Playing With Fire, chapter 7

Late Saturday afternoon Elizabeth stepped out of the shower and began to get ready for her night out. She dried off, put on her bathrobe, then, after wiping off the steam-covered mirror, she ran a wide-toothed comb through her long, thick hair as she tried to figure out what to wear. Mentally rejecting most of her wardrobe, she finally decided to ask Jessica if she could borrow one of her wilder, flashier outfits. "You can't go to a rock club looking like your own grandmother," she muttered to her reflection.

She hoped Jessica wouldn't give her a hard time. At least they were talking again. Trying to keep the lines of communication open between them, Elizabeth had stopped criticizing Bruce. She figured that as long as she kept him out of the conversation, her relationship with Jessica stood a good chance of returning to normal. She also hoped it would increase the chances of Jessica's confiding in her, should she need to.

As Elizabeth finished blow-drying her hair, she heard a knock on the bathroom door. "Come in," she called out.

Jessica, smiling and balancing an armload of packages from her afternoon shopping spree, stood in the doorway. "Come take a look at what I bought," she squealed excitedly. "I found the most heavenly dresses at The Boston Shop."

"You went where?" Elizabeth couldn't believe her ears. The twins had always avoided that exclusive women's store, a place where a lot of snobby types did their shopping. Filled with curiosity, Elizabeth followed Jessica into her room. "You swore you'd never set foot in that place."

"That was before," Jessica said, opening up one of the packages.

Elizabeth didn't have to ask "before what?" "Let me see what you got," she said resignedly.

Triumphantly Jessica pulled a brown wool blazer and matching skirt out of one bag and two oxford shirts from another. The look was tasteful, classic, and rich-yet very unlike Jessica. "Aren't these the most elegant clothes you've ever seen?"

Elizabeth looked at her sister in total bewilderment. "Weren't you the one who always said that people who dress preppy have no originality?"

"That was silly of me, wasn't it?" Jessica threw the blazer over her shoulders and smiled. "Bruce thinks this is a smart look, especially for a girl with long legs like mine. He's taking me to the country club for dinner." She put the jacket on her bed and held the two shirts against it. "Which do you think looks better? The beige or the pink?"

Elizabeth longed to ask her sister why she was letting Bruce run her life, but she had the distinct feeling that Jessica wouldn't understand what she was talking about, anyway. Without further comment on her sister's changed wardrobe, Elizabeth chose the pink blouse. "Speaking of clothes," she added, "I was wondering if I could borrow your black and white miniskirt tonight."

"You can keep it forever," Jessica said airily. "I'll never need it. Bruce can't stand New Wave clothes. He says they look cheap. But don't get me wrong, that skirt would look cute on you with a black body suit."

"Yeah, thanks," Elizabeth responded dryly. She could only guess at what other changes Bruce would force on her sister. Knowing she was on the brink of saying something about Bruce, she decided to excuse herself from Jessica's room quickly. "Todd's picking me up soon, so I'd better get dressed. Have a good time tonight."

"Don't worry." Jessica winked suggestively as her sister stood in the doorway. "Bruce and I always do."

The light fog rolling in from the Pacific made the visibility on the coast road poor, and Todd almost drove past the Seaside Express, the club where The Droids were playing. "Whoa, Todd," Winston shouted from the backseat of Todd's Datsun. "There's the place."

"This is it?" Todd exclaimed as he pulled into the dirt-covered drive. Before them stood a low, wood-shingled building that had definitely seen better days. No more than a dozen cars were parked in the lot.

"There's the sign: Sand Pines," Winston noted.

"Your eyes must be better than mine," Todd said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I don't know how you even saw it. It looks like no one's been near it for decades."

He turned to Elizabeth. "You sure The Droids are playing here? The place looks deserted."

"Sure, see the sign in the window? This is it. Maybe the fog's keeping people away."

"Maybe not. It's still early, isn't it?" Winston's voice had an almost desperate sound to it. If no one else showed up, he knew he'd have to spend the rest of the evening with Robin.

"It's not that early," Todd said flatly. "I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind just staying for a few numbers, then heading back to Sweet Valley. I don't like the looks of this place."

"We can't leave that quickly, Todd," Elizabeth stated firmly. "I've got to see their act. Besides, we're here already-and it doesn't look all that bad to me!"

"I don't want to leave," said Robin, looking hopefully at Winston.

Todd shrugged. "I suppose we'll survive." He reached over and opened the door on Elizabeth's side. "Shall we?"

