Soap Star Read online

  SOAP STAR

  Written by

  Kate William

  Created by

  FRANCINE PASCAL

  Copyright © 2015, Francine Pascal

  "Haven't you heard a word I've said?" Jessica asked, pouncing on Elizabeth's chair and spinning her around.

  "I've heard every word. I'm just not going to audition, that's all."

  "You have got to be kidding!" Jessica wailed. "This is the opportunity of a lifetime. Soap operas don't search for blond-haired, blue-eyed identical twins every day of the week."

  Elizabeth stood up and faced her sister. "Look, Jess, I know you're really excited about this, but it's just not for me. I've got more important things to do than become a star of daytime TV."

  "Acting is a career, you know," Jessica retorted.

  "Look, it's the same problem I had with the Miss Teen Sweet Valley competition. Beauty contests and soap operas are in the same category."

  "You just haven't given them a chance," Jessica protested.

  "Sorry, Jess," Elizabeth said firmly, "but there are just some things you can't talk me into."

  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

  "It's true! The rumor is really true!" Jessica Wakefield announced, sitting bolt upright on the lounge chair and holding out the latest copy of Hollywood Digest to her friend, Lila Fowler.

  "What rumor?" Lila yawned.

  Jessica wasn't about to let Lila's obvious lack of enthusiasm dampen her excitement. "Remember the other day, when I was talking about our favorite soap opera, The Young and the Beautiful? Remember I mentioned that they might be looking for identical twins for the show?"

  Lila opened one eye and focused on Jessica. "I guess so," she mumbled.

  "Well, it's right here in Hollywood Digest!" Jessica said, shoving the open page in front of Lila's nose. "And get this! It's not just a one-time appearance. It's for a whole week of special episodes."

  Lila opened both eyes. "Really? Maybe you should audition."

  Jessica could barely contain herself. "There's no maybe about it! This is a dream come true! It's perfect for me and Liz!" she said. "Listen to this. 'Natasha Talbot, the casting director for The Young and the Beautiful, is conducting a statewide search for a pair of identical twins. Ms. Talbot is looking for young, beautiful, charming girls who not only exude the California look but have that indefinable extra something that spells "star quality" '!"

  Jessica put down the magazine and hopped out of her lounge chair. She dove into Lila's pool, swam across, did a neat flip, and swam back to where Lila sat, now reading the article.

  "Those parts were made for Liz and me," Jessica said as she pushed her long hair out of her eyes. "We have the look—sun-streaked blond hair, blue-green eyes, tans. We have the style—well, at least I do, and if Liz wears my clothes, she does, too. And getting these parts would be a perfect excuse for buying that Jeep!"

  "Whoa! Slow down, Jess," Lila said. "What does an audition for a TV show have to do with buying a Jeep?"

  "Well, for one thing, the Fiat is too old and unreliable to drive into Los Angeles on a daily basis. I mean, I'm sure our parents wouldn't want us commuting to the big city in a car that might break down any second."

  Lila laughed. "You have it all figured out, don't you?" she said. "I mean, it doesn't matter that The Young and the Beautiful is conducting this talent search statewide. It doesn't matter that you'll be up against a zillion other hopeful sets of twins. As far as you're concerned, they may as well put the names Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield on the contracts right now."

  Jessica pushed off backward and floated across the pool, hands behind her head and kicking her feet slightly. "It pays to think positively. You know that I've always wanted to be an actress. Well, this is my big chance. Just think of it, Lila! I'll get to meet Brandon Hunter, the most gorgeous man on the show."

  She kicked her feet more rapidly as she fantasized about Brandon. ''He'll probably develop a passionate crush on me and escort me to fabulous Hollywood parties. And while I'm decked out in a designer gown and sipping Perrier with lime, I'll meet a talent scout and be 'discovered'! Maybe Brandon will be so impressed with me that he'll ask me to co-star with him in his new movie."

  Lila shook her head, then leaned over and splashed a handful of water at Jessica. "Wake up, Jessica. Those things don't happen in real life."

