Bitter Rivals Read online

  BITTER RIVALS

  Written by

  Kate William

  Created by

  FRANCINE PASCAL

  Copyright © 2015, Francine Pascal

  BITTER RIVALS

  Amy turned on Enid, her voice caustic. "Enid Rollins," she said, her eyes flashing fire, "didn't I tell you before just to get lost? Don't you know you make me sick?" She looked so angry Enid felt almost afraid. "You can't steal people from me! I won't let you steal Liz, and I'm not going to let you steal Chris, either! He's mine," she said savagely, leaning closer. "He's mine, Enid. Now just stay away from him!"

  Fighting for composure, Enid looked at her. "Amy, I told you before. I'm not going to make a scene with you. I care too much for Liz to do that. And Liz likes you," she added. "But Chris knows his own mind, Amy. You can't own people, however much you'd like to."

  Amy spun on her heels, her eyes spilling over with angry tears. "I bet I can," she said with venom. "You just wait and see, Enid. You're going to be good and sorry. Chris won't ever talk to you again after tonight. And neither will Liz!"

  CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  One

  "Elizabeth, you're not even listening to me!" Jessica Wakefield complained as she sat dangling her slender, tan legs in the shallow end of the Wakefields' swimming pool. It was Friday afternoon, and the twins were relaxing in the sun with Elizabeth's best friend, Enid Rollins, who had just joined them. Elizabeth thought the world of her friend and was delighted Enid had come over. But she knew her twin disagreed.

  It might have been hard for a stranger to believe that Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield could disagree about anything. As far as appearances went, they were identical—from their silky, sun-streaked blond hair and blue-green eyes to the tiny dimple each showed when she smiled. Both girls were five feet six inches tall and a perfect size six. Slender, willowy, blond described the Wakefield twins to a T.

  But anyone who knew the twins rarely mixed them up. That wasn't just because Elizabeth wore a wristwatch and Jessica, who operated by what her parents teasingly called "Jessica Standard Time," never did. Ned Wakefield, the twins' father, often joked that not even years of legal training had prepared him for the baffling case of these identical opposites.

  Each twin had a completely different sense of style. Elizabeth liked tailored clothes—neat skirts and sweaters, chinos, polo shirts—clothing she knew would stay in style for years. Jessica, on the other hand, bought the latest things and usually got sick of them before they became unfashionable. Elizabeth had known for years what she wanted to be when she grew up. She wanted to be a writer, and she devoted a great deal of time writing articles as well as the "Eyes and Ears" column for The Oracle, the student newspaper at Sweet Valley High, the school the twins attended. Jessica's interests seemed to change every week. First it was acting, then dancing, then the very briefest stint at the twins' father's law office, fueled by one of Jessica's crushes. Jessica's motto was to have a good time, no matter what. She was as impatient and excitable as her twin was calm and steady. And just then it looked as if Jessica was going to explode if she couldn't get her sister's attention.

  "Liz," she said again, splashing some water from the pool up onto her twin's legs. Elizabeth was sitting beside her, but from the dreamy expression on her face, she might as well have been a million miles away. "Hey!" Jessica giggled, leaning over and pretending to tap her sister's forehead. "Anyone home there?"

  Elizabeth broke into a smile, her turquoise eyes crinkling up at the corners. "Sorry, Jess," she said. "I was just thinking about Amy Sutton, that's all. I can't believe she's really moving back to Sweet Valley!"

  Enid's green eyes looked thoughtful as she ran her slender hand through the water. "When are they moving in, Liz? Do you know yet?"

  Elizabeth shook her head. "Amy called last night, but she still didn't have a very clear idea of when it'll be. It sounds as though it could be any time, though." She hugged her knees with excitement. "I can't believe it! Enid, I can't wait for you to meet each other."

  Enid smiled, looking down at the water. "I just hope we like each other," she said. "I mean—"

  "Enid Rollins!" Elizabeth exclaimed with mock horror, jumping up and running over to hug her friend. "Of course you'll like each other! Amy Sutton is fabulous. She's so vivacious, so bouncy, so much fun—"

  "You make her sound like a trampoline," Jessica cut in.

