Right On Time: A Short Story in Three Parts and One Hour

By Bernadette E.

Part 1

Posted on Tuesday, 28 June 2005

11:00pm.

"It's okay, Jane---just take a deep breath," Lizzy coached her sobbing sister, pulling her into the nearest bathroom.

The bathroom was a popular place for junior/senior prom night at Hunsford Court. A pair of girls were camped out there for touch-ups on makeup and hair. High school sophomore Lizzy Bennet recognized them immediately. Kitty McGovern was the one plastering the crimson lipstick on her mouth. Next to her was her resident partner in crime and a cousin to the Bennet sisters, Lydia McGovern. Lizzy watched her cousin take a swill of a drink that looked suspiciously alcoholic before glancing casually at the sobbing Prom Queen.

"What's your problem?" Lydia demanded rudely of her older cousin. Jane wiped tear-filled her eyes as Lydia continued, "I suppose dating the most popular boy in school and looking like a supermodel aren't good enough for you anymore. What is it now, Jane---break a nail?"

"Lydia, shut up." Lizzy interrupted her cousin severely. "Unless you want a black eye to match that dress you're wearing."

Jane Bennet evoked jealousy, but Lizzy Bennet commanded respect. It was begrudging respect, but it was respect nonetheless. Hearing the sincerity in Lizzy's voice, Lydia shut up. She didn't much care about Jane Bennet. Jane would be graduating in a few weeks time and no longer entrenched within the social structure of Longbourne High. But it was in the best interest of Lydia to attempt some sort of diplomatic ties with Lizzy Bennet. After all, Lizzy's status at Longbourne High, while not the pinnacle of popularity that Jane had reached, was certainly on the rise.

Elizabeth was only a sophomore at Longbourne High, but she'd been invited to the junior/senior prom by arguably the third most desirable male of the junior and senior classes. Richard Fitzwilliam. A student could only attend the junior/senior prom if they were a junior or a senior, or invited by one. Freshmen Lydia and Kitty were stuck using two disreputable junior skater boys, Dennis Maine and Carter Filch, as their way into the exclusive event. But Lizzy had been asked by a senior, Richard Fitzwilliam. In the status of their dates, sophomore Lizzy Bennet had the upper hand. For now.

Elizabeth didn't care about any of that. She just wanted the freshmen gone from the bathroom. Another glare sent them packing. And it was only when they were alone in the bathroom that Jane started forming coherent sentences.

"Charles...he...he..." Jane's shoulders shook.

"What, Janie?" Lizzy prompted. Elizabeth Bennet didn't understand it. What could have happened in the span of an evening that could undo a whole four years of steady dating between Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley? They were iconic, the reigning couple of Longbourne High.

Lizzy handed her sister a wad full of tissues and watched her clean the mascara from her face. Inwardly, though, she shook her head.

She never thought Charles was the brightest bulb in the lamp, but as she'd told her sister once, Jane, you've liked stupider people, so you have my blessing. The best thing about Charles Bingley was the fact that despite his immense popularity and his status as captain of the football team, he was such a nice guy. There was not a shred of cruelty or malice in him. Not to anyone. Not even the geekiest of chess club members need fear so much as an unkind word from Charles. It was part and parcel to his popularity at the school, actually.

And Jane could match Charles kindness for kindness. Lizzy doubted she'd ever heard Jane so much as whisper a rumor, despite the fact that being on the cheerleading squad left Jane prey to cheerleading captain Caroline Bingley's goading. Jane always looked at the glass as half full, and she always searched for the best in them. But what made Jane so very extraordinary was that in her ability to see the good in people, she could evoke kindness from the most hardened sources. She and Charles seemed a perfect match.

Beyond that, in combined attractiveness Charles and Jane were better looking than the average Gap clothing add. Charles was a lucky young man. No one with eyes would argue the comment that Jane was most beautiful girl ever to walk the halls of Longbourne High. Students and teachers alike commented on the fact that Jane Bennet bore a striking resemblance to a young Grace Kelly. And she did, too---even now. An eighteen year old Grace in rose colored prom dress. Well, Lizzy corrected, Grace Kelly with running mascara.

But Lizzy also knew that Jane's one drawback in the Longbourne social circuit was her acute shyness. Shyness was a handicap that made her blush even when answering a question in chemistry class. But it was something that outgoing and amiable Charles had always been able to see passed that. Her sister Jane had never taken much pleasure or comfort in her high status at Longbourne High, but Lizzy always thought that was a positive thing, not a detriment.

If Charles Bingley dumped my sister, he's a fool ten times over.

"Jane," she gripped her sister's shaking hands, "just tell me what happened."

"Oh, Lizzy," Jane took a breath and wiped her eyes. "Charles broke up with me."

Not an hour ago, she'd seen the prom king and queen dancing blissfully together beneath the spotlight. Was Charles really such a good actor? "Why?"

"I don't know. I don't know." Jane shook her head. "He looked a little nervous all night, but I didn't think anything of it. He even had the DJ play our song on the dance floor..."

"Yeah, I heard them play it." Lizzy nodded. It was a sweet gesture. A little cliché she thought, but sweet. "Then what?"

Jane took a breath. "Then he sat me down in the lobby. Said he had something he wanted to discuss with me. He was smiling. Nervous---his hands were shaking a little, but...but he was smiling, Lizzy. He said he had to get something from his car first. That it was important. That I should wait where I was. So I waited." Jane's lovely brow creased. "He was gone for a good half an hour. And when he came back, his whole face changed, Lizzy. He looked so upset. And that's when he told me that..." her eyes grew glassy with tears, "...told me that he thought we'd had a great run of things through high school, but we needed to go our separate ways for college. That we needed to break up. I asked him why. But then he started crying, and next thing I know, he'd left. I don't even know where he's gone!"

"Oh, Jane," Lizzy enveloped her sister in a tight hug. "I'm sure there's been some sort of mix up. Maybe I can talk to him. But in the meantime I'll see if I can get Richard to take you home." she reached up and touched her sister's prom-queen crown lightly. Something had to have happened. Or someone, she suspected. Come hell or high water, I'll get to the bottom of this by the end of the hour.

11:20

"Are you sure this is okay, Richard?" Elizabeth asked her date tentatively as she walked Richard and her sister to the parking lot. Richard Fitzwilliam was taking her sister home for the night. She watched him press the automatic unlock on his car and gallantly open the door for Jane. "Really, Richard, this is your prom, not mine. I don't want to make you---"

"It's fine, Liz," Richard interrupted her by giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "All buckled up Jane?" Jane nodded and tried to give him a brave smile. Seeing this, Richard shut the passenger door and turned to Lizzy. Concern was written all over his face.

"I'll take her home. You know, you're a plum girl for going with me in the first place, Liz." Lizzy gave her friend a smile.

"I was happy to Richard," she assured him. "I had a lot of fun. I was flattered that you asked me. You weren't ashamed of bringing a sophomore with you." Not like some people, she thought acidly.

"Ashamed? Of you?" Richard asked with a laugh. "Never, Liz."

Seeing his blue eyes twinkle, Elizabeth smiled before adding, "It was nice to have a date for the prom with no strings attached. Even if I wasn't the one you really wanted to be dancing with tonight."

Richard blushed. "Thanks for being so understanding, Lizzy. I really mean it."

