The Stolen Diary

  THE STOLEN DIARY

  Written by

  Kate William

  Created by

  FRANCINE PASCAL

  Copyright © 2015, Francine Pascal

  To Cici Johansson

  Elizabeth went straight to her locker when she arrived at school on Monday morning. It was bad enough not having Todd to talk to anymore, but to go through the entire weekend without her journal, especially after all that had happened, was almost more than she could stand. "Please let it be there," she whispered as she unlocked the door. But just as she pulled it open, Kris slipped in front of her. He was holding out a single white rose. "What's this?" she asked.

  "A peace offering," said Kris. "I want to apologize for the other night. I really went off the deep end, and I'm sorry." He handed her the rose. "Say you'll forgive me."

  "If you'll forgive me," Elizabeth said. "I never meant to hurt you."

  By the time Kris left her, Elizabeth had almost forgotten what she had been doing when he interrupted her. It wasn't until she reached into the locker for her books that she remembered her journal. But it wasn't on the shelf. I don't believe this, she said to herself. If it's not here, where can it be? And then she saw it, jammed beneath her sneakers on the locker floor. She picked up the journal and tucked it into her bag. I really should keep track of where I put this, she thought. Or some stranger may get to read the life and times of Elizabeth Wakefield!

  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

  One

  "What's the matter?" Enid Rollins teased. "You lose your other half?"

  Elizabeth Wakefield and her best friend, Enid, were having lunch together in the Sweet Valley High cafeteria. Enid was eating and talking with her usual enthusiasm, but Elizabeth was distracted. Every few minutes she looked up, and her pretty blue-green eyes would scan the busy room, searching for her boyfriend, Todd Wilkins. Normally, Todd ate his lunch with Elizabeth, but this Monday he was nowhere to be seen.

  "Oh, don't say that," she pleaded, returning her attention to her friend. "Ever since Steven and Cara nearly eloped, I've been feeling like Todd and I are an old married couple."

  Elizabeth smiled, showing the mischievous dimple in her left cheek, but in her heart she knew that she was far from joking. Recently, her older brother, Steven, a student at the nearby state university, had almost given up his chance to go to law school in order to marry his girlfriend, Cara Walker. Cara's mother had accepted a job in London, and Steven and Cara were so upset by the idea of being separated that they had decided to elope. In the end, friends and family had helped convince them that they were too young to make such a commitment, but their predicament had forced Elizabeth and Todd to examine their own relationship more closely.

  Elizabeth made a face. "Sixteen and settled!" she said with a laugh.

  "Well, it's better than sixteen and suffering," said Enid.

  "Enid," Elizabeth asked, immediately becoming serious, "is something wrong?"

  "Not really." Enid shrugged. "Well . . . oh, I don't know, Liz. It's just that I've been missing Hugh a lot lately."

  Enid had dated handsome Hugh Grayson for some time, and Elizabeth knew how much her friend had liked him. The problem had been that Hugh lived in Big Mesa, not in Sweet Valley. Living in different towns and going to different schools had made it difficult for the couple to spend much time together, and eventually they had agreed to break up.

  "I mean, I know we had our problems," Enid continued, "and it isn't easy dating someone who lives miles away, but the truth is that I just haven't liked any of the other boys I've gone out with half as much as Hugh." She pushed away her half-eaten sandwich. "What's a girl to do?" she joked.

  Elizabeth leaned toward her. "Well," she said slowly, "a girl could tell Hugh exactly how she feels."

  Enid stared back in horror. "Oh, I couldn't do that," she said hastily. "I heard that he's been dating someone else lately. What if he rejects me?"

  "Don't be ridiculous," said Elizabeth. "First of all, just because you heard rumors doesn't mean that they're true. And, second of all, you know how much Hugh likes you. Even if he is involved with someone else, I don't see what you have to lose by being truthful with him."

  Enid groaned. "You mean honesty is the best policy, right?"

  "Exactly."

