Racing Hearts

by Francine Pascal

  “You can’t even see his face from here,” Jessica pointed out. “But I can see even in those baggy sweats that everything’s in the right place.”

  “Wonder who he is?” Lila asked, then gasped as he turned around and headed for the cashier. “Good grief, it’s Roger!”

  “So he finally traded in his ditchdigging outfit for some real clothes,” Jessica added.

  In his new outfit Roger fit in well with the rest of the Sweet Valley students. He didn’t look different at all.

  “Hey, look what I’ve been missing out on,” Lila said admiringly. “You know, that guy is kind of cute when you think about it. I was only kidding around with him after the race, but you might have a point, Jess, about the value of hanging out with him for a while.”

  “The same guy you’ve been calling a nerd for months?” Jessica said with amusement.

  “That was before,” Lila proclaimed. “It’s like Liz is always saying. I’m too quick to judge people by their appearances. I should have known that underneath those grungy clothes was a guy worth knowing.” She rose from her chair.

  “Hey, where are you going?” Jessica asked.

  Lila winked. “Be back in a flash.”

  She reached Roger just as he was paying for his lunch. “Where are you going with that tray?” she asked.

  Scanning the room quickly, Roger spotted Olivia sitting at a corner table in the back of the room. “Over there,” he said, pointing in that general direction.

  “No, you’re not,” Lila announced with finality. “You’re coming with me.”

  Delighted by the prospect, Roger followed her to her table. Jessica, seeing the two of them approach, was doing all she could to suppress her astonishment at the entire chain of events. She still couldn’t believe Lila was seriously interested in Roger.

  But from the look of awe in Lila’s eyes, it appeared she was. “I saved this seat for you,” she told him, taking his tray and setting it down for him. “I’m sure you know how proud everyone is of you.”

  “Thank you, Lila,” he said. “You realize that if it hadn’t been for you, I probably wouldn’t have run today.”

  “I’m so glad you had the good sense to listen.”

  “We knew you had it in you from the way you run around campus all the time.” Jessica decided to add her two cents’ worth just in case Lila was playing for keeps.

  “Practice makes perfect,” he said weakly, reaching for the roll on his plate.

  “Oooh, let me do that,” Lila said, taking the pat of butter and his knife away from him.

  This is getting crazier by the minute, Jessica thought. Lila must have been more desperate for a boy than she’d realized.

  Just then Bruce walked by with Ken Matthews. “Say, Mr. Wonderful.” Lila grabbed Bruce by his custom-tailored shirt and made him stop in his tracks. “Aren’t you going to congratulate my friend over here?”

  “Your friend?” Bruce said sarcastically. He didn’t dare continue, though, as Lila glared at him. The girl could be dangerous if she wanted, and even Bruce lay back when he could see she meant business.

  “Yes, my friend,” she said. “My dear friend Roger, the champion of Sweet Valley. So what do you say, Bruce?”

  “Congratulations, Roger.” Setting down his tray on an adjacent table, he extended his hand to Roger, who shook it with pleasure. “What can I say? You ran a great race.”

  “So did you, Bruce.”

  “But don’t get too cocky,” Bruce added, “because now that I know you’re around, I’m going to be prepared. Just keep your eyes open next week. And let that be a warning to you.”

  Roger wasn’t about to say there wasn’t going to be a next week for him, not with the adoration he could see in Lila’s eyes. The hug she’d given him on the field wasn’t a farce. She truly liked him.

  Even if he’d been inclined to confess the truth right then, he would have been stopped by John Pfeifer, who approached the group. “Well, well, I’m in luck. I caught the two champions at once. Congratulations, guys. Roger, can I talk to you later? I want to do a special profile on you for The Oracle.”

  “I’m busy after school,” Roger admitted.

  “I understand. Practice and all,” John answered for him. “Maybe we can talk now. What I’m really interested in is where you learned to run so well.”

  “I kind of fell into it. You know me,” he answered lightly, “always running around campus and everything.”