"I know," she answered honestly. "And I'm sorry Ann couldn't come with you tonight. I had no idea her mother's so strict."

"Yeah," Richard tried to shrug it off, but there was a hint of bitterness in his voice as he added, "The de Bourgh family is by repute, incorruptible. And according to her mother, I'm pretty much the devil incarnate. No way in hell she was going to let her go out the door with me as her date." He gave Lizzy a long look, then hooked his hand around the crook of Lizzy's arm and pulled her a few steps from the car. "Elizabeth," he spoke softly, "there's something you don't know about all of this that I do."

Immediately Lizzy's chin jerked up. She didn't like his tone of voice. Charles Bingley was practically on every sports team in the high school, and Richard Fitzwilliam was his co-captain for soccer. If anyone was in the know, locker talk alone would have assured that it was Richard. She should have known.

"Charles was planning on proposing to your sister tonight," Richard told her. Oh my God. Elizabeth's head spun, and her heart leapt for her sister. Marriage! Of course! Why else would he be so nervous? Charles was more a fool than she'd ever guessed. Didn't he know her would have said yes in a heartbeat?

"Why would he back out of it, Richard?" Lizzy asked him intently. Her poor sister. Sweet, lovely Jane who had never loved anyone as she loved Charles Bingley. "Jane's crazy about Charles. She has been for the past four years! I mean...unless someone else convinced him otherwise..."

This was when she noticed Richard wince. Lizzy's hands clutched at his arm. Her voice lowered. "Who, Richard? Who was it?"

"Look, I have to get your sister back to your parents house---"

"Who was it?" He disentangled himself from her grip and took out his keys.

"She'll want to know what we're talking about. I'll have to think of something---"

"Richard!" She tried to catch up to him as he moved to his car, unlocking the drivers' side. But in her high heels and her blue prom dress, running proved hard. One gloved hand managed to catch him anyway. "Who was it, Richard?"

Richard paused. "I was sworn to secrecy Lizzy. I won't tell you his name." Seeing her frown, he added, "But I'll give you a clue. He asked you to come to the prom with him the other day. You turned him down." He ran his hand along the door handle and cocked his head. "I think you know who I mean."

For a moment Elizabeth had no words.

You turned him down. The words echoed like a record on repeat. Him. Will Darcy. The realization---and the memory---ran through her thoughts like a train wreck.

Elizabeth Bennet ran an after school program for underprivileged middle schoolers. She was also the program's head tutor, and had been working late with one of them in Longbourne High's library late Friday afternoon.

"So you see, Lewis," Elizabeth circled the middle section of his algebra proof with her red pen. "You just have to remember when you use the FOIL method, you have to account for each part of the equation. When you factor out the x, you keep trying to drop the denominator, but if you just remember that---"

"Lizzy?" Lewis interrupted her by tugging on her sleeve.

"What's up?" She took off her reading glasses and set them on the table to look at him. "Need me to slow down, buddy?"

"Nah, I think I got it," the sixth grader nodded. "But...there's some dude over there. I thought he was working on something. He has a lot of books, anyway. But he keeps staring at you."

Immediately Lizzy looked in the direction Lewis was pointing. Her stomach dropped. What is he doing here?

Elizabeth's gaze narrowed as she caught him watching her from across the room too.

Will Darcy. He had nothing good to say about her from their very first meeting. Unthinking, her hand moved to her braid. Her hair was still so messy---why hadn't she thought to fix it after gym class? Such things hardly mattered for sixth graders. Why did she care what she looked like? He certainly wouldn't.

And if she was no one to him (she remembered his words verbatim: tolerable, but not pretty enough. Darcy's initial assessment of her freshman year still rang in her ears when she saw him) well, than he was no one to her. He was just the captain of the soccer team. Just the junior class president. Just the treasurer of the school's National Honors Society. He just had one of the highest GPAs in the school, and he was the chair of the debate team and...

And she would prove that she wasn't intimidated by him.

"Try finishing problem fourteen on your own, Lewis," she told the boy, setting down her red pen. As soon as she stood from her chair, his eyes moved back to his book. "I'll be back in a few minutes to check your work."

"Okay, Lizzy."

Her approach was cautious. Still, she was surprised to see that Will Darcy gave up any attempt at reading as soon as she neared. He greeted her with a nod. Lizzy was taken aback by the brilliant spark in his dark eyes when his eyes met hers. "Elizabeth."

Holy Moses, the world was so unfair sometimes. Will Darcy's effect was uncannily effective. Tall, dark, handsome, and the last person in the school she wanted to associate with at L.H.S.

"I've got the school's permission to use this space to tutor children," she informed him. "So unless there's something you need in terms of a sixth-grade tutorial, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

A smile played on his handsome mouth. "You can't think of any other reason why I would be here, I suppose."

She was taken aback by Darcy's playful tone. She shrugged, feigning disinterest as he opened his book again. "No."

"Do you have a minute to spare?" She watched his long fingers turn a page of his book. The gesture was casual, and a dark curl fell onto his brow. It was distracting. But she tried to clear her head of the thought. Instead, she responded archly, "What's your reason?"

He rallied himself now. "Well, I'd like to explain it if you'd give me a chance."

Now that sounded like the Darcy she was most familiar with. She almost smiled. Almost. "There's no one else around who can help?"

"No one else will do." Darcy turned another page of his book. His tone had shifted from playful to soft in the span of an instant.

"L-Lewis," Elizabeth faltered and cleared her throat, "My student, he needs my---"

"I think he's doing okay." Darcy answered calmly.

Elizabeth turned to check. He was right. Lewis was working away. "Just a minute of your time, Elizabeth. That's all I'm asking." He met her defiant gaze boldly and his voice dropped. "Right now, anyway."

Elizabeth Bennet didn't want to think about the rest of that conversation. It didn't matter anyway. She'd turned Will Darcy down. You're the last man on earth I would ever go to prom with. Those had been her exact words. And now she was doubly happy for it. She was going to storm into Hunsford Palm Court and take him apart piece by piece.

Part 2 of 3

Posted on Sunday, 3 July 2005

11:21

Will sat back in his chair, stretching to rub a tight muscle in his neck. He didn't begrudge loaning his dinner jacket to the obviously shivering cold Anne Elliot---how could Annie expect to keep warm in that little slip of a dress, and her so frail to begin with? But with his muscles tightening from the stress of the evening, he was afraid of pulling a muscle after sitting in this cold lobby with Charles. And the soccer team certainly wouldn't appreciate it if their captain and top striker had to sit out a match for an act of gallantry...

"So how did Jane react when you told her?"

Charles stared blankly into his water glass and shook his head before answering.

"I don't know. I don't know. I couldn't even look at her when I was saying it. And if I'd stayed there any longer, I was sure I would break. Sure of it."

For once, Will wished they were old enough that he could offer to buy Charles a drink. Anything with more of a kick to it than the Pepsi he'd had the waiter bring to Bingley. Though that probably wouldn't help poor Bingley out of his state of abject misery...

Will sighed and ran his finger along the edge of his water glass, looking around the hotel lobby where they'd retreated to. He was felt at a loss for quite what to say. It was a rare enough occurrence, and one he didn't enjoy. He glanced at his long-time friend. Charles shoulders were sagging.

And there was Caroline, lingering at the lobby entrance. She hadn't caught sight of him yet. Sheer force of will kept Darcy from following his first strongest survival instincts to duck and cover.

