THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter twenty-three: Chez Bingley)

Chapter Twenty-three

Gossip

    The minute Paige had gone upstairs Mackenzie turned to Darcy. She was wearing a flicked ballet skirt and pink rimmed sunglasses to match her sparkling lip gloss and much too thick mascara. Mackenzie pulled her sunglasses down to her nose as if she was making a closer inspection of Paige’s absence.

    “Did you see what she was wearing?”

    “I hadn’t noticed,” Darcy said as he flicked through the pages of the Spring Awakening script on the couch. Darcy couldn’t believe how lame the part he’d been designated was. He was only doing it because it was that or an entire subject and he was pretty sure this would be less work. Besides the teacher, who was a screaming fashionista, already liked him. It was an easy A.

    “Did you notice how Paige looked?  Girlfriend was covered in dirt and those jeans are so last season. Did the edges actually have mud on them?” Mackenzie laughed.

    “I’m sure she’s not bothered by a bit of mud,” Darcy threw the script on the coffee table, “we were in a playing field after all.”

     “Well, I doubt you’d want your sister Blair traipsing all over the neighborhood, alone, in unfashionable clothes.”

    “She wasn’t alone. Her sister had walked on ahead of her. In any case, I’d be more concerned for her safety, than her style, after all Blair is younger than Paige.”

   “Well, I think Paige Bennet needs a lesson in how to dress and act in public. I mean, I can’t believe she’s a member of the Princesses. I was told those girls had style… some certainly don’t have any class.”

   “What did you say, Mackenzie?” Ryan asked from the corner where he entered the room from outside.  

   “I was just suggesting that Paige could use my advice.”

    Mackenzie batted her eyelashes at Darcy as he frantically texted somebody. It was obvious Mackenzie had a crush on her brother’s best friend but Darcy wasn’t giving in to her or her snarky ways.

   “Okay, I gotta go,” I announced, so over this place of bickering juniors and seniors.

   “Do you want a lift?” Ryan offered breezily.

   I beamed as he grabbed his keys, also eager to get out of Mackenzie’s airspace.

   “And Mackenzie, stop embarrassing me. In our last school you ended up with a reputation as one of the meanest girls who ever lived. You promised me things would be different here.”

   “Promises, promises brother,” Mackenzie said under her breath. After all, Darcy had wandered out to the pool area to talk on his cell and without an audience there was no need for Mackenzie to pretend to be nice.  She wished Darcy had noticed her new outfit. Just for once, though. Mackenzie really couldn’t understand it. Darcy had always been immune to her charms yet she was slim and beautiful and blonde and… perfect. Well, she had her ways. Mackenzie had whispered to me as Ryan got his car, “I’m not going to wait forever to be with Darcy, you know. I’m not like those dopey Bennet girls always playing hard to get.” 

    “He’s going to be so easy,” Mackenzie said.

     I thought that was a little bit of an ‘over-share’ as Mackenzie waved me off and wished me ‘cheers on my little TV show.”

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter twenty-two: Chez Bingley)

Chapter Twenty-two

Chez Bingley

    Mackenzie met them at the door.

   “Hi Paige, I’m so glad you came,” she said, as if she wasn’t. “Did you walk all the way in bare feet?”

    “Yes.”  

    “Well, that was very peasant-like of you,” Mackenzie smirked. “I texted Shiloh who got lost somewhere near the gazebo. I went and collected her in my car. That’s the kind of friend I am. She’s upstairs… cleaning up.” Paige turned to go.

     Mackenzie said under her breath, “By the way, I heard all about you and Rys Wickam in debate class…”

    Darcy’s expression changed from one of amusement to irritation. Mackenzie pressed on.

    “What did you say?”

    “I just said, I’ve heard Rys is really into you, Paige.”

    “Who told you that?”

    “Oh, nobody, just Wednesday, a little eighth grader I look after.”

     I shook my head behind Mackenzie.

    “I know who Wednesday is… she’s right there and she would never…”

     “It’s just that she’s seen you two together.”

     I nearly fainted and turned bright red as I glanced up from those napkins. I’d never talked about Paige and Shiloh directly to Mackenzie.

     “I heard he’s thinking of asking you to prom…”

    “Ah… I haven’t even thought about the prom.”

