One Word From You: A Pride and Prejudice Adaptation by Natalie Penna Page A
Authors: Natalie Penna
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heard any of the bad things I had to say about him. Not that I had any problem with my opinions of William. I just didn't want to start a huge argument in Charlie's house. It would make things difficult for Jenny if I caused a rift between us and them.
I cleared my throat gently, “It's a good party. Sorry that moron came along.”
“ If you want to make it up to us, then you can come and dance with me.”
Did I hear that right?
I opened and closed my mouth a few times. I wasn't sure if he was joking or not. If he was, then I really didn't get it. I mean, it wasn't like he could humiliate me any more than Wyatt had. Plus, William was clearly concerned about his public image. If he wasn't, then he wouldn't willingly spend time in Chantelle's company. She was popular, and that was about the only advantage to being around her. And even that didn't seem quite worth it.
“ Er – well – that's -”
“ I'll take that as a yes, shall I?” he asked, and offered his hand.
Georgia was quick to relieve me of my glass, and motioned in a completely unsubtle way that I should hurry. I was so nonplussed by the idea of dancing with him, that I was on my feet before I knew what I was doing. William closed his fingers around mine, and led me into the throng of couples already swaying to a song. I thought I might be lucky enough to only spare a minute with him if it had been playing a while. But the music switched over just as we came to a halt, and then started up with a new rhythm.
Damn it.
I was prepared for a decent amount of distance between us. The sort of slow dance usually seen at weddings between awkward new in-laws was what I had in mind. William didn't. He pulled me so close I almost fell onto him, and stepped purposefully in time with the music. I was so busy praying to whatever God might be present to let me get through it alive, that I barely registered him trying to engage me in conversation.
“ Blake?”
“ Huh?”
“ Were you listening?”
“ Not even slightly,” I said, unabashed at my disinterest in him.
William sighed. I thought he might snap at me, but he held himself together pretty well to say he hated me. After calming himself, he asked again, “Are you having a good evening?”
“ It would be better if Wyatt would leave me alone.”
“ I noticed that his dancing leaves a lot to be desired.”
“ Yeah, I might need an x-ray on my feet tomorrow,” I agreed, “I can't believe I have to put up with him until the end of the school year. Wait – why am I even talking to you about this?”
“ Because we're having a polite conversation.”
“ What's that about?” I asked, “You hate me.”
He let out a short breath through his nose, “Hate is a strong word. You're not my favourite person in the world, but Charlie seems to like your company.”
“ Wow,” I smirked, “What a massive sacrifice you're making for your friend by dancing with me. I'll try not to make it too painful for you.”
“ I don't mind talking to you, if that's a habit you have when you dance with people.”
“ Given I don't usually dance with anyone, I can't say I have anything like a habit when I do. Usually I just hope that it'll be over pretty quickly.”
“ In that case, I'm going to make you dance the next one with me as well.”
Git.
Lisa and Chrissy were making total spectacles of themselves on the dance floor. They skipped carelessly past us, bumping into me on the way. I fell against William's chest, and he brought his arms around me securely. The heat flew to my cheeks so quickly I got light-headed. I tried to ease myself away, but he was too busy glaring after the idiots to notice. He muttered something under his breath I didn't quite catch, and that was for the best I imagined. It can't have been anything polite.
“ Think you could let me go?” I asked, “If Chantelle sees this, she's
I cleared my throat gently, “It's a good party. Sorry that moron came along.”
“ If you want to make it up to us, then you can come and dance with me.”
Did I hear that right?
I opened and closed my mouth a few times. I wasn't sure if he was joking or not. If he was, then I really didn't get it. I mean, it wasn't like he could humiliate me any more than Wyatt had. Plus, William was clearly concerned about his public image. If he wasn't, then he wouldn't willingly spend time in Chantelle's company. She was popular, and that was about the only advantage to being around her. And even that didn't seem quite worth it.
“ Er – well – that's -”
“ I'll take that as a yes, shall I?” he asked, and offered his hand.
Georgia was quick to relieve me of my glass, and motioned in a completely unsubtle way that I should hurry. I was so nonplussed by the idea of dancing with him, that I was on my feet before I knew what I was doing. William closed his fingers around mine, and led me into the throng of couples already swaying to a song. I thought I might be lucky enough to only spare a minute with him if it had been playing a while. But the music switched over just as we came to a halt, and then started up with a new rhythm.
Damn it.
I was prepared for a decent amount of distance between us. The sort of slow dance usually seen at weddings between awkward new in-laws was what I had in mind. William didn't. He pulled me so close I almost fell onto him, and stepped purposefully in time with the music. I was so busy praying to whatever God might be present to let me get through it alive, that I barely registered him trying to engage me in conversation.
“ Blake?”
“ Huh?”
“ Were you listening?”
“ Not even slightly,” I said, unabashed at my disinterest in him.
William sighed. I thought he might snap at me, but he held himself together pretty well to say he hated me. After calming himself, he asked again, “Are you having a good evening?”
“ It would be better if Wyatt would leave me alone.”
“ I noticed that his dancing leaves a lot to be desired.”
“ Yeah, I might need an x-ray on my feet tomorrow,” I agreed, “I can't believe I have to put up with him until the end of the school year. Wait – why am I even talking to you about this?”
“ Because we're having a polite conversation.”
“ What's that about?” I asked, “You hate me.”
He let out a short breath through his nose, “Hate is a strong word. You're not my favourite person in the world, but Charlie seems to like your company.”
“ Wow,” I smirked, “What a massive sacrifice you're making for your friend by dancing with me. I'll try not to make it too painful for you.”
“ I don't mind talking to you, if that's a habit you have when you dance with people.”
“ Given I don't usually dance with anyone, I can't say I have anything like a habit when I do. Usually I just hope that it'll be over pretty quickly.”
“ In that case, I'm going to make you dance the next one with me as well.”
Git.
Lisa and Chrissy were making total spectacles of themselves on the dance floor. They skipped carelessly past us, bumping into me on the way. I fell against William's chest, and he brought his arms around me securely. The heat flew to my cheeks so quickly I got light-headed. I tried to ease myself away, but he was too busy glaring after the idiots to notice. He muttered something under his breath I didn't quite catch, and that was for the best I imagined. It can't have been anything polite.
“ Think you could let me go?” I asked, “If Chantelle sees this, she's
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