Sunday came sooner than Lizzie would've liked. The rest of her family joined her an hour before the party started. Lydia and Catherine were bouncing up and down eager for the boys to arrive. Mrs Bennet was busy talking to Mrs Bingley about the house and the decorations. Even her dad was smiling in a chair apparently entertained by the spectacle in front of him.

Charles said that it wasn't going to be a formal party, but to dress nice. Apparently nice meant going to buy a fluffy pink dress for Catherine and a dangerously short dress bordering on scandalous dress for Lydia.

Honestly, how did she get away with wearing that outside the house. She knew her father stopped caring after Mary was born but still. Where was the line?

Mary was seated next to her father watching a show on her ipod in her own world.

Lizzie let out a sigh and decided to escape to find her sister upstairs and help her get ready.

"What do you think of this Lizzie?" Jane was holding her hair up in a bun with her hand.

"Jane it's just an informal party. You don't need to get dressed up like you're going to prom or in Lydia's case, a club."

"I guess I'm just a little nervous. I'm finally meeting Charles's friends and I want to make a good impression."

"Not too good of an impression. He might get jealous if he finds out that you are too nice to his friends."

Jane let her hand and her fall back down.

"There really isn't anything for him to be jealous of. We're just friends."

"Yeah and I think he wants to be more than friends."

"Really?"

"You think he is throwing you this get well party because you guys are good friends?"

"Do you really think he likes me?"

"What do you think this all was?"

"Him being nice I guess."

"Yeah you've been with your guy friends at school too much, but still I thought you knew that all the things they did for you were because they really like you."

Jane frowned, "I really don't want it to appear that I'm leading someone on."

"Yeah. It's just that you're so nice that you can't tell them."

"Maybe I should say something. They're great guys and I bet there's some girl out there that they would make happy."

Lizzie gave Jane a comforting squeeze on the shoulder, "Come on. Let's head down stairs."

She stopped herself from asking a question that would put her sister on the spot. Did Jane like Charles the way he seemed to like her?

Jane, who has never been in love before, probably didn't even know herself.

All that mattered to Lizzie was Jane's happiness and safety. She knew her sister looked happy with him, but safe. She would have to do a rain check on that. Caroline seemed too dangerous to her with her precious sister. Charles was nice and caring so she wasn't worried there. Now she would get the chance to witness Charles's friends and to see how they were.

A considerable amount of people had arrived since she left she had left. Many of which were kids her age.

Jane was immediately swept away by Charles so Lizzie decided to go and do a little mingling.

To her relief, Charlotte joined her and some other girls.

Lizzie had asked Charlotte to come the day before in a panic. She needed someone there to rescue her from the spectacle that was inevitably going to happen before the night ended.

"Thanks for coming on such short notice."

"I think this whole party was thrown together on such a short notice. I'm always glad to support you. Especially if there's free food."

Lizzie laughed and they moved to the side to make way for dancers who were going on.

The girls talked on for the entire first dance and when it was over, they saw a couple walking over to them.

It was Will and a young girl.

A girlfriend possibly?

Lizzie leaned over to whisper in Charlotte's ear, "And here comes the bane of my existence."

"Lizzie be nice."

"Twenty bucks then if I am."

Charlotte nudged Lizzie in the side just as the couple arrived in front of them.

"Lizzie, my sister would love to make your acquaintance."

So she was his sister. Well that made more sense. It still caught Lizzie off guard and she couldn't help but look surprised before she agreed to it.

"Georgiana, this is Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth, this is Georgiana."

Man what a stiff introduction.

Laughing, Lizzie waved her hand as if swatting away the stifling feeling.

"You don't need to be so formal, Lizzie is fine."

"It's nice to finally meet you Lizzie, I heard a lot about you." That was never good.

She looked at Will, "Good things? I'm sure your brother can't find too many of those."

Truly, when was she purposefully nice to him since that horrible double date?

"They were all good I assure you." answered Georgiana looking a bit worried.

Lizzie shook her head and gave a smile chuckle, "Will probably exaggerated then."

Georgiana now looked really worried. She vouched for her brother's sincerity over and over again and that he was as honest as they come.

Will finally spoke up after his sister ran out of things to say in his defense.

"Georgiana, I think Lizzie is only teasing."

"Am I?"Lizzie decided she would have a little fun at his expense, "Tell me Will, what should my request be from you?"

The affect was instant.

"What favor?" asked Georgiana, looking a bit confused.

"Your brother lost a bet that he issued. I have yet to decide on my request." Stealing a quick glance at Will, "What do you think I should ask from your brother?"

Payback.

Lizzie was going to use his own sister against him to plot a little thing called revenge. Perhaps he'll think twice before ruining her plans.

(Making her stay at the Bingleys when she had planned to take Jane home)

Georgiana seemed all too willing to give ideas.

