numb3rs mystery: Right? I think some people play down his agreeableness as having no real character, but I think it means he's a fairly likable guy. Cheers!
Guest: Thank you!
Avanell: Especially in leos, right! I feel like everybody's staring at my rear! Anyway, I think my favourite would have to be Sheherazade. It's a ballet based on the 1001 Arabian Nights, and is just really beautiful. That's so cool! The only ballerina's I've met are the ones in classes with me.:)
Nerdyme12: I think it subconsciously was... I'm definitely a Whovian, but I wasn't intentionally referencing it. Susan just seemed like a good name for a horse. Guess now I know why! Thank you!
EngLitLover: Thank you! I love Charlie. I feel like he and Jane don't really get the attention they deserve. Hopefully I'll give them a little more spotlight.
chyannss: Thank you!
Guest: Thank you! Like Lizzie, I pride myself on my cleverness, so I appreciate that.
ChrisMO519:Delusional Jane is definitely my favourite! And I agree, Charlie I an all around good guy. I don't think he gets enough credit.
.60: Thank you! Darcy can be a bit of a butt, but he just doesn't understand social norms. But of course Lizzie gives him what he's had coming!
.60: Thank you! That chapter still makes me giggle every time I read it.
shelbyprz::Thank you!
So, along with rehearsing with the company, I also take lessons with Lady B. It's a lot of ballet, I'll admit. Between classes at Meryton U, classes with Lady B, and Longbourn rehearsals, I'm pretty much danced out by the time I get home. Lessons are a lot different than company rehearsals, because there's a lot more students, and Lady B critiques us more.
Also, Billy Collins is there.
'Why, Lizzie, who's Billy Collins?', you ask.
Oh, he's just the studio manager and the guy who's been adamantly in love with me since forever. It's kind of awful.
You think I'm exaggerating, don't you?
Watch and learn, my lovies. Watch and learn.
"Lizzie! There you are! I was grievously worried you would be late to class. And you know my esteemed employer would not sit well with that. But never fear, were it to come to that, I would be sure to sing your praises and our great lady would forgive you at once!"
I know what you're thinking. Is Billy in love with me or Lady B?
Wait for it…
"Thanks, Billy."
"You are most welcome, Miss Lizzie. Would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner tonight?"
WOOMP, THERE IT IS!
Seriously, Billy has asked me out EVERY TIME I SEE HIM. Well, once I got over sixteen and it was legal. Before that he just cast longing glances my way. All the time.
Lizzie, surely you're leading him on, you say. You must give him some indication that you like him.
Watch this.
"No, Billy. My answer is always no. It's been seven years and my answer is still always no." I sighed, and Billy bounced excitedly.
"You say that. But Lady Catherine has assured me of the ways of women like yourself. You mean say no when you really mean yes. You will agree one day."
SEE? This man is insane!
No means NO. And no every single day for seven years straight means you don't have a chance in hell, buddy!
But does Billy EVER give up?
No.
Seriously, I'm willing to pay whoever can get him off my case.
"Good morning class." Lady B called as she swept into the room.
"Get to the barre, dearest." Billy declared, swatting my bum.
NO.
BILLY WHY?
I hit him. And unlike Darcy, I didn't feel bad. At least Darcy didn't TOUCH my butt.
But, you know, I tend to hit Billy about as much as he asks me out, so no one really batted an eye when I slugged him and his nose bled a little.
I should probably work on keeping my fists to myself.
You're judging me, aren't you?
"Alright, class, as you know the Longbourn Dance Company is having their annual show at Rosings in a few months." Lady B began. "The Longbourn Company is made up of splendid dancers, but it is a small company so I am allowing you to audition to be a part of the Corps de Ballet in our show."
"What show are they doing, ma'am?" one of the students named Giselle asked.
Yeah, like Giselle the ballet. Her mum's about as bad as mine.
"Romeo and Juliet."
"Uh… We don't have any male dancers in our company." I spoke up. "We'll need more than just a Corps"
The other dancers tittered at the idea of being more than just the corps.
"Why, we already have a Romeo." Lady B declared nonchalantly. "William Darcy has agreed to dance with us."
WHAT.
NO.
Jane CANNOT be forced to dance with that… that… monster!
Because of course Jane will get the title role. Anne will be her understudy, I will play the nurse, Charlotte will play Lady Capulet, and either Kitty or Lydia will play Rosaline. They will, of course, be relieved to not be in the corps as usual.
See, I know how Lady B casts!
Back to the current crisis, Jane could not possibly be forced to dance with William Darcy!
Though I suppose it would look good for her career.
"Are you ok dancing with that prat?" I whispered to Jane, and she just smiled at me.
"Are you?" she replied sweetly.
