Acquaintences, Pride and Prejudice Fanfiction
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Acquaintences & Awkwardness--Section IBy Crysty
Section I,
Part 1
t is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice" is the best novel in British Literature.
Ellayne Anne Bennet certainly thought so. She walked around the lecture hall, summarizing the social nuances to her students.
"…and we all want Caroline Bingley as a protective sister, now, don't we? Or how about old Aunt Cathy?" she teased. "I," she started, imitating Catherine de Bourgh, "Of course, being so rich, should be able to dictate everything that happens in that book…if you would call such a contraption a novel." Some students laughed at Ellayne's gestures. "Novels…" she sniffed. "I never read those…" she said, in a horrid aristocratic British accent. "I mean, get real!" she said, back in her normal voice. "Do you think the English aristocratic society liked being depicted that way? No! I wouldn't want to be painted that way! Mr. Elbertson!"
A young man sat up in his chair. "Yes, Professor Bennet?"
"What do you think of Caroline Bingley? I mean, I'm a female, so of course I think she's a disgrace to my kind, but what do you think, being a guy?" she asked, as the laughter died down.
"If such a woman ever approached me, I'd run for my life…"
Ellayne gave him a startled look, imitating Caroline. "Oh, you horrid young man!" she giggled, "And how much do you make in a year?" she batted her eyelashes artificially. Elbertson laughed, as did the rest of the class.
"Miss Darcy!" she continued the discussion.
A young woman on the other side of the room looked startled, her eyes widening at Ellayne… "Um, yes, professor Bennet?"
"I just thought it was rather interesting…your name is Georgiana Darcy…I was looking at the class roster earlier this year, and found that name quite interesting…does your mother like Jane Austen?"
"Immensely! Her name's Elizabeth…" Ana smiled. "My brother…"
"Good god! She didn't name him Fitzwilliam, I hope?" Ellayne smiled at Georgiana.
"No, his name is William Fitzgerald Darcy…"
"Fitzgerald?"
"My father liked F. Scott Fitzgerald, and he was determined for my mother not to have all her way."
"Wait…that name is familiar…where have I heard it before? William Fitzgerald Darcy…hm."
Ellayne smiled, as she looked at her watch, and cringed. "Sorry guys, kept you over again. Tomorrow, we'll talk a little about the good characters…Elizabeth and Darcy…over tea…I'll bring the tea, you all bring a little something for our wonderful class of 50!" she smiled.
Ellayne called into the apartment as she unlocked the door, "Jayne?"
"Up here!" a voice called though the halls.
Ellayne followed the voice to the desk room, where, on the floor, sat her sister, Jayne Louise Bennet, professor of American History, digging through some magazines.
"Urf, what are you reviewing in your class? The world war?" she asked, as she saw all the magazines scattered across the carpet.
"No, but close. I have to find some facts to present tomorrow."
"What's special about tomorrow?"
"They say Charles Binglyn from Netherfield College comes tomorrow, and I want to impress him…" she smiled.
"Ah, one of the best history profs of our times…" Ellayne smiled leaning back on the desk, and sitting on the edge. "Didn't you used to date him back in college?"
Jayne blushed.
"Ah…so you want to present a few facts about yourself tomorrow too, huh?" she asked, cheekily.
Jayne's eyes glittered with mirth. "Ella!"
Ellayne sighed, "I hope he doesn't break you heart, you know, 'cuz last time…"
Jayne looked at Ella, "He graduated. He couldn't help that!"
"You know, you two are very lucky you're still pretty young."
"Well, that's what love does for ya!" Jayne said, looking into her magazine.
Ella thought about it…love for another person? Nah! Only love for the subject. Ella was still only twenty-seven, and already a professor at Longbourne University…a pretty nice place to prof. Nice private school, located on the East Coast…it wasn't Pemberley, but it was nice!
"I've got to go out and buy some English tea for tomorrow…do you want anything?"
"How about dinner?"
"You know it's your turn, so do it!" Ella smiled, getting up from desk, and walking out of the room.
"Explain to me again, why you want me to go to this class of yours," William Darcy looked at his sister.
"You've got to meet my Brit Lit prof…"
"You know I don't like Brit Lit."
"You know I do…meet Professor Bennet…she's the reason why I came to Longbourne University!"
"I thought it was for an education…"
"It is, you see? I want a major in the British Classics!"
"God forbid…" William rolled his eyes. He looked at the hurt look on her face. "This is very important to you, isn't it, Ana?"
