Cheating to Win

  CHEATING TO WIN

  Written by

  Kate William

  Created by

  FRANCINE PASCAL

  Copyright © 2015, Francine Pascal

  Tony was doing some fast arithmetic in his head as he showered. That night, after dinner, he would take another "magic vitamin." That would leave him with only four. It was clear to Tony that he shouldn't stop taking them now, not when they were doing him so much good.

  I'd better stop off at the gym tonight or tomorrow night to see Lou, he told himself. I don't want to run out of these pills now, not when we've got a meet this Saturday. Everyone will be out there, expecting great things from me, especially Dad.

  If I'd waited and taken Dr. Griffin's advice, I'd probably still be sitting on the bench, Tony reminded himself.

  It wasn't until he got back to his locker and started to get dressed that a little voice in the back of his head reminded him that he didn't really know what was in those pills.

  I shouldn't just go and buy more of them, he thought uneasily as he slipped his polo shirt over his head. Not without asking more about them. Not without finding out what these magic vitamins really are.

  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

  Todd Wilkins looked at Elizabeth Wakefield with a twinkle in his coffee-colored eyes. "Don't tell me I get to eat lunch alone with my girlfriend!" he teased as they set their trays down at a table in the crowded lunchroom. It was noon on Wednesday, and most of Sweet Valley High's student body was jammed into the cafeteria.

  Elizabeth laughed. "You may be right. We are alone, for the first time in ages," she said.

  "Well, we promised we'd do it. Our friends will probably be mad at us," Todd said as he put his hand over hers. "But I get half an hour alone with you. And that makes it worth it."

  Elizabeth blushed. Even though she and Todd had been seeing each other steadily for a long time, she still found their relationship very romantic. She was as glad as Todd was that they'd managed to sneak past the crowded table where their closest friends were sitting, to steal some time alone. Both Elizabeth and Todd were popular and outgoing, devoted to their friends and extracurricular activities, so it wasn't always easy to get privacy at Sweet Valley High! Elizabeth had been bemoaning her situation to her twin sister, Jessica, the night before. Of course, Jessica hadn't sympathized. "You and Todd are too serious as it is," was all she had said, with a toss of her golden-blond hair.

  It just goes to show how different "identicals" can be, Elizabeth mused as she looked tenderly at Todd. "Too serious" were not words that made sense to Elizabeth Wakefield. Once she committed herself to something, such as her position as a writer for The Oracle, Sweet Valley High's student newspaper, or to someone, such as Todd, she committed herself heart and soul. Let Jessica play the field and flit from guy to guy. Elizabeth chose not to live life in the fast lane!

  "OK," Todd said. "Now that I've finally got you alone, tell me how your day's been so far."

  "Things were crazy at the Oracle meeting Mr. Collins organized this morning," Elizabeth told Todd as they began to eat their lunches. "A couple of staff writers have resigned and we've barely got enough people to cover school events. In fact, John Pfeifer asked me if I could help him out with the sports department for a while."

  "Really? Well, you're a natural, Liz. You've done some great sports interviews, especially that profile of Claire Middleton."

  Claire Middleton, who had recently moved to Sweet Valley, had fought for a position on the all-male football team, the Gladiators, and Elizabeth had covered the sensational story. "Yeah, I think it'll be fun," Elizabeth agreed. "John mentioned he might need me to help cover some of the big track meets coming up." She grinned. "So you'd better help me brush up on my sports-coverage skills!" Todd's sport was basketball, but he was such an avid fan, she knew he would be able to give her pointers on track as well.

  "Uh, oh," Todd said suddenly, under his breath. "Don't look now, but I think our romantic, just-the-two-of-us lunch is about to be interrupted." Roger Barrett-Patman was looking around for a place to sit, and his gaze had fallen on their table.

  A moment later Roger was pulling up a chair. He glanced from Todd to Elizabeth. "Hi, guys. Mind if I join you?"

  Todd hesitated, as if he were actually going to ask Roger to sit at another table. But before he could speak Roger sat down. "I'm absolutely starving," he exclaimed as he unwrapped an enormous submarine sandwich. "Coach Featherston has been working us really hard lately. I think I could eat twice what I usually eat and still lose weight."

