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Language:
English
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Published:
2019-05-06
Completed:
2022-06-08
Words:
35,643
Chapters:
9/9
Comments:
73
Kudos:
183
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19
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3,016

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Summary:

Jetra modern Pride and Prejudice AU

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Chapter Text

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a rough break up must be in want of a rebound.

“Come on, Jane, you’ve been moping around for weeks,” said Lina, exasperated. “There’s only so many times you can stalk his profiles. I keep telling you that the only way to get over him—”

“—is to get under someone else, yeah, I know.” Jane sighed. “And I keep telling you that I don’t do casual hookups or the club scene.”

Which, in fairness, was true. But there is a difference between not being the clubbing type and locking yourself up in the apartment for weeks on end. Jane’s nearly one-year relationship had ended last month and in that time, the couch in the living room had become her go-to hangout spot. When she wasn’t at work or with her family, Jane was sitting with her feet up on the thrifted floral monstrosity crying or watching Netflix or both.

Lina eyed the stuff that had accrued around Jane’s spot in the last month—half empty glasses of water, unwashed cereal bowls, and stacks of gossip magazines.

Enough was enough.

She shut Jane’s laptop, moved it to the coffee table, and sat on Jane’s legs. “What if I told you I had the perfect getting-Jane-back-out-there venue?”

“I’d tell you to lower your expectations.”

“You know how you’re always trying to get me to play those lame board games?” Lina asked.

“Ticket to Ride isn’t technically a board game—”

“—it’s a tabletop game, yes, I know, I’ve heard your speech like a hundred times. And now I know where to find people who will actually appreciate what you’re talking about.”

“Lina, I keep telling you that no one goes to the library to get dates.”

“Not a library. Although it did used to be a bookstore.”

“And now it’s…?”

“A games bar called ‘Make Your Move.’”

Jane groaned. “That’s the worst name I’ve ever heard.”

“Two drinks in, it won’t matter.” Lina got off of Jane’s legs. “Come on, get dressed. We’re going to the opening tonight.”

“Lina, I—”

“I’m taking the wifi router with me if you don’t come.” Lina put her hands on her hips.

“Big deal,” said Jane, getting up and heading to her bedroom. “I’ll just read.”

Surprisingly, Lina didn’t have a comeback for that and Jane enjoyed a brief moment of triumph before she saw the bookshelves in her room.

They were bare.

“Lina!” she yelled. “You didn’t!”

Lina appeared in the doorway with a mischievous smirk on her lips. “I told you, you need to get out of the house.”

“Where are my books?”

“In a safe location. They’ll be returned after we have a nice night out. It doesn’t have to be tonight.” She smiled wickedly. “But you don’t get your hostages back until we do.”

“You might be the worst person I’ve ever met.”

Lina ignored the slight and began rummaging through Jane’s closet. “The good news is that you can wear pretty much whatever you want to this place. What are you feeling? Jeans? Sundress? Some kind of cardigan?”

In the end, Jane grudgingly put on a black t-shirt and jeans, feeling underdressed next to Lina and her sleek green clubbing dress but unwilling to do anything about it. Lina said she had to give it two hours and two drinks before giving up and going home, and Jane might as well be comfortable.

The bar had been open for an hour or so before the young women showed up—there were groups of people at the bar, seated at high top tables, and a crowd around two people playing Dance Dance Revolution.

“Look how into it that guy is getting,” said Lina, indicating to a tall sandy blond man singing along to “Toxic” as he moved his feet rhythmically. “What a nerd.”

“I’m not going to chat him up,” Jane said, glancing at the neon clock above the liquor shelves. How had she only been there for five minutes?

“Yeah, I know you won’t. Which is why I’m going to.” Lina handed her clutch to Jane. “Hold this.”

After the unknown man handily trounced his opponent, Lina muscled her way up to challenge him. From where she lurked, Jane could see him grin widely at Lina, shake her hand, then start the game up again.

Lina had been single longer than Jane had, but her flirting held none of the desperation Jane’s would have at that moment. Her interactions with the DDR-er were natural and unaffected, as if she really was enjoying her time with him. And as Jane watched further, she realized Lina really was. He was a huge dork—his gestures were overblown and his song choices were downright bizarre—but the laughter that made its way over to Jane’s corner was genuine on both sides.

Finally, their championship was interrupted by a tall-ish blonde woman who looked out of place in the bar. She should have been exploiting workers on a yacht or demanding to speak to a manager, not slumming it with people who had probably never spent more than one hundred dollars on a haircut. Everything about her was immaculate from her short curls to her polished nails to her white designer jumpsuit that somehow looked crisp and soft at the same time. Jane only wore white when she was confident nothing would get spilled on her; she would never have worn something so pristine to a bar. If she had, someone would have spilled their beer on her within minutes. But everyone at the bar was giving this woman the room her aura demanded.

White, on this woman, was not the color of serenity and peace. It was not bland or inviting. It sent the same message that bright colors on a frog sent— stay away from me .

She touched the man’s shoulder blade mid-song and said something that made him hop off the platform. He turned back to Lina with an apologetic smile and some spoken words then disappeared into a back room with the interloper.

“Damn, was that his girlfriend?” Jane asked when Lina came back, sweaty and glowing. “That sucks.”