    Darcy’s expression altered from annoyed to extreme irritation as he slumped on the couch.

    “Mmm… well, I’m sure I could tell you a story or two about Rys Wickham if you’re interested.”

    Paige wasn’t. Even Ryan seemed embarrassed by his sister’s behavior.

    “No, Mackenzie, I’m sure she’s not,” he said, “Paige probably wants to go and see Shiloh. She’s been throwing up. She must’ve eaten something.”

   “I better go and see if she’s okay,” I said.

   “Sure, she’s upstairs, first room on the right. The maid knows the way.”

   Paige couldn’t believe Mackenzie’s family had staff, but the maid just rolled her eyes as if she’d known Mackenzie’s type for years and ushered Paige towards one of the many guest rooms along the never ending hallway.

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter twenty-one: All Things Nice)

Chapter Twenty-one

All Things Nice

    Somehow, Shiloh had convinced Paige to go to Mackenzie’s place to help plan the pool party. Paige pulled on her sunglasses, stuffed her shoulder length hair in her father’s baseball cap and, lagging behind Shiloh who seemed to be in a rush to avoid the rumbling skies, walked across the park. The skies were turning and Paige listening to music as Shiloh rushed to find shelter. Paige had forgotten to bring her umbrella and Shiloh had walked ahead to the gazebo in the park center to avoid getting soaked through.

    By the time the sisters reached the grounds bordering Mackenzie and Ryan Bingley’s mansion, the rain from the morning had created a soup-like mud. Paige rolled her jeans up to just under her knees, her face was hot and flushed from the sun and her toes, fingers and cheeks were covered in grit. She barely cared. Paige liked feeling close to nature, even deciding to rinse her face, feet and hands in the lake before she arrived at the gazebo where Shiloh had walked on ahead.   

    Mud was slopped all over Paige’s lovely new boots, so she pulled them off, carried them in one hand and went part-way barefoot. Paige walked along purposely, having texted Shiloh to let her know that she was ‘catching her up.’

   After she’d washed her feet and splashed her face in the fountain, Paige climbed over the park fence. She wasn’t really concentrating on what lay ahead as she was going over her notes in her head for the forthcoming debate on ‘why television is a bad influence.’ Paige didn’t agree that most of it was bad, of course, but for purposes of the debate, she’d had to create a feasible argument.

     Paige had reasoned that that was how it would be when she worked as a lawyer. Then there were the few lines she had been given in their watered down version of Spring Awakening. Paige wasn’t really into the arts it’s just she was prompting when yet another person dropped out, so Paige had to step in. She really just went along with the arts program to keep her sister happy.

    Besides, it looked good on her college applications to have other interests.

    Yet Paige couldn’t help but agree there was more important work in the world than saying lines other people wrote for you. There were human and animal rights issues, for one thing… when Paige thought about those poor, hungry circus bears she’d read about that needed to be liberated, it brought a tear to her eye. She knew she’d incorporate something about them if she was given a human rights topic at regionals…

    Stomping up the hill that led to the Bingley’s, she was suddenly stopped by a soccer ball nearly landing in her face. 

    Paige caught the ball in her arms and looked up to find Darcy Donovan running over the hill towards her. Paige didn’t know whether to speak or smile. She knew she’d never envisaged talking to him again, but she supposed it was inevitable, given the situation she now found herself in.

   He was Ryan’s neighbor and best friend, after all.

   In the end it was a very lukewarm smile that she offered as Paige threw the ball back at Darcy, hard.

   “Thanks,” Darcy said sarcastically.

   He couldn’t help but notice her bright blue eyes flashing in the sun. Paige too, couldn’t help but realize how tall and muscular Darcy looked in a wet t-shirt as skies continued to weep.

   “I better go,” he said turning, “Hey, are you coming to the pool party at the Bingley’s next weekend?”

   “Um… yes. We came today to help Mackenzie organize it… and she invited us to stay for lunch.”

   “Oh, well, it’s a bit tricky to get through security so maybe Ryan and I could walk with you.”

    “Uh…” Paige had no idea how to say no. Ryan had forged ahead to search for Shiloh. Paige smiled and sucked it up. Darcy may have dissed her looks and tried to make her sound foolish in debate class but that was then, this is now, Paige thought as he led the way to the Bingley mansion. He was all tall and dark shadows but seemed sincere in his desire to help.  

