Posted on 2012-07-04

Lizzie had just about had enough of the residents of Netherfield. If it wasn't for the fact that her sister was still sick, she would have left, but she wasn't about to leave them in charge of her sister's recovery.

Lizzie had first arrived when she found out that Jane had been convinced to have her recovery at Netherfield after having caught cold there while visiting for dinner. Although she could have returned, she was convinced to stay to aid in her recovery.

When Lizzie first got the note about Jane's stay, she thought it would be better for Jane to come home to recuperate, but then after one of her mother's outbursts and then her sister's fighting, along with Mary's 'piano recital', she decided the only way Jane would get the rest she needed would be in the quiet of Netherfield. Not trusting in the Superior Sister's care of Jane, she decided to go over and help her sister recover.

However, as time went on she found that although she was glad to help Jane, she was beginning to wish that she was back home. The Superior Sisters were everything that was condescending and Mr. Darcy… what was he all about? When he wasn't staring out of the window, ignoring them, he was glaring at her. She didn't fault him for staring, after all, the view was magnificent, and given the choice between the beautiful colors of the snow topped Cascades near Leavenworth over the gaudy oranges that Caroline liked to wear, who wouldn't spend their time looking at the window at the surrounding mountains. But when he did look elsewhere, all he did was glare and mostly at her. What was that about?

She had stayed there for four days and wasn't sure how much longer she could stay and keep her sanity. Jane was doing better and was even spending time with them at meals and during the evening, so she felt it safe to suggest going home the next day.

Jane, being affable and wanting Lizzie to be happy, agreed, but Lizzie could tell that she really wanted to spend more time with Charles. Who wouldn't, Lizzie thought, he was everything that was likeable and courteous. The only thing she couldn't figure out about him was why was he so different than his sisters, or even his friend? Did they stand in the wrong line when God was giving out good manners and went for seconds in the condescending line?

Oh well, this couldn't last much longer, Lizzie realized, and went back to her book.

Today would provide a little break, they were having a BBQ outside near the pool. The sisters had had one of the local caterer's take care of all the food, but claiming that they wanted Jane to feel welcome, rather loudly make sure that the caterer would serve what the "middle-class" folk eat. "No caviar", Caroline had said, she wanted simple food, Hot Dogs and beans, junk food, and cans of soft drinks.

The caterer had set-up mid-morning and had been running the BBQ since then keeping them amply supplied with food. Lizzie, although she felt the condensation flowing from the Bingley ladies and their high-class friend, enjoyed the meal. This is how a picnic should be.

The day progressed on and they were all lounging around the pool in the shade trying to enjoy themselves. Darcy was given up trying to read and was instead trying to write a letter. Caroline in her bright orange dress and matching white hat with orange flowers festooned on it, was desperately trying to get his attention.

Of course, she had his attention, but it was more of a game to Darcy to see how much he could ignore her as she tried to get his attention. He would purposely move one way in order to get her to maneuver a different way. She even once got Elizabeth to get up and walk around with her and he purposely followed them with his eyes then. This worked out to his best. He liked to stare at Elizabeth and since he knew this would upset Caroline, it served both his goals quite nicely.

Once Elizabeth had sat down, he gave up his letter writing and tried reading his book again. Caroline, apparently exhausted by the short trip around the pool, sat down in the shade and promptly went to sleep.

Finally he would get a chance to read his book, and also service his purpose of secretly watching Elizabeth during page turns. However the last time he looked up, she caught his attention.

Lizzie was tired of the attention of both the condescending Caroline and the arrogant Mr Darcy and was looking to have some fun. When she sat down after their "turn around the pool", she tried to sit as far away from the two of them as possible and ending up putting herself right next to the snack food.

This didn't create a problem for Lizzie, she liked snack foods, especially CHEETOS® *, which they had in abundance. She had heard Caroline make a specific request from the caterers for it saying that she had read some where that it was the favorite of the middle class, so there needed to be plenty of it. As a result the waiters were always refilling the bowls, much to Caroline's giggles.

Caroline had proceeded to giggle again when she saw Lizzie sit down next to the bowl. Lizzie looked up and saw Caroline's smirking giggles and raised up the Cheeto as a form of a toast. Caroline shook her head and looked over at Darcy to show him that she was not one of the commoners. Her plan had been going so well, now Darcy could see what a high class woman was like, not a Cheeto eating middle class woman. Darcy smiled back as she sat down.

Darcy was smiling alright, he could tell that Elizabeth had had just about enough of Caroline and by the glint in her eye, she had a plan. He loved studying her and could tell when she had something up her sleeve. He raised his book back up so that it would appear that he was reading, when in reality he could glance over at Elizabeth.

