The three arrived at Bing's Netherfield home and made their way into the family room. Darcy examined the place. It was considerably smaller than his home in Pemberley, but still big enough with ample room to move around. The three gathered on a couch, and made conversation. Darcy inquired about Bing's residency and Caroline talked about how much she missed seeing Gigi.
"I wish your sister could have come. She'll have to visit us at some point when school is over."
Darcy nodded, but mentioned that she was enrolled in tennis and piano, and that her lessons would take up most of her time.
"Have you guys enjoyed it here," Darcy asked, changing the subject.
"Yes!" Bing said eagerly. "The people here are wonderful, and the atmosphere is great. I love small towns."
Caroline laughed. "The only things small towns are good for is gossip and inbred families. Plus, everyone I've met seems totally barbaric."
"Caroline, you haven't talked to anyone," Bing retorted.
"I don't need to talk to see what kind of people live here. Remember that man at the country club? What was his name…something Bennings, right?"
"I think it was Bennet. But, he was really welcoming."
"You thought the cactus outside was welcoming, Bing. This man was a bumbling idiot. First he had to tell us all about his three daughters, like I care, and then almost knocked me in the face with his tennis racket," Caroline countered.
"I'm sure he was just being friendly," Darcy said.
"Speaking of friends, you're going to be making some Saturday," Caroline said as Darcy raised an eyebrow. "You're going to be my date at the wedding," she said happily.
"What wedding?" asked Darcy apprehensively.
"One of my friends from med school, you don't know him. And, you do not have to come," Bing said.
Caroline glared at her brother. "Of course he has to come. I already took the liberty of buying you a suit. Final sale, so there's no way around it."
"I'm not going, Caroline. Weddings are bad enough, and I don't even know these people. I'll pay you back for the suit."
Caroline's face started to turn red. "I already RSVP'd with you as my plus one. You're going," Caroline ran up the stairs in a fit, as Bing looked at her in shock.
"I'm sorry man; this is why I needed you here. But, it could be fun. You never know, you might meet someone…"
"I highly doubt it, Bing," Darcy said, going up the stairs to compromise with Caroline, and maybe get out of the whole ordeal.
Darcy stood in the hall, while Bing glanced at his watch. He couldn't believe he actually was going to the wedding, but Caroline had made a point that she would make his life a living Hell if he didn't give in.
"Caroline! Hurry up, we're going to be late," Bing shouted. Another five minutes passed before Caroline's door opened.
Darcy was texting his sister as he waited. "I told you specifically, before we left, to not under any circumstances let Caroline come back home before the reception. You had to have known she would do a full change with different makeup and hair."
"He's right, Bing. You shouldn't have given in," Caroline said flashing a smile to the boys, although both were too preoccupied to notice. "How do I look?"
Darcy was still busy texting Gigi, and didn't bother to look up. "Lovely, now can we leave? We're going to be late to a wedding I wasn't even invited to…"
Caroline told the boys to relax as they got into the car. "They're probably still setting up the reception area. We'll be fine."
Sure enough, Caroline was right. They were only ten minutes late, but the cocktail hour was running behind as well. Once the doors opened to the ballroom where the reception was held, Darcy and Caroline went straight to their seats. Bing made his way around the room, introducing himself to people he didn't know, and making small talk to the ones he did.
Twenty minutes passed, without Darcy making any attempt to talk. Caroline peered over at him every so often, but didn't push him to talk much.
"Are you okay, Darcy?" she said worryingly, as the time crept on.
"Other than the fact I don't want to be here, I have to file three reports tomorrow, and I have a headache; I'm peachy."
"Oh boohoo," Caroline mocked. She resumed ignoring him, and sipping on her champagne until something made her choke. "Oh my God, why," Caroline emphasized to get Darcy's attention.
Feeling the need to respond, Darcy said, "I know. This DJ is horrible. They could have hired a live band, at least."
"No, not that, you idiot. Look at Bing," Caroline pointed to where her brother was sitting. He was in between a middle-aged couple, ac luster of three related- looking girls, and another one who bared no resemblance. "That's the Mr. Bennet guy we were telling you about the other day! Those must be his daughters, except the Asian one, of course. Unless she's adopted. Ugh, look at the one next to Bing! She's wearing a dress from last year's collection."
