Prom and Prejudice (7 page)

"Jane, stop it!" Lydia protested.

Jane was not deterred. "Lydia, you shouldn't cover up your natural beauty."

My hand paused as I was putting on another coat of mascara. Since she hadn't been talking to me, I continued. But a little more lightly than before.

"Now, remember what we talked about." Jane sat down next to Lydia, who nodded.

Jane had only allowed Lydia to come after Lydia agreed she wouldn't talk about money or prom dresses.

"Are we ready?" Jane asked as she studied herself in the mirror one last time. I think she was asking herself more than us. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

We arrived at a large private room at one of the upscale restaurants in town that catered to the faculty, students, and parents of Longbourn and Pemberley. It was a beautiful space, filled with oversize couches, a large window overlooking the river, candles, and a slightly elevated stage where some students were already dancing.

I scanned the room for Wick, but couldn't see him anywhere.

"Who are you looking for?" Jane asked when she caught me surveying the crowd.

"Just having a look around. I want to make sure there aren't any traps."

Jane grimaced.

"Only joking!" I said. I felt my phone vibrate and saw that Wick had sent me a text. "Oh."

"What's wrong?"

My heart sank. "Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."

Wick wasn't coming. He said that he really wanted to, but
thought it would be best to avoid a certain gentleman. I glared over at Darcy, who was in a corner with Charles and Caroline.

Any hope I had for a wonderful evening quickly dissolved. Now I was stuck in a room full of people who despised my very existence. Instead of hanging out with Wick, I would have to brace myself for whatever was going to come my way.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Jane looked concerned.

"Yes, fine," I lied. I didn't want to ruin her evening.

A waiter came over with a silver tray filled with wontons and egg rolls.

"Yum." Lydia grabbed a handful of food. "So much better than the crap they serve in the dining hall." She made a disgusted face as she shoved an entire egg roll in her mouth.

Jane sighed.

"Hey!" Charles approached us with a huge smile on his face. "Thanks for coming." He kissed Jane lightly on the cheek before hugging both me and Lydia.

While Jane chose to never see the bad side of people, I sincerely believed that Charles didn't have a bad side. He even put up with Lydia's incessant questions about the party, the food, the private room -- I was surprised she didn't ask him to open up his wallet so she could see how much cash he was carrying.

While Lydia played twenty inappropriate questions, I started looking around to see who was there. The standard cash cliques were in their respective groups, but I did catch a few of the Longbourn girls whispering and looking at us. I looked down at my outfit, but realized that I could be dressed head to toe in designer clothing and they'd still look at me with disdain. I was a reminder that there was life outside the precious little bubble they lived in. And I knew that they despised me for many things, but most of all for thriving despite their best efforts to bring me down.

I brought my attention back to my group and could see Jane's eyes getting wider every time Lydia opened her mouth.

"Charlotte's here," I said, nodding toward the door. "And Lydia, they just brought out something that looks like quesadillas."

As I thought she would, Lydia homed in on the server and mercifully left us.

I leaned in closer to Jane and whispered, "Have fun with Charles. I'll keep an eye on Lydia."

Jane smiled gratefully and went over to a group of couches with Charles. I waved Charlotte over, but Colin, mistaking that my enthusiasm was for him, approached as well.

"Hello, Elizabeth," he said. "It is a pleasure to see you here, and dressed in such a pleasing manner. What blend is that fabric?"

"Yeah, uh, nice seeing you as well."

He leaned in and put his hand on the small of my back. "Elizabeth, do you think I could persuade you to join me on the dance floor?"

"Oh, um. Have you met Charlotte Lucas?"

Charlotte and Colin exchanged pleasantries. I was hoping this distraction would keep me from dancing with Colin.

"So, shall we?" Colin motioned toward the platform where a few couples were moving to a slightly slow song.

I couldn't think of a good excuse, so I decided that I may as well get it over with. I walked with Colin to the dance floor and, once there, he awkwardly grabbed my waist and I cautiously lowered my arms around his shoulders. I didn't realize until we were standing there that he was a couple inches shorter than me.

