It really is quite funny how many of you have hit upon upcoming plot points and some of you are way off base :) Darcy makes his reappearance in Chapter 10.

Thanks to my amazing Fibby and my editor for their contributions and their continued support.

To the rest of you, you make this fun!

Chapter 9 - Part 2

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

Dionne Warwick, That's What Friends Are For

When Elizabeth returned to The Hole, she opened the door to the bar and found a pile of mail waiting. She wasn't trying to be nosy, but it was impossible not to see that several envelopes were stamped past due in ugly red letters. Worried, she went to the small office to the right of the entrance doors and found Phillip sitting at his desk. He was frowning darkly at what looked like a balance sheet. He accepted the mail without comment, flipping through the stack with a heavy sigh. He was never a man to show much emotion.

Elizabeth never before considered the dollars and cents of running a small business. How difficult it must be to depend on the whim of consumers. And right until this minute, she had no idea that The Hole was struggling. She'd been so caught up with her own private misery she'd not noticed the misfortunes of those around her. On top of her other mounting sins, she had also been a bad friend. It had been a morning of painful revelations about her character.

"Are things really so bad?" Elizabeth asked.

"They aren't great," Phillip responded, absently straightening his bow tie. "Attendance has been down for the last couple of months, so profits are down. We're just a little behind with a few things. It'll get better."

"I still have my advance and the money from the fire. I'd be happy to loan you some money."

"While I appreciate the offer, we'll get through this rough patch." He closed his laptop, smiling faintly. "I just have to keep Malcolm from going shopping."

"Don't think of it as a loan, then. Let me give it to you for letting me stay here with you." She insisted. "I'd have had to pay if I stayed at a hotel."

"Absolutely not." He picked up the bills, slid them into a drawer before firmly shutting it as if that would make them go away. His chin rose proudly. "We don't make our friends pay when they visit us."

She had not meant to insult. "Phillip, I just want to help."

"You've been helping us. You've been cleaning our apartment, working at the bar, and closing up at night. That's more than enough for a lumpy couch and stomaching Malcolm's cooking."

Elizabeth glanced about the small office and noticed the couch was made up with pillows and sheets. Were things so bad between her favorite couple that they were no longer sleeping together? At her raised eyebrow, Phillip followed her gaze and laughed, "No, that's not for me. It's for Max. His landlord evicted him yesterday. He's going to be crashing here for the next few weeks until he can get together enough scratch to find another place."

*)*)*

Unable to sleep after the bar closed that night, Elizabeth searched her purse for the piece she'd started in the subway and went about weaving it into a song. It took all night, but when the sun rose the following morning she stared at the lyrics of Wrecked. It had been a long and painful labor. Discarded balls of paper surrounded her, but in the end, it was the most honest song she'd ever written.

Intense was the need to pair the edgy lyrics with the confounding melody she heard in the deep recesses of her mind. Frustrated her poor skills were not sufficient to achieve the sound she wanted, she banged away mercilessly on the house piano during most of the next two days while the bar was closed. It was a riddle she was desperate to solve on her own. The need to have the song perfect drove her, made her fixate every free minute on the musicality of the piece. A perfect distraction.

"I could help you with that if you want, Lizzy." Elizabeth looked up at the sound of Max's voice. It still startled her whenever he spoke to her. He acted as if that night at her apartment hadn't happened at all. That, in itself, creeped her out. A normal man would have kept his distance after she drew a knife on him, right?

"Thanks, but I think I have it covered." She turned back to the piano, trying to find the sound to match the noise in her head. It seemed so far away when she couldn't concentrate.

"It doesn't sound like you have it covered. It sounds like you are trying to murder stray dogs." He laughed, taking the spot next to her on the bench. She fought the urge to stand. "Come on. Let's collaborate. It will be like the old days when we did Collide or Supermassive."

"I would rather work on this one alone if you don't mind."

He clearly minded. "I'm trying to be nice here." His grin stretched his lips thin. He seemed a little angry. "Why can't you see that?"

"I don't want you to be nice to me, Max." She rose, picking up her music, trying to conceal her annoyance. It would do no good for anyone to draw attention to their disagreement. Even if he wasn't going on tour, he was a decent bassist and the fellas would need him at The Hole.

"Look, Lizzy, that night, at your place - " He grabbed her arm quickly before she could make good on her escape, "you completely over-reacted to the situation."

"I didn't over-react to anything." She jerked her arm free of him. "I think the less time we spend together the better."

