Jane- 27
Elizabeth –25
Mary- 22
Kitty- 18
Lydia- 16 turning 17
Charlotte- 26
Wickham- 28
Caroline- 26
Charles (Charlie, whatever you want to call him)- 33
Louisa Hurst- 28
Mr. Hurst- 28
Mr. Darcy (Just typing his name makes me happy)-35
Georgiana-20
Mr. Bennet- 54
Mr. Bennet-54
Mrs. Reynolds- 66
Mary King- 24
Chapter 2
"Let me cater to you 'Cause, baby, this is your day. Do anything for my man, Baby, you-"
"Elizabeth Fae Bennet!"
The shrill sound of her mom's voice caused Lizzy to snap her eyes open in shock, which allowed the shampoo that was currently washing out of her hair to fall into her eyes. "Ow shit! Mom what are you doing in my bathroom!" Lizzy said while trying to wash the shampoo out her eyes. Again, Lizzy's eyes opened wide when she felt a rush cold air on her body. "What in the world-!"
"Oh hush, I have seen all of you before. You act like I have never cleaned your behind when you were a baby! Also do you really think I do not have a key to my own daughters' apartment." Lizzy's mother said, cutting Lizzy off.
"Not even that what in the world are you singing about catering to someone, do you have a man that you have not told me about?" Lizzy's mother asked her.
Lizzy rolled her eyes and yanked the shower curtain back in place, continuing to wash her hair out. When Lizzy was finished, she wasn't surprised to see her mom still standing there leaning against the sink, waiting. Lizzy walked over to her mom kissed her on the cheek and continued on to the bedroom. Her hair wrapped in a towel she started fiddling through her hair products.
"Elizabeth, do you not see what time it is? It is three o'clock!"
"Mom the party starts at seven."
"And what does that have to do with it, you have to do your hair, and make up- "
"Mother, I am a grown woman; I know what I have to do. Jane and I live ten minutes away; you can calm down now."
Lizzy shook her head; Jen Bennet was one of those women who thought you needed two whole days to get ready for an event. Lizzy turned and watched her mother as she started pacing muttering about how Lizzy could make her get a heart attack with her slowness. Her mother's blonde hair was tied up in a bun and her face was already done up with makeup. Lizzy wasn't going to lie, her mother was and still is a beauty, which is probably one of the reasons her dad found her attractive. Not saying her mom had no personality, she did, trust her she did, Although, sometimes she wondered if her mom was all the way there sometimes, she still loved her. Lizzy wrapped her towel tight around her body and walked over to her mother.
"Mom why don't you go back home and get ready and we will meet you at the hotel." Lizzy told her mom while slowly pushing her to her bedroom door. Her mother listened and agreed to leaving, but not before going to kitchen to have some tea to as she says, 'calm her nerves'. Lizzy shook her head, closed the door and locked it.
"This is going to be eventful" she said while pulling out a strap dress. "Lord have mercy."
After parking their car Lizzy and Jane walked arm in arm into the Lucas Hotel. They were saying hello to Mrs. Lucas before they saw their family sitting at a table and walked over. Lydia and Kitty were of course wearing the tightest and shortest dresses she has ever seen. While thinking this she saw Jane double take at their sisters and their overdone makeup and had to swallow her laughter. She turned and looked at her father who was currently sipping his red wine. She walked over and sat down next to him placing her hand on his arm. Her father looked up at her and smiled.
"Lizzy! I was wondering when you and Jane were going to get here. Your old man can only take so much nagging from a wife." Tom Bennet said. Lizzy laughed at her dad's antics and patted his arm. Tom Bennet was a quiet man, usually allowing his wife and daughters to take center stage while he watched on amused. His bright eyes that went along perfectly with his dark chocolate skin always shined brightly and held wisdom in them. After speaking to her father Lizzy scoped out the place for her best friend Charlotte Lucas of 19 years, after spotting her bright red dyed hair in the corner, Lizzy got up and pushed her way passed dancing people toward her friend.
"Hey girlie!" Charlotte said while kissing her on the cheek. Lizzy hugged her friend fiercely in reply.
"How are you doing during this whole thing?" Lizzy asked. She knew Charlotte well enough to know even if Charlotte was a social, talkative person, she hated these parties. After growing up with them happening all the time Lizzy could understand. Charlotte nudged her and passed Lizzy a drink.
