AN: Hey guys. I'm not quite sure what happened but for some reason, I repost my entire story. I'm not sure what this is going to do, but I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. Please R&R. Thanks.

Prologue

It is a truth universally - or maybe school widely is a better choice of words - acknowledged that a senior girl attending Meryton Academy, must be in want of a boyfriend. It's also common knowledge that all the west coast guys are looking for a magazine cover girl. So what's that got to do with me? Well I'll tell you.

My name is Elizabeth Bennett. I'm what you call ungifted when it comes to money and magazine cover looks but my mother is constantly telling me that I would have everything I ever wanted, if I had a rich preferably handsome boyfriend. The attributes she conveniently forgot to mention, such as arrogance, stubborn pride, and disdain for us poor scholarship students, outweighed the money and the good looks. And yet…

Yes the obvious "and yet". As it turned out, I was in for a surprise during my senior year at Meryton. You see this is my romance and even though I love all love stories, mine is my favorite by far. It all started, you see, with a dance. Yes, a good old fashioned dance. No dates, no dresses, and certainly no boyfriends for me. But I get ahead of myself. Let me tell you my story from the beginning not the early middle. Here goes nothing…

Chapter One

I sat in my family room of my home with my best friend in the world. Luckily for me, she was also my sister. We had lived in this house since Jane was born, which was eighteen years ago, and had no intention of moving. My parents had five daughters: Jane, me, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. It may be hard to believe but I skipped a grade so, Jane and I had been together since kindergarten. Lydia and Kitty had been the same way, only Kitty got held back. Jane and I got into the best school in town, while the rest had to go to normal high school. I know. We have a strange family. Anyways, my parents are either always working or locked in their individual studies. At the moment, my dad was in London, trying to make a smart business deal with the head of his company. My mother had no idea how to pay the bills or manage money so that was left up to me. Like I said, strange family. But I did occasionally get the chance to be a slightly normal teenager. Tonight wasn't that night but the next night would be. Friday night there was a dance. I loved to dance but being a poor girl living in the west coast and going to a prep school as a scholarship student, I didn't get asked out often.

Tonight was supposed to be quiet evening of homework, bills and reading. It started out that way, too. Jane was doing her calculus homework and I was reading my favorite book. There was no TV, radio or anything like that. Just my sister and me, enjoying a quiet evening. Then my youngest sister Lydia burst in.

"Lizzie! Jane!" she shouted.

"On the couch," I called back. Then Lydia came rushing into where we were sitting, babbling unintelligibly. Jane, who was much kinder then me, tried to make sense of what she was saying.

"Lydia please calm down, then tell us what you have to say," Jane said.

"You'll never guess what I have to tell you," she squealed.

"I'm not a big fan of guessing games," I teased.

"Fine I'll just tell you," Lydia huffed. I bit back a smile. "There are three new students coming to your school. All born and raised in England. A Charles and Caroline Bingley, and a Fitzwilliam Darcy." We obviously didn't look very excited because she added, "They're all very rich."

I snorted. "Who isn't at this school?"

"No," Lydia said, "I mean enormously rich. The Bingleys own that really fancy chain of hotels."

"Oh. Do you mean the towering menace down a few blocks?" I asked. "I thought the name sounded familiar."

"Lizzie, be nice," Jane scolded. Just then my other sister, Kitty, flew into the room.

"Did you hear?" she asked excitedly. Jane and I exchanged a look and started laughing.

"What's so funny?" Kitty asked in confusion which just made us laugh harder.

"Nothing, Kitty," Jane said breathlessly.

"If you're going to tell us about the new students, we already heard about it from Lydia," I told her. She looked disgruntled but didn't say anything.

"Well I think it's awesome," Lydia spoke up. "I'm in love with him"

"You haven't even seen him," I reminded her, "let alone met him. Now both of you go bother Mary. Jane and I need to do our homework." The two girls sulked out of the room without compliant as Jane and I stifled giggles.

"Are we really going to do homework?" Jane asked.

"Of course but first let's talk about the new students," I answered.

"Lizzie you knew how much Lydia and Kitty wanted to talk."