"Of course, if that is what you want. But I wish you'd change your mind. I'd like us to be friends again." He searched her face with imploring eyes. "I'd never do anything to hurt you. Never. You have to believe me."

"Do I?" She asked quietly. "Because you frightened me with all the talk about betraying me at my apartment. Isn't betraying me, hurting me, Max?"

"You're right. It is. Shit! I didn't know you, Lizzy. You have to understand. You and I - it was never suppose to be like this. I never thought I'd feel like this about you."

She was sick of feeling strange whenever he was nearby. "You said you betrayed me that night. What did that mean?"

He shut his eyes tightly, then slammed the cover over the keys making a loud banging sound. "I wish I'd never come to New York. I wish I'd never met you. Meeting you has completely ruined my life."

She was tired of his avoidance to answer the real question. There was no point in continuing a conversation that would only frustrate and scare her. "Well, if you aren't going to give me a straight answer, I don't have any more time to spend on you."

Elizabeth went upstairs to the apartment and locked the door behind her. Walking straight to the den, she found her cell phone and made arrangements to look at several of the apartments that she previously viewed. She'd been so depressed by Darcy's interference with the property managers that she hadn't bothered to follow up with any of them.

Remaining under the same roof as Max didn't appeal in the slightest. There was no way around it. She was going to have to find a place all her own. And, soon.

*(*(*

Over breakfast the following morning, she broached the subject of singing at The Hole with Phillip. Since he wouldn't take her money, she figured she could use her five minutes of fame to help her friends. He adamantly told her no. However, by lunch a few days later, he relented.

"If you still want to perform, Felicia just got offered a part in an off Broadway production. I would be grateful if you took her spot since we are so short handed."

Of course, Elizabeth was only happy to help. Malcolm told a few of the regulars that she was going to perform and they spread the word to others. By the time she took the stage, they'd had to turn people away at the door. A first at The Hole.

Elizabeth felt herself relax in front of the crowd. Opening her set with her older material, she'd deliberately selected songs that were fan favorites among their loyal clientele. She did not want to sing any of the songs from the album she recorded with Darcy Records. It eased her conscious somewhat. For the last song, though, she surprised the expectant crowd with The Hole House's up tempo dance version of Stronger. Ricky's amazing sound effects made it perfect for the bar scene. The crowd went wild over it.

For her encore, Elizabeth took the unfamiliar seat at the piano. She stared at the keys a long time. Now that she had the opportunity, she was not sure she was ready share her creation with others. The audience was getting antsy at her hesitation. She could hear their growing whispers. Movements.

From behind the bar, Phillip looked at her with worry. She was suddenly scared to sing it. She shut her eyes and Darcy's face appeared before her. Her fingers moved. The beginning chords sounded ugly, jarring. They made her wince. It was an uncomfortable yet distinctive sound. Still not exactly how she had heard it in her head but so very close. Darcy, she knew, would have been able to perfect it. That thought pushed her forward. Made her unburdened herself. She sang softly of all of the wrong turns since they had met - her misgivings, her mistakes, her fear. All of which had combined to wreck a relationships that had been so vitally important to her.

When she finished, Elizabeth realized she was crying.

As the final note faded, thunderous silence greeted her. It was eerie to look out before her in the dark and hear nothing. To feel absolutely alone. When so many were present. The only sound was her own heavy breathing.

She didn't care if the audience liked her song. She didn't give a fig if she had disappointed them departing from her normal catchy songs and self-depreciating humor. Losing someone important to you was not a funny subject. It hadn't been for them. It had been for her. Performing it had been her own form of therapy.

Elizabeth stood, wobbled, spent by the performance. The weight of carrying the illusion that everything was fine almost buckled her knees. Putting one foot in front of the other, she moved across the stage. Applause began to trickle. Spread across the audience. Grow louder. Until by the time she started down the stairs, their response was shaking the stage. She ignored the deafening pleas for another song, going straight to her dressing room where she slid to the floor, pulling her knees up to her chest. Wrecked had brought all her pain to the surface. It was impossible to ignore it. She was suffering the loss of William Darcy. Her best friend.

Malcolm opened the door without knocking and joined her on the floor. For a long time, they sat shoulder to shoulder before he finally said, "Do you know when I knew you were going to be a star, Lizzy?"

She shook her head, curious.

