by Alicia

Rating: PG

Summary: When Elizabeth Bennet goes off to college, she finds herself in a competition with Darcy for the best grades.


Chapter One

"I just don't know why you feel the need to go off to college. And medicine, Lizzy. How're you going to find someone to love you if your nose is always in a book? And what about Marcus? Lizzy, he asked you to marry him...."

"Fanny, leave Elizabeth alone." Elizabeth heard the exasperation in her father's voice. Ben winked at his daughter, "besides, if she takes all those pre-med classes she might fall in love with a doctor....and you know how much money they make."

"A doctor? You know I never even thought about that."

"Thanks dad," Elizabeth said passing her father in the hall. He ruffled her hair with his hand and started after her. "Do you have everything you need? "

"Yes," Elizabeth joked lifting her suitcase, "I've got my "Who's Who of Young Eligible Pre-med Majors" and I have my "How to Catch a Husband Handbook."

She heard the horn and stopped to kiss her father's cheek. "Remember to watch the cholesterol levels and don't work so hard." She ended her sentence with a finger poke in her father's chest. "You watch that heart of yours?"

"I'll be good," he promised, then somberly, "Lizzy-Bear be sure to watch your heart, too." Elizabeth hugged her father tight suppressing tears that threatened to flow.

"All ready?" called Jane from the porch.

"Yes," Elizabeth lugged her final suitcase outside. "I really appreciate this, Jane."

"No problem. I'm glad for the company." Both of Jane's parents were off jet setting the world. Her mom, Lola, was in Cancun last time she bothered to call and her father, Tiger, was in Paris closing another business deal. Staring over the roof of the blue Honda Prelude, Elizabeth was convinced that Jane Gardner was the most beautiful girl in the entire state of Kentucky. She had the color of wheat and the startling blue eyes.

"Why are you looking at me that way, Lizzy?"

"I am envious. I bet you rolled out of bed and flopped into your clothes and here you are looking like god's gift to men. Me, " Elizabeth gestured down at herself, "I don't stand a chance against you."

Jane laughed. "Well, I know two dashing, eligible young males who are dying to meet you. Remember my cousins Richard and Darcy are going to be at Xavier too."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about them" Elizabeth said teasing her best friend. "As if there was a chance in heaven...." Jane talked of little else in the last two months. Richard and Darcy. Mostly Darcy.

"Lizzy, I hope you like them."

"I'm sure I'm going to love them."

Elizabeth's first run on Xavier's campus was exhilarating. Breathing in the fresh scent of rain, she turned her head upward. Catching a few raindrops in her mouth, she pulled her cap over her auburn ponytail. Listening happily to the familiar slap-slap of her shoes hitting the pavement, she was thrilled to feel her muscles in her legs and arms. As she turned up the base of Davis Hill, a jeep passing her on the street drenched her. It sent a high flash of muddy water clear up to her shoulders. She stared with fury at the passing vehicle, but then her sense of humor got the better of her. She smiled then chuckled and then picked up her pass. With each passing car, Elizabeth felt the mud and rainwater drench her legs. She laughed. It felt so good. She turned down Forrest Ave. with a sense of exhilaration. She couldn't wait to take a shower and meet Jane for lunch at the quad. Slowing in front of the gym, she began her stretches. All the tension about the first days of college had evaporated.

"Oh, you are too funny," squealed a high pitch voice. Elizabeth realized that she had company and looked up at the trio on the staircase. The blonde woman, who owned the voice, was as pretty as Jane was but she was more voluptuous. Or rather, her clothes were a size too small. Elizabeth smiled to herself. The two men with her drew Elizabeth's attention. The blonde was leaning against the railing holding a basketball, while the dark one and leaning against the gymnasium wall. He looked as if he was holding up the world. Both were well built and tan.

"So," the blonde male questioned the dark male. "A woman is ahead of you in class standing. How are you going to handle the competition?"

"Competition?" The dark male one laughed, "like I should be afraid of a woman?"

Elizabeth looked up insulted by the man's words and saw the blonde smile at the dark man as if he was the extoller of world truth. Did she have no pride at all to let her sex be demeaned? Elizabeth stretched her legs again. This was really none of her concern. She considered leaving but then she heard her name. "Elizabeth Bennet is not only brilliant" The dark haired man continued, "But she turned down Harvard to come here." They are talking about me!!! Unconsciously, she moved her head closer. He continued, "Did you see that picture in the freshman handbook? She wouldn't tempt me if she were the last woman on earth." Elizabeth seethed. Then, she remembered the picture. True, it was dreadful. But, still.....

The blonde woman laughed again, "I'm glad I don't look a thing like her."

"It is my general observation that," the dark one stated, "intelligent women usually look likes shrews. But, this one looks like she has too much testosterone.....I bet she even shaves..." Elizabeth mouth fell open in spite of herself. Her green eyes glittering. How this man was going to rue this day. After all, she mused, only an ugly girl would have the time to contemplate a fitting revenge.

"Now come on you two," the blonde male said, "a lot of women athletes are quite beautiful. Maybe it's just a bad picture. I'm sure she is really a nice." She smiled at being called "nice."

The dark haired male laughed, "She would have to be nice to make up for a face like that..."

Interrupting his next insult of her persona, the gymnasium doors opened. Her relief was short lived when she saw the two guys who exited the gymnasium. Elizabeth immediately recognized them as founding members of Xavier University's very own Jane Gardner fan club. One, she thought his name was Charles, yelled to her, "Hey, Elizabeth Bennet, where have you been hiding out at?" The trio on the staircase turned to notice her for the first time. She wished the ground would open up and swallow her. Charles's partner in crime, Michael added, "You really should save the mud bath for the spa, love."

"Gee, thanks, Mikey." Charles' easy going roommate stuck his tongue out at her. She took the stairs two at a time feeling her muscles working. As she passed Charles and Michael, she said, " I think I will take that advice next time...only if you join me." Michael blushed beat red and she stuck her tongue out at him.

At the top of the staircase, she turned and locked eyes with the obnoxious male. At any other time, she would have probably swooned. He had been cute from a distance, but close up he was positively the best man she had ever seen in her entire life. His black curls framed a very strong and wise pair of brown eyes. Long lashes and everything! It was such a waste to be gorgeous and a jerk. There should be some sort of law. Smiling sweetly, she felt a sense of gratification when she noticed his obvious embarrassment. She should just pass them right up and not say a word, but that small voice she usually ignored got the best of her. "You know it is my general observation that rude, obnoxious men should really stick with classy women..." She glanced pointedly at the blonde. "Someone like you...." She paused for effect, "Couldn't handle a woman like me. In fact, you wouldn't be able to keep up with me."

Elizabeth loved the expression that passed over blonde woman's face. She just stood there opening her mouth and closing it a few times...looking very much like a guppy out of water. Shaking her head, Elizabeth was through the door laughing before any of them could recover. The dark man watched the woman with flashing green eyes until the door divided them. Even after she was out of sight, he could hear her mocking laughter. A smile played on his lips.

Elizabeth skipped down the steps to the locker room and retrieved her toiletries from her locker. She took off one mud-covered sneaker then the other and stopped when she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror on her locker. Mud was caked not only on her arms and legs, but it hung in globs from her hat and it had splattered on her face. Yuck! She indeed did look like she had tried to bathe in mud. Oh, she must have made one heck of an impression about women athletes....again, laughter bubbled out of her as headed for a well deserved hot shower. After all, even shrews had to eat lunch!

Forty-five minutes later, she was opening the door to the Pub. It had only taken three days for both Elizabeth and Jane to decide that The Pub was their favorite hangout. Its main appeal was cozy booths and a cramped dance floor. Jane liked the quaint ease of the restaurant: The checked table clothes, the old fashion jukebox and the cheap beer. Elizabeth loved the pizza.

She found Jane immediately and tried not to smile. Sometimes her best friend's motives were so transparent. Ever since graduation and her breakup with Marcus, Jane had been playing matchmaker. She really wouldn't be surprised if one or both of the "cousins" just happened to drop by for lunch with them. Jane had been a little too anxious for her to look "her very best." Jane confirmed her suspicions upon sight. "Oh, you did wear your green shirt! You are going to have them eating out of your hands."

"Them?" Elizabeth's eyebrow arched, teasing. "And just who might them be?"

"I invited Richard and Darcy." Trying to quell any concerns Elizabeth might feel, Jane continued in her sweet sincerity. "I really hope you don't mind....They would never let me live it down if I didn't give them first crack at my amazing roommate......"

"I guess I am lucky I got here first, then," Elizabeth said sliding into the booth across from Jane putting on a fake pout. "I don't feel very amazing. You need to do major damage control."

"Damage control?" Her roommate laughed.

