NOTES: Lizzy's POV. Kinda angsty at first, but I make up for it ;) (i hope)

also, tomorrow, I might not post immediately bc I have a Bio quiz to study for (nervous system is making me very nervous haha). I'll still post relativley quickly, and I already have the next few chapters in my head— so, easy peasy!

Anyway, y'all stay safe, and have a great day/night! ❤️ ~Vinny

'...And if this call.. is… uh, personal— ...Well, uhm, I- I'll get back to you.. very soon. Until then, please leave a message after the tone. BEEP'

Lizzy hung up the phone. She didn't bother leaving another message. She had already left two others, each more desperate and pathetic than the last. She looked at the clock. It was so late, it was getting early.

He wasn't calling her back.

Lizzy was seated on the edge of her shoddy windowsill, stationed just over the hotel roof, with a view of the stars and the hills and the city in the distance. Mushroom caps bloomed under her bare, dangling feet. She sat in shorts and a sweatshirt, looking up at the silvery night sky, and wondering why she cared so much.

Maybe it was because of that nightmare; the one she had had the one time she made the mistake of falling asleep that night.

In her dream, she had been able to fly. Soaring through clouds the color of eggs, she dove in and out of empty cities and hollow streets. Then she came up, face to face with one of the impossibly tall skyscrapers.

Laughing, Lizzy flew higher and higher, until she reached the very top. She was so high up, the atmosphere faded into a clear indigo galaxy around her.

The final window on the skyscraper was so close. And so clear. She could see right into the room beyond.

Fitzwilliam was there, sitting in his chair, lounging, and talking with someone on the phone. He was smiling.

Suddenly, without a doubt, Lizzy knew that he was talking to his new wife— a woman he had met at some company event— who was pretty and intelligent and wealthier than Midas. Someone who made Fitzwilliam happier than Lizzy ever could.

His brown eyes, warm and adoring, cut to the window. He looked right through her.

The atmosphere receded, and suddenly Lizzy found it hard to breathe. Then she was tumbling through the air, falling at breakneck speed, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Right before she hit the ground, her eyes opened.

She went to the balcony, put on a sweatshirt, and called him.

He didn't answer. Again.

Thinking about it, and how stupid and pathetic and worthless she was, Lizzy set down her phone, and put her head in her hands. Before she could cry, her head snapped back with a tearful and furious sound resonating from the back of her throat.

The sweatshirt smelled like him.

Her head leaned back until her neck was craned, and the crown of her head was resting flat on the thin wall behind her. This wasn't doing her any good. Fitzwilliam… if.. if he still cared about her, he would reach out. He would. She hoped he would. Would he?

Distraction! What she needed was a distraction!

Lizzy got up, and began pacing the narrow balcony, waiting for ideas to come to her. Then, she got it. Why hadn't she thought of it before?

Jane.

Squatting down and grabbing her phone, Lizzy constructed a quick text to her sister. 'Hey, Janey. I know it's late where I am— don't ask questions. I need a distraction from love. It's.. giving me trouble. You know how I told u about the breakup? Well, I tried to reach out, and he's not answering :( I want something new to focus on. Please.'

She hit send.

Almost immediately, she got a text back. 'Aw I'm sorry to hear that sis. I'm also sorry I don't have much distractions to give u. My brain space is consumed with wedding plans'

'Perfect,' Lizzy jammed into the keys. 'Tell me about it and how I can help'

'Well, Charlie and I have been worrying a bit about the bachelor/bachelorette parties— since we're coming back home just for the wedding, we don't have many people to invite. Other than family friends, and u know that's always a bit awkward'

'Don't I know it,' Lizzy grinned. 'Am I in charge of the bachelor and bachelorette parties then? I can get guests and plan them'

'Haha i think you're a bit too tired Liz,' Jane's response came, with a heart emoji.

'Why?'

'You plan the bachelorETTE party. Charlie's best man is planning the one for the bachelors.'

'Ohhhh right. Well, if u don't have many guests, why don't we just combine them? Save more time'

Jane took a while typing her response. 'Idk… the two events are usually.. catered differently.'

'Yes, with strippers and alcohol, I know,' Lizzy answered wryly. 'But I know u don't drink. And hate strip clubs. How does Charlie feel about it.'

'The same,' Jane replied, after a moment.

'Well then it's no problem!' Lizzy typed with a smile. 'We can arrange a nice and fun get together as a group! Maybe at that jazz-themed restaurant downtown? They have darts and dancing and I know you love that place.'

She could almost see her sister's returned smile through the screen. 'That.. honestly sounds lovely. And I'm sure Charlie will love it (he was a bit hesitant about the stripper thing as well)'

Then, a second later, she added, 'But you'll have to check with the best man and plan it together. Is that okay?'

'Yeah that's cool. Have his number?'

Jane's response.. took a moment. 'Actually, I don't. And I don't know his name. Charlie always referred to him as "my friend back home," or "the best man," or (more recently), "my friend Romeo." I do have his email tho!'

Lizzy snorted as she read the message. 'Great, I love a good mystery,' she replied. 'And wasn't he the guy you were planning to set me up with?'

'Yes,' Jane's seemingly guilty reply said. 'I think you guys might really hit it off.'

'I'm not looking for romance right now, Janey. I just broke up with Fitzwilliam, remember?'

'I know, I know! But hey— distraction, right? :-)'

Lizzy sighed into a chuckle. Shaking her head, she typed back, 'fine. Give me the email and I'll be out of your hair. 3'

From her text, she copied and pasted the email address (user0 Pstudios .org) into her inbox, and set to typing. She was so focused on making the perfect, fun, witty email, that she forgot all about what had happened that day.

She fell asleep right after she hit send.

And for the remaining 6 hours of the night, every one of Lizzy Bennet's dreams was as opaque as the open window to her balcony, ushering in the dawning breeze.

Tomorrow came faster than she would have liked. But at least, this time, she was sure things would be better.

Especially now that she had finally put Fitzwilliam Darcy out of her mind.

Things were looking up.