Simply Tolerable

Chapter 9: How Interesting...

Summary: She could remember the kiss vividly. She could remember every little detail about it. But the one thing she couldn't remember was the man... Join Lizzie through a whirlpool of events involving love, chaos, drama, and a certain pair of clear, blue eyes.

Disclaimer: Okay. If I owned Pride and Prejudice, do you really think I would be here on Fanfiction? No. I would totally be sitting in some awesome mansion and working away on my next masterpiece. And I'm not, so therefore I don't own Pride and Prejudice.


A/N: I'M BAAAAAACK!

Readers: You suck! Why'd you take so long?

Nikkitusa: Well then! I guess I'll just take this new chappie and go then! Who cares that I've been really busy with school and sports and music? Who cares? I'll just go home and burn this chappie as I study for a science test.

Readers: NO! Put down the chappie or else!

Nikkitusa: Or else what?

Readers: We'll...

Nikkitusa: ...

Readers: ...

Nikkitusa: *smirk*

Readers: Argh! Fine! You don't suck!

Nikkitusa: Thank you! Now give me lots of reviews!


With her brown eyes as wide as saucers, Lizzie opened and closed her mouth in shock, looking remarkably like a goldfish. Jane sent her sister a worried glance discreetly, hoping that Lizzie wouldn't make a scene. Mrs. Bennett, who had no inkling of her daughter's hatred for their "esteemed" guest, was looking quite happy and a bit smug. The rest of the family members remained neutral in reaction to their guest, a bit bored and and uninterested.

Mrs. Bennett stepped forward and graciously welcomed the man into their home while Mr. Bennett gruffly said hello and shook his hand. Jane said hello as well, while Mary ignored everybody, immersed in her book, and the twins gossiped about their guest.

The man finally turned to Lizzie, his eyes hopeful as he waited for her reaction. Finally, Lizzie was able to gain some sense of speech and she managed to choke out a strangled, "Collins?". He grinned at her when her voice squeaked.

Lizzie couldn't believe it. Billy Collins, the bane of her existence, was standing at her doorstep. Even after so many years, not much had changed. he was still quite short, though now he was a few inches taller, barely taller than her. Though he was not overweight, Collins has never quite lost his baby fat, always looking a bit chubby and pear-like. His brown hair was slicked back with a large amount of gel, looking oily and sticky. His face was bright red and shiny, freshly scrubbed. He grinned widely, displaying an array of crooked, slightly yellow teeth. Basically, he was still the same creep who had followed Lizzie around during high school, only this time, he was in her house, having been invited by her crazed match-making mother.

Collins stepped closer to Lizzie, his eyes appraising her appearance. Once he was satisfied that she was the same girl he had fanatically stalked in high school, he approached her and took her hand, and -Lizzie assumed he was trying to be suave- kissed it, slobbering it with his saliva excitedly. Everybody present except for Mrs. Bennett grimaced a little. Collins then preceded to converse with the lady of the house about their home, speaking arrogantly, "Thank you for welcoming into your home. It is quite lovely, though not as magnificent as my employer's home. Did you know that she is a multi-millionaire? She has this grand mansion in Beverly Hills..."

Lizzie stopped listening to Collins' rambling as they entered the sitting room, feeling completely uninterested in what type of mansion some stuck-up, rich heiress had. Getting antsy, she scooted down the leather couch closer to Jane. Jane had been pretty quiet for most of the evening, quietly brooding off to the side while others conversed about frivolous things. Lizzie began softly talking to her, asking her what she was thinking about in her solitude. Charlie's thoughts had been preceding everything else on Jane's mind, much as they had for a majority of the time that had passed since Jane had started spending time with him. They chatted a while longer until Mrs. Bennett scolded them for whispering like teenage girls and ordered them to join the rest of the group in conversation. Lizzie grumbled to Jane about how Lydia and Kitty were doing enough gossiping for the both of them, earning a small giggle as a reward. Lizzie kept checking her watch as subtly as she could while Collins rambled on and on about his amazing employer Catherine De Bourgh, his amazing job given to him by Catherine De Bourgh, his amazing house which was provided by Catherine De Bourgh, and his amazing life working for Catherine De Bourgh. Every phrase that left Collins' mouth had to do with Catherine De Bourgh. Minutes passed by agonizingly.

