I'm back!!!!! So let's see . . . thanks to all the wonderful reviews! On another note, I just became a Beta, though I have no clue what I may have gotten myself into (not yet a beta for anyone) considering that I write this story without one (could you imagine how much longer it would take for me to post new chapters if I had one?!)
A couple of comments though . . .
To all those who comment about my short chapters - 1) The chapters get the point across. I've always believed that if you can get an idea across with the same image in 5 words or 10 words you use the 5 word way because you get right to the point and you don't lose people's interests, 2) Technically I could combine two chapters into one, but I generally don't like blending them into one, and besides it would mean that it would take longer for me to update, and I know that some of you think I take too long already.
Bfly - go back and read the chapter again. They were very clear that this is not a romantic date. My Liz sticks to her guns and if she's going to slap Darcy and tell him that, it is because she firmly believes in it.
ShadowAmunet - I wrote the last chapter and also went 'hmm, Josh is starting to sound a bit gay' and actually considered making him swing that way. But my storyline isn't going to allow for that, but I wanted him to have the great sense of humor that he has, so Josh is just going to be that guy who understands that women frequently think that men are idiots and when they do they generally are in need of chocolate or alcohol . . or both. But good going on the pick up of that!
To all of those who are speculating about whether Darcy will be at the Bash and if so what his reaction will be to Liz and Josh, well, I guess you'll just have to wait for the next chapter!
And now for the winner . . . Congratulations wannabehermy! You were the first to guess that 'Hey, you're a girl!' was the center line of the last chapter (crazy, I know, but someone actually said that to me two weeks prior to me writing the chapter and it had been playing in my mind). I'll be in touch with you in a little while to discuss where I'm headed and to hear your ideas about the Fall Bash! Thanks to everyone else who submitted their own reviews and lines, they were great to read.
Without further ado . . .
Chapter 11:
Tuesday morning, half asleep behind my computer at my seat in the lecture hall, the sound of Charlotte plopping into the seat next to me caught my attention. I hadn't seen her since Sunday evening when she agreed to attend the Bash with Collins. I glanced over at her, then went back to my computer to check my e-mail messages, when realization hit me and I turned back to do a double-take. There Charlotte was, dressed. She was wearing a nice pair of jeans and a blue sweater that was very flattering for her skin tone, her straight hair in a neat ponytail and – wait for it – makeup.
"It's 9 in the morning. What the hell?" I said out loud
"What's wrong?" she asked in response. I shook my head.
"Do you have some kind of appointment after class?"
She shook her head no.
"Then why are you all dressed up?"
"I'm wearing jeans and a sweater."
"Half the time you roll out of bed and wear pajama pants to this class."
"I've realized that people judge based on first impressions and it is very hard to overcome that and half the time those first impressions are based on appearances. So I'm taking a little more care with how I look in the morning."
"Charlotte, you already made your first impression on everyone in the room 15 months ago so what's the point?!"
She just shrugged her shoulders. I rolled my eyes and turned back to my computer screen. I heard her sigh.
"Lizzie, can we please talk about this?"
"There's nothing to talk about, you want to dress up for a 9 am class, that's your call, it's not my place to convince you otherwise. I, however, am going to sleep until the last moment possible and grab the first clean thing I can find."
"Not that, the whole thing with Bill and the Bash."
"Oh that! I think I've made my position clear Charlotte and so have you. What's left to discuss?"
"Why do you need to be so cruel about it?!"
"Cruel?! You're saying that I'm cruel! I've been nothing but honest on the whole situation Charlotte. I'm the one who constantly refused to go out with Collins because he's creepy and stalker-like and I'm totally not interested in him. You, on the other hand, have always agreed that he was creepy and yet you're going out with him Wednesday night. And for what?! To secure an invite to the Bash. You call me cruel when you're the one who is leading the guy on. Even worse, how can you think so low of yourself?!"
"That's just it! I don't think low of myself! But I am realistic."
I just stared at her.
"Lizzie, guys don't look at me the way they look at you. You get the chance to turn guy after guy down, cause you know that there are other fish in the sea for you. Hell, you got Mr. Tall Dark Handsome British Dude by Caroline ordering you around and by getting bumped by a waiter! I don't turn down guy after guy because they aren't knocking at my door or biting on my fishing line. So when one shows interest, I need to take that opportunity. Yes, Bill has been creepy, because he was stalking you when you weren't interested. But he apparently is over you, and is interested in me now. I never told him no, and he's never stalked me. So I need to give this a chance! And it doesn't hurt that it gives me an opportunity to go to the Bash. I need this night to network, I might never get a good job otherwise –"
"Charlotte you go to Columbia –"
"With a C average, no moot court and no law review. No big firm is going to want to hire me just by looking at my resume, and I don't want to go back to Daddy's firm in Kansas City. I need to impress them with my personality, then there can be a sliver of hope that maybe they'll see Columbia and overlook the low GPA and give me a job. So all in all, yes Liz I agreed to go out with Bill Collins, and no Liz, it wasn't just for the invite to the Bash but also to be able to go out with a guy who now that he's seen past you might actually be into me. I need you to accept that."
