Jessica's Older Guy Read online

  JESSICA'S OLDER GUY

  Written by

  Kate William

  Created by

  FRANCINE PASCAL

  Copyright © 2015, Francine Pascal

  To Jordan David Adler

  "Jessica, I don't think I've ever seen you look so beautiful," Zach Marsden said softly, staring deep into her eyes. It was Wednesday afternoon, and Jessica and Zach were sharing a picnic on the quad. Zach's gaze was so intense that Jessica's heart caught in her throat. "Your eyes are the same color as the sky," he whispered. Then he buried his face in his hands, groaning. "I can't believe I just said that."

  Jessica laughed, relieved that the tension was broken, and then she sunk her teeth hungrily into a hunk of soft bread. Zach was so thoughtful. He had prepared an elaborate picnic of French bread, Brie cheese, red grapes, and cold pasta salad.

  At first, being with Zach had just been fun, but now she was starting to have serious feelings for him. She knew she should tell him the truth about her age. And about Ken. She had almost summoned the courage the night before, but then she had stopped herself. He would never forgive her if he knew she had been lying to him.

  If there's one thing I hate, Jessica thought glumly, it's guilt.

  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 14

  Chapter 1

  "Uh, no . . . nothing's wrong," sixteen-year-old Jessica Wakefield stammered. Nervously, she reached for her water glass and accidentally knocked it over. She lunged for the glass but missed, and water splashed all over the floor. Jessica took a deep breath and folded her hands together, giving her date, Zachary Marsden, a weak smile.

  Zach bent down under the booth and retrieved the glass, watching her with concern. "Jessica, are you sure you're OK?"

  It was Tuesday night, and Jessica and Zach were at a popular diner near Sweet Valley University. The diner was old and dingy, with peeling orange walls and cracked vinyl seats. Students had crammed themselves into the garish green booths, and seventies rock music blared out of an old jukebox in the corner. According to Zach, the diner was always packed, particularly in the wee hours of the morning.

  Jessica and her twin sister, Elizabeth, were in the middle of a weeklong visit to the off-campus apartment of their brother, Steven, and his girlfriend, Billie Winkler, who were both students at SVU. Jessica had met Zach at a party she had thrown in her brother's apartment on the first night of their stay. Zach was a good-looking college junior with sandy-blond hair and beautiful emerald-green eyes. He was a little more conservative than the guys Jessica usually dated—his hair was cut a bit too short, and he tended to wear preppy clothes. But he was gorgeous, charming, and genuinely nice. And most important, he respected her intelligence, which was a relief after her recent debacle with the SATs.

  Since Jessica had been at SVU, she and Zach had gone out every night—to a hip vegetable-juice bar, to the campus coffee bar, to a cozy little restaurant in the mountains, and now to this diner. Zach had even treated her to a moonlight tour of the campus. So far everything had been perfect. Except for the small fact that Zach had no idea she was only in high school. He had just assumed she was a college student, and at first she hadn't found any good reason to let him know the truth. But now the lie was becoming too difficult for even Jessica to maintain.

  To make matters worse, Jessica wasn't the only one interested in Zach. Magda Helperin, the treasurer of Theta Alpha Theta, the most exclusive sorority at Sweet Valley University, was after Zach, too. A striking sophomore with fair skin, jet-black hair, and crystal-blue eyes, Magda was one of the most popular and influential girls in the sorority. She would be even more important in two years when Jessica started college—and pledged Theta Alpha Theta.

  Jessica had been prerushing the Thetas all week, establishing a name for herself for her future at SVU. But ever since she had learned of Magda's interest in Zach, Jessica had lived in constant fear that she and Zach would be discovered together If Magda told Zach the truth—and she would, if she found out that Jessica and Zach had been dating—Zach would never speak to Jessica again, and Jessica would be banished from Theta Alpha Theta forever.

  Jessica had planned to tell Zach how old she really was, to get that part of the problem out of the way, but she had waited too long. Now it looked as if Jessica's worst fears were being realized. Magda and a group of Thetas stood in the doorway of the restaurant, waiting to be seated. Jessica was trapped.

