Lizzie smiled to herself as Darcy closed the door behind him as he left her office. It was surprising to see Darcy displaying a sense of humor. It was even stranger that he actually made her laugh. Laughter and William Darcy was a combination she was not familiar with. She wasn't sure how to put the two together; she had spent so many months expressing such negative feelings towards him that to actually have something to laugh at with him was weird.
Lizzie replayed the video and noticed her self-conscious glances at him. Where had those nervous, fluttering feelings come from? Why was it so hard to look at him directly? Why was he being so accommodating towards her? Wasn't he angry after seeing all her videos? She was sure he had watched them. She recalled on entering the room Darcy had said that Gigi mentioned that she - Lizzie- wanted him. She had nearly freaked out and the thought of wanting him skittered through her mind. How did Gigi know she wanted him? Thank God he had gone on to say the part about the interview.
As she put away the video equipment she noticed the Fitz's wig on a chair. Oh my, she thought with another smile as she took up the wig, he's forgotten to return it. Again her mind went back to the way he was able to loosen up to portray Fitz, and how much he made her laugh. Lizzie remembered that he had said he got it from the wardrobe department of the production facility on the 3rd. floor.
As she approached the production facility, her thoughts again wandered to Darcy. He really was quite affable when he made the effort. There was an actual lift to his entire face. Suddenly numerous labeled boxes caught her attention; boxes with hats, wigs, masks, moustache, beards, everything necessary to dress up and even disguise oneself. She looked around to see if there was anyone in the department, but saw no one. She called out, but no one answered. Suddenly her eyes fell on a box labeled ties. She approached it and was soon involved in discovering the various bowties she found within. As she placed one around her neck, she decided to look for any newsy hats. Soon she found a box with newsy hats of varying materials and colors. She was soon in front of a mirror looking at herself, but lost in the thoughts of a certain bowtie and newsy cap guy. Faintly, she heard a distant click, but did not think too much of it.
Forty-five minutes later after much discovery and thoughts of props for each character she portrayed in her costume theatre, Lizzie finally decided to return to her office, recalling that she was to meet with Gigi later for a lazy evening together. She grasped the door handle, turned and pulled at it but nothing happened. She pulled again, nothing. Lizzie then realized that there was an additional security look on the door.
'Oh my God! I'm locked in. No, no, no. This can't be happening.' Lizzie looked around in panic.
'Stay calm, Lizzie' she said to herself. She walked slowly around the room. 'There must be another door.' Finally she saw one, and hurried to it. She tried and found that it too was locked.
'What am I going to do?'
'… my phone?' Lizzie looked down for her phone in her pants pocket. 'No! I left in my bag in the office.'
'What to do, what to do?' She passed her hand on her forehead and felt beads of sweat. She realized that her heart was hammering and she was breathing in gasps. 'Stay calm, stay calm.'
She walked to the door and started pounding on it with her hands. 'Somebody help. Help me. I'm stuck in here.'
Lizzie alternated between the two doors, giving her a chance to walk to keep the feeling of panic at bay. Her hands were clammy, sore and shaking. Her blouse was stuck to her back and chest. She felt as though the room was closing in on her. She couldn't even tell how much time had passed. After a few frustrated trips to both doors, she sank down onto the floor exhausted, her breathing becoming heavier and more labored.
'I will not faint. I can't.' She lay down and curled into herself. 'Someone will come. Darcy. Gigi. Bing. Fitz. Someone has to miss me and come looking.'
She couldn't take it anymore. She took her shoes and again began banging on the door. Suddenly she felt herself go limp, saw everything around her becoming dark and felt herself slip to the floor.