"I know but all they see is rich boys who may very well be handsome." Jane gave me a look that made me laugh as I continued, "Well it's true." Jane nodded sullenly then smiled.

"Did you say 'handsome, rich boys'?" This provoked more laughter.

"With your looks you'll get at least one if not both," I said. Jane gave me a hard look but I pretended not to notice. "And they'll fall in love with you, embarrassing family and all," I continued, hugging Jane.

"Lizzie, you're just as pretty as me if not more so," Jane insisted. I just shook my head. Notice how she didn't deny her family was embarrassing.

"I wonder when we'll meet them," she said.

"Well there's that dance this Friday," I pointed out. "Maybe we'll meet them then."

"You're probably right," Jane sighed. I smiled hoping she couldn't see. When she threw her pillow at me, I knew that she had. I laughed again.

"Come on time for Calculus." Jane groaned but we got to work. By ten-thirty all homework was done and we went to bed exhausted.

The next day at school, I ran into Charlotte Lucas, my best friend outside of Jane. Her father was the principal so she knew all the comings and goings of all the students. I ambushed her at lunch as we sat on the grass.

"Spill it," I ordered.

"They're officially coming on Monday," she told me. "I've heard that they're coming to the fall social thing tonight though."

"Perfect," I smirked. "Maybe I can get Jane a boyfriend yet." Charlotte rolled her eyes.

"You're as bad as the cheerleading squad." I stuck my tongue out at her but didn't comment.

"What do you know about them?" I asked. For those of you out there who are perceptive, comment and ask are not the same thing so stop being cheeky. That's my job.

"Well the Bingleys obviously own the Bingley Hotel," Charlotte replied. "Do you know the Bourgh family?"

"As in Bourgh Productions?" I asked. "That Bourgh family?"

"Yes that Bourgh family," Charlotte said. "Well the other guy coming with them is related to them somehow. He's also an old family friend of the Bingley's."

"Fitzwilliam Darcy," I mused. "That name does sound familiar."

"But I mean seriously? Who names their kid 'Fitzwilliam'?" Charlotte said.

"The pompous, rich kind that wants to prove their child is perfect even with a horrible name," I smiled. The bell rang and Charlotte went to math, while I went to AP English; my favorite class because of my teacher, Miss Tillman. She taught with ease and most of the students liked her. Those who didn't, either didn't get her cynical, witty humor, or had done something so stupid, she didn't like them. I was, luckily, neither of those.

"Welcome class," she greeted us that day. "How many of you are going to the Fall Social?" We knew that random outbursts weren't tolerated so those who were raised their hands. "Good, good," Miss Tillman smiled. "I have set up four corners. I know that you think this is freshman worthy and you're pEddieably right, but it needs to be done. In corner one, those who want to be going to the dance. Corner two: those who are going but don't want to be. Corner three: those who wish to go but can't. Corner four: those who don't want to be going and aren't."

"What if we have no opinion about it?" one student called out.

"Did you know that I asked the exact same question once?" she said. "My teacher refused that as an option and made me go stand in a random corner anyways. That is why there is corner number four, George. If you do not care about going, stand in corner four."

"Oh I already know which one I'm going to stand at," George said, "I was just curious as to how you would react." Miss Tillman smiled.

"Curiosity is a dangerous thing," she said.

"Is that where the saying, 'curiosity killed the cat' came from?" another student asked.

"I suppose so," Miss Tillman replied, "but there's another part to that saying. 'Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back'. Are you satisfied, George?"

"Perfectly," he smiled.

"Good, now everyone to your corners," Miss Tillman ordered.

"This sounds like the beginning of a wrestling match." Some boys snickered in corner one. I was standing in corner two, but they were obnoxiously loud.

"You never know what a good debate might lead to, gentlemen," Miss Tillman said, amusement sparking in her deep blue eyes. They looked puzzled but I hid a smirk behind me hand. Once she had turned around I heard them whisper,

"I don't get it." This had me stifling a giggle and Miss Tillman looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Lizzie, is there anything you would like to share with us?" she asked.

