Pride's Prejudice (10 page)

Jenna
deflated.  "She's loopy, isn't she?"

"Oh,
just a bit.  Seeing little green guys in her soup, prancing around with
her clothes pasted to her freshly-showered skin, acting like a cat in
heat…….you know, regular old Beth."

Jenna
covered her mouth with a hand, no doubt to stifle laughter.  "I'm so
sorry, William!"

Les,
on the other hand, didn't bother concealing his laughter in the slightest.

"You
guys are fired," William muttered, grabbing his jacket and ripping the
door open.  "Have fun with the lunatic," he called scathingly
before jerking the door shut after him.

POKER
FACE

"If
he fears me, why come hither?  If  he no longer cares for me, why
silent?"

~Elizabeth
Bennet, Pride & Prejudice

The
next day, Beth was sitting on the couch doing her math homework when someone
knocked on the door.  Her stomach dropped, but she opened the door
anyway.  William stood in the hall, looking hesitant.

"Hey,"
Beth greeted in an overly cheery tone, her eyes locked on William's face,
"come in."

"Looks
like you're feeling better," he observed warily as he stepped inside.

"Yeah,"
she agreed, nodding.  "I think I just needed some sleep.  Have a
seat," she offered, plopping on the couch and indicating the space next to
her.

He
didn't.  "How's the hand?" he asked, stooping down and reaching
an arm out to Beth.

She
splayed her fingers, hesitantly placing her hand in his.  He gingerly
turned it over and studied the stitches for a moment.  They locked eyes,
and then William placed Beth's hand back in her lap and leaned against the
kitchen table.

"Looks
like it hurts."

"Not
too bad."  An awkward lull passed, and Beth cleared her throat. 
"So, I had this…..really weird dream……about you.  Well," she
hurried on, "it wasn't about you exactly  - you were in it - with
me."

William
just raised an eyebrow.  "What happened?  In the dream," he
clarified when her eyes popped.

Beth
tucked her hair behind her ear, unable to meet his eyes.  "I kissed
you?"

William
suppressed his smile, blinking at Beth when she looked up.

Her
face fell.  "It wasn't a dream, was it?"

She
made a tortured noise when his expression remained impassive.  Her head
fell into her hands and it took several minutes for her to rally.

"I'm…..
so
sorry," she said, finally meeting his eyes.  "It was nice of you
to take care of me, and that must've made you really uncomfortable."

William's
face was expressionless.  "You don't have to apologize, Beth. 
You weren't yourself."

The
words should have eased her suffering, but they didn't.  She had yet to
confess the worst part.  Closing her eyes, she forced the words out before
she lost the nerve.  "And then there was the part where I paraded
around with no pants on…."

"Now
that
must've been a dream.  I would remember."

Beth
opened her eyes, letting out a captive breath and even laughing with
relief.  "Whew."

William
smiled back, then dropped his eyes.  In that instant Beth knew he was just
being a gentleman.

William
cleared his throat and then straightened.  "So, I left some work
stuff here the other day….."

Beth
scrambled up off the couch.  "Oh," she said, taken aback. 
And here she was thinking he had come to check on her again.  How could
she be so stupid?  He'd probably stayed away as long as he possibly
could.  "Is this it?" she asked, holding up a nondescript manila
folder.

"That's
the one," he confirmed, taking it out of her hands and tapping it against
his open palm.  "Well, I'd better take care of this," he said,
holding up the folder.

"Yeah,
of course," Beth said, beating him to the door and pulling it open. 
Clearly, he didn't want to be in an enclosed space with her for any amount of
time, understandably so.  Still, she couldn't help feeling let down.

William
manufactured a polite smile, dipping his head in farewell and brushing past
Beth on his way to the door.  "Take care of that hand," he said
over his shoulder, his dark eyes locking on hers.

Beth
nodded, trying to smile back, then leaned against the open door and watched him
retreat down the hall.  He was probably trying not to run.

"William?"
she called out.

He
turned back hesitantly.

"Thanks
for taking care of me."  She paused.  "And for lying."

"I
didn't -"

Beth
held up a hand.  "I think I know you well enough to recognize your
poker face."  She laughed sadly.  "I'll think of a way to
make it up to you, okay?"

He
watched her quietly.

"One
that doesn't involve spending time with me, obviously," she added.