"Yes, very…and you'll love professor Bennet, even if you don't like Brit Lit. You see, after every major time period, she has "tea time", in which she has tea ready for our whole class, and she gets dressed up in the clothing of the time…kinda like the way you dress up in characters for your American Lit classes. She always looks so stylish, right out of the history book, only fresh and new instead. And then, we sit down, and discuss the novels throughout the class time. In the end, she allows us half an hour of social time, since she always talks from beginning to five minutes over on average other days."
"If your class actually all stays until she's done, I commend her for being interesting…"
"Oh, but she is, don't you see? She's a fascinating teacher, and I hope to be like her one day…"
"Then I better meet her, Ana, if I'll be looking at your future self!"
"Good day!" she smiled, her eyes glowing, and talking in a truly elegant English accent. Her hair was done up the regency way, the curls framing her face nicely, and she was dressed in a cream-colored regency style dress, with short puffed sleeves. It suited her nicely. She gestured to the doors. "I have some tea outside on the amphitheater, and I would like for you to join me! Now come on, and keep quiet in the halls, all right?" she smiled, continuing to talk in her accent, as the class started its thank yous.
William Darcy was stunned. She wasn't beautiful in the conventional sort of way, but everything about her gave a charm that passed as something even more spell-binding than beauty. She exuded this air, and he simply was left breathless.
Ana smiled at her brother. It was wonderful to see him like this. His eyes were softened, and he had a hint of a smile on his lips. She knew, from the moment Professor Bennet had entered the hall, that Ellayne Anne Bennet and William Fitzgerald Darcy were meant to be. "Come on, Will, you can meet her now…"
Ellayne smiled at Ana Darcy, one of the shiest girls in the class, "Hello, Miss Darcy…" Her accent was richened with a merriment that spread into Ana's smile.
"Professor Bennet, I would like you to meet someone…"
"So would my mother!" Ellayne rolled her eyes to the ceiling, and smiled, talking in her natural mid-West American accent.
Ana smiled even more. "I want you to meet my brother…"
"Your brother…"
"He's an American Lit professor…"
"Interesting!" Ella wasn't really partial to American Lit herself, but… "Wait, is this the 'William Fitzgerald Darcy' we were talking about yesterday?"
"Of course, who else?"
"Well, then, I'd love to meet him," she said. "When is he visiting?"
"Umm…he's here. Right now!"
"Oh really?"
"Yes, here is my brother, William Fitzgerald Darcy."
Ella gasped.
Part 2
Posted on June 15, 1998
"Of course! Now I remember who you are. You're the American Lit teacher at Pemberley! Ana never told me that she was your sister!" she smiled to the handsome young man before her, beaming with pleasure.
He was very handsome. The kind of handsome a girl would just look at and melt. The kind of handsome that would make a girl blush when those rich chocolate eyes would rest on your face. His hair was carefully styled, the thick hair was a luxurious dark brown. And he had the slightest hint of a shadow on his chin. He looked fit and trim, in a navy polo and khaki slacks. His arms were well toned, and bore a slight hint of strong muscle. Ella wanted to purr when his smile brilliantly sparkled upon her gaze.
Ella had seen many of William Darcy's papers before, and even secretly had a picture from the Pemberley Staff profiles blown up and taped on her wall. She wasn't crazy about American Literature, but William Darcy represented everything a man ought to be. Intelligent, and handsome as sin…as a bonus, his last name was "Darcy", therefore making him her "Mr. Darcy". Of course, they'd get along much better than the characters in Pride and Prejudice!
He was everything his picture hinted at and surprisingly, even more. Ella was almost overwhelmed, but maintained a composure and smiled generously to him.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Darcy."
"Nice to meet you, Ellayne." Drat. Darcy, you have the politeness of a rock…no not even; rocks let people sit on them. But I couldn't help calling her Ellayne…she doesn't look like a Mrs. Bennet, or a Miss Bennet…oh my gosh, she could be MARRIED. Darcy get a hold of yourself.
Kind of presumptuous, are we, Mr. Darcy? She liked how he said her name. It rolled off his tongue, glazed in chocolate, sweetly blending into her thoughts. However, she didn't like the fact that he did not return courtesy, especially when she had just called him Mr. Darcy. "So, William, Miss Darcy, shall we join my class outside?"
"Of course, Miss Bennet…" Ana looked at her brother, somewhat distressed.
