Brokenhearted Read online

  BROKENHEARTED

  Written by

  Kate William

  Created by

  FRANCINE PASCAL

  Copyright © 2015, Francine Pascal

  BROKENHEARTED

  Elizabeth glimpsed a shiny black BMW pulling into the Wakefields' driveway. The car rolled to a stop, and a tall, familiar figure emerged from behind the wheel. With long strides, he hurried to the house. Then the doorbell rang.

  Elizabeth paused for a second, but there was no point in attempting to slow her racing heart. It couldn't be done.

  She opened the door. And there was Todd, not as suntanned as he was when he lived in California, but just as handsome.

  "Liz!"

  Elizabeth felt the blood rushing to her cheeks. "Come in!" she finally managed to say, stepping back into the hallway.

  Todd entered, and for a second he stood there, looking down at her. Then he pulled her into his arms for a long, close hug. "Liz. I've missed you so much!"

  "Todd," Elizabeth whispered. His embrace was wonderfully warm, strong, and familiar. Elizabeth nestled her face against his muscular chest, just where she always had.

  Then the magical moment was over. Elizabeth stepped back, not wanting to admit how close she and Todd had just come to kissing. What had she been thinking of? Jeffrey, she reminded herself. Jeffrey is your boyfriend now.

  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

  Elizabeth Wakefield opened one eye and peeked at the clock radio on her nightstand. It was early even for a school day—the alarm wouldn't sound for another half hour.

  Go back to sleep, she told herself, pulling the fuzzy, cream-colored blanket back up around her ears.

  Then Elizabeth remembered what had made her toss and turn all night. Todd Wilkins, her first love, was moving back to Sweet Valley!

  Todd and Elizabeth had been a serious and devoted couple for ages, until he and his family moved from California to Vermont. Even though many months had passed, Elizabeth would never forget the special times she and Todd had shared. She had thought she would never get over the pain of saying goodbye to him.

  Elizabeth sat up in bed. Reaching over to the window, she pushed back the filmy curtains. Outside, the morning sun made the dewy tree leaves sparkle.

  "It just can't be true," Elizabeth said out loud, flopping back onto her pillows. As she closed her eyes her head spun with memories. Todd had moved to Burlington and they promised to stay in close touch, visit each other whenever possible, remain true. . . . Then there was that fateful Christmas when Todd returned to Sweet Valley and fell in love with Suzanne Devlin, a beautiful family friend of the Wakefields' from New York City who was staying with them for the holidays . . .

  It had hurt. Not just Todd's caring for someone else, but Elizabeth's own realization that her feelings for Todd had changed. Or had they? If they had, why was she feeling like this—so unsure and yet so excited—now?

  Todd and I agreed that as long as we were apart we had to live our own separate lives, Elizabeth reminded herself. Todd was free to go out with other girls and Elizabeth to date other guys. She knew Todd was no longer seeing Suzanne, but by now there might be another girl in the picture. And she had Jeffrey . . .

  Jeffrey French, the sweetest, most caring and considerate guy in the world. Jeffrey, whose love had made Elizabeth forget about Todd—at least, she had thought so. . . .

  Elizabeth and Jeffrey had been going out for some time. Elizabeth loved spending time with him. He had become a very important part of her life.

  Unfortunately, she still had to break the news to Jeffrey. He wasn't at the party Friday night when Lila had dropped the bomb about Todd's return, and Elizabeth hadn't been able to tell him about it over the weekend because he had been away, visiting relatives. She had no idea what she would say to Jeffrey when she saw him, and she had been worrying about it all weekend. Todd was moving back to Sweet Valley, but that wasn't the whole story. Elizabeth knew it, and Jeffrey would know it, too.

  With Todd back in Sweet Valley, would she still want to date Jeffrey? Were her feelings for Jeffrey as strong as the love she had shared with Todd? If she had to choose between them, would she choose Jeffrey—or Todd?

  Just then Elizabeth's soul-searching was interrupted. Her bedroom door swung open and rebounded against the wall with a clatter. Elizabeth's twin sister, Jessica, came in and jumped onto Elizabeth's bed, nearly squashing her.