"You will not believe what happened to me before I got here." Elizabeth said as she put her bag under the table. She told Jane about the rude dark haired man at the gymnasium. "And to beat all Jane, before I disappear into oblivion without detection..... Michael and Charles come out of the gym and announce to the entire quad my identity. Jane we really must begin to do background checks on your fan club members....there is something severely wrong with that Michael character....."

"What did you do?" Jane said more interested in her friend's story than her admirers. Jane loved it when Elizabeth told her stories....always had since they were little girls. "Well, you know how I usually walk away from confrontation..." Jane nearly chocked on her Evian. Elizabeth smiled sheepishly at Jane's response. "Okay! All right! I actually walked right up to the jerk and said that I did indeed believe that he should stick to "classy" women." She laughed at the memory of the blonde woman's face. After recovering herself, she said. "I think I'll go to the bathroom and see if my mustache has grown in....it's about time for another waxing." She heard Jane gasping for air as she walked away from the table.

After running a brush through her hair and adding lip-gloss, she felt about as ready as she would ever be to meet Jane's cousins. She had heard a lot about them. Both were funny. Both liked Basketball. But, there was something different when Jane talked about her cousin Darcy. He was the one who had taught her how to play pool, he was the one who had helped her through her mother's frequent marriages, he was the one who was brave enough to teach Jane to drive a stick shift (though, Elizabeth still doubted the quality of those lessons) and he was the one who had talked Jane into going to college instead of that tour of Europe she threatened to take to get away from her mother. For those reasons and more, Elizabeth owed him. No doubt about it, Darcy was Jane's favorite cousin and Elizabeth believed he would be hers too. Anyone Jane loved so fervently was someone she wanted to get to know. She was going to do everything in her power to make Darcy Williams like her. At her reflection, she smiled shyly. Not bad for a testosterone overdosed shrew growing a mustache.

Elizabeth was chuckling to herself as she made her way back to the table a few minutes later. She noticed that there were two additions to their booth. The infamous "cousins" had arrived. Both had their backs to her and were in a deep conversation with Jane. She tried to quell the nervous feeling in her stomach. How bad could they be?

"Oh, Lizzy there you are. These are my cousins...." Elizabeth halted. She felt her cheeks blaze when her eyes collided with familiar brown ones. She was a little surprised to find in them not a trace of recognition. She quickly scanned the blonde's face and could find none on his either. Her tension evaporated and a smile curled her lips. It was days like these that made one glad to be alive. Oh, this was going to be fun!

The dark haired cousin was the first to his feet extending a hand in greeting. "It is a pleasure to finally meet Jane's best friend."

"The pleasure I am sure is all mine." She saw him smile and a jolt went through her. She had to remind herself of her mission....revenge. She decided to focus her attention on a safer target for the time being....The blonde cousin. After all, he was the one who had thought she was going to be nice. She did so like to live up to expectations. She slid into the booth next to blonde earning a very warm smile. "Jane talks of little else but you...."

"Lizzy, that's Richard Fritz." Jane sounded disappointed at her choice. "This is Darcy Williams." Elizabeth almost groaned aloud as her eyes swept over his face disappointed to find it still handsome. Just my luck! Oh, well. Let the games begin.... She smiled at Darcy sweetly. "Interesting name." She looked at him long enough to register his shocked expression, then she turned back to Richard. "So, you're the one who drives all the woman crazy ?"

"Not all the woman." Her subject blushed. "Maybe some...here and there." She knew if she looked at Jane at that moment, she would collapse into a fit of laughter. She tried small talk. "So, is Xavier a big stretch from life in CT?"

"I'm not from CT. I'm actually from a town called Waynesville, NY..."

"You're Richard Fritz from Waynesville, NY? " Seeing the admiration glow in her eyes, Darcy felt something twist in him. "You were Mr. NY in basketball last year." Richard nodded and she continued quickly. "My cousin went to Hudson High School and....Wow! I can't believe you are Jane's cousin...."

"Who is your cousin?"

"Evan Mcgregor."

"Mac is your cousin?" He laughed, "Man, he really gave me a run last year."

"Now you're being modest. I was at the state final last year. You took Evan completely out of his game....you were a monster...how many baskets did you hit? A million?" She colored feeling the other two occupant's stare, then apologized, "I'm sorry I must sound like a groupie."

"No. Not at all."

Darcy silently disagreed, but joined the conversation. "Do you know a lot about basketball?"

"I know a lot about a lot of things." Darcy felt something tense in the base of his stomach when their eyes locked.

Jane answered Darcy's question after giving Elizabeth a questioning glance. "Lizzy played basketball in high school. She was the team captain and set all kinds of school records...and... " She would have gone on if uninterrupted. "As you can see, Jane is my one woman cheering section."

"Are you playing basketball at Xavier?" Richard tried to not sound too hopeful.

"No. I have other commitments." She met Darcy's eyes again. Again, his stomach turned over. Those eyes....there was something strangely familiar about them. He realized he was staring at her and asked, "Did you go to high school with Jane?"

"No. I went to a public school." She was afraid to give him the specific name fearing it would jar his memory. She was enjoying keeping him in the dark.

"So, how did you meet Jane?"

"We met about ten years ago, camping." Camping? Darcy thought her response over. Another secret smile brightened her eyes and Darcy saw her genuine love for Jane in their green depths. It pleased him. "So you stayed friends all this time? That's amazing."

"Why is that amazing?" Lizzy propped her head on her hands and waited. After all, he was the extoller of world truth.

"I.....mean....people...friends usually drift apart..." Darcy could not finish a sentence. What was happening to him?

"For Lizzy and I..." Jane rescued him. "remaining friends was always easy...our mothers were close...we always had sleepovers in grade school....and Lizzy dated Marcus through high school."

"Marcus?" Darcy asked trying to remember who he was out of Jane's extensive list of male friends. When he saw those lips twitch in silent laughter, his mind went blank. And he is the intelligent one of the two, Elizabeth thought to herself shaking her head. Jane gave her a stern look before helping Darcy again. "You do remember my brother...your cousin...."

"Marcus." His voice sounded far away as his eyes inspected the woman in front of him. He was trying to remember what he had wanted to ask her.

"Are you still dating him?" Darcy frowned hearing Richard's question.

"No." Lizzy focused back on the cousin who could form complete sentences. "So, what is your major?"

"Physical education," Richard said smiling, "I want to be a coach someday..."

"You mean after playing in the NBA." I'm going to make myself sick, she warned herself.

"NBA?" Darcy's snort drew her complete attention. "Now that is highly unlikely. First, Xavier has to get a tournament birth, which it has not done in fifteen years; then, they have to make it to the final four, which the school has never done. And if that is not impossible enough, Richard has to attract the notice of the NBA scouts...." Jane did not like this at all. Darcy was always Richard's staunchest supporter.

Elizabeth was provoked and rallied to Richard's defense. "Xavier will make the tournament this year. They almost made it last year---and Taggert Smouth's knee surgery went fine. Kyle Michaels has become one of the best point guards in the NCAA. With the addition of your cousin and Charles Bingley's three point threat, there are not going to be too many teams who stand a chance against them." She leaned into the table defying him openly. "And when they make the tournament....what was it...um, Darcy?" Elizabeth enjoyed watching his eyes glitter. She knew he was not the type of man who was use to women forgetting his name. "You will have to apologize to Richard."

"And what is your major?" Darcy asked barely checking his own anger. "Sports casting?"

"No." She rested her eyes on him and he was angered seeing that playful glint return to them. "Guess."

"Journalism?" Darcy offered. "Your flights of delusion can testify to a free spirit...maybe theater..."

"Wrong. Would you care to try again?" Her green eyes were openly innocent and inviting, and suddenly he felt like he had walked right into a trap of some kind. He was confused.

"Darcy, stop being silly," Jane said laughing. "I've already told you that Elizabeth is a Pre-Med major like you." Elizabeth not Lizzy. His mind made the connection immediately. Jane's roommate was Elizabeth Bennet. The one and only Elizabeth Bennet. The anger rushed out of him to be replaced with an overwhelming embarrassment.

"What? You didn't recognize me?" He felt the sting of her sarcasm. "Oh, that's right. The last time you saw me I was covered head to toe in mud..." Jane's eyes widened finally understanding what was going on at the table.

"That was you!" Richard was stunned. "You look a lot different than you did earlier."

"You could say I just clean up real good." She winked at Richard. You could never utter a bigger understatement in your entire life, Darcy thought.

Jane nudged Darcy seeing the smile on her best friend's face. "Since both of you are Pre-Med majors you and Lizzy are probably going to be running into each other all over campus. Isn't it great that you've already met?"

"Yes, isn't it?" Darcy repeated through a clenched jaw. He felt Elizabeth's green eyes sweep over him in one final wave of dismissal, before she turned her attention back to Richard. They began a discussion about basketball which he added very little. Jane looked at him questioningly as he ate his lunch in an almost self-imposed silence.

