Playing With Fire, chapter 14

Jessica marched up to the table. "Well, well, I see I'm not the only one who had a mad urge for another slice of Guido's pizza."

Bruce's face turned white at the mere sound of the voice. "Jessica, what a pleasant surprise. Uh, I'd like you to meet Aline Montgomery. She's a-a friend of the family."

"Friend?" Jessica questioned. "I'd say she looks more like a grandma to me. You did say you were going to see your grandmother, didn't you, Bruce?"

"Yeah," he admitted, "but-but-"

Ignoring him, Jessica turned her attention to the redhead. "Hi, Grandma. I see you made a quick recovery. Must be Guido's magic pizza." She picked up the pie from the table and examined it closely. "Who would have thought this simple pizza could turn a sickly old lady into a pretty young girl?" Then she turned to Bruce. "And you, poor birthday boy. You've turned so terribly pale. It looks like you could use some of Guido's miracle cure, too. Take that, Bruce Patman!"

Before he had a chance to react, Jessica threw the gooey mixture right in his face. "And here's a little something to wash it down with." She grabbed a pitcher of soda and poured it over Bruce's head.

Bruce made a grab for Jessica's hand. "Hey, calm down, baby!"

"Don't 'baby' me, Bruce," she snapped. "Don't think I'm dumb enough to have missed the point of your little act tonight. Well, I've got a surprise for you. We're through!" As Jessica picked up another pitcher of soda from a nearby table, Bruce-in his scramble to get out of the line of fire-stumbled right into the artificial waterfall at the back of the pizzeria.

The sight of Sweet Valley's most eligible senior dripping wet and covered with pizza was too much for Jessica. She began to giggle, and soon she was nearly doubled over with laughter. After a moment of stunned silence, the rest of the crowd joined in. It was a new experience for all of them. They'd never seen Bruce Patman so humiliated by anyone.

Jessica then turned to Winston and smiled. "I believe I owe you a date," she said. "Let's go." Taking the startled boy by the arm, she marched him out the door toward his car.

"Excuse me for one second, Win," she said once they were outside. She walked right over to the black Porsche. "I have one more bit of unfinished business to take care of." Without another word, she set about letting the air out of all four tires. Winston didn't make a move to stop her, delighted that Bruce was finally getting just what he deserved.

Back in Guido's, after the excitement had died down, Todd and Elizabeth had taken some empty seats next to Robin. Shaking his head, Todd remarked, "I'll bet anything she won't even thank you for this."

Elizabeth shrugged, unconcerned. "It doesn't matter, Todd. What's important is that the old Jessica is back-and that she had enough sense to throw Bruce Patman out of her life. That's thanks enough for me."

"Excuse me, Liz," Robin interrupted hesitantly. "I don't mean to be a pain, but..."

"Sure, Robin, what's up?"

"I was just wondering.... The Pi Beta Alpha meeting is coming up this week, and I wanted to know if you were going."

"I doubt it," Elizabeth said. "I haven't been to a meeting in ages. Matter of fact, I'd forgotten all about it."

"Gee, that's too bad."

Elizabeth looked at Robin questioningly. "Why should it matter to you if I'm at the meeting?"

"I know you don't think Jessica's been a very good friend to me, but this meeting will prove just how much of a friend she is."

"How?"

"She's going to put my name up for membership."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

Robin smiled mysteriously. "She promised-and it's one promise I know she's going to keep."

Elizabeth wished Robin wouldn't put so much faith in Jessica. She was willing to bet anything her sister had no intention of keeping that promise. More times than she could remember, Jessica had told her how the chubby girl did not fit in with the sleek PBA image. Why would she do a complete about-face now and push for her membership? Elizabeth couldn't come up with a reason, and she could only figure that Jessica would conveniently forget until long after the meeting had passed, at which point she would be filled with apologies-apologies that would do Robin little good.

But Robin didn't need Jessica to pledge, Elizabeth realized. And then and there she made a decision.

"I think I'll be at that meeting after all," she told Robin. She'd be there to pick up the pieces if Jessica let down her friend. She'd nominate Robin for membership-and there would be nothing Jessica could do to stop her. It would probably throw the club, and Jessica, into an absolute uproar. But they all deserved the pressure, Elizabeth told herself, not realizing the chaos she was about to create.