Beginning, Section II

Parta Primus

Dedication: To Tea who has been breathing down my neck to keep writing (if that is actually possible for her to do from where she lives as compared to where I live) and my older sister Teresa, who knew I could do this and urged me to try....... Thank you

It is a truth acknowledged by few that the preconceived notions of beauty in a man's mind are meant to be shattered.

Thus we begin the study of a man with just such preconceived notions....

William Darcy was born and raised in an affluent family. Having "OLD" money meant that he could likely pursue any occupation he desired. He attended Oxford, graduating with his degree in business, much to the pleasure of his parents. His parents were growing older and his father was in want of retirement soon. He, the elder Darcy, was just waiting for his son and heir to settle down and take over the very lucrative family business.

Over the years, due most likely to his bank account, William Darcy had been pursued by many different types of women, (He was handsome enough to be sure, but it was the bank account and net worth, which was rather handsome in its own right, that truly was the biggest draw.) from the outright gold diggers to the more subtle and then back again. Never had he even been tempted by any of them, okay, maybe tempted, but he never pursued those temptations. He did, however, glean much from those ill-fated women. Darcy had taken a mental image, a picture so to speak, of the best qualities, traits, beauties and characteristics and had formed in his head the image of his perfect woman/wife. It was a beautiful notion, this perfect woman, and as we all know this notion was soon to be shattered, but that will come later......

As Darcy developed his perfect woman notion, finding a real woman to fulfill his lofty ideal became very near impossible. Every woman he ever met was compared, albeit subconsciously, to his perfect ideal. Even while conducting the business his father had left to him, after his parent's untimely death, these comparisons would rage on in his head. Let it be stated, that while the war of comparison raged in his mind, Darcy (blissfully unaware of that battle) was the epitome of the astute businessman. He was all that was gentlemanly and polite. Proud Arrogant Rude, no no no that is from another story altogether......

As said before, Darcy had continued in his father's footsteps at the Darcy Corporation. The Elder Mr. Darcy had built this corporation from the ground up. And his son, owing to the great sense of familial pride and obligation was not soon to be dissuaded from continuing the growth of the business.

Lately, his baby sister had been doing the normal teenage thing and hanging out at the local McDonalds. Darcy was none too pleased about that, (neither was the manager of the McDonalds). Georgiana (George for short) could be getting into nothing but trouble in this situation, figured her older, only and overprotective brother (William). So since the Darcy Corp. was in need of some new diversification, and Darcy wanted to do something nice for George, and Darcy was sick of hearing George complaining that she never got to do anything, Darcy bought the McDonalds thinking, all the while, that he had solved the only item of contention in his pitifully structured and well, let's face it boring life. Little did he know the tempest he was about to unleash and succumb to..............................

Enter Lizzy. Our Heroine......

Elizabeth Bennet was born and raised in no such luxury as her intended and future husband and life mate (about whom she was still in the pleasantly clueless state.)
She was the offspring of working class parents and had to work herself when the time came. Lizzy (to her friends and family, only) was the second of five sisters. Jane, her older sister was sweetness and light and had the job to match her personality. Yup, you guessed it, she was a kindergarten teacher. Mary, the middle child, was, well, the middle child. Nuff said. Catherine and Lydia, the youngest, were very predictably twins and not so very important to this story. Likewise for Mary. However, since Lizzy attended college in town and lived at home, the sisters were worth a mention. Lizzy and Jane shared a very close sisterly bond and well as a room. They were each other's confidants, biggest cheerleaders and softest shoulders to cry upon, as well all sisters should be.

Lizzy started off at the very same McDonalds that was to be purchased in the future by one, William Darcy. She worked there through high school, and throughout college. She earned a few Scholarships (she was terribly bright) and with the occasional student loan, and meager earnings from her job, she made out all right. She did not live the grand life that all of us dream about, but she still had fun.

College life was rapidly drawing to a close for our beloved heroine and the nervous wondering about what real life would bring was rapidly setting in. Oh be certain that Lizzy had done her best to be ready for whatever real life might drop in her lap. She had sent out her résumé's and responded to ads placed on-line and whatever else must be done. However, nothing had happened and she was getting a little edgy. She still had her job as a manager (she had worked her way up from the lowly fry cook) but that was not all she wanted in life. She, after 6 years at the dump, was getting seriously tired of smelling, let alone looking, like a dead French fry. She knew there a job out there that suited her, but it certainly wasn't here at McDonalds.

Re enter William Darcy, our hero...

Remember if you will that Darcy had just purchased the McDonalds restaurant for his baby sister George.

Wanting a look at his new investment and not knowing how exactly to act at, of all places, a McDonalds, Darcy put on his haughty and arrogant "I'm the new owner of this slop pit" attitude and decided to lower himself and have some fries. And maybe a burger and then maybe something to drink.........Darcy steps up to the counter and is greeted somewhat pleasantly by the biggest, deepest, darkest most expressive eyes he has ever had the pleasure (some would say misfortune) of falling into.

Somewhat taken aback, and realizing that the haughty and arrogant attitude flew right out his left ear, he stumbles through his order...."I'd like uh, a h a burger and uh, um uh, what do you have to drink?" (Not frequenting these particular types of establishments, he was positively clueless.) As the pair of eyes rattled off the selections, he decides on a coke. By this time Darcy is a little on the twitterpated side of desire. His eyes and his heart say-'those eyes are so deep I could fall into them and never be recovered......and would that be so terribly horrible??? I think NOT!'

Meanwhile and while all these pleasant little thoughts are on their way up to Darcy's brain, the preconceived notion of beauty starts to churn and boil and finally blows its proverbial top!

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF PETE ARE YOU GETTING YOUR SORRY LITTLE SELF INTO, DARCY? DOES THIS PAIR OF EYES FIT ME? NO...I DON'T THINK SO!" (This being spouted in that uppity and rather nasally voice this notion unexpectedly possesses) (You see, Darcy had neglected the vocal portion of his notion and so it took on the vocal patterns and style of the last woman whom he had been so unpleasantly saddled with as a favor to his bestest bud! YUP...You guessed it that be her, the infamous Caroline Bingley) and so the voice droned on....

'DID YOU EVEN GET A GOOD LOOK AT HER?'

Darcy's heart and eyes had to admit that they had not. At this point, the eyes interrupted this not so passive exchange happening in the mind of our hero....

"Would you like some fries with your Burger?" The eyes asked.

Darcy replied, "Yes, eyes oh I mean fries would be fine... uhhhh um, make it a umm medium."
The eyes finally gave him a total and Darcy paid his tab, took his tray and turned about to find a place to sit. He wanted a place where he could have as full as possible a view of those eyes, or as he should have said the person in possession of those eyes.

Remember that war that was raging in Darcy's subconscious???? Do Ya???? Well, It is gonna make a blitzkrieg on his conscious brain........ Step back and watch the sparks fly....

All this time the voice of the notion was silent. But as we all know Caroline Bingley could not waste an opportunity. So the silent mental tirade began again as soon as Darcy's posterior end hit the cold, hard plastic of the booth he had chosen. Now, gentle readers, one must realize, that although the notion had the voice of Caroline, it definitely did not have her looks. You know, tall, skinny, nothing where there should be something, I think you get the picture.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR BLOOMING MIND?" the voice began.

Darcy leisurely unwrapped his burger.

"AS I SAID BEFORE, DID YOU EVEN GET A LOOK AT THE REST OF THIS PERSON???"

Darcy, with meticulous care, peeled his straw and deposited it, after several unsuccessful attempts, into his large coke.

"I BET THIS PERSON IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE IN COMPARISON WITH ME, YOUR PERFECT WOMAN!!!!!" (This last bit was said with all of the contempt and sarcasm that you all can imagine dripping forth from the mouth of Caroline.)

Darcy unfolded his napkin and placed it neatly in his lap.

"WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP ALL THIS JUNK FOOD NONSENSE AND JUST LOOK AT HER!!!"

Darcy slowly, and one could say with exaggerated timidity, raised his eyes and searched the front area for 'those eyes.' As his eyes neared the opened end of the counter he finally saw the person in possession of those eyes...

She was about 5'7" or 5'8", and had hair of the deepest brown he had ever come across. The hair was curly and he could tell that at most times it was unruly as well. She was muscular, but not overly so and she had a little "meat" on her bones. Overall she was 'tolerable', (that haunting word) but that was the best such a cursory perusal could give him.

While his eyes ere surveying the owner of "those eyes", the voice had been quiet. However as soon as his eyes had wandered back to his food, the Caroline voice took over with a vengeance...