“Nah, he said it was his business partner. He also said that he owns the bar and will be sending a few free drinks my way. You’re welcome.”

Sure enough, a couple of cocktails made their way to the table where Jane was wheedling Lina into playing Jenga with her.

“Compliments of Michael,” said the server, hooking a thumb towards the bar where Michael and his bored-looking business partner were surveying the patrons.

Lina raised her glass in appreciation and Michael grinned and waved.

Jane accidentally locked eyes with the blonde woman who seemed to consider her for half a second before deciding she wasn’t worth her time and turning her attention back to Michael.

“She seems charming,” said Jane, wrinkling her nose.

“If Michael wants to hang out with her, she can’t be that bad,” Lina replied.

“Maybe he puts up with her because she’s bankrolling his venture. Also, may I point out that you’ve known him for a total of like five minutes?”

“Yeah but so far he’s been everything a guy should be—cheerful, unselfconscious, and kind. He didn’t mansplain a single thing to me.”

“The bar is so high,” said Jane dryly. “Give it time.”

But when Michael came over to chat with Lina while making his rounds to get to know his other customers, Jane had to admit that she’d been wrong. Michael seemed like a genuine guy. He talked animatedly with Lina about the bar, which he described as his passion project, and eagerly listened to her talk about her job. And while they both did their best to make sure Jane felt included, she couldn’t help but feel a little on the outside.

“I’m gonna go see if I can get anyone to play air hockey with me,” Jane said as Michael and Lina descended into theories about their favorite TV show.

The air hockey table was occupied, so Jane stood against the wall while two bros battled it out. They were kind of cute, in a jocky way. She could strike up a conversation with them and see where that went. When the game ended, the two of them kissed briefly before heading, laughing, to the bar.

Nevermind then.

Jane picked up a paddle and cast her eye around the room for an opponent. Everyone seemed to be in groups or pairs. She should’ve dragged Lina over with her.

With a sharp pain in her chest, she was reminded just why she’d spent so much time on the couch lately. It was one thing to see happy, functional relationships in movies and on TV. It was another to be surrounded by them in reality. Although she knew she had worth outside of a romantic relationship, it made her feel incomplete. She’d had a person always at her side or in her corner for almost a year. Without that comfortable, familiar presence, Jane felt exposed in public.

Not that all of the dynamics around her were perfect. More than a few couples were squabbling about rules and score keeping. But she even missed that. Arguing about whether or not you could stack draw fours in Uno was preferable to standing alone by an air hockey table with no hope of finding a partner soon.

Just as Jane was about to give up, she heard Michael’s voice five feet or so behind her.

“Isn’t this going great, Petra? It looks like everyone’s having a good time.”

“Of course you’d think that.” Petra’s voice was short and clipped. “You’re flirting with the only hot person in here.”

“That’s not true! Everyone here is ridiculously good looking and that’s not just the beer talking.”

Petra made a sound of disapproval.

“Come on, you’re not even trying. Get out there! Talk to someone who isn’t me!” There was a pause before Michael continued, “Look, that’s Lina’s friend Jane over there at the air hockey table. She’s awesome and super cute. Go introduce yourself!”

Jane didn’t particularly want to play air hockey with this Petra person, but she didn’t particularly want to stand there alone anymore either. She turned her head to see if Petra was even seriously considering it.

Their eyes met again briefly and Petra raised a scathing eyebrow.

“She’s fine, I guess, if you’re into girls who look like they could model for Target.” It was decidedly not a compliment. “Besides, I’m not in the mood to give charity to someone no one else wants to spend time with. Stop trying to meddle in my love life and get back to your own.”

Jane didn’t stay to hear Michael’s response. She set the paddle back on the table, ceding it to a couple of college kids, and left the bar.

Catching a Lyft home , she texted to Lina. See you later.

Her phone didn’t buzz until she was halfway home. I was wondering where you went. Okay, be safe!

Even without her books, which were arguably the best part of her room, Jane felt better than she had felt in “Make Your Move.” She felt more real when she was surrounded by knick knacks and the nightstand from her childhood room and the writing desk her parents had given to her when she got into college. The memories attached to each piece of furniture and art reminded her that she had been a whole person before meeting her ex and would continue to be one long after she forgot about him.

Lina popped into Jane’s room when she got back around one, bursting with more stories about Michael and how great he was. When she asked why Jane had left so suddenly, Jane recapped the conversation she’d overheard with a much more humorous spin than she felt.

“She made eye contact with you then called you pathetic? The fucking nerve!”

“What can you expect from a rich person? They’re the worst.”

“I can’t believe Michael hangs out with her. Maybe you’re right—maybe it’s just a business partnership he can’t get out of.”

“I hope for your sake it is. I can’t imagine being around someone like her for long periods of time without her acidity rubbing off on you.”

“I’ll ask him about her tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Jane wiggled her eyebrows knowingly at Lina. “Do you already have a date set up?”

“Girl, you know I do.”

Lina blew a kiss to Jane and bid her goodnight.

“Hey Lina?”

“Yeah Jane?”

Jane paused just long enough to make Lina think she might thank her for getting her out and about, then said sweetly, “My books better be back before I wake up.”