Jean and Joan looked at each other, then at Jessica.
“Aren’t you coming in with us?” Jean asked.
“Mom always comes in with us,” Joan added.
“I am not your mother!”
“But you’re kind of like a big sister, aren’t you, Jessica? Please. We can’t go in there alone.”
Jessica looked from one terrified face to the other. How had she gotten herself into this mess? It didn’t take long to find the answer. Elizabeth. She knew the old Elizabeth would be kind and understanding and supportive in this kind of situation. Jessica wasn’t sure if she could be any of those things, but she was there, and she was stuck with it.
“OK, you little munchkins, out! I’ll park the car and meet you in the lobby,” she said, resigning herself to the chore.
The twins scrambled out of the car, black flute cases under their arms, and joined the stream of young musicians entering the building.
Jessica stomped down hard on the accelerator, tearing around the lot until she found an empty space.
She was appalled at the crowd in the front lobby of the grammar school. Terrific, she said to herself. A mob of pushy parents and a zillion scared little rabbits. This was one strange place for Jessica Wakefield.
She had no sooner gotten inside when Jean and Joan surrounded her. “OK, kids,” she said, “let’s get the show on the road.”
“Will you go up to the desk and tell the woman who we are?” Jean asked timidly.
“You want me to go up and tell her you are a large pain in the butt?” Jessica snapped.
Those eyes were focused on her again.
“Come on. Let’s get this whole disaster over,” Jessica said as she dragged them to the long registration table.
“Can I help you?” a woman asked.
“I doubt it, but it’s worth a try,” Jessica muttered.
“I beg your pardon, miss?”
“These two kids are here to audition.” Jessica pulled the two girls closer to the table.
“More flute players, I see,” the woman said as she glanced at their leather cases.
“Yes. Can they audition right now, please? We have a long way to drive home and a very important appointment at noon.” Jessica put on her most sincere smile, the one that was so effective at getting her what she wanted from adults.
The woman smiled back. It was working!
“Let’s see what we can do, dear. A number of players have already registered this morning, so your sisters will have to wait their turns.” She glanced down at a list on the table.
Jessica didn’t bother to correct the woman, but she decided she must need glasses if she saw any resemblance between these two brown wrens and a dazzling blonde like herself.
“All right, girls, sign your names on the bottom of this list. Your audition numbers are seventy-two and seventy-three.”
“Seventy-two and seventy-three!” Jessica gasped. “That can’t be!”
Jessica thought she had never been more annoyed in her life. But she was wrong. True annoyance came after she had spent five hours restlessly pacing the musty corridors of the school, listening to interminable noises from flutes, trumpets, trombones, and heaven only knew what. Finally the twins’ numbers were called. They disappeared into a room and emerged a short time later.
“I think I made it,” Jean said gleefully.
“I bombed out,” Joan said.
“What was all that terrible stuff you were playing?” Jessica asked.
“Terrible? That was a Bach sonata.”
“Are you two through now? Can we go?”
“Sure,” Joan said. “It was really great of you to bring us.”
Jessica hardly listened. She herded them to the car and took off toward Sweet Valley in a fever.
She thought at first it was just the echo of all that flute playing in her ear, until she saw the flashing lights in the rearview mirror.
Jessica pounded the steering wheel with the flat of her hand. She was being frustrated on every side.
“License and registration, miss,” the trooper said.
This was definitely the spot to use a for-adults-only smile, and Jessica gave it everything she had.
“Oh, officer, I’m so sorry. Was I going just a little bit over the speed limit?” One large tear miraculously appeared in her right eye.
“Fifteen miles is more than just a little bit, young lady,” the trooper said, totally unmoved by the threat of tears. “You were endangering your life and the lives of others. And you put your little sisters in jeopardy,” he added.
That did it!
“These are not my sisters, as anyone with half an eye could tell,” she said with an edge to her words. “If you’ll just give me that ticket, I’ll be on my way.” If I hurry, she thought, maybe I can still catch Danny at the beach.