He started to move and stepped on my foot. "Oh, I'm so sorry," he said, staring at our steps as if they were a math problem he could solve.

"That's okay." I started to move back and forth, trying to not make my movements too sudden.

"Well, you certainly are a good dancer."

"Thanks."

"You know, Elizabeth, you can play the piano, dance, are smart enough to get a scholarship and, might I add, make a mean latte. Is there anything you can't do?"

I forced out a laugh. "Oh, you know ..."

"Know what?"

"Sorry?"

"You were saying,
you know.
What am I supposed to know?" Colin looked at me expectantly. I didn't have anything to say. And I wasn't one hundred percent sure, but I think Colin was under the horrible impression that I was flirting with him.

My back stiffened. "No, nothing. Sorry."

He nodded. "No, no, it should be me who apologizes. I simply misunderstood. It is something that can happen easily, especially when the music is playing at such high decibels."

"That's okay."

"Once again, Elizabeth, you are too gracious."

"Uh, thanks."

"You are more than welcome."

I tried to avoid any more awkward exchanges by pretending I was enthralled by a painting that hung on the wall behind Colin until the song thankfully ended, allowing me an escape from my misery.

"Having fun?" Charlotte laughed as I approached.

"Tons. You?"

She shrugged. "These things have gotten easier for me --" Charlotte bit her lip. She had always felt guilty that the torture
she endured became less severe when I'd arrived on campus. I was fresh meat.

She tried to smile. "Plus, the food's good." She held up a miniburger.

"That does look good. I --"

Darcy was suddenly in front of us. "Hello."

"Uh, hi."

"I was hoping that you could join me for a dance."

I was completely shocked by his invitation. When I didn't respond, he said, "I'll see you in a moment." And with that, he walked away.

"Wait a second." I looked at Charlotte. "Did Will Darcy just ask me to dance?"

Charlotte's mouth dropped open.
"That's
Will Darcy? Lizzie, he's hot." "What?"

"That guy" -- she motioned her head in his direction -- "is hot."

"Are you crazy?"

"He really must have made a bad impression on you if you can't see that not only is he gorgeous, but that he obviously has a thing for you."

"Oh, please ..."

Charlotte paused. "And I think you have a thing for him."

"What?"

She laughed. "If you don't have any feelings for Will Darcy, why are you blushing and fixing your hair?"

I pulled my hands away from my hair. "Okay, you've clearly lost your mind. There is nothing going on between me and Darcy. Obviously, he's setting me up for something."

"Lizzie!"

"I'm serious. Plus, he asked and then just disappeared. He's planning something."

"Yeah, well, he's heading over here again."

Darcy stared intently at me and nodded toward the dance floor before walking over there.

I looked at Charlotte. "Am I supposed to follow him?"

Charlotte pushed me. "Will you just go already?!"

I was in a daze as I got on the dance floor. It was like having an out-of-body experience. I found myself going through the motions, but also looking around trying to figure out where the ambush was coming from. Darcy slipped his arms around me, with much more ease than Colin had, and before I knew it, we were in something approximating an embrace. Darcy was several inches taller than me, and he leaned his head down so our eyes locked.

I was face-to-face with the enemy.

"I see you made it home safe the other night," he said.

"Yes. I'm touched by your concern for my safety."

I broke away from his stare, but ended up being greeted by dozens of eyeballs transfixed on us. At first I thought they were waiting for something to happen. But then I noticed the jealousy on the girls' faces. And outrage. It seemed that not a single girl in the room could believe that Pemberley's most eligible student would be slumming with me.

"You know" -- I turned back to him -- "working has many benefits. It's a really great way to make new friends."

Darcy clenched his jaw. "Ah yes, George Wickham. He's really good at making new friends.
Retaining
them, however, has always been a challenge for him."

"I'm sure he cries himself to sleep every night, thinking about losing such a wonderful friend as you. How will he ever recover?"

Darcy greeted my response with silence. We swayed to the music for the remainder of the song. When I thought I was going to be free, he tightened his grip around my waist. A new song began.

"So, what kind of music do you like to listen to for fun?" Darcy asked out of nowhere.