  “But you must be doing all that running for a reason. Where do you run to after school, for instance?”

  Roger felt himself redden. “Oh, nowhere in particular,” he fibbed. “You know the old saying, run for your life? There’s a history of heart disease in my family, and I want to make sure that nothing happens to me.” That much was true; his mother did suffer from a heart ailment that had forced her to retire from her assembly-line job at one of the Patman factories. “Running around the way I do helps build up the cardiovascular system.”

  “Aha, an athlete who knows his biology,” John said admiringly.

  “Well, I’d like to be a doctor someday.” Roger revealed his most precious dream.

  “A doctor?” Lila’s opinion of Roger shot up another ten points. “What kind?”

  Jessica smirked. “Does it make any difference to you, Lila?”

  Lila looked at her friend as if she were a pile of dirt. “I just thought, Roger, that with your interest in the heart, you might be thinking about heart surgery or something like that.”

  “To tell you the truth, Lila, I haven’t made up my mind,” he said, not adding that at this point he would be lucky if he could put himself through college, let alone medical school. “But cardiology is certainly a strong possibility.”

  “I’m very impressed,” Lila said.

  Meanwhile, at another table, Elizabeth sat down with Enid and Todd. It was the first chance she’d had to be with her boyfriend since the race, and she was dying to know why he’d run.

  Todd put down his fork as he began speaking. “It doesn’t make any difference. I didn’t qualify.”

  “Hey, that doesn’t matter to me,” Elizabeth said sympathetically.

  “Yeah, Todd,” Enid added, smiling, “we still like you.”

  Todd grinned. “Oh, I knew I didn’t really have a shot. Yesterday Bruce got me riled up enough to want to enter the race but it wasn’t until I heard about the coach this morning that I actually decided to do it. You know, just to show some support for him and the running program.” He leaned back, propping his long legs up on the chair opposite his. “I’m sure going to miss the old guy.”

  “Miss him? Where’s he going?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Haven’t you heard? The coach is retiring after the Bart.”

  “You mean the board’s actually forcing him out? I didn’t think they could do that.”

  Todd shook his head violently. “Hey, that’s not it at all.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “The word is he’s a very sick man.”

  “Where’d you hear that?” Elizabeth grew concerned.

  “Neil O’Donovan told me he’d overheard the coach talking to a doctor about some tests. Neil couldn’t tell for certain, but he said it seemed as if they were talking about the big C.”

  “Cancer.” Elizabeth shuddered. “You mean he’s sick enough to have to leave school?”

  “Poor guy,” Enid said. “And here I thought he was just having hassles with the board. At least he has a great chance to go out a winner. Roger Barrett was fantastic.”

  “Yeah, you should have been on the track with him,” Todd said admiringly. “I used to think I moved pretty quickly, but that guy practically broke the sound barrier.”

  “Well, it looks as if he’s recuperating from the race in grand style,” Elizabeth noted wryly, amused at the way Lila was putting her hands all over him, claiming him as her personal prize.

  A few minutes before the bell rang, Roger jumped out of his seat as if he suddenly remembered something impor
tant. “Please excuse me, Lila. I’ve got to go.”

  “OK, Roger. See you at the Dairi Burger?” When he shook his head, she said, “Oh, yeah, you’ve got practice. I’ll call you tonight, OK?”

  “I’d love it,” he responded.

  Still carrying his empty tray, he approached Olivia, who’d chosen to avoid the crowd in favor of spending the entire lunch break in a corner huddled over her note pad. Strong emotions such as hurt and envy always brought out the best of her poetic instincts, and without even realizing it, she had managed to pour out nearly five pages in that short span of time.

  Roger took a seat next to her and, as was his custom, made a move to read what she had written. But Olivia snatched up the pad and closed it before he had a chance to see a word. “Hey, why can’t I see it?” he asked.

  “It’s not very good,” she lied, unwilling to have him read her most private thoughts, the ones that concerned him and his apparent preference for Lila over her.

  “Won’t you let me be the judge of that?”

