Playing With Fire (2 page)

“Good evening, Mr. Collins,” they all singsonged back at him in unison, affectionately mocking his master-of-ceremonies act.

Smiling broadly, Mr. Collins continued. “Welcome to Sweet Valley's Fifth Annual Rockin' Dance Party Contest. You all having a good time tonight?”

The crowd answered with a roar.

“Great!” he cried. “You know the rules. The band will play three songs. While our contestants dance, the judges will circulate around the floor, and after a short break the winners will be announced.” Pausing a moment for effect, Mr. Collins smiled at his audience, which was practically squirming with anticipation. “OK, then! Let's get started! Per Sweet Valley tradition, we'll lead off the contest with our king and queen. So without further ado, I present to you King Winston Egbert and Queen Jessica Wakefield.”

A lone spotlight focused on the couple as The Droids let loose with a fast, wall-shaking number. Jessica was clearly in her element, moving with the music naturally and without effort. Even her lustrous golden hair swayed to the beat, completing the perfect picture of a dancer caught up in ecstasy.

Unfortunately for Jessica and her dreams of placing first, she had to share the spotlight with Winston. That's where the perfect picture ended. He was a very clumsy dancer, trying to hide his ineptness by acting like a clown.

As they danced, Jessica's expression went from happiness to pure, helpless fury as she watched Winston run in circles around her, comically kicking his feet and clapping his hands. With the way Winston was carrying on, she realized, there was no way she'd ever win the contest, even if Elizabeth—who
was
as good a dancer as her twin—held back a little.

Halfway through the first dance, in an act of quiet desperation, Jessica made heavy eye contact with a strikingly handsome boy. To her surprise and enormous delight, he caught her mental SOS and began to walk in her direction.

Jessica's pulse quickened.
He's coming,
she thought excitedly, not quite believing her eyes.
Bruce Patman is coming to dance with me!
She was so overcome by the very thought that she stopped moving—and Winston immediately stepped on her foot.

“I'm so sorry, Jessica,” he apologized.

Jessica snapped back to attention. “It's OK. I'm used to it,” she grumbled. “But what are you trying to do, put me in the hospital?”

Before Winston could reply, Bruce tapped his shoulder. “I've been watching your moves, Egbert, and I think you could use a little help. Watch how I do it.” In one smooth move Bruce pulled Jessica from the startled Winston and took her in his arms.

Bruce got no argument from Winston. He knew when he was upstaged. Accepting the inevitable, he quietly slunk to the refreshment table at the side of the gym.

With conflicting emotions, Elizabeth had watched the scene unfold. Her sister did deserve to win, but it hardly seemed worth hurting Winston to get the prize. Especially if, as Elizabeth suspected, the prize was Bruce. “Well, would you look at that!” she said to Todd, nodding toward Jessica's new partner.

“I'm not surprised. Jessica always gets what she wants.”

“Bruce Patman.” Elizabeth mouthed the name of the one boy she'd hoped Jessica would never catch. “I wonder what brought this on?” she said aloud. “What does that egomaniac want with Jessica?”

“Looks simple enough to me,” Todd remarked. “The guy wants to win the contest—and Jessica's his best hope. I'm sure that's all it is.”

Elizabeth hoped that Todd was right, and she had to admit that Bruce was as good a dancer as Jessica. Together they moved across the floor as if they'd always been partners.

When the first dance ended, they were clearly unwilling to separate; and during the second and third songs Bruce and Jessica shifted into more complex moves. With the strength of his well-muscled body, Bruce lifted Jessica high in the air and spun her around his broad shoulders and across his body. They were pure grace, electricity in motion, and as more and more couples grew aware of what they were up against, they dropped out of the contest to stand aside and admire this masterful performance. By the time the third song ended, only a handful of couples remained—and the outcome of the contest was certain.

Even Mr. Collins didn't try to prolong the suspense when he stepped back on stage to announce the winners. “Jessica Wakefield and Bruce Patman, come on up here and get your award.” To a smattering of applause the handsome couple accepted the trophy from Mr. Collins. “Now you can lead everyone in the next dance.”