  "Well, what are you going to do about Todd, Liz?" Jessica demanded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What are you going to tell Jeffrey when you see him today?"

  Despite her anxiety, Elizabeth couldn't help smiling. Trust Jessica to be bursting with the news simply because it was news! Not many things could get Jessica out of bed on a Monday morning before she was forcibly evicted.

  Settling herself cross-legged on Elizabeth's bed, Jessica observed her sister. Jessica had never been crazy about Todd Wilkins. In her opinion Todd was dull, and Todd and Elizabeth as a couple had been even duller. They were so absorbed in each other that they might as well have been married! She thought Jeffrey was more fun, and just as cute as Todd. Although, lately, Jeffrey and Elizabeth had seemed pretty settled and boring, too. That was Elizabeth for you, Jessica thought, serious about everything. Clearly Elizabeth needed some intrigue and spice in her life. And with Todd moving back to Sweet Valley, it looked as if she was going to get it!

  To Jessica spice and intrigue were what life was all about. You only lived once, after all. And even after sixteen years, Jessica refused to give up trying to bring her twin around to her own way of thinking.

  As it was, the resemblance between them was mainly on the surface. Elizabeth was five foot six and slender—so was Jessica. Elizabeth had long, silky blond hair that fell to her shoulders—so did Jessica. Elizabeth's golden California tan made her blue-green eyes even more brilliant—so did Jessica's. But anyone who knew the Wakefields well could tell them apart in a flash.

  The twin in the wild zebra-striped miniskirt had to be Jessica, while the twin in conservative khakis and a comfortable short-sleeved cotton shirt was bound to be Elizabeth. Elizabeth spent hours on homework every night, while Jessica could never even find her books because they were buried beneath piles of discarded clothing in her bedroom. Elizabeth planned for the future and dreamed of a career as a writer. Jessica lived for the moment, figuring the future would take care of itself.

  They were identical in their loyalty and support of each other, though, and they often knew what each other was thinking. Now Jessica leaned forward and stared at Elizabeth. "You're not exactly jumping up and down about the prospect of Todd moving back," she observed. "Don't you want to see him again?"

  "Of course I do!" Elizabeth tugged at the window shade, and it sprang up with a snap. "But it's not just a question of seeing him again. He's moving back for good. I just don't know what's going to happen."

  "Oh, you mean because of Jeffrey. They'll have to fight for you, I guess. Like in the old days—a duel!" The idea clearly appealed to Jessica. She giggled. "Picture Todd and Jeffrey going at it with french fries in the Dairi Burger!"

  Elizabeth swatted her sister with a pillow. "Be serious for once!" she said.

  Jessica sobered up and adopted a solemn expression. "I am serious, Lizzie. I'm serious about wanting to know whether you're going to break up with Jeffrey and get back together with Todd."

  Elizabeth couldn't bear the thought of breaking up with Jeffrey. But if it came down to a choice between him and Todd she wasn't sure what she'd do.

  Maybe I won't have a choice, she thought. According to Winston Egbert, Todd had told him about the upcoming move weeks ago. So why hadn't she heard the news from Todd himself?

  "I don't know, Jess. Besides, it's not just up to me," Elizabeth said slowly.

  "Why not?" Jessica asked. "Todd's moving back to Sweet Valley. Obviously he'll want to date you again."

  "I'm not so sure." Elizabeth toyed with the satin ribbon around the neck of her favorite stuffed bear. "I haven't gotten a letter from him in a month or more. We're still in touch, but—"

  Jessica cut Elizabeth off with an impatient wave of her hand. "Letters don't mean anything," she declared. "We're talking about your true love, not any old pen pal!"

  Elizabeth shook her head. Letters, or rather the lack of them, could mean something, she was sure. "Todd might have a girlfriend in Vermont," she pointed out to Jessica. "If he hasn't written to tell me his family's moving back to California, Todd must not want to go out with me again."

  Shrugging, Jessica hopped off the bed. She paused to admire her reflection in Elizabeth's mirror on the way to the door. "You're crazy, Liz," she teased. "With a face like this, you don't have to worry! Of course Todd will fall back in love with you—like that!" Jessica snapped her fingers. Then she put her hands on her hips. "Now, get out of bed or you'll make us both late for school!" she scolded.

