Will entered the main hall again and headed straight for one of the caterers. No one had approached him yet, which Will was extremely grateful for, despite the fact that the party was thrown in his honour. Sitting at an empty table, Will slowly munched on the hor d'oeuvres that he had stocked onto his plate. He allowed the calming sounds of the jazz band wash over him, feeling the burn in his face dimming slightly.
He really did embarrass himself in front of the one person he didn't want to. Elizabeth was an attractive woman and looked as though she was intelligent, not like most of the girls that were attracted to Will. But then, those girls usually heard about his money first. Maybe Elizabeth Bennet was a gold-digger who just hadn't heard about how rich he was. Will shook his head. He'd probably never find out anyway.
"What's this? The party boy sitting alone while everyone else is having fun?" The sound of cool jazz was cut by the annoying, high pitch twang of a woman Will could only suppose to be-
"Caroline. Hi." Will said flatly, trying to find a quick and easy way to leave the conversation before it even started.
"Hi yourself, Will." Caroline breathed, sitting on the chair next to him and leaning in. "I just couldn't leave you sitting all alone like this! No doubt all the morons in the dance room got to you? You know that you're better than them, right? We both are." Caroline stared into Will's face.
Will snorted despite himself and Caroline recoiled, looking vaguely disgusted that her seduction speech didn't have the intended affect. Will unplucked Caroline's hand from his knee, which seemed to have crept there during her little monologue.
"Look, Caroline, Charlie's in that room. Might I remind you that he is my best friend and more importantly, your brother?"
Caroline smiled confidently. "Oh, come on Will. We both know that Charlie's not like us. He'll try to get anyone to like him. You certainly don't do that. You've got class and style. And you only interact with people who are worthwhile. That's why you're out here and not there." Caroline batted her eyelashes violently.
Will sighed. "Caroline, the only reason that I'm out here is because I have just embarrassed myself in front of a really gorgeous girl and I didn't know what else to do but get the hell out of her sight."
Caroline's smile immediately turned into her cool impassive face. Will knew all too well about this look. Caroline had used it countless times to save face when Will showed her that he simply wasn't interested.
She slowly rose from the table, purposefully giving Will an eyeful of her 'assets'. Will looked away quickly and stuffed another hor d'oeuvre into his mouth despite the fact that he felt like throwing up.
"Well, William. Clearly you and Whoever-She-Is would never work out. I mean, you can't even get through the introductions without screwing it!" Caroline gave a shrill laugh at her own wit before stalking off.
--
Lizzy was back on the dance floor again after having taken a break to regain her breath. She was spinning around and laughing with Magda, another girl from A.U. when she noticed that Charlie's friend Will had returned from the outer room. She saw him making his way over to the bar stool he had previously been occupying.
He was definitely a good-looking boy, Lizzy thought. He had on a slick dark suit and chiselled features, yet his messy mop of dark curls cut his serious look. He even walked with confidence, despite his obvious social incompetence.
"Poor William, hey?" Magda shouted in Lizzy's ear, while they continued to dance.
Lizzy nodded, "If I was illiterate and unsocial, I wouldn't know what to do either."
Magda gave a look of concern at Lizzy before shaking her head, "No Liz, I meant his pare-"
"Lizzy!" Lizzy whipped around to see a flushed Jane make her way over.
"Hi there, lover girl! Magda, excuse us!" Magda nodded and turned to find other A.U. people as the two Bennet sisters slowly made their way through the dance floor. Lizzy noticed that Charlie had found Will and was talking very animatedly to him. Lizzy beamed, knowing what, or more specifically, who, Charlie was talking about.
"Lizzy, I'd really like to go home now." Jane said. It was only then that Lizzy noticed Jane holding her head.
"Oh your headache still there? Well, of course Jane!" Lizzy was rather disappointed that her night was cut so short. She had a feeling that Will Darcy might have more to say to her, and she to him, if only there was a chance.
Jane smiled at Lizzy and shook her head. "Thanks Liz, but actually, Charlie offered to take me home."
Lizzy stared at Jane before beaming as her older sister looked rather uncomfortable.
"But wouldn't it be a bit of an inconvenience, Jane?" Lizzy, always a practical thinker, said aloud. As soon as she did though, she regretted it as she watched Jane's face fall.
"Oh, yeah of course. What was I thinking?" Jane said distractedly, making to go to Charlie and change her plans.
Lizzy thought fast. "No, Jane, listen. You guys are really getting along, right?" Jane smiled contentedly and nodded. "I don't mind driving back alone, if you're alright to go with Charlie."