"The very first time I heard you sing. There you were up on the stage in that tragic Ohio State sweatshirt you always wore." Elizabeth laughed at the memory. "You belted out It's Raining Men a cappella. I knew it before you hit the chorus." He kissed her temple. "Your voice was like a shockwave. It reached right down inside of me and plucked at something. You were special. You were going to be somebody."

Her friend rocked her gently, smoothing her hair. "Remember, you are a survivor, sweetie. You survived your sister's death, and you've survived New York. And you'll survive this, too. Once you are on tour, you'll be away from all the memories. Distance will make it easier. You might even forget you ever fell in love with Mr. Stick Up His Ass Darcy."

Elizabeth lifted her head to deny it, but her voice failed her. In love? The sympathetic look on Malcolm's face made her realized that the only person she had been successful at fooling about her feelings was herself. She didn't know when it had happened, but she had done the unthinkable.

The one thing she was determined never to do.

Against her reason and resolve, she had fallen in love with William Darcy.

*)*)*

The next morning, after another long night counting the tiles in the den's small ceiling, Elizabeth was greeted by another impossibly bright and cheerful November day. As was becoming their habit, she met her roommates around the small breakfast table, eating a bowl of oatmeal and reading the morning paper Phillip insisted they get every day. With a dour expression, he handed it to her.

Elizabeth discovered Darcy wasn't the only one who could be newsworthy.

A photo from the previous night's performance was prominent on the front page of the entertainment section—not the small thumbnail picture one would expect from a small Indie bar like The Hole, but a full-page shot of her. It had been taken during Stronger. One hand holding tightly to the microphone the other pointing at the sky, she was in mid-leap, pony tail flying, looking to all the world carefree and confident. The caption above the photo announced, "Lizzy Bennet Wrecks The Hole."

Malcolm made a crude comment, before he snatched the paper from her stunned fingers to read aloud the review.

"Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few weeks, you've heard, hummed, and sung along with the irresistible song, Stronger on the radio. Well, folks, I'm here to tell you there's something infinitely better than the radio version—seeing Lizzy Bennet perform it live! You really can believe she will move mountains, or rather, put anyone in her way under one. She's a force –you are definitely in her house, at her mercy.

And just when you think she cannot possibly get better, she switches gears with Wrecked. One cannot help but be moved by its heartbreaking honesty. The brutality of her vulnerability when trying to be understood by another and failing miserably. It is a powerful, bitter opus about the painful surrender to love. And it is hauntingly heartbreaking.

If the rest of the songs on the highly anticipated album are as satisfying as these two, Lizzy Bennet is going to be a strong contender for New Artist of the Year at this year's Grammys. I can't imagine why Darcy Records is teasing the public by not releasing Wrecked for air play, or for that matter why they aren't marketing their most exciting star in years to larger venues than basically 'a hole in the wall.'

The label has been strangely quiet since Stronger hit the airwaves. When contacted by this publication, they said tour dates will be announced soon. Take my advice. Get in line quickly. I imagine they will sell out in record breaking time. Personally, I've never had a Stronger urge to beWrecked in my life!"

Elizabeth lowered her head into her hands. This was bad. Very bad. There was no way for Darcy to ignore this. She could be sued, or The Hole could be sued. Even though Phillip told her it was going to be alright and Malcolm seemed to be jazzed at the publicity, she was anxious. No matter what she did she just seemed to keep making one horrible decision after the other.

After she cleaned up from their breakfast, Elizabeth checked her cell. She was not surprised to find that there was a message waiting from Darcy Records. Not from Darcy, but from the mysterious Ms. Stein. The woman sounded friendly in the message as she indicated it was time they got to work on promoting her CD. She asked Elizabeth to call her back at a convenient time, so they could set up a meeting to discuss several exciting offers they'd received.

Before returning her call, Elizabeth dragged Malcolm out with her to shop for an outfit that would make her feel confident on the off chance Darcy made an appearance at the meeting. She called Roseanne at Volumptuous. After agonizing over her choices, she selected a daring red bra and panty set to match the color of the blouse she purchased that accentuated her natural curves and a black mini-skirt which emphasized her new slender waist. She paired the outfit, at Malcolm's insistence, with six inch heeled, thigh-high black boots. When they returned to the apartment, she returned Ms. Stein's call, and they setup a meeting for the very next morning.