"Did you hear? All of those mothers over there are planning to see who can hook their daughters up with Mr. Bingley first."
"Are you serious, the man didn't even arrive yet and they are planning out his future?" Lizzy exclaimed. It happened all time in Hertfordshire, a new man would come along, and people would jump on him. In turn causing him to run for the hills. "Lizzy!" Lizzy heard her named being called and spun around to see Lydia, Kitty and Jane walking toward her.
"Lizzy can I sip; Daddy won't let me have anything that has alcohol." Lydia said pouting, her hair was done in what Lydia thought was the sexy bed head look, but really it looked ridiculous.
"No Lydia, if it didn't work with dad do you really think it would work with me?" Lizzy replied refusing her sister. Lydia pouted and stomp her foot pushing her short sparkly dress higher.
"You're such a prude Eliza! Whatever, Kitty and I are going to talk to those guys over there from our school. They seem like they are having a good time. Come on Kitty! I want them to notice us." Lydia completely forgot about Elizabeth and pulled Kitty away toward the young men over by the door who were clearly looking at the two sisters like they were a pound of meat. Before Jane and Lizzy could even stop them, the sisters were gone in a fit of giggles.
Jane who was looking around the room with interest was nudged by Charlotte. "Who are you looking for?" Lizzy snorted and watched her sister.
"For her prince charming! A man who would sweep her off her feet and they could dance off into the sunset." Charlotte chuckled at her friend while Jane replied with a "What would happen when a man catches your eye Lizzy, then what would you do?". Elizabeth looked down at her drink in her hand feeling her mood sinking, when she thought about a certain guy who she taught was perfect but ended up being a wolf in sheep's clothing. She looked up and said quietly "Than I would shut my eyes."
As soon as Lizzy said that the whole room quieted, and everyone was facing the doorway. Jane, Lizzy and Charlotte had to move to get a better view on what, or whom had everybody silent. When they stepped out of the corner, they saw three people in the doorway of the hotel's ballroom. On the left was a lean, blonde man who looked so very happy to be here. Elizabeth thought he was good looking, but he was a boy next door good looking, which really wasn't Lizzy's type. She was more into the tall, dark, muscular, handsome look. Which was definitely the man in the middle. Lizzy felt Charlotte tap her arm.
"Alright so the man on the left with the blonde hair is Mr. Bingley. Millionaire and nice man extraordinaire, his business is in New York City. He has another sister, but I do not believe she, or her husband is here today." Before Charlotte continued, she gasped and grasped Lizzy's arm. "The one in the middle is Mr. Darcy!"
Lizzy watched her friend as she told her about the handsome man in the middle, she was absolutely confused on what was so special on the man named Mr. Darcy.
"What is so special about him?" she asked.
"He is a billionaire, his family owns restaurants, businesses, hotels all around the world. It's a freaking empire. He inherited everything after his father died a long time ago." Charlotte explained.
"Alright but what about the human orange over there." Lizzy motion with her head. The woman was wearing an elaborate dress with big jewels around her neck. She had an artificial tan, which made her look little an orange and she had her face done up like she was going to a Paris fashion show.
"That is Caroline Bingley, supposedly she spends way beyond her means. She gets an allowance, well that is what the rumour says. She doesn't really have a job to be honest with you. You know being an heiress and all" Charlotte confessed.
The group of people finished introducing themselves and now were standing by the window talking to Charlotte's father. Lizzy saw her mother dragging her sister Mary over to them and their father, well she couldn't really drag him, but he came along for the ride.
"Girls we must introduce ourselves! Why are you standing around here for? Let's go right now." Jen said tugging on Mary's arm harder than she intended to. Mary shot Lizzy a look. "If she rips my arm out of a socket for a man, I think I might just lose it." Mary deadpanned.
Half of the Bennet family and Charlotte walked over to where Mr. Lucas was standing talking to the newcomers. As he turned and saw his daughter and his close family friends walking towards him, he smiled and spread his arms out. "Ah, here are the people I was just telling you about. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, and Miss Bingley, these are my close family friends Tom and Jen Bennet and their daughters Jane, Elizabeth and Mary. Also, this is one of my daughters Charlotte." Mr. Lucas said introducing them.
