SVH08-Heartbreaker (5 page)

"Sweet like a barracuda." Todd shoved in the last bite of his hamburger.

Elizabeth leaped to her feet. "You just don't know when to quit, Todd!"

Instantly he was contrite. From the look on his face, he obviously knew he'd gone too far.

He put out a hand to stop her from running away.

"Look, Liz, I'm sorry. You're right. I shouldn't have opened my big mouth."

"You said it!"

Elizabeth knew she was probably overreacting, but keeping her feelings to herself about Patsy for so long had really put her on edge. It was like sitting on a time bomb. Nevertheless, she struggled to keep her temper.

"OK, let's forget it," she muttered. "I'll meet you after school."

"I'll be at the rehearsal," Todd said. "I promised Bill I'd stick around."

As she walked toward her locker, Elizabeth couldn't help wondering about all the time Todd had been spending at rehearsals lately. But she'd been pretty busy herself, working on an article for the school paper on summer job opportunities, so she really couldn't complain. It wasn't until she ran into DeeDee in the corridor that things started falling into place.

DeeDee seemed to have recovered from the incident in the cafeteria. Her eyes looked a little red, but any unhappiness she might have been feeling was masked by the warm smile with which she greeted Elizabeth.

DeeDee groaned laughingly as she held up the enormous shopping bag full of clothes she was lugging. "Costumes for the play," she explained. "Patsy's really been going all out

collecting this stuff. Personally, I think she's gone a little overboard. I mean, this isn't exactly Broadway."

"Patsy?" Elizabeth echoed.

"Yeah, she's doing the costumes for the play. Didn't Todd or Jessica tell you?"

Elizabeth shook her head slowly. "No."

"Actually, it was Todd's idea. He told Mr. Jaworski how Patsy used to model clothes for this boutique in Paris. You've got to admit, she's really got style. I'm not sure Sweet Valley High is ready for her, though."

Elizabeth was speechless. A dull, hammering fear had started up inside her.

Suddenly it was all horribly clear--the reason Todd had been spending so much time at rehearsals, the reason he'd tried to pick a fight with her at lunch. It didn't take a genius to figure it out. Todd was interested in Patsy--as more than just a friend.

Elizabeth fought the urge to run away. While DeeDee chattered on about the play, Elizabeth bit her lip to keep from crying. The ache in her chest was getting worse and worse.

She was so wrapped up in her misery, she practically plowed into Enid, who was trudging toward her next class.

"Whoa!" Enid cried. "What's with you, Liz? You look like you just found out you flunked every course. And I
know
that can't be it."

"Oh, Enid ..." Elizabeth let out a long, shuddery sigh. "It's Todd."

"Uh-oh, I thought so. I haven't seen you look this upset since the last time you two almost broke--" She clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh, Liz., it's not that, is it? You and Todd haven't broken up!"

Elizabeth shook her head. "No. Not yet, anyway. It's just that I have this awful feeling...."

Enid's wide green eyes took on a sudden sharp gleam. "This feeling of yours wouldn't happen to be about five feet nine with red hair and a gorgeous body, would it?"

"How did you know?"

"I'm not your best friend for nothing, remember? I knew you were upset that day at the beach, even though you tried to shrug it off."

Elizabeth sighed. "Was I that obvious?"

"Let's just put it this way. If an old girlfriend of George's suddenly popped up looking like a clone of Bo Derek, I'd be worried, too. No, I take that back. I'd be climbing the walls!"

Elizabeth managed a watery smile. "I'm glad . you understand."

Enid always did. She was sensitive to other people's problems, but she was never quick to judge. It was one of the reasons Elizabeth loved her.

"Look," Enid said, taking her by the elbow

and steering her off into the corner by the drink-' ing fountain where they could talk without being overheard. "I said I know how you feel, but | that doesn't necessarily mean it's true that Todd's interested in Patsy. He really loves you, Liz. It ! would take a lot to change that."

"Do you really think so?"

"You're probably blowing this whole thing out of proportion."

Elizabeth stared down at her feet. "Maybe I am. I don't know."

"Has he actually said anything to you about Patsy?"

"No--not exactly." She told Enid about the play.

