(First) NOTES: Lizzy's POV. Kinda a dull chapter by my standards, but still some cute and some funny moments! Setting up for what'll happen in the 'FuTuRe OoOoOoHh' ;) Hope y'all have a great day! ❤️ ~Vinny
Her shift had been over for 2.25 hours. It was 40 minutes since she had last seen Fitzwilliam. It was 4 hours and 12 minutes until sunset, and if you can't tell, Lizzy Bennet was feeling very mathematical.
The one number she was focusing on though, was 6. There were 6 days until Fitzwilliam Darcy's birthday.
And she still hadn't gotten him anything.
'Hey are you still there?'
Lizzy glanced at her phone, and then smiled tiredly. 'Yeah,' she typed back, 'I'm still here.'
Fitzwilliam's response came like lightning, lighting up her screen in a flash. 'Good. Because I need you to help me brainstorm ways to get Williams to stop nagging me.'
'Sorry, Im kinda spacing out rn. What's he nagging u about?'
'Well, he's trying to get me to go to a bar.'
'You don't drink?'
'No, I do drink.'
Lizzy was trying to type out, 'then what's the problem,' but then Fitzwilliam's next message made her stop and laugh out loud.
'It's a KARAOKE bar.'
After her fervent giggles allowed Lizzy back the use of her limbs, she replied, 'I… literally CANNOT picture you at a karaoke bar.'
'Neither can I.'
'...do it :)'
She could almost picture Fitzwilliam rolling his eyes at her through the screen.
'You are no help'
Then a second later, 'Oh I have to go. Love you 3'
Lizzy sent back a heart, and then set her smile aside as she turned to her computer screen. She had.. eleven tabs open. There was only one thing that she knew FOR SURE she was getting him, but it was such a small present she thought something else would be nice too. Lizzy had found a book she thought he would like— a very nerdy fantasy book she remembered from her youth— that was also somewhat obscure.
She hoped he would like it.
She also stumbled upon some funny Hobbit memorabilia, that she might get him as a gag gift, but.. nothing really…. nice. Y'know?
What could a man like Fitzwilliam Darcy need..? Something… practical. And fancy. But also sweet and caring to show that she loved him because birthdays were important and this was their first major event together as a couple and, what if she screwed it up? Oh god what if she got him the wrong gift and he would be disappointed in her and maybe lose feelings and—
NO. Stop it.
Lizzy breathed out, and cracked her knuckles. Nope, that wasn't going to happen. Fitzwilliam was better than that, and even if he wasn't, it wouldn't matter because she was going to find him THE PERFECT GIFT.
After about an hour of scanning pinterest boards and websites and decent reviews, Lizzy Bennet finally found the perfect gift.
It was a set of pens. Well, three. Three pens. Three very nice pens, fountain pens, that had a gold sheen to the lids, and— best of all— were painted to look like ivory, with herbs climbing up the sides. And you could pay to have them engraved online.
Excitedly, Lizzy found there was a spot to pick up the order very close to her apartment, so she wouldn't have to pay for delivery! AND there was a discount for local ordering!
But it wasn't enough. Somehow, it wasn't enough.
The pens were $950.
For three pens.
How pathetic was it, that she was struggling to produce the money for PENS?! She didn't have many expenses, so she did have some savings money tucked away, but most of that went to her college loans, or to her rent, or to an emergency fund!
Ohhhhh, but those pens were PERFECT for Fitzwilliam!
So Lizzy Bennet did something that she only did in emergencies. She took out her calculator.
Aaaand, according to some quick division and evening proportions, Lizzy came face to face with the fact… she was kinda broke. Kinda, meaning she had enough money for all her basic needs and things she liked/wanted most of the time, but then NOT enough money to buy her boyfriend a spur-of-the-moment gift that just so happened to be almost a thousand dollars.
Just then, an idea struck her. Well, rather, it struck the floor.
It, meaning a laminated business card, one that she had all-but forgotten about. Lizzy picked it up, and had a surge of inspiration.
This.. was the card Blondie had given to her. The first time they met, in the cafe. He had… said something about an assistant position for.. His fiancé. Yeah.. yeah! She remembered! He had been impressed with her coffee-making and social skills (and was probably just being nice) so he had offered her the card!
Well, Lizzy shrugged, What's the worst that can happen? I need a little cash, and I already have a kinda crappy job. What's one more?
