Caught in the Middle

  CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

  Written by

  Kate William

  Created by

  FRANCINE PASCAL

  Copyright © 2015, Francine Pascal

  CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

  "I just can't go on like this, Sandy. I understand you're afraid to talk to your parents, but it isn't right. If you really loved me, you'd confront them," Manuel said.

  Sandra's eyes filled with tears. "That isn't true. It's just that I need more time!"

  "Yeah." A trace of bitterness crept into Manuel's voice. "That's what you've been saying for weeks, Sandy. I don't think you're being honest with yourself. I don't think you're ever going to be ready to confront them."

  Sandra grabbed his arm, her eyes filled with panic. "Are you trying to tell me that you want to break up?"

  "It isn't up to me," Manuel said sadly. "Sandy, I love you, but I need to feel that you respect me. Enough to confont your parents. Enough to tell everyone we're going out instead of hiding it!"

  Sandra's eyes filled with tears. "Can't you give me just a little more time?" she pleaded.

  Manuel frowned. "I've waited, Sandy. I've been patient. Now it's your turn." And with that he turned and walked away.

  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

  "I still can't believe it," Jessica Wakefield said to Cara Walker as the two girls walked toward one of the sunlit fields of the Sweet Valley High grounds for cheerleading practice. "Who on earth would've believed that Sandy and Manuel would fall in love."

  "I don't see what's so strange about it," Cara protested. "Actually, I think they make a good couple." She smiled. "And it explains why Sandy's looking so different lately, so radiant. I should've guessed she was madly in love!"

  Jessica frowned and leaned down to straighten a white ankle sock. "Cara, you've really changed," she said critically as she stood up again. Before Cara started dating Steven, Jessica's older brother, she and Jessica had been best friends, sharing opinions on everything that mattered. But for ages now Cara had been getting "soft," as Jessica put it, and that meant she hadn't been filling her in on the latest gossip. This seemed like a typical case. Cara had apparently known for a couple of days that Sandra Bacon was seeing Manuel Lopez, and she hadn't even confided in Jessica! If they hadn't spotted the couple embracing in a deserted corridor a few moments earlier, Jessica might never have found out about Sweet Valley High's newest couple. She frowned at the thought. Jessica prided herself on always being up on the latest in everything, from fashions to music to gossip. And she hated to think Cara might have deliberately excluded her from something as important as Sandra's brand-new romance with Manuel. Even worse was the sentimental look on Cara's face as she contemplated their romance. Not that Jessica wasn't completely in favor of romance. It was just that lately most of her friends seemed to be getting involved in long-term, heavy-duty relationships. Her twin sister, Elizabeth, was one of the offenders. You couldn't get her to go anywhere without Jeffrey French. "Boyfriends," Jessica grumbled. "I think people would be better off playing the field."

  Cara laughed and tossed back her dark brown, shoulder-length hair. "Like you, right?" she teased. "Look, Jess, just because you go through guys faster than any of us can keep up with, doesn't mean we all have to! Besides," she added with a significant smile, "there's nothing like real love."

  Jessica rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'll bet. Instead of having the fun of going out with a new guy every weekend, you're always stuck with the same one. And soon all the fun disappears. No more presents or surprise phone calls, no more expensive dates. He figures he's got you just where he wants you and whammo!—no more romance. He starts taking you for granted, and you start doing things like Jeffrey and Liz—studying together and boring things like that." Jessica grimaced.

  Cara laughed out loud as the two approached the bleachers where the cheerleaders were gathering for afternoon practice. "That's the most negative description of love I've heard from you in a while. Sounds to me like you're about due for one of those incredible Jessica Wakefield-style crushes, the kind that make you forget all your theories and just really flip."

  Jessica smiled. "Maybe you're right. It has been a while," she admitted.

