Power Play, chapter 1

Elizabeth Wakefield didn't know how messy things would get with Robin Wilson and the sorority pledging, until she was in too deep to back out.

It happened, as so many things seemed to, because of Jessica, her twin sister, who had just been elected president of Pi Beta Alpha, the resident sorority at Sweet Valley High. Elizabeth was a member, too, but she hardly ever went to meetings. She didn't like the club's style and was too busy writing the "Eyes and Ears" column for the school paper to give the members much of her time.

"Eyes and Ears" was a regular feature, filled with hot, fun items about the students at Sweet Valley High. Sources remained anonymous. Even the identity of the writer herself had at first been a secret, though by now everyone knew it was Elizabeth.

The column was always humorous and light. Elizabeth had been very careful to stay away from any topic that could be mean or hurtful, even before anyone knew who was writing the column. Mr. Collins, the faculty adviser, had warned her early on about the dangers of anonymous power. It was advice Elizabeth would recall when she confronted another kind of anonymous power-one that threatened to tear Robin Wilson and the Pi Betas apart.

Robin believed herself to be Jessica's best friend, which was, at best, a dangerous assumption. Elizabeth became acutely aware of the fact one day when the phone in the kitchen rang and it was Robin Wilson's mother trying to locate her daughter.

"Gee, Mrs. Wilson, I haven't seen her."

"Is this Elizabeth? I think Robin is on her way over there with some things she's delivering for your sister."

"Oh," said Elizabeth, frowning. It was just like Jessica to use Robin as a messenger.

"If she shows up, ask her to call home, will you, dear?"

"Of course, Mrs. Wilson," Elizabeth said.

And then, silence. Although the conversation seemed to be over, Mrs. Wilson didn't hang up. Elizabeth could almost hear her on the other end of the line, making up her mind to say more.

"Elizabeth," Mrs. Wilson said at last, "can I ask you something? Does Robin seem-unhappy to you? I know that having you and Jessica as friends is the best thing that's happened to her since we moved to Sweet Valley. But-"

Elizabeth thought for a moment. "Well, I don't know. She seems all right to me," she said, at a loss for a better answer.

And then Elizabeth was totally astounded to hear Mrs. Wilson crying. "Oh, Elizabeth, you've got to help Robin!”

"What?"

"Even though she doesn't show it, she's so miserable. She's a little overweight, you know, and she thinks she's very unpopular." Mrs. Wilson took a deep breath, and when she spoke again, her voice was steadier. "Elizabeth, I know it's none of my business, but is Robin going to be asked to pledge your sorority? It would mean so much to her."

"We've gotten behind on nominations," Elizabeth said, "because the old president moved away. But now Jessica is president, and she told me that she's going to put Robin's name up at the next meeting."

"Yes, I know," Mrs. Wilson said and sighed. "But..."

"But what, Mrs. Wilson?"

"Well, Jessica is so busy, she might never get around to it. This is silly of me. Never mind, Elizabeth. Ask Robin to call home, will you? And, please, don't mention this to her. She'd be mortified."

Elizabeth hung up the phone. The conversation, however, continued to replay itself in her mind. Robin Wilson drop out of school? Why, she was one of the smartest girls at Sweet Valley! True, she was "a little overweight," as her mother had said. Much more than a little, actually. But she always seemed so cheerful and friendly.

Just then the phone rang again. It was her twin.

"Jessica Wakefield, you were supposed to be home an hour ago to help me clean the house, and you know it!" Elizabeth's anger came through loud and clear.

After listening to Jessica's breezy excuses for a moment or two, Elizabeth impatiently cut in. "You always have very, very important things to do when work is involved. What is it this time? You have to pick up your cleaning? What else?"

Again she listened, but this time an amused smile crept over her face. "You are picking up books at the library?" She was surprised her sister even knew her way there.

"OK, Jess, get here as soon as you can. Mom said the house had to be absolutely squeaky clean for her dinner party tonight."

Before Jessica could object, Elizabeth hung up, cutting her sister off in the middle of a sentence. Whenever Jessica talked that fast, Elizabeth knew she was up to something. Resisting the temptation to guess what the "something" was this time, she walked into the living room, trying to decide between vacuuming and dusting.

Elizabeth's usual sense of humor, momentarily out to lunch, returned in full force as she remembered her sister's last attempt to get out of serious work.