After lunch, Darcy watched as Elizabeth hugged Jane goodbye. She excused herself saying that she was running late for a meeting. Jane said she had a heavy date and went in the opposite direction. Darcy was disappointed when Elizabeth crossed the quad without so much as a backward glance in his direction.

"Hey, Darcy?" Richard's voice pulled him out of his reverie.

"What?" He said absently opening his car door. "How long do you think I should wait before I call her?"

Darcy pondered the question for a moment. "Honestly?"

Richard nodded.

"If I were you, I'd call her first thing tonight." Finding her once again with his eyes, he silently added, if I were you I wouldn't wait that long.

Taking Darcy's suggestion, Richard called her that evening from their room. It annoyed Darcy that they talked so easily. He was sure if Richard laughed one more time he was going to snap the pencil he was using in half. After an hour of his cousin's voice, he complained. Richard's solution of taking the phone into the hallway only irritated Darcy further. Now, he could not hear his cousin's replies to her questions. He had expected that once the call was over that his cousin would be going out for the evening. He wondered what a night with "Elizabeth Bennet" would be like. He shook his head. Focus, Darcy, he reminded himself. He was more determined than ever to be the top student in the freshman class.

He tried to mask his surprise when Richard returned the phone to its cradle looking dejected. "Well?" Darcy asked not looking up from his Calculus.

"She already has a date for Friday night."

They had only been on campus three days! Darcy turned a page asking," What about Saturday?"

"She has plans." He looked at Richard.

"Sunday?" He asked again feigning a nonchalance he didn't feel.

"She doesn't go out on Sundays."

"What?" He put his book down, no longer pretending it held his interest, "She really said that she doesn't date on Sundays?"

"Yeah," Richard said quietly. "She spends Sunday studying...."

"On Sunday?" Darcy repeated.

"I know. I told her I usually spend Sunday getting over a hangover."

Darcy frowned at his cousin. "Doesn't she know that is a day to rest..."

"Yeah, but she is on a full scholarship."

Darcy tried hard to not show how impressed he was. Full Scholarship.

"Did you know she is running cross-country for Xavier this semester?" Richard asked as he flopped down on his bed. No, I have other commitments. Darcy rubbed his temple with his index fingers. It was like she was in his head. He could almost hear her laughter. "I told her it was Williams family tradition to run cross-country."

Darcy opened his textbook again. He was going to be running with her. Great! "Wow!" Richard said lying back on his back spinning a basketball on his finger above him. "Can you believe how bad that picture was? She is incredible looking...those eyes...those lips...she is so funny.... and smart....and did you notice her figure....."

"Do you mind?" Darcy did not need to be reminded. "I've got some studying to do and you are distracting me."

"Classes don't start until MONDAY, Darcy!" Richard knew the expression Darcy shot him well enough to know he better vacate the room and fast. "Okay! There have got to be some people in this dorm somewhere who like to have a good time....I think I'll see if Michael and Charles are better company..." Richard stopped at their little icebox and grabbed three cold beers.

As soon as the door shut, Darcy put down his book again and grabbed the Freshmen Handbook. Flipping to her picture, he realized the page was well worn. Even before their fateful meeting, he had been curious about her. From the beginning, all the pre-med majors were talking about her. Everyone put her at the top of the class and it rankled him. Darcy Williams was the best at everything he did. Top student, top athlete. No one had ever come close to him. He stared at the picture. And there in black and white were her eyes laughing at him. He could still feel their heat. Underneath the picture, the caption read:

Elizabeth Bennet
JCHS Valedictorian
State Track 4 Years
State Cross Country 3 Years
Homecoming Queen
State Choir 3 Years

After the first week of classes, it was obvious that Elizabeth and he were on different schedules. He would catch glimpses of her from across the quad or a chance meeting at the library, but her presence was so unexpected he never could form the words he wanted to use fast enough. Silently, they would pass each other. It soon became clear that he was not going to get a chance to apologize to her at cross-country practice either. She never showed up. He was convinced that Richard had misunderstood something and that Elizabeth would not be running on the team this semester after all.

It was the fourth day of practice when someone else asked about her that he learned the surprising truth. Coach LaSalle explained that Elizabeth had asked and been granted special permission to train privately. Of course, this information went over well with her teammates.

It was hard for Darcy to ignore the nasty comments about her tanking at their first meet a month away. The coach tried to assure the team that she was training just as hard as they were, but most of the women snickered. Instead of turning their anger into fuel for the grueling hour and half practice, they used it as an excuse not to push themselves. Why should they practice if she didn't have too? Darcy had reservations about a Coach that would let one runner upset the unity of the entire team, but he alone remained silent about the subject. If asked, he would just shrugged. But in the back of his mind, he asked himself, "Who was Elizabeth Bennet to Xavier Cross-Country?"

Coach LaSalle, himself, had some reservations about letting her practice by herself, but he had promised the young woman to try it out. She knew that if he was not impressed at the first meet, she was either have to join the team at practice or not run for Xavier. She assured him that she would make the most of this chance and that she would not disappoint him. If she placed in the top ten at her first meet, the team would accept her as one of their own. Perhaps some of the women would recognize what a strong athlete she was and follow her lead in the race. Coaching and training was his job, but motivation during the race itself had to either come from oneself or from a strong leader. Privately, he knew that Elizabeth had the makings to be that leader.

The day of the first race of the Xavier Cross-Country team was upon them. The tension was thick in the air. The crowd of women jogging and stretching. Darcy looked at his watch with trepidation. She only had ten minutes before the race was to begin. Where was she? He felt Michael's elbow dig into his ribs and then followed the direction of his hand. Elizabeth Bennet had finally arrived.

Even though she was dressed like the rest of her teammates, the same navy shorts and white shirt, her hair stood out to him. The auburn mass was in two braids with blue and white ribbon tied through them. She reminded him strongly of Polly Anna. "Is it tradition for the entire men's team to be so supportive of the ladies?" Jane asked as she glanced around. Darcy shrugged...who could blame them for their curiosity? The suspense was weeks in the making.

"She won't let the team down." Jane whispered. When Darcy did not answer, she added, "She knows how everyone is talking about her." He watched as her teammates blatantly ignored her. He felt angry for her, but when his eyes fell back to her, he recognized the smile that playing on her lips. It was the one she had given him. "You couldn't handle me." Again, he experienced that strange flopping feeling in his stomach. Maybe, he thought, he was getting an ulcer?

When the gun was fired, she hung back with the majority of the pack. A few women passed her during the first 1/8th mile stretch. Her stride looked at little tight and it seemed that she was struggling to find a pace. He frowned and was about to mention it to Jane, when a familiar arm wrapped around his waist. "Look at Julia!" Squealed a voice Darcy would have recognized in his sleep. Caroline Smith. "Did you see who is in first place?"

"I have eyes, Caroline."

"Elizabeth looks like she is really struggling."

Jane despised Darcy's girlfriend of two years. "Just wait. It is a long race."

"Oh, I wasn't insulting your little friend." Caroline took Darcy's hand, "It's just that college is a lot different than high school. There is much better competition."

"Yes, there is." Jane said. The cousins' eyes locked. Jane saw some of her friends standing near the finishing tape, "I'm going to watch the race from over there."

As the pack rounded the first bend, Elizabeth had dropped to twelfth place. Darcy knew there was nothing more to do but wait. The minutes stretched like days. He kept watching the break in the foliage half expecting to see Elizabeth darting out leading the way. Again, he was surprised to see the red and black of the University of Cincinnati's uniform dominate the field. A few seconds later, he saw the navy shirts of Xavier break onto the field....not just one, but three. She had moved into fourth place and her stride had smoothed out considerably. That was not what surprised Darcy. What surprised Darcy was the fact that Charlotte and Kylie were right behind her. Occasionally she would yell something to them and he watched as each time they picked up their pace. When they had a half-mile left, he saw that her focus was entirely on the flapping plastic line in front of her.

She was oblivious to the screaming crowd, oblivious to the burning in her chest, oblivious for the first time to the two teammates who were drafting her. All she felt was the smooth rhythm of her soles on the grass....SWOOSH SWOOSH.... Her eyes never strayed from the finish line.

Darcy was aware of the screaming around him as he watched her skillfully avoid the attempts of the three UC women to bottle her. With 1/4-mile remaining, Elizabeth's stride widened and her legs landed like darts in the grass landing with light trips. There was so much strength left in them. With 1/8-mile left, she overtook the last remaining runner. Elizabeth cleared the posts and turned to scream encouragement to her teammates. Charlotte then Kylie crossed close behind her leaving the fourth, fifth and sixth place to UC. Xavier women swept the first cross-country meet of the year.

