Chapter One
"I suppose it's a very pretty building." a petite girl with long brown hair and entrancing caramel eyes remarked, her gaze fixed on the beautiful mansion she was stood before as crowds of students bustled around, greeting friends, dragging luggage up to the main entrance, saying their farewells,
"Yes, indeed," the girls father muttered as he heaved his daughters trunk out the taxi.
"Netherfield park," she continued a mischievous smirk playing at the corners of her lips, "the finest boarding school in all of California, so they say," she chastised merrily, for Elizabeth Bennet was known for her lively temperament and charmingly witty mind and the majority of those who encounter the enchanting sixteen year old were swept up by her love of life and witty sense of humour, but she had her faults and vices, as do we all.
"Are you sure you'll be alright here, Libby?" her father asked, bringing the girls attention back to him and away from the building she was to call her home for the next several years, "It's a very long way from anything you know, I mean...America, Libs..."
"Yes, father, because American's aren't the same as normal people, did you know they do everything standing on one leg, I never knew such a thing!" She teased again, her dark eyes alight with goodness and mischief. Her father chuckled,
"You know that isn't what I mean, you don't know anybody in America, Libby, I don't want you suddenly deciding you don't like it and then being stuck on your own here."
"I'll be fine, dad. I promise. When have I ever not be fine?" she questioned, rolling her eyes and folding her thin arms across her chest, her father opened his mouth to retort but was interrupted by a tall, relatively plain looking girl coming up smiling sweetly,
"Hi, welcome to Netherfield, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm new, my names Libby and I'm in Austen House, I, I don't know where I'm going?"
"Ah! You must be Elizabeth Bennet, I'm Lottie. We have system here where a senior is assigned to all new students, we call it the 'sibling scheme' and I'm your new sister!" she said beaming,
"Oh! Hello, it's nice to meet you, please, call me Libby, most people do, Elizabeth is such a mouthful." Libby said grinning at the girl and extending her hand
"Jesus!" Lottie laughed, taking the smaller girls hand and shaking it, "you are so british!"
"Spoken like a true American," her father muttered, Libby turned to him,
"Father!" she hissed, before turning back and smiling apologetically at Lottie, "i apologise for my father, he's not too keen on the idea of leaving me to fend for myself in a foreign land haha"
"Naa, it's cool, right well, come on, I wanna show you the dorms and introduce you to your room mate." Lottie said as she leant down and picked up Libby's trunk
"Of course," Libby smiled before turning back to her father,
"Now you promise you want to do this, Libby, you don't have too-"
"Dad, I'll be fine." He reached up and hugged her father tightly before pulling away, "Tell mother, Kits and Mary that I love them and I'll email regularly! I love you, daddy."
"I love you too, Elizabeth. Keep your nose clean, and keep that temper of yours in check, these American's don't tend to have the same sense of humour as us," he whispered, causing Libby to laugh good naturedly,
"I'm sure I can handle it. I'll see you at Christmas!" She said, smiling before turning back to Lottie and grinning, "Let's go then."
"And this," Lottie said, opening a door and revealing a large bedroom with two beds, one that was already made up, and a girl with long sleek blonde hair pulled into a neat ponytail folding clothes carefully, "Is your bedroom." the pretty blonde turned and shot the two girls the most dazzling smile.
"You must be Elizabeth! I'm so happy to meet you, my name's Jane, I guess we're roomies!" she said, her voice was soft and tinkling and had a slight southern drawl to it.
"Haha, call me Libby, it's a pleasure, Jane."
"Oh my god, you're british! This is so exciting!" She laughed sweetly, and Libby couldn't help but join in,
"Right, I'll leave you both to unpack, but I'll be, back at around seven to take you to the pep rally!" Lottie said, smiling kindly at the pair,
"Pep rally?" Libby asked, "What on earths that?"
"Netherfield's pretty well known for its soccer team, the sports pretty big around here and the pep rally on the first day back is tradition. it's a great way for new students to meet people and the team almost always make an appearance and not to mention the fact that Murphy's Law are playing! Jesus, some of those guys. Dayummm" Lottie blabbed,
"What's Murphy's Law?" Libby asked, confused,
"Ohh, they're a local band, they're amazing and holy shit, Will Darcy, the lead singer is like some sort of fucking greek god! He's on the soccer team too, him and his mate Chuck Bingley! They are the too hottest guys in school, no joke!" At this, Libby had to resist rolling her eyes; from her limited experience all 'rock stars' were pompous twats who had no sense of humour and were arrogant as anything.
"I've never understood all the fuss about the soccer players, but still, it sounds like it could be fun. I'll go, but only if you'll come too, Libby?"
"Soccer is football, right? Of course, it sounds like fun, besides, I'd like to meet these painted peacocks!" Libby chuckled and Jane smiled,
"Meet them? Oh, I've never talked to them!?"
