Starring Jessica! Read online

  'Well, Jessica, I wouldn't say—"

  "Yes, it's too bad he has no way of knowing," Lila interrupted, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "how one person completely magnified her achievements. How one person advertised herself as a journalist after writing one measly article for the school newspaper, an article that nobody's even seen yet. Don't you think that's fairly slimy, Amy?"

  "I don't know if slimy's the word I'd use, Lila—"

  Jessica twisted in her seat to glare at the side of Lila's averted head. "I didn't put a single thing on my application that wasn't true!" she cried.

  Lila threw Jessica a cutting look over her shoulder. "Neither did I!"

  Elizabeth opened her carton of apple juice. "I guess it's a good thing Eric Parker's holding these preliminary interviews," she observed. "This way he'll discover that some of the applicants for the TV spot are more mature than others."

  "Yeah, really!" Cara declared in exasperation. "C'mon, Jess, c'mon, Lila. Don't you two think you're getting a little carried away over this? I mean, you don't see anyone throwing themselves off cliffs because they didn't get picked. After all, it's just a TV show."

  "Just a TV show?" Jessica snapped her fingers briskly. "Wake up, Cara! This is the chance of a lifetime! Maybe you're content to be a nobody for the rest of your life, but I have ambitions. Being on Jeremy Frank's show is just the first step for me. This time I plan to go all the way!"

  "OK, OK, so maybe it is a big deal," Cara conceded. "All I'm saying is, you could try to keep things in perspective."

  "I have things in perfect perspective," Jessica assured her. "I have a perfect perspective on who deserves to be on Eric Parker's show."

  "I do," Lila said.

  "Wrong!" Jessica snapped. "I do!"

  Cara threw up her hands in a sign of defeat. "Well, I tried."

  Elizabeth shook her head. It really looked like war between Jessica and Lila. She was a little surprised that Jessica hadn't relented at all. Elizabeth knew her twin wanted very badly to be on The Eric Parker Show, but it was not like Jessica to lose her sense of humor entirely.

  It was the Lila factor, Elizabeth decided, sipping her juice thoughtfully. If Jessica were with one of the other finalists, she'd probably be joking around and making light of the competition. But with Lila . . .

  Everyone knew that Jessica and Lila were rivals as well as friends. Elizabeth could not begin to count the number of times the two had duked it out in the past over some cute boy. Whenever Lila got a new outfit, Jessica felt compelled to run out and buy one, too, even if she could not afford it. And Elizabeth knew that Jessica had always felt a bit jealous of Lila's affluent, glamorous life-style. Elizabeth could tell that Jessica saw winning the guest spot on Eric Parker's show as a way of getting the better of Lila Fowler.

  Elizabeth caught Cara's eye. "Well, the preliminary interviews are scheduled for Friday, and by Monday afternoon, it'll all be over."

  "Thank goodness," Cara said. "I don't know how much more of this civil war I can take!"

  Five

  After the last bell on Friday afternoon, Lila made a beeline for the girls' room nearest her locker. She dumped the contents of her snake-skin pocketbook onto the counter by the mirror, selected an eye pencil, a blusher, and a lipstick, and set to work. A few minutes later, Lila smiled at her touched-up reflection.

  She'd used only subtle colors—nothing too flashy. She looked soft, real . . . gorgeous! Maybe I should go for the natural look more often, Lila thought as she swept the cosmetics back into her purse. But first, she would test out the look on Eric Parker.

  On her way out of the girls' room, Lila passed Maria Santelli. "Good luck at your interview, Lila."

  "Why, thank you, Maria," Lila said sweetly. Good luck, my elbow, she thought as she strolled down the hall in the direction of the conference room, where the interviews were to be held. Maria's boyfriend, Winston Egbert, was also up for the TV spot.

  Each of the six final candidates for the guest spot on Eric Parker's talk show had drawn a slot for a fifteen-minute appointment that afternoon. Lila had drawn the first slot, which had made her happy until Jessica drew the last one. Which of them had the advantage now?