I shouldn't have come, he thought to himself for what felt like the thousandth time that night.

Serving as Caroline's escort was a favor to Bingley. Charles knew of Caro's year-long crush on the junior valedictorian---but everyone knew. He'd heard Darcy declare he decided not to go to prom---what was the point after Lizzy turned him down? But Charles tried to intervene.

"Come on, Darce..." Charles pleaded in the locker room while Will'd been putting on his shin guards and cleats. It was Wednesday one week ago, and the rest of the varsity soccer team was already on the field, readying for practice and waiting for the arrival of Will, their team captain and coach.

"My sister needs a date, Darcy. She's turned every other guy down. Says she's waiting for you to ask her. You don't have a date. She doesn't have a date...how bad could it be?"

He had to admit that Bingley was right. Elizabeth had turned him down, much to his regret. After suffering through her spirited refusal, he'd opted not to go at all.

"Even Richard's going," Charles added then. He was only half listening until Bingley added, "He's taking Jane's sister. Lizzy Bennet. You saw her in the spring musical, right? Quite a voice she's got. Really pretty eyes, too. A sophomore and absolutely adorable, that girl."

Charles, who knew nothing of his Lizzy Bennet infatuation, was certainly not helping. Will speared him with a glance.

"Yeah," Will had muttered his response. Of all the people she could have possibly accepted, why did it have to be his own cousin? His insides clenched at the thought, and so did his jaw.

Will Darcy gave Richard and the rest of the team a brutal workout that day while he brooded over the knowledge Charles had imparted. He knew his cousin better than most. Richard was charming, flirtatious, and as a senior he was two years older than Lizzy Bennet. He'd have a good time with her as his date. Elizabeth was charming and witty and could flirt as well as Richard could. But chances were Richard would also forget that in a room full of junior and senior, a pretty sophomore was an attractive target. People like the caddish George Wickham would be there, drinking illegally and getting bored. Darcy's mind was made up. He would go, if only to try to make sure from afar that Lizzy stayed safe for the night.

Surely he could stomach a night with Caroline as his date. Visually and socially, they were perceived as a good enough match at Longbourne. Caroline couldn't match him mind to mind, but she was pretty enough...not as striking as Jane Bennet, of course, but who was? How bad could one night as her date possibly be?

Very bad, actually. Worse than bad. Horrific. Darcy knew he was in for a long night when he knocked on the Bingley's door only to find Caroline wearing a frosted white cupcake of a dress. With a matching diamond tiara. Seeing that paired with her glowing adulation for Will was enough to make him panic.

It's worth it, he kept telling himself. It's worth it, just to make sure Lizzy stays safe while she's here.

When they'd entered the Hunsford Palm Court that night with Caroline in a snowball dress, the night went from bad to worse. He'd heard his cousin Richard Fitzwilliam whistling 'here comes the bride' from afar and who could blame him. With a wide skirted dress that had, he'd been summarily informed on the drive up, six layers of crinoline, Caroline looked like a puffy white cloud of bridal wear. But the reference certainly didn't helped his mood towards his cousin. Nor did seeing Elizabeth Bennet on his arm.

Will barely managed to breath when he saw her standing next to Richard. She wasn't looking at him. She was talking to her sister, Jane. And she was absolutely beautiful. Far more attractive than any of the primped, preening upperclassmen girls thronging around him whenever he had a moment away from Caroline. Not that Darcy spared much attention to them. He was too busy admiring from afar. Perhaps coming here had been a bad idea, for all his noble intentions. Did Elizabeth have any clue how that shade of blue complimented the rosy blush that dusted her cheeks when she laughed? Most girls spent the afternoon at salons in preparation for the event. Not Lizzy Bennet. Her hair fell soft around her shoulders, a lovely contrast to the blue of her dress and the purity of her skin. Pearl earrings were her only adornment. He wondered fleetingly where she'd gotten them. Perhaps from her parents, or her sister? Certainly not from Richard, he thought and clung to that hope desperately. Pearls suited her brilliantly. I wish I'd given them to her.

Seeing her on Richard's arm, hearing her light, musical voice, watching her smile and tease and joke with her sister and with Richard's friends...excruciating was the only way he could describe it.

Thus, Darcy suffered by turns throughout the night, both from Caroline's catty remarks about Jane and Elizabeth Bennet, and from the presence of the latter woman catering to his cousin.

Will had agreed to spend the evening as Caroline's date, and so propriety demanded that he also spend it with her friends. Only he didn't particularly like her friends. Most of her friends were bottle blonde cheerleaders, or football players who were inclined to be less than generous to Charles, their teammate. These weren't people Will sought to ally himself with at Longbourne, and that fact showed in his demeanor, as he'd meant it to. They quickly gave up talking to him.

"Next year will be glorious, Will," Caroline was still catering to him, though. "That'll be us up there. Seniors and King and Queen of Longbourne Prom."

A dark, wintry glance in Caroline's direction had been sufficient response. She'd given up on him soon after and gone in search of the rest of her crew who'd abandoned them, presumably to get drunk.

Darcy certainly wasn't short on people to talk to. He had friends aplenty at Longbourne High. Like it or not, he was both popular and admired. And those who didn't like him at least respected him. There were people aplenty who claimed him as their friends. But there were few people indeed he would appoint with that title...

What Will Darcy really longed for tonight was to be with Elizabeth and her friends who'd gathered around her from the theater department. They looked like a group of fun and vibrant people. He longed for the chance to get to know them, to introduce himself. To be known not by his many titles or his stature in the school or his looks or his money, or any of it, but simply for who he was. Apart from Elizabeth Bennet herself, that was the deepest desire of his heart. That, he realized rather breathlessly, was why he was so drawn to Lizzy. She'd never taken stock in pretensions.

It gave him a lot of pleasure to see that Lizzy seemed to be enjoying herself, even if their was pain coupled with the realization that he wasn't the one making her smile, making her laugh, holding her close. He'd hoped she wouldn't feel out of place here, thrown into the lot of so many upperclassmen. She seemed to be holding her own well enough. And her vibrant eyes and dazzling smile kept spearing him from across the room.

Will sighed, recalling the memory. And to make his evening even worse for his evening was what he was already referencing rather infamously in his own mind as "the conversation," the one he'd overheard between Jane Bennet and her friend, Charlotte Lucas. It was happenstance that he'd been there to hear it, and much as much as he hated repeating it to Bingley, he certainly couldn't unhear it. Charles deserved to know. Particularly before proposing to the girl. Darcy never understood Jane's reserve. She was a sweet enough girl, innocent certainly, startlingly beautiful. And beyond that, she was Elizabeth Bennet's sister. Will wanted to think well of her and speak well of her. But Charles Bingley deserved proper warning where warning was due. As he'd told Charles then, it was better to be told the truth before hand than to propose marriage to a girl who apparently desired no such thing...

"How are you doing Charles?" Will spoke quietly.

He watched Charles now as his friend clutched the velvet jewelry box containing the ring intended for Jane. "Do you have any idea how painful it is to love someone so much only to get nothing in return? It's like---you feel like you have..." Charles paused there, searching for the right words. Bingley was never a wordsmith.

"A knife in your lungs," Will finished the sentence for him quietly. It leaves you breathless.

