AN: Wow, this story is going in weird places. Just an FYI: When I re-edited the previous chapters I combined chapters 5 and 6. So the new chapter 6 is a new one. Make sure you didn't skip it! And, sorry, but I ended up writing more than I thought I would and the gallery opening isn't in this chapter. But it'll be in the next one I PROMISE and that chapter will be out in the next few days. It's already written, just needs editing. Also, I've decided to stop the charade and start calling her Jane, because I really can't stand the name Jean. It reminds me of Jean Grey and I don't like her. I know it's inconsistent and sloppy, but I hope you'll forgive me and relish in the fact that her name is once and for all "Jane."

Chapter Seven

Lizzie's cocktail dress swung around her calves. She had picked out the slinky green dress at one of the street vendors on the way back from the gallery the day before. It was perfect, just calling to her as she walked past. It was a little more expensive than she would have liked to pay for something she bought on the street, but it fit her like a glove and was too perfect to pass up. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her dark hair was curly tonight and messily pulled away from her face. The dress made her eyes look green. She felt like a million dollars. Tonight was an occasion that called for looking as fabulous as possible. Not because Greg would be there (he wasn't coming) but because Lizzie needed all the confidence she could muster to deal with the people who were coming.

Not only were both her parents going to be there (they would surely cause a scene Lizzie had resigned herself to that fact), but now Benjamin had decided to come as well. He apparently was so enchanted with the gallery that he felt he couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to the opening. The stout little man had officially worn out his welcome.

Lizzie took a deep breath. Usually Jane would have been there to run interference or keep her from losing her temper, but she would be with Charlie most of the night. After finding out that the Bingleys and Darcy were invited, Greg had decided not to go.

"Don't let Darcy scare you off, Greg," Lizzie had argued that afternoon. "I want you to come and you're welcome there no matter who else is invited."

Greg laughed. "I don't think I'm up for Darcy and meeting your parents for the first time. Plus, Benjamin will be there and he seems to hate me, for some reason."

"Ok," Lizzie was more upset with him than she let on. But go out and do something. Don't just sit around by yourself, ok?"

He smirked. "What on earth made you think I was going to do that?"

Greg left, but not before kissing Lizzie. As opposed to the first time they kissed, this one seemed…perfunctory? Lizzie was wondering if maybe the tension of the moment had made her read too much into that kiss out on the street. Emotions were certainly running high at that time. She mentally shook herself.

Lydia popped her head in the door as she knocked. "Hey, Lizzie. Wow, great dress!"

Lizzie smiled at her little sister through the mirror. "Thanks! You look pretty too. Are you and Carly nearly ready?"

Lydia looked distracted. "Yeah. Hey, listen. I—I wanted to warn you."

"What?" Lizzie spun round in her chair to face Lydia. "Warn me about what?"

She hesitated. "Well…I saw Benjamin come home yesterday with a bag. From Tiffany's."

Lizzie raised an eyebrow. "So…?"

"I, um, I opened it."

"Lydia!" Lizzie stood up.

"It was a bag from Tiffany's!" Lydia threw up her hands. "What did you expect me to do?"

Shaking her head, Lizzie snapped, "Oh, I don't know. How about not go through other people's things?"

"Whatever," Lydia shook her head. "Just listen, ok? You'll thank me in a minute. I opened the bag. And inside the bag was… a box."

"Your point better be making an appearance very soon."

"And inside the box was…a diamond ring."

Lizzie was silent.

"You know, like an engagement ring."

"I get it, Lydia, I swear."

Lydia rolled her eyes. "Lizzie, I'm serious. It was an engagement ring. An ugly one, too. I didn't think you could get an ugly ring from Tiffany's, but if anyone could prove me wrong, it would have to be Benjamin."

Lizzie sank back into her chair, trying to process what Lydia had just said.

"Oh my god," she gasped. "He's going to propose to Jane!"