  Elizabeth giggled at Jessica's imitation of the warning she usually gave her sister on school mornings. "OK, OK. I'm up!" she insisted.

  Alone again, Elizabeth slipped into her terrycloth robe and neatly made her bed. She would
be at school in an hour, meeting Jeffrey as usual at her locker before homeroom. She had to tell him about Todd, or someone else would. Rumors, true or false, traveled fast at Sweet Valley High.

  Elizabeth wasn't looking forward to the conversation.

  "Say something!" Elizabeth begged. She had expected Jeffrey to be surprised, but not speechless.

  It wasn't the ideal place for a private talk. Beyond them, the entire Sweet Valley High student body was rushing through the halls on the way to homeroom. But at least Elizabeth had gotten the difficult words out.

  Jeffrey cleared his throat and shifted his feet, his white leather hightops squeaking on the linoleum floor. Then he smiled crookedly. "Well, um, I guess I'll look forward to meeting Todd. I know his old friends think a lot of him. He must be quite a guy."

  A wave of affection swept over Elizabeth. Trust Jeffrey to be so generous and mature!

  Jeffrey and Todd had never met. The Wilkinses had moved to Vermont before Jeffrey's own family had sold their Oregon tree farm and come to Sweet Valley. If anything, however, Elizabeth imagined that that made Jeffrey's position more difficult. To him, Todd was just a lingering school legend—the popular, handsome Sweet Valley basketball star who had dated Elizabeth Wakefield.

  Underneath Jeffrey's casual words, Elizabeth detected a hint of doubt and hurt. Of course he would say the polite thing, even if he felt completely different.

  "Well, I thought you should know," Elizabeth said awkwardly. "I mean, Todd was—he and I—"

  "I know." Jeffrey's green eyes were dark and serious. "You don't need to tell me that!"

  What am I supposed to tell you, then? Elizabeth wondered. But, actually, she knew what Jeffrey wanted to hear. Now was the moment she should assure him that nothing and nobody could ever come between them. Now was the moment to whisper, "I love you, Jeffrey, only you."

  But the words stuck in Elizabeth's throat. She couldn't honestly swear that Todd's return meant nothing to her. She didn't know what it meant, not yet.

  Jeffrey forced a hearty laugh. "We're still on for a movie Saturday night, aren't we?"

  "Of course we are!" Elizabeth leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss.

  The warning bell rang, and they both jumped. "Time to get going," Elizabeth said, relieved. "We can talk about this more later, if you want."

  "I think we should," he agreed. For a moment he held her gaze, then he bent down to brush her cheek with a gentle kiss. "See you at lunch, Liz."

  "Bye." Elizabeth watched as Jeffrey faded into the crowd, weaving his way down the hall with a soccer player's grace. His blond head and his broad shoulders beneath the checked flannel shirt were so lovably familiar. Elizabeth fought a crazy desire to run after him and promise that they would be together forever.

  But she wouldn't make a promise she couldn't keep. And Elizabeth had a sinking suspicion that her dilemma was just beginning. There was one thing of which she was certain, though. If she had to choose between Jeffrey and Todd, it would be the toughest decision she would ever have to make.

  Two

  "A chocolate shake sounds great," Elizabeth said to Enid Rollins on Wednesday afternoon. "I didn't realize I was starving till you brought up the subject of food!"

  After spending a couple of hours after school in the newspaper room polishing up her latest "Eyes and Ears" column for The Oracle, Elizabeth had run into her best friend as she was walking out of the Sweet Valley High library. Enid, exhausted from cramming for an upcoming test, had suggested they take a break and head for the Dairi Burger.

  The two girls pulled into the parking lot of the popular hangout, Elizabeth behind the wheel of the red Fiat she and Jessica shared.

  "We'll find a table for two, and you can tell me how things are going with Jeffrey since you talked about Todd, OK?" Enid's wide-set green eyes were concerned and sympathetic.

  Elizabeth smiled, grateful as always for Enid's friendship. As much as Elizabeth loved Jessica, she didn't often turn to her twin when she needed constructive advice. Jessica always meant well, but her farfetched schemes were usually better suited to movie scripts than real life. Enid, on the other hand, had a good sense of humor and a lot of common sense.

