The routine was the same for all beginning-of-summer parties for Chawton's locals, especially Lizzy. She went to Jenna's house around three, vented about summer work and guys until four, got ready by five, and the pair was secure inside Jenna's Jeep by five thirty. It was a short drive to Steventon Beach, and the summer crowd just coming in from the highway prolonged the length of the trip. They were stopped in traffic along Mansfield Circle, and although they could see the beach from where they were, it would take another fifteen minutes to get there.

"Are you nervous?" Lizzy spoke, the first time during the whole car ride, over some U2 song playing over the radio.

Jenna looked over. "Nervous? For what?"

"I dunno," her friend shrugged. "To meet Biff and all his prep school pals."

"That's harsh, Liz."

"Please, you know my brother works in New Canaan. It's bad enough there."

Jane laughed. "C'mon, you barely know them."

Lizzie shook her head. "Whatever. I'll judge them when I see them."

"You mean if we ever meet them. This traffic is the worst it's ever been in the summer…"

But eventually, the car pulled into the parking lot above the clean sand of Steventon. In the summer, the beach was usually packed with suburban families who weren't quite elite enough to get a pass to Sanditon, but the few cars that Lizzie recognized were from her school. It was perfect – just before sunset, cool, not too windy.

She grabbed the Frisbee from the car and ran to catch up with Jenna, who was just making her way down the large stone steps onto the beach.

Immediately, she could see her friends, along with a few other local kids who she knew fairly well; as well as her friend Charlotte. Charlotte and her mother came every summer and the occasional Christmas to stay in the house next to Lizzy's, and the two had grown close over the years.

"Hey, you guys." Lizzy smiled and tossed the Frisbee over to Ben, who promptly began to organize a circle of people to throw it around.

"Lizzy! There you are!" Meghan's voice was loud enough that a young couple passing by stopped in alarm. Lizzie waved to Meghan, who stomped right over.

"God, I thought you two were never gonna show up. I don't know where the hell those people are."

"Relax!" Ben called out to his twin. "They should be here any minute!"

Meghan shook her head in shame and began to look around.

"Seriously, whoever they think they are – oh my God. They're here! They're here! Guys, over there!" She pointed enthusiastically down the south side of the beach.

"Why are there only three of them?" Jenna said, apparently the only one who remembered that they had promised five or six people.

"Who cares? They're hot." Meghan scoffed; proceeding to coo at the guy she happened to come with.

Lizzie had to admit, Meghan was right. The three people walking down by the water – one girl and two guys, now that they were getting closer – were very attractive indeed. The girl had bright red-orange hair, a toned body, and an elegant way of walking. The first guy was clearly her brother, with the same color hair and a more athletic build. The other was very different – he was taller, with a skinnier frame and short dark hair in a well-maintained crew cut.

"WE'RE OVER HERE!" Lindsey screamed over to them. The brother and sister (if that's what they were) hurried over to the group, whereas the third member of the party just moved more slowly.

"Eh, pretty easy on the eyes. What say you, Jenna?" Lizzy turned to her friend for a response, but her eyes were fixed on the orange-haired guy. Lizzy understood in a moment, and laughed. "Oh, Jenna! Already? Here, come on, let's go say hi."

Lizzie grabbed Jenna's wrist and led her over to where Meghan was chatting up the brother and sister. She was talking at an extraordinary pace, and was so focused on her own story that she didn't notice her friends approaching. The boy did, though, and his eyes seemed to light up the second he laid eyes on Jenna.

"Aren't you going to introduce us to your friends?" He said in an almost childish voice.

"What? Oh, yeah! Of course!" Meghan turned around and pushed Meghan and Lizzie forward.

"Jenna and Lizzy, this is Charles Bingley."

"Call me Charlie." He said, with a dazzling smile.

"Yeah, so, he's from Greenwich, and he's staying here for the summer."

"Oh yeah?" Lizzy said. "How do you like it so far?"

"It's great," he answered. "But I only just got here."

"Mhmm," Meghan continued, "he's going to be a freshman in college next year."

Of course, this meant big bonus points on Meghan's guy scale.

"What school are you going to?" Jenna asked softly.

He smiled again, directly at Jenna. "Yale." He said, as if it were no big deal. Meghan gasped, and Jenna and Lizzie both raised their eyebrows.

"Wow," Jenna said. "That's great."

"Well, pretty much all my family went there, so it's not like I had a choice! But yeah, I'm totally psyched."

For a moment, Jenna and Charlie just smiled at each other, as if they were the only two people on the beach. Then, of course, Meghan had to speak.

"And this is Caroline." She said, being very proud of herself for remembering another name.

"Carolyn," The redheaded girl corrected. She was different from the boy. Where he was clearly extroverted and friendly, she was haughty and aloof. There was also a tone in her voice that was dripping in boredom and a sense of superiority. "Charlie and I are twins. I'm going to Yale, too."

Meghan smiled in her fake, I'm-gonna-bite-your-head-off way. "Well, isn't that nice." She rested her hands on Jenna and Lizzy's shoulders. "Anyways, these are my two best friends, Jenna and Lizzy. They're going to be seniors next year. I'm going to Mass Bay. My mom went there, but my dad didn't. He said college was a waste of time, so he just came here and opened up 'The Rock Lobster', I don't know if you saw it on your way – oh my God, hey!"

Lizzy was glad that something interrupted Meghan's efforts to make them look as worthless as possible, even if it had to be meeting another person. The tall, dark-haired one finally caught up with them. He stood behind his friends in a pale green polo, khaki shorts, and expensive-looking flip-flops. Unlike Charlie, he seemed distracted and uncomfortable, like a shark in a goldfish bowl. He didn't really know what to make of his surroundings.

"Oh, sorry," Charlie apologized for his friend. He backed up so that the other boy could fit into the circle that had been formed. "This is Will Darcy."

At hearing his name, Will Darcy came back to Earth. His expression was shocked and sudden. Collecting himself, he said in a monotone, "Darcy, please."

Charlie smiled at Jenna and Lizzy, as if seeking approval.

"I'm Lizzy," she said, before Meghan had a chance to humiliate them, again. "Nice to meet you."

For a moment, Darcy locked eyes with her. He looked down at his feet.