“Jessica, that policeman told you not to drive so fast,” Jean complained as the little red car hurtled along the way to the beach.
“Well, if you had learned to play the flute faster, I wouldn’t have to drive so fast. Just keep quiet and let me concentrate on the road!”
She swung the car sharply into an empty parking space and jumped out, followed by the twins.
“Are we going to go swimming, Jessica?” Joan asked.
“No, we are not going to go swimming,” Jessica answered angrily.
She scanned the beach crowd, hoping for a glimpse of Danny. He just had to be there.
“There he is, Jessica.”
“Where? Where?”
“Over there with his arm around that pretty girl in the white bikini.” Jean pointed him out.
“The nerve of him! Just because I was a few hours late, he picks up someone else,” Jessica fumed. “Let’s go,” she said to the girls and stomped back to the car in disgust. “I refuse to waste another minute of my time on that jerk.”
They quickly got into the car, and as Jessica was backing out, she said angrily, “Don’t you ever, ever ask me to take you anyplace again! Is that clear?” She had her eyes on them, and as a result, Jessica Wakefield and disaster collided once more.
The crunch of fenders was the worst sound Jessica had ever heard. She jammed on the brakes and did the only thing possible. She put her arms on the steering wheel, buried her face in her hands, and cried.
Twelve
Most of the kids at Sweet Valley High considered Lila Fowler just about the biggest snob around, but they had to hand it to her when it came to having a party. When the Fowlers threw open their sprawling estate on the hill, they went all out. There were lights around the Spanish courtyard, and the hottest band in Southern California played by the swimming pool.
Lila never gave a party without a theme, and this time she had combined two of her old favorites. The kids were told to come in costume and without a date to a “pickup party.” Everybody came single and picked up whomever they could. A lot of girls at Sweet Valley who thought they were going steady found themselves without boyfriends after one of Lila’s pickup bashes, and a lot of girls who wanted to get rid of guys did so that same night. Jessica liked the idea because it would give her a chance at just about every neat guy there.
It had taken the Wakefield twins almost an hour of heroic promises to get permission to go to the party.
“Elizabeth is grounded,” Alice Wakefield had said. “No dates.”
“But, Mom, there won’t be dates. Everybody’s going single. We’ll be together,” Jessica argued.
“Oh, please,” Elizabeth had chimed in. “I’ll do all my homework, really! And I haven’t felt this good in so long.”
It was a losing battle for Alice Wakefield when both her twin daughters overwhelmed her with appeals at the same time.
“Well, all right,” she had said finally. “But, Jessica, you take care of your sister.”
“I will,” Jessica had said and sighed.
The beautiful twins were both dressed as matadors, but with different-colored accessories. Elizabeth’s were red,
and Jessica’s were green. As usual when they dressed nearly the same, they succeeded in fooling most of the kids for a while.
But pretty soon the twin with the red sash and jacket was flirting so outrageously with every boy present that everyone knew it was Elizabeth.
“Boy, your sister is going all out tonight,” Lila said as the red twin twirled through a group of boys near the band. “But I really do wish you would put a lid on her.” Lila sighed. “It’s becoming an absolute bore, you know.”
“Lila, that is my sister you’re talking about. Knock it off!” Jessica said angrily.
Jessica felt rotten about blowing up at Lila, but she didn’t have time to apologize. She had to keep an eye on Elizabeth.
The flirtatious twin in the red-trimmed matador suit was having a wonderful time, while the one in green stood on the sidelines.
“Hey, Jess, are you just going to stand around all evening watching your sister?” Cara Walker asked.
“I have to watch her.” Jessica said dejectedly. “I promised my mother.”
Under the lanterns Elizabeth spun madly across the red Spanish tiles. The world about her became a spinning blur. Suddenly she whirled into the arms of another boy. He was tall and strong, and when she looked at his face, she saw it was Todd.
“Liz,” he said.