Darcy was aware for the first time that his throat was burning. He could not take his eyes off of her. Elizabeth's hair was mated with sweat, mud covered her legs clear up to her thigh and her face was still red from the exertion, but he was convinced he had not see anything more beautiful in his life. Jane mouthed, "Told you." He felt his eyes return to her roommate. Caroline pressed up against him and he looked away from Elizabeth feeling guilty.

"Can you believe her? Look at all that mud!" Silence. He looked at his own mud-spattered gear. He had finished a respectable tenth in his own race earlier that morning. "I can't believe she won."

He could. He wondered how he ever really doubted it. He saw the small crowd forming around her and sighed. It was almost as she had called court or something. He heard her laughter and it warmed him. He longed to join them, but instead he stayed rooted to his spot. He watched with a very dry mouth as she nursed a bottle of water slowly. Then, she gave Michael the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.

Darcy felt jealousy shoot through him. Michael? He started walking toward the cooler just to hear their conversation. When he was at a good distance for eavesdropping, he stopped to tie his shoelace. He felt ridiculous. The women were talking about Elizabeth's running schedule.

Charlotte asked, "I don't know about Kylie but I would like to start running with you."

"I don't know." Elizabeth said with a grin, "I get started on the trail about 5."

"Did you say 5?" Michael asked in disbelief, "As in 5 am?"

She nodded. "That's why I run alone. No one wants to see me that early....."

"I wouldn't mind seeing you that early." Michael said and she rolled her eyes. He pouted, "I'm serious."

"I'm sure."

"Now, I'm devastated."

"Somehow I think you'll recover."

"You're cruel..." Again, Darcy heard the laughter as he tugged hard on his shoelaces.

Michael asked, "Why don't you run with the team?"

"I work during the afternoons at the library." She seemed a little embarrassed. "I'm trying to work something different out for the spring though. It feels weird not training with a team...I really miss it a lot."

"Well, I guess beauty sleep can be put off for a semester..." Charlotte laughed.

"You guys really want to run with me?" Darcy looked up again at the honest shock in her voice. Was she serious? "It would be great to have company. I get lonely running by myself all the time." He looked back at his shoes finding it hard to believe that she ever found herself lonely.

Thankfully, Caroline and Julia were deeply engrossed in their own conversation speculating about some dance to notice his unearthly preoccupation with his shoelaces. He started tying them again. Looking back up, he saw her disappearing into the Student Life Building with Michael.

"Did you see how sweaty and dirty she was?" Caroline's comment was directed at Julia. "There must have been three inches of mud on her legs alone....no wonder she doesn't date much........."

"Maybe she is just waiting for the right guy to ask her out..." Jane said startling Caroline and Darcy.

"I thought she dated a lot...." He stopped his sentence when his girlfriend narrowed her gaze at him. He made a mental note to keep his curiosity to himself.

"Darcy said she dated your brother for a while." Caroline took his arm. "So, when did Marcus dump her?"

"He didn't dump her....She broke up with him."

"I'll bet that was difficult for you." Julia smelled potential gossip.

"Not really." Jane said. "It was better than the alternative."

"Alternative?" Darcy said confused. "What alternative?"

She waved to someone standing by the stairs. "I've got to go. Charles is supposed to introduce me to a friend of his. Oh, by the way, Darcy....Maybe you should try to double knot your shoelaces----they won't give you so much trouble that way." Jane turned laughing.


Chapter Two

Time passed by quickly for Darcy. There was an interchangeable pattern in his life: Class, practice, studying, and trying to find time for Caroline. He was a rational man and knew she was a good match for him. They both came from good families, both had fathers who were physicians, both were cut from the same cloth. They both had the same "beliefs." And normally, she did not really bother him. There was little work involved in gaining her favor and even less was needed to keep her attention. But lately, he had grown very discontented with her. Deep down, his restlessness had to do with his growing fascination with Elizabeth Bennet and not something that Caroline had done.

Elizabeth confused him. Yes, she had been friendly to him after the first track meet and it was obvious that she had held no grudge against him over their first meeting. If he joined Jane and her at lunch, she would include him in the conversation. If they ran into each other at the library (which seemed to be happening on a regular basis since he memorized her schedule), she would offer whatever assistance she could.

At the cross-country meets, it was difficult to pay attention to anything but her. Her presence in shorts was bad enough, but when weather turned cooler and the team ran in tights, his concentration got worse. Sometimes when she caught him staring at her, he could see the annoyance travel over her face. It rankled him that he was not the only one who had come to admire her slender build. Every comment someone made about her made him angry. To his relief, she would tease and joke with the team, but she never singled any one man out. She was open to everyone, friendly to everyone. No one person on the team got special attention. It was her evident indifference to him that was driving him crazy.

This is how Darcy found himself having lunch with his "group" during the last week before Thanksgiving Break. The answer to a cosign problem evading him so he was mercifully spared contributing to the conversation at the table.

"Did you hear from your dad?" Michael asked when Charlotte joined them.

"Just got off the phone with him. Lizzy placed eleventh but broke her school record again." At the mention of her name, Darcy's ears warmed, but he did not look up.

"Eleventh?" Caroline amused, "Why she didn't even place..."

Kylie shot Caroline a look. "Lizzy is the first one to make nationals in over ten years. By placing eleventh out of the top seventy runners in the country, she brought a lot of attention to Xavier's program......"

"Was she upset ?" Michael asked turning the attention away from Caroline.

"No." said Charlotte with a laugh, "You know Lizzy...she was more concerned that she had let my dad down...she told him that she would try to do better next year."

"We shouldn't put too much pressure on her.... you never know, she may not even be around next year." Caroline offered. "You know one out of every three freshmen don't make it back their sophomore year." The silence was deafening. Darcy knew if he looked up now, everyone at the table would be staring at him. He, after all, was a member of the cross-country team. And he knew that by not defending Elizabeth, he was assuming a share in his girlfriend's views. But, he knew Caroline. If he defended Elizabeth and contradicted her, just once, the attack would go from bad to vicious. All pretenses would evaporate. He continued to work on his Calculus problem.

"Anyway..." Charlotte said. "Dad is happy because Lizzy's schedule will allow her to run with the team for track...."

"I guess that means you all can sleep in now." Caroline started. Darcy schooled his face feeling the hostile glares from the other end of the table.

"Anyway, she is going to train in the afternoons now..," Charlotte's voice was showing her anger, "Now that she has a new job."

"Oh, I had forgotten that she has to work, poor girl." Caroline's voice shifted and her was even more uncomfortable. Her pity might not be better than her anger. Darcy closed his notebook, and was just about to suggest they leave the table. He knew Caroline was going to be in rare form today.

"Where is her new job at?" Michael asked.

"She accepted a position at the math lab." Darcy felt the bottom drop out of his stomach at Charlotte's answer. Math Lab?

"I didn't know she was taking math this semester, did you Darcy?" Michael was studying architecture and they both had suffered through Calculus together.

"She is in Billy's CAL III class." Charlotte answered when Darcy did not say anything. "Apparently she waived both CAL I and II." She waived out of CAL I and CAL II. Astonishment registered on his face. Caroline's eyes picked up his expression instantly and he went back to his work hanging on Charlotte's every word. "Dr. Wingate is so impressed by her that he asked her to TA his CAL II class next semester. "

"Aren't we signed up for that class?" Michael asked Darcy.

"Yes." Darcy said solemnly. Dr. Wingate was the bane of his existence during his first semester. If Darcy hadn't lived at the math lab, he never would have success with Calculus. He had hoped that next semester would give him release from Dr. Wingate, but as luck would have it he was the only instructor that would fit into Darcy's spring schedule. He tried to pay attention to the notes in front of him, but they swam.

"What are you guys going to wear to the Christmas Dance?" Caroline asked changing the subject. As the women talked about their gowns, shoes, makeup, Darcy tried to collect himself. "Who are you taking to the dance, Michael?" Caroline was still trying to find a date for her best friend, Julia.

"I'm going with Elizabeth...." Michael said absently.

"You're taking Lizzy?" For once, Darcy was glad Caroline was so nosy.

"Yeah, I caught a lucky break. I overheard Charlotte say that she didn't have a date. I couldn't let her stay home, could I? Some sacrifices are worth making." Darcy hated the way Michael's eyes danced. "Can you imagine my surprise at finding out that Elizabeth didn't have a date for the Christmas Dance?"

"Did you just say Lizzy doesn't have a date for the Christmas Dance?" Darcy heard Richard's voice from behind him. "Maybe I should ask her..."

"Too late, " Charlotte laughed, "Michael already sacrificed himself on the alter of friendship." Richard took a seat opposite Charlotte.

"Oh." Disappointed was etched on his cousin's face and Darcy felt his grip tighten on his pencil. He supposed he should be grateful that Richard had given up on Elizabeth after the second week of school If they had dated.....Darcy shook the thought from his head. Kylie asked Richard, "I thought you were dating Chelsea?"