"Excuse me?"

"I thought I'd change the subject."

"Oh. Were we discussing something you weren't comfortable with?"

"No, I was just trying to see if there was something we could talk about that wouldn't end up in an argument."

"Ah. Good luck with that."

"Yes, apparently I'm going to need it."

His attempt at being friendly unnerved me.

"You know," I said, "I can't figure you out at all."

"Really? Are you finding yourself thinking a lot about me, then?"

The conceit, again! "Hardly. But you don't seem to make any sense."

"And you do?" He smirked.

"At least I'm consistent."

"And I'm not consistent?"

I thought for a moment. "No, I guess you are." I stepped back from him and pulled my arms away. "You said that you think I have a problem with people with money. But I think you have a problem with people
without
money."

He looked down at the floor. "You're right. You don't understand me at all."

"Well, I guess we're a lost cause." I turned my back on him
and walked off the dance floor. I tried to not seem desperate as I looked for Charlotte in the cluster of people around the room.

I felt a tug on my arm. It was Caroline, who was with Cat. "What do you think you're doing?" she asked accusingly.

"I don't know what you mean," I said.

She looked disgusted. "I heard from Jane that you've been hanging around with George Wickham."

"So?"

Her lip curled up. "So? He's not to be trusted."

"I'm sorry, Caroline, but I really doubt you have any concern about who I hang out with or my well-being."

"I couldn't care less about your well-being," she admitted. "But I do care about Darcy. The mere mention of Wick upsets him. After everything Wick has done to him."

"What
Wick
has done?"

Caroline grabbed my arm tightly. "We don't want him around, okay? We heard that his little group was thinking of coming by tonight. Believe me, we put a stop to that. And to think that my brother and I have been nothing but kind to you. You only think about yourself, don't you?"

"Caroline." I spoke slowly so that, hopefully, one of us could start understanding the other. "I don't know what you are talking about. Yes,
Charles
has been very kind to me. I know there are
issues between Darcy and Wick, but why should that matter to me? It's not like I'm friends with Darcy ... or you. Who I hang out with isn't really any of your business."

"Suit yourself." Caroline walked away.

I went to find Jane, but Cat blocked my path.

"You know, scum, for someone who claims to have no interest in Darcy, you seem to spend enough time with him."

I turned and walked away. Jane was waving me down from the other side of the room.

"Lizzie!" She approached me with a worried look. "What was
that
all about?"

Even Jane knew something had to be off if Caroline and Cat were speaking to me. Especially Caroline -- her influence over her brother and his unexplained respect for her were the only things about him that I didn't like.

After I relayed the exchange, Jane sighed. "Lizzie, I haven't been hearing good things about George Wickham. You should be careful."

"Not you too." I didn't like that Jane would take Caroline and Darcy's side.

"It's not that. I asked Charles, and he said that the story Wick told you was an absolute lie."

"Yeah, but whatever information he got was from Darcy. So, in my book, it shouldn't be trusted."

Jane looked over at Charles. "I don't know, Lizzie. Charles couldn't tell me exactly what happened because he made a promise to Darcy, but he really doesn't have a reason to lie to me."

"I know, I know...."

"JANE!" Lydia barreled over to us. "I'm having so much fun. Can you believe I'm the only freshman here? Like, this totally has to be a huge mark for my social standing. And, can you just imagine, I mean, what if
I
get asked to prom, too?" Lydia screeched so loudly that half of the room turned around to glare.

"Lydia," Jane whispered. "Please."

Lydia didn't hear her. Or, more likely, chose to ignore her.

"Caroline!" Lydia shouted to a stunned Caroline. "So, like, during spring break, we're going to Vera's for our prom dresses. I mean, for Jane's dress. Do you know if a freshman has ever gone to prom? Like, ever?"

Caroline looked at Lydia with even more disgust than she usually reserved for me.

"No," she said dismissively. "Prom is for
junior
women at Longbourn. While it is tradition for most of the women to be taken
by men from Pemberley, some exceptions are made." She shot a look at me. "But any straying from custom is frowned upon."