Elizabeth was sure that the smile on Jessica's face had little to do with winning the contest. It appeared she'd won what she considered a more valuable prize—Bruce Patman. But Elizabeth couldn't force herself to share her sister's happiness. She knew the real Bruce better than Jessica did. Back on the dance floor, Bruce had wrapped Jessica tightly in his arms as they moved in time to a slow ballad. She held on to him as if she were living a dream she was afraid would end at any moment.

“You're some dancer, Bruce,” she whispered breathlessly. “A big improvement over Win—especially on these slow numbers.”

“Glad you noticed, baby,” he murmured sweetly. “Anyway, slow dancing isn't really dancing.”

“What do you mean, Bruce?”

“It's just the easiest way for a guy to get his arms around a girl.”

“Oh? Is that the only reason you picked me for a partner tonight?” Jessica pretended to pout.

“It's a good reason—and I do have my arms around you.”

“And I have mine around you. I'd say it works for both sexes,” she retorted, pulling her body closer to his in typical Jessica Wakefield fashion.

But Bruce pushed her back ever so slightly. “In dancing, at least, the guy still takes the lead.”

His meaning wasn't lost on Jessica. She'd have to be less aggressive if she wanted to keep him interested. “Then I'll follow wherever you lead,” she said with uncharacteristic submissiveness. Bruce nudged closer and rubbed his hand approvingly over the nape of her neck.

Over at the refreshment table Winston downed his fifth cola as he stared disconsolately at the dance floor. Elizabeth, hoping to cheer him up, poured herself a root beer and sauntered over to him. “For a guy who's usually in the middle of everything, you're pretty quiet tonight,” she remarked.

Winston pasted a broad smile on his face. “Just taking a time out. We kings have a heavy schedule.”

Elizabeth wasn't fooled by his false show of bravado. “Don't let Jessica get you down, Win. She's always doing things first and thinking about them later.”

“You talking about her and Patman? No big deal,” he said lightly. “Why shouldn't she want to dance with someone who doesn't step all over her toes?”

“Come on, Win. I saw you! You could be good if you tried.”

Smiling appreciatively at Elizabeth, he put down his drink. “Look, the dance is almost over. Once it is, she'll dump Bruce and come back to me. We're still going to Ken's party together.”

“I see,” she said, with a look that expressed her doubts.

“Hey, don't worry about me,” Winston added. “I can handle your sister just fine.”

“I sure hope so, Win,” Elizabeth said, trying to sound supportive. In her sixteen years she'd yet to come across a boy who could truly control her tempestuous twin.

After The Droids finished their last set, Elizabeth noticed that the mysterious man in the red leather pants was talking animatedly with them. Jessica and Bruce were still in the middle of the dance floor, moving to music only they could hear. In an effort to divert Winston's attention from this scene, Elizabeth steered him into a discussion about whether the Sweet Valley Gladiators had a chance at the state football championship this year. At first Winston talked freely, but when he realized what Elizabeth was doing, he stood up straight and announced, “Excuse me, Liz, but I've got something important to do.”

“Win, wait!” Elizabeth called. But Winston wasn't listening.

Elizabeth was about to go after him when she felt a tap on her shoulder. “Got a second?”

She turned to face Emily Mayer, The Droids' drummer. “I may have a scoop for your column,” Emily said, casually running a hand through her dark brown, wavy hair. She was referring to the “Eyes and Ears” column Elizabeth wrote for the school paper. “It's not official yet, but it looks like you've just seen our last high school concert.”

Elizabeth couldn't hide her shock. “You mean you guys are splitting up?”

“Oh, no! What I mean is—The Droids are going big time!”

“What are you talking about?”

“This guy came up to us after we finished our set.” Emily was racing now, trying to get the words out as fast as she could. “He wants to manage us. He says he could make us stars!”

“The guy in the red pants?”

Emily nodded.

“Are you sure he's for real?” Elizabeth asked skeptically.

“I know it sounds crazy, but he's legit, Liz. His name is Tony Conover, and he's a representative of T.G. Goode and Associates. That may not mean anything to you, but they're the agency that books all the major clubs in L.A. Tony said he's the one who discovered August Moon and the Savage Six, and look where they are now. He's been scouting around the entire state looking at bands just like ours, and he says we've got what it takes.”