"Aren't they in your year?" Libby asked, confused,
"Yeah, well, Chuck is, Will's in your year, you're sophomore's right?" The others both nodded, "Girls like me just don't talk to guys like them!" Lottie shrugged, and Libby chuckled,
"So they're conceited douchbags then? How thoughrally original! Oh well, at least its something to laugh at!" She said, "It's not formal or anything is it?"
"Nope," Lottie said, momentarily taking in what Libby and Jane were wearing, Libby had on a pair of dark, flared jeans, a loose tank top and flip flops and jane was wearing a simple sundress with low wedges, "Yeah, you guys are fine!" she said, "I'm just gonna go grab my bag, but I'll meet you guys in your common room in a second?"
The three girls walked across the quad and headed, along with tons of other students, towards the soccer pitch before finally coming to a stop amongst a large crowd not far from one of the entrances,
"Lots! Hey, Lottie!" someone cried, waving at them and Lottie excused herself from the other two to go say hi to her friends, Jane turned to Libby,
"So, what do you make of the school so far?" she asked, smiling sweetly,
"It's crazy, not like anything I'm used to...but I think I'll be just fine here," she laughed, and Jane beamed at her,
"You know, I'm glad I've got a roommate like you, my last roommate, Caroline was...well, she was lovely, but just a bit...loud," at this Libby laughed,
"You know, I think that you're too nice for your own good," she chuckled, nudging Jane who laughed too, and took a step backwards, before losing her balance and stumbling straight into the arms of a tall guy with tousled blonde hair and kind eyes, wearing a leather jacket,
"My god!" Jane laughed, unable to stop "I am, I am so sorry!" She stammered as she regained her balance and righted herself. The boy looked her up and down before throwing her a crooked grin and laughing easily,
"Naa, don't worry about it, I'm just glad I stopped you falling. Can't have such a pretty thing getting hurt, can we now…?"
"Jane!" She said, a blush creeping over her cheeks as she smiled shyly at the guy, "Oh," she said, suddenly remembering Libby, "And this is my friend, Libby."
"I'm Chuck." He said, still grinning, clearly he was a year or so older than the pair,
"Chuck!" A voice called, causing both Chuck and Libby to turn sharply, Jane however was still staring at Chuck. Libby's breath hitched in her throat, stood on the other side of a rapidly parting crowd, was possibly the most gorgeous guy she had ever seen. He had dark hair and the most piercing blue eyes. He was tall, probably about six foot and wearing a pair of dark jeans and a white v-neck. His jaw line was strong and his cheekbones were defined. The term 'Greek God' sprung to Libby's mind and something stirred in her memory. It was his eyes that caught her attention the most as he stood blatantly ignoring all the stares he was getting from the surrounding people, they were so beautiful, but there was a hard coldness to them that made Libby almost uneasy.
"Gimme a sec, Darce! I'm talking to these two lovely girls, come say hi!" Chuck called and then turned his attention back to Jane, Libby however, kept her gaze on him a second longer, watching him as he rolled his eyes and ignored a group of girls as they giggled and pointed at him and remained exactly where he was. She silently added unsociable to her list of faults.
"So, after this who drama is done, a load of us are going down to the Cops for a little after party...maybe you two should join us?" Chuck asked slightly sheepishly, Jane beamed at him,
"We'd love too, wouldn't we, Libby?" she responded,
"Of course," Libby agreed, glancing back at the 'Greek God' stood glaring at the trio,
"Chuck, come on! We're on in ten and-" he yelled his voice laced with impatience,
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Chuck called back, seemingly completely unaware of the crowd just staring at both him and his friend, "So I'll see you girls later, just tell the guy at the pathway you're with Chuck, he'll tell you where to go!" He laughed, before turning and jogging over to his handsome friend.
Once they were gone, Libby turned to Jane, "What are the Cops?" she asked,
"Its the woods in the grounds, only the seniors, sports players and a select others ever get to see the infamous 'party ground'" she squealed, excitedly grabbing Libby's arm and laughing in excitement,
"Holy fuck!" Lottie said approaching the girls, "did I just see what I think I just saw?" She demanded, "Were you two just talking to Chuck Bingley?" A look of shock registered on Jane's face before she nodded slowly, and Libby just shrugged,
"I have a feeling I'm meant to know who this is?" she muttered, but Lottie ignored her,
"Was...Was Will Darcy here too?" she breathed excitdedly. That name struck with Libby, and suddenly she broke out laughing. Jane and Lottie looked at her,
"That...that was 'Will Darcy', that cold and unsociable arse was your 'perfect greek god'?" she said, her eyes twinkling as she delighted in the ridiculousness of the situation, "Well, he's handsome enough, I'll give you that, but he's rude as anything!"