"SHE IS NOTHING LIKE ME! I AM PERFECT! YOU SAID SO YOURSELF! I HAVE THE LEGS THAT WON'T QUIT. THE VERY ONES YOU ADMIRED ON KAY JOHNSON. (Just a name that exploded out of the humble authors misunderstood mind.) I HAVE THE PERFECT BODY! NOT TOO SKINNY AND NOT TOO PLUMP. MUSCULAR BUT NOT BUFF. SOFT IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES. HAIR THAT BEGS TO HAVE YOUR HAND RUNNING THROUGH IT. THE FACE OF A GREEK GODDESS, LIKE APHRODITE OR ARTEMIS OR EVEN HERA!!!!! I AM ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!!!!! YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT, CUZ YOU CREATED ME. DON'T YOU EVEN START WITH THAT BIT ABOUT HER EYES! I WILL SAY IT AGAIN SHE DOES NOT EVEN COME CLOSE!!!!!!!"

After this tirade, which lasted about five minutes, Darcy finally snapped back into the reality we have all found ourselves in at one time or another. You know, the reality that, in front of you sits a cold and unappealing burger, soggy fries and a watery coke, (which once you pick up, you mix all of the water form the ice in and then it tastes absolutely horrid. I hate it when that happens....... Ah but I digress.....) and you are absolutely famished. Darcy contemplated the growling of his stomach for a short time (say 10 or 20 seconds) and decided to eat the unappealing mess in front of him.

Darcy ate his meal in hurried bites, due to the fact that the person in possession of "those eyes" kept glancing at him from behind the counter. As he finished, he was in a bit of a quandary as to whether or not he was supposed to clean up after himself. For you realize, he never, and I do mean never, frequented any establishments that did not have pressed, tied and aproned and most of the time tuxedoed help. After pondering this dilemma for a minute or so, he finally decided to leave his garbage. Darcy got up, a little unsteadily at first, and walked out of his newest acquisition with his eyes inadvertently seeking out "those eyes" and the body (person) they were imbedded in. During his last glance, as he just about ran into the glass exit door, (must not make a complete idiot of himself now) he saw on the face of "those eyes" such a look of contempt and displeasure, the depth of which he had never before experienced.

NOW BACK TO LIZZY.....

After she had finished serving this particularly, and might she add, unbelievably handsome man at the front counter, she had to escape. She could stifle her giggles no longer. It was the absolute first time that she had struck a man, who looked intelligent enough, completely speechless. She ran over her actions in her head to make sure she had been the professional food server she know she had to be (if she wanted to keep her job that is.) Lizzy found her actions just a little shy of excellent. She realized she could have smiled a bit more, but that would not come back to haunt her. Lizzy was staging this mental review because earlier that day, in between the late breakfast rush and the early lunch rush, the store manager had mentioned that this particular store had been sold. The rumor mill had swung into full fury at that announcement and all of the 'lifers' (those who were employed there more than two years) knew that the new owner could come in unannounced and fire people at will, depending on whether or not their experience was satisfactory or not. One of the most interesting rumors, and quite frankly Lizzy's favorite, was that some very rich guy had bought the store because his kid sister liked hanging out there. It was said that he wanted to be able to keep tabs on where she was hanging out.

When Lizzy finally regained possession and control of her wits, she ventured back out to the front counter from behind the kitchen area. As she emerged from behind the deep fryer, she instantly felt his eyes upon her. She glanced out at the dining area and noticed he had taken a small booth with a good view of the counter. Lizzy also noticed that on his face, was an expression that defied all definition. (Rest assured that your humble servant will try to define...) His face, although aristocratic, and dare she say gorgeous, was screwed up in a contorted sort of grimace. Next it changed into a look of confusion. Then, it changed once more into a look of utter and complete bewilderment. She was impressed. Only once before had Lizzy seen the type of rubber facial acrobatics that she had just seen on the face of this mysterious customers face. That was on the face of Jim Carey. (this is not a plug for Mr. Carey, however my mom could beat him any day, but she just didn't fit in this story. HI MOM!!! I digress yet again.... Sorry...)

After that show of muscular facial agility, his face softened and he finally began to eat. Lizzy had made herself useful while trying no to stare at the gentleman. She was automatically filling French fry bags and stocking up the holding tray. Finally she was brought back to reality, from her little staring session, by the unmistakable sensation of fry grease hitting her arm.

During this time while Lizzy was trying so terribly hard not stare, her mind was rather agreeably engaged in fantasizing about her future,... this strange customer,... children,... a house in the country,... white picket fences,... mini-vans,... carpools,... play dates.......yadda yadda yadda and etc. As the hot grease splattered her hand, her mind was just getting to the physical aspects and like the proverbial cold shower, the hot grease wrenched her back to reality in time to see this stranger get ready to leave. She noticed with much disdain, that he had left his garbage sitting there for someone else to clean up.

As she watched him leave, she caught his eye and gave him such a look of contempt and displeasure as she could muster on such short notice. Lizzy absolutely hated it when grown men and women thought themselves above cleaning up after themselves. She watched as he almost ran into the exit door, and smugly laughed to herself, thinking he truly deserved that. Lizzy watched as he got into his car, a rather expensive looking, shiny, bright red, convertible type car, (she was a true sucker for convertibles) and then angrily stomped out to where he had been seated and bussed the table.

As Lizzy returned behind the counter, one of her favorite customers came in. Lizzy walked right back out from the counter and gave the shy teenage girl a big hug. Since it was almost time for her lunch break, Lizzy decided to have lunch with her friend. She got their food and proceeded to the booth that the mysterious man with the facial muscles of Jim Carey had just vacated.

"Oh George," Lizzy started off, as they both sat down, "You should have been here about 15 minutes earlier. It was the most hysterical thing." Lizzy stops talking because she had begun to giggle again. As we all know, that giggling is infectious, the obvious result was that George was soon giggling between bites of fried and sips of coke. George quieted for a second and asked, "WHAT???" Lizzy proceeded to tell George about all that had conspired between the tall, dark and handsome stranger and herself, up to and including the look of contempt and the stranger almost walking into the door. Soon the fits of giggles began anew and it took quite a while for both girls to return to their outward semblance of calm.

George had been thinking the description Lizzy had given of the stranger danger, fit her brother to a tee... But, never before had a woman struck him dumb in that way before...Her mind was churning, she would have to be careful, but it just might work.......

Before George could let Lizzy leave the table and get back to work, she had to find out what Lizzy really thought about the stranger. She politely asked, "Lizzy what would you do if he came in here again? He sounded like a real dish. Would you be bold and forward and ask him out?" Lizzy snorted, almost making the Dr. Pepper in her mouth exit rather quickly through her nose, rather than down her throat. "Are you kidding? Well maybe, but only after I gave him what for for leaving his crud on the table." Lizzy thought about this for a minute and then retracted, saying, "I couldn't do that, although I would be sorely tempted to. Maybe, I'd give him a second chance and only if he approached me." Lizzy looked at George, who was in a bit of shock at Lizzy's display, and then got up to return to work. She hugged George and asked, "Same time tomorrow?" George nodded her agreement and finished her meal, the wheels in her head turning at an alarming rate of speed.

Parta Secundus

Now... we all know what happens when one eats, shall we dare say scarfs down, a cold and somewhat distasteful looking mess on a completely empty stomach, don't we..???? Well, needless to say, with his brain in turmoil with his heart and the burger and fries and coke sitting heavily in unaccustomed stomach, Darcy came down with a nasty case of Montezuma's Revenge (later that is to say...)

After a night of rather shoddy sleep and frequent trips to his own private "little boys room" Darcy awoke at and ungodly hour and acknowledged that he wouldn't be sleeping any more until that night, if then. The voice of his perfect woman had haunted him incessantly throughout the past 5 or so hours. It was a harpy and he would have to kill it...... no, really, it was just incredibly nasal and annoying as all get out... Finally he has quieted it with a mental tirade of his own which went something like this... "For crying in the mud, wench! Would you please stop the haranguing and whatnot...? I am tired and if you haven't noticed, sick as a dog. And I would like whatever sleep I have yet to take advantage of to be at least quiet!!!!!!!!! NOW SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!" This little outburst had knocked the wind out of his notions sails and she retired somewhat penitently to the darker recesses of Darcy's mind.

After a hot and refreshing shower and what he had hoped would be his last trip to the "little boys room", Darcy dressed (for Success) and went downstairs to get his morning dose of caffeine. Mrs. Reynolds, the faithful housekeeper and surrogate mother to Darcy and George, was ready and waiting with his coffee, once he made it to the kitchen. Darcy thought amazed, "How does she do that????" and sat down to try to enjoy his morning pick-me-up.