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter twenty: A house is not a home)

Chapter Twenty

A house is not a home

    That weekend, I was with Mackenzie folding napkins in her mansion. I’d been looking forward to checking out her place for days and now, here I was. It was something else to be allowed into chez Bingley and see their gaudy wealth displayed up close and personal.  

    I expected Mackenzie to be miserable about me leaving for almost a whole month to film the pilot, but she wasn’t.

    “Life goes on Wednesday! I’m so proud of my little protégé but I’ve already arranged your replacement,” Mackenzie said matter-of-factly flicking on her horoscope app of the day. “I really think all my advice has helped this opportunity come into your life. You shouldn’t forget to tell everyone I’m like a big sister to you when you start doing press interviews…”   

    Mmm… all her tutoring? Mostly she asked me about Paige and Shiloh and sighed over Darcy. She continued, “I just hope Honey does half as good a job of folding those napkins for me as you do…” and smiled as she took the pile upstairs with her.  

    Honey? My best friend had already accepted my job as Mackenzie’s ‘helper’? Well, it wasn’t like we’d had much of a chance to talk. I was sure she meant to tell me… and soon. 

    Mackenzie’s voice trailed down behind her as she walked.   

    “Oh, guess who is coming over? Darcy! You can stay if you like. I’ve invited Shiloh and Paige around for lunch. We have a lot of stuff to organize for the party and you can help.”

    Mackenzie tested the lights in the hallway as I stood there wondering who would take my place in Spring Awakening... assuming I’d miss that as well.  

    “There,” Mackenzie said, as she turned on the fairy lights, “this place looks just like a scene from Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, pre-guest arrival, of course. Chez Bingley is going to be the perfect place to hold a pool party!” 

   

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter nineteen: Getting the part)

Chapter Nineteen

Getting the part

    Not long after Spring Awakening: the revised G Rated version went into dress rehearsal, Thom called me on my cell phone one afternoon.

     I’d totally forgotten he’d even reminded me to be on standby.

     “Hello,” I said in my best theatrical voice – excusing myself from class, no less.    “Guess what pumpkin… I just called your mom…”

     “Huh?”

     “And your lawyer...”

    “Huh?”

     “You got the part!”

     “Are you serious?”

     “Yeah, normally they cast older to play younger but they wanted the real thing – you! You got the part. No need to quit school, they should be able to film it in under a month. It’s just a pilot episode at this point…”

     “Wow.” I tried to sound excited. It’s just that, finally, school was starting to get interesting. I was even helping Mackenzie organize her winter pre-prom party this weekend. I was sure to see Darcy and Ryan and Paige and…

      “You start next week…”

      “But…”

      “Don’t worry, we have an on set tutor organized. Besides, we only have to film the pilot. If it is accepted by the network, you could think of it as your summer job. Filming on the actual series won’t start until next June. So, aim for at least a fortnight off school…”

     Of course I said yes, without thinking. Acting was my dream – at least I told myself it was. And besides, most shows got cancelled after the pilot season and of course, it was too good an opportunity to say no to. Besides, I’d probably only miss dress rehearsals. I wasn’t sure how that would impact on everyone else.  

     I hoped I’d never be too busy to socialize.

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter eighteen: Sugary Spice)

Chapter Eighteen

Sugary Spice

     Darcy almost laughed out aloud when he noticed Mackenzie making a show of praying before eating her lunch the next day. Mackenzie had decided to seat herself between The Princesses and The Praise & Worshipfuls as if she was committed to both groups. Darcy knew, deep down, Mackenzie had good qualities but he disliked her hypocrisy. Mackenzie knew saying Grace before the main meal and being a Sunday Christian was not enough. Mackenzie was all for show, something Darcy abhorred.

    Darcy would never accuse himself of being dishonest.  He knew Mackenzie well enough to know she’d often had to be told to wait by her mother at Christmas time when she’d tried to wolf down her meal. Yet in public, of course, Mackenzie was the height of manners. How typical, Darcy thought. Suddenly, Mackenzie was acting like she had a patent on God.