"Let's share the work," Jessica had said. "You clean the johns, and I'll arrange the flowers."

Alone in the living room, Elizabeth laughed out loud. One thing about Jessica-you had to give her credit for sheer nerve.

Elizabeth was plugging in the vacuum cleaner when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to find Robin Wilson, loaded down with books and dry cleaner's bags.

"Hi, Elizabeth, is Jessica home?" she asked shyly.

"What makes you think I'm not Jessica?" Elizabeth responded with friendly playfulness.

Looking awkward and uncomfortable, Robin blushed. "I don't mean to offend you, Liz, really I don't, but I'm pretty sure Jessica's never dressed like that in her life."

Elizabeth looked down at her favorite old jeans and flannel shirt and started to chuckle. "You're right, Robin. Come on in. Jess should be home pretty soon."

Robin plopped down on the sofa, rummaged around in her purse for something, and finally came up with a large chocolate bar. She unwrapped it and hungrily started munching.

"You're really lucky, Liz, having a terrific sister like Jessica." The chocolate bar was disappearing fast.

"That's me, all right, lucky Liz," she replied dryly, hypnotized by Robin's rhythmic chewing.

"Robin, doesn't eating like that make you"-don't say "fat," she warned herself-"break out?"

"Oh, no," said Robin, licking her sticky fingers. "I never get zits, just pounds. But I just wasn't meant to be slim like you and Jessica. It's got something to do with my bones-or is it my metabolism? Anyway, it's just my sad fate."

Elizabeth looked at Robin dubiously. She was convinced Robin's heaviness was due to the way she ate-especially if this was typical.

Though Elizabeth and Jessica certainly didn't have Robin's figure problems, they still watched their diets carefully. Slim, five foot six, the sisters were both beautiful: shoulder-length, sun-streaked blond hair, flashing blue-green eyes, and perfect skin. Elizabeth was four minutes older, but they were identical right down to the tiny dimple each had in her left cheek. Although they wore the same size clothes, they never dressed alike, except for identical lavalieres that they wore on gold chains around their necks. The lavalieres had been presents from their parents on the twins' sixteenth birthday. The only way a stranger could tell them apart was that Elizabeth had a tiny beauty mark on her right shoulder. Their friends might notice that only Elizabeth wore a wristwatch. It was a telling detail. Time was never a problem for Jessica. She always felt that things didn't really start until she got there, anyway. And if she happened to be a little late-let 'em wait.

That "let 'em wait" attitude was what Elizabeth was inwardly fuming about.

"Look, Robin, Jessica may have gotten held up somewhere, so maybe you could call her later or-"

"That's all right, Liz," Robin said, struggling to get out of the deep cushions. "I just wanted to drop off her cleaning and the books she wanted from the library."

Cleaning? Books? Bingo! Elizabeth exclaimed to herself. Jessica was definitely up to something.

"Why in the world are you doing Jessica's errands, Robin?"

"Well, she said she had something very, very important to do. Besides, that's what best friends are for-to do favors for each other."

Oh, Robin, Elizabeth thought, if you're Jessica's best friend, Attila the Hun is the prom King. Elizabeth knew that doing favors was a one-way street with her sister. Jessica always let people do favors for her. It was her way of being kind to the "little people."

"I'll get out of your way, Liz," Robin was saying. "There's just one thing, and I probably shouldn't even mention it."

"Let me guess. Jessica forgot to pay for the cleaning."

"Oh, no, that doesn't matter. It's about-well, it's about Pi Beta Alpha."

"What about PBA, Robin?"

Robin blushed. "It's just that I thought-I mean I know-that Jessica is waiting for the right time to put my name up for membership. I know she wants me to be a PBA, but she's always so busy with really important things, and maybe she's forgotten this is my last chance to pledge. I can't pledge as a senior, so it's either now or never, Liz. I don't know what to do. It means everything to me." Robin looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment.

Don't cry, Elizabeth thought. Oh, Robin, please don't cry. Belonging to a group whose main activities were putting on lip gloss and talking about boys was definitely not worth crying about.

"Robin, I'm sure it will all work out," she blurted, realizing as she spoke that she sounded just the way her mother did when things were definitely not going to work out.

