SVH10-Wrong Kind of Girl (13 page)

"Oh, but we want you on the squad," Jessica insisted.

"Hey, you bet," Ricky said.

"You don't have to now," Annie said.

"Listen," Jessica said, drawing herself up. "If you're not on the squad, I'm quitting!"

"Quitting? Jessica--you? The co-captain? Oh, no, you can't do that," Annie said.

"Well, then," said Jessica. "That's that!"

"Yes, and that's all for today, too," said Dr. Hammond, shooing them all out. "You can come again this afternoon.'

" 'Bye, Liz," Annie said, " 'Bye Jess, Ricky ... 'bye, Mom!"

Walking down the hall toward the elevator, Jessica turned to Elizabeth and said with a big smile, "Hey, you know what? I'm hungry, too! Let's stop off for brunch on the way home."

"You're on," Elizabeth said. "You earned a pancakes and eggs breakfast with all the trimmings, and I'm buying! Gee, Jess, you were wonderful!"

"Really?" said Jessica.

"Really."

"OK. You drive to the diner, and on the way you can tell me how I was! And don't leave anything out."

Elizabeth laughed. Jessica, you are too much!"

* * *

That afternoon the twins and Ricky returned to visit their patient and found a smiling, pretty Annie sitting up and looking almost like her old self.

"Mom brought me this kimono." She giggled. "Isn't it terrific?"

"It really is," Elizabeth agreed.

"Well, since she's got that neat kimono," Ricky said, "she might not want this."

In his hands Ricky held a large cardboard box with an immense red ribbon around it.

"What is it?" Annie asked eagerly, her eyes wide.

"You probably don't even want it now," Jessica teased.

"You guys better show me what that is before I scream," Annie threatened laughingly.

Ricky put the box on the bed, and Annie's hands attacked the ribbon feverishly. Off came the ribbon, and she snatched the cover off the box.

"Ohhhhhh!"

There it was, all red and white. A Sweet Valley High cheerleader sweater.

Annie looked at it for a moment, frozen as though afraid to touch it. Then she snatched it up fiercely and clutched it to herself. She held it out at arm's length and examined it everywhere.

"Ricky, get out of the room," Annie squealed.

"What?"

"Out!" she ordered.

Out went Ricky, and the giggling girls made short work of removing Annie's kimono and getting her into her cheerleader sweater. She grabbed her hand mirror and examined herself with satisfaction.

"Can I come back in?" Ricky yelled, rushing back through the door.

"How does it look?" Annie asked proudly.

"Perfect," he said. "Just perfect!" He walked to the window, looked out for a moment, and then came back to Annie.

"OK, Whitman," Ricky barked officially. "Now, as squad manager, I'm giving you your first order. Get out of that bed and get over here to the window."

"What?" said a puzzled Annie.

"You heard me!" Ricky snapped. "Jessica, Liz ... help her."

Mystified, Elizabeth and Jessica helped the still unsteady Annie out of her hospital bed and supported her as they moved to the window.

Ricky waved his arms above his head.

Looking out of the window, Annie saw them spread across the hospital's great front lawn in formation. Robin Wilson, Helen Bradley, Jeanie West, Maria Santelli, Cara Walker, and Sandra Bacon--the entire Sweet Valley High cheerleading squad.

At Robin's signal, they all let go with their loudest yell ever:

"Get well, Annie!"

"Oh, my goodness," Annie said. "I'm going to cry."

* * *

When visiting hours ended that night and Annie Whitman was well on her way to recovery, Jessica and Elizabeth hurried to the hospital parking lot and climbed into the little red Fiat.

"Come on," Jessica ordered her sister. "Let's get this heap moving! This is D-Day!"

"I know it is," Elizabeth replied. "Just don't be in too much of a hurry. We don't want Decision Day to turn into Disaster Day."

Elizabeth started the little convertible and headed out of the hospital onto Walton Boulevard, whipping around for home.

"Well?" said Jessica. "Who's going to New York, and who's going to stay here and show Suzanne Devlin around?"

"You tell me," Elizabeth said.

"I wish I knew. Let's get home so we can both find out."

Elizabeth, with uncharacteristic impatience, pushed her foot down hard on the accelerator, and the red Fiat Spider zoomed toward the Wakefields' house.

Two weeks in New York City for one twin and two weeks showing off the fabulous, glamorous Suzanne Devlin of New York, Paris, and London! Both girls were filled with anticipation as they pulled into the driveway, jumped out of the car, and raced toward the house.

Both twins get more than they bargained for in Sweet Valley High #11,
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

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