  Jessica wasn't anywhere near as excited as Elizabeth about Amy Sutton's arrival. Jessica hadn't known Amy as well as her twin. Elizabeth and Amy had been inseparable for years, right up till the day Amy moved away, after sixth grade. Jessica remembered how heartbroken her sister had been. She wondered if Amy had changed very much during the past five years. She also wondered, looking slyly at Enid out of the corner of her eye, what Amy's arrival was going to mean to the apparently unshakable devotion between Elizabeth and Enid. It seemed to Jessica that Enid looked less than thrilled at the prospect of meeting the much-talked-about Amy Sutton, and personally Jessica didn't blame her. When you're as big a wimp as Enid Rollins, she thought meanly, why look forward to meeting someone vivacious and fun?

  "She said last night that when they move depends on her mother," Elizabeth went on. "Mrs. Sutton's contract with the TV station in Connecticut calls for a certain number of sports-casts. She may have to stay on an extra week or two if she can't convince them to let her go."

  "It's so exciting," Jessica said, "having a friend whose mother is a real live sportscaster. Do you think she'll be able to introduce us to all sorts of famous athletes?"

  "I doubt it," Elizabeth said reprovingly. "Besides, from what Amy says, it sounds as if Mrs. Sutton is busier and busier these days. We'll probably barely get to talk to her, let alone to the athletes she interviews."

  Amy's mother, Dyan Sutton, was the reason the Sutton family had moved to Connecticut. She had been offered a spot as the main sportscaster on a local TV network, and it seemed too good an opportunity to pass up. Especially as Mr. Sutton was a freelance photographer, and, as he put it, his work was easily transportable. Elizabeth still remembered how horrible it had been, having to say goodbye to Amy. Once Amy moved, it really wasn't the same. At first they had written every week, but gradually the frequency of the letters dwindled. Amy came back to Sweet Valley once or twice and Elizabeth went to Connecticut one Christmas vacation for a visit, but as the years passed, such opportunities decreased. When Elizabeth received a letter from Amy the previous week, she knew something big was up. But she had never in a million years expected the news Amy had sent. The Suttons were coming back to Sweet Valley in just a matter of weeks! Dyan Sutton had been offered a spot on WXAB, close to Sweet Valley. And the Suttons were buying the Bradleys' house, just four blocks away from the Wakefields! Elizabeth had practically flipped, she was so excited.

  "Well, I still think it's exciting," Jessica said, grabbing a bottle of suntan oil and squeezing a few drops onto her legs. "It almost makes up for Helen Bradley moving away and deserting the cheerleaders."

  Elizabeth laughed. "She's hardly moving just to spite you, Jess. Besides, she's not moving that far, just to Los Angeles. You'll still be able to see her."

  Jessica frowned. "That isn't the point, Liz. I don't really care whether I see her or not. I just don't want to have to deal with auditioning people for her place on the squad, that's all. Remember what happened last time?"

  Elizabeth and Enid ex
changed glances. They did remember! Who could forget? Jessica was co-captain of the squad, but the last time auditions were held, she took charge of the whole show. Annie Whitman had auditioned, and Jessica hadn't wanted Annie on the squad, so she had done her best to keep her off. When Annie found out she hadn't made the squad, she had tried to commit suicide. It had been a terrible mess. Eventually Jessica had had to relent, and now Annie was one of the cheerleaders.

  "Nothing like that had better happen this time," Jessica grumbled, putting the suntan oil down and picking up her notebook.

  Enid's eyebrows lifted. "Homework? On a Friday afternoon?"

  Jessica sounded indignant. "Don't think you two are the only ones interested in literary life around here! It just so happens," she added, flipping her hair back over one shoulder, "that Cara Walker and I are editing our own column for The Oracle. What do you think of that?"

  Elizabeth had found out the previous week about her sister's column, both from Jessica herself and from Penny Ayala, the editor-in-chief of The Oracle. But Enid looked surprised. She couldn't help admiring Jessica's energy, though. Recently Jessica had organized a rocking-chair marathon to raise money for the cheerleaders.

  "You? And Cara? What kind of column?" she asked, obviously having a hard time envisioning Jessica and Cara Walker as editorial types. Cara Walker, who was on the cheerleading squad with Jessica and who dated the twins' older brother Steven, was better known for being a good dancer and a lot of fun at parties than for literary talent.

