Soap Star Page 2

  Mrs. Wakefield laughed. "We said it was OK. But we're not siding with either one of you. If you want Elizabeth to do this with you, then the convincing will have to come from you, Jessica. And Elizabeth, if you don't want to do this, no one is going to force you. We're just the neutral third party."

  Mr. Wakefield took a bite of his casserole and smiled. "Neutral! It reminds me of that beauty contest awhile back!" he exclaimed. "For once, I'd like to see something neutral in this house!"

  "I've just about had it with Jessica trying to convince me to try out for that stupid soap opera," Elizabeth told her best friend, Enid Rollins, on the phone the next evening. "She's spent every spare minute of the past twenty-four hours coming up with reasons why I should change my mind."

  "Shades of Miss Teen Sweet Valley," Enid said. "What are you going to do?"

  "I'm not going to audition. Actually, the whole thing is pretty funny. And I guess it's all right to have Jessica badgering me every ten minutes. If she stopped, I'd begin to wonder what devious plan she was hatching to catch me completely off guard."

  "Yeah, that sounds like Jessica. Hey, are you still going to Amy Sutton's party tonight?" Enid asked. "Hugh and I will be there," she added. Enid had recently gotten back together with her boyfriend, Hugh Grayson. Elizabeth couldn't wait to see them at the party. It was so much fun watching them act like lovebirds and knowing that she had been a big part of their reunion.

  Elizabeth switched the phone to her other ear and put on an earring. "Of course I'm going to the party. In fact, I'm looking forward to it because maybe Jessica will find something to take her mind off The Young and the Beautiful. Truth is, I'm getting tired of finding new ways to say no."

  "And Jessica can be pretty persistent," Enid commented wisely.

  "Well, listen, I'd better finish getting ready," Elizabeth said. "See you at the party."

  "OK," Enid said. "We'll see you there."

  Jessica came into her room just as Elizabeth had finished dressing. As usual, the contrast between Elizabeth and her sister was startling. Elizabeth was wearing her new ocean-blue blouse and a pair of darker blue denim jeans. Jessica had on a tight, fluorescent green miniskirt and a matching top. Over the top she wore a sheer, shimmery, chiffon-print blouse that was tied in a knot at her waist. Her earrings dangled to her shoulders and picked up the multitude of colors in her blouse.

  "You look really nice," Jessica said.

  "So do you," Elizabeth replied. Then she waited, instinctively knowing that more was coming.

  "That blue blouse brings out the color of your eyes perfectly," Jessica continued.

  Elizabeth stifled a chuckle. Just last week, Jessica had told her that the same blouse made her look like an old-fashioned schoolmarm.

  "I'll bet your eyes would absolutely shine on camera," Jessica added innocently. "You know, some actresses with blue eyes have to wear colored contacts to make them show up on camera."

  Elizabeth looked at her watch. It hadn't even been ten minutes, and Jessica was already at it again. She laughed and ignored Jessica's compliments. "And I wouldn't have to, I suppose?" she asked.

  "Nope. Your eyes are perfect just the way they are," Jessica said.

  "Look! Sam's here!" Elizabeth announced as she peeked out her window and saw his car. "We don't want to be late for Amy's party."

  Jessica ran down the stairs to meet Sam, temporarily diverted from her campaign. As Elizabeth followed her, she determined to keep the conversation on the way to the party on topics other than acting.

  "Do you have a race this weekend, Sam?" Elizabeth asked as she climbed into the back seat of Sam's car. She was riding to Amy's party with Jessica and Sam because Todd and his father were building flower boxes for their backyard. He had told her that he would meet her at the party later.

  "Saturday morning," Sam said, obviously pleased that Elizabeth was interested. Jessica had made it clear long ago that watching him dirt-bike race was not her favorite pastime. He drove down Calico Drive and turned right at the intersection. "I have to leave the party a little early tonight because I have to get up at five o'clock to drive up the coast to the track in Santa Barbara."

  "Santa Barbara?" Jessica asked. "You didn't tell me you were going to Santa Barbara! There are tons of cute little antique shops and clothing stores down near the beach there. I hope you're taking me with you."