"Yeah...that's exactly how it is." Bingley gave Will a speculative look. "But somehow I don't think you're answering in reference to Caroline. I thought I saw you eying someone else tonight, Will. I had no idea until tonight. She's a sweet girl, Will. It runs in their family, I think..."

Will's answer was cold and quick. "It's nothing. I'll get over it."

Darcy hadn't discussed his feelings for Elizabeth Bennet with Charles. He wasn't about to start here and now. It was too dangerous. If Caro so much as even suspected, if Charles, even hinted, all Caroline's claws would emerge with full force and the blonde cheerleader would declare it her mission next year to make Lizzy's life a living hell.

If he had anything to do with it, no one would know. Not unless Darcy could grant Lizzy the status of his girlfriend, with all the rights and protection at Longbourne that the title implied. There were countless girls vying for the role, and she would come under vicious attack from any and all of them if his feelings for her circulated.

But Lizzy had made it very clear that she didn't want his defense. She didn't want anything to do with him, in fact. But he couldn't help thinking about her. He couldn't help caring. And he didn't want to see her suffer the wrath of jealous peers just because he had feelings for her. She didn't deserve that. She also clearly didn't want it. The constant reminder of that coupled with seeing her here tonight with Richard...it kept digging the knife a bit deeper.

"Will!" Caroline bellowed his name from across the room. She'd noticed him at last. Was it really too late to duck and cover?

Darcy raked his dark curling hair away from his brow and sighed wearily. Caroline paraded across the lobby and he realized with a sinking stomach that she was more than a little drunk. Where she'd gotten the alcohol was anyone's guess. She'd gone off in search of what she called a 'fun time' once she realized he wasn't interested in getting drunk with her tonight.

But the look in her eyes made it clear she was once again courting his undivided attention. Darcy tensed. With another swish of snowflake white, Caroline would be standing right next to them. And Charles was still locked in the tower of his own misery. Great, he thought sarcastically, something to make this night even more perfect.

Charles, miraculously, hadn't even noticed his sister's presence yet. "It was the hardest conversation I've ever had in my life," his friend continued. His voice was loud and impassioned with pain. "I've never felt this way about anyone except for Jane. And I'll never want anyone but Jane. She's so timid, she probably never said anything because she didn't want to hurt me."

"Lower your voice, Bingley," Will advised his friend as Caroline ambled towards them. Someone had to keep their head about them, and as usual, that someone was Darcy. "Jane's a reserved girl. She won't want the news of the breakup circulating around the whole of the High School. Once your sister finds out, the whole school will know it by midnight."

That got through to him at least. Bingley straightened up in his chair and tried to calm himself as Caroline approached.

"Wi-ill!" Caroline stumbled towards Darcy with a giggle. "There you are, you silly...silly...silly boy."

"Caroline," Will began tiredly. "I'm having a conversation with your brother. Why don't I take you home."

This day needed to end before it got any worse. Will glanced at his wrist watch. 11:25. He would be counting the moments till midnight.

Caroline pulled at his sleeve. "You're no fun."

"Caroline," Will repeated her name firmly, taking hold of her arms. "I'm taking you home." She pushed at him.

"No! What sort of prom date is this...huh? Huh? You've been paying zero...zippo...zilch attention to me tonight Will Darcy. You only danced with girls who showed up without dates. Who does that! And staring at Elizabeth Bennet the whole time! You coulda had whatever you want from me, Will Darceee." Caroline Bingley fell onto her rear with a fluffy plop. "I'm not a moron, William Darceee. You don't want me, I know it. All you want is Elizabeth Bennet. That sophomore b*@#tch. She shouldn't even be here."

Caroline wasn't a cheerleader for nothing because with lungs like that the whole of Hunsford Court could probably hear her. And when drunk apparently it was ten times worse. Will closed eyes, rubbing his temples tiredly. Dear God. Of all the sentences to shout, why did she have to choose that one?

A calm, musical voice answered Caroline's drunken declaration.

"For once we agree on something, Caroline Bingley. You're probably right. I probably shouldn't have come."

Though his eyes were shut, Will felt every muscle in his body go tense. He knew that voice. Intelligent, light, melodic and far more composed than he thought was fair given how disarmed he always felt around her.

And the gaze that went with it...he didn't want to see it right now. What cruel trick was fate playing? He didn't want her to see him with Caroline and have Lizzy think the worst. He didn't want to see the disdain he knew she had every right to possess. The knife in his lungs plunged an inch deeper.

But seeing her face when it was angry, he decided at last, was worse than not seeing her face at all. That thought alone made him open his eyes.

Her expression was fierce with anger. Fierce, he noted with dismay, and beautiful. His hand reached for the water glass. His throat was feeling dry.

"We have to talk."

"Now wait a minute, Will's my date for the evening," Caroline told the younger girl with a glare. "I'm not giving him up."

Lizzy answer was calm. "I don't want him."

Will set down his glass before it reached his lips. His hands were shaking. This is ridiculous. He knew who and what he was both to himself and to the school. He was Will Darcy. He was respected by all. Admired by all. Always so sure of himself. How could she bring him down with one sentence? One single stroke?

The knife dug a little deeper. He had to get out of here...

"Caroline, I'm taking you home."

Fate seemed infinitely cruel tonight. Here he'd tried to get glimpses of Elizabeth Bennet all night, and now that she was standing right in front of him he could barely form a sentence and wanted nothing more than to flee.

Elizabeth hadn't seen the shot of pain that momentarily marred Will's brow, but Charles Bingley had. Will could recognize this from the look in his face. Charles stood, grabbing his sister by the arm.

"No, Caro, I'll take you home," Bingley spoke at last. "Darcy, you stay and talk to Elizabeth. Lizzy, tell Jane...tell Jane..." Lizzy arched a brow, waiting for him to continue. "Tell that I'm sorry I couldn't drive her home tonight."

Darcy wanted to thank his friend as they left, but he would have to save the thanks for tomorrow. At the moment at least, he was too busy reading the expression on Elizabeth's face, trying to discern how much of it was personal dislike of him and how much of it was anger of a very different source. "How can I help you, Elizabeth." I'd do anything. Please, just...give me a chance.

"How can I help you, Elizabeth."

The phrase itself was simple enough but Lizzy hesitated before giving her answer. She tilted her head uncertainly, leaning back on her heals as she assessed him. She'd been so furious while she'd watched Richard drive off with Jane...so sure that confronting Darcy would be an easy task given her ire. So why was she hesitating now?

"Please, Lizzy," he gestured to Charles' vacant seat on the lobby couch. "Take a seat." Begrudgingly, Elizabeth sat. She felt the heat of his gaze keenly. "Can I buy you a drink."

"No thank you," her answer was stiff.

"Elizabeth," Darcy cut in, tapping his fingers on the arm of the couch, "The offer is a safe one. I wouldn't try to get you drunk."

"I know." She nodded, folding her hands in her lap. She'd come here to take down the most powerful student in the school. He wasn't going to charm his way out of this, no matter what he offered. "I've never liked falsity, Will."

"Neither have I," His dark gaze was fierce. "Who are you implying to be false? I've never lied to you, Elizabeth."

How could he throw her off like this when she was so in the right? It was infuriating...It also showed why he was so successful in school politics and in the debate team. Will Darcy was a force to be reckoned with.

"Do you remember what you said to me in the library?"