  "Of course they do!" Jessica said, splashing Lila back. "And besides, at the very least, I'll get Brandon's autograph and the experience of a lifetime."

  "If you and Liz get the parts."

  Jessica didn't want to listen to negative comments of any kind. She figured that Lila was probably still jealous of the time Jessica was on the Eric Parker talk show. Well, it was really Elizabeth, pretending to be Jessica, who had been interviewed, but Lila didn't know that.

  And then there were the interviews surrounding the Miss Teen Sweet Valley Pageant. Jessica had entered, even though Elizabeth had been totally against the entire thing. Jessica had been hooked on the glamour, but Elizabeth had protested the fact that the only thing the judges cared about was the contestants' physical appearance, not their talent or intelligence. The local media had thought the conflict between the twins was big news and had let them debate their points of view on camera.

  But being on a soap opera was different. Acting was a profession that Jessica had had her eye on for a long time. And as far as Jessica was concerned, she and her twin sister, Elizabeth, were perfect for the parts. They were identical in every way, from their size-six figures to the dimples in their left cheeks. Even their best friends couldn't always tell them apart, particularly if they happened to dress alike and fix their hair the same way. Of course, outward appearance was where the similarity between the two girls ended. Both girls were equally popular at Sweet Valley High. Jessica was always the center of attention and the life of every party, whereas Elizabeth was down to earth and responsible.

  Jessica wanted to be an actress, or some equally and spectacularly famous person. She longed for the spotlight, recognition, nonstop activity. Elizabeth's goal was to be a writer, and she was honing her talents on the school newspaper and contributing to the local newspapers on a regular basis. She had her future clearly in sight. Jessica, on the other hand, was never sure what was going to happen one minute later—and that was the way she liked it.

  One thing Jessica did know: She could always count on Elizabeth in a pinch. And she was sure Elizabeth would be as thrilled as she was about the auditions.

  Jessica vaulted out of the pool and grabbed her towel. "I can see it all now," she said, stretching lazily in the lounge chair. "First a guest appearance on The Young and the Beautiful. Did I mention, Lila, that I know every character's story line, going back four years? Then the director will like my work so much that he'll ask me to extend my contract. Then I'll land a minor role in Brandon's movie. I'll get such rave reviews that I'll have to get an agent to keep track of my schedule. By the time I graduate from high school next year, I will have made enough money to finance college and travel. . . ."

  "And of course, by that time, you will have met a famous movie or rock star to date, and he'll travel wherever you travel, just to be near you," Lila added, finally getting into the spirit of things. "And he'll have dozens of eligible male friends who are just dying to meet your best pal, Lila."

  "I knew you'd s
ee the advantages of this sooner or later," Jessica said with an impish grin. "Just wait until I tell Elizabeth!"

  "Maybe I should have gone swimming with Lila and Jess," Elizabeth said aloud as she sat in her room, editing the final draft of an article on budget decorating for teens. She planned to submit the finished article to SuperTeen, a new regional magazine based in Los Angeles.

  She knew she could have taken her work with her to the pool, but with her sister and Lila around, there was no way she would have gotten anything done. Besides, this was the final draft, and if there were no mistakes on any particular page, she could turn it in as it was. Until she could afford to buy a word processor, she would have to retype any page that got water spots.

  Writing was important to her. It was one thing to achieve success as a writer for Sweet Valley High's school newspaper, The Oracle, and for The Sweet Valley News, the local newspaper. But if she could sell a few of her articles to some of the regional magazines, she would be well on her way to becoming a full-fledged writer. Maybe she would even write for the Los Angeles Times one day. It was only a matter of time, she told herself. She would have to climb the ladder slowly.

  Suddenly the door to her room flew open. The papers on her desk scattered in all directions.

  "Jessica!" Elizabeth admonished. "I'm trying to work here."

  "Sorry," Jessica said, bending down to help Elizabeth pick up the pages of her article. "But I have great news! It couldn't wait!"