Lydia gave her sister a strange look, then took her hand. "No, Lizzie."

"What do you mean?"

"He's not going to ask Jane. You of all people should know how many hints have been dropped about Jane already being taken."

"Well, who then?" Lizzie demanded.

Lydia looked blankly at her. "Are you kidding? You."

Lizzie didn't laugh. She guffawed. She was laughing so hard she was nearly in tears.

"I'm not joking around! I'm sure it's you!" Lydia stomped her foot.

"You can't possibly be right!" Lizzie managed to get out between laughs. "Benjamin and I can't stand each other!"

"Maybe so, but that won't stop Benjamin from asking you to marry him. There are the initials E.C. on the ring."

Lizzie stopped laughing. "E.C."

"Yes. For Elizabeth Collins. See who's laughing now?" With a self-satisfied smirk, Lydia swept out of the room leaving a stunned Lizzie to herself.

No way. Not even Benjamin could be foolish enough to think she would say yes to him. Now that she thought of it, though, he had been extra chatty lately. The gallery tour, insisting on accompanying her wherever she went…

"Shit!" Lizzie yelled. She ran to Jane's door.

"Um. Who is it?" Jane called after Lizzie knocked furiously. Bursting into Jane bedroom she saw her older sister, looking radiant, of course, printing something off her laptop.

"What are you doing? Not school work!"

"No…" Jane blushed.

"What is it?" Lizzie asked, curiously.

"Nothing. Just an email from Charlie," she said evasively.

"That you're printing?" Lizzie nodded towards Jane's printer as it shot the completed paper out.

Jane blushed again. "Yeah, so what?"

Lizzie laughed and flopped down on Jane's bed. "You don't have to go on the defensive with me. What are you printing out? Directions to his chalet in Aspen?" she teased.

"It's nothing. Just…well, if you got a love letter from someone you cared about wouldn't you want to be able to hold it in your hand?"

Lizzie was stunned. She hadn't for a moment suspected it was a love letter.

"Charlie's in love with you?"

Jane nodded shyly.

"He said the words?"

"Yes."

"Jane, oh my god! That's wonderful!" Lizzie spurted out. Of course, she was very happy for her sister. So why was she feeling like she'd just misplaced something?

"Do you love him too?"

Jane looked at her silently. Lizzie waited for an answer until she thought she realized what was happening.

"Oh, um. You don't have to tell me. Sorry. That was personal."

Jane tried to backtrack. "It's just that—I just got the letter and I'm not sure how I'm feeling still. I will tell you though. When I know."

Lizzie nodded, understandingly, she hoped. "You don't want to talk about it?"

Jane shook her head.

"So what are you going to do now?"

"I don't know. Finish getting ready for the gallery, I suppose."

Lizzie drew up sharply. She knew her sister didn't mean to dismiss her so curtly, but that's how it felt.

"Oh. Ok." Then, plastering the smile back on her face, "I'm gonna go finish as well."

"Lizzie, was there something you wanted?"

"Huh?"

"You knocked. Did you want something?"

"Oh. Yeah," Lizzie racked her brain for something she could need from Jane. "Uh, your brown eye liner."

"In my drawer in the bathroom."

"Thanks."

The whole cab ride to the gallery was kind of a blur. Lizzie's mind kept jumping between whether Benjamin would propose and Jane shutting her out. The night officially sucked and Lizzie hadn't even seen her mother yet. Lizzie couldn't figure out why Jane suddenly felt the need to keep things close to the vest. But then she realized that it wasn't really sudden at all. It was dawning on her that their late night talks had become less and less frequent. It had been happening so slowly that she hadn't really noticed. Jane was becoming more and more involved in her work at school and Lizzie was becoming more involved in…what, exactly?

She jerked back to the present as the cab lurched over a pothole, or possibly a dead body. She wasn't going to think about it tonight. She wouldn't let it bother her. Tonight she was going to look at beautiful artwork and sip champagne.