"Yes." The boy's answer came quickly, and with heat. "Every word of it. I care for you, Lizzy. I told you as much days ago."

She arched a brow and rallied herself. "So does caring about me include caring about the people in my life? Does caring about me include taking my sister's feelings into consideration when you go off and ruin her hopes concerning Charles Bingley?"

"Who told you that?" He demanded. "Richard?"

With Darcy as acting captain of the varsity soccer team, poor Richard would probably be demoted from goalie to water boy by the end of the night.

Lizzy could hardly believe it, but was that a spark of jealousy flaring in his eyes at the mention of Richard's name? Surely not...

"He's a loyal friend," was her only answer.

"I'm sure." Darcy's handsome face was suddenly tight. "I hope Richard isn't what you're here to discuss."

She was distracted by the look of jealous fire in his eyes. The thought that she could evoke a reaction like that in the most desirable man at L.H.S...it was ridiculous. It's nothing, she told herself. Nothing. I'm imagining things. "I'm here to discuss my sister. What right did you have to interfere in Charles proposal?"

She watched Darcy's mouth thin. "Has she ever told him she loved him? Has she ever told anyone? Look, Elizabeth, I couldn't very well ignore the conversation I heard between her and Charlotte Lucas earlier today. Charlotte asked Jane point blank, she said now that you've got the title king and queen, wanted to add husband and wife to that title? And she said she was looking for nothing of the sort."

"So you're going on a secondhand conversation? Just because she said it, doesn't mean she doesn't love him, Will."

"How could anyone know that? I had to tell Charles what I'd heard. He had to know. Charles is impetuous. But he said she'd never said that she loved him."

"Only because he never asked! My sister didn't want to go out on a limb. She didn't want to get hurt. If Charles declared how he felt tonight---if Charles proposed---I know her answer would be more than sufficient to convince him of the deepest love." Elizabeth's eyes were bright.

"But not saying it instills doubt," Darcy countered. "Was it so wrong to advise Charles to be cautious?" It was hard to hold onto her argument. The set of his jaw was determined. Particularly when Will was sitting so close to her, and loosening his tie as he talked.

"So maybe Jane doesn't want to show her whole soul to the whole of Longbourne High and anyone who asks it of her," Lizzy spoke again when she once again when she felt she had firm grasp her argument. "I know my sister, Will. What she finds hardest to say is what she means the most."

Darcy was quiet for a long moment.

"If I've misjudged your sister, if I've erred in convincing Charles not to propose...if she loves him as you say she does," Will tone was cautious, "then I take the share of blame you've laid at my feat...but believe me when I say my intent was for the best. For both of them."

She watched him lick his lips in nervous hesitation and marveled at the fact that this self assured young man could look anything other than calm and in control. Somehow, all unknowing, she'd found a chink in his armor.

"Elizabeth...When we met last year I was arrogant. When I said those words to you..."

"I believe the phrase was tolerable but not pretty enough," she interrupted him dryly.

Regret haunted his eyes. "A year ago, I was a proud, arrogant fool...I hardly even glimpsed you that night at the Homecoming Dance. I'd never met anyone who spoke to me as you did, challenged me, as you did, but once I really saw you, saw the light in your eyes and the passion, I---"

"Hey, Darceee! Robbing the cradle, eh man?" A fellow student passing in the lobby caught sight of them and called out. It was George Wickham, Longbourne High Football team quarterback.

Darcy turned to glare at Wickham as a blush surfaced on Lizzy's cheeks. At that moment they both keenly aware of how closely they were sitting. They'd kept their voices low to keep others from hearing their conversation, but that had forced them to sit close to one another for the duration of the discussion.

Given that, given the fact that their faces inches away from one another and their voices low, any outside observer would think Darcy was seconds away from giving her a kiss, Lizzy realized, instead of...what had he been doing, exactly? Arguing? Or Apologizing. She couldn't tell anymore. And George Wickham, the idiot...he'd interrupted their train of thought and now the only thing Lizzy was more than aware of was how close she was sitting to the young man deemed 'most desirable' in the whole school.

She tucked a lock of hair behind her ears and attempted to take a calming breath, but try as she might she couldn't ignore the physical strength of him. Neither could she ignore the dimple in his cheek, or the sharp line of his jaw, or how his lips were now slightly parted...And from the look in his eyes, Will Darcy certainly didn't look like a young man bent on arguing with her. He looked, she realized...he looked...Holy Moses, how can someone's eyes be so dark and so bright at the same time, Elizabeth wondered fleetingly. She barely breath and she certainly couldn't look away.

But he was leaning in for a whisper, not a kiss. Lizzy tried to dampen a feeling that she didn't quite want to acknowledge as disappointment when she realized this fact. But there was no disappointment in hearing what the message was.

"I'm sorry for hurting you, Elizabeth." Will's breath was warm and he brushed his mouth lightly against her cheek as he added, "I may have failed you before, Lizzy, but believe me when I say I never want to fail you again."

No one could hear the seriousness in his voice and not believe him. If she'd had the breath to answer, she would have said the words, I believe you. Instead she simply nodded.

He must have taken that as sufficient answer, though because he stood from his seat and continued,

"I'll drive you back to your home. But I need to get my parent's car and bring it around to the front of the hotel. I'll call Bingley's cell phone, see if I can get him to meet us at your house so he and Jane can talk." The suggestion was tentatively made. It seemed he didn't want to upset her further. "Is that alright?"

"Yeah," Lizzy found her voice at last. "I mean, yes...that's fine."

She watched him uncuff his sleeves, rolling them up like a man on a mission before giving her a tentative smile. It revealed the wickedly perfect dimple in his chin. "Good. I'll be back."

She was barely aware of his departure. What was going on with the universe? Was her head suddenly wrapped in cotton? She'd never felt this unbalanced or this confused before, and she had this vague realization that Will Darcy was somehow the cause for that.

"Elizabeth? Elizabeth, are you all right?"

Lizzy blinked herself out of her daze and looked up at the sound of her name. Will hadn't been gone very long, but Dr. Reynolds, the school principal and a prom chaperone for the night, must have been standing there for some minutes in his absence. She'd been so deep in thought, Lizzy hadn't even noticed.

"I'm sorry," Lizzy gave Principal Reynolds a chagrinned smile and a blush. "I didn't even notice you were there."

Principal Reynolds smiled kindly. "Yes, I gathered that. I saw you and William in deep discussion from across the room. Really, Lizzy, I see you all the time in the halls and I had no idea you were dating William! You shouldn't have kept that a secret. Although with the looks passing between you both a minute ago, I daresay the secret won't be kept for much longer."

Lizzy blushed. "Oh, were just, um---" She hesitated. She almost said, we're just friends, but that didn't seem right. So what were they?

"And I wondered if you could give him a message for me," Principal Reynolds ignored her hesitation and steamed on ahead. "Let Will know that the school is so very grateful for his generosity. I'm sure you've appreciated it too, Lizzy. After all, it mainly concerns your program..."

She hated feeling a step behind with things but right now she was feeling like she was lagging on two or three steps.

"My program?" she repeated dimly. "The after school program? Of course I knew it was in some financial trouble awhile ago..."

"The school nearly shut it down. But as junior class president, Will tries to learn of such things. When he heard the news, he offered to back it himself. He didn't want to use his parents money either, he said. He sold his car to finance it." Principal Reynolds shook her head.

