For: SunnyStorms

By: Wendy Brune

Fandom: The Lizzie Bennett Diaries

A Pair of Fine Eyes

The crowd of men waiting for the garter toss ranged from 20-somethings to the less youthful – looking at you, Samuel "Old Man" Woodhouse – and although he could see Bing standing among them with an amicable grin on his face, a spot hiding in the corner seemed much more attractive. William Darcy didn't do crowds; in fact, he didn't much care for the people who made up crowds, either. No, instead of competing with the others for a chance to dance with the red-head who'd caught the bride's bouquet, he preferred standing to the side and trying to look invisible.

But destiny had other plans, and as soon as the lacy piece of elastic hit him in the chest, he knew he'd end up dancing after all.

As he walked to the center of the dance floor, he realized his partner in the spotlight was none other than that Lizzie Bennett, daughter of the horrid Mrs. Bennett and sister of the quiet but deadly gold-digger that'd captured Bing's eye. Just his luck. She'd probably misinterpret this forced dance as interest on his part and go after him, too.

And yet, as the music started and they began their awkward sway, he couldn't help but note that she possessed the most peculiar set of eyes. It wasn't just the color, although her eyes were not dissimilar to the sea after the storm. No, it was the ripples of intelligence that pooled just below the surface paired with the liveliness of spirit that crinkled in her corners. It was most unusual. It was...mesmerizing? It was -

"Do you like it here in town?" his partner asked him, interrupting his reverie. Suddenly the waters of her eyes had gone dark, and he imagined little red-headed mermaids bellow their surface, ready to drown any poor chap who made the mistake of wandering by

"Not especially." After all, the longer he was in town the less time he had to run Pemberley Digital. Plus there was the small matter of Gigi...

"Do you enjoy dancing, then?" Lizzie responded, the look in her eyes piecing his own.

"Not if I can help it."

Instead of laughing at his obvious sarcasm, she only turned her head away from him. "I suppose it doesn't help when your partner is only 'barely tolerable.'" Before he could even respond, the song ended and she quickly flounced off to join her noisy family at her table.

William Darcy was left floundering in a pair of fine eyes.