"I was just laughing because I find it hard to believe that people don't get your jokes," I answered bluntly. "I think they're quite funny but they become funnier when buffoons don't understand the simplest witticisms."

"I'm happy to know that someone understands my, albeit, not so funny jokes," Miss Tillman smiled. "And since you're so willing to speak your mind, you can be the spokesperson for corner two." I heard a few people muttering, "Brownnoser" but I didn't let it bother me. I wasn't a brownnoser; I was just extremely blunt and told the truth. Soon Miss Tillman was calling the class to attention again.

"Corner one spokesperson," she said. "Please tell us why you are going to the fall social."

"Because it's going to be awesome," the spokesperson said.

"Not a debatable argument, disqualified," Miss Tillman told him. "Come up with a better answer when I get to you next time. Corner Two?"

"Well, I'm going because my older sister wants me to," I said. "I like dancing and socializing but not as much as reading or doing other things with my time."

"Not as debatable as I'd like but it will do," Miss Tillman said. "Who can debate her points?"

"Just because your sister wants you to go, doesn't mean you have to," someone called out. I realized it was George Wickham.

"Rebuttal?" Miss Tillman asked me.

"If your best friend asked you to go somewhere because they're shy and need you, would you go?"

"Not if I didn't have some other reason to go. Besides, I'm sure your sister can get along just fine without you."

"Or maybe she won't," I countered. "If she needs me, I want to be right there. I think that's a good reason to go somewhere you don't want to go."

"I surrender," Wickham said. "You have countered all my arguments." I got some spattering of applause but most of these people were snotty, rich jerks who don't like it when their "lessers" know how to argue.

"Very well done," Miss Tillman congratulated us both. "Corner three?" The rest of class was spent debating and laughing at Miss Tillman's jokes. Or at least, that's what I was doing. I can't speak for anyone else. When the bell rang, almost everyone was rushing to get out of the room. I took my time but I eventually I had to leave. When I walked out the door, George Wickham was waiting for me.

"Hello," he greeted me with a smile. "I don't think we've been properly introduce. My name is George Wickham, and you are?"

"Elizabeth Bennett," I said, and stuck out my hand, "but you can call me 'Lizzie'."

"Can I escort you to your next class?" he asked.

"Wouldn't that make you late?" I questioned archly.

"It's worth it," he replied charmingly. I laughed.

"Very well," I smiled. "I hope your next class isn't too far away from the Hertfordshire Building."

"All the way across the campus," he exclaimed playfully. "I think I should retract my offer. Mr. Drew would have my head if I was late to choir again. Or worse he would throw the chalk at me with deadly accuracy."

"A choir boy, are you?" I inquired as we walked. "I'm surprised I haven't met you before."

"You're in choir?" he asked.

"Yeah I'm a scholarship student," I answered, trying not to blush.

"Me too," he said proudly. "We should sing together sometime. It's the least I could do for beating you in our little debate."
"You surrendered!"

"Only because I didn't want to hurt your feelings." He was obviously teasing and it was actually quite refreshing. No one ever had the courage to tease me anymore. I suppose I scared them all away because I teased back.

"A surrender is a loss no matter why you surrendered," I told him.

"So next time, just crush you?" he asked.

"I'd like to see you try," I challenged.

"I accept your challenge, Lizzie," George laughed. "Be prepared for heated debates whenever I see you."

"I look forward to it," I said honestly. "Now go to class, before Mr. Drew throws chalk at your newly severed head."

"Your wish is my command," he smiled. "See you around, Lizzie." He walked down the hall and I walked into the class room.

"Who were you talking to?" Jane asked when I sat down beside her in my normal seat.

"George Wickham," I replied. "We had a wonderful debate in Miss Tillman's class and then he walked me to class."

"That was nice of him," Jane commented. "Is he coming to the dance?"

I shook my head. "No. He was in corner three."

"What?" Jane asked in confusion,

"You'll see when you go to English," I told her.

"Okay," she said. I loved my sister. She was so willing to accept everyone and everything without a second thought. Yeah, I was not like that. I had to argue almost everything just for the sake of argument. Then the teacher called the class to attention and our conversation was over.