She's Not What She Seems Read online

  Ten minutes later, she pushed open the heavy side door of the auditorium. She was startled to see Paula Perrine standing outside. For a moment, Jessica felt an irrational fear at the sophomore's sudden presence. Then she gathered her wits and stared coldly at the skinny girl, who was wearing a faded plaid skirt and a clashing sweater.

  "I've seen you watching me," Jessica said tersely.

  "Oh, yes!" said Paula fervently. "I have been watching you. Who wouldn't? I think you're just great!"

  Jessica had started to walk on, but now she stopped and turned. The girl was a little weird, but maybe she wasn't all bad.

  "I know you'll get the part," Paula said quickly. "I love the theatre, and I can tell you're meant to be a star."

  "Well, thanks," said Jessica. Is this girl for real? Jessica thought. She started to walk across the parking lot, and Paula walked with her. "It's Paula Perrine, right?" Jessica asked.

  "Oh, wow! I don't believe Jessica Wakefield actually knows my name!" cried Paula. Then she stopped, blushing. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you. It's just that you and your friends are so beautiful and so popular, I never dreamed you would notice someone like me."

  "Hey, it's OK," said Jessica. "We may be popular, but we're not stuck-up—at least, some of us aren't," she added, thinking of Lila. "Well, this is my Jeep. I've gotta go. It was, uh, nice to meet you."

  "Oh, the thrill is all mine, I swear," said Paula. "And Jessica, if there's anything I can do for you—anything—just let me know!"

  As Jessica pulled away from the school she glanced into the rearview mirror. Paula was standing motionless in the parking lot, gazing at the Jeep as it moved away.

  Three

  "Eye of newt, and toe of frog, wool of bat, and tongue of dog!" exclaimed Winston, eyeing his lunch tray the next day. "I've been trying for years to figure out what they put into these barbecue sandwiches. Leave it to good old Will Shakespeare to provide the recipe."

  Elizabeth laughed. "You're auditioning for the wrong part, Winston," she said. "Maybe you should play one of the witches."

  "No way," objected Annie from the next table. "I've got enough competition as it is."

  "That's true," remarked Lila. "Especially from Jessica. She's sure to be cast as a witch—she's a natural."

  Uh-oh, thought Elizabeth. Now were going to see some real action.

  "Come on, you two," Amy cautioned. "Please don't fight about this play."

  Jessica looked up from her script. "We're not fighting," she said calmly. "I told you all—I'm going to play Lady Macbeth. Wait and see." Elizabeth thought her twin's voice sounded strangely intense.

  Lila laughed. "On second thought," she said, "playing a witch would be too easy for Jessica—typecasting, you know. Someday I should try that kind of role. With my beauty and disposition, it would be a real stretch. Of course, I'm a good enough actress to pull it off."

  "Now that I'd like to see," said Amy's boyfriend, Barry Rork.

  "Elizabeth, have you set up the rules for the poster contest?" Olivia Davidson asked. Olivia worked on The Oracle with Elizabeth and was known for her artistic talent. "I've got a lot of ideas."

  "Fantastic!" said Elizabeth. "Mr. Goodman and his assistants will pick the winning poster. But I'd like to get people working together on this. You know, kind of a cooperative competition." She raised her voice and looked around at the entire group. "I'm planning an informal work session at my house Sunday afternoon. Everyone's invited! You'll be there, Todd, won't you?"

  "Sure, Liz, if you want me to," Todd said. "But you know I can't even draw stick people."

  "Me neither," said Elizabeth. "But if we've got a few artists around, like Olivia and DeeDee and David Prentiss, people like you and me and Enid might be able to help them come up with ideas."

  "If nothing else, it's a great excuse to sit out by your pool and work on our tans," said Enid, swiping a french fry from Elizabeth's tray.

  "I, for one, would love to have an excuse to sit by the pool," said Annie. "My mother left this morning for that job in New York, so I've got a weekend alone to look forward to. And who knows? Maybe I'll come up with the winning poster idea!"

  "It sounds pretty dull," said Lila. "But never fear, Jessica—Amy and I will rescue you from the attack of the artsy types. We haven't spent an afternoon at the beach in weeks. You've got to see the great bikini I found at Lisette's yesterday!"

