Halfway through her third week at Meriton Charter and Darcy had made the library her home base. It was where she ate lunch and it was where she spent her free period. The librarians knew her and returned her tight-lipped head nod with the same warmth and cordiality that Darcy showed them: next to none. Nothing but stiff necks and cool tempers as far as the eye could see.

It was a welcomed retreat from the noise and chaos of the lunchroom, especially considering that the only person who shared her lunch period was Eli Bennett and he looked as welcoming as Darcy did on a day-to-day basis.

As much as Darcy was dying for the salutatorian spot, so much her stomach hurt thinking about it, there was only so much homework and studying she could get done. Her usual after-school activities had been shut down with Netherfield and Darcy hadn't heard from a single one of her teammates or anyone she had considered a friend at Netherfield since she had transferred to Meriton, leaving her weekends empty.

With her free period a daily occurrence and lunchtime an equally optimal time to work, Darcy found herself bored the Wednesday of her third week into her stay at Meriton. All homework done, all studying up to date, Darcy had nothing to do.

And so she worked.

Darcy's family ran a high-end art gallery in South Boston. They had for generations. Darcy's mother had been in charge before her death and her Aunt Lois (her mother's best friend) had taken over that position from her as well as her position as mother to Darcy and George when she died.

After her mother's passing, Darcy's father was unable, physically and emotionally, to step up to the task. At both the gallery and with Darcy and George.

Darcy worked at the gallery as often as she could. It wasn't nearly as much as she wanted as she had a standing agreement with her Aunt Lois that her school work came first, that it was only once Darcy's studies were all taken care of that she could focus on tasks for the gallery.

For the first time that year, Darcy finally had the time.

She leaned forward in her hard plastic school regulation chair and dove into gallery emails head-first, visiting the website, checking for bugs, glitches, anything Lois might have missed or not known how to fix.

Darcy was deep into the applications for a future exhibit when a scent wafted her way. Her spine straightened without Darcy's permission. Her eyes went wide to take in all of her surroundings at once. Her work for the gallery was forgotten, downgraded, and kicked off the priority list at the familiar scent.

Darcy had once found it sweet, bright, fresh. Now it clogged up her nostrils, it made her stomach turn. She had to swallow hard to keep her lunch where it belonged.

That scent meant only one thing. Darcy looked to her right and found Gina leaning against a bookshelf, her arms folded across her chest, her Cheshire cat smile out to play.

"Darcy, alone in a library. How absolutely predictable."

Without an invitation, Gina approached Darcy's table, going so far as to follow its curve to stand on the opposite side facing Darcy, a table's distance between them for safety.

They were hidden from view. Darcy had chosen the furthest table in the furthest corner of Meriton's small library. She sat with her back to the room and hadn't seen Gina approach. Darcy would have to chastise herself for that later.

"What do you want, Wickham?"

"Wickham?"

With a hollow laugh, Gina flicked her hair over her shoulder so her long dark blonde waves fell perfectly down her back. The move seemed effortless, easy, natural. But that was Gina's game. Everything she did was to seem effortless, accidental almost, the most natural it could be. It was an effective disguise for the countless cogs spinning in her head, moving constantly, taking in everything, and factoring it into the master plan she was working on in her head.

Darcy had bought into the facade for years. Until the day the mask cracked. Now all Darcy could see was a cold stare and a dangerous glint in her eyes.

"Come on. Darcy. Is that really how you're going to address your childhood friend?"

"No, but since I don't see her anywhere, I think I'll stick to my greeting."

Gina shrugged, casual, cool, unfazed. But Darcy watched her eyes, light brown but focused, as they took in everything around her. She leaned against the table but there was nothing comfortable about her stance. She was ready to pounce at a moment's notice.

"I've been looking for you," she said, her eyes roving over the books on the shelves, Darcy sure she was avoiding Darcy's glare.

"You found me. Congratulations. What do you want, Wickham?"

"I don't really understand all this hostility, Darcy. I mean, if anyone has a right to hold a grudge, it's me! I mean, after everything that happened last summer, I can't believe I'm even speaking to you right now."

"Funny. I was thinking the same thing."

Gina finally met Darcy's eyes and tried to give her a sardonic smile. She looked away before she could. Another chink in the facade. Gina Wickham was far less convincing than she wanted to believe.

"Come on, Darcy. I've forgiven you. It's in the past. Let's let bygones be bygones. What do you say?"

"Only when hell freezes over."

Gina gave a heavy sigh as if Darcy's words broke her heart as if the weight of their disagreement was too heavy for her delicate frame.

A stray thought flicked across Darcy's brain, "She should have gone into acting. She would have been award-winning."

"What do you want, Wickham?"

"Well, since peace is off the table, I was thinking a truce. This is my school you're now attending. The playing field's been leveled. I have the home-field advantage."

"So?"

"So... I have a reputation to uphold. I have people who look up to me."

"I don't see how that's possible."

Gina shot daggers Darcy's way, her height her only insecurity that Darcy had ever discovered in their years of knowing one another.

"Don't be rude, Darcy. I just want peace. I don't want the people I've come to know to get their idea of me twisted. I've worked hard to earn the respect of my peers."

Darcy couldn't help the image of a pig that flashed into her mind at the sight of Gina with her nose in the air.

"You want me to keep my mouth shut," Darcy summarized.

"Is that really so hard? You barely speak as it is and you don't even know how to socialize properly."

Darcy's hands clenched. Gina knew her weak spots just as much as Darcy knew hers.

"Come on, Darcy. Do me this favor."