Mrs. Reynolds made a slight comment about the hour, as it was still dark and she was usually the only one up at this time. Darcy mumbled something about how he had had a bad night, sick and bathroom. Mrs. Reynolds was immediately concerned. She asked what he had eaten the day before and as soon as Will mentioned McDonalds, she knew the whole stinking story. She said, "That's all I need to know, too much information otherwise. You should go back and let them know what happened. They might want to check into it and see if they had any contaminated meat or something."

Darcy had half a mind not to do what had been suggested, (that is not to say that the other half of his mind wanted to go. it just says that he only had half a mind at this point, considering what he had gone through, I am sure you would only have half a mind left also...) After a few minutes of deliberation, he reluctantly agreed. His reluctance stemmed from the knowledge that if he even went near that place again, two things would happen...

1) He would again come into contact with those eyes and the intriguing (and shall I say frustrating) creature they were attached to. And

2) That harpy that he created, unwittingly of course, (do we dare believe that, dear reader? I think resoundingly, NOT!) would come back out of the dark corner she had banished herself into and start in on him again.

Now, thing #1 would not be altogether unpleasant, in fact, it might even be rather enjoyable and dare we hope, maybe even productive. However, thing #2 was a torment he now wished to avoid at all possible costs, up to and including the risk of possible personal injury. But thing #1 was intriguing, curious and the more he thought about it, not just 'tolerable', but more like pretty. But thing #2 was a harpy and he would have to kill it......... But thing #1 looked intelligent and intriguing and all those other words he could not find in his mind, especially after such a nigh. But Thing #2 was a harpy and he would have to kill it.........BUT HOW??????

But thing #1 was intriguing.... And as Darcy sat there sipping his coffee in the dim of that very early morning, he began to realize, after the little mental sparring match with himself, that all the benefits of thing #1 were not actually known. He knew absolutely nothing about the person with "those eyes." Okay, not absolutely nothing. He knew where they worked, and that "those eyes" were imbedded in a pleasant face, and that the pleasant face was surrounded by some really interesting curly dark brown hair; and that said hair hung down and fell over a decent body, but that was all he knew.

While he was thus pleasantly and peacefully engaged in the foreground of his mind, the background was starting to emit tiny green sparks. All of the sudden the Perfect Woman Notion (henceforth know as the PWNotion, cuz I am tired of typing any extra letters) jumps to the foreground and begins her latest Rant. (Somewhat violent if you ask me...)

"HOW DARE YOU!?!? FIRST OF ALL, I AM NOT THING #2!!!!!!! I AM YOUR PWNOTION!!!! I AM EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED IN A WOMAN! HOW CAN YOU EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE ANY SORT OF LIFE WITH "THOSE EYES"?????????? The PWNotion begins to physically throw a hissy fit, kicking all those boxes of memories and whatever dust bunnies had gathered over time in the recesses of Darcy's mind. (I imagine pictures and papers flying about like the confetti at a ticker tape parade.) "YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT SHE WOULD NEVER COMPLETELY SATISFY YOU. YOU WANNA KNOW WHY??? WELL, I'M GONNA TELL YA........BECAUSE SHE IS NOT ME!!!!!!!"

During all of this ranting and raving, the PWNotion had managed to disturb, (more like ransack) the very memory box that contained all of the memories that she was assembled from. Suddenly realizing the ramifications of this action, the PWNotion skulked sulkily back to her corner. These implications were as follows.....
1) If the PWNotion did not gather all of the memories back into the right box, she would begin to fade from Darcy's memory and mind.
2) If she began to fade, who knows what sort of trollop (read "those eyes") would come in and take her place? She was Queen Ruler Supreme of Darcy's mind and she was not about to abdicate that position. It's good to be Queen...

SO the PWNotion finally quieted down and left the foreground of Darcy's mind to pick up those bits and pieces belonging to her box. As she was doing so, she maybe thought that she could get rid of a few of those arts of her that she didn't like and replace it with more of Caroline's memories. Like, who in their right mind would choose Kelly Green for a favorite color; Orange was a much better choice.

We will now leave our unhappy and shall we say, perhaps even anxious, PWNotion and return now to Darcy. When he returned to reality after this one sided skirmish in his mind, he realized that he was holding his head in his hands rather snugly, (perhaps to try and ward off the massive headache he knew was on the way.) and staring down at his now cold coffee. Darcy had felt the nasty headache coming on and along with queasiness that remained in his stomach, he knew that he would not be at his 'business best' for his meeting today at his newest acquisition. (This does not bode well for our hero or our heroine gentle readers...)

Now back to Lizzy...

Lizzy had arrived a little early for her shift. 10-7 it was and a rather cruddy shift it was at that. No time before work to do anything and too tired after work to want to do anything. Not to mention the fact that one would end up dealing with both the lunch and the dinner rush before handing the reigns over to the night manager. But aside from these facts, and definitely no because of them, Lizzy was in a good mood. Something good was going to happen today, she just knew it. Even if it was only having her lunch break with George, it was shaping up to be a good day.........

UNTIL.....

Chapter 3

Until.....

Enter Ken Collins, (think pasty, greasy, shortish, chubbyish, pandering almost to the point of lecherous, simpering, idiot, well fitted for the job of...) Store Manager. (Just for the record, this Mr. Collins is patterned lightly after a guy I once worked with at McDonalds, long long ago in a galaxy far far away...)

Lizzy was at the desk checking her schedule for the next week, when she heard Mr. Collins calling for her. She let out an audible groan of disgust as he neared.

"Ah, Lizzy, my sweet," Mr. Collins practically drooled, "the new owner will be here today at 3:00p.m. HE wants to discuss something that happened here yesterday. I am sure you will be as professional as I know you can be when he arrives." Mr. Collins was thinking of other professions as he said this, and Lizzy, knowing this because she put up with the man for the last six years of her life, felt like she needed a long hot shower with lye soap and still wouldn't feel clean.

"Yes, Mr. Collins, I will make sure the new owner is well taken care of," replied Lizzy, contemplating and then executing her escape route to the tie clock and the front counter.

Where, at one time, there was a feeling most positive and optimistic, there was now a feeling of dread. Lizzy just knew that she had done something wrong to the new owner. She had no idea whom it might have been. She began to run over her memories of problem customers, (you know, the complainers, the whiners and those who wanted something for nothing) from the day before and could find nothing. No complainers, no whiners and no cheapskates. She was hopeful and then sure that it was not anything she had done or anyone she had dealt with.

After struggling through the lunch rush, Lizzy was more than ready to take her lunch break, And right on schedule, George walked in...

George had spent an uneasy night trying to figure out a way to get her friend, whom she loved dearly and her brother, whom she felt the same way about, together. She knew that Lizzy and her brother would be absolutely the most perfect match, but getting to that match might prove more difficult than she had ever imagined. Now, couple her wondering, and we could say wandering mind, with the disturbing noises she heard emanating from her brothers suite of rooms down the hall and you can be sure she did not sleep well at all...

George greeter Lizzy as cheerily as she could, considering the circumstances of the night before, gave her a big hug and proceeded to 'their' booth, where she slumped down in a most unladylike heap. Lizzy came with their food and plopped down in a very undignified way, which prompted George to sit up and snicker. (this was Lizzy's aim, she didn't know what was wrong with her bud, but she, like all good friends would, wanted to make it better.)

"George, what be up with you today? You are positively gloomy!!" Lizzy stated to her subdued friend.

"I'm tired. I didn't sleep. My brother was making some really scary noises all last night and I had something bothering me.......... It has to do with you, and I'm not sure you're gonna like it. But I would really like you to at least consider it...... OH did I say that out loud?" George replied. All the while she had been twirling a rather soggy French fry in a mixture of barbecue sauce and mayo. (Blergh.... EEEEWWWWWW ... Gross you say??? Don't knock it till you try it...)

Lizzy was now extremely curious. George had never before (in Lizzy's company) strung that many words together and in one breath, since the two had first met a year ago. Lizzy liked George. BUT, this was completely out of character for her. George was extremely shy, to the point of pain almost. But when Lizzy was around, George was more relaxed and comfortable. Lizzy was six years older that George, but to them it was never an issue. Lizzy was George's savior, which was why she hung around McDonalds all the time. George felt safe when she was with Lizzy, and Lizzy knew it. Lizzy felt that since her younger sisters were pretty much a lost cause, George was worth the effort.

Flash Back One year ago...
Place McDonalds...
Mood Music and the fade out foggy look that happens in the movies...

