One Word From You: A Pride and Prejudice Adaptation by Natalie Penna Page B
Authors: Natalie Penna
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going to claw my eyes out.”
“ Whether she sees it or not, it's not her business.”
“ Yeah, but I'd still like to keep my eyes in my face,” I said, and wriggled free. Well, as free as I was going to get while we were still locked in the dance together. We returned to the gentle sway that seemed so popular with people who were using the music as an excuse for some physical contact with the opposite sex.
Had my partner been Gideon, I wouldn't have minded it so much.
“ So... Do you usually walk around the back routes of the school?”
“ What?”
“ When Charlie and I saw you, you were -”
“ Oh, you mean when I was talking to Gideon?”
He visibly bristled.
I couldn't resist adding, “Sorry, I should call him Mr. Wilson, but he asked me to use his first name. I sort of fell into him, and we just got chatting. He's a nice guy.”
“ I suppose he would seem to be one if you don't know him that well.”
“ Maybe I should get to know him better, then,” I mused aloud.
His eye actually twitched at my suggestion. Dancing with him hadn't been a total loss, after all. While I couldn't openly accuse him of anything, it was fun to hint that I knew something had happened between them. It felt like a victory was being scored on Gideon's behalf. If he wasn't prepared to stand up to someone like William, then this was the least I could do.
William looked away, and said, “I suppose everyone has different tastes when it comes to the company they keep.”
“ Are we still talking about Gideon, or are you talking about my other friends?”
“ I wouldn't look down on Jenny, if that's what you're worried about. She and Charlie seem to have become fast friends already.”
“ More than friends,” I muttered.
William caught on, and soon his gaze was fixed on Jenny and Charlie. I didn't think he could oppose any attachment they felt to one another. She came from a good family. Okay, so she didn't have the same kind of superiority in her that Chantelle did, but I thought that was in her favour. She was a kind girl, and any guy would be lucky to have her. Not that she was forward enough to make a move on anyone. I was determined to push them to one another, though. I didn't think she'd find another guy that complimented her so well.
“ I hope,” I said, “That you're not the type of person that judges people too quickly.”
“ Obviously not.”
“ And you wouldn't think less of anyone for stupid reasons.”
“ No, I wouldn't.”
“ So you wouldn't stoop to anything that might be beneath you, just to get back at someone. Right?”
“ What's with all the questions?” William asked.
I shrugged nonchalantly, “I'm just trying to understand you better. Is that a crime?”
“ It's not. But I doubt you're getting a good idea of the kind of person I am like that.”
“ I'm getting enough. Plus, the music's stopped. That means I'm free, doesn't it?”
“ I didn't realise I was making you feel trapped. Thanks for the dance, Blake.”
I wasn't going to return his feelings of gratitude, not when he couldn't even address me by my first name. I couldn't get away from William fast enough, and walked straight into Chantelle. So much for the night being fun. It was turning into something from my nightmares. I wished I'd stayed in the dorm, and had an early night.
“ Blake,” she said with a false smile, “I heard that you've been talking with Gideon Wilson.”
“ Yes, Chantelle. He's a teacher. It's hard to avoid at school, you know?”
She didn't take offense to my tone, regrettably. In fact, I could have sworn that my annoyance only served to please her. She placed a hand on my shoulder in a consoling fashion, “I don't really like you, Blake.”
“ No! Really?”
“ But I will give you some free advice. Don't believe everything Gideon Wilson tells you. I don't
“ Whether she sees it or not, it's not her business.”
“ Yeah, but I'd still like to keep my eyes in my face,” I said, and wriggled free. Well, as free as I was going to get while we were still locked in the dance together. We returned to the gentle sway that seemed so popular with people who were using the music as an excuse for some physical contact with the opposite sex.
Had my partner been Gideon, I wouldn't have minded it so much.
“ So... Do you usually walk around the back routes of the school?”
“ What?”
“ When Charlie and I saw you, you were -”
“ Oh, you mean when I was talking to Gideon?”
He visibly bristled.
I couldn't resist adding, “Sorry, I should call him Mr. Wilson, but he asked me to use his first name. I sort of fell into him, and we just got chatting. He's a nice guy.”
“ I suppose he would seem to be one if you don't know him that well.”
“ Maybe I should get to know him better, then,” I mused aloud.
His eye actually twitched at my suggestion. Dancing with him hadn't been a total loss, after all. While I couldn't openly accuse him of anything, it was fun to hint that I knew something had happened between them. It felt like a victory was being scored on Gideon's behalf. If he wasn't prepared to stand up to someone like William, then this was the least I could do.
William looked away, and said, “I suppose everyone has different tastes when it comes to the company they keep.”
“ Are we still talking about Gideon, or are you talking about my other friends?”
“ I wouldn't look down on Jenny, if that's what you're worried about. She and Charlie seem to have become fast friends already.”
“ More than friends,” I muttered.
William caught on, and soon his gaze was fixed on Jenny and Charlie. I didn't think he could oppose any attachment they felt to one another. She came from a good family. Okay, so she didn't have the same kind of superiority in her that Chantelle did, but I thought that was in her favour. She was a kind girl, and any guy would be lucky to have her. Not that she was forward enough to make a move on anyone. I was determined to push them to one another, though. I didn't think she'd find another guy that complimented her so well.
“ I hope,” I said, “That you're not the type of person that judges people too quickly.”
“ Obviously not.”
“ And you wouldn't think less of anyone for stupid reasons.”
“ No, I wouldn't.”
“ So you wouldn't stoop to anything that might be beneath you, just to get back at someone. Right?”
“ What's with all the questions?” William asked.
I shrugged nonchalantly, “I'm just trying to understand you better. Is that a crime?”
“ It's not. But I doubt you're getting a good idea of the kind of person I am like that.”
“ I'm getting enough. Plus, the music's stopped. That means I'm free, doesn't it?”
“ I didn't realise I was making you feel trapped. Thanks for the dance, Blake.”
I wasn't going to return his feelings of gratitude, not when he couldn't even address me by my first name. I couldn't get away from William fast enough, and walked straight into Chantelle. So much for the night being fun. It was turning into something from my nightmares. I wished I'd stayed in the dorm, and had an early night.
“ Blake,” she said with a false smile, “I heard that you've been talking with Gideon Wilson.”
“ Yes, Chantelle. He's a teacher. It's hard to avoid at school, you know?”
She didn't take offense to my tone, regrettably. In fact, I could have sworn that my annoyance only served to please her. She placed a hand on my shoulder in a consoling fashion, “I don't really like you, Blake.”
“ No! Really?”
“ But I will give you some free advice. Don't believe everything Gideon Wilson tells you. I don't
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