"Hey, Lizzy! You almost ready?" Lizzy groaned, throwing a final pair of shoes into her bag and zipping it shut.

"Yeah, almost."

"Don't sound too excited," Jane said, slipping into her room. Lizzy rolled her eyes.

"Twelve hours in the car with you, your boyfriend, and his random friend who I've never met? Yeah, it's gonna be amazing."

"Just pretend you're gonna enjoy it. We're going skiing."

"I don't even like skiing."

"Fine, but you're my sister and I'm forcing you to come. The boys'll be here soon, and then we're gonna go."

"I can't believe you're bringing Lydia," Lizzy said. Lydia, who must have heard her name, came scrabbling into the room, panting. Jane scooped up the dog, who began to lick her face exuberantly.

"Lydia will be fine in the car, and we don't really have anyone we can leave her with."

"What about Mom and Dad?" she said. Jane laughed.

"If we leave her with Mom, she'll be married to the dog across the street within a week." Jane heard a honk outside and ran to the window. She waved down to whom Lizzy could only assume were the boys, then turned to Lizzy.

"Put a smile on your face. This is gonna be fun," she said, wrapping Lizzy into a hug. "Come on, you should come meet the boys." Lizzy grabbed her bag, shrugged into her coat, and locked the door to the apartment. She couldn't think of a more miserable way to spend ten hours.

She walked down the stairs and pushed open the door, shying away from the blast of cool air. She dropped her bag on the ground and rubbed her hands together. Jane was laughing easily. She and Charlie had only been together a few months, but everyone was convinced they were to be married. Jane, as if noticing her sister for the first time, broke into a smile.

"Lizzy! You've met Charlie, but I don't think you've ever met Darcy."

"Can't say I've had the pleasure." The other boy seemed to be ignoring her, so she shifted focus. "Hey, Charlie, how's it going?"

"Good, good. I'm so glad you decided to come with us."

"It wasn't like I had much of a choice," she said nudging her sister.

"Stop it, you're gonna love it." She paused. "Well, since we're all here, we might as well get loaded up. Any last things people need to get?"

The group chorused that they were all set, though Darcy had yet to say a word. Charlie heaved Lizzy's bag into the back of the car, then slid into the driver's seat. The doors were closed, the radio turned on, and the car pulled out onto the road.

Hour One

Charlie's car was a huge black SUV. Lizzy had been late to claim a seat and, as such, had gotten stuck in the back with Darcy. A man she'd never met. Awesome.

"Hey, I'm Lizzy." After a moment, she got her reply.

"Darcy."

"No, Lizzy," she said, laughing to herself. His brows furrowed, then relaxed as he got the joke.

"Funny."

"I try to be," she said, determined to make him as uncomfortable as he was making her. "How long have you known Charlie?"

"A few years now. He was my roommate freshman year."

"You guys are both seniors now, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"What're you majoring in?"

"English and business."

"Odd double."
"Two things I'm passionate about." Lizzy quirked an eyebrow.

"You're passionate about business?"

"It's important that I learn it."

"Dad wanted you to get a real degree?" He looked out the window.

"Something like that." He seemed to want to let the conversation go, but Lizzy wasn't one for giving up easy.

"I'm planning on being an English major too."

"What year are you?"

"I'm a sophomore. I know it's weird that I live with my sister, but she scored a sweet apartment and I'm totally one for taking advantage of that. She's too nice to let me stay with her, but I help her take care of Lydia and it all evens out…and I'm babbling."

"So you are," he said, looking out the window again. She rolled her eyes and turned to Charlie, who had reached a pause in his conversation with Jane.

"Is he always this hard to talk to?" Charlie laughed.

"He's always uncomfortable in new situations. You should've seen him when we first moved in. I thought he was going to turn around and head right back to Manhattan." Lizzy's head whipped back to Darcy.

"You're from Manhattan?"

"Yes."

"I've always wanted to live there. After school, you know? Or maybe Brooklyn. I'm not sure."

"We grew up about an hour away from campus," Jane said, petting Lydia's head.

"Must've been interesting growing up in the South," Charlie said. His Boston accent rang out as he said it.

"It's odd," Lizzy replied. "People think it must've been horribly different that growing up anywhere else, but I can't imagine it was all that odd. Just warmer all year round."