William looked back at his sister, slightly confused, and just exited the room. So, she's not married…what are you thinking, you fool? She's a Brit Lit teacher. You don't like Brit Lit. She teaches at Longbourne. You teach at Pemberley. They're five states away. Granted, those states are small, but it would never work, and besides, she's a tease.
Ella looked after him. I get dressed up, I'd expect someone would be a gentleman and offer me his arm…a fine one at that. Ella, what are you thinking? You do realize that he just snubbed you, and you think he's NOT a nitwit? That poster comes down first thing when you get home! Face it, Ella Bennet, you don't suit, and he already knows you're head of heels for him…it was probably obvious, the perfect look of star-struck teenager-ism that came into your eyes when he stepped in front of you…Ella Bennet, you're an ego booster! He didn't even have the courtesy to open the door for me!
I am not good with woman… William Darcy walked down the hall.
As Ella walked down the hall, with Georgiana looking at her brother curiously, Ella contemplated the eerie parallelism that was now started in her life…to her favorite novel. A headache is coming…I know it is…that's my Mr. Darcy?
As she sat stiffly in her chair in front of her computer, writing out her final exam, she twisted a lock of curly hair in her fingers.
"Ella?"
Ella looked up, taking off her burgundy wire reading glasses. "Yeah?"
"It's eight. I picked up some Chung's. You want?"
"Sure, and while we're at it, you can tell me how your day went with Charles Binglyn from Netherfield," she smiled, slyly, getting out of her seat.
They sat at the table, smiling to each other, Jayne blushing, Ella smiling wickedly. "Come on, out with it…"
"He's been offered a post here!" she burst out, her smile glittering with happiness. "Oh! I'm so excited. He's considering it, too. It'll be great for the history department. We need another good history teacher, now that Elinor Dashwood is transferring to Devonshire University."
"Yes, I suppose it would be good for the school…but, really, Jayne, tell me how you really feel," Ella teased.
"Okay, I'm speechless with wonder! He's so handsome, and he's so intelligent!"
"If you like those smiling good-natured types…" Ella mused.
"And would you like a wicked man?" Jayne smiled to her. "Wait. Don't answer."
"Only a devilishly handsome one…" she smiled back.
"Mmmm…like William Darcy, huh?"
"What?"
"Oh, I've seen the poster in your room. I noticed you took it down, though. I met him today…Charles came with his sister Caroline and William Darcy. From what I hear, he went with his sister to her Brit. Lit. class, at her request…"
"Yeah…" Ella said, looking at her food.
"So?"
"So what?" Ella looked up to Jayne, from her food.
"What do you think? And does it have anything to do with the fact that the poster's no longer in its place of honor?"
"Well, first, what did you think of him?"
"Oh, he was nice enough."
Elly scoffed. "Nice? Undoubtedly, he's even more handsome in person, but nice? I don't think so."
"Uh oh…"
"What uh oh?"
"I know the tone of that voice. You didn't like him at all?"
"It's just that we're very different people, and he's not really courteous…and…and…he snubbed me! I'm slightly upset right now…"
"Oh, poor dear…" Jayne looked at her across the table, guiltily.
"I don't like that look. What did you do?"
"I promised to have dinner with Charles tomorrow evening, and I'm to bring you…Charles wants to meet you…William is going to be there."
"Oh Jayne, how could you?"
"I didn't know…"
"Oh…I know that…I'm just sorry this whole thing is happening…of course I'll go. It gives me reason to turn down Bill Collins's invitation for dinner…"
"Ella, if you don't like his attentions, why don't you tell him?"
"You know Bill. He thinks that I'm just playing hard to get. And besides, if mother got wind of it…you know she's an avid member of the alumni association, and then Bill is to be the future dean of Longbourne, after all…"
"Urf…why can't he find someone else? Like Mary? She's available…"
"Come on, Jayne. As her sisters, we both know that Mary is married to calculus, and she'll forever be married to it. You see the way she teaches it. She's brilliant, but she just gets into those problems, and forgets she's trying to teach a class how to do them at the same time. Do you think a woman who forgets to teach will remember that she might be married?"
Ella laughed. "All right…I admit, Mary is very into her books, but…I just wish Bill would be out of mine. Whenever he's around, I get the eebie jeebies…"
Jayne laughed, and they continued to eat.