  Enid shook her head. "I don't know, Liz. It was really hard for me when Hugh and I broke up. I know it was mutual and for the best and everything, but I never really believed we'd stop seeing each other. I think I honestly believed that he'd drive up to my house one day, take me into his arms, and tell me I was the only girl for him."

  "You mean like a knight on a white horse," Elizabeth said with a grin.

  "More like a knight in a red Volkswagen. Anyway, the point is that he didn't."

  "But that was a while ago," Elizabeth argued. "Now he's had plenty of time to realize how much he misses you."

  "Or how much he doesn't miss me." Enid shook her curly reddish-brown hair. "Really, Liz, I couldn't go through the pain and humiliation again." She shuddered. "All those nights I sat by the telephone thinking he was going to call. No, I'd rather suffer in silence than risk having Hugh turn me down flat." She helped herself to one of Elizabeth's cookies. "Why does love have to be so difficult?" she asked with a sigh.

  Elizabeth's eyes began to twinkle. "You know what I think? I think we need a little advice from someone who's an expert in this sort of thing."

  Enid turned pale and dropped the cookie in terror. "You're sworn to secrecy, Elizabeth Wakefield!" she gasped. "If anyone ever found out about this . . . if Hugh ever found out—"

  "Enid, get a grip on yourself. I'm not going to tell anyone!" Elizabeth laughed. "All I meant was that we should try to imagine what Jessica would do if she were in this situation. You know, if she wanted to let a boy know that she liked him without actually coming out and saying anything."

  Enid retrieved her cookie. "You mean we have to be clever and subtle."

  "I mean we have to be clever and sneaky." Elizabeth grinned conspiratorially.

  Enid glanced at her watch. "Well, we'll have to be sneaky later," she said, pushing back her chair and getting to her feet. "Look at the time! Lunch period's almost over!"

  Elizabeth stood up, too. "I wonder where Todd could be," she mused, giving one more look around the cafeteria. "It's not like him to miss a meal."

  Enid scooped up her books. "Something probably came up," she said lightly. "You know what Mondays are like."

  Elizabeth looked at her watch for the third time that minute and drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. "Where is she?" she asked the rearview mirror.

  Jessica Wakefield was late. Again. Although Jessica looked exactly like her twin sister, from her sun-streaked blond hair and sparkling blue-green eyes to her perfect size-six figure and contagious smile, in reality she couldn't have been more different from Elizabeth than if she had been born to completely different parents. Not only was Jessica frivolous, flirtatious, and fun-loving while Elizabeth was serious, steadfast, and studious, she was also always late.

  Just then Elizabeth spotted her twin across the lawn. Jessica was hurrying toward the twins' red Fiat Spider with a big smile on her face, her schoolbooks held against her chest, and her hair blowing in the breeze.

  "I hope you haven't been waiting long," she said as she slid into the seat beside Elizabeth. "I got held up."

  Elizabeth could never stay angry with Jessica for long, and this afternoon was no exception. An impish smile lit up her face. "Not by a boy, I hope," she teased.

  Jessica laughed. "Just because I'm going out with Sam doesn't mean I can't talk to other boys. After all, I don't want to lose my touch, you know. What happens if Sam and I break up someday? I've heard of people who go for weeks without another date." She shivered in mock horror.

  Elizabeth started the engine. The Fiat wheezed for a second or two, and then the engine turned over and they started to move. "I'm sure there's no danger of you losing your touch. In fact," she went on, remembering her lunchtime conversation with Enid, "I was wondering if you could give me some tips on how to get a boy to ask you out."

  Jessica turned to her sister, her eyes wide with amazement. "You?" Jessica hooted. "What happened to Todd? Don't tell me he's been kidnapped by aliens!"

  "No." Elizabeth laughed. "He's still on this planet. I was just thinking about doing an article for The Oracle. You know, a funny look at how girls get boys interested in them, and I thought you might be able to help me out." Elizabeth didn't want to lie to her twin, but she couldn't betray Enid's trust, either. Perhaps I really will write an article on this, Elizabeth thought. Elizabeth often wrote articles for the school paper as well as her weekly column, "Eyes and Ears."

