SVH08-Heartbreaker (2 page)

Bill looked at her, his blue eyes round with incredulity. "You really think so?"

"Listen to DeeDee," Elizabeth put in. "She ought to know. Her father's a hotshot Hollywood agent."

DeeDee blushed. "I usually don't like to tell people. They might wonder what he's doing with such an untalented daughter."

Now it was Bill's turn to defend DeeDee. "What makes you say that? I happen to think you're pretty good."

She shrugged. "So-so. But it's like everything I do. Take surfing, for instance. When you're out there on your board, it looks so easy. Right now, I'm trying to learn, and I feel like King Kong."

"You probably just need someone to give you a few tips." Bill's whole face lit up; he was in his element when discussing surfing. "I'll be glad to help you the next time you're down at the beach."

DeeDee smiled shyly. "Would you really? I mean, it wouldn't be too much trouble? Oh, Bill, that would be terrific!"

Elizabeth and Todd exchanged a knowing look.

"No trouble at--" Bill stopped dead in his tracks as he spotted a familiar figure at the far end of the corridor.

Jessica was deep in conversation with Tom McKay, her arm linked cozily through his. Tom looked tanned and gorgeous in his white tennis shorts and polo shirt. Jessica spotted their group and waved. As they passed by her, she shot Bill a coy look and blew him a kiss.

Bill looked as if he'd just been knighted by the queen of England. He stood there for a long, hypnotized moment--a huge grin plastered across his features. Then, just as suddenly, it was gone, and he darted away in red-faced embarrassment.

Two

"It's not fair!" Jessica wailed. "I always get stuck with the dishes."

Mrs. Wakefield smiled. "That's funny--I could've sworn it was Liz who took your turn the last two times."

"But I've got a date at seven-thirty. I'll never be ready in time."

"Seems like I've heard that argument before," Mr. Wakefield said, taking a sip of his coffee. "Sorry, Jess, but it would never hold up in court." The twins' father could seldom resist bringing his lawyer's logic into play.

Elizabeth sighed as she rose from the table and scooped up a stack of dishes. "This could go on all night. C'mon, Jess, I'll help you. I wouldn't want Tom to be robbed of a single precious moment of your company."

Jessica flashed her sister a grateful look. "Thanks, Liz, I owe you one."

"That's what you
always
say. Honestly, Jess, if I ever started collecting on all those I-owe-you-one's, you'd probably be my slave for the rest of your life."

"Yes, master." Jessica giggled and bowed to Elizabeth with a flourish. "Your wish is my command."

"In that case, I command you into the kitchen. I said I'd
help,
but I don't want to get stuck doing it all."

Elizabeth, trying to look stern, waved a long serving fork at Jessica, who shrieked and hurried ahead of her into the kitchen.

Sighing, Alice Wakefield settled back to finish her coffee. With her sunny blond good looks, it was easy to see whom the twins resembled, though she looked youthful enough to be their older sister.

"Whoever said trouble comes in threes obviously didn't have twins," she observed, chuckling.

In the spacious, Spanish-tiled kitchen, Elizabeth and Jessica's antics quickly escalated to a full-fledged soap-suds war. Elizabeth had filled the sink with soapy water to wash the pots, while Jessica loaded the dishwasher. As soon as Jessica's back was turned, Elizabeth scooped up a handful of suds and let fly. Not to be outdone, Jessica retaliated with a soapy volley of her own--an attack that left both Elizabeth and the floor drenched.

"See what you made me do?" Jessica gasped when her laughter had subsided. "Now I'll never be finished in time!"

"I hope Tom knows how to swim,'' Elizabeth joked as she handed her sister a mop.

"Funny. Very funny." A look of mischief crossed Jessica's lovely face. "You know something? We ought to get Bill to clean it up. He's the one who's so crazy about water."

Instantly Elizabeth sobered. "Poor Bill. You never let up, do you? He'd probably swim to Tahiti if you asked him to."

"What good would he do me in Tahiti?" Jessica snickered. "He's much more useful to me right here."

"As your go-fer, you mean?"

"You said it, not me."

"Come on, Jess, enough is enough. Why don't you give Bill a break? He's really a nice guy. What did he do that was terrible enough to earn the fate of falling in love with you?"

