Runaway

by Francine Pascal

  Sometimes I don't feel I'm even a part of this family. Her thoughts were racing almost as fast as the engine of the tiny sports car. All I was trying to do was help Steve out of his depression, and I got yelled at from all sides. It's just not fair.

  Jessica was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't see Elizabeth approach.

  Elizabeth rapped on the car window, and the sound broke Jessica out of her reverie. She rolled down the window and stared coldly at her sister.

  "I'm sorry, Jess. If I'd known everyone was going to be so critical. . ."

  "Forget it." Jessica put the Fiat into reverse. "I should've expected it."

  "Expected what? What are you talking about?"

  "Come on, Liz. You know what I mean. It's been the same all our lives, hasn't it?"

  Elizabeth was becoming flustered. "Jess, you've got to understand—"

  "Oh, I understand, all right," Jessica interrupted. "Everyone was worried about Steve, and they were all nervous, right? But I have feelings too, Liz. Do you think I like being treated like that?"

  "Treated like what?"

  Jessica stared at her twin. What was the use of trying to explain how she felt? Elizabeth would never understand. For her, everything always seemed so easy. Everyone trusted her; they all listened whenever she said something.

  I'm just tired of being the bad twin, Jessica thought. Sometimes, I wish I'd never been born.

  A moment later Jessica got control of her feelings and looked at Elizabeth calmly. "Never mind, Liz. It isn't important. Go back inside."

  She rolled the window back up and backed the car out of the driveway. Elizabeth stood watching after the Fiat for a moment, wondering what had gotten into her sister this time.

  Two

  Jessica walked up to the counter of the Dairi Burger and ordered a Tab.

  "And I'd like a double cheeseburger and fries—and a Tab," Cara said.

  John Doherty, one of the owners of the popular fast-food restaurant, grinned at the two girls. "It'll be a couple of minutes on those fries." He handed them their sodas. "Why don't you two sit down, and I'll have someone bring the rest of your order to you."

  "Sure," Cara said, smiling. They paid for the food and wound their way past the wooden tables to a booth.

  They settled into the booth, and Cara took a sip of her soda. "OK, so what's up?"

  Jessica began to play with the ring of moisture her paper cup was leaving on the table. "What do you mean, what's up?"

  "Come on, Jess," Cara said. "For the last hour a little neon sign over your head has been flashing, 'Depression . . . Depression.' " Cara made little pulsing motions with her hands.

  Jessica debated silently whether or not to tell Cara what was bothering her. What would she say? Well, Cara, I'm depressed because I'm not as good a person as Liz. You know Liz, don't you? She's the one everyone likes.

  Jessica looked down at the table and shook her head. "It's nothing, Cara."

  "Nothing?" she probed, her brown eyes flashing. "Or nothing you can talk about?"

  "Nothing. Nothing," Jessica said flatly.

  "Well," said Cara. "I'm in a terrific mood. I went to Foxy Mama's today and bought the most beautiful dress for the party. It's a peach color. Very short with a dropped waist. It cost a fortune, but it's worth it."

  One of the waitresses came over and set down a tray with Cara's cheeseburger and fries.

  "Thanks," Cara said, smiling. The girl smiled back and bustled away. "Take some fries if you want," Cara said to Jessica. "I'm supposed to be on a diet anyway."

  "No, thanks." Jessica took another sip of her soda. "I had dinner just before I picked you up." Jessica frowned, remembering the dinner and the argument with Steven. "Steve's home," she said to Cara.

  "Oh, really? Well, that's nice."

  It was no secret that Cara had been interested in Steven Wakefield for quite some time. Before Tricia Martin's death, Jessica had tried to set Cara up with her brother. Her plan had failed disastrously. Jessica could tell from the cool tone of Cara's voice that her friend was still upset with Steven.

  "Oh, c'mon, Cara," Jessica said lightly, "you're not holding a grudge, are you?"

  "No, Jess, I just don't want to be part of any of your schemes. "What's Steven doing home anyway? Is it his term break?"

  Jessica gulped. She wasn't wild about having it spread all over Sweet Valley that her brother had left college. "I don't know," she lied. "Something like that."

