Speed Dating

A Pride and Prejudice fanfic series

Round 1: Collins

Lizzy Bennet sat at the circular table in the small café. She didn't know why she had come to this speed dating session that her friend Lydia had recommended to her and her older sister Jane. All of the men there were definitely not her type. And yet there she sat, sipping white wine and waiting for her first "date" to appear in the chair facing her.

Lizzy scanned the far side of the room where her potential "soul mate"—as the brochure had described the flock of men that attended such gatherings—could be waiting. The proctor finally stood up and recited the guidelines. Five minutes for each pair, the men will rotate clockwise at the sound of the first bell, a second bell will signal when to start conversing, no exchanging of personal information until the end of the night, and have fun. They always ended these things with "have fun." Yeah, because trying to establish a connection that should take years, in five minutes is really fun. Lizzy sighed and sipped her wine.

The men made their way from the bar over to the twelve tables arranged in a circle. They reminded Lizzy more of a pack of middle-aged wolves than men. Each man had been given a number corresponding to the table that they would start out with. A few men passed, but not without giving Lizzy a quick once-over, only to find out she wasn't their first. As each undesirable specimen passed her table, Lizzy mentally did a small touchdown dance. And just as quickly, the dancing morphed into small dark clouds of doom accompanied by Beethoven's Fifth symphony.

Before her stood a slightly pudgy but overall disproportionate man, whose smile suggested that he wanted to do something more than talk. And it didn't help that Lydia had dressed her in a dress that she hadn't worn in years, and for good reason. It was ultimately too short and a tad too tight—and apparently just what the guy was looking for.

The bell sounded and Number Eight sat down and promptly began the conversation. "My name is Collins, and may I say that it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance—"

"Lizzy Bennet." She reached out to shake his hand, only to have hers grabbed and hastily kissed. Oh he is definitely out. "Uh—it's nice to meet y—"

"Oh your necklace is quite interesting, it looks just like one my ex-girlfriend Catherine had. But of course hers was much more exquisite—real silver." He added with a wink.

For the next three and a half minutes, Number Eight continued to speak highly of his ex. When the bell sounded again, Number Eight stood and gave Lizzy his thanks. She only nodded, and went to take a sip of her wine, only to find he had finished her glass somewhere in the middle of their "conversation." A waiter came and replaced her wine with a vodka tonic. Something a little stronger was necessary if she had to endure eleven more contenders. Pulling out her phone, Lizzy quickly texted her sister who was seated at table eleven.

Beware #8. MJR CREEP! Tlkd about ex whole time!

Yeah, I can see him. Thnx 4 the warning. ;)

Lizzy shut her phone and looked up to see who the next victim was going to be. Okay, c'mon lucky number seven. Before her stood probably the best looking guy in the place. Dark hair, intense eyes, tall…he was perfect. Until he opened his mouth.