Playing With Fire
Authors: Francine Pascal
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Contents
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Dear Reader,
The minute I came up with the idea of Sweet Valley High, now thirty years ago, I knew it was perfect. But I knew it needed something else. And that something else was girl power. Unlike the
Sleeping Beauty
version of romance novels, where the heroine has to wait for the wake-up kiss, in my series the girls would drive the action. And there would be two of them; the good and the bad in all of us.
After that all I needed were the stories. With my three daughters and my own teenage years to draw on, I had endless possibilities. I started with a bible where I developed the characters, the school, and the town, and then began writing the stories for first twelve books, and then twelve more and more and more until I had written 144 stories. And then with the help of other writers, they became the 144 books of the Sweet Valley High series, which more than 100 million fans have loved.
And now it's all back as e-books for a whole new generation of teenagers who want to lose themselves in the world of Sweet Valley, the fantasy of the eighties, and the best high school no one ever went to.
And for the grown women who want to look back at the love of their high school lives and revel in the nostalgia of life with the most incredible twins, read away.
Sincerely,
Francine Pascal
One
“Well, if it isn't her royal highness herself.” Todd Wilkins gently nudged Elizabeth Wakefield's shoulder and pointed toward the entrance to the school gymnasium.
Elizabeth peered into the crowd that had already assembled for the Sweet Valley High dance contest. She sighed with relief when she spotted the person Todd was talking aboutâher twin sister, Jessica. With the contest only minutes away, Elizabeth had begun to worry about Jessica, even though it wasn't the first time her twin had shown up late to an important event. Casting a concerned look back in her boyfriend's direction, Elizabeth murmured, “I wonder where Jessica was all this time.”
“Really, Liz.” Todd shook his head in mock exasperation. “You know Jessica always waits until everyone's gathered to make her grand entrance.”
“You're exaggerating, Todd,” Elizabeth replied defensively, although silently she admitted there was some truth to Todd's words. Jessica had always said that a party never really started until she got there, and this occasion appeared to be the perfect time to prove her point. Already a small crowd had begun to form around the popular blonde. “Anyway, so what if Jess likes to shine in the spotlight?” Elizabeth added. “She
was
elected fall queen, you know, and royalty's entitled to certain privileges. Besides, she's not hurting anyone, is she?”
“Noâexcept maybe the king,” Todd noted pointedly.
About six paces behind Jessica stood Winston Egbert, Sweet Valley High's fall king and Jessica's date for the evening. Elizabeth would have liked to say something to explain away her sister's lack of concern for Winston, but she held her tongue, refusing to get into yet another fight over Jessica. Her twin was the only sore spot in Elizabeth's relationship with Todd. He still hadn't forgiven Jessica for the time she'd made him think Elizabeth wasn't interested in him, and Elizabeth saw no point in making the situation worse.
Besides, Elizabeth was well aware just how unthrilled Jessica was at having to spend the evening with Winston, for Elizabeth had spent the better part of her afternoon listening to her sister moan and groan about it. According to school tradition, the fall queen was supposed to accompany the king to certain school-sponsored activities during the semester. There was no way Jessica could get out of it, short of giving up her crownâand all the glory that went with it. It wasn't that she didn't like Winston, she'd carefully explained to her twin sister. Who at Sweet Valley didn't? He was always smiling, always jokingâsomething of a class clownâyet in his own way one of the more interesting boys in school. It was who he
wasn't
that bothered Jessica. He wasn't Bruce Patman, the boy she longed to be with, the boy she'd hoped to snag when she'd schemed to be elected queen. The fact that Bruce still eluded her was a constant source of torment to Jessica. She always got what she wanted, and she hadn't yet met a boy who could resist her for very long. She desperately hoped Bruce wasn't turning out to be the exception.
Jessica was getting impatient. She'd been secretly in love with Bruce for years. He was good-looking and charmingâand his family was one of the most prominent and richest in Sweet Valley, which made him even more attractive to her. But Jessica's frustration had begun to mount almost immediately as she'd watched him go after nearly every girl on the A list at school.
Every girl, it seemed, but her.
Jessica was already chatting with Cara Walker and a few of her other Pi Beta Alpha sorority sisters by the time Winston reached her side. There was a look of admiration on his face.
Dressed in a bright blue, skin-hugging mini-dress and matching tights, Jessica was an eye-catching sight. The outfit accented her long, shapely legs and brought out the blue in her sparkling aquamarine eyes. Across the room, Elizabeth, in her stylish but more casual wheat-colored pants and tan, striped shirt, also eyed her twin with admiration. Blessed with the same all-American blond good looks, the sisters appeared as alike as identical twins possibly could, but Elizabeth sometimes envied what she felt was her sister's more dramatic flair.