  "Jessica! Cara! What's taking you so long?" Ricky Capaldo demanded, waving them over. Ricky, a short, energetic junior with a strong sense of organization, was the cheerleaders' manager. Once he had dated one of the cheerleaders, pretty, dark-haired Annie Whitman. Now he joked that just making sure they all got to practice—and actually worked through their routines—left him no time for anything else. Jessica and Robin Wilson were co-captains of the team, and the other members included Cara; Annie; Sandra Bacon; her best friend Jeanie West; a petite brunette named Maria Santelli; and Amy Sutton, one of Jessica's closest friends. They were all there now, except for Sandra.

  "Let's get started!" Ricky exclaimed. "We can't wait any longer, or we're never going to get through this. We'll just have to explain it to Sandy when she shows up. And remember," he added, "we want to save time at the end of practice to talk about that cheerleading competition to raise money for the Regina Morrow Scholarship Fund." Everyone grew serious at the mention of the special fund, started by Pi Beta Alpha, the sorority of which Jessica was president. The fund had been set up in memory of the junior who had died recently of an extremely rare reaction to a small amount of cocaine. A scholarship would be awarded to a student at Sweet Valley High who overcame a handicap or hardship, and the cheerleaders, Jessica in particular, were eager to raise money for the fund.

  Ricky cleared his throat. "Robin, do you want to run through that new kick once to show the group, before we all try it together?"

  Jeanie looked perturbed. "I wish Sandy would hurry up," she said in a low voice. "She knows practice starts earlier on Tuesday afternoons!"

  "She's with Manuel," Maria whispered. "I saw them in the hall after the last-period bell."

  Jessica listened intently. Jeanie was Sandra's closest friend, and Jessica wondered what she thought of her friend's new romance. After all, Manuel came from a completely different world. His family was from Mexico and still spoke Spanish at home. Manuel had always hung around with the Mexican kids at school. Sandra's parents had a reputation for being strict with their only daughter, who was also the youngest in her family. Moreover, they were reputed to be bigoted. Lila Fowler, one of Jessica's best friends, claimed that Mr. Bacon had written a letter to the local paper complaining about minority members and immigrants ruining the community. Jessica wondered how they were reacting to Manuel as their daughter's boyfriend.

  Before Jeanie had a chance to respond to Maria, Sandra herself came dashing up, her face pink and her breathing ragged from running across the field. "Sorry I'm late," she gasped, falling into place beside Jeanie. Her hazel eyes were bright and her short, dark blond hair—usually very neat—was a mess. Jessica was surprised at how pretty she looked. Not that she wasn't cute, but being best friends with Jeanie, one of the acclaimed beauties of the school, she was always complaining about looking "just average."

  And Jessica had secretly been inclined to agree. She knew Sandra fairly well, both through cheerleading and through Pi Beta Alpha, which Sandra had belonged to for some time. She was the sort of girl Jessica never really paid that much attention to, though. Cute enough, nice enough, smart enough, but to Jessica there was nothing really striking about her.

  But Jessica had to admit that Sandra looked different that afternoon. Her eyes sparkled, and her smile was radiant.

  Maybe Cara was right, Jessica thought grudgingly as she took her place at the front of the squad beside Robin. Maybe Sandra really was changing now that she had fallen in love with Manuel Lopez.

  "Hey, Sandy," Jeanie said, twisting her long hair into a single braid. "Tell me what's up with you and Manuel. I was getting worried about you this afternoon. I thought you were going to miss practice."

  Jeanie and Sandra were in the locker room changing after practice and after the scholarship fund discussion. The others had all dressed and gone already, and the two girls had the whole place to themselves.

  Sandra gave her friend a rapturous smile. "Jeanie, he's unbelievable! I've never met a guy who's like Manuel before. He's smart, and thoughtful, and funny, and sweet, and—"

  "Whoa!" Jeanie laughed, putting up her hand. "Back up a minute before you give me the list of virtues. What's the story with you two? Are you actually going out or still just friends? I've never known you to keep anything important so secret before."

  Sandra looked down at the floor. "I know," she admitted. "I wish. . ." Her expression darkened for a minute, then cleared again. "Look, Jeanie, I want to tell you everything. But you have to promise me you won't repeat any of it, OK? I just feel—you know—kind of shy about the whole thing. I don't want anyone to know but you."

