One Word From You: A Pride and Prejudice Adaptation

by Natalie Penna

  “What are you doing?” I asked him incredulously.

  “I thought we should dance.”

  I raised a brow, “Do you actually know how to dance?”

  “It can't be that hard.”

  “Well, practice with someone else. It's weird, and I'd rather talk with people my own age.”

  “Do you know anyone else here well enough to talk to?” he asked.

  I was about to concede that I didn't, when I spotted a familiar face in the crowd. I didn't offer Wyatt any parting words, or apologies, and practically ran to Georgia. Trust me, it was difficult in the heels Chrissy had made me wear. But I was really happy to see her. I tottered to a halt in front of her and beamed, “I am so glad you're here!”

  “Me too. I was running out of people to pretend to talk to,” she confessed.

  Unfortunately, I hadn't lost Wyatt. He stalked up behind me, and noisily cleared my throat. Although he was one of Georgia's teachers, I knew that the proper rules of courtesy had to be observed in a place like Charlie's house. I let out a soft sigh, and in monotone introduced, “Georgia, this is Wyatt. Wyatt, this is Georgia. Wyatt is my ex-brother. He insisted on joining us this evening.”

  Wyatt spared her a brief smile, that being all the civility he could muster while I was being so rude. He said firmly, “Elisa is under my care tonight, so she'll be in my company. And I think we're about to dance.”

  I mouthed help at Georgia as I was dragged away. Unhelpfully, she laughed behind her hand. Of course she did, she was my friend after all. I might have done the same were she in my place. That's just how we were. I really wished we weren't, though. Then, I might have been spared Wyatt's clumsy feet and sweaty hands.

  He really couldn't dance.

  Some people were just cutely out of time, and would make their apologies, then give up. Wyatt insisted on stepping on my toes for two whole songs, and not once said he was sorry for the agony he was causing me. By the time he was done, I had to go and find a place to sit down. Fortunately, it was close to a few good looking boys. I didn't know any of them, but I wasn't going to complain. They didn't attend our school, and must have been Charlie's friends from the last one. Well, at least they were better company than Wyatt. He'd found himself some adults to impose on, and they were more than welcome to him.

  “Here,” Georgia held out a drink to me when she arrived, “Sorry about before.”

  “No you're not.”

  “No,” she grinned, “I'm not. How are your feet?”

  “Swollen, I think. God, can you believe that idiot followed me here? I mean, some people have no sense of – well – anything!”

  “It could be worse. You could have been dancing with William.”

  “Yeah, true,” I muttered, “I imagine Chantelle will be stuck to him like glue. I mean, I don't like him, but no one deserves that.”

  “Actually, the last I saw of him, he was talking to Jenny.”

  “Poor her.”

  Georgia shrugged, “I don't know. It looked like he was being pretty nice to her. Then again, Charlie was there.”

  “Which will be the only reason why he's talking to her at all. Seriously, he should have stayed at his own school if he hates being around us so much.”

  “He probably just wanted to be with his friend. Anyway, it's not like it's anything to us, right? Come on, why don't you come and dance with me?”

  I smirked, “Slow dance? We could make some people really uncomfortable with that.”

  Georgia laughed, “I was thinking more of a group of us. I'm way out of your league, you know that.”

  I held my hand over my chest, “Oh God, right in my feelings! That hurts.”

  “You're such a loser,” she joked.

  “I know. Still, I'm not as bad as Wyatt.”

  “I doubt there are many people as bad as he is,” William observed.

  I nearly jumped out of my skin. I hadn't seen him walking over, but I was actively avoiding his company. I did hope that he hadn't heard any of the bad things I had to say about him. Not that I had any problem with my opinions of William. I just didn't want to start a huge argument in Charlie's house. It would make things difficult for Jenny if I caused a rift between us and them.

  I cleared my throat gently, “It's a good party. Sorry that moron came along.”

  “If you want to make it up to us, then you can come and dance with me.”

  Did I hear that right?

  I opened and closed my mouth a few times. I wasn't sure if he was joking or not. If he was, then I really didn't get it. I mean, it wasn't like he could humiliate me any more than Wyatt had. Plus, William was clearly concerned about his public image. If he wasn't, then he wouldn't willingly spend time in Chantelle's company. She was popular, and that was about the only advantage to being around her. And even that didn't seem quite worth it.

  “Er – well – that's -”

  “I'll take that as a yes, shall I?” he asked, and offered his hand.

  Georgia was quick to relieve me of my glass, and motioned in a completely unsubtle way that I should hurry. I was so nonplussed by the idea of dancing with him, that I was on my feet before I knew what I was doing. William closed his fingers around mine, and led me into the throng of couples already swaying to a song. I thought I might be lucky enough to only spare a minute with him if it had been playing a while. But the music switched over just as we came to a halt, and then started up with a new rhythm.