"Can't imagine what Darce'd say to that. He's born and bred Upper East Side. House in the Hamptons, whole nine yards."

"Really," Lizzy said. "We should've taken his jet instead of spending the entire time in the car."

"It was otherwise occupied this week," Darcy replied quietly.

Hour Two

Lizzy stretched into the seat and kicked off her shoes. After Darcy's joke—at least she thought it was a joke—about the private plane, most of the conversation had drifted off. She had pulled a book from her bag, but could only read in small bursts while in the car. She admitted that it was one of her larger flaws. She looked over. Darcy didn't seem to have that problem.

"What'cha reading?" she asked.

"Just some stuff for my capstone," he replied.

"What's the thesis? I'm scouting for ideas about mine." He raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't you say you were only a sophomore?"

"I like to plan ahead," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "You were saying?"

"It's an examination of narrative authority and autonomy of the reader."

"So, Calvino." Darcy turned to look at her.

"How did you…"

"Well, aside from the fact that you're currently reading If on a winter's night a traveler-" he shut his book, "it was a lucky guess, but I've read my share of him. I actually wrote a paper on the book as Calvino's confession of failure."

"I would say it's a bit of a jump to connect Flannery and Calvino."

"Not in the slightest," she said, taking a sip from a bottle of water. "There's an interview he did with his translator that implies exactly that." Darcy rolled his eyes and reopened his book.

Hour Three

Lizzy plugged into her headphones and stared out the window. They were beginning to make their way north, and it was starting to show. Trees were losing their leaves, the green slowly melting out of the landscape. But they still had twelve hours or so to go. She slumped into her seat and looked at the boy next to her.

He was tall. Really tall. He was that absurd sort of Tim-Burton-Tall that bent and contorted to fit into the seat. He was slender, legs curled up in their corduroys, with narrow feet in striped socks. Even he had given in to the temptation of taking off his shoes.

He wore a gray t shirt. A dark grey that somehow matched his eyes, a crystalline blue framed in long lashes that matched dark hair just too long. It had been combed back earlier that day but, now, it was starting to escape, tendrils flicking down to touch his ears. In a word, he was gorgeous. Shame he was such a dick. Lizzy looked back out the window and fell asleep. She didn't wake up until

Hour Five

Lizzy felt the car slow. Charlie had pulled off the highway in search of lunch. The GPS said there was a Subway around, and no one was really in the mood to search for a fine dining experience. They parked and piled into the restaurant. Lizzy pulled her sister aside.

"You have to help me," she pleaded.

"What's up?"

"He's impossible. I don't know how I'm gonna last the car ride, much less spend a week with him skiing. I don't even like skiing."

"You've never been skiing."

"But it's all snowy!"

"Just read a book or something. Or listen to music. Or go to sleep."

"I already did all of those things."

"He's a friend of Charlie's," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "He can't really be that bad. Come on, we should order." Jane smiled and tugged on her sister's coat. Lizzy followed her and ordered. Turkey with everything except black olives. They piled back into the car. Jane and Charlie fell back into conversation. Lizzy shifted in her seat to face Darcy.

"What d'ya get?" she asked, taking a bite of her own sandwich.

"Turkey, no olives." She looked at him with an eyebrow raised.

"Too salty, or just a weird personal preference."

"I've never liked them. What'd you get?" he asked, eyes brightening with the question.

"Same thing, actually. Can't stand the sight of olives." She could've sworn she had seen the slightest of smiles on his lips as she spoke, but this was Will Darcy. Will Darcy didn't smile, right?

Hour Six

Lizzy slurped at the last of the ice in her drink. Jane had fallen asleep and Darcy was reading. She leaned forward.

"How're you doing?" Charlie grinned.

"Alright. We need to stop for gas in a bit."

"Getting tired? I could drive for a bit…"

"Nah, I'm fine. I like driving." Lizzy smiled.

"Good, I was worried I might have to put my money where my mouth is."

"Not a fan of piloting a vehicle?"

"Not particularly. I'm much better at sitting in the passenger seat and annoying you with my music choices."

"I doubt you could annoy me with your music."

"Challenge accepted," she said, reaching forward and switching out Charlie's iPod for hers. Immediately, Ke$ha began to blare. Charlie shrugged and smiled.

"I don't mind." Lizzy frowned and shuffled to Bon Iver, then looked at Charlie.