  "It never can," Elizabeth said with an indulgent grin. "What is it this time? A new guy? Poor Sam!"

  "This has nothing to do with Sam," Jessica said, sitting down on Elizabeth's neatly made bed. "I'm still as much in love with him as ever."

  "I'm sure he'll be glad to know that," Elizabeth teased. She raised one eyebrow as she watched Jessica bounce on the bed, obviously eager to spill her news. Jessica had a way of turning every little thing into a major event. It was one of her most endearing, and most aggravating, qualities.

  Elizabeth stacked her papers and sat back in the chair waiting for the explosion. It wasn't long in coming.

  "We're going to be TV stars!" Jessica blurted out.

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "What gives you that idea?"

  "Look at this," Jessica said, handing Elizabeth the copy of Hollywood Digest, bent back to reveal the article. "It says here that The Young and the Beautiful, my all-time favorite soap opera, with the best actors in all of daytime TV, really is looking for a set of identical twins to play guest spots on the show for one week. Isn't that exciting?"

  "I seem to remember you talking about this at Guido's the other night. And if we got the parts," Elizabeth said, quoting Jessica, " 'a Jeep would be the coolest way to travel.' It's all coming back to me now."

  "Well, you have to admit, this is the best career opportunity that's come along in ages. You know I've always wanted to be an actress. Well, this is my chance. And think about how much money we could make! Mom and Dad would love it. We could even help buy the Jeep! I saw this absolutely gorgeous black Wrangler with purple trim on the Jeep lot yesterday."

  "Does the article actually say anything about money?" Elizabeth asked.

  Jessica scanned the fine print. "Yes, right here, it says that the twins chosen will be paid a cash stipend."

  "That might be only ten dollars," Elizabeth commented.

  "I'm sure it would be more than that. Anyway, just think how impressed everyone will be when we land these roles. We'll have the scoop on everyone in Hollywood—especially Brandon Hunter, the biggest hunk in show business!"

  Elizabeth shook her head and laughed. "You're rambling."

  "I can't help it. I'm excited. I don't think I've ever been more excited about anything in my whole life!"

  "That's debatable," Elizabeth noted with a grin. "Remember the beauty contest? You were totally set on becoming Miss Teen Sweet Valley. You thought you were going to receive tons of money and fabulous prizes. And you know how that turned out!"

  Jessica laid back on the bed and kicked her feet up into the air. Then she swung them down and leaped onto the floor. "Miss Teen Sweet Valley was nothing compared to this! This is real life!" she declared. "What do you say, Liz? Let's go for it!"

  "I can't do it," Elizabeth said. She turned back to her papers.

  "Haven't you heard a word I've said?" Jessica asked, pouncing on Elizabeth's chair and spinning her around.

  "I've heard every word. I'm just not going to audition, that's all."

  "You have to be kidding!" Jessica wailed. "This is the opportunity of a lifetime. They don't search for blond-haired, blue-eyed identical twins every day of the week."

  Elizabeth stood up and faced her sister. "Look, Jess, I know you're really excited about this, but it's just not for me. I've got more important things to do than become a star of daytime TV," she said.

  Jessica's hands jammed onto her hips. "Like what?"

  "I want to spend more time with Todd, for one thing," Elizabeth said. "I mean, we practically just got back together after that awful Kris Lynch episode. The last thing I want to do is spend what little free time I have away from Todd. Besides, I'm trying to use every bit of my spare time to submit articles to regional magazines. I'm working on my career here, Jess."

  "So am I," Jessica retorted. "Acting is a career, you know. And speaking of Kris Lynch . . . don't forget I helped you out with that problem. I think you owe me a favor. If it hadn't been for me, your relationship with Todd and your friendship with Enid, not to mention your reputation, might have been permanently shredded."

  "I realize that. If you hadn't found out that Kris had read my journal and that he was spreading nasty rumors all over school, I don't know what would have happened," Elizabeth said honestly.

  "And don't forget that I told Todd and Enid the truth so that they wouldn't think that you were the one telling all their precious secrets to the kids at school. They apologized because of my great sleuthing abilities."