  Roger Barrett-Patman had been a friend of Elizabeth's for a long time. He was a good, solid guy, someone whose values Elizabeth very much admired. It couldn't have been easy for Roger to trade places the way he did, Elizabeth thought as she looked at him. Roger had been raised by his mother, who had had very little money. For a while he had helped pay the rent by working as a janitor after school. Then his mother had become seriously ill, and a mysterious benefactor began to give money to the Barretts. But even with the expert medical help the money had made possible, Roger's mother died, leaving Roger completely alone in the world. At least, that's what he had thought at first. But after her death an incredible secret had been revealed about her early life. Mrs. Barrett had once been romantically involved with Henry Patman's brother. Roger was in fact the illegitimate nephew of one of the richest men in the state of California!

  Elizabeth and her classmates had watched Roger go from rags to riches. He had moved into the Patmans' mansion, and had learned to deal with his arrogant new cousin, Bruce Patman, the flashy senior whose license plates 1BRUCE1 revealed the enormity of his ego. Elizabeth knew that for Roger, running had been a great help throughout that turbulent time. He had been a star member of the track team before his sudden change in status, and had remained a star member, despite all the turmoil caused by adjusting to his new life.

  "John Pfeifer told me you may help him cover some track meets," Roger said to Elizabeth. He laughed. "Make sure to mention that at least one runner you know is exhausted. And we're still more than seven weeks away from the All-County meet!"

  "That's right," Elizabeth said excitedly. "You'll be able to give me the whole inside story. Grueling practices, team gossip, all the juicy stuff I need to liven up my stories." Elizabeth was teasing, but Roger seemed to take her seriously.

  "Grueling isn't the word," he responded. "The way the coach has been driving us, you'd think everyone, not just Tony Esteban, was heading for the Olympics." Roger shook his head. "It's weird how competitive a practice can get. But I guess that's sports, huh?"

  "I don't know," Elizabeth answered. "I'm not sure high school sports have to be so extreme."

  "Sure they do. If you want to win!" Roger grinned. He sat back and took a swig of soda. "Sorry, guys! I didn't mean to barge in on your lunch and go on about something only I happen to find thrilling. I guess I'm just a little keyed up."

  "No problem." Todd laughed. "We love hearing the inside scoop."

  "When's your next meet?" Elizabeth asked.

  "We're up against Big Mesa this Saturday," Roger said. "Then we've got a meet almost every Saturday until the All-County." He shook his head. "The guy who's really under pressure is Tony. I meant it when I said he's heading for the Olympics. A few talent scouts have been coming to our practices, and I know they're not here to watch me!"
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  "You're a pretty good runner yourself, Roger," Todd replied.

  "Yeah, but not like Tony." Roger pushed his hair back. "The great thing about Tony is that he's the sort of guy who doesn't let the pressure or the fame get to him. He's the same guy he was three years ago when he was just 'a runner with potential.' The only thing that's changed is that he gave up the soccer team to devote all of his energy to running."

  "Yeah," Todd said, "but there's bound to be extra pressure on him this season."

  "Sure," Roger replied. "But I think Tony can handle it. It's not often you find someone who's so good at a sport and so levelheaded about it."

  Elizabeth didn't know Tony very well, but she had always liked him. He seemed to be a self-possessed guy, someone who seemed sure of who he was and what he wanted. You would never guess from his nonchalant, matter-of-fact demeanor that he was going to be so famous! "Maybe I should do a profile of him for The Oracle before the Olympic committee gets ahold of him!" Elizabeth said to Roger.

  "Sure, why not?" Roger said, adding, "Excuse me for a second. I've got to get another ice-cream bar. Can I get either of you anything?"

  Elizabeth and Todd both declined. They waited until Roger was out of earshot to talk about their plans for that afternoon.

  "I don't care where we go or what we do," Todd said dramatically, taking her hands in his. "I just want some time with you."

  "Let's see . . . we could go for a bicycle ride," Elizabeth mused.

