Playing With Fire (5 page)

“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 the treatments?” Raising her face to his, Jessica entwined herself around her beloved boyfriend.

Five

The following afternoon Elizabeth rushed home from school as soon as classes ended. During her last-period gym class, as she was playing tennis with her best friend, Enid, she'd had an idea for a short story. Elizabeth loved the special, excited feeling that came over her whenever inspiration struck, but she knew the idea would fade unless she got her thoughts on paper as soon as possible. She hoped to finish a rough outline before the day was through.

No one else was home, and the solitude provided Elizabeth with the atmosphere she needed to concentrate. Retreating to her favorite overstuffed chair in the living room, she opened her spiral notebook and began to put her thoughts down on paper. The story was about a girl who kept making the wrong decisions in love.

A short while later Elizabeth became aware of a knocking sound. At first it was so timid that she thought it was a tree limb banging softly against the side of the house. But the knock became more persistent, and Elizabeth realized someone was at the front door. Reluctantly she put aside her notebook to answer it. On the other side of the threshold stood Robin Wilson.

“Hi, Liz, is Jessica here?” she asked.

“No,” said Elizabeth. “She's at cheerleading practice. But I expect her back soon. Tonight's her night to make dinner.”

Robin looked confused. “I checked at cheerleading practice. She wasn't there. We were going to spend the afternoon together, but she never showed up. Gee, I wonder where she could be.”

“I think I know,” Elizabeth said, realizing she'd better start thinking about what
she'd
like to make for dinner. “I'll bet anything she's out with Bruce Patman.”

“Oh.” Robin lowered her head, trying to hide her disappointment.

You've done it again, Jessica,
Elizabeth thought. Although Elizabeth didn't know Robin that well, she felt sorry for the pudgy girl standing before her. All she wanted was to be Jessica's friend, even though all Jessica seemed to want was to take advantage of Robin's good nature. Elizabeth decided to put her story on hold and invite Robin inside.

“I'm sorry Jessica's not here,” she said once they were seated. “You should tell her she can't just change plans on you like this.”

“Oh, that's OK,” Robin said quickly. “I'm sure she didn't mean it. I know
I'd
probably forget to meet a girlfriend if Bruce Patman asked me out—although the chances of that are less than zero.” Flashing an embarrassed grin, she pointed to her ample midsection. “But it doesn't bother me. Jessica thinks I've already got a guy. At least that's what she tells me. That's why we were getting together today. To buy me some new clothes. Then we were coming back here to do experiments.”

“For chemistry class?”

“No, to see if we could make my face sexier through science.” She smiled, then sighed wistfully. “I guess it'll just have to wait till tomorrow.”

Elizabeth was sure Jessica wouldn't pay any attention to Robin as long as Bruce was in the picture, but curiosity about the new boy in Robin's life overshadowed any inclination she might have had to express her doubt.

“You don't have to tell me,” she began, “but who's the guy with the crush on you?”

Robin blushed as she whispered, “Winston Egbert.”

“You're kidding!” Elizabeth exclaimed. She couldn't believe Winston had recovered so quickly from his heartbreak over Jessica. After all, he'd been crazy about her ever since fifth grade.

“Believe me, I understand your surprise,” Robin said, grinning. “I couldn't believe it myself when Jessica told me he'd had a thing for me ever since I came to Sweet Valley. Imagine, a popular guy like Winston wanting a girl like me. He took me to Ken's party last Saturday, and we had a great time. At least I did,” she added hastily.

Elizabeth was dumbstruck. “Yeah, I saw you together,” she managed to say, trying to hide her shock at Jessica's latest little bit of manipulation. She was convinced Jessica had put Robin and Winston together to get them both out of her hair at the same time. Elizabeth also felt that Robin deserved to know the truth instead of being duped into believing a fantasy of Jessica's creation. “Robin, it's hard to tell you this, but Win's been interested in my sister for quite some time. I don't know if he's really ready to get involved with someone else.”

A momentary look of concern crossed Robin's face as Elizabeth spoke, but it was followed quickly by a sigh of relief. “Don't worry, Liz, I know all about Jessica and Winston. She told me there was never anything much to it. They're just friends.”

Elizabeth shook her head slightly. “I don't think you heard what I said. It's possible that Win isn't ready for you—or for that matter, anybody.”

“But Jessica told me—”

“She's not right all the time. Look, I'm sure Win thinks you're nice. I just don't want you to get your hopes up. I know Winston's really hung up on Jess. The last thing you want is a boy on the rebound.”

“No,” Robin hedged. “You're wrong, Liz.”

“You mean you think he's definitely over Jess?” Elizabeth asked.