    Meanwhile, Honey and I brushed past Darcy in the hall as I was on my way to Spring Awakening rehearsal. He actually smiled at us which was quite surprising. I was thinking about my callback for the TV show and how I’d combine it with my rehearsal schedule for Spring Awakening.

   I was pretty excited to have a singing part – even though I was the youngest main cast member. I religiously drafted our story, along with Honey, who drew the pictures during breaks. Our little e-read, the one that had just started as a story about Paige and Darcy and Sunrise High had become a kind of Sunrise High journal of our freshman year. It was getting really juicy… who knew how many actual publishers would bid for it?

    “Or maybe we could just put it on the web when we are finished and start our own publishing house,” Honey stated. Honey is always busy with marketing plans and she has a really good head for business. Me? I’m all about the art, really.

    “I’m so excited,” Honey whispered to me during rehearsal as she praised one of the sketches we decided to add to our chapter titles (Honey thinks up the titles). “Mrs Tartt said we might be able to use this as our class project elective. Aces!”

    “Great!” I replied, it beats reading the required text yet again.

     Paige was required to stand next to Rys on stage. Rys was playing a caddish teenage boy (European – any similarities?) who has just dropped the hand of Paige’s character. That was as far as our version of Spring Awakening went – hand holding.  Mr Sparks had updated and re-translated most of the dialogue. We added a song at the beginning and end (which I got to sing). It was kind of fun.

    To be honest, I’m not sure why they still called it Spring Awakening (Part Two)  but I guess since the original story was out of copyright they could call it anything they wanted.

    Meanwhile, Darcy wondered what sort of divine intervention he’d need to stop the powering train that was Paige Bennet making him look both socially and academically foolish. He knew if he was less prideful, (a better man), so to speak, he wouldn’t care. But he was a teenage boy and Paige had really gotten to him.  I know this because I saw him scrawl PB on his play script and those letters didn’t stand for Personal Best. (They stood for Paige Bennet of course!)

    Darcy had wandered into the school theatre where Mr Sparks was setting the stage lights and he had been raked into working as an assistant for extra credit. Paige was helping out as prompt that afternoon. I was singing. The play itself was unintentionally funny.

    Darcy, even sitting in the audience, was unfocused on the task at hand. Exhibit A: When I missed a cue he was oblivious to it. It was clear from the way he glanced at her, that Paige Bennet, even now, was infiltrating his train of thought. As I stood center stage, he was glancing over into the curtains where Paige stood. This annoyed me. I would not be upstaged even by a swan-like older girl who the talk of the school was obviously in love with.

     When the band started playing, I sang out. Everyone listened, even Darcy and Paige who were previously so wrapped up in each other’s sight lines.

     And the next day? Darcy spoke. He said hi to me, Veronica and Honey as we walked into the hall and paused and said, “hey, aren’t you the freshman playing the lead in Spring Awakening? You’re a really good singer.”

     My face went bright red.

     Honey giggled. 

     Veronica chewed her gum and smiled.

     Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles.

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter seventeen: Sweet Dreams)

Chapter Seventeen

Sweet Dreams

    In the dark, Paige and Shiloh could hear Sia and Rebel giggling stupidly through the thin bedroom walls of the Bennet home.  

   “Are you awake, Paige?” Shiloh asked.

   “Yes, of course.”

   Paige threw her pillow at the wallpaper while Shiloh smiled. 

   “Don’t worry too much about what Darcy Donovan said.”

   “Oh, I’d already forgotten,” Paige lied.

   “It does seem strange, though.”

   “What do you mean?”

   “Well, his best friend seems like such a nice person. Ryan is probably the nicest boy I’ve ever met.”

    Paige paused.

    “It could just be your goodness that brings out the best in him,” Paige giggled.

    “I doubt it,” Shiloh said. “Perhaps we’ve just been too quick to judge Darcy. Maybe there is more to him than meets the eye.”

    “Maybe,” Paige said re-adjusting her pillow. “Whatever, I’m so over him.”

    Shiloh wondered, before she fell asleep, if this meant her sister was previously ‘into’ him.

