Chapter Text
Whenever she's bored Avery likes reading books in the library. She has a list of classics she's been dying to read, and the Hawthorne library is a bookworm's dream. She never saw so many books in her life. When she lived with Libby and her mom, she used to go to the library and take out a huge stack and leaf through it in a matter of weeks.
Since she has grown older, she's lost that ability to read like she used to read. Grief, school responsibilities, and the availability of quick dopamine on the internet and social media has made reading less desirable. This sucks because books gave her such joy as a kid. But since her move into Hawthorne mansion, Avery warmed up to reading again.
For one, after becoming America's youngest billionaire, she can't go on social media without seeing her name everywhere. Alicia told her to keep a low profile. She manages Avery's social media with Avery's consent. Avery can't imagine responding to all of the negative comments, and she feels sick looking at them. So she stays away. She has not viewed her social profile in months.
Secondly, the financial stability and her graduation from high school has freed her for time. This summer has given her peace to work on the Foundation and get some much-needed rest.
Avery has a whole list of classics to read. She is currently making her way through Pride and Prejudice. She likes to annotate the books.
"Am I allowed?" She asks Xander one day.
"It's your house. I can't see why not. Annotate away." He says with a wink.
So, she annotates pretty much every book she reads. She feels like it would piss off grandfather Hawthorne to see her writing in his books, but then again, he would probably use them for riddles if he could. She's surprised to notice that there are a few annotations already there.
One of the books, The Sound and the Fury, is annotated by Toby. He writes many comments under Quentin's story, the struggling son. Avery reads his words and feels connected to Toby. Even though she can’t communicate with him anymore, she responds to his comments. She feels like she's writing a letter to someone through her annotations.
As practical as her life has made her be, Avery is a romantic. She dreams about annotating love letters to a boy and him writing back. She loves getting lost in the pages of a book. She loves romances and books about biological and found families.
She writes notes in Pride and Prejudice obsessively. Sometimes her notes are insights on the work. Other times they are total fluff.
Mrs. Bennet is desperate to marry off her single daughters. Perhaps she needs a hobby.
Darcy you are being such a tool. You need to be nicer to Elizabeth.
Why don't you dance with her? Give Elizabeth a chance.
Darcy says that he wants an accomplished woman, because his sister is so accomplished. He admires her and he values an educated woman. He doesn't judge Elizabeth as lesser than because she isn't perfect I don't think.
Caroline Bingley does not deserve William Darcy. She is only after the money.
Jane Bennet is an angel, actually kind of reminds me of Libby. Bingley needs to come back, who cares what Darcy says. Interesting how reputation was valued so much those days. Now people just go after who they love.
"HOW DARE YOU" - when Darcy proposes to Elizabeth and insults her whole family.
Darcy is so stuck in his ways. I wish he'd just admit he loves Elizabeth.
Catherine seems so fake and Mr. Collins eats it all up.
Mr. Collins she does not want to marry you. Can you take a HINT?
Aww he wrote a letter, okay this is better
She falls in love with his house first, reminds me of how I'm falling in love with Hawthorne mansion.
Damn. Darcy is the best. I'm glad he stuck it to Wickham.
Lydia is fifteen. She's so young. Austen is hard on her. She's a victim here, I wish she'd seen that.
Lizzie and her dad have the best relationship.
I love how Lizzie stands up for herself and aww, I'm glad they end up together
She loves writing these little notes. She feels a bit alone reading the book. Jameson and Xander don't read classics. Xander loves non-fiction and science books and fast paced thrillers and mystery novels, but he says he doesn't have the attention for the classics. Jameson's the same, he likes a fast paced book but says the classic novels don't hold his attention.
He quotes Chuck Bass in that he's the kind of person people write books about and not the kind who reads them. Although he admits he doesn't expect anyone to write on him or think they would. He just means he'd rather have real-world adventures. Avery says he's a fascinating subject and that she would be surprised if people didn’t write on him. Jameson thanks her and says surely they will write on you too.
She hasn't talked to Grayson or Nash on books. Although she’s seen Nash reading country western novels in the living room or over breakfast when he was home. She’s also seen Grayson carrying around with some non-fiction book on occasion.
Libby says she'll try to read Pride and Prejudice but she's been so busy with the cupcake business that she hasn't had the time to pick up a book in months. Avery doubts she will for a while, and she doesn't mind really.
She often leaves the copies in the library. The library has become her sacred reading place and she often leaves them there overnight next to the beanbag chair where she reads.
Avery goes through the older chapters sometimes to reference, and slowly, she begins to see annotations that weren't there before.
Mrs. Bennet is a product of her time and I understand that but she will always be a meddling mother to me.
Darcy cares about social class and was wrong to insult her family, but Elizabeth is also prejudiced against him. She assumes he is stuck up and acts accordingly."
He didn't ask her to the ball because he was terribly intimidated by her. Elizabeth is incredibly intelligent and beautiful and he's so nervous to approach her.
”Agreed. Completely uncalled for" in regards to him insulting her family.
Elizabeth won't admit her feelings to Darcy either. And she has rejected him. He's afraid to go back to her. Thus, he writes the letter.
Caroline Bingley is the bane of my existence. However, perhaps she reflects how women in her social class behaved, yet I struggle to stand her.
Wickham is the most despicable character in all of literature. You cannot convince me otherwise. Lydia is a victim and will live a hard life. I look back and feel sorry for her.
I'm glad he reached out to her with the letter and looked out for Lydia. Darcy is a truly admirable character. They both are, which makes them such a great pairing.
Avery has no idea who wrote these notes, but she feels too nervous to ask anyone. She realizes through them that Lizzie was prejudiced as well, and that their mutually strong personalities kept them apart for so long. Neither knew how to express their feelings or get past their ideas on each other. She loves how they get past their flaws and become better people. And she’s happy to have someone to relate to on the books. Perhaps one of the Hawthorne brothers is messing with her on their lack of passion for the classics.
She loves that he validates her points, and pushes back against some of them when she is wrong. She loves feeling a connected experience while reading. She also has no idea how someone could sneak around without her noticing, but with the Hawthorne brothers, there is no room for doubts. They are brilliant at hiding secrets in the Hawthorne house.
She also worries she will lose the notes if she confronts them. So she is just going to get her next book and put it beside the beanbag chair and see what happens.