Richard rose first and gave grunt as he stretched his long legs in the compacted area. He nudged Will's leg and his cousin stirred.

"What time is it?" asked Will with a yawn.

"Only seven, do you want to grab something to eat before we start?"

"I guess we can." The boys hopped out of the car and squinted as their eyes adjusted to the light. "I haven't been in this part of town for years."

"Yeah, it's never nice when we do come here. Somethings always wrong when we come. Maybe we should come when we aren't trying to rescue a girl; that way we won't remember this place as Wickham's place where he brings girls."

"No thanks." Will said quickly as they crossed the street to go to a corner Starbucks.

Once across, Will heard a familiar shrill voice and he quickly looked back. Across the street where they had just crossed from was girl dressed in a cropped shirt and torn jeans, running to someone hidden behind a crowd of people. Will knew it had to be Lydia, even though she had completely changed since their first meeting, her voice was discernible.

Unfortunately for Will, the light had changed and the cars made it hard to cross back over. He could only attempt to keep her in his vision until he could get over to her. Will still couldn't see the person she was talking to because they were conveniently hiding behind an advertisement at a bus stop. At one moment he thought she had looked over at him, but she quickly turned back to the person she was listening to.

A large truck stopped right in front of his view, blocking the girl and her mysterious friend long enough so when Will was able to get to where she had stood, Lydia had disappeared with her friend.

Richard ran to catch up with his cousin who had suddenly stopped, stared across the street until the light changed and then run back across to where they had just left.

"What's wrong?"

"I just saw her."

"Where?"
"Just here, she was meeting somebody who was making sure as not to be seen. He knew I was watching."

"You think it was George?"

"I have no doubt it was, but if he knows that we're here, then it will be harder for us to find them."

"Should we go ahead with our original plan? If we run over to Wickham's friends house then they should still be there."

"They would have a head start."

"She will have an idea where they went to."

"Not with a little motivation."

"We'll worry about that once we find her."

Will nodded and they continued to Wickham's friends house.

It was a run-down house in a shady neighborhood with a porch falling apart. Both boys were careful as to not fall through as they stood at the door. Several minutes before a young woman opened the door with more strength than .

"George, I told you that I can't-"

"Hello Shelby. I'm guessing George is not with you."

The woman was at first surprised at her mistake before she collected herself and leaned against the door jab.

"No he isn't. What are you doing here Darcy? I see you are still rude as ever."

"Funny, I didn't think I had to address a scheming little bi-"

"Calm down, Will, remember what we are here for." Reminded Richard, putting a hand on his cousin's shoulder.

Shelby rose an eyebrow, "If you think you are getting anything out of me about George, then you are mistaken. I'm not a rat."

"Are you sure?" muttered Will.

"He has a girl with him, we just want her."

"I know she isn't related to you, so what is the real reason you're looking for her?" Her question was directed towards Will who was struggling to stay composed.

"Look, you don't stand to get anything from helping so why don't we just cut to the chase and tell us what you want."

"You think you can buy information from me."

"You broke college students are too easy. I'm sure you have some pressing debts mounting on the debts you have from your own gambling debts."

"Well since you're offering, I'll take five thousand."

"No."

"Then you won't find that little girl."

"One thousand."

"Four."

"Dollars? sure."

"No, four thousand."

"Two."

"Three thousand and seventy-five hundred."

"Three thousand and a dollar." called Richard.

"What?" asked Will.

"Deal!" yelled Shelby, "And I want my money now."

"I'll write the check once I have suitable information where the girl is now."

"I can only tell you where George is and you will have to ask him for more information."

"I'll take that then."

"He is on thirty-second street in the shady motel called 'Lover's Quarrel'."

Will nodded and wrote the check for half before running down the porch, nearly falling on his face. "The rest will come once we have confirmed it."

Shelby argued about the amount before she returned inside of her house.

Richard eyed his cousin, "Do you think she was telling the truth?"

"She'd be a fool if she lied. She knows I wouldn't give her the full amount and I know she will linger around for the rest of it."

The boys got into Richard's car and they drove off to thirty-second street.

"What do you think she meant when she said if she is still with him? Do you think she left him?"

"I don't know if that would be a good thing or a bad thing if she did. I just hope nothing happened."


George opened the door with a little surprise but then returned to a stoic expression.

"If you are looking for Lydia, she isn't here."

"Then where is she?"

"Not sure, she said that she met this guy and they were really close now and that she was going to stay with him now."

"What?!"

"Jeez, Darcy, I you are upset that you can't look like a knight in shining armour now that I'm no longer the villain, but what can you do when she herself voluntarily went off with another guy."

"Do you know where she is or the guy she is with?"

"Oh no, you think I'm going to just give you answers. I know you paid Young to give you my location. I want my cut."

"Talk and you may get something."

"What's she getting, I want more because I'm actually giving you the girl."

"Act like that and you get a trip to juvenile detention."

"All I'm asking for is a little money."

"Then where is Lydia?"

"She is with a guy she met at a club I took her to a couple nights ago. I made sure to get his name and where he lived."

"What, so you can act like the good guy when I came?"

"Because I knew he was no good."

"And you can tell this how?" asked Richard.

George looked at Richard, "Because this guy has a nasty reputation for leaving women across the city in horrible situations."

"And you left her with him?!"

"Hey, my original plan was to get you here and pay me, but I never could've forecast that she would fall for an older dude."

"What?" asked Will and Richard at the same time.

"This guy is at least a college student and I know she is only a freshman in high school. This guy is a straight up predator."

"Who is he and where can we find him?"

"I only ask to come along if I tell you. His name is Jonathan Willoughby."


A/N: Hope you guys caught the reference and don't mind the mash-up. I think I may try Sense and Sensibility for my next story which will start next year. I will of course tie in the characters and will have them in modern form like P&P. Sorry for the wait, college sucks, Don't worry I will keep my promise for a little fight action. Please continue to review. Love you all!