     Shiloh didn’t believe in dating unless it was dating for the future.  She knew Rebel and her younger sisters just wanted to have fun, but Shiloh was a senior and she wanted a boyfriend that would be there for her, who would take things seriously, to the next level, to college and beyond. Shiloh was playing for keeps. She wondered if Paige felt the same.

    “Darcy Donovan,” Paige said sleepily, “is the most arrogant, self-centered boy I’ve ever met. If he never spoke to me again I’d be extremely happy. If he ever does speak to me again, though, I’m going to ignore him. He’s just not worth the effort.”

     Shiloh had a sneaking suspicion, for once, her beloved sister was wrong.  

   

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter sixteen: After-words)

Chapter Sixteen

After-words

Homecoming had ended on a low note as Rebel and Sia screeched through the auditorium playing a childish game of tag. The younger Bennet girls were the last students to leave and could be heard laughing throughout the exit hall and giggling with a group of boys before piling into the back seat of Mrs Bennet’s car.

    Mrs Bennet, who had made an appearance to collect her younger girls, had joined some of the other mothers towards the end of the evening. At one point, and much to Shiloh and Paige’s chagrin, their mother could be heard talking up their chances of ‘taking those handsome new boys to the prom.’

     Paige, mortified, turned her head and decided to go outside for air. Senta was hiding out there under a tree.

     “Parties don’t do it for me. I’m so over socializing. Our younger sisters always make us look like total losers. Besides, dancing is overrated, even at an arts school.”

     Paige thought her middle sister had a point even if she had a tendency to sound about twenty years older than she was. Rebel had stumbled outside by now with Sia and was laughing uproariously and speaking way too loudly.

     “Have you seen that new Senior? Darcy Donovan? What a jerk! I honestly didn’t know where to look!  When his friend, who’s actually nice, agreed to host a party at their house Darcy looked like he was about to throw up! Perhaps Aussie boys are only hot in movies…”

     “Oh, please, Rebel,” Senta added, “there’s no need to be so descriptive.”

     “Yes, stop exaggerating, Rebel”, Sia added. “Ryan Bingley’s way hotter. Senta, you should stay out here and stop eating so much ice-cream – it will only make you fatter and then you’ll make me look worse as your sister. You need to be more social, chillax...”

    “Are you serious Rebel? Rys Wickam has just arrived and you know I think he’s a candidate to take me to the prom...” Rebel interrupted.

     “It’s not open to everyone,” Paige stated simply.

     “Well, I’ve spoken to Mackenzie Bingley and when she becomes leader of the Praise & Worshipfuls and votes on the Princesses’ next mixer, they’re going to open it up to ‘specially invited guests,’ and that’s when my lovely sisters get to invite me.”

      Paige couldn’t believe what she was hearing or how boy crazy her youngest sisters were. It was embarrassing. She resigned herself to talking to her parents about their behavior. Perhaps her father could send them to an etiquette camp where they were sure to learn some manners.

       Paige was so over homecoming by the time she pulled on her seatbelt. Darcy’s words had stung her beyond the point where she ever wanted to speak to him again.

      “How dare he say I wasn’t good enough for him? As if I’d want him!  A webisode series does not make a star…”

      “Never mind, Paige, at least now you don’t have to acknowledge him,” Coco said as she piled into the back seat. They’d promised to drop Coco home as she lived close by.

      “I think I can safely say, I’ll never willingly talk to him again.”

      “Much less dance with him,” Shiloh added as she crawled in.

       Mrs Bennet had also been filled in on the story.

      “I wouldn’t talk to him or dance with him or go out with him even if he begged you to…”

      “I think I can safely say Darcy Donovan is the last boy in the world I would ever date,” Page assured both her sister and her best friend. 

       As the girls dozed Mrs Bennet commented about the Princess mothers to Paige;  

      “All they wanted to know was where Daddy plays golf and when I told them Mr Bennet doesn’t play golf, one of them actually turned their back on me. And as for that rude boy Darcy Donovan – I’d be quite happy if I never had to see him again.”

      “I’m pretty sure you’ll never have to,” Paige added.

      “Well, he was quite rude when I asked him where Rebel had gone. He just shrugged and turned away. His friend was quite nice though.”

       After dropping Coco home, The Bennet sisters were relieved to arrive at their own place a short while later. Their house was modest but welcoming, rustic but warm.