A young woman with chestnut curls floated to the front of the stage, eyes downcast and arms out at her sides. Her head dramatically dropped as the music reached its climax and the lights dimmed.

The claps of about twenty pairs of hands followed her as she ran stage left and jumped off the platform. She stopped at her bag and a woman of about fifty slowly approached her.

She was a short woman about 5'5 with bright red hair. When she spoke her Russian accent could just be detected after years of working in an American college. Her make up and clothes make her easily one of the most distinguished characters in the school. "Elle that was wonderful. I am very impressed," she smiled and with theatrical motioning of her right hand continued, "Come, I have something I need to discuss with you." She didn't even wait for a reply, simply moved in the direction of her office.

Grabbing her bag Elle followed. She seated herself in one of the red velvet chairs opposite the colourful desk and waited. Having acted for a lot of her early life Ms Frizzle was very fond of dramatics, and so liked to wait before speaking. Ms Frizzle walked over to a shelf and began fiddling with a few trinkets, "As you know, you are one of the best students I've taught throughout all my years at this school. As this is your last year, I have been informed that quite a few big theatres have hear of your standard… So your final showcase in May will be like your interview, if you will. Impress them and you get a contract."

She turned and looked at Elle, "I know this is what you have been working towards and I know you can do it, and go far. You are smart, beautiful and talented." She continued on but Elle was too busy processing what had just happened. She was so excited, she had been working towards this all her life and now it was within her grasp. She had to go home, she had to tell someone.

"Thank you Ms Frizzle, thank you so much," she smiled prettily with wide eyes. Sensing her impatience to leave Ms Frizzle sat down behind her desk, lent forward and looked into Elle's eyes. "Well done today a very moving performance. You really captured Fanny's pain. You may go. See you on Monday." Turning back to her work she could only hear Elle frantically scramble out of her chair and out the door. Ms Frizzle smiled and shock her head but continued with her marking.

"Jane, I know your working now but when you get home I have got something to tell you." Elle hung up after leaving the message and walked in the direction of home. It was a perfect day so she was in no rush to get back to the noisy house just yet.

At twenty-three Elle was the second oldest of the sisters next to Jane. She was a tall 5'8 with long curly hair. Her quick wit and extreme stubbornness made her her father's daughter.

She continued to walk at her leisurely pace until she reached her family house. She smiled up at the Edwardian style house remembering all the memories it held. She walked around the side of the building and enters through the back door into the kitchen.

"Hello dad," she said while kissing the top of his head. She walked behind him and poured two mugs of coffee .He folded his paper and placed it beside him.

"You are out of school early today," he comments before accepting the mug with a grateful smile.

"Yeh, Ms Frizzle gave me some news and said I could leave early." Elle returned and only by her father's indication for her to continue did she elaborate. "Well she told me that my final showcase would be used to let all the prospective companies see me in action. This is the kind of big break that I have always wanted, and so many people don't get. I feel really lucky," she finished with a goofy smile, which she couldn't seem to shake off.

Rounding the table Mr Bennet gave Elle a big hug, "Well done my Ellie, I am so proud of you." Just then the bang of the front door could be heard. It was soon followed by the high-pitched voice that was undoubtedly her mother, and the giggling of her younger sisters. Mr Bennet smiled sadly at the fact Elle's moment had been interrupted. He was about to retreat to his study, "Dad don't tell mum just yet." He smiled and nodded in understanding. Her mother had never understood her desire to work in the classical theatre. She continually said Elle should focus on television and film because there was exposure and money in those types of jobs. But Elle was interested in the plays, the literature and the truth of the words; money and fame didn't interest her.

Elle settled back into her chair and sipped her coffee, as her mother went upstairs presumably to try on her latest purchase.

By seven o clock the Bennet family dinner was in full swing. Elle was seated beside her beautiful sister Jane, and her father who was at the head of the table. Mary, kitty and Lydia were sitting opposite the older sisters, and their mother sat facing Mr Bennet.

