ballet200: Thank you!

Nerdyme12: Thank you! I may have read the book before I saw the movie, but Colin Firth played Mr Darcy so well that I had to pay him homage. To me, he and Mr Darcy are one and the same.

Avanell: Thank you! We'll just have to wait and see, won't we? ;)

chyannss: Collins certainly seems messed up, doesn't he? I don't see him respecting Elizabeth and her art form as much as an actual dancer would, so I don't think he would have any reservations about interrupting rehearsal.

Guest: The worst part is, I just translated Collins' proposal into modern language! Everything about her being poor and too intelligent? That's all in there!

Lovinglifen0w: Thank you!

Guest: Are you insulting my diction, or longing for the diction of the Regency Era? Your comment lacked context. However, if it is the latter, I applaud you. The language of the Regency Era was beautiful.

EngLitLover: Would you care to elaborate on why it wasn't working for you?

.60: Hope you had a lovely holiday! Will in tights would be pretty glorious. The boys in my class wear sweats and a tunic though.

LoveintheBattlefield: Thank you! Happy New Years!

As much as I dislike Will Darcy, that boy can dance.

I mean, you don't get to be principal in a National ballet for nothing.

So at this point, my hero worship is kind of confusing.

Darcy walked into company practice outfitted in tights and a tunic, and I swear my hero worshiping heart started to swoon.

Cut it out, Lizzie! This is the guy constantly staring at you and picking apart all of your flaws!

This is the guy who thinks he's better then you just because you're in dinky little Meryton, and he's from London.

This is the guy who thinks you're fat.

Be still, my beating heart.

We did barre warm ups altogether, and OH MY GOD.

The POWER in his legs!

His lifted torso!

His straight legs!

His turn out!

I'm gonna die.

Why can't I be that good?

As we did our rond de jambes, Will leaned over to me.

"You have been propositioned. How are you feeling?"

"Are you talking about the fact that my loathsome studio manager actually thought I would marry him?" I asked, and Caroline giggled.

"What I don't get" She supplied "Is why you didn't accept. He had many good points. And he's probably the best offer you'll get."

"Um… did you not see the way he assaulted me?" I asked, eyebrow raised. "You wanna spend the rest of your life with a man that forces himself on you?"

"Of course not, but really Eliza, do you think you could do better?"

Yes. Being alone is far better than being with someone who puts you down and makes you feel less important than you are. Serious life lesson here- If he doesn't respect you, you're better off on your own, no matter how lonely you are.

I said as much to Caroline.

"Also, I never thanked you for pulling him off me." Polite Lizzie made an appearance, appealing to Darcy. "I kind of just needed to get out of there. So thank you."

"That's understandable. Turn out your standing leg more, Elizabeth." Darcy replied.

The NERVE.

My standing leg IS turned out. Just because SOME of us can't completely flatten our bodies doesn't mean you need to rub it in our faces!

"I can't." I grumbled. "I don't have a lot of natural turnout. It's taken years to get this far."

"There are stretches you can do to improve." Darcy stated, and I rolled my eyes. Thank you Captain Obvious!

"I know. How do you think I got my turnout this far? It used to be practically parallel."

"How do you expect to be a good dancer without turnout, Eliza?" Caroline cut in. It seems the more civil demeanor I maintain towards Darcy, the more vicious she gets.

Maybe she's in love with him.

They would be great together, both being snobby jerkwads and all. Too bad Darcy's already promised to Charles.

Sorry Jane.

"I dunno." I shrugged. "Maybe the fact that I'm a principal dancer in the most prestigious company in Hertfordshire speaks for itself."

"Hertfordshire is nothing like London." Caroline rolled her eyes. "There's a distinct lack of talent."

"In London?" I asked with a grin. "I agree. You don't even wrap your coupe. Might want to check that."

Caroline huffed and switched to another barre, claiming hers gave her splinters.

Point Lizzie!

"Now, ladies, gentlemen, I'd like to announce the cast for our upcoming performance of Romeo and Juliet at Rosings." Lady B declared, as we finished at the barre. "Jane, of course, will be playing Juliet."

"Aunt." Darcy interrupted. "I must insist that Elizabeth be cast as Juliet."

Um, homeboy say what?

"And why would that be, William?" Lady B demanded, approaching him.

"For one, audiences are used to a brunette Juliet. Jane is blonde. What is more, while Jane is obviously a passionate dancer, Elizabeth has a tighter technique and more power. Jane is more suited to roles such as Odette. Elizabeth, to Juliet."

"I really don't think-." Lady Catherine began, but Darcy continued.

"What's more, Juliet is a fourteen year old child. Elizabeth is much shorter and more believable in that role. Jane is more feminine and dainty. She's more suited to princess like roles. And I wouldn't put it past Elizabeth to make the same stupid decisions Juliet does, so she won't even need to learn to act."