Robin brightened at this. "You think so, Liz? I mean, I do think I know why Jessica hasn't put my name up. I bet she thinks it would be pushy-not really fair, you know, to nominate her best friend."

Elizabeth stared at Robin, completely amazed at how blind she was to Jessica's true character. Her twin was many things. A great dancer, a terrific cheerleader, a sensational surfer-but fair? Jessica could turn on the devastating charm when she wanted something, but going out of her way to do the "right" thing or to be "fair" just wasn't her style.

"Robin, is PBA so important to you?"

"Oh, yes, Liz, it is! I was just thinking-maybe you could remind Jessica?"

Elizabeth studied Robin Wilson's pleading face. It would do no good to "remind" Jessica, Elizabeth knew. Because her sister had told Elizabeth over and over again that Robin definitely did not fit the picture of the typical slim and pretty Pi Beta. Jessica would never nominate Robin, no matter how many times she might have promised. Yet Robin was a really nice girl, Elizabeth thought, and certainly smarter than most of the sorority members. PBA could use a new image-even if its members didn't think so.

"Robin, there's a meeting the day after tomorrow. Instead of reminding Jessica, why don't I put your name up?"

"You, Liz? You'd do that for me?"

Elizabeth laughed. "Sure. But, Robin, please don't think PBA is the answer to every-"

"Liz, you're wonderful, every bit as wonderful as your sister!" Robin interrupted, clearly in a world of her own. "Can I use your phone to call my mother? She'll be so excited. Maybe she'll even take me shopping this afternoon. The kids in PBA have such great clothes-I'd just die if I embarrassed them."

The rush of words continued, but Elizabeth tuned it out while showing Robin to the wall phone in the kitchen.

I did the right thing, she told herself as she walked back into the living room. Why should Robin be kept out of PBA because she's a little overweight? All right, a lot overweight. She heaved a sigh. She knew her sister would be upset. In fact, Elizabeth was sure Jessica would fly into one of her four-color, full-stereo rages.

Where was Jessica anyway? Probably at the mall with Lila Fowler. From Elizabeth's viewpoint that kind of afternoon would be as much fun as a month in the dentist's chair. Lila was the daughter of the wealthiest man in Sweet Valley, George Fowler, and both daughter and father were the town's biggest snobs. They lived in an elegant mansion in the expensive hill section of Sweet Valley. Jessica was forever envious of the Fowlers' money and house-that is, when she wasn't being envious of the money and house Bruce Patman's family had. Elizabeth thought that the feud between the old-money Patmans and the new-money Fowlers was really very silly, but not Jessica. New or old, money was never silly to her.

Elizabeth preferred their split-level house in the valley. Actually, she thought everything about Sweet Valley was terrific, especially the gently rolling hills, the quaint downtown area, and the beach, which was only fifteen minutes from their house.

Robin burst back into the room, all aflutter. "My mom is soooooo excited!" She always told me that being best friends with the Wakefield twins could be great for me," she gushed. Searching through her bag, she found another candy bar and began unwrapping it.

Elizabeth sighed inwardly. Now what have I done?

Robin was suddenly hugging and kissing her in an explosion of enthusiasm and happiness. It was too much for Elizabeth, who laughed and returned the hug, thinking that if the prospect of joining the Pi Betas could make someone so happy, she just might ask the whole junior class to pledge.

Letting go of Elizabeth, Robin held out her chocolate bar. "You want a bite?" she offered.

"No, thanks, Robin."

Robin Wilson stood there beaming, her eyes filled with happiness. "If there's nothing I can do for you, I think I'll hurry home. Mom's taking me shopping."

"Robin, you really don't have to-"

But Robin was already at the door. She yanked it open, almost toppling Jessica, who was just about to walk in.

"Jessica!" Robin shrieked. Elizabeth watched her sister shrink in distaste as the ecstatic Robin reached out to hug her.

"Hi, Robin." Jessica's total lack of enthusiasm was painfully obvious-but not to Robin.

"Omigod, Jessica, I'm soooo excited! Your sister is as wonderful as you are! Mom's taking me shopping! Got to go!"

And Robin bounced away, leaving Jessica standing there flabbergasted.

"What in the world was that?"

Elizabeth broke into helpless laughter.

"Why was that fat wimp pawing at me and gushing all over the place?" Jessica demanded.

