The only thing I wanted to mention was that I usually use italics to indicate someone's thoughts, and the bars show long breaks in time or a change in viewpoint. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy.

Getting the edges perfectly smooth was the best part. Lizzy loved when she pulled her scraper along the last time, and the frosting was perfectly smooth and clear of imperfections. There was something just satisfying about it. Sure she decorated cakes, and that was what people liked. But she liked a neat foundation.

"Oh Elizabeth!" Charlette sang as she walked into the kitchen, mimicking Lizzy's mother's voice. Lizzy operated her small baking business out of her parents' basement. She had ovens and fridges and plenty of room to fill her orders. It also gave her a place to see clients since her own apartment that she shared with her sister, Jane, was much too small.

"Yes Charlette?" Lizzy sang back. Charlette, her best friend, took a seat at the counter.

"Do you have our order done? I want to have some guys take it to the venue."

"Done, and ready to go."

Charlette's parents were hosting a charity ball, and offered to hire Lizzy for the large order. She jumped at the chance. Not only was it good money, but it would get her name out there. It would also legitimize what she was doing, since her mother seemed to think it wasn't the best career choice.

"Oh Oh, let me see," Charlette said as she jumped up to look in the fridge. "Oh my god these are the sexiest cupcakes I've ever seen. They go perfect with the colors mom chose, she's going to love them. What kind are they?"

"Rosewater and vanilla bean with white chocolate ganache filling and Italian mereign butter cream." Charlette's mouth practically watered, and Lizzy allowed herself to beam with pride a bit. This was why people hired her. They could specify the flavor they wanted, and Lizzy would make the recipe for it. Each pale pink cupcake was topped with white frosting and some silver foil. This would get people's attention. Charlette turned back do her.

"So what ar-"

"Lizzy!" This time it was actually her mother. They both cringed at the sound of the shill voice. "Oh Lizzy, what are you still doing down here, you should get ready." She hurried into the kitchen with Jane following. Lizzy's sister looked near the end of her patience, but smiled politely whenever their mother turned to her. "Oh I have some wonderful news for you two. Listen Listen."

"Char is here too, mom," Lizzy pointed out. Charlette rolled her eyes.

"Hush, Lizzy, you know I don't like when you mumble. Now listen. I just heard of a new guest coming to the party. Charlette you must have heard. Go on tell them." Char straightened in her seat, a bit surprised Fanny Bennet was going to let her speak.

"Oh well, my father ran into him somewhere. I can't remember where. Either way, he's one of those young, rich guy heirs or somet-"

"Charles Bingley!" Fanny interrupted. Char slouched back down, and Jane mouthed 'I'm sorry' to her silently. "He's about your age, dear. You too, Lizzy. Oh and I think he's single." She practically sang the last word. Lizzy looked to Jane to say something, because she knew she would start a fight if she tried to talk herself.

"I'm sure there will be many interesting people there, mom," Jane said carefully. "Isn't Mr.-"

"Forget them," Fanny snapped. "Just look your best tonight, and find him. Oh I have to go help your mother now, Charlette." She hurried out of the kitchen. "She would just be lost without me!" she called as she rushed up the stairs. The three young women groaned after she was gone.

"She is so backwards," Lizzy complained. "I can't believe she would really have us throw ourselves after some stranger. It's not exactly like we need someone to take care of us."

It was true. Lizzy had a small, but adequate business, that made her enough money to live off of. Jane was a high school teacher, with a decent salary. And Charlette did hair and make-up for a living. They were a little cliché for women's careers, but they were all on their own doing what they wanted. Lizzy's three younger sisters were all on their way to finishing school and having careers of their own. There was no reason for this.

"She's just a romantic," Jane said.

"No she isn't" Lizzy laughed. "She doesn't want romance, she wants practicality. A rich husband to take care of her daughters."

"Yeah, that doesn't sound so bad to me," Char admitted. "I could be a trophy wife." The three burst into laughter. "Look, I'll make sure you all get introduced, so you can get your mom off your back."

"Thank you, Char," Jane said, and hugged her.

"You're a life saver," Lizzy added, and joined the hug.

"Yeah yeah, I know," she said, pushing them off and laughing. "Now come on, let's go get ready."

