Chapter 11: Plots, Grins, and French Rap

"So. Ana-babe. What would you say to a job as a part-time model?"

"You're…serious? That would…be awesome!" Ana gushed to Lizzy, now with an artful air to her speech patterns. She remembered everything, while venting to Daniel – during which, Lizzy was out with Charlotte, dining at Rare on Lexington Avenue.

"Yeah? You down?" said Lizzy, rather jovially; happy she booked her model so easily.

"Baby, are you down, down, down, down, down?" bellowed the final member of the household, singing Jay Sean's lyrics just so.

"I'm only down for…Lizzy's offer, not whatever…you're referring…to. I'd… love to model!"

"Great. Cool Ana. I'm so glad you're on board The Era!"

"Lizzy. When does Ana start and end work? 'Cause didn't you say that she would go to school with me?"

"Well, yeah, so when school starts up again for you in September, she'll join you. No biggie."

"I'm so…thrilled!" breathed Ana, elated. "I'm going to go…get some beauty rest. I can't wait!"

"Good idea, girlie. Danny-boy, it may be wise to emulate Ana's exemplary behavior. Hop to it!" The two teens took her words literally, and for fun, hopped to the bathroom to ready for bed. Before he fell asleep, Daniel wondered what Lizzy would think about Ana's hidden, less-than-exemplary behavior, and his not-so-pristine contribution to her plan.

Speaking of plotting, Bonnie Younge opened her flat's door to see the impeccably coiffed Lydia. Lydia was garbed in a charcoal mini-dress; belted by a thick, yellow chain, and with a boatnecked neckline that had one vertical cut down the chest. The slit was only noticeable because it was stitched in yellow. Lydia accessorized with a studded yellow Balenciaga bag and L.A.M.B. booties (peep toe, fringed in a scale-like fashion) in the exact same shade. She wore the same gunmetal studded rings and bracelets and if Lizzy were with her, she would have thought them familiar.

"Lydia, darling, any news?"

"Maybe. What does Georgiana Darcy look like?"

"Come inside. We have much to discuss." If you were to hear what I heard, reader, you would have heard a door slam, at least five different locking sounds, all accompanied by feverish whispering. Be alarmed.

Lizzy punched the extension and waited only a short moment before Mary picked up.

"Hi Mary, our temporary model will be arriving with my brother within the half hour, could you please make sure she makes it into my office with both you and Charlotte when she arrives?"

"Sure thing, Captain." Five minutes later, Ana, Daniel, and Charlotte were brought to Lizzy's office, Charlotte bearing legal documents, and the teenagers bearing grins.

"She still calls her Captain!" Daniel whispered, laughingly to Ana.

"I heard that!"

"She's still touchy about it too!" giggled Ana in reply.

"I'm convinced Mary is destined to become a comedian," deadpanned Charlotte, causing both teens to laugh uncontrollably, with mirth.

"Honestly. We have things. To do."

"Aye aye, Captain!" replied Charlotte, again, and no surprise – put the entire room, even staid Mary, into gales of laughter.

Contracts signed, as Lizzy being Ana's legal guardian, Ana was escorted to the photo studio and taught the basics. At 4:30pm, Lizzy announced that she was ready to leave and took Ana and Daniel home. Her cell phone rang – more like rapped in French, and she answered:

"Hello?"

"Lizzy, don't you ever check caller ID?"

"Oh, hey Jane, what's good? Are you feeling well?"

"I am feeling much better, but I don't think I'm fully healed…I mean, I keep coughing and I definitely have lost the 'look' that you wanted. But, like, I am doing better and I should be strong enough to leave my apartment in a few weeks. Pneumonia really does things to your body, it's just so gross Lizzy!"

"Well I'm glad you've got your chatterbox back, Janie!"

"Me too, honestly, 'cause Charlie – "

"Charlie?"

"Dear, you never let me finish a sentence that involves Charlie, do you? Anyway, Charlie – "

"Charlie!"

"Okay, now you're just being cute. He and I are legit boyfriend/girlfriend…we're official!" Jane squealed into the phone, so loudly, Lizzy actually cringed and had to hold the phone a good foot away from her ear.

"Jane, I'm so happy for you!"

"Oh, I am sooo happy," Jane gushed, "Charlie – "

"Charlie?"

"- Visits every day or every other day, and brings me dinner - "

"Wait, he brings you dinner every day?"

"Around that, it's so sweet, and then we watch some cute old movie. It's really adorable, he's so nice to me, what did I do to deserve him?"

"Oh Jane, you are a wonderful person who deserves the best! It's only right that he treats you so well."

"Like I said, Lizzy, you are a dear and you deserve someone like him too."

"Thanks hun, but I think that if I were as nice as you – well, I don't think I could!" she laughed, "but if I ever end up that sweet, I'm sure I will have your luck!" They both laughed, Jane a little more forced than Lizzy, but enough laughter to make her wheeze intensely and choke out, "Lizzy, I think I should go. Have a lovely evening; I'll call you later! " Jane hung up before Lizzy could properly say good-bye.

Lizzy was feeling rather lethargic and drained for no reason, but decided to rest for a bit before making dinner for her siblings. She got into bed straight after her conversation with Jane, and woke up to her phone rapping in French, again. Groggily, she pressed send on her BlackBerry, and let out a groggy, "Hello?"

"Lizzy?"

"Yes? Who is this?"

"It's William. Don't you check your caller ID?"

"Firstly, this is William, as in Darcy?"

"Yes."

"Secondly, you're the second person to ask me that today. Apparently I'm not as phone savvy as the rest of the world."

"Who was the first?"

"Jane."

"Jane?"

"Yeah, she's got some added spunk now that she's dating Charlie."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

William was silent. So Lizzy carried on the conversation, "So. What did you call me for? Wait. That sounds rather obnoxious…"

"Don't worry. I knew it wasn't intended that way." William replied, softly.

"Good." Silence on William's end again. "So…"

"Oh yeah," William rushed, "I wanted to know if you wanted to go out to eat tonight. I mean, it's only six now, so…"

"Hold on. Let me see what the sibs are up to." Lizzy put the phone down, and began walking towards Daniel's room. Finding out that he and Ana actually already ran to Prêt à Manger to grab sandwiches, drinks, and dessert, and were now camping out under a blanket-fort contraption in the living room. During this process, she tripped over a chair that was moved to anchor the fort – succeeding in bruising her shin pretty badly.

"Okay," Lizzy breathed heavily into the phone, "I'm free. The sibs are fed, and," she winced (out of physical, not emotional pain), "I am free to go out. I can be ready in fifteen minutes." William was confused as to why Lizzy winced, but didn't say anything, because he was too elated with her choice to go out with him.

"Great, I will pick you up at 6:30."

"What shall I wear?"

"I'm wearing what I wore to work, so business casual? Ish?"

"Okay, I'll go for the 'ish.'" She giggled, and hung up the phone. Unconsciously, Lizzy grinned. And if she could have seen William's face, she would have seen his face mirror hers.

So, the date is next. I'm going to post more regularly, now that finals are over, and I've finished up this year of college! Life is still hectic, with my crazy living situations and all the traveling/working that's in store, but it will just only get better. Please review, I really love to hear all you have to say! XOXO

Also, Lizzy's cell phone ring tone is Je Veux te Voir by Yelle.