“No, thanks, Todd.” She turned away.
The music erupted into a driving, powerful beat, and Elizabeth spun once more, moving happily and swiftly, smiling at each boy she passed. Once again, she was in somebody’s arms.
“Hello, Jessica,” Bruce Patman said.
Elizabeth didn’t say a word, she just gave Bruce a flirtatious smile.
Tall, dark-haired Bruce was easily the best-looking guy at Sweet Valley High, and the richest. He was well aware that with his looks, his father’s money, and his fantastic talent on the tennis courts, he could date any girl in town—except either of the Wakefield twins. Sometime back he’d done a real number on Jessica, and he figured that pretty much finished him with either Wakefield.
He didn’t understand why Jessica was flirting with him now, but he was going to make the most of it. “You’re looking sensational, Jess,” he said.
Elizabeth’s face glowed with excitement. Bruce’s arms were around her, and they moved rhythmically to the beat. They danced under the lanterns and behind the palm trees, where Bruce nuzzled her neck and tried to kiss her. She laughed and moved them back out onto the patio.
“You’re in a teasing mood tonight, Jessica,” he said.
“Really?”
“Really. But don’t stop. You seem different. I don’t think I’ve ever realized just how terrific you are.”
Elizabeth laughed wildly.
Whirling past the band, Bruce spotted Max Dellon lounging against the bandstand watching them, grinning knowingly.
“What’s so funny?” Bruce asked.
“You and Liz,” said Max. “I didn’t know you were an item. But then, this is pickup night.”
Bruce examined the face of his lovely partner. It was beautiful, all right. He had thought it was Jessica. Now he remembered he’d heard Elizabeth was going through a mysterious illness and wasn’t acting like herself.
“You aren’t Jessica,” he said. “You’re Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Fooled you.”
She made no attempt to pull away from him, though. She seemed quite content in his arms.
“You like me?” he asked, probing her situation.
She smiled. “Why shouldn’t I?”
“Just wondering. You know who I am?”
“Sure,” Elizabeth giggled. “Bruce Patman.”
Now Bruce smiled. Elizabeth Wakefield, the beautiful girl who had snubbed him a thousand times, who thought she was too good for him, was in his arms at last.
“I thought you were Jessica at first,” he said.
Elizabeth tossed her head. “Really? Don’t you think I’m just as exciting as Jessica?”
Bruce looked into her eyes. Was she putting him on? “You like excitement?”
“Of course. Who doesn’t?”
“Want a drink?”
“Sure! What do you have?”
Bruce led her back behind a palm tree and pulled a small bottle from his pocket. He took the cap off and, still doubtful, handed it to her. But Elizabeth grabbed the bottle and gulped down several quick slugs. Bruce had to grab it back. “Hey, take it easy.”
Elizabeth laughed and ran back out onto the dance floor, just in time to meet Jessica, who’d been searching anxiously for her.
“Liz,” she said, “are you all right?”
“’Course,” said Elizabeth, her eyes wide.
“OK. I’m going to dance a little. I’ll see you later. Take it easy, will you?”
“See you,” said Elizabeth.
Bruce watched from behind the palms. When Jessica was gone, he stepped out and took Elizabeth’s hand. With a little tug, he pulled her back into the shadows. Elizabeth didn’t resist. Instead, she gave him another dazzling smile.
Well, well, well, thought Bruce. So you’re in my power, huh?
Bruce kissed her. Then again, harder. Elizabeth responded by throwing her arms around his neck.
“You’re wonderful, Liz,” Bruce murmured.
The music slowed down, and the lights grew dim as the evening progressed. Elizabeth danced steadily with Bruce Patman, her head comfortably on his chest.
When Jessica realized it, she managed to pry Elizabeth away for a moment. “Liz,” she whispered.
“Hmmm?”
“Liz, you know you’re dancing with Bruce Patman?”
“Isn’t he wonderful?” Elizabeth murmured.
“Wonderful? Bruce Patman?”
