Searching for Mr. Darcy

Scene Thirty-Three

Caleb was waiting for her outside the theater, looking fine in a pressed, and impressively-tailored, navy suit.  The bright orange tie he'd paired with it struck Maisie as an odd, yet somehow perfect choice, and she loved the plaid orange square peeking above his breast pocket.  He waved awkwardly as she approached.

"Hey."

"Hey."

Maisie stepped up on the sidewalk, so aware of his gaze examining every aspect of her appearance that she nearly tripped on the four-inch heels Talia made her wear.  She'd felt confident in the dress - a black, off-the-shoulder, A-line - until this moment.  Did she look fat? Touristy? 

"You look nice," he said.

"As do you."  She immediately regretted saying it like that.  She could have said, "thanks." Or "so do you."  But "as do you?" That just made her sound pretentious. Or sarcastic.  Or both.   "Good Lord."

"What?"

Did I say that last bit out loud? What the hell is wrong with me?  She cleared her throat and tried to laugh it off.  "Sorry, when I get nervous sometimes I say things that I'm thinking."  Shit! That didn't make any sense.  "I mean - I say things that I should only think." Not helping.  "I mean - I'm a fucking train wreck."

He laughed.  "You're in good company, then."

She hadn't expected such a lighthearted reaction, and didn't know how to respond.  At the Buzzfeed offices, Caleb had been surly and unpleasant, but here he was, being all nice and normal.  Maisie also couldn't figure out why she was acting so strange.  She'd been on a ton of first dates in the past couple of weeks - and she didn't even like this guy!

"I guess we better get inside and find our seats," she said, pointing to the entrance.  Caleb pulled two tickets out of his jacket pocket and handed opened the door for her.  She got her act together enough to say "Thank you," as she proceeded through it.