Rosa's Lie Read online

  ROSA'S LIE

  Written by

  Kate William

  Created by

  FRANCINE PASCAL

  Copyright © 2015, Francine Pascal

  To Rowena Murphy

  It was very clear to Rose. There was no turning back. She had lied herself into a corner. If anyone ever discovered the truth . . .

  Rose was the last pledge interviewed. Lila strolled around to the front of the house with Rose and Amy. When they reached the driveway, they saw a car pull in. Sandy's boyfriend, Manuel Lopez, hopped out and opened the door on the passenger side. Sandy waved goodbye to Lila and the others and got into the car.

  "I don't know how she can date him," Lila murmured to Amy. "He's so ethnic and working-class."

  Rose stiffened.

  "You're just jealous, Li," Amy said. "You just wish you were going out with a hunk like Manuel!"

  "Humph," Lila commented.

  Suddenly, Rose couldn't wait to get in her own car. She wasn't sure how much longer she could keep a cheerful smile on her face. There was no doubt about it, she thought. Her entire future in Sweet Valley was at stake. The Pi Betas must never find out the truth about her.

  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

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  One

  "Whoever invented lunch period deserves a medal," Jessica Wakefield observed. She closed her eyes and tipped her face to the sun with a sigh of contentment. "Timing it perfectly so that you can catch the best rays of the day!"

  "I always thought the concept of lunch period had something to do with food," Jessica's twin sister, Elizabeth, teased as she offered a slice of orange to her boyfriend, Todd Wilkins.

  "The need to refuel the body," Todd agreed as he popped the orange into his mouth.

  "You're all wrong. Lunch period was designed with teachers in mind," Winston Egbert asserted. "An hour away from us in the middle of the day is the only way they can stay sane!"

  "Well, maybe the entire faculty of Sweet Valley High needs an hour away from you," Lila Fowler drawled. "My teachers love me."

  "Oh, please." Amy Sutton tossed her silky blond hair. "Your teachers would fail you because of your attitude alone if it weren't for the fact that your dad practically owns the town of Sweet Valley."

  Lila smiled with satisfaction. "He does, doesn't he?"

  "I don't care what you guys say." Jessica pushed the straps of her orange tank top aside to bare her sun-bronzed shoulders. "Lunchtime is sun time and that's that."

  "But what about the rest of the globe? People who aren't lucky enough to live in Southern California?" Elizabeth asked. "There aren't many places where you can sunbathe year-round."

  Her eyes still closed, Jessica dismissed the rest of the world with a careless wave. "The sun's out here, and it's lunch period, and that's all I care about!"

  Elizabeth had to laugh at her twin's predictably self-centered worldview. Still, Jessica did have a point. At midday, with the sun high in the cornflower-blue sky and a cooling breeze ruffling the fronds of the palm trees, the outdoor eating area at Sweet Valley High was the perfect place to be.

  It wasn't always so easy for Elizabeth to see eye-to-eye with Jessica. One thing the sixteen-year-old sisters—and their friends and family—had long since learned was that being identical twins did not imply holding identical opinions. At first glance, it was hard to tell Jessica and Elizabeth apart. Both were five feet six inches tall and slim, with shoulder-length golden-blond hair and blue-green eyes. Jessica even had the same tiny dimple in her left cheek that accented Elizabeth's smile. But given just about any topic in the world to debate, chances were that Elizabeth and Jessica would take opposite sides. On the subject of fashion, Elizabeth's taste was consistently practical and conservative. She preferred neat, comfortable clothes like the denim skirt and pink T-shirt she was wearing that day. Jessica's personal style, on the other hand, was liable to change radically at a moment's notice, and usually corresponded to the latest look in the display windows of the chic boutiques at the mall.