Darcy looked at the girl Caroline pointed out. She had red hair and an affectionate look on her face. Bing and the girl were talking rather closely, and she smiled at him sweetly. Darcy shrugged, "She looks nice enough." The two got up, and started dancing to a song the DJ was playing as Caroline shuttered.
Darcy looked around the rest of the table. Mr. Bennet looked content enough, but his wife was flailing. Brimming with excitement, she kept pointing at Bing and her daughter dancing. Darcy shook his head for her in embarrassment and looked at the girl next to her. She had bright red hair, and was chugging back drinks when her mother wasn't looking. On her side was the smaller Asian girl, laughing and taking pictures of the people at the table. The bright haired girl tried to take her Vodka tonic when she was busy snapping a picture, when the last girl stopped her.
"Lydia!" she exclaimed. The girl on the end gave her friend back her drink, and her sister some water. Darcy laughed. He looked at the girl. She looked about his age, with dark auburn hair and light skin. Her eyes were blue and striking against her porcelain complexion. She was smiling lovingly at her sister who was dancing. To Caroline's shock, he couldn't stop staring at her.
"Darcy, who are you staring at?" she said, put off.
Darcy pulled his gaze away, and turned towards Caroline. "Just Bing dancing." Darcy looked back up to the Bennet girl, but found that she had moved. He skimmed the room and saw her back faced to him, talking to her friend at the bar.
Darcy tried to pull away his gaze, but found himself quite enamored with the girl. Although she was across the room her personality exuded. Her laugh carried across the hall and she smiled through the whole night; but Darcy couldn't just go talk to her. Caroline was here, and if he paid anyone attention other than her, he wouldn't hear the end of it. Furthermore, he had trouble expressing himself clearly to people; his words would come out muddled and end up making himself look stupid. So he stayed put most of the night, occasionally checking his phone for updates from Gigi.
Twenty minutes or so passed without any communication on Darcy's part, until Caroline gasped. "Look! Bing's bringing a posse over here." Darcy looked up, and sure enough, Bing was heading towards their table with the girl he was dancing with, her sister, and her friend. Unsure of what to do, Darcy picked up his phone again, so he wouldn't look like he was staring at the girl.
When Bing approached the table, Darcy stood up awkwardly. Caroline looked at him questioningly, but smiled at the group.
"Bing, I was wondering when you would introduce us to the beautiful girl you were dancing with all night," Caroline said, simulating excitement.
"Sorry, time passes when you're in good company," Bing remarked, as the girl smiled. "Jane Bennet, this is my sister Caroline, and my friend William Darcy. They've been staying with me at Netherfield. And here," Bing said mentioning to the two other girls, "is Lizzie, Jane's sister, and Charlotte Lu."
Caroline started talking to Jane, and not before long, Charlotte joined into their conversation. Lizzie tried to join them, but it almost seemed that Caroline was isolating her purposely. Instead, Lizzie smiled cheerily at Darcy. Bing, sensing his friend's discomfort, introduced them further.
"Darcy's been staying with me and my sister, poor guy. I don't know why he ever agreed to that."
"You practically begged me to, Bing," Darcy replied.
"Very true, but you agreed. Darcy works for an entertainment industry, Lizzie," Bing said, helping his friend along. "He practically owns it."
Lizzie sounded interested, "Oh, really? I'm a mass communications major. Only two semesters left before I'm done with grad school," she said, waving her hand in the air to display happiness. Darcy nodded tersely, without saying anything.
Bing pulled his friend aside, excusing himself from Lizzie. He whispered, "Darcy, do me a favor and talk to her. I really like her sister, and it would help if you would be… nice, just for the evening."
Darcy leaned closer to Bing and countered, "I am being nice. She…she…well. Um, she's smiling too much, It looks like she's drunk."
"Or she's just friendly. Besides, it's a wedding-people drink. Just act civil. For me," Bing finished, making his way back towards Jane. Darcy moved closer to Lizzie, apologizing for Bing's interruption.
Lizzie said it was fine, and looked down at her drink, trying to think of something else to say. "So, William, are you enjoying it here?"