  "All right, so tell me." Jeanie smiled, then sat down on a bench and looked at her friend expectantly.

  "Well," Sandra began, giggling a little at her own awkwardness, "I guess it's official now. We're going out. He's taking me over to his cousin's house for a party on Friday night. I'll get to meet his whole family there." She smiled. "I know they m
ust be wonderful. The way Manuel talks about his parents and brothers you can just tell." She sighed. "I think that's one of the things I like so much about him. He comes from a big family, and they're all very close. I think that's why he's so affectionate, always holding my hand or putting his arm around me." She blushed. "I think he really likes me, Jeanie, really thinks I'm special."

  Jeanie laughed, then jumped up to give her friend a hug. "He'd better! Because you are special," she declared.

  Sandra's eyes shone. "You're the most wonderful friend," she said in a shaky voice. "Jeanie, I don't know what I'd do without you."

  Neither girl spoke for a minute. Sandra was remembering, with a pang, how close she had come to spoiling their friendship several months back when Jeanie pledged Pi Beta Alpha. It had been a particularly hard time for Sandra then. She was feeling extremely vulnerable and insecure, and she had become convinced that she was really nothing but Jeanie's shadow. Jeanie did everything so perfectly and was so stunning. Sandra had become convinced that Jeanie would tire of their friendship unless she did something to even things out between them. Sandra had also convinced herself that once Jeanie was admitted to the sorority, she wouldn't need her anymore and their friendship would fall apart. It made Sandra cringe now to think how idiotically she had behaved. She had purposely tried to sabotage her own best friend! When Jeanie found out that Sandra was trying to exclude her from the sorority, she had been rightly enraged. Fortunately, Sandra was able to see what a fool she'd been before it was too late, and the two had made up. Now Jeanie was a member of Pi Beta Alpha, and—as she had assured Sandra from the start—it just gave them more chances to see each other. They were better friends than ever.

  "Well," Jeanie said lightly, patting Sandra's arm, "I guess I'm not going to be seeing much of you now that you're in love. Are you going to bring Manuel to the picnic my parents are having this weekend?"

  The Wests and the Bacons were good friends and had arranged a get-together that weekend at Secca Lake. But Sandra had no intention of bringing Manuel, and her expression revealed how upset it made her to imagine what would happen if she did. "Jeanie," she said, distressed, "promise not to mention Manuel to my parents, will you?"

  Jeanie was surprised. "Why? Haven't they met him yet? I thought you said you two were official."

  "Well, we are," Sandra said. "But no, they haven't met him yet. And I don't think they're going to, either. At least, not for a while."

  "Why not? That's crazy," Jeanie objected.

  "Oh, yeah? Aren't you forgetting the way my parents feel about Mexicans? I wish they weren't as bigoted as they are, but I've got to face facts. What would be crazy would be showing up with my arm through Manuel's and saying he was my boyfriend." Sandra shook her head. "My dad would have a heart attack. And my mom would ground me on the spot."

  Jeanie frowned. "That's too bad. I know your parents aren't as open-minded as they could be, but . . . "

  "Yeah." Sandra sighed. "Sad to say, but true. And it isn't just a superficial prejudice with them. I know how they really feel, and they'd kill me, absolutely kill me, if they knew about Manuel." She shook her head. "No, I just can't tell them yet. I'm going to have to break it to them gradually."

  "Well," Jeanie said as she took her jacket out of her locker, "your secret's safe with me. But I don't really see how you plan on having a relationship with Manuel without them finding out."

  Sandra didn't answer. Jeanie just didn't understand. There was no way they could find out! If they did, that would be the end of her and Manuel.

  And she wasn't going to let that happen. Not now, not when she had finally found the perfect boy.

  "Jessica," Elizabeth said, putting a cold, wet hand on her twin sister's shoulder, "I hate to interrupt your beauty sleep, but isn't it your turn to make dinner tonight?"

  Jessica groaned. She and Lila Fowler had spread towels out near the Wakefields' swimming pool in the backyard, and Jessica had dozed off in the middle of one of Lila's stories about her latest crush. Jessica was right in the middle of a wonderful dream in which Lila had decided she was sick of being the richest girl at Sweet Valley High and was writing a check to Jessica giving her all her money, when Elizabeth woke her up.