  "I think my nerves are a little frazzled tonight," Jessica explained to Zach, who was staring at her worriedly. "Maybe I'll order some herbal tea." She grabbed a menu off the next table and held it in front of her face, pretending to scan the selections.

  "Jessica, your menu's upside down," Zach pointed out.

  "Oops!" Jessica exclaimed brightly, flipping the menu over. "No wonder I couldn't read anything." Maybe Magda and the Thetas will leave, she thought hopefully. After all, the diner was pretty crowded. She lowered the menu an inch and peered over the top. No such luck. The group still stood impatiently in the doorway. Magda began to argue with the host. She was flipping her glossy black hair and gesticulating wildly.

  "So what did you decide on?" Zach asked.

  Jessica lowered the menu reluctantly. "Oh, they don't really have what I want," she said, shrinking down in her seat as unobtrusively as possible. Jessica bit her lip as Magda and the Thetas started threading their way through the crowd, following the host. It looked as if they were heading for a booth right near Jessica and Zach.

  "Jessica," Zach pleaded, "please tell me what's wrong. You're making me nervous."

  "Nothing," Jessica hissed. Then she added softly, "I'm sorry, but it's nothing. Really." She gave Zach the most reassuring smile she could muster under the circumstances. "I was just trying to get the waiter's attention." She fidgeted with her spoon nervously.

  "Do you need something?" Zach asked.

  "Actually, I think I'm ready for the check," Jessica said, digging her spoon into her chocolate milk shake and letting her hair fall in a blond curtain over her face.

  "But we just got here," Zach protested, indicating the untouched cheeseburger and fries on her plate. "You haven't finished your food yet."

  Zach was right. They had just got to the diner. And now, Jessica thought with a twinge of panic, they had to get out of the diner—fast. With a surreptitious glance, Jessica saw Magda and her friends take their seats in a corner booth. Maybe I'll say I'm sick, Jessica thought desperately. But then she immediately rejected the idea. If she faked an illness to get Zach to take her home, they would have to walk right by the Thetas. She had to find a way to sneak out the back.

  Jessica thought fast and summoned up her acting skills. She plastered a worried expression on her face—which, at the moment, wasn't too much of a stretch—and sniffed the air. "Do you smell that?" she asked.

  Zach peered at her quizzically. "Smell what?"

  "I think . . ." Jessica began, glancing around the diner. "I think I smell smoke!"

  "There's a smoking section just behind us," Zach offered.

  Jessica shook her head. "That's not what I mean," she said urgently. "I think I smell a fire!"

  Zach's eyes grew wide. "I don't smell anything," he told her, looking concerned.

  Jessica jumped out of the booth, keeping her face covered with her arm—as if she were trying to prevent smoke inhalation, but really to avoid being seen by Magda. "C'mon!" she whispered to Zach, pulling him out of his seat. "We've got to get out of here!"

  "What?" Zach said, a perplexed look on his face.

  "There must be a grease fire in the kitchen!" Jessica explained, panic rising in her voice. "Don't you smell it?" She pulled Zach down the hallway toward the back of the restaurant. She looked around wildly for an exit, but the small corridor housed only rest rooms and a phone. "This way!" she called, grabbing his arm and dragging him into the women's room with her.

  Now what? Jessica asked herself, glancing around the rest room for a way out. The bathroom was small and dingy, with grayish-pink tile walls, and it smelled strongly of disinfectant. Two sinks stood along the far wall. Jessica bit her lip. She and Zach couldn't hide out in the women's room all night, but they couldn't go back into the diner, either. By this time Magda and her friends would be ordering their food.

  "Jessica, I know you wanted to be alone with me, but don't you think this is a little extreme?" Zach teased. He leaned against the wall and tried to pull her toward him.

  "Zach, this is no time for jokes," Jessica said, resisting his advances. "The whole restaurant could explode."

  "Jessica," Zach asked skeptically, "are you sure you're not overreacting?"