George is fifteen. She is out with a group of classmates on a school sanctioned trip, (chaperoned and the whole nine yards.) It is getting late, 10:30ish or so, on a school night. The group is getting the munchies....LOOK, UP AHEAD!!! It's the Golden Arches... We're saved Hooray!!!. The group decides to make a pit stop and satisfy their late night munchy attacks.

George is not hungry, but has to use the restroom. The rest of the group orders, then leaves the store to eat in the van on their way to their respective homes. George, being painfully shy, realizes that the group has left her only after seeing the taillights of the van leaving the parking lot.

She begins to cry.

A rather handsome (not strikingly so, like our Darcy, mind you, but handsome nonetheless,) young man makes his way toward George. He begins to make small talk, then sits across from her in the booth. She is not responding because, #1 her shyness, and #2 she is utterly terrified.

Then this stranger danger, (yes, that is what he is,) makes his move and changes his seat so he is right next to George. George lets out a blood-curdling scream just before the stranger danger clams a large somewhat hairy hand over her mouth. At about this time the night manager is making the rounds trying to lock up. The night manager walked around the corner to the back dining area just as George's scream was released.

The night manager, who was by no means a fool, grabbed the phone off the counter and dialed the appropriate authorities. When our stranger danger realized this, he started to bolt, but not before the concern of the night manager actually hit George. She chomped down as hard as she possibly could on the stranger danger's hand that was still covering her mouth.

The stranger danger yowled in pain and let out a string of obscenities that would have made even the most seasoned of longshoremen turn maroon with embarrassment and awe. The stranger danger realized he was trapped, for the night manager blocked the only exit that would allow him a non-injurious escape. He could have made a dramatic exit through the plate glass windows, but he remembered with a wince that he had been there and done that before. That was definitely not worth the pain or the medical expenses he was sure to incur, to do it again.

All this while, the night manager had been on the phone with the authorities giving a detailed description of the assailant, the assailants vehicle and the scene. (The night manager knew which car had to belong to the assailant, because it was the only other car in the parking lot, aside from the employee's cars.) But when the night manager turned back to the counter to hang up the phone, the stranger danger saw his chance to escape, and made a run for it. When the manager turned back around, it wan only in time to stick a well placed foot in the assailant's way, thus buying a little more time to allow the authorities to arrive. The stranger danger recovered quickly from his sprawl on the floor and ran pell mell out the doors. The night manager proceeded to lock all of the doors and returned to the frightened young girl.

"My name is Lizzy. I'm the manager here tonight. The police are on their way. Hopefully they will catch that scumbag this time. He has done this before, even tried it on me once, 'course he asked me out first. That looser can't seem to understand the meaning of the word NO."

George was beginning, barely, to shake off the terror of the previous twenty minutes. She was cold and it was dark and she was still not sure of what to do. Lizzy offered to call some one for her but George responded in a very definite, if almost inaudible, No. She may have been shy, but she was not stupid. If her brother ever found out about this, he would have had a conniption fit that would have effectively ended her life outside her bedroom forever.

"I'd rather wait here for the police. I am a bit cold and could we move somewhere else?" George stated softly. Lizzy nodded in the affirmative and helped the still shaking girl to her feet and back up to the front of the store. There she had one of the crew bring George a hot chocolate (which solves many problems just by its mere presence.) As the two girls sat and waited for the police, they began to talk a little and ended up getting to know each other a little better.

Let's make a supposedly rather short story that ended up too long, shorter again...

The Police came.

They took a statement from George and Lizzy.

They chased the stranger danger down and caught him and arrested him. (turns out he was wanted in 6 states for an assortment of charges we will not delve into here.)

The Police brought him back for the two women to id.

Case Closed. The stranger danger was carted off to jail.

Lizzy closed the store. Took George home, (it was out of her way, but she cared not.)

Lizzy invites the girl to stop by BEFORE DARK sometime and

The rest as they say is history......

Fast Forward to the Present.....

Lizzy said to George, "Yes, that was out loud and what does it possibly have to do with me?"

"I have a favor," George stated. "I have this assignment for my personal relations class. (Is there really such a thing? Don't ask 'cuz I won't tell.) I am supposed to interview the two most important people in my life. The first is my Brother. The other I want to be You!" George smiled coyly after that and waited for an answer. Lizzy, knowing George's family history, replied, "I am honored. It would be a pleasure. Gosh, I think I am going to cry. That is so sweet!! What do you need me to do?"

George is thinking HOT DIGGITY!!! This is gonna be easier than I thought! "Tomorrow is your day off, right?" Lizzy nodded. "Great! Do you have any plans?" Lizzy shakes her head. "Super! I'll call you tomorrow afternoon with the details. I gotta run. I have to go and think of some questions for the both of you. This is gonna be great! Most kids will be interviewing their parents. I will probably have the only original paper in class!" George was practically bubbling over with enthusiasm. Lizzy watched George as she left and was happy so far with the outcome of her day.

George, on the other hand, was grinding her gears. She had one willing party. Quickly she began to prepare a mental 'to do' list of all she needed to accomplish.

Get Will to do it. (Not a problem, he's a pushover when it comes to me.)

Find a Neutral type meeting place.

Convince Will it was a jeans and t-shirt affair, and

Convince myself that this is not going to explode in my face......

(Gee, this last one will be the hardest, wouldn't you agree???....)

Chapter 4

As Lizzy and George were having lunch... Darcy was in his office, trying against all hope to straighten out his overworked mind. He was having great difficulty ignoring the voice of the PWNotion. It was again on a RAMPAGE. He sat at his desk with his head in his hands, wearing an expression of complete and utter bewilderment. The PWNotion began another mental onslaught...

"What in the name of Pete do you think you are going to accomplish by going back to that grease pit? You know you are only going to see the 'thing' attached to those 'fine eyes'. How can you do this to me???" The PWNotion figured that none of her mental blitzkriegs had worked so far, so why not try what all men are susceptible to ... a guilt trip..."You know that I am what you want... why aren't you trying to find the personification of ME!!!!!!! You should not be wasting your time on this greasy little trollop. Women that would fit my bill DO NOT hang around in that type of establishment! Women of my caliber have much better taste than that."

Darcy, upon the mention, albeit silent mention, of the word caliber, frantically found himself wishing that he had device capable of delivering a high caliber shot to his conscious mind...(Not that that would happen in my story gentle readers.... Just a figure of speech...)

While Darcy was wondering where that last conscious thought came from, his secretary, a very capable and motherly type woman, buzzed him and let him know that his car was ready at the valet stand and that if he wanted to make it to his Three o'clock meeting, he had better shake a leg...

As Darcy was driving to this most anticipated and dreaded meeting, his concentration was centered on the business at hand. But every now and then, a glimpse of "those eyes" would sneak in and cloud his vision. This invariably caused much consternation to the others driving about him who were forced to swerve out of the way of his errant automobile.

As Darcy finally pulled into the parking lot of his newest acquisition, he thought he saw George's car making a screeching getaway. "Oh well" he sighed... "Here we go.."

As Darcy was making his way in from the parking lot, another kind of sighing was going on in the office area of the store. Mr. Collins had cornered Lizzy once again and was drilling her on the customers she had served the day before. Although a slimy and contemptible man, Mr. Collins strictly adhered to the CYA School of management. (CYA standing for Cover Your Anatomy, you gentle readers did not expect something else I hope?) He knew that if something bad happened there at 'his' store, he would be the one held responsible. He did not like this aspect of his job, so he did everything in his power to pass the buck, so to speak. Mr. Collins was not getting anywhere with Lizzy, especially not in the way that he wished for... So he finally let the conversation drop. Lizzy sighed heavily in thanks to her Creator, that his inquisition had not gone on any longer. As Mr. Collins made his way to the front counter, Lizzy glanced up from the desk in time to see the man, that yesterday she had struck dumb. Groaning inwardly, she quickly figured out that this was the one with whom she and her slimy boss (yes she thought him the slimiest of the slimy) were to meet.

The emotions that clouded her brain at that instant were myriad.

Guilt, for not having treated this particular customer with 'kid gloves'. That was easily washed away, for she had no idea at the time that this was the new owner. He was just one of the average schmoes that came in for lunch.

Astonishment, at the fact that one so presumably so young could be out purchasing McDonalds stores. That one was not so easily washed away. She had a hard time thinking that this man had not had this store bought for him by his Upper Crust mommy and or daddy. Her inner prejudice seemed to be kicking into overdrive... She absolutely hated the fact that some one could take advantage of her background like this... After all, she had had to work to get where she was today, not that she was likely to brag about that, but none the less, she had worked hard. She had not been born with someone else's thumb in her mouth, let alone silver bottle, but had had to climb the corporate ladder; such as it is in a McDonalds, just like most of the other working class people.