  “I think I’m a pretty fair judge of my own work,” she said with uncharacteristic bitterness.

  Roger picked up on her moodiness. “Liv, what’s wrong?”

  She tossed back her long hair. “Nothing’s wrong, Roger. Things have never been better.”

  Olivia had never been much of a liar, and Roger sensed a problem. “Hey, did something happen in one of your classes this morning?” he pursued.

  “No,” she said. “I told you everything’s fine. Don’t worry about me, OK?”

  Roger shook his head. “No, it’s not OK. You’re hiding something, Liv. You seemed to be pretty upset after the race, too, and I want to know why. Are you mad at me about something?”

  “Of course not!” Olivia lied. “Why in the world would I be mad at you?”

  “Beats me.” Roger shrugged. “I mean, I’d never intentionally do anything to hurt you.”

  Olivia didn’t have the nerve to confess what was truly bothering her. “An apology’s not necessary, Rog. I’m just in one of my silly moods. It’ll pass.”

  “Are you sure? I hate to see you so down.”

  “Don’t let it worry you. Really. The blues do have their advantages, believe it or not. Some of my favorite poems were written from the depths of depression. But let’s not talk about me. After all, this is your special day.” Olivia forced herself to smile.

  “Sure is.” Roger grinned, still proud of his victory. “You can’t imagine how happy I am. Just think—me, the new school star! I still can’t believe it. I got this new outfit. What do you think, Liv?” He held out his sweat-shirted arms for inspection.

  “A little too jockish for my tastes, but I’ve got to say it looks great on you. Where’d you get it?”

  “Can you keep a secret?” Before waiting for her answer, Roger told her, “Chrome Dome gave it to me for winning the race. He called me into his office and—”

  “Roger, you’re still here!” Lila’s gushy voice pierced the air. Not caring that she was interrupting their conversation, she wiggled her way between Roger and Olivia. “I’m so glad I caught you,” she purred. “Would you walk me to my next class?”

  “I’d love to,” Roger answered, forgetting about his new outfit and oblivious to the way Olivia’s face fell as he turned his attention to the other girl.

  Quickly Olivia rose and excused herself. “Um, I’ve got to stop at the Oracle office before my next class. See you later,” she announced.

  Olivia might have slipped away without saying anything—Roger hadn’t heard her anyway. In a dreamlike daze he walked out of the cafeteria arm in arm with Lila, wondering how long he could make his good fortune last.

  Seven

  At four-forty in the afternoon Trudy handed Jessica a small stack of documents. “Two copies of each,” she barked.

  Jessica had been anticipating this moment the entire day. It was the start of phase two of her plan to snag Dennis. Shortly after her arrival at work, when Trudy had been on her coffee break, Jessica had opened up the copier and turned off one of the switches. But Trudy would never know that by the totally innocent gasp that came from Jessica when she pressed the button and the machine wouldn’t start.

  Before Trudy had a chance to say anything, Jessica glanced behind the unit. “It’s plugged in,” Jessica reported. Checking the side of the machine, she added, “The paper bin’s full, too. I don’t understand what’s wrong.”

  “Oh, dear,” Trudy fretted. “Your father needs these papers right away. And it’s too late to call for service.” She looked up at the wall clock. “Jessica, I’m going to have to ask you to run down to the Copy-Rite on Main Street. I hope they’re not too busy.”

  Jessica picked up the papers and began to leave the room. But before she’d taken more than three steps down the hall, she turned on her heel and ran back into the utility room as if struck with sudden inspiration. “Trudy, if my father needs these right away, why don’t I just go across the hall and ask to use their machine? It’s only a few pages. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea, Jessica,” Trudy said. “Good thinking.”

  Jessica beamed—but not for the reason Trudy thought. So far her plan was going exactly the way she had imagined, and in a few minutes she’d be seeing Dennis Creighton once again.

  Fluffing her hair with her fingertips so it lay like spun gold on her shoulders, Jessica entered the reception area of the Creighton-Pawling Agency. “Dennis Creighton, please,” she announced in her most businesslike voice.