Ella walked into the cafeteria by herself the next day at noon. Undoubtedly, Jayne, her usual lunch partner was sitting with Charles Binglyn, and she did not want to interrupt, and therefore, she sat by herself in a hidden corner, where she sometimes sat, if she needed the privacy to check papers.
As she started to take out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, she heard three people sitting down at the table on the other side of the greenery.
"Oh, I abhor this food…" a richly extravagant voice whined.
"I like Longbourne's food…" an young woman…undoubtedly Georgiana Darcy, Ella realized. "It's healthy and tastes good…"
"But it is nothing like Pemberley's!" the snobbish young lady scoffed. "Will, what is your opinion?"
Ella realized the third presence at the table was William Darcy, and listened carefully to his response. "It's good enough," he said. Had she been on the other side of the divider, she'd have seen him smile to his sister showing his true idea of the food. However, she didn't see his face, and therefore concluded him to be scoffing the food.
Well, William Darcy!
"…And so, while you were gone yesterday, with Georgie, I went with Charles and we walked about the office with Jayne Bennet. Sweet girl, but a little rustic for Charles's tastes. I can't believe Charles wants to teach here…"
"The history department is a rather excellent one…" Ella smiled as she heard Ana defend it. Again, she did not see William Darcy smile to his sister.
"Undoubtedly, not as good as Pemberley's!" the third woman scoffed. "Don't you agree, Will?"
"Oh certainly!" he sarcastically replied, casting a secret smile to his sister. Ella, on the other side of the divider, again scoffed. Again, insulting our school!
"And that brings us to wonder where you and your sister went yesterday?" the woman asked.
Uh oh…now we'll see what he really thinks.
"I brought William to my British Literature class…"
"Ew…British classics!" the woman whined. William and Ana were ready to fall out of their seats laughing. "I abhor Austen. The only character I ever liked was Caroline Bingley, and she didn't even get Darcy!"
"Oh, Pride and Prejudice was one of my favorites!" Ana replied enthusiastically. "I think William once said that it was the only book in British Literature he ever did like…"
At least he likes Pride and Prejudice… she smiled triumphantly.
"But the best part was that he met my professor…Ellayne Bennet."
"Bennet? Isn't that Jayne's sister?" the woman laughed.
"Yes…"
"And is she as beautiful as her sister?" the woman scoffed.
Ella listened carefully. Be careful about what you say, buster!
"Miss Bennet is not beautiful in the conventional sort of way, as her sister is, but her beauty is something that radiates from every move she makes. She breathes charm. She is in love with her subject, as anyone could tell, and her excitement of the subject is contagious."
Ella was not sure if she should feel flattered or insulted. She felt slightly insulted at not being called handsome in a conventional way, but the way he described her methods…
"Oh?" the woman's voice asked. "And when am I to wish you joy?"
"Caroline! A little early for marriage! And you know that I would ever ask a woman such as Ellayne Bennet to marry me. She teaches here. I teach at Pemberley!" In his mind, he was comparing distance. Ella, however, thought he was on an ego trip. What a jerk!
Ella chose that moment to step out of her hiding place, seeing that her lunch was finished, and she had just had enough…in the strictest sense of the word. She came around the wall of green, and tried to sneak away.
"Professor Bennet!" she heard Ana exclaim happily.
Ella turned and smiled to Ana. I'm doing this only for Ana, because she's a dear. "Hello Miss Darcy…William," she smirked at William Darcy.
"This is Caroline Binglyn, a…er…friend," Ana said.
Caroline shot an evil glance at Ana, and William gave Ana a sneaky smile. It did not go unnoticed by Ella, who was slightly confused at the joy he had with his sister.
"Caroline is here with her brother, Charles…"
"Ah, Charles Binglyn. Yes, I've heard of him. He visited my sister Jayne yesterday…"
"Yes, that's right!" Ana smiled to her.
Ella checked her watch, fighting for an excuse to leave William Darcy's blank stare. "Oh, will you look at the time? I have to teach in half an hour! So I must go back to my offices and gather some materials…if you will excuse me…it was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Binglyn," she offered her hand to Caroline.
She scoffed, but took the hand anyway. Caroline jealously noted the way William was staring at Miss Ellayne Bennet, and she did not like it one bit!
Part 3
Posted on Thursday, 25 June 1998
Editor's Note: This section refers to a Jane Austen-based web site located at www.pemberley.com. The "Bits of Ivory" is a place on that site for posting creative writings based on Austen's work.
She sat back in the chair in front of the desk, logging on, eating a microwave dinner of spaghetti. Sitting back, she sighed with relief as the connection was finally made, and the page was finally loading.