"Chuck invited us to the Cops, Lottie!" Jane exclaimed, ignoring Libby, "You have to come with us!" Just as Lottie was about to reply, the doors opened and they trio of girls found themselves swept up in the current heading inside.
They found seats with a great view of the pitch and the stage that was set up in the middle of it. The crowd erupted with loud cheers as a group of cheerleaders ran in unison onto the pitch, followed by four guys, two of whom were very familiar. The cheerleaders ran and took their places in front of the stage, while the boys ran onto the stage. Chuck grabbed a guitar, another boy with red hair settled at the drums and a guy who came across as rather short tugged on a bass guitar. But Libby's gaze was trained on Will Darcy as he stepped up to the microphone as the others started playing the introduction. to some song
"Another year at Netherfield, another peprally!" he said into it. He sounded...uncomfortable? "And we thank you for your continuing support with this little band." and then, the drums kicked in and Elizabeth Bennet stopped still when Will Darcy started singing. If it was at all possible, his attractiveness levels rocketed, and she couldn't help but note that if he was a nicer person, she may have seen the appeal surrounding this boy.
"They're amazing, aren't they!?" Lottie asked, leaning over and grinning at the girls, Jane nodded enthusiastically and Libby begrudgingly agreed, it wasn't really her cup of tea, but it was admittedly very good.
After the peprally, Libby, Jane and Lottie started to make their way to the Cops, the three chattering easily about the 'spectacular' that was the annual Netherfield high peprally. As they got closer, Jane became visibly more and more nervous and by the time they reached the edge of the path and were met by a tall senior, Libby thought she was about to bolt and run,
"We're with Chuck," she said, seeing as neither of the other two seemed capable of speech,
"Names?" The senior asked,
"Jane, Libby and Lottie," he nodded, typed something on his phone, before smiling and leading the girls through the trees. When they reached the clearing, all three were left speechless, tones of seniors and sports players were all chattering, there were fairly lights everywhere and...beer. how they'd managed to get beer, Libby had no clue, but there was a lot of it non the less. The three girls grinned at each other, before walking forwards.
They hadn't been there long before Chuck came bounding over to them, smiling warmly and Libby could almost feel Jane flush as he gazed at her. It was what happened next that caused Libby to start, Will Darcy was folding behind, a beer in his hand and a scowl on his face,
"Jane!" Chuck said warmly, "Libby! And you must be Lottie?" he asked, causing Lottie to nod, before she spotted someone she new and scuttled off to speak to her
"This, is my mate, Will." he said, formally introducing his gorgeous but predidecidedly bad tempered friend to the girls,
"Will, these are the girls I was telling you about." He said, before turning and engaging Jane in a conversation. Will stared at Libby for a second as she floundered for something to say,
"I'm Libby." She said, smiling politely, he didn't respond, "So...you're a sophmore, right?" She tried again, and he nodded before taking a swig of his beer, Libby just stared at him, before rolling her eyes and muttering that she was going to find something to drink as she decided firmly that Will Darcy was rude, arrogant and clearly felt himself above talking to her.
The evening passed pleasantly, despite Will's blatant rudeness and Jane spent the majority of it with Chuck. It wasn't until it was about eleven and Libby had been sent to fetch another beer for, herself, Lottie and a couple of new friends that everything really kicked off. She was rummaging around in one of the cooler boxes when she heard two familiar voices behind her,
"Jane is one of the loveliest, prettiest girls I think I've ever met!" Chuck said, and though Libby was out of sight she could actually hear the smile in his voice,
"She's hot." Will responded bluntly, and Chuck laughed,
"Her friend, oh, what's her name?"
"Libby." Will supplied calmly,
"Oh, remember her name do we, Darce!" Chuck teased, "She's very pretty, you'd be a hot couple and-"
"Please, Chuck. I remembered her name because it's common. I don't know how many times I have to express the fact that I have no interest in brain dead fans void of all personality who only want to have a song written about them. I have no interest in speaking to her again. Now, go back to Jane and enjoy her smiles, you're wasting your time with me." Will said. Libby was fuming. 'Brain dead'! 'Void of all personality' her opinion of Will Darcy was now set in stone and it couldn't possibly have been a worse one,
"Libby!" Lottie called, and she stood up quickly, causing both Chuck and Will to stare at her, "Come on, me and Jane are going back!" She locked eyes with Will, was that...did she detect shame in his eyes?
"I'm coming, Lottie!" She called, before turning to the guys,
"That you so much for the invite, Chuck. You guys were both great tonight by the way, I have to apologise though, I'd never heard of you before tonight, it's not really my sort of music, but you're very good." She said, smiling sweetly at Will, "Bye!" And then she walked away, grinning to herself.
Once she was gone Chuck turned to Will,
"Bro," he said, "you know you're gonna have classes with that chick? Not so 'void of personality', is she?" Will ignored him, his gaze was fixed on the small girl with light brown waves as she disappeared into the crowd.