A/N: Here's the final chapter-Jane's POV at Bing's birthday party (my take on Jane's "indiscretion").

Circle Game

Scene Four: Conversation

Jane paused for a moment in the middle of the room. Bing was chatting with some friends she didn't know. A part of her felt like she should be able to slip into the spot next to him, be introduced, and join the conversation. Wasn't that a girlfriend's privilege?

But she'd been on the point of trying that maneuver a few times earlier this evening, and upon catching his eyes in those instances, she'd noticed an expression on his face that, coming from him, was alien to her—hesitant, cautious, closed. It might be a better idea to wait until she could get him alone. Unfortunately, it was his birthday party, and it didn't seem likely that his other guests would leave him alone any time soon.

Instead of attempting to approach him again, she instead moved to the opposite side of the room where a row of linen-clothed candlelit tables was set up. Most of them were inhabited by Bing's college friends that Caroline had introduced her to before, but she avoided those tables. She was getting tired of being flirted at by guys who weren't Bing. Instead, she seated herself at a table occupied only by Darcy, who sat morosely nursing a glass of red wine.

"Hey, Darcy," Jane greeted him.

Darcy looked up, surprised. "Hello, Jane," he replied, his voice coming out even more stilted than normal. He didn't lower his gaze after speaking as she might have expected, but instead seemed to be examining her. Jane thought she might understand what Lizzie meant when she complained about his scrutinizing stare. It was more than a little bit unnerving.

Jane racked her brain to come up with something to say. "I—I saw you dancing with Lizzie earlier…"

Darcy blinked and nodded, then transferred his intense stare downward to his wine glass. After a moment, he took a generous swig.

I take it the dancing didn't go very well. Jane sighed. Lizzie's attitude toward Darcy had never been particularly friendly, but it had taken a steep downturn since George had shared his story with her (and the internet at large) earlier in the week. Jane wouldn't put it past Lizzie to call Darcy out on his past interactions with George, right there in the middle of dancing with him.

For her own part, Jane was still unsure of what to believe. She liked George, and it was nice to see Lizzie happy with someone, but it was still difficult for her to believe that Darcy was as bad as all of that. Sure, he wasn't the most sociable of beings, as evidenced by the grand total of two words he'd spoken since she'd joined him at the table, but she was convinced from her own observations that everything he did, he did sincerely, and with no intent to harm.

"Are you Jane Bennet?" A voice called Jane out of her thoughts.

She looked up, trying to find a convincing smile. "Uh… yeah, I am." She was being addressed by a tall, snappily dressed man with sandy-blonde hair.

"Brian Willis," he introduced himself, shaking Jane's hand. "Caroline tells me you're into fashion…" He took a moment to exaggeratedly look her up and down. "…not that I should be surprised by looking at you. I must say, that dress is stunning on you."

Jane giggled. She would be distressed by this obvious flirtation if it wasn't equally obvious that Brian was gay. As it was, she decided to go with it. It was just so nice talking to someone who wasn't either too interested, or (like Darcy) not even interested in a decent conversation. "Well, I do try my best," she said modestly. "Do you work in fashion, then?"

"Yes, I work with ModCloth in LA."

Jane's eyes widened. "Oh my God, you do? I am such a big fan, you have no idea."

"Well, I certainly enjoy my work," he said with a smile. Then, offering his hand to help her up, "Now let me see you give me a twirl."

Brian drew Jane's hand over her head as if partnering her in a dance, and Jane obediently spun around.

"Oh, very nice," Brian complimented.

Jane gracefully ended her twirl in a little curtsy, and giggled again. "I usually only do this in front of my mirror at home," she admitted.

"Well, all that practice has paid off. You spin very elegantly."

Jane suddenly remembered her manners. "Oh, do you know Darcy—?" She probably would have said more, but as she looked at Darcy, she was caught off guard by him staring at her again, this time with a pronounced frown. Jane got the distinct impression that he disapproved of her, but she couldn't think why.

Darcy stood. "We are not acquainted," he said.

"Nice to meet you," Brian said a little uneasily, but still with a smile as he shook Darcy's hand. "Are you a friend of Bing's?"

Darcy gave a stiff nod and was silent for a moment, still frowning. "If you'll excuse me…" he said, and he abruptly walked away.

"Now there's a charmer," Brian said sarcastically.

"He takes some getting used to," Jane rationalized, "but he's really not so bad when you get to know him."

"I'll take your word for it." Brian laughed. "Hey, I should get going. I promised my boyfriend I'd dance with him. But it was a pleasure to meet you."

Jane smiled. "You too."

As Brian left, Jane looked over toward the corner of the room where Bing was still talking to the same friends. She sighed. Hopefully, she would soon be able to get to the bottom of whatever was going on with him, but that would have to wait until she could talk with him alone.

She was getting really tired of waiting.


Yesterday, a child came out to wander,
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar,
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder,
And tearful at the falling of a star.

And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time;
We can't return, we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game.