They had just finished coming up with ten possible ideas when they were interrupted by Ricky Collins who approached them.

"I was not informed that you knew my little flower, Lizzie." Gag her with a spoon. She wanted to throw up so badly. Little flower? What type of pet name was that?

He was talking to Will. Did they know each other? That made things even more embarrassing.

"Yes, how do you know Lizzie?"

Yes, why don't you talk about me as if I'm not even here.

"My father knows hers and we grew up together before my father left to become a pastor

under the church of your aunt Catherine de Bourg. Her family will lose the house after her father dies so I thought it wouldn't hurt if there was a little connection between our families so their family will not be destitute when this unfortunate event takes place which might not happen for a long time."

Excuse me, can you not. My dad is in the room! Lizzie needed to escape before she wrung his neck, but the boy began pestering her with questions.

"Lizzie, do you care to dance."

"No thanks." she answered flatly.

"Would you want me to find you a seat or get you a cold beverage?"

Honestly, who said beverages nowadays.

Ricky didn't wait for an answer but went off towards the refreshment table.

"Please don't come back." Lizzie muttered under her breath before walking in the opposite direction to find Charlotte.

She kind of forgotten about Will during the whole situation of awkward gallantry. Having Will there made the whole thing worse and she was determined not to hear any comments he might have on the subject that he'd heard.

"Lizzie! I wasn't expecting you back so soon. Did you turn around and say something mean to Will?"

"No, something way worse happened. Ricky Collins is here."

"Oh gosh." Charlotte cringed.

"Yeah. Now I have to spend the rest of the party avoiding him. I'd lose all social standing dancing with him or a few toes."

"I don't think you would lose your social standing, but I think you might lose a toe or even your sanity."

Lizzie let herself laugh and they talked until Charlotte was asked to dance with a boy named Denny.

She watched wistfully as her friend was ushered in the slow dance with a few apologies and a blush from her partner.

It looked like Charlotte was the one going to lose her toes.

Absorbed watching her friend, Lizzie jumped when she felt a tap on her shoulder and saw Ricky giving a toothy grin.

He handed her her glass and apologized several times.

Apparently he had spilled the first glass and the second had lost its contents after being bumped into.

Leave it to Ricky to mess up the most simplest of task.

He talked on and on about something of a Catherine deBourg which she ignored. Anything he was interested in was never worth listening to unless you were trying to fall asleep.

"She is the most wonderful of-"

"Why don't we dance?" Interrupted Lizzie exasperated. Anything to shut the bugger up.

"It would be my honor."

Ricky took her by the hand. Which Lizzie didn't like. He was feeling too comfortable around her for her liking.

When they were on the dance floor and a new dance started, he placed his on the small of her waist and held her too close.

The dance was a waltz which would've made Lizzie excited had she had been more fortunate in her partner.

After moving the wrong way a third time Lizzie suggested she take over and lead.

Charlotte was probably enjoying this right about now.

His hands were sweaty and the urge to let go of his hand and wipe it off was getting unbearable.

To her surprise Will appeared and asked if he could finish the dance. Ricky nodded and handed her over to him. Lizzie wiped her hands on her dress quickly to get rid of the other boy's sweat before taking Will's hand.

When he touched the small of her back she held her breath. It wasn't like the time Ricky had did it and it felt disgusting, but nice. Lizzie in turn rested her arm on top of his.

"You didn't have to feel the need to free me." But thank you!

"As much as it was comical, I couldn't help but feel grossed out. If you were my sister, I wouldn't let someone hold you like that."

It almost sounded like he sister-zoned her. However there was something about the way he said it that almost sounded protective.

"Awe" Lizzie laughed. It was pretty cute.

"What I mean to say is that I wouldn't let my sister dance with someone who made her uncomfortable."

Yet you found my discomfort comical before deciding to help. Geez thanks.

Out loud she said, "You seem like an attentive brother. As I don't have any, I don't know that feeling." There was a pause as she looked away from him and looked at the crowd. There were people watching them. "We seem to have caught a lot of attention."

"It's probably because I don't dance very often."

In movies the guy always say, 'It's because they're all staring at how beautiful you look.'.

Apparently Will never got that memo and remained arrogant.

"Really? By the way your dancing now I wouldn't have guessed." she deadpanned.

He was a good dancer. Even better than herself. He made following his steps easy.

"I never said I couldn't, I just don't feel like dancing."

"Yet you felt like dancing with me. I guess I should feel honored."

Will remained silent.

"An acquaintance of mine has mentioned you to me. The stories he told me were quite interesting. Do you know someone by the name George Wickham?"

The day before break George had talked about knowing a guy from the suburbs when he lived there a year ago named Will.

He told her of all the adventures they had when they were children and how he thought of him like a brother. To be able to tell him about his friend and how he was doing was only right.