  Right then a table for two and a quiet talk sounded great to Elizabeth. It would be a relief to talk things over with Enid, she thought. But the instant the two girls entered the Dairi Burger, they saw that privacy was out of the question.

  "Liz!" Jessica cried out cheerfully from a table near the jukebox, where she was sitting with their classmates Lila Fowler, Ken Matthews, Aaron Dallas—and Jeffrey. "Over here!" Jessica shouted. "We've got plenty of room."

  Elizabeth and Enid exchanged a helpless glance. There was nothing to do but join the party.

  Jeffrey, his hair still wet from a post-soccer-practice shower, scooted his chair over to make room for Elizabeth. His welcoming smile and the arm he put around her shoulders were easy and warm. Elizabeth crossed her fingers and hoped the subject of Todd Wilkins wouldn't come up to ruin the carefree mood.

  But no sooner had Elizabeth taken a seat and ordered her milk shake than Lila announced, "Liz, you'll be interested in this."

  Lila's insinuating tone was as subtle as a squad car siren. Elizabeth had a feeling she could guess what Lila would say next. Todd, again! And in front of Jeffrey. But, of course, Lila enjoyed making people uncomfortable. It was one of her hobbies.

  Tossing her long light brown hair over one shoulder, Lila rested her elbows on the wood-topped table, taking care not to snag her silk blouse. "I have inside information courtesy of my father, whose microchip company, as you know, does business with Varitronics," Lila began. "When Winston told us Todd's father was being transferred back to Sweet Valley, he neglected to mention the fact that Mr. Wilkins has been named the new president of Varitronics! Isn't that fabulous?"

  "President!" repeated Jessica, awed.

  President, Elizabeth thought, equally impressed, but not willing to show her feelings. She was eager to learn more but knew better than to encourage Lila.

  "Yes, president of Varitronics," Lila continued, her brown eyes gleaming. "That will put Todd's father in the Fortune Five Hundred along with my father."

  Enid rolled her eyes, and Elizabeth stifled a giggle. Lila was such a snob! George Fowler, easily one of the wealthiest men in Southern California, spoiled his daughter to compensate for the fact that he rarely spent time with her. Jessica's love-hate relationship with Lila had always mystified Elizabeth. One minute the two would be happily mall-hopping together, and the next, Jessica would insist that she was never speaking to Lila again. As far as Elizabeth could tell, this cycle was repeated at least every other week.

  "I'm sure Mr. Wilkins worked very hard to earn such a big promotion," Elizabeth commented.

  Lila shrugged. "Whatever. But guess what? The Wilkinses have bought a mansion, right down the street from Fowler Crest! Todd and I are going to be neighbors!"

  While the others discussed this latest tidbit Elizabeth stole a short moment alone with her thoughts. President of Varitronics? A mansion near Fowler Crest? If Lila had the story right, it was a remarkable one.

  When Todd's family lived in Sweet Valley before, they had been comfortably well-off, much like the Wakefields. But as a corporate president, Mr. Wilkins would obviously be making a much higher salary. Everyone knew what Lila's neighborhood was like. The residences were all as sprawling and opulent as Fowler Crest, a Spanish-style mansion complete with a fountain, a huge swimming pool, and sculptured grounds.

  As hard as she tried, Elizabeth couldn't picture down-to-earth Todd in that setting. Todd had always been the first to roll his eyes at Lila's pretensions or to tease another rich Sweet Valley friend, Bruce Patman, whenever he started boasting. But now it appeared that Todd was going to share Lila and Bruce's elevated social status. Elizabeth wondered if it would change him.

  "Well, I got a letter from Todd yesterday," Ken Matthews, the handsome blond captain of the football team, announced. "And get this—his folks signed him up to go to that really snobby private school, Lovett Academy. So Todd won't be sinking baskets for the Sweet Valley Gladiators anymore."

  Elizabeth stared blankly at Ken. He and Winston both had received letters from Todd—and she hadn't. She bent her head to sip her milk shake, hoping to hide her distress.