Surprise, at the appearance of this particular man. Most likely, she assumed that the new owner would be similar to the last one. You know the type, stodgy, money-grubbing type that will cut corners and deny needs in order to acquire the almighty dollar. This man certainly did not fit into the stereotype that Lizzy held of storeowners.

Shock; at the fact that, he indeed, was the man she had struck speechless the day before.

And a funny feeling that she could not readily identify, being as she had not had this type of feeling before. It was a funny warm sort of sensation that kind of made the stomach feel a little empty. You have all experienced the butterfly in the stomach type of feeling, of that I am in no doubt. But Lizzy had never experienced that sensation in regards to a person of the opposite flavor before. Not saying of course, that she had never had friends that were of the male persuasion, and that she did spend one on one time with them, just that she had never experienced the flutterings in her stomach and heart that this man formed in her.

All in all, these feelings left her with a certain agitation regarding the impending meeting. Lizzy walked up to the counter and proceeded to get herself a large Dr. Pepper (because like the humble author, she was addicted to the stuff...). She turned back around to the counter to let the others know that she would be unavailable for a while, and found herself facing the one person in this whole wide world, that could determine her future.

Mr. Collins came rushing to the counter to welcome the new owner to his new store. Upon reaching the counter, he plows into Lizzy. Now Mr. Collins thoroughly enjoyed this brief and most assuredly accidental contact with Lizzy. Lizzy however did not. The force of the impact from Mr. Collins, however 'accidental' it may have been, caused Lizzy to lose the hold on her large Dr. Pepper and send the cup of nectar flying towards the new owner.

The contents of the cup hit the front counter and then, as if in slow motion, splattered all over the new owners person. (You can imagine the snickers coming from the peanut gallery.)

The looks of shock and surprise that graced all three faces were priceless. Lizzy hung her head in embarrassment for only a few seconds, before rushing to get something to alleviate the mess that she had inadvertently caused. Mr. Collins, in rare form indeed, stood there with his ample lower jaw, and the accompanying jowls, dragging on the top of the counter. Mr. Darcy stood on the customer's side of the counter shocked at the temperature of the beverage that had just infiltrated his high-powered business suit, at places we shall not discuss here. The shock, needless to say, was extreme. (We all have seen the warnings about the temperature of McDonalds hot beverages; in retrospect the warning should be expanded to cover the chilled beverages. Shrivel factor.....need I say more???)

Well, after all of the rigmarole that ensued calmed down, and Mr. Darcy cleared his throat and made the suggestion that they begin the meeting. But, during that psychotic episode, where no one uttered a single syllable, a very one-sided dialogue was happening in Mr. Darcy's conscious mind.

The PWNotion began somewhat timidly at first... "Did you see that? She practically threw herself at you, not to mention her drink. Any self-respecting woman would not go through that kind of embarrassment to get your attention. I have never behaved as abominably in my life, (such that it is) as she has since you have first encountered her." The PWNotion gradually started gaining speed as well as volume. "I can't believe that you would not throw a fit of outrage over what she has just done to you. She has made you the laughing stock of this whole place. She has ruined your suit...who knows what it will take to get that stain out. You might not even be able to have it removed! She has just ruined your Armani Business suit. The one you had custom made. I would never do that to you. She has no respect, at all. Just remember what I have been telling you all along. I AM PERFECT. YOU CANNOT DO BETTER THAN ME!!!!!!!!!!"

Darcy had to physically shake his head to stop the echoing of the PWNotions voice in his head. At first glance you would have thought that he was just shaking off the shock of having his second shower of the day, (unfortunately the latest shower would definitely leave him in need of a third one0, instead of clearing his mind. This turned out for the best for Mr. Darcy. No one would know of the battle that raged internally and seemingly undaunted in his conscious mind.

As Mr. Collins regained his lost composure, he led Mr. Darcy and Lizzy to an uncrowded area of the dining room. There he had hoped to regain a little of his former composure and continue in the vein that he unintentionally interrupted. He began his brown nosing routine with a renewed vigor.

"Mr. Darcy, please accept my most humble apologies for the way in which you were so distastefully and disgracefully welcomed into our most reputable establishment. I do wish that I could somehow make it up to you. I have it! Please send me your cleaning bill and I will make sure that it comes out of the pocket of the person responsible for the damages," Mr. Collins simpered. 'That should take care of the blame and absolve me of any wrongdoings,' Mr. Collins thought to himself.

Our hero Mr. Darcy replied in an even tone, considering the circumstances, "That will not be necessary. I do not think your shift manager should have to pay for the cleaning bill, when it was clearly your fault, Mr. Collins."

Immediately Mr. Collins went into CYA mode again. "Surely, sir, you can not blame this girls clumsiness me. I was not the one who put you in your present state of distress. I will follow your instructions sir. TO the letter."

Lizzy, while incensed at the abuse she was receiving from her boss, was somewhat pleasantly surprised by Mr. Darcy's defense of her. "Mr. Darcy," Lizzy began as they took their seats, "I do apologize for this mishap. I hope that you will send me your cleaning bill. I will gladly take that responsibility and pay those charges." 'I do hope we can get this meeting over with, it is almost 3:30, and I cannot stand being in such close proximity with these two men much longer,' Lizzy thought to herself. While one man completely and totally turned her stomach, the other was having a startling effect on her. The mixture of these two influences was about to make her physically ill.

Mr. Darcy cleared his throat. 'And what a marvelous sound that was,' thought Lizzy.

"Let us not argue over who will be responsible for my dry cleaning. It is time we got down to business. The issue is this, I came in yesterday and ordered a meal and later that night I became very sick. I do not know if it was the food I ate, or something else. I had been feeling fine until last night and I am in excellent physical health, so I do believe that it had to be the food."

Mr. Collins immediately cut off Lizzy, who was about to open her mouth in defense of the food. "Most kind sir, I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience (and possibly incontinence) that was caused by the food you ate from our humble establishment. How would your kind and forgiving personage like us to go about remedying this most unfortunate and uncomfortable situation?"

Mr. Darcy was slightly taken aback at his store manager's rather abrupt manners. "This young lady was the one with whom I had the most interaction. Perhaps she would like a chance to be heard." After he said this he began to long for more interaction with the person who possessed 'those eyes'. (Get thy minds out of the gutter my gentle (HA) readers... this is a clean story...)

Lizzy began somewhat timidly at first. "Sir, My name is Elizabeth Bennet. I have been working here for six years, the last four as an assistant manager. In all of those six years, we have never once had a complaint about our food." She began to pick up some steam. "I am not saying that your claim is unfounded, I am just saying that there is the possibility that some extenuating circumstance or factor contributed to your illness last night." She took a mighty deep breath. She was a little nervous about this whole interview. She knew that Mr. Collins would try to cast all aspersions and blame on someone else. Lizzy knew the way he worked, but still had yet to discover how this new owner would react.

Mr. Darcy sat listening to 'those eyes' speak. They finally had a name, Elizabeth Bennet. The name fairly rolled off his tongue. His mind was far away, dreaming of children... a house in the country....white picket fences...mini-vans.....carpools..... And those incredible eyes were with him the whole time.

His day dream was shattered when the nasally and annoying voice of the PWNotion exploded onto the scene... "YOU ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF YOUR MIND!!!!! How can you be thinking of a future with this trollop? She is unworthy of your notice. Heck, she is just plain unworthy. She is not ME!!!" Darcy shook himself out of his reverie and back to the business at hand.

While Darcy was thought to be contemplating the situation, Mr. Collins took the opportunity to verbally accost Lizzy. "What make you think you can speak to Mr. Darcy in that way?? You practically accused him of bringing this whole unfortunate and uncomfortable situation upon himself. Did you think of the possibility of it being your fault? Did you do the required walk-through at the beginning of you shift to make sure all of the freezers and holding bins were at their correct operating temperatures? Did you make sure all systems were working at the required level? I think... I think... I think you should apologize again to him and beg him to let you keep your job!" Mr. Collins was just livid, the veins on his forehead were threatening to jump to their ends, and the veins in his neck were contemplating that same thing. That there was a possibility that he would be blamed for this episode could not be tolerated.