"As if I owe you anything. Having a hard time convincing your new friends of your oh-so-sad sob story, Gina?"

"Oh, no. Eli's bought it hook line and sinker."

Darcy felt her face warm. She looked down at her lap, the only time her gaze had broken from Gina.

Gina's laugh was more genuine this time, in that it had hints of glee and triumph.

"Oh, Darcy. You really haven't changed, have you? Still as predictable as ever. You find the one person who hates you the most and you go chasing right after them. It's kind of pathetic."

Gina let her words hang heavy over the both of them. When Darcy looked up, her smile was up to her cheekbones. The look in her eye had brightened.

"Keep your mouth shut and I'll leave you alone. All of you."

Darcy's shoulders squared. Charlie's face flashed before her eyes.

"Is that a threat, Wickham?"

Wickham shrugged.

"Only if you want it to be. Let's call it a promise, for now. And, unlike your sweet, dear god-parents, I intend to keep my promises."

Darcy could feel every argument rising in her throat to dispute Gina's claims against her aunt and uncle. She had to swallow hard to keep them down.

"You know, the Bennett's are a really nice family. And Jamie, well, he seems rather taken with Charlie, don't you think?"

Darcy narrowed her eyes. Her brain was whirling trying to follow Gina's train of thought.

"I mean, they own the main grocery store in town, Mrs. Bennett is head of the chamber of commerce. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are leaders of this little community. Respected. Looked up to."

Darcy didn't respond. Gina loved to talk. Darcy knew she would explain.

"It would be a pity if anything were to jeopardize that. How do you think your aunt and uncle would feel if they thought Charlie was seeing a criminal, a delinquent? A kid with a troubled family, a troubled sibling. Do you really think they'd let her keep seeing him? They have such high standards, from what I remember."

"Leave the Bennetts alone, Wickham."

"Keep your mouth shut, Darcy. Or else." Gina's tone turned to ice.

"Another threat?" Darcy countered.

"A promise."

Darcy had to shove the image of Eli from her brain. His words from the principal's office still rung in her brain. She had yet figured out a way to get them to stop. But he didn't deserve this, he didn't deserve Gina.

Darcy looked away, the closest thing Gina was going to get to a nod of agreement, a handshake, anything to seal their little deal.

"Excellent. I knew you were smarter than you looked. Really, Darcy, it's better for everyone."

Eli's face was replaced with Charlie's. If it came to it, Eli could take care of himself. His family was his responsibility. But Darcy had to look out for Charlie. Carson could handle himself. Charlie was too sweet for her own good.

"How's George doing, by the way? Are the Berkshires treating him well? Do give him my love, will you?"

Gina had taken it just one step too far. Darcy was standing before she knew it, glaring down at her. Gina's flicker of fear evaporated as she looked behind Darcy.

"Charlie! Hi! How are you? It's been way too long."

Darcy could hear Charlie hesitate just behind her.

"What do you want, Gina?"

The chill in Charlie's voice was the coldest Darcy had ever heard it.

"Wow, what a warm greeting from such an old friend. You've been hanging out with Darcy a little bit too much, I'd say. Well, ladies, as fun as this reunion of ours has been, I have places to be. And look, there's the bell."

Just as she said, the bell rang and the school day ended. Gina sauntered off with a spring in her step, leaving Darcy shell-shocked. She started to put away her books, her laptop, as she tried to promise what had just happened.

It took a minute before she realized Charlie was talking to her.

"-want? Darcy. Darcy! What did Wickham want?"

"Huh?"

Darcy found Charlie's eyes wide with concern, her god-sister examining her face for signs of distress or anger. Darcy couldn't muster up either.

"What did Gina want?"

"Oh, um, nothing. Just to catch up."

"Don't lie to me, Darcy. We don't do that, remember?"

Darcy nodded. They had made a pact after last summer. They didn't lie to each other. Darcy swallowed as she stepped up to the line of that promise, wondering if her next words were going to break it.

"Keep away from Wickham, Charlie."

"Obviously."

Charlie's laugh died as quickly as it had begun.

"I mean it."

Charlie didn't have to look further than the serious expression on Darcy's face to know the weight of the situation.

"Of course I will."

"Walk with someone between classes. I'll come get you when school ends, okay?"

"Yeah, okay. Darcy, what's wrong?"

"She's out for blood, Charlie. If she can't take us down, she'll take anyone she can get her hands on. So make sure you stay out of her grip."

"Of course. I'm naive, Darcy, not stupid."

Darcy nodded and swung her messenger bag over her shoulders. Charlie fell in line behind her as they left the library and started for the parking lot. Charlie was saying something about a study date the next day when Darcy froze in the middle of the hallway. She didn't even notice the crush of students that had to part to avoid crashing into her.

Down the hall, her eyes had caught the soft golden glint of Gina's long hair. She couldn't help but look. What kept her in her place was the look on her face and who she was talking to.

Eli was looking down at the ground, his eyes dark. When he looked up, his eyes met Darcy's and she felt his hatred for her crash over her like a wave.

She had to pull her stare away, move in the opposite direction from where Gina stood, tearing Darcy's reputation apart.

"This isn't your fault, Darcy," Charlie whispered, her words floating up into Darcy's ear despite the sound of students hurrying home.

"She isn't your fault."

Darcy tried looking at her friend but found the look of understanding and sympathy overwhelming.

Because Charlie was wrong. It was Darcy's fault. Everything that had happened the summer before was her fault.

And Gina knew it.

A/N:

Dudes. Gina straight CRAY!!!

Luckily I have the perfect meme for this situation.