Lizzy's jaw dropped. Will drove a Porsche...or he had, until a few weeks ago. She hadn't thought anything of it.

"I..." She'd thought herself speechless before...but now she felt as though she possessed the talking capacity of a parrot. Well that explained why he said he'd was getting his parents car to take her home in. "I'd heard there was a last minute financial backer, but I had no idea the backer was Will..."

"Well, William wanted it to remain anonymous about the whole thing," Principal Reynolds nodded. "But I suppose as you're dating him now, you deserved to know. Particularly considering it has to do with something you're so passionate about. Just how he finds the time for everything he's involved in and still keeps earning the grades he gets, I really don't know."

Elizabeth shook her head, dazed. "It's amazing..."

"Oh, and one last item. Darcy's dinner jacket. Anne Elliot borrowed it and wanted it returned to him. William kept her company when no one else would earlier this evening. I'm guessing presence was probably just the thing that got Fred to stand up and pay a bit of attention to Anne. So if you could just return the jacket to him."

"Yes..." Elizabeth clutched it to her chest. "Of course."

That what'd he'd been doing all evening while Caroline Bingley was off getting drunk? She hadn't noticed him with Anne Elliot. Of course she hadn't wanted to notice at the time...

Lizzy tried to pull herself together in Principal Reynolds' wake. She nervously checked the clock behind the porter's desk, 11:40, then looked out the hotel lobby's window for a sight of Darcy's car. She had a lot to process, and first among them was discerning who William Darcy really was. He'd confessed to his own moments of blindness where she was concerned but until her conversation with him, Lizzy realized painfully, she'd never really seen him at all. Until tonight she'd never tried to see him for himself. Not the confident, self-assured Prince of Longbourne High, but the real Will Darcy. It wasn't what he did or didn't do--not even the grand gestures or accomplishments, although those left her speechless. It was who he was that she had been finding so attractive during their conversation. Yes, Will had his moments of being proud or overly sure of himself. But after all, she was never one to cower to a good argument. He was a young man who possessed generosity and passion beyond anyone she'd ever encountered.

Suddenly the title of Will's girlfriend seemed a very great privilege...one she knew in her heart that she wanted to have a chance of earning.

Part 3 of 3

Posted on Thursday, 7 July 2005

11:41

Lizzy Bennet's head still felt clouded when she noticed the sparkling Bentley pull up to the Hunsford hotel and shift into park. A blend of relief and nerves coursed through her. It was him. Will Darcy.

Just don't morph into Kitty or Lydia all of a sudden, she told herself firmly. The McGovern sisters, her wayward twin cousins, invariably fell to pieces the very minute the handsome upperclassman was so much as within glimpse of their eye line. Blithering idiots, her father often termed them, a disposition which seemed to multiply by ten whenever Will Darcy appeared.

And hadn't she been able to face him easily enough moments ago? How was anger or irritation easier to cope with than attraction? She didn't know the answer to that, but the wandering thought was what kept her from seeing Will himself who was coming towards her. She nearly careened into him as she stepped through the hotel's sliding double doors.

His voice drew her back to herself. "Elizabeth."

Lizzy stopped short and told herself not to blush at the light touch of his hand on her shoulder. So much for me not turning into a blithering idiot. she thought dryly and forced herself to calm down.

"Hey there yourself," she managed to answer lightly. "Sorry about that. I didn't see you."

"Yeah, I noticed." He nodded. "But given your reaction time, it's probably good I'm the one driving tonight."

Elizabeth laughed. Will Darcy could tease? Who knew. The knowledge caused a flutter in her stomach. My father would laugh himself silly if he knew anyone could make me act like this...

She followed him to the passenger side of his parent's car. Elizabeth knew so little about car models, but expensive was the defining adjective that surfaced in her mind when seeing this one. His parents car, she reminded herself guiltily. He'd sold his. A Porsche. Who did that? Well, Will Darcy, apparently...

The insignia on the side of the car said Bentley. He opened the door for her and she slid inside. It was immaculate and the smell of detailed leather met her nose.

"It's my parents car," he explained, a statement to which she almost replied, I know, but stopped herself short, realizing that she should know no such thing. "I hope you don't mind."

"It's lovely. I've never ridden in a car this nice before," she admitted, tucking a wayward lock behind her ears. She kept her reaction in check as she realized that his parents vehicle probably cost roughly half the price of her family's whole house. The knowledge would just embarrass him. Suddenly she realized why he'd apologized for it. Caroline was probably hoping to arrive in a stretch limo and a chauffer.

Lizzy was busy fumbling in search of her seatbelt. When she noticed he was watching her, she gave him a sheepish smile.

"I'm really not eight years old, I swear."

"Trust me," Will's response was a quiet drawl. "I'm more than aware of that. No eight year old could argue like you." She blushed at the mention of their past, though it didn't seem to phase him. Will simply moved to reach behind her. "I don't know why they make everything so hard to find in this car."

"Maybe that's why it costs so much?" Elizabeth spoke playfully. "Stylish transportation and the whole thing's a rubix cube. Even better than a crackerjacks box."

He smiled. "My mother would appreciate that comment. She can't even figure out how to turn off the child locks."

Their hands brushed as she took the seatbelt buckle he handed her. The touch of his skin lingered against hers and for a moment neither one moved. Elizabeth heard his cell phone chirp. She released a breath, seeing the same sparkling intensity in his eyes that she'd witnessed in the lobby earlier.

Will moved his hand away from hers, grabbing for the phone and flipping it open in one quick movement.

"Charles," His voice sounded breathless and grateful. "Thanks for calling me back. Look Bingley, I've been talking to Elizabeth about Jane, and---"

While he spoke he shifted his parents Bentley into drive. The car purred its response as it pulled away from the hotel.

Elizabeth heard the flow of Will's voice during his conversation with Charles. She recalled how quickly he'd moved from the touch. As if he'd been stung, she realized uneasily. He referenced our arguments. And I've made it clear we're from such different worlds. Maybe he's had second thoughts.

Listening to their conversation, she also remembered the anger she'd felt earlier about the whole situation with Charles and Jane. She'd been so angry, and partially in the right. He shouldn't have interfered, she thought so then and it was still true in her mind now. But he had apologized and sworn to make things right. And, she believed in his capacity to do exactly that.

"It won't take more than ten minutes to get to my house," she told him as they were pulling away from Hunsford Palm Court, giving him the general directions to her home.

It was then that it hit her. Where precisely he was taking her. Home. Her home. And what if everyone was still awake? How much had Charles told him about her family? Bingley was a known factor to them. But Elizabeth Bennet was the apple of her father's eye...if she brought home some strange boy unannounced to meet her father, she was a little afraid of her dad's reaction. And then there was the presence of her uncle Bill. Her father's brother, Uncle Bill Collins was actually a physics teacher at the school and much to the Bennet sisters embarrassment. He'd lived with the family since his divorce. Pegging him 'strange' was being generous.

And there was her mother was to consider. She hadn't even thought about her mother. Fanny Bennet. Mrs. Bennet, too, was known to Longbourne High. She worked at there as a lunch lady on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays for the past two years to supplement their family's income. But once she caught sight of a Bentley pulling into their driveway, once she realized it was William Darcy, the Prince of Longbourne High...what sane young man wouldn't cut and run, and with good reason?

