A/N: So it's been years since I've published something and I thought it was time to get back on the horse again. This is my first foray into JAFF territory, and I'm rather excited about it!
I've had this particular idea for a while. It's a modern P&P variation. It will follow the canon, but not too closely (hence the variation) I'm taking liberties to make it all fit. It follows the general thorough line of the original, so don't worry that it's going to wildly spin off. That only happens in the beginning then we'll get back on track.
I'm curious to see what everyone thinks!
P.S. I don't have a beta, so all mistakes are mine.
Disclaimer (for old times sake): I don't own anything. I just play around with the characters a little
Chapter One
William Darcy was the king of holding grudges. He didn't hate a lot of people. He disliked many, sure, but hating people didn't often happen to him. However, once that hate struck, it was very hard to let go of, if it happened at all.
So when Elizabeth Bennet walked into the pub one Friday afternoon, he automatically gritted his teeth and balled his fists. He hoped she wouldn't come over. He doubted that she even remembered him. They had only met a handful of times and that was over half a decade ago. She was frowning as she looked around the room, but when her eyes fell on his group, her face lit up and started walking over.
Jane looked up from her conversation with Caroline and Charles when she approached. "Lizzy! You made it!"
Elizabeth hugged her sister in greeting. "Sorry I'm late. I had a client meeting, it ran a little long."
Charles got up and kissed her on the cheeks, "No biggie, we're just happy that you could make it."
She nodded to Caroline somewhat coolly, who seemed to reciprocate the feeling, before her gaze landed on Will. He felt like he was engulfed by flames. He wanted to punch her. Instead he just breathed in deeply. Charles turned to him and said, "Let me make the introductions. I can't believe you guys haven't met yet!"
Elizabeth smiled at him. "So this is the mysterious jet setting best friend. I should've have guessed. Hey Will."
He frowned, but nodded and said, "hey."
Charles looked between the two of them. "I didn't know you guys knew each other."
Elizabeth took the seat across from Will and shrugged out of her coat. "We met a few times when I was in college."
Charles turned to him with an accusatory gaze. "Why did you never mention that?"
Will turned to his friend. "I didn't know that Jane's sister Lizzy and Elizabeth were the same person."
He wanted to say more, but Caroline put a hand on his arm and intercut. "Now that everyone is reacquainted, shall we get on with it?"
Elizabeth cast a sour glance in her direction and was about to say something when a waitress came over with 5 glasses of champagne. She raised a singular eyebrow at Charles and Jane, who were sitting next to each other and were looking quite excited. Jane handed everyone a glass and said, "So the announcement… Charles, do you want to do the honors?"
"Yesterday, I asked this dear sweet creature to marry me and she said yes."
Immediately there was an eruption of noise and movement. There was kissing, clinking of glasses and admiring glances for the engagement ring. Well, Elizabeth and Will admired the ring. Caroline was thoroughly underwhelmed. "Really Charles, don't you think Jane deserved better?"
He frowned at her, but Jane just said, "I think it's perfect."
Caroline shrugged and said, before sipping her champagne, "I'm just saying, he could've afforded a diamond or two."
From the corner of his eye he saw Elizabeth roll her eyes. Will, secretly agreed with the gesture. The ring was a simple design of solid yellow gold and three sapphires. It was understated and classy and although he didn't know Jane extremely well, it suited her perfectly.
"I think it's great," Elizabeth said and smiled at her sister, who beamed back beatifically.
Caroline, apparently deciding to ignore the whole mess said, "Have you guys decided on anything yet?"
Her eyes shone. Will knew what that meant. She was going to take the first opportunity to inject some "taste" into the affair.
Charles and Jane exchanged a glance and said, "We were hoping that Will would be the best man?"
Will immediately perked up. "Yes of course!"
"And Lizzy, will you be the maid of honour?"
If synchronized facial expressions was an Olympic sport, Will and Caroline could've won gold.
Will made rapid strides away from the club, phone pressed fervently to his ear. His shirt was sticking to him in an uncomfortable fashion, but he didn't really care. The call switched over to voicemail. He pressed redial and tried again, still walking.