  On the one hand, Lila would be the very first Sweet Valley High student Eric met—and first impressions were deep and lasting. On the other hand, Eric would wrap up the afternoon by spending some time with Jessica, and Lila knew her friend well enough to guess that Jessica would do everything in her power to make sure Eric forgot about everyone else he'd spoken with before. Especially her biggest competition—Lila.

  I'll come out on top, Lila decided with confidence. Eric would be dazzled by her beauty and charm and wit—what man would not? The other students—even Jessica—were bound to seem bland and lifeless in comparison.

  Soon I'll be on TV. Lila shared a smug smile with the empty hallway. It was only right, after all. The other kids—including Jessica, who had wormed her way onto television once by harassing poor Jeremy Frank when he was laid up with a broken leg—would not know how to deal with an opportunity like this. Whereas she, Lila, had been raised to know exactly what to do. She had been meeting famous people all her life. She knew how to handle herself in almost any social situation. She belonged on center stage.

  The conference room was located on a side corridor next to the guidance and career counseling offices. Lila checked her watch. She was two minutes early—perhaps she had beaten Eric to the appointment. Being early was good strategy; she could select the seat that set her off to the best advantage.

  Mr. Cooper's secretary was thumb-tacking a note to the conference room door as Lila approached.

  "What's happened?" Lila inquired anxiously. "The interviews haven't been canceled, have they?"

  "Oh, no, dear," the secretary assured her. "This note is just to inform the finalists that the location has been changed. The interviews will now be held in the auditorium."

  Lila breathed a sigh of relief. She paused a moment to read the note the secretary had tacked up on the door. Then she turned on her heel and hurried back the way she had come.

  On her way to the auditorium, she had an idea. A brilliant idea.

  "It's been a pleasure talking with you, Lila," Eric Parker said warmly at the end of the meeting. "I'm sorry we had only fifteen minutes."

  Lila treated him to a smile as bright as the Southern California sun. "Maybe we'll have a chance to talk again. In front of the television cameras," she added playfully.

  Eric laughed, his famous ultrawhite teeth flashing. "We'll know soon. Thanks for your time, Lila."

  "It was an honor," she assured him. " 'Bye!"

  Lila had to restrain herself from kicking her heels together as she headed up the aisle to the auditorium exit. Just in case Eric was watching, she strolled with a pert but dignified step—a slight swing of the hips, nothing too seductive.

  Once she was safely out of sight, Lila indulged in a little victory dance. The interview had been a breeze. She had fielded all of Eric's questions with humor and style and heartwarming sincerity. She could tell he had been impressed with her manner and her appearance. She had the TV spot in the bag! Her only real competition was Jessica, and she had thought of a way to get Jessica out of the running.

  Lila's interview had begun at two-thirty. Jessica, the last candidate, was supposed to meet with Eric at three forty-five. Lila backtracked to the conference room and glanced quickly at the note still pinned on the door. Then she ducked into the career counseling office, pulled a book off the reference shelf, and made herself comfortable at one of the reading tables.

  At twenty-five minutes past three, she reshelved the book and peeked out the door into the corridor. Sure enough, here came Olivia Davidson, who was scheduled for the fifth interview. Lila watched as Olivia scanned the note on the conference room door and hurried away to the auditorium. Now Jessica was the only finalist who didn't know about the location change.

  Lila stepped into the hallway. Casually, she approached the door to the conference room, and just as casually, she removed the note—thumbtack and all. Then, without a backward glance, she breezed through the lobby and out the front door of the school to the parking lot.

  Am I an absolute genius, or what? In fifteen minutes, Jessica would arrive at the conference room. And because the note was gone, she would stay at the conference room. By the time Jessica figured out where the interviews were actually being held, Eric Parker would be on his way back to his hotel room.

  What a scheme—and it had been so easy! Lila revved the engine of her Triumph. She decided to go straight home and videotape herself talking about "Growing Up in America." She might as well start practicing for Eric Parker's program. With Jessica safely out of the running, Lila was sure she would win the spot, hands down.

  She sped away from the school, the radio blasting. "Live from Sweet Valley High," she shouted out loud, "it's Lila Fowler!"