  When it came to school, it wasn't hard for her friends and teachers to see that Jessica's favorite part of the day was lunch period; next came the moments after the final bell, when she headed to cheerleading practice. Jessica had perfected the art of determining the exact minimum amount of studying required to do well in any given class. Elizabeth, meanwhile, made academics a top priority in her life. English was her favorite class, and she hoped someday to be a professional writer. As for romance, Elizabeth believed in commitment; she was as devoted to Todd as he was to her. Jessica, on the other hand, usually played the field. But since falling for handsome Sam Woodruff, a student at nearby Bridgewater High, Jessica was seriously considering revising her habits. At this point, they had been dating long enough to call it a "relationship," and Jessica had never been happier.

  One thing the twins did have in common was their membership in Pi Beta Alpha, a popular Sweet Valley High sorority. Jessica, the sorority's president, was a more active member than Elizabeth, whose top extracurricular activity was writing for the school newspaper, The Oracle.

  At the moment, the sorority was a big topic of discussion for all the members. "I hope everyone's free tomorrow night for the Pi Beta meeting at my house," Jessica announced. "It's that time of the year again, time to get into gear if we want to make sure we get the pick of the pledges."

  "I love rush," declared Winston's girlfriend, Maria Santelli, daughter of Sweet Valley's mayor, an active Pi Beta, and one of Jessica's fellow cheerleaders. "It's fun getting to know new people."

  "It is fun," Lila concurred. Her chocolate-brown eyes glittered. "I especially like the interviews."

  Cara Walker rolled her eyes. "You mean, you like raking people over the coals!"

  "Who, me?" Lila asked innocently.

  Cara smiled mischievously. She was another Pi Beta member, and also a cheerleader, as well as being the girlfriend of Steven Wakefield—Jessica and Elizabeth's older brother.

  Todd stretched out on the grass and put his head on Elizabeth's lap. She tickled his nose with a blade of grass. "You know, I can't remember the last time the Phi Epsilons got together," Todd reflected.

  "Me, either," said Winston with a shrug.

  "The fraternity's really in a slump," Todd added. "We're the ones that need to get into gear—rush some new members, plan some activities."

  "Sounds good on paper," Winston acknowledged. "But aren't you forgetting one of the reasons you and I lost interest in Phi Epsilon?"

  Todd sat up and looked in the direction of Winston's pointed finger. His eyes came to rest on the elegantly athletic figure of Bruce Patman, who was standing not far away, idly twirling a racket as he talked to some of his tennis teammates.

  Wealthy, arrogant Bruce Patman was one of Phi Epsilon's most active members, and in the past his snobbish, overbearing influence had soured many of the other boys on the fraternity. "True, but maybe it's time for a change," Todd declared. "It's our frat, too. With new members and a whole new philosophy, Phi Epsilon could become fun again."

  "I'm with you. But I still can't help seeing one big obnoxious obstacle to progress: good ol' 'One Bruce One,' " said Winston, referring to the license plate on Bruce's black Porsche.

  "It'll definitely be a challenge," Todd mused.

  Elizabeth noticed that Bruce had stopped twirling his racket and was looking appraisingly at a girl who had just stepped out onto the lawn. It was Rose Jameson, a new student at Sweet Valley High. Rose had been a sensation since the moment she first arrived in town several weeks ago.

  "Now there's a reason to give up sunbathing," Jessica observed, nodding her head toward Rose. "To have perfect pale skin like that."

  "You'd need the black hair, too, though," Cara pointed out. "It's that contrast that makes her so striking. She looks like the model on the cover of this month's Teen Glamour, doesn't she, Li?"

  "She's exquisite," admitted Lila, who was notoriously vain of her own beauty.

  "The amazing thing is that a girl that pretty could be so nice," said Winston.

  Maria swatted him, "You chauvinist! Who said pretty girls can't be nice?"

  "I just mean that she gets along with everybody," Winston amended. "She doesn't seem like a snob."

  As Elizabeth and the others watched, Rose was besieged by hopeful guys.

  Elizabeth laughed. It was true. Rose was friendly, vibrant, and interesting. She seemed to get along with everyone, from the jocks to the nerds.

  Right now, though, it looked to Elizabeth as if Rose had a little more than she could handle. Maybe she would appreciate a rescue. "Hey, Rose!" Elizabeth called. "Over here!"

  Rose crossed the lawn in their direction. "Hi, everybody!" she said cheerfully.