"Anything?"

"It's a little more chill than what I usually listen to, but I don't mind it. If you enjoy it, I enjoy it."

"How selfless can you get," she said.

"Well, I'm Jesus," he said, straight-faced. Lizzy laughed, waking Jane up.

"Oh, Lizzy. Why are you making us listen to this? Don't torture them."

"Charlie says he doesn't mind it." Jane looked to the backseat.

"You should see the look on his face then," she said, settling into her seat and attempting to go back to sleep. Lizzy looked back at Darcy, whose face was an odd mix of pain and something else she couldn't identify. It couldn't be pleasure. Darcy didn't believe in happiness. She'd heard so from Jane herself.

"Jane just doesn't like my taste in music," Lizzy said.

"And what is your taste in music?" Darcy asked.

"Not very good, I'm afraid. I have a nasty habit of listening to just about anything."

"I wouldn't call that a bad thing," Darcy said, shrugging and pulling out a phone.

"Most people call indiscriminate taste a flaw," Lizzy replied.

"I wouldn't. It pertains to me."

"And you're flawless."

"Of course not. I just don't consider my music taste to be the main one."

"And what is it?" Lizzy asked.

"Pride," Charlie called from the front seat.

"Beauty," Jane said, getting a laugh and a smile from Charlie.

"No, much worse than those."

"You're making it sound like you murder people in your spare time," Lizzy said.

"Nothing like that. There's pride I'll admit to, sure, though not to the bounds as it allows me to accept that second flaw."

"Spit out, man. You could have just said long-windedness, if that's what you were going for."

"I don't forgive. Ever," he said, rather simply. The smile fell from Lizzy's face.

"That is a genuine flaw. I cannot mock you for it.

The conversation petered out after that.

Hour Seven

Lizzy pulled out her laptop and began to watch a movie, taking care of

Hour Eight

And

Hour Nine

Jo slept, Charlie drove, and Darcy typed at his laptop. Business, presumably.

Hour Ten

Charlie stopped for gas again. Jane went into the mini-mart, leaving Darcy and Lizzy by themselves.

"Two thirds of the way there ain't shabby," she said, stretching.

"We should go for a walk," he said. "Stretch out our legs."

"Ok," she said, immediately regretting her acquiescence. She and he slipped out of the car and walked around the mini-mart.

"So," she said.

"So," he replied.

"You excited to go skiing?"

"Charlie's house up there is extraordinarily nice. Makes for a very pleasant vacation."

"I'm excited. I've never been to Vermont." He raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Well, I'm sure you go up all the time on your jet, but us mere mortals usually stay pretty close to where we're from."

"I can't imagine going to school so close to home."

"Some of us don't have much of a choice," she replied, shortness audible on her breath. The confusion on his face beckoned for explanation.

"My dad's a professor there, and it's the best school my dad could really afford to pay for. It's not all too common that two sisters end up at the same school on pure coincidence."

Darcy wasn't entirely sure how to reply. Lizzy cleared her face and continued to speak.

"So, you have a girlfriend?" Darcy colored.

"Not at present."

"In the past?"

"It's uncomfortable to talk about."

"I'm all ears." Perhaps it wasn't healthy that she delighted in Darcy's discomfort.

"Her name was Caroline."

"I'm not sure how that's awkw—"

"Caroline Bingley," he finished. Lizzy couldn't help laughing.

"Really? Oh my Go—How are you guys still friends?"

"He understood the situation."

"I'd be happy to hear it," she said. He stiffened.

"I've only just met you, you know."

"Sometimes it's easiest to talk to people you don't know."

"Well, she…uh." He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "She cheated on me."

"Really? Can't imagine anyone cheating on you."

"How am I supposed to take that."

"You're not unattractive. Not like you need someone like me to tell you that." Darcy smiled.

"Thanks."

"How long ago was it?"

"Eight months or so. It's been rough. Charlie's been very good about it. I don't think they were ever on really great terms."

"Still, it must be sort of hard."

"I guess," he said, staring intently at the ground. Lizzy strained for conversation.

"So, you've been up to Charlie's place?"

"Yeah, we go almost every year."

"Must be fun though, I have to admit I'm not the best of skiers. I've only ever been a few times, and never this far north."