  "I'm not sure I can," said Jessica. "I think I'm doing something with Sam on Sunday."

  "Did I hear you right?" said Amy. "The great actress has a life outside the theatre?"

  "Actually, we were planning to rent the movie version of Macbeth and watch it at Sam's house."

  "I never thought I'd say this to Jessica Wakefield, but lighten up!" said Winston. "Methinks the lady doth work too much."

  "Certainly not on her classes," said Elizabeth. "Ms. Dalton said she'd have the French test back to us tomorrow, Jess. What are you going to tell Mom and Dad?"

  "I may not have done that badly on the test," said Jessica. "Besides, what's more important, verb conjugations or a career in the theatre? I won't need to know French when I'm a famous actress!"

  Jessica looked up, away from the table, and nodded slightly. Elizabeth followed her sister's glance and saw Paula standing a few steps away, listening. Nobody else seemed to have noticed her.

  "Oh, no," Todd groaned. "Not Lady Wakefield's famous-actress routine again."

  "Why not?" asked Jessica. "I'm going to get this part, and I'm going to be the best Lady Macbeth that Mr. Goodman has ever seen!"

  Just then Paula stepped closer, and Jessica finally acknowledged her.

  "Hi, Paula," she said. "Do you know everyone?"

  "Oh yes," said Paula, almost in a whisper. "Everyone knows who all of you are." Elizabeth thought she had never seen anyone so shy—or so overawed by Jessica and her friends.

  Jessica looked expectantly at the thin girl, obviously waiting for her to get to the point.

  Sometimes her twin could be so insensitive, Elizabeth thought. "Would you like to join us, Paula?" she asked, ignoring a dirty look from Lila. "There's an extra chair."

  "Oh, no," said Paula. "Thank you, but I couldn't possibly. I just wanted to ask Jessica . . . I mean, I know you'll get the part anyway, but if you'd like, I could go over your lines with you before the last audition tomorrow. I mean, if you want me to."

  Lila rolled her eyes, but Jessica smiled graciously.

  "Thanks, Paula. That would be great," she said.

  Paula smiled shyly.

  "Seriously, I could use some help," Jessica continued, throwing a pointed glance at Elizabeth. "My sister has been much too busy writing her newspaper stories to be of much assistance lately. How about if we get together after school today?"

  "I'd love you to come to my house—" began Paula. Then she stopped suddenly and blushed. "But we're remodeling the living room, and it's kind of a mess."

  "That's OK," said Jessica. "We can do it at my house. How about four o'clock?" She gave her the address.

  Paula smiled broadly. Then she gave Jessica an embarrassed wave and hurried away.

  "Wow," said Enid. "She's really shy."

  "Did you see that getup she was wearing? Polyester—ugh!" Lila scoffed. "She has absolutely no taste."

  "You're just jealous because she thinks I'd make the best Lady Macbeth," said Jessica.

  "As I said," Lila retorted, "she has no taste. No taste whatsoever."

  "Tomorrow's the big day!" Jessica said into the phone that night.

  "I'd almost forgotten," said Sam. "It's the regional chess club tournament, right?"

  "You creep! You know very well that tomorrow morning is the last round of auditions for Macbeth. Teachers are even letting us miss class for it."

  Sam laughed. "Of course I know! It's the only thing you've talked about all week. And tomorrow after school this famous director of yours will announce the cast list—which will include a certain blond knockout as Lady Macbeth."


  "Do you really think so?"

  "You've got it in the bag—and you know it!"

  "Sometimes I think so," Jessica admitted. "But then I get scared. What if this play is so unlucky that I don't get the part? I told you what Steven said about a curse."

  "Don't tell me you're worried about that superstitious garbage."

  "No, not really," said Jessica with a laugh. "I'm just so nervous, it's turning me into a space cadet."

  "I'll say!" said Sam. "When I picked you up Monday afternoon, you were really going off the deep end about that girl you saw outside school. What did she turn out to be—a secret agent or a terrorist?"

  "OK already!" Jessica laughed. "I admit it. I was completely wrong about Paula. She was only watching me because she wanted to be my friend. In fact, she came over after school today and helped me practice my lines."

  "Good," said Sam. "I'm glad you're not spooked about her anymore."