  "Great. Maybe we could ride to the beach," Todd replied. "I haven't seen you in that gorgeous blue bathing suit in a long time!"

  "The beach sounds great," Elizabeth said. "I wonder if Roger wants to join us? It sounds as if he needs a break."

  "But what about being alone, just the two of us? I thought this beach excursion was something special," Todd objected.

  "Later," Elizabeth promised, her eyes twinkling. "We'll steal away for a romantic walk along the shore. I promise." Elizabeth saw that Todd seemed a bit disappointed, but she was sure he didn't really mind her inviting Roger along for that afternoon.

  Roger came back to the table, his ice-cream bar already half-eaten. He thanked Elizabeth for her invitation but turned it down. "I have to get some things straightened out at home," he said. "I've got a houseguest coming down from L.A. tomorrow. In fact, he's going to be a longterm houseguest." Roger finished off his ice cream and continued his story.

  "It isn't anyone either of you guys know. My mom had a close friend named Denise Ferguson, who moved up to L.A. just before my mom got sick. Denise has a son named Mitch. He's thirteen now, but I haven't seen him in a while." Roger chuckled. "He'll probably surprise me in more ways than one."

  "And he's coming to visit you?" Elizabeth asked.

  Roger nodded. "Denise is having a rough time with Mitch. Mitch's dad died five years ago and he's never really gotten over it. He goes to school with some really tough kids, and apparently he's gotten in with their crowd. Last week he got suspended for drinking."

  "Oh no," Elizabeth said softly. "He's only thirteen?"

  "Yeah, isn't that sad? Denise isn't home much these days because she's got two jobs, and she thinks Mitch needs to be around someone who can be a positive role model for him. So she asked me if she could send Mitch to Sweet Valley for the five-week period of his suspension. She thinks it'll be good for him to get out of the city and away from the rough kids he hangs around with, and I guess she's hoping I can be some sort of positive influence on him."

  "If anyone can, Roger, you can," Elizabeth said earnestly. After all, she thought, Roger had grown up in a similarly hard situation. "I'm sure you'll be able to help Mitch a lot!"

  "Well, listen, if you two have any extra time . . ."

  "Sure, Roger," Elizabeth replied. She didn't even stop to think about the promise she and Todd had made to spend more time together and to make fewer commitments to other people. But Elizabeth couldn't say no to a request such as Roger's. It sounded as if Mitch Ferguson could use all the friends he could get. She was so intent on Roger's story that she barely noticed Todd's tense expression.

  "I'll tell you what. We're going to have a barbecue on Friday night, a sort of Welcome Mitch thing. Can you guys come?" Roger asked.

  "Sure, that sounds great," Elizabeth agreed.

  Todd nudged her under the table. "Liz," he said. But Roger was racing ahead with plans for the barbecue.

  "Good. Ask Jessica, too, Liz. I'm going to invite Tony Esteban and Annie Whitman. I'd like there to be a bunch of people around to make Mitch feel at home."

  "Well, you can count on us." It made Elizabeth proud to think that she and Todd were the kind of couple their friends could count on to be there for them—not like those annoying self-absorbed couples who always wanted to be alone.

  Roger stood and picked up his tray. "Wish me luck," he added. "I'm not sure I'm ready to be a role model for a thirteen-year-old. At least, not for one who's already in serious trouble."

  "Roger, you'll be great," Elizabeth assured him. She turned back to Todd as Roger walked off. "You don't mind about Friday night, do you?" she asked him.

  "Why should I?" Todd said glumly. "Just because you and I made a promise to go somewhere romantic on Friday, just the two of us?"

  Elizabeth bit her lip. There's always Saturday night, she objected inwardly. It wasn't like Todd to be so insistent. True, they'd promised each other they'd try for more time alone, but Elizabeth had thought Todd was only teasing when he had asked her to make the pact. Now it looked as if he had been serious about it!

  Jessica was in a rotten mood when Elizabeth got back from the beach that afternoon.

  "Look what Prince Albert did," she complained. "He chewed my brand-new blouse! I'm ready to kill him!"

