Darcy picked self-consciously at his fingernails with the most serious concentration Charlie had ever seen. Sitting on the couch, Charlie and Carolyn simply looked at him strangely for several moments, not quite sure what to make of him. The silence was painful for the Bingleys, even if Darcy hardly noticed it. Charlie opened his mouth to hear his own voice, when Carolyn spewed out in a nearly desperate attempt to get Darcy's attention.
"So what do you think of Lizzy?"
Charlie raised his eyebrows in a childlike curiosity to hear what his friend had to say.
"Hm?" Darcy looked up, just barely.
"Lizzy. Bennett." Carolyn smiled haughtily. "I dunno, you two just seemed to really… like, click." Her tongue overemphasized the last word in a flirtatious way. If Darcy noticed, his expression remained unchanged.
"I'm not interested." He said simply. Charlie coughed, as if he were suppressing a laugh. Carolyn just sneered at her brother.
"Well, you could've fooled me. Out on the dunes, you two arguing like that… you know, in my opinion, hate sex is the best kind."
Charlie laughed, seeing it as a challenge. He was eager to see what his friend had to say to that, but Darcy merely blinked and shrugged.
A silence followed. Not an awkward, forced silence; but a thoughtful one.
"She has nice eyes."
After a mo ment of processing, Carolyn burst out in hysterical laughter. She slapped her knee and bent forward, not making an effort to hide just how ridiculous this was. Charlie forced a small laugh, but his heart wasn't really in it. He knew how Darcy felt, right there. For once.
"Nice eyes?" Carolyn repeated, after finally calming down slightly. "You know, most guys like a girl for her tits and ass. In your case, maybe even her money and family and college. But never, in a million years, would I ever expect you to say a girl has nice… eyes."
The word was ugly to her; you could hear it in her voice. Darcy furrowed his brow in thought and grinded his teeth.
"I think I should get around to ordering that pizza." He mumbled, and quickly stood and walked out.
Caroline's draw dropped in mortification. "Darcy! C'mon, I was just screwing with you."
Charlie snorted and chuckled a little in amusement. But he was just as far gone as his friend. Only, Charlie's mind was wrapped in anticipation for the day tomorrow. It would be new opportunity to see Jenny, to make something happen. All he needed to do was take the first step.
Instinctively and impulsively, Charlie reached for his cell phone.