On the way up the graveled path to the club's entrance, Todd paused to admire a motorcycle parked off to the side. "This Virago's a beaut, don't you think, Liz?"

Elizabeth frowned. "It's just a pile of metal. I don't think I'll ever understand what you see in these machines."

"Just wait, Liz. When I get my bike, you'll see how much fun they are."

Inside, the club's dim lighting helped mask the cheap paneled walls marred by scratches and dents.

Todd took Elizabeth by the arm protectively: "Let's find seats."

Only a few of the small black tables and chairs were occupied. Looking around, Elizabeth recognized Tony Conover, The Droids' new manager, seated alone near the back of the room, staring intently at the small stage, where the group was already performing. He seemed to be the only one paying attention. The dance floor was empty. Only a handful of people were listening to the music. The rest were huddled together in a corner, nursing drinks and cigarettes, talking very loudly. They must be club regulars, Elizabeth thought.

Elizabeth and Todd took seats at one of the vacant tables near the dance floor while Winston and Robin checked out the room from the entrance. Winston, realizing this was not the night he was going to meet the girl of his dreams, reluctantly followed his friends to the table, with Robin happily accompanying him. The group ordered a round of sodas, and Elizabeth took out her notebook to begin jotting down her impressions of the place.

After taking a close look around, she decided to leave a description of the club out of her article. It was pretty seedy. If this is the first rung on the ladder to success, she thought, The Droids have a very long way to go.

If the band members were disappointed by the surroundings, it was impossible for Elizabeth to tell. They were totally involved with their music. It was clear they'd all practiced hard for this engagement; they sounded more together now than ever. They looked more professional, too. Dana had honed her style so that she now strutted around like a self-confident star. She and Emily had also invested in eye-catching red jumpsuits, and the visual effect was powerful. Max, Dan, and Guy had coordinated their outfits and looked like a trio of alluring tough guys.

After the second song, Elizabeth put away her notebook and coaxed Todd onto the dance floor. It didn't matter to them that they were the only ones dancing, and when Elizabeth looked up at the group and got a grateful wink and smile from Emily, she knew her gesture was appreciated. Winston and Robin remained at the table, neither one saying a word.

Robin was very disappointed. Despite what Elizabeth had told her, she had hoped this would be a night to remember. Jessica had taken Robin shopping with her that afternoon, and all Jessica had talked about was how much Winston was looking forward to this date. She'd assured Robin that this was an opportunity not to be wasted. She'd even insisted on taking Robin to the store in the mall that specialized in large sizes and had personally picked the peach tunic top Robin was wearing. "Winston loves this color," Jessica had told her. Even though it wasn't very flattering to her figure, Robin had snatched the garment on the spot.

But from the moment she'd stepped into Todd's car, Robin could tell the night wasn't going to live up to her expectations. Winston had been friendly when he greeted her, but when she had tried to move closer to him on the seat, he had squirmed away uncomfortably. He'd barely spoken to her at all during the forty-five minute ride, directing most of his comments to the front seat. Far from the easygoing, talkative person she had encountered at the dance, Winston had appeared preoccupied and not at all interested in being with her. Now, sitting next to her at the table, he seemed even more distant and uncomfortable. Robin began to regret that she'd agreed to come. She kept glancing at her watch, hoping the night would end as soon as possible. She was grateful when Elizabeth and Todd said they wanted to leave after the first set. Her torture would soon be over.

By the time they got back on the coast highway, the fog had lifted, revealing a clear, star-filled sky. The group was quiet, as the evening had been a disappointment for all of them. Elizabeth passed the time gazing out at the shoreline. She found the scenery hauntingly beautiful and thought that someday she'd like to sit by the sea and write a story.

About five miles from the turnoff for Sweet Valley, Elizabeth noticed a black Porsche parked along one of the side roads leading to the water. When she realized who it belong to, she let out a gasp. Not that there was only one black Porsche in the whole world, but the license plate 1BRUCE1 gave away its owner's identity. It was Bruce Patman's. So much for a night at the country club.

Elizabeth didn't want to think about what Bruce and her sister were doing on that dark, deserted path. She wanted to forget she'd seen the car. But Robin wouldn't let her. "Hey, isn't that Bruce Patman's car?" she cried as they passed the gleaming vehicle. "I wonder what it's doing down here. He and Jessica were going out tonight, weren't they, Liz?"