Lizzy sat there in her seat looking bewildered. She had not thought that she had verbally abused Mr. Darcy; rather, she thought she was just looking out for his best interests. Finally Lizzy snapped......"Mr. Collins, I have worked for you for six years. I have proved myself a valuable employee, willing to do what was necessary to keep this hellhole running. I have always come in when you needed me to, even when YOU wanted to leave early." Lizzy's voice brought Mr. Darcy out of his torment with his PWNotion. He sat there across the table from the two managers listening with an unbelievable interest in not exactly what was being said, but the voice of she who was speaking. "I have stayed late, cut hours, worked with a skeleton crew, and complied with numerous other of your requests to make sure we kept to our operating budget and all. After all that I have done for this stinking grease pit, how dare YOU, accuse me of trying to make this man sick. I have .....I should have done this months ago......I QUIT!!!!!!!!"

Mr. Collins was quite taken aback by this outburst and sat back in his chair. Stunned by the force and emotion in Lizzy's voice, he dropped his ample jaw and the accompanying jowls in a very distasteful fashion.

"Mr. Collins," began Mr. Darcy, who himself was feeling the effect of Lizzy's outburst, although in a very different way, "would you please refrain from washing the tables with your chin. I am sure a towel will serve the purpose quite nicely." To say that Mr. Darcy was surprised at this outburst, would not be wholly untrue. He found himself ready to throttle the man, after only being in his slimy presence for a little over a half an hour. He also felt the need for a hot shower with some strong..... STRONG soap, and not because of the Dr. Pepper, that was at this time causing the fabric of his pants to stick to places, unmentionable and, to make matters worse, he was starting to chafe.

"Miss Bennet, I feel I must apologize. I had no intention of causing this sort of reaction. I merely meant to see if there was some sort of operations problem, which could have caused such a problem as I have experienced," Darcy stated as he shifted in his seat, trying to relieve the discomfort the drying soda was inflicting upon him. "I do not see that you quitting will solve this situation. I think that you should take the rest of the day off and relax and think over your decision. That will be alright with you, Mr. Collins, will it not?" Mr. Darcy asked. Without giving Mr. Collins a chance to respond, Mr. Darcy continued, "You will be paid for the hours you were supposed to finish today. Please allow me to do this for you. After all your service here has been more than is necessary."

Lizzy, too taken aback, at herself as well as the new owner, felt herself shift into a standing position. "Mr. Darcy, I am sure that I will not change my mind, but I do appreciate your concern in the matter. I will give Mr. Collins my decision when I return to this place the day after tomorrow." This last bit said with all of the contempt, distrust and dislike she could possibly muster.

Mr. Collins, being the slimy, ill-bred man that he was, let the last comment slide off him, as we invariably knew it would.

Lizzy made her way slowly back to her locker and removed all of her personal effects. The whole crew knew of her decision to quit and many were tempted to follow her lead. Lizzy went and changer her clothes in the restrooms, emerging in a comfortable pair of jeans and a t-shirt bearing the slogan "Swing for the fence, don't sit on it!" Lizzy knew she was taking the most amount of time she could get away with without clocking out. Finally after refilling the ill-fated cup of Dr. Pepper, she made her way leisurely back to the time clock and finally clocked out. All the while she watched the face of her store manager change from its normal pasty complexion to shades of red she had not thought humanly possible.

Lizzy sashayed back to the table where Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy sat staring at her and announced, " I have made my decision, I will not be back." With that she dumped her greasy, smelly uniform, shirt, pants, socks and shoes, over the head of Mr. Collins. Lizzy strolled confidently back up to the counter, and said her goodbyes to all of her friends. She apologized about the problems and probable wrath that they would incur from her treatment of Mr. Collins, and wished them all the best in their careers at the GOLDEN ARCHES. Lizzy said she would be back from time to time, especially since she would have to pick up her last paycheck, waved goodbye, blew a kiss at the unsuspecting Mr. Darcy and waltzed out the door. Her last act of defiance was to thumb her nose at the nervous, slimy little man that had been her boss for the last six years. She glanced back at the pair of men inside and let out a scream of delight and released frustration.

Inside, all Mr. Darcy could do was stare. He was amazed at the spirit and fight in this young woman. He was totally entranced by her acts of defiance, and not a little excited to boot. He really had to get to know this fiery young woman better. But how??????

Meanwhile, Mr. Collins was starting to wake up from the trance-like state that Lizzy's actions had put him in. Immediately, the CYA schooling kicked in again. "My Most Respected Mr. Darcy sir, I feel I must apologize with all that is in me for the abhorrent display you have just witnessed. I must say that Lizzy is our most troublesome employee. She has a hot temper and is usually spouting off about whatever is not working well or up to required specifications." Seeing that his verbal disemboweling of Lizzy was not having the desired effect, he cleared his slimy throat, making a noise that sent all of the employees running for cover, in an effort to regain Mr. Darcy's attention.

At this most horrendous sound, Mr. Darcy was abruptly yanked back to the present. He had been staring and contemplating the effect of anger and humiliation on a pair of very fine eyes. Those eyes had taken on a fire that would burn for days. He would like to see that again, but would hope that the situation was infinitely more sedate.

Mr. Darcy collected his belongings and made his way back to the front counter, leaving Mr. Collins trailing in his shadow. He asked for and received a large Coke. The employees at the front counter, not having anything better to do inquired as to the situation with their favorite manager. Mr. Darcy asked what had made Ms. Bennet their favorite, to which they resoundingly replied, "She never made us do anything she wouldn't do first." This does not sound like praise to the ears of the likes of Mr. Darcy, who knew absolutely nothing about the daily workings of a fast food joint. But he did hear the admiration and loyalty with which their statement was made.

Mr. Collins stood behind Mr. Darcy and sneered his best sneer at the crew assembled on the front line. Mr. Darcy took notice of this and promptly promoted the assistant manager on duty to the position that Lizzy once held.

"Mr. Collins, as new owner of this establishment, I am not pleased so far with your job performance. Therefore, I think that 2 weeks worth of pay should be sufficient for you as a severance package." Darcy spoke to the manager on duty, "you will please make sure that all of Mr. Collins' shifts are covered by another employee. I am sure that you will be able to handle the running of the store until I can find another store manager?" With that said, Mr. Darcy left the store to the sounds of the raucous cheering and whistling of the employees.

Chapter 5

Meanwhile, back at the ranch... or should we say Rancho Pemberley...

George had just returned home and flopped at the kitchen table... "Mrs. R, what would you say about helping me play matchmaker?" George asked her 3rd favorite person in the whole wide world.

Mrs. Reynolds, not wanting to get extremely involved, and not wanting to know exactly what was going on, replied, "With whom do you intend to be the matchmaker? And what exactly would my involvement be???" George, knowing Mrs. Reynolds cautious nature, answered as well as she could, "I have a friend who is need of a companion, closer to her own age. And well, Will is just perfect for her and she is perfect for him. Why just yesterday, they met and she left him speechless. And I know that Will won't like it, but I am so tired of him moping around the house. He needs to get out a little. All he ever does is work and sleep and well last night he was sick, so that was something new, but that is the extent of his life. Not counting all the time he spends trying to keep me out of trouble, which is unnecessary to say the least. Your involvement would only require that you help me get Will where he needs to be and when. That is it. It would not be very hard for you to convince him to do something for me, would it?" Knowing that this last question would invariably clinch Mrs. Reynolds' involvement, she added a shy little smile to clinch the deal...

Mrs. Reynolds was just a might stricken with surprise and shock. It had been years since George had uttered so many syllables so close together. Most likely 15 or so years. 'Course back then it was only babbling... So with her involvement in George's scheme minimal, and of a level that would not come back to haunt her, Mrs. Reynolds replied with a exasperated sigh, "Yes, George, I will help you make sure he is where he needs to be and there when he needs to be there."

George jumped up from the table and ran across the kitchen to hug the only woman she had really known as a mother figure. "Now all I have to do is pick a sort of neutral and 'non-threatening' meeting place. I have this all worked out. I told my friend that I have a paper to do for my human relations class." At this statement, Mrs. R jumped in and stated, "You do not have a 'human relations' class. What is this all about?" "It's all part of the plan. You know that and I know that, but Will and my friend do not know that. So what they don't know might help them..... SEEEE?" replied George.

"As for a neutral type meeting place, why don't you try Blotto's Grotto. It is a quaint little café, with not too many distractions. You could probably get Blotto to let you have a whole side of the dining room to yourself, it you let him know what is going on..." Mrs. R suggested. "That would be absolutely the perfect place. They have great food there and it is quiet. So yeah. That would be perfect. I'll have to call him. Do you think he would want to get in on this scheme too?" George asked. She knew of Blotto's Grotto from Mrs. R. Mrs. R. went there for a good old-fashioned grinder on her days off. Blotto and Mrs. R. had become good friends. This fact alone might help the plan work...