  "You know," Jessica mused, "it's nice having someone around who only wants to make me happy. Paula is so sweet and generous—she does anything I ask her to do, and is cheerful about it. Lila and Amy always have ulterior motives. Paula really looks up to me. And she thinks I have a great chance at playing Lady Macbeth."

  "She's not the only one," said Sam. "In fact, there's a certain dirt bike racer who already thinks of you as a queen."

  Jessica bit her lip and thought for a minute. "Seriously, Sam," she said, "I want this part more than anything I've ever wanted in my life. This is my chance to be discovered as an actress. I'll just die if I don't get to be Lady Macbeth!"

  "Over here, Paula!" Annie called out in the school cafeteria the next day. She gestured to a chair. "Sit with me and Lila and Amy."

  "Oh, I couldn't," Paula stammered. "I'd be imposing."

  "Well, if you insist," Lila began, eyeing Paula's out-of-style pantsuit. Whatever Annie and Jessica thought of Paula, Lila Fowler was not into charity cases.

  "Of course you're not imposing," Annie assured the new girl.

  "I'm surprised that you're not with your better half today, Paula," began Lila. "Jessica said she had to rehearse during lunch. She's hardly spoken to me all week, but I figured you'd be helping her practice her lines again."

  "Oh, I offered to," explained Paula, "but Jessica and Bill Chase wanted to work on a scene together."

  "I don't get it," Amy objected. "The final round of auditions was this morning and the cast won't be announced until after school today. It's too late to rehearse for tryouts, and too early to rehearse for performances. So why are they rehearsing?"

  "A real artist never stops perfecting her art," said Paula.

  "So what's Jessica's excuse?" Lila joked.

  "You have such a terrific sense of humor, Lila," said Paula. "If I didn't know how kind and understanding you are, I would almost think you were serious. But you know as well as I do just how dedicated an actress Jessica is."

  "If you ask me, she's a dedicated pain in the neck," said Amy. "We were supposed to go shopping again last night. But once more, Lady Wakefield didn't show up. She told me this morning that rehearsing for the last audition was more important. I don't know why I even bother to make plans with her anymore."

  "That's for sure," Lila complained. "She's been even more unreliable than usual—not to mention impossible to talk to. Paula, you're about the only one who's seen her outside of school lately. In fact, in the last two days, you seem to have become her shadow. I don't know how you put up with her!"

  "I don't mind," Paula said with a quiet smile. "I'm just glad to be her friend. Jessica is so talented. And she wants this role so much."

  "It's too bad she's got competition for it," Lila remarked icily.

  "You know, Lila," said Paula, "Jessica is a very sensitive actress, but I've seen your auditions and I think you've got more range than she does. Maybe you should consider one of the more difficult roles in the play."

  "I don't know," said Lila. "I might. But what about you? You seem so interested in the theatre. Why aren't you trying out?"

  "For me, it's enough just to be close to the theatre," Paula explained fervently. She stopped for a few seconds before continuing in a low voice. "When I was a little girl, my family moved around a lot, so I never had many friends." She looked down at her hands. "My parents used to fight all the time. The only way to escape was to pretend I was someone else. For hours, I'd make believe I was in my own magical world. I'd pretend I was a powerful queen or a beautiful genie."

  Paula looked up and smiled wistfully. Her gray eyes were shining and she seemed to forget the noisy lunchroom around her. Normally, Lila wasn't interested in people who went on about themselves like this. But Paula was different. She seemed so sad and so sincere.

  "The first time I saw a play," Paula continued, "it was like a dream come true! I started going to the theatre every chance I got. I would beg my mother to take me—" She stopped, blushing. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm talking too much. I shouldn't be boring you like this."

  "You're not boring us," Amy said. "Please go on."

  "There isn't much more to tell," Paula said. "But ever since I saw that first play, I've always thought that the theatre was the most wonderful thing in the world!" She laughed nervously. "But I couldn't possibly get up onstage in front of so many people. I would never have the courage."

  "Speaking of courage, has anyone tried this brown stuff?" asked Amy, pointing to something on her lunch tray. "I can't even figure out what it is."

  "I think it's supposed to be peanut butter pudding," said Annie, grimacing.