  "It's called 'Dear Miss Lovelorn,' " Jessica said proudly. "Cara and I are splitting the work—reading and choosing letters to print and writing answers to them. And believe me, Enid, it's going to be the best thing to hit The Oracle in ages."

  Enid looked curiously at Jessica's notebook. "Have you gotten any letters yet?"

  "Just a few," Jessica admitted, opening her notebook. "But we just announced it last week, and we didn't get the box set up in the Oracle office until Monday. Once it gets going, we're going to have millions. Just wait and see."

  Elizabeth grinned. "Penny's absolutely thrilled with the idea, Jess. She thinks it's going to be wonderful."

  Jessica's eyes sparkled. "Personally," she said, smiling, "I think she's right. After all, who could possibly be in a better situation to offer love advice than yours truly?"

  "You've got a point there," Enid said wryly. "If you haven't been through it, no one has."

  "Come on, Jess," Elizabeth pleaded. "Let's hear one of your inspired responses. I want to know what kind of advice you're giving before I see it in print next week."

  "OK," Jessica said, clearing her throat. "Here's the first one Cara and I have done. The letter's from 'A Sad Sophomore' who says: 'Dear Miss Lovelorn, I hate to be one of the first to ask you for advice, but I'm really up a creek. All of my friends have boyfriends except for me. Everywhere I go I seem to be the only one without a date. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, since I'm OK-looking and have a decent personality. Can you rush me some advice before I spend the rest of my high school years alone?' "

  "Wow," Enid said, looking at Elizabeth. "Serious stuff. What's your response, Jess?"

  Jessica cleared her throat again. " 'Dear Sad Sophomore,' " she read back. " 'Quit sulking and start doing the asking yourself. Next time you want a date somewhere, ask someone! And if he says no, go by yourself and have a good time. Miss Lovelorn always has fun when she goes places by herself.' "

  "Not bad," Elizabeth said, intrigued. "Let's hear another."

  "Well, just one more," Jessica told her. "Otherwise, you won't want to read our column next week." She riffled through her papers until she found the one she was looking for. " 'Dear Miss Lovelorn,' " she read. " 'My problem is too many girls! Girls are always fighting over me, and I have ten times as many as I can handle. I can't do anything without getting chased. The thing is that I really am a deep, sensitive guy, and I want a lasting relationship. How can I convince these girls that I want something more?' " Jessica giggled. "Signed, 'Sweet Valley Swinger.' "

  Enid burst out laughing. "That one sounds like Bruce Patman," she said. "Or at least, how Bruce used to sound. Doesn't it?"

  Even Jessica laughed. Bruce Patman was one of the richest young men in Sweet Valley. A senior at Sweet Valley High, he was known for having an ego a mile high, demonstrated by the license plates on his black Porsche: 1BRUCE1. Actually Bruce had changed since he had fallen in love with beautiful Regina Morrow. But the girls were still amused.

  "What does Miss Lovelorn say to that?" Elizabeth asked.

  Jessica looked back down at the paper. " 'Dear Swinger,' " she read. " 'Miss Lovelorn is unimpressed. You sound like a giant zip in the sincerity department. Any girl worth lasting with will probably stay miles away. Shape up or find another branch to swing from.' "

  Enid laughed. "That's pretty good," she admitted, shaking her head approvingly. "You and Cara sure told him!"

  The telephone rang from inside the Wakefields' house, and Elizabeth cocked her ear, listening. "Who's going to get the phone—Miss Lovelorn or me?"

  "Miss Lovelorn thinks her darling twin will get it," Jessica said with a lazy smile. She broke into a giggle when she saw the look Elizabeth shot her before dashing into the house.

  It was the perfect end to a perfect week, and all Jessica wanted was to sneak in a little nap so she would be perfectly rested for the Beach Disco that night.

  That, she thought sleepily, putting her notebook aside and lying down, was one good thing about Enid Rollins. You never had to worry about her keeping you awake!

  "That was Amy again," Elizabeth told Enid, taking a pitcher of iced tea out of the refrigerator and pouring them each a tall glassful.