"Me? As Juliet? That's about as likely as Billy Collins giving up on me." I rolled my eyes.
Funny story? Billy was in love with Jane first. But then he decided she was too pretty for him and moved on to me, the uglier sister.
Just stew on that a minute.
We finished our warm up at the barre and moved to floor. Lady B had the men working on their sissonnes and us women doing point work.
"Elizabeth, do not sickle your foot, you'll sprain your ankle and put yourself out of commission." I corrected quickly, slightly embarrassed.
"Jane, darling, the step there is only at a forty five degree angle. Not quite so high, dearest."
"Fredrik, beat your legs during your sissonne!"
Lady B barked at us all lesson, until… Guess who showed up late?
Caroline, Charles and Darcy!
I expected Lady B to go ballistic, but she merely smiled and gestured for Caroline to join us. Guess that's what happens when your brother pays Lady B's salary.
Really, it's quite unfair. I pay for lessons too you know! And Lady B's not cheap- I can confidently say I spend more on ballet then on our cable and electric bill combined.
Anyway, Caroline brought her dainty little orange clad self over to the floor where we were working, and immediately began complaining that the changments that we were practicing were far too easy for her and she didn't want to do it.
Ok, so it's a beginning ballet technique. But really, if you don't keep up your technique practice, it falters. And then you have floppy feet and you don't land in a neat fifth, and… ugh.
But Caroline's a Bingley, and Bingley's pay the bills, so…
We moved on to pirouettes.
I HATE pirouettes.
Little secret? There are some days I can't even land a single. I have no consistency in my turns. I'm a lefty turner, and have a pretty solid left triple, but on the right side I can't stay in a pirouette for shit. It's kind of the bane of my existence.
So we're pirouetting, and today is actually a pretty good turning day. My left side is solid, and I even managed to land a triple on my right side too! I mean, the majority of the time I only landed doubles, but still. Once.
IN YOUR FACE, DARCY.
I'm a wonderful dancer.
So there.
Anyway, we're turning and turning and turning, and then the WORST MOMENT OF MY LIFE HAPPENS.
I'm not even joking right now.
Literally the worst.
Billy Collins ran out into rehearsal while we were practicing yelling "ELIZABETH? ELIZABETH I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!"
I KNOW.
BILLY WHY?
"Um… I'm practicing for a recital…" I replied, making a face. "Can it wait until after?"
"NO!" Billy yelled, and even Lady B looked a little shocked.
"Elizabeth, as you know we've been dating for seven years." Billy began.
HOLD THE PHONE.
What is this man talking about?
Do you see how insane he is? And delusional! This is not ok!
"No, we haven't." I corrected. "I've never agreed to date you."
"Semantics." Billy shrugged.
Wow. Ok. So apparently you don't need the girl's permission to go on a date. It's just semantics.
Does that mean I've been dating Colin Firth for the past… forever?
So what if we've never met?
So what if he doesn't know I exist?
So what if he's… well, kind old now.
Semantics!
"ANYWAY, I have decided that it's high time I get a wife. I need to set a good example as studio manager, you see. Also, I believe it would make me very happy. And Lady Catherine de Bourg has mentioned that she believes at my age, I ought to be married already. Now, I wouldn't say you are the ideal woman- your intelligence is acceptable as long as you tone it down. And I must insist that you drop out of school. Higher education really isn't becoming of a woman. While there are many other acceptable women, I thought it would be fitting to offer my connections to Longbourn Studio to you, so that you may share in this company. Do not worry that you are poor- I accept the fact that you will never make any financial contributions to our family. You may not be pretty, well mannered, the best dancer, or anything of merit, but I think it would be profitable for us to marry. We can plan the wedding tomorrow."
See what I mean about this being the worst moment of my life?
Seriously, this man is ridiculous!
"Um… was there actually a proposal anywhere in there? You presumed my answer without even asking." I replied, trying to remain polite. Because honestly, is there a more insulting way to ask someone to marry you?
"Right! Um, Elizabeth, would you do yourself the honour of marrying me?"
Oh, yeah. real honour.
"No." I replied and turned back to Jane.
"Oh, I know what you're doing. You're playing hard to get." Billy declared, then shoved me up against a wall, violently kissing me.
OH LORD.
SOmebody's about to get dead.
Before I had the chance to smack him again, someone pulled Billy off me, shoving him away.
'Who's your savior, Lizzy?,' you ask.
None other than William Darcy.
Don't read too much into it.
I do regret not getting to hit Blly again though.
"I'm not playing hard to get, Collins!" I shouted, angrily wiping his kiss from my lips. "I've told you no every single day for the last SEVEN YEARS! Get it into your head that no means NO!"
And for the first time in twenty years, I walked out of a ballet class early, Jane hot on my heels.
Yeah, I know.
I'm cool.
