Double Love, chapter 18

Elizabeth floated through the living room and up the stairs to her room. She headed straight for the mirror and smiled at what she saw reflected there.

Yes, that was most definitely the face of a person in love. What was even better, she thought, was that it was the face of a person who was loved in return.

She hurriedly got out of her clothes and slipped on her nightshirt. She could hardly wait to get to bed. Her dreams were bound to be terrific that night.

Wait, she reminded herself. There was one little thing that had to be done-immediately.

Elizabeth marched through the bathroom and into her sister's room.

"Jess," she said, "we have to talk."

Jessica was fussing with her new eye makeup.

"If I use this aqua liner, it makes my eyes look greener. What do you think?" Jessica asked, sticking her face right into Elizabeth's.

"I think it won't work."

"You like blue better?"

"Come on, Jess. You know what I'm talking about."

"Honestly, I don't," Jessica said, her eyes indeed looking almost pure green and very innocent. "If something's wrong, tell me."

"You bet I will."

"You know I'd do anything to help you, Lizzie," she said. "After all, you're the closest person in the whole world to me."

"Jessica."

"There's no one who means more."

"Todd told me everything."

"And you believe him over your own sister," she said, switching gears without missing a beat.

Elizabeth plowed on, paying no attention to the crushed look on Jessica's face. "He said he never tried to kiss you or anything else."

"Is that all?" She brightened. That was an easy one for a pro like Jessica.

"No. There's lots more."

"Like what?" Trouble again.

"Like your visit to Kelly's with Rick Andover."

"I've already explained that. Besides, it's ancient history. As for Todd trying to paw me, well, it's true that he didn't, but I only told you he did for your own benefit."

"Oh, come on!"

"No, really, I thought I was helping you."

"Just how did it help me to think that the guy I liked was after my sister?"

"Lizzie, honey. I did it because I felt he was wrong for you. That you wouldn't be able to handle him."

"Jessie, honey. You're really full of it. You did it because you liked him yourself and you were trying to get rid of the competition."

Jessica, seeing that she was cornered, tried a different tack. "You're right," she confessed. "I guess I did like Todd a little. But, honestly, I didn't realize he was so important to you. Besides, it all turned out OK because he really does like you. He certainly showed it tonight. He's a terrific person, and I'm really happy for both of you."

"Jess, you were spying on us just now," Elizabeth accused.

"Come on, Liz. I said I was sorry. Can't we just forget it? After all, you make mistakes, too."

"What about Kelly's?"

"I've told you and told you about that. Jeez, Liz, I can't talk anymore. I've got to get to bed. My head is bursting. I must be coming down with something. Here, feel my forehead." She leaned over to her sister, her face pale with instant terminal illness.

Elizabeth ignored the extended forehead. Instead, she took Jessica by the shoulders and moved her back so that they were eye to eye. "Tell me one more time, Jessie."

"It was ages ago. Let's forget it."

"I mean it, Jessica."

Elizabeth was only four minutes older than Jessica, but in a pinch she could make those minutes really count. Like now. Elizabeth was in charge, and there was no way out for Jessica-who knew it. She burst into tears.

"How could you let everybody think I was at Kelly's?" she demanded of the sobbing Jessica. "How could you do such a horrendous thing to me?"

"I'm sorry, honestly, I swear I am. Forgive me." Jessica's pleading face was drenched in tears. "Even when it was happening, I knew it was a horrible thing to do."

"I never would have done such a thing to you."

"I know you wouldn't, and that's what makes it so awful. But I just couldn't help myself."

"Why not?"

"Because..." She started but couldn't go on. Her sobs turned everything into an unintelligible babble of how she was so ashamed of herself for being so selfish and awful and on and on. But Elizabeth was determined. She was not going to accept any apologies until Jessica made a full confession.

Finally Jessica, exhausting all her self-recriminations, saw that she had to tell Elizabeth the real reason.

"I knew if it got around school that I was in that bar with those terrible people, I'd be finished. It's a rule, an absolute rule, that you can't be on the cheering squad if you have any black marks against your name. I couldn't give that up, Liz. You know how much being co-captain of the cheerleaders means to me."

"What about me? Didn't you care if I got into trouble for something I didn't even do?"

"But you wouldn't have-and you didn't! You're not a cheerleader, and I knew they wouldn't kick you off the newspaper. Sure, some dumb kids gossiped about you, but so what? They do that, anyway. Still, I knew nothing really bad would happen to you, but it would have been the end of everything for me. I couldn't bear it. Besides, Liz, I know you would have helped if I asked you. Wouldn't you have?"

"I don't know."

"If you knew how much it meant to me?"

"I guess so."

"You know you would have." She sniffled. "But I couldn't ask you. It all happened too fast." Now the tears came again. "You know you're the most important person in the world to me. I'll die if you don't forgive me. Please, Lizzie."

This time the affection was sincere, and Elizabeth was won over.

"I can't ever stay angry with you," she said, and before she had a chance to say another word, Jessica threw her arms around her with such emotion that poor Elizabeth squealed.

Elizabeth hugged her back. No matter what happened between them, this mirror image, this other half of herself, would always be connected to her in some strange and powerful way. And that relationship would be different and separate from any other she would ever have in her life. Nothing could ever change that. Not for either of them.

Jessica's face was shining with pleasure and relief. She really couldn't bear to have her sister angry with her. Elizabeth knew that, and only wanted to see Jessica happy. And happy she was-for the moment.

But Elizabeth had a score to settle with Jessica, and she knew exactly how she was going to do it. She didn't intend to tell anyone but Todd-since he was a part of her fantastic plan.