Author's Note: Okay, so this is my first fanfiction story. Tell me what you think. Advice is much appreciated. I hope to be writing more soon.

Disclaimer: I wish I could write like Jane Austen, but I can't.

CHAPTER TWO---THE PREPARATION

"You're going to the party, right?"

"I don't know, Liz. Parties aren't really my thing. I'd rather just stay at home and watch a movie or something. Parties are so... crowded..."

"Jane! You have to go! Come on, it'll be fun," said Liz.

Liz could hear Jane sigh on the other end of the phone. "Okay, okay, fine. I'll go," Jane relented.

Liz squealed with joy. "Thanks, Jane. You're the best. I don't deserve such a great friend."

Jane laughed at Liz's gushing. Though Liz liked to exaggerate, she and Jane were good friends. They hadn't always known each other. It hadn't been until three years before that they had met and bonded while working for Longbourn Books. Only Jane still worked for the small bookstore, but her friendship with Liz remained solid.

"So, what time should I come over?" asked Jane.

"Why don't you come in about twenty minutes? That'll give me enough time to get everything ready," said Liz.

"What do you mean 'get everything ready'?"

"You'll see..." answered Liz in a sly voice. She then hung up the phone. "Sorry, Jane," she said to herself, "I hate to hang up on you... but I can't help myself." She then walked to her closet.

"Let's see... what to wear..." She pulled out some slim, black pants, along with a green tank-top. "Perfect. And now for Jane..." Jane had light-brown hair and beautiful hazel eyes. Pink was, by far, her best color. Liz proceeded to pull out a baby-pink, sleeveless dress from her closet. "Watch out boys..."

After taking a quick shower, Liz put her clothes on. As she adjusted her shirt, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" she yelled. She jogged down her staircase and opened the front door. There stood Jane with a book in one hand and a very large purse in the other.

"What the heck are you doing?" asked Liz, more than slightly amused.

Jane looked down, trying to find out what Liz was referring to. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, what are you doing with a book and a bag the size of Asia?"

"First of all, it's a purse, and the reason it's so big is because there were a few things I wanted to bring along, in case I had extra time. That's also why I brought the book."

Liz couldn't hold her laughter inside any longer. "Jane, it's a PARTY. You're not going to have 'extra time.' You're going to dance the whole night!" Liz grabbed Jane's wrist and dragged her up the stairs.

"I'm going to be WHAT? Liz, I can't dance! How am I supposed to be doing it all night long?"

"Everybody can dance." Liz paused. "Okay, maybe not everybody, but you'll be fine. It's not hard." Liz opened the door to her room and guided Jane inside. "Are you ready to see your outfit?"

"My outfit? What's wrong with what I'm wearing right now?"

Liz glanced at Jane's long-sleeved blouse and long skirt. She chose to ignore the question. "Here. This dress was made for you." Liz handed over the dress. It was obvious that Jane loved it. "Why don't you go try it on while I go do my make-up? I'll do yours when I'm done."

"Alright."

"A party?"

"Yeah... don't you want to go?"

"No."

"Come on, Will. It'll be good for you. It'll give you a chance to meet new people."

"I'm fine, thanks."

"Liz is bringing her friend over. Jane's her name, I think. Who knows? You two might hit it off."

"Charlie, I don't want to go."

"Alright, fine."

"Bye."

Will hung up and sighed. He didn't like parties and never had. They seemed pointless to him. If I want to get drunk and puke all over the place, I'd rather do it in my house than in front of fifty other people, he thought.

He turned on his television and flipped through the channels. After about fifteen minutes of going from channel to channel, Will gave up. Right at that moment, the doorbell rang.

Will stood up and walked to the entrance. He opened the door, and Charlie smiled at him. "Hey! Are you ready?"

Will frowned. "What are you doing here?"

Charlie continued to smile. "I'm taking you to the party."

Will was torn between anger and amusement. "I already told you... I'm not going to that party."

Charlie stood there, still smiling.

Twenty minutes later, Will sat next to Charlie in his little green Honda.

"How is it that you have the ability to drag me anywhere you want?"

Charlie laughed. "It's a gift."

Will mumbled, "It seems more like a curse to me."

"Come on, Will, it's not that bad," said Charlie. "I hear Jane's really pretty."

Will frowned, "Who's Jane again?"

"Liz's friend, remember? They used to work together. From what Liz has told me, Jane sounds like a knockout. She's smart, too, apparently."

Will gave a grim smile. I'm sure Liz would just love it if I started dating her friend, he thought.

Charlie pulled into a long driveway leading to a huge house. Cars were everywhere. Lights illuminated the mansion. Even from inside the car, Charlie and Will could hear the thumping rhythm of music.

"We're here," said Charlie.

I was originally going to write the actual party as part of Chapter 2. Instead, I decided to post what I already had and make the party its own chapter. Hope you like it! Thanks to my reviewers. Please keep writing to me! (I tried to correct some of my mistakes. Sorry if I missed some!)