  "Sit with us," Elizabeth invited.

  "I promised Penny and Olivia I'd eat with them," Rose replied, gesturing to where Olivia Davidson and Penny Ayala were unpacking their lunches in the shade of a palm tree.

  "Yawn," Lila remarked.

  "Good," Elizabeth said firmly. "Maybe they'll talk you into writing for The Oracle." Penny was editor in chief of the newspaper, and Olivia was the arts editor. Elizabeth herself wrote a regular gossip colum
n called "Eyes and Ears."

  Rose laughed. "Oh, I won't need much persuading. I did some reporting for the newspaper at my old high school. In Massachusetts," she added, as if in afterthought.

  "That's great!" Elizabeth said. "Maybe I'll see you at the next staff meeting."

  "Forget the staff meeting," Jessica told Rose. "Just show up at the Dairi Burger tonight, OK? A bunch of us are getting together around eight."

  A smile illuminated Rose's face. "Sounds like fun. See you later!"

  Lila barely waited for Rose to walk out of earshot before announcing, "I can't believe she's wasting her time hanging around with Penny and Olivia. We'll have to show her the error of her ways."

  "I think it's great that she's making friends with people from a lot of different groups at Sweet Valley High," Cara commented. "That's really the way to have the most fun."

  "But who could be more fun than us?" Jessica asked.

  Cara giggled. "Good question."

  "Where did she say she was from?" asked Amy.

  "She didn't say exactly. Somewhere in Massachusetts," Jessica replied.

  "A New Englander," observed Todd. For a time, he had lived in Burlington, Vermont.

  "Why did her family move, anyway?" Winston asked.

  "I know the answer to that one," Lila volunteered. "Her parents own a company—a tool company, I think my father said. When they decided to expand and incorporate, they picked Southern California as a good place to relocate."

  "Lucky for us," Jessica remarked. "Rose is a lot of fun. History isn't nearly as boring since she came into the class."

  "I heard that Rose wants to join a sports team but she can't decide between softball and volleyball," Todd said.

  "Well, I heard that Rose wants to join a sorority," Amy said with a significant nod of her head.

  Jessica's expression grew thoughtful. "Very interesting!"

  "Very interesting," Lila agreed.

  After the final bell that afternoon, Rose took her time walking to her car, which was parked in the student lot. Everything around her was so beautiful—the low, white buildings of Sweet Valley High nestled in a glowing green expanse of grass and palms, the arch of sapphire-blue sky overhead, a glimpse of sparkling sea a few miles off. She just wanted to soak it all in.

  Sweet Valley, California, Rose thought. It really looks like a place where dreams can come true!

  Rose had never imagined that she would feel so at home so soon. Everyone was so friendly! From the very first day, people had gone out of their way to talk to her and include her in their activities. Now it was hard for Rose to believe she had ever been anxious about the move to Sweet Valley, afraid that she might not fit in.

  Rose shook her head and let the fragrant breeze ruffle her short, glossy black hair.

  "Rose, wait up!"

  Rose turned to face the speaker. It was Eddie Strong, a boy she had met just that day at lunch while sitting with Olivia and Penny. Eddie did graphics work for The Oracle. "Hi, Eddie," Rose said.

  "Heading for the parking lot?" he asked when he had reached her side.

  "Yep. How about you?"

  "Yep." He pointed to a light brown Ford. "There's my vehicle."

  "Right next to my vehicle. The white Honda," said Rose.

  When they reached their cars, Eddie ran a hand through his bright blond hair. "I guess there's no point in offering you a ride right now. But how about tonight? Can I interest you in dinner, or a movie maybe?"

  Eddie was about the tenth boy at Sweet Valley High to have asked Rose on a date; she had stopped keeping count after the first week. And although Eddie was very nice—and cute—Rose gave him a variation of what had become her standard answer. "Actually, I sort of have plans. A bunch of people are going to the Dairi Burger tonight. Maybe I'll see you there."

  Her friendly tone and smile kept her words from being received as an outright rejection. Eddie smiled back. "Sure, see you later."