  "Didn't you hear the fire alarm?" Jessica asked, a look of pure astonishment on her face. "Didn't you smell the smoke?" She poked her head out the door; the corridor was deserted. "Flames are coming from the kitchen!" she exclaimed, coughing and waving her hand dramatically.

  Zach got up and tried to look out as well, but Jessica pulled the door shut firmly. "C'mon, Zach!" she shouted. "We don't have any time to lose!"

  Suddenly Jessica noticed a small window near the ceiling on the far wall, above the two sinks. "The window!" she exclaimed.

 
"Jessica, you've got to be kidding," Zach said, eyeing the window doubtfully. "It's much too high and much too small. There's no way we could get through it."

  "Either we get through that window or die trying," Jessica said gravely.

  "A pair of star-crossed lovers found burned to death in the women's room." Zach placed his hand over his heart dramatically. "The modern Romeo and Juliet." He grabbed her in his arms. "Quick, Jess, one last kiss."

  Jessica tried not to smile. This was the first time she'd seen Zach act so playful. He was more serious than most of the guys she'd dated. In fact, that was what had attracted her to him in the first place. But she liked this side of him. It made him seem younger than a college junior. And she liked the feel of his strong arms around her and the fresh smell of his denim jacket as well. Unfortunately, she didn't have time for a big romantic scene right now.

  "Zach, I just don't think you're taking this seriously," Jessica scolded, kissing him quickly on the lips and disentangling herself from his arms. "We've got to get out that window!"

  "And just how do you plan on doing that?" Zach demanded.

  "Let's see . . ." Jessica began, chewing her lower lip. "I know! It's simple," she said, speaking with more certainty than she felt. "I'll get on your shoulders and open the latch. Then you'll climb up the wall and squeeze out the window. And once you're through, you can reach in and help me out. See? Simple!" Jessica smiled, feeling pleased with herself.

  Zach looked stunned. "Did you say you want me to climb up the wall?"

  "Sure, why not?" Jessica asked nonchalantly. "You're strong enough, aren't you?"

  "Jessica, I study physics and biology," Zach protested. "I'm a premed student, not Spiderman."

  "You were also the star player for your soccer team in high school," Jessica reminded him.

  Zach sighed. "All right, all right. I give up." He crouched down. "Get on," he instructed.

  This will be easy, Jessica thought. I've done trickier moves with my squad. She was the cocaptain of the cheerleading squad at Sweet Valley High. She quickly stepped onto Zach's shoulders. He stood up carefully, holding on to her ankles while she reached up to the window and fumbled for the latch.

  Jessica grabbed hold of the clasp and turned it. The window sprang open, and a gust of cool air blew into the rest room. "There! I got it," she called, and she jumped off Zach's shoulders gracefully.

  "Well, here goes nothing," Zach said, climbing up on the sink. He stretched his body to its full length and grabbed the window ledge with his fingertips. Jessica watched with admiration as he shimmied up the wall, his movements smooth and athletic. Breathing heavily, he balanced on the ledge and grabbed onto the top of the window frame. Holding on to the slender frame for support, he swung his legs through the narrow opening like a gymnast and carefully lowered his body through it, flipping onto his stomach when he was halfway through. Jessica held her breath as she watched him. It looked as if he were going to make it. But then Jessica realized that Zach was struggling. His upper torso had turned out to be wider than the window. Zach growled, squirming and wriggling in an attempt to slip his broad shoulders through the window.

  "Jessica," Zach said finally, "I'm stuck." He looked down at her despondently.

  Jessica tried not to laugh. With only his upper body jutting into the women's room, Zach looked like a giant panda.

  Suddenly a clap of thunder sounded outside. "You're not going to believe this," Zach said, beginning to shiver, "but it just started to rain. Half of me is sticking out a window of a women's room into the pouring rain. I'll never live this down at the fraternity." He moaned and covered his eyes with his hands. "How in the world did I let you talk me into this?"

  "Don't worry, Zach. You can fit through," Jessica said encouragingly. "Maybe you should try taking off some of your clothes."