  "I appreciate everything you did," Elizabeth said. "But it goes against my principles to audition for a soap opera. It's the same problem that I had with the Miss Teen Sweet Valley competition. Beauty contests and soap operas are in the same category—looks are the most important thing, not substance, not intelligence, not reason. As a matter of fact, I can't stand The Young and the Beautiful! The few times I've been around when you've been glued to the set have been enough to turn me off soaps forever."

  "You just haven't given it a chance. If you'd watch it long enough to get into the characters and their story lines, you'd understand the attraction it has for millions of viewers nationwide."

  "Well, I just don't understand why anyone would want to waste their time watching brainless girls with their equally brainless boyfriends act their way through sickeningly sweet and completely unbelievable plots! The actors must all go to the same dentist, because they all have the same dazzling smiles. I don't think it even matters if they can act, just as long as their teeth look good on camera."

  "How can you say they can't act?" Jessica countered. "It takes a lot of work to memorize lines on a daily basis. Take Brandon Hunter, for instance. He may be gorgeous, but he's a truly great actor. I cried when he broke up with his girlfriend, Melody, on the show. He was so hurt, so vulnerable. And she was such a witch!"

  Elizabeth threw up her hands. "You're impossibly addicted. About the only thing I'd cast Brandon Hunter as is a tree—they're both equally wooden. I tell you, Jess, if I were a writer on one of those shows, I'd show those actors a meaty plot!"

  "So you'll do it?" Jessica asked hopefully.

  "No!" Elizabeth said, rolling her eyes again at Jessica's backward attempt at logic. "Sorry, Jess," she added firmly, "but there are just some things you can't talk me into."

  Two

  Jessica didn't mention the soap opera auditions again until dinner that night. But as soon as Mrs. Wakefield set the chicken and zucchini casserole on the table, she plunged right in with her news.

  "Guess wh
at?" Jessica said. "I found this really great opportunity for Liz and I to help pay for that Jeep Wrangler we've been talking about."

  "What's that?" Mr. Wakefield asked. "Jeeps cost a lot of money."

  "This would pay quite a bit of money," Jessica went on as Elizabeth concentrated on her plate. "I saw an advertisement in Hollywood Digest. The producers of The Young and the Beautiful are looking for identical twins to appear on the show for a week. I thought it would be a good idea for Elizabeth and me to try out."

  "What do you think, Liz?" her father asked.

  "This is more Jessica's idea than mine," Elizabeth said. "She's the one who wants to be an actress. I'm not really that thrilled about soap operas. Besides, I'm pretty busy right now."

  "C'mon, Liz," Jessica cajoled. "A week! That's all I'm asking for. A week's work that might make us a lot of money. Look. We need a new car. The Fiat is on its last legs. It breaks down about every five minutes. And what about that word processor you've been wanting?"

  "Somehow I doubt that a week's work on a soap opera will pay you enough to buy a Jeep and a computer," Mrs. Wakefield replied. "But it might help. Where is the show filmed?"

  "Not far away," Jessica said. "In Los Angeles. Just think of the experience we would have! And all the people we would meet," she added enthusiastically. "I can't believe that Liz would turn something like this down just because she's busy."

  "We probably wouldn't even get the parts," Elizabeth said, smiling in spite of herself. "You talk as if the decision had already been made."

  "But that's just the point," Jessica reasoned. "We could at least try out. Who knows? Maybe we'd get lucky."

  "It sounds as if you two need to discuss this further," Mr. Wakefield said. "I don't really see a problem in the girls trying out or performing on a show like that for a week. Do you, Alice?"

  "I'm sure it would be fine, and Los Angeles isn't too far away—" Mrs. Wakefield began.

  "See, Liz!" Jessica exclaimed. "It's OK with Mom and Dad!"

  "I told you that it was against my principles," Elizabeth argued. "I think soap operas are all fluff and no substance, and I wouldn't be caught dead on one! Mom, Dad? Don't you see my point?"