After about 30 seconds a groggy voice finally answered, "Will? What is it? Is it Gia?"
"No," Will admitted dourly, slowing his pace.
"If no one has died why are you calling me at 2 AM?"
"I ran into someone today…"
"That's great! About time! Is she hot?"
Will rolled eyes. "It was Elizabeth Bennett."
A chuckled sounded from the other side. "Good for you! How's the old girl doing?"
Will stared at his phone, perplexed. Finally he said, "I think she's good?"
"Awesome. I'm going back to sleep."
"No wait! Why are you so cavalier about this?"
There was a silence. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I ran into your ex and you act like it's no big deal." A hot burning feeling started to rise in Will's throat.
"Because… it isn't?"
The burning feeling was now engulfing his cheeks and part of his eyes. "What do you mean it isn't?! She broke your fucking heart!"
Will heard some shuffling, and then, "Yeah, she did. But I broke hers too. Where do you get this idea that it was a hostile break up?"
The feeling had now taken over Will's eyes and was rapidly reaching the top of head. "Because you were moping about it for months and you never talked about it!"
Will heard a soft 'oh'.
Immediately the burning feeling turned cold in his stomach. It intensified when he heard, "Uhm, we wanted different things in life. Specifically I was sent to the Middle East and she wanted to stay here. That last year, we were already doing long distance, but it was just too hard."
He stopped walking and leaned against a wall. He had the fleeting thought that he shouldn't do that, because it seemed like a prime spot for people to pee and or vomit on, but right now his emotions overwhelmed him too much to care about that sort of thing. He could always burn his clothes later.
"Oh no…" He breathed.
"What?"
"I may have made a huge mistake."
After the announcement, the quartet had dinner. Will was very quiet, trying to work out what to do about the Elizabeth situation. She tried to engage him a few times, but he really wasn't capable of putting on a false face. He answered monosyllabic or just grunted in response to her questions, in the hopes that that would be a deterrent. What he had forgotten about her though, was that she was famously stubborn. Most of the time Charles or Jane, and sometimes Caroline would intervene by steering the conversation away from Will. However, during the coffee she asked, "How's your cousin doing?"
He looked at her. Her round face was the picture of innocence. "He's fine. He's actually seeing someone at the moment."
Elizabeth smiled, but he couldn't tell if it was forced or not. "That's awesome. What's she like?"
"He is actually a culinary journalist."
Will stared at her, for any clues. But she was still smiling and looking casual as ever. "I meant what type of person is he."
"Oh you know, loud, impertinent, snazzy dresser."
Elizabeth chuckled and leaned back, "Yeah, that sounds like Rick's type."
"So, what venue do you think we should check out?" Jane asked rather loudly and the moment was over.
An hour after that, Will found himself in a club. Charles, with his puppy dog eyes and enthusiastic exclamations had convinced him despite his better judgement. Will wasn't a club guy, but this was a night of celebrations.
They were joined by Lottie, a friend of the Bennett sisters, who was thrilled to hear the news of the engagement and to be asked as a bridesmaid. Will wanted to roll his eyes, but found that he really couldn't. It was unfortunate that he was going to be thrown together with this devil woman, but Charles was genuinely happy with Jane and Jane, despite her reserved nature, was clearly in love with the idiot. Will found he was actually joyful about the event and he felt honoured to be so included.
But that didn't mean he enjoyed dance clubs. They were loud, cramped and he didn't really like dancing all that much. At least, not the drunken jumping and swaying people considered dancing here. Instead, he was standing near the bar, watching the others, sipping on a vodka.
"You know for such a happy occasion you really are a grouch!" Caroline said loudly into his ear. Will shrugged. "You know I don't like these places!"
"You know what I mean!" Caroline pushed her long hair out of her face in a most dignified manner. "Are you not happy for dear Charles and Jane?"
"I am!" He responded, before taking another sip.