"Nothing, that's what." Her eyes narrowed. "He's only getting what he deserves for ignoring me in the beginning."

"Since when is turning you down for a date a federal crime?"

Jessica grew defensive. "I can't help it if Bill is crazy about me, can I? I mean, I'm not exactly holding a gun to his head."

"Maybe not," Elizabeth observed, "but the way you tease him is just as lethal." She thought

of something, and a slow smile spread across her face. "I have a feeling he'll soon be put out of his misery, though."

Jessica frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about DeeDee Gordon." Elizabeth went back to scrubbing the broiler pan. "Looks like she's got her eye on Bill."

"That
little nobody?" Jessica sneered. "Anyway, why should I care? I don't even like Bill."

"Then I guess you won't care that he volunteered to give DeeDee surfing lessons."

"He
what?"
Jessica exploded. "He can't do that!"

"Why not?"

"He just can't, that's all," Jessica muttered sulkily. "He, uh, he won't have time. What about rehearsals? He's got an obligation to the drama club." Abruptly she shoved the mop at Elizabeth. "That reminds me--I've got to call him. I forgot my script. I'm sure he won't mind lending me his."

"But I thought you were going out!" Elizabeth called after her in frustration. "Hey, wait a minute, you're not finished!"

Jessica turned to flash her an appreciative grin. "You don't mind, do you, Lizzie? It's just a teeny little puddle. I'd be eternally grateful, and I'll pay you back--you know I will."

"Teeny little puddle?" Elizabeth cried. "It looks like Marine World in here!"

"I've got to rush. You're a doll, Liz. I won't forget this!" With a wave, Jessica vanished.

"Neither will I," Elizabeth grumbled through clenched teeth as she attacked the kitchen floor with the mop.

An hour later Elizabeth was immersed in her homework when the doorbell rang. Jessica was out, and their parents had gone to a movie, so Elizabeth ran downstairs to see who it was. Somehow she wasn't surprised to see Bill standing there.

"Oh, hi, Liz." He hastily put on a smile, trying not to look disappointed. "Where's Jessica? I brought over the script she wanted. I--I was hoping we could maybe study our lines together."

He stood in the doorway, looking uncomfortable as he shifted from one foot to the other, hands shoved into his front pockets. As he shuffled inside, Elizabeth saw the rolled-up script sticking out of his back pocket.

What was she going to tell Bill? She felt herself flushing. Darn Jessica! She hated it when her sister put her on the spot like this.

"Jessica's not here," she explained, biting her lip. "Uh, something came up at the last minute, and she couldn't wait. I'm really sorry, Bill." Elizabeth couldn't bring herself to meet his disappointed gaze. In a rush of sympathy, she added, "But, look, now that you're here,

why don't you sit down for a minute? I'll get you something to drink."

Bill shrugged as he slumped in the nearest chair. Elizabeth had a feeling she could have served him arsenic at that moment and he wouldn't have cared. She ducked into the kitchen, returning a minute later with two lukewarm cans of root beer. It had been Jessica's turn to put away the groceries last time, and she'd stuck the soft drinks into a cupboard instead of the refrigerator.

Bill didn't seem to notice. "I guess it must have been something pretty important, huh?" he asked, not sounding too terribly convinced.

"I'm sure it was."

A look of pain crossed Bill's tanned face. "Probably a date with another guy, right?" he said softly. It wasn't a question so much as a statement.

"Bill, I--" Elizabeth didn't know what to say. She felt so sorry for Bill, she could have cheerfully strangled her sister at that moment.

"It's OK, Liz, you don't have to explain. I--I kind of expected it anyway. I mean, Jessica's so beautiful, she probably has a million guys after her."

"I can't think of anyone who would be nicer than you," Elizabeth offered kindly. "But-- but I'm not really sure Jessica is right for you, Bill."

Bill flushed a mottled red. "What do you mean?"

Now she was really stuck. She'd just wanted to help Bill, to make him see he didn't stand a chance with Jessica, but it was obvious she'd only managed to make things worse. How could she tell Bill how hopeless it was without being; disloyal to her sister?

"I--well, you know Jessica. It's practically impossible to pin her down in one place for more than five seconds. I don't see how
anyone
could keep up with her."