Why that little!

"Nah." I shrugged, calm and composed. "Instead of killing myself over a boy, I'd be more likely to KILL THE BOY." I declared, staring directly at Darcy. He shifted uncomfortably and looked away.

Serves him right. He didn't even ask if I wanted this role!

"Honestly? I don't find Elizabeth suited to the role either. She struggles with her pirouettes, you know. If your Juliet must be brunette, William, I am willing to dye my hair." Caroline piped up, annoyed with all the attention I was getting.

Hah. Like she doesn't dye her hair already.

Then again, Charles is strawberry blonde, maybe she doesn't.

Nah. She's just TOO blonde.

"My casting is not up for debate!" Lady Catherine cried angrily.

"But I don't understand it." Caroline complained. "I'm obviously a much better dancer than Eliza. Why give her the title role and not me?"

"You're not even a member of this company." I spoke up, rolling my eyes at her." You're just visiting for the summer. Are you even going to be in Meryton come Rosings? My vote is for Jane."

"I will not dance with the company if the female lead is not Elizabeth." Darcy declared.

"Did you ever think that maybe I don't want to be Juliet?" I asked him point blank. He shrugged.

"That makes you an even better candidate. We do not always like the roles that we fit best to, but if you want the company to succeed, you accept it with grace."

"But Eliza fell over yesterday! How could SHE make our company succeed?"

"Lizzie is a wonderful dancer. I think it's her time to shine." Jane added.

"ENOUGH!" Lady Catherine screamed, and we all looked at her. Oh God, The Dragon is out. "Caroline Bingley, you are not in this company, nor are you a guest performer. You have NO say in my casting decisions. Jane, Elizabeth, front and center!"

"Yes ma'am."

"The two of you will perform the following combination- sissone front, sissone right soubresaut, pas de chat. Sissone left, sissone back changement, changement. Pas de Chaval, dégagé, sur la coupe de pie, pas de barre, tombe pas de barre, glissade, jeté. Got it ?"

The two of us ran through the combination that Lady B gave us, then nodded.

"Do it. NOW."

"Yes Ma'am." Jane and I replied, beginning the combo. Lady B scrutinized us carefully the entire time, calling Darcy over to watch. The two chatted for a bit, then Lady B turned back to us.

"Elizabeth, you will be Juliet. Jane, you will play Lady Capulet, Elizabeth's mother. Charlotte, you will play Mercutio, and Anne, dear, you will play Benvolio. They will be female in our production. Katherine, you will play the Prince of Verona- we will make you a princess. Lydia, you will play Roseline."

"There's more characters that we are missing." Charlotte, ever the practical one, spoke up.

"Indeed." Lady B frowned slightly. "Charles, can you dance?"

"Not well." Charlie responded. "I haven't taken a ballet lesson in my life."

"Good enough. You will be Monsieur Capulet." Lady B declared, and Charlie looked worriedly to Will.

"Don't worry, I'll help you." Darcy comforted.

That's a weird word to describe Darcy. Comforting. Ugh.

"Collins!" Lady B shrieked, and he came running.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"You shall be in our ballet this year. You are the friar."

"Can he even dance?" I whispered to Charlotte, and she nodded.

"I've been teaching him."

WHAT? WHY?

"Char, have you lost your mind? You'll be Collins' next target!"

"It's not like I'm going to date the man. We all know he's promised to you." Charlotte giggled, and I punched her arm. "Let's face it, I'm not going to get a career in performance like you and Jane. I need to hone my teaching skills now."

"Char, you're an amazing dancer-"

"The only reason I have a name role is because our company is so small we're literally handing out roles to anyone and everyone. Lady B just gave Caroline Paris, for God's sake! The farthest I'd get in performance is corps, and you know it."

"Char, cut yourself a little slack. And besides, that doesn't mean you have to teach Billy of all people."

"Are you jealous because you're not the only girl on his radar anymore?" Char spat, and I did a double take.

"Oh my God. Do you LIKE him?"

"No!" Charlotte sighed, exasperated. "He's been asking you out for seven years. He just asked you to marry him, for Christ's sake. There's no way he would like me, and I'm not settling. Besides, what kind of bestie goes out with her besties' cast offs? But he pays well, and it's a great business opportunity. I'm taking it."

"If you think that's best." I shrugged.

"Hey, Char, Lizzie, class is over." Jane informed us.

"So early? Help me put up the barres?"

"No, Lady de Bourg wants to work directly with Charles and Collins since they're new. I'm going to wait for Charlie outside."

And since my car is in the shop, I guess that means I'm waiting too.

Joy.