  "I'd love to have you go," Sam said, smiling. "You can cheer me on, and then we'll hit the town afterward. How does that sound?"

  "Great!" Jessica said, laying her hand across the back of the seat so that it touched Sam's neck.

  "Hey, Liz," Sam said. "Would you and Todd like to come along?"

  "Thanks, but I have a lot of homework and writing to catch up on this weekend," Elizabeth told him. "And Todd and I made plans for a picnic on the beach and maybe a little bodysurfing." What she didn't say was that she would be happy to have a day away from her twin's haranguing. If she heard one more word about The Young and the Beautiful or Jessica's missed chance to meet Brandon-the-Hunk, she thought she might scream.

  The party was in full swing by the time they arrived. Amy's boyfriend, Barry Rork, was passing out sodas to Bruce Patman, Neil Freemount, Tom McKay, and Ken Matthews. Neil's girlfriend, Penny Ayala, and Ken's girlfriend, Terri Adams, were standing behind the couch, munching on chips and discussing the details of the latest Sweet Valley Gladiators football practice. Ken was the star quarterback, Terri was the team's assistant manager, and Penny was the editor-in-chief of The Oracle.

  Elizabeth was also glad to see Enid and Hugh in the crowd.

  Lila greeted them as they entered the living room. "Hi!" she said. "Come join the crowd!"

  "Hi, everybody," Jessica called to the whole room. "I hope you haven't started without me!" She stopped in front of Lila and twirled around, displaying her new outfit. "Do I look like Hollywood, or what?" she asked.

  "Getting ready for your new starring role, I see," Lila replied with a smile.

  "It pays to be prepared," Jessica said, sitting on the couch and scooting over to make a place for Sam.

  Sam sat down next to Jessica and put his arm around her. There was more room on the sofa, but Elizabeth held back from sitting for a moment, secretly smiling at the way Jessica assumed that no party really started until she got there. She probably would be a good actress, Elizabeth thought.

  "Speaking of Hollywood—" Lila began, looking directly at Elizabeth.

  Uh, oh, Elizabeth thought. Here it comes!

  "Hi, twins, Sam," Winston Egbert said, interrupting Lila as he strolled over to the group with his girlfriend, Maria Santelli. Winston was Sweet Valley High's class clown, but also a sweet, down-to-earth guy. Maria, a member of the cheerleading squad, was the daughter of Sweet Valley's mayor. Both were Elizabeth's good friends, and she was glad to have a couple of allies besides Enid and Hugh around, since she could tell where Lila's comment was about to lead.

  "Hey, Liz," Winston said, winking at her. "What's this I hear about you two becoming soap stars?"

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

  Jessica cut off Winston's chuckle with a quick wave of her hand. "Listen to this," she said, looking around at the group. "Liz and I have this wonderful opportunity to try out for parts on The Young and the Beautiful. The show is looking for identical twins, and if we're chosen, we'll get to appear on a week's worth of episodes."

  "It's about time someone did something exciting around here," Bruce remarked. "Sweet Valley is about as dull as you can get."

  "Oh, I don't know," Enid said. "I think Sweet Valley's been pretty exciting lately. I mean, we've had talk show hosts come to town, a beauty pageant, police chases, and then there was last season's wild and crazy football championship."

  "That's right," Elizabeth added with a smile. "Besides, a week of TV appearances would hardly make us stars. Jess thinks we would suddenly be rich and famous and invited to all the biggest Hollywood parties."

  "And get that Jeep we both want," Jessica pu
t in. "We would make a lot of money," she added, "and we'd get the inside scoop on a real television studio. I can't imagine why Elizabeth won't agree to audition."

  Several pairs of curious eyes turned toward Elizabeth, and at that moment she could have cheerfully strangled her mirror-image sister.

  "Are you scared?" Bruce teased.

  "Hardly," Elizabeth told him good-naturedly. "I'm just not interested in being on a soap opera. I have no desire to watch them. Why should I audition to be on one?"

  "For the experience," Amy said.

  "It would be something to write about in your newspaper column," Terri mentioned. "I'd be very interested in reading about how those shows are put together. It must take a million people!"