"Yeah, she really is something, isn't she?" Bill's face glowed with adoration.

"That's one way of describing her."

"I can't blame her if I'm not the only one who sees it," he said, forcing a weak smile. "I guess I'll just have to get used to standing in line, huh?"

"Bill, I don't think--"

He stood up, leaving his root beer untouched.

"Thanks, Liz, but I really should get going. I have a pile of homework."

"Why didn't you tell Jessica you had homework when she called?" Elizabeth scolded gently,

"Yeah, well," he muttered sheepishly, "when she called, I sort of forgot everything else."

Bill's blindness where her sister was concerned reminded Elizabeth of an animal paralyzed by the headlights of an oncoming car. If

he didn't watch out, he was going to get squashed flat, she thought. Only deference to Jessica kept her from telling him so.

After Bill had gone, Elizabeth was depressed. She needed to talk to Todd. He was Bill's friend--maybe
he
could make Bill see that loving Jessica was as futile as trying to bail out a leaky rowboat. But when she called, Todd's mother told her he wasn't home.

"Do you know when he'll be back?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'm not sure, dear," Mrs. Wilkins answered. "He didn't say where he was going." She sounded vaguely sympathetic, which left Elizabeth to wonder why Todd's mother should feel sorry for her.

Then a wave of panic swept over her as a sudden image of Patsy Webber rose in her mind. She pictured Todd with his arms around her. Patsy was tall--with high heels she was just the right height to gaze into Todd's eyes without getting a crick in her neck the way Elizabeth sometimes did. She imagined Todd leaning toward Patsy, eyes closed, lips parted....

"Stop it!" she commanded herself out loud.

There were times when her writer's imagination ran so wild that she actually found herself getting upset about things that hadn't even happened. Todd was probably out with one of his friends, she told herself. Or he could be practicing basketball or studying at the library.

He didn't have to inform her of his whereabouts every waking minute, did he?

Even so, Elizabeth couldn't shake the worry she felt. What if Todd really
was
out with Patsy?

In that case, Bill would have to move over to make room for two in his leaky rowboat, she thought miserably.

Three

Bill swallowed hard against the knot forming in his throat.
OK, so she stood you up. What did you expect?
Jessica was so beautiful. With a million guys chasing after her, why should she pick him? Still, he couldn't erase her bright image from his mind.
Just go home and forget about it,
he told himself as he drove slowly down the quiet street.

But before he realized what he was doing, Bill had turned onto the coast highway instead. Fifteen minutes later he was coaxing his battered old VW bus over a bumpy dirt road leading to the beach.

It was deserted when he arrived. A full moon cast a ghostly light over the waves that crowded into shore, and the sand gleamed silver. Bill crouched at the foot of a dune. He scooped up a handful of cold sand, letting it trickle slowly through his fingers. He was remembering

another time ... another girl. It had been so long, and the memory was so painful. He tried to shut it out. But he couldn't do it, couldn't stop the memories from coming any more than he could stop the tears that were rolling down his cheeks.

Her name was Julianne. He had gone out with her when he was living in Santa Monica, before his parents got divorced and he and his mother moved to Sweet Valley. They were freshmen when they met. They had seats next to each other in math class, but they were too shy to strike up a conversation.

That didn't stop Bill from looking at her any chance he got, though. She was so beautiful. She had long blond hair that seemed to dance with sparks of light when the morning sun shone on it. Her eyes were bluer than blue, so deep they were almost purple. When she smiled, they crinkled up at the corners. He would stare at her and completely lose track of what the teacher was saying.

Then one day he was out surfing when a slim figure in a wet suit cut across in front of him.

"Hey, watch it!" he yelled in annoyance. Then he saw who it was. Julianne! She was the last person in the world he would have expected to see out there.

He paddled over to greet her. "You're pretty

good," he told her. "Where did you learn to surf like that?"

She laughed. "I was practically born in the water. My parents have a house just down the beach. I've been surfing since I was five. You're pretty good yourself. I've been watching you for a while."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was afraid it would make you nervous," she replied, blushing. "Besides, you're not exactly the talkative type." Not even her embarrassment could hide the teasing sparkle in her eyes.