  Jessica had been tempted to cut cheerleading practice and to spend the afternoon lurking in the vicinity of the conference room, spying on the other candidates as they met with Eric for their interviews. But finally she had decided that seeing Lila and the others would only make her nervous. So she had gone to cheerleading practice, but she had directed the others from the sidelines in order not to work up a sweat.

  At quarter to four on the dot, Jessica arrived at the conference room, ready to knock Eric Parker's socks off. The door was closed. Wondering if Olivia, whose interview had been scheduled just before hers, was still with Eric, Jessica knocked lightly.

  When she got no answer, she turned the knob and pushed open the door. The room was empty.

  Two armchairs faced each other; a Styrofoam coffee cup sat on the table. Eric must have just ducked out for a break, Jessica though
t as she seated herself in one of the chairs. He'll be back in a minute.

  But when five minutes had passed and Eric still had not returned, Jessica began to panic. I'm in the right place, aren't I? she asked herself. And it's the right day and the right time. . . . Yes, she thought, I was supposed to be at the conference room at three forty-five. So what had gone wrong?

  Suddenly a horrible thought occurred to her. Eric must have interviewed the other five contestants and liked one of them so much, he had decided not to even bother meeting Jessica!

  No, that couldn't be. There had to be a reasonable explanation. Maybe somebody at the principal's office would know.

  Jessica jumped up from her chair and dashed to the door of the conference room. As she burst into the hallway, she almost trampled Olivia Davidson.

  "Jessica!" Olivia exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

  "What do you mean, what am I doing here?" said Jessica. "Weren't you here for the same reason twenty minutes ago? I'm waiting for my interview with Eric Parker!"

  "But the interviews were moved to the auditorium," said Olivia.

  Jessica's face went pale. "The auditorium?"

  "Yes." Olivia frowned, puzzled. "That's funny. There was a note on the conference room door explaining the switch. That's how I knew where to go. Someone must have taken it down. You'd better get to the auditorium fast, Jess."

  Sending a thank you to Olivia over her shoulder, Jessica sprinted off in the direction of the auditorium. But she might be too late. What if Eric Parker had already given up on her?

  I'm about to miss my interview with Eric Parker and blow my chance to be on national TV, Jessica thought frantically as she skidded around a corner in the hall. All because of a stupid note on a stupid door that some stupid person accidentally took down before I'd seen it.

  Or just maybe the person who had removed the note was not stupid, but devious and selfish and cruel! The suspicion quickly took root in Jessica's mind. Someone had tried to sabotage her interview. And Jessica had a pretty good idea who that someone was.

  I'll kill her, Jessica thought grimly as she pushed open the heavy door of the auditorium. This time that girl has gone too far. She'll pay for this!

  Jessica was overwhelmed with relief. Eric Parker was sitting on the edge of the stage. He was dressed in jeans and a polo shirt like any ordinary man, but he was looking twenty times more gorgeous than any ordinary man could ever be. Thank goodness he had waited for her!

  "You must be Jessica," he said, hopping to his feet and extending a hand as she approached. "I'm Eric Parker."

  Jessica shook his hand, her heart beating triple time.

  "I'm really sorry I'm late," she apologized breathlessly. "There was a mix-up about the location. I guess I was the only one who didn't see the note saying that the interviews had been moved." Jessica laughed in spite of herself. "And for once I was going to be punctual!"

  Eric glanced at her bare wrist. "Even without the help of a watch?"

  "I never wear one," Jessica confessed. "As a rule, I let things happen when they happen."

  "Well, are you ready for our interview to happen?" he asked with a smile.

  "You bet!"

  Eric gestured to a couple of folding chairs set up on the stage. "I decided to hold the interviews here because this is where the actual TV program will be taped," he explained.

  They each took a seat, and Jessica waited expectantly.

  "I enjoyed reading your application." Eric pulled Jessica's application from a manila folder that had been sitting on the floor by his chair. "Why don't we start by talking about something the application didn't cover?"

  He was tossing the ball to her, Jessica realized. Well, she'd show him she could handle anything he sent her way. "Well, the form didn't allow me to write about the most important part of my life," she answered promptly, "my family."

  "I'd love to hear about them now," Eric encouraged.