The glorious Jane in all her beauty was almost enough to counter balance the scales weighing against the Bennet name. With the entrance of Elizabeth, the scales were further tipped in the girls' favor. Most people purposefully forgot that the pocket-protector wearing man with the comb-over, sneakers, and chalk prints perpetually streaking his striped pants was actually their uncle who lived in the Bennet sisters' basement. Or they forgot that the lunch lady with the bouffant hairdo beneath the pink hairnet, the lady who called out Lizzy! Jane! Are you eating all the fruit salad I packed you for lunch? was their mother. Plus there were their cousins to consider, the infamous McGovern sisters, Kitty and Lydia. Their combined marks off for class lateness, 'sickness,' and detention was enough to set a new school record.

But among the upper echelons of the Lonbgourne High society some things just couldn't be ignored. Jane was an usual exception. That kind of heightened beauty was a prize that rendered the tainted name insignificant. Sure, Elizabeth was a pretty girl in her own right, and she was smart, people liked her. But she was no Grace Kelly, no Jane. Which meant that in the world Darcy walked amongst, she still had a lot working against her...

Elizabeth bit her lip to recall Will's initial confession that infamous day in the library, the allusions he'd made to her family. She'd reacted with incredulity towards his offer to take her to the prom, and in the midst of it had declared,

"Well, pardon me for having a little trouble believing the sincerity of the offer, Will. But as far as I know, apart from Jane you've never wanted to have anything to do with anyone in my family. Everyone talks about them."

She knew she was pushing him at the time, pushing the issue of her family, but she didn't care. She also knew what he probably thought of them and wanted her suspicions gratified. "It can't make you happy to have to ally yourself with the lunch lady's daughter. Jane looks like Grace Kelly. Who cares what Jane's last name is. But I'm not Jane. I'm Elizabeth, and I have a whole host of relatives here that you could be embarrassed by. Can you honestly sit here and tell me, Will, that as the most popular and well respected boy in school from the very best family in town, you're happy about prospect?"

He'd lashed back then, as she thought he would, though not quite with the result she was expecting.

"What do you expect me to do?" he'd demanded with defensive exasperation. "Do you want me to...to rejoice in the presence of your mother or your uncle or your cousins or what people say about them? Take your mom, for starters. Every time I see your mother in the lunch line, she asks when my parents are having their house photographed for Better Homes and Gardens, and if she can sign up for a personal tour! And your cousins...Lydia and Kitty sit camp out waiting for soccer practice to begin wearing articles of clothing that barely qualify for the title, and try to distract my players! What I'm saying is that I'm willing to overlook all of that, what they say---that I care about so much...Elizabeth, more than you realize, I think. I've never felt this way before, and I'm willing to--"

"Overlook your better instincts?" she'd interrupted him bitterly, and her gaze flashed a searing fire. "You're the last person on earth I would ever go to prom with."

Suddenly she knew why irritation and anger towards him had been so much easier to deal with than this new feeling. Irritation was easier because it was safe. Whatever this was---and it went beyond mere attraction, she knew that inherently---it was also so very dangerous. The smallest thing between them could evoke the strongest reaction in her. Falling for Will Darcy could prove devastating.

11:45

Will gripped the steering wheel as he hit the break. They were stopped at a red light. Yes, this is real, Darcy reminded himself, readjusting his grip around the wheel. The junior gave a would-be casual glance in Elizabeth's direction. Somehow he had actually achieved the impossible. He'd exchanged the demonic Caroline for the angel next to him. He'd nearly even won the angel's pardon. You don't deserve her---or her thanks, either. But you're getting there. The merest chance to win her was all that he wanted.

It was a good thing Charles had interrupted them, calling moments ago. He'd touched her hand accidentally. It was so soft and delicate, and the warmth danced like electric sparks, trailing across his own hand. That fact paired with how enraptured he was by her mouth every time she smiled or laughed...he would have kissed her then without interruption. He'd waited so long to pull her towards him, so long capture her mouth with his. But right then...it was too soon, he knew heavily. He was just grateful they'd reached a truce. He didn't want to impose his feelings upon her, not until he knew hers. He didn't want to risk that, risk pushing her away. Moving too quickly could ruin everything. Bingley's call was just the splash of cold water he'd needed.

"Will..."

She spoke his name, seemed to reach out for his arm without thinking. He looked up quickly at the still-red light, and then over to her. She was craning to look out the window.

"What is it, Lizzy?"

"There's a girl sitting a little ways up, on the side of the road," she spoke hesitantly. "I think it's my cousin. I think it's either Kitty or Lydia..."

"What?" his gaze narrowed to where she pointed. The girl was barely visible in the dark. He nodded. As soon as the light turned green he told her, "We'll pull over and check it out."

It didn't take long for him to move along side and put the car into park. Lizzy's hand reached for the door. She jumped out faster than he could unbuckle.

"Kitty," Elizabeth knelt in front of her cousin, arms crossed. "Who brought you here? Where's Lydia? What are you doing here?"

"I'm not doing anything," Kitty responded bitterly. "And I can't believe Lydia dragged me out here with stupid Forster Jennsen and George Wickham. She didn't want to go with Carter tonight, but I wanted to go with Dennis. Dennis and I have decided to go steady, but Lydia was bored with Carter and now I'm stuck here!"

"We're taking you back to my house," Lizzy told her cousin firmly. "You and Lydia both."

She looked up to Will, and there was a fretful crease in her brow. "I'm sorry, Will. I'm so sorry about this. I just...I can't leave them here. They're so stupid, but it's dangerous."

"Elizabeth," Will began. You don't need to apologize. Instead he said, "Don't worry about it. My car has the room."

Kitty balked, then blushed, seeing him at last.

"You're...you're..." she stuttered, looking at him cow-eyed. "Will Darcy..." Elizabeth stood, angry and exasperated with her cousin.

"Kitty, don't move from this spot," she ordered the girl. "I'm getting Lydia and we're taking you home..."

Together she and Will moved to the parked car a little further on up the road. Will could see a tall young man sitting on the front fender, drinking something.

And Lizzy looked nervous. Will took her hand in his own. He leaned in to speak into her ear. "I won't let Wickham hurt you, Elizabeth. I'll confront him, and then I'm taking you and your cousins out of here."

She met his gaze, giving him a silent nod. Her eyes were wide and beautiful in the darkness. Such big, beautiful eyes. Together they moved towards the car. The young man sitting on the hood of the car was the one Will chose to confront first. He recognized him as a Longbourne High senior and a football player, half-back Forster Jennsen.

"What's up, Will?" Forster greeted him amiably enough. "Lookin' for a little alone time in the Bronco with your chick? If so, you'll have to get in line." He jingled the keys in the air. "Wickham's in there."

"Are you sober?" demanded Will coldly, reaching for the keys.

"Dude, do I look stupid?," Forster laughed. "Yeah, I'm sober. I haven't had a drop of alcohol tonight. I'm the designated driver. So no need to get all parental on this party."

Will nodded slowly, though he still examined him. But the clarity in Forster's eyes proved the statement true. The senior's expressions were sharp, his reactions were quick. And though Darcy checked for it, there wasn't a hint of alcohol on Forster's breath or person. And now that he was standing close, Will could see Forster was drinking a can of coca-cola. He sniffed it anyway, just to make sure, then gave Forster an even look. It was a relief as well as a surprise that anyone in George Wickham's circle of friends could be responsible. "When it came to you and your pal Wickham, you always were the smart one, Forster," Will told him offhandedly.

