"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."