First Impressions: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Adaptation

Chapter 50

Jane was not the only one waiting by the windows the next morning. Liz spent more time looking back down the hall and into the kitchen than out the window. Chip was usually so punctual; his tardiness was making Mrs. Bennet nervous. She was banging pots and pans around, though everyone had already eaten. Mary had left for the library, Cat was upstairs, watching a horror movie at such a deafening volume that they could hear it through the closed door and down the stairs, and Lydia had... disappeared to wherever she disappeared to those days.

"Lizzie!" their mother called suddenly, sharply, down the hall. "Elizabeth, let your sister alone. Don't pester poor Chip."

"She's fine, Mom! I really don't mind."

Liz mouthed, "Poor Chip," at Jane before covering her face with her hands. A sound bubbled through her lips, somewhere between a sob and a laugh, and she froze, wondering where it had come from. It didn't sound like her at all. She was just lowering her hands, pulling a slight grimace, when Jane did a little wiggle and clapped her hands silently. Liz immediately stood up, following her gaze out the window, knowing exactly what to expect.

Chip was himself, almost bouncing along as they crossed the lawn. And Darcy... was also himself, she had to admit. But she found it endearing now, instead of deeply obnoxious. He was walking more slowly than his friend, though his longer legs made up for the difference, with his hands resting in his pockets. His too-good, upright posture overwhelmed what was obviously an urge to hunch in his shoulders as he glanced towards the house, then quickly away, several times. What she had once taken for arrogance in stance was just the way his body had been taught to exist in space.

Jane had the door open before they were on the third step. "I don't know why you bother with a doorbell," Chip informed her seriously, and then leaned in to peck her on the cheek.

Fulfilling her sacred duty as a younger sister, Liz let out a long, "Ooooh!" at the kiss. She grinned at them when they pulled apart. Jane rolled her eyes but Chip grinned back at her, widening to let her know he was in on the secret. Out of the corner of Liz's eye, she could seem Darcy and Jane having a similar interaction.

When she finally turned towards Darcy, his hand reached for hers. She linked her fingers in his. The smile on his face was small, still shy, but utterly peaceful.

Though the Bennet sisters had varying levels of experience with romantic conquests, they were well-versed in letting sisterly rivalries fall away in order to facilitate each other's deception of their parents. Liz tightened her grip on Darcy's hand and looked at her sister, who gave a single nod. "Bye, Mom!" she yelled hurriedly towards the back of the house.

Liz pulled Darcy quickly in through the door, shushing him when he tried to ask what she was planning. Jane gave her a tiny wave and hopped out to the front step, nearly slamming the door behind her.

Darcy opened his mouth, but Liz silence him again. "Take off your shoes," she hissed.

"What—?" he began to ask, in a voice that was too far above a whisper.

She shook her head, and he finally followed her instructions. She picked them up with her free hand immediately. "Stay quiet," she hissed with some urgency, but there was a giggle under the sound. She grasped his hand tightly.

Darcy looked down at their intertwined fingers, staring so intently at their hands that he almost didn't notice as she began to pull him forward, hurrying up the stairs. He did not have much of a chance to take in his surroundings—family photos, an Elizabeth with braces, an unidentified infant, along the walls, outdated tan carpet on the ground—as she pulled him up into a hallway lined with doors. Screaming and grating music with lots of strings could be heard behind one. He tried to give Liz a quizzical look but she didn't seem to even notice.