Darcy's eyes refused to rest, the rest of the day. Every which way they shifted, they searched each face, double-checking every head of blonde hair, every high-pitched laugh with maniacal under-tones. Every single smug smile. But Gina Wickham had enough sense to stay out of Darcy's way.

Darcy's eyes were tired by the end of the day and so they hung lower than usual, deepening her resting scowl. Her head caught one last glance over her shoulder as she entered her last class of the day, AP Literature with Miss Austin, to check the hallway one last time before turning her back.

She heard Miss Austin announce as she entered "New term, new seating assignments, check the whiteboard for your new spot" and had enough mental clarity to determine which seat in the front row was hers.

She hadn't been present enough to read who would be sitting to her right for the rest of the year and so found out by glancing at the desk next to hers and found a twin-lens camera looking up at her. Darcy looked up and found Eli's head bent over a folded-up paper-back book. He did not look back. Darcy looked away.

That would be the highlight of her social interactions for the week. The lowlight, and the only other social interaction she would have with any of her classmates that week, was the smug expressions of her teammates when her PE teacher announced the end of their volleyball segment and the start of basketball.

Darcy was grinning on the inside when, in the same sentence, her PE teacher named her team captain. The expressions of her teammates turned icy as Darcy stood before them, picking out the best players.

All the while Charlie adjusted to Meriton like fish to water. Darcy would have envied her friend's ability to make friends if she didn't admire it so much. She had watched Charlie do it, time and time again. No matter her situation, no matter her circumstance, there was Charlie with a sweet smile on her face and a helpful manner.

From the stories Darcy heard on the way home from school, Jamie's friend group had welcomed Charlie with opened arms, making room for her at their lunch table during junior lunch.

There Darcy's stomach twisted.

Netherfield had had only one lunch hour. All classes ate together. At Meriton Charter, each grade had a separate lunch period.

Darcy had eaten lunch in the library the first week because she didn't know anyone else. She had eaten lunch in the library the first day of her second week as a precaution against spotting Gina again (the first and last thing she wanted was to go head-to-head against Gina Wickham in a crowded spaced). Now it was where she ate every day.

Heading into English class on the Friday of her second week at Meriton, Darcy's head still checked the hallway one last time (she hadn't spotted Gina again, but she didn't trust her luck, Gina was sure to pop again sometime). Taking her seat, she expected yet another class period of stony silence from Eli.

They had AP statistics together as well as Literature but this was the only class they had to sit together. He had yet to acknowledge that she held ownership over the desk right next to his.

Miss Austin started the class off with a bang, as soon as the second bell rang, and all newcomers were officially late.

"Okay. 19th century American and British literature. We've spent the week talking about the social and economic landscape. We've talked enough about the notable male authors of that time. Now, it's time to talk about the women."

A few of Darcy's more enthusiastic classmates gave a hoot of excitement from the back of the class.

"'Woo' is exactly correct. Since this final term of your senior year, we are going to looking at the birthplace of feminism. No, I'm not talking about the 1920's fight for the right to vote. Nor I'm not talking about the women's movement of the 1970s. It should be pretty obvious to you all what we will be studying. Any guesses before I ruin the surprise."

From behind her black-framed glasses, Miss Austin's young expression shone with excitement as she searched the classroom. The enthusiasm shown a minute ago was nowhere to be seen.

Darcy didn't raise her hand. That wasn't what they did at Netherfield and she wasn't going to start now.

"The birthplace of feminism is rightly attributed to the female authors of the 19th century," Darcy said.

Miss Austin's excitement found a target.

"Exactly, Miss Williams. Way to pay attention. Can anyone name some of the more famous 19th female authors that we all know and love today? Anyone. Really. No one?"

Darcy waited a beat for her classmates to chime in. Another difference from Netherfield where all classes were a discussion between teacher and student. It helped when the teacher-to-student ratio was 1:12.

"Lois May Alcott, Emily Dickinson, Charlotte, and Emily Bronte, Mary Shelley, George Eliot,..."

None of her classmates bothered to pitch in so Darcy kept going. She paused when she ran out of readily accessible names and was interrupted by her classmate sitting to her right.

"Jane Austen," Eli added.

"Jane Austen wrote at the end of the 18th century," Darcy corrected.

Neither of them looked at one another but instead at Miss Austin who had been leaning against the whiteboard, watching Darcy.

"Yes, she did. However, she was published in 1813 so Eli, you are correct and we will be adding her to the list."