  "You could ask him to come to the party." Cara smiled, and Jessica noticed the gleam in her eye. She knew that Cara couldn't have gotten over Steven so quickly.

  If she only knew, Jessica thought.

  "Sure. I'll ask him, but I think he might be pretty busy with his schoolwork and all."

  Jessica hoped Cara would let the subject drop there, and she was relieved when the sound of voices at the door distracted Cara from the discussion.

  "What's going on?" Jessica asked.

  Cara leaned forward in her seat and tried to see the front of the restaurant. "I don't know. Mr. Doherty's talking to some people."

  The voices got a little louder, and the girls could make out what was being said.

  "Look, we just want to come in and get something to eat," a boy said.

  "I don't want any trouble in here," said John Doherty.

  "There isn't going to be any trouble," said someone else.

  As John Doherty stepped back, Cara got a glimpse of the others at the front door.

  "Looks like some of the crowd from the Shady Lady," Cara said.

  The Shady Lady was a bar across the street from the Dairi Burger. It had a wild reputation, and the owners had recently gotten into trouble because of selling liquor to minors.

  John Doherty was now talking to one of the boys in front. "All right, you can come in, but the first sign of any trouble and you're out. Understand?"

  "Don't worry," the boy replied. "We just want something to eat."

  Jessica couldn't see the front door from where she was sitting, so she had to rely on Cara for information. "Who's Mr. Doherty talking to?" she asked.

  Cara smiled. "It's Nicky Shepard."

  Jessica perked up. Nicky was also a junior at Sweet Valley High, and even though he didn't mix much with her friends, Jessica had always been intrigued by him. Nicky was wild, that was for sure. He spent a lot of time with the crowd from the Shady Lady and drove a fast car. There were also rumors about drugs. But there was something about him that fascinated Jessica. He was very good-looking in a rugged way. He wore his blond hair a little long, and he had pale blue eyes. His eyes were his most unusual feature. They were soft and sensitive-looking, in sharp contrast to the rest of his face.

  Other than his physical appearance, Jessica knew little about Nicky Shepard. He was quiet most of the time, and his image at Sweet Valley High was that of a loner, cool and distant. He didn't play any sports, although he had the body of a football player.

  Jessica turned and watched him walk to a nearby table with his friends. He carried himself like a natural leader. As he was sitting down, their eyes met for a second. He flashed Jessica a brilliant smile, and she felt a little charge of electricity run through her body. Without thinking about it, she smiled back.

  "Jessica!" Cara snapped. "Why did you smile at him like that?"

  "Because he smiled at me."

  "Oh?" Cara said accusingly. She turned and glanced back at the table. "Well, you may have started something."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "He's still looking at you."

  "Oh?" Jessica was the picture of innocence.

  "Too bad he's in with that crowd," Cara said thoughtfully, as she popped a french fry into her mouth.

  "That doesn't mean anything, Cara," Jessica said reproachfully. "I think he's sort of interesting, in a James Dean kind of way."

  "You can't be serious, Jess." Cara laughed. "He's supposed to be into drugs."

  "That's a rumor."

  Cara rolled her ey
es in exasperation.

  Jessica smiled. "Anyway, Cara, you've got to admit Nicky's really good-looking."

  "Yeah," Cara replied. "But so was Jack. Remember him?"

  Jack Howard was a boy with whom both Jessica and Lila Fowler had fallen in love. An intense rivalry had developed between the two girls as they fought for Jack's attention. Neither one suspected, however, that despite his gorgeous appearance, Jack was a dangerous and terribly disturbed young man. After a violent confrontation with Jessica, Jack had been taken away from Sweet Valley for psychiatric care.

  Jessica shuddered at the mention of Jack's name. Before she could comment that she was certain Nicky wasn't at all like Jack, Nicky got up and started over to their table. "Well, Cara," Jessica said, "if you don't want to be seen with him, you'd better take off. He's coming this way."

  "Oh, no." Cara moaned.

  Nicky walked over and stood at the edge of their table.

  "Hi," he said to Jessica. His voice was surprisingly soft, even gentle. "You're one of the Wakefield clones, aren't you?"

  "I don't care much for that word," Jessica said coldly.

  Nicky smiled. "Mind if I join you?"

  "Actually, yes," Cara snapped.