  "What's up?" Enid asked, taking a sip of tea.

  "She just wanted to let me know that she's pretty sure they'll be coming a week from Sunday. Her mom managed to get out of the last two or three shows without offending anyone."

  Enid blinked. A week from Sunday. Somehow that seemed so soon—almost too soon. "Hey," she said, trying to keep her voice natural, "we still have to figure out what we're going to do about our ski trip, right?"

  Elizabeth's face brightened. "That's right," she said, plopping down at the kitchen table. She and Enid had been looking forward to the trip for ages. Enid's Aunt Nancy had a cabin up in the mountains near Lake Tahoe, and she had been urging Enid to come up one weekend and bring a friend. Enid naturally wanted Elizabeth to come along, and Elizabeth thought it sounded like a terrific idea. Nancy was only twenty-eight, and being with her was like having an older sister. She was a bright, perky redhead with a great sense of humor, and Elizabeth was certain the weekend would be fabulous.

  Suddenly her face darkened. They had decided, after a great deal of deliberation, that the next weekend was the best time to go. All they had to do was call Enid's aunt and confirm it.

  But Elizabeth had just realized that going away that weekend would prevent her from seeing the Suttons when they arrived. Amy thought they were coming Sunday, and Elizabeth really wanted to be home then. She couldn't imagine not being there to welcome her friend back after so many years!

  Her cheeks reddening a little, Elizabeth told Enid about her conflict. "Do you think we could put the trip off for a few weeks?" she asked uncertainly. "That way there couldn't be a chance of missing Amy when she moves in."

  Enid hesitated before answering. "OK," she said at last, making an effort to look as if she didn't mind. "Maybe we can invite Amy to come along when we finally go," she added, ignoring the lump in her throat.

  "Enid Rollins, you are the best friend in the whole world," Elizabeth exclaimed. "Not to mention the most understanding person I've ever met. Are you sure your aunt won't mind?"

  Enid smiled, though with difficulty. "The good thing about Aunt Nancy is that she's changed plans quite a few times herself. I'm sure she'll understand, Liz. Why don't I just tell her that we'll call her back next week and let her know for sure?"

  Elizabeth's aqua
eyes shone. "I mean it, Enid," she said again. "I can't tell you how lucky I feel having you for a friend."

  Enid bit her lip, saying nothing. She wished she felt a little more enthusiastic about Amy Sutton's arrival.

  Two

  "OK, Elizabeth Wakefield," Winston Egbert said, facing her across the lunchroom table, "what's this story I've been hearing about the woman of my dreams moving back to Sweet Valley?"

  Elizabeth laughed. Winston had a reputation among the members of the junior class as the clown of Sweet Valley High, and she could always count on him for a wisecrack. "It's Amy Sutton," she told him. "You remember her, Winston. And it's true," she added, turning to the others at the table. "She's moving back to Sweet Valley. In fact, her parents have bought Helen Bradley's house."

  Lila Fowler, who had already heard the news of Amy's arrival, looked disdainfully at Elizabeth. Pretty, spoiled, and unbelievably wealthy, Lila usually seemed bored. And she didn't look excited at the prospect of Amy's arrival. "Wasn't she kind of clumsy and tomboyish?" she asked, making it sound as though Amy were to be avoided at all costs.

  "She wasn't all that clumsy," Elizabeth retorted. "And, yes, she loves sports, all kinds of sports. She's a lot of fun, Lila."

  "You don't have to sell me on the idea," Winston said, grinning. "We'll have the welcome wagon ready."

  Jessica looked up from the pile of letters she was supposed to be sorting through. "Speaking of visitors from faraway places, Lila, whatever happened to that cousin of yours? Wasn't he supposed to be rolling into town one of these days?"

  Lila lifted her perfectly shaped eyebrows. "Jess," she purred, "are you trying to suggest that I've been giving you false information? Of course Christopher is coming to town. As a matter of fact, I got a call from him this morning. He's coming for three whole weeks—and I intend to spend every minute celebrating."

  "Christopher?" DeeDee Gordon said blankly, looking questioningly across the table at Bill Chase, her boyfriend. "Who's Christopher?"