Even though it was a shot in the dark, she also called Fredrick's to see if something could be done about her hair. Feeling a little guilty, she dropped the Darcy name and was surprised at how quickly they informed her that they had a cancellation for that afternoon. If she would like to come in, Fredrick himself would see her. The owner, who had given her a trim and rinse at her last appointment under Georgie's guidance, was happy to see her. While they chatted and caught-up, he added a few highlights to her hair that made her appear sun-kissed and younger.

Malcolm loaned her a black leather coat that, if she were wearing flats, would have dragged on the ground. Looking at her reflection, she felt powerful. Her friend was not done as he insisted in helping her with her makeup. When he pronounced her done, she barely recognized herself in the mirror. She looked every inch a star!

To add to Elizabeth's confidence, in the cab ride over to the meeting, Stronger came on the radio. The driver turned it up, informing her it was his new favorite song as he lightly beat out the melody on his steering wheel. He couldn't wait until Lizzy Bennet went on tour. He was going to be first in line for tickets for himself and his daughter. When she gave paid the fare, she included a huge tip, "so he could get those tickets," she told him with a smile.

Feeling invincible, she entered Darcy Records.

A smiling Jacob saw her approach and waved her through, informing her that she was expected on the twelfth floor. She rode up, trying to contain her nerves, anxious about the meeting. When the elevator doors opened, a petite woman with uncontrollable red hair, dressed professionally in a tailored navy suit, rushed forward startling Elizabeth.

"Hello, I'm Gloria Stein. We spoke on the phone yesterday. I'm without a doubt, a huge fan of your work, Ms. Bennet."

"Lizzy, please."

"Lizzy." A hand was extended in her direction. "If you'll just follow me, I'll introduce you to the rest of your team."

"My team?" She shook the proffered hand. She hadn't expected to be met at the elevator or informed that she had a team.

"Oh, yes." The petite woman answered, beaming.

"Will Mr. Darcy be joining us this morning?" Elizabeth had been unable to stop herself from asking.

Gloria swung open the door to a long hallway before turning back to her. "No, I'm afraid not. Mr. Darcy is never been that involved in the marketing end of the business. But then, artists rarely have much interaction with him at all. He likes to keep his distance."

Elizabeth was confused by this information. That hadn't been her experience at all. He had been a fixture in her life for months. Maybe he only kept a close eye on those artists he produced personally.

Indicating that she should follow her, Gloria led her passed several doors. "I want to apologize sincerely for not being here the other day to meet with you. I was at lunch. It was entirely my fault and won't happen again."

"I don't see how the other day could have been your fault. I just dropped by on a lark." Elizabeth hoped she hadn't gotten the woman in any sort of trouble. "I should've called ahead. You have absolutely nothing to apologize over."

The red-head laughed genuinely, said they could agree to disagree, and it was her job to make sure that everything went smoothly from here on out. She would make sure that Elizabeth had her phone numbers and email address so she could be contacted directly whenever there was a need day or night. When they reached her office, two professionally dressed young women around her sister Mary's age were waiting for them. Gloria indicated Elizabeth should have a seat next to them and took her place behind a well-organized desk.

"Before we get started, I have to say that everyone at Darcy Records was sorry to hear about your fire. It must have been a terrifying experience." The two women nodded their agreement. Elizabeth thanked them for their concern, then Gloria continued. "We are your team, Sallie, Paula and I, and our goal is to make sure that you have everything you need at all times. Sallie will serve as your personal assistant, and Paula will be in charge of organizing the logistics for you and your band's travel. I manage them and will be your point person. Mr. Darcy has stressed that you're only to be concerned with your performances. We're to be at your beck and call."

Elizabeth ignore the chill that sliced through her. They were to be at her beck and call because he could no longer be bothered with her. He hated the very sight of her. For a minute, she allowed herself to fixate on the loss brought by that knowledge, but then she rallied her spirit. She had business to conduct here, and these women had clearly worked hard to make sure she was successful. "Let's just jump right in shall we?"

Gloria was, contrary to her sycophantic treatment at her arrival, all about business. From the look of the itinerary Elizabeth was handed and in the way she conducted the meeting, her PR manager was a control freak. She should've known that Darcy wouldn't have an incompetent person on his staff.

In a matter of an hour, the next three weeks of her life after her Thanksgiving break were set. Each day was booked with performances, meetings, and rehearsals—morning to night, solid. Gloria stressed that the real work would begin after the first month ended, when the tour dates were finalized. It was hard to take in what a whirlwind her life was going to become.