Plunging
his free hand into his pocket, he trained his eyes on the floor and made his
way slowly back.  He leaned against the outside of the door frame, close
enough to make Beth's pulse pick up.  Looking at Beth from under his
lashes with smoldering eyes, he said, "You think that's what I want?"

Beth
couldn't answer.  Her heart hammered too hard to allow for words.

William
tipped her chin up with a finger, until she had no choice but to look him in
the eye.  "You don't know me as well as you think."

She
tried to steady her breath.  In through the nose, out through the
mouth.  The last thing she needed was a heaving bosom while she tried to
appear chaste and in her right mind.

William
dropped his hand, then began backing down the hall. "Feel better,
sweetheart,
"
he said, his tone shaded just a bit with
Han Solo
arrogance.  Then
he winked and jogged down the stairs and out of sight.

Beth
went back inside, shutting the door and collapsing against it.  What was
she supposed to get out of that?  He wanted payment, but maybe in the form
of a check?  He
wanted
to spend time with her?  Surely
not.  Not after the way she'd behaved.  Or rather,
mis
behaved. 
One thing was certain:  William was a jigsaw puzzle.  And each time
she sat down to complete the picture, the pieces simply multiplied.

GREEN-EYED
MONSTER

"There
is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil….."

~Mr. Darcy, Pride &
Prejudice

For
Beth, the following week was filled with pain killers, failed attempts at doing
everything one-handed, and preparations for finals.  She decided to take a
break from guitar until after the holidays, which turned out to be necessary
anyway due to her injury.  Jenna had been around more often, for which
Beth was grateful.  William hadn't shown his face at all.

On the
Friday before finals week, Beth's sister Lindy came to visit.  Beth's
parents had decided to tour England for Christmas this year, and so Lindy was
coming to 'check out the campus,' which was Lindy-speak for 'check out the
local male wildlife.'

As
Beth ascended Longbourn's stairs she was attacked by a beast barreling down the
steps toward her.  The beast had a crisp mane of wild curls, bright green
eyes, and a tan that one only obtained after a sizeable time investment at the
tanning salon.

"Bethy! 
You're home - I've been waiting for, like, ev-er."

Beth
extricated herself from her baby sister.  "I told you I wouldn't be
out of class until one-thirty," she chided, sounding effortlessly maternal
and exasperated at the same time.  She affectionately rapped her knuckles
against Lindy's forehead.

"Patience
was never your virtue, was it?  Where's your stuff?"

"Already
inside," Lindy bounced.  "Your RAs let me in."

"Come
on, you maniac," Beth said, feeling lighthearted as she led Lindy back up
the stairs.

Once
inside room 204, Beth put down her backpack and gave her sister a
once-over.  "Lindy, you do realize it's December?"

"And?"
Lindy asked, looking down.  She wore a spaghetti strap belly shirt and
low-rise jeans.  There was a good amount of skin showing between the two.

Beth
gasped.  "Is that -"

"You
noticed!" Lindy exclaimed, toying with her navel ring.

Beth
tried to wipe the disgust off her face.  "Do mom and dad know?"

"Mom
knows - she took me to get one.  And she got one too!  It's our
little secret, though, you can't tell dad."

Beth
rolled her eyes, turning to help Lindy unpack her bag.  "They're
married, Lind.  I'm fairly sure dad has already noticed."

Lindy
snorted.  "Whatever.  Mom and dad haven't
done it
for
ages!"

"Ew." 
Beth wrinkled her nose.  "I don't even want to know how you know
that.  Anyway, you can't dress like that here, Lind.  There are rules
about bare midriffs."

"But
it's Friday, Bethy," Lindy pouted.

"What
can I say, kiddo?  Morals never sleep."

Beth
handed Lindy a sweatshirt from her suitcase and she grumpily pulled it
on.  "So, what are we doing tonight?"

Beth
raked her bedraggled hair into a low ponytail.  "We could get some
takeout and watch a movie?"

"Beth,
you act like you're forty or something.  Come ooooooon," Lindy
moaned.  "I've been so excited about this trip for ages, and you want
to stay home like a couple of spinsters?"

Beth
gritted her teeth.  How could her sister be pinching her last nerve after
ten minutes?  This was going to be a long two weeks.  Wilting at the
thought, Beth grabbed a soda out of the fridge.  As she did so, her eye
fell on a small white card that was trapped under a magnet, and she brightened
on the spot.

"Hold
that thought, Lindy.  Let me just make a call."

