Jump to new as of October 2, 1999
Jump to new as of October 16, 1999
This story is based on the Nora Ephron movie "You've Got Mail".
Chapter 1 Elizabeth drowsily rolled out of bed, and clicked her alarm clock off. The smell of hot bacon and eggs wafted its way toward her bedroom. Elizabeth pulled her robe on, and hurried to the kitchen, where her older sister Jane was just getting breakfast on the table.
Elizabeth and Jane shared their New York City apartment. Neither of them was married, but Jane was engaged, to a man named Charles Bingley. The wedding was to take place in two months. Elizabeth was to be bridesmaid, but was not anxious for the wedding date. She knew she would be lonely when Elizabeth moved out.
Jane ate hurriedly, for she had to be at work by seven. Elizabeth, however, did not open her shop until eight. Elizabeth owned a small bookstore, the Shop Around the Corner. Jane worked as a pharmacist in Manhattan.
"Good-bye, Elizabeth!" Jane called on her way out the door.
"See ya!" returned Elizabeth. After washing the breakfast dishes and preparing for work, she flipped on her computer. Elizabeth had met a man in a chat room recently, and they had been corresponding. Elizabeth did not know his name, or residence other than New York, but she knew that they shared the same love for New York, and, somehow, knew that they were meant to be friends.
Elizabeth signed on to America Online, and was delighted to hear the words "You've Got Mail!" The letter was from him, her friend.
Hello! He wrote, How are you today? I am fine, especially since my walk in the park with Brinkley. Brinkley is my dog. He is so good-natured, and he seems to understand me. Brinkley and I take walks almost every morning. I like to sit in the park and watch people. New York is full of interesting people. I am a dull person, not very interesting at all.Sorry to keep this letter so short, but I am late for work.
I'll write later.
~Your Friend
Elizabeth glanced at her watch. It was seven thirty, the time she usually left for work. She owned a car, but if the weather was nice, she always walked to her shop.
By the time Elizabeth reached her little shop, it was eight fifty, almost time to open. Charlotte walked in just a few minutes after Elizabeth. The two women had been intimate friends since they were teenagers, and it had always been their dream to work together.
"Hi Charlotte," Elizabeth greeted her companion.
"Hey, Lizzie," Charlotte answered cheerfully. "What's new?"
"Well," Elizabeth said slowly. "I have a new friend."
"Really? A man?" Charlotte inquired.
Elizabeth nodded.
"So, what's he like?"
"I don't exactly know. You see, I met him online."
"Cool! An on-line romance!" Charlotte enthused.
"Charlotte! We're just---friends. Oh, here's our first customer. We'd better get busy."
William Darcy briskly walked down the street, toward a large, partially finished building.
"Hurry up, Darcy!" called a man, standing in front of the building. "I've been waiting for a quarter of an hour!"
"Sorry, Charles." Charles Bingley was among William's best friends. Charles was a co-owner of Pemberley Books.
"Sleep in or something?"
"No, I just had to type an e-mail."
"Who for?"
"A girl I met on-line, in a chat room."
"So, you've finally added some romance to your life!"
"No! We're just friends, really! I don't even know her name, or---or anything!"
"Well, why not?" Charles wanted to know.
"We agreed on not telling each other any personal, specific things. Like names, jobs, or residence. However, I do know that she lives here in New York."
"Maybe you can meet sometime!" Charles said, " And then you fall in love and live happily ever after-together."
"Charles, I have no intention of meeting this woman, much less marrying her. Now, there are several things that need to be done today..."
Chapter 2 Jane was asleep on the couch when Elizabeth got home that night. Poor thing, Elizabeth thought, I'll try to have dinner ready by the time she wakes up.
Elizabeth got dinner going, and then typed a note to her friend. Charlotte was on-line, so they chatted a while, until Elizabeth smelled her meat burning in the oven.
Oh, got to go, she typed, I'm burning my dinner! See ya!
Elizabeth thought about her friend all evening, and was so disappointed when she did mot hear those three words when she checked her e-mail.
