe me, I know,” he said, ushering her down the hall. “Since Julieta’s asleep, you want to co
me downstairs and hang out with the rest of us? You don’t have to stay holed up in your room the whole time.”
Elisa hesitated. Truthfully, she wanted to stay holed up in her room the whole time. Bobby had been great, but the others…
“I wouldn’t want to impose,” she said.
“Nonsense. You’re our guest.”
She thought it over for a second, then nodded. She should be polite. Bobby had been so accommodating—well beyond the call of duty. Socializing a bit was the least she could do.
“Okay. What are we doing?”
“At the moment? Not much. We’re all just hanging out in the lounge. Darcy’s doing her own thing, Cora and Louise are doing their own things…”
“Ahh, ignoring everyone in the company of others,” Elisa laughed. “One of my favorite social activities. In that case, would it be rude if I brought a book with me?”
“Not at all.”
Feeling a bit better that she wouldn’t have to talk to the others much, Elisa ducked into her room, grabbing one of her favorite books, Annie on my Mind, before following Bobby down to the lounge.
The lounge seemed to be the same thing as a living room, except without a TV. Darcy sat in the corner reading a novel that was so heavy, she probably could’ve knocked someone out cold with it, while Cora and Louise sat on one of the couches, playing a game of chess as they talked back and forth excitedly. The twins didn’t even react when Elisa walked in, but Darcy’s gaze was trained on her.
Elisa took a seat in one of the empty recliners and opened the book she’d brought. It was one of her favorites, and she’d read it at least five times. Everyone stuck to their activities in comfortable silence. Or, semi-silence—Cora and Louise were still whispering.
Just as she was starting to think that maybe staying here wouldn’t be so bad, Cora raised her voice.
“Bobby,” she said, “what was the name of that girl Isaac used to go out with?”
Bobby looked up briefly from his laptop, forehead creasing in thought.
“Uhhh… Victoria.”
“Why’d they break up, anyway?” the other twin asked. “Isaac didn’t want to talk about it last time we saw him.”
“He didn’t tell me,” he said. Elisa immediately got the sense that this was a lie.
“He finally figured out that she was denser than osmium,” Darcy said, not looking up from her book.
Elisa didn’t say anything, trying her best not to listen as she turned another page in her book.
“I don’t know what osmium is, but she was an idiot,” Louise said. “I’m pretty sure Gianna’s smarter than she is.”
“Gianna’s smarter than most people,” Darcy said, a slight bite to her voice.
“How’s she doing, anyway?” Bobby asked. “I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to her since I moved.”
“She’s well,” Darcy said. “I invited her out here, but she’s busy with her music teacher. She’s started work on learning Chopin.”
“Chopin?” Cora said. “Jeez. I can only play ‘Heart and Soul.’”
“She’s one of the most accomplished people I know.”
Louise laughed. “Knowing you, that’s probably a club of two.”
“Give me a little credit. It’s a club of five. Six, if I’m being charitable.”
Elisa looked up, then. “Oh, come on,” she said, glancing at Darcy. “That can’t be true.”
“It is,” she said. “Gianna’s incredibly accomplished. She’s got a four-point-oh GPA, she’s a classically trained musician, she—”
“That’s not what I meant,” she said, exasperated. Darcy gushing about her sister would’ve been sweet if it weren’t at the expense of everyone else. “I meant you must know more than five or six accomplished people.”
“I gotta agree with Elisa,” Bobby added. “I think most people are accomplished, in their own way.”
Darcy snorted.
“What it means to be ‘accomplished’ is subjective,” Elisa said. “For instance, you may think yourself very accomplished, being rich and smart and pretty and all, only to find no one agrees with you.” She paused, then added, “Hypothetically, I mean.”
Cora chimed in before Darcy could say anything. “Disagree. I think there are a few requirements you need to hit before you can be considered accomplished. Objectively speaking.”
“I have a feeling I’m going to regret this, but… Like what?”
“Well, you have to know something about music that isn’t played on the radio. You should be able to dance and be able to discuss politics and art. You should speak more than one language. You should be able to appreciate foods besides local fast food chains. You need to have a goal to work toward. You have to be polite, intelligent, a good conversation partner, in good physical shape, you should have a job of your own—or pursuing education, I suppose—and you should have some kind of talent that sets you apart from the rest of the crowd.”