  Damn it.

  I was prepared for a decent amount of distance between us. The sort of slow dance usually seen at weddings between awkward new in-laws was what I had in mind. William didn't. He pulled me so close I almost fell onto him, and stepped purposefully in time with the music. I was so busy praying to whatever God might be present to let me get through it alive, that I barely registered him trying to engage me in conversation.

  “Blake?”

  “Huh?”

  “Were you listening?”

  “Not even slightly,” I said, unabashed at my disinterest in him.

  William sighed. I thought he might snap at me, but he held himself together pretty well to say he hated me. After calming himself, he asked again, “Are you having a good evening?”

  “It would be better if Wyatt would leave me alone.”

  “I noticed that his dancing leaves a lot to be desired.”

  “Yeah, I might need an x-ray on my feet tomorrow,” I agreed, “I can't believe I have to put up with him until the end of the school year. Wait – why am I even talking to you about this?”

  “Because we're having a polite conversation.”

  “What's that about?” I asked, “You hate me.”

  He let out a short breath through his nose, “Hate is a strong word. You're not my favourite person in the world, but Charlie seems to like your company.”

  “Wow,” I smirked, “What a massive sacrifice you're making for your friend by dancing with me. I'll try not to make it too painful for you.”

  “I don't mind talking to you, if that's a habit you have when you dance with people.”

  “Given I don't usually dance with anyone, I can't say I have anything like a habit when I do. Usually I just hope that it'll be over pretty quickly.”

  “In that case, I'm going to make you dance the next one with me as well.”

  Git.

  Lisa and Chrissy were making total spectacles of themselves on the dance floor. They skipped carelessly past us, bumping into me on the way. I fell against William's chest, and he brought his arms around me securely. The heat flew to my cheeks so quickly I got light-headed. I tried to ease myself away, but he was too busy glaring after the idiots to notice. He muttered something under his breath I didn't quite catch, and that was for the best I imagined. It can't have been anything polite.

  “Think you could let me go?” I asked, “If Chantelle sees this, she's going to claw my eyes out.”

  “Whether she sees it or not, it's not her business.”

  “Yeah, but I'
d still like to keep my eyes in my face,” I said, and wriggled free. Well, as free as I was going to get while we were still locked in the dance together. We returned to the gentle sway that seemed so popular with people who were using the music as an excuse for some physical contact with the opposite sex.

  Had my partner been Gideon, I wouldn't have minded it so much.

  “So... Do you usually walk around the back routes of the school?”

  “What?”

  “When Charlie and I saw you, you were -”

  “Oh, you mean when I was talking to Gideon?”

  He visibly bristled.

  I couldn't resist adding, “Sorry, I should call him Mr. Wilson, but he asked me to use his first name. I sort of fell into him, and we just got chatting. He's a nice guy.”

  “I suppose he would seem to be one if you don't know him that well.”

  “Maybe I should get to know him better, then,” I mused aloud.

  His eye actually twitched at my suggestion. Dancing with him hadn't been a total loss, after all. While I couldn't openly accuse him of anything, it was fun to hint that I knew something had happened between them. It felt like a victory was being scored on Gideon's behalf. If he wasn't prepared to stand up to someone like William, then this was the least I could do.

  William looked away, and said, “I suppose everyone has different tastes when it comes to the company they keep.”

  “Are we still talking about Gideon, or are you talking about my other friends?”

  “I wouldn't look down on Jenny, if that's what you're worried about. She and Charlie seem to have become fast friends already.”

  “More than friends,” I muttered.

  William caught on, and soon his gaze was fixed on Jenny and Charlie. I didn't think he could oppose any attachment they felt to one another. She came from a good family. Okay, so she didn't have the same kind of superiority in her that Chantelle did, but I thought that was in her favour. She was a kind girl, and any guy would be lucky to have her. Not that she was forward enough to make a move on anyone. I was determined to push them to one another, though. I didn't think she'd find another guy that complimented her so well.

  “I hope,” I said, “That you're not the type of person that judges people too quickly.”

  “Obviously not.”

  “And you wouldn't think less of anyone for stupid reasons.”

  “No, I wouldn't.”

  “So you wouldn't stoop to anything that might be beneath you, just to get back at someone. Right?”

  “What's with all the questions?” William asked.

  I shrugged nonchalantly, “I'm just trying to understand you better. Is that a crime?”

  “It's not. But I doubt you're getting a good idea of the kind of person I am like that.”

  “I'm getting enough. Plus, the music's stopped. That means I'm free, doesn't it?”

  “I didn't realise I was making you feel trapped. Thanks for the dance, Blake.”