"Nah, " he wrinkled his nose, "We just broke up."

"What is that? The fourth girlfriend this semester?" Kylie teased.

"Hey, I'm just trying to keep up with Jane." Jane passed by the table and caught the last part of Richard's comment. "Trying to keep up with me in what?"

Charlotte rose, "Oops, I'm suppose to meet Billy at the library in ten minutes..."

"See you." Kylie said and turned to Jane. "In broken hearts. Who is taking you to the Christmas Dance?"

"Simon Haynes."

"The guy Charles went to high school with?" Michael asked. Jane got an evil smile on her face, "The one and the same...."

"So, Simon is the flavor of the week," Darcy joked glancing from his notes.

"Yep," Jane leaned into his ear whispering, "We can't all settle."

Seeing the immediate change on his face, she moved around the table, "I'll tell Elizabeth to save a dance for my favorite cousin." She was hugging Richard but Jane's eyes locked with Darcy's. Turning back to his notebook, Darcy was beginning to dread this Christmas Dance.

"Maybe I could loan Elizabeth a dress?" Caroline asked Kylie, "I have so many old ones that I am sure that I would be able to find just one perfect for her."


Chapter Three

As her party entered the hall decorated for the Christmas Dance, Elizabeth was glad she came. It has been too long since she had danced! The strobe light swirling red and green lights and artificial snowflakes hanging from the ceiling making it all look so festive. Taking it all in, she smiled over to her date. "Thank you for bringing me."

Michael was about to reply when Richard appeared at her side. "You aren't planning on hiding her on me, are you ?"

"I have thought about it."

"You heard Jane.... She said Lizzy had to dance once with her favorite cousin----It could devastate their friendship if you don't let Elizabeth fulfill Jane's promise...."

"Okay, you can have one dance." When Richard moved towards her, Michael added a little outraged. "But not right now!" Elizabeth stopped her laughter.

"Didn't your mom ever teach you how to share? Baby, spread the wealth."

"Get lost Richard, before I change my mind."

"Geez, talk about being uptight. Really Lizzy I think you'd have a better time with someone a little more......" Michael shot him a dirty look. "I'll be back for that dance."

Michael watched Richard leave as he held Elizabeth's chair. "Maybe we should move?"

It was two hours later when Elizabeth finished dancing with a guy from her Physics class that she decided to find Michael, who had abandoned her pleading exhaustion. Finding him with a group from the cross-country team, she smiled. "Ready for another round?"

"No." Michael looked at his feet. "I may not be able to walk again...you are wicked woman!" She laughed at her date and then felt an arm wrap around her waist. Richard's voice was at her ear, "Hey sexy, I've been looking for you..."

"For me?" Elizabeth winked at Michael. "Whatever for?"

"You promised me a dance." His face was crestfallen. "Remember?"

"I remember. Michael?" She asked. He was her date after all.

"I would love to say no, but then I would have to dance with her. I'm afraid she has worn me out." The men laughed.

"Oh, you think that was said in jest," she turned in Richard's arms to face him, "What makes you think I won't wear you out too?"

A look passed over Richard's face as his eyes met hers. "I'm counting on it."

Richard took her hand and they weaved through the crowd rejoining her friends on the floor. She saw that Jane was dancing with Simon and sighed. She wondered how many of Charles' friends she was going to go through before finally settling on Charles himself. When the quick music was replaced with a ballad, Richard put his hand on the small of her back and pulled her close blocking her view of her roommate.

"You dance," he whispered in her ear, "Almost as good as you look."

She almost groaned out loud, but decided to tease Richard. "Are you coming on to me?" She arched an eyebrow in his direction.

"What if I am?" She shook her head as he pulled her closer.

"I don't know where Richard went," Caroline said looking around the couples. "It was rude of him to leave Julia like that...."

"She doesn't seem to be suffering any permanent damage, " Darcy said dryly. He nodded to Charles and Julia on the dance floor.

"Thank God for Charles."

Darcy was beginning to wonder if Richard had left the dance entirely. He hadn't seen him for over an hour and he had been anxious to get away from Caroline and Julia. If Richard had left, he couldn't blame him. The green and red lights made him feel like he was lost in some hippie's nightmare. The snowflakes hanging from the ceiling.....he shuddered. Still, he didn't want to leave just yet. No, not just yet.

"Hey, Darcy!" Jane took an empty seat to his left without gaining Caroline's notice. She was preoccupied talking with one of the women from her English class. Darcy did a double take. Jane had on a floor length red sequined dress. She usually preferred short and tight to long and elegant. He had to admit he liked the change. "You look very sophisticated tonight."

"Thanks." Jane smiled like a cat with a saucer of milk. "Elizabeth picked this out for me." Darcy's eyes looked as if a small firecracker had gone off at the mention of her name, but then the ember was banked. Darcy ran his finger around the rim of his glass. "What's your poison?" Caroline laughed loudly at something one of her friends said and Darcy looked at Jane. "This is definitely a whiskey occasion. Don't you agree?"

"Actually, it seems like a Tequila night." Jane laughed, "Hey, you know what? You should party one night with Elizabeth and me....she is a very friendly drunk.."

"Now that would be a stretch for her personality..." Jane frowned at his comment. "Did someone steal your beloved Stevie away?"

"It was Simon....and I wanted to dance with you?"

"Well, I couldn't live with myself if I disappointed you." Darcy teased as he stood up to dance with his favorite cousin.

"Where are you off to?" Caroline shot him a look of annoyance. He pointed to the dance floor, and she smiled at Jane, "Make sure you bring him back." Jane led him through the maze of pumping bodies. "She makes it sound like I am borrowing a pair of her shoes." Darcy laughed at his cousin's comment and then he suddenly froze. Jane followed Darcy's gaze. "Doesn't she look beautiful?"

"Beautiful?" His mouth went dry. "I think she forgot part of her dress at home."

Elizabeth was having fun with Richard. He did not showing any sign of tiring, and she was pleased he didn't suggest she look elsewhere for a partner. She told herself it was the dress that was making her behave a tad bit naughtier than was her custom. She felt so light and carefree. Nothing could put a damper on the evening.

Darcy really had seen more than enough. The way her hips moved rhythmically close to Richard's.....the way her hair swayed around her shoulders free ...the way her eyes were closed as if she was dreaming ....the way her lips were parted in pleasure....she looked wild....she looked untamable. A big part of him wished he had never seen her knowing it was going to be a long time before he ever forgot Elizabeth Bennet in that flimsy thing she thought was a dress. If she had been his date, she wouldn't have left her dorm. He swallowed. No, they wouldn't have probably made it out of her room. The music changed to a slow tune and Darcy was just about to beg to return to Caroline.

"Switch partners, Lizzy?" Jane smiled at Darcy.

With her back to Jane's partner and remembering Simon's easy-going disposition, Elizabeth agreed readily, "Sure." She returned Jane's smile and turned to face Simon.

Only, it wasn't Simon. She felt the wind knock out of her. The smile died on her face. She turned back to change her mind, but Jane had led Richard away from them. She looked back at Darcy. He was staring at her with the most intense dislike. Both stood their ground. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, he moved a step toward her. Her eyes lifted to his face surprised at his advance. Then, her surprise turned to disgust as he turned on his heel and left her standing alone.

What a rude ! Elizabeth caught herself, he was Jane's cousin after all. She shrugged her shoulders. What was it about her that he disliked so much? She felt a hand on her waist and turned to find Richard. He whispered as if they shared a secret, "Where did Darcy go?"

"I don't think I was a suitable partner, "she smiled happy at her luck then conspiratorially asked back, "What did you do with Jane?"

"We got separated...so I decided it was my duty to spare you the slings and arrows of Darcy's company." He had never seen Darcy act like he did around Elizabeth.

"Is it that obvious that he dislikes me?" Richard hesitated and she laughed.

"I'm not his cousin for nothing." He pulled her close. "I right all the wrongs."

"A regular hero." Richard felt her laughter against his shoulder and he had to admit he liked it. He liked it a lot.

"Lizzy." She heard her name and broke free from Richard's embrace.

"Sorry." Kylie apologized, "But I thought you would want to know that Jane is leaving. She seemed really upset about something...."

"Where is she?" Elizabeth asked pulling out of Richard's arms. Jane would never leave so many eligible bachelors in one room without a good reason.

"She was headed up the stairs when I came to find you. But she would have to go to coat check before she left...."

"I'll go there then and wait for her...Richard?"

"I'll go get my keys and meet you out front." He started off for his table.

"Could you tell Michael that I had to take Jane home?"

"He will understand, Lizzy," Kylie smiled. Then, added for Lizzy's ears only, "He saw the way Richard was looking at you. He knew he didn't stand a chance."

"Richard?"