To Lizzie's surprise, Will's face changed and he looked angry. His hand began to squeeze her's and Lizzie pulled it out before it got too tight.

He apologized and they joined hands again. His expression however didn't lighten up.

"By that expression I guess you do."

"I've known him since I was young, but broke off that god-forsaken relationship."

Did they fight?

"What happened?"

"It's none of your business."

Lizzie could tell that something big happened and Will must've been hurt by it. George obviously still wanted to be friends, but Will just didn't want to let things go.

Tired from trying, Lizzie decided not to talk anymore. If he was going to act like this then she could too.

They separated after the dance and Lizzie returned to her friend.

"So how was that?" Teased Charlotte.

"Not good, but surprisingly not as bad as the first part of the dance with Ricky."

"Well I think you two looked cute together."

"Be careful what you say before my mom hears. I don't want to be apart of her pairings."

"I think it's too late for that." Charlotte said as she pointed to Mrs Bennet who was talking about her.

"Don't you think that Liz and Ricky will just be cute together. And with the connections his family. It's all so perfect."

Lizzie turned her attention back to her friend.

"The only perfect thing that would come out of that relationship is that I wouldn't be in the city anymore."

"You'd like that."

Lizzie allowed herself a laugh and they continued on until they were joined by Ricky again. Charlotte did her best to help her friend and keep the conversation between herself and Ricky.

The boy did talk a lot. She asked herself what she saw in him when they were little. His awkwardness as a kid was cute. Now it was just awkward, and he seemed to have become a little self-righteous over his accomplishments. On his way to graduating a year early and got accepted to the Princeton which he never stopped talking about. Yeah she was over him, but she couldn't help but feel a little sorry that he wasn't really allowing himself to enjoy his life.

"Rick, why do you want to graduate early from high school? Don't you feel like you're rushing things a little? Why not just enjoy your senior year. I don't know, go to prom."

"Prom. I never really thought about it really. It always look like an event where they wasted money on one little event that you could just as easily throw at your house."

"I'd love to see you try to throw anything of the sort like that anywhere." Lizzie muttered under her breath. Charlotte nudged her in the side.

"Well I think you should go. Create some memories."

"Perhaps you are right Charlotte."

"Wait what?" Lizzie looked from Charlotte to Ricky, "You're seriously going to hold off graduating early to go to prom?"

"I feel like it would be a waste not to go at least once, and it is my senior year. It will be a little difficult having to drop a few classes, but I'm sure it will be fine."

Wow, thought Lizzie, and just like that Charlotte changed his mind. He's either taken with her or just that manipulative.

The party eventually came to a close and The elder Bennet girls left with their family, but not after another half an hour of the mothers talking to each other for another half an hour. Jane and Charles were at a distance whispering to each other. Mary was standing next to the door signaling that she was ready to leave. The younger girls were even quiet. Lydia was hanging off of Catherine yawning several times before exclaiming that she was tired and wanted to go home. Mr Bennet ushered his wife away with the girls following behind. Lizzie was tired. Tried of Ricky. Tired of Will. Tired of everything. Tired and confused. She would have to review her dance with Will and his reaction to George. She would have to ask George about what happened since Will didn't look like he would shed any light on the subject.

"So Lizzie, I never got the chance to ask you tonight how your dance was with your two partners. Two who, I might add, are on two different levels."

Lizzie and her father were in his office after driving home. It was pretty late, but the whole house, though tired, was not ready to fall asleep.

She pulled out the chess board and began to set up the pieces, "I don't have to tell you how horrible the first partner was pretty bad, but then I did agree to dance with him."

"Yes. I wanted to ask about that."

"It was bcause he was being a nuisance. I only agreed to dance with him to shut him up."

"It wasn't because you were jealous of your friend and sister?"

"I wouldn't be so desperate to go to prom even if I was the only girl not going."

"Okay, so what about your second partner? I found him pretty interesting."

"I'm sure he would to you. I told you how bipolar he seems."

"Yes, we have a lot of that in our lives don't we?" He chuckled before training his features to be serious again, "But not everyone is as they seem. The devil can conceal himself as an angel of light. A fool can seem smart in a group of ingnorant people, and there is a thin line between insanity and genius as well as the line between love and hate."

"Dad, it's too late for you to be teaching me something like this when I'm too tired to process it."

"All I'm saying is don't be too quick to judge."

A/N: My deepest apologies for taking so long. The summer for me has begun however so I will do my best to post sooner. So her father is telling her not to be quick to judge. Will she listen? Love hearing your thoughts. Till next time. Love ya!

Sunday came sooner than Lizzie would've liked. The rest of her family joined her an hour before the party started. Lydia and Catherine were bouncing up and down eager for the boys to arrive. Mrs Bennet was busy talking to Mrs Bingley about the house and the decorations. Even her dad was smiling in a chair apparently entertained by the spectacle in front of him.