DISCLAIMER: I do not pretend to own any of the works by Jane Austen or any other author and their characters. I am but a lowly servant.



He didn't turn up, she didn't know if she expected him to, but either way, he wasn't around. Eleanor watched her friend say her vows solemnly and without a smile, Charlie's father didn't notice as he kissed her and sat down, Jenny noticed though she was looking at Chris who was seated in the second row next to the odious Will Darcy.

Eleanor held her small bouquet and watched stiffly as her friend gave away her life to someone who was obviously indifferent.

"I now pronounce you Man and Wife." They kissed quickly and without passion as the priest introduced Mr…and Mrs Jerome Collins. Eleanor smiled as they walked down the aisle hand in hand and followed a few steps behind.

Even without the love, the wedding was beautiful. They sat at a large table and watched the others dancing until Mr. Collins tapped the side of his champagne flute and called for attention. "Lady Catherine Debouf sends her apologies," he told everyone, "but she could not make it to this joyous occasion" That seemed to be it. That was the speech he gave on his wedding day. Eleanor scoffed into the toast to Lady Debouf and looked at Jenny. But Jenny wasn't watching.

Chris had just taken her hand and lead her to the dance floor. She watched as Jenny's face lit up and laughed as Chris turned her around the floor professionally. They were in love.

Someone coughed behind her and she turned to see Will Darcy staring at her. True, Charlie's mother had…adjusted the cleavage on her dress, but it was no reason for him to be staring at her like her was. "Can I help you Mr. Darcy?"

"Would you care to dance with me Miss Bennet?"

Eleanor stared at him in shock, but this man hated her? And he wanted to Dance with her? Was he ill? Without her brain realising, she seemed to be standing up and nodding. NODDING! ACCEPTING!

They danced in silence, the opposite to Jenny and Chris who were smiling at each other and loving every minute of it while Eleanor and Will remained silent, they twirled around the floor without saying a word to each other, both lost in their own thoughts.

"Don't you talk Mr. Darcy?" Eleanor finally asked.

"And you always talk?" She smiled knowingly.

"Well, I think talking adds to dancing, don't you?"

"I've always thought it took something away from it."

"Well, Mr. Darcy, this dance is rather empty as it is, maybe talking about the wedding will add something to it."

Will looked at her, he didn't understand this girl. She seemed to 'get' him so easily, or thought she understood him from the first minute. Yet, she was far more difficult. She could be serious, like at the meetings, she could laugh off any situation and she hated him. She Hated Him. He had a vague idea of why she might hate him, but so easily? Without even finding out what is was about him that she hated, she seemed to hate him. Maybe this dance idea hadn't been such a good one, then again, if he hadn't Laura would have never let him forget it. But this? This couldn't have been worse.

Finally it ended while Eleanor thanked him stiffly and went off to join her friend. Will watched her go until Laura came up to him smiling broadly.

"She'll come around." She told him.

Will shook his head, he had to disagree. "No she wont, she's too stubborn to do that."

"Almost as stubborn as you?" Laura was still laughing.

Will smiled and shook his head, "maybe."

The slightly happy couple left later that night in a limo on their way to Paris for a few weeks. Eleanor and Jenny waved goodbye tears falling down their faces. Chris put an arm around Jenny's shoulder making both sisters smile and the three of them went back to the food.

The next day it was work as usual as a new teacher, Miss. Leah Bernit arrived to take over from a Mrs. Taylor who had moved away to marry this old widow she'd fallen for. Leah was young, not quite as young as Eleanor but young enough to cause a stir among the older teachers. Unlike Eleanor, Leah was a hard-core-party-animal and would come to school with bags under her eyes and her hair all over her head. But Eleanor didn't dwell on the new teacher that much, not when Johnny Wickham (after apologising profusely for not coming to the wedding) had asked her out to dinner.

Unlike her usual self, Eleanor spent a record 15 minutes deciding what to wear and eventually stealing something from Jenny's wardrobe. The restaurant was wonderful, Eleanor didn't notice that Johnny talked rather a lot…about himself and his work, but concentrated on his blue eyes that seemed to hold her.

They danced at a nearby club, the first time she'd been to one, and Eleanor got…more than a little tipsy.

She woke up the next morning thankful to see herself in her own bed, alone, but not thankful for the splitting headache that seemed to be an aftermath. Never Again, she silently vowed, Never ever ever again.

In the back of her mind, Eleanor knew that Johnny wasn't the man for her, he was definitely the man for a lot of other women – handsome good looks, twinkle in the eye, willing to pay – but not for her. But she was having fun, bounds of fun.

Then one day a call came from Jenny. "He's leaving!" Jenny sobbed. Eleanor didn't need to be told another thing before she arrived at her sister's apartment. "Carols just called me, she said they found another location and that they're about to leave." Eleanor wrapped her arms around the slender form of her sister and let her talk, knowing that that's what Jenny wanted to do. "He didn't say anything about it, I don't think he knew. And then he sent me a text saying that he'd email me…but he doesn't have my email address and…and…I know…he'll be ….too busy…" she sobbed into Eleanor's shoulder as Eleanor fumed inside. How could anyone treat her sister like this?

"He'll come back soon," she told Jenny, "don't worry."

"Don't make promises you can't keep." Eleanor couldn't answer that and they stayed in a stony silence as Jenny sobbed quietly into Eleanor's increasingly wet shirt.

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