  "Can't you see we're sleeping?" Jessica grumbled, sitting up with an effort. Lila, still lying down, emitted a long groan. "Go 'way," she mumbled sleepily.

  "You two are pathetic," Elizabeth said, crossing her arms. "I thought cheerleading gave you lots of energy, Jess. You look like a limp rag to me."

  Jessica eyed her sister silently, then turned to Lila. "How is it possible," Jessica asked, "that this efficient, organized taskmaster can be related to me?"

  "Good question," Lila mumbled. "I think you split the beauty, and she got the brains, Jess."

  Jessica took a swipe at her friend. "Come on inside and help me make dinner," she begged.

  "Make dinner?" Lila said blankly.

  "Yeah, it's what the rest of the world does while your cook makes yours." Jessica giggled. Lila Fowler was the only child of one of the richest men in the state. Fowler Crest, the mansion in which she lived, resembled a Hollywood movie set, and the Fowlers had several servants. Jessica eyed Lila thoughtfully as they got to their feet and folded up their towels. "You know, I bet you'd find it pretty interesting to trade places with me for a while," she said slowly, thinking about her dream. "You could live here with Elizabeth and my parents. And I—"

  "Forget it," Lila said. "Your house is fun to visit, but I need closet space, Jess. Daddy's bringing me back a bunch of new clothes from Rome for my birthday."

  Jessica groaned. She and Lila followed Elizabeth into the Wakefields' cheerful, Spanish-style kitchen, and Jessica took the hamburger meat out of the refrigerator, then looked helplessly around for a bowl.

  "Here it is," Elizabeth said with a sigh, handing her a bowl. "Why is it that I can tell I'm going to end up making dinner again tonight?"

  Jessica gave her a hurt look. "I'm making it," she protested. "I'm just moving a little slowly, that's all. Come on, Liz, give me a break."

  "Oh, wow. Is it time for 'The Jessica and Elizabeth Show' already?" Lila teased them.

  They all laughed, and Jessica set to work making the hamburgers. It was true. On the outside she and Elizabeth were like photocopies of each other. Five-foot-six, with long, sun-streaked blond hair and sparkling blue-green eyes, they looked exactly alike, down to the tiny dimple each girl had in her left cheek. Only the tiny mole on Elizabeth's right shoulder set her apart. But Elizabeth, who was four minutes older than her twin, was as earnest, responsible, and even-tempered as Jessica was impetuous and headstrong. Jessica did everything by whim, whereas Elizabeth loved to sit down and plan. The extreme disparity in their personalities was reflected in their hobbies, their friends, and even the way they decorated their rooms. Elizabeth spent most of her spare time working for The Oracle, the school paper. She wanted to be a writer one day and took the paper very seriously. Her best friend, Enid Rollins, liked the same sort of things she did—listening to music, taking long walks, reading. And her boyfriend, Jeffrey French, shared her interests as well. Jeffrey was a photographer for The Oracle, and they both loved movies, long talks—and each other!

  Jessica got bored even imagining her sister's idea of fun. In her heart she loved Elizabeth more than anyone in the world, and the two had a special bond that she valued enormously. But Jessica liked to tease her twin, claiming she was too steady, too dependable. And Elizabeth liked to reproach Jessica, claiming she was irresponsible. It did make for showdowns from time to time, and Jessica knew what Lila meant by "The Jessica and Elizabeth Show." But she couldn't resist getting back at her friend with a sharp comment of her own.

  "Better than 'Life-styles of the Rich and Famous'," she muttered, adding some spices to the hamburger meat.

  Lila ignored this jab. "You know," she announced, "my birthday happens to be a week from this Saturday."

  Jessica and Elizabeth exchanged glances. "Really?" Jessica said, winking at her twin.

  "And I was thinking how great it would be if, you know, maybe someone had a party for me. I mean, I've had so many parties for my friends. . . ." She let her words trail off meaningfully.