  Despite his predicament Zach couldn't help smiling. "You wish," he said. Then he sighed. "But that's really not a bad idea." He wriggled out of his sweater and jean jacket and threw them down to Jessica. Twisting and turning, he managed to squeeze his wide shoulders through the narrow frame. "Jessica," he said before his face disappeared. "You owe me one."

  Moments later Zach's head reappeared at the window. "OK, Jess, I've got a footing here on the ivy lattice," he told her, wiping raindrops from his face. "Now, let's get you out." He wriggled his shoulders back through the frame and reached down for her. Balancing on the sink, Jessica stretched her hands up to meet his.

  Suddenly tinkling sounds of light laughter and chatter reached her ears, along with the unmistakable smoky voice of Magda. The Thetas were on their way to the bathroom!

  "And I saw the most exquisite midnight-blue velvet gown for the formal!" Jessica heard Magda telling the others outside in the hallway.

  "Do you think velvet is too wintry for the season?" another female voice replied. Footsteps were rapidly approaching.

  Jessica gasped. "Zach, hurry!" she hissed with real panic in her voice. He grasped her by the wrists firmly and lifted her until she reached the window. Jessica squeezed through the narrow space just as the bathroom door opened. Holding on to the window frame with one arm, Zach supported Jessica with the other. She crouched on the ledge and jumped the few feet to the ground, slipping on the wet grass under her feet.

  "You OK, Jess?" Zach asked, dropping down to the ground beside her.

  "Yeah, I'm fine," she answered. She jumped up quickly and brushed the wet leaves off her jeans. Then she took Zach's hand. "Let's get out of here!" she urged. Jessica could feel her heart pounding in her ears as they ran for Zach's car through heavy sheets of rain.

  As they drove away, Jessica took long, deep breaths, trying to calm the beating of her heart. She was dripping wet, from her shoulder-length, tangled blond hair to her black leather pumps.

  Zach reached behind him to grab a towel from his gym bag in the backseat. He rubbed it through his hair quickly and handed it to Jessica.

  "Thanks," Jessica said with a smile. Whew, that was a close call, she thought, toweling off her hair. It wasn't easy juggling Magda and Zach. Or trying to pass herself off as a college freshman. What if Magda had come into the bathroom a few minutes earlier and had caught her in Zach's arms? Or climbing out the window with him? Jessica shuddered at the thought. If she got blackballed by the Thetas now, she would ruin her entire future at SVU. But I really don't have anything to worry about, Jessica reassured herself. I've got everything under control.

  Jessica flipped on the radio to a mellow station and leaned back in the passenger seat, enjoying the sound of the soft music and the steady patter of rain. SVU is nice even in the rain, she thought. Then she became vaguely aware of something disturbing her peace. It was Zach, giving her a sidelong glance.

  "What is it?" Jessica asked. She unzipped her bag and fumbled through it for a brush.

  "Jessica, is there something you're not telling me?" he asked, looking at her suspiciously.

  "What do you mean?" she asked, her turquoise eyes wide. I know I have a brush in here somewhere, she thought, digging around in the bottom of her purse.

  "I mean, why did you want to get out of the restaurant so fast?" he pressed.

  "I didn't want to get out of the restaurant," Jessica reminded him. She dumped the entire contents of her bag onto her lap and fished through an array of cosmetics. Aha! she thought, picking out a small pink brush. "We had to get out." She flipped down the window shade and looked in the mirror, combing through her damp hair. Not bad, considering, she thought. Her heart-shaped face was flushed a rosy hue from the rain, and her eyes were bright and sparkling.

  Suddenly Zach steered onto the shoulder and pulled the car to a halt.

  "Zach, what are you doing?" Jessica asked.

  "I think we need to talk," he replied, his expression serious.

  Oh, no, Jessica thought, he knows something. Did he know she was only a high school junior, not a college freshman? That she hadn't transferred from Princeton but was at Sweet Valley University only for a visit with her brother? That Elizabeth wasn't her younger sister but actually her identical twin?

  Zach unbuckled his seatbelt and turned around to face her, looking distinctly uncomfortable. A faint flush tinted his handsome face. He reached for her hand and looked her straight in the eyes. "Jessica, you're not dating anyone else, are you?" he asked softly.