Chapter 1 – Well you may be a lover, but you ain't no dancer
Disclaimer: No, I don't own these characters. I'm not Jane Austen. I don't own any of the songs or movies mentioned, unless otherwise stated. Other than that, enjoy.
I'd been waiting in the lobby of the county court house for about an hour. My shoulders sagged with the weight of disappointment. I could feel the rush of a thousand heartbreaks. How could I be so stupid? I found the strength to rise to my feet and trudge out the door. My car keys made a hollow clanging sound like my bones. I saw someone leaning against my car.
I should have put my sunglasses on. If I was wearing them, I could hide my emotions a little better.
"Hey, G," his voice was comforting. He could see how broken I felt.
I felt like that scene out of Fast Times at Ridgemont High when the girl saw her brother outside the clinic. Only it was my brother outside the courthouse. "I'm so sorry," I blurted before breaking into a sob. He hugged me close and shushed me. "I'm going to kill him," he muttered.
"Fritz…" I started. I pulled away and looked up into his face. His normally placid green eyes were fiery and livid. He looked into my eyes as if reading a tiny print scrolling across my brain and his eyes flew wide.
"Oh, no, G. No…"
My hands were pressing into my lower abdomen. "I was going to tell him today, and -" he had me in a tight hug and I broke into sobs. "Oh, G…" was all he could say. His embrace crushed my body into his and as fragile as I felt, I knew I was safe.
[&]
Pulsing pink, blue and green lights washed over a crowd of dancing, sweating bodies crammed into a tiny venue. Netherfield was raging onstage, and Charles Bingley was pressing his lips close to the microphone. His leg tapped in time with the heavy bass and drum beat and he shook his head, flinging sweat off his messy red hair.
Lizzy crouched down just in front of the gate separating the crowd from the stage and snapped frame after frame. She fought the urge to dance and resolved to bobbing her head or tapping her finger along with the beat.
After the set she met Jane outside and felt the cold air blast her sticky skin.
"They were awesome!" Jane said, a little too loud. Her ears were probably ringing as bad as Lizzy's.
Lizzy lit a cigarette and exhaled, "If Anberlin and The Subways were to have a baby, Netherfield would be it."
Jane nodded. "The lead singer is super cute," she gushed.
"You're never going to believe me, but I think he was looking at you."
"Shut up! If you're lying I'm going to strangle you."
"I swear! Maybe you should go creeper and wait for him behind the building."
"You sound like you have experience with that."
Lizzy smiled and took a drag of her cigarette. "Excuse me?" a voice made her turn around, "Can I bum a cigarette off you?"
Low and behold it was a sweaty and smiling Charles Bingley. In her peripheral vision, Lizzy saw Jane stiffen.
"They're cloves," Lizzy said offering the black box to him.
"Fancy," Charles grinned.
"I'm Lizzy," she shook his hand.
"Charlie," he said quickly shifting his gaze to Jane.
"Oh, we know who you are," Lizzy said. Of course, everyone knew about Netherfield and their handsome, rich, playboy front man.
Jane took his hand, "Jane. Lizzy's my sister. She used her high connections to get me in for free."
"I lied to the venue management and said she was my assistant. I hope you don't mind."
Charles was staring at Jane, "No, I don't mind. I won't rat you out." He winked at Jane and her blush was evident even under the dim lights. "Hey were going to a party after this, if you guys want to tag along?"
Jane and Lizzy exchanged glances.
"We told a friend we'd go to her party after the show," Jane explained, rather solemn.
"It's a wrap party for a movie," Charles persuaded.
"No way, is it from Lucas Productions?"
"Yeah, actually."
"That's where we're going!" Lizzy answered.
"Well, small world," Charles was smiling at Jane.
"No, that's just how Meryton works. Small city," Jane was almost mumbling.
"Well then I hope I'll see you there," his smile melted Jane's insides.
"I hope so, too," she smiled.
