Lizzy Bennet was not a woman to be trifled with, especially when she was in a bad mood. Everyone who knew her knew that. Everyone. Well. Everyone except for Billy Collins, apparently, but then again, that man was an exception to most things.

"I TELL you, my dear business associate, it is a commendable achievement that you have deemed us worthy for your time on this most crucial excursion of ours."

"Billy, this is a cake tasting. I'm here for Charlotte. I'm the maid of honor, remember?"

"Of course, dear Elizabeth," Billy simpered, "but it is my understanding that it is an optional event. I do admire your devotion to my future bride. Such gracious behavior! As my wise-beyond-her-years benefactor, Mrs. Catherine de Bourgh, would say, it is a, and here I quote her, 'nice thing to do nice things for nice people. It is the makings of an even nicer person.' Is that not diverting, Elizabeth! She is so eloquent in her speech, so articulate in her most graciously endowed opinions!"

Lizzy resisted the urge to punch the little sweaty man in the face. She restrained herself. Barely.

She breathed out through her teeth, and set her jaw so hard it got stuck. "Hey… Billy," she said, struggling to keep her voice level, "I'm feeling parched. Would you mind grabbing us some waters?"

"Oh of course! It would be my honor to perform such a kind task for—"

"Yeahyeahyeah, thanks," Lizzy dismissed, ducking her head away from the barrage of meaningless dribble that her friend's fiancé seemed to get off on. The man himself smiled indulgently (read: leered condescendingly) and waddled off.

"Thank God," Lizzy breathed. "I can breathe again."

"Hey!" Charlotte said good-naturedly from across the table. "He's not that bad."

"Sorry, I know," Lizzy said, shoveling down a few slices of red velvet before she could get ANOTHER lecture about proper ladies' dining habits.

Charlotte watched her friend from over her own slice, slathered with cream cheese. "Hey… you okay?"

Lizzy stabbed her cake with a little more force than necessary. "Yes. Why?"

"You've been in a mood all day. Is something bothering you?"

"No, I just…" Lizzy sighed. "Have you ever been ghosted?"

"What?"

"Ghosted. Has someone ever made plans with you then just dipped, without a word?"

"Hm. No, I can't say that's happened to me. I think that's mostly couples, and you know I'm aromantic. So yeah, never been ghosted. Never been stood up either."

"Consider yourself lucky," Lizzy grumbled, stabbing her cake again. "It sucks ass."

"Did someone ghost you?" Charlotte asked with interest.

"No."

"...sure."

"Fine, okay, yes!" Lizzy exploded. Charlotte gasped with realization.

"Oh my dear Lord in heaven, is it that Darcy guy?"

"Yes."

"NO!" Charlotte gasped in delighted shock.

"Yes! He just stood me up! It's been three days, and he hasn't even called! Errghhh."

Charlotte considered her friend. They had known each other for years; before college, even! Charlotte knew when Lizzy needed a good rant.

She gestured forward. "Lay it on me, girl."

Lizzy didn't even hesitate. "Well, you know I met him at the hospital, right?"

"Mhm, mhm."

"And he was.. really sweet, y'know? Bringing me flowers and eating lunch with me… he would watch all these stupid movies with me, just because I liked them. He was really great. I liked him a lot. We made plans to meet up for a date, three nights ago. I was so excited, I even kissed him in the parking lot!"

"You didn't!" Charlotte gasped again. Lizzy had never been one for rushing into a relationship. "Cheese and crackers, this guy must be a keeper," she muttered, almost to herself. Lizzy heard her.

"You would think so, wouldn't you."

"What happened," Charlotte asked, concern creeping into her voice as she bore witness to a crack in Lizzy's angry fasade. Lizzy was hurt. Badly.

Lizzy herself wasn't in the cake shop anymore. She was back on the street, the night she was supposed to meet him. She was pacing back and forth outside the opera house, blowing warm breath on her hands, trying desperately to keep them warm. It was well into the night. The raingutters, responding to the light drizzle above, began to weep onto the sidewalk. She had felt like joining them. The waning moon lit her path as she walked back home. They had planned to meet before sunset. Now, if she looked up, she would be able to make out stars winking sadly down at her. The mascara stains had not been easy to rub off. She went home, and her little three-room apartment had never felt so lonely. She had tried to listen to music, but every song reminded her of him. She fell asleep in the heavy, weighted silence, holding her pillowcase close to her heart.

"Nothing. It- it's fine." Lizzy tried to smile, but it ended up looking like a sob. Charlotte patted her hand. She asked no more pointed questions, but did have the courage to ask, "Need me to knee him in the groin for you?"

Lizzy laughed at her mild-mannered friend's attempt at a threat. "No, but thank you Charlotte." She was rewarded with a smile for her efforts.

Lizzy chuckled to herself. "It- it's weird, ya know? I think… I think I could have.. maybe… loved him. He seemed like the perfect guy." Her tone was wistful as she bit off the last piece of cake. Across the table, her friend sat in contemplative silence.

Charlotte herself didn't have much experience with love. Any, really. She had never felt it. Sexual feelings, yes, but never love. She didn't understand how her friend could 'almost-fall' so quickly, but she did her best to wrap her mind around it. This jerkwad, Darcy, seemed important to her. Lizzy wasn't nearly as mad at him as she should be.

"Hey, maybe there's an explanation!" Charlotte tried, somewhat awkwardly.

Lizzie scoffed. "It's been three days, Char. If he wanted to see me again, he could have called."

"Why don't you call him?" She suggested, "Modern woman an' all?"

"Yeah.. yeah!" Lizzy said, taking out her phone, "I'll call him and ask—" She stopped, and stared at the screen.

"What is it?"

Lizzy didn't respond.

"Hellooo? Hey, Earth to Lizzy!" Charlotte snapped her fingers in front of her friend's nose twice before she got her to look up.

"I don't have his number," Lizzy said. Her tone was.. was almost reverent. "I don't have his number."

"That's… good?"

"Charlotte!" Lizzy exclaimed, bounding up and suddenly full of smiles, "It's better than good! This means, he couldn't have called even if he wanted to! I could still have a chance!"

"You go girl!" Charlotte cheered, amused by her friend's antics.

"I'm gonna go see him right now!"

"Call me afterwards!" She called after Lizzy's rapidly disappearing back. She didn't get a response. Charlotte chuckled, and shook her head. Some things never change.

"Hello, my dear," Billy said when he returned to the table, less than 10 seconds later, "I have procured the beverages and— Where did Elizabeth go? I trust nothing dreadful has occurred."

"No," she smiled at him, taking a water, "She's just in love."

"Ah. I see." Billy looked like he had swallowed a frog. Disgust and disapproval was written across every mushed feature. "How.. quaint. Good.. good for her."

"Aww don't worry, sweets," Charlotte said, patting her fiancé's hand, "You'll fall in love someday."