He was probably working late, she thought. No, I bet he's caught in traffic. Or maybe he went to the movies, or, or something.
William Darcy tried to hurry home after work, but was held up in traffic. When he finally reached his house, he fixed dinner for himself and Brinkley, and then sat down at the computer.
William was happy to find Elizabeth's letter waiting for him.
Hello! Have you done anything interesting today? I worked. My friend Charlotte and I own a shop. Yes, I do remember. No specifics. Our business is going well at the moment. I am worried though. A huge store is being built, and I fear it will put my little shop out of business. Well, that's enough complaining for now.Talk to you later.
~Shopgirl
William typed a reply, and spent the rest of the night reading, and thinking.
William was in business with his father and brother. The trio was building a huge bookstore, in downtown New York City. The store, Pemberly Books, was due to open in a week.
Chapter 3 At last! William Darcy sighed. It was the day of the grand opening of Pemberly Books. They were having raffles, and giving away free books and food from the coffee shop.
William was in a hurry. He and all the store's employees had to be at work an hour early. They were still hiring, though they had most of the help they needed at the moment.
This certain day, William was irritated because his car had broken down and he would have to walk to work, or take a taxi. But he dared not risk getting caught in the traffic, especially on the day of the grand opening of the bookstore.
Elizabeth was in a hurry, also. She had overslept, and it was seven forty-five already.
Elizabeth was walking as fast as she could. Just as she turned a corner, she collided with a strange man.
"Oh, why don't you watch where you're going," he snarled.
"You're the one who wasn't watching, you idiot!" Elizabeth retorted. "Oh, I'm sorry, really. You aren't really an idiot."
"I should hope not! I'm William Darcy."
"I'm Elizabeth Bennet."
"Pleased to meet you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm on my way to work."
"Oh, so am I! Where do you work?"
"Pemberly books."
Elizabeth frowned. "Oh. Nice to meet you. Good day."
"Hey, what's the hurry? Where do you work."
"It is none of your business. Now, if you'll be so kind as to leave me alone, I am late for work."
Darcy let Elizabeth go, but followed at a distance. I shouldn't follow her, he thought. But I'm going that way anyway, he argued with himself. William watched Elizabeth from Pemberly Books, and saw her walk into the Shop Around the Corner, which was just down the street from his store.
So that's why she was so curt! My store is fixing to put her out of business! William thought.
Chapter 4 Elizabeth was very surprised when she walked into Jane's engagement party, and found Jane talking with William Darcy.
"Oh, Elizabeth! This is William Darcy, a friend of Charles'."
William stared at Elizabeth for a moment, and then said, "I believe we've met before, have we not, Miss Bennet?"
"I believe so, Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth replied, just as a woman trotted up to Mr. Darcy and took his arm.
"Oh, William, darling, who might this be?"
"Uh, um, this is Elizabeth Bennet. We just met yesterday. Elizabeth, this is Caroline Bingley."
"Hello," Caroline said, coolly.
"Hello, I am pleased to meet you," returned Elizabeth.
"Oh, well, come along, let's get some refreshments, dearest," Caroline said, and dragged Darcy off.
"When did you meet? I have not met him before today, he is a friend of Charles's." Jane asked.
"Later," Elizabeth answered.
"So, how is your business these days?" William Darcy asked Elizabeth.
"Absolutely awful, thanks to you," Elizabeth retorted.
"I was not saying that to anger you, I was merely trying to be polite."
"I did not know you were capable of being polite."
"Good evening, Miss Bennett. I really must be going. Caroline is anxious to get home."
"Goodnight."
Elizabeth left shortly after William, and walked home, feeling unhappy and lonely. At home, she flipped on her computer, so she could do some research on the internet.
Posted on Sunday, 29 August 1999
Almost as soon as she got on-line, she received a message asking if she would accept an instant message from NY152. It was HIM!
Elizabeth clicked the 'YES' button, rather nervously.
Hello, ShopGirl! William had written.
Elizabeth responded, Hello! How are you?
I'm fine. And you? William inquired.
