SVH10-Wrong Kind of Girl (8 page)

"No, this is--fine," Elizabeth said falteringly.

"But
you're
not fine. Come on, Liz, it's me, Todd. I thought you could tell me anything."

"Oh, Todd. It's nothing. I guess my thoughts were someplace else."

He unfolded his long frame, stood, and walked over to flip off the set.

"That's been happening a lot lately. Are your thoughts some
place
else, or on someone else?"

Someone else? Todd couldn't think that! She hadn't been interested in another guy since the day she met Todd.

She looked at Todd's back. He wouldn't face her. Elizabeth rose slowly from the sofa, walked over to Todd, and put her hand on his arm. "Todd, please look at me!"

It seemed like forever, but Todd finally turned toward Elizabeth. His mouth was set and grim.

"How could you think that there was someone else? You know how I feel about you, Todd." She put up a hand to touch his cheek.

"I know how
I
feel about
you,
Liz," he said, not moving to touch her. "I know I love you. I thought you loved me."

"Oh, Todd." She sighed, wrapping her arms around his waist and pulling him close to her. "I love you. You have to believe that."

Elizabeth felt Todd as he put his strong arms around her, hugging her tightly. "When we hold each other like this, I believe you. But you had me scared."

"Scared? You? The star basketball player of Sweet Valley High is scared by little old me?" she teased. "I'd better run right down to the
Oracle
office and have them stop the presses."

Todd's response was a tender kiss. "If the opposing team had five beautiful blonds exactly like you, I'd be helpless," he confessed when they finished their embrace. "But that'd be impossible, because there is no one exactly like you, Liz."

Todd moved back to the sofa, Elizabeth settling next to him. He placed a large hand on her knee and then said sternly, "OK, Elizabeth Wakefield, talk."

"Talk?"

"You're not in love with someone else."

"Never!"

"But something is driving you up the wall, right?"

Elizabeth wished he weren't so quick to sense when she was upset.

"Not really, Todd. It's just that I've been busy with--with things." That didn't sound believable even to her. She silently cursed herself for getting so involved with the cheering tryouts that she had neglected the people she cared about most---first Enid, now Todd.

"Things," Todd repeated. "These things don't by some strange chance have to do with your perfect, saintly sister, do they?" he asked bitingly.

Elizabeth bolted up from the sofa, hands on her hips.

"There you go again, Todd Wilkins," she accused. "You really have it in for Jess!" She didn't want Todd to know about Jessica's vendetta against Annie. And she didn't want him to know how committed she was to Annie's cause. Todd would only chide her for allowing Jessica to get her into another mess.

"I'm right! Jess is up to something, and you're going to stick your neck out for her. Don't you ever get tired of rescuing your sister?"

"You are an insensitive--"

"Jock," he finished.

They glared at each other angrily.

"Hello?" It was Mrs. Wilkins. She stepped into the family room.

"Mom, we're having a discussion," Todd said without looking at his mother.

Mrs. Wilkins gave a knowing look at the two tense figures.

"Discussions are fine," she said wryly. "But in the interest of the cake in the oven, keep the
discussion
down to a low roar, OK?"

Some of the tension went out of the room with her words.

"Your mom is nice," Elizabeth said as Mrs. Wilkins went back into the kitchen.

"It runs in the family," Todd said.

"I know." Elizabeth smiled at him, wishing she could pour out the whole complicated situation to Todd. She had to help Annie, yet she also had to protect Jessica. Todd would understand about Annie, she was sure, but protecting Jessica was not one of the things that was high on his list. Telling him would simply start another argument.

"You're not going to tell me what's bothering you, are you?"

"I wish I could, Todd. I just can't, not right now." Pleading for understanding, she tilted her face up toward his.

"OK, Liz. You know that when you look at me like that, I'll agree to anything. Just remember, I'm on your side. I'll help whenever you need me." He lowered his head and kissed her. Suddenly Jessica and Annie seemed far away.

Seven

Something strange was happening to Ricky Capaldo. When he studied the Revolutionary War and its causes, music drifted into his mind. And not some fife-and-drum march leading Washington's troops toward Valley Forge, either. No, Ricky's attempts at studying were being sidetracked by love songs.

Plain-looking, shy, quiet Ricky was falling in love with Annie Whitman, and he was terrified. A large part of the terror was that Annie seemed to be interested in him, too, even though Ricky found it almost totally impossible to believe.

Annie Whitman was beautiful. Annie was a great dancer. Annie had a million boyfriends. How could he, a little nobody who was nothing to look at and practically tongue-tied with girls, ever bring himself to speak to Annie about anything, well, romantic? Totally idiotic!

Ricky Capaldo summoned every bit of his

resolve and banished all thoughts of Annie from his mind.

"The three major causes of the Revolutionary War," he noted in his book, "were a denial of basic rights, the Stamp Act, and Annie Whitman."

Ricky threw down his ball-point pen.

Not only was it impossible for him to believe that a dazzling beauty like Annie would be interested in him, but there was also the problem of all those stories about her. Were they true? he wondered agonizingly.

Forget it,
he told himself sternly and returned to the Revolutionary War. Minutemen were marching across Concord Green playing "I Can't Smile Without You."

There was a pretty good turnout of students for the cheerleading finals. Most of the girls who had already been cut were there to see who among the final eight would get the two vacant spots on the squad.

Once again, Ricky Capaldo was all over the gym arranging things, handing out score sheets to the five cheerleaders, and telling the finalists when they were to go on. Everybody knew it was pretty much down to three girls--Cara Walker, Sandra Bacon, and Annie Whitman. The finalists went on alphabetically, so Sandra was the first one and Annie was the last.

Needless to say, all the finalists had worked very hard on their routines, and countless practice sessions were behind them. With eight girls

trying for two places, it was down to hairsplitting time. The same unspoken words were in each girl's mind: "Please don't let me make a mistake!"

For the finals, the girls had been given real cheerleader costumes--short red skirts and white sweaters with SV in big red letters on them.

Jessica watched confidently as Sandra came trotting out, looking terrific in her costume. Nothing could go wrong now, she thought, as Sandra whipped through her well-practiced routines flawlessly until she got to the final cartwheel-split finish.

And then, before Jessica's horrified eyes, Sandra did a replay of her performance at Lila Fowler's pool party.

Sanda hit the polished gym floor with her front heel, then bounced off her back foot, skidded to a halt like a jet during an emergency landing, and ended up in a heap.

"Oofffff!" went Sandra.

"Oh, no," muttered Jessica.

Red-faced, Sandra slunk past Jessica. She knew she'd blown her chances for good.

The next five girls performed their cheers without making any major mistakes, but without the style and energy that Jessica and the other cheerleaders were looking for. Then Cara Walker did her routine, making the most of her chance with a peppy performance capped with a flourish at the end. Jessica sighed with relief.

Finally came Annie Whitman. Jessica became

glummer and glummer as Annie got better and better with each move.

"Look at her," Maria Santelli cried in wonder. "I think she has wings!"

"Great," Robin Wilson agreed.

Jessica looked at Helen and Jean and smiled a knowing smile.

Once more Annie left the gym with applause ringing in her ears, a smile on her face, and tears of joy in her eyes.

"Well," Robin said after it was over, "I don't think there's much doubt. Cara and Annie are the best ones."

"Oh, yes," agreed Maria.

"Wait a minute," Jessica said. "I agree with you about Cara Walker. She's terrific, and a really great girl. In fact, I'm ready to vote on her right now."

"OK by me," Robin said. "All in favor of Cara Walker?"

All five cheerleaders raised their hands. Ricky jotted down Cara's name.

"Now, as to Annie," Jessica said, "I think we ought to remember she's only a sophomore. Sandy's a junior."

"Sandy is also a klutz," Robin said.

"Anybody can fall doing a split," Jessica retorted. "Isn't that right, Jeanie?"

"Sure," Jean West agreed. "I want Sandra!"

"Sandy's your best friend, Jeanie," Maria said. "But be honest. Isn't Annie better?"

"I'm voting for Sandra," Jean insisted.

"Now, listen, everyone," said Jessica, "there's more at stake here than just looking good."

The other cheerleaders frowned. The subject of Annie's reputation had never been openly discussed.

"We're not just cheerleaders. We're examples," Jessica went on.

"Those stories may just be rumors," Robin countered, defending Annie. "I'm voting for Annie, and that's final." Robin knew from a past experience, what it was like to have Jessica as an enemy. She hoped she could spare Annie the pain Jessica could cause.

"Well, I'm voting against Annie--I mean, I'm voting for Sandy Bacon," Jessica said. "And that's just as final."

"I'm for Sandy, too," Jeanie West said. "OK. I admit it. She's my best friend."

"I'm for Annie," Maria said.

"Well, that makes it two and two so far," Jessica said.

Usually Ricky Capaldo kept quiet during the voting, but now the girls were surprised to hear him speak up for Annie.

"Listen, I know I don't get to vote. But the squad is just as important to me as it is to you," he said.
"
I think Annie would make a terrific cheerleader. I hope you give her a chance."

"You betcha," Maria said.

Jessica, listening with growing annoyance, was glad she had left nothing to chance this time. The girls were looking at Helen Bradley.

"Helen, you aren't going to tell me you think Sandy is better than Annie," Robin challenged.

"Well. '.'." Helen hedged.

"Did you
see
Annie?" Maria Santelli jumped in. "Why, she was a ballerina!"

"I know." Helen sighed. "She's the best I've ever seen."

Jessica's voice filled the gym like a clap of thunder. "Helen Bradley!"

Helen looked away and then back at a glowering Jessica. "Well, I know, Jess, but Annie really is something. And Sandy messed up," she added plaintively. "You saw her! She won't expect to beat out Annie after that. You know she won't."

"Well," Robin Wilson said, smiling. "Then it looks like we have three votes for Annie Whitman. She's in."

"Wait a minute," Jessica declared, her face red and trembling. "We've all been tippytoeing around the most important thing here, and you know it! Why do you think I want to keep Annie off this squad? Because if we take her, everybody will think we're just like her. Everyone will think we're as bad as Easy Annie."

Jessica's words filled the gym. Annie's extraordinary talent had overshadowed all the rumors about her, but now Jessica was dragging them out into the open, demanding they be looked at and weighed and judged.

Ricky Capaldo felt an unbearable pain searing his insides as Jessica made her accusation.

He closed his eyes and tried not to listen. But Jessica wasn't through yet.

"We've voted Cara Walker onto the squad. That's fine. Now we vote for Sandra Bacon or for Annie Whitman. I just want everybody to know that if you vote for Annie, you'll have to find another cheerleader as well. Because you won't have me anymore. Jessica Wakefield will not be on a cheerleading squad with Easy Annie."

"But, Jess!" wailed a distraught Helen Bradley. "You're the heart and soul of the squad. Without you, it wouldn't be the Sweet Valley cheerleaders at all!"

"Make your choice," Jessica said. "It's either me or Easy Annie."

Eight

As soon as she heard the front door slam, Elizabeth tossed aside her history book and jumped up from her bed. Like a shot, she was out of the room and down the stairs.

"Jess!"

Jessica was in the kitchen pouring herself a glass of milk when her sister reached her.

"What happened?" Elizabeth asked eagerly.

Jessica smiled innocently. "What happened where?"

"Come on, Jess, out with it."

"Well," Jessica said, talking a gulp of milk, "we voted."

"And?"

"And I dropped off the list of the new cheerleaders in the box at the
Oracle
office, as I promised."

"Jessica Wakefield!" Elizabeth wailed. "You know I won't see your note until tomorrow morning. Now tell me who got picked?"

Jessica cocked her head as though in surprise. "But, Elizabeth, you don't want to know in advance, do you?"

"It isn't in advance anymore. Who was chosen?"

Jessica giggled. "That's for me to know and you to find out."

"Oh, are you asking for it!" Elizabeth fumed.

Jessica smiled maddeningly. "The best ones were selected."

"Really?" Elizabeth asked hopefully. Did that mean that Jessica had come to her senses and voted for Annie? "Well, who did you vote for?"

"It took a lot of thought," Jessica said with studied seriousness. "Finally, I voted for Pat Benetar!"

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" Elizabeth exploded and was advancing around the counter toward her tormentor when they heard a car door slam.