A modern Pride and Prejudice:Darcy's view

Chapter 1

I was driving my car and as I looked down at my GPS, I sighed.

„Darcy, why are you so depressed since breakfast?How can you be in a bad mood, when a party is near?", wondered Charles Bingley, my best friend since kindergarden.

Bingley and I have two completly different characters, so some people are wondering, how we managed to be friends for such a long time. Bingley s always cheerful and optimistic and has no problem in making conversation, while I'm a pessimist and you could say, that smalltalk is one of my biggest problems. And now Bingley and his sister Caroline are dragging me to a party. I mean, a party! And a party means people. A lot of people.

„You know exactly, that I hate such events, but nevertheless you force me to go with you and your sister.", I answerd in an annoyed tone and tapped my finger at the steering wheel to underline my anger.

„But you should meet some new people and make some friends!", he replied and I shook my head.

We recently moved to Netherfield, so we could study at college. Bingley always wants to travel, he can't stay at one place for a long time.

And now some neighbours invited us to this party to introduce us to these people.

„Maybe, you're right, Charles...", Caroline remarked suddently, after a long silence, „But I can understand William quite well. I mean, who would like to be around such people, that are beneath our standard?"

„I can't believe, what I'm hearing right now!", Bingley cried out and looked a little shocked, „Why do you two always have to be so snobbish?"

„I'm not snobbish, I'm just used to higher besides, these people don't care about manners and they're rude and selfish.", I remarked and Caroline agreed, as always.

Caroline always agrees with me and is always around me. I'm doing everything to ignore her, but she doesn't get it. She's just like every woman I met, they always try to become my girlfriend or something, just because I'm rich.

Bingley was sitting in silence, too shocked by my words. He just sees the world as it's best.

When we arrived at the Party, a lot of people were already dancing and it was very noisy. The music was loud and I think, the songs were all from the charts. How mainstream. I wanted to return home, but Bingley remarked my movement and held me back. Besides, it was already too late.

Everyone was quiet, and stopped dancing, when we entered they stared at us, like we were alians.

I was horrified and shocked as I looked in their big, curious eyes and frowned. Everyone was wearing „cool" clothes, the boys were wearing Jeans! I was sticking out like a sore thumb! Bingley was smiling openly and did not seem confused at all, but that was not a big surprise, I mean... we're talking about Charles Bingley!

A chubby old man walked towards us and introduced us to the crowd, that was already whispering about us. I only heard a little gossip like:

„Mr. Bingley...so rich...!"

„Did you hear, Mr. Darcy...even richer...so handsome!"

„Omg, look at his clothes!"

I was disgusted and I guess my face showed it really clearly as we went to the other side of the room. I heard someone giggle and turned around: A girl, who was plain, but had intelligent eyes was wearing drainpipe jeans and a sparkling, red top. She watched me with an amuzed look and I looked the other way, a little puzzled.

I was very relieved, when everyone was dancing again, but that wasn't forever: A woman,about forty, made her way towards us and brought three girls with her, probably her daughters, she wanted to introduce. One of them was the girl with the intelligent eyes and she watched me quite interested.Oh no, like every other girl.,I thought, I will show her, that she shouldn't get her hopes up.

I gave her an uninterested look and she looked down at her feet.

Her mother began to introduce her daughters:

„Jane, Elisabeth and Mary Bennet.", she said. Ah, so her name is Elisabeth...,"I have two other daughters, but as you can see, they are already dancing!"

I looked over to the two girls, who were flirting and giggling stupidly. They were wearing miniskirts and tops with plunging necklines.

I was already looking forward to the end of this party, I couldn't bear to be with these people any longer. I didn't join the conversation at all.

Bingley smiled even more and I noticed, that he stared at the beautiful, blond Bennet sister; she, herself was just smiling back politely, so I didn't have to worry about her.

Because Bingley falls in love very quickly and unwillingly breaks many hearts, because it is never forever. Jane didn't seem to be seriously interested in him, so she won't be hurt later.

By the way, I'm very proud of my study of characters and I'm always right with my speculations. Bingley will take my advice, if I tell him, that this relationship is not possible. Bingley listents to my advices very often. Without my clever advices, he would be lost, I guess.

A few minutes later, I observed Bingley having an akward coversation with Jane, but I didn't understand everything they said. Then he asked her for a dance and they disappeard in the crowd.

Elisabeth was standing near me and I felt a little akward, since we didn't talk at all.

„Do you dance, Mr Darcy?", she asked so suddently, she cought me off guard.

„Not if I can help it."

Great. Now she thinks I'm some kind of an antisocial freak.

Which I am.

Elisabeth looked a little disappointed and I struggled for words.

Say something, say something, ANYTHING !

She walked away and left me alone.

She's gone.I sighed.

I hate parties.

After dancing with Jane for a second time, Bingley walked over to me, with a happy smile on his face.

„Dude, Darcy, stop standing around like a stupid prat!You should have fun and dance a little!"

„I don't want to dance with such people and waste my time."

Bingley made an unbelieving face."But there are so many pretty girls!I've never seen so many in one room!"

„You're dancing with the only pretty girl at this party.", I answerd halfheartedly and looked over to Jane, who was dancing with another boy.

„Yes, she's just an angel, isn't she?", he said dreamily and his grin became even wider, if this was even possible,"But her sister is very charming too!I could ask her for a dance with you."

I glanced at her and shrugged.

„She's tolerable, I suppose, but not attractive enough for me.", I answered and Bingley just shook his head in astonishment.

„Well, I'll let you alone now. Have fun!", Bingley said and left.

After a few minutes, that felt like hours, I found myself in a conversation with Bingley, Mrs Bennett, Jane and Elizabeth. Mrs Bennet talked and talked and I think, she was a little drunk and even sillier than before. Elisabeth looked very embarrassed and I could understand her completly.

„My sweet Jane is, I believe, the most beuatiful girl in this area.", Mrs Bennett explained proudly and Jane glanced at her warningly. "So many boys fancied her and some of them wrote piano pieces for her-"

„And then, the story ended there!", Elisabeth jumped in and grinned apologetically,"It's the true power of selfwritten music to drive away love."

„I thought music is the food of love?", I asked provokingly.

„Not if the affection is not strong enough."

„And what do you recommend...to encourage affection?"

„Dancing.", she smiled knowingly, „Even if one's partner is barely tolerable."

Oh crap, she heard me!

Elisabeth turned around with a victorious „in-your-face"-smile and left me baffled.

Bingley grinned at her comment and watched me with an extremly amused expression.

I glared at him and gave him to understand to say nothing about that embarressing moment.

When the party was finally over, we drove home and I went into my room, without saying goodnight.

I was tired, but strangely I couldn't sleep, because I had to overthink the recently past events. I was so ashamed and hated Elisabeth, for mortifying me that much . Suddenly, to my own surprise, I had to laugh out loud (lol).

„Er... bro, what's wrong with you?", asked Bingley and glanced at me worringly from the now open door.

I sat up and wiped away my tears.

„Nothing Bingley, don't worry about me, I'm just laughing at my own stupidity."

„Okaaay...good night.", he answerd doubtfully and left my room.

I sank back onto my pillow and closed my eyes. The image of a certain girl popped up in my mind and I couldn't ignore it.

"Even if one's partner is barely tolerable."

I smiled as I fell asleep.