George, with the number supplied by Mrs. R, called up Blotto and let him what would be going on. He was only too happy to get involved. Being an old softie, and having a particularly soft spot for Mrs. R, he readily agreed to save a semi-secluded place for George to hold her 'interview'.

George was getting more and more excited. She had her list of questions that she hoped would draw the two unsuspecting parties closer together. She had a place to meet, and one willing participant. All she needed now was her brother...

And who should walk through the door at the very minute that last thought crossed her mind, but her brother William.

William entered the house mumbling. No one could really hear what he was mumbling, however, it was along the lines of... "I have got to find her......SHUT UP.......... I have got to find her.... SHUT UP!......et cetera et cetera ad nauseam..." All the while he was mumbling he was having this argument in his head.... "Will you just shut up for one minute!!!!!!" To which his ever present and certainly increasingly annoying PWNotion returns with, "WHAT THE H E DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TRYING TO PULL? WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT, ...THAT ... WHATEVER YOU CALL IT (McDONALDS inserts Darcy) WAS THE BEST POSSIBLE THING FOR ME... NOW YOU CAN SPEND YOUR TIME LOOKING FOR A WOMAN WHO MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLES ME..."

The nasty PWNotion was abruptly halted in her rantings. "William," shouted George, "I am so glad you are home!!!!! I have something I wanted to ask you.... Are you busy at about 3:00 tomorrow afternoon?" At least Darcy had thought George was shouting... maybe it was just him and that beastly creation of his imagination. (They had been having a rather vociferous and not to mention noisy argument.) "George, I will never be too busy for you," replied Darcy in a tone close to a whisper. "What have you got planned?"

George went on to describe the 'assignment' to her brother. All of the logistics were discussed and finally agreed upon. "Great, Will, I will see you tomorrow at Blotto's Grotto at 3:00." George stated in a most controlled voice. She was absolutely bursting with hope, joy, enthusiasm, expectation and excitement. " Goodnight Will. I have a phone call to make... I will see you in the morning." And with that George bounded up the stairs to her room to make that all-important phone call to her bestest bud in the whole wide world.

The phone seemed to be ringing for the most interminable amount of time. Finally it was answered. "Hello? Is Lizzy home?" "This is Lizzy. Is that you George??? I was beginning to wonder when you would call. I have so much to tell you. You would not believe what I did today. I QUIT!! Mr. Collins finally made me blow my top and in front of the new owner too. I could not believe it. The new owner fired him after I quit! That just made my day!!! What is it that you wanted? Oh yeah, that assignment you have to do. Well I do have a few more days off now that I am no longer 'gainfully' employed." When Lizzy had finished her breath not to mention her soliloquy George finally had a chance to give Lizzy the vital stats on the meeting for tomorrow.

"Remember it is not some job interview or anything. I thought we could take a walk or something afterwards or go window-shopping, so wear something comfortable..."

"Right George. 3:00 at Blotto's Grotto. I'll be there. And doing something afterwards will be a great idea. I do have time to kill now, until graduation at least. By the way, what are you doing on Saturday the 23?"

George replies "nothing that I know of..."

"Great! Would you like to come to my graduation? I am not sure who all will be there from my family. My dad will I know, but not sure who else. It would mean a lot to me if you could come."

(Now how was George to turn down a reply like that?) "I'd love to!!! That would be so great! Oh, wait...could I bring my brother? He would have to drive me and would never let me set foot on a college campus alone. He can be such a horses patoot sometimes."

"Sure. That would be fine. I would appreciate all of the encouragement and support I can get... But I haven't met your brother. Will he want to come?"

"YOU BET" George replied a little too hastily, then added, "... he will do anything for me... besides I think you might like him. He is really a great brother and a great guy too. He can be a 'little' overprotective though." This last bit was said with all of the sarcasm she could muster, causing Lizzy to giggle on the other end of the phone line.

"George," Lizzy finally said after she had stopped her giggling, "I will see you tomorrow...It has been a very strange day and I need to get some sleep. Have a great night!" and Lizzy hung up.

George hung up the phone with a smug look on her face. This was coming together better than she had planned. The only thing left on her list to do was to figure out how to get her brother into jeans and a t-shirt.

This last thing would require a bit more thought. So with a sleepy yawn, she decided to sleep on it.

The next morning dawned soggy and dank. (A harbinger of doom, you ask? I think not, replies the humble author.) Even with the wet weather, nothing could dampen George's spirits. This was the day that would send George on her way to receiving a 'sister'. She had not yet figured out the last item on her mental to do list, and her time was running out. Frantically she showered and got dressed. Running downstairs, she ran into Will, literally.

"Will, have you instituted a "Casual Friday" dress day for the Employees?" After a rather pregnant pause she continued, "If not, I really think you should."

"Where did this come from George?" asked Will, who was already dressed and eager to find out what his sister was up to.

"Well, I just thought that since so many other big corporations were doing it, you might want to get on the bandwagon as well." George replied as innocently as she could muster. "And besides, you look absolutely great in jeans and a t-shirt," hoping this last comment would not raise his suspicions too much.

Will glanced at his baby sister and replied, in a really sarcastic voice, "What has this got to do with anything?"

George, not wanting to let on to her covert activities, warily responded, "Well, I just thought that where we are going for our chat, you would be really, really out of place in your suit and tie. I mean, don't get me wrong, you always look good in a suit and tie, but I just want this to be a casual time. No Pressures, no pretensions, just comfortable."

Darcy considered this, with a pained look on his face and said, "Okay, George, I will do my best to be 'pressureless, non-pretentious, and comfortable'. I think I have a pair of jeans, and maybe a t-shirt. Maybe this casual thing might be a good thing?"

For the time being we will leave Will and George and home in on Lizzy.

Lizzy spent the dreary morning making a 'to-do' list of the things she needed to accomplish before graduation. Mainly it was sending our resumes and such, but there were a few things on the list that she felt she might actually enjoy doing... like buying some new clothes. She did have need for a few, well-chosen outfits for interviews, should they ever happen, she thought. And after all, she did not plan on working where they required a uniform ever again.... She had had enough of that during her six years in the slime pit they actually had the gall to call a McDonalds.

When she finally looked at the clock, she realized with a tremendous sigh that it was getting on towards noon. She had been lazy. She needed a shower and to run a few errands before her 'interview' at three. So with all the exuberance of some one who has finally escaped from their own personal heck, she showered and went on about her day...

First stop, was the old grease pit.... She needed to pick up her latest paycheck...lousy as it may be... it was still money in the bank... some of which she would blow today shopping with George. Lizzy drove to the old watering hole and parked her car. The second she walked in the door she was met by loud cheers and hello's... seems that the crew was still very grateful for her inadvertent disposal of the greasy, (and let us not forget slimy) Mr. Collins. When she met with the interim store manager, she found out that the paychecks had arrived, but that hers was not in the pouch. This made Lizzy just a little freaky. She was about to go a little ballistic when she heard her friend Charlotte start to snort in laughter. Turned out that the crew had wanted to see if they could get another rise out of Lizzy and what effects that would have... Lizzy began to understand and just sneered it off to the teasing of her ex-co-workers. Finally she got her check and made for the door. The crew on duty whooped and hollered as she left.

Next item on the list was the bank.... on a Friday.... what a lousy way to spend an hour, herded like cattle through the little aisles those 'tens-a-barriers' created. Made Lizzy feel like nothing in her life could get any worse. Finally, after actually spending an hour in line, she deposited her check and withdrew enough money for some fun that afternoon. She left and headed out with a sigh of relief.

The time was now 2:30 and she decided to make her way to Blotto's Grotto with the directions George had given her last night. She had never been there before and did not know exactly what to expect. When she arrived, she was taken a back by the size and atmosphere of this little, (with no other word to describe it), joint. Lizzy immediately loved this place. It was smallish and cozy. The walls were adorned with old newspaper clippings, layer upon layer upon layer. Some would likely say that this was a fire hazard, but Lizzy thought it was absolutely wonderful. On top of the newspaper clippings and hanging from the rafters (if you could call them that), were all sorts of ties... that had been clipped off of uninitiated patrons. You see, Blotto had a dress code, a very simple dress code, no one could dress better than Blotto... and since he was always in jeans and a t-shirt, anyone who entered wearing a tie would immediately be put under the scissors.

As Lizzy looked up, in awe, at the tie covered ceiling and those that hung from the walls, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around only to find George looking at her with some very bright and excited eyes... and a somewhat comical look on the face.

"What do you think of this place?" George asked Lizzy.

"I absolutely adore it!" Lizzy replied with a huge grin for her friend. "It has that sort of ...hmmm... sorta ...... hmmmmm ...cluttered atmosphere that makes you feel ... kinda... like you are not the only person in the world with a messy bedroom..."