The floor of the gym was dotted with couples keeping pace with the rhythmic beat of The Droids, whose frenetic tempo and catchy original tunes made them Sweet Valley High's most popular band. Dana Larson, the group's lead singer, was in the middle of their latest song, “I've Found Paradise.” The lyrics told how her Eden would be complete only when she found the right boy to share it with. Elizabeth mused that with as many guys as there were hooked on Dana's miniskirted figure, exotically styled short blond hair, and tantalizing voice, the singer would have no trouble making that wish come true.
“Hey, Todd, do you know who that guy is?” Elizabeth asked. She pointed to a tall, lanky man in his early twenties standing at the back of the gym near the bleachers. He was dressed in red leather pants, with a matching skinny tie knotted loosely over his white shirt. He was staring intently at the stage and seemed absorbed in the music.
“Nah, never saw him before,” Todd answered. “Maybe he's Ms. Dalton's new boyfriend.”
“I doubt it. Since we've been here, he hasn't been near her. He's handsome enough for her, though.”
Todd grinned. “I'm sure your reporter's instincts will sniff out the truth by the end of the evening. C'mon, let's wish Jess good luck on the contest. She's going to need it 'cause she's in for some tough competition.”
“Oh, really? From whom?” Elizabeth asked.
Todd pointed to the ground. “These feet were born to dance. And my partner's not exactly clumsy, either. I heard somewhere that identical twins have identical talents.”
“Jessica and I aren't identical in every wayâas
you
should certainly know,” Elizabeth said airily, shrugging off Todd's challenge. “Look, if we're going to see Jess, we'd better hurry. The contest will be starting anytime now.”
Jessica lit up in a wide smile at the sight of her sister. “Hi, Liz,” she said, beaming. “Having a good time?”
“Don't I always?” Elizabeth answered brightly. Then she turned to her sister's date. “You ready for the contest, Win?”
“Are you kidding?” He did a quick shuffle, nearly tripping over his gangly legs. “After tonight we go on to
Dance Fever.
Right, Jessica?”
Jessica, who had been scanning the room snapped back into the conversation at the sound of her name. “Oh, sureâwhatever you say, Win.” Turning to Elizabeth and Todd, she added, “By the way, you haven't seen Bruce Patman around, have you?”
“As a matter of fact, yes,” Todd replied. “Over by the bleachers, surrounded by the usual horde of girls dying to get near him. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, nothing important.” Jessica tossed her head as if to dismiss the subject, but her tone was a little too light to be totally believable. “I just wanted to wish him good luck tonight.”
Elizabeth shot her sister a warning look.
How can she talk about Bruce with Win standing right next to her?
she thought angrily. “I hope he doesn't upstage you, little sister,” Elizabeth said, using the affectionate nickname she had long ago given Jessica because she was four minutes younger than Elizabeth was. “I know how much winning this contest means to you.”
“Oh, I'm not worried about that, big sister,” Jessica declared. “Just remember what we talked about this afternoonâand don't blow it, OK, Lizzie?”
Elizabeth was saddened by the urgency she heard in Jessica's voice. Earlier in the day Jessica had practically begged her not to try to win the contest, but Elizabeth hadn't taken her seriously. Jessica simply never begged for anything. But now she could see that her sister meant every word.
She'll really do anything to attract Bruce's attention,
Elizabeth suddenly realized. Glancing at Todd for a moment, she avoided Jessica's stare, then replied noncommittally, “I'll remember, and I'll see.”
The high-pitched voice of Robin Wilson cut abruptly into their conversation. “Jessica! What an incredible dress! I love it! Where did you get it? I've got to get one just like it!” A recent arrival to Sweet Valley, Robin had quickly attached herself to Jessica. Robin had the unfortunate tendency to show up at the most inopportune times. Such as that moment.
“Cool it, Robin. I get your point,” Jessica said, giving the overweight girl one of her fake, bright smiles, while thinking the last thing in the world she'd want was to be seen in the same outfit as Miss Tubby. “Oops, there's Lila. I've got to talk to her.” Jessica quickly excused herself. Turning to Elizabeth, she added, “I'll catch up with you later. You're going up to Ken's, aren't you?”
“Wouldn't miss it for anything. Ken always throws the greatest parties.”
“Ta-ta, then.” And with that she ran off.
“Party? What party?” Robin asked, running after Jessica as fast as her plump legs would carry her.
But Jessica was off like a frenetic butterfly to huddle with her friend Lila Fowler.
She's probably getting tips on how to snare Bruce Patman,
Elizabeth thought worriedly, fearing that her sister's apparent single-mindedness might force her to do anything to get him. Lila had had a brief fling with the handsome, dark-haired senior some months earlier and considered herself an expert on him.
The dance contest was about to begin. The Droids had finished up their set, and as the lights dimmed, Roger Collins bounded onto the stage. Looking as handsome as a rock star, but dressed conservatively in comfortable, well-worn cords and a sweater, the popular, good-looking teacher positioned his lean frame behind the microphone. He clearly enjoyed his role as chaperon for the dance. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” he began grandly.