Well, Elisa was right. She did regret it.
“You should also,” Darcy added, “better yourself via extensive reading.”
Because that list wasn’t already long enough. Thanks, Fitzgerald.
Making a point to ignore Cora, she looked to Darcy. “You actually believe this crap?” she asked, working very hard at keeping her voice level.
She shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it ‘crap.’”
“What would you call it, then?”
“Standards.”
“Well, I still don’t believe you’ve met five or six people who meet your definition of accomplished,” Elisa said. “I think you’ve met none.”
“Oh?”
“Believe me when I say there is no one alive who checks off every single box on that list. I think a lot of people—probably most people—get most of them, but not all. Besides, that list sounds more like a recipe for an annoying, pretentious hipster. No offense toward Gianna intended,” she added quickly. She didn’t like Darcy, but there was no reason to bring her sister into this.
Though Darcy seemed perfectly willing to insult her sisters…
“What I’m saying is—if someone’s a nice person who you enjoy being around, who you get along well with and can talk to easily, isn’t that more important than them meeting all the requirements on some stupid list?”
“I could never enjoy being around someone who didn’t meet those requirements,” she said.
“No wonder you always seem like you’d rather be anywhere than with other people.”
The corner of Darcy’s mouth quirked up into a small smirk. “Now you understand.”
“That was not intended as a compliment,” she snapped.
Bobby was just about to hurry in to change the subject, when they were saved by a maid coming in to announce that lunch was ready. Elisa was the first one out. She shouldn’t have taken the bait. She should’ve just ignored Cora and Darcy both. But her annoyance had gotten the better of her, and now she had no choice but to stew in silence.
Fitzgerald: 1
Benitez: 0
Is it time to go home yet?
Interlude: In Which Julieta Begins Shipping It
Julieta woke up some time later when the door to her room creaked open. She rolled over and sat up, blinking the sleep out of her eyes. Bobby slipped inside, shutting the door behind him. She blushed and was all too aware of her tangled hair and groggy, sand-filled eyes.
“How long have I been out?” she asked, yawning.
“Couple hours,” Bobby said. “Elisa came down to the lounge with the rest of us so you could rest. Your laptop’s over there,” he added, nodding toward her bedside table.
“Is she having a good time?” Julieta asked, grabbing the laptop and putting it back in its case.
He cringed, sitting down on the bed next to her. “Uh… I was trying to see to it that she would, but then my plan was very cleverly usurped by my sisters and Darcy.”
She laughed. “Oh no. Darcy can’t seem to walk three feet without pissing my sister off, can she?�
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“Darcy pisses off most people, just by being herself,” Bobby admitted. “It’s a gift. Elisa’s just the first person that she’s cared about pissing off.”
“What did she do this time?”
“Well, it was her and Cora, really—they were talking about what they thought made for an accomplished person. Elisa thought that the requirements were a bit too harsh. Honestly, so did I.”
“What was the list?”
“I can’t remember it all,” he chuckled. “It was kind of long. She was already pretty annoyed with Cora, but then Darcy decided to chime in, and, well…”
“That only annoyed her even more,” Julieta finished.
“Exactly. The sad part is, I think Darcy may have been trying to compliment her, but it…backfired. She said an accomplished person would have to be well-read.”
“Elisa is certainly that.” She tilted her head. “What about me? Do I fit Darcy Fitzgerald and Cora Charles’s requirements for an accomplished woman?”
He smiled, leaning in to peck her lips. “You meet my requirements for an accomplished woman,” he said. “Surpass them, actually.”
She grinned. “Good enough.” She pulled back, tucking some hair behind her ear. “So where’s Elisa now? Sulking in her room to avoid Darcy?”
“How’d you know?”
“I know my sister. And where’s Darcy?”
“Last I checked, sulking in the lounge, lamenting the failure her latest conversation attempt with Elisa.”
“Well, she did kind of go about it wrong,” she said. “I mean, she couldn’t have just said, ‘Hey, Elisa, I think you’re really accomplished’?”
Bobby laughed, shaking his head. “Darcy doesn’t do things like that. She just dances around the subject and hopes the people she likes will get the hint.”
“So she does like Elisa? Like her, like her, I mean.”
He hesitated, before saying, “Yes. But you cannot tell her you know. Do not so much as hint at it. And don’t tell Elisa, either.”