"I'll tell you, Jess. But first, you tell me where you've been. And don't tell me you were out getting books and picking up the dry cleaning, since your best friend Robin Wilson did that for you."

"My best friend?"

"She thinks so."

"Well, she's all right, sometimes. It is nice to have someone to help you out."

"Run errands for you. Lick your boots."

"Liz Wakefield, you know perfectly well I only use leather cream on my boots."

It was pure Jessica. Elizabeth was the writer, but when Jessica needed to wiggle out of an unpleasant conversation, she had quite a way with words. But Elizabeth wasn't letting her get away with it-not this time.

"Where were you that you couldn't help clean the house? And where'd you get that new bit of loot?"

Jessica acted mystified. "You mean this?" She touched the lovely sapphire-blue silk scarf knotted around her neck.

"Yes, this. Where did you get it?"

"Lila Fowler gave it to me."

"You were with Lila again. Is that what was so important?"

"Lila Fowler happens to be the class act of Sweet Valley High, Liz, and you know it. Her aunt sent her the scarf from New York, but Lila said it isn't her best color, so she gave it to me."

Elizabeth shook her head in wonder. The scarf was really beautiful, and obviously quite expensive. Do the rich always share the wealth like this? she wondered.

She looked at Jessica, standing there smiling from ear to ear.

"Jess, I don't begrudge you a new scarf, but I don't appreciate being left here alone to do all the cleaning. Not to mention entertaining your best friend."

Jessica rolled her beautiful eyes heavenward. "Robin can get carried away four hundred and thirty-seven times a day, you know? What was she babbling about, anyway?"

"Oh, nothing much, really. Apparently you're so busy all the time you don't remember how much Robin wants to pledge Pi Beta."

"Oh, that." Jessica sighed. "I keep forgetting."

"Uh-huh. And this is her last chance."

"It is?" Innocence and Jessica Wakefield were one and the same.

"So," Elizabeth pushed on, "knowing you were going to put her up sooner or later anyway, I promised to sponsor her for membership at the next meeting."

Jessica's mouth dropped open. "You promised her what? Are you crazy?"

Now Elizabeth was all innocence. You don't live with Jessica Wakefield for sixteen years without learning something.

"Gee, Jess, what do you mean?"

"That-that tub of lard in Pi Beta Alpha?"

"But, Jess," Elizabeth said slyly, "she's your best friend. She told me so."

"That has nothing to do with it. There's a problem of-image."

But Elizabeth was not about to be outmaneuvered. "Image? That doesn't seem to bother you when she carries your books and cleaning for you."

"I like to be kind to everybody, Elizabeth," Jessica cooed. "You know that. But pledging Pi Beta? Well, look-you know Robin's only interested in studying. She's taking about thirty-seven extra courses. I'm just not sure PBA is right for her."

Anyone who didn't know Jessica as well as Elizabeth did would have been totally convinced that Robin's welfare was her first and only concern.

But Elizabeth wasn't buying. "Well, I think it is," she said calmly. "I've never seen anyone as happy as Robin was when I told her I'd sponsor her."

If Elizabeth was calm, Jessica was anything but. By now she had given up even trying to appear reasonable. She was beside herself with rage and frustration.

"Boy, now I have really seen everything!" she wailed. "How can my own sister-my identical twin, no less-be so totally, hopelessly idiotic?"

Elizabeth let out a breath. "I gather I've done something wrong."

"That is the understatement of the week," Jessica agreed sarcastically. "Robin Wilson in the Pi Betas? With us? With Lila Fowler? One look at that shape and they'll be calling us the Pi Butterball Alphas! Oh, really, Liz, are you completely absent from this universe?"

"It's only a silly sorority," Elizabeth reasoned.

"Only a-" This was too much. Jessica was speechless.

Elizabeth sighed. "Jessica, for heaven's sake, don't come unglued. I've promised, and that's that. Robin Wilson's going to be a Pi Beta."

"Oh, is she?"

What was going on here? Elizabeth looked searchingly at Jessica for some answer, but Jessica wouldn't meet her eyes.

"Look," Elizabeth said at last, "if I sponsor Robin and you're the president of Pi Beta Alpha-and her best friend-she's in."

Jessica's only response was to toss her head and stomp out of the room and up the stairs. It wasn't until the instant before she slammed the door to her room that Elizabeth thought she heard a faint reply.

"We'll see about that."