Right when Lizzie was starting to dose off, Mrs. Bennett loudly proclaimed that it was time for dinner. It was one of the few times where Lizzie was truly grateful to her mother for being extremely loud. Everybody got up from the couches in the living room and ventured to the dining room where the table was piled with enticing food. The Bennetts and Billy Collins sat down around the heavily-laden, wooden dining table, served themselves, and began eating.


"Why Mrs. Bennett, this Baked Alaska is wonderful!" Collins remarked as he happily gobbled down the dessert that lay in front of him, bits of which ended up on his face.

Lizzie grimaced as she watched the sad scene in front of her. She suddenly brightened up and grinned at Collins, eliciting a confused, hopeful gaze from the little man. She declared cheekily, "But Collins, this dish is the omelette surprise!"

Collins started, almost dropping his spoon, but barely catching himself. He cleared his throat slightly and turned to Lizzie with a confused expression on his face. He proclaimed, "My dear Elizabeth, this is Baked Alaska. It doesn't seem like some kind of egg treat. Unless..."

Lizzie smirked slightly, suddenly mocking embarrassment, "Oh, my bad. I forgot that Omelette Surprise was just another name for Baked Alaska. Of course this isn't eggs."

Collins colored slightly, his face turning red as others at the table chuckled, and Lizzie looked at Collins smugly, her eyes glinting with victory.

Dinner continued without a hitch, except for Lizzie contemplating suicide and Collins coming very close to death on a couple of occasions. Mrs. Bennett doted on Collins, oblivious to the fact that everybody else was either indifferent to or extremely annoyed by Collins. Mr. Bennett was extremely unhappy that Collins was taking away from his daily reading. Lydia and Kitty were indifferent to Collins, only pausing in their gossip whenever Collins' antics became particularly interesting, where they would giggle to each other and continue. Jane remained wonderful and neutral throughout the evening, but by the end of dinner, everybody noticed that she was getting a bit cranky as well.

When dinner was finished, Collins entered the family room again with the family, leaving Lizzie and Jane to clean up.

"I think I might love him Liz," Jane confessed quietly, her cheeks tinted with red as she lowered her head gently.

Lizzie fumbled with the dish she was holding, nearly dropping it, but saving it just in time. She placed the plate she was holding on the table and turned toward Jane exuberantly. She grinned happily and ran to Jane, hugging her joyously.

"Oh Janey! That's amazing! Have you told him?" Lizzie practically squealed as she held onto her elder sister with a death-grip. Jane blushed a little and shook her head slightly. "But Janey, you need to tell him."

"I-I thought he would be able to tell on his own," Jane confessed quietly, her voice barely a whisper. Lizzie almost didn't hear her.

"No! You have to tell him! Boys are complete idiots when it comes to love. Well, they're idiots when it comes to anything, but that's not important. What's important is that my sister's in love!" Lizzie exclaimed joyously. She and Jane laughed and twirled about the kitchen, peals of laughter erupting from their mouths. Suddenly, things were looking a lot less dismal for Lizzie. She could definitely survive a little more time with Dreary McDrearykins back in the living room. After all, it's just a few hours, right?

Wrong.


A/N: Ooooh! Dun dun dun! xD I'M SO SORRY FOR BEING SO LATE WITH THIS CHAPTER! Forgive meeeee! But it's up now!

I have an interesting twist coming next chappie. Any guesses what it is? Review with what you think will happen, and if you're right, I'll give you a little sneak preview!

DO NOT FORGET! Review! Or I won't remember to post, as I did with this chappie. This completed chappie has been sitting on my computer for a good month now.

Hehe.

...

This is awkward.

Well, BYE!