"Yeah!" Kylie laughed at her reaction, "I think he is more than a little interested."

"Kylie, you're silly." Elizabeth shook her head, "Don't forget to tell Michael. Tell him I will call him tomorrow." Kylie nodded.

Lizzy went straight to the coatroom finding her roommate who indeed looked very upset. "Jane, I'm so tired...I hope you are ready to go home."

"Oh, Lizzy...Kylie told you I was leaving!" Jane's lower lip started quivering. "She promised." Tears began streaming from Jane's blue eyes.

"It's going to be all right. Everything is going to be okay." She wrapped Jane in a protective cocoon of her arms. "Shhh, it's going to be all right. You'll see."

"No, it's not going to be all right....he doesn't want anything to do with me."

"Who? Charles?"

Jane's eyes went wide. "You knew?"

"Of course," Elizabeth wiped at a tear on her best friend's check. "And I think you are wrong....I think he likes you very much. You must have your wires crossed."

"No, I don't. He likes Julia."

"Jane," She could not believe it, "there has got to be a mistake." It had been apparent to Elizabeth early on that Charles was taken with her roommate. But, instead of immediately asking her out, he seemed to be patiently waiting until she sowed her wild oats. Elizabeth did not think Charles was interested in a casual fling.

"There isn't any mistake. He danced the last three songs with her.....he didn't seem to be able to notice anything else...."

"Were they just dancing?" She tried to comfort Jane.

"They were more than dancing." Seeing the fat tears welling in Jane's blue eyes, she hoped Richard would hurry. "He.....She....They were kissing...right there next to me."

Richard made it back to his table and began hunting for his keys.

"What are you doing?" Caroline asked as he started picking up napkins and plates off the table. Ignoring her question, he grabbed his tuxedo jacket and searched the pockets as he slid it on. Still no keys. "Richard is everything, okay?" Darcy asked.

"No. Have you seen my keys?"

"No, I haven't." Darcy sounded funny, "Are you leaving?"

"Yeah, Elizabeth is waiting for me..." Richard looked under the table finding them sitting squarely under his seat. They must have fallen out when he took off his jacket. He stood up and was about to leave, but then he turned back. "Could you tell Julia I'm really sorry, ....Look, I don't know how long I am going to be....it could be a really long night...I'll fill you in later." With a wave, he disappeared back through the crowd.

Darcy's mind exploded. What did he mean by a very long night? Julia returned in time to see Richard exit and she pouted. "My, it does seem that Elizabeth just can't get enough of your family, Darcy." Her voice was twice as catty as Caroline's ever could be. "First, Marcus....now Richard."

"Julia, not now." Caroline whispered a warning. Darcy glared at both of the women across from him and headed straight for the bar. Caroline watched him with concern. He usually only drank one or two at the most, but tonight he seemed intent on finishing an entire bottle by himself. This was all Elizabeth Bennet's fault. One thing was definitely clear to Caroline, She was not going to lose Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet!

Looking back on it now, she had known Elizabeth was going to be trouble from the beginning.....when that green eyes minx sparked something in him. Months later, he was still infatuated. Infatuated? It was time that she was honest with herself. Caroline swallowed hard. The Darcy who had never uttered the words "I love you" in the entire two years they dated, the Darcy who had never romanced her, the Darcy who had never opened up his heart to her.....was the same Darcy who had fallen in love in at first sight with a mud covered woman. Caroline felt tears come to her eyes. She felt....

Regret. The word entered her mind unwanted. She tore it away like a cobweb. She found him again with her eyes and wondered what Darcy hoped to accomplish by getting drunk. His pain was obvious to her. A part of her wished Elizabeth did not prefer Richard. A part of her wished Darcy could find peace...could have the chance to explore love. She knew that if Richard laid claim to Elizabeth, Darcy would never interfere. And, that thought brought her back full circle.

No, she was not going to lose Darcy Williams to Elizabeth Bennet.

And somehow knowing Darcy was safe made Caroline feel miserable.

Back at the dorm, Richard joined Elizabeth and Jane for one of their "Tequila nights." They drank shots of liquor, played a few rounds of poker, and sang very off key to country love songs. Elizabeth. Richard stole another glance at her. Her auburn tresses pulled loosely into a ponytail. Ponytails had never seemed so sexy. He felt a pull to her that he could not explain. It was her honest and refreshing manner. It was her green eyes dancing with an undying well of mirth. He wanted her. Richard watched as she crossed the living room and returned with a blanket for Jane. "She's had a rough night of it."

"What's wrong with her?" He asked not remembering a time he had ever seen Jane so upset. Jane was always happy and flirtatious. When she was upset, she usually asked for Darcy. Elizabeth nodded in the direction of the kitchenette. "How about some tea?"

Disappointment descended on Richard when he realized she was serious. He had hoped she would let him spend the night with him in an entirely different way. Sighing, he joined her on the barstools and watched as she made them both a cup.

"So, Richard. Tell me all about yourself. And don't leave out any of the juicy stuff." She smiled lips curving. All of a sudden, he didn't mind waiting.

"It really is a short story." He laughed before accommodating her. Hours passed as he chatted about basketball, his desire to coach, his childhood growing up in the shadow of a cousin as great as Darcy Williams, then he returned to basketball, his desire to coach. When she stifled a second yawn behind her hand, he felt guilty about keeping her up so late. She insisted walking him to the lobby. Once there, he turned to her, "I really had a good time tonight."

"I did too." She smiled easily enjoying her newfound friendship with Richard

He surprised them both by kissing her forehead lightly. "Goodnight, Lizzy."

Richard jogged back to his car and started the short drive back to his dorm. As he cleared the small rising, he was surprised to see the beginning of the sunrise. He checked the clock on his dash and smiled. Six, already? He turned on the radio and every song had a special message for him. He was on top of the world.

With a sigh, Charles Bingley opened the door to his suite. Thank God, he had talked Michael into taking Julia home. He was so tired. He stopped short when he heard the tinkle of glass on wood. When his eyes adjusting to the darken room, he saw Darcy sitting on the couch in front of the balcony. "Are you okay?" He had known Darcy a very short time but knew this was definitely uncharacteristic behavior. Darcy laughed. "No, I don't think I am...."

"What happened?"

"Nothing!" Darcy said examining the shot glass in his hand.

"Nothing?" Charles saw the Jim Beam on the table. "Where's Caroline?"

"I asked her to leave." He sank another shot, then through back his head tormented, "I can't get her out of my head. Do you know what that is like?"

"Can't get who out of your head?" Charles was confused.

"Her...I never wanted to be like this...." Darcy poured the amber liquid into the shot glass with shaking hands, "I see little need for such a display...I never wanted it...I never went looking for it...my life was fine before her....before she came into it!"

"She?" Charles sat down on the coffee table confused.

"How do you stop it? How do you make it go away? I want it to stop, Charles."

"Darcy, I'm sure that you and Caroline will work this out in the morning. She probably needs some time to cool off before ...."

"This isn't about Caroline....it's about...." Immediately, she was before him...eyes closed smiling...He squeezed his eyes shut willing the image away.

"Who?" Charles repeated. "Caroline?"

Darcy drank straight from the bottle. "No, it's not Caroline."

"Could Caroline be the problem?" Charles was trying to be helpful.

"If Caroline was the issue...." Darcy looked away, " It wouldn't be an issue."

"You'd break up with Caroline?" Charles was amazed.

"Yes. For her...I'm afraid of what I'd do for her."

Charles could not believe a woman would reject Darcy if he had such strong feelings for her. "What did she say when you told her how you felt?"

"I haven't told her..." Darcy's jaw locked. "I can't tell her....."

Charles was perplexed at his behavior. "Why not?"

"It would be folly...she would not want me to tell her how I feel." He could see the smile dying on Elizabeth's face. The way she looked in Richard's arms. "No, she definitely does not me. She's not the least bit interested in me...."

"You're not going to tell her? I never would have pegged you for a coward."

"Around her.. I'm not even a coward.." his voice broke, "It doesn't matter now....you should have seen her with him...that way she moved against him......"

"Tell her how you feel." Charles begged, "Even if she is with someone else tonight, it doesn't have to always be that way. Give her the option." Take your own advise, Charles' mind screamed.

"I can't!" Darcy's voice was agony as he hurled the empty whiskey bottle at the far wall where it exploded violently. Charles watched stunned as Darcy staggered to his room and cringed when he heard the door slam behind his friend. Well, that went well.

Richard entered the suite and stopped smelling alcohol. "Did I miss a party?"

"Yeah, and it was a blast. " Charles' sarcastic response was not lost on Richard.

"What happened?"

"Darcy got drunk." He emptied the rest of the glass into the trash.

"Darcy? Really?" Richard laughed but stopped seeing Charles' concern.

Charles hoped that Richard could help him. "He's in love."

"You're kidding! He said that...he said he was in love."