Forster laughed. "Don't I know it! He's got some frosh in the back seat right now. Stupid fool. I'll take him home after that, Darce, I swear. I'm off to home myself. As always, prom night sucks."

Will nodded towards the latter half of the Bronco. "I'm planning on giving Wickham a bit of an interruption."

"Be my guest," Forster agreed. "I'm bored out here as it is. And Wickham's a total moron when he's trashed." Darcy watched Forster press the automatic-unlock button on his key chain and repressed the automatic response of 'When is Wickham not a moron?'

"Door's open now, man. And we haven't been parked here long. A few minutes, not even five, I'm willing to bet. But still, open at your own peril."

Will glanced to Elizabeth. She nodded, and together they moved to tap on the back door of Forster's Bronco.

For once, the night had a kindness for them. Will and Lizzy were spared the task of opening the door in an effort to confront only God knew what. Because the door opened all on its own accord to reveal a rather breathless looking George Wickham. Lydia sat next to him. Apart from smudged lipstick, she looked untouched. There was irritation in her face.

"Wickham! What are you doing! Close the door! We just got here!"

"No, I thought I heard voices," Wickham began, eying Darcy. "And I was right. What do you want?" He gave a careless glance at Elizabeth before adding in a caustic tone. "Caro's a fine piece of meat, Darce. Why'd you ditch her for that one? What, is she your girlfriend now?"

Immediately Elizabeth felt Will stiffen defensively, and knew it was on her account. Elizabeth held her breath and took a step back.

"Would that be a problem?" Will answered. His mouth curved into a dangerous smile and his gaze turned wintry.

She watched Wickham push himself out of the Bronco seat, standing to face Darcy with his fists up. Lydia was next to move, pushing out of the car to stand next to her cousin Elizabeth.

"Lizzy, what are you doing here?" Lydia stomped. "You're ruining everything! Nothing happened thanks to you and" her breath seemed to halt at the sight of the young man confronting Wickham. "---is that Will Darcy. Shoot, Lizzy. I'm impressed. What are you doing with him?"

"Taking you back to my house," Elizabeth snapped and grabbed her cousin by the arm. "You and Kitty can stay the night at my family's house, but only because I don't want anyone I care about to have to cart you halfway across county tonight just to take you to your home." Having said that, Elizabeth turned her attention back to the boys.

"You interrupted me," she heard Wickham speak aggressively. "So maybe I want to make it a problem. Dating the lunch lady's daughter. What's that about? Is she easy?"

Will Darcy's eyes flashed fire. The movement was quick, but she saw enough to catch Will drop his head as Wickham came in for a punch, then shift to his right for a quick right hook. Wickham, so inebriated that he could barely stand to begin with, was down in a single punch. In a fight against Darcy who was taller, fitter, and stone cold sober, Wickham didn't stand a fool's chance.

Forster clapped applause from afar. "Good moves, Darce!" He said to Will, crinkling his can of coca-cola and tossing it in the back seat. "That'll shut him up for the drive home. I know you do everything else in the school, but ever think of joining the football team?"

Will shook his head. "I have other commitments." He cast a glance in Elizabeth's direction. With a quiet smile, she slid her hand into his and squeezed it.

It was 11:55 by the time they pulled into the Bennet family driveway. Elizabeth could see Charles car already parked. All the lights in the house were on. Something had happened. She watched Will put his parent's car into park and shut off the engines, then the lights. They all seemed relieved the night was coming to a close.

Lizzy watched Kitty and Lydia bound up the steps of the house, eager to relate the night's drama to the rest of their relatives. But Will and Elizabeth were not so eager to enter just yet. They stood in the driveway, facing one another. Elizabeth's gaze to Will was wide eyed and hesitant.

"I don't know how to thank you for all of this," she began. "Everything. I'm so sorry...my family, they're never going to be normal." Lizzy shrugged helplessly. "They're always embarrassing. But for Jane, who's my saving grace, I just..."

"Elizabeth," Will tried to interject calmly.

"And I'm sorry my cousins put you through that whole ordeal with Wickham. You've been so good to me...to all of us," she corrected with a blush. "I'm sorry you had to defend me that way. I don't want you to fight the whole school on this, Will."

"Elizabeth---" Will tried again, taking her hand in his in an effort to draw her nearer. "It's you that I love, not Longbourne High, or the world's opinion. Nothing else matters."

It's you that I love. She would have been shocked by hearing the admission, but for the fact that part of her had already realized and processed this. Somewhere in the recesses of Elizabeth Bennet's heart, somewhere in the part of her that contained everything she knew about the truth of Will Darcy...the part of her heart that seemed like the truest, most beautiful dream she'd ever had...she simply knew. He loved her.

"Will," Elizabeth spoke hesitantly. She owed him the truth as he had given it to her. "I owe you an apology. For so long, I was blind to your good qualities. I was proud, slighted by the initial insult you gave me...And worst of all, I couldn't get past your glorified reputation in the school. I always thought the worst of you."

"Some of that was justified," he reminded her.

She nodded stubbornly. "But some of it wasn't. I'm so sorry, Will. I'm so sorry for everything that's come between us until tonight---" Lizzy hesitated before adding softly. "And my sister isn't the only one who has trouble revealing her soul when it counts, Will...I've never felt this way before, and I don't know quite what to do about it---"

Elizabeth was going to speak further on the matter, but she recognized the look in his face now. The dark fire of his eyes. The parting of his lips. There would be plenty of time for talking. This time she was sure of his intent. His next movement was definitely no whisper.

Elizabeth's mouth caught fire at the touch of his lips. Heat danced between them as the kiss deepened. Every muscle in her young body seemed to be melting into pure gold...

"She brought who!" The walls of the Bennet house were thin and they could hear Mrs. Bennet's voice echo across the lawn.

Still, Darcy broke off the kiss slowly, savoring the effect he'd evoked from Lizzy. For the moment they were in a blissful world all their own. Even the loud voice of Lizzy's mother couldn't break that, though it continued.

"Lizzy came here with William Darcy? William Darcy! What do you mean 'they're together now!' Oh, I have to sit down." Her mother's voice was beyond containment, she sounded so excited. "Jane! Jane! Go find your sister and bring her here at once!"

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" she asked him with sparkling eyes.

Will's responded with a smile, one that revealed that wickedly perfect dimple. "Together Lizzy, I think we could be ready for anything."

Having heard her mother's exhortation, it was no surprise when Jane came bounding down the steps of the Bennet house, running across the lawn to meet them. Lizzy grinned to see her sister. Jane had never looked so alive. The older girl was running barefoot and still in her rose-colored gown. With her blonde hair flowing free, and her feet bare in the grass, she looked like a vision of Aphrodite reborn, happily surveying a new love-struck match. She had a satisfied smile on her face.

It was then that Lizzy caught hold of her sister's hand. The watch on her wrist flashing midnight as she raised Jane's ring-finger to examine the ring that illuminated it. An engagement ring from Charles Bingley.

"We're not too late, are we?" asked Elizabeth her sister with a grin.

Jane's smile broadened as she looked from Darcy to Elizabeth. "You're right on time."

---