  I wasn't going to return his feelings of gratitude, not when he couldn't even address me by my first name. I couldn't get away from William fast enough, and walked straight into Chantelle. So much for the night being fun. It was turning into something from my nightmares. I wished I'd stayed in the dorm, and had an early night.

  “Blake,” she said with a false smile, “I heard that you've been talking with Gideon Wilson.”

  “Yes, Chantelle. He's a teacher. It's hard to avoid at school, you know?”

  She didn't take offense to my tone, regrettably. In fact, I could have sworn that my annoyance only served to please her. She placed a hand on my shoulder in a consoling fashion, “I don't really like you, Blake.”

  “No! Really?”

  “But I will give you some free advice. Don't believe everything Gideon Wilson tells you. I don't know all the details, but I know that there's a damn good reason he didn't keep his last job. And he's not even rich or anything. His parents worked for William's father. From what I've heard, they weren't so bad, but he's nothing like them.”

  “So – basically – I should ignore him because he's poor, and his parents were employed by someone? He told me all of that, and I didn't turn my nose up at it. Do you know why? Because I'm not a total snob.”

  She narrowed her eyes, and pulled her hand away slowly, “Fine. Don't take my advice. I was just trying to help.”

  “I seriously doubt that.”

  Chapter Eleven

  The folly which he must have witnessed.

  I wished I could have boasted that the evening improved after I separated myself from William and Chantelle. Being away from them both was a step in the right direction, to be sure, but it didn't mean the ordeal was quite over. I felt bad about taking Jenny away from Charlie, but I needed her more than he did at that moment. Besides, he had to talk to his other guests, and he'd be accused of neglecting them if he didn't leave her side all night.

  “Did you ask him anything?”

  She shook her head, “Nothing really in depth. I don't think Charlie knows anything about what happened. Just that William did the right thing regarding Gideon.”

  “The right thing?” I asked, “Look, I get that he's going to believe his friend, and it's great that he's so loyal. That does Charlie a serious amount of credit. But that doesn't mean William hasn't lied to him about what happened.”

  “You're not going to change your opinion, are you?”

  “Nope.”

  Jenny let out a short, frustrated breath through her nose. I was too stubborn over things, but in this case I was convinced that Gideon had really suffered because of William's childishness. And he was so cruel, that he'd lied to his best friend about what he'd done. Charlie was going to be furious when he found out. I'd have told him myself if I thought it was my place to do so.

  Wyatt soon tracked us down, and asked me loudly over the music, “That boy you were dancing with, was that William Davies?”

  “Yes...”

  “Is he related to Mum's new husband?”

  “Er... I think so,” I said, as I recalled what Gideon had told me, “Not closely, though. Why?”

  “I should introduce myself to him. His aunt is high up in society, and the last time I met her, she seemed impressed with me.”

  “I really don't think he would care, Wyatt. Leave him alone.”

  As much as I hated William, I wasn't going to subject him to the idiot in the middle of a party.

  “No, he would definitely want to meet me.”

  “ If I pay you, will you stay away from him?” I pleaded.

  Apparently not.

  Wyatt ignored me for the first time, and strode to William. I couldn't stand to see the spectacle he was about to make of himself. The guy was going to be left feeling like a total idiot, and I'd have to share in the second hand embarrassment of it. I had no doubt that he'd tell William we were related, even though we weren't. I took a firm hold of Jenny's hand, and begged, “Dance with me? I can't watch this happen.”

  Whether I wanted to or not, I was still going to hear it. Not that I could make out specific words, but Wyatt's voice was unmistakable. I threw myself into dancing with Jenny. It was a fast paced song, and that really helped. I was hardly the best dancer in the world, but even I knew how to throw up my hands and shake my hips. Lisa and Chrissy were still racing around, bumping into people, and shrieking with laughter like a couple of children. The only one of us who appeared to be behaving was Meg. She was walking around in a daze as usual, her headphones in as she listened to whichever audio book she was into at the time.

  I just wished she'd learn to look where she was walking.

  Without any hesitation at all, she wandered straight into Chantelle. It might not have been so terrible, had she not been holding a glass of punch at the time. The drink was upset all over her beautiful white dress, leaving an ugly red stain across her chest. Meg jumped out of her skin when she saw what she'd done, and scuttled away before she could be shouted at. Other guests fussed over Cha
ntelle, and Meg came to cower behind Jenny and I.

  “Maybe it's time for us to leave,” I said to my friend, “I don't think it's possible for us to ruin this night any more than we have already, but I'd rather not take the risk.”

  Jenny nodded in agreement. Finding Chrissy and Lisa wasn't hard. We just had to follow the sound of complete idiocy. Convincing them to go was more difficult, but when they saw the state of Chantelle, they were quick to join us in our opinion that the night was over. I called us a cab in the hall, and it was soon waiting at the gates. I was glad my friends were rich, because I had no way of paying for the ride back to school.