  Nicky didn't even seem to notice. He sat down next to Jessica. "Really. Tell me, which one are you?"

  "I'm the one who wants you to leave," Jessica replied.

  Nicky rolled his eyes and winced. "Come on," he drawled. "You don't really want me to go."

  "Yes, I do!" Jessica laughed.

  "No, you don't."

  He leaned closer to Jessica. "OK, look, if you really want me to go, all you've got to say is, 'Nicky, please join my friend and me for a Coke,' and I'll go."

  "I'm not going to say that," Jessica said. For some reason, she felt very nervous.

  "Come on," Nicky insisted. "Just say it, and I'll go. I promise."

  Jessica laughed. "I don't believe this." She glanced at Cara, who obviously wasn't amused. "Maybe I'll just call Mr. Doherty over and tell him you're bothering us."

  "You won't do that." Nicky smiled.

  "You think I won't?"

  "No," he said, laughing. "I think you won't."

  Jessica laughed again.

  "See," Nicky touched her hand. She pulled it away quickly. "You don't really want me to go."

  Jessica looked at him. "Nicky, join us for a Coke."

  Nicky got up from the table. "Gee, I'd love to, but it would be rude for me to leave my friends. Maybe another time."

  "Don't count on it," Cara said viciously.

  Nicky kept his eyes on Jessica. "I don't count on anything. My life is a series of pleasant surprises."

  "We're happy for you," Cara snapped.

  He smiled his sexy smile again. "Nice talking to you, Jessica."

  Jessica looked up at him. "How come you're sure I'm Jessica and not my sister?"

  "Oh, I know a lot about you two." Nicky laughed. "You may look the same, but you're pretty different."

  "How?" Jessica asked.

  Nicky raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Your sister would never have asked me to stay." He grinned, "See you around."

  Jessica watched him as he walked back to his friends.

  Cara turned to Jessica, her dark eyes blazing, "Can you believe the nerve of that guy?"

  Jessica's eyes sparkled, and she smiled slightly as she took a sip of her Tab.

  She knew she should be angry at Nicky for his last remark, but somehow she was still attracted to him. Maybe even a little more so. Part of it was because, no matter how hard Nicky tried to be tough, his eyes gave him away. Jessica saw something in him that was even a little fragile—as if it would be easy to hurt him. No, Nicky wasn't like anyone she'd ever met before.

  Besides, Jessica thought as she looked at Cara's face, it might be fun to shake her friends up a little. To show them that maybe they didn't know Jessica Wakefield as well as they thought they did.

  Jessica smiled as she sipped her soda. Yes, Nicky Shepard was definitely worth checking out.

  Three

  Jessica had spent a full two hours getting ready for Cara's party.

  And for what? she asked herself.

  From her position near the food table, she could watch the party at Cara's, which was in full swing. The table was overloaded with hors d'oeuvres and dips. There were two kinds of punch in matching bowls at each end of the table, and all the usual chips and crackers.

  The music was blaring in from the living room, and most of the Sweet Valley High crowd drifted around the rooms, laughing, dancing, and talking. Everyone was having a terrific time.

  Everyone, that is, except Steven Wakefield.

  After Elizabeth had explained to Steven that Jessica had nothing devious planned and was only trying to cheer him up, Steven had reluctantly agreed to come to the party. He'd apologized to Jessica in a halfhearted way and had driven her to Cara's in absolute silence. As soon as he entered, he said hello to a few people, poured a glass of punch, and placed himself in a chair in the corner. He had spent the whole evening in that chair, slumped over and frowning. Twice Cara had asked him to dance, but Steven had said he wasn't in the mood.

  Jessica was fuming. Couldn't Steven see he was embarrassing her in front of all her friends? Jessica wished Elizabeth had kept her goody-goody mouth shut.

  Sure, it's fine for Liz, Jessica brooded. She's having a wonderful time with good old Todd. She hasn't even checked on Steve once since she arrived. But I have to stand here all night and watch him being depressed. It just isn't fair. If he's so miserable, why doesn't he just go home?

  Just about everyone seemed to be having a great time. Elizabeth and Todd were dancing up a storm alongside Ken Matthews and Cara. Aaron Dallas, John Pfeifer, and Tony Esteban were off discussing sports. In one corner a group of people were playing Trivial Pursuit.