After asking about a million times whether Lizzy was okay to drive by herself, the Bennet sisters went over to where Charlie and William were sitting.
"Hey Liz, sorry to be leaving. But I'll make sure Jane gets home okay." Charlie was grinning at Jane the entire time he said this and Lizzy rolled her eyes dramatically at William. As she did this, Lizzy saw Will tense up noticeably. Maybe he just doesn't like me, she thought uncomfortably.
"Okay Liz," Jane said, pecking her sister's cheek, "Behave and call me if you need to, okay?" Lizzy assured her that she would as Charlie led Jane out of the dance room.
Will noticed with panic that he was left alone with Elizabeth Bennet for the first time. Oh man, he thought, noticing her already looking around for a better offer. However, at present, she leaped up onto the bar stool next to him and looked at him.
He looked away from her and closed his eyes for a spilt second. C'mon Darcy, now you're just being a twat, he thought sternly to himself. With that, he looked up at Elizabeth's face and gave her his best 'I'm-really-nervous-but-hopefully-I-can-pull-off-this-confident-smile' smile. Suffice to say, William Darcy Junior hardly had reason to use this smile often.
Lizzy beamed back at him. Finally, she thought. And who would have known, he's even cuter when he smiles.
"So Will, how are you enjoying your party?" Lizzy said.
Will cleared his throat. "Uhh, yeah. It's really nice of the Bingley's to throw this party for us."
"Charlie said something about a younger sister too, right? Is she here?" Lizzy was wracking her brain for any other information on William while trying not to melt after finally hearing his English accent.
Will smiled although Lizzy thought he looked a little glum. "Yeah, she's somewhere…" Will really didn't want to give Lizzy the impression that he didn't like her, but he was slightly uncomfortable at the idea of conversing about his family. Talking about his parents' deaths was not quite party material and Will was sure that the conversation was heading there.
"Um listen, I'm just gonna…" Will trailed off while sliding out of his stool. He had no idea what to say to her. He couldn't very well tell her he was going to dance. What kind of prat goes off and dances by themselves?
Will cleared his throat while Lizzy's eyebrow shot up. "I'm just going to go to the toilet."
"Oh, okay." Lizzy said, trying to seem unaffected as opposed to what she really felt; absolutely shot down as Will had clearly shown that he would rather be anywhere else than with her.
He gave her a furtive glace, wishing he didn't have to meet such a lovely girl under these circumstances.
"Well, I'll see you around, Elizabeth."
Not for the first time, Will Darcy walked away from Elizabeth and into the main room leaving a very confused Lizzy, staring after him.
--
After finding some of "Poppin's pals", as Lizzy liked to call the rest of the crew, she grew a little hungry. She wasn't having much fun anyway, knowing that Jane would be at home by now nursing a throbbing headache.
She stepped out into the main room and tried to adjust her eyes. The jazz band was still playing and by this time, some of the more 'happier' couples were up dancing. The food had stopped being served but Lizzy found an enormous table with delicious looking food spread out for guests to help themselves.
Lizzy grabbed a plate and looked up and down the table, looking for something to eat, before spotting a now familiar lean and tall figure in a suit, talking on the phone.
--
As it turned out, Will actually went to the toilet, before stepping out and deciding what his next move would be. He didn't want to go back inside the dance room, he figured that he had spoiled everything nicely by now, why make it worse. Besides, Charlie obviously seemed wrapped with Jane; perhaps Will hadn't seen the last of Elizabeth Bennet.
With a cringe, Will realised that Caroline was in the main room. Uh, I do a pretty good job of dealing with her anyway, he thought. Will unconsciously strolled over to the food table. Georgie was right; Will was always eating. Perhaps he really did have to look into joining a gym, he thought vaguely, knowing how Georgie would gloat at being right.
Will felt his Blackberry vibrating in his pocket and dug his hand in to pull it out. He took one look at the screen and scoffed before answering.
"Really Charles, I didn't need you to check on me." Will said, sounding more like a 5-year-old boy than he knew.
"Hi yourself, Will. Just wondering how everything is going."
"Fine, more importantly, how are things with you?" Will could almost hear Charlie smile and rolled his eyes at his excitable friend.
"Will, seriously, I can't believe someone like Jane would spend her night talking to someone like me!"
"Neither can I, mate." Will said dryly, although he was chuckling. Despite himself, Will felt Charlie's excitement rub off on him.
"Thanks, very nice of you mate! Well, I asked her out and she said yes, definitely!" Charlie sounded like he was going to pass out. Will seriously hoped that his friend wasn't currently driving back home.