"I'm glad you approve. Should we find a table? Or would you prefer a booth... Blotto has both..." George said with a little hope for the latter. She knew that if she had Lizzy and Will in a booth, she could make them sit together and conduct the 'interview' from the relative safety of the other side.

Blotto came out from behind the counter and greeted George with what could only be described as a bear hug. You see Blotto was a very large man, not out of proportion mind you, just large. He asked to be introduced to her friend and George took over from here.

"Blotto, this is Elizabeth Bennet," taking care not to introduce her friend as Lizzy. "She is helping me with my assignment for my 'human relations' class." She took extra care to make sure Lizzy did not see the wink she gave Blotto. Blotto smiled and welcomed them to his humble establishment. He then led them to a booth in one of the farthest reaches of the dining room. Blotto seated George facing the entrance as she had requested the night before. This was the perfect spot, the booth had high backs so that you could be sitting with someone and no one would ever be the wiser. It was perfect, just perfect. At last almost all was in place for the most important meeting (up till now) in her young life.

She waited most impatiently for the arrival of her brother. At long last, he arrived in the jeans and t-shirt requested by George. She let out an audible sigh and braced herself against whatever fate may throw her way.

Chapter 6

THE INTERVIEW...

Darcy was feeling a little odd. He was in jeans that were just a little on the snug side. (Alright gentle readers, please calm down.) He felt as if he were to be going to a hoe down. Not that jeans were a bad thing... it was just a new feeling and he was not quite comfortable with it yet. He glanced around as he walked to where he had seen George sitting. The interior of this establishment was a bit on the eclectic side, but he would do any thing for his baby sister. Noticing the ties hanging from the rafters and ceiling, he was a bit on the appreciative side for George's forewarning.

George noticed her brothers preoccupation with the dangling ties, and smirked in his direction with a 'See, I told you, you should listen to me. So there,' look. She also noticed something that she had not seen before in her life. Her brother was actually in jeans. She decided in a split second, that he was a good-looking man. She also offered up a silent prayer for courage in order to pull this whole scheme off.

Darcy approached the booth where he had seen his sister. He was just about to slide into the booth opposite of George, when he noticed she was not alone. Coming to an abrupt halt in the middle of his flop, (which should be considered a feat of Herculean strength), he turned to the stranger and once again, in an instant, he was lost. For there, staring back at him with a look complete shock, were "those eyes".

At the exact moment that Darcy again encountered those eyes, the PWNotion was on the warpath. What in the name of all things material is she doing here? I can't believe you are still crouched here. Sit down for Pete's sake! You are starting to embarrass me!!! And that is not an easy task. After all I am PERFECT! You must end this here and now. STOP GAWKING AND SIT DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Darcy was not a little dazed at the skirmish that had just taken place in his head. Therefore he shook his head for good measure and to clear his mind. He had to regain control of his impulses before he opened his mouth... whoops too late. He realized that his lower lip was just about even with his shirt collar. Darcy quickly closed his mouth and tried to sit down on the seat of the booth. Careful not to touch 'those eyes', he slid slowly to the edge. He was not sure what would happen if he should actually come into contact with the lovely person that was connected to 'those eyes'. Considering that she had the power to render him completely speechless with just 'a look', he was not entirely sure what would happen if he actually touched her, even in the most accidental way. Darcy also knew that if he opened his mouth at any time while he was still off in La La land, he would only make a complete idiot of himself. Thankfully he did not have to... George came to his rescue.

"William, I would like you to meet Elizabeth Bennet. Lizzy this is my brother William."

It was now Lizzy's turn to be rendered completely speechless, and drooling. She had seen him yesterday at the meeting... but she had not really seen him. Yesterday, he had been impeccably dressed. He looked good in the sport coat and dress pants. Today, in his jeans and a white t-shirt, he looked incredible. It took every ounce of strength in her being to not faint dead away, on the spot, in the presence of such (to borrow a phrase...hee hee) hotitudinosity.

Both Lizzy and Will had no control over their vocal facilities at the moment they were introduced. So instead of actually verbally acknowledging the others very palpable presence, they nodded. Acknowledging each other's physical presence was absolutely unavoidable. Both of them need only breathe to do be aware of the other.

George was becoming a little giddy with all of the sparks that were flying around on the other side of the table. She knew that she had to somehow stop the insanity that seemed to be blossoming forth from her brother and her best friend. After all, William had not stopped panting and Lizzy looked like she was going to faint. She had to do something... ah yes... the 'interview'. Slowly she took control of the situation and asked. "Are you two hungry or not? Blotto has some great grinders here."

With painstaking slowness, Darcy broke the hold that 'those eyes' had on him. Immediately the PWNotion began another attack.

"I am so sick of the hold that this tramp has on you. She is an absolute nothing... I am so sure!!! This contemptible creature is nothing but a fraud and a fake and who knows what all on her is not really her own." Since the self-promotion was not doing anything, she decided to start in on the derogatory comments. "I will bet you my very existence that she is nothing but a money grubbing fraud. She cannot even dress herself properly enough to meet with someone who is clearly not her equal. In fact, I am so sure that we are so far out of her class, that we will have to lift up the lowest class in order to find her."

Darcy, wanting to avert further pain and suffering in his mind, replied to George, "Something to eat would be great about now."

Meanwhile, Lizzy had gradually returned to the land of the living, from some place heretofore unknown to her. She repositioned herself to the corner of the booth, so she could see both George and her brother at the same time. Lizzy knew she had to attempt some sort of speech, so she stated, "Since, I spent most of my morning and afternoon running errands, I did not get a chance to have lunch. What do you recommend, George?"

Knowing the discomfiture that was plaguing both Lizzy and Will, she recommended the special. She had no idea that this was going to be so difficult. Playing matchmaker was way out of her league. She must get all parties back on track, so she could try and make the most out of this rather sticky situation.

"Blotto!... Could we get 3 specials and 3 ...cokes, is that alright with you???" George yelled the first to Blotto and the last to her companions.

"Do they have Dr. Pepper here?" Lizzy asked meekly.

Blotto yelled back from the kitchen, "Sure... 3 specials, 2 cokes and a Dr. Pepper."

"He's good." Lizzy stated in simple awe.

"Yeah, he is. Mrs. R and I come here almost every night that Will is not home for dinner. I just love this place." George was toying nervously with her napkin as she spoke, she knew she had to get this 'interview' underway, before someone backed out. Namely her.

"While we are waiting on the food, shouldn't we get down to business?"

Upon hearing this statement, both Lizzy and Will remembered the real reason, (yeah, right) they were here, George's paper. Realizing this, they both put on their professional, yet casual hats, and responded at the same time to George.

"I'm ready."

Giggling at the silliness of the response she had been given and realizing the changes that had come about, e.g. the new hats, she dug out her notebook and a pen and prepared to start the worst interview in her entire young and relatively sheltered life. Hoping for the best, but fearing the absolute worst, she began.

"Okay, as you know, I have this paper to write for my Personal relations class... I am supposed to interview the two most important people in my life. And here we are... so without further ado, shall I start? Okay, let me first tell you why I chose you. Will you are my brother, and without you I do not know where I would be at this time... You have been the best brother a sister could have and I look up to you with admiration, pride and love." Having said this, she noticed the look on Lizzy's face. It was confusion mixed with admiration and longing. Her brother, on the other hand, was looking rather smug and proud. George knew that she had to wipe that smarta&^ look off his face, so she started in for Lizzy.

"Lizzy, you are here, because you are the best friend a girl could have. You saved my sorry skin from a very scary ordeal and you were with me as I rose above it. I like to think, that if I had a sister, she would be you." George knew she laid it on rather thick, and was not at all sure that her brother would understand all the innuendoes, but looking at Lizzy, George knew she had heard and understood. The look on Lizzy's face was enough to send her under the table. George knew she could not stop now, so with a determination she had not known before, she continued.

George glanced at her brother and noticed a look bordering on bewilderment. She knew that she should have told Will about the thing at McDonalds, but she never came upon the right time. And now was definitely not he right time. She would fill him in later and shot him a look that conveyed just that.

Will was visibly confused, and about to open his mouth to say just that, when upon receiving George's look, was silenced.

George went on, "You two are the most important people in my life and I want you both to know that I love you dearly. So, I am gonna ask a question, and you both will get to answer it. There will be some questions for each of you individually, but most of them will be for both of you...we were supposed to come up with our own question for this assignment, so some of them might seem a little weird."

"Shall we begin?"

Continued in Next Section