"You just have a problem with the sister." Will shot her an exasperated look. Caroline just chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm not judging. She is a piece of work."
Will frowned at that, but Caroline didn't go into it. She had instead turned to the bartender and was ordering another drink. When she turned back around again, some orange concoction in hand, he asked, "What do you mean?"
Caroline shrugged, "Jane is great, but her entire family is so… small town. And brash."
Will had a lot of opinions about Elizabeth, but she had never come across as particularly brash. Then again… "Her laugh is really loud."
"For example."
They stood together observing the merriment around them. Will was about to call it a night, when Caroline put down her empty glass and grabbed his hand. "Come on! One dance won't kill you!"
He tried to fight it, but Caroline was stronger than she looked and pulled him to the dance floor.
She didn't let him go for at least half an hour.
Around 11, Will was accosted in the hall near the bath rooms by Charles.
"Hey man, are you having a good time?" Charles was leaning against the wall, like he had been waiting for Will to come out. He probably had.
Will shrugged. "This isn't really my scene. I was thinking of going home."
"Aw… come on! You barely danced! This is my engagement party!" Charles said with an enthusiastic grin on his face. Will put a finger in his ear to test if it still worked.
"I am sure Caroline will throw you another one," He responded dourly.
Charles, undeterred, shrugged, "Probably, but it won't be as much fun. That will be all canapés and awkward slide shows and embarrassing relatives."
Will chuckled. Like Caroline would ever allow an awkward slide show. "I just don't feel comfortable."
A hand appeared on his shoulder. "You should dance with one of the girls. I bet Lizzy could show you some moves. And you really should be a little nicer to her."
Will looked up and for once Charles' face was completely serious. Will bit his lip and said, "She's not exactly my type."
Charles rolled his eyes. "What type is that? Funny, intelligent, very pretty?"
Will didn't want to admit any of that. When he knew her before he had always found her intriguing with her dark hair that was actually a million different shades and her hazel eyes. When she talked to people she had a way of tilting her head that made it seem like she absorbed everything you said like a sponge. But that was then, and now she was an enemy.
"I suppose she's pretty, but she really is very crass." he finally managed.
Charles shrugged, "You have impossibly high standards. No wonder you're still single. If you do leave, at least come say goodbye."
Charles walked out of the hall. Behind Will he heard a door slam shut. When he turned around, Elizabeth was standing there with a red face. His stomach sunk and he didn't know why. Finally she shrugged and pushed past him back to the dance floor.
When he came out he saw her laughing with her friend Lottie and looking in his direction. He was glad the lighting was so dim, because he knew his cheeks were bright red. He didn't understand it. Sure he hadn't meant for her to hear that, but he also didn't like her and it's not like he had hidden his dislike of people before. Will looked around. He wanted to leave. But instead of doing the smart thing, he got a few more drinks instead.
He was slumped against the bar, a few hours later, when Elizabeth sidled up next to him. "So I'm crass, huh?"
Will seriously considered denying it for a hot second, but what was the point? "Direct too."
Elizabeth looked up at him. She wasn't a short woman, he was just very tall. "Anything else to complain about?"
He sighed and said, "Listen I don't like you. But we're stuck together, so let's behave civilly."
Elizabeth pursed her lips. In this light they looked rather seductive. Not that he was thinking about that. "You should listen to your own advice then."
Will rolled his eyes, but didn't have a response.
"What is your problem with me anyway?"
He had hoped she wouldn't ask, because it wouldn't end pretty. He would do his best to restrain himself. He breathed in and out a few times. "I don't like what you did to Rick."
"What do you mean, 'what I did to Rick'? I didn't do anything to him." She looked genuinely confused, but Will had drunk too much to care a lot.
"You broke his heart and stomped all over it."
"I broke his heart? Do you listen to what you're saying you ginormous ass clown?!" She was now standing in front of him, her finger poking in his chest.
He felt the something rising and wriggling beneath her finger, but he couldn't name it. "You are just a heartless bitch."
Her face was all astonishment, but before she could respond he had walked out of the club.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading!