Elizabeth’s Rival Read online

  ELIZABETH’S RIVAL

  Written by

  Kate William

  Created by

  FRANCINE PASCAL

  Copyright © 2015, Francine Pascal

  To William "Billy" Anastasi

  "I saw you making eyes at Joey tonight," Nicole said as she took a position at the bathroom sink next to Elizabeth. "You better not even think about going after him. You don't have a chance."

  Elizabeth wiped her mouth with her towel. "And why not?" she asked, worried that Nicole would say Joey was her boyfriend.

  "Because I want him and I'm going to get him," Nicole answered matter-of-factly.

  So she's not Joey's girlfriend, Elizabeth thought with a smile. "We'll just see about that," she said out loud. Then she heard what she'd just said. I'm not even sure what I feel about Joey, Elizabeth realized. Besides, I've got Todd at home. Why did I rise so quickly to her challenge?

  "You can hold on to your childish fantasy if you'd like,"' Nicole replied. "And by the way, I know you think that you and Maria will be friends, but you're wrong. She's my friend, and an extremely loyal one, I might add.'

  This was more than Elizabeth could take. "I was friends with Maria way before you even met her!" she railed, her face flushed with anger and frustration.

  Nicole's thin lips curled into a sneer. "Well, Ms. Elizabeth Wakefield," she said. "It looks like the two of us are going to have our own little war—one without rules."

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 1

  "Hello, hello! I'm home!" sixteen-year-old Jessica Wakefield called out as she burst through her front door. She dropped a pile of shopping bags onto the floor and cocked her head to listen for any signs of life in the house.

  Jessica heard the voice of her identical twin sister, Elizabeth, from the kitchen. ". . . I can't wait to see you again, either," Elizabeth was saying. "This is going to be the best summer ever!"

  Jessica entered the kitchen just as Elizabeth was hanging up the phone. "Liz! I'm so glad you're home,"' Jessica gushed. "You won't believe what I found at the mall this afternoon."

  "Oh, Jess!" Elizabeth spun around, raising her hand to her mouth in surprise. "Don't sneak up on me like that." Then she smiled. "But I'm glad you're here. You'll never guess who was just on the phone," she said breathlessly, her blue-green eyes sparkling with excitement.

  "In a minute," Jessica said. "First you have to see the cute hiking boots I found at the mall!"

  Elizabeth chuckled and reached into the cupboard for a glass. "Did I hear Jessica Wakefield use the words 'cute' and 'hiking boots' in the same sentence? What happened to 'hiking boots are the biggest insult to femininity since the basketball shoe fad'?" Elizabeth asked as she poured herself some orange juice.

  "All right, I deserve that," Jessica admitted, remembering how much she had griped that morning about her daunting shopping challenge ahead. "But that was before I found these. Don't move—I'll go get them." Jessica dashed out of the kitchen.

  Rummaging through the pile of bags in the front hall, Jessica remembered why she had ventured out on her mission to find a wearable pair of hiking boots. She and Elizabeth were scheduled to spend the next month in the mountains of Montana, as junior counselors at a performing arts summer camp called Camp Echo Mountain. Lots of famous movie stars, writers, singers, and dancers had gone to the camp as children—which made the idea of spending a month in mosquito-infested Montana much more attractive to Jessica. I'm sure to be discovered this summer, Jessica fantasized as she walked back into the kitchen.

  Jessica plopped her boots right on top of the kitchen table and dropped the empty shoe box beside them. "Aren't they majestic?" she said admiringly

  "They are nice," Elizabeth agreed, putting the boots back into their box. Her eyes fell on the other bags Jessica held in her hands. "I see that you didn't find it necessary to stop with one pair of boots."

  "Well, when the first decent pair of hiking boots ever created fell into my lap, I knew today wasn't just a regular kind of day." She paused for effect and then began pulling items from the bags—colorful tank tops, sundresses, and sandals. "Look at this haul," Jessica enthused. "The planets must have been in perfect alignment."

  Elizabeth stifled a giggle.

  "Don't laugh," Jessica said crossly. "There are only a few truly great shopping days a year. It's a shame to waste them."

  "Yeah, whatever," Elizabeth said, laughing. Shopping was a passion that the twins didn't share. Actually that was only one of many characteristics that divided the physically identical twins. The girls had the same bright blue-green eyes and slim, athletic figures, and they even shared an identical dimple in their left cheeks. But their different personalities were immediately obvious from the way they wore their good looks.

  For instance, even though Jessica and Elizabeth were blessed with classic California silky long blond hair, Elizabeth usually wore hers modestly pulled back in a barrette or ponytail while Jessica preferred to keep her hair loose and carefree. And while Elizabeth was a stylish dresser, her taste ran toward the more conservative looks of the day. Jessica, on the other hand, gravitated toward the boldest fashion trends.

  The twins' different personalities also divided their lifestyles. Jessica was the co-captain of the cheerleading squad; Elizabeth worked on the school paper. Jessica ran around with the most popular girls at Sweet Valley High; Elizabeth enjoyed socializing on a more personal level, usually with her best friend, Enid Rollins, and her longtime boyfriend, Todd Wilkins. Jessica dreamed of being a movie star; Elizabeth dreamed of being a writer.

  And Jessica lived for the moment, often throwing caution to the wind, while Elizabeth rarely acted without first considering the consequences.

  But for all their contrasts, Elizabeth and Jessica were as close as only identical twins could be.

  Elizabeth poured another glass of orange juice and handed it to Jessica. "So now that you've shared your big shopping news flash, are you going to let me tell you about my phone call?" she asked, feigning annoyance.

  Jessica took a sip of juice. "Well, are you going to tell me, or are you going to make me guess?"

  Elizabeth crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I'd like to hear you try to guess."

  "Hmmm . . . Let's see." Jessica squinted with concentration. "Why is this going to be Elizabeth's best summer ever?" She opened her eyes wide. "Did the California State Lottery Board call to say you'd won ten million dollars?"

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

  Jessica laughed. "No, Elizabeth Wakefield would never throw her money away on something so frivolous as a lottery ticket." Jessica put her finger to her lips. "Hmmm . . . did the Prince of Wales call to invite you to his palace for the summer? No, no . . . his ears are too big."

  "Jess, stop it," Elizabeth said, laughing. "Those are the most pitiful guesses I've ever heard. Just give it up."

  "OK. I'm stumped," Jessica admitted, sitting down at the kitchen table. "Who was it?"

  Elizabeth sat down across from Jessica. "Remember my good friend Maria from junior high? Maria Slater?"

  "Of course!" Jessica exclaimed. "In case you've forgotten, Liz, I was friends with Maria even before you were."

  "Oh, right," Elizabeth said, smirking. "After you saw her in a commercial on TV, you wanted to be her best friend because you thought she would be your ticket to a successful acting career."

  Jessica's mouth dropped ope
n. "That's not the only reason!" she said, sitting straight up in her chair. "I really liked her."

  "Maybe so, but you didn't like the fact that she had come to Sweet Valley to get away from Hollywood," Elizabeth pointed out. "Especially when you found out that Maria wanted to be a writer, not an actress."

  "I just thought she was throwing away a promising career," Jessica maintained. But deep down she had to admit that Elizabeth was right—at least partially. Jessica couldn't believe it when she learned that Maria Slater, successful child actor, had become fed up with show business when she hit puberty and the roles stopped coming. Maria had decided to take a break from the frustrations of her stalled career by moving to Sweet Valley to stay with her sister, where she would try to live the life of a normal twelve-year-old girl in middle school.

  How could anyone not want to be a movie star? Jessica had wondered. Before long it became clear that Elizabeth and Maria had more in common. The two of them were close friends until Maria's mother, who was a music business executive, got a great job offer with a record company in New York City and Maria moved across the country with her parents.

  Elizabeth's blue-green eyes sparkled with excitement. "Anyway, Mrs. Slater's music company relocated to a corporate park just outside Sweet Valley, so the family is moving back here!" she gushed.

  "That's terrific!" Jessica said enthusiastically. "But what does that have to do with this summer? We're going to be in Montana."

  "That's the best part!" Elizabeth cried. "Maria's also going to be a JC at Camp Echo Mountain! With all her acting experience, she's been assigned to assist the director." Elizabeth grinned. "Maria didn't say anything, but I'm sure she'll want me to write the camp play."

  Jessica gave her sister a friendly pat on the arm. "And she couldn't find a better playwright."

  "Thanks, Jess," Elizabeth said warmly. "And another thing—Maria's best friend from New York is going to be a JC, too. Maria thinks we'll get along great."

  Jessica frowned. She wasn't altogether happy about this development. Between Maria and her friend, writing the play, and all our camp responsibilities, Liz won't have any time for me, Jessica thought. "Oh, joy, the Three Musketeers," she said sarcastically.

  Jessica had been looking forward to spending a lot of time with her sister this summer. Elizabeth's boyfriend, Todd, wasn't going to be hanging around her all the time—for once. And Jessica's best friend, Lila Fowler—who Jessica had managed to talk into being a JC, too—had a way of getting distracted by guys. I'm not in any mood for romance this summer, Jessica thought. I've been through enough trauma recently.

  Jessica's eyes welled up with tears as memories washed over her. A few months back she had taken up surfing in order to enter a local surfing contest. On her first day out Jessica met a gorgeous surfer named Christian, who agreed to be her coach. Their flirtatious friendship soured Jessica's relationship with her boyfriend, Ken Matthews. In fact, Ken and Jessica soon broke up.

  Then Jessica's budding new relationship took a tragic turn when Christian was killed in a freak accident. Christian may have been the man who would have made me happy for the rest of my life, Jessica thought. But I'll never know. She wiped away a tear, cursing the strange ways of fate.

  But Elizabeth didn't seem to notice her sister's distress. "Supposedly Maria's friend is a writer, too," she said now.

  Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Another writer? Since when did writing become such a popular activity? And why didn't anyone tell me?" she asked. If writing came as naturally to Elizabeth as breathing, it came as naturally to Jessica as getting a tooth pulled.

  Elizabeth went to the sink to rinse out her glass. "Oh, Jess, writing isn't for everyone. Besides, I think you're a lot better at writing than you think." Then Elizabeth bounded out of the kitchen.

  Jessica frowned as she scooped up her shopping bags from the floor. Either Liz didn't notice—or didn't care—that I might feel left out, Jessica thought. Usually Elizabeth can tell exactly what I'm feeling and thinking. I just hope she gets back to normal before we go to Montana.

  "What do you mean you want to forget about guys this summer?" Lila Fowler asked Jessica incredulously. Jessica had come over to Fowler Crest that evening to help Lila pack. Lila stopped rummaging through her drawers and plopped down next to Jessica, who was sitting on Lila's queen-size bed, polishing her nails.

  Jessica put down the nail buffer and turned to face Lila. "Exactly what I said," she replied. "Jessica Wakefield is going to have a boy-free summer. I just don't think I'll be in the mood to chase guys."

  Lila shook her head. Christian's death must have really wounded her, Lila figured, watching as Jessica buffed her nails with increasing fervor. Lila had seen Jessica go through a number of phases where guys were concerned. Usually the shifts of mood meant that Jessica had decided to date one boy exclusively instead of two or more at once, or older boys versus younger boys, foreign boys versus domestic, common folk versus royalty. This no-boy phase was a phase Lila had never seen before. And she didn't like it. "The best way to get over one guy is to find another," Lila said out loud.

  Jessica bit her lip. "This isn't about Chri—" Jessica interrupted herself and took a deep breath. "I think this summer will be a good opportunity for us to do all the girl stuff we like to do."

  "But most of the girl stuff we like to do involves guys," Lila protested.

  "Well, maybe it shouldn't," Jessica grumbled, her voice catching in her throat.

  Lila groaned. The last thing I need right now is a bawling Jessica Wakefield to add to the stress of packing, she realized. After all, Jessica is sure to get over this phase, too.

  So she changed the subject to more a immediate matter—clothing. "Do you think there are any dry cleaners in Montana who know what they're doing?" Lila asked as she jumped up to pack a shimmery blue silk suit into her Louis Vuitton suitcase. "I hate to think this suit will have to go all month without a proper cleaning."

  "I don't know, Li," Jessica said, chuckling. "Maybe you shouldn't risk it." She stood up and pulled the suit back out of the bag. "And while you're at it, better leave this at home, too," Jessica added, grabbing a beaded black evening gown from under a pile of velour towels.

  Lila gasped. She loved that dress! "But that's so unforgettable, I can't wear it more than once, anyway. I'll just send it back here to be cleaned," Lila reasoned.

  Jessica shook her head. "I can't imagine why you'd wear it even once," she said, hanging the shimmery dress back up in Lila's closet. "You don't seem to be catching on to the idea of camp, Lila."

  "But it's performing arts camp," Lila argued. "We'll have cast parties and opening nights."

  Jessica grinned. "It won't be like going to the opera," she told her best friend. "Most of the time we'll be hiking, swimming, sailing, and pretty much roughing it." She went back to Lila's suitcase and pulled out not one but two sets of steam curlers—large for loose waves and small for tight curls—and walked with them into Lila's private bathroom.

  Lila followed Jessica into the bathroom. "Since when did you become the expert on roughing it, Miss Fashion Police?"

  "Since I had to use my wits to survive a desert storm, as a matter of fact," Jessica replied.

  Lila opened her mouth, then closed it. She had to admit that Jessica had a point. Lila pulled her eight-step facial care system out of her cosmetic bag as she remembered the story of Jessica's horrific experience in Death Valley.

  A few months back Jessica, Elizabeth, and four other students from Sweet Valley High went on what was supposed to be a week-long survival adventure trip in Death Valley. When they discovered gold, they greedily pursued more, ending up miles out of their way. They missed their pickup and had to tough out a brutal rainstorm without food or water. Then they were kidnapped by escaped convicts. Lila shuddered at the thought.

  Of course, Lila wouldn't have gotten herself into that predicament. A few measly gold nuggets would never have driven her to such irresponsible greed. She had stacks of gold bricks in
her trust fund. Still, Lila's idea of roughing it was staying in a one-star motel instead of a four- or five-star hotel.

  Now Lila watched forlornly as Jessica went to the back of Lila's closet and pulled out khakis, jeans, and T-shirts and threw them into her suitcase. "Didn't you say you had hiking boots stashed away somewhere?" Jessica asked.

  Lila wrinkled her nose in distaste. "I think they're way in the back . . . in a box underneath that softball mitt I never use."

  "I told you that you should have bought a pair like I got today," Jessica said as she disappeared into the depths of Lila's closet. "I'm not going to even mind wearing them, they're so cute."

  Lila tuned out Jessica's cheerful description of all the wonderful outfits she could build on top of her new hiking boots. I didn't even want to go to this stupid Camp Echo Mountain in the first place, Lila complained silently. Jessica better appreciate what a good friend I'm being. The only thing that reassured Lila she wouldn't be miserable all summer long was the thought of meeting cute, creative guys from all over the country.

  With a sigh, Lila thought of Robbie Goodman. Before Robbie, Lila had always rejected artsy types as being flaky and poor. But Robbie changed her mind. He was an artist, but he was also from a rich, cultured family. Ever since Robbie had moved away to go to art school, Lila had been yearning for another romance with an artist.

  So what if Jessica wants to throw away the opportunity for romance this summer? She can't expect me to be a nun, too, Lila decided. With Jessica still crouched on the floor in the back of Lila's closet, Lila took the opportunity to pull a gold lamé bikini from her dresser, hiding it in a pocket of her suitcase.

  As Daddy always says, a Fowler should be prepared for any situation, Lila thought. And you never know when the situation calls for you to be sexy.

  "By this time tomorrow I'll be sitting with Maria Slater, catching up on all the things that have happened in the years we've been apart," Elizabeth gushed as Todd pulled his black BMW into a parking space. The couple had decided to spend their last night together at Miller's Point, their favorite place to be alone.