"Not in so many words....but I think that is what is going on."

"You've got to tell me who it is."

"I don't know." Charles put the shot glass in the sink, "Do you have any ideas?"

"No." Richard answered honestly, "He didn't tell you?"

"He never gave me any specifics. He did say that she had a boyfriend or something like that and that he couldn't tell her how he felt."

"That sounds like Darcy."

"Any guesses on the mystery woman?" Charles asked leaning on the counter.

"It would have to be a blonde---He only dates blondes. And the only blondes that hang out with us are Caroline and Jane." Richard shrugged. "I don't have a clue as who it could be. Maybe, it is someone in one of his classes? Cross-country?" The two suitemates talked a few more minutes before they went their separate ways.

Richard walked into his dark bedroom and stripped for bed. "What makes you think I won't wear you out too Richard?" He smiled and slid under his covers.

"Well, look what the cat finally drug in." Darcy finally said.

"I thought you were sleeping. " Richard turned, "I heard you had a long night."

Darcy's head was still spinning but he was still in control. "Where did you go?"

"Back to Jane's." Richard yawned, "Lizzy needed my help."

"Did she? And did you give her everything she needed?" Even to Darcy's own ears his voice sounded tight.

"I did my very best." Richard rolled onto his back wishing his cousin liked Elizabeth more. "You have no idea how wonderful it is to be with her.....She makes you want to stay up all night.....she was magnificent..." Darcy's mind was screaming. Please do not tell me....please do not give me any details.

Darcy was spared "the details" when he heard Richard's snore. He stared at the ceiling praying that sleep would soon release him from his torment.


Chapter Four

"Lizzy, " Jane pulled the blinds open and exclaimed, "Wake up, Lizzy. Richard wants to take us to lunch. He'll be here in 30 minutes."

"Too early to talk....too early to get up..." Jane laughed and pulled Elizabeth's covers off. Elizabeth reached in vain to pull them back. Finally, she sat up. "Okay. I'm up. You're heartless....." Elizabeth shuffled for her closet while Jane began applying her makeup. ""So, you and Richard had a pretty late night after I fell out, huh?"

"We drank some tea and talked...I was just trying to get to know him better."

"I only wish you had tried harder to get to know Darcy. He--"

"I can't think of one good reason why I would want to get to know Darcy!" Jane was surprised at Elizabeth's response. She put down her lipstick. "I was so hoping the two of you could be good friends. You have so much in common..."

"Be friends? You honestly think we have something in common?"

"You can't still be angry over what he said that first day." Jane saw the look pass over her roommate's features. "Why don't you like him, Lizzy?"

"Oh, let me count the ways," Elizabeth was determined never to mention his treatment of her at the dance. "He is rude. He is haughty. He is....did I say rude?"

"He is shy." Jane defended. "And, he is my cousin." She knew that her words did not convince her stubborn roommate. "Could you please give him one more chance? For me?"

"Jane, I have to shower....I smell like I was swimming in tequila instead of drinking it..." She heard Jane's sigh and stopped with her hand on the bathroom door. "Oh, all right. I will try to make friends with your precious Darcy."

Over twenty-four hours later, Darcy stirred for the first time since the dance. He glanced over at Richard's side of the room. Did he even come home yesterday? On Saturday, Richard had disappeared before Darcy even woke up with the HANGOVER and had evidently not spent the night in his bed. Darcy tried to stop himself from wondering where his cousin had spent the night. When he heard a soft knock on the door, he was grateful for a distraction. "Who is it?"

"It's me." Charles poked his head in, "How is the patient today?"

"Better." Darcy sat up. "Charles, I just wanted to say thank you for ---"

"You're welcome." Charles cut him off knowing that Darcy was embarrassed. "Michael and I are going to watch the football game ---do you want to join us?"

Darcy showered and met up with Michael and Charles in the living area where they turned on the game in progress. Darcy asked conversationally, "Where did Richard go?"

"I don't know." Charles said since Michael's attention was fixed on the game at hand. At the first commercial, Michael answered, "Richard said he had a paper to write that was due tomorrow. Then, he was going to see Lizzy---"

"Again?" Charles was shocked. Darcy remained quiet, listening to the exchange.

"I know." Michael shrugged then looked at Darcy pointedly. "You really have to put a leash on Richard, Darcy! He wasn't exactly shy about wanting to be with Lizzy at the dance....he wanted to drag her off the minute we walked in the door ----I didn't stand a chance! Now I suppose it is even too late to even ask her out again..." Charles noted Darcy's reaction from the corner of his eye and asked, "What's that suppose to mean? You think they're dating."

Michael looked at his roommate. "Well, Jane said that he stayed with them all night Friday after the Dance, he spent the entire day there yesterday and now she is going out with him on a Sunday? Draw your own conclusions, but I think that both of them are off the market...and some guys have all the luck!"

Darcy made an excuse about a headache and returned to his room. Once there, he reflected on Richard Fritz. He always found it a little humbling to watch his cousin at work. Women, married or single, fell beneath his charm, his smooth talk. He was a real life Casanova. Forget basketball; Making women fall in love with him was Richard's true talent. The problem was once they fell in love, Richard lost interest. Darcy sighed. If it had to be Elizabeth who had struck his fancy this time, he wanted Richard to hurry up and get it out of his system. The sooner Richard moved on to the next girl, the sooner Elizabeth would be heart broken.....Darcy rubbed his temple the beginnings of a real headache starting. There was a knock at his door. "Yeah?"

It was Charles again. "What are you going to do for the rest of the day?"

"I'm trying rather trying unsuccessfully to study for my finals. You?"

"Well, I am getting ready to meet some of the guys to play a little basketball." Charles offered, "Why don't you come along?"

"You know what? That actually sounds better than staying here."

Richard was late and Elizabeth was a little more than annoyed. She wondered if she had misunderstood where they were suppose to meet. She checked her watch, he was over twenty minutes late. Maybe, she was suppose to meet him inside. Sighing, she entered the gymnasium.

She was surprised to find Charles and Darcy playing against Kyle Michaels and Taggert Smouth. She had not idea that Darcy even knew how to play basketball. And, he was good---so good, Taggert Smouth, who was the God of Xavier basketball, was practically ineffective at stopping his assault. Darcy stole the ball at will, scored at will, moved at will. He was amazing. One thing was for certain, Mr. Darcy Williams definitely knew how to do his thing on the court----she smiled slightly at the thought. His lean body moved with the deftness of a cat. The muscles in his back and arms rippled in an almost inviting way----without his shirt and with full view of his 'assets,' Elizabeth had to admit that Darcy's body was, for lack of a better word, sensational. Too bad, it has to be attached to that rude, thick skull...she stopped herself. You did promise Jane.

After Darcy dunked the winning point, she found herself interested in the conversation between the men. "Darcy, if I were you I'd try out for the team.."

"You're not me." Darcy said stiffly as he bent over the water fountain. Elizabeth winced knowing full well what it felt like to be on the receiving end of Darcy's comments. Noticing Darcy did not intend to comment further, Taggert and Kyle exchanged a look and headed for the locker room. "Well, what do you think Elizabeth?" Charles asked. Darcy's head snapped up from the water fountain; his black eyes found her immediately. Caught, she took a step toward them, "What do I think about what?"

"About Darcy playing basketball for Xavier?"

"I think you should--" This is for you Jane. "You're almost as good as Richard."

Darcy choked on the water he was sipping. Charles covered a smile with his hand, then asked Elizabeth, "What are you doing here?"

"I was waiting for Richard, but I think he stood me up....."

"Beautiful, I would never stand you up." She turned at the sound of Richard's voice. He slid a hand around her waist and uncomfortable, she backed away slightly. "I'm sorry I lost track of the time. Give me a second to change and I'll be right back...."

"I think I had better get going." Darcy said sliding his shirt back on. Elizabeth felt a twinge of regret at the action. Charles had a better idea. "Hey, Darcy, why don't we play another game of two on two?"

"There are only three men here." Darcy pointed out. Walked right into that one my friend. Charles smiled when Lizzy's eyes widened at the apparent slight. Darcy was gathering his gear and was headed for the exit. "Don't tell me you're scared of little ole' me?" The challenge stopped him cold in his tracks. He turned back to her, "I'm scared that you might get hurt if you insist on playing with men."

"I assure you that I can take care of myself." Darcy came forward scowling as he stripped off his shirt again, "All right. You and your boy against me and Charles."

She met his dark gaze with a flashing green one. "You're on."

Seeing Elizabeth and Darcy standing toe-to-toe, Richard turned to Charles for help. "Tell them this is a bad idea."

"It was my idea. We get the ball first." Before he could object, Charles grabbed the ball from Richard's hand and checked him. "I always play better when there is a bet on the line," Charles said bouncing the ball in first one hand then the other, "The first to 21 wins. Losers buy dinner." Richard bounced the ball in bounds and the game began.