  Elizabeth laughed and looked down affectionately at the Wakefields' boisterous yellow Lab. Even though he was pretty big, he was still a puppy in spirit. "Maybe he needs to go to obedience school," she suggested.

  Jessica tossed the blouse on her bed and snatched up her hairbrush. "He needs to replace my blouse," she said angrily.

  Elizabeth hid a giggle. "Come on, Jess. Forgive him. Look at those big, sad eyes," she wheedled.

  Jessica glanced down at Prince Albert, whose imploring expression could have made the fiercest person melt. "All right, all right," she muttered. "But tomorrow I'm putting a padlock on my door so he can't ruin anything else!"

  Elizabeth shooed Prince Albert downstairs and sat down on her sister's bed. She looked around at the chaos her twin claimed was "casual clutter." With its chocolate-brown walls and complete lack of order, Jessica's bedroom was an unofficial Wakefield disaster area.

  To think we were born only four minutes apart, Elizabeth thought. Four minutes could have been four years in their case. True, the girls were mirror images of each other. Their soft, wavy blond hair, eyes the sparkling blue-green of the Pacific Ocean, and lovely size-six figures made it difficult for some people to tell the two apart. But their friends could tell by the difference in the twins' styles. Jessica always wore the latest fashions; Elizabeth's taste in clothes was more conservative. Elizabeth always wore a watch; Jessica thought worrying about the time was definitely "un-California."

  It would be hard to find two people with more different temperaments, too. Jessica shunned all the things Elizabeth valued, such as hard work, studying, and a few close, loyal friendships, in favor of cheerleading, dancing, and big groups of adoring guys. Though underneath it all the twins were extremely close and would do anything for each other. Jessica loved to tease her sister. Why write for the school paper when she could be a high-profile cheerleader? Why go steady when she could have dates with three different guys in one weekend?

  "What's bugging you?" Elizabeth asked her sister. "Prince Albert can't be the only thing."

  Jessica made a face. "Oh, it's this dumb Miss Teen Sweet Valley thing. I actually have to work at it! I didn't think I'd have to go places and talk to people and make speeches and do all sorts of bori
ng stuff. At least if things had worked out with Frazer I'd have gotten something good out of it all."

  Elizabeth laughed. So that was it! Jessica had recently won a local beauty pageant, one Elizabeth had tried to stop. Elizabeth believed that beauty pageants were sexist, dated, and fundamentally unfair, and had argued that beauty queens weren't selected for their talents or intelligence, but on the basis of their appearance only. Once she'd participated in the pageant herself, Jessica had grudgingly conceded that her twin was right. Elizabeth was glad Jessica wasn't one hundred percent thrilled with her title. The lesson she'd learned might not have been easy, but it was very important.

  But she did feel bad about Jessica and Frazer. One of the reasons her sister had entered the beauty pageant was to get the attention of Frazer McConnell, one of her brother Steven's friends from college. She had gotten his attention, all right, but after two dates, it was clear their match was not made in heaven.

  "Listen, forget about Frazer. I have an invitation to pass on to you," Elizabeth said. Jessica listened as Elizabeth described the barbecue at Roger Barrett-Patman's house on Friday night.

  "Annie Whitman? What's she doing on the list? Is she going out with Tony Esteban now?" Jessica asked curiously. Annie was on the cheerleading squad with her, and it clearly pained her to hear new gossip through the most unlikely source—her twin sister. "Well, I can't go, anyway," she added before Elizabeth could answer her question about Annie and Tony. "I have to go to a stupid store opening downtown and cut a stupid ribbon. If you ask me, Miss Teen Sweet Valley is overworked."

  "Maybe you can resign," Elizabeth suggested.

  Jessica gave her a murderous look. "I'm not resigning," she said. "I've got to ask Robin and Amy if they know anything about Annie Whitman and Tony Esteban," she added.

  Jessica's aquamarine eyes were intent, and Elizabeth knew that her sister would soon root out whatever was going on between Tony and Annie.

  And to think I'm the one who wants to be a reporter, Elizabeth thought with a rueful smile. Jessica is the real snoop in this house!