He thanked Lizzy for the cigarette and left inside. After making sure he was definitely inside, Lizzy and Jane squealed in unison.
"Shit like that does not happen!" Lizzy almost screamed.
"Oh my freakin' God, no way!" Jane was giddy and jumping up and down. Her hands flew to her golden hair, "Oh my God, we have to tell Charlotte!"
A few hours later, Jane's old Volvo glided around cars until she had to slam to a halt at the next red light. She and Lizzy flipped the visors down and touched up their makeup before the light turned green.
"Ugh, I should have worn something better," Jane complained. As if her flirty top and gray tights weren't cute enough. Jane could wear a bed sheet and make it look cool. Compared to Lizzy's long black shirt and beat up jean shorts, she looked as pretty as ever.
"You look fine," Lizzy assured, reapplying mascara.
Walking up to the Lucas residence, Lizzy could see Jane get nervous. The low thump of a steady bass vibrated against the walls and they made their way inside. The Lucases were close family friends, and always had the coolest parties. They owned a production company and just finished up an indie film. They suggested Jane's work as an aspiring clothing designer and helped get her a job in the costume department.
After getting drinks at the bar they wandered until they found Charlotte.
"You'll never guess what happened," Lizzy said.
"You found religion?"
"There's no saving Lizzy," Jane laughed.
"Shut up. So I was photographing Netherfield and I noticed the lead singer checking Janie out and we met him outside. He said he was coming here and he hoped to see Jane."
Charlotte lifted one of her blonde eyebrows, "Well, yeah. His band did the music for the movie."
"Oh." Jane and Lizzy felt dumb. Of course, they should have known that. Durr. Charlotte laughed, "He got here like an hour ago."
Jane blushed and fiddled with her glass before Lizzy and Charlotte exchanged glances and pulled Jane along in search of the lead singer. They found him talking with a tall, skinny girl with hair dyed to an unnatural shade of red. Her pink top, skinny jeans and wedge sandals screamed designer. Charles turned his head to scan the masses and his gaze fell on Jane. He smiled wide and waved, starting to walk towards the three girls.
"Be cool," Charlotte murmured to Jane who looked at Charles with dreamy eyes.
"Hey, I was hoping I'd see you again," he beamed. He shoved his hands in his pockets and Lizzy noted that when he wasn't swooning hearts on stage, he seemed kind of bashful and nervous.
"Janie and Lizzy and me have been friends since we were little," Charlotte said, saving Jane before she fell into an awkward silence.
"That's cool! This is my sister," he motioned to the tall redhead, "Caroline." Caroline's slate blue eyes raked from Lizzy's messy hair to her tattooed arm and move down to her beat up Vans. Snob. Caroline's handshake was limp like a dead fish, like they weren't worth the energy.
"And this is my friend," Charles continued, gesturing to a man on his left.
"Frederick Darcy," the man said in a deep voice. Charlotte took his hand while Lizzy checked him out. Dark brown hair fell into his green eyes and curled behind his ears like he was in need of a haircut. He had a five o'clock shadow, broad shoulders and was a good foot taller than Lizzy. She felt butterflies in her stomach and smiled as charmingly as she could at him.
"I'm Lizzy."
"Frederick," he gave her a firm handshake, greeted Jane then looked away with an uninterested look on his face.
"So what do you do?" Charles was asking Jane.
"I'm a clothing designer in theory, but I got a job in the costume department for the movie," her tone indicated she was warming up to Charles. Finally.
"Rad. Caroline's a model, that's the closest I've come to the fashion world," he explained but didn't acknowledge his sister. He had eyes only for Jane, and not in a sleazy way. "How long have you been designing clothes?"
"Since high school," Charlotte interrupted, "she made mine and Lizzy's prom dresses."
"That's so cute," Caroline chimed in, but her voice lacked sincerity. Lizzy wanted to tell her to kick rocks.
Jane and Charles fell into easy, nervous, flirty conversation and Caroline watched them carefully before turning her attention to Lizzy. "And what do you do?"