"Todd did say she was a friend," Enid pointed out: "And friends look out for each other, right? Sounds to me like he was just doing her a favor."

"I hope you're right." Elizabeth didn't feel very convinced, though.

"This whole thing is crazy, anyhow. You should be talking to Todd about it, not me. How's he supposed to know what's on your mind unless you tell him?"

"I guess I'm just afraid." Elizabeth grimaced. "It's sort of like when I was a kid and I'd cover my eyes when I knew a scary part was coming up in a movie. What if I ask Todd how he feels about Patsy and he tells me he wants to break up?"

"Come on, Liz. Do you really think that will happen? Just because Todd recommended her for some dumb job as a costume designer?"

Elizabeth thought for a long moment. Finally she shook her head. "I don't know, Enid. I just don't know."

"What's the matter, Bill?" Todd asked. "You look kind of down. Nervous about the play?"

Bill had been lost in thought, but he looked up as his friend dropped down beside him on the locker room bench. The rest of the class had headed out to the gym already, but Bill was in no hurry to join them.

"Sure, I'm a little nervous," he admitted, bending to tie his shoelace. "I wasn't thinking about the play, though."

Todd gave him a sympathetic look. "Jessica, right?" he said softly. "Look, I don't mean to butt in or anything--you haven't asked my advice, so I should probably keep my big mouth shut--but I hate to see you like this."

Bill reddened. "That transparent, huh?"

"Well, let's put it like this--the way you've been falling all over yourself to get her attention, you should probably take out accident insurance." Todd slung an arm around Bill's hunched shoulders. "Just don't let her take advantage of you, OK?"

"I--I like doing things for Jessica," Bill stammered.

"Not as much as
she
likes it," Todd said. "Look, I know love is blind, but don't be
too
blind."

"You're
in love with Liz, and she's Jessica's twin," Bill defended weakly.

"Jessica's not Liz," Todd said. "They may look alike, but that's where the similarity ends. Don't make the same mistake I made in the beginning."

"What mistake?"

"For a little while Jessica had me thinking
she
was the one I should be going after when all along it was Liz I really liked."

"How did you know Liz was the one?" Bill asked shyly.

"Well, for one thing, I could really talk to Liz. We were friends. I happen to think that's pretty important. Two people really have to like each other if it's going to be a good relationship."

Bill nodded slowly. That's the way it had been with Julianne. She wasn't just his girlfriend, she was his best friend. They could just hang out together, talking about everything under the sun or feeling comfortable not talking at all. He had to admit it wasn't that way with Jessica. But did love have to be the same every time?

"Thanks for the advice, Todd," Bill said, rising stiffly. "But don't worry, I can take care of myself."

Todd looked up at him with a concerned expression. "Hey, Bill, you're not mad, are you? Maybe I shouldn't have said anything...."

"No, I'm not mad at you, Todd," Bill said.

As he walked away, he realized it was the truth. He
was
angry, but not at Todd. The person he was angry with was himself. Only he didn't know why.

Six

Jessica wiped a damp strand of hair from her eyes. It had to be at least five hundred degrees, she thought, and they'd been stuck indoors rehearsing all morning! And she'd always thought Saturdays were for fun. She glanced at Bill, who was carrying on an animated conversation with DeeDee over by a stack of props. Well, the day wasn't over yet....

Jessica sidled up to Bill, snaking an arm through his. "I'm so hot I could absolutely
die.
What do you say we all go over to my house and dive into the pool?"

Like mercury rising in a thermometer, a slow flush crept up the sides of Bill's neck until it had turned the tips of his ears bright red.

"Gee, Jessica, I'd like to"--his eyes shifted uneasily from Jessica to DeeDee--"but I promised DeeDee I'd take her surfing."

Jessica knew all about the surfing lessons.

Bill had been taking DeeDee out a lot lately. He couldn't stop bragging about how good she was becoming--something that was really starting to get on Jessica's nerves. According to Bill, DeeDee had gotten good enough to enter the Women's Junior Surfing Championship, which would be held in two weeks. With the play also two weeks away, Jessica couldn't help wondering where on earth either of them found the time or energy. She was doubly annoyed by the fact that it didn't fit in at all with the image she liked to have of Bill sitting around at home pining for her.

