Playing With Fire, chapter 4

“Liz! Liz, I've got to talk to you!"

Emily Mayer caught up with Elizabeth at her locker the following morning. Emily looked quite different from the way she appeared when performing. The petite drummer was dressed for school in a plain navy blue skirt and sweater, her wavy hair tied back neatly. "Liz, it's happening," she said excitedly. "It's really happening!"

"Slow down, Emily. What are you talking about?"

"The Droids. We're going to the top of the charts!"

It took Elizabeth a second to remember. "You mean, that guy ... what's his name?"

"Tony." Emily nodded excitedly. "He's everything he says he is, Liz. Guy even found pictures of him with some of his other bands in some back issues of Music Madness. I always thought it was dumb of Guy to save those magazines, but now I'm glad he did. Oh, Liz, Tony has such great plans for us."

"So when's the first record coming out?"

"Come on, we're not ready for that yet. Tony's planning to book us into some local clubs first and maybe get us some dates around the state during Christmas vacation. With a little luck and a lot of hard work, he says we may be good enough to break into L.A. clubs by next summer. But he's not promising anything. Not yet, anyway, though he did say he's going to bring around lots of record-producer friends of his to meet us as soon as we sound a little tighter."

Elizabeth smiled warmly at Emily. She took her music very seriously, and she deserved to have good things happen. "I'm so happy for you, Emily," Elizabeth bubbled. "I bet the others are just losing their minds with excitement!"

"You bet they're excited-and tired," Emily was saying as the first bell for the next class rang. The two of them began walking to class. "We were up half the night practicing."

"Seems the only thing you're missing is some publicity."

"Do you have anything in mind?"

"Yes. I'd like to chart your progress in a running series of stories in The Oracle. I'll have to get the go-ahead from Penny, the editor, but I know she'll love the idea. I'll begin with how you met Tony and what your plans are. Then I'll follow you from your first club date all the way to your number-one hit record."

Emily was overjoyed. "That's fantastic. Oh, Liz, you don't know how much all this means to me."

"I think I do, Emily. Being a rock star is just a fantasy for most kids, but you're actually going to live it!"

"Unfortunately I still have to live out the role of a student, too." Groaning, Emily opened the door to their chemistry class. "Reality, for the moment, is big bad Bob Russo."

They exchanged knowing glances. Chemistry was Elizabeth's hardest subject this year, and Bob Russo was the reason. A no-nonsense man, Russo was the type of teacher who demanded excellence from all his students-and usually got it. In truth, most of the kids felt he deserved their attention. He really cared what his students learned, and he insisted that they not disappoint him, or themselves. Even Jessica, who did very little studying but still got good grades in most classes, found it necessary to study for Russo's chemistry class.

When the late bell rang, Elizabeth was surprised to find her sister's chair empty as she took her own seat by the window of the second-story chemistry lab. She and Jessica had driven to school together, so she knew Jessica was around someplace. But where?

A glance out the window answered Elizabeth's question. She saw a couple kissing brazenly-and passionately-on the far end of the campus lawn. Jessica and Bruce. They were locked in an embrace so tight it seemed to Elizabeth that it would take at least half of Sweet Valley's football team to tear them apart.

Jessica ran her fingers through Bruce's dark, wavy hair, delighting in its soft, silky feel. Bruce answered her by kissing her more and more deeply, exciting every nerve ending in her body. Jessica pulled herself even closer, rubbing her other hand in small circles at the nape of Bruce's neck.

The faint sound of the late bell distracted the couple as they parted to catch their breath.

"Oh, no, Bruce, we're late! We've got to go!" Jessica quickly picked up the books she'd strewn across the grass earlier.

Bruce chuckled and placed a hand on Jessica's shoulder to keep her in place. "What's the rush, baby? We were just getting started."

Jessica couldn't look him in the face. She wanted desperately to be with him, but she didn't relish paying the price later with the stern chemistry teacher. "I want to stay, Bruce. You know that. But I've got to get to Russo's class. He'll kill me if I cut it."

"You mean to tell me my girl's more interested in Mr. Chemistry than in me? What about our chemistry? I thought I knew you better, Jess."

She sighed. "Oh, Bruce, you know how I feel about us." Then, her fingers lightly caressing the back of his neck, she continued. "But you know how he is about giving out detentions, and if I have to stay after school, I won't be able to watch you practice tennis. You wouldn't like that, Bruce, would you?"

"I see your point, but ... Hey, not to worry, sweet thing." Reaching into the back pocket of his corduroy pants, Bruce pulled out a pad. "Even Russo can't refuse to accept this." Bruce scribbled something on the top sheet, ripped it off, and handed it to Jessica.

"A note from the nurse's office!" Jessica glowed, relieved she didn't have to make a choice she had no desire to make.

Bruce traced the outline of her mouth with his fingertip. "The results of my examination show you need some mouth-to-mouth resuscitation."

Jessica moved closer. "I'd say your diagnosis is right on the mark, Dr. Patman. Shall we begin treatment?" Raising her face to his, Jessica entwined herself around her beloved boyfriend.