"It's not too difficult," Darcy replied. They had finished their lap of the gas station just as Charlie pulled the pump from the car.

"Says the master. He puts everyone around him to shame. It's an injustice, I tell you."

"Surely he can't be that good," Lizzy said, smiling.

"He is. It's horrible to watch. You guys all set?"

"One sec, can I just talk to Jane for a minute?"

"Course."

"We'll be right back," Lizzy said, dragging her sister to the mini-mart.

"Ok," she started. "Is Darcy seeing anyone right now?"

"You interested? I'm sure he'd love to—"

"No, not for me. Yuck. It's just that he told me some sob story about how his last girlfriend cheated on him."

"I don't know," Jane said, scratching her head. "He hasn't really dated anyone since Charlie and I got together, and I didn't really know them before that, so… I mean, it's possible. He plays his cards pretty close to the chest, you know?"

"It's just…it sounded like a line." Jane raised an eyebrow.

"I really don't think so."

"He just…I just don't like him."

"You're welcome to that, but it might be true."

"Please, who would cheat on that? He's not unattractive."

"It could be true."

"Look at you," Lizzy said, knocking her sister in the shoulder. "Always inclined to believe the best in people."

"Sometimes it's true," Jane said, shrugging. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah," Lizzy replied, walking back to the car.

Hour Eleven

"Charlie," Lizzy moaned, flopping against her seat," are we there yet?"

"Nearly so, about two hours left."

Lizzy groaned.

"On what planet does that mean almost there?"

"We could play a game," Jane suggested.

"You'll have to be quiet," Lizzy said. "Darcy's sleeping." Jane looked into the back seat, where Darcy was splayed out, eyes closed.

"I'm not sleeping," he said. "I'm forming my thoughts."

"What could you possibly have to think about? We're on vacation."

"I'm having a personal crisis."

"Perhaps if you talk it out?"

"No," he said simply. Lizzy rolled her eyes and tried to go to sleep. She didn't succeed.

Hour Twelve

Lizzy had stared out the window for the better part of the past hour. Her eyes had begun to glaze over, losing their focus. The world outside became a blur of snow and trees, and she barely noticed when they turned off of the highway. She started as she noticed.

"Charlie."

"Yes?"

"Are we almost there?"

"No more than twenty minutes. We made good time." Lizzy squealed, ignoring the slightest of dirty looks from Darcy.

"I'm so excited. Can we go skiing tomorrow?"

"Absolutely. Once we get to the house, we'll set everything up and order some food, and we'll head out to the mountain first thing tomorrow morning."

"Oh, I'm so excited. Thanks so much for letting me come."

"As I recall," Jane said, "I nearly had to drag you along."

"Quiet. I'm happy now." The group discussed what to order for dinner until they pulled up in front of the quintessential ski chalet. Two stories in dark wood. Lizzy jumped out of the car to stretch her legs. The boy unloaded the bags from the car, despite Lizzy's protestations. Charlie unlocked the door and let them all in. He and Jane would be taking the master suite upstairs, leaving Lizzy and Darcy with the two smaller bedrooms.

"I'm sorry they're connected, but the place only has two bathrooms upstairs. Just remember to lock both doors when you're using."

"It won't be a problem," Lizzy said. "Thanks again for all of this."

"Please," Charlie said. "It's nothing. I'm just glad to have someone around who enjoys it." Lizzy smiled and started to unpack. The room was small, but perfectly adequate. The house was cold but, thanks to the roaring fire Charlie had set downstairs, was starting to warm. Lizzy threw on an extra sweater and walked downstairs, where Jane was investigating the state of the fridge and pantry.

"There's a bunch of stuff we need to get if we're gonna be here for a week. And I need to take Lydia for a walk. She's going crazy."

"I don't mind going to the store. I feel like I need to do something to earn my keep."

"Lizzy, it's not like you have any idea where the store is. And, honestly, with your sense of direction, you'd get lost even with the GPS."

"I don't mind going with her." The two girls turned to the source of the voice. Lizzy inwardly groaned and grabbed the keys off of the table.

"Ok, Darce. You're driving."

Author's Note: Something sort of new for me. This is gonna be really short, no more than five chapters, but I'm liking the character of a younger Lizzy and Darcy. Hmm. Maybe I'll write a longer one after all this.

Reviews much adored, as always.

Much love and best wishes,

Zoe