Right now, there were ten dates and cities selected, but Gloria imagined the tour would be extended to seventeen by the time Elizabeth returned from her break. Her opening act was still being finalized. The schedule was going to be brutal. Darcy had known this all along. It was why he'd been so adamant about her conditioning. Sallie and Paulo were given tasks and the two exited the meeting.

Elizabeth couldn't believe it. She was going to be on Saturday Night Live! She was going to sing the National Anthem for a Jets game. To start off her media appearances, she would be appearing on the Charles Bingley Show.

"Charles Bingley wants me to do his show?" It had been Jane's favorite show on TV. Her sister had found the affable man quite charming and stayed up late each night to watch him.

"Oh, yes. Out of everyone, he's been the most determined to have you appear. We've had to decline his invitation twice while we were waiting for you to contact us." Gloria looked up from her own copy of the schedule. "In fact, to appease him, Mr. Darcy promised him that he'd make sure that you would perform live on his show before appearing anywhere else."

"Really?" She chewed her lip. "I'm surprised that Will would let anyone dictate to him my appearances."

"Normally, I'd agree. However, Mr. Bingley is one of Mr. Darcy's best friends. Closer friends you'd have trouble finding." Digesting this piece of information, Elizabeth noticed the pink and blue bars across certain times of some days and asked what those were. "Sierra, who I believe is your personal trainer," Gloria consulted notes on an I-Pad. "Yes, she is the pink bar. When you are in town, you'll continue to make use of the gym facilities, but she has agreed to travel with you on trips where you're gone for two days or more. The blue bar is Dr. Tanner. When you're out of town, you'll continue your sessions with him by webcam."

Everything else was self-explanatory, but she was curious about one thing. "I do have one question. Who's the Band of Funk?" Most of her performances indicated they would be with her.

"Oh, that's the name of your band."

"I hadn't realized that The Hole House had been given a new name." She scrunched up her nose. "Who decided on the name Band of Funk?"

"A new name? No, no!" Her manager shook her head. "The Hole House isn't going on tour with you. Out of the forty bands that Mr. Darcy auditioned the last few weeks, Funk was the very best. He believes it's important you have experienced musicians on the stage with you at all times. "

Darcy didn't have the time to return a phone call, but he had time to audition forty bands? She wouldn't let this slight of her band stand. "The Hole House is experienced."

Gloria's easy smile faltered. "Mr. Darcy indicated he wants Funk. You understand."

She understood. More than the woman in front of her would ever know. "What you are telling me, then, is that my wishes aren't going to be considered at all in this decision."

Gloria became visibly distressed at not being able to please her and please Darcy at the same time. After a moment, Elizabeth took pity on the woman who had only followed her boss' orders. She relaxed her posture, smiling sympathetically. "Don't worry about it, Gloria. I'll simply take it up with Will myself." She didn't know when or where, but she was bound to see him at some point. This would be a bone of contention for her. He had to know it would be.

"Lizzy," the woman took a deep breath, "I have to warn you that Mr. Darcy isn't the sort of man who negotiates. He's very decisive. I fear you might just have to accept his decision."

She felt her ire raise at her egomaniacal producer. "With all due respect, Gloria, you don't know me yet, but I fight for my friends. They've worked hard on this album and deserve to reap the benefits. I can't in good conscience let this stand without giving him my thoughts about it."

"I don't mean to disrespectful, Lizzy, at all. It's just that Mr. Darcy doesn't spend much time catering to the wishes of our artists. And, he has been rather emphatic about replacing them with The Band of Funk. He doesn't want The Hole House touring with you. The matter has been settled. You will have to do as he wishes." Gloria's cell phone chimed. "Excuse me." The redhead's eyes widened. "Well, it looks like you're going to have the opportunity to talk to him about it sooner than we thought. Mr. Darcy would like to meet with you today if you are available."

"Of course." Elizabeth's mouth went dry at the knowledge that he finally wanted to see her. Gloria was noticeably curious about this meeting. "Please let him know that I am available whenever he would like."

Gloria relayed the message with a few quick keystrokes, then laid her phone on the desk. "He'll probably have Maggie, his secretary, call me back soon to setup a time for your meeting." Another chime. "Well, it seems like there's no time like the present. Mr. Darcy said he'd like for you to come to his office right now." She looked at Elizabeth appraisingly. "Alone."

Alone? Elizabeth hid the effect of the words on her equilibrium. She remembered very well the last time they were alone. "Well, Will and I have a lot to discuss. I guess I shouldn't keep him waiting."