  "Here, Amy," said Paula, holding out a plastic bag. "I brought these chocolate chip cookies in my lunch, but I can't eat another thing. You take them."

  "Thanks, Paula. That's nice of you."

  "Lila, would you mind doing me a favor?" asked Paula.

  "That depends on what it is," said Lila. Her tone was guarded but not unkind. Lila Fowler wasn't in the habit of doing favors for people she didn't know well—especially people who dressed like Paula. But oddly enough, she was beginning to feel somewhat protective toward the younger girl.

  "Everyone says you're a terrific tennis player, Lila," Paula told her. "I could really use some pointers on my serve. If you're not busy tomorrow morning, I thought maybe we could play together."

  Lila smiled. "You've come to the right place," she replied, swinging an imaginary racket. "I am a terrific tennis player. And I'd be happy to show you how it's done."

  "Let's make it doubles!" said Amy. "Barry just helped me pick out a new racket, and I'm dying to try it out. How about it, Annie?"

  "Oh, I don't know." Annie hesitated. "I'm not very good. Maybe you ought to ask Jessica instead."

  "Of course I'd love to play tennis with Jessica," said Paula. "But you know how busy her schedule is. I'm rehearsing with her in the afternoon, but she'll be going over her lines by herself all morning."

  "You're probably right," said Lila. "And even if we did get her to come, she'd spend the whole time talking about the play. She was a lot more fun before she decided to be a famous actress." She yawned. "The four of us will have a better time without her. Are you coming, Annie?"

  "OK, you've convinced me," said Annie. "How about ten o'clock?"

  "If you don't mind, I'd rather make it ten-thirty," Paula said. "I promised Jessica I'd have photocopies made of pages from a few of her scenes. I've got to stop by the copy shop in the morning to pick them up."

  "Do you mean to say that she's got you running her errands, too?" Annie asked.

  "Oh, I don't mind doing things for Jessica," Paula said earnestly. "I'm just glad to help her prepare for this play. It's the closest I'll ever get to being part of the theatre world."

  Paula is certainly no judge of character, thought Lila. In fact, when it came to Jessica Wakefield, Paula sounded absolutely pathetic. But she really was sweet—especially when Jessica wasn't around.

  "Hurry up, Chrome Dome," pleaded Jessica in a whisper. "I can't wait another
minute!" School was out for the day, but Jessica was sitting in the auditorium with Paula, Lila, and Amy. They were waiting for the principal, Mr. Cooper, to announce who had won the most coveted roles in Macbeth.

  Unfortunately, they first had to sit through one of Chrome Dome Cooper's long, boring speeches.

  Finally, the principal seemed to be wrapping things up. "Now, without further ado," he announced, "I'd like to introduce a person who is going to be very important to everyone involved in this play . . ."

  "Finally," whispered Jessica. "David Goodman."

  "Elizabeth Wakefield!"

  Jessica slumped down in her chair as Elizabeth began explaining the rules of the poster contest. Here she was, waiting for the most important, the most vital, the most critical announcement of her life, and Mr. Cooper was letting her own sister ramble on instead of introducing the famous theatre director.

  Paula patted her on the shoulder and whispered, "Don't worry, Jessica. I'm sure you'll get the part. You were as wonderful as ever this morning in the final audition."

  Jessica smiled gratefully. At least Paula was on her side.

  Onstage, Elizabeth was coming to the end of her speech. "Feel free to come to me with any ideas you have for publicizing this play," she said. "This is going to be the best production Sweet Valley High has ever put on. Let's do whatever we can to make sure everyone in Sweet Valley knows about it!"

  Jessica clapped dutifully and checked to make sure her friends did, too. After all, Elizabeth was her sister. But she froze as soon as David Goodman appeared onstage. She held her breath while he adjusted the microphone.

  "Ladies and gentlemen," the director began, "I have seen some outstanding student talent this week during the auditions for Macbeth. First, I'd like to thank everyone who tried out, as well as English teacher Roger Collins and dramatics teacher Don Jaworski for their invaluable assistance. And this young lady"—he gestured toward Elizabeth, who was sitting behind him on the stage—"Elizabeth Wakefield, publicity director, for her creativity and hard work."

  Jessica wanted to stand up and scream at him to get on with it. Instead, she exhaled noisily and crossed her arms.