"I have two other daughters, but they are somewhere socializing with people from their school, social butterflies those two are." Jen put in.
"It is very nice to meet you! You guys really do know how to put on a party." Charles Bingley exclaimed. He glanced at his sister and his best friend to see both of them looked disinterested in even being in the room. He sighed and looked back at the Bennets. "I hope that some of you guys would show me around town sometime?" He asked, but Charles soon caught the eye of the beauty at the side he smiled at her. Lizzy saw her sister blush and smile back at Charles.
"Do you plan on staying in town long?" Lizzy asked.
"Yes, I really do it is much calmer than other places." Charles replied he smiled at Elizabeth and then looked at his friend Darcy, thinking that her and him would look good together.
"Charles my sister here likes to dance." Lizzy said while pointing to Jane.
"Oh of course, would you like to- "Charles started, but Jane cut him off by saying a quick yes, all the while shooting her sister a look.
Charlotte and Lizzy were hiding back in their corner, laughing and people watching, their usual hobby. Charlotte linked her arm through Lizzy's own.
"Lizzy when are you going to date again?"
Lizzy watched her friend and tilted her head. Dating had been an ultimate turn off for her ever since George and she hadn't felt the need to even go back into the whole finding a guy foolishness.
"Charlotte, I do not want to feel hurt again."
Charlotte put her glass down by the window and held Lizzy's hands in hers. "Lizzy George Wickham was and still is an ass. Not every man is like him, and you will be doing yourself a disservice by thinking they are."
Lizzy laughed at her friend and shook her head. "You are talking bad about your own step brother; I am just not ready for it that's all." Lizzy did not feel like talking about this topic now, she would find someone when she was ready and right now, she was perfectly fine with herself que Beyonce's Me, Myself and I.
"You think I give a damn that he is my step brother, well ex step brother? I have never liked that man, and he is not related to me! So, fuck him. Besides Mr. Darcy is looking very nice you should dance with him." Charlotte was about to continue on when both she and Lizzy heard the voice of Charles.
"Darcy come on, you can't stand here and brood the whole night away. You do know I will unleash Caroline on you and we all know how that will turn out!" Charles exclaimed.
"Charlie, right now you have the only attractive girl talking to you and is currently waiting for you by the dance floor, so leave me and let me brood." The deep voice of Darcy was heard. Darcy turned around and was now leaning against one of the tables, his back facing away from the pillar in which Charlotte and Lizzy were hiding behind.
"He has one impressive back side you know." Charlotte whispered.
"Elizabeth!" Charles snapped his fingers and turned back to his tall friend. "Jane's sister is quite beautiful as well, ask her to dance!"
"Why should I, I am not interested, and she will probably bore me. She is not pretty enough to tempt me let alone continue a conversation."
Lizzy found her eyes growing wide and looking at Charlotte with a 'bitch did he really' look. She twirled her wine glass in her hand and started glaring at Mr. Darcy's fine back. This man was serious, how the hell will she bore him, she hasn't even spoken one word to him! Charlotte watched Lizzy and knew her friend was getting pissed off. "Maybe we should go." Charlotte offered taking the glass out of her friends' hands and dragged off Lizzy without being notice by the men.
By the end of the night Lizzy was ready to go home, she had danced with Charles and had to say he was very nice and could carry on a conversation. His friend on the other hand, well Lizzy would have bitched slapped him if he looked at her one more time. The man had moved near her when it seemed that Caroline was on the prowl and trying to latch herself onto him. He had taken up to glancing at her every now and then and tried to strike up conversation.
"Are you not going to participate in the dancing" The deep voice had pulled her out of thoughts of going back home to her bed and had actually startled her.
"Well its quite hard isn't it?" Lizzy said when she looked up the man next to her.
"Excuse me?"
"I said its quite hard isn't it? To participate, I mean, me being not so tempting and all, it's hard to find a partner". Lizzy had the satisfaction to see Darcy have the look of shocked recognition on his face and then grimace. Lizzy leaned into the man quietly and whispered. "Also, I seemed to not have so much skill in conversation making so I must end this conversation and leave you and Ms. Bingley to your own devices, goodnight."