"Nothing like relaxing in front of a computer, reading Bits of Ivory stories!" Ella smiled, leaning back in her chair as she celebrated in the "Welcome back, Ella! Your last visit began on Thursday, 2 December 1998, at 7:23 a.m. Since then, 12 new stories have been posted."
She smiled, reaching for her reading glasses and putting them on.
"Will, how could you?" she sighed, cursing Joanna for yet again ruining her whole evening by putting a wretched "to be continued".
As she fell though the world of doctors, Florida, Australia, back to Pemberley, she sighed. Why did these authors do this to her?
Finally, she checked her e-mail.
From Bennet@home.com, she received…
Ella, get home before I kill your mother. I miss you and Jayne. Christmas is a few weeks away…and your mother has invited Billy Collins to Christmas dinner. You know I cannot survive an evening of his presence without something to temper my mood. You and Jayne always do so. Please try to make it.
Dad.
Ella laughed, as she looked at the e-mail she had received from "Jbennet@Longbourne.edu"…
Don't have time to talk to you. Out tonight with the Binglyns. Will be back past midnight. Don't wait up. Oh, Caroline has invited us to Netherfield College, to Charlie's for Christmas. Only for a few days…we'd get home in time for Christmas Eve. Of course, Caroline is in from Pemberley that week, so she'll be there. I accepted on behalf of both of us. J.
"Nope, not going," she smiled to the computer screen triumphantly. "Dad needs me at home."
Pleased that she had evaded a whole vacation with the dreaded Caroline Binglyn, she smiled, deciding that she'd get a head start on those P & P papers she had her students write.
She sighed, sitting at the table with Charlotte Lucas. "Isn't it so obvious? Jayne's so over her head for him!"
"To you, maybe."
"What do you mean? She's spent the last four days spending every free hour with him, or waiting for him!"
"Yeah, but that isn't much time, isn't it? Jayne's been quite busy. And she evidently doesn't show her affections."
"Well, you know Jayne. She's afraid of showing too much of herself, in case she gets hurt."
"Yes, but by showing too little, she may be showing nothing, which lands us nowhere."
"But anyone who knew Jayne would understand her behavior…"
"And you're saying that in this four-day acquaintance and their one year in college, that Charlie Binglyn should be able to read Jayne as well as you. You know Jayne is a very difficult person to understand. In fact, I don't know her very well myself, and we've been working together for about three years!"
"Say what you want…" she looked up from her ham and cheese sandwich to have her gaze fall on Mr. William Darcy. "Augh. He's staring at me again! Someone ought to tell him how to see straight."
"I think he likes you…" Charlotte teased Ella.
At that, Ella laughed. "Hm…I'm sure. AHEM" she cleared her voice, imitating Darcy's baritone. "Be realistic. I am a snob from Pemberley, while she is merely a little idiot from Longbourne."
"Better watch out…" Charlotte warned her, and immediately got up and left.
Ella's eyes followed her friend, confused, until Charlotte's path crossed William Darcy's, who was approaching her table.
"Hello William," she smiled. "Sit down, if you'd like," she smiled, feigning courtesy.
"Ellayne."
"If you're going to call me by my first name, you might as well as use Ella…"
"Ella? But Ellayne's such a pretty name!"
"Suit yourself, but whatever you do, don't call me Lanie."
"I take it you've had experience."
"It comes in a package called Lydia…who is supposedly my sister."
"Supposedly?"
"She's very unlike myself and Jayne…in fact, I should say that there are two sides to my family…my mother's and then my father's."
"How many sisters do you have?" he asked.
"Four. Jayne and I are scholars, and therefore, we are father's girls. He's a retired professor. He used to teach American Literature here."
"Really?" a glimmer of true pleasure melted into his eyes.
"Really," she smiled, encouraged. "Now, my mother likes Jayne quite a bit, because she's the prettiest…"
Of course, that's only HER opinion… he noted, looking at her ivory fingers clasped in each other.
"However, my mother's favorites are Lydia and Katherine…Lyddie and Kitty. And then, there's Mary, who isn't really accepted into the wings of anyone in our family…" Ella trailed off, her eyes becoming sad. "It's forced her to become rather aloof and independent. Ah, but I've talked too much now, a habit which my mother quite dislikes. So, we shall eat our lunch in silence…unless you have something interesting to say…"
"Such as?"
...
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