Posted on Thursday, 3 January 2002
"Flight 2246 from San Francisco to Boston is now boarding." William Darcy stood in the airport taking the surroundings in. He had just arrived from England and was waiting for his best friend to pick him up. He turned at the sound of his voice.
"Willy. Omigod, Willy. Over here." Oh God . He groaned. Caroline Bingley . He looked at the orange women bounding at him like a bull.
"My sweet wittle Willy. Oh how I've missed you!" She clung tightly onto his arm. "Oh my. You have gotten stronger in the last five years, I believe."
"Where's Charlie," he shook her off his arm.
"Oh, he's here somewhere," she pointed nonchalantly behind her. "So, where is the rest of the Darcy party? Still in London I presume."
"No, they flew in yesterday. I wanted to stay in London one more day." He desperately looked around for Charles and smiled when he saw him quickly approaching.
"Of course, you poor thing having to move here and start a new life. New town, job, people, love interests," she added more emphasis on the word love .
"Yes,indeed," he heaved a sigh of relief when Charlie finally made to them.
"Will, how the heck have you been?," he inquired with a hearty smack on the back.
"I've been better before. So," he picked up his bags, "lead the way."
William looked out the limo window to see his new home town, San Francisco. It was beautiful, but to him no other place had the beauty of London. He had only been in America for twenty minutes, and he was already home sick. He had protested strongly to his father's idea of moving here. However, the struggle was in vain when his father informed him that if he didn't carry on the family business, he would disinherit William.
Darcy Co. had finally decided to expand its company into America. Where of course, the main office was to be. So with the company went the family. Darcy snapped back into reality when the limo pulled up into a huge loft.
"So this is the home my father so graciously bestowed upon me," he clearly stated with sarcasm.
"Yep. Do you need any help with your bags?" Charlie politely inquired.
"No thanks. I got it," he stepped out of the limo and got a proper look at the neighborhood. It was a small quiet place with many houses, lofts, and apartments. It seemed somewhat tolerable enough to for him. For now that is .
"Well, I would love stay and chat, but classes start in 10 minutes," Charlie was leaning out of the window tapping his watch. "So,see ya' round eight then?"
"Yeah sure."
"Well then, cherrio," he waved as the limo drove off with his head still outside.
Will stood a moment gathering his thoughts I miss London . His head snapped up at the shouting that seemed to be coming towards him.
"Move please, coming through, outta my way," before Will could move he was smashed in between the pavement and a warm body.
"Bloody hell," he shouted as he gingerly grabbed the back of his head.
"Oops. Sorry." the young women stood up,"I'm really so terribly sorry."
"Jeeze, is the apocalypse coming or something," he started standing.
"If I miss class, yes," she bent down and gathered her belongings.
Will looked at his attacker and blinked. How could this little thing take me down with such power? He examined her more closely now. She appeared to be about twenty or so. Her brown curly hair which shimmered in the sun was being pulled back into a ponytail. She stood up again and he caught his breath. He stood there a moment just staring. Quickly he regained his composure and looked away. But he felt drawn to her, so he looked at her again. He couldn't figure out why he felt so attracted to her. All around, she was fairly beautiful, but he figured it out. The eyes! Something about them made him want to run and hide, while the other part wanted to stare into them forever. They were the bluest he had ever seen anyone have, and their depths were incredible.
"Are you ok. Nod twice if so," she waved her hand in front of his face.
"Uh huh," he nodded twice.
"Ok, great. Bye," she again took off at lightening speed down the road.
He followed her until she rounded a bend at the bottom of the hill. Blinking, he picked up his luggage and trudged up the seemingly forever stairs. I should have had Bingley help me.
Charlie promptly arrived at eight o' clock as promised to Darcy's loft. Charlie was to show Will the town tonight. Of course, he wasn't really going to show the entire town to him, just downtown. Where there was a certain club, run by a certain lady friend.
"Hello 'ello," Charlie smiled upon entering the house, "you ready to go yet?"
"Yeah. So, tell me again where we are going," he eyed Charles suspiciously.
"Little club downtown called The Beat."
"A club? I would have expected more from a doctor Bingley. Honestly Charlie," he thought a club would be filthy and very beneath the two of them and their class.