  Jessica groaned dramatically. "I can't believe we share the same genes," she said. "What I know about boys would fill a book, but what you know wouldn't fill a postcard." She shook her shining hair. "You and Todd have been together so long, I bet neither of you remembers what a real date is like."

  Elizabeth laughed. "OK, Jess, since I know nothing about boys or dating, let's say there's a boy you like who goes to a different school. How would you get him to notic
e you?"

  Jessica turned to her sister, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "What are his hobbies, what are his interests, and where does he hang out?"

  After dinner that evening, Elizabeth met Todd in the library, as they had arranged the day before. Both of them were busy researching different school projects, so she didn't think anything of the fact that he seemed rather distant and quiet. It wasn't until they were getting ready to leave that he finally spoke to her. "Do you have your car, or would you like a lift home?" he asked.

  Elizabeth smiled. "Jessica's taken the Fiat to Lila's," she said, "so if you don't mind . . ."

  Todd shrugged. "No, I don't mind."

  "Well, you don't have to sound so enthusiastic," Elizabeth kidded him as they walked to his car. "I'm sure I could find somebody else to drive me home if I'm taking you out of your way."

  She waited for his usual lopsided grin, but instead Todd just mumbled something about feeling tired.

  Elizabeth climbed into the BMW. "No wonder you're tired," she said, buckling her seatbelt. "You've been working nonstop all day. Where were you at lunch?"

  Todd got into the driver's seat. "Lunch?" he said vaguely.

  Elizabeth looked at him quizzically. "Yes," she said, "lunch. You remember lunch, Todd. It's that meal in the middle of the day. The one you usually spend with me?"

  "Oh, right, lunch." He started the engine. "I guess I forgot to tell you. I'd promised to give someone some help with their math homework today."

  "Well, I'm glad you're such a good friend," she teased, "but I missed you. My cheese sandwich just doesn't taste the same when you're not there."

  The car jumped forward so abruptly that the back of Elizabeth's head bounced against the headrest. But instead of asking her if she was all right, Todd turned on her. "Come on, Liz," he said sharply, "you can eat lunch without me for one day, can't you?"

  Elizabeth stared at him in surprise. "Of course I can," she replied, feeling oddly defensive. "I only meant that we usually eat lunch together, that's all."

  "Usually isn't the same as must," Todd said, concentrating on the road ahead. "If I want to do something else once in a while, I can. It's not like you own me or anything, you know. We may go out together, but I'm still a free agent."

  Elizabeth couldn't believe what she was hearing. She folded her arms across her chest and stared out the window. This wasn't like Todd at all. Elizabeth was never overly possessive, and he knew it.

  The car came to a sudden stop in front of the Wakefields' home.

  Elizabeth glanced around in surprise. Todd was leaning back in the driver's seat, his eyes on some distant point down the road. "Todd," said Elizabeth, somehow managing to control the anger she was beginning to feel, "I really don't understand what's going on."

  "Nothing's going on, Elizabeth," Todd replied, not turning to look at her. "I just don't think I have to ask your permission if I feel like doing something without you."

  Elizabeth unsnapped her seatbelt with a clang. "Look, Todd," she said, straining to stay calm, "I certainly don't want you to feel that you need my permission for anything. I'm your girlfriend, not your mother." She gathered her books in her arms. "If you're feeling so smothered by me, maybe we shouldn't see quite so much of each other for a while." She froze with her hand on the door handle, waiting for him to say, Of course I don't want to see less of you, Liz.

  Todd cleared his throat. "Maybe you're right," he said, his voice tight. "Maybe we need a little breather from each other."

  Too shocked to trust herself to answer, Elizabeth clamped her mouth shut and stared fixedly at the clock on the dashboard.

  "Not just for me," Todd went on quickly. "I mean, ever since Justin Silver, I've had the feeling I was cramping your style."