  "That's the researcher in her," Ken said fondly. "She wants to know the ins and outs of everything."

  "Well, I know why I'd audition," Lila said. "To meet famous men! I'd try out with Jessica for sure, if we could pass for twins."

  "So really, Liz," Penny asked. "Why don't you want to try out for the show?"

  Everyone's attention was suddenly back on Elizabeth. She knew she had to say something.

  "It's just that I don't want this particular experience, and I don't particularly want to meet famous men," Elizabeth insisted, looking directly at Jessica. "I already have a pretty famous basketball star as my boyfriend!"

  Everyone laughed. "She's got you there, Jess," Lila said.

  "How about for the money?" Neil asked.

  "We don't even know how much money is involved," Elizabeth countered. "The article didn't actually name a sum."

  "But you know how much some of these soap stars get paid," Jessica remarked. "Thousands of dollars for only a little bit of work!"

  "You're dreaming, Jess," Elizabeth told her. "I can't imagine that two amateurs would get paid very much. Certainly not enough to buy a Jeep and a computer."

  "But you have to admit that a few thousand dollars would go a long way toward a down payment on at least one of those," Jessica argued playfully.

  "Well, maybe so," Elizabeth admitted.

  "If not for the money, how about the glamour?" Barry added.

  "Hey, give me a break!" Elizabeth said. She put her hands up in mock self-defense. "Did Jessica call you all before the party and set this up?"

  Suddenly, in the background, Elizabeth heard the doorbell. "That must be Todd," she said quickly. "I'll be happy to answer it for you, Amy." She hurried away before anyone else stood up.

  Elizabeth opened the door and was glad that it was indeed Todd. She immediately threw her arms around him.

  "Wow! What's all this?" Todd asked after he had hugged and kissed her hello.

  "I'm glad you're here," Elizabeth said with a laugh. "Jessica won't give up on this soap opera thing, and now she has everyone at Sweet Valley High trying to persuade me, too."

  "Come on. Let's get something to drink and go out on the patio," Todd suggested. "I've missed you since school let out."

  Elizabeth leaned her head against his shoulder. She had never been so happy to see him. She thought his tall, lean, muscular build was perfect. Best of all, she knew she could always count on Todd to understand her feelings.

  Sure, they had split up a few times—once when Todd and his family had moved to Vermont, and more recently, when the twins' older brother, Steven, had almost eloped and Todd had panicked a little. He had decided that he and Elizabeth were becoming too set in their ways and had suggested a trial separation.

  But Todd had finally realized that he and Elizabeth weren't together just because it was convenient or comfortable. They were together by choice, because they loved each other. The many ups and downs in their relationship had only served to strengthen their love. Neither cared that Jessica always teased them about acting like a boring old married couple.

  Elizabeth smiled contentedly as she snuggled closer to Todd. She liked the secure and stable feeling she got with him. She liked knowing that they were there for each other.

  Like now.

  Elizabeth and Todd each poured a cup of juice and headed for the patio. They took seats on a stone bench that overlooked the Suttons' terraced herb garden.

  Todd set his glass on a low table and put his arm around Elizabeth. "Now tell me what's going on," he said.

  Elizabeth grinned. "Oh, it's the same old thing. Jessica's got her mind set on something, and it's the only thing she can think about. Remember, I told you over the phone last night about her idea for us to audition for The Young and the Beautiful. Well, ever since then, she hasn't let up."

  "What has she done?"

  "What hasn't she done!" Elizabeth said, shaking her head. "She's tried every ploy she can think of. She's tried guilt—you know, moaning and sighing aloud when she knows I can hear her, complaining how I'm damaging any chance she has of a career in acting. She's tried the sympathy appeal—reminding me of how she's saved me from a scrape or two, and how it's only fair that I return the favor."

  "Well, she has helped you out in a couple of pinches. She did get us back together and straighten out that whole mess with Kris. I'll always be grateful to her for that," Todd remarked, ruffling Elizabeth's hair.

  "But then, you've done the same for her," Todd continued. "Look at how you saved her from running away with that Good Friends cult, and how you helped her win the beauty pageant. Even though you were so strongly opposed to the contest, you stood in for Jessica during the bathing suit competition instead of letting her lose. I'd say you're about even."