Richard shot the ball to Lizzy. Darcy stole it and sunk it easily. He would not be gentle with her. A few plays later, she set a pick under the basket and he charged into her hard. When she fell on her backside, he felt bad. He moved to help her up, but Richard was there first. She surprised Darcy by laughing. "I've had girls hit me harder than that." She turned to Darcy. "Don't worry. I'm just getting warmed up." There was something about the way she looked at him ....Knocked on her backside, given a hard knock, and yet she came up fighting. He tried hard to not be impressed with her.

He tried hard to stay focused. But, his concentration was waning every time he felt her hip nudging him or he glimpsed the way sweat pooled on the front of her shirt. Determined, he tried to move in to steal the ball and then she pivoted away from him. The next thing he knew he was on the floor. She looked down at him, extending a hand. "Are you hurt?" He accepted her hand. The brief contact sending shock waves up his arm.

"20-19! " Richard reminded. Darcy was frustrated. He could not believe the bricks that Charles were throwing up...it was going to be up to him to get them back into the game. He checked the ball with Elizabeth. He blew by her, pivoted right, and then dribbled nothing but air. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her dribble the stolen ball in her hand. It was too late to do anything but watch her. She hit her lay-up. The ball kissed the backboard, hugged the rim and dropped through the net. SWOOSH! "Yes!" Elizabeth yelled. Fist clenched, joy and sweat mingled on her brow. Richard swept her up in his arms for a congratulatory hug. When her feet were firmly planted back on the court, Elizabeth turned back to face Darcy. Instead of the friendly smile she hoped for, the familiar glare was back. Of course, he couldn't stand to be beaten by a woman. Charles put his arm around her neck, "Where do you guys want to eat?"

"Oh, you don't have to treat us." Richard said separating Elizabeth and Charles. He thought dinner for two sounded much nicer. They could order in back at his room.

"Hey, speak for yourself!" Elizabeth teased retaking Charles' arm, "I earned my free meal....and I intend to gloat over the 'losers.' How about the Pub?" Charles steered her toward the exit oblivious to the glares he was receiving from both Richard and Darcy.

The foursome located a booth at the Pub and started talking lively. Actually, Richard and Charles talked to her while Darcy glowered. When someone called out to him about the upcoming basketball season, Richard excused himself. This gave Elizabeth an opportunity to find out the scoop on Charles' feelings for Julia. It did not take very long to determine his feelings....every mention of Jane's name caused his eyes to light up. The discovery made Jane deliriously happy.

How can she flirt so easily with Charles with Richard in the same room? Darcy was amazed by her. He became increasingly aware of her actions as she played with her straw, drug it to her mouth and sucked the Sprite out, then she started the whole process all over. And, Charles was loving every unbelievable second of it. Wasn't he Richard's friend? Darcy ached to grab the piece of plastic out of her hand and put it back in her drink where it belonged. Exactly how many men did it take to make her happy?

Meanwhile, Charles couldn't believe he had never noticed the chemistry between them before.....it was definitely apparent on the basketball court. Charles felt guilty...here was Darcy's perfect opportunity to talk to Elizabeth and he had monopolized her. Charles wasted little time before he excused himself.

Elizabeth sensed that Darcy was not in hurry to start a conversation with her. I promised Jane I'd try. Attempting to forgive his earlier rudeness to her, she took the plunge, "Are you going to talk to Coach Holt about joining the basketball team?"

"No." It sounded more like a growl then an answer. Then, silence. She shifted in her seat chewing on her straw. She tried again, "Do you want the last piece of pizza?"

"No." She noticed that he had not even touched the slice in front of him. "Good, I'm starving." Still nothing from his side of the table. Darcy moved the ice around in his glass of soda and was staring a hole into the table. She returned her attention to her pizza.

As she began to pick off the onions Richard had insisted on, she was oblivious to the effect she was having on Darcy. First, her thumb then her index finger entered her mouth....her perfect little mouth closing over each digit. She picked up a jalapeno pepper and sucked on it for a second before chewing. He'd never wanted to be a pepper so bad in his life. "I am losing control." The thought broke through the spell she was weaving. He would master this before it got out of hand.

She wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin and asked. "So, why don't you want to try out for the basketball team?" By now, she was determined to make some type of headway with him. He was equally determined to keep her at arm's length. She leaned into the table, "You know it would make our conversation easier if you contributed something." Still nothing. "Are you always like this?"

His eyes narrowed. Irritation spread on his face. "Like what?"

"So serious all the time. You can be perfectly intimidating."

"Am I?" He clung to his words almost as tightly as oysters did their pearls. Maybe, he really was shy. "Darcy, I was teasing you."

"Teasing does seem to be one of your favorite past times..."

She did not missing the condescending tone of his voice. "Well, I only tease people because I don't possess your ability to put them at ease with one glance."

His eyes widened. "Are you trying to insult me?"

"Trying to insult you? And, just why would I do something like that?" She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing how his slights had hurt her. Something about the shock on his face made her angry. He could treat people just as he liked but dare one to return the favor. "You know what...it doesn't matter. Apparently, we are just not going to get along."

"And, I suppose you think that is my fault."

"It sure isn't mine." She moved into the table again. Hands resting on either side of her plate. "I've been trying to be nice to you...."

"Oh, you've been friendly to just about everyone." Her mouth dropped open in shock, "What is that suppose to mean?"

"What do you think it means?" He leaned into the table now. Their faces were inches apart.

Richard slid back into the booth startling them both. "Miss me?"

"Did I ever!" Elizabeth said moving back against the booth. "Dance with me." Richard was only too happy to comply.

From the dance floor, Elizabeth watched Darcy watching her. He thinks I'm not good enough for Richard. She moved closer to Richard enjoying the glare that passed over Darcy's face. It was dark and dangerous---and it caused her heart to thud in her chest. When Richard's lips pressed against hers, she responded but did not encourage the contact. When it was over she glanced back to their table knowing instinctively that Darcy was gone. When Richard went to kiss her again, she moved away. "It's getting late, Richard. I think I'd better get back to my dorm....."

As they walked toward her dorm, she felt a guilt sweep through her. She had never once stopped to considered how Richard might interpret her actions. She really did like Richard. He was funny, gentle and good looking. So, what was her problem? What was it about her that would not let her be happy? Why couldn't she just fall in love like everyone else? What was it about her that held her heart hostage even when she was willing to give it away? When they arrived outside of her dorm, Richard pulled her close to him. "Do you want me to come up?" His question made her squirm. "Not tonight. I have a lot of studying to do..."

"Are you sure?" He added huskily, "I can be a good study buddy."

"More like a study distraction." She teased. He laughed and held her close to him. He liked holding her. "Lizzy, you are not like the other girls...."

She giggled. "Does that line usually work for you?"

He tilted her chin up to him. "You know that I mean it, right? You know that I want to see you again ....tomorrow and the next day." Richard's blue eyes touching her face lightly. "I usually get bored with a woman by now......but I just seem to want to see more of you every time we are together."

She blushed knowing exactly what he meant about "more of her." "Richard, I don't want to lead you on. I really don't think this is going to work between us..."

He stopped her words with a light kiss. "Why can't it work? I've been waiting my whole life for someone like you....I think I'm ready for a serious relationship ....Lizzy, give me a chance..." He looked at the ground and shut his eyes, "I'm not going to walk away from you after I found you...."

"Richard, I'm not sure I'm ready for a serious relationship..." He ran his finger along her jaw line. "How about a not-so-serious relationship?"

She felt so good in his embrace. "How not-so-serious are we talking?"

"Occasional dating, no strings." His eyes were so gentle, but so dark. They almost looked black....like Darcy's. She shivered wondering what made her even make the comparison. The two men were like night and day. Richard was the sun----Darcy was the black pits of...she stopped herself. Darcy was Jane's cousin. So was Richard..... It would please Jane to see that she was getting along well with at least one of her cousins. It was this thought that finalized Elizabeth's decision. "I think I'd like that, Richard. I think we could have a lot of fun together." His smile was brilliant. Then, he kissed her nose and asked, "How about we start having fun tonight?" The look on his face was comical. She pushed him playfully. "Richard, honestly, you are incorrigible. Go home!"

He pulled her back into his arms. "You can't blame a guy for trying."

She met his eyes and the black-navy pools took her breath away. This time when their lips met, she responded enthusiastically, surprising herself. When he pulled away, he was the one that was breathless. And, she was very confused. Before she could think about what had transpired, she quickly sent him on his way.

Richard could not stop smiling.

Part I, chapters one - four

chapters five - seven

chapters eight - ten

chapters eleven - twelve

chapter thirteen

Part II, chapters one - two

chapters three - four

chapter five

chapters six - seven

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Darcyfic

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