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

Jenny wasn’t that inconsiderate of other people. She’d want to let us know that she was all right before wandering elsewhere.
     
    “ Jenny!” I called, finding that I didn’t care all that much about getting into trouble should I be discovered, “Jen! Answer me!”
     
    Honestly, I wished she had just been inconsiderate for a change.
     
    I found Jenny beneath a tree at the side of the path. She wasn’t far from the school buildings, but from the state of her hands and knees, I deduced that she’d fallen over a fair few times on her way. It must have been a struggle for her to get as close as she had, and it looked like the trunk of the old oak was the only thing keeping her upright.
     
    As I ran to her, I was already unzipping my jacket. She flinched when I came to her, and looked at me through her lashes, her eyes weary with the effort it was taking to stay awake. I pulled my friend against my chest, quite glad that she had a willowy frame, and wrapped the sopping garment around her. It still had some of my body heat clinging to it, and it was better than nothing at all.
     
    “ Jenny, stay awake, okay? I can’t carry you,” I told her, “Just lean on me, and keep your feet moving.”
     
    My phone vibrated in my jacket pocket, and I fished it out while trying not to jostle Jenny too much.
     
    J isn’t here.
     
    Charlie had certainly been quick about checking up on her back at the dorms. I tapped out a swift reply to let him know where we were. On the one hand, I didn’t want to make the poor guy run back out in the rain. On the other, I seriously needed some help. I looped my friend’s arm over my shoulders, and staggered under her weight.
     
    Okay, I hadn’t thought it through.
     
    Jenny’s knees buckled, and we both fell to the ground. I managed to land in an awkward crouch, and prevented her from slumping in a way that might cause her more harm. With the rain beating down on us both, I curled over her, and attempted to shield her as best I could.
     
    “ Hey!” Charlie called as he ran to us, “Beth! Jenny!”
     
    “ What took you so bloody long?” I asked, my arms starting to ache from cradling Jenny, “Help me!”
     
    I shouldn’t have snapped at him, but I wanted to get her back to the warmth and comfort of the dorm room. It didn’t surprise me at all that Charlie lifted Jenny off her feet, and cradled her carefully against his chest like she was the most precious thing in the world. I lowered my head, and let out a sigh of relief. It was then that someone hoisted me up onto my feet, and put their arm around my waist.
     
    “ William?” I asked in shock as the boy tugged my arm over his shoulders, “What are you doing?”
     
    “ Helping.”
     
    “ I don’t need help,” I snapped at him, “Let go of me!”
     
    “ Don’t be so bloody stubborn! Just hold onto me, and I’ll get you back to the dorms.”
     
    I didn’t know what was more humiliating.
     
    The fact that the hateful boy was assisting me, or that he had seen me in my pyjamas.

 
     
    Chapter Five
    I have pleasure in many things.
     
     
     
    The boys weren’t meant to go into a girl’s room, for fairly obvious reasons, but I thought it was wise to ignore that rule for the sake of getting Jenny to bed. We couldn’t avoid waking up the others as we came into the room. I was glad that it was relatively tidy, with no underwear flung on the floor, or bras being hung up to dry.
     
    “ What? Fire?” Chrissy asked in a daze as the door banged open.
     
    “ Go back to sleep,” I told her.
     
    “ Which one’s Jenny’s bed?” Charlie asked.
     
    At the sound of his voice, Lisa sat bolt upright. She reached out to turn on the bedside lamp, and then squealed, “There are boys in here! Oh my God! Beth, what is this? A secret date?”
     
    I tried to disentangle myself from William as I hurried to explain, “No! It’s not a - God, you are stupid! Jenny’s is that one,” I pointed out to Charlie,