Lizzie saw her opportunity. Caroline's "little joke" about the middle class Cheetos, would turn into Lizzie's revenge. Lizzie selected a Cheeto and took aim and "ping" it landed on Caroline's hat. "Two points" thought Lizzie. Looking around the room and seeing that nobody else was paying attention, she selected another one and shot again. This landed on Caroline's dress. The bright orange pattern was such that the orange Cheeto powder blended right into Caroline's dress, unlike the mess it made on Caroline's white hat. "This is just too fun" thought Lizzie. However, as she prepared to sling another one, something caught her eye… there was a Cheeto already flying it's way over to Caroline's hat and had landed quite nicely in the center. 'Where did that come from?' Lizzie pondered. She looked around, but everybody was busy reading, sleeping, or playing with their bracelets.

Deciding she must have imagined it, she let hers fly and it also landed in Caroline's hat. But behold, another one came flying in immediately after hers.

"I knew I wasn't imagining that, where did that Cheeto come from?" Lizzie thought. Lizzie looked around, but everybody was still reading, sleeping, or playing with their bracelets. 'I'll pay more attention this time', Lizzie thought. She took her Cheeto, aimed it and as it as about to land on Caroline's hat, another Cheeto came flying through the air and knocked her Cheeto out of the air and onto Caroline's dress. 'Hey, I had that shot' thought Lizzie, as she looked around. However, everybody was still busy reading, sleeping, or playing with their bracelets. Lizzie was puzzled, it was out of character for anybody in the room to have been playing her game, but clearly, somebody was.

Lizzie thought about it and looked around. Based on the trajectory and the angle of attack it could have come from only one source - Darcy. Darcy? That didn't make sense. Darcy, although it was clear he didn't like Caroline would never act "middle class" and certainly wouldn't condescend to play the 'Cheeto' game with her. Or would he? But, it could have come from no where else. As she stared over at him trying to puzzle him out, she saw the book start to shake and then slowly it was lowered and she saw the top of a Cheeto begin to appear followed by the laughing eyes of Darcy.

Ah ha! So it was him! Why would he do this? Especially with her, why would he condescend to her 'middle class' games? Well, two could play this game, we'll see who is the victor when this is over…

Darcy was smiling behind his book. He realized that Elizabeth had figured out who had joined her in this game and was pleased with first the puzzled look on her face and then the smile. He could tell she wanted him to take the next shot, so he took aim and threw. Her shot caught his as it arrived at Caroline's head and hit her on the nose, causing her to awaken.

For affect, Lizzie let out a "Mr Darcy!" and then proceeded to smile at Caroline, who woke with a start.

Caroline, trying to come awake as quickly as possible so that Darcy wouldn't realize she had fallen asleep, reached down to smooth out her dress, causing both Darcy and Lizzie to smile at her. Caroline was too busy being pleased with the attention of Darcy to notice that Eliza was also smiling at her. Since she had his attention, she decided to make another turn around the pool.

As she approached him, he couldn't help but smile at the Cheeto marked dress Caroline was wearing and commented about what a lovely color her dress was, causing Eliza to start laughing. What was so funny to Eliza? Caroline thought. Deciding it was just that Eliza wasn't used to being with the upper class and she must be feeling her inadequacy, she decided to ignore Eliza, and made another circle around the room. At which time the clock chimed 4 pm and Caroline announced that tea was served.

Lizzie and Darcy both got up and headed out the door, arriving at the door at the same time. "I knew you would be a formidable opponent, what with your aeronautical engineering degree, I knew you would be able to calculate airspeed, angle of attack and power needed to make those shots." Said Darcy as they met.

Lizzie looked at him, puzzled by his frivolity. She would have to investigate this side of Darcy. Maybe she had him all wrong.

"I too knew you would be a formidable opponent as well since with you "lumber baron" background, you could use your knowledge of felling trees to know how to interrupt my shots."

Darcy smiled and Lizzie knew she had to get to know him better. "Shall we try with the baby carrots? I mentioned to Caroline that the middle class love eating baby carrots with their tea, so I'm sure we will have them available for ammunition."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Miss Bennet," said Darcy, who held out his arm and escorted her into the dining room.

As expected Caroline had Darcy and Lizzie sitting far apart. They used this to their advantage and took turns distracting Caroline as the other took their shot at her hat with a baby carrot.

Meanwhile, Caroline was thrilled. 'Mr Darcy is paying me so much attention, complimenting me on my dress and staring at my hat and I believe that Eliza is starting to think of me as a role model what with all the questions she is directing at me and distracting me from Mr. Darcy. I am finally nearing my goal of securing my place as his wife and becoming a role model in any community. I just wish I knew why I keep feeling these little pangs on my head, it's giving me a quite a headache.

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