"I heard from Mrs Lucas today that Netherfield Park has been rented by a young man from England. Is this true dear?" she directed the question to her husband who had hoped this topic had not been brought up.

"Yes it is. His name is Charles Bingley," he answered carefully. Elle cast a glance at her mother before turning back to her father with an amused look in her eye.

"Oh, Mr Bennet you know what I am asking have you met him yet?" Mrs Bennet sighed at her husband's lack of urgency.

"Yes. A nice, polite young man… and to answer your next question he will be coming to Mr Lucas's party tomorrow, so you can all meet him there." As he finished Elle gave an unenthusiastic 'yes' of excitement.

As Elle and Jane got ready for bed the conversation turned what Elle's voicemail was about.

"Oh, it was just about how my final show is going to serve as my audition for the many theatres in America," Elle tried to play it cool, like it wasn't a big deal but Jane knew this meant everything to her younger sister. She hugged her favourite sister and they talked about any ideas Elle had about the performance for a while.

"So, what do you think this Bingley character will be like," Elle asked with a high voice and fluttering eyelashes.

"I don't know but from what dad said he seems nice," Jane replied.

"Nice? Nice! Jane surely you can think of something better than 'nice'… After all the word nice doesn't mean anything. It's just something people say instead of what they really think." Elle wanted to know what she really thought of him. Elle thought he sounded like the perfect man of Jane. He was easy going, polite, funny and shy. He was the male version of Jane. "I think he will fall in love with you at the party tomorrow, any man would have to be blind, deft and dumb not to love you… Besides he's rich."

"Elle!" Jane cried in mock shock at Elle's startlingly good impression of their mother. Laughing at that ridicules thought was when sleep took them.

XXX

Three girls had been walking around the town for hours and had finally stopped for a rest and coffee. They sat outside at a small table with mountains of bags around their feet.

" I can't believe we bought so much stuff. I think I just maxed out my credit card," laughed Jane while sipping her cappuccino. Elle looked down at her own small mountain of clothes and a conclusion dawned on her.

" Oh my God… I am becoming my mother!" cried Elle before letting her head hit the table.

"How strong is your espresso," Charlotte asked making a show of examining the coffee, "And you are not turning into your mother… you are already her!" Charlotte and Jane both burst out laughing at the look of pure horror that spread across Elle's face.

"Ha ha Charlotte, your so not funny," Elle glared at her friend and finished the rest of her coffee.

They all stood to leave when Charlotte's foot got caught in one of the bags. She almost fell by managed to find her balance. Smirking Elle turned and picked up her own bags, "Have a nice trip?"

"That's almost funny Elle congratulations," Charlotte replied with a sarcastic smile. Jane just looked on with a confused expression on her beautiful face. She would never understand how they were such close friends, but always poked fun at each other.

Elle and Charlotte continued their banter until they got to the car, and it was all Jane could do to suppress to laughs at the girls remarks.

Once all the bags were packed safely in the back of Charlotte's car, the girls climbed in and drove to Charlotte's family home. "Thanks for letting us get changed here, I am so not in the mood to hear my mother crisis how I look. It's not my fault I look like a man in drag next to Jane," Lizzie moaned good-naturedly.

"Oh Elle, don't exaggerate. You always look lovely," Jane smiled at her sister in the mirror, as she finished putting Elle's hair in a messy yet stylish bun. Elle smiled at her considerate sister. She stood and walked over to the full-length mirror. She had to admit she looked quite pretty herself tonight.

She wore a green thin-strapped silk dress, which hugged her chest and flowed down loosely to stop short of her knees. She had a few gold bracelets on her right hand and gold strappy heels. Her make up was subtle until it came to her eyes; she had a dark, smoky eye shadow and they were outlined with the help of black mascara and eyeliner.

She moved to stand beside Jane who looked angelic in her baby blue strapless dress. "We all ready to go?" The girls nodded and remarked on who the others looked.

"Okay, lets go get them," Charlotte laughed while linking arms with the two sisters and walking down the stairs to the party.