~:~

When
they arrived at the Malt Shop twenty minutes later, it was crowded - hardly
surprising for a Friday night.  Beth had called Denny as soon as her eye
landed on the card he'd given her at camp all those months ago.  She'd
told him Lindy was visiting and he had taken it from there.  Beth would've
been content with his taking Lindy out alone, but he'd insisted on Beth coming
and suggested bringing one of his rescue buddies along to even things out.

Beth
scanned the crowd for Denny, jumping when Lindy let out a shriek.  Beth
whipped her head around and was relieved to see Denny standing behind Lindy,
evidently enjoying her reaction to his stealth attack.  He'd snuck up
behind Lindy and poked her in the back.  Denny was then overtaken by
Lindy, disappearing behind her mane of wild hair as she jumped into his arms
and nearly knocked him over.

Beth
was mid eye-roll when she froze, arrested by the sight of the stranger standing
slightly behind Denny.  There wasn't any specific thing that stood out to
Beth about him.  He wasn't noticeably tall.  His clothes were
nondescript - faded jeans and a t-shirt under a navy blue jacket.  He had
a casual smile on his face.  His wavy, sandy-colored hair wasn't long
enough to qualify as a shag (thank goodness) and his posture was
informal.  For some reason she could not take her eyes off of him. 
He looked back at Beth, perfectly at ease, his smile growing more pronounced.

Beth
managed a weak smile in return, unable to wrench her eyes from his, which were
the most entrancing shade she had ever seen - ice blue.

"Lindy,
Beth - this is Jaxon Donovan," Denny said, setting Lindy back on her
feet.  "He's one of our new recruits."

The
stranger dipped his head respectfully, still smiling.

Lindy,
on the other hand, was anything but respectful.  She brazenly looked Jaxon
up and down, and Beth felt herself color in response.

"I
always was a sucker for a man in uniform!" Lindy confessed wildly.

Denny
grinned in response before continuing his introduction.  "This is
Lindy," he began, exchanging a loaded look with Jaxon, "and her
sister, Beth."

Jaxon
stepped forward and extended his hand to Lindy first, who giggled at his
chivalry before taking his hand.  She kept shaking it and looking with
rapt attention at his face.  After thirty seconds or so, Denny intervened,
dragging her off to the nearest booth.  The line had moved quickly, and
they were at the door now.  Jaxon moved to Beth and shook her hand also,
adding a soft 'hello.'  His pale eyes snared her again, and it was almost
impossible to look away.  Jaxon gestured toward the booth, and Beth
followed dumbly.

The
Malt Shop was an old burger dive decked out in fifties décor.  The booths,
fashioned from dissected
Fords
and
Chevys
, surrounded a juke box
in the center of the room.  Throw-back Pepsi and Coca-Cola vending
machines flanked the kitchen entrance.

"So,
what's good here?" Jaxon asked Beth, reaching past her for the menu (a
piece of laminated cardstock with the food choices scrawled in sharpie
marker).  Jaxon handed one to Beth and her heart skipped just a little
when his skin brushed hers.  Trying to ignore the sensation, she looked
over the menu.

"Everything's
twice-fried in lard, so it's all pretty good."

Jaxon
smiled, his eyes lingering on Beth for a moment before dropping back to the
menu.

The
waitress appeared and took their orders, her eyes lingering on Denny and
Jaxon.  Beth scowled, then turned to her muse.

"So,
Jaxon.  You just started training?  How long is the program?"

"Training
is eight weeks," he answered.  Could a voice be said to smile? 
His did.

The
waitress returned with the drink order, and Beth drank deeply.

"And
then you'll go back to….."

"Well,
I grew up in New York, but it's been a while since I've actually lived
there.  Denny says that once the training is over they usually help you
find a job."  He took a long pull on his own straw.  "What
about you?"

Beth
found herself staring at his mouth. 
Knock off the swooning, Beth, s
he
chided herself.  "I'm a junior.  I'm majoring in
Psychology.  I haven't decided exactly what field of Psychology I'm going
into yet, though."

"Hm. 
Are you going to do a reading for me?"  He grinned impishly around
the straw caught in his teeth.

Beth
felt her heart drop into her shoes.  Her face felt hot, and she was sure
the heat was beating through her cheeks.  Looking into Jaxon's alluring
blue eyes, she suddenly wished she wasn't in a t-shirt and jeans, and that her
hair was flowing around her shoulders glamorously, instead of split into two
braids.  He continued to draw her in, simply by looking at her.  When
he dropped a flirtatious wink she smiled, casting her eyes back to her
shoes.  Without realizing it, she began toying with one of her braids.