"I'm a photographer. I work part time for a music magazine and part time at a local photography studio. We specialize in school portraits mostly."
"Two jobs? That's so diligent of you," her smile was demeaning and her eyebrow lifted.
Lizzy did her best to channel Angelina Jolie and lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. "Yeah it's not easy, but I make it work. Sometimes when money gets a little tight, I moonlight as a drug dealer. It's risky business, but it pays the bills."
Caroline's jaw dropped and Lizzy took a pull from her beer.
"I love this song," Jane was gesturing to the dance floor outside. D.A.N.C.E. by MSTRKRFT was blaring out of the speakers.
"My parents put this clear cover over the pool so it's like additional dance space. I'm waiting for it to break and for someone to fall in. It'd be so epic."
"Do you want to try your luck?" Jane asked Charles, her cheeks blushing. He beamed at her and nodded. It wasn't like Jane to be so forward with a guy, so she must really be into him.
Charlotte tossed Lizzy a look and leaned her head toward the backyard. Lizzy nodded and turned to Frederick.
"Do you dance?"
"Not really, no." He wasn't even looking at her; he was watching Jane and Charles weave through a crowd of partygoers.
"Is there a possibility you'd want to dance tonight?" She was trying to flirt and was probably failing. This guy didn't seem the least bit interested. That's when she felt Caroline watching but ignored her.
He gave her a small half-smile and shook his head, "I don't think so."
She felt her face fall a bit then shrugged, "Well, I'm not gonna beg."
Charlotte was waiting for her and they danced next to Charles and Jane under green and blue pulsing lights. After a few songs, the DJ turned the playlist into something slower for couples to dance to, and Lizzy and Charlotte left to smoke a cigarette and refill their drinks.
Beer and cigarette in hand Lizzy walked with Charlotte and she suddenly froze in her steps. She saw her parents talking to Caroline Bingley and Frederick Darcy. Fuck, fuck, fuck!
She looked at Charlotte who had an equally horrified look on her face, but she was looking at Frederick who was being interrogated by Lydia and Kitty. Lizzy quickly walked over to her family.
"Buenas noches, Mama," Lizzy greeted. Esperanza Bennet turned and her eyes lit up.
"Cariña!" She kissed Lizzy's cheeks and greeted Charlotte.
"We were just talking about how you," her father said. John Bennet gave his daughter a look to let her know it was nothing outrageous. Yet. Esperanza Bennet had a problem of trying to fit into crowds that were out of her league and ended up bragging and exaggerating. Trying to make herself seem important. In truth, she wasn't that bad. She was proud of her daughters but tended to overdo it and let her family pride turn into arrogance.
"Lizzy is a very accomplished photographer," Mrs. Bennet began, her Latin accent was appealing.
"So I've heard," Caroline said looking at Lizzy, amused.
"Ay, mija, I wish you would cover these tattoos," Mrs. Bennet said, rubbing her daughter's right arm.
Lizzy smiled, "My mother is embarrassed by my tattoos because I got them in jail."
"Lizzy!" her mother gasped.
"She's kidding," Charlotte said quickly. "Lizzy got busted once for spray painting stencil graffiti on the sidewalk and she thinks she's hard."
"Better watch it, ese," Lizzy said lifting her fists to the side of her face and Charlotte pushed her fists away, laughing.
Lizzy caught a glimpse of Frederick watching her, but she didn't pay attention. Lydia and Kitty asked question after question about him, like they were going to write his biography, but he hardly gave more than a one word response. The twins had a habit of flirting with the same guy at once, which would probably be any man's fantasy, but Lizzy knew how annoying they could be. Lydia was a walking gossip magazine and Kitty was always breaking the personal-space rule.
Jane and Charles joined them and Lizzy raised her eyebrows and pinched her lips into a straight line. It was bound to be an interesting conversation.