Miss Austin started writing down the names Darcy had given her on the large whiteboard when a student poked their head in.

"Yes, what is it?" Miss Austin asked over her shoulder, still writing, from memory.

"Eli Bennett and Darcy Williams to see Principal Longbourne."

It was only at the name of their esteemed leader that Miss Austin finally stopped writing. She grabbed the note from the student who hurriedly withdrew from the classroom and disappeared. Miss Austin looked at the note, her eyebrows pressed together.

Darcy glanced at Eli, confusion overriding her sense of social boundaries. Eli looked back. But only for a second before looking away again.

"Darcy, Eli, the principal wants to see you. Read chapters 20 and 21 from your textbooks over the weekend and email me your top three choices for female authors of the 19th century. We're doing an end-of-term report."

A collective groan rose from the students as Darcy grabbed her things. Eli grabbed the slip from Miss Austin as she addressed the class at large.

"And it'll be worth half your grade," she had to cry over the continued cry of desperation so Eli and Darcy could hear as they left the classroom.

Darcy reached the hallway first and started towards the front office, her determined stride carrying her far and fast. She only thought to look back to see if Eli was keeping up when she turned the first corner. He was only a step behind, his gait easy and relaxed, his long legs doing all of the work.

He made it to the front office door first and held it open for Darcy. She entered without acknowledging his gesture and stopped before the second door.

All over the glass walls, slips of colored paper had been taped. Stepping closer, Darcy could see that students had written their names and where they planned on attending college. There were only a few dozen so far, early decision admission, Darcy guessed. By the end of the school year, the wall was sure to be filled.

Only then did Darcy feel the weight of the three acceptance letters sitting in her desk drawer at home. She hadn't given them a second thought since opening them, noting their contents, and then stashing them away.

Eli cleared his throat. He was standing waiting for her, holding the door open, and looking impatient. Darcy walked through so he could let the door swing behind them.

"Miss Williams, Mr. Bennett. In here, please."

A short, round man with thick white facial hair and a thinning hairline stood in front of an open door, with a bored look on his face.

It was Friday, there was only a short while left in the school day, in the entire school week. The weekend was knocking at his door and he had to deal with them before answering.

"Have a seat."

Principal Longbourne settled in easily to his large leather chair behind a wide light wood desk, the stacks of papers crowding around the older model computer, just barely organized and threatening mutiny.

Darcy sat first, the green padded chair waiting for her faded and hard, the term padded long since inapplicable. Eli took its twin.

Behind Principal Longbourne was a wall of certificates that looked pathetic when Darcy remembered the wall behind the desk of Netherfield's principal. It was the end of her second week and this was the first time Darcy was being introduced to Meriton's reigning leader. Netherfield had a policy that the principal met with each student once a month to check-in. Darcy had a feeling that Meriton's students avoided the principal's office at all costs.

With a deep grunt and sigh of resignation, Principal Longbourne put down the file he had been reading for a long moment and now stared at first Eli and then Darcy in turn.

"I'm sure you're both wondering why I called you in."

"Yes, sir," Darcy answered. Eli did not.

"It turns out that the two of you are in a bit of a situation."

Darcy looked to Eli to gauge his reaction. He did not look back and his face looked as neutral as ever. He was almost as good as she was.

"Could you explain, sir?"

Darcy could hear Eli's snicker at her formality but Darcy's back stayed straight as she sat perched at the edge of her seat while Eli resided comfortably in the recesses of his.

"Miss Williams, with your admittance to our establishment, you have forced my staff and me to reassess our senior class rankings."

"And..." was all Eli added. Darcy smirked. He was just as interested to hear what Principal Longbourne had to say to the both of them as she was.

"Well, we've discovered that the two of you, as of right now, are both eligible for the position of salutatorian."

Darcy's response of "Could you explain that?" came out just as Eli sat forward in his chair and exclaimed, "That's not fair!"

Ignoring Eli's sudden interest in the conversation, Principal Longbourne continued in his slow, monotone way.

"Miss Williams, with your impressive academic record, sporting accomplishments, and extracurricular activity, you are currently on even footing with Mr. Bennett here."

Darcy didn't want to smile. Eli was already smoldering. It would only make him mad. But she wanted to laugh. At Netherfield, her grades and school participation had placed her somewhere in the top thirty percent of her classmates. But here at Meriton?

Salutatorian.

"Who's valedictorian, if I may ask, sir?"