Artfully, she let her smile drop, as if the disappointment were too much to bear. "Oh, that's really too bad, Bill. I was counting on having you there. I wanted to make up for missing our last date." She glanced briefly at DeeDee. "Of course, you're invited, too," she added as an afterthought.

DeeDee didn't reply. She was staring at Bill with a stricken expression, waiting for him to make up his mind, waiting for him to choose between her and Jessica.

Bill hesitated only a moment before conscience won out. "Maybe next time," he mumbled.

Jessica was fuming. She couldn't believe that any boy, much less someone who was supposed to be as infatuated with her as Bill was,

, would rather be off with dorky old DeeDee when he could be with
her.

She slid her hand lightly down Bill's arm, curling her fingers over his. "It's just that it won't be much fun without you. But don't worry--I understand. Why would you want to swim around in our dinky little pool when you could have the whole Pacific Ocean?"

Bill's response was to turn even redder. "It's not that, Jessica. I really would like to come. But I promised D--"

DeeDee couldn't stand it a minute longer. "That's OK, Bill," she cut in swiftly. "Why don't you go ahead? I really think I need to practice on my own for a change." She forced a cheery smile, but inside her heart was breaking.

Bill made only a very feeble attempt to talk her out of it. "Are you sure?" Relief was written all over his face.

"Sure I'm sure. If I'm going to enter the championship, it's going to look awfully funny having you holding my hand the whole time. Of course, I could always say you were my Siamese twin, but I'm not sure they'd buy it."

DeeDee knew she was running off at the mouth, making jokes to cover up for what she was really feeling. It was an old defense that dated back to when she'd been a chubby little girl and the only way she could keep the other kids from making cracks about her was to make

them laugh first. DeeDee's smile was plastered on so tightly that it was beginning to ache. Tears stung behind her eyelids.

"I think DeeDee is absolutely right,'' Jessica put in. "A girl really needs to be self-sufficient these days."

No sooner were the three of them outside than Jessica gave a tiny cry and turned to Bill. "Oh, dear, I must have left my script back onstage. Would you mind terribly, Bill? ..."

Of course he didn't. DeeDee couldn't stand to watch. Around Jessica, Bill was like a puppet, with you-know-who pulling the strings. Mumbling an excuse, DeeDee rushed off before Bill could return. With her chin tucked low against her chest to hide her tears, she didn't see where she was going and nearly collided with Roger Barrett.

"Aren't you going swimming over at Jessica's?" she asked, hoping to put him at ease with a little conversation. If such a thing were possible, he looked even more flustered than she felt.

"I--I didn't feel like it," he stammered, blushing.

It was obvious he was hiding the real reason for not wanting to go, but DeeDee didn't want to pry. Now that she thought about it, it seemed Roger was always rushing off as if he had something important to do but didn't want anyone to know what it was.

Maybe he was a spy, she thought. The idea would have made her laugh if she'd been in a better mood. Roger, with his shaggy haircut and scuffed loafers, and the glasses that kept slipping down his nose, was a far cry from James Bond. It wasn't that he was bad-looking. Underneath his glasses and misfit clothes, she suspected he could even be handsome. The trouble was, he lacked confidence.

DeeDee felt sorry for him. She knew what it was like being on the outside looking in. In her case, it had always been "good old DeeDee." Everybody's friend, nobody's girlfriend. Especially not Bill's, she thought. He'd made that perfectly clear, hadn't he?

"Well, see you." DeeDee waved at Roger as she headed off toward her car in the parking lot.

She knew she should get to the beach while the tide was still up, but suddenly she didn't feel like hurrying. Suddenly the beach seemed like the loneliest place in the world.

"Watch, everybody! I'm going to attempt the famous Wakefield dive!"

Bill shaded his eyes against the sun, but nothing could protect him from the dazzling sight of Jessica as she stood poised on the end of the diving board in a white bikini that showed

off her golden tan. Bill's own heart executed a dive as she raised her arms and did a running jump that sent her sailing out over the clear turquoise water. She landed cleanly, barely ruffling the water's surface as she disappeared below it. The kids who were scattered around the pool broke into spontaneous applause and hoots as she emerged wearing a triumphant grin.