"This must be, Charles Bingley!" their mother said offering her hand. She kissed both of Charles' cheeks and started her gushing about Jane. "Jane's such a fantastic dancer, isn't she? She had lessons when she was young. She's so good at everything she tries. I once tried to get her into modeling, but she didn't want to. My pretty Jane. She would rather make the clothes than be on the runway. She could do both if she wanted to. She went to a fashion school and graduated with good grades and all these awards."
Their mother was desperate to set her daughters up and get them married and settled so they could pop out lots of adorable grandbabies. Unfortunately, the harder she tried, the further she pushed away any potential son-in-laws.
Jane was rubbing her forehead and smiling through her embarrassment. "OK, Mama, that's enough," she laughed out.
"My dear, maybe we should get something to drink," Mr. Bennet started to steer his wife toward the bar before winking at Jane.
"So you're a manager?" Kitty was trying her best to flirt with Frederick. Lizzy almost told her not to waste her breath.
"Yes I am."
"Do you manage anyone we know?" Lydia was losing interest.
"I manage a lot of local bands, no one famous yet."
"That's right," Charles interrupted, "not yet. Just a few more years max and we'll be on the cover of Rolling Stone."
Lydia and Kitty took the interruption as a chance to escape. Thank God. The next step would probably involve Kitty touching Frederick's arms and making some over the top comments.
Lizzy and Charlotte slipped off around the corner behind a hedge and lit up cigarettes.
"I think Charlie really likes your sister."
"Yeah, they're all cute and bashful."
"His friend is pretty cute, too."
"I asked him to dance and he turned me down flat. Bastard."
"He's probably got a girlfriend," Charlotte shrugged.
"Maybe. Regardless, talking to that guy is like talking to a sack of potatoes."
"Which you've done?"
"Not the point, the point is, it's a freakin' party and this guy is moping around and being a buzz kill."
"Are you buzzed?"
"A little."
Charlotte laughed, "Maybe that Caroline girl is his girlfriend. She's must be into his money. The guy is practically a millionaire."
"He should go buy a personality." Just then they heard a familiar voice mention Jane's name.
"There's a lot of pretty girls here, but-" here Charles whistled, "Jane is gorgeous!"
"Yeah, she's pretty. Just take it easy, Casanova, you just met her."
Lizzy and Charlotte looked at each other with incredulous amazement. It must have been that douchey Frederick talking.
"Fritz, tell me she's not smokin' hot. She's pretty and nice and funny and talented."
"She's not much of a conversationalist with you," Darcy pointed out.
Charlotte motioned for Lizzy to stay silent before she blew their cover.
"She's probably just shy, I get like that too, you know." A pause. "Her sister Lizzy is pretty cute too," Charles hedged.
"Yeah, she's ok, but she has the social graces of a feral cat. She told Caroline she sells drugs."
Charlie burst into laughter and the two eavesdroppers stifled their giggles.
"I'm gonna make a call to the office, I'll meet you in a sec."
"All work and no play makes Fritz a dull boy," Charles said before the two went their separate ways.
"Why did Charlie call him Fritz?" Lizzy asked taking a drag of her cigarette.
Charlotte looked at her as if she were crazy, "Hello? Frederick Fitzwilliam Darcy?" Lizzy shrugged. "My parents told me Fitzwilliam is a family name, but his parents owned Derbyshire & Co. It's some kind of media company. They have their hand in everything from music to movies to publishing."
"Everywhere but my pants."
"Gross."
The rest of the night, Lizzy successfully avoided Frederick Darcy and Caroline Bingley. Jane and Charles, however, were attached at the hip the whole night. The night ended with Lizzy and Charlotte calling a cab home. Charlotte opened the window and a cold May wind blasted past their faces. The lights bled together and Lizzy leaned her head on Charlotte's shoulder.
"Do you, don't you want be to love you?" Charlotte murmured. Lizzy smiled and continued.
"Coming down fast, but I'm miles above you."
Together they finished the lyrics, "Tell me, tell me, tell me. Come on tell me the answer. Well you may be a lover, but you ain't no dancer…"