"Are you sure this is ok?" Jane asked as she looked herself over for the 6th time. "I don't want to be over or under dressed."

"You look fine," Lizzy and Char said in unison as they rolled their eyes for the 10th time. Jane looked stunning, as always. Her blond hair was swept back in an easy low bun, her make-up was done to perfection by Char, and her pale blue dress brought out her eyes. The dress draped elegantly off her shoulders. She was the closest thing to a model in the family, and here she was asking if she looked ok. Charlette got up, and inspected herself in the mirror next to Jane.

"No need to worry, Janie. We all look hot," she said. Char looked the opposite of Jane. Little black dress, the sparkliest heels she owned (which was saying something considering her shoe collection), straight black hair, and winged eye liner that accentuated her naturally slanted eyes. They were a striking pair. Jane laughed and nodded, finally allowing herself a little confidence. "Lizzy, what shoes are you going to wear?"

"Uh, these ones…" Lizzy looked down at her flats. Lizzy knew she looked boring compared to them, but she didn't mind. Her own tea length dress was a dark green with long sleeves and a high neck. Nothing fancy, but Lizzy thought it accentuated her curves nicely. She felt confident in what she was wearing. And she liked flats. Good for walking, she thought.

"No, Liz. Not tonight. You're wearing big girl shoes."

"Big girl shoes make walking a pain."

"You'll get over it." Char went to her bag, and rummaged around. "I knew this would happen. Lizzy would rather walk comfortably than look amazing."

"Uh I thought I did look amazing. You said so yourself," Lizzy teased. Jane giggled.

"You do look amazing, Lizzy. You'll be the prettiest one there. But let Char have this one." Lizzy shrugged while her friend pulled out the back up shoes. She was surprised there were no spikes, glitter, or weird designs on then. Just plain black. Those would do. Char made her put them on, then gave her some flashier jewelry to wear.

"See, Charlette. This is why I don't have a fashion sense," Lizzy explained. "You've always dressed me, so now I don't know how to dress myself. You are both the cause and solution to my problem."

"Eh, that's what best friends are for." They all laughed as they headed down stairs where everyone else was doing last minute primping in the living room. As soon as Lizzy saw her sisters, she pinched her eyes in frustrations. Jane swatted her hand away so she wouldn't mess up her make-up.

"What are you wearing?" Lizzy asked her sisters, Lydia and Kitty, wearily. Both were wearing dresses that were far too short and tight. Their hair and make-up was a bit over done, and they were already taking dozens of selfies.

"Not a parka," Lydia snapped. "Honestly, not all of us want to dress like nuns."

"You're 16, you don't need to be dressing like that." Kitty and Lydia rolled their eyes, and ignored her.

"Let them be," Jane whispered.

"Yeah," Char added. "They just got those boobs. They want to show them off." Lizzy slapped Char, but laughed all the same. She guessed they all went through that phase. This was the age you figured out how to dress and how you wanted to look, and no one got it right. Lizzy couldn't wait to see her sisters cringe in a few years when they looked back at the pictures. "Wow, Mary. Looking good. Love the goth look."

Lizzy turned to see her next sister walk in. Long sleeves, high neck, floor length, black dress. Hair dyed black. Nail polish black. Eye liner black. At least she left her lip stick was just a dark red. Lizzy didn't think she looked bad, but she would stick out at the pastel party. Oh well. She kind of liked the look in a way.

"I don't like labels," Mary said. "I like black." Charlette shrugged. She joined her other sisters.

"Oh I miss being a teenager," Lizzy sighed, making Charlette and Jane laugh. Finally her father came in with his face in a book, and his tie undone. He was never fully aware of what was going on around him. "Let me get that for you." Lizzy stepped up to tie his tie.

"Hm, what was that? Oh Lizzy." He looked down at her and smiled. "And Jane and Charlette. I'm glad to see you all look lovely. It is nice to have some good representation for my family. Lizzy, no need to tie that too tight. It's coming off the second I get the opportunity to escape those people."

"No trying to escape," Jane teased him.

"And Charlette is not your daughter," Lizzy added.

"No? Well I'd rather have her than those ones out there." He shook his head. "Young people. I'll never understand them." The girls smiled knowingly at each other, and followed him to the car.