Now Eli looked at her. Darcy had the chance not to look back. She took it with glee.

"Missy Collins. She's been at the top of her class since kindergarten. She would have to lose all ability of rational thought not to get valedictorian. But the position of salutatorian, as of this moment, is a tie between the two you."

"She doesn't deserve it."

Darcy had to look at him. He was glaring at Longbourne.

"My grades are just as valid as yours."

Finally, he was looking at her. His green eyes were dark, almost brown and his voice was low and even as he spoke.

"You got your grades through elevated circumstances. I've been working with the system of a second-rate school, only one level higher than a public school. I haven't had the opportunity of teacher conferences, private tutors, and study groups. But you can just walk in here with your pompous attitude and take what rightfully belongs to me, an actual student of Meriton Charter, and claim it for your own? I don't think so."

"Mr. Bennett!"

Principal Longbourne's voice resonated lower than Eli's and silenced him. But not before Eli's message could strike Darcy right in the gut.

"Miss Williams is as much a student of this fine establishment as any of the others. You have no right to degrade her hard work. You are both entitled to the position."

"She had been here two weeks. I've been going to this school for the last three and half years. She'll graduate with us after barely three months in these halls. I've grown up with my classmates. I can name every single one of them. She can't be bothered to -"

"Mr. Bennett!"

Eli fell back in his chair. His hand went to his mouth to keep himself from speaking further. The frustration in Longbourne's eyes threatened punishment.

Darcy stared dumbly ahead. His words had struck home, every single one of them. And with each hit, Darcy built her walls higher, brick by brick. She took a deep breath. She sat up straighter. She tightened her hold on her bag until her knuckles turned white.

She met Principal Longbourne's gaze with an even cool stare.

"That is enough, young man," Longbourne said. "I called the two of you in so we could handle this like adults. I am going to be watching the two of you very carefully over these remaining months. Your grades will tell me who deserves this spot. You will both have to earn it."

"The spots of valedictorian and salutatorian are places of honor. They are to be representatives of this school's student body."

"I am well aware of that, Mr. Bennett."

Eli grabbed his backpack and stormed out without dismissal. Darcy remained in her seat, looking to Principal Longbourne.

"You may go, Miss Williams."

Darcy nodded and left, catching the door before it could slam shut behind Eli.

She was three steps behind him leaving the front office. He paused in the hallway just outside the glass doors. Darcy pushed open the door, formulating what to say, how to fix this, how to make him see that it was about grades, not social standing. That she deserved this just as much as he did.

All plans of reconciliation dissipated in her head when that all-too-familiar voice called down the hall.

"Eli! Hey! There you are! I was looking for you!"

Darcy's eyes shot daggers as Gina Wickham sauntered down the hallway, her arm tucked into some lower classman who was looking at her like she had discovered the ability to smile like sunshine.

"Hey, Gina. Kit, shouldn't you be in class?"

Addressing the unknown fourth to the half-formed square they were making in the middle of the hallway, Eli looked first to Gina and then to Darcy, who didn't notice his long-held stare because she was glaring at Gina.

If Darcy had bothered to take in her surroundings, she would have noticed that Kit had the same eye color as Eli but the hair and dimple of Jamie, making it easy to designate him as a younger Bennett brother. But she would have had to been able to see past the dark red tint filling her sights.

"Darcy," Gina said, breaking the tense silence radiating off of Darcy. She tried to make her name sound familiar, easy, friendly. But Darcy heard the quiver of fear behind the facade. She saw Gina's eyes flick to Eli for the briefest second before she squared her shoulders and doubled down.

"Gina."

No one said anything until Kit found it the perfect time to draw out "Awkward" in a high-pitched tone. His attempt to ease the tension, bring a laugh, fell like a dead bird on the linoleum floor beneath their feet.

Darcy finally turned her gaze from Gina, just as the last bell of the day rang and the classroom doors burst open, letting out a flood of the students.

Eli was already looking at her when her dark gaze moved off of Gina.

"Eli. May the best person win."

Darcy turned and melded into the crowd, her anger dulling her usual sense of unease in a crowded space. Her only thought was first her brother, George. But he was at school over thirty miles away. Her second thought was Charlie. Carson could handle himself, could even smell Gina from a mile off.

Darcy had to get Charlie and get home. Then her living nightmare could end.

She hoped.

A/N:
Memes, memes, and more memes.

Oh and yeah how are we enjoying things?

Good? Great.