"Yes, Robin."

"They make a really super-looking couple, don't you think?" Robin prattled. "But everyone in school seems down on them. I wonder why."

"Some things aren't worth wondering about," Winston muttered.

"Well, I'm really happy for Jessica. She told me she's in love with Bruce. I think that's so romantic. She's so beautiful, and he's gorgeous. They deserve each other, I'd say."

"I'd say you've said enough," Winston grumbled. "Look, Todd, would you mind taking me home first? I'm done in."

Robin sank as deeply into the seat as she could. Me and my big mouth, she berated herself. She was sure she'd just thrown any chance she might have had with Winston right out the window.

A short while later, after dropping off Winston and Robin, Todd pulled up in front of Elizabeth's house. They exchanged a kiss-it was warm and loving, and Elizabeth found it comforting. Todd always seems to know what I need, she told herself. Then she fell into the crook of Todd's arm. "I'm glad you understand about tonight. I had no idea the place was such a dive."

"I didn't mind, really. I just feel sorry for The Droids. Their first big date-and it's a bust."

"Yeah, a disappointing night for a lot of people."

"Like our friends in the backseat?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Poor Win. I don't ever remember seeing him so quiet. Maybe I shouldn't have talked him into coming."

"Nah, even a bad night out is better than a lonely night at home. Though, if you ask me, he didn't even give Robin a chance."

"Win made it very clear to me that he wasn't interested in her. I invited him along because I thought it'd help him take his mind off Jessica."

Todd sighed. "It figures she's at the bottom of this. That girl causes more trouble than anyone I've ever known."

"Oh, it's not her fault she doesn't love him. He's had a thing for her for way too long."

"He's wasting his time."

"I know. But he can't get her out of his system." She sighed. "Funny, it sounds exactly like Jessica's feelings about Bruce."

"But Jessica's doing something about her feelings. Ask anybody." Elizabeth shot him a questioning look, and Todd turned away quickly. He felt he'd said more than he wanted to and hoped she would change the subject.

But there was no way she could let that remark slip by. "Just what do you mean by that, Todd?" she demanded. He remained silent, but Elizabeth was persistent. "You're hiding something from me, aren't you?" She pulled away from him and directed her piercing stare at him.

Todd gave in under her gaze. "I didn't want to tell you," he began, "but your sister is getting quite a reputation around school. Bruce has been making it very clear that he's getting everything he wants out of her. And whenever he wants it, too."

Elizabeth put her hands to her ears. "I don't believe it, Todd. Jessica would never be like that!"

Todd considered this. "Bruce could be exaggerating," he said after a pause. "I wouldn't put it past him."

"Yes, that's it," Elizabeth agreed eagerly. "He must be exaggerating. That's so rotten! Jessica would die if she knew she was being talked about like that."

"I don't know, Liz. She's so starry-eyed over him, I don't think she'd care."

"Oh, that Bruce Patman. If I didn't hate him before, I certainly do now. He's turned her into a completely different person. I mean, when she's not out with him, she's practically a hermit. Whenever I ask her to come someplace with me, she says she has to stay home in case Bruce calls. 'What if I miss him?' she asked me the other night. Do you believe that? Can you imagine my sister waiting for a boy to call?"

"Not the Jessica I know and hate."

Elizabeth ignored his last remark. "And then finally he did call-just to tell her he'd see her tonight. Todd, you should have seen the look on her face. It was as if someone had just crowned her Miss America. She looked so-so satisfied. And for what? A lousy phone call!"

"Well, wait a second, Liz. She really cares about the guy. Of course she's going to be happy to see him. Not everything Jessica does or feels for him is horrible!" Todd fondly cupped Elizabeth's chin in his hand. "Don't you feel good when I call?"

Gently Elizabeth gave Todd a soft kiss then thoughtfully responded, "Of course I do, and you're right. I should try to be more understanding. It's just that she's getting so carried away."

"Yes, well, she's got it bad for him."

Elizabeth leaned back in her seat dejectedly. "I tell you, Todd, he's like an evil wizard, out to twist her into anything he wants. And the worst part is, she's letting him. I wish there were something I could do to stop her."

"You've already tried-and look where it's gotten you."

"I know." She sighed. "But you don't know how awful it is to watch your sister go through all this and not be able to do a thing about it. She's heading for a disaster. I can feel it, and if I don't find a way to show her what's really happening, I'm afraid I'll lose the real Jessica altogether!"