Darcy fumbled with his words. "Um, call me Darcy. And no, not especially." Lizzie made a small oh sound, and Darcy realized how rude his statement had come out. "I mean, I've been to worse places."
Lizzie noticed the DJ changing songs in the background, and tried to incite some more small talk. "Do you like dancing?" she questioned, hoping to find something remotely interesting about this man.
"To this type of music…not particularly. Not if I can help it, at least." Darcy remarked. Lizzie's smile faltered, and she nodded in exasperation.
"Well, nice meeting you, Darcy," she said, and then proceeded to tap Charlotte on the back and pull her away from Caroline.
Darcy placed his hand over his face. He couldn't believe how stupid he had made himself look. Why couldn't you talk to her like a normal human, he thought to himself. His face was red with humiliation, and he took a chug of his shot to calm his nerves.
The night passed slower than before, the mortification slowly seeping in more each time Darcy looked over to Lizzie. She was laughing with Charlotte, no doubt telling her how foolish and asinine he had acted. With his shame added to the mix, Darcy didn't want anything more than to go back to the house. He spotted Bing in a large pile of men, and made his way to the outskirts of the group.
"Bing," he yelled. "Caroline and I want to leave. Meet you at the car in ten?"
Bing looked at him, clueless. "What? Darcy, I can't hear you man. They're about to throw the garter!"
"I said," Darcy continued, "I'll meet you out by the-" Darcy was cut off by something hitting his chest. The thing fell into his hands, and to his reverence, the garter lay in his palms. Darcy threw the garment at Bing in exasperation, mouthing no to his friend.
"Looks like we can't leave yet, Darcy, you still have to do one more dance," Bing laughed, tossing the garter back to him.
A crowd of women looked at Darcy, and in excitement made their way closer to the bride to vie for the flowers. The bride, Ellen Gibson, was blessed with the grace and casualty of a steamboat, and the force of a quarterback, and she hurtled the bouquet as far back as she could manage. A few girls moved out of the way to avoid the force, and the bouquet hit none other than Lizzie Bennet's head. Darcy laughed at how events seemed to conspire against him, as Lizzie shook off the blow. Once she composed herself, she turned around to find who had caught the garter; when she spotted the elastic dangling from Darcy's hand. Her smile faded as Lydia and Charlotte nudged her closer to Darcy.
Lizzie greeted Darcy with as much decency she could manage. "I see that even though you hate dancing, you still managed to catch that," Lizzie stated, as they waited for the song to begin.
"Catch isn't the best word," Darcy remarked. A slow paced song started to play, and Darcy took Lizzie's hand hesitantly. Nervously, Darcy started dancing. He could feel the eyes on him and Lizzie, and it added to his apprehension. "I'll try not to step on your feet," Darcy said cautioning.
The two swayed together awkwardly, as Darcy tried to think of anything to say to no avail. To make up for his lack of speech, Darcy stared at Lizzie, waiting for her to initiate something; but his gaze must have come off too harsh because he found her trying anything to stop herself from making eye contact. The song ended, and the two broke apart.
"Thank you, Lizzie," Darcy said genuinely, although he could tell that she didn't necessarily enjoy the dance. Darcy turned curtly, back towards Caroline and Bing. "Can we leave now?" The three started to make their way outside, with Bing and Caroline eyeing Darcy.
"What?" he inquired.
"So, you and Lizzie Bennet. Dancing," Bing said, miming the two twirling in the room. "How did that go?"
"You were there," he answered bluntly. "You saw how it went."
Caroline interjected. "I think what my brother means is, do you like Lizzie Bennet?"
Darcy stopped walking. "What? No. Of course not," trying to hide his flustered state. Caroline raised her eyebrow. "I-I mean she's decent enough, bu…but I have other things to worry about." Caroline peered behind Darcy's shoulder, and he turned around in confusion. There stood Lizzie, talking with Charlotte, but definitely close enough to hear. Darcy shook his head in frustration and headed towards the car, with Bing following.
Caroline smiled, and flipped her hair over her shoulder as she walked past the two girls. "Bye, Lizzie. Charlotte. I hope we have the pleasure of seeing each other soon," she said in a friendly enough tone, only to roll her eyes when they were out of sight.