  "Not according to Jessica," Elizabeth told him. "Last night she 'accidentally' left an article about actresses' salaries open on my desk next to an ad for the word processor that I'm saving for."

  "That was clever, all right," Todd agreed.

  "And she's been talking it up in front of Mom and Dad at dinner, emphasizing how far a fat paycheck could go toward buying that Jeep she has her heart set on. I'm not even sure how much money really is involved. I certainly don't think it's as much as Jessica is counting on. She thought the prize for the winner of the beauty pageant was going to be ten thousand dollars, and it ended up being only a hundred!"

  "That was quite a difference." Todd smiled. "You have to admit, though, Jessica would be a good actress. She knows how to work a crowd. She has your parents and all our friends excited."

  "I don't know. Maybe I'm crazy to refuse. But honestly, I think if one more person asks me why I don't want to be a soap queen, I'll scream."

  "Come on." Todd took her hand and gave it a little tug. "Why don't we grab Hugh and Enid and get out of here? I'll take you all over to my house and show you the flower boxes my dad and I built. Then maybe we could go to Dairi Burger, where all the local 'celebrities' go for a milk shake."

  "Sounds good."

  "And if nobody minds, we could stop by the nursery and pick up some marigolds," Todd remarked. "My mother will be happy to see the boxes filled right away."

  "We'd better hurry then," Elizabeth said, checking her watch. "The nursery closes in an hour. Let's go!"

  Jessica let the curtain on Amy's living-room window drop as Elizabeth and Todd drove off in Todd's black BMW, with Enid and Hugh following close behind.

  "I'm beginning to think this is hopeless," Jessica said as Lila came up next to her.

  "That doesn't sound like the Jessica Wakefield I know," Lila replied. "Maybe you're not trying hard enough."

  Jessica sat down in the wing-back chair next to the window. "I've done everything I can think of. None of my usual methods are working. At this rate, I'll never get on TV."

  Lila flopped down in a matching chair. "Must I remind you once again that you have been on TV before? Not only when you were interviewed on Eric Parker's talk show," she said, "but when you and Liz helped catch the drug ring because of that picture Liz took with Regina Morrow's camera. And how about the interview before the Miss Teen Sweet Valley pageant? Your face has been all over the news."

  "But this is different. This is acting! Being on the news
or a talk show didn't make me a star. Making a guest appearance on The Young and the Beautiful might."

  "I guess we just have to come up with a plan," Lila remarked. "Something Liz won't expect."

  The two girls were quiet for a few moments. Suddenly Lila shook Jessica's arm. "I've got it!" she cried. "You have to quit bugging her. Just drop the whole subject."

  "What?" Jessica shouted. "I've got to keep the pressure on, to wear her down!"

  "That's just what you have to stop doing," Lila said wisely. "Liz is holding up against your pressures. What you need to do is play it cool, act as if you've given up. Then do something really sneaky, and make it look like it came from someone else."

  "What do you have in mind?" Jessica leaned forward, intrigued.

  Lila flipped her long hair over her shoulder and pulled her chair closer. She whispered, "What does Liz like to do more than anything else?''

  "Write and study," Jessica answered automatically.

  ''That's right. She really likes to research stuff and find out about things in depth. What if you sent her a letter from a fake research company, and it asked her to come to a market research discussion group for identical twins?"

  "She couldn't resist that," Jessica said, warming quickly to the idea. "She'd probably want to write an article about it for one of her newspapers."

  "Exactly. Then you take her to the audition instead of the research group," Lila explained. "Isn't that devious?"

  "Devious, but perfect," Jessica said. "Especially since, knowing Liz, she'll go along with it once we're there. She won't let me down. She wouldn't walk out and embarrass me in front of an entire group of people."

  "That's right. Liz hates to create a scene," Lila added. "She'll give in gracefully, as only Liz can."

  Jessica rubbed her hands together. She stood up and smiled at Lila. Lila was her best friend—and sometimes her worst enemy—but she always had great ideas.

  "I think we've done it," Jessica said, already envisioning their success. "Hollywood, here I come!"