Double Love, chapter 4

Elizabeth's problems buzzed in her head like bees. Sitting in the Oracle office, she didn't know what to do first. She hadn't written a word for her "Eyes and Ears" column yet, and she still hadn't thought of a topic for her history paper. And then there was Steven-something was going on with him that wasn't quite right. It made her uneasy. And she couldn't get over an even more alarming suspicion about her father and Ms. West. She had seen Marianna recently, driving by with her father. She was a very beautiful woman. And she and her father had been so wrapped up in each other they hadn't even noticed Elizabeth. Even though she wanted to ignore it, Elizabeth smelled smoke. Did that mean there was fire?

She sighed. She didn't seem to have any answers lately. She looked down at her writing pad, which was absolutely blank except for the name Todd Wilkins scribbled across the top in large, dark letters. She knew it was hopeless to try to work when all she really wanted to do was lose herself in her special daydream. It was always the same funny little dream, but it made her feel so warm and good: They were sitting together, she and Todd, in the lunchroom at noon. It was jammed, and she was chattering on with Enid or some other friend when she became aware of Todd's hand affectionately caressing her hair. She turned to smile at him, and he pulled her close and kissed her gently on the forehead. That was it. Nothing more, but it was done right out there where everybody could see, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Todd loving her....

The daydream was like a favorite film Elizabeth played over and over again and never got tired of watching. That's what she was doing when Cara Walker burst noisily into the Oracle office, shattering the dream and bringing her back to her terrible reality.

"Liz," Cara gushed breathlessly, "I've got a great idea for an item."

"Good, Cara, what is it?"

"Well-do you know who writes the 'Eyes and Ears' column?"

"That's a secret, Cara. Nobody knows that except Mr. Collins."

"OK. Well, would you pass it on to him? The hottest new couple in the whole school is your very own sister Jessica-"

"Jessica?" Elizabeth asked, surprised.

"Yes! Now, I'm not a columnist," Cara gushed, "but the item could say something like-'The hottest new couple at Sweet Valley High is the co-captain of the cheerleaders and the captain of the basketball team!'"

"What?"

"See-they're both captains." Cara giggled. "That's why it's so neat!"

"Who told you about them?" Elizabeth asked, her heart thumping.

"It's all over school, Liz! Everybody's talking about it. They were driving around the other day in your mom's red convertible!"

"Oh."

"They were even seen up at Miller's Point," Cara continued. "And you know what goes on up there. Isn't it too much?" She sighed.

Elizabeth didn't even remember Cara running out. She felt totally destroyed. Todd and Jessica! Why did it have to be Jessica?

"Well, why not?" she heard herself saying aloud.

It was perfectly natural that Todd would like a terrific girl like her sister. Why shouldn't he? Jessica was about the prettiest, most popular girl at Sweet Valley High.

And then a new, sinking realization shot through her heart like an arrow. Todd must have thought he was smiling at Jessica in the cafeteria the other day! She had built a fantasy, out of her own desires, about his feelings.

Well, at least that was clear now. Todd was interested in Jessica. Jessica knew it. And, as Cara had just said, the whole school knew it. Now at least she was sure what to write for the "Eyes and Ears" column. Elizabeth began typing it out, hardly noticing the tears that fell onto her typewriter keys.

No, she told herself sternly. I won't be like this. I won't think about him anymore. Todd likes Jessica, and Jessica likes Todd, and that's that.

She looked at what she had written: "A certain tall, good-looking basketball player will be scoring high points off the court when he escorts a certain blond beauty who is co-captain of the cheerleading squad to the upcoming Phi EpsilonPi Beta Alpha dance."

Yes, Elizabeth told herself, they're perfect for each other. I wish them the very best. I really do, she insisted as she folded her head in her arms and sobbed.

"Elizabeth! What is it?"

She hadn't heard Mr. Collins walk in, yet there he was, looking at her with concern, while tears slid down her face.

As usual, he knew what to do. Without another word he held out a crisp white handkerchief.

Elizabeth dabbed at her face, pulling herself together. She smiled weakly at the Oracle's good-looking adviser, and thanked him for his handkerchief. "If you don't need it back right away, I'll launder it for you tonight," she offered.

Mr. Collins smiled. "I think I can manage without it," he answered. Then he asked gently, "Need to talk?"

She did need to talk to someone, and there weren't many people she trusted and respected more than Mr. Collins. She told him about her feelings for Todd and how he seemed to be interested in Jessica. "I'm so down."

"I know how you must feel." Roger Collins sighed sympathetically, pushing back a stray lock of his strawberry-blond hair. "But I've always found hard work to be the best painkiller. Come on, let us see your column. It'll take your mind off other things."

Elizabeth handed him her "Eyes and Ears" column.

"OK, here's this week's scoop," she said. But before Mr. Collins had a chance to look at it, John Pfeifer, the sports editor of The Oracle, came in all worked up.

"Hey, Mr. Collins," he said, "I'm the biggest idiot in the world. I've got the sports pages all laid out, and I can't find the picture of Todd Wilkins."

At the mention of his name, Elizabeth grabbed her things and dashed from the office. She didn't run far enough, though, because all of a sudden there he was in the flesh in the corridor. And with Jessica!

"No, really, Todd," Jessica was saying, "don't laugh. It's not funny. Really. I really am one of the most unpopular girls in school. Everyone else has a date for the dance. Really, everyone. Every single girl I know. Everyone but me."

Elizabeth made an about-face and walked quickly the other way.

But Todd had seen her. "Hey, Liz. What's your rush?"

She didn't answer. She kept moving. She had to get away.

"My sister." Jessica sighed and took Todd's arm. "Always in a hurry. Always rushing off to meet some guy."

"Where's she off to today?" asked Todd. "I was going up to the Oracle office to apologize in person. Hey, Jess, you explained about the other day, didn't you?"

"Oh, Todd, Liz is always ten steps ahead of me. I never know if she hears a word I'm saying. I wonder who the lucky guy is today-probably her date for the frat dance."

"For the what?" said Todd.

"The frat dance-you know, the one your fraternity is holding with my sorority. Are you going?"

"Gee, I don't know," Todd said. "Are you?"

“That's what I was telling you. Don't you remember? You thought it was so funny that Jessica Wakefield is really a poor, lonely, miserable thing."

"Yeah, now I remember," Todd said. "But-are you sure Liz has a date for the dance?"

If it had been anyone else, Jessica would have blown up by now. But Todd Wilkins was so cute. She controlled herself and tried again.

"Todd, I told you. I can't keep up with her, so-it looks like you and I are in the same boat. The only ones."

"Hmm," Todd said, really getting her message for the first time. "So, you don't have a date, and I don't have a date...."

"Yes? And?" Jessica smiled coaxingly.

But suddenly Todd looked over his shoulder as though he were searching for someone down the hall. "Uh, Jess, listen, don't worry about the dance. I'm sure a million guys are dying to ask you. Don't get uptight about it. I'm not. There's still plenty of time. Anyway, I've got to go. See you around."

Todd was gone before Jessica could recover. I don't believe that guy! she screamed to herself. If she had been home, she probably would have kicked a pillow across the room, maybe even cursed a little. But here in school she couldn't exactly make a scene.

Jessica felt a tiny twinge of panic. Why was Todd ignoring her? Had something happened to the Wakefield magic? Impossible! she told herself. She was still the most fantastic girl in school.

So why didn't Todd know it? Tears of angry frustration filled her eyes. She decided she would walk home from school. Whenever she was out walking, she never failed to attract a good deal of attention from passing cars.

The more the better, she thought, swinging her hips a little as she set off.