  "So long!"

  Rose climbed into the Honda and started the engine. She waited while Eddie backed out of his parking space before pulling out herself. He really is incredibly cute, Rose thought. But Rose also knew that it was better to play it safe and to take things slow, better to avoid dates and stick to group activities. That way, it wouldn't be necessary for anyone to pick her up at home. I do hope Eddie shows up at the Dairi Burger tonight! Rose thought.

  Thinking about the evening reminded Rose of the brief conversation she had had with Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield and their friends during lunch period. She could see the group, relaxed and laughing on the lawn. How must it feel to be one of them, one of the most popular kids at Sweet Valley High? They probably don't even think about their status, Rose imagined. They just take it for granted. It's simply who they are.

  No, Rose didn't miss her old friends from her high school in Texas nearly as much as she thought she would. She was making new friends like Jessica, Elizabeth, Lila, and Amy—the kind of friends she had always dreamed of having.

  Rose braked at a stoplight on Ocean Avenue. There was only one thing that worried her: the little white lie she had been giving out, the one about having lived in Massachusetts rather than Texas. Rose bit her lip. I'm not going to let it bother me, she decided as the light changed and she hit the Honda's gas pedal. It doesn't hurt anybody to say that, and it helps me!

  Moving to California had been like starting a whole new life. For the first time, Rose felt as if she were in charge of her own destiny. Here, she could finally be the kind of person she had always wanted to be: a member of the "in" crowd at Sweet Valley High.

  Rose turned off Ocean Avenue, onto Honeysuckle Court, and then pulled into the driveway of her family's elegant new home. From now on, she decided, I'm going to be who I want to be. As long as I'm creating the present and future, what's wrong with re-creating my past?

  Two

  "I knew I'd get all of you here if I fed you pizza!" Jessica commented wryly.

  It was early Tuesday evening, and all of the most active members of Pi Beta Alpha had gathered for a meeting at the Wakefields' house. Jessica looked around at the girls lounging on the couch, chairs, and floor of the study, digging into pizzas and popping soda-can tops. Lila was present, of course, and so were Amy, Cara, Maria, Sandra Bacon, Jean West, Caroline Pearce, Suzanne Hanlon, and Enid Rollins. Jessica wrinkled her nose. She might love the sorority, but she certainly did not love every one of her sorority sisters. She supposed there was no avoiding Caroline, who lived only a few doors down on Calico Drive. Suzanne, though, was a snobby know-it-all in Jessica's opinion. As for Elizabeth's best friend, Enid, she was just plain boring. How Elizabeth could find her interesting, Jessica would never understand.

  "By the way, Liz apologizes for not being able to make it," Jessica said as she reached for a slice of pepperoni pizza. "She'd already promised Mr. Collins she'd baby-sit for Teddy tonight." Mr. Collins was one of the most popular teachers at Sweet Valley High and was also the adviser to the school newspaper. Elizabeth often baby-sat for his six-year-old son. Jessica knew that missing the sorority meeting didn't bother Elizabeth very much. She had never been as gung-ho a Pi Beta as Jessica.

  "We all know why we're here," Jessica continued, "so let's get started. First, we need to choose a pledge chairwoman. Anyone interested?"

  Amy raised her hand. "I nominate Lila."

  Jessica snorted. Lila smiled. "Well, I thought it would be kind of tacky to nominate myself," she explained.

  "Fine," Jessica said. "Is that OK with everybody?"

  The girls waved pizza slices and soda cans in consent.

  "Great. Lila's the official pledge chairwoman." Jessica recorded the fact in her president's notebook. "Now all we need are some pledges!"

  "Do you guys know Lisa Walton, on the student council?" Maria asked.

  "Lisa's sweet," Enid responded.

  "She really is," said Maria. "Plus she has a lot of energy. It would be fun to have her in the sorority. She wouldn't take her membership for granted. She'd really get involved."

  "I like Lisa," Jessica agreed. "What do you say, Li?"

  Lila nodded her approval. "Her family just joined the country club."

  Maria folded her arms across her chest. "You know that's not what matters most," she chided.