Three hours, 24 minutes, and 52 seconds to go. God DAMN she was bored.

Lizzy had finished with her final shift some time ago, and was alternating between scrolling through her phone and wishing she had the motivation to move from the couch. She had a lot of time before the banquet started, and already had all her clothes ready for her. Groaning, Lizzy checked her texts.

Her best friend, Charlotte Lu, had been visiting her parents over the weekend, which had mysteriously transitioned into her spending all her time at her parents' house. Lizzy supposed she shouldn't be surprised. She and Charlotte understood each other in ways that few people could, having best friends since toddlerhood, but ever since they started college, they had been drifting continually apart. Lizzy still loved to hang out with her, but she didn't get to that often, anymore— despite LIVING TOGETHER.

Charlotte had texted that she would be at the banquet though. Hopefully they could actually make some conversation, if everything went well. Lizzy, pulling herself up from the couch and padding into the bathroom, ruminating on this as she turned on the water. She smiled. Yes, a party was just the thing to reforge friendship. She would have to check back in later, and make some plans.

But for now, Lizzy pushed in the bath plug and set the water to warm. Then just a little farther. Satisfied with the scalding heat, Lizzy set her phone down on the counter, stripped off her (slightly grimy) clothes, and sank into the tub. She put a dollop of body wash on her hand and took her time scrubbing— she lent her head back and enjoyed the gentle thrum of the water and it flowed through her hair.

She thought about tonight.

Her mother was always pressuring her to bring boys home. Would she be okay if Lizzy brought Will just as a friend? Or would things get awkward? Shit, she hadn't thought this through.. Her mother was naturally distrusting of quiet people; either that or she steamrolled them with flurried conversation. Lizzy grinned, imagining what Will would say when bombarded with all sorts of delightfully horrible nosy questions.

Suddenly her quiet sanctuary was interrupted by the intrusive sound of a phone ringing. Making low grumble in the back of her throat, Lizzy lifted her head out of the water and peered at the screen, trying to read it without getting up. 'Will Darcy'.

Ha, she thought, I summoned him. She moved her feet idly through the water, considering. He could have texted, had it been something minor. Maybe he wanted to cancel! Ugh, if that was the case, Lizzy had better know right away, so she wouldn't put so much effort into getting ready (not FOR him, just… just because).

Nodding with her mind made up, Lizzy got up, dried one hand, and answered the call. "Hello?"

"Hi, Lizzy," his voice sounded on the other end, "It's Will."

"Yeah I know, I got caller ID. What's up?"

As she said this, Lizzy (feeling the draft in her bathroom) sank back into the tub, making sure to keep her head above water this time.

"Uh, nothing much." He paused. "What's… up with you?"

She laughed teasingly. "Why are you calling me, if you had nothing to say?"

"Oh right!" Will said, sounding a bit scattered, "It's just that— It just occurred to me—," he paused again. "Um, are you in traffic or something? It's really loud over there."

"Ah shoot! One sec," Lizzy said. She reached forward, and with a mighty squeak of unoiled metal, turned off the water. "There. Now, what were you saying?" She asked, sitting back as the bubbles parted around her.

"What was that?"

Lizzy rolled her eyes. Will was distractible today. "I was just turning off the bathwater. It gets kinda loud, sorry."

Will took his time answering. "The… bath.. water? You're.. in the… bath?"

She laughed, "Yes Will, that is usually what people use bathwater for."

She thought she heard him lick his lips. When he spoke again, his voice had a strange, almost husky quality to it that was drowned out by his sudden breathlessness. "You're in the bath right now," he said as a statement.

"Yes, Will," Lizzy smiled, rolling her eyes again, "We have established this."

"But… but…" His mind seemed to be stuck on hard reset. Lizzy laughed at the mental image of Will with loading screens for eyes.

"It's not like you can see me, babe," she said cheekily, "I'm free to do whatever I want on my end." She splashed around a bit, for emphasis.

The only way she could tell he hadn't hung up was his breathing, which was weirdly heavy. Still, she checked to see if he was still there.

"Will? Will, hello?"

Finally, he recovered. "Yes, uh, sorry. I'm here. I just ah…," here there was again the sound of wetting lips, before he let out a controlled breath and began to speak very quickly.

"I just don't know where your parents live. I don't have the address, nor their names to look them up. I suppose I could have texted you, but I thought this way would be better, since I could also ask for directions without seeming bothersome. I don't really know the area very well."

"Okay," Lizzy said. "They live at 220 Longbourn Lane. It's on the Eastside of Haertford, just past the strip mall but before you get to the forest. It's just on the outskirts of town. My mom has like 50 gnomes out front— you won't miss it."

"220 Longbourn," he repeated back to her, "Got it. Thank you." Will seemed to hesitate. "Um, is there a specific time I should be there?"

"Coño, I forgot to tell you about that!" Lizzy cursed, embarrassed at her own absent mindedness. "The party starts at eight, but we probably want to be at my folks' home half an or so early. My mom likes to host. Also, do you know Spanish?"

"Uh, not really, no."

"Well, then you're pr'bly gonna have a lot of what she says go over your head. She never really takes the time to remember not everyone around her speaks it."

"All right. Thanks for the heads up. Anything else I should know."

"Ummmm, I don't think so. OH WAIT— eat the food. All the food. As much as you can, EAT. It's the only way to get around small talk, because no one wants to interrupt you with a mouth full of homemade hamburger meat. Yeah. That's it."

Will chuckled, and for the first time Lizzy realized how sexy it was when he laughed like that, all low and rumbly in his throat. She suddenly became very aware that she was not wearing any clothes. The water suddenly seemed a lot warmer than it had a second ago.

"Okay," Will was saying, "I'll see you at.. 220 Longbourn Lane, 6:30 sharp!" He cleared his throat, and Lizzy could just imagine him blushing. "Have... fun with your.. bath, then."

"'Kay," she squeaked, "Bye!"

The line went dead and Lizzy dropped her phone on the tiled floor. She sank herself into the bath, letting her mortified groan transfigure into bubbles as her face dropped below the surface. The warm water, pleasant shampoo, and quiet lapping of the tub soothed her, but it was still some time before Lizzy felt good enough to resurface, without any thoughts of the party, Will, or possible nudity lingering in her mind.