“Yes. I’m very interested in him.”
“But you hate him, Lizzie.”
“Who told you that?”
“You did, a hundred and thirty-seven times.”
“Silly,” said Elizabeth. “Go away.”
Jessica kept her eye on Elizabeth and Bruce after that as they kept dancing cheek to cheek under the palms. She couldn’t believe it. Jessica might be able to handle that obnoxious, pushy creep, but could her unpredictable sister?
“What’s the matter?” Lila Fowler asked later, when she saw Jessica frowning.
“My sister and Bruce,” Jessica said.
“They seem to be a new item,” said Lila. “My pickup parties surprise even me sometimes.”
“Well, he seems to be behaving himself,” Jessica said. “So far.”
It was another of those impossible evenings for Jessica, when she found her own fun utterly destroyed by having to worry about her sister. Was this what used to happen to Elizabeth? Had Jessica run around irresponsibly so that Elizabeth was forever watching out for her? Jessica vowed that if her sister ever returned to her sweet old self, she’d never give her cause to worry again.
Bruce Patman was becoming more and more intrigued as the evening wore on. He’d kissed Elizabeth—and not only hadn’t she pushed him away, she’d responded. Enthusiastically.
“I didn’t think you liked me,” he said.
“Why shouldn’t I?” purred Elizabeth.
“No reason. But you always used to be stuck-up and afraid to do anything.”
“That’s not me.”
“What would you like to do?”
“Anything you want.”
“Really?”
“Sure, Bruce, honey.”
Bruce laughed with abandon. Elizabeth laughed with him.
“This is going to be some kind of night, Liz,” he said.
“I hope so,” she said.
“You want to go to my dad’s club with me?”
“Sure.”
“It’s down on the beach,” he said.
“I don’t care if it’s on the moon,” Elizabeth said recklessly.
A little while later Jessica looked around and could find no trace of her sister. Bruce Patman was gone, too. Uh-oh, she
thought, and made the rounds of the Fowler house looking for them.
There was no sign of them on the dance floor, at the buffet table in the dining room, or around the bandstand. She checked the cars parked around the curving front drive but found only other couples who didn’t appreciate being disturbed.
Finally she ran to Lila. “Have you seen Liz?”
“She’s with Bruce.”
“But I can’t find them, Lila.”
“Oh, I think they left, Jess. They went to Bruce’s father’s club with some of the kids.”
“Oh, no,” said Jessica. She looked around anxiously, wondering what to do. Then her eyes fell upon the only one she could trust.
“Todd, it’s Liz and Bruce. They’ve left together.”
Todd didn’t have to be told another word.
“Where?” he asked sharply.
“I think to Bruce’s father’s club—down on the beach.”
“OK,” he said, and ran to his car.
* * *
Bruce Patman’s sleek black Porsche moved swiftly through the night. Elizabeth had glued herself to his side. He couldn’t believe it. She was really his for the taking.
He parked the Porsche carefully under the redwood overhang on the beach side of the Driftwood Club, and Elizabeth reached for the handle of the door.
“Don’t, baby,” Bruce whispered, pulling her hand away from the door.
“But, Bruce, the other kids are already going in,” she said, glancing out the window. “We don’t want to miss any of the party, do we?” she asked, her voice showing the effect of the liquor Bruce had given her at Lila’s.
“We could have our own party, just the two of us,” he suggested in a husky voice.
“But I want some wine.” She giggled. “Wine makes me feel soooooo good.” She snuggled against him.
“I’ve got enough wine right here in the car to make you feel very good, sweet Liz.” He pulled her closer, kissing her on her slender, vulnerable neck.
“Oh, I like that! Sweet Liz, that’s me!” She giggled again. “And I like whatever it is you’re doing to my neck.”
For the twentieth time that night, Bruce Patman wondered how he had gotten so lucky. Elizabeth Wakefield was about to melt in his arms. It would take just a little more to drink and just a little more time.
Dear Sister Page 8