Without much preamble, she dialed the number on the phone.
"Hello?" An irritated female voice asked, almost immediately, "Is this the representative from Capital One? Because if so I—"
"Um, actually, it's not," Lizzy cut in, hurriedly.
"Oh." There was a pause. "I- I'm sorry, then, who are you?"
"Well, if you've got time, I…" She trailed off. How.. exactly does one say 'I-don't-know-you-and-you-don't-know-me-but-your-financé-I-barely-know-offered-me-a-job-so-how-bout-it,-I'm-Lizzy.'
"I don't know you and you don't know me, but your fiancé I barely know offered me a job, so how 'bout it? I'm Lizzy," said Lizzy, who was panicking (just slightly).
There was another, longer pause. Then a barked-out laugh from the woman on the other end of the phone. "Did he now! We are talking about a man named Fitzgerald, correct?"
"Yes, though I've heard he goes by Williams." She smiled, feeling relieved and suddenly a bit self-conscious. "But usually I just call 'im Blondie."
"Ohhh," the woman on the other end said, "You're Lizzy! Darcy's girlfriend, right? He told me all about you— I'm Samantha."
"Nice to meet you, and.. All good things, I hope."
"Yesss, very good things," she laughed. "Said you got his cousin wrapped around your little finger…"
"I can neither confirm nor deny," Lizzy smirked.
"...and you have a way with people, AND make a killer cup of coffee!"
"I would like to think so, yes," she said, smilingly.
Samantha laughed again, and there was a sound like someone leaning back in their chair. "Well, as you probably know, I need a secretary— I'm trying to get this Law Firm off the ground, and it's finally taking off, but I really need someone reliable to manage my calls and just help me out around the office. Sound like you're up for that, Lizzy?"
"Uh, well, I don't know anything about law—"
"Do you know how to handle crazies who come through the door?"
"Uhhh..," Lizzy thought back to the time a man dressed in rags came barging through the door, claiming to be the Third coming of Jesus Christ (the second, he said, was obviously Elvis), and Lizzy had to calmly escort him out without breaking any windows. "Yes," she said, decidedly.
"And can you write emails and organize a schedule?"
"Yes."
"Can I trust you?"
"I sure hope so."
"Well then," Samatha said, a smile in her voice. "I'd love to have you here! I'll text you the details, if you're still interested."
"Wait, really?" Lizzy asked, flabbergasted, "J-just like that?"
"Well, I already know you make good coffee, and that's pretty much a third of my requirements," she seemed to joke, before sobering. "Yes, Lizzy. I really need a secretary, and you're the first person who's reached out— and we've had an ad in the paper and our website for a while now. I'd be really glad to have you here."
"A-alright! Thank you!" Lizzy cried, still in shock.
"Have a great day," Samatha said, and then the line went dead.
Lizzy, cautiously, as if it might burst into flames, set down her phone. She… might have a new job soon. That was… unexpected. Well. At least it would probably pay better. Then she wouldn't have to worry about forgoing groceries for the next month, just to afford a birthday present.
Lizzy went ahead and ordered the engraving on the pens. She smiled to herself, as her phone lit up with a new message, signalling the start of a new era.
This was going to be wonderful.
(end) NOTES: Hey yall! I know this is a bit out of character for me, but it rained where I live, and I couldn't resist a bit of imagery. This has nothing to do with the fic, I just thought some of y'all might appreciate the poetic sorta writing :) ~Vinny
"The windows blink slow and cerulean across the slanted wall— the one that seems to stretch on and on until the world ends, and the rain finally stops. Pale lights flicker from within, but the shadows swallow them up as soon as they part from the glass. Raindrops linger along the rafters. They fall to pieces, to silver shards of reluctant and glistening liquid, sparkling into puddles on the asphalt below. The pavement is stained with puddles, the moss creeping like tears down the bricks. There are wildflowers, peeking out from the bushes where the sidewalk twists. All the petals are pointed like weathervanes, all wilting towards the northeast, where the storm clouds are growing closer. The wind is a sigh as it rustles through the sopping grass— just barely clinging to life. On the oak tree, finger-thin branches reach towards the blurring clouds, the bark pruning as droplets infect the creases, and rain explodes out of leaves as the wind brushes by. The air is cool, and the sky is gray; the world seems to be confined into this one singular moment, soft, and hushed, and soaked through with rain."