“It sounds impressive,” Elizabeth agreed. “But don't rush into anything too quickly. I mean, isn't it all kind of sudden?”

“Look,” Emily said with a trace of annoyance, “we're not going to do anything without giving it careful thought. But just think, Liz, soon we could be playing L.A.!”

Elizabeth grinned. “I'll be there when you do!”

*   *   *

Moments later Elizabeth caught up with Todd, and together they rushed to the edge of the bleachers, where Jessica and Winston were in a heated discussion.

“Look, Win, all I'm saying is that I just can't spend the rest of the evening with you!” Jessica shouted.

“But, Jess, we had a date for tonight.”

“Just because we came here together doesn't mean we have to leave together. Where's your sense of adventure, Win? C'mon, loosen up.
You're
free to do whatever
you
want.”

“I want to be with you.”

“Well,
almost
anything you want.” Jessica's eyes lit up in inspiration. “I've got it! Why don't you take Robin Wilson to Ken's place? She'd love it. Oh, the two of you would be just perfect.” Then, as if everything were now happily resolved, Jessica patted Winston on the shoulder. “See you, Win. And thanks for being such a good sport.”

“Sure—anytime,” he mumbled to her retreating back.

Elizabeth had heard enough. Leaving Todd to cheer up the defeated Winston, she raced to her sister's side before Jessica had a chance to find Bruce.

“Hold it, Jessica.”

Elizabeth didn't use such a commanding tone very often, and Jessica always knew when her sister spoke that way it had to be something serious. She stopped and turned. “What is it, Liz?”

“How could you do that to Win? You've humiliated him.”

“Oh, that. He'll get over it,” she answered breezily. “It's not like we're a couple or anything.”

“No, but you had a date with him tonight.”

“So what? Where does it say I have to chain myself to Koko the Clown all night? I've been waiting for Bruce since—since birth, for heaven's sake! If you think I'm going to let him go now, you're wrong!”

“But do you really think he's for you?” Elizabeth persisted.

“Actually, yes. I think he's perfect.”

“I'm telling you, Jess—”

“Lizzie, that's enough,” Jessica hissed. “You've done your big-sister number. Now it's time to leave me alone.”

“But, Jess—”

“I said forget it, Liz. It's none of your business. I've got to find Bruce.” She peered into the group of kids milling around the outside door to the gym. Seeing him, her heart melted, and her voice grew noticeably softer. “There he is now. Hey, Bruce, wait for me,” she called into the crowd.

With that, Jessica floated into the waiting arms of the most desirable boy at Sweet Valley High.

And all Elizabeth could do was shake her head and hope she was wrong about Bruce. For her sister's sake.

Two

Elizabeth couldn't keep from biting her nails on the way to Ken's party. She wanted to keep an eye on Jessica just in case her sister got too carried away. Turning to Todd, she snapped impatiently, “Can't you make this car go faster?”

“Hey, what's with you? The party's just getting started.” He turned to her and frowned when he noticed the worried expression on her face. “Oh, I get it. It's Jessica, isn't it?”

“Yes, it's Jessica,” Elizabeth admitted. “I don't think she knows what she's getting herself into.”

Todd shook his head. “Seems to me she's going to do what she wants anyway, Liz. You can't be her mother.”

“I know, but if she'd only listen to me, maybe I could keep her from getting hurt.”

“By Bruce?” Todd snickered. “Jessica's a big girl. She can handle herself just fine without your help. Besides, I'd say Bruce is the one who should be careful. Not that I think it's necessary. They seem perfect for each other.”

“Jessica's feelings are sincere. I wish I could say as much about Bruce's.”

“Since when have you become an expert on the inner workings of Bruce Patman? Isn't it possible he could like your sister?”

“Anything's possible,” she conceded.

“So what's the problem?”

“The problem is that Jess has had a secret crush on Bruce for practically forever. And she wasn't acting like herself at all tonight. It was weird. When she just heard Bruce's name, she looked as if she were ready to fall at his feet. I'm afraid of what might happen. I don't think he's good for her. He's not a nice guy, and I don't want to see her get hurt. I can tell she thinks he's a dream come true, and it scares me.”