I sighed. How is it only Tuesday, when this week has been jam packed with issues to last a month?!
"Charlotte, I had no idea you felt that way. Your self-esteem gives you less credit than you should have, you're a wonderful person and any guy would be lucky to date you, and any firm that can see past your average to see what a dedicated and hard worker you are would find you to be a god send. I disagree with you about dating Collins, because I don't think you can do better, I KNOW you can do better than him. And you deserve better. However, that being said, if you are so hell bent on going out with him, I'll try my hardest to support you. But don't expect me to be all giddy and rosy about it."
"Thank you Lizzie! It means so much to me."
"Just remember to give me the signal Wednesday night if you need me to swoop in and rescue you."
Charlotte looked puzzled.
"Rescue me? How are you going to do that Liz? You won't even be there. You'll be on your date with Mr. Tall Dark Handsome British Dude on the other side of town."
"Um, no I won't."
"Huh?"
"Well, Mr. Tall Dark Handsome British Dude turned out to be Mr. Tall Dark Arrogant British Boss."
"Will Fitz is –"
I nodded.
"Fitzwilliam Darcy, head partner of Darbing. And he doesn't date law students and employees of his firm who want to get into his pants in order to get a job after law school."
"What nonsense is that?! Everyone knows that you don't want to work there after you get your license. Hell, everyone knows you won't even look twice at a co-worker in that way."
"And I told him exactly that. . . after I slapped him."
"Oh no, Liz you didn't!"
I smirked.
"I most certainly did. After I got in writing that he wouldn't fire me or allow it to adversely affect my job."
Charlotte keeled over in laughter.
"Lizzie that is the most fantastic thing I've heard all semester. And it is exactly like you to do such a thing!" She said as she wiped tears from her eyes. "But how does that bring you to being at the Bash?"
"I'm going with one of the attorneys from the ProBono department."
"What happened to not dating co-workers?"
"We're going more as 'acquaintances'. It was made very clear that this wasn't a romantic thing, but rather a friend like thing that I was going with him because he was desperate for someone amusing to keep him company and his cousin bailed on him last minute."
"He was going to bring his cousin as his date?"
"No his cousin is Darcy."
Charlotte's jaw dropped.
"Yeah I didn't know that at first either. But it's okay. I don't give a care about Mr. Darcy and his cousin is completely different. He's nice and has a sense of humor and doesn't have the stick up his ass that Darcy has."
"So wait, what are you going to wear?"
"Dunno, I'll pull something out of my closet tomorrow."
"No, Lizzie, you can't just 'pull something out of your closet.' This is the biggest legal social event of the year."
"Well I disagree with that statement, I think Darbing's Christmas party is probably bigger."
"Okay I'll give you that, but you still can't just pull any old thing from your closet for this."
"Well I don't have time to go shopping, I have class all day."
"Tomorrow?"
"Work at Darbing"
"Lunch break?"
I shook my head.
"Not likely. Hey! Jane got this great dress a few weeks ago, she's only wore it once and I tried it on and it looked pretty good on me too. I know that she bought a new dress for tomorrow night already, and since she owes me a favor for going with her to Caroline's birthday party I'll ask her to let me borrow the dress."
"Weeeelllll, it isn't the best scenario, but it will have to do."
"Ladies!" Professor Kerkwood called from the front of the lecture hall. "I'm sure the two of you are in the middle of an invigorating conversation about the rules of evidence, but why don't you allow me to take over the lecture from here?"
Charlotte blushed as we both turned back to our laptops.
"No problem Professor Kerkwood." I called out. "Just as long as you don't pick on me for the facts of the cases we had to read today."
Everyone in the lecture hall, including the professor, laughed at that.
A bit of a filler chapter - but we have Liz and Charlotte on the mend before the Bash. Besides, you guys didn't want to wait until AFTER I posted the chapter on the Bash to find out who the winner was, now did you?! I have a feeling that I might do another contest in a couple of chapters where the winner will get a character . . . . oops too much said, gotta wait till we get there so review review REVIEW!!!!!!!!