Not so good , Elizabeth answered.
What is wrong? William asked. Perhaps you would feel better if you talked about it.
Well, remember when I told you about the store that would be opening soon, that would hurt my business? They had their grand opening today, and I fear that I have already begun to lose my customers. If this continues, I'll have to close my shop.
Jane came in just then.
Oh, got to go. Elizabeth typed. See ya!
Bye, ShopGirl, William answered, and signed off.
"Who was that?" Jane asked.
"Oh, just a friend," Elizabeth answered. "I think I'll go to bed now. I'm so tired."
Chapter 5 Posted on Friday, 15 October 1999
Two Weeks Later
Elizabeth had decided to close her little shop, and go to work as a secretary. The shop had already been sold, and this was the last day the shop would be open. Many of their customers had said how much they would miss the shop, and Elizabeth felt bad for giving it up. Elizabeth wiped away her tears as she locked the shop's doors for the last time that night. She would miss it, but she looked forward to her spring break, for she would not start her new job for two weeks.
When Elizabeth got home, she was not surprised to find an e-mail waiting for her. It was short, but after she had read it, she was quite nervous.
Dear ShopGirl,
Would you like to meet? I mean, in person, not just on-line. If you don't want to, feel free to say so; I don't want to put pressure on you. Write back soon.
-NY152
Elizabeth typed a short reply, and then lay down to rest for a while.
William checked his e-mail first thing after he got home that night. He had several, one of them from Elizabeth. He read that one first, and replied.
Hi!
I'm a little nervous about meeting, but I'll do it. 7:00 Friday night is a good night for me. You can pick the place. How will you know who I am, though? Write back soon!
~Shopgirl
Lizzy check her e-mail one last time before going to bed, and was not surprised to find and e-mail from her friend.
Hey girl!
Friday night it is. Let's meet at that little café down on 7th Street. I am quite looking forward to meeting you. How will I know who you are? Hmmm.... Bring a book, with a rose tucked in it. How's that?
Well, I'd better turn in for the night. See ya Friday!
NY152
Lizzy typed on last, very short e-mail.
OK, see ya Friday! Gosh, that's only two nights away! I really must admit, I'm kind of nervous about this. Are you?
I'd better go. It's almost two AM, and I start my new job in the morning!
Shopgirl
Chapter 6
Elizabeth was at the coffee shop by six thirty on Friday night. Meanwhile...
Charles Bingley accompanied Darcy to the shop.
"Just peek in the window, and see if she's there," William begged Charles. "She'll have a book with a rose tucked in it."
Charles wandered up to the window. "Yep, she's there all right!"
"Is she pretty? I can't bear to meet her if she's ugly, or old," Darcy muttered.
"Yeah, she's pretty all right. You know, she looks kind of like that...Elizabeth Bennett that you don't like."
"Oh, so what? A lot like her?"
"Yep. And I can tell you right now, if you don't like Lizzy Bennett, you ain't gonna like her."
"You mean, SHE is Lizzy Bennett?"
"Yup, that's what I mean!"
William ran to the window to see for himself. "It is her!" He groaned. "Now what?"
"Just go on in. You don't have to tell her you're the one who's been e-mailing her all this time."
"Very true," Darcy remarked. "Well, here goes!"
"Good luck!" Charles called.
"Thanks, I'll need it," Darcy returned as he made his way to the little shop.
Elizabeth looked up just as Darcy entered the shop. "Hello," she said coldly. "Here to meet someone?"
"Actually, no. Mind if I sit here?" Darcy said, pulling out the other chair at the table where Lizzy sat.
"Actually, yes, I do mind. I am here to meet someone. Now, if you'll kindly move away, I can go back to what I was doing."
"What were you doing?" William asked. "All I've seen you do is look up from that book every time you hear that bell on the door ring."
"I was reading, before you came in." Lizzy paused, and looked up in time to see a man dressed as a vampire walk in the door. She was relieved that he took no notice of her. "Could you please move?" She burst out.
Darcy, unabashed, got up and sat down directly behind Lizzy.