  "We're pretty typical, I suppose. But lately, I've come to appreciate more than ever how lucky I am to be part of a strong, supportive family." Jessica faltered for a moment. Only a short time ago, when her parents had gone through a trial separation, she had come close to learning just how awful it would be to lose her family. Jessica sat up straighter in her chair and continued brightly, "My parents both work—Dad's a lawyer, and my mother has her own interior design business. My older brother Steven is in college now, but my sister Elizabeth's still around the house to bug me." She smiled, the dimple in her left cheek deepening. "Liz and I are identical twins. I don't suppose I'll ever get rid of her!"

  Eric was interested. "I imagine being a twin has had quite an impact on your life."

  "That's the truth," Jessica agreed. "I think a lot of people assume that twins are going to be exactly alike. Actually, I think that being a twin forces you to be even more of an individual than you might be otherwise. Liz and I are really close, but we do our own thing."

  "It would be hard to say exactly what your thing is, Jessica, judging from your activity-packed application. It looks as if you have a lot of interests."

  "I keep pretty busy," she said modestly.

  "I see you were a candy-striper. What was that experience like?"

  Actually, Jessica had hated being a candy-striper! She had only done it in order to meet Jeremy Frank; in general, catering to crabby hospital patients was not her idea of a good time. But Jessica had a feeling that in the present circumstances, the angel-of-mercy attitude would be more appropriate to take. "It was hard work but very rewarding," she fibbed. "Sick people really appreciate everything you do for them. They really respond to a friendly face." That much is true, anyway, Jessica thought. I don't have to tell him that my face wasn't one of the friendly ones!

  All at once, Jessica was struck with a brilliant idea. Talking about candy-striping presented the perfect opportunity for getting back at Lila for having taken down that note!

  "Yes, I'd volunteer again in a minute if I didn't have so many other things on my schedule these days," Jessica said. "I really enjoyed working at Joshua Fowler Memorial Hospital."

  "Joshua Fowler," repeated Eric, taking the bait. "I interviewed a Lila Fowler earlier this afternoon. Any relation?"

  "Is Lila back from Hong Kong already?" Jessica exclaimed. "It seems as if that lucky girl is never in school—she's always halfway around the world. Oh, yes," Jessica continued casually, "the Fowlers practically built the hospital and lots of other buildings in Sweet Valley too. In fact, they've given Sweet Valley so much money in the last few years, I wouldn't be surprised if someday the town's name is changed to Fowlerville! It must be nice to be rich enough to donate to good causes like hospitals and things."

  "Hmm."

  Jessica could see Eric making a mental note. Her heart bubbled up with vengeful delight. No doubt about it, Eric had gotten the picture. It was not your average family that had a hospital named after it! Consequently, Lila Fowler was not your average high school student. Got you, Lila, Jessica thought with satisfaction.

  Eric resumed his questioning. "Did you volunteer as a candy-striper because you were considering a career in health care?"

  Jessica knew that she couldn't very well answer honestly and say, "Not a chance." She quickly thought back to what Elizabeth had said about the positive side of Jessica's experimental attitude toward life. "To tell you the truth, Mr. Parker, at this point in my life, I'm still trying out different things, opening myself to new experiences. I figure I have some time to decide what it is I do best."

  "You're exactly right," Eric said. "When I was your age, I thought I would go into business with my father. If I hadn't kept an open mind to other possibilities, I would never have found my niche in television."

  "And I'm sure glad you did!" Jessica said.

  Eric laughed. Then he glanced at his watch. "Time flies when you're having fun. We've been chatting for twenty minutes."

  They stood up, and Eric took Jessica's hand again and gave it a warm squeeze. "You're a very impressive young lady. I'm truly glad we met, and I hope we see more of each other during my stay in Sweet Valley."

  "I hope so, too," Jessica said.

  "So long, Jessica."

  Jessica left the auditorium feeling as if she were floating on a cloud. Eric hoped to see more of her! That could only mean one thing—he was going to choose her to be on his show. Jessica was sure of it! The two of them had really clicked—Eric had to be thinking about how well they would work together on TV. And he also had to be wondering about Lila. Lila had probably buttered him up with her Miss Average America act, but now Eric knew the truth about the real Lila Fowler.