  Justin Silver? Cramping my style? The blue numerals of the clock began to swim before Elizabeth's eyes as a hundred different thoughts raced through her head. Justin Silver had been their bowling coach. He had had a crush on Elizabeth, but though she had been attracted to him, she had stopped short of encouraging him because of her relationship with Todd. Maybe I should have gone out with him, she thought, dazed. But it was too late. Justin Silver was dating someone else by then. She had turned a great-looking boy down flat, and for what? For someone who all of a sudden didn't want to go out with her anymore!

  Elizabeth was vaguely aware that Todd was still talking. "Don't tell me you weren't attracted to him," Todd was saying. "I'll bet you're sorry now that you didn't go out with him."

  Elizabeth's head was reeling. She stared at him silently. Finally, she found her voice. "Maybe I am," she managed to say.

  "You see?" said Todd.

  A solitary tear slid down Elizabeth's cheek.

  Todd touched her shoulder. His voice became more gentle. "Look, Liz," he said, "you know I don't really want to break up with you. It's just that . . . I don't know, we're still so young. I think we both need a little more freedom. You know, just to find out who we are. Maybe even . . . you know . . . start seeing other people."

  She turned away. She couldn't look at him anymore. If she looked at him, she really would start to cry. "Other people?" she whispered.

  "I'm not saying absolutely," he added quickly. "I'm just saying I'm sure we'd both like the option."

  Elizabeth's whisper was like a shadow of her normal voice. "Oh, right," she said. "The option."

  "But of course we'll still be friends," Todd continued. "Nothing's going to change that."

  What was the point of arguing? What could she say? Todd was right. They were young. Even she was afraid that they had become too settled. And anyway, it was obvious that Todd's mind was made up.

  With a monumental effort, Elizabeth pushed the car door open. "Of course," she said, her voice sounding flat and loud in the quiet of the night. "Of course we'll still be friends."

  Elizabeth had been writing in her journal for twenty minutes, and was beginning to feel better. Talking to herself in her journal always helped. It was the one place where she never had to worry about hurting someone else's feelings or being misunderstood. Writing down exactly what she thought and how she felt helped to put things in perspective. She had written about everything that had happened that evening—everything Todd had said and everything that was going through her head—and the whole horrible night was beginning to make some sense. She could see now that it was not the end of the world. It was a change, but change wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Change could be a good thing, too. And if she was really honest with herself, Todd's feelings were no different from what her own had been lately. Hadn't she joked to Enid just that afternoon that she was "sixteen and settled"? Hadn't there been moments when she had wished that she had gone out with Justin Silver? Didn't it upset her every time Jessica suggested that Elizabeth and Todd were boring and dull?

  Suddenly, the door to Elizabeth's room burst open.

  "I don't believe it!" Jessica fumed, throwing her bag and jacket on the floor and herself down on the bed beside her sister. "I really don't believe it! This is the second time this week!" She turned to her twin. "I can't live like this!" she wailed.

  Elizabeth, pen poised and her mind still on her own problems, stared back at her.

  Encouraged by what she took to be her sister's interest, Jessica went on. "There I was," she said, "driving along, minding my own business, and what happens? I come to a red light. Being a good driver, of course, I stop at the light. And then, the light changes, but the car won't move. It just makes this funny noise and stops dead. There I am, stalled at a green light, with all these cars behind me honking their horns." She flopped back with an enormous sigh. "Thank goodness there was this cute boy in a Corvette who got me started again. But you can't always count on that. Last time it was a middle-aged woman in a Ford."

  "Well," said Elizabeth.

  "Well?" Jessica repeated. "Is that all you can say? Well?" She propped herself on one elbow and turned to her sister. "Liz," said Jessica, studying her closely, "is something wrong? You look like you've been crying. Has something happened between you and Todd?"

  Elizabeth sighed. Jessica was uncanny. Elizabeth had been hoping to keep the news about her and Todd a secret from her twin for at least another day or two, but she could see that there was no way she would be able to. "Sort of," she answered.