"I'm
not a
psychic
," she corrected quietly once her pulse slowed. 
"That's a different field."

"Silly
me," he answered, still grinning.

"Bethy,"
Lindy interrupted.  "Don't look now, but there's a hunk of man meat
at two o'clock that's totally digging on you."

Of
course, Beth looked up.  William stood in the doorway, complete with
faithful sidekick Kara.  For someone he thoroughly detested, he certainly
spent a lot of time with her.  Beth didn't know why, but when the line
inched forward and Les and Jenna appeared behind them, she felt better.

William's
expression was unreadable.  He seemed on the edge of something -
smiling?  Screaming?  Flying?  His dark eyes were on Beth's
face, and then they shifted to the right a fraction.  His mouth flattened
into a hard line, and a muscle tensed in his jaw.  He glared at the air
next to Beth, and his breathing became more pronounced.  His chest heaved
as if he were about to lose control.  What was he looking at?

Beth
didn't wonder long.  Jaxon seemed to be frozen in place beside her, his
expression even more ambiguous than William's.  William's reaction was
obviously to Jaxon.  But
why
?  Did they know each other? 
Jaxon's face was relaxed, but his posture was tense - which didn't add
up.  His eyes shifted around the place, like he was looking for a way out,
and then they came to rest on Beth.  Some of their icy serenity had been
disrupted.  Less than a minute later, Beth looked up to find William
standing rigidly at their booth.  His black eyes rested on Beth for a
moment, then transferred to Jaxon.  They seemed to grow colder once they
left her face.

"Could
I have a word?" William requested.

Beth
could hear the barely controlled rage beneath the appeal, but if Jaxon
understood this, he didn't show it.

"I'm
a little busy at the moment, as I'm sure you noticed," he answered.

William
clenched his jaw, narrowing his eyes dangerously.  "It'll just take a
sec," he prompted, and Beth knew he wasn't really asking at all.

Jaxon's
cool eyes took in Beth.  "Maybe another time, bro."

William
reached down and hauled Jaxon to his feet by the lapels of his
Rescue Squad
jacket.  Taking in the fact that Jaxon was several inches shorter than
William, it was impressive that William managed to hold him at eye level.

"You. 
Are.  Not.  My.  Brother," William spat, shoving Jaxon
toward the door.

Beth
stood now, placing herself between them and bracing a hand against William's
chest.

"What's
going on?" she demanded angrily.

William
pushed against her hand as if she weren't there.

"William?"
she screeched, sandwiching his face between her hands.  "Stop
it!"

His
eyes cleared and he focused on her in surprise, as if he hadn't known she was
there.  Removing her hands, he trapped them between his and handed them
back to her.  His voice had softened a touch.  "Get out of the
way, Beth.  You'll get hurt."

Beth
blinked angrily as William stalked past her with purpose.  She caught his
arm.  "You should see yourself!  You're being an animal."

Whipping
Beth around so that she stood in front of him, he grasped her upper arms with
iron fists.  He must have seen the fear in her eyes, because his grip
abruptly relaxed, and the thunderhead in his eyes dissipated.  The fight
rolled out of him as quickly as it had come in.  Pinning Jaxon with a look
over Beth's shoulder, he said, "I would never hurt you, Beth."

On his
way out William paused in front of Jaxon, and it seemed to Beth that the latter
almost flinched.  She followed the conversation with her eyes only,
feeling like she was watching the TV on mute.  It was the most bizarre exchange
Beth had ever witnessed.  They took turns speaking, William's smile more a
threat and Jaxon's a challenge.  When they finished, William nodded grimly
and turned toward the door. 
Talk about anticlimactic,
Beth
thought.  Then, without warning, William pivoted and sank his fist into
Jaxon's face.  There was a loud cracking noise as his head snapped back,
and William's grim expression took on a slightly proud sheen.  Then he
straightened and stalked out the front door.

~:~

Back
at Longbourn, Beth spilled ice into a towel, folded it up securely, and
delivered the ice pack to Jaxon.  He pressed it gingerly to the left side
of his face, where a massive bruise was forming high on his cheek.  He
popped his jaw experimentally before thanking Beth.