"You should see the woman who runs the club Will. She gorgeous. She's without a doubt the prettiest women I have ever laid eyes on." Charlie was beaming.
"Fine," he couldn't say no to him. He knew he just couldn't. "You owe me big time." They both got into the car and headed in the direction of the Beat.
"Lizzy, you're on drinks tonight," the blond turned to her sister.
"Just cause I'm very talented with booze bottles, doesn't mean I'm the only one capable of doing the job. What's Kitty doing tonight anyway?" she whined as she hopped over the counter to prepare the alcohol.
"She and Steven Phillips are out on a date," Jane went around diligently checking each table for spills or messes.
"Again? This is the third time this month, that she has left us here high and dry. Why doesn't dad just fire her? It's not as if she's of any use," she whipped the counters and refilled the peanuts.
"Because she's free help," Jane plopped into a counter stool.
"So," Elizabeth hopped over the counter again, and sat next to Jane, "will we have the pleasure of Charlie's company tonight."
"I don't know. I told him he should swing by, but I don't think he'll show," Jane smiled.
"Ohh," Liz gasped, "this just like that movie, Sixteen Candles. You think that the popular, in this case rich, guy would never love you. And he thinks you don't like him, but he also knows you really do."
"Does he think that I don't like him," Jane asked shocked.
"Oh, I don't know. I was just using that as comparison. Forget that part," she smiled. "What are you waiting for? Go change, now!" She poked her sister in the ribs again. Jane dashed to the back door, which in turn led to the connecting house.
Lizzy for what seemed like the hundredth time that day climbed over the counter again. She didn't know why she did it. She had ever since she was a kid, and it grew on her. As she stepped up she lost her balance and fell backwards. "AH." She landed on her backside with a huge thud. "Ouch, that's gonna leave a bruise." She was about to pull herself up when she heard male voices. What the? Doors open in ten minutes. Dad's out with Mama. What if it's robbers? She tried remaining calm, and relaxed when she heard a familiar voice, Charlie's.
"Well, here we are," she leaned up a little to hear better, but was careful to expose her head.
"What a dive." The stranger said "This truly must be run by a group of whinos, or white trash."
"Shut up. I like it," Lizzy smiled at Charlie's comment. "Hello, anyone there?"
That's my cue . She stood up "Hey Charlie." She beamed with delight when both jumped in surprise.
"Oh, hello Lizzy," Charlie sounded nervous," how long were you down there?"
"Right before you came in," she smiled sweetly.
"Oh, really," Charlie gulped, "did you hear anything of interest?"
"Oh no," she smiled, "You see I was too busy indulging in vodka and tending to my thirteen bastard children." She directed this to William, who squirmed under her intense gaze. That gaze. Those eyes, the girl! "I know you. You were the girl on the street this morning."
"Um yeah, no! See, that's not my occupation. You must have me mistaken with another girl," she feigned kindness.
"You know what I meant," he liked her spirit.
"So, you two have met then. Good." Charlie sat down at the bar, followed by William who at first seemed a bit reluctant.
"Not formally, no. I was more of a hit and run situation," she pulled out two glasses.
"In any case William Darcy this is Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth this is William Darcy." he gestured to each of them when he spoke their names.
"Charmed I'm sure," she sarcastically replied. "So what'll it be boys?"
"I'm not sure what would you suggest Will, "Will looked up at Liz at started. "Do you have any kind of red wine particularly in the early 19th century?"
She looked at him as if he'd grown another head. "Now we don't have anything from that period, but I can make a bloody Mary that'll knock your socks off." Once again her sarcasm took over.
"Why don't you just make us anything," Charlie stepped in as the peace maker.
"Ok," she pulled out various bottles and began twirling them as if it were nothing. The two men for their part just stared at the sight before them. But soon Charlie was pulled out of this trance when Jane came out. He led her to the other side of the room where they talk alone.
"Where'd you learn to do that," Will asked as she set his drink down.
"At refinement school," she smiled.
He ignored her and took a sip of his drink. "Wow, that's strong." He coughed for a good thirty seconds.
"If you can't handle it I'll water it down for you," he could tell she was still upset about his comment. He wouldn't have said anything had he known she was in the room. As it was he just sat trying to learn more about this Elizabeth's character.