"Anyway," Will rolled his eyes at nobody in particular as he stocked up his plate, letting Charlie chatter on. "Jane and I both thought that you and Lizzy might hit it off. Did anything happen after we left?"
Now Will had cause for concern. He did not want to seem that he wasn't interested in Elizabeth and ruin all his chances. What am I talking about, he thought suddenly. I've ruined all my chances already.
"Elizabeth Bennet? Are you serious?" Will scoffed.
"Aw, c'mon now, Will. No need to lie to me. She is really hot. And she's a great chick. We can set you two up!" Damn Charlie! He made it sound so easy, Will thought.
"Charlie, thanks but no thanks, I don't need any help from you. I'm not that desperate, mate."
"So, what I'm hearing from you is: I am really interested in her, Charlie, but I don't want to ask for your help. Not right now anyway…" Honestly, Charlie was so damn infuriating!
Will sighed. "Geez, thanks for the vote of confidence, mate. But yeah, I guess you're pretty much right. And also coz of my parents. Seems too low of me. "
Okay, so maybe I haven't lost hope, he thought to himself. But with Jane and Charlie most likely getting together, Will might just have a chance with Elizabeth.
Not likely.
Will, having finished stacking his plate, turned around to go and sit at an unoccupied table, ending up face to face with none other than an irate looking Elizabeth Bennet.
--
Lizzy's first intention upon seeing William Darcy was to return to the dance area. She could eat later if it meant that she didn't have to experience any more embarrassment and rejection from Will Darcy. She had just set her plate down again when she heard her name mentioned in Darcy's conversation. She edged a bit closer, wondering what on earth Will was saying about her.
"Elizabeth Bennet? Are you serious?" Will scoffed.
"Charlie, thanks but no thanks, I don't need any help from you. I'm not that desperate, mate."
Will sighed before replying, "Geez, thanks for the vote of confidence, mate. But yeah, I guess you're pretty much right. And also coz of my parents. Seems too low of me."
Lizzy couldn't believe her ears. How dare he talk about her like that! It's one thing to politely spare yourself a conversation with her but to so rudely reject her to Charlie? Lizzy felt like Darcy had as good as slapped her in the face.
All of a sudden, Will Darcy spun around and stared directly at Lizzy. His mouth opened slowly as he moved his Blackberry away from his ear and continued to stare at her.
Lizzy gathered her wits about her and scoffed, "What's wrong Darcy? Didn't mean for me to hear that, I bet."
Darcy seemed to snap out of it and after hastily disconnecting with Charlie, moved towards Lizzy, who immediately retreated further from him.
"Elizabeth, I-" Will was cut short as Lizzy stuck up her hand.
"No. Stop. How dare you talk about me like that, Darcy? You don't even know me, you prick, so before you tell the entire world what you think of me, think of this: I am worth one million times of you. I would never ever speak of someone the way you did of me, and after only knowing me for two seconds!"
"No, Elizabeth, you've got it wrong!" Will said desperately.
"No Darcy, it's you that's got it wrong. It'd be too low of you? What, you're parents wouldn't approve of me just coz I don't come from money like you rich bastards? Well, unlike you, my money is hard earned. We may not fly back and forth between countries because my parents actually care about a stable upbringing for their kids. What have your fucking parents done?" Lizzy was beside herself with anger.
Before she knew it, Darcy had taken three quick strides to end up directly in front of Lizzy. Darcy's face had changed colour from a deep red to whiter than Lizzy had even believed possible for someone. His eyes before were wide with shock at her initial outburst, but were now mere slits on his face. He seemed to tremble with rage.
Will's mouth opened and closed a couple of times before he could actually speak. He seemed to be struggling to control his anger.
"My parents both died only a month ago." He whispered.
Lizzy was in shock. She had no idea what to say and tried quickly to make sense of his conversation to Charlie.
"But, you- "
William shook his head violently, "Save it, Elizabeth. You know what I was saying? I was telling Charlie how I didn't think it was appropriate to hit on you when my parents' deaths were so recent. I was telling him that I didn't want his help in trying to win you over. I was telling him that I thought you were absolutely beautiful… I guess I got it all wrong, right?"
Before Lizzy could even think of responding, William whipped around and strode out of his own party, into the chilly winter night.
Thanks to Quiz, LoraineSouza and Becca 7 for the reviews!
Loraine: I'm pretty sure you meant how tall I think Will and Lizzy are, which is easy because they're actually based on people! Um Lizzy is about 5'4" and Darcy is around 6'. Hope that helps!
Sorry if there are major spelling or grammar issues, I didn't really reread, was a tad overly excited to post. Is this what you expected? Reviews welcome!