One Word From You: A Pride and Prejudice Adaptation Read Free Page A

your bodyguards for the evening. Right, Jen’?”
     
    Jenny made an awkward giggling noise, and then blushed profusely. Humiliated, she stammered, “I - I’m sorry! I - I just - with boys - I -”
     
    “ She’s shy,” I said, “She probably fancies you.”
     
    “ Beth!”
     
    “ I’m kidding! Would you relax? You’re fine with my Dad. Talking to Charlie isn’t any different, right?”
     
    “ I - I suppose.”
     
    “ There you go,” a wicked idea popped into my head, and I pushed Jenny against Charlie. He held her arms to stop her falling over in her ridiculous shoes, and I hastily explained, “I have to go get something to drink. You two stick together, and I’ll find you again in a little while, okay?”
     
    “ Beth! Beth, don’t - Beth! ”
     
    Muahahaha!
     
    Okay, so that was a little mean.
     
    Jenny was so comfortable in a girl’s school because, whenever she found herself confronted by a young man, she lost all ability to speak until she was used to him. If Charlie was eager to escape the talons of the girls who wanted to date him before they’d said two words to him, then I knew Jenny wouldn’t be in any danger. Besides, I’d come back when I thought they’d had enough time to get to know each other. And I couldn’t do all of her talking for her. It would be a good way for her to practice her social skills.
     
    I knew she’d kill me when we were back in our dorm, so I was going to enjoy it while it lasted.
     
    Chrissy and Lisa had already found boys just as flirtatious as they were, and were making absolute spectacles of themselves on the dance floor. They giggled obnoxiously, and leapt around, almost knocking out a few of our classmates in the process. I did the only proper thing, which was to distance myself from them as much as possible, and pretend that we were complete strangers.
     
    “ Did you not get the memo?” a scathing voice asked, and a perfectly preened shadow loomed over me, “This is an academy party, not a school disco. What do you think you’re wearing?”
     
    “ I was going for clothes .”
     
    “ Shut up, Blake. You’re making us look bad.”
     
    I stepped back, then circled Chantelle. I was taking in every inch of her outfit, from the hand stitched embellishments, to the expensive pearls sewn across the bust. It was a beautiful dress, but that didn’t stop me from saying, “No, I think you can look bad without my help.”
     
    She was about to snap at me, but was silenced by the arrival of another young man. He didn’t look happy about being there. In fact, he and Chantelle looked pretty good next to each other. They both had the same disdain for other people, although he was markedly better looking than her.
     
    “ Chantelle, how long do we have to stay here?” he asked, “If one more desperate girl asks me to dance, I’m going to be sick.”
     
    “ Are you related?” I asked before I could stop myself.
     
    “ Who are you?” he asked.
     
    “ Beth Blake. I’d say it’s a pleasure, but I’d be lying.”
     
    “ Likewise. William Davies. Congratulations on being one of the few sane people in this asylum.”
     
    “ I try,” I smiled briefly at him, “If you’ll excuse me, I’d rather not be here when decide to projectile vomit in rage all over the next poor girl to speak to you. Bit of advice, though? Try not being a dick to everyone. They might seem like stupid girls to you, but keep in mind we’re better than boys at getting blood out of things. Ciao, ciao.”
     
    I wasn’t going to give him the time to work out that I’d made a period joke, or a death threat. Well, I’d just sort of made a death implication. That wasn’t anywhere near as bad. Rather than stand around alone like a complete loner, I sought out Jenny and Charlie again. I hung back when I saw how well they were getting along. Although she wasn’t saying a lot, I knew from the way she smiled that she was fast developing a crush on the boy.
     
    “ Hey,