“No,” said Robin, smiling. “I mean I'd definitely take him on the rebound.” They both laughed.

“In that case, I hope I'm wrong for your sake,” Elizabeth said. She was beginning to like Robin. “By the way, got any plans for Saturday night?”

“Not yet.”

“Well, if nothing comes up, why don't you join Todd and me? We're going to a club down in Sand Pines to see The Droids.”

“I don't know. I don't want to tag along on your date.”

“It's not an actual ‘date' date. I'm writing an article for
The Oracle
on The Droids, so it's more like an assignment for me. I think it might be a good place for you to meet some guys. You don't have to give me an answer now, but promise me you'll consider it, OK?”

Robin thought a moment before answering. “OK,” she said. Then she got up and headed for the door. “I'd better be getting home now. You'll tell Jessica I stopped by, won't you?”

“Don't worry,” Elizabeth said with a gleam in her eye. “You can be sure I'll tell her.”

*   *   *

Elizabeth was taking that night's dinner of roast chicken out of the oven when Jessica showed up. Following the aroma into the kitchen, Jessica purred, “Umm, something smells good.”

“I gather you're going to grace us with your presence tonight?”

“Of course. I live here. Oh, and thanks for making dinner tonight. I promise I'll make it up to you sometime.”

“With you, ‘sometime' could be around the year 2000. I won't hold my breath,” Elizabeth retorted.

“Look, I'm really sorry I was late. I … um … had something important to do.”

“I know. Something called Bruce Patman.”

Jessica looked genuinely surprised. “You and your intuition.”

“Actually, Robin stopped by earlier. She said you and she were supposed to get together this afternoon.”

“Was that today?” Jessica feigned forgetfulness. “I must have mixed up the dates.”

“You really disappointed her,” Elizabeth chided.

“She'll get over it.” Jessica shrugged, unconcerned. “It was just a trip to the mall.”

“I have a feeling it was more than ‘just a trip' to her. The least you could have done was told her you couldn't make it.”

“Oh, she'll understand. We can do her makeover anytime—though I do admit, the sooner the better. Honestly, Liz, I simply forgot. Bruce came up to me right after the last bell and took me for a ride up Valley Crest Highway. It was fantastic.”

“How fantastic can a ride on the highway be, Jessica?” Elizabeth asked with distaste.

“We talked about what great times we're going to have together.” Jessica's face took on that faraway, dreamy look that came over her whenever the subject turned to Bruce.

“What kind of ‘great times'?” Elizabeth pressed.

“Oh, for starters, right after I grab a bite I'm going over to Bruce's to show him he's not the only good tennis player in Sweet Valley. Don't wait up for me, either. It'll probably be a late night.”

“Gee, Jess, I thought you'd be around tonight to go over our notes for tomorrow's chemistry test.”

“You still worried about that?”

“Aren't you? You're barely getting by as it is.”

“But I always pull through, don't I?”

*   *   *

A half hour later Jessica stood on the Patmans' tennis court. Cut into the hill right below the stately Patman mansion, the court overlooked Sweet Valley, and Jessica could see her own house near the bottom of the slope. Swinging her racket lightly, she turned to Bruce as he approached from the house. “I love it up here. The view is gorgeous.”

Bruce's eyes were focused on Jessica's legs, long and tanned beneath her short tennis whites. “I like the view, too,” he told her. “Ready to play?”

“Let's volley first.”

Bruce opened a can of balls and bounced one in the air with his racket. “I can't think of a better way to spend the evening.”

“Me, either—though my sister thinks I should be studying.”

“Doesn't she believe in having fun?”

“Oh, she's worried about this big test we're having tomorrow. But what she doesn't know is that I have a secret weapon.”

“What's that, baby?”

“Not what. Who. Emily Mayer. She sits next to me, and she's practically Albert Einstein at chemistry. And her handwriting is neat—and large, if you get my point.”

Bruce winked knowingly, then positioned himself at the far end of the court. “I think it's time I got your mind off chemistry,” he said, getting ready to serve. “Here goes.”

He smashed the ball into Jessica's court, using the same competitive, game-strength force he would have with any opponent. Jessica returned the serve with a clean, hard backhand down the line—much to Bruce's surprise. He was not amused. “Hey, what's the idea?” he grumbled.

“Just brushing up on my game, Bruce,” Jessica said, pleased with her shot. Bruce was a very strong player, but she was confident she could hold her own against him.

She couldn't hear what Bruce muttered under his breath, but she could see that the smile was now gone from his face. Again he smashed the ball across the court—and again Jessica's natural reaction was to hit it back. Perfectly.