  Everyone else is having a wonderful time, Jessica complained silently. Nobody else is stuck with a morose brother for a date.

  What bothered Jessica most was how quickly Steven had responded to Elizabeth's invitation. Once again, her twin had stepped in and smoothed everything over after Jessica had botched it up. Jessica was furious that her twin seemingly could do no wrong and that nothing she herself tried ever seemed to turn out right.

  Jessica was suddenly pulled from her thoughts by Caroline Pearce, who came running up to the food table, flushed and laughing after several vigorous dances with Jerry Fisher, her boyfriend from Woodgrove, a town about an hour's drive from Sweet Valley. Jessica still marveled whenever she saw Caroline with the dark-haired basketball player.

  It was only a short while before that Caroline had been a misfit who was tolerated by Jessica's crowd only because she was great at passing on gossip. Recently Caroline had undergone a major change with some help from Elizabeth. She had become sweeter, more relaxed, and no longer gossiped about anyone. Jessica noted to herself that Caroline even looked prettier. Her soft, ivory skin seemed to glow from within, and the green jumpsuit she was wearing set off her red hair and green eyes dramatically.

  Oh, well, Jessica muttered to herself, Elizabeth Wakefield, savior of the world, defender of the oppressed, strikes again.

  "Hi, Jess," Caroline called brightly as she approached the table, Jerry in tow. "Isn't this party just fabulous?"

  "Fabulous," Jessica said unenthusiastically.

  But Caroline didn't catch the sarcasm in Jessica's voice. "You look so pretty, Jess," she continued. "I love that dress." Caroline touched the fabric of the loose, gray silk shift Jessica was wearing.

  "Thanks." For once, Jessica wasn't in the mood for compliments.

  "Liz looks wonderful, too," Caroline gushed.

  Jessica didn't even try to cover the bitterness in her voice. "Doesn't she always?"

  "Yeah," the redhead agreed enthusiastically. "You don't know how lucky you are to have a sister like Elizabeth, Jess. I never knew what a real friend was before her."

  Elizabeth Wakefield, everyone's best frien
d, Jessica added to her list of silent complaints about her twin.

  The music changed, and Jerry grabbed Caroline's arm. "Come on! They're playing that song I like."

  "See ya, Jess," Caroline called over her shoulder as Jerry pulled her back to the dance floor.

  Jessica took another look at Steven, who was still alone in the chair in the corner. He could at least ask me to dance, she thought bitterly. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't catch her brother's eye. Finally she gave up and decided to go outside and get some air.

  Jessica made her way through the crowd to the hallway. She was heading toward the back door when she met Elizabeth and Todd.

  "Hi, Jess." Todd smiled. As usual, he and Elizabeth looked perfect together. Todd was wearing pleated gray linen slacks and a tweed coat over a polo shirt. Elizabeth looked especially pretty in her new blue blouse and a white skirt. Her golden hair, which she usually wore in a simple ponytail, was pulled in a tight French braid.

  "How's Steve doing?" Elizabeth asked her twin warily.

  "Oh, wonderfully," Jessica answered brightly. "He's the life of the party."

  Elizabeth smiled. "Great. I knew this was all he needed." She grabbed Todd's hand and placed it in Jessica's. "Here. Do me a favor, little sister. Watch this hunk while I run off to the bathroom. I don't want anyone stealing him while I'm gone."

  "Actually, I was just—"

  Jessica's words were ignored as Todd wrapped his arms around Elizabeth.

  "You'd better hurry. I don't know how long Jess can hold them all off," he quipped.

  Elizabeth smiled and turned her face up to his. She kissed him tenderly. "Help her out a little. OK?"

  Todd returned the kiss. "No problem."

  This is so sweet, thought Jessica. I'm getting sick.

  Elizabeth ran off.

  "Your sister is really something." Todd watched Elizabeth disappear.

  "Oh, she's something else, all right," Jessica said.

  "Do you know what she said to me awhile ago?"

  Jessica cut him off bitterly. "Something wonderfully sweet and profound, I'm sure!"

  Todd drew back a step, looking confused.