  “Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked.

  “No,” Jessica admitted, “but I’m sure he’ll see me. Tell him Jessica Wakefield is here.”

  The receptionist, an older, very attractive redhead, entered the inner office, returning almost immediately. “Mr. Creighton will be right out,” she said. “Have a seat, miss.”

  “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll stand,” Jessica told her.

  The woman shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

  Jessica was examining a perfume ad on the far wall when Dennis came out to greet her. “Like it?” he asked. “They’re our biggest account.”

  Jessica turned around and smiled. He was as handsome as she’d remembered, and the conservative dress pants and shirt he wore gave him the air of sophistication Jessica liked in a boy. “It’s good,” she told him. “It’s—it’s—” Surprisingly, she found herself at a loss for words.

  “Sexy?” he finished the sentence for her. “That’s the message we’re trying to get across.”

  “I’d say you’ve succeeded,” Jessica said, referring not only to the ad. She hoped Dennis picked up her meaning.

  He moved slightly closer. “Now, what can I do for you?” he asked.

  If the receptionist hadn’t been eyeing them, Jessica was sure he’d have touched her then. She could feel the electricity building between them. Obviously he had been doing some thinking about her in the hours since they’d last met.

  Jessica looked down at the file folder in her hand. “Our copier broke down, and I was wondering—”

  Dennis didn’t let her finish. “Follow me,” he said, opening the door to the inner office. He led her down a wide hallway lined with offices on one side and framed print ads on the other, stopping when he reached a room with a sign: Copying Center—Authorized Personnel Only. Taking a key from his pocket, he opened the door. “Dad found so many of the staff using the machines for personal reasons, he was forced to put them off limits.” After he led her inside, he closed the door behind them. “Pretty smart of him, don’t you think?” Leaning against the machine, he looked into her eyes with undisguised desire. “There’s plenty of privacy.”

  “It’s certainly helped me out. I can do my work without having to wait in line,” Jessica said, starting to feed the documents into the machine. The electricity was crackling now, and she felt the need to keep a little space between them—at least until her work was done.

  De
nnis picked up the finished copies. “That’s not what you really came in here for, is it?” When he handed her the papers, he let his fingers linger on hers just long enough for Jessica to feel a sharp tingle of electricity. “Believe me, no one will bother us in here. It’s almost quitting time.”

  There was no doubt the attraction was there, and if she had wanted to, Jessica could have let herself be wrapped in his arms at that very moment. But she had enough wits about her and enough concern for her father not to let his work suffer because of her. “Our office is open till six. My father really does need these copies,” she told Dennis, “and I have to be getting back.…” She let her last few words sort of drift off as if she were leaving another thought unsaid.

  “Well, what are you doing after work?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” she said, running her hand up his arm. “What do you have in mind?”

  “How about if I meet you at your office, and we could finish this conversation.” Among other things, he might well have added.

  “Deal,” she said. Dennis’s pull on her was almost hypnotic, and it took nearly all her strength to turn around and head for the door. “I’ll be waiting for you,” she said, letting herself out.

  Triumphantly Jessica glided into her father’s office. Dennis had all the makings of a great catch, and she couldn’t wait for six o’clock to arrive. She was glad she’d be meeting him at her father’s office. The more she thought about it, the more the idea appealed to her. It was the perfect place for them to spend their first date. They’d have plenty of privacy—something a place like the Dairi Burger certainly couldn’t offer—and that was nothing to be sniffed at, especially if Dennis’s intentions were anything like her own.

  Jessica quickly collated the documents, then entered her father’s office. “Copied and collated, Mr. Wakefield,” she said with authority.

  “Thank you, Jessica,” he said, his fatherly pride showing through as he stuffed the papers into his attaché case. “Now I’ll be able to make the meeting on time.”

  “I’m here to do anything I can to help,” she said. “But before you go, I have a favor I’d like to ask you. I’ve got a ton of homework that’s due tomorrow, and it’d really help me out if I could stay here for a while and work on it.”